Dat Dog, a popular New Orleans–based franchise chain that specializes in gourmet hot dogs, and sausages that can be dressed in a selection of more than 30 different toppings, is officially headed to Baton Rouge. The delicious sausage slinger has signed a lease for the first of three locations.
Located at Arlington Marketplace near Louisiana State University, the 3,000-square-foot restaurant will be owned and operated by David Halpern and nephew Teva Sempel and is expected to open in time for the LSU football season. Both New Orleans attorneys, Halpern and Sempel are committed to opening two additional locations in the Baton Rouge area over the next couple of years.
“Dat Dog is different. It’s a fresh concept, and we’re very excited to bring a little bit of offbeat New Orleans to Baton Rouge,” Halpern says. “The concept’s vibrant atmosphere, late-night hours, and, of course, its hot dogs will no doubt bring additional vibrancy to the campus and introduce students to an entirely new dining experience.”
The Dat Dog menu features an artfully crafted menu of Hot Dogs, sausages (crawfish, alligator, and duck), burgers, and chicken, in addition to the traditional beef wiener. The more than 30 toppings available at no extra charge—including unconventional options like blackberry sauce, guacamole, Sriracha mayo and crawfish etouffee— allow customers to create their very own “jazz improvisation in a bun.” The restaurant also offers vegetarian and vegan sausage options, in addition to a hot dog wrapped in a lettuce leaf instead of a traditional bun for carb avoiders.
The menu for the Baton Rouge locations will be mostly the same as the New Orleans restaurants, but there may be some tweaks to add Baton Rouge–specific items.
In the future, Halpern and Sempel hope to have a Dat Dog food truck open for tailgates, catering and other events.
“Dat Dog is a place where amazing and affordable food, fun-loving staff, and bright colors provide you with a sanctuary of joy from the moment you cross its threshold. Combining the soul of Louisiana with the sophistication of Europe, our artfully crafted cuisine of hot dogs and sausages are a thing of beauty,” says Constantine Georges, founder of Dat Dog. “I have no doubt that the people of Baton Rouge will love our quirky culture, along with our crazy delicious dogs.”
Dat Dog’s expansion into Baton Rouge comes one year after the brand announced their intentions to expand their footprint across the South through franchising and corporate-owned restaurants. Dat Dog would like to see 40 to 50 restaurants open up in the next five years in an area stretching from Texas to Florida.
