I purchased a ValuUp voucher for BRAT a while back and thought a Saturday night before football kicked off, was the perfect night to use it.
When I walked in, I wondered whether a reservation was really necessary as it was completely empty, but within 5 minutes of being seated, every table except one, was taken.
The selection of hotdogs is pretty good, with a bit of something for everyone.
The ones that caught my attention included the Bourbon (pork and beef with kentucky bourbon, garlic and spices), Chorizo (chicken and turkey with Chorizo and garlic), and the very cheesy Gruyere, but we ultimately settled on:
* Chipotle - Pork with chipotle chili, cheddar and paprika
* Sun Dried Tomatoes Mozzarella (chicken and turkey with sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella and basil)
You can choose from their signature bun or dark rye, along with a whole host of condiments (caramelized onions, jalapeno, cheddar, mushrooms etc) and mustards (classic, dijon, honey, truffle).
The signature bun was warm and soft - perfect companion to the hotdog. And the condiments were tasty without being overpowering for the hotdog.
The fries were pretty good - proper thin cut and tastier than what you'd get from McD's! Which is a good thing given that you're paying more here than any regular fast food joint.
But the star of the show is ultimately the sausage itself. Both the ones we tried were delicious - very juicy (as evidenced by the amount of mess I made!), packed full of flavour. The chipotle had the perfect amount of heat and you could taste every single ingredient in the sun dried tomato one. They didn't look that big when put in front of me, but I was well and truly full at the end of it.
They are very more-ish. I only wish I had enough room in my belly to try another one.
Service was very friendly and efficient and the overall vibe and decor made it a very comfortable, cosy experience.
This is not a replacement for the old hotdog place on Cochrane Street - I think it stands on it's own as a casual restaurant that serves good quality sausages.