My favorite hot dog spot in Essex County. Anthony serves up delicious dawgs (try the hot potato…read moremash!). Small place, no interior seating. They have a small parking lot (but if stuck, I cheat and park in the Walgreens lot across the street and walk over!) Always has different specialty dawgs and they are all fire. Heard he started making taters too! Gotta try some next time in!

First off let start by saying they are good and prices are great but I personally wasn't a fan of…read morethe regular chilli. The specialty dogs were great, the flavors mix very well. I loved the potato mash also great flavor. The owner is a very nice guy. The inside is very very small no seating or standing room inside so you have to eat in your car.

Bloody amazing historical place! 101 years and counting in 2026. The staff is welcoming the price…read moreis right for this American Classic!! I saw it passing through on a quest for work clothes. I HAD TO STOP!! It looked perfect for my nostalgic tastes an omg I wasn't disappointed!! The dogs had a snap and a beefy flavor with toppings that were made with the utmost xare and love of tradition. The deli mustard was piquant but perfect for the dogs. The chili had a touch of spice, but otherwise complimented the dogs. I felt a part of this place and the generations who have known it beforee here in my adopted state. Holy heck! Yes! Totally recommend GHI Humbly submitted from a Michelin star rated chef.

I loved that this is an old school spot so i was excited to try a dog here. Place was crowded lots…read moreof outgoing orders. Sadly i was not impressed. The hot dog was so chewy. Like the skin was not edible. Fries were ok but nothing to scream about. Maybe i need to try a burger and a milkshake or something another time but yeah it wasnt my fav :-(. I do like the outdoor seating thats very nostalgic to what drive in spots use to be.

I arrived in New Brunswick by train, which is to say I trusted the machinery of civilization to…read moredeliver me to lunch. It did. A short walk later, I found myself at Destination Dogs, a place I had seen in photographs that suggested capaciousness. In reality, it is smaller.  This is not a complaint, just an observation.  I remember once hearing something about the contents of small packages. At 12:30 the place was full. Packed with humanity and appetite. I was seated quickly, as if someone had anticipated my hunger in advance. From the bar came the sound of construction crews discussing their midday rituals. Apparently this is where they come on Fridays, to repair themselves while they repair the city. It explained everything. Service was swift and attentive, a minor miracle given the crowd. I began with a Scotch egg, an item that seemed to have wandered in from another story entirely. I ordered it for that reason. I had always imagined my first Scotch egg would be eaten in an English pub under low ceilings and older regrets. Instead, here it was. Perfectly crisp, warm, and generous. The universe does not ask for permission. Then came the main event. The menu is an atlas of hot dogs. Domestic. International. Proteins in tube form arranged like possibilities. There is even an invitation to build your own, which I accepted. I attempted to recreate a favorite from Crif Dogs, a thing called the Spicy Redneck. Bacon wrapped dog. Pickled jalapenos. Coleslaw. Simple in theory. Destination Dogs improved upon it in every way that matters. The bacon crisped with purpose. The jalapenos spoke clearly. The coleslaw behaved. The hot dog itself seemed proud to be there. All of this, plus a 16 ounce beer, cost me about twenty five dollars with tip. A small price for order in a chaotic universe. Five stars. Not because perfection exists, but because this comes close enough to make the argument.

Fun spot with awesome dogs and great vibes!…read more This place is such a cool restaurant/bar that feels like a local staple for sure. The staff is super friendly and know their way around the (very large) menu. Honestly, they have a hot dog or sausage combo for just about everyone. I let the bartender pick for me, and she nailed it. She chose an all-beef dog that was basically a Big Mac in hot dog form. I was skeptical at first, but wow this hit in all the right ways. Awesome presentation, even better flavor. I could've easily eaten three of these. I also tried the onion rings, the bartender warned me they were just "meh," and she wasn't wrong, lol. For round two, I went with an all-beef dog topped with pastrami this is basically a Reuben-style dog. Another win! Great flavor, great presentation. Overall, I'd totally recommend Destination Dogs if you're in the area. Just a heads up, if there's a game on, it gets loud. Like "can't-hear-your-friend-next-to-you" loud. But if that's your vibe, you'll love it.

