Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Atlantic City

 

     Okay, it may look a little sketchy from the outside... especially if you saw the empty lot and construction across the street.  But let's put on our big boy pants and give it a try.  Below is the inside...

     NOW we're talkin'...  am I right???  THIS is a place where I would feel very comfortable ordering a beer & a hot dog!  Since I was in a bit of a rush the day I visited, I had to take my order to go.  The staff was very pleasant and even brought a glass of water to the high top table I was sitting at in case I got thirsty while I waited!  You can preview their menu at http://www.tennesseeavenuebeerhall.com/ The $7 cost is well worth the satisfying meal that you are going to enjoy.

     Below you see a "Don't Pass Go" dog on the left with added chili (with beans!!) and raw onions (they provide red onions... nice touch!).  On your right you see a New York Avenue dog which, as the name implies, consists of spicy brown mustard atop a mound of sauerkraut and cooked onions.  The hot dogs are Hebrew National all beef dogs served on buttery split top buns that are reminiscent of brioche style rolls.  All dogs are served with homemade potato chips that are to-die-for!  French fries or onion rings are available at an additional cost, but trust me, you can save your money and be deeply satisfied!!

             

Doggie Style Gourmet, Flemington

 

     This truck serves high quality Brooklyn all-beef natural casing hot dogs with interesting toppings that they creatively craft for the week.  Below you will see the menu that they designed for the week of St. Paddy's Day, and that's a DSG Banger pictured on the left.  One was absolutely enough to satisfy my appetite and it was an exceptionally tasty treat!  

     Now I don't think I could make this a daily stop at $9 per hot dog, but for an occasional treat, I would definitely recommend it!  You'll also only find them on Tues, Wed & Thur from 11am-3pm, so time your trip carefully.  Your best bet is to LIKE them on Facebook so you'll be aware of their specials as well as any modifications to normal operating hours.  Alternatively, their website is listed on the side of the truck!! 

               

Hot Dog Caboose, Midland Park

     This venue is certainly an eye catcher!  Though there were clearly some outdoor tables that I am certain would make for a wonderful Springtime dining experience, our decision to visit the day after a snowstorm forced us to enjoy our fare in the car!

     These natural casing dogs had a nice snap!  They offer several interesting topping options, but our choice was rather simple:  1 Texas Weiner style (chili, mustard & onion), 1 mustard & kraut & 1 w/ fries & cheese sauce.  All were very tasty & satisfying.  This is a stop I will certainly be returning to!

Middlesex Texas Weiner, Middlesex

      This is a great stop that is run by a friendly family.  The chili has the Plainfield-style flavor with hints of coriander, cardamom and cinnamon.  Many Texas weiner joints tend to overcook their chili until it's a dry meat sauce, but Middlesex Texas Weiner's chili is moist and very tasty.  This is one of my favorite Texas Weiner stops!!

Highway Hot Dogs, Ringoes (permanently closed)

     Nestled in the corner of a small strip of stores along Route 202/31 S in Ringoes, this vendor, who opened their doors in 2019, specializes in Hot dogs, fries and ice cream exclusively.  They offer an all-beef Sabrett's 10:1 dog for $2 or a larger beef/pork 6:1 dog from the Union Pork Store for $4.  Both are served deep fried on Martin's potato rolls.

     The above example is the Sabrett's beef dog with their homemade chili and "jersey jerk" relish.  The chili is rather mild for my taste, though it was tomato based and was a little sweet like a Pittsburgh style chili.  The addition of the Jersey Jerk relish definitely brought the heat!!  It is a spicy pepper relish that has a nice tang of its own.  They sell this relish by the jar as well, in case you'd like to bring some home!

     My next selection was the Union Pork Store dog served "all the way" (Texas Weiner style with chili, raw onions and brown mustard).  The dog was certainly milder than the all-beef Sabrett's but was very tasty and certainly more filling!  Overall it was a positive experience, particularly since it is the 2nd closest hot dog joint to my home!!  They also offer a frequent visitor card that provides a free hot dog when you buy 10.  This was my first visit and I'm already half way to my free dog!!

