Anyone check these guys out yet? http://www.alphadoggrill.com/#!
Walked by a few times...not a huge hot dog fan, but I'm all for new/different restaurants in Riverside. That being said, this idea seems more suited for a cart/truck catering to late night drunks, not a stand alone restaurant with a full service kitchen. While the name is ridiculous and the color of the building disgusting, I wish them well. Sad to see the authentic Caribbean restaurant go, though.
That is a bad location for a restaurant.
Quote from: John P on December 04, 2011, 08:46:40 AM
That is a bad location for a restaurant.
Any reason why? I mean, I know 2-3 have failed there in recent years...but is it truly the location? Or is it poor management and half-assed business ideas gone awry? I know the Caribbean place had decent food, but the layout of the restaurant was terrible and being closed on Saturday kinda doomed them.
$3.75 8/ lb. Hot Dogs $5.75 for the qt. lb. version. Hmmmm. I think we've eclipsed the most expensive Manhattan pricing. No mention of any brand loyalty either. A must for us transplanted Yankees. Just calling it Kosher doesn't cut it.
Someone told me that the "bright" colors were to represent ketchup and mustard.
Quote from: 5ptscurmudgeon on December 09, 2011, 12:28:07 PM
$3.75 8/ lb. Hot Dogs $5.75 for the qt. lb. version. Hmmmm. I think we've eclipsed the most expensive Manhattan pricing. No mention of any brand loyalty either. A must for us transplanted Yankees. Just calling it Kosher doesn't cut it.
Hard to top our own local Azar's for taste and quality.
Anyone actually eaten here yet?
The TU did a write up on it:
http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2011-12-08/story/dining-notes-alphadog-opens-riverside-serving-hot
As for the location, it's just an odd layout. It feels like you're eating in someone's house and while some may find that charming, it doesn't do the trick for me.
The eat outside as I did today.
I stopped by today for lunch, and I wouldn't say that it blew me away - it's a hot dog joint, but I can't sit here and say that I won't be back.
In the words of Denny Green, "They were who we thought they were. That's why I ate the DAMN hotdog!"
I had a philly dog (1/4lb beef dog, grilled onions/peppers/mushrooms/prov) that came with fries (hot, crunchy, awesome) for $6. They have a few BoldCity brews on tap, 1901 for me ($4.75), so for $10 I had a good lunch with beverage + tip.
For what it is, it's pretty good, and if you're heading back early from your King St. festivities, they're open until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
I'd recommend trying it out if you're in the mood for something casual.
Quote from: David on December 09, 2011, 02:02:30 PM
The TU did a write up on it:
http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2011-12-08/story/dining-notes-alphadog-opens-riverside-serving-hot
As for the location, it's just an odd layout. It feels like you're eating in someone's house and while some may find that charming, it doesn't do the trick for me.
This was the chief complaint when it was "Bungalo on Barf" though. I kinda like cozy little places and never found the layout uncomfortable. Just "weird". I'll give it a shot this weekend and see how their dogs stack up.
I live around the corner from this place and honestly, I just can't get past the name. I wish them well, but can't say that I will ever be able bring myself to eat at a place called "Alphadog". The paint job is rather eye-searing as well. Good luck to them.
I just noticed this place for the first time last night when leaving European Street. I like me some hotdogs, but it is quite the march from the King Street drinking holes for me to make it a last call stop.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 09, 2011, 02:12:22 PM
In the words of Denny Green, "They were who we thought they were. That's why I ate the DAMN hotdog!"
From the looks of Denny Green, he said that a lot.
I dunno. The layout & color seems fine to me. Yeah, a little funky & it looks like a house, but who cares? Plenty of other southern cities have these same exact looking layouts & people are just fine with them. East Nashville & New Orleans comes to mind.
Quote from: peestandingup on December 09, 2011, 04:20:52 PM
I dunno. The layout & color seems fine to me. Yeah, a little funky & it looks like a house, but who cares? Plenty of other southern cities have these same exact looking layouts & people are just fine with them. East Nashville & New Orleans comes to mind.
I agree about E. Nashville and Nola...that being said, those places seem to, well, fit in. Alphadog just sticks out like a sore thumb. And yeah, the name is terrible. That being said, like any small business in Riverside, I hope them well and wish they succeed.
Had lunch there last week, I think it was like the second day they were open. Layout is, yeah, really hard to understand. They should have knocked out some walls and opened it up a bit. The bar is way in the back, which I think is really going to hurt their street presence when it comes to being open until 2AM on weekend nights. Food was perfectly acceptable. Service was... well intentioned, but just not good. Had to ask for salt and pepper. Then napkins. Then silverware. Then ketchup and mustard.
