Let's Be Frank, DOG!

Let's Be Frank Hot Dog Bar - [Review]

Address: 460 Spadina Ave (Toronto)

Date visited: Mar. 23, 2015

website: http://www.lets-be-frank.ca

Twitter/Instagram @letsbefrankto

#letsbefrankto

Facebook: /LetsBeFrankTO

Let's Be Frank opened softly in December 2014 and now they are gearing up to welcome people out of hibernation and join them for Dogs and Beers as they say.  Owners, Christa Mula, Simon Colyer and Julie Ford all have experience working in marketing and communications but they all dreamed of having their own bar to hang out in with friends.  Simon the General Manager has extensive culinary experience along with his web technology experience.  He started cooking at 6 and has canning, butchery and bakery experience.  

A great mix of skills to run a Hot Dog Bar.  It takes many skills to operate a successful restaurant/bar including great food, great space, business and marketing savvy and friendly personalities always help.  It seems like this trio of partners and friends have all of these skills, even though they may have had to learn some of the business ones the hard way.  

They started their culinary journey at the Big on Bloor festival where they found that things don't always go the way you plan them.  Their hard work in chili making accidentally went down the drain (literally) and all seemed to be lost but they persevered and proceeded to get a food truck for a while before finding their dream location beside the El Mocambo night club.  While the El Mo was scheduled to close it was recently saved by Dragon's Den business man Michael Wekerle.  It is now under renovation and I think both venues will be ready to rock and roll serving up music and dogs side by side come this summer.

It's funny how things happen sometimes.  It turns out that Julie had been following my Instagram feed way before she found out that I was attending the media dinner.  It was so nice to meet someone that has been enjoying my photos but didn't know me until now.  

The rest of the hungry food bloggers and myself sampled the following menu items, although it's only a portion of the menu.  They had samples set out of other items for us to photograph as seen in the photo collage.

Pulled Pork Po'Boy - Pulled pork, coleslaw,homemade BBQ sauce & hickory sticks.

Katsu Dog - Panko crusted, deep-fried with wasabi mayo, sesame BBQ sauce and green onions.

Corn Dog - Battered and deep-fried, and topped with Dine Alone Foods' Southern Blues BBQ sauce.

Hot Dog Wings - Hot dog bites, breaded and fried, tossed in buffalo sauce.

Hot Dog Gravy Poutine- seasoned fries topped with fresh cheese curds and gravy.

Mac & Cheese - creamy mac and cheese topped with bacon bits and Southern Blues BBQ sauce.

Dessert:  Ivana Banana Dog - Deep-fried banana with peanut butter, jelly & Nutella.

If you are downtown and want to meet up with friends for drinks and some interesting dogs and hang out in a fun space then this is the place for you.  Even the staff got into the act and dressed up as a Hot Dog and Ketchup so you know they will go out of their way to entertain and feed you.