No. One of the better hot dog joints in the state, but we only had a day and some of the stops were pretty far apart.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (CCinNJ)
I know it's also a big pain to find parking anywhere near Boulevard Drinks.
I love Boulevard Drinks. That smell when walking near the vicinity screams a great hot dog...to me.
I love Boulevard Drinks. That smell when walking near the vicinity screams a great hot dog...to me.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
When the Star Ledger reviewed 87 hot dog joints in the summer of 2006, our 8 member panel was asked to vote on the top 3 in favorites in 5 different styles. We were also asked to vote for our favorite overall hot dog. Boulevard Drinks finished second (Syd's was first) out of 87 places and more than 100 different hot dogs as many places served more than one kind.
I've gone and had to park in the nearby parking garage. Boulevard Drinks opened in 1937 serving grilled Sabretts that were made nearby in Jersey City on Coles and Hemderson Streets. Very similar in appearance to Papaya King in New York with the neon signs. Although Papaya King opened a few years before Boulevard Drinks, they (Papaya King) didn't start serving hot dogs until after Boulevard Drinks opened. I believe Boulevard Drinks may have been the inspiration for Papaya King serving hot dogs as they started using the same Sabrett natural casing franks and preparing them on a hot griddle.
I've gone and had to park in the nearby parking garage. Boulevard Drinks opened in 1937 serving grilled Sabretts that were made nearby in Jersey City on Coles and Hemderson Streets. Very similar in appearance to Papaya King in New York with the neon signs. Although Papaya King opened a few years before Boulevard Drinks, they (Papaya King) didn't start serving hot dogs until after Boulevard Drinks opened. I believe Boulevard Drinks may have been the inspiration for Papaya King serving hot dogs as they started using the same Sabrett natural casing franks and preparing them on a hot griddle.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (CCinNJ)
Thanks for the info. I guess Papaya King started with just drinks?
I was born...not far...from Boulevard Drinks. It will always be my favorite!
I always try to get a picture of the exterior without getting a picture of behinds. It never works. Someone is always there.
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I was born...not far...from Boulevard Drinks. It will always be my favorite!
I always try to get a picture of the exterior without getting a picture of behinds. It never works. Someone is always there.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
Papaya King started with just drinks and added hot dogs later. It's been a few years since I've been to Boulevard Drinks. This must be a new picture because I never saw that sign. The one I'm familiar with was a neon sign with a letter missing.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (CCinNJ)
I took that in early Oct. I loved the old sign.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (Benzee)
Hello all ,
Is there any on street parking in that area or is it all garage parking for Boulevard Drinks ?
Benzee
Is there any on street parking in that area or is it all garage parking for Boulevard Drinks ?
Benzee
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
There's parking on the street, but it's hard to find a spot since they're usually all taken.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (CCinNJ)
During the week...it's not at all easy to find a spot. Sometimes you can get lucky...but the area is so busy it's hard to plan or wait a second for a spot close...without hearing horns beeping at you.
During the week the closest spots are usually around the side streets along Sip Ave. (headed west towards Rte. 440 by Twin City Supermarket) but that puts the distance at a nice walk...and unmetered parking in the area also means a 2 hour limit without a resident permit.
Parking in any fast food lot (like White Castle) is OUT. The tow trucks patrol and will tow if you park and go anywhere other than White Castle. Even if you are in White Castle you have to pay attention to the lot...to make sure the car is not on the hook.
Boulevard Drinks is very convenient (from NYC) by Path Train. A very quick trip ....and it's located directly across the street from the Journal Square Path Station.
During the week the closest spots are usually around the side streets along Sip Ave. (headed west towards Rte. 440 by Twin City Supermarket) but that puts the distance at a nice walk...and unmetered parking in the area also means a 2 hour limit without a resident permit.
Parking in any fast food lot (like White Castle) is OUT. The tow trucks patrol and will tow if you park and go anywhere other than White Castle. Even if you are in White Castle you have to pay attention to the lot...to make sure the car is not on the hook.
