You can get a burger pretty much anywhere. Fast food restaurants thaw thousands of burgers a day-even Mexican restaurants are firing up the grill. In a city where burgers are as commonplace as panhandlers, what could make a new burger joint any different from the rest?
The answer is care. Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, 317 N. Frances, is meticulous about everything, from their fantastic service to their even more fantastic fare.
Opening Dotty's classically large wooden doors leads to the hosts' stand, where a Dotty's employee stands with a smile. Patrons are promptly whisked away to sit at the bar or one of the many spacious, comfortable booths.
Once seated, visitors should notice the absolutely stunning woodwork. Dotty's is covered head-to-toe in beautiful wood, from the walls to the bar. The timeless craftsman d??cor is accented with five unobtrusive flat-screen TVs that are small enough to allow other art to be displayed. The walls are covered in framed prints and airplane paraphernalia, but the decorations are by no means tacky. The area is dimly lit, and Sinatra croons over the speakers.
Though the atmosphere has a classy, aged feel, Dotty's prides itself on its diverse clientele.
\You could walk in and sit next to a lady with blue hair. College, even high school kids sit next to the businessmen,"" said General Manager Matt Marks.
Dotty's also boasts a speedy, attentive staff. Their uniforms are casual, but their attitudes make customers feel valued. Moments after sitting down, a pleasant server arrives to take drink orders.
It is ordering a drink, though, that may prove difficult for customers. Dotty's has a bar stocked with enduring liquors and one of the greatest selections of micro-brews around. Dotty's assortment includes Berghoff, Sprecher, Spaten, New Glarus and Haacker Pschoor on tap, as well as favorites such as Guinness and Newcastle. Both the bar and restaurant are open until 1 a.m., so the carousing at Dotty's may continue well into the night.
While the beer flows freely, it is the food that puts Dotty's ahead of the rest. Dotty's offers a variety of specialty beef burgers, but the menu's true standouts are the Ostrich Burger and Buffalo Burger. Buffalo, ostrich and beef are delivered fresh daily from Wisconsin farms to the restaurant, where they are ground and pattied immediately. Patties are used the same day, and any leftovers are used promptly the following day. These burgers are popular, due to the fact that there is 95 percent less fat in these alternative meats than in regular burgers. Marks held that their buffalo and ostrich suppliers are overwhelmed with Dotty's frequent orders.
""Burgers are flying out of here,"" Marks said, ""I don't know if it's because people are more health conscious or because they've never eaten it before.""
The Ostrich Burger ($5.95) is simply outstanding. Dotty's recommended their special English Garlic Sauce on top, as well as American cheese. The ostrich meat made for the perfect burger: a moist patty, dark on the outside with just the right amount of pink in the middle that lacked any hint of sogginess. Dotty's makes sure there is substantial cheese on every bite-no thin slices here. The best element was the English Garlic Sauce-a thick, white topping with the consistency of mayonnaise. It was not overly garlicky, but definitely added a flavorful twist to an already delicious burger.
Visitors will appreciate the fastidious efforts to keep customers happy-on every table are bottles of Dijon mustard, A-1 Steak Sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and malt vinegar. Add these to any burger, or top it with any of Dotty's specialty sauces and condiments.
Order any burger with a side of regular fries ($1.50). Dotty's fries are flawless-not too big, but not shoe-string skinny; never dry but not too greasy. They are fried to perfection-you'll never see a burnt one.
As an alternative to fries or a treat on its own, be sure to sample Dotty's ""Famous"" Cornbread. At $1.50, one piece of cornbread seems overpriced, but you may not mind the cost once you try Dotty's recipe. The cornbread is dense-it resists crumbling, unlike most cornbreads. Made with superior butter, this bread melts in your mouth. Served with butter and honey, this is just another offering Dotty's masters.
The rest of Dotty's menu offers visitors a range of good-old American favorites that will entice any palate. The veggie burger is among the most popular, but Dotty's makes chicken sandwiches, corn dogs, tuna steaks and brats as well. Sides include fried mushrooms and cheese curds, as well as salads and chili.
Dotty's character, service and menu will impress any patron, but it is the quality of ingredients and the care put into each dining experience that is impressive. Marks says owner Dolph Jeffrey Stanley is known to be painfully picky about everything from pickles to butter to customer service.
""You'd think after 30 years of successful business, he'd be a multi-millionaire,"" Marks said, ""But he puts it all into the people and what they want, which is rare.\
