Donnie Vegas

Talk about a thirst trap; Donnie Vegas’ Instagram account had us thirsting for a trip to this honest-to-goodness dive bar for a frequently featured “Frosé”. Whatever the fuck that is! One sunny summer day we wandered in to find out what all of the hubbub was about. Imagine an adult Slurpee made from white and rose wines with a hint of blended strawberries. Not too sweet, not too tart, perfect frozen deliciousness for an afternoon sit on the shaded, dog-friendly back patio.

They have other fun sounding cocktails and a small, but well-curated tap list that included Grains of Wrath Papermaker Pale Ale on the day we visited. Damn! That man (Michael Hunsaker) can make good beer, but I’m veering off topic.

Back to DV’s: Very limited menu, just a selection of hot dogs, chips/Fritos and Frito pie. Solid drinking food. Aside from the classic chili dog and the dress-your-own, there were some pretty weird sounding combinations on the dog menu.

All of which thoughtfully include the option to substitute the regular tube steak for a vegan version. I gave the banh mi creation a whirl and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the darn thing was; solid dog with a snap and topped with plentiful fresh veg and seasoned mayo. I’d definitely order it again and open my mind to trying the others next time.

The patio is really the place to be, but there are booths lining the length of the interior should you desire to avoid the canines and/or cigarette smoke. Décor consists of rather creepy looking amateur paintings for sale, a vending machine selling random shit and some interesting and artful bathroom graffiti. Good stop.

Address: 1203 NE Alberta, Portland – [Google Maps]

Quadrant: Northeast

Website: http://donnie.vegas/

Happy Hours: 4-7pm everyday

Full kitchen: Hmmm, not really

Jalapeno Poppers: No

Breakfast: No

Outdoor Seating: Yes

Distinguishing features: Really good hot dogs and Frosé

Words by KC Shomler Author of Falling Out of Love With My Career

Photos by Steven Shomler

Website Wizardry by Arthur Breur