Rawleys Drive-In
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Rawley's has a reputation for being a beloved CT hot dog place. They deep fry the dogs. Grill the buns in butter. You'll hear they have fans like Martha Stewart and David Letterman. Before this weekend, I had been once before years ago, and didn't really connect with the hot dogs in the way that others must. When I unexpectedly drove by this weekend and saw they were open, I had to try again. While the hot dog was good (not great or even very good), I continue to be underwhelmed relative to the expectations set by others and I found the experience unnecessarily inefficient and frustrating. When I arrived at 11:40 am, there was no line to order, 2 people were waiting for prior orders in the narrow front room where you order, and there were four people sitting in the narrow dining area who seemed to have their food already. I saw at least 4 different people working, which seemed adequate for the number of customers. I ordered at 11:41. I asked if they make any of their own toppings and I was told they make their own hot relish, but none of the other toppings. So I ordered one hot dog with yellow mustard, and the house red hot relish. The other available toppings, included chili, cheese, kraut, onions, sweet relish, bacon, jalapenos, mayo and dill pickle chips. I didn't get my hot dog until 12:01. So 20 minutes later. In those 20 minutes, they handed out a couple of average looking phone in orders. So it wasn't like they were doing a huge phone-in takeout business either. One of the two people who ordered ahead of me finally said "I have to go. I need a refund." They said they were completing his order so he ended up waiting a couple more minutes. I was equally frustrated with the inability of four people to accomplish so little in 20 minutes. I was there long enough to read a story they have on the wall about how people will wait "20 minutes for the real thing". So it actually seems to be a source of pride that they can take 20 minutes to fill your order, because you will like the food that much. I've been to many of the best loved CT hot dog places. I have had my hot dog within 5 minutes from some of those paces. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for a single hot dog, even when there were twice as many customers. Even when the other hot dog places have many more topping options and they actually make some of those toppings in house. 20 minutes for a single hot dog with simple toppings is unacceptable during non-busy periods, and should be embarrassing, rather than an apparent source of pride. I could get over 20 minutes for a best in CT level hot dog. My hot dog was not near that level. Rawley's uses a standard bun length Hummel hot dog. Deep frying the dog is supposed to make it snappy. My dog was not snappy. My teeth pierced the dog, with very little resistance. I'm not a Hummel guy, but the flavor was fine. The hot relish was pretty good. It did not pop relative to the topping options of my favorite CT hot dog shops. The butter-grilled bun is a highlight, however. It's probably one of the best hot dog buns in CT. I don't live near Fairfield. I can't see returning to Rawley's. Especially, given that one of the best CT hot dog spots is also in Fairfield, and another is up the road a bit in Milford. 3 Stars for the whole experience. 3.75 Stars for the hot dog.
My first time visiting this local staple in Fairfield, CT. We ordered a hot dog with ketchup, a grilled chicken breast sandwich and onion rings. My favorite item were the onion rings. They were fresh, crispy and just delicious. My only complaint is they brought no type of dipping sauce with it. The chicken breast sandwich was fresh but basic. The hot dog apparently is a Hummel hot dog. I enjoyed they toasted the bun so it was warm and toasty. The location is off a main road and has parking. There are a few seats if you choose to dine in. I found the hot dog curtains adorable. Service was quick. They turned over the few tables quickly. Prices were reasonable. I'd visit again.
Nothing has changed inside except for the curtains which I loved The chili for the hot dogs not as good as I remembered. Tastes like a not so good version of Hormel's. The fries were as good as could be.
A solid dog at a very popular locale #3 on our hot dog trek, and we came all the way to Rawleys to try a hot dog that's raved about by many. The place is small, not a lot of places to sit and not a lot of room to order, wall has a ton of names scawled against the walls, but everything was clean. The staff were extremely friendly, constantly cleaning and asking if we were all set. dogs came out quickly, and we managed to get a seat, get pics, and have a couple dogs. The Hot Chihuahua, not very hot. it has a little spice, but not a ton. The onions were appreciated though. The chili cheese dog, the chili is a thick bean chili. Was a little spicy, glad to get a little heat. Hot dog is a solid snap natural casing dog with a slice of fake cheese. Overall, a solid hot dog. The fake cheese slice and the lack of heat on the spicy hot dog detracted from the meal. It's a good dog overall though, so it's worth a try.
