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Brew To Go is a small "mom and pop" chain of two restaurants that operate from a trailer, semi-permanently parked outside the main exit of a "big box" home improvement store, Lowe's at the Roseville location, and Home Depot, at the Auburn location. Rick and Kristi Brown are the owners and principal operators of this small Placer County chain of restaurants. As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little past 10:00 in the morning on Thursday, March 31, 2022, and I've arrived at the Roseville location of Brew To Go to enjoy a hot dog, for today's brunch. The Roseville location of Brew To Go is located at the main exit of Lowe's, on Fairway Drive. There is a second location in nearby Auburn, at the Home Depot store. This cute little restaurant is located in front of Lowe's, in a trailer that is semi-permanently parked, and is open every day of the week from 08:00 in the morning, until 16:00 in the after noon. It's just outside the main exit, so after you've purchased your latest home improvement items, you can stop by and enjoy coffee or a hot dog. Brew To Go is quite new to Roseville, and to the Lowe's location, as the restaurant opened late last year, after a long absence of a restaurant at the Lowe's location. Back on Friday, July 20, 2007, I paid a visit to Woody's Chicago Style Hot Dogs, which was a hot dog restaurant located on the same spot, and enjoyed a "Chicago Style Hot Dog," and posted a write-up on this web site. It seemed soon after I posted the article that Woody's was gone, and no restaurant returned until Brew To Go arrived at the spot, late last year.
Photo: As I walked up to the restaurant to ponder the menu, and place my order, I was greeted by super-friendly Amelia, who took my order, and prepared my delicious hot dog. There are separate "Order" and "Pick Up" windows, but at this hour of the morning, business was slow, so the restaurant was using a single window for all business.
Photo: The menu is posted on the outside of the trailer, just to the right of the "Order Window." All menu selections are offered any time the restaurant is open, but since it's a small operation, shortages occasionally occur. The restaurant and staff are "dog friendly" and offer a limited selection of goodies for your beloved companion. I found the menu to be confusing, as a "Hot Dog Combo" includes condiments, but a "Hot Dog" order simply includes small, packaged condiments. I was confused, as this was the first encounter that I've ever had with a hot dog that didn't include condiments in the "base price." I suppose I can lament... "Welcome to 2022" or something like that? After placing my order for a "1/4 lb Hot Dog," and asking for all condiments, I was surprised when I received my bill, to find the additional condiments added an additional $3.00 to the price of a "Quarter Pound Hot Dog." I'm not a fan of gourmet coffee, as when it comes to coffee, I prefer simple coffee, like the kind I enjoyed during my years of serving in the U.S. Navy. Just plain, simple coffee... with lots of it! Brew To Go offers an amazing selection of coffee, so if you're in the mood for gourmet coffee, you've found the perfect restaurant!
Photo: The menu simply states "Fresh Made Sandwiches," or "Sandwich Combo," but there's much more to sandwiches than is listed on the main menu, so a separate menu lists your many sandwich options. The sandwich menu changes daily, so the "old school" blackboard is easy to update. You can order your sandwiches at the window, or online, using the restaurant's web site, which is listed at the end of this article.
Photo: As you place your order, there are tempting goodies for you to enhance your options, your order, and your waistline. It's all good, but I was focused on a hot dot, which is one of my passions in life.
Photo: I took a peek inside the restaurant, through the open door, to watch my skilful chef, Amanda, prepare my delicious "Quarter Pound Hot Dog." The door was open, and I didn't intrude to take the photo. The kitchen is clean and very well-organized.
Photo: Meet Amelia, my amazingly friendly hostess, who took my order, prepared my delicious hot dog, and greeted me with a friendly smile. Her hot dogs are delicious, and her hospitality is legendary.
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as Amelia snaps my photo, as I get ready enjoy my "Hot Dog Combo." You know that you're going to be enjoying a hot dog at a home improvement store, as you can see the gas grills in the background.
Photo: From the "Quick Bites" section of the menu, I went with the "Quarter Pound Hot Dog," as there is nothing better on a late Thursday morning than a delicious hot dog. In reality, my meal turned out to be a "Hot Dog Combo," as condiments are priced separate from the dog... which proved interesting. The "dog" was a large, quarter pound hot dog, grilled to perfection, which proved to be tender, flavorful and simply delicious! As I bit into the "dog," I was rewarded with the "snap" of the natural casing, along with a "rush" of juices from the perfectly grilled "dog." The delicious "dog" was placed on a large, fresh, slightly sweet roll, with the perfect meat-to-bun ratio, which made for a mouth-watering combination. The quarter pound "dog," along with the large bun made for a delicious, filling lunch. When you simply order the "Quarter Pound Hot Dog," your condiments are limited to small packages of mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and relish. I discarded the ketchup is for "kids" when it comes to hot dogs - and dressed my "dog" with mustard, mayonnaise and relish. Delicious! So for $6.75, my "Quarter Pound Hot Dog" became a "Hot Dog Combo" which included small cups of diced, pickled jalapeno peppers, diced white onion, sauerkraut and shredded Cheddar cheese. The condiments, priced at $3.00 extra, which made my meal a "Combo" were simply amazing, but at $3.00 over the price of a "Quarter Pound Hot Dog" led me to questions... Just two blocks to the east, and neighboring Home Depot, you can enjoy a nearly-identical quarter pound dog at Fat Dawgs Cafe for $3.85, including all condiments included, and the dog will be dressed to your liking by the staff. Granted, Fat Dawgs Cafe doesn't offer shredded Cheddar cheese, sauerkraut or jalapeno peppers as condiments. It's your choice as what you prefer.
Photo: My "Quarter Pound Hot Dog" dressed with mustard, mayonnaise and dill pickle relish, with the condiments that make this a "Combo" in the background. This hot dog was delicious! My hot dog was simply delicious, and Amelia provided fast and super friendly service. I absolutely love Brew To Go, but I have a few gripes: * The menu is misleading, as a "combo" usually refers to dog with a bag of chips and a soda I'm not a "to go" type of diner, as I'm an "old school" type of diner, as I prefer to sit down, on the premises and enjoy my meal, along with the local atmosphere, without the usual "to go" hassle of disposing the containers, or having to clean up after enjoying my meal. I found today's dining experience frustrating, considering my individual preference in dining, because Brew To Do didn't offer tables to sit at, or trash cans to dispose of leftovers. Nearby Fat Dawgs Cafe offers picnic tables, trash cans, and even propane heaters during chilly weather to enjoy your meal. Whatever your preference, the choice is yours to make, but I feel the owners of Brew To Go should seriously reconsider their on-site dining amenities, despite the fact they cater mostly to the "to go" variety of diners. Hot dogs, coffee and much more is served at Brew To Go, and along with the delicious food, you'll be served with a friendly smile. Stop by, say "hello" and enjoy a delicious hot dog at Brew To Go, located at Lowe's, in Roseville, CA. Brew To Go Copyright(c) 2022 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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