Dawg House

1360 East St., New Britain, CT - (860) 224-2636

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Posted By Michael Stern on November 24, 2009 3:26 PM

A while ago I posted a photo album on Roadfood's Facebook page titled "Roadfood You Can't Eat Any More," featuring pictures of beloved restaurants that have gone out of business and some of the great dishes they served. One such place I did not include was Strand Lunch of New Britain, Connecticut. I never ate there, but its chili-topped hot dogs are a legend. Now, just off Route 9 in New Britain, the Dawg House serves what it claims is a replica of the long-gone Strand's famous wiener – split and grilled, topped with mustard, diced onions, and chili sauce.

How good is it? As I ate at one of the two indoor tables (there's also a counter and picnic tables outside), one gent approached the order window and announced to proprietor Robert Crago, "It's rare for me to think about a man before my woman, but I woke up this morning and thought of you – you dressing a couple of Strand dogs for my lunch."

The Strand dog is, for me, a perfect example of how magical a hot dog can be. The wiener itself is very good – taut and muscular but juicy enough and with a good crunch to its skin; and the chili sauce is intriguing: ground beef with a hot-pepper halo and a kaleidoscope of spice that probably echoes the ancestral recipes of Strand's original owners, who were Greek. The bun is soft and fresh. Onions are crisp. Mustard is yellow. In other words, no single ingredient is spectacularly good. But combined as the Dawg House does it, their harmony is transcendent. I ordered a Strand dog, a regular dog with mustard and relish, and a steamed cheeseburger. The latter two were quite alright, but next time, I simply am going to order two or three Strand dogs.

For the sake of Roadfood exploration, I also intend to try Dawg House's Frito pie and an item that combines steamed cheese with the chili sauce. I know for sure what I am going to be drinking: New Britain's own Avery's soda, sweetened with cane sugar.

Overall Rating

Strand Dog

Hot Dog

Steamed Cheeseburger

Fried Potatoes

Avery's Soda

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Posted By Scott Morris on March 14, 2011 10:31 AM

I thought the dogs were cooked to perfection, split down the middle and browned for a nice snap. The meat sauce is excellent, and definitely rivals the other local spot for dogs, Capitol Lunch. I would recommend anyone who has a craving for a quality hot dog to visit; you won't be disappointed.

Maybe some day I'll try the steamed cheeseburger, but from a place named the Dawg House you would expect great dogs. I'll save the steamed cheeseburgers for Ted's.

Overall Rating

Avery's Soda

Strand Dog

Hot Dog

Fried Potatoes

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