Hot Rod's Hot Dogs, Glen Gardner

     This location has been a staple of the small town of Glen Gardner for many years.  My only guess is that these folks have never ventured outside of their community to sample a quality hot dog!

     The catchy name is the only redeeming quality I could find here.  The hot dogs are boiled and remain in the water until they are placed on a bun.  My experienced evaluation was that these dogs are some of the blandest tube steaks I have ever tasted.  If it weren't for the simple selection of condiments to adorn these franks, they would hardly have any taste at all.

     I apologize to the residents of Glen Gardner who swear by Hot Rod's, but this establishment gets the lowest rank of all hot dog stands I have sampled thus far.  This stand deserves a drive-by, nothing more.

25 Burgers (Flemington location)

     "What?!? Another burger joint???"  Yes, yes, calm down...  I look for good dogs no matter where I go and feel compelled to report on my findings no matter where I find them!  I will caution the reader to take note that I visited the Flemington, NJ location to complete this report.  Of the 8 locations in NJ, I have also been to the Branchburg facility on Route 22.  Although this location has the benefit of being attached to a nice little pub (the pub serves their burgers, but the 25 Burgers does NOT serve alcohol!) this locations does NOT serve any hot dogs (which I believe to be an agreement with Geenie's Weenies who shares the west side of the parking lot).
*** UPDATE (11/8/2013) - The Branchburg location has placed a number of hot dogs on its menu.  It's not the full set found in Flemington but it's a start!  Geenie's has nothing to worry about...)

     Back to Flemington, the (6) hot dogs offered all follow a "state" theme.  The NY dog with brown mustard & sauerkraut is very reminiscent of my youth in NY.  The NJ dog is topped with yellow mustard and relish.  The Texas Weiner is smothered in chili and the Chicago dog (my favorite!) supports chopped onions, tomatoes, relish & mustard.  Each one is an authentic testament to traditions of the area for which it was named.  All the dogs are deep fried before being dressed with their condiments.

     To complete the meal I would recommend the sweet potato fries which come with a honey mustard sauce that is to die for!  Your freshly prepared order is announced by a vibrating coaster provided to you when you order.  A clean 60's diner vibe completes the experience.  Truly worth the trip.

(and for any burger lovers in the audience, I strongly suggest trying the Trenton Burger.  An angus burger covered with melted cheese and pork roll... Yum!!)

5 Guys Burgers & Fries (Flemington location)

     I know, I know....  This is a hot dog blog.  "What on earth are you doing in a burger joint?!?"  Well, I can only justify my actions by pointing out that at least, when in this burger emporium, I did have the good sense to order hot dogs!  Be open minded and observe the review.  You might be surprised.

     This establishment is reminiscent of an old time burger hop.  The hot dogs (Hebrew National) are split lengthwise and then grilled to perfection.  Bacon, chili or cheese are extra, but they provide a choice of 15 condiments that are free!  This provides for a great deal of customization to fit the patron's desires.  I had mine with yellow mustard, onions and a pickle.  It was really good, owing in great part to the split 'n grill method of cooking.

     I would also highly recommend adding an order of Boardwalk Fries (with skin left on) with some cider vinegar to complete a very tasty meal.  Truly an oasis among the burgers!!

Russ Ayers, Bordentown, NJ

     The inside of this rather small building led me to believe it was built around a rather large hot dog wagon!  There are only 5 indor seats but they have plenty of outdoor seating on picnic benches that surround the shop.  They're open Monday through Saturday from 10am-5pm and are very easy to find.

     The "Works" is served with yellow mustard (slathered with an authentic mustard wand), relish, onions and sauerkraut.  The comment was that the dog was very good, though a few strands of the sauerkraut were a bit on the crunchy side.

     The second sample was the chili cheese dog which received a much better review.  Attending school in the area, my son advised that these were the best dogs he had found in the vicinity.  The particular chili used blended very well with the cheese sauce making for a very tasty dog.  The soft buns were surprising strong and stood up to the mountain of chili like a champ!

     Finally, we found the store to be very clean and the staff to be very outgoing and pleasant with a general good atmosphere about the place.  Based on other patrons who we met on our trip, this is a local favorite and we were very glad to have made the journey.