First time here for a nice juicy cheese burger and fries. The place was plenty busy. I hadn't realized there were places inside to eat-which is great. Retro feel from a time when everyone traveled down this road and this was thee spot in Fairfield to grab a bite ( a lovely Fairfield resident explained this all to me while food was being prepared). The burger was moist and tasty, the O Rings were golden and crunchy. All hit the spot. Eay to find when driving by, parking available. Quick service made to order. Great place still to grab a bite.
There could not be a more perfect spot for lunch on a road trip! My mom and I wanted to stop for lunch on our way to Cape Cod. We were looking for something quick, but better than McDonald's. Rawley's looked so cute online and was right off of 95. We are so happy we stopped here! The vibe is super cute and retro. They have seating inside. You order at the counter and then they bring their food to you. I have chicken fingers and fries and my mom had one of their signature hot dogs. We couldn't have loved our meal more! Everything was made fresh. I'm pretty sure even the ranch that I got to dip my chicken in was homemade. The fries were perfectly salted and definitely hand cut. Even though this is an older building, the entire place was spotless! I saw the owner constantly cleaning tables after people left. The bathroom was definitely newly renovated as well. Overall, it's the perfect spot for awesome food! I will definitely be back if I'm ever in the area.
Grabbed some take out from here while in the area visiting and it was good. Yummy burgers.
Fairfield, Connecticut is my hometown. Haven't lived there since the 80's, A LOT has changed around town since then, but Rawleys Drive-In is one of the few things that has stood the test of time. If anything, our experience today was better than my memories from long ago, that's something which doesn't happen too often. Stopped in just after Noon for lunch w/ the wife. We ordered a bacon cheeseburger, a Hot Dog w/ "the works", a large cheese fries, and a B & W milkshake. Our food came out after short wait. The B & W milkshake was outstanding, we both loved it, very flavorful. Fries were hand cut, a nice touch. Everything else was fresh & tasty, it all hit the spot. I read several negative Yelp reviews, I would ignore them. I don't understand what they are complaining about, this place is Winner. My wife agrees too. Staff is very friendly also. We are looking forward to our next visit to Rawleys when we are back in the area.
I have been enjoying Rawley's since 1985. This hot dog shack has changed hands a few times over those years and I'm glad to see that the most recent ownership has returned to its roots. They have put a fresh coat of paint here and there, installed a new POS system and adequately staffed the joint. Like back in the day, you only need to order three things at Rawley's - hot dogs, fries and a shake. If you like the works or chili & cheese or plain, Rawley's dogs are always hot and fresh. The fries are crisp and flavorful - they could be twice fried - I'm not sure. They taste great. Do yourself a favor and enjoy Rawley's. We do every time.
Great local dive. Owner and staff are friendly and attentive. Locally sourced fresh burger meat. Homemade aioli is great for burgers and fries has some heat and smoke in it. Burgers get deliciously messy. Homemade apple hand pies with vanilla ice cream, yum!! Quick food, great guilty pleasure food stop.
I was craving hot dogs on my way to Boston and thought this place looked interesting. They do dress up the dogs nice but I do think that I prefer plain hot dogs. The dogs were good but nothing too special We also got the chicken tenders which were good. They weren't too dry and went will with the honey mustard Onion rings are a must. I love onion rings I would say it's worth checking it out Ambience is nice. It's very homey and there's AC as well read more
26 days ago
1 month ago
Rawley's has a reputation for being a beloved CT hot dog place. They deep fry the dogs. Grill the buns in butter. You'll hear they have fans like Martha Stewart and David Letterman. Before this weekend, I had been once before years ago, and didn't really connect with the hot dogs in the way that others must. When I unexpectedly drove by this weekend and saw they were open, I had to try again. While the hot dog was good (not great or even very good), I continue to be underwhelmed relative to the expectations set by others and I found the experience unnecessarily inefficient and frustrating. When I arrived at 11:40 am, there was no line to order, 2 people were waiting for prior orders in the narrow front room where you order, and there were four people sitting in the narrow dining area who seemed to have their food already. I saw at least 4 different people working, which seemed adequate for the number of customers. I ordered at 11:41. I asked if they make any of their own toppings and I was told they make their own hot relish, but none of the other toppings. So I ordered one hot dog with yellow mustard, and the house red hot relish. The other available toppings, included chili, cheese, kraut, onions, sweet relish, bacon, jalapenos, mayo and dill pickle chips. I didn't get my hot dog until 12:01. So 20 minutes later. In those 20 minutes, they handed out a couple of average looking phone in orders. So it wasn't like they were doing a huge phone-in takeout business either. One of the two people who ordered ahead of me finally said "I have to go. I need a refund." They said they were completing his order so he ended up waiting a couple more minutes. I was equally frustrated with the inability of four people to accomplish so little in 20 minutes. I was there long enough to read a story they have on the wall about how people will wait "20 minutes for the real thing". So it actually seems to be a source of pride that they can take 20 minutes to fill your order, because you will like the food that much. I've been to many of the best loved CT hot dog places. I have had my hot dog within 5 minutes from some of those paces. