Pub Dog doing well
Looks like Pub Dog in Columbia is having a better go of it than its predecessor, Hard Times Cafe.
Hard Times had a hard time drawing people on weeknights.
You could say it fell on some ...
Right.
Last night I had a beer at Pub Dog, the Howard County expansion of the flourishing South Baltimore Dog Pub (pictured).
There were only one or two empty seats at the bar, and a bunch of the tables were occupied too.
Not bad for 9:30 on a Tuesday night.
My biggest complaint when I reviewed it last fall was finding the place.
They've since added a lit sign to the building's exterior, which solved that problem.
I'm always happy to see a locally owned restaurant or bar succeed in Columbia, aka chain restaurant & retail heaven.
(Photo by Kenneth K. Lam/Sun Photographer)
I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
Now that you know how to get there, you should also check out Frisco Burrito, which is in the same shopping center. They have okay tex mex at affordable prices and some of the best beer selection south of Mahaffey's and north of DC.
Hard Times sucked big time, anything would've been better.
Posted by: Mike | April 16, 2008 3:55 PM
The only problem I see is that their beer prices continue to go up. 2 for 4$ is still cheap, but come on guys.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | April 17, 2008 10:42 AM
I used to live in Federal Hill and moved to Columbia two years ago and could not be happier that Pub Dog followed! Their food and beer are outstanding. As for the price increase, with the worldwide hop shortage that has driven many microbreweries out of business I hardly think 50 cents is an unreasonable increase for such a good product.
Posted by: Tony | April 18, 2008 1:59 PM
That argument would hold water if every other bar had done the same price-raising, but the Dog Pub / Pub Dog folks have done it at least three or four times since they started. $4 is definitely a ceiling in my mind, especially when I can get very, very competitively priced brews of similar quality elsewhere. And for as good as their pizza is, their repeated lock-step price increases are pushing it, I mean, 11 bucks for a small pizza?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 18, 2008 4:41 PM
I dont know what you guys are talking about, I've been going for years and have only seen a 50 cent increase. As for other bars not increasing thier prices, are they microbreweries? I would pay $4 for a great beer anytime!
Posted by: Kristen | April 21, 2008 6:47 PM
I walked by the other day and saw that the signs outside now say Dog Pub. Any word on the reason for this?
Posted by: locust point man | July 6, 2008 6:10 PM
I stopped going when they had to stop letting dogs in. I'll sit outside and drink with my dog at some of the places that still allow them outside.
Posted by: Carey | July 7, 2008 3:02 PM
Now that you know about Columbia, bring some friends down to enjoy some ol' fashioned suburban blandness! Our strip malls rule with PLENTY of spots for your SUV! While you're here, stop at McSame's Pub. The beer selection is nice and your friends will enjoy the reasonable prices!
Posted by: J.M. Giordano | July 7, 2008 3:46 PM
FYI -
THEY didn't stop letting dogs in. The city of Baltimore threatened to close them down citing a century old law. Howard County certainly was no more friendly about the situation. The Pub Dog in Columbia does allow dogs outside on their patio where I took my lab last night and polished off 6 or so pairs of the best beer available in Columbia! Try the pizza - it's amazing! AND - they now bottle their beer for carry-out. Wow!
Posted by: Thom | July 14, 2008 12:11 AM