Hot Dog Johnny's, Butzville

     This stop on our Tour is one that I have a long personal history with (over 40 years!)  My parents purchased a vacation cottage in the Poconos when I was 6 or 7, and we would pass this stand as we traveled the 2 1/2 hour trip from Staten Island.  Being about 60% of the way to our destination, this was a great place to stop to "empty one tank & fill another!"

     I always wondered what "buttermilk" tasted like, but my parents were too "frugal" (cheap!) to let me find out firsthand.  When our son had that same curious question, I was more than happy to indulge the boy and ordered a frosty mug.  I now know that it is an acquired taste... one that I most certainly do not share!!

     One of my favorite characteristics of Johnny's is their open air pavilion overlooking the original stand from 1944, and a peaceful branch of the Delaware River.  This was a great place to end our 2011 Tour.

     As I do every time I visit, I ordered a mug of birch beer and (2) hot dogs with the "works".  This instructs the crew to add yellow mustard, raw onions and a pickle spear (a quarter of a dill pickle).  Incidentally, a "Route 78" will also add ketchup to that order.  The familiar taste triggered taste bud memories galore, but as a purely impartial judge, I cannot award first place (or even second) to my old favorite.  My wife agreed that they over-applied the onions and the mustard.  It was difficult to taste the dog underneath all the condiments.

     The birch beer and the ambiance are the two main attractions to this stop.  Don't get me wrong... the dogs are delicious and very satisfying, but we have had some pretty amazing dogs today!  I will still continue to visit Johnny's whenever I'm in the area & have some time.  It's a great family stop, with swings for the kids and plenty of space to relax & recharge.

Jimmy Buff's, East Hanover

     Here again is a hot dog restaurant with a rich history.  Nearly 80 years ago "Jimmy Buff" introduced italian hot dogs to the city of Newark, NJ.  The name has carried through the years and is currently represented by 5 restaurants throughout New Jersey.  During our tour we visited the headquarters in East Hanover.  The interior was reminiscent of a 50's diner: pastel colors, patent leather seats and a lot of chrome.

     The first noteworthy observation was the friendly service.  The hots dogs were juicy, they gave a little "snap" when your teeth first bit into them, and provided a wonderful overall taste.  We had input from kraut & mustard people, double italian eaters and footlong chili cheese fans.  Everyone agreed that this stop on our tour was the new "stop-to-beat"!!  There was an overall consensus that the roll got a little bit soggy (depending on your condiments) but it was a small price to pay for a great tasting dog!

*** NEWS FLASH ***
     It has come to my attention that as of July 2013 only 2 locations are still operating in New Jersey.  The West Orange location and the newer Kenilworth location.  The East Hanover store, formerly their headquarters, has closed along with the Watchung store (which I pass periodically & prompted my investigation into current availability).  I hope the friendly folks we met at the East Hanover store have found a place in the new organization.

Rutt's Hut, Clifton, NJ

     This establishment has been a staple in New Jersey Hot Dog lore for many years.  Although I was not privy to the product of Rutt's Hut ministrations, I have heard this eatery extolled as a purveyor of quality frank fare for many years.  I was very excited to visit this hot dog Mecca and had great expectations upon entering its doors.

     Let me start by pointing out that Rutt's Hut offers a selection of frosty brews to accompany your food order.  Such ability is never to be underestimated!  A nice cold Bud washes anything down quite effectively...

     Secondly, the relish provided is without a doubt, one of the highlights of this culinary experience.  I could clearly detect mustard, cabbage, onions & finely chopped carrots.  This mixture was able to transform (almost) any menu item into a juicy, palatable treat!!

     The dogs here are deep fried until the skin rips and crinkles.  This provides the name of Rutt's most famous hot dog, the "Ripper".  The crevices resulting from those welts are very effective at cradling the relish.  To eat one plain is a little unnerving in my opinion,,, the texture simply wasn't aesthetically pleasing.

     For those who like their dogs crispy, you may want to try the "Weller" (for well done).  My son was pleased with this choice, but I have a feeling that his liberal use of relish and the accompanying Bud were instrumental in that assessment.

     Finally, number 1 son talked his little brother into trying the "Cremator".  The name says it all!!  This tube steak was left in that vat of oil until it was stiffer than the tongs used to remove it.  There was no trace of moisture left in this dog.  It literally went into the trash after one bite!

     I didn't find out about the option of an "In & Outer" until later.  If I find myself in Clifton with a hankering for weenies, I would give Rutt's another try.  Anyplace that has developed such a strong following as Rutt's Hut is worthy of a second chance.  But for this hot dog tour, it has not landed near the top of my list.