Cash Only. I'm stressing this because on my most recent visit it was a major issue with a couple…read moreahead of me acting shocked when they were given the total (almost $30) and they only had $3 in singles. (And that ATM machine at the corner? It looks like it'll not only steal your identity but your soul as well.) My last visit (2023-ish) I tried their 'combo' (one hot dog, one sausage) which was... okay. But when they're slinging a double Italian hot dog? They're firing on all cylinders. Tommy's is not shy to pile a wicked amount of grub into that pizza bread. The hot dogs kind of get lost under a mountain of deep-fried and oily (but delicious) sliced spuds. (I do wish they weren't so stingy with the peppers and onions to really balance out the meal.) The 'Holy Trinity' when it comes to Italian hot dogs in North Jersey is a no-brainer... Dickie Dee's, Jimmy Buff's and Tommy's. (For me - no one comes close to Dickie Dee's but my one kid said Tommy's was his [current] fave.) As for that couple that came cashless? A good Samaritan behind me pulled out a wad of cash (it's not wise to pull out a fistful of cash anywhere you go but it's ESPECIALLY not wise when you're in the rough and tumble streets of Elizabeth, let's be real) and after swapping Venmo information everything was a-okay. Take-out/to-go only. Parking is atrocious. Guy behind the glass - always aces. (Oh, and... cash only!)

About to hop a flight to NOLA from Newark so I hit up Tommy's Italian Sausage in Elizabeth. Wanted…read moreto also hit Jerry's but he closed the gate as I was walking up...maybe next time. I've had the sausage/dog combo before that's like an Italian Dog and I loved it but I had never just had some good old doggies here so I grabbed a couple. Went with 1 with red onions and mustard and 1 with chili, diced onion, and mustard. I love red onions, just a big nostalgia thing to my youth getting dogs in Coney Island at Nathan's. These onions were tasty. The chili wasn't what I was expecting but the crunch from the diced onion was welcomed. The rolls tasted fresh and the dogs had a fantastic snap and delicious flavor. No surprise here - Tommy's - Didn't Suck!

Really enjoyed the pimento cheese hot dog they have. The…read moreburger was definitely good. A little over priced but so is everything so maybe it's not‍. Very cool little store front. Inside seemed clean and bright. Will be coming back next time I'm in the area for sure.

Well... I was hungry for a burger an fries and, after a long drive back from visiting our kid at…read morecollege, 1950's Originals answered the bell. I ordered a large bbq wings, a cheeseburger and a French Fry. The cheeseburger was good! Well cooked and tasty. Unfortunately, the order kind of went downhill from there. The fries were soggy from the bag they were delivered in and the wings were really soft and soggy, without a hint of crunch. I was sorely disappointed. 3 Stars on the strength of the cheeseburger which MIGHT have me back to try the food again... perhaps today was an off day.

Red Tower is your standard fare short order grill, specializing in burgers and dogs but with a…read moreslightly larger menu that touches upon some fried seafood (which was a bit disappointing for cross contamination reasons). The place itself features a total of six stools, three looking out the window and three facing the counter. There's enough standing room for maybe six more folks, but this is not the place to go for a family sit down. However, if you want a hot meal, you can do much worse. The employees were both very friendly, the food came out super quick, and it was generally tasty. It's a perfect spot for someone working in the Plainfield area to pop into for some quick grease and carbs.

My son and I headed here for a quick Friday lunch. The location is fine although the neighborhood…read moreappears to be a little rough. You have to park on the street. Two hot dogs, fries and a coke will set you back $15 and onion rings are a dollar more. The hot dogs are very good. The place is a bit run down, but they have steady customer traffic. The owner was very nice. We will be back.

Fast friendly, very friendly service. Solid dogs. A nice…read morecheese fry. Lots of menu items

Ambiance is great. Classic. We had 4 dogs. 1 gravy & fries. 2 birch beers. Bill was $24.50. I made…read morea mistake and got kraut; should have got chili. The nostalgic Rutt's relish was good. I could not quite place the taste; but it was cold out of the fridge & very nice to complete my 1st experience at this classic Clifton cuisine stop. Service was quick & pleasant. Did I mention the bill was $25. We left $35 because we felt like it. Staff was appreciative. The hot dog itself - unique fried dog - as for flavor... it was different or "plain" if that makes sense; but not bad. Good for sure. It was a different dog than I used to get at Callahan's or Hiram's in Fort Lee years ago ... and I still think one of the best hot dogs is Dover Grille or (if you can believe it) Hoover's bar on Rt. 53 in Morris Plains. Rutt's get 4 stars for classic feel, service with a smile & overall experience.

Honestly, I still prefer Nathan's. The hot dogs are decent, and there's a good selection of…read moretoppings, but a truly good hot dog shouldn't need much added to it. They were out of fries when we visited, so we had chips instead. I don't fault them for running out of fries, but chips felt like a weak substitute. I ordered the Chicago dog, and while it was good, it wasn't anything memorable or something I'd go out of my way for. The inside is small, with an 80s vibe. There is no indoor seating and the outdoor seating is limited. That said, the service was solid. The employees were friendly and clearly hardworking. It was a very busy day with a long line, and it was handled efficiently. I'm not writing this place off entirely. It's not bad, just not especially impressive for what it is.

A good spot for loaded dogs outside of Prospect Park! Only complaint is it feels a bit overpriced…read morewhen you realize IKEA isn't far...but these were delicious!