Hot Rod's Hot Dogs - Glen Gardner, NJ

Continuing on with our Hot Dogs of Warren County Review...

Hot Rod's Hot Dogs are actually not in Warren County. They are located in neighboring Hunterdon County, but right on the border on Rt. 31 in what I believe is Glen Gardner.  Probably many people who live in Washington, NJ and other Warren County towns traverse down that way and have stopped and ate there.

I have passed this place many times, but only went in there very recently. My husband excitedly placed his order for six hot dogs with sauerkraut and mustard. Well, the only word that comes to mind after sampling these hot dogs is... yikes. I've had better tasting hot dogs from a 7-11 on that pitiful hot dog roller thing where you just know that those tube steaks have been sitting there for days on end just growing sad and old.

Admittedly, I didn't go inside so I can't tell you what the ambiance is, or if they have anything better to offer than what was in our bag. But man, if you're going to use the words "Hot Dogs" in the name of your business, at least make sure you get some decent tasting ones to sell people. How hard can it be? Lips and you-know-what-else are, I'm guessing, pretty cheap to begin with, so why not invest a couple cents each for nicely flavored ones and then cook them up nice. You could probably get away with charging an extra dollar apiece in the event word got around that you serve a semi-tasty dog.

Well. I shall now continue with my former, "pass by but don't go in" policy on Hot Rod's Hot Dogs. If you feel differently about their food, all the power to you, my friend. Eat up.

The Red Wolf Inn – Belvidere, NJ

The first time I set foot in the Red Wolf Inn was around 1997, on a river trip with my friend who lived down the road from there. We had been paddling along the Delaware while floating in black inner tubes and drinking beer, for approximately 5 to 6 hours. We were exhausted, starving, and dare I say drunk.

Of course, on our way in from the parking lot we had to stop to visit the wolves, who lived in a pen behind the building and, quite honestly, seemed rather unimpressed with us. (The Red Wolf Inn just wouldn't be the same without real life wolves, now would it?)  Inside, the place was dimly lit and decorated with a clutter of rustic and antique paraphernalia. There was a big fireplace which was not lit because it was summer, but nevertheless added to the general ambiance. I recall that the service seemed a bit disorganized, with some confusion over where our group would be sitting.

We got our drinks (they had, and still have, a nice selection of beers on tap), ordered steaks because that's what was recommended... and then we sat and waited for our food. We got more drinks. We waited. We waited. And we waited some more.

After what seemed like forever and a day, our steaks arrived. We instantly forgot about how annoyed we were about having to wait so long, because... oh, what steaks they were! NY strip, your choice of "alpha," "beta" or "cub" cut (there's that Wolf pack theme again), cooked to perfection, with a side of seasoned steak fries or dirty mashed potatoes. I chose the fries, and was not disappointed. Digging into that thick slab of juicy meat, pouring on the homemade brown goodness they call steak sauce, that came in two varieties – regular and spicy. And those crisp-on-the-outside, tender on the inside fries with their magical seasoning... ahh, what a meal. What a decadent, decadent meal, fit for a king or queen.

I have enjoyed dinners at the Red Wolf many times since then, and I've showed up there after-hours, to drink a few beers and carouse with what is a largely local clientele. The service continues to be somewhat slow, the beer selection continues to be good, and the steaks continue to be the best ones I've ever eaten. So, I patronize the Red Wolf Inn, and I bring my friends there, and everyone is happy. The only thing that's really changed is that the prices seem to have gone up (booo.).

As far as the rest of the menu... ehhh. Order the steak.

(The Red Wolf Inn is located on Rt. 519 in Belvidere, NJ. Call 908 475 4772 to make a reservation today!)

The Hot Dogs of Warren County

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 1^st 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.