Hot Dogs at Doogie’s

That’s a Lotta Meat
Doogies, Newington

Man, I’m still a bit taken aback by just how many hot dogs are on the Sterns’ “Eat Before it’s Too Late List.” It’s a bit ridiculous. As a couple, they’ve eaten all over this country – admittedly, most of it somewhat lowbrow “roadfood” – but their affinity for hotdogs is insane. I like hotdogs – even though I don’t really eat pork or beef on principle – so all these stops on my mission to eat all the Connecticut Roadfood “musts” are sort of “treats” for me. But I assure you that if I were to do a food list of my own, I don’t think hotdogs would make it on there in any capacity. After all, they’re just hotdogs.

However, if I had to include a hotdog, the Doogies dog might be my choice. Of course, I can’t be sure yet as I have so many more to eat around the state, but I’m pretty confident that Doogies is in the top few. Put it this way: I ate their 16 inch dog (with everything except sauerkraut) without trouble. It was that good… Or I am just getting fat. Perhaps a little of both.

Though I guess I can be happy that Doogies has apparently cheapened their product in recent years. Even though their website boasts that they are the “home of the two foot hot dog®”, I was only able to eat a 16 incher. And I found this comment from some anonymous blog commenter who could use some brushing up on his math:

It was worse than I anticipated. The former 2-foot-long dog is now 16 inches (a whole THIRD LESS), and the former foot-long is now 10 inches (20% LESS), but the prices are still the SAME.

(In 2022, their menu boasts of a 20-incher for what it’s worth.)

Ignorance was my bliss, as I thought 16 inches was huge enough for a hotdog. And while I did find the price a bit much, it didn’t really phase me too much. After all, Adam Richman from the oddly compelling “Man Vs. Food” on the Travel Channel visited there in October 2009. It appears Adam dealt with the Berlin Turnpike for a mere 16 inches, and so did I.

(One of) their websites has a little history page on it. They claim to make awesome fries and Philly cheesesteaks, but I had neither. However, the Roadfood list does have another rather random item from Doogie’s on their list – The Doughboy. While Hoang wouldn’t touch a hotdog with a 20 foot (or 16 foot) pole, she won’t say no to a doughboy, so we ate that for CTMQ purposes here.

The Roadfood Experience:

Doogie’s 16-inch hot dog is nothing short of astounding. While one of them, in its long, long bun, looks like a hero sandwich fit for four, especially if it is loaded with sauerkraut, chili, onions, bacon, cheese, etc., you will see some big boys walking into Doogie’s at lunch time and ingesting a pair of them (that’s over two feet of frankfurter!) with a large soda and an order of jumbo French fries with cheese sauce on the side.

If only for its size, Doogie’s hot dog would be worth noting in the annals of amazing Roadfood; but the fact this extra-long sausage is really delicious. Firm-fleshed and with a chewy skin that gets slightly charred on the grill, it has a vigorously spicy flavor that holds up well not only under any and all extra-cost toppings, but does well when spread with Doogie’s superb homemade hot relish or just ordinary mustard. The brand name of the dog is Grote & Weigal, and for those of meek appetites, it is available in mere ten-inch configuration, too.

Beyond hot dogs, Doogie’s sells all sorts of other sandwiches, including a wide variety of terrific Philly cheese steak variations, a real hot lobster roll, and excellent hamburgers. The top of the line hamburger is called the Boomburger. It comes topped with house dressing, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, and onion rings. If that’s not enough, you can have a double boomburger.

The fries menu is itself a delight; fries, cheese fries, chili cheese fries, curly fries, onion rings, and sweet potato fries.

The CTMQ Experience

As mentioned, Doogies is on the north end of the Berlin Turnpike near the Wethersfield line. It is tiny and easy to miss. Once inside, the décor aims to transport diners back to the 50’s, which I suppose is cute. Efficiency is the name of the game here, and first time visitors like me stick out like a 20 inch – or 16 inch – sore thumb. I stammered a bit before ordering the king of the menu: a 16-inch hotdog with the works. Mustard, some hot pepper relish stuff, cheez whiz, onions and bacon.

As I waited for my order (everything here is made to order, but doesn’t take too long at all), I noticed a few unique signs on the walls. Aside from all the 1950’s kitsch, there is a prominent sign outlining “Doogie’s Principles.” This is one of those phony “We’re really angry and tough and take no junk” lists of rules that really serve no purpose, but some people must get a kick out of them.

Ironically, the first “principle” is “If you’re cranky, come back another time.” Well gee, I wasn’t until I read that. There’s also, “We’re neither slow nor fast – we’re half-fast, If it’s not on the menu, it’s ’cause Doogie doesn’t like it, If your food gets cold while you gab, don’t blame us, Red Sox fans welcome; Yankee fans tolerated, If we’re closed when you get here, you should have come earlier, and Eat it and beat it, and we’ll see you next week.”

Another sign mentions an eating challenge – the Zaino Burger: a 30 dollar 4 pound burger that you must eat within 90 minutes to get it for free. Why? I don’t know. But who cares, I was here for the hot dog.

I got it to-go and raced home to eat it. I have no idea where these guys get their huge buns, but that’s the most interesting facet of the whole experience. “Hi, I’m Bob. I work at the giant hot dog bun factory.” I live for that chance meeting.

Amazingly, once unwrapped, the bun wasn’t soggy at all from all those toppings. I marveled at the thing for a minute, wondering how I should attack it. I cut it in half and took my first sloppy bite: Mmm, delicious. The toppings only add to the dog, rather than overwhelm. The “snap” of the Grote & Weigel hot dog provided the needed texture and the flavor was good ‘n hot doggy.

The “sassy” relish (their word) was excellent, as everyone knows by now I love roasted peppers of any sort. It may appear that “the works” is a bit much, but somehow it all works together. In fact, it worked so well that I ate the whole dang thing. At least now I can say that I ate something “as big as my arm.”

By the way, Doogies seems really intent on franchising. They push it in the restaurant and very prominently online. Unfortunately, it seems that many of these satellite franchises have failed rather quickly and miserably. There was one up in Windsor on Day Hill Road that was gone in the blink of an eye, as was one in Canton. Perhaps this anonymous online review didn’t help: “This place is disgusting. Dirty tables, soggy fries with no flavor, wet rolls. I won’t be going here ever again. You can get better food at McDonalds across the parking lot.”

Franchising is risky. I’ll end this review with a line from the Doogies website:

“So drop in, have a Philly or a hot dog with sassy relish, and imagine the next girl through the door wearing a poodle skirt. If you like it, spread the word; if not, tell us, and we’ll make you happy.”

Doogies
CTMQ Eats the Roadfood List