Broadway Hot Dogs, Fair Lawn

     What a treat this visit was!!  The owner has a real passion for hot dogs and has designed a menu which underlines that passion.  Your first clue is that they offer every one of their hot dog styles with your choice of a steamed Sabrett's dog or a grilled Thumann's dog.  The standard varieties all ring in between $2-$3.  The specialty dogs (including the 2 pictured below) were only $4.50, which I thought was a pretty good deal.

     I selected the grilled Thumann's for my Pretzel Dog (right).  After adding a line of Sabrett's brown mustard this meal was a real treat!  The delicious dog was no surprise but the soft, salty pretzel bun was an outstanding compliment.  Only a tiny bit more difficult to handle than a normal bun, this selection was both filling and delicious.

     On the left you'll see their Italian hot dog.  They use a quarter pound Sabrett dog and serve it on a hollowed sub roll rather than the more traditional pizza dough.  The onions and tri-color peppers were sauteed nicely and were mixed with cubed, fried potatoes(I typically prefer the sliced potatoes).  Notwithstanding the deviation from Newark tradition, I must admit that this was one very tasty IHD!!  I applaud their willingness to make their menu their own and was very pleased with my selections.  This will definitely be a repeat stop!

***  UPDATE:  Sadly, as of May 2018, Broadway Hot Dogs has closed its doors...

Dave's Hot Dogs, South Amboy

      Dave's is a quaint, luncheonette style hot dog joint that has served South Amboy for just under a decade (as of this writing).  The staff is super friendly and the service is quick.  Most hot dog varieties are between $2 - $3 with a few double dog options priced at $6.  Among these is an Italian hot dog which will definitely be on my order the next time I stop by!

     They use Sabrett #11 hot dogs that are steamed (dirty water style).  I saw they offered a Carolina Slaw dog which was calling my name.  Surprisingly I had never tried a slaw dog before so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Now, I'm the type of guy who prefers a large, rough cut cole slaw when served as a side dish.  When I saw the finely chopped slaw (pictured below) I was a little skeptical.  Boy was I wrong!!  The finely chopped texture, similar to a good chili, clung to the hot dog & bun so I could enjoy the flavor mixture with every bite.  As full as I was, I ordered a second dog to enjoy all over again!!

     In addition to their delicious dogs, Dave's offers a variety of burger choices as well as a cheese steak, chicken fingers, tacos, pork roll, chili, nachos, onion rings and of course, a variety of fries.  This stop has something for everyone so bring along the family!  They close early on weekends so check their schedule before making the trip.  You won't be disappointed!

Sonny's Hot Dogs, Neptune

     Sonny's was the only stop on the 14th Annual NJ Hot Dog Tour that served Italian hot dogs.  Pricey at $8.25 but comes with 2 dogs, peppers, onions and potato slices.  The roll is not quite traditional, being more like a small loaf of bread than typical pizza dough.  The taste was a substantial redeeming quality however, providing a variety of flavors and textures as you work your way through your meal.

     They offer a Sabrett all beef 8:1 natural casing dog that is served "dirty water" style, but they offer the option of throwing it on the grill before serving.  Their menu offers 30+ signature dogs see below), some of which border on excessive creativity.  I ordered a grilled dog with BBQ onions.  It was tasty but not extraordinary for the $3.50 price tag.  It seems like they rely on the toppings to "Wow" their customers rather than highlighting the dawg, though I will report that many folks were hooked!

     ***  Item to note:  As of March 2018, Sonny's has closed this location as they felt the establishment was lost in the large shopping center.  They are looking for a new venue to re-open with a fresh start.  More to come as I learn details...

Goffle Grill, Hawthorne

     As you can see by the sign above the building, Goffle Grill highlights the hot dog as a key focus of their menu.  I was surprised when I entered this establishment, looked at the large menu and only saw (3) hot dog options: a Texas Weiner, a Chicken dog (zero interest!) and an Italian dog.  They will make hot dogs according to your order if the above 3 options do not tickle your fancy.

     I sampled the Texas Weiner on my visit to Hawthorne.  They serve grilled Thumann's dogs (2oz. natural casing) on a fresh, adequately stout roll, making for an excellent foundation. The chili is the cumin-based style which I thought was a bit thin for my taste, though it was quite delicious.  The raw onion was finely chopped and a bit moist, suggesting they were not prepared fresh this morning.  They tended to overpower the chili and stayed with me for about 1/2 hour!  I would suggest asking them to go easy on the onions and enjoy their fare!

Hot Grill, Clifton

     While in the neighborhood (reasonably) I had a hankering for a dawg and had heard good things about Hot Grill.  I flipped on the GPS and quickly arrived.  I was surprised that the only hot dog they offer is the Texas Weiner but was happy to give it a try.  They deep fry a Sabrett pork/beef dog, add spicy brown mustard, finely chopped onions and a nice, thick Paterson-style chili.

     I found the weiner too have a pretty high concentration of onions which seemed to be very sweet, almost like a Vidalia.  Perhaps my tastebuds were extra sensitive that night but the taste of the onions dominated all else.  I did make sure to isolate a mouthful of chili and it was very tasty.  I grew up on the more bland, tomato-based chili (native New Yorker!) but I am growing fond of the cinnamon and cumin found in these spicy chilis.  All in all, a good dog that satisfied my hankering!

Burnet Burger Plus, Green Brook

     The first thing that struck me when I walked into Burnet's was their exceptional cleanliness.  The staff was very friendly and cheerful.  I get the sense that this is a great place to work!  I wanted to stick with the theme of my evening so ordered the Texas Weiner.  They opt for the yellow mustard to compliment their chili & raw onions.

     They split a Thumann's dog down the center before grilling,  They also offer a deep-fried option (not split!)  The dog looks a bit messy but I assure you it was delicious!  The chili is one of the best I've tried.  It seems to be an interesting mix of the 2 chili cultures in New Jersey, one being tomato based and the other being more of a browned meat sauce with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and other spices.  I will definitely be back to have this again, sampling until I can pinpoint those ingredients!!

Windmill, Long Branch

     Windmill is a chain that has many locations throughout New Jersey, along the eastern shore.  The building shown above is the location in northern Long Branch where our Tour visited (which will be closing in 2018).  The manager was an exceedingly generous host and was thrilled to be one of our stops.  The original building further south in Long Branch sports the famous windmill architecture.

     All Windmill locations serve the Sabrett 4:1 NC pork/beef Griller.  This is a substantial dog that will satisfy a healthy appetite.  They offer a choice of chili or cheese (or both!) and have a wide variety of additional toppings at their ample condiment station.  These Sabretts are sold at many grocery stores throughout the state under the Windmill name (2 lb. package).

     I ordered a cheese dog (grilled) and complimented it with relish.  Great smokey flavor, but not spicy.  The cheese sauce complimented the dog nicely.  I heard very good reviews regarding the chili and am looking forward to the opportunity to visit one of the many locations to sample it.  You can find additional Windmill locations in: Asbury Park, Belmar, Brick, Freehold and Red Bank.