LAZ wrote:At the National Restaurant Show, Vienna not only served neon-green relish, but had no ketchup available at their booth. (There was a trick ketchup squirt bottle that shot out a piece of red string.)

Vienna distributed 1000's of these stickers during the 4 day show.

The Franksville on Harlem is a Franksville in Sign only. The Franksvillies that I remember in Villa Park and on N. State St. were not really "Chicago Style" hot dog places. As I recall all of the condiments were self serve and included Cheese sauce, kraut, sweet pepper rings and various hot peppers.

Da Beef wrote:

tikibars wrote:Whenever I go to Weiner's Circle, I try to be as polite and courteous to the employees as possible.
It really freaks them out - I think it is as shocking to them as it might be for your 90-year old bible-belt gramma to go in there at midnight on a Saturday, hearing all of the fratboys screaming nasty words at the employees, just because they can get away with it.

Ive been going to wieners circle forever. The abusive language is a night time only thing and its a result of the staff yelling at the customers very loud at night when the place was also very loud as a way to get their attention.

ex. lady taking order- "next f*ck in line!!!!, what you want you ugly looking mofo" eventually the drunk crowd started yelling back and tipping more, so its become as much a part of the place as the amazing char grilled dog's done real-deal Chicago style and the best cheese fries in the city.

I have been going in there since 1993, when I lived in the neighborhood.

I agree with what you are saying and I am aware of how the whole thing started.

The thing is, that 'back in the day', the yelling and banter were good natured. As you say, the ladies began yelling at the customers because it was a madhouse in there late at night, and it was the only way for them to be heard. I remember some funny times there 12 or 14 years ago with some hilarious banter back and forth between stressed out hot dog ladies and drunken customers. Also, as you say it is part of the character of the place.

BUT -
What I have noticed lately is that all of the 22-year-old north shore richie rich frat boys go in there now just because it is the only place where they can yell words like c**t and n****r to an African American woman's face, and get away with it. The last few times I was in there late night, what I witnessed was vulgar and pathetic, and not at all the good natured (if somewhat stress-induced repartee) of the old days. I was pretty offended at the venom and abuse that these BMW-driving white boys were dishing out at the women who work at Weiner's Circle. It was no longer funny. It had crossed a line. It was almost scary to see the genuine haughty loathing in these young guy's attitudes. I feel bad for their girlfriends.

tikibars wrote:The last few times I was in there late night, what I witnessed was vulgar and pathetic, and not at all the good natured (if somewhat stress-induced repartee) of the old days.

Yyyyyyyeah... I may have read it wrong, but the only time I was there late at night, I got the distinct feeling that the "big joke" was only shared by those on one side of the counter. There is a seriously creepy dynamic at work over there.

Dmnkly wrote:

tikibars wrote:The last few times I was in there late night, what I witnessed was vulgar and pathetic, and not at all the good natured (if somewhat stress-induced repartee) of the old days.

Yyyyyyyeah... I may have read it wrong, but the only time I was there late at night, I got the distinct feeling that the "big joke" was only shared by those on one side of the counter. There is a seriously creepy dynamic at work over there.

Creepy is really at play late at night on Halloween. I used to go in there regularly, but Halloween was a "special time" for the counter ladies.

You guys are making the scene there sound pretty bizarre.

One other place worth considering, if only for its tourist-friendly location, is Downtown Dogs. The condiments are "right" but hardly redeem the mediocre skinless dog.

Which incidentally was a Gold Coast Dogs location for some years (possibly the first, or maybe the second after the one just north of the river).

Mike G wrote:

One other place worth considering, if only for its tourist-friendly location, is Downtown Dogs. The condiments are "right" but hardly redeem the mediocre skinless dog.

Which incidentally was a Gold Coast Dogs location for some years (possibly the first, or maybe the second after the one just north of the river).

Actually, the first was on Clark Street at Webster(?).

