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Restaurant Ratings

The ratings are based mostly on the degree to which the food excites us, and a little on environment, service, and other considerations. I rate restaurants relative to all other restaurants in the New Orleans area. Here's what the stars mean to me:

starstarstarstarstar
Among the best locally.

starstarstarstar
Excellent and ambitious.

starstarstar
Worth crossing town for.

starstar
Recommended.

*
Acceptable.

No star
Unacceptable.

Cost Ratings
Each dollar sign indicates a ten-dollar range, including a normal meal for the restaurant (dinner, if they serve other meals), not including drinks, or tips. So, for example. . .

1$--$5-15
2$--$15-25
3$--$25-35

. . . and so on, with no upper limit. While this scheme may suggest mathematical precision, know that perception of price varies from diner to diner as much as the star ratings do. So consider this an estimate.

All reviews are based entirely on meals I have personally taken at the restaurant and paid for from my own pocket. I don't take free review meals, nor am I reimbursed by anybody for my restaurant expenditures.

starstar
pricebar

Ugly Dog Saloon

Barbecue.
Warehouse District: 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd. 504-569-8459. Map.
Lunch and dinner continuously seven days.
Very Casual
AE DC DS MC V
Website

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
As the name implies, the Ugly Dog is at least as much a watering hole as it is a restaurant. Despite that, their barbecue must be taken seriously. It’s smoky and good, and served with good sides at prices that seem absurdly cheap. For less than $10, you can get a platter of brisket, pork, or chicken with a couple of side dishes, all prepared on site.

WHY IT'S GOOD
Barbecue is a simple proposition. Either it's smoky and tender or it's not. The sauce and sides are an add-on. Ugly Dog has it down, with flavors on the sharp side. The platters are generous. The cole slaw is fascinating, sauced with a sort of peanut-sesame-oil kind of mystery sauce that I find really great. The chili beans are firm and cooked with fresh tomato and onion.

BACKSTORY
Co-owner Joe Shackleton left the swanky Windsor Court Hotel in 1996 to open, far downscale, this appropriately rough-edged barbecue joint in the middle of the Warehouse District. Little did he know that the World War II Museum and the expansion of offices and apartments in the area would bring a great crowd in for lunch, and then later for dinner and drinking. The barbecue has been good since day one.

DINING ROOM
Pertfect in the Warehouse District, the interior looks like a warehouse, but darker. The action is almost always concentrated around the bar. The place stays open until the wee hours.

ESSENTIAL DISHES
House salad, topped (or not) with barbecue meats.
Pulled pork or brisket sandwich.
Hamburger.
Smoked sausage sandwich.
Barbecue brisket platter.
Pulled pork platter.
Rotisserie chicken platter.
Pork spare ribs platter.
Cole slaw.
Potato salad.
Smoked baked potato.
Chili with beans.

FOR BEST RESULTS
Come with a bunch of friends, or with the intention of making some new ones.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
The food comes out too quickly, giving the impression that they want you to move on (which is not the case).

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES

This review was updated with new information on 4/12/2010.

A list of over 325 full, current reviews is here.