But hey, based on everything I've heard, it can't be as bad as Domo Crepes :-)
I don't think the prices are out of line - a side of onion rings is like $2.50, and it was a massive plateful. Unless you're starving, skip the apps AND sides - one of their signature dogs with the accompanying fries is a gut buster.
So after writing that post, a chili dog sounded damn good, and I made a quick drive over to AD, making sure to put my earplugs in as I passed the Loft :-)
Figured arriving an hour and 15 minutes before closing was early enough, but apparently not. Having been there before, I wasn't deterred by the abandoned host stand (that a restaurant like this shouldn't even have) and made the long, winding trek to the bar, where I was greeted by several employees that were seated at the bar.
"I was thinking I'd get something to go, and maybe a beer while I wait?"
"Well, the kitchen is closed" (ouch) "but you're welcome to have a beer" (in our empty restaurant, while we clean up around you).
This doesn't bode well.
Ah, the old "we're open until this specific time, but not really" kinda thing that's so famous down here. Ugh.
The hotdogs are Hebrew National and the sausages are Azars.
I had a chili dog today. It was pretty good to me. There was also a decent crowd when I was there. With that said, its a place that I'd visit again.
Pretty decent Italian sausage dog with grilled onions & peppers. Fries, not bad. The bowl of jambalaya? Not any good at all. They were fairly busy after the Luminary too.
These folks better make hay while the sun shines, cause when Pele opens, and the Carmine-mexican, they are going to be in for a long road. I heard the sausages are average from the place, and yeah the whole stigma of what used to be there, still hangs around. Nice paint job though!
I've eaten there 3 times already and I's pretty good. At first you may think a $5 dog is pricey but you load it up with tons of toppings, grilled onions, tomatoes, peppers, chili, cheese etc.. and they come with a side of fries so it's actually reasonably priced. Plus they have vegetarian options, veggie dogs and carrot dogs.
It's a nice change from the pizza or sushi restaurants opening in Riverside. My only negatives are the decor and overall look and feel of the place. I mean if it was remotely as cool as Franks in Austin, I think it would draw a lot of people in. http://hotdogscoldbeer.com/
I ate there for the first time during the Luminaries. They were quite busy due to a party in the back bar area. It threw them a bit since they still working out the kinks in their system, as all new restaurants are prone to need to do. I don't mind some hiccups when I'm just paying $6 or so for a meal, which was good.
I don't think Pele's will affect them at all. Pele's looks like its going to be a higher end sort of thing.
I am kinda surprised they are across the street from European Street... their business plan, with it's emphasis on sausages, beer, and wine is pretty close to Euro St.
Here's to hoping the location itself isn't cursed, as it seems to be. And heres more hoping that an Indian place will eventually find it's way over there somewhere...
Please, please, somebody open a good Indian restaurant in Riverside. Even a little take-out curry stand would be welcome if the food was good and they served nan with the curry.
My wife and I ate here last Friday (16th) and there was actually a pretty good crowd. I had the breakfast for dinner which was pretty freaking good. I don't remember what my wife had but she seemed to like it. I'd recommend trying it out.
FWIW I was really craving some yogurt and sushi (which is why we were headed to the yogurt and sushi district), but I'm glad my wife convinced me to go here.
Quote from: Dog Walker on December 20, 2011, 10:38:53 AM
Please, please, somebody open a good Indian restaurant in Riverside. Even a little take-out curry stand would be welcome if the food was good and they served nan with the curry.
Stop teasing me...
I spoke to the owners of India's Restaurant on Baymeadows (best Indian around, IMO). I told them Riverside is craving an Indian restaurant and has been for years: it's a potential goldmine. He (the owner) was under the impression that Riverside doesn't have the population or the demand for an Indian restaurant...essentially told me it wasn't a good business decision. Quite a shame.
I have still been hearing that Cozy Tea will be taking on more or another space to be able to serve food regularly.
I've been to A-Dog a couple times now and I like it. The dogs are pretty big, and there's a decent variety of veg options as well. Most toppings are free and you can do whatever you want with them, so there's plenty of room for creativity. They have a veggie dog and a carrot dog. Not sure about the carrot dog, but the veggie dog was pretty good approximation of the already barely-meat product. The bar in the back is pretty cool, albeit "cozy," and the dining area is a bit awkward. The out-front seating is pretty nice, and the back patio, if they manage to work around code and get it opened, should be great. Its an awesome space.
Decent beer selection, good reasonably-priced food (portions are large, so don't be intimidated paying $5 for a hot dog). Service could use an upgrade, but thats probably more a growing pains issue. Not a bad place to watch a game. With Jackson's closed, this will probably be the go-to for happy hour (they have a happy hour deal: spend $5 and get a free beer - basically get a beer with a hot dog or app order).
