04/05/09

loved it on the first try!

by caitiecat

It seems that most of the negative comments in this forum pertain to smokiness. That problem should go away when Virginia's new anti-smoking law goes into effect later this year. When I visited Dot's Back, the weather was pleasant enough for the door to be propped open, and smoke was not an issue.

The service was friendly, and the food was delicious. I enjoyed very fresh, perfectly cooked rockfish. The filet was baked in foil with lemon, parsley and capers, and it was moist, flaky, and flavorful. It was accompanied by a slice of "texas toast", and a side of pork-seasoned collard greens. Hubby had blackened NY strip with scalloped potatoes and broccoli. He was very happy with his meal.

We like the cozy Northside neighborhood where Dot's is located, as well as the sweetly nostalgic Americana kitsch decor of the restaurant. We will definitely return to Dot's Back Inn!

• Pros: tasty eats in a friendly, casual, neighborhood place
• Cons: no cons

02/09/09

Dot's Smoke House!!

by ChiTown73

I was really looking forward to going here last Friday night. However, I was not in the place but for about 2 minutes and we immediately left. It was way too small for the amount of people that were in there and the smoke in this place was like a mushroom cloud!! Awful experience and I didn't even get to taste the food. I would not recommend this place to anyone that does not smoke or like crowded areas. Very disappointing!

08/04/08

Smoker's Paradise

by member3567

I give Dot's 2 stars because they have great potential, as seen on Food Network's Diners, etc. but they waste it on their regulars. I was invited by 2 friends to check the place out. We went on a weekday at around 8 and the place was half-full which, with the size of the restaurant, means there were about 15 people. It took 20 minutes to receive our drinks, 2 waters and a bottle of beer, and another 30 minutes before our orders were taken. Meanwhile, the regular customers received frequent visits from the wait staff and seemed to be in good spirits. I ordered one of the burgers they offer and it came to me severely undercooked, I scraped out half of it in order to avoid having to send it back but that only left me with a bite or two. My eyes were burning from the smoke and my group was getting crabby. We stuck it out to give them a fair chance, but the food was nowhere near what we expected. This may be a case of too high expectations, but if a restaurant is featured on Food Network, I expect a lot more. Maybe if we return they will remember us and give better service, but I doubt we'll ever go back.

• Pros: Fast Seating, cheap eats
• Cons: Slow service, street parking, smoky atmosphere