When I saw Village Dog‘s website I couldn’t wait to try their hot dogs. These guys are very passionate about hot dogs. I like hot dogs, too, and I like other people who are excited about food. Plus, their logo is a pig dressed in a suit. They had me with their fancy pig.
Village Dog’s hot dogs, sausages, sides and condiments are made in-house and the ingredients are sourced from the finest farms and markets (their hot dog buns are from Balthazar). They use sustainably raised meat and seasonal products and believe seriously in “you are what you eat”. That’s great to know because a hot dog and healthy food don’t usually go together.
The menu consists of beef and pork hot dogs, lamb merguez, chicken sausage, salmon boudin and sides like french fries, chili fries, sweet potato fries, baked beans and coleslaw. With combinations that I never would have thought of like “The Philly”, a beef hot dog with braised onions and provolone ($6.50), “The Chihuahua”, a pork hot dog with salsa, jalapeno and sour cream ($7) and the “The Hassan”, lamb merguez, tza-tziki and harissa ($8).
You can also make your own by choosing your hot dog or sausage and adding the toppings. Village Dog makes their own seasonal relish and condiments like Caesar Aoli and Lemon Aoli. Other toppings include chili, bacon, fried egg, cucumber ‘kraut and more. If you want a basic hot dog, you can get that, too, but be prepared for the most delicious all beef or pork hot dog you’ve ever tasted.
I asked Carl, the owner, for his top pick and he recommended “The Hassan”. The spicy lamb sausage was a slight shock to my taste buds but the tza-tziki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill) and harissa (Moroccan chili sauce) cooled off the sausage and created an unexpected and delicious flavor. I said “wow” over and over. My daughters shared the Jr. Dog, a milder version of their beef hot dog. ($4) We also ordered a side of baked beans ($1.50) and they were much better than the canned baked beans we usually eat. My daughters couldn’t get enough.
The owners of Village Dog, Carl and John, are brothers who grew up in the Rivertowns. Carl is a trained chef who previously worked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Gramercy Tavern and Daniel. John worked in Financial Services and Consumer Marketing before returning to his roots. They both grew up watching their parents cook. This is where their heart is.
Village Dog will soon be available at Captain Lawrence Brewing Company’s Tasting Room in Elmsford. Find out more here.
The Village Dog: 18 Main Street, Tarrytown; 914-909-9000.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Went to this eatery based on the recommendation. First, the service was mediocre. The server was not friendly. The gentleman preparing the food did not use food handling gloves. If you have a small child, there are no highchairs or booster seats. I asked for bottled water, juice, or other non-carbonated beverage for my toddler, there were none. The Root beer was excellent however. I had to go to the deli across the street to get bottled water and juice. We ordered 4 hot dogs, fries, and baked beans. The fries were above average. The beans were cold and tasteless, the worst beans I have ever tasted. The hot dog bun was incredible, fresh and tasty. We had one plain, one with sauerkraut and mustard, one with cheese and chili, and one with relish. The hot dogs tasted healthy. I will leave it at that. I do appreciate them using local farms and local sourcing. If you want a grass fed hot dog, there are not many options out there, so you can visit based on that. Try it for yourself, remember health, not taste.
Hi, Jim.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the Village Dog. I really loved their baked beans and the hot dogs. I thought they were delicious. I hope you’ll continue to read Wee Westchester and continue to try restaurants based our recommendations!
Best,
Elizabeth Leach