Each month, we visit a new food spot thanks to the folks at Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, an estate & elder planning law firm who like to shine a spotlight on cool local food spots, like Bomb Dog in New Bedford.
As an adult, Adam Katz seems intent on nurturing our sense of nostalgia. When he thinks childhood memories, he thinks "hotdogs, pizza and backyard barbecues." In 2020, he and his wife Lauren Katz opened PLAY Arcade in downtown New Bedford, an old-school 80s arcade with fun food and drinks. Bomb Dog, their newest venture, is just a hop, skip and a jump away with an equally playful style and is an ode to childhood hotdog stands.
Yes, Adam loves hot dogs but he also loves what they represent: a low-cost, fun meal at a time when people are looking for affordability. "You know, a family can pick up some hot dogs on their way home from work," he says. "It's not going to be outrageous, you've got dinner for a family of four for less than $20."
Along with PLAY Arcade chef Matt Jezeirski, he and the team did the hard work of tasting 40 versions of hot dog before landing on 8 featured specials. "The flavors, colors, textures...they're all important," he says. It's fun to stand in front of the board and figure out what you might like to try. I went for the Jersey Dog with lettuce, pepper relish (so delish), oregano and gabagool (aka, capicola). The popular Poutine features bacon pepper gravy, cheddar cheese and potato stix. The Seattle Dog is slathered with cream cheese, as is the custom in that city. If you're the type who can't stomach the idea of cream cheese on a hot dog (ahem, me), well then, you can just carve your own path by building your own custom dog.
The reverence that Bomb Dog has for the humble hot dog shows in the end result. They're great hot dogs with fabulous toppings. Staff take the time to butter the sides of the bun just right before grilling them. Most importantly, it's a New England hot dog roll (not that other kind which the rest of the country uses). The relishes and gravies are all house made from scratch.
As important was the general vibe of the place. Adam found a cool spot open Water Street that had an industrial feel to it, and he leaned in to that. He drew inspiration from Memphis Belle, the World War II fighter plane, and outfitted the space with materials like corrugated metal roofing, repurposed from local buildings. While renovating, he discovered a mural on the side wall that had been painted over, originally commissioned by mediumstudio when they occupied the space. This respect for the past carries over to his equipment: he's thrilled that he's been able to repurpose the steamers from a long-time New Bedford place that closed in 2024 (Yor Dogg Mill).
Adam remembers as a kid going to his local Fairhaven hot dog joint with his friends and ordering 3 to 4 dogs each. While we were in Bomb Dog, a half dozen boys came in and had multiple hot dogs each. So he's passing those memories along for a new generation of kids.
Photography by Liam Connor Photography
Bomb Dog, 79 N. Water Street, New Bedford.
We hope you enjoyed this post, which is part of a series of blog posts celebrating local food spots, sponsored by Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, P.C., the premier estate planning and elder law practice serving clients in Southeastern Massachusetts. Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes can help you prepare the foundational documents needed to facilitate healthcare, financial and legal decisions should a medical crisis occur. Early planning can save money, heartache and angst during a temporary bout of incapacity or a long-term care event. Getting your estate plan in order gives you peace of mind. Find out more about Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes here.
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Last post in the series: At some point before the meal arrived – maybe when we were ordering? – the server mentioned the desserts. It was lunchtime, no need for dessert so I only half paid attention until two magic words: Choco Taco. Read more here
