It was Saturday, March 7, 2009 and David Lee Roth was playing no small part in my choice of lunch eats. First off, an expression of much love for the ‘hood bidnesses led me to Wunderdaug (henceforth referred to as “the ‘Daug”) at 4511 North High Street in the Beechwold Center. Located just north of the intersection of Henderson and High, the ‘Daug specializes in “super good hot dogs”.

The ‘Daug had already received one or two write ups in the Clintonville/Beechwold community papers. Undeterred, the staff took turns papering the windshields in the parking lot with sheets chock-full o’ coupons. Not content to miss those folks without cars, the staff were also posted up by the door of the restaurant. One can’t help but shed a tear of happiness at the discovery of the American entrepreneurial spirit alive and kicking.

With an excellent array of toppings ranging from coney and chili sauce to tomatoes and onions, the Daug gets the hot dog angle right. They’re tasty, well-made (with no dyes or fillers) and complemented well with heaps o’ toppings. My selection was a jumbo Wunder! dawg:

Wunderdaug

Wunderdaug

However, the shop offers little else. This is really a hot dog stand with a dining room attached. The side orders are few, overpriced and unimpressive: bags of chips (“NOW WITH 30% MORE AIR!”), macaroni and cheese, chili, and beans. It is obviously an up-and-comer, as the ‘Daug doesn’t even provide silverware (at least they didn’t for me, who didn’t order a side dish). With the insane amount of toppings they can lay on, it makes buying chips damn near a necessity.

In short, it’s good for a fast break from your run, power walk or bike ride when Grinders or Jimmy John’s won’t do.

DLR chantin’ in my ear, I drove ‘cross the Big-O River and up to Bethel Road.

You got it: GOIN’ TA GRAETER’S.

I realize everybody’s probably made up their minds about this venerable Ohio establishment and I’ll simply be preachin’ to the converted with this review, but here goes:

Cravin’ a milkshake, I strolled through the front doors at 2555 Bethel Road. Of course, there was a kiddie birthday party going on in the next room. Naturally, they had given each ankle-biter a party horn. Certainly, the play room on the other side was stuffed to the gills with more kid-lets and parents too exhausted to give a damn.

Needless to say, I had an excruciating 10-minute wait. OH JOY, REN!!

My order was a double-chocolate milkshake:

Graeter's Goodness

Graeter's Goodness

Graeter’s never disappoints, even when the chosen flavor perhaps doesn’t make the greatest of shakes. Double-chocolate has quite a punch and would probably makes for a better sundae than shake. Perhaps next time, my shake-y will be made of Buckeye (peanut butter and chocolate) ice cream.

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