I was first introduced to the Red Dog Tavern when I was 19 years old. No, I wasn't there drinking! At the time, I worked for Kirsty Sutherland. After spending a year downtown at the old Capitol Restaurant, Kirsty purchased the Red Dog Tavern and fixed it up. She ran it for many years and it was very successful! After selling, Kirsty went on to open and run the very successful Ozzie's Coffee Bar and I moved to Rochester. But, I have a lot of fun memories there, made a lot of good money there and ate a lot of delicious food there! So let's dive in!
Since Kirsty, I believe there have been several owners. I do not know the new owners well, but one thing I really like is how it has maintained a similar ambiance and look throughout the years. The restaurant itself is small. But it is so cozy and cutely decorated. Beautiful Adirondack pictures grace the walls and cool props like old skis and rustic knick-knacks scattered around. There are large flags hanging across the ceiling and the lighting is warm and very welcoming.
When you enter the Red Dog Tavern, you walk into the bar, which is often crowded. It is a popular place, especially for folks who live and vacation on South Shore Road. There are several tables in the bar, but then a separate dining room which seats maybe 40? I am guessing on that. If anyone knows, please let me know. But in my opinion it is small and I say that only because there is a good chance you will have to wait for a table.
Please go prepared to grab a drink and relax, especially if you go during the weekend. The parking lot is small and you will often see vehicles lined up on both sides of South Shore road as you approach the Red Dog.
As far as food, it warms my heart to see there are still so many things on the menu I recognize from my years there, and even some from before! I have really grown to love traditions, especially in our area and this restaurant has worked to maintain favorites from over the years while introducing some new stuff as well! Probably what the Red Dog Tavern is most famous for are their chicken wings. The wings are jumbo, crispy and all the sauces are home made. They have several varieties including normal buffalo, garlic, maple bourbon and sweet Thai chili. But the real star of the show is the "Armageddon" sauce. It's so hot, you actually have to sign a waiver before trying it. Not sure how it is now, but throughout the years if you finished them you either received the wings for free or received a special t-shirt. I have some very funny memories of watching people (mostly men, not gonna lie), saunter in, very confident in their abilities to consume these wings and end up either 1. In the bathroom, getting ill, 2. Pouring an entire pitcher of water in their mouth and ultimately over their head, 3. Begging the kitchen for milk and bread, and finally 4. Running outside and eating snow. That being said, I encourage everyone to try and to please video it, and send me the video. Thanks.
Another popular appetizer are the "Roman Candles". They reminded me of a cal zone of sort. Mushrooms, onions, peppers, sausage and cheese, wrapped in dough, fried and served with marinara sauce. Spicy and delicious! Their nachos comes with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, black beans and more! They even make their own salsa! Another favorite I remember serving is the brushette and besides the wings, the quesadilla was one of my favorite things to eat after a long shift.
s for meals, the Red Dog has a variety of sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. They also offer nightly specials such as Prime Rib, Haddock, BBQ Ribs and more. For sides, I they traditional fries and mashed potatoes. But they also offer sweet potato fries and my personal favorite, hot fries. I don't remember nor see a children's menu. That's not to say they don't have one! I often recommend the Red Dog to couples and groups of adults looking for a cool restaurant/bar to visit.
I heard the building was built in the 1920s, but couldn't find anything about what it was used for back then. In the 1960s it was called The Trail House and was run by the Gerace family. The Trail House was an Italian restaurant run by a father and son. In 1982 when it became the Red Dog Tavern. If anyone has any other history on it, I would love to hear it. Please share your positive experiences and favorite dishes with us!
