THE PUNKS HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING (DBGB Kitchen & Bar)

My search for the best hot dog in New York continues….

SADLY, DBGB KITCHEN & BAR IS NOW CLOSED.

Of all the high end hot dogs I’ve been reviewing on this blog, I think DBGB might be at the highest end of the spectrum. At $9, it’s definitely the most expensive one yet and it’s curated by a master charcutier from France (Gilles Verot). Of course it’s made in house and is topped by only the finest, complimentary ingredients.

Not that the semi-casual restaurant feels as stuffy and high end as all that. This beer bar/burger café/sausage haven has a very open and relaxed vibe. On my third (and most official) visit, I sat at the bar and ordered the cheapest sausage on the menu.

While the menu is mostly made up of fancy sausage combinations like a Lamb & Mint merquez and a Pork Lemongrass and Red Curry link, I focused my eyes on the namesake dog. The DBGB Dog (named after Daniel Boulud himself) is an all-beef wiener that is a nod to NYC’s classic tube meat while also being a refined restaurant quality sausage.

All the components here were of a higher quality than could be expected at your corner Sabrett cart. And they better be for $9 (mine was $7 without fries). The large crusty bun was homemade and incredibly buttery, fitting the hot dog perfectly and not overwhelming the meat with too much bread.

The star of the show, of course, is the house made wiener that was swelling, just waiting to burst. Although there was a nice consistent snap, I was surprised it didn’t have a bigger pop when bitten into.

Inside, the flavors, most notably beef and garlic, were intense and true – no junky nitrate aftertaste that many people would say is what makes a hot dog taste so good. The chopped radish, sauteed onions, and tangy sweet sauce (I think it was a secret concoction combining the flavors of ketchup and mustard) kept this hot dog fresh and light while remaining loyal to the flavors of NYC street food.

Is this version worth more than triple the price of your average street hot dog? I suppose it depends. I thought it was mighty tasty and I didn’t feel as guilty or bloated after eating it. For me that’s the true definition of a haute dog.

Does DBGB Kitchen & Bar have the best hot dog in NY? It’s certainly not the cheapest, but it is the best high end version I’ve tasted so far and have to give it a 9 out of 10 for its balance of high quality and spot-on flavor.