Are you tired of having Taco Bell and McDonald's for lunch? Looking for somewhere you can have something delicious and homemade instead? Well you're in luck because the Salty Dog Bar & Grill has exactly what you've been looking for! They make all of their dishes in-house, including all the sauces, gravies, salsa, and breading -- no pre-made frozen gravy and salsa here! Salty Dog is just a quick trip over the bridge and totally worth making your way through the Interstate 80 traffic.
I recently got the opportunity to try out several of their delectable (and generous) appetizers including Beef and Chicken Enchiladas, Salisbury Steak, Char Buff Wings, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Chicken Fried Steak, and Chips with Artichoke Dip and Salsa.
Both Beef and Chicken Enchiladas are served with refried beans, fresh tomato and lettuce, and a dollop of sour cream. While each were praise-worthy and had proper amounts of spice, I must say that the Chicken Enchilada had more of a noticeably spicy kick to it.
Though you may not guess it from first glance, the Salisbury Steak was simply delicious! The dish may look dull and unappealing from its undeniably drab brown color, but the meat was tender and juicy. The dish was also served with a healthy side of mashed potatoes and brown gravy. The potatoes were definitely made by an expert masher; they were smooth, creamy, and second to none.
The Chicken Fried Steak was also served with mashed potatoes, but this time both the chicken and potatoes were coated with a blanket of mouthwatering white gravy. With a choice cut of tender chicken fried in savory breading made from Salty Dog's own chef's secret recipe. Best of all, the dish is served up fresh, so the chicken breading is still nice and crunchy.
If you're in the mood for more of a finger food, you'll definitely want to try out the Chips with Artichoke Dip. Out of all the things I tried, it was my very favorite. The crew at Salty Dog makes all their chips on location, guaranteeing you fresh chips every time, and as for the artichoke dip, it was simply exquisite! While it may be a challenge to get some of this thick and cheesy dip to stay on your chip, it's well worth the effort with its superb blend of spices that leave a warm and scrumptious taste in your mouth after. Or for another great combination with chips, order up some of Salty Dog's homemade Salsa. It was served cold, but was moderately spicy to the taste; a nice alternative to anyone who wants something a step down the spicy scale from the artichoke dip.
Another classic finger food I tried out was Salty Dog's Char Buff Wings, which were served with some ranch dip and celery. I know what you may be wondering; char buff? What's that all about? Well, I'll tell you, the Salty Dog's Char Buff Wings are unique in that they are first fried, then grilled. The wings had minimal spice on them by themselves, but the skin was nice and crunchy and they contained sweet white meat.
The last thing I tried was Salty Dog's Spaghetti. The spaghetti itself was pretty standard noodles, but what made the dish special was in the sauce. Salty Dog makes all their spaghetti sauce in house with fresh vegetables. Though the recipe was, again, a secret, I could definitely detect some onions and peppers mixed in with the tender ground beef. Another special trait of Salty Dog's sauce is that it tasted sweet, an interesting change in pace from your typical Prego or Ragu sauce. The spaghetti was served with some mozzarella cheese bread, which contained the merest hint of garlic.
As a special treat for all you lunch-goers, the Salty Dog has lunch specials each weekday! Be sure to come out every day, so you can try all the same great dishes I was able to! Monday's special is beef and chicken enchiladas, Tuesday's special is the Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, and Wednesday's is the spaghetti with Salty Dog's special garden meat sauce. Thursdays feature savory grilled chicken salad or sandwich, and Fridays will be a surprise when you arrive, because it's Chef's Choice, and I'm sure he'll cook up something good.
All in all, the Salty Dog Bar & Grill is a great place to eat for lunch or just any old time!
