Pittsburgh hot dog joints

At one time there was a wonderful hot dog and other things (back in 1996 they had a killer fish sandwich)place on Liberty, downtown, around Liberty and Wood. Great dogs, great food, always busy. Anyone know what happened to it and what the name was? I figured the place would be there forever, but sadly when I was in Pitt this spring it was gone. Thank gosh the Original Oyster House is still in Market Square.

I know the place you're talking about, FuwaFuwaUsagi, and I think it was called Hot Diggety Dogs. It was at the corner of Liberty and Wm Penn Place. The City worked hard at closing that place down for a long time. The City eventually either condemned the land or bought it under the threat of condemnation. The stated reason was to rationalize the intersection. (Wm Penn and 10th Street met Liberty at slightly different places.) But the real reason was to rid Liberty Avenue of any place that the Cultural Trust thought was inconsistent with its idea of culture.
I was a frequent eater there and I hated to see downtown lose that place, especially under the circumstances.

Thanks KennyJoe. The owner was real friendly. We chatted a lot. At one time we talked about opening one in Chicago; the idea that I would run the Chicago one. I love businesses like that, they are a blast. Your description sounds right as I could not believe the owner would have closed the door. It was part of him, part of his life. He had "relish" in his blood. I recognize the look, the man had a passion for what he did.

Ever eat at the Original Oyster House? I try to get to Pitt once a year on business so I can eat those fish sandwiches. And they just opened a real good Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the William Penn hotel. Let me know if you are interested and I'll look up the name on the credit card bill.

Your story makes me wonder what became of the owner. It sounds like he may have set up shop elsewhere.
I work downtown, so I try to make it to the Oyster House at least once a week.
I am very fond of Mexico City, which now has two locations. One is on Smithfield between Blvd of the Allies and First and the other on Wood between Fourth and Forbes. Both are probably too far from the Wm Penn to be the one you're thinking of. Please pass along the name.

There's a new Pittsburgh hot dog joint - this one just a hop, skip and a jump from Chez Kenny Joe. The place is Dormont Dogs at 2911 Glenmore Street, just a block and a half from W. Liberty and Potomac. You can get either Sabrett dogs or veggy dogs, brand unknown. There are a number of fancy dressing suggestions. The excellent buns are picked up fresh daily from Kribels in Brookline. There's a couple of tables inside and, in good weather, two more outside. Very pleasant place with good dogs. According to http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/drmt0430.aspx, the owner, who has a nice disposition, was the executive chef at Sonoma Grille. Check it out!

I was on rt. 28 today, so I made a slight detour and checked out Yesterday's Dog House in Lower Burrell. I had two of the natural casings and fries. While the Smith's brand dog they use isn't one of my favorites, the dogs were pretty good. I would have no problem eating there again.

In the past year, as far as Pittsburgh dog places go, I've probably enjoyed the weiners at Original Station Street more than anywhere else.

A new hot dog place named Packs & Dogs on Mt. Washington was reviewed in the newspaper this morning.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08171/890942-242.stm

Nice article in the Trib this morning on Franktuary, which used to be called Hot Dogma.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/fooddrink/s_582692.html

I hope they do expand their hours, since it is almost impossible for me to get there now.

"Ever eat at the Original Oyster House? I try to get to Pitt once a year on business so I can eat those fish sandwiches. And they just opened a real good Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the William Penn hotel. Let me know if you are interested and I'll look up the name on the credit card bill."

I would like to know the name of the Mexican Restaurant near the William Penn hotel please. TIA

techdog-
Just a guess, but are you thinking of Mexico City restaurant?

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A21053

The Roadfood Digest recently posted an article from the Post-Gazette I had missed about hot dogs. The author named Red Caboose in Rostraver as his current favorite Pittsburgh hot dog joint. I had never heard of this place before. Anyone ever been there?

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster
The Roadfood Digest recently posted an article from the Post-Gazette I had missed about hot dogs. The author named Red Caboose in Rostraver as his current favorite Pittsburgh hot dog joint. I had never heard of this place before. Anyone ever been there?

buffetbuster,

Here is a thread I replied to June '07 about the Red Caboose. I haven't been that way in a couple of years, but it sounds like it's still in business.

