gleam wrote:

Elfin wrote:Other press re Hot D's... last weeks 'The Onion'-the food reviewer said that the duck fat fries are over-rated and not worth the extra charge.

I think it was a tough review. I saw the grade and was shocked, but I agreed with most of his points. I think the taste gets an A but the value gets a D+. The regular fries at Doug's are so good and less than half the price that it's just not worth it to me. That said, I also rarely go to HD on Friday or Saturday, anyway.

Is this grade on just the fries or HD overall? I have to agree with some of the folks here, I wasn't impressed with the Duck Fat fries, and the regular are so tasty that I just wouldn't bother. But there does seem to be a huge discrepancy between the tasty A and the value D+ to me, too.

I don't know where he got the idea to use duck fat anyway. It's goose fat that potatoes are fried in all over Europe, and goose fat fries are great. You can get it at Paulina, though it ain't cheap (about double what it was a couple of years ago).

I'm on board with the tepid duck fat fries reviews. I love the place, but the specialty sausages are what draw me there (of course). I honestly couldn't detect much of a difference between the regular fries and duck fat fries, so, even if I'm there on a Friday or Saturday, I just get the regular, as the taste difference is wasted on me. Still, I love the idea and the fact that someone running a relatively humble hot dog stand would offer such a product regularly. Now, bacon fat fries.... (yeah, I know the bacon thing is long overdone, but I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone attempt it.)

Khaopaat wrote:

MBK wrote:duck fat fries might be worth the $1.25 extra but i don't think they're worth the 1.25 extra hour wait on weekends

Somehow I doubt the long lines on weekends are due to the duck fat fries.

My money's on it being a combination of a majority of customers only being able to make it on weekends due to 9-5 M-F jobs, and crippling hangovers that only delicious sausages & hot, fresh, hand-cut fries could cure.

If I didn't have one of the aforementioned 9-5 M-F's, or at least worked closer to California & Roscoe (my office is 6 miles away, by Union Station), I'd happily skip the duck fat fries and hit Hot Doug's for weekday lunches.

they're not long because of duck fat fries, but they only have them on the weekends, which is why i skip hot dougs and the duck fat fries on the weekends. the 20 minute weekday line is much more worth it, duck fat fries or not

I've only had the duck fat fries twice, and while I agree that I didn't find them to be amazing either time, I'd probably still order them again just to see if the third time's a charm...I mean, they only a measly buck and a quarter more than the normal fries.

Heck, when one of your friends says to you, "I felt so terrible this morning after going out last night, I had to order some Domino's and a 6-pack of Cokes", and you respond with, "Nice...I had a Doc Brown's black cherry, a Chicago-style dog, a wild boar sausage with double Gloucester and Guinness dijon mustard, and a side of duck fat fries". The look on your friend's face? That's your $1.25 right there.

MBK wrote:they're not long because of duck fat fries, but they only have them on the weekends, which is why i skip hot dougs and the duck fat fries on the weekends. the 20 minute weekday line is much more worth it, duck fat fries or not

I totally misread/misinterpreted your initial duck fat fries/long line post, but I see now what you were saying, and I totally agree with you.

My bad

Khaopaat wrote:

MBK wrote:they're not long because of duck fat fries, but they only have them on the weekends, which is why i skip hot dougs and the duck fat fries on the weekends. the 20 minute weekday line is much more worth it, duck fat fries or not

I totally misread/misinterpreted your initial duck fat fries/long line post, but I see now what you were saying, and I totally agree with you.

My bad

no problem man; if you ever have a half day it might be a good time to hit up dougs during the week

I visited for the first time last week and I thought the DF fries were great. Held up well, reheated and topped with chili too. Good crunchy bits.

One thing that surprised me was the taste reminded me of some of my favorite fries at Parky's in Forest Park without all of the grease.

I would like to do a taste test of Doug's DF and regular side by side.

Since My Bride has tomorrow off for Good Friday we might swing by to try some other sausages... er, strike that... Encased Meats.

My sense is that the duck fat cannot get as hot as oil and so the fries don't get quite as crisp and slighly more greasy than his normal fries (however delicious the greasiness is!). I could could be imagining this completely, but I think he uses a slightly smaller fry for the duck fat. All of which is to say that I prefer the normal ones, for the taste and price.

