Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar

The Spotted Dog is owned by Karin Mills and Linda Bourne. They may have a successful business but have yet to pay back all the money they owe. I am James Mills (Karin's brother) and they owe my company in excess of $40K and have never made one payment since I incorporated them back in 1998 more

Little do you know about what it takes to work at the spotted dog. The staff is extremely rude and unhelpful. They do not make you feel welcome until about a year after you have worked with them. The owner.... don't get me started on her! overall there is NO appreciation of the employees whatsoever and they totally screw you on your pay! my tax return after working there hard and for 2 years I still had to pay like hundreds of dollars! Does not seem fair when i had to clean the dickens out of the place and keep the owners mood happy! Pros: it paid the bills working there. Cons: I still have nightmares about working there! more

I had the best vegetarian food ever! I've eaten vegetarian food all my life, my dad is a vegetarian. I, however ate beef until 98 and turkey and chicken until February 09! I have to say this makes me happy that I've let the meat go! The food was so good, I went the first time this week Tuesday, went back after work to place an order to go and today, 2 days later, I'm planning to drive all the way to Carrboro from work..which by the way is in Burlington and I live in Greensboro. My husband loved it too (I brought him some carry out!) I love this spot and will go whenever I can Pros: Variety of foods Cons: Location more

I went for the first time two or so years ago, and it didn't take long to become my favourite place. Seriously, you can get anything you're craving at this place. The wait staff are incredibly knowledgable about everything they serve, and they're always more than happy to guide you along. Sometimes I let them pick for me, and I'm never disappointed. It's one of the few places I believe them when they say that everything is homemade and secret recipes. The bartenders are awesome and the servers are generally pretty fun. So the service is good, and the ambiance is just right, and the space is really interesting, but the food. The food is just so good. The menu is primarily vegetarian and vegan, and even though I am neither, I still can find anything I need and leave satisfied. The portions are just the right size, and the price is really very reasonable for the quality and amount of food. They have everything from organic salads to fantastic turkey burgers to crab cakes to amazing pastas. Soup of the Day is always off-beat yet very tasty. But don't forget to save room for dessert! They have the best restaurant coffee I've ever had, and the desserts are amazing. When I said they have it all, I meant it, because they have a bakery, too. (The Bread Pudding and the Tortes are my favourites). more

The food is good. The staff is sarcastic, rude, and inattentive. They are stingy with their cranberry juice, and get this, it is the stuff that comes in little cans. I once asked for cranberry juic e with no ice and the waitress said she could only fill the glass half way! I asked her why and she replied If I fill it to the top I would be giving you more juice than I give everyone else! As many times as I was in there I never saw any reason to leave a large tip, or any for that matter. They all seem like they are very unhappy to be working where they are. No smiles. No conversation. Nothihg you go out to eat for. I forgot to mention they are often out of menu items, and more than occasionally their hood breaks down. With so many choices in the Chapel Hill Carrboro area, don't bother with this place. Cons: waitstaff borders on hateful! more

This place is great for their veggie BBQ sandwiches and ""Buffalo Wings"", both of which are vegan. Lots of other vegetarian/vegan options and across from the Weaver Street Market which sells many natural/veggie products. Pros: Vegan/Vegetarian Options more

The Spotted Dog in Carrboro is definately one of the best spots in the area. The menu offers interesting twists on more traditional dishes...there are plenty of options for vegetarians and ""carnivores"" alike. And always ask for the desert menu, it changes fairly frequently but always offers something delicious. The beer is awesome...they have both the ""standby"" selection for the less adventuresome, but also a great selection of microbrews to enjoy. Check out their ""mystery microbrew"" night(just one of their great specials)...you tell the bartender what kind of brew you're in the mood for and she picks out a microbrew for you...at a buck off the already great price. It's a great way to try one of their many ""doggie"" themed beers, or just to try something a little of the beaten path. In reading the other reviews I have noticed a few complaints about the service, but I stop for a beer and a bite to eat there regularly, and I have never had anything but a great experience. The staff is small and so the faces quickly become familiar...the bartenders in particular are very nice and friendly, and are very knowledgable about the food and the beer selection and will take the time to answer your questions, and even allow you to sample the drafts. Yes, it is a small place, in a funky shaped building, but that only adds to it's charm. Yes, if you come with a large party, or during the dinner hour on a busy night you can expect to wait, but that is simply a characteristic of a restaurant that size...they do a wonderful job. So try the Spotted Dog for dinner and a brew, dessert and a glass of wine, or go for lunch and a Bloody Mary on a Sunday afternoon...enjoy the great atmosphere, fun and friendly staff, and delicious food and drink...you'll love it too! Pros: Ambience, Service, Beer List more

