The Ultimate Dog?
There is a new restaurant in town. They have 
been in the process of opening for a couple weeks now and we have been watchin' the progress. Driving by.....peering around corners, peeking through windows with eyes shaded by hands.... stalking... that is how bad we need a new lunch choice in the downtown area. That's not to say the places we have are not good, they are great. There just aren't enough choices or seats to feed everyone that works in or visits the downtown area.
Finally the doors were flung open and an entire city tried to eat lunch there the first week. They were the downtown equivalent to a new Olive Garden, cars filling the parking lot and pouring out into the street. (This is a side effect of the fact that Oklahomans and Lawtonians in particular have not embraced the whole carpooling/energy efficient vehicle era as of yet. Most of them still believe in the philosophy that as Americans they have the God given right to go where they want to go, driving what they want to drive. And on top of that they'll "let the son of a gun idle with the heater or A/C on while I'm in here if I dang well please. After allmy dad my grandpa my neighbors sisters boy I helped grow that oil working out there on the rigs and I'm sure as heck gonna use my share before it's all gone.")
Oops, I kinda went off there for a bit....
So we wedge our fuel efficient Honda CRV into a parking spot, in front of "The Back Porch", beside three matching 4X4 pickups with custom blue paint, sequential vanity plates starting with "Hoss 1" and color coordinated plastic bull scrotums hanging from their never used trailer hitches....
Why it's called the back porch I don't know, and can only guess. My guess would be that a lot of us ate on the back porch "back in the day", when we didn't have air conditioning and the blistering Oklahoma heat drove us out of the house and into the relative cool of the shaded and (sometimes) breeze filled porch. Or it could be menu driven. Most all of the menu items are those that could be found during any good grilling party held out on the back porch.
I expected a good burger and fries, maybe a chocolate milkshake and for sure there would be "Grandma's sweet tea". What I didn't expect was what was printed on the middle of the right inside page of the menu. HOTDOGS!!! Yep real hotdogs.... the kind that are actually items listed on the menu not summarily thrown into the "Side Items" section as an afterthought. Nope.... these are actually different types of hotdogs made available for the public to order and then consume as an actual entrée. Many times in large quantities.
I was so surprised to find hotdogs on the menu, I ordered a Mushroom & Swiss Bacon Burger. I was afraid the dog would not live up to it's place on the menu and my new found glee would turn to gloom. It was too good to be true, a year where we actually got money back from the IRS AND we could also celebrate the opening of a restaurant that serves real hotdogs. I didn't want to burst the bubble. I didn't really even read all the choices in the dog portion of the menu. I wanted to be able to savor the descriptions when I wasn't hopped up on hotdog endorphins, they can cloud your judgment and I wanted to make the right choice for my first "Back Porch Dog".
The Burger was good and the fries were freshly cut and deep fried.... wonderful. Lynna had a Pulled Pork Sandwich with coleslaw and fries. She gave hers a thumbs up after a momentary hand jester stutter when the sandwich arrived, "Yankee Style", with the coleslaw actually on the sandwich.
On our next visit I opted for a Hotdog. But which one should I choose? They offer a B.Y.O.D. (Build Your Own Dog) which is a 1/4 pound all beef frank (also known as a wienie if you're from Oklahoma) served, surrounded by fresh hand cut fries, on a split buttered hoagie roll with any or all of the following added at your direction:
been in the process of opening for a couple weeks now and we have been watchin' the progress. Driving by.....peering around corners, peeking through windows with eyes shaded by hands.... stalking... that is how bad we need a new lunch choice in the downtown area. That's not to say the places we have are not good, they are great. There just aren't enough choices or seats to feed everyone that works in or visits the downtown area.Finally the doors were flung open and an entire city tried to eat lunch there the first week. They were the downtown equivalent to a new Olive Garden, cars filling the parking lot and pouring out into the street. (This is a side effect of the fact that Oklahomans and Lawtonians in particular have not embraced the whole carpooling/energy efficient vehicle era as of yet. Most of them still believe in the philosophy that as Americans they have the God given right to go where they want to go, driving what they want to drive. And on top of that they'll "let the son of a gun idle with the heater or A/C on while I'm in here if I dang well please. After all
Oops, I kinda went off there for a bit....
