New restaurant review

Business man and self professed hot dog lover Steve César has accomplished his aim and opened the doors of his own restaurant last Saturday.

What he has named The Dog House is a fresh and vibrant new eaterie at the former D’s Steak House, in the basement of 114 High Street, Deal.

With a range of mouth-watering gourmet hot dogs as his signature dishes, Steve is proud to have devised the recipes for each ‘dog’ himself.

And with fortnightly specials like the El Jefe (available until the end of next week), he combines chorizo style sausage - made to a unique recipe that only he knows - home made guacamole with manchego cheese in a brioche bun (also made to his own recipe but sourced by Wingham Bakery). Beside it is homeslaw mixed with a cider vinegar vinegarette and hand cut, twice cooked french fries.

If you want a bit of variety, it’s not all about the hot dog though: Two day prepared ribs, and pulled pork are also specialities.

Steve, who is in the process of selling Speedy IT in Victoria Road to concentrate on The Dog House, comes from a family that has run restaurants and hotels. He has researched his menu, presentation and his business model thoroughly.

With fresh white walls, bare brick features in ‘The Arches’, blue floor lights, and colourful dog-inspired artworks by German artist Schmetz, he has reinvigorated the once dark underground cavern. The look marries in perfectly with his branding logo - a Dachshund pooch. There is a hint of an American diner in the furniture choice, but Steve has made The Dog House his own Uber-cool venue with a Latino inspired song playlist.

He has invested heavily in venture, and is not in a rush to reclaim that investment, preferring instead to ‘get it right from the off’.

From my experience with the El Jefe the quality of the food is unquestionably good, so Steve wants to make sure the service is second to none.

By limiting each table to just one cover a night, he wants customers to feel indulged and unrushed. That's fine by me! After all, there’s always room for homemade churros or cheesecake and plenty of time to while away the night with cocktails.

• The Dog House is at 114 High Street, Deal.

Telephone 01304 721896. Or find them on Facebook.