Sahadi's Hotties
New Britain, CT

The other day, I was out with my friends from Telecom and we were looking for a place to grab a quick bite before heading up to the Big Dipper for some ice cream. Since it was Friday, Blackie's was closed... so we ended up at Dairy Queen. To make a long story short, the dog was a Hummel but not cooked very well, the chili was barely palatable, the cheese was tasteless, and the dog was overpriced. Had it not been for a very good chocolate milk shake (thanks to their excellent soft-serve) the trip would have been a complete loss. Now there are two reasons I'm relating this unpleasant tale to you. One is that a quality dog (the aforementioned Hummel) does not in and of itself guarantee you success in the weiner world, and two, it serves as a backdrop for a far more PLEASANT hot dog encounter!

A couple of weeks later, Avery and I were in the mood for some lunch, and seeing as it was a VERY sunny day, I suggested dining al fresco at Sahadi's Hotties in New Britain. Now if you're a regular reader, you may have already surmised that being in New Britain means that the dogs are Martin Rosols, and you'd be 100% correct. But that's not all that Sahadi's has going for it. If you've never been there, Sahadi's started off as a hot-dog cart on a vacant lot off of Corbin Avenue. But it proved so popular that its proprietor made the operation more permanent, building a small structure to house his grill and freezers, and keep his customers out of the weather while ordering. It's a combination of these humble beginnings and its current size that makes Sahadi's so popular and successful.

First off, the variety of items is surprising. A recent visit showed a half-dozen breakfast sandwiches, chicken (breast filets or nuggets,) burgers, turkey (in burger form,) pork rib sandwiches, steak sandwiches, fried seafood, and 4 types of sausages (hot dogs, Georgia Red-Hots, Italian sausage, and kielbasa.) Add to that plenty of sides and soda and you've got a menu that could satisfy anyone.

Secondly, the place is CHEAP! The most expensive items are the seafood dinners (Including french fries or onion rings) and those are only 5 bucks. Everything else on the menu is $2.50 or less, with several items priced at two for three bucks. And the dogs are only $1.25 each! With EVERYTHING! I know what you're thinking... it can't be that good. Au contraire, the food compares to even the most highly regarded dogs in the state, the chili is tasty, the Italian sausage tangy, the Red-Hots spicy, and everything else is just plain good. And anyplace where you can get a full meal for $4.00 or less is worth at the very least one return visit.

A word of warning however. My sources tell me that Sahadi's is now the number two choice for lunch in the hearts of Stanley Works employees (behind Capitol Lunch, of course.) What that means is that it gets pretty damn crowded at lunchtime, so get there before twelve. One other quick note: there are no seats indoors. There is a small little table out front to stand at and a few picnic tables outside, but it can get kind of windy, so hang on to your napkins. All in all, Sahadi's is one of the best hot-dog purveyors in the state, and for the money, they can't be beat by anyone. Now if he'd only carry Frozen Cokes...