Jerry's Famous Frankfurters, Elizabeth

   Jerry's has been a staple in the community of Elizabeth for over 68 years.  Its proximity to Tommy's (a mere 225 feet) has not affected their loyal followers.  They have a wide variety of toppings but the chili and onions is a popular combination.  The signature chili has a nice consistency and a unique blend of spices that compliment the dogs nicely.  My palate was detecting cinnamon and perhaps a touch of nutmeg.  The icing on the cake were the fast service and great price!  Jerry's is a definite value for some tasty dogs!!

Tommy's Italian Sausage, Elizabeth

   While growing up in Staten Island, NY in the 60's & 70's, I was not exposed to the wonders of an Italian hot dog.  My first experience was shared with my girlfriend (eventually "wife of 30 years"!) at this establishment that Hot Dog Heaven has called: "NJ's Best Italian Hot Dog".  I'm talking about Tommy's Italian Sausage in Elizabeth, NJ.  They stuff a half pita bread with either 1, 2 or 3 hot dogs (I recommend the "Double").  Sauted peppers & onions are added to the pita along with an incredible heaping mound of crispy fried potatoes, sliced 1/8" thick, and topped with ketchup.

   The challenge of this dog is figuring out how to get to the meat under all those potatoes!!  I have always used the small wooden fork (provided) to eat & enjoy about 2/3rds of the potato slices before I had a manageable sandwich to lift to my mouth.  It seems like the only civilized way to eat this behemoth without ending up in a ketchupy mess!!  I have had italian hot dogs at other stands who prefer to use potato wedges or, in some cases, fries.  I greatly prefer these potato slices and have to agree that Tommy's prepares one of the best Italians in NJ.

Designer Dawgs, Clinton

   I stopped by Designer Dawgs on the first day of their 2017 season.  It was my first visit, but I am sure it will not be my last!  This was truly an exceptional departure from the basic, run-of-the-mill hot dog stand.  The owner, Holly Jeanne, was very friendly and took the time to chat and share her vision.  I was clearly in the presence of a vendor who recognizes quality ingredients and passes that quality along to their customers.

  These grilled dogs are made by Vienna Beef, are my new favorite brand!  The rolls (not buns!) are freshly baked & delivered each morning.  They are just the right size and can stand up to any combination of toppings, without causing the dog to be "lost".  They do not offer fries, which can often be the ruin of an otherwise appreciable dog stand.  What they do offer as side dishes actually compliment a hot dog lunch nicely: homemade mac & cheese, chili w/ cheese and baked beans.

   For my first meal here I ordered the German dawg which consists of sauerkraut and brown mustard as toppings.  It was a delicious rendition of an age old favorite that took me back to my New York roots.  For my second choice I selected the Reuben dawg topped with swiss cheese, kraut and russian dressing.  This being my "bold" choice I was very pleasantly surprised at how well these ingredients blended together.  I enjoyed every bite and was sad to see it go!  Being only 3 miles from work I can definitely see this place becoming a frequent lunch stop.  Very happy to have found it!!

****  NEWS FLASH ****
    Designer Dawgs has moved to a new home right on Main Street in Downtown Clinton!!  They have their own storefront (new photo above) and a great patio out back to enjoy your dawgs when the weather cooperates!!  Come check out their new digs!  The location is new but the dawgs are as good as ever!!!

Callahan's, Norwood

Callahan's is famous for their hod dog trucks that travel across much of northeast New Jersey as well as for their restaurant on Broad St. in Norwood.  Normally the the menu is a bit more limited than the restaurant but my sampling was taken at the Jerseyfest Food Truck Mash-Up held at the Meadowlands Racetrack on June 4th, 2016.  It was a stormy evening but that didn't deter the throngs of hungry guests from swarming Callahan's truck, as every hot dog option was available.

I ordered the Super Dog which provides over a foot of their pork/beef blend.  It was nicely grilled (not "killed"!!) and dressed with their homemade chili.  The chili had a good thick texture though it didn't have any distinctive spiciness or tanginess (it was a bit "ho hum").  My second dog was topped with sauerkraut and bacon pieces which provided a nice smoky flavor.  The bun had a hard time holding the massive dog and toppings, but let's face it, the dawg is the star of the show!  My guess is that their regular dog, which is still a long 9 inches, would have been handled much better.  That's what I get for being greedy!

Outpost Barbeque, Bridgewater

I was traveling through Bridgewater and immediately had a craving for barbeque when I saw this place. Then when I sat down and looked at the menu, I was very pleased to see an interesting menu of 9 hot dogs in addition to many other BBQ favorites. All of their hot dogs are grilled and come with a variety of toppings, including: sauerkraut, chopped onion, mac & cheese, chili, jalepenos, cheddar cheese and Cajun kraut, as well as the options that I had selected.

I chose an Atlantic Dog with bacon smoked baked beans and tangy BBQ sauce, and an Alabama Dog with smoked pulled pork and horseradish sauce. The dogs are grilled crisp and taste great by themselves!  The mix of flavors was like nothing I've tasted before, but in a good way.  The choices available can certainly be tailored to anyone's taste, but also provides a wide variety for the adventurous diner to sample new choices.  The dogs are 8 inches long and provide an opportunity to test the naked dog at each end.  My only disappointment was the roll... although it was fresh and tasty, I think a slightly more sturdy roll would have made this stop awesome.  It took me almost 1/2 hour to finish my meal and the roll was getting pretty weak by the end.

Outpost BBQ also offers a catering menu.  For large events they even have a portable barbeque/smoker that can handle a serious crowd (see below).  The prices are just a little bit high, but for the unique combination of toppings I would still recommend giving this restaurant a try.  The flavors are well worth it! 

Gail's Dog House, Martinsville

     This was a surprising find.  I was on a lunchtime errand during the workday and saw the sign below.  This little wagon is just the right size for a one person operation.  There were cooking facilities inside so the dogs weren't sitting in "dirty water" for hours (a frequent disappointment when dealing with hot dog carts!)  Gail (in the van) is often found in the parking lot of Chimney Rock Park, right on Chimney Rock Rd. in Martinsville, NJ.

     I sampled a chili dog and one with brown mustard & sauerkraut.  The texture and consistency of the chili was wonderful.  It could have been a bit more flavorful but it was a thoroughly enjoyable condiment.  Gail uses Sabrett hot dogs on a nice fresh roll that stood up to the chili without getting soggy and falling apart (I hate that!!)  The kraut & mustard dog was equally tasty.  I was very satisfied with this unexpected find!  I think Gail has found a successful niche for this start up!

Manny's Texas Weiners, Union

     This was an unexpected stop on the way back from New Jersey's first Meadery, only a few blocks away.  I opted to try the staple Texas Weiner which was a long (approx. 9") dog grilled nicely on a flat griddle.  It had a strong "beefy" flavor that was not overpowered by condiments.  The 6" roll allowed for the ends to be exposed providing 2 tasty treats!  The accompanying krinkle kut fries were also cooked to a krispy golden brown and were equally delicious.

     My wife opted to sample the double Italian hot dog which was tasty but there was not enough peppers or onions, even condiments.  It was drowned in thick chunks that fell off the sandwich at every bite.  The bread used was a 1/2 of a hoagie roll instead of the expected pita-style bread.  It broke apart halfway through eating the sandwich and the remainder needed to be eaten with a fork.

     Overall Manny's was a decent place to enjoy a meal.  The service was helpful & friendly and the food was a good value.