Dagwoods

In my drunken Wednesday night web surfing, I came across a lot of porn. But after that, I stumbled upon a recent article about Dagwoods - the Grand Forks, ND bar that I spent nearly all my time and nearly all my dad's money at while attaining my, now worthless, college degree.

If any of you readers ever spent any time in Grand Forks, maybe you know the place...remember Kauker? How about porn Tuesdays?

Before Chuy's there was Dagwoods.

THE EATBEAT: Dagwoods: 14 years smoke-free and still going strong

By Marilyn Hagerty
Herald Staff Writer
Grandforks.com

Everyone, including his wife, thought Mike Delohery had gone off the deep end when he opened a smoke-free bar in Grand Forks 14 years ago.

When he started Dagwoods on Columbia Road, Delohery figured being near the hospital would attract a clientele that would appreciate a nonsmoking lounge. Besides, he was sick and tired of smoke. He had lived with it growing up. He had lived with it when he was associated with the Ramada, the Elks and the Grand Forks Country Club.

Few people would have thought in 1991 that customers would be looking for smoke-free restaurants and bars the way they are now. Dagwoods paved the way as a smoke-free lounge and has prospered without smoke and with more food choices than are available in most lounges. In fact, the menu in the location now on 42nd Street has more than 100 items.

When three of us went there recently during the happy hour, we found chips, salsa sauce, bean dip, chili con queso and peppers at the free nacho bar. I was with Jamey and Katie David (JD) and (KD), and we looked over the menu, which is a colorful, easy-to-read laminated piece. There are salads, croissants, burgers, chicken, specialty sandwiches as well as ice cream desserts. Although I have never eaten it, I have heard the pizza is good.

The menu has some items that consistently are good. One of them is the chicken salad sandwich served with chips and a pickle spear ($6.25). Another is the mud pie ($4.25).

Our waitress, Sara, was more than patient as we asked questions and dawdled around before ordering. We shared an order of butter-breaded mushrooms ($6.50) that disappeared in short order. At length, JD ordered a chicken pepperoni sandwich served with fries and pickle spear ($7.50). KD ordered the Bumstead Sub ($7.25), which came with ham, turkey, roast beef, bacon, Swiss and cheddar cheese, tomato, onion, pickles, sprouts, mustard and mayo on a sour dough bun ($7.25). That hummer had everything on it but the kitchen sink, and KD ended up taking most of it home. My choice was a buffalo chicken salad with greens, cheeses, olives, tomatoes, all topped with deep-fried chicken strips in a hot wing sauce ($7.50). It had a pleasingly hot personality, but we agreed KD had made the best choice.

The music was loud. The place was rather quiet not nearly as lively as it gets later on in the evening and weekends. The place is alive with neon beer signs, and we noticed lots of blow-up sports figures in the rafters. Dagwoods has a relaxing ambience with booths, tables and stools at high serving tables. There are screens for viewing sports all over the place.

Dagwoods moved after the flood to its present location near the campus. It was, for a while, rather isolated. Now, it is in the center of an area where there will be shops and other businesses springing up. It sits halfway between Ralph Engelstad Arena and the Alerus Center. In other words, it is well located.

Delohery has worked hard to establish a niche in the area. He finds the going is challenging for a locally owned business to compete with franchise places that have the benefit of national advertising. He does some catering for small groups. And he does 40 percent of his business in food. Most pubs do about 20 percent food. But in these times, people like to eat. Delohery is thinking of adding pastas and beef tips. He finds people around here like their meat and potatoes as well as big half-pound burgers.

After the Flood of 1997, Delohery decided he couldn't make it paying rent. So, he made arrangements to buy his own building when he moved to 42nd Street in 2000. He has built up an athletic clientele and young people who enjoy the patio and volleyball court in good weather. Among his waitstaff are former Sioux basketball players and television reporters. The 30 part-time employees also include his own family members. They are son Chris, a student at Northland Community College; daughter Katie, who attends University of Minnesota-Crookston, and son Casey, a UND student.

Dagwoods Bar and Grill

425 N. 42nd St.

Owner: Michael "Mike" Delohery.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. weekdays and Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.

Seating capacity: 165.

Pay: Major credit cards accepted.

Telephone: (701) 772-8044.

Report card: Menu goes beyond most in a pub setting; servers are friendly; prices are upper midrange. Nonsmoking facility.