Boulevard Drinks is very convenient (from NYC) by Path Train. A very quick trip ....and it's located directly across the street from the Journal Square Path Station.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (johnlockedema)
Nancy and I drove by Boulevard drinks Xmas Eve, they were hopping at 7 PM! One thing you can do to spread the cost of parking is to take in a movie at the vintage Loew's Theater a few doors down. We did just that when we saw Big Lebowsky earlier this year at Loews. And there's a link for parking for Loews, which would work for Boulevard.
www.loewsjersey.org
www.loewsjersey.org
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (CCinNJ)
Boulevard Drinks & Loew's has to be the BEST hot dog & movie combo...in the world!! Both are spectacular!
http://www.nytimes.com/20...ml?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/20...ml?pagewanted=all&_r=0
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (johnlockedema)
My best hot dog of the year was also my last, yesterday at Local Smoke BBQ in Neptune City, NJ, on Route 35 just above Belmar, NJ. They do a 4/1 Berks all beef dog, cherrywood smoked, then heated in an oven finished on the grill-served in a potato roll that is also crisped on the grill. Highly recommended.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
I concur. Based on the recommendation of John's good friend Damian and another member of Hot Dog Nation, I paid a visit to Local Smoke yesterday. Below is my post from Hot Dog Nation's page:
Pat and I went to Local Smoke in Neptune today. Just read Damian's report and saw the pictures. Thanks Damian and thanks Eric who mentioned Local Smoke here.
I decided to try the jalapeno poppers, burger, and hot dog. Pat had a half rack of ribs. We shared everything. Also had some homemade potato salad, coleslaw, and fries.
First the jalapeno poppers. They were as good as Eric said. Excellent. Bacon wrapped and filled with cream chese and pulled pork, they make a great appetizer. Best jalapeno poppers I've had anywhere. Pat concurred.
The cole slaw and potato salad were very good and the portions were generous. The shoestring fries were also good though we only had a few since there was so much else.
The ribs were nice and meaty. I don't eat ribs often although I do enjoy them. It's hard for me to compare them to anything since I don't have them much. I did like them, but when I come back it will be for other things that I enjoyed more.
The hamburger was a disappointment. Ordered medium, it was way overdone to the point of being dried out. When one of the waitresses asked how everything was, I told her. Dean the owner came over and apologized. Unfortunately he didn't have help as someone was late, and as a result the burger was overcooked. Next one is on him and he promises it will be better. I believe him as Eric said that this was his favorite burger of the year. I'll give it another shot next time.
The hot dog was outstanding as we had hoped, and the main reason I made the trip. It was indeed a 4/1, not a 5/1. It's a skinless all beef Berk's from Pennsylvania. I've had this brand before, but it's been a good 6 years at least. Hot Dog Tommy's in Cape May serves a 5/1 version of this dog on a roller grill. Perhaps my least favorite way of preparing a hot dog. But I remember writing that it was a solid, if unspectacular beef dog. A year or so prior I had a few pounds of the same 5/1 beef frank sent to me by Berks along with some of their jalapeno cheese dogs. I grilled them at home and remember liking them. They are not available in my neck of the woods. I can get them when I travel a little south of where I am.
What makes the dog so good here at Local Smoke is the quality of the frank itself plus the preparation. Dean takes a good dog and makes it great. First it is smoked with 2 different woods. Cherry wood and sugar maple. Then heated in a convection oven and finished off on a grill. The result is a delicious dog with a taste and texture that you wouldn't have without the additional smoking. Beefy and juicy. I wouldn't expect a dog prepared this way to be as juicy. It has a pleasing smoky flavor. But not too smoky. Some dogs have too much of an artificial smoke flavor due to the addition of too much liquid smoke. Not so here. Just a delicious, juicy, smoky dog with a nice texture and spicing. Not a heavy hand with the spicing either. A well balanced flavorful dog that is definitely one of the best I've had. My wife really liked it also. The bun was just the right size for the dog and spent some time on the grill.
