How to get there: By foot or by car, take Big Bend to Clayton Rd. Turn left on Clayton Rd., then right on Clayton Ave. Make a slight left onto Oakland Ave.
I’ve heard of many different towns and neighborhoods, but none with a name quite like this neighborhood located just south of Forest Park. Dogtown is, in fact, actually made up of three different areas: Clayton-Tamm, Franz Park and Hi-Point. After researching some of the local restaurants, I found a few interesting dining spots and set off with my traveling companion, Britten. Destination: Dogtown.
Taking a cab to Dogtown is relatively cheap and easy. It’s only about 10 minutes away and the fare is approximately 10 dollars each way. When we got to Dogtown, we decided to eat at Michael’s Bar and Grill, located at 7101 Manchester Road. Don’t be fooled by the outside of this place; although it looks a little sketchy from the outside, the food is good, the staff is friendly and the service is relatively fast. If you bring your own car, there is a spacious parking lot located across the street from the restaurant. Two levels make up the restaurant: the bottom level is a no-smoking section and the top is where the main restaurant and bar are located, along with a big TV.
The restaurant was packed with customers, even in the late afternoon. We even witnessed a birthday celebration for some senior citizens. The menu features both lunch and dinner entrees, with the dinner entrees ranging from $15-35. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries for only $5, though, and it turned out to be extremely good. Britten ordered a house specialty, the pastitsio, which is pasta with ground beef topped by a delicious, semi-sweet sauce. By the time we were finished with our meal we were both very full. Still, we couldn’t resist passing up dessert. We ordered cheesecake, which, we both agreed, was some of the best cheesecake that we had ever had. All considered, our lunch was $22 – relatively cheap for a good deal of delicious food. Before we left the restaurant, we checked out the bathrooms, as a bathroom tells a great deal about the restaurant. The results: they were clean, nice and well-maintained.
This place is highly recommended, but there are also many other good restaurants and bars nearby. Some popular spots include Arena’s Bar and Grill (5760 West Park Avenue), Pat’s Bar and Grill (6400 Oakland Avenue) and Spaghetteria “Mamma Mia,” (1227 Tamm Ave). If you’re looking for some fast food, Steak ‘n Shake, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Subway are all located in Dogtown as well. If you’re in the mood for some good Chinese cuisine, there’s Chinese Express (7022 Clayton Ave.), as well as China Wok Express (6544 Manchester). For you studiers, there are a few popular places to study and grab some java, too: Cairdeas Coffee (1136 Tamm Ave.) and The Coffee House (6319 Clayton Ave.).
Dogtown is primarily a residential area with few shopping opportunities. However, one of the more popular shops is the Dogtown Gallery and Frame Shop (1206 Tamm Ave.). Need that special photograph or art piece framed? This is a perfect place to do it. Also, conveniently located right near Michael’s Bar is a Walgreen’s.
Of the three neighborhoods that make up Dogtown, Clayton-Tamm is renowned for its large Irish population of St. Louis. Another antiquated name for Dogtown is Cheltenham, and in the late 19th century it was known for its large coal and clay mining community.
Although the overall town of Dogtown is not extremely attractive, and some parts are run-down, it is a decent place to go if you are looking for some good bars and restaurants. If you are in the mood for good shopping or entertainment, though, this is not quite the place. Still, the town has a homey feel to it that makes it a perfect lunch or dinner spot for Wash. U. students, as it very close by and relatively cheap.