*** ALERT  -  Due to the 2020 Covid pandemic, like many local businesses, Highway Hot Dogs has closed permanently.

Denville Dog & Grill, Denville

 

     What a great little stop!  They serve Sabrett all-beef 8/1 NC dogs that are grilled.  I opted for the chili cheese dog (add mustard) and a bacon cheese dog (add mustard).  I apologize for taking a bite out of the chili cheese dog before taking my picture, but it looked so good!!!

      The chili is ground fine but is not runny and does NOT have the hint of cardamom/coriander/nutmeg that many local chilis have... What it DOES have is quite a spicy kick!!  It surprised me, and DID require that I take several sips of my Stewart's root beer, but it was very good!

     The bacon cheese dog, on the other hand, was kinda underwhelming.  The bacon bits were a little too well done for my taste but definitely provided a nice smoky flavor.  The cheese sauce was a good compliment but was a bit bland.  A little more spicy kick or smoky flavor in the cheese sauce would be a welcome addition.  Still, it was a satisfying hot dog.

Bear's Hot Dog Truck, Sayreville

     Back in the late 80's when I first visited Bear's, it was only a small stainless steel cart with the blue & yellow umbrella that you can see (above) on the far right.  The new trailer has provided the necessary room to offer many more choices.  They offer either a Sabrett 8:1 NC all beef frank or a larger Sabrett 6:1 pork/beef Griller.  Many of the folks who I visited with ordered their dogs with the chili which received very high reviews!  Other options include: cheese, Sabrett onion sauce, raw onions, relish or their homemade hot pepper relish.

     I had the all beef 8:1 NC dog with cheese and added a bit of their homemade hot pepper relish.  It was absolutely delicious!  Having the relish available for the patron to apply allows for just the right amount of heat.  You can see from the picture above that I came with a large group, and whether it was the delicious dogs, the reasonable prices or the fantastic staff, everyone had a smile on their face!  I'm hoping this hot dog truck is around for at least another 45 years!!  (hint, hint: Scott K.!)

<-- Bear himself!

Their mascot -->

Little Buffalo, Cranford (permanently closed)

     Opening in November 2017, the owners grew up in Buffalo, NY and wanted to bring some of their favorite foods to NJ.  They serve Zweigle's franks (only shop in NJ that I know of) in 3 varieties.  Red pop-open dogs are beef/pork blend and come in either 6 in. or 12 in. lengths.  Interestingly, the smaller dog (not that small, weighing in at 6/1) has a spicier flavor due to a small difference in the recipe.  They also serve white pop-opens which are a veal/pork/beef blend that retain the white color since they are neither smoked nor cured.

     Once you've selected your meat, you have a choice of 4 different sauces, each of which were inspired by one of the Buffalo area hot dog restaurants.  They offer a cumin-based meat sauce that was inspired by Nick Tohue, a spicy meat sauce similar to what you'll find at Coach Tony's, a sweet red sauce like the one at Reid's and a spicy red sauce inspired by Ted's.  With so many combinations to choose from (and I personally enjoyed every one that I tried) you'll have to make several visits to try them all!!  Thanks to Mike Maggio for such a great idea!

***  Update - Little Buffalo has closed permanently, possibly due to the 2020 COVID Pandemic

Charlie's Famous Italian Hot Dogs, Union

     Charlie's has been serving Italian hot dogs to New Jerseyans in the traditional method for decades.  They moved their main operation from Kenilworth to Union a few years back but their their focus on serving authentic IHDs has not changed.  The single or double hot dog is nestled into a 1/2 round loaf of pizza bread, doused with mustard, covered with sauteed onions and peppers, then topped with thin, deep fried potato slices and ketchup.

     Though there are many shops trying to serve Italians on sub rolls, and others that offer diced potatoes (or even french fries!!) there is definite value to be found in an authentic IHD.  Charlie's is one of the best and will have my patronage for years to come!

Hot Dog Joe, Bridgewater

     While speaking with Joe it became clear that he is a passionate cook.  He prepares all of his toppings and even grows some of the ingredients in the small garden he tends behind the trailer.  He insists on serving only all beef hot dogs.  His go-to brand is Thumann's but he has been known to serve Black Bear if he runs out.  Joe adds a bit if apple cider vinegar to the water when boiling his dogs soften the natural casing.

