What can you tell me about Bubbledogs?
One of the biggest trends in London at the moment is to pare a restaurant down to a simple concept. So we've had Burger & Lobster, Chicken Shop, the chicken & steak offering at Tramshed and now there's Bubbledogs. The brainchild of James Knappett (ex Ledbury) and his wife Sandia Chang (ex Roganic) this is an upmarket hot-dog restaurant that pairs its hot-dogs with grower champagnes (champagnes from a single vineyard as opposed to the blend of wines that the bigger brands use).
It's also one half of a restaurant site which also contains the Kitchen Table - which you can read more about here.
Where is it?
Slap bang in Fitzrovia, juat around the corner from Dabbous.
Where should I meet people for drinks?
Bearing the above in mind - Dabbous is perfect for a pre or post hot-dog drink, with a great downstairs bar that you won't have to wait six months to get into. Alternatively, there's a pretty packed Draft House around the corner and plenty of options on the main drag of Charlotte Street.
Where should I sit?
Wherever they put you. It's a take your name and wait for a table restaurant - so if you have an opportunity to grab a seat, you should take it - and if there are two of you, be prepared to share a table. Of all the seats in the room, we liked the look of the ones by the bar the most.
What should I order?
The hot dogs, of course! The dogs come in several version, all around the £6-7.50 mark. We tried the Breakie - featuring bacon, fried egg and black pudding bits, The Buffalo with buffalo sauce, blue cheese and celery, the BLT with bacon, caramelised lettuce and truffle mayo - and the Horny Dog which is Bubbledogs' version of a corn dog. All hit the spot, with a preference being the BLT. Two hot dogs each and sides might have been a bit much though...
And as for those sides, tots and sweet potato fries were a good accompaniment to the dogs and it's worth trying both at just £3.50 each.
There are usually specials on offer, which may be influenced on what the Kitchen Table is doing - so it's always worth asking. We did enjoy the dogs (and the buzzy atmosphere), but have to admit they still have ground to make up to beat our all-time favourite, Big Apple Hot Dogs.
What about the wine?
Wine is, as mentioned, heavily focused on grower champagnes and as a result, the bill can add up if you're in Bubbledogs for any length. But given that it's a feed you fast and keep the tables turning kind of joint that shouldn't be a problem. Glasses range from £6.50 to £11 and bottles start at £45. There are a few beers and ciders on the menu too, starting at £5.50.
Overall thoughts
Bubbledogs was heaving when we got there and we're pretty sure it'll be doing bumper business for some time - offering a halfway house between grungier "dirty food" restaurants and more upmarket establishments. The hot dogs are undoubtedly fun and there's a great buzz about the place - but we have to admit that the reliance on Champagne as the main drink does drag the price up more than some may like. That said, if you're up for a quick bite of snack food and bubbles on a Friday night, this is certainly worth stopping by. It's one of the hottest spots in London right now - which when you do grab a table, makes it all the more fun.
Find out more about Bubbledogs
Hot Dinners were invited to eat at Bubbledogs. Prices were correct at time of writing.
