Easy B's Kitchen: TWO DOG RESTAURANT

Crabcake Sandwich

Spinach Salad

Penut Butter Pie ordered without Two Dog's pretty chocolate decoration,

as if I needed the extra calories

TWO DOG RESTAURANT

As unique as its name, Two Dog Restaurant has been serving dinners in historic downtown Gainesville, Georgia for over 12 years. Tim and Tina Roberts, Two Dog's owners and proprietors, are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations and activities at the restaurant. While Chef Tim prepares and dreams up his exclusive dishes "back-house" in the kitchen, his wife Tina oversees "front-house operations" and coordinates the catering side of the business. They are both active in the community and the restaurant was recently featured in "All Around Atlanta"

You will not see another menu like Two Dog's anywhere in Gainesville, or anywhere else for that matter. For lunch, the menu is characterized by playful takes on great standards like the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, and Roast Beef Sandwich. In addition, patrons have the option to play an active role in creating their dishes. Whether selecting from a long list of fresh ingredients to fill and top one of Two Dog's famous Quesadillas or creating a plate of choices from a long, daily list of both hot and cold sides, the diner has an opportunity to be creative.

Tuesday, I popped in to grab a bite for lunch. I was seated at my favorite location and was given a menu and a chance to order a beverage. Their wine list is full of unique wines from around the world and is specifically designed to compliment their menu, so you can't go wrong. My server was knowledgeable and courteous. After perusing the daily soups, specials and sides, I started with a spinach and walnut bacon salad served with a raspberry vinaigrette. The spinach was fresh, the bleu cheese delightful, and the raspberry dressing was sweet and tangy. A common faux pas committed at many restaurants is serving salad with bacon that was cooked the day before. Not here, the bacon on the salad was meaty, crisp and tasted like it was cooked to order.

For my main course, I opted for their ocean-fresh crabcake sandwich served on house baked bread with homemade remoulade accompanied by fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Having worked with Tim before, I knew I was in for a treat with this dish, crabcakes are one of his specialties. Unlike some places that use too much breading as filler, it was packed with crabmeat and veggies and cooked to perfection. The remoulade added a nice spicy accent and additional character to the sandwich. I chose the grit cakes as a side. If you have ever tried to cook one of these things, you will know the difficulty in attaining the desired amount of crispiness on the outside while at the same time preserving the creaminess inside that make us southerners love grits in the first place. Kudos, they did it. Please know that if you are a dessert person, you MUST try their peanut butter pie topped with chocolate ganache; it is simply to die for. Keep your eye out for a dinner review coming soon.

This place is just as I had remembered it, fun, quirky, stylish, and oh, so delicious. Hats off to Tim and Tina for doing what they have always done, providing Gainesville with a unique dining experience where one can enjoy uncommon food and the company of good people. Cheers!

Stay tuned for a Special Episode featuring Chef Tim Roberts from Two Dog!