So we wedge our fuel efficient Honda CRV into a parking spot, in front of "The Back Porch", beside three matching 4X4 pickups with custom blue paint, sequential vanity plates starting with "Hoss 1" and color coordinated plastic bull scrotums hanging from their never used trailer hitches....
Why it's called the back porch I don't know, and can only guess. My guess would be that a lot of us ate on the back porch "back in the day", when we didn't have air conditioning and the blistering Oklahoma heat drove us out of the house and into the relative cool of the shaded and (sometimes) breeze filled porch. Or it could be menu driven. Most all of the menu items are those that could be found during any good grilling party held out on the back porch.
I expected a good burger and fries, maybe a chocolate milkshake and for sure there would be "Grandma's sweet tea". What I didn't expect was what was printed on the middle of the right inside page of the menu. HOTDOGS!!! Yep real hotdogs.... the kind that are actually items listed on the menu not summarily thrown into the "Side Items" section as an afterthought. Nope.... these are actually different types of hotdogs made available for the public to order and then consume as an actual entrée. Many times in large quantities.
I was so surprised to find hotdogs on the menu, I ordered a Mushroom & Swiss Bacon Burger. I was afraid the dog would not live up to it's place on the menu and my new found glee would turn to gloom. It was too good to be true, a year where we actually got money back from the IRS AND we could also celebrate the opening of a restaurant that serves real hotdogs. I didn't want to burst the bubble. I didn't really even read all the choices in the dog portion of the menu. I wanted to be able to savor the descriptions when I wasn't hopped up on hotdog endorphins, they can cloud your judgment and I wanted to make the right choice for my first "Back Porch Dog".
The Burger was good and the fries were freshly cut and deep fried.... wonderful. Lynna had a Pulled Pork Sandwich with coleslaw and fries. She gave hers a thumbs up after a momentary hand jester stutter when the sandwich arrived, "Yankee Style", with the coleslaw actually on the sandwich.
On our next visit I opted for a Hotdog. But which one should I choose? They offer a B.Y.O.D. (Build Your Own Dog) which is a 1/4 pound all beef frank (also known as a wienie if you're from Oklahoma) served, surrounded by fresh hand cut fries, on a split buttered hoagie roll with any or all of the following added at your direction:
- Grilled Onions
- Sweet relish
- Bacon Wrapped
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Shredded Cheese (Cheddar or Pepper Jack)
- Sauerkraut
Or... if you're feeling really deserving you can go for the Ultimate Bacon Wrapped Chili Cheese Dog. I felt it was my responsibility to test out the UBWCCD. (Did I mention it was deep fried after the bacon was wrapped around it?) I think anything that bills itself 
as the Ultimate is just begging me to try it.
I will admit it was good. In fact it was very good. That's it on the left under the mountain of chili, cheese and onions. Was it the Ultimate Dog?...... No..... BONK.... thanks for playing todays edition of "Make Randy's Belly Blissful" we have some wonderful parting gifts for you. Just kidding, it made my belly very blissful, it just wasn't the Ultimate Dog. It could come close if they would get rid of those amature wienies and go for the real deal and start serving Nathan's. They are the real deal and will make a 100% difference in the taste of these dogs. (Previous comments mostly intended for management if they happen to read this post.)
This visit also cause the following quotes of the day from "she who is my dream girl";
She asked if I thought I would be satisfied with one hotdog or did I think I should also order some brown beans and cornbread on the side. And I responded that I thought one dog would do the trick. To which my lovely wife replied, "That will have to be a really big weenie to fill you u.....uh, never mind."
And then, after our food was served and I was intently munching away on a bite of wienie wrapped in crispy bacon, she looked up and asked while indicating someone who had approached our table and then took a seat close by;
And then, after our food was served and I was intently munching away on a bite of wienie wrapped in crispy bacon, she looked up and asked while indicating someone who had approached our table and then took a seat close by;
"Do you know that guy or was he just admiring your wie...... dog?"
