By Shane Cepalia – Staff Reporter

Ever since its opening in 2017, Dogtown has been putting its own spin on American classics such as hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and shakes. The small stand located on New Haven Avenue is attracting dozens of customers at noon everyday for their excellent roster of hot dogs and burgers.

Even though Dogtown is just a shack, it has plenty of outdoor seating in the form of picnic tables, benches, and even logs. The ‘Doghouse” as they call it, is themed to the 1970s skater culture. Black and white walls with a checkered pattern wrapping around the front and the logo painted on either side of the building. The front door is plastered with stickers as well as the bench adjacent to it made completely out of old skateboards, plenty of neon lights are also on the front windows to bring home the aesthetic.

The staff inside are always friendly and very laid back. But they work fast and get the food out as soon as possible. They have very large menus above the counter with all their signature hot dogs, burgers, and shakes, with their prices. They also sell canned soda and bottled water as drinks. The prices were definitely fair, especially for the quality food and fast service offered.

I personally like the Zephyr Dog, a hot dog topped with Chili, American Cheese, Grilled Onions, and Hot Pepper Relish. The hot dog was cooked well and fit the bun perfectly, which was very fresh and stable. The toppings were also fresh and really complemented the taste of the hot dog. They never overpowered the dog and it seems like they were measured out in a way to get the taste to blend perfectly. The chili and the cheese were both nice and hot. Dogtown has a very large array of options, so there’s something for everyone. You can also customize your own hot dog as a “Freestyle Dog”.

The only downside to Dogtown is that they are only open during lunch hours (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) This can make it hard to get there during the weekdays. If they expanded their hours to 6 I could definitely see them getting more business.

For the quality food, great service, cleanliness, aesthetic, and fair prices, Dogtown is a real hidden gem. It has something for everyone and is a shining example of a thriving small business. I would absolutely recommend checking this place out.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars