Snappy Lunch

 Wow. It looks like I completely missed 2023. Sorry about that. Hope to do better in 2024.

First up, Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy, NC. Mount Airy was the home of Andy Griffin and is the inspiration for the Mayberry in his television shows. Interestingly, in the entirety of the shows, Griffin only mentioned one real local business: Snappy Lunch.

Their biggest claim to fame is a pork chop sandwich--with many of the same topping of a Carolina-style hot dog. I had one, but I preferred the hot dog.

The joint is on the main drag in Mount Airy, among the Mayberry souvenir shops, candy shops, ice creameries, bakeries, and antique stores. If you go, be prepared to wait in line. It's a busy place, but they have a pretty quick turnaround, so the line moves. 

The inside features several tables and booths--and lots of the expected Mayberry memorabilia. The owner stands behind a bar and takes your order. Speedy and friendly service. No fries.

The hot dog was quite respectable, not my favorite ever, but a reasonable showing. Clearly the slaw and chili were made in-house. Just looking at the picture, now, makes me want one.

If you still have room, you can get really tasty pies and ice cream just a few doors up.

My verdict: four weenies.

El's Drive-In

 On our recent trip to Pine Knoll Shores, we experimented with two hot dog eateries. The second was El's Drive-In. This is not a stand, though not much bigger, but an honest to god drive-in. 

Servers come to you car, take your order, and bring you your food. I'm still about astounded at the number of steps these servers must get in a day. The parking lot is paved with no lines, and these servers make it look effortless to flit from car to car and back to the kitchen.

We arrived mid morning on a Saturday, and my husband ordered a bacon egg, and cheese, sandwich--with mayo, but I went straight for the dogs. Service was quick, and the food was very good.

A delicious Carolina Hot Dog

My hot dog had a pleasantly smoky flavor. At first, I thought it might be the chili, but as I thought about it over a few more bites, I believe the wiener itself was smoked. What a great idea. The chili was meaty, and the slaw, though a bit too sweet, was clearly homemade--chili and slaw both being crucial to a better Carolina dog.

The breakfast sandwich was also great. 

El's Drive-in is a definite do again next time we're in the area.

My verdict: 4 weenies.

The Dog House

I’ve been going to the Dog House for years, literally since the first one opened back when I was about 9 years old. I should have featured the Dog House sooner; better late than never.

It’s a cute theme. The building looks like Snoopy’s dog house. Trash cans are fire hydrants and mailboxes. And the hot dogs have names like Collie, Puppy, Ol’ Yallow, Boxer, German Shepherd, and my favorite, the Bull Dog. They used to have a Chiahuahua, my second favorite, but I haven’t see those in a while. 

I grew up in Bahama, and on Friday nights, it was a big deal for us to “go to town.” Lots of times, we’d visit family or shop in downtown Durham before Belk, Thalhimer’s, and all the other stores moved from the center of the city to the malls in suburbia.

On these trips, we’d “eat out,” and that usually meant grabbing a hot dog at King’s Sandwich Shop or the newcomer, the Dog House. I loved the Dog House back then. And I’ve loved it throughout the years.

When I was a kid, the only location was the Miami Boulevard spot. 

When I was in working in a grocery store on weekends in college, the Guess Road location was my favorite. Back then their employees stuck around, and I remember watching several familiar faces age through the years--always delivering awesome Bull Dogs, my dog of choice.

For a while, my grocery store transferred me, and I lunched on Miami Boulevard, at the location of my childhood.

Later, when I worked at a software company in Morrisville, I’d grab a satisfying lunch at the now-departed Dog House on Airtech Drive. After that closed, I’d sometimes make the trek to the one closer to the intersection of NC54 and NC55 on Allendown Drive.

I even remember when one Dog House sat near where the Durham Farmers’ Market stands now. 

According to their website, now they have locations in Hillsborough and Kinston. There’s even one in North Durham, near where I went to high school.

The most convenient Dog House for me is the one on Hillsborough Road. I like that it has a drive-thru window. Sadly, it's not my favorite.

Hillsborough Road, Durham

For most of my life, I found their hot dogs to be near the best one could get.

As time goes on, things, change. That’s true for the Dog House, as well. 

I noticed that sometime in the last 10-15 years, their dogs changed. Gone were the older ladies who served me great dogs over the years. And along with them, some of the magic also disappeared.

It’s hard to put my finger on just what changed. 

Until the past decade or so, I never got a wrong order, but I’ve gotten my dogs home upon occasion to find poor hot dogs smothered in a nasty cheese sauce with fake bacon bits—something I’d never order. Other times, I’d pay for a quart of slaw and find I received a pint.

It’s not just the accuracy, the look and taste seem to have changed, as well. 

I think it’s mainly the care. It all seems to have happened when they stopped wrapping the hot dogs in the white tissue paper and started using an unbleached, thicker paper, but I doubt it was the paper that caused the change. The slaw doesn’t seem as fresh—and I really loved their slaw. 

Maybe it’s just because I’m older and have romanticized my earlier experiences. But I’m not so sure.

