Last November, we brought you the details about Riley’s Good Dogs, a new concept which was expected to open at the former Moto-Scoot at 1652 N. Water St. in late spring or early summer of 2020.
Numerous setbacks, including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, have delayed the opening of the concept. But, co-owner Hank Stiehl says that the project is moving forward, albeit in a slightly different format.
“We’ve pivoted,” he says, “Currently, we’re working with a company to build out a food truck for Riley’s Good Dogs, and our hope is that we’ll be able to launch the truck by Thanksgiving of this year.”
The new food truck will have a home at the original Riley’s site on Water Street and will offer a slightly abbreviated menu, focused primarily on hot dogs, sausages and sides like side winders and loaded side winders.
“We have a huge breadth of options in terms of builds for the dogs, including vegan options for just about everything,” Stiehl adds.
Among the options will be a Cuban dog topped with pickles, Swiss cheese, ham and mustard (pictured above with plant-based options); as well as offerings like Off the Leash, a brat with ginger beet sauerkraut and mustard barbeque sauce); and the Big Tony featuring Italian sausage with giardiniera and yellow mustard.
“We’ll be using the food truck as a pilot for the concept which will help us to determine the best way forward,” says Stiehl. “When the food truck launches, we’ll take a close look at our audience, the types of things they order and what they want to see. From there, we’ll continue to refine those options and make changes moving forward.”
Once launched, the truck will operate with online ordering capabilities and contactless pick-up. Stiehl says they are also exploring the potential for offering delivery from the truck as well.
As for hours, Riley Dogs is expected to offer lunch and dinner, and potentially adding late night offerings as demand might warrant.
Watch OnMilwaukee for updates as they become available. For a preview of forthcoming creations, you can follow Riley’s Good Dogs on Instagram.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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