Bowery: Upscale Hot Dogs Come to Dallas, Texas

Hot dogs have long been relegated as the food of barbecues and baseball games, but Bowery in Dallas is selling its hotdogs to a more upscale crowd and has classed up its menu accordingly.

Bowery, named after the small neighborhood in southern Manhattan, divides its hot dogs into three categories. Hot dog purists will enjoy the Classics menu, which offers the Chicago Dog (sour pickle, yellow onion, tomato, cucumber relish, yellow mustard, and sport peppers on a poppy seed bun) and the Mac (mac and cheese, bacon, and chives), among others. For the more adventurous, the Travelers menu includes the Mexican Dog (a bacon-wrapped hot dog with jalapenos, pinto beans, salsa, cheese, onion, tomatoes and sour cream) and the Moroccan (lamb sausage with harissa slaw and apricot jam). And for those who expect a gourmet experience even in a hot dog joint, the High Brow menu presents hot dog creations such as the Overstuffed Dutchman (waffle fries, bacon, chives and smoked gouda on a baguette) and the Duo of Duck (duck sausage with seared foie gras, blueberry jam, and scallions).

It all sounds good—so, is it good? I played it safe on my first visit and ordered the Chicago Dog. The hot dog was thick and meaty, with an excellent beef flavor, and while it was good it wasn’t anything particularly out of the ordinary, though the bun was soft and fresh. The standout star of that meal was the fries—crisp, hot waffle fries drizzed in a smoked gouda sauce and sprinkled with paprika for a perfect savory, smooth flavor. They were so good I ordered a second round.

On subsequent visits to Bowery, I tried the Mexican Dog and the Overstuffed Dutchman. The Mexican Dog was generously covered with beans, salsa, and cheese, and the jalapenos gave it a pleasant kick, though the fiesta of flavors overpowered the beef and left it a supporting player, not the star. I didn’t find it much preferable to the cheaper Chihuahua Dog at Wild about Harry’s on Henderson. The Overstuffed Dutchman hit a perfectly unique note, however—the baguette, combined with the waffle fries, make it hearty and filling, while the smoked gouda is a flavorful complement to the beefy dog. It could easily be shared by two people if they also order sides.

To wash down the wide array of hot dogs offered, Bowery also has a full bar and whips up specialty cocktails, including beer cocktails and champagne cocktails. The Basil Shandy, a beer cocktail made with lager, lemon soda, basil, lemon bitters, and simple syrup, was crisp and refreshing, a good drink for a hot day. It was even appealing to a non-beer drinker like myself. More to my taste was the Blueberry Foam, a frothy mixture of champagne, Van Gogh Blueberry Vodka, egg, cherry syrup, and lemon that was a little sweet, a little tart, and very sparkly.

The décor is unassuming and simple—wood-plank floors, wood-plank walls, and utilitarian wood-and-metal table and chairs. The service, on all of the occasions I visited, was very friendly and attentive, though the food takes a while to come out. With prices from $9 to $18 for just a hot dog, a single meal with drinks here could run up to $30, which is a little steep.

Bowery is located at 3407 McKinney Avenue in Dallas, in the old house where Lumi used to serve up its signature empanadas. In addition to the dogs, fries, and cocktails, Bowery also offers shakes, salads, and light sandwiches. For the night owls who like to close McKinney Avenue down on weekends, Bowery is open until 3 a.m.