At this point I must admit that it appears this post is turning into a short story. I think we are up to about 1700 words and two weeks to deliver. I can't help it... I get hung up and then we eat at the "Back Porch" again and there is more of the story to tell. Maybe I should start a separate blog that just lists our food choices each day and our rating of said choices. No embelishment just straight reporting.... we'll see.
On Monday of this week we tried to go to the "Back Porch" for lunch. No parking spaces. The dining area may only be half full but if I can't park in the lot then we're going somewhere else to eat. Because if you think that we are going to walk to get lunch you're nuts. The walking would just counter act the eating and that would be un-American.
So we tried again yesterday (Thursday, March 13th). I think it would have even been worth walking to get this lunch special. I might have even walked the 12 blocks
from work to eat yesterdays selection. It was the special and sadly not a daily menu item. Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes with jalapeno gravy and green beans. Holy Mother Of All Chicken Fried Steaks!!! This was simply wonderful. I can't even describe how good it was. You will just need to trust me. If it is available, order it. Screw the Ultimate Hotdog this is the Ultimate 
Chicken Fried Steak!!!! I never thought I would chose a big hunk of meat steak over a weenie hotdog. This was that good. Dream Girl had a grilled chicken, bacon, caramelized onion and pepper jack cheese sandwich that was pretty dang good also. And sweet tea. Did I mention the sweet tea?
Have you ever been so full you couldn't burp without vomiting in you mouth a little?
Me either... but it was close.
At this point I must admit that it appears this post is turning into a short story. I think we are up to about 1700 words and two weeks to deliver. I can't help it... I get hung up and then we eat at the "Back Porch" again and there is more of the story to tell. Maybe I should start a separate blog that just lists our food choices each day and our rating of said choices. No embelishment just straight reporting.... we'll see.
On Monday of this week we tried to go to the "Back Porch" for lunch. No parking spaces. The dining area may only be half full but if I can't park in the lot then we're going somewhere else to eat. Because if you think that we are going to walk to get lunch you're nuts. The walking would just counter act the eating and that would be un-American.
So we tried again yesterday (Thursday, March 13th). I think it would have even been worth walking to get this lunch special. I might have even walked the 12 blocks
from work to eat yesterdays selection. It was the special and sadly not a daily menu item. Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes with jalapeno gravy and green beans. Holy Mother Of All Chicken Fried Steaks!!! This was simply wonderful. I can't even describe how good it was. You will just need to trust me. If it is available, order it. Screw the Ultimate Hotdog this is the Ultimate Chicken Fried Steak!!!! I never thought I would chose a Have you ever been so full you couldn't burp without vomiting in you mouth a little?
Me either... but it was close.
Posted by Randy at Friday, March 14, 2008 9:54 AM and is filed under Food,bacon,hotdog,Lynna,Back Porch 
I'll admit it, Randy; I am new to hot dog love. Historically, I've been in my grandmother's camp, thinking hot dogs pretty good because, after all, you can eat them with mustard. Mmmmm. . . Mustard love. Didn't The Captain and Tennille-oh, wait, nevermind. That said, I'm fast approaching the idea that I could read you writing about hot dogs, well, until the dogs come home
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As recent retirees, my husband and I decided we would finally launch our lifetime dream of beginning our national quest for the Ultimate Hot Dog. Naturally we started in Lawton, Oklahoma rather than in our hometown of Arlington, Texas! Having "stumbled" onto The Back Porch and seeing that Hot Dogs were an actual menu item, we thought "aha! The search begins" Found our bacon-wrapped, deep-fried choice (the plain Jane-did not want to be distracted by too many add ons) to be a 9 to our current h.d. taste buds, but decided to give it only a 7 so we would have some wiggle room in our future deliberations (perhaps 7 will ultimately be the highest number we give out on our 1-10 scale)We did ask about the brand they used, and it turns out that in a pre-opening poll of potential future customers, Oscar Meyer won out over Nathans! Go figure. Anyway, as we go to Lawton frequently we will certainly be eating at the Back Porch again (it has replaced The Big Chef, our former favorite). Perhaps our paths will cross and we can continue our assessment of "fine dining" on site!
