Tampa Bay might be home to the first Florida location of the New Orleans-based fast casual hot dog and sausage joint, Dat Dog.
The company's CEO Paul Tuennerman recently said that Dat Dog—which has three locations in the Big Easy—is considering opening new locations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Florida’s panhandle.
In his comments, Tampa Bay is one of the many urban Southeast areas on Tuennerman’s radar for Dat Dog’s expansion. He himself is a St. Petersburg native with a fond attachment to the city, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Throw your pre-conceived notion of the picnic snack out the window when it comes to Dat Dog—because this Louisiana-based chain makes its own hot dogs and vegan, vegetarian, fish and crawfish sausage from scratch. There are also over 30 toppings to choose from, and no extra charge for stacking them sky-high atop your dog.
Signature eats on the Dat Dog menu include the Irish Guinness sausage, which is topped with andouille sauce, onions, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon and yellow mustard, as well as its alligator sausage—a delicacy that Florida would welcome with open arms.
Dat Dog currently has four Louisiana locations, three in New Orleans and one in Lafayette. But expect to find more of its brightly-colored decor and exotic hot dog options if the fast-casual joint ever makes its way to Tampa Bay. Although Tuennerman boasts of opening several locations throughout the Southeast, there is no expected time frame for Dat Dog's new spots.
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