IN THE DOG HOUSE
A wiener, a bun and then some
BY ANDY VALENTINE
U
chow.eugeneweekly.com
“We’ve been in business 17 years, and every year it
gets greater and greater, demand is very strong,” Solomon
says. Demand, the crucial counterpart to supply, is
definitely an important thing to consider, and there should
be no shortage of it with the prices listed on Dog in a Box’s
menu: A fat, condiment-slathered wiener will run you
about five bucks — a fair price considering the quality and
Dog in a Box has locations at 195 E. 17th Ave. and at 210 W. Sixth Ave.; more
information at www.doginaboxeugene.com
Otum Hambleton ties into a
wiener at Dog in a Box
PHOTO BY TRASK BEDORTHA
pon walking into Dog in a Box on the corner of
17th and Pearl, I was greeted with the smell of
freshly cooked sausages, two smiling faces and
a large sign reading “Legends,” beneath which
hung framed portraits of history’s better known jazz
musicians. From outside, the view had been of
windowpanes packed from left to right with prices,
drawings and signs — an intriguing hole-in-the-wall
appearance that welcomed me inside.
When I sat down to try the “Oktoberfest” hot dog that
the employee kindly recommended; I was pleased to find
that it was hot, with a fresh bun and evenly distributed
condiments. In short, it had the all the characteristics and
qualities of a legit hot dog.
“We wanted variety, we wanted originality, we wanted
quality and we wanted to control the process from
beginning to end, which we did,” says owner, founder and
self-proclaimed delicatessen hound Steve Solomon. “All
our hot dogs are custom made to our own recipe.”
Dog in a Box boasts two Eugene locations, each of
which is partly solar powered and stacked with options
including vegan and vegetarian alternatives. With almost
15 entirely Oregon-grown and Oregon-made hot dogs
from which to chose, there’s sure to be something fitting
everybody’s tastes.
Since first opening in 1993, the restaurant over time
has garnered influence from cuisines around the world,
with especial focus on European sausages and the
beloved, traditional all-American hot dog. There’s been
demand for hot dogs in the U.S. dating back to 1870,
when original hot dog badass Charles Feltman sold
sausages in buns on Coney Island. And while they may
not have Feltman’s added attractions of the beach,
boardwalk and Cyclone, Dog in a Box wieners still know
how to draw a crowd.
rate of service. Throw in a drink and you might even be
able to pay with a card, considering they have a $5
minimum on debit and credit (be wary of this fact before
going in, cash is preferable). If a trip to the ATM is all
that’s separating you from an awesome and reasonably
priced hot dog, I’d say it’s worth it.
From the checkerboard floor to the glossed-leather
stools, Dog in a Box has that homey, vintage appearance
you hope to find in a traditional hotdog and European
sausage joint. Oh, and there’s this — all aesthetics aside, the
food rocks. Charles Feltman would be doggone proud. ■
CHOW! Spring 2011 5