Thanks,

Kevin

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1352&SearchTerms=Rostraver


Here is a link to Post Gazette article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08206/899015-34.stm

BuffetBuster..No, Fat Franks was sold (all cash!) to a young man, who had a rich father (Thank G-D!). He proceeded to change the hot dog from a natural casing Sabrette, to a local hot dog and the place went out of business.

It was at 2000 Smallman Street from 1988 to 1995.

Last week, I met fellow Roadfooder Kenny Joe at Dormont Dogs. Very clever name for a hot dog place in Dormont!

The first hint that this isn't a typical hot dog place should have ben that the owner used to be executive chef at Sonoma Grille, one of my favorite high end downtown restaurants.

The outside of the place is brightly colored.

That is Kenny Joe and his lovely wife Susan sitting across from my girlfriend Mariton and her daughter Emilou.

You can get standard hot dogs or chili dogs here, but the menu has so many interesting combinations of toppings available, it would be a shame not to try some of them. Mariton, a hot dog frowner, went for the Bruschetta Dog,

listed as being topped with, tomatoes marinated in olive oil and basil, creamy pesto and parmesan. Emilou ate The Dog Father,

topped with pepperoni, salami, mozzarella, romaine, banana peppers and Italian vinaigrette. Both of them were probably more impressed by the aesthetic nature of the food than the dog itself, but still enjoyed it.

I went for the Rueben dog,

covered with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. Though not as attractive as the others, it was delicious!

Obviously, I'm not just a one hot dog guy, so I also ordered a Mississippi dog, which comes with chili, mustard and cole slaw. But, they made a mistake and gave me a Texas dog instead.

This is topped with chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream and Fritos. Another winner!

Unfortunately, I can't remember which dogs Kenny and Susan ordered, but here they are.

I can tell you that the one with the ketchup and relish was another mistake. Since Susan didn't want it, I ate that one, too.

I also don't remember what kind of wiener Dormont Dogs uses, but it was a high quality dog. The nice, fresh buns come from Kribels Bakery in Brookline.

It was a real pleasure to meet Kenny Joe and Susan. They are very personable and easy to talk to. We have discussed meeting again in the future, with Lo Bello's Spaghetti House a likely destination.

It's my understanding that Dormont is using a Sabrett....whether or not a natural casing, I know not. How was the snap? In any case, an interesting choice.

The Bear

Those dogs are skinless. How were they prepared? Looks as though they were heated in water or fried as I don't see any grill marks.

BB, Great hot dog find. Great combos.

I never knew Pitt was such a big hot dog town.

A hot dog without a natural casing is like a __________without a _______________Fill in your own blanks.

I just don't get people who open a hot dog restaurant and serve a skinless hot dogWhy bother?

Baah Ben,

A natural casing dog is always preferable to a skinless one except when it comes to an Italian Hot Dog where you got a lot of stuff going on there; the casing sort of disrupts the synergy between ingredients.

I've asked some of the owners (mostly trucks serving dirty water dogs) why they serve a skinless dog which lacks the snap most hot dog lovers look for. I've been told the following: I don't know. We've always served skinless dogs here. They're cheaper. I don't like casing. It's hard for old people and children to chew a dog with casing.

My favorite is the last one. Though I suppose that there is some truth to it, I think most people who give this response (I have been told this a few times) are really looking to save money and/or hope their customers may not notice. One popular truck in Newark that I think is highly overrated gives this reason for using skinless dogs, but I think it is because his truck is known for the many toppings he offers. And since he uses skinless dogs at a lower cost, he is able to charge less than many of his competitors. It is in his case I believe, a business decision. It works for him and he does a good business. But I will not go to his truck.

It was a pleasure to finally meet Buffetbuster after reading his many fine reports. Meeting Mariton and Emilou was an added treat.
To complete the caption on the picture of the three dogs Susan and I ordered: On the left is the Arkansas Avenue dog, topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, horseradish sauce and scallions. In the middle is the Tennessee Avenue Dog, topped with cole slaw, baked beans and onions. The last one is a regular dog with the obvious toppings. It was a "mistake" because Susan ordered a veggie dog and got the regular Sabretts by mistake.
I have no issue with skinless dogs, but then again I don't see a problem with people putting ketchup on their dogs.

