THE HOTT DOGG HOUSE
Next up down the Frankfurter Flume is a spot in Augusta, ME called The Hott Dogg House.
If I had to describe the vibe I got from The Hott Dogg House in one word, it would be whatever the German term for "trying too hard to attract Guy Fieri" is. But I can respect it; everyone and everything behind the counter seemed genuine and I'm not going to be cruel to a place that's putting in good effort.
The man who I assumed was the owner* was loudly exclaiming, "JUST ONE? SURE YOU DON'T WANT TWO?!" When I asked for one wiener. Unfortunately, because I have major gut issues when travelling, as in my body refuses to evacuate its bowels for DAYS, I politely reaffirmed a single hot dog for lunch. I regret not getting two.
The one I ended up ordering though is the Beanie Dogg, continuing the alliteration from their shirts that say "Don't be a meanie, buy a weenie." So I felt a little obligated. But also because, yeah, it has baked beans on it and with only one choice how could I NOT try it? In addition to the beans, the "dogg" is also wrapped in bacon and it's all topped with coleslaw. $3.99.
I'm not expecting to be blown away at that price, and I wasn't. The dog was ok, something skinless and it spent a little time on the flattop. Bacon is bacon. The baked beans were mild in every way, and the coleslaw was the 2 ingredients absolutely necessary for it. The top-sliced bun was regular white bread instead of brioche, and untoasted, which was the most egregious offense in my opinion...
Look, I'm fighting like a fart in latex pants to give this hot dog a better score. I made it sound bad, and maybe it is compared to the other hot dogs I had in Maine, but it wasn't a bad hot dog. I know there's potential for an above average 5 there, it just isn't the Beanie Dogg. So it's getting a 4/7 not mad, just mildly disappointed dogs.
And for that I'm sorry about not getting another one to try.
* Based on the big RAM truck with custom plates and its own parking spot out front, it couldn't have been anyone else.
