Steve’s Hot Dogs recently opened its new South Grand location, with its venerable selection of hot dogs piled high with toppings now complemented by fries, an expanded burger selection, and a full bar, including signature cocktails.
The move to the former Mangia Italiano space is the culmination of a major turnaround for Steve’s Hot Dogs. Owner Steve Ewing announced the restaurant’s closure in January 2020 but reopened a month later, after receiving support from new investors.
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Ewing says he was delighted to be able to take one half of the Mangia space. (The forthcoming Padrino’s is slated to open soon in the other.) Late artist Wayne St. Wayne’s expansive mural remains preserved on the interior’s south wall. Ewing says he was grateful to receive the support of many local residents and longtime Mangia customers.
The new space also gives Ewing an opportunity to push Steve’s Hot Dogs into a new era. “We needed more kitchen space, so we could actually put the exhaust system in for frying and baking and things like that,” Ewing says. “We needed dining space because when we do our events, we usually run out of space in the dining room.”
The heart of the menu remains the hot dog selection. The Bacon Bacon Jamaican (one of Ewing’s favorites) exemplifies the restaurant’s inclination to generously pile on the toppings, with crispy bacon, jerk seasoning, pepper jack, bell peppers, and honey chipotle barbecue sauce. Among the other options: hot dogs topped with chili, mac and cheese, ground beef, a variety of cheese, veggies, and condiments. Traditionalists can opt for New York- and Chicago-style dogs, or you can build your own. Customers can order by scanning QR codes on the tables or via the conventional counter service. (While paying, customers make a donation to the #FeedThePeople program, which partners with local charitable organizations to distribute meals to people in need.)
The new Steve’s Hot Dogs space is also doubling down on burgers. “We’re really putting a lot more effort into the quality of the meat, the bread, and everything that goes on the burger,” Ewing says. “We really want the burgers to be just as quality, just as crafted as the hot dogs.” Customers can choose from five options, each named after an Eddie Murphy character. The Reggie Hammond is a bacon cheeseburger topped with ketchup and mayo; the Prince Akeem’s a vegetarian burger; and the Mr. Robinson comes topped with mac and cheese, fried onions, bacon, and barbecue sauce. Customers can make it a double for an extra $3.
Fries are another big addition. A simple basket of fries is available, but customers can also opt for loaded varieties: chili cheese fries, bacon cheeseburger fries, and Bacon Bacon Jamaican fries. The menu is rounded out with chili bowls and mac and cheese bowls. Sides include baked beans, potato salad, chili, and mac and cheese.
For the first time, Steve’s Hot Dogs has its own bar as well. Previously, at the Magnolia location, patrons could grab a drink at the adjacent Tick Tock Tavern. “Now you don’t have to go to a bar next door to get your beverage,” Ewing says. “Now you can get everything in one shot.”
The drink options include local craft beer on tap, canned beer, and wines, as well as a cocktail list created by general manager Nick Ford. Ewing’s favorite? The Gettin’ Hectic house margarita: “Not too heavy, not too sweet; it’s just really drinkable.” Other noteworthy cocktails include the Baby Yoda (with orange and pomegranate vodkas, melon liqueur, falernum, and pineapple juice) and the smoke-infused Kylo Rye-N (a rye, campari and sweet vermouth powerhouse).
Indoor seating is available at tables and the bar, as well as the patio, situated beside Ritz Park—a dream for a musician like Ewing, lead singer of The Urge, who plans to host live shows at the park and inside the restaurant.