     The hot onions (w/ peppers) were outstanding!  These are homemade and the tangy flavor held a nice amount of heat.  His chili was very good but was a bit milder than I prefer.  It had neither the strong cinnamon/coriander/nutmeg flavor that most of the texas weiner joints serve but it also didn't have a tomato base.  It is best described as a mildly seasoned ground beef.  If you're near Bridgewater around lunch time, give this stop a try!  He's open 10:30a-2:30p 6 days a week (closed Sundays).

Apple's Deli, Springfield (permanently closed)

     Apple's Deli has a long, interesting history (although it only opened in 2016!)  The owner, Matthew Applebaum, bought the old Evergreen Deli in Springfield after serving as chef at several North Jersey restaurants.  One of these was Amazing Hot Dog in Verona, now long gone.  This was an opportunity for Matt to serve what he loves under his own banner.

     The big hit at Apple's Deli has got to be the Syd's dog.  Originally served as Syd's in Newark (also long gone) this is a Best natural casing 5:1 all beef dog that is only available at the Best Provisions store, also in Newark.  It is first boiled and then given some char on the grill.  Below is a shot of mine with brown mustard.  Absolutely fantastic!

     The pic at the bottom of this post was taken during the 15th Annual NJ Hot Dog Tour where Apple's hosted an outdoor cookout for the participants.  It was a great day for an outdoor venue and everyone enjoyed their wonderful hospitality!

*** Update - Permanently closed in 2019

Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co.

     Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co. opened its doors in 2017 and has already made a big impact in the hot dog world.  They were one of the 10 finalists in the 2018 Best Hot Dog in NJ competition.  Their unique rolls add to the magic.  They cut a loaf of Italian bread in half and the skewer the flat end onto one of the metal spikes that sit next to their grill (see below).  The process makes room for the dog and toppings as well as warming the roll.  What a great idea!

     The storefront boasts a large window that allows direct access to the street traffic, so buying a dog to satisfy tour hunger is pretty convenient.  One downside to the structure is that it does not provide any seating, either inside or out.  There isn't much room surrounding the building to loiter while you eat!

     The "hole in a roll" technique provides a stout container for your hot dog and toppings.  The dogs are all beef Thumann's and weigh in at a quarter pound.  Standard toppings are available and Relish provides several creative topping combinations as suggestions.  Below I sampled a K.C.Kraut which boasts beer kraut, house wiz & awesome sauce.  The flavor and texture was a real treat, but as I neared the end of my meal I recognized a possible flaw in this unique design.  The wiz, sauce and residual moisture from the kraut tended to accumulate at the bottom of the "roll" since it was being held vertically.  The result was that the last few bites were considerably more messy than my first bites.  I will plan for this on my next visit, so don't you be caught unprepared!!

Destination Dogs, New Brunswick

     This is one of the nicest looking hot dog joints on this blog.  It's really a gastropub that specializes in extraordinary hot dogs and serves craft beer.  Finding a nearby parking spot is a bit challenging as their own lot holds 5-6 cars maximum.  I visited during rush hour on a Tuesday so it wasn't exactly hoppin' but it looks like it would be a fun place to spend a Friday night!  Perhaps I will get the opportunity to test that theory in the future.


     The variety of sausages available at DD is quite impressive.  They offer options such as: chicken, lamb, duck and chorizo, all of which I have seen in other restaurants.  But I will bet that this is one of very few venues that serve sausage made from: wild boar, alligator, kangaroo or python!  Of course, the rarer alternatives do bump up the cost considerably ($14 being their highest price meals).

     Below you will see pictures of our selections.  The first meal is a Chivas Royale: an all beef dog with natural casing from Best Provisions (Newark, NJ), deep fried and topped with cheese sauce, bacon, salsa verde, sour cream and chives.  The second meal is Le Poutine: a duck sausage topped with french fries, brown gravy, cheese curds and chives.  Both of these selections were absolutely delicious!  The buns are baked on premises and are buttery, toasted delights with a flat bottom to keep the contents from tipping out.  I can't wait for the opportunity to return so I can sample some of their other choices!

   So the meals following the next 2 represent subsequent visits to this establishment!

Chivas Royale: an all beef dog with natural casing from Best Provisions (Newark, NJ), deep fried and topped with cheese sauce, bacon, salsa verde, sour cream and chives.

Le Poutine: a duck sausage topped with french fries, brown gravy, cheese curds and chives.

