We stopped in during Appy Hour for some appetizers and cocktails, which is our go to at Waterdog…read more They have a great app selection and it rarely disappoints.
We ordered the mini stuffies, the hummus plate, and the fried pickles.
The mini stuffies were a highlight. Loaded with Mello's chouriço and packed with flavor, they're a solid little bite. My grandfather set the bar pretty high for me on stuffies, and these came close. They have a different profile than what I grew up with; a little less bready, more chouriço forward, and the clam flavor takes a back seat. Not necessarily a complaint, they were just different from what I'm used to and were genuinely tasty. The lemon aioli on top was also a nice touch.
The fried pickles were exactly what you want them to be. Crispy, well fried, and the breading actually stayed put while you ate them, which is more than I can say for a lot of fried pickles. They came with the same lemon aioli as the stuffies, which worked just as well here.
The hummus plate was a bit of a letdown. We've had it many times before and it used to be a standout. This time the hummus itself was thick and pretty flavorless, more like a dense chickpea paste than anything else. The accompaniments were nice though and consisted of heirloom carrots, cucumbers, olives, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, pickled cauliflower, carrot, and a pepperoncini, all served alongside some buttery round crackers that were like a Ritz cracker's more refined cousin. The veggies saved the plate, but the hummus needs to find its way back. I suppose it could have just been an off batch and won't prevent us from trying it again.
Cocktails were great, as usual. I had the Anana with scotch. I love pineapple and this has muddled pineapple and basil, pineapple juice, cracked black pepper. It's my go-to here and it delivered again. My partner went adventurous and ordered the Jungle Booby, which is built around tequila blanco and mezcal with campari, pineapple, grapefruit, lime, orgeat, and an absinthe spritz. The flavors were genuinely good, but the smokiness from the mezcal was a bit much for her taste. She followed it up with a glass of rosé and had no complaints after that. The cocktail wasn't the problem, it just wasn't her style.
One of our favorite spots in Warren for a quick nibble, for a good reason.