Of course, you could always skip the fries and get some tater tots instead! They come out a little on the dry side, and I have no idea if they're made in-house (as the fries seem to be). Still, it's a more manageable portion for one person and you still get your craving for fried potato goodness satisfied.

Hi,

It is likely the duck fat is mixed with another fat allowing a higher frying temperature. It works with butter melted into oil, why not duck fat?

Regards,

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the lines are generally like on Fridays? Are they just as bad as on Saturdays?

I have a half-day today and have a 1-2pm window during which I could head over to Hot Doug's before we have to set off on a 5-hour drive to my parents' place (have to be there in time for dinner).

If it ain't gonna happen during those rather tight constraints, then I'll have to scheme something up another time.

Edited for clarity

Khaopaat wrote:Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the lines are generally like on Fridays? Are they just as bad as on Saturdays?

I have a half-day today and have a 1-2pm window during which I could head over to Hot Doug's before we have to set off on a 5-hour drive to my parents' place (have to be there in time for dinner).

If it ain't gonna happen during those rather tight constraints, then I'll have to scheme something up another time.

Edited for clarity

I have only been there once (last week) and we got there right before closing and we had about a half hour wait.

Like you and My Bride, many people might have the day off and with the publicity from the last week I would imagine the line might be long (nice day too).

5 hour drive? Wow! I wonder if you can get the encased meats, uncooked, to go?

Me, personally, I would wait until the folks are in town and do the full on Doug's experience.

Ah, you raise a good point: I totally forgot that it's Good Friday. I think I'll have to wait until a later date, when I can properly enjoy my meal, rather than having to inhale it so we can get on the road ASAP.

Thanks for the info!

I normally waltz into HD, even on Friday, if I go about 11:30. Today the line stretched well past the end of the building. Clearly a lot of people who had today off had that idea.

Mike G wrote:Today the line stretched well past the end of the building. Clearly a lot of people who had today off had that idea.

yup. arrival to order was just over 90 minutes in the the afternoon. i was surprised at the number of tourists in line (and their propensity to order double the amount of dogs they could actually eat so as to try one of each). oh well. no point in being a hater.

i needed sausage for breakfast. and the knockwurst was worth the wait.

c8w wrote:

gleam wrote:The regular fries get an A for taste also. The duck fat fries, which aren't any better to me, are twice as much money. How does it not deserve a low grade for value?

I agree with this almost entirely - Ive had the duck-fat fries 3 or 4 times now, and theyve left me pretty much cold each time. IMHO (and purely IMHO), a low-grade for value, and also a bit overrated. The "normal" fries at Weiner and Still Champion that I had this week, for instance, were IMHO superior, and happened to be much much cheaper as well.

I agree. FWIW, I'm glad I tried the duck-fat fries (especially during the height of the foie gras ban) and I like Hot Doug's, but I'd have to go with tallow-fries for flavor. I was expecting the fat itself to have more flavor - I'd be interested to try goose-fat fries to see if they do it for me.

I like Hot Doug's, though, on a day when I don't mind standing outside for a while....

forum contributors,

Is the line markedly larger at lunch on friday as compared to lunch on thursday? I wanna head up there during lunch break but if im gone for two hours my boss will have a cow.

Binko wrote:yeah, I know the bacon thing is long overdone...

Never!

NAV MAN wrote:forum contributors,

Is the line markedly larger at lunch on friday as compared to lunch on thursday? I wanna head up there during lunch break but if im gone for two hours my boss will have a cow.

The last time I was there was a Friday, maybe a week or two after they were featured on No Reservations. The line was ridiculous at 3 PM. 40 minute wait.

On Thursday, I would imagine you would have a shorter wait but would be best to head over there either 11 AM or 1:30 PM. When I worked within walking distance to HD, there may be a short wait (5 to 15 minutes) during those hours. That's my mildly educated guess.

Good luck.

FYI... Hot Doug's is closed Monday 4/27 - Thursday 4/30

Okay, this is my second fry-related post in a row for some reason. And way too late, too. Anyway, count me as a fan of the duck-fat fries. First, I don't see how you could claim not to notice a difference in taste, as Wolinsky did in that Onion review. Everyone I've ever exposed to these has commented on the unusual flavor without having been told about the duck fat. As for whether the higher price is worth it, that's certainly an individual judgment. However, I'd like to point out that one order easily feeds two people.

cilantro wrote:Okay, this is my second fry-related post in a row for some reason. And way too late, too. Anyway, count me as a fan of the duck-fat fries. First, I don't see how you could claim not to notice a difference in taste, as Wolinsky did in that Onion review. Everyone I've ever exposed to these has commented on the unusual flavor without having been told about the duck fat. As for whether the higher price is worth it, that's certainly an individual judgment. However, I'd like to point out that one order easily feeds two people.