I wanted to comment on a few of the reviews. 1st of all: we have quiet cozy seating. Yes we are a small establishment! The building used to be a post office and is shaped in a triangular pattern. This does'nt leave enough room for a lot of big tables. 2nd... We are very conscientious about our customers needs and diet concerns. We have great food and it is made to order. Last month we received a health rating of 100.5! Pros: Great food Cons: ? more

I want to like Spotted Dog, so I have tried it three times. The first two times, I had mediocre but not horrible service-- slow, not very helpful or polite, but not bad enough to walk out. The last time was bad enough I can't go back. While ordering, my mother-in-law asked the server a question about the rye bread. She answered, ""I wouldn't know what it's like, I'm vegan and don't eat it."" Just a bit odd, given that her job is to ""serve"" and sell the food. I ordered a salad, which was good (I love the dressing). We waited, and waited, and waited. Meanwhile my two-year-old ran out of water, and we couldn't get anyone to refill it. After 50 minutes of waiting (literally), unable to get our server to so much as look at us, we finally mentioned politely to another server that we were concerned with how long it had been since we'd seen our server. She brashly said, ""I wouldn't worry about it."" We waited another 10 minutes, and when no one came to so much as tell us that we hadn't actually been forgotten, we left money for our salad, and walked out, explaining to them why. Perhaps because we didn't order vegan, we weren't worthy of service? I can only guess. I'm sorry to have to write the first negative review of my life, but since this has been consistent in my experience there, I'm hoping someone addresses it, since there are some good qualities in the restaurant (great art, good food, other than one time my husband had a sandwich he thought was stale). Pros: nice art, some good food Cons: rude, slow service more

Im still so disgusted with my trip to the Spotted Dog in Chapel Hill Pros: Its convienient and has a nice name .. the hostess is Hot! Cons: something always goes wrong at this place .. never a good experience more

The salad and veggie burger were great. The server was so personable. The ambience rocks. Great beer selection. Give it a try! more

Enjoyed a Greek Sampler and a BLT sandwich with fries. Nice restaurant, good service, will go back. more

Inspired creations sure to satisfy everyone! We were greeted with a smile and seated promptly. Being vegetarians and unfamiliar with the restaurant, we had a lot of questions about the menu- the staff was knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. The food was prepared and presented with attention to detail... and delicious! It was a pleasant experience I'm looking forward to enjoying again and again. Pros: Service, Quality, Prices more

Fun atmosphere, great staff, wide variety of tasty food offered even on late night menu. Special orders no problem and they have lots of experience with food allergies as well as vegan and vegetarian fare. Not to mention that they compost all food waste, conserve water, and recycle all cardboard, glass, and plastic. Artwork on the walls is from unrepresented artists and a portion of proceeds from sales go toward local non-profits. All around amazing place, as a restaurant and as a part of our community. Pros: good parking, good stores nearby, big beer selection Cons: large # tight squeeze more

The Spotted Dog grows on you, especially if you order Fido's Fries with pork bacon every time you go. (And though I choose the pork, I appreciate that there's a soy option.) It's a great chill atmosphere, and I love that the work of lesser-known (local?) photographers and artists decorates the place. Pros: Selection, Fresh Cons: Parking, Not for large groups more

My favorite part of their menu is the salads. They are huge (big enough to split between two people) and are fun and inventive. They have the best salads I've found in the Triangle - fresh ingredients and real lettuce (no iceberg). The other food is good also, but I usually go when I'm craving a great salad. Pros: friendly service, good food Cons: cramped seating more

The spotted dog is a decent alternative to a fast food lunch. Great place to grab a sandwich or take the kids when in the area looking for a bite other than Wendy's. more

More of a bar setting than a restaurant. Small tables. Not much room for large crowds. Good food. Good selection of brews. If you get the Chips & Salsa, don't expect more that 1/2 cup of salsa. This seems a bit scrimping. Moderately priced with good vegetarian selections. Pros: vegetarian, good beer selection Cons: crowded, noisy more

People rave about Spotted Dog, and I just don't see what the fuss is all about. The food is quite mediocre. The ambience is mediocre. The best thing they've got going is a lot of vegetarian options, and yes, that's a good thing. I've never enjoyed my meal there though, as I think the food all tastes the same, with no flavor and no interest. I go there a lot because all my vegetarian friends want to eat there, but I'm always disappointed. more