Friday, May 13, 2011

Charleston HDJ Review - Five Corners Cafe

In a location that formerly housed another HDJ (see review of Neighbormart here), Five Corners Cafe had a leg up on life simply by association Neighbormart had great hot dogs and if not for the intervention of the West Virginia Tax Department would no doubt be still serving them today. While it offends me to believe this I think I know that it is true: when you don't pay your taxes the state is glad to help facilitate change without regard to how good your hot dogs are. Sad.

Especially sad in this case because this change was NOT for the better, at least when it comes to hot dogs.

Spurred by this Daily Mail story about the new restaurant and buoyed by the hope that a staff of five of with 150 years of restaurant experience would have to make good hot dogs, I made my way over the Five Corners. Riding this wave of optimism, I forked over way too much money for 2 hot dogs ($2.39 each) and waited in glorious expectation for them to arrive. I waited, and waited and waited. 25 minutes later my two hot dogs arrived. And the chili had beans in it.

That sound you hear is the sad deflation of my formerly high expectations of getting good hot dogs.

Not only did the chili have beans, the slaw was tasteless. The bun was grilled unnecessarily and the weenie was charred from over grilling.

Perhaps the rest of the menu is better at Five Corners Cafe, but you only get one shot at a WVHotDogs.com. Fail. 1 Weenie. And that's generous.

3 comments:

caroleinfl said...

Never put beans in chili for a hot dog! Where are these people from? I hope you told them.

Frank said...

In response to your version of a true West Virginia hot dog;The pre-requisites mentioned to making a WV dog is truly boring and even a tad disgusting.Steamed buns become cold and sticky all too quickly,and is more than likely to fall apart after one or two bites,whereas an English-style grilled bun will hold all the delectable goodies right where they should be.Second,the chili you described sounds like it should come from a can at a grocery store...loose,sickenly sweet,and no substance.There is a better alternative...Frankie's all beef deli dogs at the 5 corner's cafe! I know,they have beans in their chili,personally I think it's genius in it's western-like approach(If you don't like beans in your hot dog chili,they have the means to top your dog without them...good idea,didn't think about that,huh?)Now,lastly,the time one of your bloggers complained about was a 25 minute wait time...back in May,5 corner's was open for only 2 months and people were flocking to this fledgeling cafe.I'm sure it was packed to the gills the day you had your experience there!Now it's November.I've been there many times and I can attest that 5 corners cafe is a well-oiled machine with a professional staff that can handle all your requests.C'mon,now,give 'em another shot!!!

Frank said...

In response to caroleinfl concerning beans in 5 corners' chili.Personally I think it's genius in it's western-style approach,if you don't like beans in your hot dog chili ask them for chili without beans.They will do so happily.Good idea,no?