I'd been to 2Dogs a couple of times- once after it just opened (newly changed over from Rick's- what it used to be) and then the Missus, her Bestie and I stuffed our faces with cheese fries and beer while we watched Iowa lose to Iowa State in triple overtime last year. (A situation I'm hoping is rectified in the other direction this year- but we'll see!)
Needless to say it'd been awhile. But I was still as pleasantly surprised as I was right after the opening. The space is nice and open, the floor (apparently Rick's had carpets- 2Dogs wisely went with laminate flooring) is nice and clean. The initial space is booth/seating and then the bar space is further back along with an air hockey table and a gloriously large picture of Iowa's victory over Northwestern last year. (Another blessedly sweet event. I still smile thinking about those Wildcats The Quiet Man and I tolerated at Harpist's wedding a couple of years back. 'We beat you 5 out of 6 years- we put that in our Christmas letter...'- it was such a joy to beat them last year.) All in all, it's a pleasant drinking/eating environment with plenty of televisions with sporting entertainment with those that are looking for it.
Beer-wise, the Missus just went to lunch their with one of her friends and recommended the Schlafy Unfiltered Wheat which was awesome. Refreshing, slightly fruity and smooth it was the perfect summer beer. Beer number 2 was a Tallgrass 8 Bit Pale Ale- as Pale Ales go, it was good. Not too hoppy and equally as refreshing.
Food-wise, 2Dogs seems to takes a page out of Short's Burger and Shine- probably home to the best burgers of the downtown scene if not the best burgers in Iowa City (the Quiet Man and I will be stopping at George's on Market St. at some point to put their claim to the test and decide once and for all where the best burgers of Iowa City actually are.) 2Dogs is more laid back- they've got a nice variety of appetizers, ranging from the usual nachos, cheese fries, hot wings, etc and the burgers range from the simple (the Pub Burger- cheese, pickle and a fried egg) to the more exotic (my own Cement Boots- salami, ham, canadian bacon topped with goat cheese)- there might just a burger for every particular appetite on their menu which is nice and they manage to keep their creativity firmly earthbound (unlike Des Moines' Zombie Burger, whose offerings tend to range from the delicious to delightfully insane.)
Music wise, 2Dogs seemed to range back and forth between country and the Barenaked Ladies/Blues Traveller type of stuff which was OK- and I managed to scratch BMX off the list of Olympic events I haven't seen and The Quiet Man and I wrapped things up with the first quarter of Team USA versus Australia in the Men's Olympic Basketball quarterfinals.
Overall: (Since it's been sometime since the last TBC, just a reminder, we grade straight letters, A-F and there are no pluses and minus!)
My Grade: B
2Dogs might be one of the hidden gems of the Eastside. Tucked away into the First Avenue mini mall and away from the more traditional townie feel of it's Eastside counterpart Shakespeare's just up the road, it's easy to overlook it in the shuffle. That'd be a mistake- the beer selection is impressive, the atmosphere clean and contemporary and the food good- and not overpriced. While it didn't knock my socks off, it's a nice little place and one that I want to make a point of visiting a little more often- support your local bars, people!)
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