Hot dog enthusiasts sojourning in the burgeoning hot dog culture of Pittsburgh are well advised to make sure D's SixPax & Dogz, 1118 South Braddock Avenue (412-241-4666), is on their agenda.

They serve a good-sized (about a 6-to-a-lb.) Vienna Beef, nicely cooked on a flat grill, and offer a creative variety of quality toppings.

The hat trick I established on my maiden visit to this particular establishment recently included a formidable Vienna Beef corn dog ($2.99) reminiscent of my Iowa college days; an orthodox Chicago Style Dog (replete with poppy-seeded bun imported from the Windy City--$2.99) and a simply outstanding, taste-exploding Chili and Coleslaw Dog ($3.99) dubbed the Mason-Dixon Dog.

Among the 10 or so other offerings that piqued my interest, filed for future reference, there's a Sizzler Dog ($2.99), a Vienna Beef frank deep-fried; a Bacon–Cheddar Dog ($3.99) and, in what I would call a tip of the hat to the famous Primanti Bros. Sandwich and/or the Steel Town’s renowned QB, there’s the Big Ben Dog, which is topped with fries, Cheddar Cheese and Coleslaw ($3.99).

Beer aficionados will be happy to know they can imbibe any of the 1,000 or so brands of beer this very hustling and bustling place touts. The folks I was with were all able to find their favorite brews in the cooler.

Postscript: I didn’t make it to the Original O this visit, but was gratified to have a fine foot-long at my favorite wiener stop, The Pickle Barrel. However, until further notice, D’s is now part of my personal Hot Dog Trinity (with the O and the Pickle Barrel) when hunting dogs in the Burg. Point of disclosure, there are several spots I haven’t made it to yet, most notably…Franktuary (previously Hot Dogma). Ah…so many hot dog places…so little time.

The Bear

A long time back I was suppose to post the Mexican restaurant I liked in Pittsburgh.  As Kenny Joe and others mentioned it indeed turned out to be Mexico City, I finally found the receipt.  Very good food. 

Kenny Joe-
Nice article in the Trib today on Dormont Dogs.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/fooddrink/s_607160.html

Thanks for the article; I don't usually look at the Trib.
I was in Dormont Dogs just yesterday and noticed a new feature - the Double Dog Dare. It's two dogs in the bun. I like those Kribel buns, so I wasn't sure I should take the Dare. But I did and was very happy with the resulting meat to bread ratio. I had the Arkansas dog described in the article, hoping the melted cheese would hold the sandwich today, which it did nicely. I'm not sure how the Double Dog Dare would work with one of the messier offerings. There's not much room for the generous toppings after two dogs are squeezed in.  

The article states that Dormont Dogs serves the skinless Sabretts because customers prefer them to natural casing. This I find hard to believe. Not saying it isn't true, but I have doubts. Do those of you in Pittsburgh prefer skinless?

Kenny Joe-
Double Dog Dare?  Sounds like A Christmas Story!

John Fox-
I can tell you that this Pittsburgher prefers the natural casing.

Although a hot dog shop is probably not Captain's career goal, he is in business to make money and he and Rachel both love to talk with the customers. If he says that's what they want, I do not doubt it. As my personal preferences, I have a mild one for the natural casing but I am happy with the skinless also.

A recent article in the Trib on the "O".

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/fooddrink/s_609204.html
 
I have never tried their subs or pizza, since I am very loyal to the dogs and especially the fries.  Glad to read that they plan to continue in business for many years.

I hadn't seen my buddy Mike in about a month.  Since he is a hot dog lover, we decided to make a night of hitting some places around the city.

First, an apology to Kenny Joe.  We didn't decide on this until about 4:30 yesterday afternoon.  I wish I had more notice to let you know we were going to be in your backyard.  But, our initial stop was Dormont Dogs.  I did a report from there several months ago and it can be found above.  Here is the menu board.


Mike went for the Texas Ave. dog (background)

and the Arkansas Ave dog up front.  You will notice that Mike asked for his Texas dog without sour cream.  Since both were discussed before, I will move on. 

