Lunch at the Bulldog Brewery in Whiting (http://bulldogbrewingco.com/) was one I have been looking forward to since I read about their opening in local rag about a month ago. It is nicely located in downtown Whiting; the interior features exposed old wood ceiling timbers and the use of existing interior brickwork to emphasize the historical value of the area. Apparently owned by three local gents, the decor is hopefully a work in progress that will develop over time. It would be nice to see a lot of local flair inside like an old neighborhood tap instead of a typical generic makeover.
That said, the big reason to go was for the craft brewed beer. And hopefully a nice meal too. 11 Mile Lager, Industrial Harbor IPA and Roby Red Ale were available and sampled. Not bad, but I would call them unambitious or safe. I was really hoping for bolder flavors. The lager should appeal to those not willing to stray far from BudMiller territory. The IPA was weakly hopped. The red needed more malt for richness. Downtime Wheat and 1890 Stout were unavailable at this time. A few other craft brews were also available, Dragon's Milk comes to mind (and not to be missed). Also a range of standard beer, wine and spirits are available.
Rob the bartender was a great host and provided an array of samples to help us decide on our final selection.
We ordered soup and a 1/2 sandwich for a light lunch. Portion sizes were appropriate and just enough to prevent an afternoon nap. The soup was a beer cheese made with the house lager. Pretty substantial and extremely thick, it could almost be used as a dip. It was very cheesy, those residing behind the Cheddar Curtain would certainly appreciate it.
The sandwich was an Italian panini loaded with a nice variety of meats and veggies. A fairly tasty combination, but curiously served on naan bread. Not bad but missing the crustiness you associate with "Italian". And given the rarity of crusty bread here in NWI, not altogether surprising. Apparently the in house pizzas are made on the same naan bread. While it's an interesting idea, it seems like a bit of a convenient shortcut, even for pub grub. Kind of like passing off Boboli as homemade.
Presentation was a bit on the plain side, since the sandwich was dwarfed by a mountain of potato chips on an oval plate. May I suggest home made potato chips? Not sure if condiments are available since none were in plain view.
Overall, a satisfactory lunch, but the house beers could use some boldness. Since one of the owners if home brewer who has won at some contests he should consider bringing those recipes to the Bulldog. Another owner is a professional cook who needs to bring some flair and excitement to the menu. While not disappointing, I have to give it 3/5 as a work in progress and plan on a revisit later in the year. Good luck gents.
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