The new dog in town

<p>Roy’s Chicago Doggery, a seven-month-old restaurant at the Petaluma Livestock Auction Yard, already has such an old-fashioned diner style and warm coziness that it feels as if it has been there for several decades.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>This is partly because the eatery formerly housed a similar restaurant, Mike’s at the Yard, but it’s also because the new owner has added some appealing new touches, including jerseys, helmets and banners of local high school sports teams throughout the place, as well as some quirkiness, such as an area for photographs of people who have “taken the tour” by ordering every item on the menu.</p><p>Owner Chris Badouin opened Roy’s with the vision of having Chicago-style hot dogs as the featured fare.</p><p>“It was my father’s dream to open a hot dog stand,” said Badouin, but his dad died before he could realize his wish. So Badouin opened Roy’s, named after his father.</p><p>Since it opened, Roy’s has been drawing a steady and loyal clientele of hot dog lovers from as far away as Ukiah and San Francisco.</p><p>The menu offers 14 different hot dogs, ranging from Nothin’ But a Hound Dog, a Vienna all-beef hot dog with mustard for $3.50, to the Home Wrecker, a 12-inch, half-pound Vienna dog loaded with onions, Chicago relish, cheddar cheese, kraut, sport peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, giardiniera (Italian relish), pickle spears, celery salt and tabasco for $8. </p><p>None of us were hungry (or brave) enough to try the Homewrecker or a concoction called the Hellfire Dog, listed on the specials board. The Hellfire Dog is a hot polish sausage with habanero sauce and sport peppers. When asked what it was like, the waitress said, “If you eat it, I’m going to apologize to you now, for tomorrow.”</p><p>One of the most popular items, the Chicago Dog ($4), is a Vienna all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, with tomatoes, mustard, sport peppers, relish, onions, celery salt and a pickle spear. It is visually appealing, with plenty of colorful ingredients, and tastes even better than it looks. </p><p>The Famous Maxwell Street Polish Dog ($3.75) is a Vienna all-beef Polish frankfurter topped with grilled onions, sport peppers and spicy mustard. The hot dog was cooked just right and blended nicely with the toppings and a generous glass of lemonade ($1).</p><p>One Lunch Bunch member opted to try the Underdog ($4), an all-beef Vienna dog with mustard topped with chili, cheese and onions. It’s the classic chili cheese dog and is as satisfying as it is filling. It went well with a ice-filled glass of Southern-style sweet tea ($1)</p><p>The Buffalo Dog ($4) comes in a poppy seed bun, slathered in buffalo-wing sauce and topped with a dose of celery salt. It’s a tasty combination and enjoyable — not too hot or spicy, so you won’t be stampeding for the water fountain.</p><p>Also catering to the high school spirit, Roy’s has a Casa Dog, featuring the green-and-gold condiment combo of relish and mustard. The Petaluma High colors are reflected in its namesake dog’s red onions and mayo. A sign above the cash register divides the room in “east side” and “west side” halves, with each half painted in the appropriate high school colors.</p><p>In addition to the regular menu of hot dogs, there are daily specials, including East Coast-style steamed cheeseburgers, barbecued linguisa on Mondays and Saturdays, homemade pies and deep-fried Oreos.</p><p>Milkshakes ($2.50) are also on the menu and come in a variety of flavors: chocolate, vanilla, orange cream, mint, strawberry and chocolate mint.</p><p>(Contact the Lunch Bunch at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>