I Dream of Weenie

I stumbled upon this Nashville eatery several years ago, and I knew I had to review it here. I grew up loving the TV show that inspired its name, and I hoped I would not be let down. I wasn't.

It's worth a visit solely for the extent of the theme--for its delightful kitschiness and for its relentless attention to the pun. But just as worthy of a visit is the attention they provide for all that fills their buns.

The kitchen is an old, classic, VW bug that has been converted into a "weenery" kitchen, complete with a shelter just big enough to provide some protection from the sun and rain while you order and wait for your food.

Order at the first window and step to the next to pick up your delicious dogs.

As a bona fide Carolina Hotdog fan, I was destined to dine on the Chili Slaw Weenie, but the names and combinations were much too tempting to stop there. I added a Flaming Frank to my meal.

My husband, true to form, ordered the Frank and to the point. And they tempted us further with their home made mac and cheese--not to mention an assortment of I Dream of Weenie swag: buttons, stickers, shirt, and such.

Our food arrived quickly enough and we took it to one of their picnic tables in the shade nearby.

My husband was pleased with his selection, and we both enjoyed the mac and cheese.

I think the Flaming Frank would have been better with pico de gallo and fresh jalapeños, but it was still a respectable dog.

As you would expect, the Chili Slaw Weenie was my favorite. The chili tasted good and complemented the slaw, onions, and mustard. The slaw is freshly made and flavorful.

My only complaint is the bigger bun. It overpowers the fillings. Of course, the fillings are ample and messy, and if the bun were smaller, the dogs would be even harder to eat. As it was, we were glad to have a couple of forks.

A very fun and tasty place to lunch in Nashville.

My verdict: 4 weenies (bonus points for concept)