This review is long overdue…read more..
No trip to my hometown is complete without a visit to get a Spanish dog. The "place" has long since changed and I must admit I miss the old place down the road that no longer exists and hasn't for years...lots of memories there. Not to mention my parents and grandparents frequented that old Root Beer Stand. I do like the idea that when this "new" place was built years ago they added inside dining. Even the folks who grumbled and/or cried years ago when the old place was torn down liked the idea of indoor dining! Besides, depending on the mood, it is nice to eat inside, and the old place used to close down in the cold months.
I've watched the prices go up over the years, but I keep coming. The taste has changed over the years as well, but I still keep coming. Well, there was a year in there when I stopped because of the recipe changing too much and that period when the hotdogs themselves were different. I do miss the old recipe, and they are using it, but I think the people who make it have a lot to do with it and employees come and go, so that special something is lost. The root beer is always super cold and delicious and mushrooms are normally pretty good. They have daily specials and I can honestly say that I've had everything on the menu, but the Spanish dog is the "go-to" item in my opinion.
They still come to your car to take your order and bring your food to you if you pull up under the overhang. But it's not like the old days when you automatically got a tray and had to start up your car for them to come get your tray (trash, mugs, etc.)...I miss that. Now you take care of the trash, etc. and you don't get glass mugs unless you sit inside. Root beer tastes better in glass mugs...jus' sayin'. Although it's not as unique as it used to be, it's still a unique place.
Be advised, when you stay in your car to order, they will take your card to run it inside. Be aware of this in advance, but it's safe. Aside from the area to place your order from your car and eat, there is plenty of other parking if you wish to eat inside. Just be sure to not park in the area where folks wish to pull up and eat (the overhang area)...make sense? And if you eat inside, take time to enjoy the décor. The black & white checkered floor sets the stage for the 1950s motif complete with a jukebox and cool bar perfect for enjoying a root beer float. There are restrooms as well.
The staff is staff. Prices are a tad high, but it's worth it. Moreover, they stay open year-round.
No matter how you slice it...a bite of a Spanish dog brings back memories for me...my childhood, my wild teenage days, friends, fond memories of family, and just some really good thoughts and vibes. And that is what keeps me coming back...
Please note: The B-K in Piqua and the one in Troy are no longer affiliated from what I understand. So, please do not confuse this one with the one in Piqua. The food tastes the same, but different (for lack of a better term), and nearly the same menus. Try both and decide which one you like more! But remember, the one in Piqua is open seasonally.