From my archives

Wiener's Circle Counter Girl

Don't give me no shit, you &%$&*(@#$!

stevez wrote:Actually, the first was on Clark Street at Webster(?).

Close. Dickens.

tapler wrote:

stevez wrote:Actually, the first was on Clark Street at Webster(?).

Close. Dickens.

I knew that question mark was there for a reason.

LAZ wrote:

Rene G wrote:
Did anyone notice that Vienna's picture and descriptions don't quite match? What's labeled a pickle spear isn't long and pointed (it looks like a slice to me) and the "neon relish" appears to be normal green relish (maybe my monitor needs adjustment). It seems to me if Vienna wants to define the standard they should be a little more careful about it.

Thanks for your research on behalf of the tourists, Rene G.

In defense of Vienna Beef, I'll point out that the photo/chart above doesn't come from them directly but from a hot dog stand.

The photo itself almost certainly originated with Vienna. Here's a screenshot of an annotated picture taken from their website:

Vienna Beef wrote:

It's quite interesting how the photo has been manipulated to conform with the products marketed by Vienna Beef. The pickle is clearly not a spear but doesn't quite seem to be a chip or plank (other cuts they sell). It almost looks like a hybrid of all three. The relish is ambiguous too. Some chunks appear bright green, others look natural. Vienna sells both types and their annotation is only "green relish." Likewise, the hot dog itself is indeterminate, neither natural casing nor skinless (of course Vienna sells both). It's odd, though, the way it glistens. Looks quite a bit like a griddled New York dog.

stevez wrote:

Mike G wrote:

One other place worth considering, if only for its tourist-friendly location, is Downtown Dogs. The condiments are "right" but hardly redeem the mediocre skinless dog.

Which incidentally was a Gold Coast Dogs location for some years (possibly the first, or maybe the second after the one just north of the river).

Actually, the first was on Clark Street at Webster(?).

The original Gold Coast Dogs opened in January 1985 at 418 N State St, the southwest corner of State & Hubbard. The one at Clark & Dickens, in the old Steak 'n' Egger space, opened a little later. Their third location was 804 N Rush, now the home of Downtown Dogs. This information and more can be found in an article by Jeff Lyon in the Chicago Tribune Magazine of February 11, 1990.

Rene G wrote:The original Gold Coast Dogs opened in January 1985 at 418 N State St, the southwest corner of State & Hubbard. The one at Clark & Dickens, in the old Steak 'n' Egger space, opened a little later. Their third location was 804 N Rush, now the home of Downtown Dogs. This information and more can be found in an article by Jeff Lyon in the Chicago Tribune Magazine of February 11, 1990.

This sounds right to me. I went to the State St. location soon after opening and remember that a little while later they put up a sign about a second location. The food back then was killer.
Man, now I feel really old.

Rene G wrote:It's quite interesting how the photo has been manipulated to conform with the products marketed by Vienna Beef. The pickle is clearly not a spear but doesn't quite seem to be a chip or plank (other cuts they sell). It almost looks like a hybrid of all three.

If I had to wager, I'd bet the reason the pickle "spear" appears as such is for aesthetic/compositional reasons. If you try to put in a whole pickle spear in the photo, it would be tough to arrange it in such a way that it doesn't detract from the main subject of the photo: the sausage.

To be honest, I've seen that sign many times and never realized it wasn't an actual spear until it was pointed out in this thread.

Though I will say that I've seen this oblong pickle chip in a number of places; it's like they sliced the pickle the long way, and then cut each slice into quarters horizontally and on the perpendicular.

IIRC, the Gold Coast Dogs on State was where I first discovered hand-cut fries were available in a fast food restaurant: I was thrilled when one moved up on Howard...except they don't do it anymore. Fortunately, WASC is not far...

In case anybody is interested for home use, the trick-string ketchup bottles are available at a locally-based children's furniture catalog for $1.95: the Land of Nod Pretend Ketchup. They have several locations around town if you don't want to pay shipping.

