Reuben Dog a different breed

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Good Dog's Reuben Dog is an all-beef frank covered with Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese.

What he got

• The place: Good Dog, 34 Frazier Ave.• The order: Reuben Dog, french fries.• The price: $7.92.

For my money, the hot dog is perfectly designed. Like a slice of pizza, it can be simple or fancy, and it can be created to please a picky child or a finicky food snob. Because of its design, you can go with just mustard, or you can pile on toppings. Either way, it all still fits in your hand.

Personally, I don't get too wrapped up in the sausage-making, so to speak. Whether charred over a grill, boiled, soaked in beer or wrapped in a natural casing, I like them all.

Like most foods, the best hog dogs are constructed using fresh ingredients.

I was in Coolidge Park last week and decided a visit to Good Dog on Frazier Avenue was in order. The friendly and helpful guy behind the counter told me the Chicago Dog is the best-selling item among newbies but that the Pimento Cheese Dog is tops among regulars. He also said the Reuben Dog is new.

I've had the Chicago Dog, and it's good, but the Reuben called out to me. I also ordered the kiddie-size french fries, or frites, as they call them. Whatever.

Back at my desk, I opened the brown paper bag to discover a Niedlov's baked bun covered in sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese. Under that was Thousand Island dressing and an all-beef frank.

Not a Reuben by purist standards, but it was pretty darn good. The fries were plentiful, old-school and tasty, meaning they were fresh-cut and deep-fried. I prefer crispy, almost burnt french fries, but these were good. Oily, but good.

All in all, the lunch made me remember how much I like hot dogs.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.