Restaurant Review: Tubby Dog
By: Fanny L. and Rose S.
One of the privileges of going to a school located on Seventeenth Avenue, aside from the view of sparkling lights on the trees and the temptation of the shops, is the many amazing restaurants within walking distance from Western. So naturally, after a stressful and busy week, Fanny and I decided that our tummies deserved a treat. Thus, we began our journey down Seventeenth. First, we set out for a café, but after staring with starving eyes at the vanilla scones and banana bread, we agreed that we needed something more filling (and maybe more fatty) than coffee and sweets. I had heard rumors that Tubby Dog has the best hotdogs in town, and I was ready to put this rumor to the test. I was just in the mood for some meaty, cheesy goodness. And so, we headed down the street to Tubby Dog to fill our stomachs and to alleviate our curiosities.
The ambiance was a refreshing break from the uptight world outside: the place exuded a Katy Perry, seventies retro party vibe, with vintage Marvel comics as part of the décor, reflecting all things bad but oh-so-good. In the corner were arcade-style games, and on the walls were pictures of exotic snacks to warm the appetite.
Although the chefs did an excellent job of presenting the hot dogs (which probably takes years of experience, because how else do you turn a wiener on a bun into holy shining glory?), we proved to be far less excellent at the skill of eating them. Most of the toppings didn’t even reach our mouths before sadly falling onto the plates, and unless you’re a whale shark, there are few creative ways with which to fit such a monster of a hot dog into your mouth. However, what did end up in the mouth was delicious: the sausage puts ordinary wieners to shame. Large, satisfying, and juicy, this was by far the most delicious tube steak I’d ever had. Meat lovers should flock to Tubby Dog.
Regardless of which menu item you decide on, it is highly probable that it will cause clogging of the arteries. For instance, the “A-Bomb” hot dog is garnished with mayonnaise, crushed chips, and the other tidbits of grease that could satisfy any fat craving at first bite. However, by the third bite, the body starts to reject this foreign surplus of lipids. The “Cheetah”, perhaps a slightly lighter meal, is topped with sauerkraut and cheese and is a better choice if you still plan on eating dinner later on.
Ironically, even though we really came for the meat, our favourite part of the meal was the yam fries. These aren’t your ordinary, weak, starchy chips; indeed, these slices are large enough to maintain the moist integrity of a yam, while oily enough to permit sufficient flavour. Surprisingly, the sweet chili sauce actually complemented them quite well. We would definitely visit the Tubby Dog again, if only for the fries.
The aftermath: For one who can’t stand food waste, tears may ensue after such a meal. There was a huge graveyard of topping carnage on the table, and a Mount Everest of used napkins. Our hands were smothered with artificial cheese sauce, and our mouths were equally, if not more, dirty.
And just so you can salivate while reading this, here are some pictures:
Verdict : Definitely not first-date friendly, but I guess if someone can stand looking at you eating a Tubby Dog, then you are pretty much set for life.
Rating: 2 heart attacks, 3 strokes and 2 laps around the gym. What does that make, 7/10?
