A field trip...Moon Tower Inn

Picture this, if you will...

You are sitting in what feels like someones backyard at a picnic table under a tree, watching people play horseshoes and basketball.  The air is cool and crisp, the sounds of people conversing at picnic tables both under a porch and out in the open of the yard are just audible among the banjo laden sounds of bluegrass Modest Mouse cover songs emanating from the radio.  It's a pleasant, relaxing existence.

But I'm not here to take in the sights.  I'm here due to rumors I heard last night about a place here in Houston which served interesting meats such as elk, bison, wild boar, and duck in tube form.  That's right...I'm talking about hot dogs. 

Located at the corner of Canal Street and North Ennis Street, in what is essentially the Second Ward, the Moon Tower Inn has, for the past several months, been serving hot dogs made of such fine meats as those previously listed, as well as venison, rabbit, pheasant, and lamb.  From the roadway, the establishment appears unassuming- a small, hole in the wall building with a large patio, no indoor seating, and a huge backyard.  There is no large sign to inform the unaware of the nature of the building, or the wonderful food which it produces.  A simple sign with the address number "3004" appears prominently out front.  The address of the establishment, by the way, is 3004 Canal Street, Houston, TX 77003.

I ventured there with my roommate, Michael, who insisted on bringing his DSLR to capture the magic.  Upon ordering our hot dogs at the window of the building, we proceeded to find an open picnic table in the yard.  We arrived at the perfect time as well.  They opened at 2:00pm, and we arrived about 5 minutes afterward.  By about 2:15 there was already a line, and most of the seating had been taken. 

Michael and I enjoyed a few rounds of horseshoes in the yard (although I can't claim that we were very good…I think we each actually hit the stake with the horseshoe no more than 3 times each).  The food took roughly a half hour to arrive, which, while it seems like quite a wait for hot dogs, we were reminded by a sign by the ordering window that "This Ain't Fast Food, Shut Up and Wait!".

The hot dogs finally arrived.  My order consisted of duck and wild boar dogs, and Michael chose the duck and elk dogs.  When ordering, you get a choice of a variety sauces- I told the girl at the window to have the kitchen put whatever they recommended on both of mine, which ended up being country style mustard on both dogs, with the addition of peppered ketchup on the wild boar dog.  You have to add the toppings yourself, of which they are kept in a box under the patio.  I topped mine with simple onions, cheddar, and sauerkraut, and Michael went a little more eclectic and topped his elk dog with cilantro and feta.

My wild boar and duck dogs.

Michael's elk and duck dogs.

So how did it all taste?  Well, let me say that the wild boar was fantastic.  The meat was wonderful, like a pork sausage but the smallest bit of gaminess too it…but not too much as to be off-putting.  Being that I love all pig related foods, the boar rocked my world.  The combination of the country mustard and peppered ketchup was interesting take on the classic condiments usually eaten with hot dogs. 

The duck was a bit more mundane, however, the word mundane makes it sound bland, which it very much wasn't.  It just tasted like duck, and while duck is good, there wasn't much that stood out here.  The menu online mentioned that the duck dogs also had foie gras in them, but apparently, they were out of duck dogs with foie today.  I'll have to give these a second chance.

I tried Michael's elk dog, and it had very interesting flavors, including a slight fruitiness.  This was confirmed by the online menu, which lists the elk dog as also containing apple, pear, and port.  A fantastic combination.  Also, the feta and cilantro Michael put on his dogs pair surprisingly well with the elk dog.

I believe several more visits to the Moon Tower Inn are in order as all of the different type of dogs sound wonderful, and I can't wait to try each of them.  But it won't only be the food that will bring me back, but atmosphere as well.  It really feels like you are sitting in someone's backyard.  The fact that the hot dogs (especially the elk and wild boar) were absolutely delicious doesn't hurt.  Give the place a try, it's a nice and unassuming place to kick back and enjoy a great meal.  It may not be haute cuisine in a white tablecloth restaurant, but no one said it had to be.