the chompable pups of puttin' on the dog

Opened at the close of November of 2009 at the Market Place at Oaks, Puttin' On The Dog succeeds in providing frankfurter fanatics with a new savory, bun-packed standard.

In a compact, unpretentious storefront shop, owner David Carpani provides area diners with the "best dressed hot dogs around," and there is no need for him to be modest when promoting his slogan. His all-beef frankfurters split down the middle and dressed up with whatever you can heart desires, far surpasses your casually plopped ketchup-and-mustard picnic classics.

From sauerkraut, bacon, chili, bruschetta and spicy mustard, his decorations for his dogs are endless, and his concocted specialties do not fall short, either. The most popular combination found in this street food shop is the Hot Smokey Dog, which loads a sliced, jumbo beef sausage in a nicely toasted bun that is drizzled with a decent dose of spicy mustard. Fried peppers and onions finish off this beloved staple, and the ambitious bite is born.

Other interesting iconic bites include Carpani's Tixxie Dog, which mashes a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with a gigantic beef hot dog. The Tixxie is finished off with a comforting amount of cheese, while the Mighty Dog may fall short on dairy, but doesn't forget anything from the garden. Relish, chopped onions and tomatoes, pepperoncinis and kosher pickles are loaded atop the all-beef wiener, while yellow mustard and celery salt round out the bun.

Puttin' On The Dog, the new and upbeat paean to the frankfurter in all its variations, is also keen in providing an edible paradise for all those who are not victim to hateful heartburn. The Sloppy Dog, their perfectly juicy chili dog is hefty and delicious, and is also layered with crisp coleslaw and yellow mustard.

However, hot dogs aren't the only handheld meats that trump this counter service spot. Bite-size chicken nuggets and tenders are available for the anti-tubular eaters, and are willingly served with honey mustard, barbecue or ranch dipping sauces. Of course, the perfect companion to any hot dog is served here, too. Their Royal Burger is simply offered with all the necessary condiments like lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, etc. and grilled to perfection. The side order of french fries are top-notch, also, served in small and large sizes and sprinkled with a seasoned salt blend that is ideal for any fried food lover who enjoys a light kick.

Carpani's unapologetically high-cholesterol glory of all-beef sandwiches may additionally be seen as the perfect all-American snack bar because he offers equally as many dessert and ice cream options as he does dinnertime dishes. From gooey brownie sundaes and fudge nut parfaits, to M&M shakes, malts, latte freezers and root beer floats, an option for everyone taste buds is available at this one-stop shop.

Affordable with speedy service, Puttin' On The Dog soars in huge heaps of comfort food that will most definitely, have you barking back for more just after one bite of their dogs' buns.

Puttin' On The Dog, Market Place at Oaks, 180 C. Mill Rd., Oaks, 484-924-8940.


Also published here.

hot diggity dogs at philly hot dog cafe

It was about frickin' time I ate a hot dog.

Soon, the time passed of not eating a bunned wiener would amount to a decade and, honestly there isn't anything I wouldn't eat anymore.

Yet, in the amount of years passed, I promised myself that the first dog I'd chow down on would be worth the wait. My ultimate hot dog shack-of-a-crush has always been Hot Doug's in Chicago. The menu is quirky and phenomenal, including foie gras-topped dogs, aside duck fat-fried frenchies.

But, I'm not in Chicago, I'm in the suburbs of Philadelphia so, I had to uncover the next best thing.

Philly Hot Dog Cafe, first opened last year as a diamond-in-the-rough of a Limerick strip mall, boosts itself at having an overwhelming roster of hot dog combinations. Only some of which are listed on their online menu, the 100% domestic beef dog are loaded with varying fresh ingredients that appear as though "dragged through the garden" with everything from dill pickle spears, coleslaw, roasted reds to celery salt, spicy chili, corned beef and Bleu cheese.

My choice: The Southern Dawg topped with a sweet-and-spicy chili and a homemade coleslaw. The bun, fresh and soft, also allowed for an overall excellent bite.
B's choice: The Chicago Dog, which he selected because it reminded him of the specialty wiener served at Hot Doug's, was amazingly loaded with tomato slices, sport peppers, dill spear, diced onions, relish, mustard and celery salt--all served on a poppy seed bun. In addition to the Chicago, he also selected the simply pleasant Polish Dog, served with spicy mustard and sauerkraut.

With an exciting beef-and-bun experience, hot dogs may not become an everyday thing, yet I will be more willing to bite into another cylinder sometime soon. Also, next visit I am opting for the town-appropriate dog, The Limerick Dog, served dosed with a nuclear hot sauce and Bleu cheese.