Although Local Smoke has won numerous awards for their barbecue, I will be back for their hot dogs. Not only a fantastic dog, but a great value at $3.00 for a 4/1 dog. And I'll give their burger another shot as I believe it will be better than what I had today. Thanks again to Eric and Damian who posted about this restaurant. I don't get out as often as I like and I depend on the posters here to help me find new and interesting places to eat. I encourage everyone to post about their findings. Places that provide unique and quality food deserve to be supported.
Pat and I went to Local Smoke in Neptune today. Just read Damian's report and saw the pictures. Thanks Damian and thanks Eric who mentioned Local Smoke here.
I decided to try the jalapeno poppers, burger, and hot dog. Pat had a half rack of ribs. We shared everything. Also had some homemade potato salad, coleslaw, and fries.
First the jalapeno poppers. They were as good as Eric said. Excellent. Bacon wrapped and filled with cream chese and pulled pork, they make a great appetizer. Best jalapeno poppers I've had anywhere. Pat concurred.
The cole slaw and potato salad were very good and the portions were generous. The shoestring fries were also good though we only had a few since there was so much else.
The ribs were nice and meaty. I don't eat ribs often although I do enjoy them. It's hard for me to compare them to anything since I don't have them much. I did like them, but when I come back it will be for other things that I enjoyed more.
The hamburger was a disappointment. Ordered medium, it was way overdone to the point of being dried out. When one of the waitresses asked how everything was, I told her. Dean the owner came over and apologized. Unfortunately he didn't have help as someone was late, and as a result the burger was overcooked. Next one is on him and he promises it will be better. I believe him as Eric said that this was his favorite burger of the year. I'll give it another shot next time.
The hot dog was outstanding as we had hoped, and the main reason I made the trip. It was indeed a 4/1, not a 5/1. It's a skinless all beef Berk's from Pennsylvania. I've had this brand before, but it's been a good 6 years at least. Hot Dog Tommy's in Cape May serves a 5/1 version of this dog on a roller grill. Perhaps my least favorite way of preparing a hot dog. But I remember writing that it was a solid, if unspectacular beef dog. A year or so prior I had a few pounds of the same 5/1 beef frank sent to me by Berks along with some of their jalapeno cheese dogs. I grilled them at home and remember liking them. They are not available in my neck of the woods. I can get them when I travel a little south of where I am.
What makes the dog so good here at Local Smoke is the quality of the frank itself plus the preparation. Dean takes a good dog and makes it great. First it is smoked with 2 different woods. Cherry wood and sugar maple. Then heated in a convection oven and finished off on a grill. The result is a delicious dog with a taste and texture that you wouldn't have without the additional smoking. Beefy and juicy. I wouldn't expect a dog prepared this way to be as juicy. It has a pleasing smoky flavor. But not too smoky. Some dogs have too much of an artificial smoke flavor due to the addition of too much liquid smoke. Not so here. Just a delicious, juicy, smoky dog with a nice texture and spicing. Not a heavy hand with the spicing either. A well balanced flavorful dog that is definitely one of the best I've had. My wife really liked it also. The bun was just the right size for the dog and spent some time on the grill.
Although Local Smoke has won numerous awards for their barbecue, I will be back for their hot dogs. Not only a fantastic dog, but a great value at $3.00 for a 4/1 dog. And I'll give their burger another shot as I believe it will be better than what I had today. Thanks again to Eric and Damian who posted about this restaurant. I don't get out as often as I like and I depend on the posters here to help me find new and interesting places to eat. I encourage everyone to post about their findings. Places that provide unique and quality food deserve to be supported.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (JERSEYFONT)
THE only place I know of that sells Berks dogs are the ACME supermarket on rt. 28 in Middlesex
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
Yes, and I believe they only sell the beef/pork version. I've seen them in Wildwood also.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (Russ Jackson)
Thought I would post the Rutts Recipe here also:
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Enjoy....Russ
Enjoy....Russ
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (agnesrob)
Nice recipe, I will definitely give it a try. Thanks Russ!
