9.5 years later, I returned to the Roast Grill!…read more Nothing much has changed, and nothing really needs to. A little more Hurricanes gear, which I didn't need, but what can you do. 3 dogs and a coke for $14. Prices may not be the same, but such is life. I ordered all three dogs with mustard, onions, and slaw, and one also had the chili. I have to admit a few splashes of Texas Pete hot sauce took them over the top. The dogs themselves are great quality, none of the mystery meats that some of these other Carolina dogs have. And I'm glad they didn't load the chili on. Maybe this is not legal to say in the south, but I'm just not a fan of a chili dog with so much chili that the whole thing falls apart. The toppings should complement the dog, not overwhelm it. OK, I digress... The service was tremendous. I chatted with the owners about various topics for a good half hour and they were incredibly hospitable. They even gave me a couple of Tootsie rolls. Even though I can't do chocolate, I was glad to take them as a token of hospitality.

I visited the Roast Grill in January after years of looking down on the building from my former…read moreGannett Fleming office at One Glenwood and wondering what was inside this little Raleigh institution. The Roast Grill feels less like a restaurant and more like a preserved piece of mid-20th-century Americana hidden in plain sight along West Street. The narrow counter, wood-paneled walls, neon beer signs, Coca-Cola memorabilia, handwritten notices, old photographs, Hurricanes tributes, and decades of accumulated objects create an atmosphere that simply cannot be manufactured today. The place reminded me a little of Chicago's famous Billy Goat Tavern--especially the feeling of discovering something authentic tucked beneath an increasingly overbuilt urban streetscape. I ordered two hot dogs all the way with mustard, onions, chili, and slaw--absolutely NO ketchup, of course--along with a Coke in a glass bottle. The chili is legendary and reportedly takes up to three days to prepare. Whether that is folklore or fact, it certainly gives the hot dogs a flavor unlike almost anywhere else in Raleigh. One of my favorite details was the mounted goat wearing a red hat beneath the neon beer signs. It somehow fits perfectly within the visual layering and quirky personality of the interior. Even the traditions remain intact. At the end of the meal, every customer receives a Tootsie Roll. Places like the Roast Grill are becoming increasingly rare. It is not just a hot dog stand--it is a living piece of Raleigh history. If interested, you can view my post in "The Architecture of..." Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Tu51FPtB/

Outstanding. Love it The service was great. Good food. Great atmosphere I like to go back again.read more

You know I had to try the dogs. I got a Coney, which is chili, mustard, and onion, and a second one…read morewith slaw added on. Both were great. The casings had a real bite to them, and the chili was exactly how I like it, perfect consistency. I grabbed the cheese fries too. My preference leans more toward a saucy cheese than melted on, but they were still a solid option. The place has that old school feel too. Checkered floors, neon signs, vintage car murals, and a real Detroit Coney Island vibe throughout. Worth a stop.

The Cardinal Bar came as a surprising addition to Wake Forest. Generally places do not stay open…read morelate. They offer food OR cocktails, not both. Granted the food offering is hotdogs and chips, but if you know that coming in, it works. I had two chilli dogs and they were very good. Grilled to order dogs and buns. DO NOT, do not, try to order two dogs fixed a different way on one paper slip (you order on a paper slip). :-) Full bar, lots of seating both indoor and outdoor. This is a nice open, less crowded part of downtown Wake Forest. We went early because we're early people, but it sounded like it can get busy at night, according to the bartender, who was fun to talk to. You can opt to get a drink then order from Lil Hombre, which offers tacos and the like. Their drink menu looks great so we will try them next time! There are a few games like claw game and a car racing game, so that's fun.

The Cardinal is my go to whenever I want hot dogs. Nothing fancy, it's a local hot dog joint & bar…read morelocated on West St in Raleigh. You basically mark all the toppings you want on a small form and they get it right to you. I always get two dogs and a beer which is just perfect! They don't use the traditional hot dog bun here which makes it unique and adds a different flavor/texture to the hot dog. No complaints! Always a good spot to go for a hot dog!

I was craving a hotdog after dropping my daughter off at the airport, and we decided to give this…read moreplace a try. The Carolina dog was spot on, and my husband got a spicy sausage dog, which he really enjoyed. But the best part was the conversation!! We sat at the bar (had a really good Long Island Iced Tea) and chatted with the owner and his wife for a lot longer than we had planned. I'm definitely bringing my whole family back to this place!! Something this great just has to be shared!!

