Lubins-N-Links

38 Main St., Tarrytown, NY - (914) 909-4198

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Posted By Michael Stern on 5/1/2010 10:19:00 PM

When I joined Katherine Curry on her quest to find Westchester County's top hot dogs (and ice cream, too), our first stop was Lubins-N-Links; and while we certainly found chili dogs that were hotter and with more proletarian punch (polite synonym for greasy), the Lubins-N-Links chili link stood as a benchmark. It is a high-quality Sabrett's all-beef wiener in a soft, fresh potato roll, topped with chili, molten cheese and chopped onion. The chili is spicy but not murderously so; in fact, it is mild-tempered enough that I felt it almost was eclipsed by the creamy richness of the cheese. If you want to get a glow on your lips and tongue, I suggest forgoing the cheese and going only with chili and, of course onions: the classic chili dog configuration.

Lubins-N-Links makes a point of offering a huge variety of house-made toppings and a selection of pre-established "Specialty Links" such as the Barking Dog (chipotle mayo and onion relish), the Piggy dog (crumbled bacon and cheese), the baked bean dog, the nacho dog and the slaw dog. Two kinds of onion relish are offered: sweet and "Jubee," the latter made from "our dad's recipe (handed down from our Grandma)," which is billed as being an "explosion of flavors to enjoy." So as not to skew our palates, we ordered a hot dog with nothing but Jubee onions. Delicious, and, as advertised, a powerhouse. A line of mustard underneath the onions wouldn't hurt at all.

Now, about the Lubin. I would call it pot roast: extremely tender, extremely juicy hunks of long-roasted beef that are far more luxurious than their price ($3.50 per sandwich) would suggest. Like the links, lubins are available with all the specialty toppings. The menu recommends cheese sauce and sweet onions. Next time I visit, though, I want a lubin with horseradish sauce.

Scorecard

Overall: One of the Best - Worth a Trip

Chili Link	Lubin
Jubee Onion Link

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"The elegant potato roll, the good hot dog, the expertly made chili all make me want to brand this chili link upscale. But at $2.75, that would give the wrong impression. It simply is an excellent chili dog, making issues of class and cost irrelevant."
Michael Stern

"Jubee onion relish is tangy, spicy, just a little bit sweet, and dramatically perfumy. An inspired condiment for hot dogs!"
Michael Stern

"We were focused on hot dogs, so we did not order a lubin. But based on this sample provided by the kindly management, it is a must-eat. Like Texas brisket and the beef used by po boy cooks in New Orleans, this stuff delivers a roundhouse protein punch. My lame photo does nothing to convey the extreme succulence of these falling-apart pieces of beef."
Michael Stern

"Lubins-N-Links is so narrow that you might not see it as you drive along Main Street. This sign over the entry is a welcome marker."
Michael Stern

"The bench is handy in nice weather if all the outdoor seats in back are occupied. Behind it you get a peek at the tiny counter in the window where a couple of people can stand and eat. Why is there a pretzel in the window? You can get a hot pretzel here -- also oven fried potatoes, baked beans and chicken sandwiches. I intend to stick with Lubins-N-Links on future visits."
Michael Stern