Entering Doe’s East Coast Dogs is like stepping onto the boardwalks of New Jersey. The café is warm, but not overbearing. Light pours in through the large windows and spills across the tables, which all sit parallel to the windows, viewing the quiet town of Greensburg. One side of the restaurant provides a close look of the entrance to the new Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center (SHUPAC).
By Aja Hannah
Staff Writer
Entering Doe’s East Coast Dogs is like stepping onto the boardwalks of New Jersey. The café is warm, but not overbearing. Light pours in through the large windows and spills across the tables, which all sit parallel to the windows, viewing the quiet town of Greensburg. One side of the restaurant provides a close look of the entrance to the new Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center (SHUPAC).
Boardwalk variety music, mostly Top 40 hits of today and yesteryear, pour out of the speakers overhead each table. Weekday afternoons at Doe’s Dogs are quiet, punctuated only by beeps of cars and construction in the street. A TV hangs from ceiling in the corner of the main room ready to show the latest game.
Two inviting employees wait patiently on an assortment of patrons that enter this corner restaurant. SHU spirit, memorabilia, and posters line the walls adjacent to pictures of previous owners. Slowly, ornaments of the NJ shore also appear. They are subtle, unnoticeable at first glance.
A rainbow umbrella, seagull statue, and lighthouse decorate the counter, and one of the floodlights shows, a small poster of girls enjoying the beach comes out of the background.
It may seem calm, but the shop sees its fare share of customers. Located between Harrison and West Otterman streets, Doe’s Dogs not only services the residents and workers of Greensburg, but also the students of Seton Hill University (SHU). SHU students traveling to SHUPAC by the new shuttle system can now easily catch a bite to eat, make their way around town, and catch a later shuttle up the hill.
The availability of Wifi and a SHU student discount of 15% attract as many customers as the food. The menu overhead may be difficult to read for those without their glasses, but menus are available on every table. This is where, the NJ theme spreads from decoration to food.
Everything is bigger. The buns, patties, and dogs are all grilled, giving them the beach burned taste. A variety of toppings can be added to the dogs or sandwiches including hot cheddar cheese, onions, ketchup, mustard, relish, chili, onions, and sauerkraut.
Andrew Adams, a sophomore at SHU and a Doe’s Dogs virgin, was “very surprised” when he found that he was full after only eating a plain Jimmy Dog.
The fountain drinks, free to refill, compliment this boardwalk atmosphere. Finally the brownie, loaded with chocolate chips inside, tasted so good that Carlos Peredo, a sophomore, and Adams simultaneously exclaimed, “Oh yeah!” after sampling just a piece.
When asked about his first experience at Doe’s Dogs, Peredo said, “That is one of the best damn burgers I’ve ever had!”