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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Crif Dogs

Crif Dogs 
113 Saint Marks Pl., New York, NY 10009
(212) 614-2728
Sun. 12pm-1am; Mon.-Thurs. 12pm-2am; Fri.-Sat. 12pm-4am


Crif Dogs is a tiny place that you could easily walk by and not notice.  You need to head down a couple of steps to the front entrance.  But you need to stop in if you love hotdogs and/or junk food!  Inside the (Crif) doghouse, the space is very limited.  There are a few small tables and benches.  Alongside the wall there's a painting of a cartoon pinup girl straddling a hotdog.  Along the same wall there is a "phonebooth".  I later found out that it was a secret entrance to a bar next door called PDT (Please Don't Tell).  Supposedly, you have to pick up the telephone in the booth and announce a password, then you'll be let in.  Clever.  Anywho, back to Crif Dogs.

The first time I visited this joint I was with my favorite foodies (aka my sis and my bro-in-law).  I got the B.L.T.  It's a bacon wrapped hotdog topped off with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo.  Nothing too surprising - it's a B.L.T. for a reason!  I convinced myself that the lettuce and tomatoes would somehow negate the greasy fried bacon wrapped part of my meal, kind of like a side salad, except in this case it was a top(ping) salad.  It was actually pretty satisfying.  The crispy bacon and juicy hotdog was not as overhelming and heavy as I had expected.  The lettuce and tomatoes added nice light, refreshing texture to the Crif Dog.  I also tried some of their cheese fries and tater tots.  The fries were ordinary waffle fries, but the tater tots were mind-blowing.  The tots literally brought me back to the school lunch days of my childhood where we'd get fakely processed hamburgers and soggy tater tots.  However, these tater tots at Crif Dogs were so much better.  They were incredibly crispy on the outside, but hot and soft inside.  Once I popped a tot, I just couldn't stop!


When I came back here a second time, I opted for something a little richer (who am I kidding - A LOT richer) as in the Chihuahua.  This bad boy was a bacon wrapped hotdog topped with sour cream and avocado.  Now that's a doggone artery clogging food , but a tasty one.   The sour cream and avocado were rich and smooth against the crispy bacon and meat.  However, for my taste, it was a little too rich and heavy.  Alongside, the Chihuahua I ordered a side of cheese tater tots (no brainer), and validating my last visit, once I popped a tot (again), I (still) couldn't stop.  -10/2/09

OVERALL RATING: * * * 
FOOD:  * * *
SERVICE: * * 1/2
AMBIANCE: * * 1/2
VALUE: * * *

PROS:
  • Wide selection of crif dogs
  • Late hours
CONS:
  • Small space
SUGGESTIONS:
  • Go to Crif Dogs during the daytime or weekdays to avoid a long wait
  • Cheese tatertots




3 comments:

  1. $2.50's not bad for a New Yorker. I had one in SF the other night for $4.50...AND it came back out the mouth straight into the toilet later that night. Alcohol and hot dogs just don't mix for me. Either that or I just can't stomach bad beer (PBR is the culprit...which is coincidentally featured in the first image you posted here)

    btw, the entrance to PDT sounds hilarious! Is that the only entrance to the place? Through Crif Dogs?

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  2. I heard of this place before. pretty cool narrative.

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