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    Capitol Lunch

    4.1 (222 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, Burgers, Fast Food
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Capitol Lunch Photos

    CAPITOL LUNCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Capitol Lunch

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    Reviews With Photos

    Avery's Soda (Weiner Water)
    Abby R.

    An iconic staple of the Connecticut hot dog scene, and after trying this place out for the first time, I can see why. Stepping in, the restaurant vibe is incredibly retro. And the prices are great too! I believe they've gone up a bit since previous reviews--the famous dog is now $3.99. Still quite the steal for a hotdog with a heaping serving of onions, mustard, and "famous sauce," which I quickly came to realize was ground beef and some spices. The sauce is a bit drier than a typical chili, but it's certainly a fun addition to a hot dog. I certainly enjoyed it. Plus, they serve Avery's sodas here! I got the "Weiner Water" flavor (orange and lemon), it felt appropriate given all the hot dogs. Service was immediate, even during a lunch rush. I walked up to the counter, ordered, and my hotdog was in front of me in seconds. It was great! The employees and I chatted about the silly soda name and everyone was incredibly kind and conversational. I had a great experience here and will be back again!

    Dog with everything delicious
    Munchy R.

    Hotdogs here are amazing been coming here since I was a child. chilli on the dogs or on a cheeseburger very tasty. staff here are awesome will recommend to everyone.

    Famous dog.  Natural casing with mustard, onions,and sauce.

    We went today and got the famous dog and BLT sandwich. Both were excellent. The hot dog has a great snap and the meat sauce is always consistently great. We come up from Waterbury and it's well worth it.

    Menu
    Nicole F.

    It seems I'm never in the area, so when I am I always have to stop. This place still hasn't changed since the last time I was here a bout 3 years ago. Their "famous hot dog" with the sauce is amazing, and frankly I haven't had comparable dog. Not to mention the martin Russell hotdogs have that infamous "crunch" with each bite. Food was quick and hot. I am not a French fry fan, but the fries were thin, perfectly salted, and best of all hot and fresh. Since I don't come often, I forced myself to eat two hotdogs! Looking forward to the next time I'm back. Tip: if you're paying with card, the prices are a bit more than the menu

    Kathleen S.

    Best hotdogs in Connecticut hands down! I have been eating hotdogs here since I was a kid. This restaurant has been in business as long as I can remember and I understand why!

    One of my closes uncle highly recommend me this place and now that I'm living on the area so do I.
    Manny S.

    Original recipe on their hotdogs, burgers and fries, service was nice and friendly, and the ambiance will compared with a retro dinner style.

    I just drove 2 hours from Boston to Capitol Lunch with my daughter and wife today. I learned of it when my Dad took me when I was a kid. He learned of it when his Dad took him back in the 50's. This was the place my grandfather went to post WW2 as a Staff Sergeant in the 10th Mountain Div, and after working a shift at Stanley Works. Got some chili to-go and bought some dogs from Rosol's down the road. Back in Boston now with my daughter and we're making Cappy's w/ everything tonight. Thanks for the 4 generations of memories! Oh...and "always ask for Avery's"

    Dan R.

    "Things will get better soon, I gotta hunch The three martini lunch Wasting another afternoon, punching a hole in my life" (Graham Parker) Want an inexpensive and satisfying lunch? Well, it's hard to do better than we did at Capitol Lunch yesterday. Definitely a No Frills kind of place, but the value, taste, and overall experience of our lunch visit yesterday was fantastic. No, you won't find any truffle fries or goat cheese here, but what you will find is an unpretentious menu with hot dogs between $2.49 and $2.99, Fries for $2.69 and rings for $3.39. If you want to be a big spender you can get a freshly made quarter pound burger for $5.39. Hot Dogs are king here, and its been that way for 90 years. My hot dog was fantastic, a good sized hot dog with ketchup, onions, and their famous chili-like meat sauce on a pillowy soft fresh as can be roll. For $2.99 it was fantastic. We split an order of their $2.69 fries that was big enough to easily share. Don't be put off by Capitol's "Hole in the Wall" appearance. We enjoyed everything about our visit -the ordering line moved fast as lightning, and the counter folks were friendly and helpful. But best of all, we loved our food and the fantastic prices.

    Two dogs with everything, plus fries, rings, and a drink
    Kathy W.

    When in Idaho, you gotta get a potato. And when in New Britain, it's all about the hot dogs. Capitol Lunch is a classic, in business since 1929. Yes, they also offer burgers, but most people - and there are a LOT of them - come for the hot dogs. At $8.99, the combo (2 dogs, fries or onion rings, and a fountain drink) is a pretty good deal. The steady crowds are no match for the staff's efficiency. They've got this down to a science. You're through the line quickly and enjoying your meal in no time. Park in the New Brite lot across the street so you don't have to negotiate Main Street parking.

    Joanne S.

