Just how far would you go for a good hotdog?  No. Not one full of sodium, fillers, and bi products, but a real hotdog?  An all meat hotdog, a hotdog that doesn’t need smothered with chili or sauerkraut or cheese sauce just to make it taste good.  No. Not one that’s been in boiling water forever and or one that’s been on a roller at the gas station since, well no one knows how long. 

If you are looking to find the one true place for the perfect hotdog, a veritable hot dog lovers paradise, then read on.   

There are a lot of restaurants in Kansas City that have hot dogs on their menu and it’s usually part of a kid’s meal and the grownups pay little attention to the taste or the quality.  Well, Overland Park is home to the only place in Kansas City where hot dogs are all they serve.  The New York Dawg Pound in northern OP is a restaurant with an attitude.  The owner, Sal Frustaci is a real New Yorker.  He knows the restaurant business and knows how to please his customers.  He also knows about selling a quality product. 

On a recent visit during the lunch hour, the line was almost out the door and stayed that way for an hour.  The service is fast but every order is tailored specifically to the customer.  When I got to the counter with a polish sausage with nothing on it, Sal insisted that he put a helping of their special hot mustard on it.  I’m thinking to myself that I shouldn’t argue with Sal.  He promised that it would make all the difference, and it did.  Ask Sal about where he buys his hot dogs or sausages or brats and he will tell you where he gets them and the top quality of each product.  

You can load your dog up with everything from chili to bacon to guacamole to peanut butter (erg!) but it’s a shame to smother the taste of the meat.  However, I’m sure that one of the reasons that the Dawg Pound is so successful is that you really can have it just the way you like it.  The menu mentions that they reluctantly have ketchup on the counter but only if you “really gotta have it!”  They have all the typical sides and I know that the onion straws are popular, but you must order the sweet potato waffle fries.  Oh yeah!

Sal also takes his restaurant on the road.  Ever been to New York and had a dawg from a street vendor?  Well, Sal’s got the cart and it’s available for groups from 30 to 3,000.  Really!  On a cold December day Sal brought his cart to our office building and set up outside the door.  Whoa!  What a treat to have a taste of NYC at our very office.  You can tell that Sal loves what he does and getting out to sporting events or company or church outings with his cart must remind him of the old days back east. 

The New York Dawg Pound is quickly becoming a part of the local flavor and is a must if you’re a visitor or a resident.  But a warning in advance, their menu is extensive and once you’ve tried one, you’ll want to try them all!

~Brad