Westminster Hot Dog

As mentioned in various "Openings, Closings..." threads, Westminster Hot Dog opened up in the Loop earlier this year. I stopped in for lunch today with my co-workers at about 11:20am, and it's a good thing I went a bit early because the place was packed by the time I left. This spot holds itself out as having "the finest handmade, gourmet sausages possible." A sign inside says that all sausages are made by hand and where they're out, they're out for the day.

We ordered a wild-boar sausage dressed with boar-meat sauce and ricotta (the "The Italian Boar"); a Ruben-style corned-beef sausage with Swiss, kraut, and thousand island ("The Ruben"); a pork sausage with bacon, jalapeno, chipotle mayo, and queso fresco (" The Bacon Jalapeno Bomb"); a spicy-pork sausage with red sauce and green peppers ("The Spicy Italian" dressed as a regular "The Italian," hold the mozz); and a chili-cheese dog,

The sausages themselves were the stars: nice snap, and they all had a ton of flavor and good kick where needed. These guys are doing a real good job with that. The rest of it--rolls, dressings, fries--was average. The kraut, for example, was bland. And the chili was badly in need of some heat. Consensus was that The Jalapeno Bomb was the big winner, and that there are probably better options downtown for a chili dog. The wild-boar was a tasty change of pace, especially in the Loop. I'm going back soon to continue to make my way through the menu. I'm looking forward to a Polish at this joint.


Westminster Hot Dog
11 North Wells
Chicago, IL 60606
312-445-9514
http://www.westminsterhotdog.com

When I saw the title of this topic, I thought of something completely different. Maybe the place can use this as a logo:

hotsauceandbluecheese wrote:The sausages themselves were the stars: nice snap, and they all had a ton of flavor and good kick where needed.

I gave Westminster Hot Dog a try a while ago and I actually thought the "snap" was the biggest thing missing from the sausages. Hopefully they now have that worked out.

I would agree that the fries are pretty much a disaster...the lowest of low grade food service fries.

I was going to give them a few more months to get their act together on the sausages, but it seems I might need to give them another try sooner.

Made a stop by Westminster today. It was pretty busy shortly after 12, but definitely not crowded or rushed. They had 16 different sausages available. We didn't order fries and as far as I could tell no one else did either. This is a sausage only joint, and that's fine by me.

Everyone in my group felt the same way. The pork based sausages were nice and juicy with good snap. I had the spicy garlic special which is a pork sausage topped with cheese and red pepper aioli. The sausage was well seasoned and the toppings provided a nice contrast with all the ingredients properly in balance. This was as good as most of the sausages I've enjoyed at Hot Doug's.

On the other hand, we all felt like the beef based sausages were a little bland. The sausages were a little under-seasoned and had more of a mealy, dry texture. I had the philly cheese steak sausage. The grilled onions and peppers were kind of greasy and had none of the caramelized or charred flavor that they needed to stand up to the beef. I also couldn't taste any cheese. This was not a particularly well constructed sausage.

Overall I'm happy to have Westminster in the neighborhood. Though they lack the consistency across the menu, I think there are some great sausages to be had. I'll gladly go again though I wouldn't say I'm in a hurry.

Pictured: #9 Great Philly Steak

I've recently discovered this place (it is about two blocks from my office) and have been in twice recently.

Briefly, the first time I had the Elk with an aged cheddar. I thought it was outstanding. Unlike people here, I also liked the fries. Not sure if they have changed or if we just have different tastes.

The second time they were sold out of the elk, so I went a steak with bourson and a wine reduction. That one really did not work as well. The sausage just seemed a bit bland.

I definitely will head back this week. The elk was so good that I really would prefer to have that one, but I do feel compelled to try the rest of the menu.

I hadn't been to this place for a while, but I was in the mood for something different for lunch today so I decided to stop in. I was very happy to find a much improved product. The sausages still have an odd texture that, for me, puts them a notch below Hot Doug's and Franks n Dawgs. Still though, this is a very worthy Loop lunch option.

I had two sausages, the Philly and the Caribbean Jerk. The Philly was good but the jerk was the star and what would really get me to go back. The sausage was topped with a mango habanero salsa which was perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy. It was also sized nicely, with the bun holding on to everything rather than falling apart as I ate it. I skipped the fries because they still look like the food service variety that they've been serving since they opened (although in fairness, they looked like they were cooked better than they used to be).

I was in yesterday and had the apple/sage, which is chicken. I really enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, the elk is no longer on the menu. Apparently they rotate these things.

DML wrote:I was in yesterday and had the apple/sage, which is chicken. I really enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, the elk is no longer on the menu. Apparently they rotate these things.

Yeah, I looked for the elk today based on your last post and I was bummed that they didn't have it. I'm sure it will rotate back in at some point.

First sign of spring and there was a line out the door at Cafecito. I continued walking north on Wells and decided Westminster would provide my lunch today. I had the Southwest, which is a spicy chicken sausage topped with avocado-ranch and queso fresco. The toppings were needed as the sausage was a bit dry. Good flavor though. I didn't get the fries. I imagine I'd go back in a similar circumstance (first choice too crowded.)

I find this place to be thoroughly unimpressive. Terrible elementary school lunchroom 1970s fries.

teatpuller wrote:I find this place to be thoroughly unimpressive. Terrible elementary school lunchroom 1970s fries.

Agreed.

Didn't see this in the Opening/Closing thread.

Closed.

I sign of something like CBT Sandwiches coming soon.

I forget the exact signage, but it was pouring this morning and I wasn't looking around much under the brella.

Will look again soon.

Terrible terrible location next to Your In Alley