Like the great Leslie Knope from the sitcom Parks and Recreation, I love waffles and coffee. It is an obsession and my favorite meal. When the North Dakota Department of Commerce invited Julie and me to explore their state, I was excited to see their natural attractions but equally excited to eat at the Copper Dog Cafe.
What Is Copper Dog?
Simply put, it is a cafe that focuses on waffles and coffee. Yes, it is a dream come true for people like Leslie and me. However, anybody who enjoys a delicious breakfast will be happy they dined at the cozy eatery.
Is It Really That Good?
I expected to enjoy my meal, but the Copper Dog waffles and coffee are the best I have ever tasted. Unfortunately, all the coffee and waffles I have had since, and I have had a lot, have paled in comparison.
Where Is This Magical Place?
My recently crowned favorite restaurant is located at 218 West Main Street, Mandan, ND 58554.
For those unfamiliar with Mandan, it sits across the Missouri River from Bismarck. The city is known for its community festivals, rich Western history, and roots in Native American culture. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, one of the city’s primary attractions, puts that history and culture on full display.
In addition to the state park, you will discover many local parks with hiking and biking trails along the Missouri River. Medora, the gateway town for the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is only a two-hour drive west. Mandan is a fantastic place for anyone who enjoys nature or history.
What is the Story Behind the Name?
“Copper Dog” has two meanings, each growing out of love. The wife-and-husband team Brittany and Mike Kennedy own Copper Dog Cafe, along with family members Cathy and Randy Ehlis, another wife-and-husband team.
This family loves dogs and has had multiple yellow labs. The restaurant name initially honored their family dog, Copper, who had a dark coat. Copper is also the color of a perfectly prepared waffle, which explains why I prefer copper over gold and silver.
Starting the Business
Brittany Kennedy, Co-Owner of Copper Dog Cafe on Main Street in Mandan, ND, says, “I grew up in Mandan, and my parents have lived here their entire lives. I moved away for college and ended up working for the Minnesota Twins for ten years, where I met my husband, Mike.
“After our life got too crazy working in sports and having kids, we decided to move back to Mandan about four years ago (1 year after we started Copper Dog). We wanted a smoother, simpler pace of life, and having an established business in town made the transition easy. We love this community and really felt like we could make a difference and create a great experience for our kids growing up here versus in other places away from family.”
What Makes Mandan Unique?
Brittany gushes when she talks about her hometown. She says, “This community and its people are so dedicated to supporting local businesses and driving our community forward to make it better for the next generation. We love welcoming newcomers and showing them what we’re all about and why North Dakota is a great place to work, live, and raise a family.
“That’s exactly why we started Copper Dog. We didn’t create this business to become millionaires; heck, we all still have our real jobs! We wanted to provide a space to welcome everyone, be a great asset to the community, and provide a place to educate our youth on the values of work ethic, entrepreneurship, and leadership. If we can help drive that culture of our community into our team members and our customers, then it is a win for us.”
Focus
While many restaurants offer a broad menu, the Copper Dog Cafe focuses on waffles and coffee, choosing quality over quantity. Brittany remarks, “We really wanted to bring something unique to our hometown of Mandan, something you wouldn’t find here and no one else would probably think to start.
“When we lived in bigger cities like Minneapolis, Denver, and Milwaukee, you would find restaurants that focused on specialty items rather than a broad menu, and we really liked that hyper-focused menu. In addition, we felt that the community already had traditional diners with full menus, and we wanted to make a great product and be really, really good at one thing.”
Coffee Flights
The thing that immediately won me over at Copper Dog was the fact that they serve coffee flights. I cannot tell you how often I have struggled to choose an espresso drink due to two or three options catching my eye. Copper Dog has solved this problem by offering coffee flights.
Who came up with the brilliant idea? Brittany says, “We have a young staff who are always on the tip of what our customers want. When we saw people always waffling (ha!) about which drink to get off our specialty drink menu, we thought of offering smaller servings with multiple flavors. It’s extremely popular among friends and couples who come in and want to try a couple of different waffles and a couple of different drinks!”
Flight Options
My coffee flight consisted of a Back Roads cold brew, a brown sugar cinnamon latte with oat milk, and a cherry blossom matcha. Although each drink was unique, I thoroughly enjoyed every sip of them. A coffee flight is my new favorite invention.
Brittany advises that Copper Dog has offered many unique combinations in its flights. In winter, Copper Dog pours two coffee flights. Option one features a trio of cozy classics: a molasses latte, a salted caramel-brewed coffee, and a peppermint white mocha.
The second option blends bold and sweet flavor profiles: a peppermint mocha with dark chocolate, an Americano with French vanilla sweet cream, and a “Dirty Nut,” which is an espresso with a daring blend of hazelnut and the exotic spices of steamed chai.
Julie and I need to make another trip to Mandan. Leslie Knope, you are welcome to join us.
What About the Waffles?
You will immediately notice the menu has some intriguing waffle concoctions. Many of the names bring images of Americana and baseball. The “American Pie” has baked apples, caramel sauce, cinnamon graham crackers, and whipped cream. Another example is the “Curve Ball,” which has chocolate and caramel sauces, pecans, and whipped cream.
Beyond the signature waffles, Copper Dog offers a monthly special. I ordered the June special: a lemon waffle base with fresh blueberries and granola drizzled with sweet icing. Although I feared the lemon may overpower the mixture, it was subtle and blended beautifully with the blueberries. Perfection!
Julie ordered the “Rookie,” a savory batter of hashbrowns, eggs, ham, and cheese pressed into a waffle. We found it difficult to imagine these ingredients working as a waffle, so we had to try it. I am so glad we did. The unique waffle is fantastic and comes with ketchup, sour cream, or hot sauce.
What Is Copper Dog’s Best-Selling Waffle?
Brittany says, “That’s a tough one because initially, it was our Rookie. Then we introduced our strawberry cheesecake, and now those two go back and forth for first place every month. But overall, we consider the Rookie our signature item because you literally will not find it anywhere else in North Dakota, and from what we have found, in the entire country!”
After sampling the Rookie, I can see why it is so popular. Just thinking about it, I am ready to return to Copper Dog. Leslie Knope, have you accepted our invitation yet?
Monthly Specials
June’s monthly special took me on such a flavor trip that I began to wonder what other specials Copper Dog has offered. Brittany shared the list with me, which is easily a mile long. Let’s just say you could eat here regularly and never get tired of waffles. Some of the past specials include carrot cake, pistachio, bacon honey cornbread, peach cobbler, Oreo cheesecake, churro, pumpkin pie, and banana cream pie.
Plan Your Culinary Adventure
Do yourself a favor and plan a vacation in North Dakota. Mandan and Bismarck offer history and natural beauty along the Missouri River. While the region has many excellent restaurants, the Copper Dog Cafe provides an unbelievable culinary experience. You may discover Leslie Knope, Julie, and I sharing waffles and laughs with the locals.
Featured image credit: Miles with McConkey