Captain Paul's Firehouse Dogs, Lawrenceville

     The owner (Paul) does the cooking and puts forth a chipper, fun demeanor.  One would surmise that he has spent time as a firefighter and perhaps in the military or police, based on the decor and the hundreds of fire & police dept. patches that adorn the walls.

     I had the Super Trooper: a double Italian hot dog with a slight twist (two hot dogs, fries, peppers and mustard on a torpedo roll).  Paul fries Hatfield dogs which give them a great flavor and texture.  My better half felt that more fries and fewer peppers would have been an improvement.

     My son sampled the Seal Team Six which was a hot dog with mustard and spicy onion sauce.  It was a big hit with a side of mozzarella sticks.

     Although not a contender for the gold medal, the service was very pleasant and the ambiance was interesting and unique.  Make sure the weather is good before visiting as only 4 seats are available indoors!

UPDATE: I was in the area 15 months following our initial visit and was disappointed to receive boiled hot dogs instead of fried.  They were definitely not as memorable.  Perhaps since I only ordered dogs with mustard, relish & onions I received the "ready-to-serve" dogs.  Maybe only the fancy names get the fried weenies!

Pudgy's Street Food (Flemington area)

     How often do you come across a hot dog truck that is worth following?  Without a doubt Pudgy's is one of those trucks!!  As any adventurous hot dog sampling aficionado will admit, you simply cannot pass up the opportunity to taste test a new purveyor of tube steak provisions.

   
     Based on the name alone, one would assume that the jewel in the crown of Pudgy' menu is the Pudgy dog.  This champion starts with a Thumann;s hot dog, deep fries the weenie, slices it down the center and then places it in a warmed bun.  A spicy horseradish mustard is spread along its length, and then deep fried battered pickle chips are added to capacity...  AWESOME!!!

     This wonderful treat is undoubtedly the main attraction, although Pudgy's also offers chili dogs, Italian hot dogs and a cheese fries dog.  They all have something to offer the hot dog fan that relishes these specific delicacies.  What a well-organized, wisely adaptable selection of hot dog alternatives!  This truck has participated in the NJ Food Truck Championships in 2012 and is well worth stopping if you can locate them.

     Your best bet for tracking the truck is "liking" their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pudgys-Street-Food/  It is definitely worth the effort!!

Charlie's Pool Room, Alpha (near Phillipsburg)

     It was a mixed blessing that we were unable to visit this stop on the day of our big Northern NJ Hot Dog Tour.  The fact that we planned for this to be our last stop did prevent us from arriving with swollen bellies and bulging eyes!  The proprietors deserved a fresh perspective to evaluate their offerings.  If you're travelling on a Sunday or Monday, be aware that this family observes barber's hours!

     Although it was a little difficult to find, this was an enjoyable hot dog stand with a rich local history.  It is nestled right in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  It took 3 passes before we identified the right "house"!!

     Back in the early 1920's Charlie's Pool Room was a local business that provided penny candy in the entry room, and a professional shave & cut in the adjacent front-facing room.  The "pool room" just behind the candy was an afterthought based on a need to entertain the many patrons who decided Charlie's was the place to linger and share neighborhood gossip.  So many local gents spent their afternoons & evenings at this social nexus that Grandma Fencz decided they needed something to eat, and thus the hot dog menu was born.

     The big secret to their famous dogs is their sweet & sour Hungarian onion sauce.  The sauce is the only item that brother Joe is responsible for... other than that he is the gracious host of the Pool Room.  He has plenty of documentation to support any level of historical anecdote that he might share.  He is very friendly, knowledgeable and quite the storyteller!

     As for the main attraction (the hot dogs!) I must point out that the onion sauce was the show-stopper.  Although the "mealie" provides a dog with onion sauce, raw onions, and precisely placed hot pepper slices with a pickle spear on the side, it really doesn't qualify as a "Meal" unless you get the blue plate special (5 mealies served on a special blue plate!)  The sauce really makes the meal special.  As there is only one large round table to enjoy your fare, the sociable patron is most at ease in this tradition-steeped warren.  Tasty, unique, a must-visit, but not a culinary masterpiece.  Still well worth your attention and effort!

*** UPDATE -  Charlie's had closed its doors for some required renovations in 2013, and family illness has caused further delay in their completion,  Our best wishes go out to brother John for a speedy recovery.  We hope to see you & Joe open for business very soon!!