REVIEWS

Scratch that itch to have a dog-biting good time

by Nancy Leson, Seattle Times restaruant critic
- taken from the Dining Out Section in "TICKET", the Seattle Times Entertainment Section) July 4-10, 2003
Photos by Jimi Lott

When you hail from Los Angeles, own dog shops in Dawg-town and your claim to fame involves building an authentic Chicago-style hot dog, you'd better know what you're doing. Matt Jones has his bases covered. At his original hut near the First Avenue South Bridge, its bigger Eastside outpost in Bellevue and the new Snohomish County cousin (a picnic table-enhanced sandwich shop in a Lynnwood strip mall), Jones quells the jones of even the most hard-core Chicagoans. Ask me: I live with one.

Matt's "basic" hot dog ($2.69), a veritable garden of eatin', is built on a warm, steam poppy-seed-studded bun. Add to that a Vienna Beef wienie imported from Chi-town, a swab of mustard, a spoonful of onions, relish (if it ain't neon green then it ain't the real thing), fresh tomatoes, a dill pickle, sport peppers and a sprinkle of celery salt, and honey you're home. Eating one's not hard. Eating just one is the hard part. If you must play it straight have an old-fashioned ($2.29). Or check out Matt's “famous" chili dogs ($2.29). 1 can't tell you why they're so famous (perhaps it's the all-meat chili, but I wasn't sold), although I will put in a good word for his hot pastrami sandwich ($6.33).

Home Page