|
Goolrick's is a family-friendly local landmark--and has decent food.
Hot dogs cook in the machine at Powell's Friendly Market, which is one of at least two local eateries that touts its franks as the 'world's best.'
The Powell's sign beckons hungry drivers on Lafayette Boulevard.
The 'gas station' dogs at places like Wawa (pictured) and 7-Eleven are cheap and offer lots of options.
Downtown's Rec Center has good dogs and a pool-hall atmosphere. |
BY WILL HAMILTON
In Fredericksburg, there are several places to get hot dogs. In fact, two of them claim to be the "world's best."
So the question is, where is the best place to get a hot dog in Fredericksburg? To answer this question, I went to five different business establishments in the area and ordered a hot dog with ketchup and mustard.
THE REC CENTER
The Rec Center, also known as "World's Best," is a bar downtown that has pool tables, burgers and hot dogs. They charge $1.50 for a hot dog, which was the second most expensive hot dog I purchased on my quest.
The hot dog was by no means bad--it had good flavor, and it wasn't dry. I also got my hot dog within a minute of when I ordered, and it was warm and fresh.
The Rec Center slathers their dogs in condiments. There was so much ketchup and mustard on my hot dog, it really took away from the flavor.
However, the atmosphere was fun. It was a bar, so it was a little smoky, but there was plenty of seating, football playing on TV and pool tables. All in all, the Rec Center isn't a bad place to eat a hot dog, but it's not the most family-oriented place.
Located downtown, it's great if you want a place to shoot some pool and see a football game while you eat your hot dog, but it's probably not the best place for smaller kids.
GOOLRICK'S
Another downtown location, Goolrick's, serving customers since 1869, has been selling hot dogs from their corner location at 901 Caroline St., since 1890.
Goolrick's has more of a diner feel to it, and they also serve things like malts, shakes and ice cream sodas at their soda fountain.
Their hot dog tasted great--it was well-heated, and the meat had a lot of strong flavor. They didn't overpower it with condiments, and there were lots of options as to what to put on it. Though the store was pretty filled with customers, the service was a lot faster than I expected.
Goolrick's is a great place to stop in for a hot dog--it was fast, had a family-friendly atmosphere and great customer service. It was the most expensive hot dog I bought, at $3.25. For a hot dog, that is a little steep, but it was a great place to stop and grab a bite.
POWELL'S FRIENDLY MARKET
On my adventure I also stopped at Powell's Friendly Market, a convenience store just off Lafayette Boulevard.
Powell's has a sign advertising that they too have the "world's best" hot dog, so I was really interested to find out if it was better than the Rec Center's hot dog or not.
I had driven by Powell's Friendly Market many times in the past and been tempted to stop in, so I was really excited to get a hot dog there.
When I went in, I was helped quickly, and the service was friendly. The hot dog, however, didn't quite meet my expectations.
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the world's best either. It didn't have a lot of flavor. There were a lot of condiments on this hot dog also. The only good thing was that it cost a mere $1.19, cheaper than the places I had visited so far.
Overall the hot dog was warm, not too expensive, and at Powell's I was helped by a friendly face, but I wasn't that satisfied by the hot dog itself.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from stopping in for a hot dog if you feel so inclined while they drive down Lafayette Boulevard--as I have been so many times in the past--but when you take that first bite, don't expect the world's best, just an average hot dog.
LAFAYETTE 7-ELEVEN
This next stop was one I had to make to form a basis of comparison. I went in with very low expectations to the 7-Eleven on Lafayette Boulevard in downtown Fredericksburg, and found myself surprised.
I have not heard good things about hot dogs from 7-Eleven. In fact, I have heard a few punch lines aimed at them. So it was with mixed curiosity and fear that I bit into the hot dog to find flavor.
It wasn't the best hot dog I've ever had, but it wasn't bad. In fact, it was pretty good. However, there's nowhere to eat inside a 7-Eleven, so if you're looking for somewhere to sit and enjoy a hot dog, the best bet is to walk back to your car.
There is a condiment bar in the store, so you can decide what you want on it and how much, which I really appreciated. It was the least expensive hot dog I bought--only 99 cents.
It's no restaurant, but for a gas-station hot dog, it's pretty good, and definitely left me pleasantly surprised.
WAWA
The last place I stopped was the Wawa on U.S. 1., not far from Powell's Friendly Market.
This, too, is a gas-station hot dog; but I had higher expectations, as Wawa also sells things like breakfast sandwiches and subs that are pretty great.
There was a condiment bar, which, as I said before, I like because it gives the eater the freedom to choose how much of a condiment he wants on his hot dog.
The hot dogs were in a container to keep them warm. I pulled one out, put on some ketchup and mustard, checked out, and returned to my car.
I even ate one only two hours before its expiration date and it was still great. I also like that the store labeled them "All Beef," so that the customers know what they are getting.
It wasn't too expensive either, just $1.29, a great buy for a good hot dog while on a quick gas stop.
THE BEST
What was the best hot dog I had? Well it's hard to decide. It really depends on what you are looking for and expecting. If you are just making a pit stop and want something quick, Wawa has great hot dogs for cheap. It's a gas station, but it's definitely not gas-station food.
If you want to sit down and relax a bit, either the Rec Center or Goolrick's could be a good choice. If you don't mind the smoke and want to shoot some pool or watch a football game, head to the Rec Center. And if you have some small kids, or just want the friendly service and plenty of other sweet options, Goolrick's is a great place to stop in and have a hot dog.
Will Hamilton is a sophomore