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for a single hot dog, even when there were twice as many customers. Even when the other hot dog places have many more topping options and they actually make some of those toppings in house. 20 minutes for a single hot dog with simple toppings is unacceptable during non-busy periods, and should be embarrassing, rather than an apparent source of pride. I could get over 20 minutes for a best in CT level hot dog. My hot dog was not near that level. Rawley's uses a standard bun length Hummel hot dog. Deep frying the dog is supposed to make it snappy. My dog was not snappy. My teeth pierced the dog, with very little resistance. I'm not a Hummel guy, but the flavor was fine. The hot relish was pretty good. It did not pop relative to the topping options of my favorite CT hot dog shops. The butter-grilled bun is a highlight, however. It's probably one of the best hot dog buns in CT. I don't live near Fairfield. I can't see returning to Rawley's. Especially, given that one of the best CT hot dog spots is also in Fairfield, and another is up the road a bit in Milford. 3 Stars for the whole experience. 3.75 Stars for the hot dog. read more
My first time visiting this local staple in Fairfield, CT. We ordered a hot dog with ketchup, a grilled chicken breast sandwich and onion rings. My favorite item were the onion rings. They were fresh, crispy and just delicious. My only complaint is they brought no type of dipping sauce with it. The chicken breast sandwich was fresh but basic. The hot dog apparently is a Hummel hot dog. I enjoyed they toasted the bun so it was warm and toasty. The location is off a main road and has parking. There are a few seats if you choose to dine in. I found the hot dog curtains adorable. Service was quick. They turned over the few tables quickly. Prices were reasonable. I'd visit again. read more
2 years ago
Nothing has changed inside except for the curtains which I loved The chili for the hot dogs not as good as I remembered. Tastes like a not so good version of Hormel's. The fries were as good as could be. read more
1 year ago
A solid dog at a very popular locale #3 on our hot dog trek, and we came all the way to Rawleys to try a hot dog that's raved about by many. The place is small, not a lot of places to sit and not a lot of room to order, wall has a ton of names scawled against the walls, but everything was clean. The staff were extremely friendly, constantly cleaning and asking if we were all set. dogs came out quickly, and we managed to get a seat, get pics, and have a couple dogs. The Hot Chihuahua, not very hot. it has a little spice, but not a ton. The onions were appreciated though. The chili cheese dog, the chili is a thick bean chili. Was a little spicy, glad to get a little heat. Hot dog is a solid snap natural casing dog with a slice of fake cheese. Overall, a solid hot dog. The fake cheese slice and the lack of heat on the spicy hot dog detracted from the meal. It's a good dog overall though, so it's worth a try. read more
6 months ago
First time here for a nice juicy cheese burger and fries. The place was plenty busy. I hadn't realized there were places inside to eat-which is great. Retro feel from a time when everyone traveled down this road and this was thee spot in Fairfield to grab a bite ( a lovely Fairfield resident explained this all to me while food was being prepared). The burger was moist and tasty, the O Rings were golden and crunchy. All hit the spot. Eay to find when driving by, parking available. Quick service made to order. Great place still to grab a bite. read more
There could not be a more perfect spot for lunch on a road trip! My mom and I wanted to stop for lunch on our way to Cape Cod. We were looking for something quick, but better than McDonald's. Rawley's looked so cute online and was right off of 95. We are so happy we stopped here! The vibe is super cute and retro. They have seating inside. You order at the counter and then they bring their food to you. I have chicken fingers and fries and my mom had one of their signature hot dogs. We couldn't have loved our meal more! Everything was made fresh. I'm pretty sure even the ranch that I got to dip my chicken in was homemade. The fries were perfectly salted and definitely hand cut. Even though this is an older building, the entire place was spotless! I saw the owner constantly cleaning tables after people left. The bathroom was definitely newly renovated as well. Overall, it's the perfect spot for awesome food! I will definitely be back if I'm ever in the area. read more
3 years ago
