Capitol Lunch - New Britain, CT

Posted By Michael Stern on August 21, 2007 5:11 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.

Overall Rating

Hot Dog

French Fries

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Posted By Scott Morris on March 6, 2011 8:47 AM

I grew up on Capitol Lunch hot dogs. My family owned a business in the area and, at age 10, my cousin and I would walk down to buy a box full of dogs for the shop. I have often told people that Capitol Lunch dogs are somewhat of an acquired taste. They don't serve your typical meat sauce by any means, but it's well worth a try.

I will say that, in recent years, the sauce seems to have changed somewhat, ever since the split in the family who was running it, and after the attempt to open a Storrs branch. It's not bad, but it's definitely not what I grew up with. I have spoken with many other people who have gone to Cappy's for many a year and they all have the same opinion: something is just different about the sauce. Still, I would encourage people to give it a try, even if it's not as good as it was 20 years ago.

Overall Rating

Hot Dog

French Fries

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Posted By Roger Wilks on December 26, 2007 9:25 PM

I've been eating at Cappy's since I was five years old (I'm 54 now). The original place was across the street from where it is now. It was maybe 25 feet deep from door to back wall with one row of stools. There'd be a line waiting down the block.

In my younger days, I'd knock back a dozen by myself. Now I keep it to six. It's strange: one either loves the sauce (as I do) or hates it (like my wife and daughter). That's OK, more for me.

The only other places that I would recommend are Blackie's in Wolcott and Saint's in Plainville, on Route 10. There used to be a place in Bristol, on Route 6, called Michigan Hots. The owner retired and nobody wanted to take the place over.

Overall Rating

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