Around these parts, we have quite the competition for hot
dogs going on. Drive down Rt. 31 through Oxford,
make a left onto Rt. 46 into the hilariously-named Buttzville, and you'll soon
be rewarded with a view of Hot DogJohnny's... with its giant, happy painted hot dog, slathered in yellow
mustard paint, beckoning passerbys to come on in and grab some delicious dogs.
Hot Dog Johnny's, located on the lazy Pequest River
that meanders alongside the highway, is the perfect spot to stop for lunch,
munch tasty tube steaks and fries with the kids, and curiously enough, wash it
down with a mug of buttermilk. (Note that although they sell buttermilk, you
are not allowed to carry your mug of it to the car, as evidently this poses a
safety risk – therefore, you must slurp your buttermilk within the walls of the
wacky hot dog octagon, which incidentally, does offer seating for those who do
not care about the view of the river and would prefer not to down dogs in their
vehicle.)
At Johnny's, the dogs are fried in peanut oil, as seems to
be the Warren County way for cooking frankfurters.
Their toppings include the obligatory mustard and ketchup, relish, and raw
onion. A "hot dog with everything" will arrive wearing a coating of
mustard, a sprinkle of onion bits, and feature a slim pickle slice or two,
neatly tucked into the bun. When I first moved here, I was unsure of this
strange hot-dog topping phenomenon (what? no kraut?), but after a year or two,
I grew to appreciate and even crave the unique hot dog customs that are Warren
County, NJ.
Another local hot dog hot spot: Toby's Cup, located
on Rt. 22 in Lopatcong. Lazy residents who don't feel like getting on the
highway can sneak in through the back way, weaving through South 1st
or 2nd street to its tiny parking lot that nearly always has happy hot dog
clientele driving in or out, except of course on Tuesdays when they are closed.
Like Hot Dog Johnny's, Toby's Cup hot dogs are fried in peanut oil and feature
the same mustard-pickle-onion trio. They recently added a few more options to
their hot dog repertoire, including sauerkraut and chili.
Or, if you're not a fan of hot dogs, you can opt for the
cheeseburger or cheese steak sandwich, neither of which I've ever tasted since
I can't seem to get past those dynamite dogs. Chase it with a thick shake (or a
non-thick one – they offer those too), grab a Tasty Cake for the road, and
you're good to go. (Note: Toby's does not sell french fries – not quite sure
why, as they are already evidently deep frying things in there).
Toby's is tiny – a funny little shack on the side of the
road, with a straight-out-of-the-1950s creepy carnival clown face and
hilarious, retro colored lights perched on the roof, that blink in a peevish,
almost questioning way. It really is an odd sight – but the hot dogs are great
– especially flavorful, and I must say that I always manage to get the perfect
hot-dog-to-bun ratio there. And, sadly enough, even though I've always been a
kraut-and-mustard kind of gal, I find myself salivating for the Warren County
"dog with everything" pickle, onion and mustard style.
The third, well-known hot dog joint around here is Jimmy's on the Delaware.
Unfortunately, I have never eaten there, so I can't very well provide a review.