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.

Jimmy's Doggie Stand, Philipsburg

     Jimmy's is nestled alongside the Union Square train station at the entrance to the "free bridge" in Phillipsburg, NJ.  This stand is a very clean establishment with ample seating for folks who wish to eat in.  All of your menu choices are posted next to the walk-up order window and the husband & wife team who own Jimmy's are very pleasant and helpful.

     I ordered my stand-by: brown mustard, raw onions & chili ("all the way"!)  This combo was presented with a bit more onions than I normally expect but the result was very good.  The bun held up to this mixture nicely while remaining soft and tasty.  The chili had a good texture and a nice kick to it.  This was my first time visiting Jimmy's but will certainly not be my last!

Deliworks, Flemington

     I stopped at this quaint little shop on a whim, never having heard any reviews and not having any idea if they even served hot dogs.  To my satisfaction I noticed that the 3rd item advertised above the counter was a Double Italian Hot Dog.  The description offered: 2 hot dogs served with potatoes, peppers and onions on pizza bread.  The description was sound and, since I was unable to find a more complete printed menu or any other signs for other varieties of hot dogs, I ordered the IHD.

     The cook's first question was: "Mustard or ketchup?"  Some places serve their IHDs with both but I played it safe and ordered mustard.  The potatoes, peppers and onions were tossed on the griddle and a half loaf of italian bread was sliced in half...  I never had pizza served on a loaf of italian bread so I had some questions about their description!  Being an easy-going guy I figured I would let it ride.  After smearing brown mustard on the bread the cook went into the back room and came back with two 1/4 lb. natural casing franks on top.  As you can see (below) the sandwich was enormous, which justified the $9 price.

     I have a preference for sliced potatoes on my Italians so these potato chunks, which reminded me of home fries, were a little disappointing, as were the thinly sliced red onion rings.  I did not recognize the hot dogs (and forgot to inquire what brand they were) but they were the highlight of the meal.  They were juicy and had a good amount of spiciness.  If I could get them to use actual pizza bread, I would probably go back.  The service and the value were definitely a plus.

Randy the Hot Dog Guy, Hillside

     Though it is a bit challenging to navigate your way through this heavy traffic area into the ample parking lot, the journey is worth the opportunity to meet the character for whom the establishment is named.  Randy is an entertaining fellow with a great sense of humor and very few inhibitions!  Aside from the main building which you see above, he and his wife have a large collection of hot dog carts, trailers and trucks (see below).

     During the 14th Annual Hot Dog Tour Randy was serving from a large cart where he offered (3) choices of dogs (all from NJ): a Thumann's 8:1 NC all beef dog, a Best 8:1 all beef skinless and the Best "Don's Dog" which is a 4:1 NC that actually fits on a standard bun.  All of these were served "dirty water" style on a Martin's potato roll.  His ample toppings included: sweet chili, kraut, cole slaw, cooked onions, hot or sweet peppers, cheese, relish and 3 types of mustard.

     I opted for a "Don's Dog" with brown mustard and a bit of kraut.  The dog had a very satisfying blend of spices, a great choice if you're serving "dirty water" style.  This fat quarter pound dog filled the bun but didn't extend out of the sides.  The brown mustard was a great compliment to the spice of this dog and the kraut was thankfully not bathing in liquid, so the potato roll was able to support the contents admirably.  I enjoyed the experience and would stop again if I were in the area.

Jersey Johnny's Grill, Pequannock Twp.

     Some say that judging a hot dog establishment by their mobile counterparts is unfair.  Personally, I think that any worthy hot dog vendor would put as much care into their truck or trailer as they do in their storefront since their reputation is on the line in either venue.  That said, I am providing feedback for Jersey Johnny's Grill based on a recent sampling of their fare at a promotional event held in Flemington, NJ.

     My order was for one "all the way", which was quickly understood to mean deli mustard, chopped onions and chili.  I thought that was a good sign!  They serve N/C Thumann's beef franks for which I was also thankful.  Although the overall experience was definitely positive, I felt that the chili was a bit thin for my taste.  And speaking of taste, I detected the familiar spice profile in the chili that common in North Jersey, possessing the distinct flavors of cinnamon, cardamom and cumin!

     I will add that their fries were also very good!  Crispy, golden brown outside, steamy soft centers and just the right amount of salt.  Kudos!!  BTW, if you're trying to find out more info about Jersey Johnny's, do NOT follow the website address (or phone number) you see on the side of the trailer pictured above.  They are both several years old (as is the trailer!)