Grabbed some take out from here while in the area visiting and it was good. Yummy burgers. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Fairfield, Connecticut is my hometown. Haven't lived there since the 80's, A LOT has changed around town since then, but Rawleys Drive-In is one of the few things that has stood the test of time. If anything, our experience today was better than my memories from long ago, that's something which doesn't happen too often. Stopped in just after Noon for lunch w/ the wife. We ordered a bacon cheeseburger, a Hot Dog w/ "the works", a large cheese fries, and a B & W milkshake. Our food came out after short wait. The B & W milkshake was outstanding, we both loved it, very flavorful. Fries were hand cut, a nice touch. Everything else was fresh & tasty, it all hit the spot. I read several negative Yelp reviews, I would ignore them. I don't understand what they are complaining about, this place is Winner. My wife agrees too. Staff is very friendly also. We are looking forward to our next visit to Rawleys when we are back in the area. read more
I have been enjoying Rawley's since 1985. This hot dog shack has changed hands a few times over those years and I'm glad to see that the most recent ownership has returned to its roots. They have put a fresh coat of paint here and there, installed a new POS system and adequately staffed the joint. Like back in the day, you only need to order three things at Rawley's - hot dogs, fries and a shake. If you like the works or chili & cheese or plain, Rawley's dogs are always hot and fresh. The fries are crisp and flavorful - they could be twice fried - I'm not sure. They taste great. Do yourself a favor and enjoy Rawley's. We do every time. read more
Great local dive. Owner and staff are friendly and attentive. Locally sourced fresh burger meat. Homemade aioli is great for burgers and fries has some heat and smoke in it. Burgers get deliciously messy. Homemade apple hand pies with vanilla ice cream, yum!! Quick food, great guilty pleasure food stop. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
I always find that hot dog stands have a lot of charm, and Rawley's in Fairfield is no exception. They use Hummel hot dogs (my favorite!), and the small dining area is decorated with classic decor and funky hot dog curtains. The hot dogs have a nice snap to them, similar to the cooking style of Blackie's in Cheshire. Their cheese fries and the chili on top of our cheese dog were both delicious. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Celebrating it's 75th year, Rawleys is a Fairfield County staple that serves up a flavor packed selection of all-time American favorites. World famous for their Hummel Hot Dogs, Rawleys offers a massive variety of toppings including a pretty righteous, "Cincinnati-Style" chili packed with flavor. All ingredients are locally sourced and everything on the menu is handmade and cooked to order. The hot dogs are a wonderful option but don't sleep on the burgers and sides. The handpicked beef patties are well seasoned and perfectly cooked. I enjoy mine just dripping with cheese. The fries are hand-cut in house, and the beer battered onion rings are some of the best I've ever had; great onion to breading ratio. Looking to go all out Americana? Accompany your meal with one of the delicious milkshakes. Rawley's Drive-In is open daily and open for dine-in and takeout. Definitely check out this family friendly legend. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Yummy hotdog! The owner was very kind and shared some history about Rawleys. Nice staff and good food. read more
I was really looking forward to having a chili dog from this place but unfortunately it was very underwhelming. The dogs were ok, nothing special, actually I could have gone up the street to another local spot and had a better experience. The staff was a bit rude and it seemed like she was having a bad day. The one endearing thing about the place is that it seemed like one of those old time places where one becomes nostalgic about earlier days but it did not happen. I guess based on the Food channels recommendation which they are quick to point out, I just did not get it. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Not too sure what the big deal was about this place. We got the deluxe dog with everything on it. The condiments were good and the dog was delicious, but the bun was just so-so, a standard dog bun. I guess their main claim to fame is that Martha (Stewart), Meg Ryan, and Paul Newman used to frequent them. The food itself was a-ok but nothing to write home to Yelp about. The black and white milkshake was yummy, not too thick not too thin. The lemonade was just standard pink stuff. Overall, it was a good 'dog joint but certainly not the best dog I had in my life. And certainly not as mind-blowing, life-changing as the discovery of steamed cheeseburgers. Note: They do have little booths in the back where you can sit and eat, and the ladies bathroom wasn't totally disgusting. read more
They got some nice wieners here! Length and girth! Apparently a fav of old Martha Stewart, not like I care but I'm throwing some hot dog gossip out there. Didn't like the sour kraut but the dog and bacon chips are amazing. If you like cheese make sure to add it to your "works dog." read more
4 years ago
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More info about Rawleys Drive-In
1886 Post Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824
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(203) 259-9023
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https://www.rawleysdrivein.com
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