Just opened: Chicago's Dog House

The phrase "in between CVS and McDonald's" doesn't usually bode well for a restaurant. But if that's what it takes to make sure that hot-dog fiends can find Chicago's Dog House, a two-and-a-half-week-old hot-dog stand in the heart of Lincoln Park, I suppose the owners (a couple of DePaul and Columbia College alums) are doing what they've got to do.

Plus it sounds as though the decor is a cut above generic retail. As Ryan D'Arcy, one of the partners, explains: "The interior of the restaurant is corrugated steel, which gives it a very modern, clean look.  To go along with these walls, I chose old barn wood that I actually pried from a barn on my father's farm, finished and constructed it into all the countertops. The two tables in the dining room came from a bowling-alley lane that was demolished in Coal City, IL. The light shades also came out of a factory in the ’70s."

As for the franks themselves, the menu is part straight-up traditional dogs, part Hot Doug's-like gourmet dogs. D'Arcy calls out the French Poodle (Brie, sliced pear and Grey Poupon on a Vienna Beef frank) and the smoked duck sausage as two early favorites. Check out the full menu (as well as hours, etc.) after the jump, bearing in mind that the owners are still tweaking it.

$2.90 Hot Dogs
Chicago Style-Dragged through the Garden.
Blue Demon-Blue cheese, buffalo sauce, and celery.
Blago- Chicago Style w/Ketchup. (Opening Bid $1000.)
Corn Dog- Hand dipped and delicious.

$3.50 Specialty Hot Dogs
T-Frank- Bacon, cream cheese, avocado, and homemade hot sauce.
French Poodle- Brie cheese, grey poupon, & pear.
Mayor Daley- Irish Cheddar, caramelized onions, and Smokey Dijon.
Greek town- Hummus, onions, tomato, and home made tazaki sauce.
BLT Dog- Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and mayo.
Snoop Dog-homemade chili, onion, & Colby cheese.
Chihuahua- Homemade hot sauce, guacamole, cheese, onion, & tomato.
Polish- caramelized onions, green peppers, & mustard.
Italian- sautéed peppers, onions, & sweet mustard.

$6.50 Gourmet/Specialty Sausages (Subject to Availability & Weekly Specials)
Ribeye Steak Sausage- sauteed mushrooms, aged Irish cheddar, caramelized onions, horseradish sauce.
Atomic Bomb- Guacamole, chihuahua cheese, homemade hot sauce.
Lamb- tomato, onion, feta, homemade tazaki sauce on a pita.
Smoked Duck- Swiss cheese, mushrooms, caramelized onions, Dijon Mustard.
Chompers- Smoked Alligator: caramelized onions & sweet chili sauce.

$3.90 Burgers
Veggie Burger- Hummus, tomato, caramelized onion, green peppers, lettuce, and sweet & spicy mustard.
BBQ Bacon- bacon, bbq sauce, Colby cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions.
Greek- feta, onions, hummus, tomato, and homemade tazaki sauce.

Meals
$4.99- Hot Dog, Fries, & Drink.
$5.50- Specialty Hot Dog, Fries, & Drink.
$8.50- Gourmet/Specialty Sausage, Fries, & Drink.

Chicago’s Dog House, 816 W. Fullerton (773-248-3647). El: Brown, Purple (rush hrs), Red to Fullerton. Bus: 8, 11, 74. Open 11am–10pm daily.