I took a tour of the Deep South and started with the Louisiana Ave. dog,

which uses hot sauce and Cajun cole slaw as toppings.  The heat of the hot sauce and the cool, creamy cole slaw really worked well together.  Next, I ate the Mississippi Ave. dog,

which was topped with chili, mustard and cole slaw.  If you can't tell, I really like slaw dogs.  There was nothing wrong with this dog at all, but eating it right after one as flavorful as the Louisiana dog was a mistake.  I wish I had eaten them in reverse order.  Still, this was a fine hot dog.  The fresh buns from Kribel Bakery in Brookline are tough to beat.

BTW, Dormont Dogs now has a frequent customer card.  There are fifteen different types of dogs on it and if you try all of them, you get 2 free hot dogs and your photo on the wall.  Oh yeah, you will soon be seeing my smiling face up there.  Kenny Joe, I looked around, but I didn't see your picture!

Since we wanted to break it up a little bit, we made dessert the next stop.  Mike had never been to the Pie Place in the South Hills before and was overwhelmed by all the choices.  He bought several things to take home.  I ate a raspberry almond cupcake

for there and a whole peanut butter pie to take to work for the girls the next day.

http://www.thepieplace.net/

Back to the business of eating hot dogs!  Next stop is Jim's Drive-in in West Mifflin.  Jim's is amazingly popular with the locals and has been in business since the 1920s.  The legend goes, that the H.J. Heinz Company once offered the founders of Jim's a million dollars for their secret hot dog sauce, but was turned down.  I once asked about that and the older gentleman who seemed to be the owner told me, it wasn't a million dollars, but they did turn down a substantial amount.

Here is the outside of Jim's,

which has no indoor seating.  And it was cold last night!  That is my buddy Mike walking in front.  The menu board hangs inside in plain view.

Besides the hot dogs, they also make fine versions of other Pittsburgh favorites, like ham bbqs (made with chipped ham) and hot sausage sandwiches.

Mike has quite different taste than me when it comes to hot dogs.  Not saying I am right and him wrong.  Here is his cheese dog,

which did not look appetizing to me at all.  The hot dog sauce is on there, but underneath.  He also asked them for ketchup, but the young man at the window told him they won't put ketchup and the hot dog sauce on the same hot dog.
 
My dog had the hot dog sauce and onions only.

The sauce is difficult to describe, but reminds me of a thin bbq sauce.  Mike and I were trying to guess what was in it and besides vinegar, we were kind of stumped.  I did get a bottle to take home.  The toasted bun gets a thumbs up as does the dog itself, which has a nice snap to it.  I asked what kind of wiener they use and the young guy told me Smith's or Schmidt's.  It was hard to hear him through the ordering window.
 
Last stop, Packs & Dogs on Mt. Washington.

This was my first time here.  Quite large for a place making hot dogs, they also have an astonishingly big selection of beer for sale.  The menu board

shows all the dogs are named after, well, dogs.
 
We placed our order, sat down at the counter and watched the Penguin game.  Soon, our food arrived.  Mike went for the Blood Hound,

with bacon, cheddar cheese, onions and barbeque sauce.  Mine was the Chihuahua,

with chili, onions and cheddar cheese.  We both got Vienna all beef dogs and these were the best of the wieners we sampled on the night.  As you can see, those are some large, plump dogs!
 
By the time we finished with these, we were stuffed and ready to call it a night.  We both agreed that with the high quality toppings and bun, Dormont Dogs was the winner on this night.   It was an all around fun night eating and spending time with my buddy.

Excellent post there buffetbuster...!

I happened to stop in just this afternoon to Dormont Dogs for the first time, FINALLY, and was pleasantly surprised by the combination of flavors present in the Dog Father.  The buns from Kribel's were QUITE excellent as well, and I enjoyed his added poppy seed topping to complete the "Illinois Dog"'s Chicago veneer.

I went to Jim's a couple weeks back, to give it a SECOND chance....ugh.  Their prices are VERY high for the base quality of the food, and their "service" is a bit too gruff for my liking.  The quality of "meat" that they also use not just for their dogs, tastes VERY low quality, and their hamburgers specifically is really rather poor for the price.  The famous sauce is relatively bland and lifeless, and the only novelty I found of note, are their heavily...a bit TOO much, buns.

Last week, I had the ULTIMATE pleasure of FINALLY tasting "Steve's" on the Northside of town...which the value, quick service and qualit of the food was SUPERB.  Location....not so much.