Hot Dog of the Week: Dig Dog

For all of you hot dog fans, can you picture what a dog is called that has been battered and a stick shish kabobing it?

PLEASE don't say the C word.

If you are from the Marion, VA area it would be called a Dip Dog.

Founded in 1957, Dip Dogs has been serving all beef dogs for a princely sum. Just to give you an idea of their prices, foot longs go for $2.75 each.

They also have quite the menu of not hot dog options ranging from burgers, to breakfast, to custard.

If traveling I-81, swing on in.

Doumar's

Norfolk, VA

When in Norfolk there is THE place to eat. The place would be Doumar's.

Known for their barbecue, Doumar's has been featured on the Food Network's hit show Diner's, Drive-in's & Dives.

Though this would be a place that serves hot dogs, and not a hot dog place, it was a great atmosphere that took you back to small town America.

The diner was about the size of your storage shed, but the ample parking and car hop service that was offered multiplies the customers.

The dog itself was very small and cut down the middle on a bun. Nothing to special about this dog, in fact it was very pedestrian. But that does NOT MEAN you should not try it on a visit to Doumar's.

One of the coolest pieces of Americana is here and millions of people world wide need to thank Mr. Doumars for it. Behold, the original waffle cone machine. Not only is this THE machine that first started producing waffle cones, but it is still run daily by Mr. Doumar's himself. He had just taken a break when we were leaving so we didn't get a picture with him but here is the iconic piece that has contributed to many sugar induced comas over the years.

Perfectly Frank

Norfolk, VA

We have featured a lot of hot dog places in college towns. I mean really, when the midnight munchies come along and you have had your share of barley beverage, few things sound better than a hot dog.

Well directly across the street from the Convocation Center/basketball arena at Old Dominion University is Simply Frank's. Where not only can you fill your munchie needs, you can wash it down with a barley beverage. Complete with a variety of beer inside you can even get the college student favorite, Natural Light, with your meal.

Cooking all of their dogs on a grill, you can cozy up to the counter top and watch them cook it or have them bring it to your table. All dogs are made to order.

Out of all of the places we have reviewed, this is one of the rare places that serves a true New York Red Hot. Encased with a zippiness that is just enough to pat your brow, the dog went down easy. Topping the dog is their chili. The server said there is no secret recipe, or homemade legend, just local mass quantity chili atop the dog if so ordered. For being mass produced, it was mighty good and complimented to spice of the red hot.

Atmosphere- When walking in the first thing to catch your eye is the vent cover over the grill is covered in stickers. If you bring in a sticker, they will add it to the collection. Simple as that. ODU pictures and memorabilia are on the walls, but it also has that touch of college bar to it with beer advertising pieces. If I went to college in this town, I would be here all the time! We chose to sit on the front patio and enjoy the sunshine. I imagine when school is in session this place is hopping. But in the end of June, and not much reason to be in Norfolk, there was just a trickle of people. B

Value- College kids don't have much money. What money they do have is usually spent on...well school 'supplies'. The meaning of supplies may differ from person to person. Though I was fine pushing my $3.19 across the counter, I think for a business that depends on college kids they could do better. But with the price of beer at Simply Frank's you get your money's worth one way or another. No beer bought on this trip for me, so I only got half of the bargain. C+


Side Dish Jody says... The menu had many not hot dog options, although nothing jumped out at me. Everything was kind of boring and plain. I ended up sharing a grilled cheese and fries with our daughter and left unimpressed. D+

Hot Dog of the Week : Joey's Hot Dogs

What keeps you going back to your favorite hot dog place?

Is it the variety of hot dogs? Is it the way they make your favorite hot dog? Is it the fact you have been going there for years and years?

Well at Joey's hot dogs, they want to know who you are so when you walk in they can call you by name and make your hot dog the way you like it.

A family owned restaurant since the 1930's they still use the original recipe today that made them famous over 70 years ago. In fact they still use the same ingredient suppliers as when they first opened.

So come on in, sit at the soda counter and enjoy the simple menu. See why Joey's is a staple in Richmond, VA. Who knows, perhaps they will say 'hello ___' to you as well.