    A wonderful Yelp CT evening out at the Capital Lunch (the hotdog with our famous "CAPPY"sauce. Also a special touch of the grape kool-aid that was offered that I haven't had since I was kid. This place that so many people have been and has been around since 1929. The meat sauce is so yummy and a perfect touch which I had on both my hotdog and my hamburger along with the nacho cheese sauce. I also tried the onion rings and bacon cheese fries which were delicious. The Capital Lunch has been voted best hotdog for 2022 and pretty much every year before. The owner Author explained all of the history of this restaurant. Along he shared rhe story behind each picture that's display on the walls from back in 1929. Great hole in the wall place to visit in the heart of New Britain.

    National HotDog Day today and hotdog capital of connecticut!!!

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    5 months ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you Tanya!

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    7 months ago

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    4 days ago

    We had lunch at Capitol Lunch. Hot dogs & onion rings were good. Would definitely recommend.

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you!

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    1 month ago

    Classic hot dog joint and the chili is bangin definitely worth the drive for a timeless experience...

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you very much Bryan!

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    1 year ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you for the review Abby!

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    16 days ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Arthur V.

    Great review. Thank you very much!

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    5 months ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you Angela!

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    2 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Great review! Thank you!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you Jerome!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you so much!

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    4 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you very much Dan. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    4 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you Kathy. Great review.

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    3 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you very much!

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    2 years ago

    Hot dogs were terrible price would be good except we throughout half our food it was so bad.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you! Open Monday-Saturday until 6pm

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Capitol Lunch

    What meat are the hot dogs?

    Martin Rosol hot dogs. A combination of pork and beef.

    I realize this is a ridiculous question. Any chance the sauce is gluten free? Gluten comes from wheat (regular flour), rye, and barley and is typically an ingredient in soy…

    I’m sorry the sauce is not gluten free.

    What year did it originally open?

    1929

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet

    Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet

    4.6
    (295 reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    My husband isn't exactly a hot dog guy. So I got a sideways look when I suggested that we try this…read moreplace out for lunch....but after our meal, he said that he'd never had a specialty hot dog before and really enjoyed this! How could you not like this place?! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and an awesome menu. We tried the reuben dog, taco dog and guilty pleasure dog with the Cajun fries. Dogs are messy but fun.... loved the taco dog! Cajun fries were too salty but appreciate that they are made in house! (Wish they had sweet potato fries with a fun dipping sauce though!) Can't wait to go back and try more creations!

    Riley's is much nicer inside than you'd ever expect from a hot dog place. There's a lot of space,…read moreeverything is clean, and the whole setup has a trendy industrial feel that works really well. Even the bathrooms were noticeably nice, particularly for such a fast-paced lunch spot. I had the Chicago Dog and the House Dog. We've been on the hunt for a good Chicago dog that's, you know... closer than Chicago, so I was glad to see one on the menu. It was quite good, but not what I expected based on the ones I remember from Chicago. This version leaned heavier on the relish and toppings, didn't have the bright green relish, and ended up a little messier overall. It did match exactly what the menu described, though, so that part's on me for not reading it more closely. All that micro-complaining aside, I'd get it again--though I may first try to work through the extensive menu a bit. There are some great options, and you should expect to struggle deciding (maybe check the menu in advance). The House Dog was delicious, but also pretty messy--definitely grab some napkins. Prices were a tiny bit higher than I'd expect for hot dogs, but the quality, presentation, and overall vibe seemed aligned with that. Overall, Riley's is a great option if you want a nicer sit-down hot dog experience with lots of choices and a comfortable atmosphere. I'd go back, especially to try more of the specialty dogs.

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    Prime Burgers

    Prime Burgers

    4.3
    (64 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    My wife and I recently visited Prime Burger and had a great experience. I ordered a burger with…read moreblue cheese and sweet potato fries, while my wife had the Butcher Burger with regular fries. The food was delicious, and the burgers were packed with flavor. The sweet potato fries were very crispy and delicious. I would get the same meal again as would my wife. What really stood out was the outstanding service. Throughout our meal, several staff members checked in to make sure everything was good and asked if we needed anything. The attention and hospitality made us feel very welcome. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend Prime Burger. In fact, I've already been back and will continue to return.

