HIS & HERS HAD AN INVITE TO SAMPLE COCKTAILS AND HOT-DOGS AT SALT DOG SLIMS. OUR EDITOR, WHO IS NO SLOUCH IN THE COCKTAILS DEPARTMENT, DECLARED SHE HAD FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE AND COULDN’T WAIT TO GO BACK.
Words: Jean Hill
Located in Liverpool’s nightlife district, Salt Dog Slims brings a taste of America to the hustle and bustle of Seel Street. You can enjoy a variety of creative cocktails, delicious New York inspired hot-dogs, and German style steins. All this combines to make it one of the city’s most popular late-night hangouts.
Guests are welcomed into a darkened, atmospheric wooden interior with a touch of experimental interior design, including a vintage style bathtub, which has been refashioned into a table. Exposed brick walls, unvarnished floors and leather booth styled seating contribute to the relaxed atmosphere. We perched on a stool at the bar to chat through the menu with one of the knowledgeable bartenders, Dan, who whisked up a daiquiri with cool expertise, which tasted amazing.
The food menu is simple yet effective: hot-dogs with a variety of unusual and traditional toppings. There are classic combinations like chili cheese, pickles and pulled pork alongside more adventurous toppings, such as char sui, ‘Big Mac’ sauce or peanut butter and jelly. The hot-dogs are served on soft brioche buns, which have been steamed in house. The food menu includes: Lo Pan (£7.00) – Pork Dog, Sui Mai, Char Sui Sauce, Salt & Pepper, Fresh Chili, Spring Onion, and Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey (£5.00) – Cheese Sauce, American Cheese Slices, Jalepeno and Pickle, Salt & Pepper, and Sriracha.
Salt Dog Slims is part of the Graffiti Spirits Group, which specialises in great authentic food and tempting, distinctive cocktails. Beer lovers can quench their thirst with a range of steins, including everything from the Belgium sourced Mongozo (GF), to USA Portland Craft Ale. Examples of the drinks menu include: Purple Aki Punch (£10) – Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Vimto, Cointreau, Passionfruit, Grenadine & Lime; Hobo Punch (£7.50) –Gin, Buckfast Tonic Wine and tropical flavours, and Instant Power Sour (£7.50) – Amaretto, San Pellegrino Limonata & Cherry Foam .
On the weekend, guests can also opt for a hot dog or grilled cheese, and bottomless Bloody Mary or Espresso Martini deal available from 1pm-5pm. Hidden away above the eatery is one of Liverpool’s most elusive bars, 81LTD. The entrance code changes daily: it has a 1940s inspired speakeasy theme. This intimate bar is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Guests can mix up their evening with a trip upstairs where they can continue dancing until the early hours
I thought the sweet chili and cheese hot-dog was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. We loved the play-list: Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and the Beach Boys generated a great retro vibe. We had a great time, and we will be going back.
Tel. 0151 7097172
For more reviews, please check out our food & drink page.