Great hotdogs and friendly service! Will definitely return and check out the bar next time.read more

Great taste, but too messy. Loved the flavors, but the toppings kept falling off. Still, one of the…read morebetter hot dogs I've had!

if one is as into seeking great hot dogs as I am, one goes where ever the trail leads - even to the…read morefront of a Lowe's Home Improvements store in Cary, and this trip was definitely worthwhile.. There Jim Rivers has been setting up his steel hot dog stand for nearly 14 years now, and is there almost everyday beginning at 11:30 - he misses some days because he also sets up at the North Carolina State Fair each year. He steams his weiners - Red Hots (neon red Southern weiner)for $1,50, Nathans All Beef for $2.00, Jalapeno (with the pepper already in the weiner) for $2.50, and a Sausage dog, also for $2.50. His toppings(whatever you want at no additional charge) include mustard, ketchup (ugh!), chili, onions, slaw, mayo (double ugh!), cheese, sauerraut, red onion (foo foo), and relish (we get visitors from the far north). The Red Hot is your basic Southern Chili dog with a weiner of questionable parentage, chile, onions and/or slaw, on a nice, soft bun. This is a very good hot dog. The chili is not home made since the All Knowing, All Seeing Wake County government has decided that only brick and mortar restaurants can prepare such items in their duly and regularly inspected kitchens - this apparently is true even if the rating is not particularly good. Jim uses Patterson's Grand Slam All Beef Chili, which is available in 5 pound tubs or #10 cans. This is very good commercially prepared chili, right up there with Matinee brand used by Allen & Son in Chapel Hill. The Nathan's All Beef hot dog with chili, mustard, and Jim's slaw is an outstanding slaw dog - one of the best I've tried, and I've tried more than a few. The quality of the weiner reals comes thru, and is very well showcased by the soft bun, tasty chili, and not too sweet mayo based slaw. On my next visit, I'll try the Jalapeno dog and the Sausage dog instead of the All Beef - well, probably in addition too it. Jim is friendly and personable, the service is quick, the pricing reasonable - there is no seating available, but sitting in an airconditioned auto munching several dogs ain't at all bad.

We were on our way to Costco and were going to grab a quick bite to eat there but saw this on our…read moreway. Our daughter said that Snoopy's is a popular place so my husband and daughter decided to try it. This location is take-out only. Their hot dogs are served with mustard, onions & chili which is how they ordered them. My husband was a little freaked out when he bit into the hot dog because it had a reddish color and he thought it was raw. Lol he looked it up and saw that it was supposed to look like that. They didn't care for the taste and didn't finish their hot dogs. On a good note, the fries were excellent.

On this food road trip, it was about hot dogs and burgers, and perhaps an odd or end along the way…read more After trying the fare a the Hillsborough Street location, we stopped by here to revisit their hot dog. Same setup here - takeout only, small lot, pretty quick service! The dog were was the equal of the other Snoopy's - I recommend.

Plenty of parking Very Friendly people working-…read moreGo in fill out order slip pay at counter or where you order. The place is pretty small- a couple of round tables and a wall that has a counter running down it with about 7 seats. No restroom. I watched the cook make the sandwich while I waited. I took my sandwich to go it came with a pickle. It was cooked well- not as much flavor as I was hoping for.

Food is awesome, love this place and the customer service is amazing every time I go there…read more Definitely will return.

Enjoyable but needs more toppings. The sausage was great, but the hot dog felt a bit plain. Adding…read moremore onions and relish would help.

Olsen's catered a great event at Tarboro Brewing Company tonight. Kind service, delicious hot dog…read morewith a huge variety of toppings, and great prices. Would highly recommend!

Hidden in the corner of an older shopping center, don't allow the location or the confined space…read morefool you. This is one of the most solid burgers you'll find in triangle. Patty is thick, bun solid, and don't sleep on those waffle fries! Service was also solid, burger came out hot, fries hot!

Corbett's tastes like the burger joints I remember from childhood -- juicy burgers, perfectly crisp…read morefries, AND they have an entire case of root beers to choose from! When they ask if you want seasoning on the fries, the answer is absolutely yes. They're great for gluten-free options. They have a completely separate fryer and prep station for people with allergies, which makes a huge difference. I had a colleague with both gluten and dairy allergies, and cross-contamination was always stressful when eating out. Corbett's was one of the few places she genuinely felt safe eating. The restaurant itself has a classic old-school diner feel: order at the counter, grab a fountain drink or a fun bottled soda (there is MUCH more than root beer), and they'll bring your food out to you. There are bottle cap openers mounted on the walls, crates for empties by the trash cans, covered outdoor seating, and prices that are refreshingly affordable. Final thought: the Sodalicious sauce is ridiculously good.

Great service, very friendly. Family-run business, quality and prices excellent. The Latin flair…read moreadds a nice touch. All food is natural ingediants no store-bought flavors. You do need to try it. The hamburgers was jucy and fresh. Well-run business. Atmosphere is fun and clean.

Sean's is a cool one off burger dog chicken joint with a neat 50's vibe. Black and white checkered…read moretile floors and a strip of red neon circles the dining area. They have table service and the lady running the dining room was awesome. I tried the California Burger and the chili dog and bother were fine. Much better than the other fast food options. The locals should consider themselves lucky to have this place.