Will Pele's have a proper bar?
QuoteWill Pele's have a proper bar?
Full liquor bar and a grip of taps.
QuoteWith Jackson's closed
A mexican restaurant is about to back-fill that space.
Are the dogs at Alphadog all beef dogs, someone mentioned Hebrew National... is that correct?
Yes. The hot dogs are Hebrew National and the Sausages are Azars. The veggie dogs are Smart Dogs by lightlife and the carrot dogs are... well, carrots.
:)
It would be nice to have that srg cul de sac behind park & king finished. not all these restaurants can survive without more density. one of the 3 yougart stores in 5 points would be wise to move to park & king now.
We were there tonight for a quick bite. Around 8:30, and the place was kinda dead. The dogs were good, but it's hard to see how this place makes it for the long-haul. Good luck!
Quote from: fieldafm on December 20, 2011, 05:51:17 PM
A mexican restaurant is about to back-fill that space.
That is the best possible response I could have seen.
My husband brought home take out from AD last night. Overall it was pretty decent and I am pleased to be able to get a carrot dog in the neighborhood again! I still am having a hard time getting past the name.
Quote from: riverside planner on December 21, 2011, 11:51:09 AM
My husband brought home take out from AD last night. Overall it was pretty decent and I am pleased to be able to get a carrot dog in the neighborhood again! I still am having a hard time getting past the name.
Agree, the name is absurd, borderline embarrassing.
Anyone see the blurb in the Folio about the head chef/owner? Seems to be a novice, through and through. Can't help but noticing his Favorite Restaurant was...Bucca Di Beppo. A chain. Oy.
Is it just me or do a lot of the restaurants in Riverside lack good branding, name, logo etc... starting a business is rough, but I wonder how many think about how they will market their restaurant?
I say Riverside because of all the areas of Jacksonville, it seems it would be more open to some unique branding.
Quote from: TPC on December 21, 2011, 04:08:15 PM
Is it just me or do a lot of the restaurants in Riverside lack good branding, name, logo etc... starting a business is rough, but I wonder how many think about how they will market their restaurant?
I say Riverside because of all the areas of Jacksonville, it seems it would be more open to some unique branding.
I agree. It's like somehow people don't think it matters. Like this place, on top of a horrible name they have a horrible logo. You could make that logo with MS Word. I give it 5 months.
Speaking of horrible logo's, how about the new CSX logo. For God's sake they probably paid $100K to some firm
to come up with that. (Little boxcar lookin thing.) My 8 yo daughter could do better with a pack of crayons.
Quote from: TPC on December 21, 2011, 04:08:15 PM
Is it just me or do a lot of the restaurants in Riverside lack good branding, name, logo etc... starting a business is rough, but I wonder how many think about how they will market their restaurant?
I say Riverside because of all the areas of Jacksonville, it seems it would be more open to some unique branding.
I agree, which is why I'm so excited that Pele's spent the extra cash on a highly-recognizable logo and a great sign with high visibility.
Using common hotdog brands is a copout...i can get a hebrew anywhere...they should have taken it up a notch and made their own...its not hard and flavors are endless...everyone allways wants to take the easy way out. But...good luck to them.
Quote from: Garden guy on December 21, 2011, 06:59:32 PM
Using common hotdog brands is a copout...i can get a hebrew anywhere...they should have taken it up a notch and made their own...its not hard and flavors are endless...everyone allways wants to take the easy way out. But...good luck to them.
Exactly...taking one dog out of a package and putting it on a bun, with toppings that cost little to nothing...hardly impressive.
This place had pretty good hot dogs to me. I'd definitely go back if I were in the mood for a hot dog.
Was this the house that several years ago some girl parked her car almost upside-down on the porch...then went home...and get this....answered the door at 3 AM when the cops ran her tag?
Stephan help me here...
http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2009/01/bungalow-on-park-open-but-closed-on.html
I wish there was some Hot Dog joint in Jax that had a Western New York (Buffalo/Rochester)....white hot. :P
Quote from: undergroundgourmet on December 21, 2011, 09:18:32 PM
http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2009/01/bungalow-on-park-open-but-closed-on.html
Can't say I was ever a huge fan, but loved their pictures of restaurants and their random updates about Jax...anyone know what happened to these guys?
They grew up Ben. Those were some blackberry times and they were quick on the draw and took no prisoners. Ok, I'll validate this hijack. Been by the AD many times over the last week or two and always 2-3 tables out front! Keep it up guys and maybe we'll get something better than a Hebrew Nat.