    Right away, the service stood out. Friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating without hovering…read more They knew the menu and let us enjoy the experience. We started with the chicken empanadas. Crispy on the outside, packed with well-seasoned chicken inside. Good spice, not overpowering. Came with a salsa and a ketchup-mayo style sauce, both worked, but the salsa had a little more life to it. Before that, warm ciabatta hit the table with a house-made dipping sauce. Oil-based with garlic, blue cheese, and a few other layers going on. The blue cheese gave it a subtle kick without taking over. Nice way to start. Now to the burger, the Luger Burger. I'm assuming it's a nod to the classic steakhouse, but didn't get full confirmation. The sauce is made in-house: slightly sweet, a little acidic (I picked up balsamic), smooth texture. It's a good sauce, it just needed a bigger voice on this burger. The burger itself is large. And I mean large. Menu said thick-cut bacon... that wasn't the case. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable. Now I'm going to get a little critical, because this is where it matters. The burger needed more salt. There's a lot of beef here, and it can absolutely handle it. Even something as simple as salting the tomato would've helped bring things together. If the bacon had actually been thick-cut, that alone might've bridged the gap. This was a very beef-forward burger, to the point where the supporting flavors barely showed up. The patty felt a bit too tightly packed, which gave it a denser bite and let the beef dominate the whole experience. A looser grind or lighter hand forming it would've made it more tender and allowed everything else to come through. It also needed more acid. The Luger sauce was applied lightly, so either lean into it more or bring in something else, a pickle, a sharper onion, something to cut through the richness and balance it out. The bun was soft, nicely toasted, and held up well, which isn't easy with a burger this size. Fries were hand-cut, properly salted, and exactly what you want. No complaints there. Overall, this is a great spot. Clean, comfortable, nicely decorated. Staff was excellent. Food was good, with flashes of being really good. With a few small tweaks, mainly balance and execution on the burger, this could easily jump to the next level.

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    Hungry Bull Burger

    Hungry Bull Burger

    4.8
    (154 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    We came out to visit our daughter who took us to the Hungry Bull Burger. I can see how this place…read morecan be overlooked, but is definitely one to stop in and give them a try. We sampled the Disco Fries, which were very good. A definite item to order. We also tried the garlic parm tots that were good. I tried the Brisket sandwich , with the horseradish on the side. Sandwich was excellent. I am not a horseradish type of guy. But I put a little on the sandwich. Hot, but still flavorful. My guests had their special burger, and thought it was excellent. Place is a definite one to go to. Owners are very personable, making you feel worthy, and they a genuinely glad you stopped in.

    After reading the great reviews about this place my wife and I had to try it for our "Hot Dog…read moreTuesday" lunch. I don't give out 5 stars easily. This little unassuming place deserves every one of them! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a very friendly man at the counter who seated us and brought menus. He turned out to be very helpful finding out this was our first time here. The store was well lit and clean. The tables were well spaced and not crowded in. My wife stuck to our tradition and ordered the RT 10 Dog with the spicy relish on the side. (Which was great for me) I couldn't resist The Hungry Bull burger. We'll just have to come back again for me to try their hotdogs. The 10' hot dog is a Martin Rosol's so the foundation of this hot dog is super strong. The sauerkraut was tasty and full flavored and just the right amount of mustard. My wife tried the spicy relish, that our server cheerfully supplied on the side, and it was a little too hot for her liking. Bonus for me. I got to put it on my burger. My burger came out stacked on a sturdy Brioche Roll with American cheese, onion straws and some very tasty horseradish crema. My burger was juicy and full of flavor. The onion straws brought the right amount of crunch. Halfway through I began to add in the spicy relish. Amazing. We got fries and onion rings and shared. The fries were big, crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. Just the way I like them. The onion rings were amazing. I like when you bite into an onion ring and the whole onion doesn't come sliding out. These were perfect. Very good crunch and flavor. We have already decided that we will be back. I can't wait to try the hot dogs and the chicken sandwiches that were also calling my name.

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    Zack's Burgers & Shakes

    Zack's Burgers & Shakes

    4.3
    (77 reviews)
    2.6 mi
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    Any time we're craving a burger or hot dog we know we're getting what we want here!! The service is…read moregreat!! It's a nice little place to enjoy that craving! I got the Chili dog, I really like the flavor of their chili, to me this is the quintessential hotdog chili. Not sweet like some places... my sister had the same. We split the firs and onion rings. Loved them both. Everything hit the spot and I forgot the picture of my chocolate shake which was delicious too!!

    Very basic but cheap and a nice dining area…read more When I talk about burger shacks, this is the place that comes to mind. The burgers are straight up ground beef, the fries are bagged and the shakes use an off the shelf soft serve mix. It's not glamorous eating, but it's functional. I'm not opposed to this style of location, so long as they are priced appropriately and they recognize their limitations. Be nice, be quick, and make it just a little better than the rest and you can thrive. Server was very nice, location does look like much from the front but the inside has a nice appearance. The food is lackluster, exactly as presented on the menu. They do grill their buns in butter, and the flavors of their soups and fries are present and front facing. Burger was overcooked and unseasoned, hot dog was grilled well though. Easy fixes though, season the patty and 1 minute quicker off the grill and everything would be much better. it's actually pretty cheap as well.$5 for a foot long hotdog and $9 for a mushroom Swiss burger is pretty reasonable. They are not a fast food joint, but they are relatively quick and the quality is better than a chain as well. This is a spot that I would imagine a family would go to for that quick bite. It's basic but better than what you would get from any of the chains around. Price is good for the quality, and it's very much a burger shack. Go in expecting that, and you'll have a good experience. Not worth a trek though

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    Capitol Lunch - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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