Capitol Lunch

510 Main St., New Britain, CT - (860) 229-8237

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Posted By Michael Stern on 8/21/2007 5:11:00 PM

We salute Jonathan Zujko for tipping us of to yet another of Connecticut's dog-house treasures, Capitol Lunch. Jonathan wrote, "Every time I go I get six hot dogs with everything. The service is great and the dogs, especially the chili sauce, is the best I've tasted."

It may sound profligate to eat six hot dogs at a sitting, but these are modest-size tube steaks. We've been told that Capitol Lunch has them specially made, slightly smaller than average; and at $1.45 apiece, with the works, the size makes sense. In our experience, two wieners are a mere appetizer. Four to six are a right-sized meal. The dogs themselves are so taut that they audibly snap when you bite into them. They are gently garlicked, porky enough make taste buds dance for joy. The sauce about which Mr. Zujko raved is superb: a fine-grind all-meat chili that is smoky, sweet, and powerfully addictive.

Ambience is as it should be in an urban dog house: harsh florescent lights and bare Formica tables. Service is minimal, but it is polite and efficient. Frankfurters are bunned and dressed so fast that you will scarcely have time to reach for your wallet before the hot dogs are on their tray and ready to go.

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

Hot Dog	French Fries

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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

"This is the only way to get a Cappy dog: with everything. That includes mustard, raw onions, and a spill of delectable chili sauce. In the background is a naked dog, which we got only to study. After looking it over, we returned to the counter for a helping of chili."
Michael Stern

"The hambugers look pretty good, but we've never tried one. For us -- and for hoards of fans -- Capitol Lunch is a hot dog place. We actually bought some of their fabulous sauce to take home (see sign at lower left), but then didn't quite know what to do with it. Without Cappy's taut dogs, and without its flourescent-light ambience, the sauce just doesn't have the je ne sais quois that makes this place a landmark."
Michael Stern

"Place your order at the right, then pay and pick it up on the left. It's up to you to carry the tray back to a table in the dining room."
Michael Stern

"Decor on the walls includes large photos of Capitol Lunch going back to 1975. Note the prices in the background."
Michael Stern

"Hot dogs are kept warm on the grill until ordered."
Michael Stern

"While I never would suggest getting sauerkraut instead of Cappy's meaty sauce, this pair -- one with sauce, the other with kraut -- provided delightful back-and-forth diversity."
Michael Stern

"I was struck by how full-flavored these fries are, bursting with potato flavor and the savory goodness of clean frying oil. Impossible to stop eating!"
Michael Stern

"Every city needs to have a place like this: quick, cheap, friendly, and flavorful."
Michael Stern

"Sign taped to the Capitol Lunch counter"
Michael Stern