Friday, June 29, 2007

Dunbar HDJ Review - Cock of the Walk

Cock of the Walk is a brand new restaurant that specializes primarily in hot wings. It shares space (but thankfully, not breathing air) with a mini-casino and seems to have the same owners since the two businesses co-exist so closely. I noticed that food orders were even delivered through the door that separated the two.

One of the many signs outside told of daily lunch specials and used other words to indicate that wings were not all they served inside, and even though hot dogs weren't explicitly mentioned, I thought the place had the look. I was right. Hot dogs hold a special place on the menu. And not just any hot dogs, "Almost Heaven West Virginia Hot Dogs" is what the menu claimed. Count me in! I was told, fittingly, that "everything" was mustard, chili, slaw and onions.

While I waited on my order I looked around the place at the bright and colorful decor. Cock of the Walk is a very nice place with the configuration of a classic bar and grill but much cleaner and more sophisticated looking. The menu seems to be well though out with a smattering of basic bar and grill specials along with some things you wouldn't expect to find, like roasted corn.

When my hot dog arrived I noticed it was served on a grilled New England Style bun and was beautifully presented with a a nice head of slaw. The slaw was finely chopped and very, very good. It covered chili that was also very, very good and they tasted like they were meant for each other.

Now the thing about a hot dog on a New England Style bun is that it is more voluminous than one made on a basic bun. The bigger bun allows for more toppings and the bun itself has more oomph to it. I don't see how people eat two of these. One sure does it for me.

But when I finished my hot dog at COTW, I confess, I really wanted another one because it was so good. My belly said "no" but my tastebuds cried for more. Belly won.

I've not given a Five Weenie rating to any HDJ that uses a New England Style bun, and I'm not going to start now, but Cock of the Walk gets a strong Four and Half Weenie score.

1 comment:

Christopher Scott Jones said...

New England split-top buns are great, they just ain't West Virginian.