Was I distracted while furniture-shopping for Sparky? You bet.

A co-worker says that Portillo's has switched to a vastly inferior dog recently, and I saw a similar comment on another site. Is this true?

I recently took a French cousine to Doug's. We split Doug's version of the standard Chicago hot dog and a specialty dog (andouille), both great.

It also helped that Doug was charming as anything demonstrating a good knowledge of the French language and about the area of Paris where my cousin is from.

PortPkPaul wrote:A co-worker says that Portillo's has switched to a vastly inferior dog recently, and I saw a similar comment on another site. Is this true?

yes, this is true. Although, i would say that its the type of people on the LTH forum that would notice it - not necessarily a tourist.

This is relatively recently, as well. I remember having a conversation with someone on here probably 6 or 8 months back on the topic of Portillos' hot dog change - so it's recent but not yesterday.

If the tourist has had a Portillo's hot dog on a previous visit (and there are tons of tourists at the River North location), why wouldn't they notice a deterioration in quality? Or if a local recommended that they try it and they are unimpressed, why wouldn't a recent change in quality be relevant? And couldn't a net-savvy tourist find LTH? I don't really get your point that only locals would be concerned with a slip in quality.

I was talking about the Portillo's switch with you in another thread. I think I was so excited that they had switched to a thinner dog that it blinded me to the fact that the flavor was a little bland. Also, in subsequent trips, I have found their dogs lacking in snap(to the point of being rubbery) when compared to similar size dogs with natural casings.

PortPkPaul wrote:If the tourist has had a Portillo's hot dog on a previous visit (and there are tons of tourists at the River North location), why wouldn't they notice a deterioration in quality? Or if a local recommended that they try it and they are unimpressed, why wouldn't a recent change in quality be relevant? And couldn't a net-savvy tourist find LTH? I don't really get your point that only locals would be concerned with a slip in quality.

based off of my travels throughout this country - and it's been a good amount - Chicago has the highest standards for hot dogs as a collective population of people - at least from my observation.

So, even if there is a slip in quality at portillo's - it's not really that big of a slip in comparison to what the majority of people accept as a hot dog.

If you've been to portillo's recently and had a hot dog - the fact that it's still pretty good would make it a lot easier to understand my point.

Take it for what it's worth - i wouldn't dwell on one comment.

EDIT: I also noticed that you said vastly inferior, which would change my overall response. They did change, i wouldn't call it "vastly inferior" by any means. It's just not as good.

Offered without comment.

Skybox, Comiskey/U.S. Cellular Field (8.5.08)

Is this fuel to the fire in the ketchup vs no ketchup debate? Question? Did you eat it?

Whats that red stuff on that hot dog? I'm from Chicago, and cant recognize what that is.

iblock9 wrote:Is this fuel to the fire in the ketchup vs no ketchup debate? Question? Did you eat it?

No fuel to the fire, simply an observation in picture form.

I will note the first hot dog with mustard, relish and onion is mine. Second hot dog with ketchup and mustard belongs to another guest in the skybox.

G Wiv wrote:

iblock9 wrote:Is this fuel to the fire in the ketchup vs no ketchup debate? Question? Did you eat it?

No fuel to the fire, simply an observation in picture form.

I will note the first hot dog with mustard, relish and onion is mine. Second hot dog with ketchup and mustard belongs to another guest in the skybox.

he must have been a Tigers fan .

I also note no poppy seeds on the bun, plain green relish and a skinless dog. Shame on the Levy org.

Offered without comment

Jimmy's Red Hots (8.8.08)



Jimmy's Red Hots
4000 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
773-384-9513

not Jimmy's

For the record - Jimmy's is one of the places that i take most everyone that I know from out of town if they want a dog. Man, they really are a great, classic chicago hot dog stand.

You get a great dog for under $2, wonderful fries, a bootleg DVD, and it's all packaged nice and neat for you in a Burger King bag. You can't really beat that.