Due to extensive road work, traffic along Route 1 in Pawcatuck has slowed to a crawl. While this might be a drag for most motorists waiting for the policemen to turn their signs from stop to slow, there is a silver lining.
As luck would have it, Cousins’ Dog House & Grille, unaware of the pending road work, opened its doors on June 2 amid the heaviest traffic in years.
Owners JoAnn Baker, and husband and wife team Dave and Elaine Rosenblum, agreed that not only has the mass of passers-by helped their exposure, but it has also helped their immediate business, as more than a few have stopped in to see what this new restaurant is all about. And as the name would suggest, it’s all about the dogs.
A Bronx native, Dave has a love for hotdogs, and when Elaine and JoAnn, cousins and close friends since childhood, began talking about opening a restaurant, he was compelled to get involved.
“These are Sabrett’s dogs that we decided on,” Dave said. “Before we did this, I went to every place I could find within 50 miles in every direction and probably went to 60 different places and tried around 30 different types of dogs and finally settled on Sabrett’s—they bring them out here fresh from the Bronx.”
And while anyone who loves a hot dog fresh off the grill will appreciate the classic standbys like the Coney Island Dog (mustard, chili, sauerkraut, and chopped onion), or the New Yorker (mustard and spicy red onion sauce), those with a more adventurous palate will find their match in the Hawaiian Dog (crushed pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and scallions) or the Asian Dog (peanut butter, teriyaki sauce, and scallions).
But if any of the 11 specialty dogs don’t ring your bell, you can customize your own, choosing from any of the 15 different toppings available, including favorites like chili, cheese, and relish, and the more daring, such as jalapenos, bacon, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw. Yet while its all-beef hotdogs may be the focus, Cousins’ Dog House & Grille also offers 100 percent Angus burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, fresh-cut French fries, and an array of salads and desserts.
What’s more, everything is made from scratch on the premises, save the hotdogs and the buns, which are delivered daily. Even the fries are hand cut from russet potatoes bought fresh from Sandy’s Fine Food Emporium in Westerly. Dave and JoAnn agreed that their customers thus far are proof that their concept of serving simple yet delicious food made only from the finest and freshest ingredients is succeeding.
“We’ve been very fortunate, it’s been busy straight through,” Dave said. “We haven’t had a grand opening yet—this was just a soft opening and we’ve been too busy to have a grand opening, so I think we’ll probably just let things be.”
“Our customers actually gave us a grand opening,” JoAnn agreed.
Although Cousins’ Dog House & Grille is still young, Dave believes he and his partners have found their niche, as there are no other eateries in the area that offer the same type of fare.
“This is an all-American place—hotdogs, burgers, grilled chicken, salads,” Dave explained. “You know there are a lot of places around—pizza places and delis and full-blown restaurants. We kept it simple: The burgers are all-Angus burgers; the chicken is delivered fresh to us every couple of days...We’ve been open two and a half weeks and some people have been back six or seven times.”
Cousins’ Dog House & Grille is located at 76 South Broad Street (Route 1) in Pawcatuck and is open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. seven days a week. For a menu or to place a pick-up order, call 860-599-FOOD (3663).