It has been awhile since I had the normal fries so I decided to stop in yesterday to see if there was a difference.

IMO, Wolinsky doesn't build build trust with his readers by not being able to taste the difference. Although the normal fries are good, the duck fat fries, to me, taste a little saltier, richer, and have a firmer bite to them.

Personally, I think there is a debate on whether the duck fat fries are worth the extra cost but then again, this becomes subjective. With that being said, I would pay extra for the DF fries because of the quality of the product.

On a side note, the rabbit sausage I had yesterday was fantastic.

Drove by Hot Doug's this afternoon around 1:30. There must have been at least sixty people waiting in line. Wow.

i remember the days of being able to walk in during the week and order my food.

then the saturdays where i'd wait 30min... memories

typically i see the line is just about hitting the alley.
If you're in line and along the black gate, after the brick wall. I believe your wait is gonna be at least an hour

jaybo wrote:Drove by Hot Doug's this afternoon around 1:30. There must have been at least sixty people waiting in line. Wow.

Are you the wag that honked and waved at everyone?

I got there at 1:30 today and phoned my order in after seeing the line.

DFF's were excellent, as always, as were the Buffalo, Chicken/Rosemary, Uber Garlic Pork and the Ribeye sausages we picked up. Our meal was greatly enhanced as we skipped the line and took our food (and a flask of good bourbon) over to Horner Park for an impromptu picnic.

jaybo wrote:Drove by Hot Doug's this afternoon around 1:30. There must have been at least sixty people waiting in line. Wow.

The NAV MAN was one such patron. My maiden voyage through said queue, if boring, was largely uneventful. Being alone, I naturally eavesdropped on the conversations of those immediately in front and behind me, ascertaining nothing of note or interest to this community.

Having worked up a bit of an appeitite in waiting, NAV MAN opted for both the Selma Hayak and the 'game of the week' which was a Brown Ale Buffalo Sausage w/serendipity cheese. An order of duck fat fries was ordered and thoroughly devoured.

The Selma Hayak was as desireable as its titular inspiration. A sexy butterfly grilled sausage that packed as much heat as the sensational latina silver screen starlette.

The special was also delectable. This time 'cheesey' is far from a perjorative. This sausage was enjoyed aperch one of hot doug's bar stools in the backmost corner of the room, listening to The Smith's Louder then Bombs, quitely munching as Morissey gently cooed in my ear. This state of euphoria persisted until NAV MAN produced a little gas and was forced to uncomfortably hold in a fart. Amid these gastrontestinal thoes, the last of the fries were polished off. Obviously, a quick exit was then made, mercifully allowing for the free release of the sourse of said discomfort.

All in all, it was a nice experience. Worth the 15 bucks and hour wait? NAV MAN says yes.

NAV MAN wrote:

jaybo wrote:Drove by Hot Doug's this afternoon around 1:30. There must have been at least sixty people waiting in line. Wow.

The NAV MAN was one such patron. My maiden voyage through said queue, if boring, was largely uneventful. Being alone, I naturally eavesdropped on the conversations of those immediately in front and behind me, ascertaining nothing of note or interest to this community.

it took me awhile to figure out who were you talking about, then i saw yr handle.
warning kids: hot dougs may invoke you to talk in 3rd person


i kid, i kid

NAV MAN wrote:NAV MAN produced a little gas and was forced to uncomfortably hold in a fart. Amid these gastrontestinal thoes, the last of the fries were polished off. Obviously, a quick exit was then made, mercifully allowing for the free release of the sourse of said discomfort.

All in all, it was a nice experience. Worth the 15 bucks and hour wait? NAV MAN says yes.

Your concluding sentence fits, even if you strip away everything HD-related.

Just sayin'.

Ursiform wrote:Are you the wag that honked and waved at everyone?

Please.

Ursiform wrote:I like to take the wimp's way out on Saturdays - I phone in a take out order!

How long in advance do you need to place an order? Do you just cut in line when you get there, or is there a pick up area?

Thanks!