[All photos for GL courtesy of E.C. Stephens]
Gowanus has another eatery to add to its growing repertoire. Dawg Shack on Union Street and 3rd Street has set up shop on this quiet corner for over a month now. Serving the neighborhood’s frankfurter needs, it also provides cheap eats like burgers, sandwiches, breakfast and anything else that the owner/cook gets the urge to dish up. The Brooklyn Paper interviewed the owner Jose M., who declined to reveal his last name. “I’m a little spontaneous about what goes on the menu,” he admitted. “Yesterday, I made brisket. Today, I made chicken cutlet. I’m trying to think of what I’m gonna make tomorrow.”
A mystery man with mystery specials, color us intrigued. We made it over the other day to check it out for ourselves and found out that the elusive Jose’s full name was Jose Maldonado. He confirmed that the shack would have weekly specials like brisket and chicken cutlet, along with Boars Head’s meats, heroes (like Italian sausage with peppers) and of course their signature dawgs. A NY dog has sauerkraut and onion ($2), Chicago has onion, lettuce, tomato with pickle ($3), California comes with onion, mustard, ketchup and jalapeno ($3), Texas has bacon, cheese, mushroom and BBQ sauce ($3), and finally there is the staple chili-cheese dog ($2.75). We ordered a chili cheese dog with an order of fries and to our delight he grabbed a fresh potato and sliced up a new batch. It turns out Mr. Maldonado is an enthusiastic cook. Not only are the fries made from fresh potatoes, but his chili is homemade with green peppers and ground beef. Everything else is also made to order so don’t expect fast-food. Dawg Shack will start delivery, so this may be the best option for the impatient. Welcome to the Gowanus, Jose! (Call 718-855-0757 for delivery.)
—E.C. Stephens
9 responses so far ↓
1 Rutila // Oct 16, 2008 at 11:32 am
Gotta love those greengrocers’ apostrophes on the dry-erase board.
2 XXX XX // Oct 16, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Do you mean 3rd ave and union st?
3 E.C. Stephens // Oct 16, 2008 at 12:14 pm
OPPS. Yes, it’s 3rd Avenue. Sorry!
4 Justin // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Jose is a really nice guy. He used to own the tool rental place in the same location. He told me “there’s more money selling dogs than there is in selling drills”.
I just hope he’s washed all that dirt and grease off his hands since then.
5 pee quu // Oct 16, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I saw this place. That corner, if assembled like a flip book starting ,say, 20 yrs ago it would resemble that scene in The Time Machine. There have been a million things there.
6 ilbur // Oct 16, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Who in Chicago puts lettuce on a hot dog?
Mustard, relish, raw onions, tomato wedges, sport peppers, pickle slice, celery salt.
7 Jean Kahler // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:15 am
word. best of luck to this guy, but lettuce???
someone introduce him to the thing of beauty that is a real chicago dog. don’t forget the celery salt.
8 Mamacita // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:50 am
Yeah, I’m not sure what the Texan has to do with Texas other than the bbq sauce, but the bacon and cheese sounds freekin good!
9 Mike Tarter // Mar 26, 2009 at 4:01 pm
The food was fantastic.Jose fries are better then 5 guys so you know they are great.I’m not from Brooklyn and was just visiting.Jose gave me a lot advice on sites to see.For all you tourists out there when in Brooklyn stop by Dawg shack and for the people who live in Brooklyn,you have a great place