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I'll have to admit, I don't share your enthusiasm for a new hotdog/burger joint in Lawton. From what I understand the fella that owns this estabishment was a well known Chef/restrauntier in the Dallas Area. It's a shame he didn't bring the real goodies to lawton. I'd rather have a choice of smoked oysters and salmon than a heart attack wrapped in bacon! As if this crapper of food town needed another burger joint. Damn the Luck!
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FIRST OFF, TO THIS BENNY WECK "CRAPPER,"
YES HE IS A WELL KNOWN CHEF,GREAT DAD,FRIEND,AND FAMILY MEMBER! YOU KNOW THERE IS A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY,"HOLD UP JUST A DAMN MINUTE," I WANT TO LIVE THE DREAM. I WANT TO RAISE A FAMILY, I DONT GIVE A DAMN IF I IMPRESS PEOPLE OR NOT, JUST AS LONG AND I AM LOVED BY OTHERS. 2ND THERE IS A REASON WHY HE DIDN'T BRING THE OYSTERS OR SALMON, LAWTON DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER "MARTIN'S" TO JUST GO DOWN LIKE ALL THE OTHER HIGH SPICED FAKE WANNA BE NICE PLACES TO EAT IN THIS TOWN. THERE'S NO SHAME ABOUT IT, HE BROUGHT ALL THE GOODIES, HE BROUGHT HIS PASSION FOR FOOD! AND IT'S NOT JUST ANOTHER BUGRER JOINT, I'LL HAVE TO SAY IT'S THE BEST DAMN BURGER JOINT OUTSIDE OF JOHNNY'S ONION BURGERS IN CHICKISHA.
AND IF THIS WASN'T THE INTERNET, I'D HAVE HALF THE NOTION TO FIND YOU AND KICK THE THIS SHIT OUT OF YOU FOR SAYING UP YOU SAID WITHOUT GIVING "THE BACK PORCH" A TASTE.
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Whoa, controversy, I love it!
Listen, the Back Porch is serving the correct food for its location. Downtown is where people work Monday through Friday, therefore we require lunch. Lunch to me is salads, sandwiches, burgers, soup, or blue plate specials. The fact that they consider the Hot Dog to be a serious menu item is just a bonus in my opinion.
If they were located in another part of town, and open in the evenings, then another menu might be more appropriate. Downtown however clears out around 5 p.m. each day. This restaurant fills the exact need for this area.
Back in the late 70's there was a quaint little place downtown for lunch called Annie's Place. It served delicious sandwiches and bottles of Perrier. It was always packed; I still miss that place. Right now we have Bet's Restaurant that also serves a good lunch downtown, but it's not what it used to be. At some point the service went downhill, maybe there was an ownership change or something. It's called a lunch "hour" for a reason; longer than that for a salad or a sandwich is ridiculous. And they may have corrected this issue; I don't know, because we don't go there anymore. Plus, they only have about five parking spaces and they are always full. Burgess Grill is also downtown and they serve a good burger as well as other items, but they only have about ten tables in there. It's not relaxing and fun like the Back Porch. I feel like we are stepping into the Cheers bar when we arrive at the Back Porch since my husband is such a celebrity that "everybody knows your name." Also fun is the Big Chef restaurant, an old fashioned diner. We eat there quite often too. The waitresses there are some of the best in town; sassy. Cinders at the Ramada Inn is the only quiet relaxing place I know to eat lunch. They have the best homemade soups and good sandwiches and salad.
We actually do not have any restaurant in this town that I would compare to the old Martin's. A nice quiet fine dining establishment is sorely needed in this town. A place you would want to go on your anniversary and eat a steak and lobster. It should not be located downtown. I would suggest on the west side of town by my house of course.
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