 One Bite in Bangkok: Python sausage, cucumber salad, pepper jelly, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

 Andouille Armstrong: Alligator & Shrimp sausage, cabbage, tomatoes, jalapeno remoulade, scallions and a lemon wedge.

The Underdog: Kangaroo sausage, frizzled onions, vegemite aioli and scallions.

That Hot Dog Place, Red Bank

     This shop ia a bit difficult to locate on your first visit as it is nestled down a narrow alley between Monmouth Street and the municipal parking lot.  The shop is quite small (no room for even a single table) but is adequate for the preparation of delicious hot dogs and some outstanding soups!  Interestingly, they tout hot dogs in their business name but their website indicates their soup (www.soupmeister.com).

     Below you will see photos of our selections.  On the left is a pair of Sabrett natural casing all-beef dogs, one with spicy mustard and cooked onions, and the other with coleslaw.  On the right is a Junkyard dog: a 1/4 lb. Boar's Head frank topped with mustard, coleslaw, sweet relish, hot relish and chopped tomato.  Both diners agreed that the coleslaw was too runny to act as a hot dog topping.  Dogs require a drier, finely chopped slaw in my opinion.  That's really the only constructive comment I have since the remainder of the meal was very good!  The onions had a very nice level of spice and the prices were very economical.  If I am in the area I will definitely stop again (especially since I will be able to find it much more quickly now!)

Mel's Bagel & Deli, Flemington

    Mel's has been our go-to destination for bagels any morning that we're travelling through Flemington.  I almost didn't see this option since the Italian hot dog is the only hot dog on Mel's menu.  Upon ordering, I received a huge meal which actually had some heat, but I wasn't sure if it was the mustard or the dog.  I asked what kind of franks they use and the reply was "All beef,"  When I pressed for the brand, the cook admitted that he didn't know.

     They use diced (or cubed) potatoes, similar to home fries.  I typically prefer sliced potatoes on my IHD but the flavor was still prominent.  A sub roll was also used in place of the traditional pizza bread, but still did its job containing the contents.  That unusual heat made this meal particularly palatable in my opinion.  It was definitely a great value and I would recommend giving this dog a try if you.re not hung up on strict adherence to traditional Italian hot dog construction!

Fromage Grille, Cranford (permanently closed)

     The Fromage Grille, opening in Cranford during the summer of 2016, is primarily a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant.  They offer an amazing variety of their signature menu item.  But on their first anniversary they began to offer a variety hot dogs on their menu as well (see menu below).

     Showing respect for the primary fare of this trendy establishment, I ordered the Fromage Dog (you might say I was paying homage to the fromage!!)  The shredded cheeses were melted atop a grilled Sabrett skinless dog and nestled in a soft, yet sturdy roll.  My wife opted for one of their grilled cheese specialties.  The food was very good and the service was fast and friendly.  Given the rejuvination going on in Cranford, I predict this shop will have a long, healthy life in this community.

***  Update - Permanently closed Sept 2020... another victim of the COVID Pandemic

Jimmy's Hot Dogs, Flemington

     This cart is in a lot adjacent to a Gulf station on Route 12, just east of Croton Road.  I stop by whenever Jerry is open as this is my Go-To gas station near my home.  Jimmy is a very friendly fellow who sells Sabrett's skinless dogs on potato rolls for the economical price of only 2 dollars with any toppings.  You'll find all of the usual toppings available.

     Below you'll see that I sampled one with mustard and one with mustard & kraut on my first visit, then one with chili and another with cooked onions on my second trip.  The rolls were fresh, the dogs were hot & tasty and the toppings complimented the franks nicely.  The onions were nicely spiced with a thick sauce that didn't run all over my hand.  The chili was an interesting combination as it was tomato-based (like Patterson-style chili) but also had the cinnamon/coriander flavor that is common in Plainfield-style chili.  It was very tasty and complimented the dogs well.

J&G Texas Weiners, Dunellen

     J&G is one of the more popular locations for New Jersey's own Texas Weiners.  The staff was friendly but they were all business.  I watched a well-oiled machine serve up (2) "all the way" with considerable efficiency.  These piping hot dogs had a great snap and the proportions of all ingredients were just right!  Their Plainfield style chili had a nice amount of spice with just a little heat.  It's easy to see why J&G has developed such a strong, devoted clientele.