When you stroll into Dog & Duck family pub on Trolley Road, you’ll immediately feel at home. There is a relaxed vibe, friendly employees and welcoming atmosphere.
You can stop in for a pint of beer and grab a snack, watch a sporting event on TV, or relax on the front patio where dogs are welcome and there is also a full outdoor bar.
Dog & Duck opened in the summer of 2003. In 2010, the Dog & Duck on Trolley Road separated from the Mt. Pleasant locations and became its own entity. Jim Stuart started as General Manager in 2007. He and his wife, Laura, purchased the business in July 2016 and are full time Managing Owners, Brent Kregel was promoted to General manager at that time. Brent started as the Kitchen Manager at this location in October 2008. Jim, Laura, and Brent have a longstanding friendship that benefits their abilities to manage the Dog & Duck with passion, which in turn makes the staff want to be there and be apart of the restaurant’s growth and success.
“Customers come not just for the food but for the experience,” Laura said. “A lot of places have bar regulars but we have customers who are restaurant regulars, who come in two, three, even five days out of the week. We maintain quality food and quality staff to give our customers what they come back for time and time again.”
Dog & Duck offers an extensive menu with something for everyone. Try starters like Ultimate Nachos topped with a choice of beef, chicken or chili; a basket of mini corndogs; or the Monstrosity, with fried chicken fingers, diced potatoes, cheese, jalapeños, pico de gallo, ranch and buffalo sauce. There’s a wide selection of burgers and sandwiches, plus wings, tacos and wraps. Wings can be ordered wet or dry, in a variety of flavors, such as Honey Chipotle BBQ, “House Garlic,” General Tso, Lemon Pepper and Italian Balsamic. Salads are fresh and varied, with favorites ranging from Cobb Salad with turkey and bacon to an Asian Salad with rice noodles and mandarin oranges. If you’re craving a sandwich, settle in with an old-school Philly Cheesesteak—or try the Golf Club, with turkey, ham and bacon with lettuce and tomato on three slices of white toasted bread.
“Our wings are very popular; so are the Fish and Chips, Chicken Fingers, French Dip [sandwich] and Nachos,” Laura said. Another hit is the “German JoJo’s”—fried diced potatoes with bacon, melted cheese and scallions, served with ranch or sour cream.
Employees are carefully screened before hiring, to make sure they mesh with Dog & Duck’s mission of providing great food and drinks in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
In addition, the Stuarts strongly believe they work ‘with’ the staff, not that the staff work ‘for’ them. “This creates a unique work environment,” Laura said. “Customers come back for the staff as much as the food.”
Dog & Duck offers happy hour specials from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. daily, with 50 cents off bottled beer, draft beer, and wine; and $1 off name-brand liquor. House liquor is $3 every day, and select menu items are $1.50 off during happy hours.
The clientele at Dog & Duck runs the gamut, from singles to young married couples to families with kids and grandparents. Many customers bring their dogs and enjoy the outdoor seating. During cold weather the Stuarts have placed heaters around the perimeter of the patio.
“Sometimes we know the dog’s name before the customer’s name,” Laura said.
If you’re planning a business meeting, reception, party or shower, Dog & Duck has a private room available for rentals.
The Stuarts have “cleaned up and remodeled and shown the care and appreciation for customers that makes it possible for us to stay open and do what we enjoy doing,” Laura said.
“This is a family oriented business and we want everyone who comes in to feel like they’re a part of the family.”
