I heard about Dirty Dogs Lounge when they announced their first annual block party at the beginning of the month. The block party featured a hot dog eating contest.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I have always been envious of people who can eat large amounts of food without getting sick. Man vs. Food is my dream gig, but I’ve got some work to do before I even come close to that point.

So, although I don’t have a prayer in a hot dog eating contest, I wanted to get a taste of the action. One Friday after work, I stopped by Dirty Dogs in the Drusilla Shopping Center for one of their gourmet hot dogs, which I’d heard great things about.

The outside of Dirty Dogs is nothing spectacular – it’s just a brick building with a covered porch. The inside has a substantial bar, surrounded by high-top tables, a nice pool table, and a corner dance floor.

At Dirty Dogs, there is no menu. The only thing that comes close is a light up sign displaying the specials: nachos, hot dogs.

Fair enough.

After ordering a drink, the guy behind the bar leans over the counter and says, “So what do you want on your dog? We’ve got chili, cheese, onion, mustard, sour cream…”

I go with my favorite three: chili, cheese, and onion. The guy leaves and reports it to the kitchen, which is located behind a wooden door.

As I wait, I wonder if fries are included. All of the customers in the bar are regulars, which makes me like the place a bit more. It can’t be a bad sign when customers return so much that they all know each other, right?

My thoughts on the fries are quickly diminished when my dog is delivered: that thing is huge.

I expected a standard hot dog, but this was comparable to a jumbo sausage, complete with a ladle of chili, nacho cheese sauce, and chopped raw onions.

Since I was in public, I used the plastic knife and fork that were provided for me. I am a lady, and sometimes eating a hot dog gets awkward.

The hotdog itself had a great, slightly sweet flavor. The chili and cheese was a delicious combination, supported by the crunchy raw onion. Although the bun was hidden beneath it all, it was lightly toasted, which kept it from getting soggy. I despise soggy bread.

I finished the entire dog, and was easily full without the pile of fries. I was happily surprised.

While I loved my Dirty Dog feast early in the evening, perhaps one of the best things about these hot dogs is that they’re served all night long. I don’t know a single person who would oppose a good hot dog after a few (or 10) beers. In my case, sober or not, there’s not a chance I would turn away another Dirty Dog.

Dirty Dogs Lounge
3488 Drusilla Ln.
Open Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.