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (Bossa Nova)
I am sad to report that Frankly Burgers and More in Freehold is closed for good. They served natural casing Best dogs (Syds and Dons) prepared in a variety of ways and also made a good Italian hot dog. They never reopened after Sandy caused them to lose all of their inventory.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (John Fox)
I took a trip to Best Provisions to buy some natural casing hot dogs. I was in the area, so on the spur of the moment, I drove over to World's First Italian Hot Dog. This is where the original Jimmy Buff's opened in 1932. It was sold in 1974 and renamed Lou's. Sold by Lou to one of his employees in 2000 when the name was again changed. I was there twice in 2006 and back again today.
Everything is done like it was years ago. They have the tilted steel pan like JB's, Tommy's and other's use. It is visible in the front. I ordered a single since I had eaten breakfast an hour earlier. Very good, and as far as comparing it to other places, I would say it was similar to Jimmy Buffs in West Orange. But better. The dogs (Best) are bigger and the bread is better. I asked Najee, the owner, where the bread is from. He didn' t remember the name of thebakery, but said it was a nearby Portugese bakery. The potatoes were cut in slices; thicker than most, and drier rather than greasier. The peppers were mixed in with the onions. I requested no onions, so rather than pick the peppers out of the onion mix like West Orange Buffs dors, Najee threw in a fresh batch of peppers and kept them to the side. I believe JB's in Kenilworth does the same.
I would put World's first up there with the better IHD's. Certainly the best in Newark. Better than Dickiee Dee's, Paul's, and the other's, though I like Paul's. Better then JB's West Orange, but not JB's Kenilworth. Up there and in the same class as my favorites; namely JB''s Kenilworth, Tommy' s, and Big Blues. Marci's, my absolute favorite is currently unavailable, but will be when they reopen soon.
Another thing to consider is the value at World'sFirst. $5.85 for a double. $2.00 less than the going rate. Only Big Blues is comparable. They also offer a single on half a loaf of pizza bread (like a double) with all the ingredients you get with a double.
Today's Star Ledger has a nice article and pictures of Best Provisions. They are celebrating 75 years. I can't find a link to the article to share here. I e-mailed Pete Genovese for one; maybe he will provide one. I recommend getting the Ledger today.
Everything is done like it was years ago. They have the tilted steel pan like JB's, Tommy's and other's use. It is visible in the front. I ordered a single since I had eaten breakfast an hour earlier. Very good, and as far as comparing it to other places, I would say it was similar to Jimmy Buffs in West Orange. But better. The dogs (Best) are bigger and the bread is better. I asked Najee, the owner, where the bread is from. He didn' t remember the name of thebakery, but said it was a nearby Portugese bakery. The potatoes were cut in slices; thicker than most, and drier rather than greasier. The peppers were mixed in with the onions. I requested no onions, so rather than pick the peppers out of the onion mix like West Orange Buffs dors, Najee threw in a fresh batch of peppers and kept them to the side. I believe JB's in Kenilworth does the same.
I would put World's first up there with the better IHD's. Certainly the best in Newark. Better than Dickiee Dee's, Paul's, and the other's, though I like Paul's. Better then JB's West Orange, but not JB's Kenilworth. Up there and in the same class as my favorites; namely JB''s Kenilworth, Tommy' s, and Big Blues. Marci's, my absolute favorite is currently unavailable, but will be when they reopen soon.
Another thing to consider is the value at World'sFirst. $5.85 for a double. $2.00 less than the going rate. Only Big Blues is comparable. They also offer a single on half a loaf of pizza bread (like a double) with all the ingredients you get with a double.
Today's Star Ledger has a nice article and pictures of Best Provisions. They are celebrating 75 years. I can't find a link to the article to share here. I e-mailed Pete Genovese for one; maybe he will provide one. I recommend getting the Ledger today.
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Re:New Jersey Hot Dogs (leethebard)
Enjoyed the Star-Ledger article, John. In the article Best says one big ingredient that makes their product so great is Newark NJ water!! How much, do you think,does the water influence the final hot dog?? I've been wondering since reading the article. Is the Jo-Jo's hot dog on route 37 in Toms River still a Best dog as the artice stated?
I wasn't very impressed with its taste when I went there last fall...strange spicey taste.
Lee
I wasn't very impressed with its taste when I went there last fall...strange spicey taste.
Lee
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