Despite all that, I still find myself hankering for a couple of Bull Dogs. And sometimes, I give in. I gave in a couple of weeks ago—and I decided to go back to where I first experienced the Dog House: Miami Boulevard.

I ordered two Bulls and a large fry. 

Two Bull Dogs

Despite being wrapped in the new, unbleached paper, my dogs were pretty darn good. I wouldn’t say they were as good as my memory, but they were pretty decent. And the fries were delightful. These fries are beautiful crinkle-cut fries. The salt sparkles on them, and they’re best when they slightly burn your fingers. The slaw isn’t quite as delightful as I remember, but it was homemade, and that’s the key to a good Carolina dog.

Crinkle cut fries

I think the original location is the closest to what I remember as the Dog House I grew up with.

My verdict: 4 weenies

Durham Filling Station

 

What a great find!

I had assumed the old Wimpy's Grill location was still a vacant building. Then I happened across a listing for the Durham Filling Station and realized it opened in that spot a bit over a year ago. With their awesome curbside service, I do wish I had discovered them earlier in The Pandemic.

Like Wimpy's the Durham Filling Station offers comforting fast foods like burgers and dogs. But unlike, Wimpy's, the menu takes a bit more of a foodie turn. Nearly EVERYthing is homemade, and everything I've had is really good, from hot dogs to burgers to onion rings to biscuits to fatback, not to mention an amazing banana pudding.

But this is about the dogs.

Their hot dogs are probably the best in Durham. I've had some good ones, but these are exceptional. The chili is flavorful and meaty. The slaw is decidedly better than the slaw at most other hot dog stands. The onion and mustard round out the near perfection.

No dine-in option, but in a welcome improvement to Wimpy's, The Durham Filling Station features tables under a shelter to save you from eating on your hood or tailgate--or in your car!

The only downside is the hours of operation, Monday-Friday, 7AM to 2PM and 10-5 on Saturdays.

My verdict: 5 weenies! Damn close to perfection.

Fetch Hot Dog Co.

Fetch was a food truck.

Sadly, it rolls no more. Another dog-gone-bye.

Even thought their Carolina dog wasn't really what I grew up loving, I miss that truck. It used to stop on the occasional Wednesday at the office park where I work.

Fetch was all about creativity. From the food to the way they coordinated orders, cleverness ruled. When you placed an order, they gave you a card from a regular playing cards deck. Then, they called your card, (i.e., seven of clubs) when your dogs were ready.

Their Carolina dog was a bit higher brow. For one, they used locally-sourced, all-natural dogs. Hey, that's a good thing. But the toppings, mostly the chili and slaw, and the composition, were a bit too gourmet to be a traditional Carolina dog. Their slaw was more of a cabbage salad, and it lacked the mayo to give it a creamier texture. The mustard was artfully zig-zagged across the top of the dog--not exactly the same thing as our beloved Carolina Hot Dog.

A fancier Carolina dog

But for the occasional, 5-buck, fancy hot dog, Fetch was a treat. Their menu featured several regularly occurring dogs and a daily or weekly special or two. Always with creative toppings and combinations.

I guess the cost of that kind of quality ingredients made the business model hard to maintain. They still hold a soft spot in my heart.

My verdict: 4 weenies for creativity and healthier dogs

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)

Heritage Grill

Sorry it's been so long. I hope to do better.

With that in mind, I tried a new-ish Carolina dog last night.

A couple of weeks ago, my parents mentioned the Heritage Grill, in rural eastern Durham county, not far from Falls Lake. A former gas station, now a restaurant serving from 7AM to 9PM.

Along with an impressive dinner menu complete with specials for each night of the week, including steaks, pasta, and lobster, the Heritage Grill also serves standard fast food, from burgers to bologna, and, of course, Carolina hot dogs.

With the name, and location, I wasn't sure what to expect. The outside does look like a gas station or small-town general store from days gone by. The covered service area where the gas pumps once stood is now an area for folks to eat on picnic tables.




The inside is a combination convenience store, bait shop, and grill. Mounted game heads decorate one wall. Coolers for beer and soft drinks line the back. The grill is just inside the front door. I also noticed a salad bar along the mounted animals wall, but I didn't inspect it more closely.

A television with the non-offensive Spectrum News channel was mounted near the front door; I had feared another might be playing. However, after visiting, I was disappointed to find a Confederate Battle flag on their Facebook page.

We apparently hit the Heritage on Surf and Turn night, and I must admit the dinner specials were tempting. But you know I what I wanted...

I ordered one hot dog with the usual mustard, slaw, chili, and onions. Tempted beyond that, I also ordered a fried bologna sandwich. Sides include fries and a host of other sides. I opted to start with mushrooms and have okra accompany my meal.

The staff was friendly, and the service was swift. Portions were generous, if not just too much!

The hot dog was pretty good. The slaw, and there was lots of it, was really good--definitely fresh and homemade. The chili was very meaty, but it didn't really stand out. It was generously loaded, and that made it problematic to eat. I had to go in from the top and eat some of the slaw and onions before I could actually take a bite.

I enjoyed the other food as well. The bologna was fried nicely. The okra and mushrooms portions were overwhelming. And their homemade ranch was perfect for dipping.

I may have to return to try the steaks.

My verdict: another solid 3 weenies for the dog

Tasty8's

A casual dinner with friends on a recent Friday night led me to Tasty8’s the next Saturday afternoon. Open for about 18 months, this was the first I had heard of the hot doggery, so I set out to discover.

It was a dreadfully cold Saturday afternoon, and only a few folks were out on the streets in downtown Raleigh. In fact, as I turned the corner onto Fayetteville Street, I wasn’t sure Tasty8’s was even open. Once warm inside, I was glad I had pre-checked their hours, rather extended for a hot dog stand.

Hot dog stand Tasty8’s is, but not your average one. These are billed as gourmet hot dogs, and the prices reflect that. At nearly seven bucks apiece, lunch for two can easily head toward $30.

The theme is 8: eight hot dogs, eight beers, eight shakes, and eight sauces for your fries. The décor is trendy and a little industrial. It appears to have a wall of garage doors, and they are likely a great asset on balmy weekend evenings when they are open until 3 AM.

We ordered two dogs, two fries, a Coke Zero, and a Mama Wells Tasty Treat—a peanut butter, fudge, and banana milkshake. The cost, around 25 bucks.

While the price is steep, especially compared with places like Snoopy’s and the Roast Grill, these dogs ARE a bit heftier—and they’re "gourmet." Bigger is certainly quantifiable. They are bigger. Gourmet seems to be a bit more of an opinion. The wieners themselves certainly ARE better than your average hot dog stand: tasty all-beef wieners or sausages and a token veggie dog.

I had the Southern Comfort, as close to a Carolina Dog as the menu gets: blue cheese slaw, Carolina chili, red onion, and scallions. I was concerned about the funk of the blue cheese, but I didn’t even notice it. What I noticed was the chili. I wouldn’t really call that Carolina chili. It had meat, but it also seemed to have a significant smashed bean component; when I think of Carolina chili, I definitely think of a beefy chili sauce—without beans or bean paste. I loved the scallions, but then again, I always do. I didn’t see mustard, but I’m guessing it is available; of course, I’m definitely NOT a gourmet mustard fan. Give me French’s yellow mustard for my dogs!

My husband had the El Perro, a Mexican inspired dog consisting of a jalapeno-cheddar bison brat with guacamole, queso con chorizo, Mexican crema, salsa, and jalapenos. It sounds excellent, and I had to try it, but sadly, my main take-away was that the salsa reminded me of Pace picante. I was rather disappointed.

The fries aren’t my favorites, but they are plentiful. We probably should have shared one order. The jalapeno-buttermilk ranch packed a modest kick, and the green goddess was a mellower sauce. I would have liked a bit more flavor from the green goddess, but it wasn’t unlikeable. I still wonder if I would have liked the Crema Mexicana better.

Considering the price and the chili and salsa, I was a little disappointed. Obviously, I love a traditional Carolina dog, and while the wieners were great, the toppings just didn’t do it for me. That said, I do hope to go back and try their Windy City Weenie and see how that compares to the ones I’ve had in Chicago.

My verdict: 3 weenies

 

Sam's Hot Dog Stand

Sam's Hot Dog Stand

I love an accidental discovery.

A gloomy Sunday at the beach made for a good time to drive to Wilmington.

As we drove in on Oleander, a man dressed as a hot dog caught my attention. I made a note to return and investigate.

An hour or so later, we headed back, keeping alert for a hot dog man. Sadly he was gone. Or maybe we missed him.

We turned around.

On the final pass, we saw the big hot dog sign and a sign for Sam's Hot Dog Stand just behind it.

It looked quiet and deserted. Afraid they were closed for the day, we investigated a little further and found they were open for a couple more hours. Let's do this!

Inside, an open kitchen looked out upon a handful of tables and numerous stools with the Sam's Hot Dog Stand logo encased in shiny varnish. Near the register, a menu board detailed their offerings: hot dogs and BBQ sandwiches in various combinations.  The menu board was surrounded by various cans of soft drink, including Sun-Drop and diet Sun-Drop. Score! A chalkboard on another wall detailed their daily deals.

After inquiring about their slaw, I ordered two with the signature Carolina Hot Dog toppings: mustard, slaw, chili, and onions--or as they call them, "All the Way," including their spicy chili.

The two dogs arrived nicely packaged in a Sam's Hot Dog Stand paper bag, along with my chips and diet Sun-Drop.

They looked great and tasted better. The slaw is clearly fresh and made on-site, a perfect blend of cabbage, mayo, and seasoning. 

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The spicy chili added just a bit of kick. It was meaty and savory. Not sweet like so many lesser hot dog chilis, this was near perfect.

The mustard, onion, hot dog, and bun  each played their part to support the starring chili and slaw. Truly a great Carolina dog.

Before I left, I also sampled the mild chili and the BBQ. The mild chili was almost as good as the spicy--but without that little extra something. The BBQ, imported from Siler City, was smoky and delicious.

What a great find. I loved Sam's Hot Dog Stand. It is now my favorite hot dog in Wilmington, easily the best southeast of Raleigh, maybe further.

My verdict: 5 weenies