Eat Up, You Lucky Dog

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: 2016/09 - September | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography

We didn’t make dinner reservations for The Ugly Dog Pub (also known as The Puppy)  in Cashiers, it’s just not that kind of place.

Sure, there are probably times when a reservation would be a good idea, but come on – it’s a pub! Show up and soak up every ounce of charm in this slightly-off center place. Every wall, every corner, is a shout-out to Man’s Best Friend, done up with warmth and more than a touch of gentle humor. There’s even a verandah where patrons can enjoy a meal or refreshments while their pooches sleep at their feet. 

It all adds up to a marvelously relaxing pub experience that just happens to include a generous menu. 

This being a pub, we showed up with a table of six garrulous friends ready to have a good time. There are large screen TVs scattered throughout, which makes The Ugly Dog ideal for catching college and pro games and getting a bit rowdy (as rowdy as you can get in Cashiers).

But this was our Saturday night, and we were in the mood for good conversation lubricated by bar selections and The Dog’s deep, deep menu of brews (including, naturally, the wonderfully-named Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale).

All of the talk, all of the laughter and all of the refreshments made us more than a little puckish, so we tsunamied the kitchen with orders from all corners of the menu.

Out came selections like Roasted Chicken Panino, Dogs Wings, Ugly Dog Quacamole, Loaded Cheese Fries, Handmade Chips with Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Fried Fish Wrap and the sublime Ancient Grains Salad. 

Let me explain that Ancient Grains Salad – it’s a blend of Oats, Barley, Spelt, Quinoa, and Amaranth, mixed with cucumber, olives, tomatoes, banana peppers, and feta cheese. It’ll make you proud to be a Human Being and it somehow balances everything out if you should happen to overdo it with the brews. 

I suppose you could make the same moral argument for the Ugly Dog Guacamole – it’s achingly fresh and topped with feta cheese. Really good guacamole is almost divine. Do not miss this.

You really can’t make the same moral argument for the Handmade Chips with Bleu Cheese Crumbles. This is big and delicious and is the gustatory equivalent of falling face first into a trough. I loved every greasy morsel and would have licked the paper that lined the basket they arrived in. It was so gratifying, yet left me vaguely stupid for the rest of the evening. Blissfully stupid.

Normally I run out of space before I mention desserts. Do not miss the Blondie Sundae with Toasted Pecans, Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. And, if it’s still in season, you’ll kick yourself if someone in your party doesn’t order the Peach Cobbler. This will gravely disappoint my Saintly Mother when this is published, but I’d sell my grandmother for another helping of that cobbler.

And one final thing – even if you’re with a raucous party or dining with your sweetie, take time to notice your server. Our Ramsey was an absolute delight: a blend of that that unmistakable charm that comes from being raised in Highlands/Cashiers, honed with the sensibilities of a Cali Girl. The servers are a fun reflection of this unique fixture on the Cashiers dining scene.

The Ugly Dog is located at 25 Fred Allen Road (close to the US Post Office and the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library.