Hiram's, Fort Lee

     Upon entering this eatery, it was clear that they had a well-established local clientele who were intimately familiar with the preferences of the staff.  There was little tolerance displayed towards the out-of-towners who entered the dining area prior to ordering and receiving their fare at the front counter...  I'm not sure if the chaotic manner of the serving staff was a result of the challenge presented by serving "the unfamiliar" or if chaos is a daily part of the atmosphere.  One saving grace was that those not driving were able to wash down their dogs with a frosty beer.  The suds also helped to distract you from the seediness of the dining area.  The tiny tables were squished together in a dark room lit by Budweiser lamps.

     It was a long drive to get here from Union and we were hungry!  The boys had plain dogs and were satisfied, but felt like they could rival the quality by using the grill on our own patio.  My chili cheese dog (chased with a Coke) was literally saved by the chili... I think the cheese was a slice of yellow american!!  The little lady was likewise unimpressed with the chili dogs, venue & service.  We were happy to finish our brewskies and head out of town!!

Galloping Hill Inn, Union, NJ

The Galloping Hill Inn in Union, NJ has provided their community with a fast-moving quick-fix meal since 1925.  I, personally, have a history with the Galloping Hill Inn having attended several repasts at the catering hall. Nonetheless, my experience on this day was that the HUGE bun over-powered the hot dog. My son's fried onion & BBQ dog found the dog over-powered by the onions.  Wife's hot dog w/ sauerkraut & onions couldn't taste the dog under the accouterments. Only my youngest son, who got a double hot dog with mustard found a good balance (but even that mustard was kinda runny!) All in all we found the Galloping Hill Inn a good place to go for a hot dog after a day well spent, but not a place to go to find that hot dog that you were longing for above all others.  Two stars are generous.  Be thankful!!

Nathan's Famous, Bridgewater

     The second destination of our tour took us to Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.  No, we did NOT travel to the original stand on the Coney Island boardwalk.  That would have been well outside the boundaries of this tour (though it may have improved the experience!)  It was only an 8 minute drive from our last stop....  hardly enough time to swallow, much less digest!!  Fortunately, the walk from car to counter was quite long, as this stand resides inside the food court of Bridgewater Commons Shopping Mall.

     The overall consensus was that the regular dogs were overcooked and too crunchy, the corn dogs would have been miserable if not for the cornbread coating, and no matter what you ordered, the service was lousy!  More than one customer praised the mustard as the "saving grace" of the meal.

     Being a native New Yorker, this review did sting a little.  Growing up on the Island (ok, Staten not Coney!) there was a certain reverence held for Nathan's Famous.  Perhaps in the rush for geographical expansion Nathan allowed the quality control to slip... I'm not sure why I'm making excuses. After all, I was the main critic!!  Oh well, I'm afraid this stop gets very low marks.  Now off to number 3!

Grandma's (formerly: Genie's Weenies), Somerville

     The first stop on our tour brought us to a small, bright green building with ample parking and additional outdoor seating. The ordering area might get a little congested on a busy day, but the service was cheerful and kept the line moving nicely. We were greeted by none other than Genie herself who suggested we choose an outdoor table on this beautiful day and she would bring our order out shortly.  Following a brief pause we received our order with an additional plate of free fries to share!  Genie was very interested in our tour and told us about her origins in the hot dog business.  She's a very pleasant lady!

     My Chicago dog had a nice spicy kick and was very tasty.  The basic dog with kraut & mustard came with A LOT of kraut and a pickle on the side.  The Texas dog offering sweet onions and BBQ sauce was "delish!" and our Italian hot dog lover was pleasantly surprised to enjoy his hot dogs cut in pieces and mixed with the fried potatoes!

     This was an awesome way to kick off a hot dog tour...  Genie's will be hard to beat!  If you're cruising Route 22 through Somerville, make sure you stop in for a bite!  They close early (at 3pm) 6 days a week but are open until 9pm on Wednesday's for Cruise Night!!

UPDATE:  Sadly, as of late Fall 2012, Genie's Weenies sustained a fire that has closed down the business. As of this update (Jan, 2013) there are no signs of renovation or re-opening. However, I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

UPDATE 2:  Happily, this hot dog haven has reopened as of May 2013.  Genie is back at the helm and the dogs are just as awesome as ever!  Welcome back, Genie!!

UPDATE 3:  After many years, Genie has decided to retire!  But fear not, as her kitchen staff are keeping the business going with the exact same menu and quality!  Only the name has changed.