An East Hartford (and John Larson) Staple

For more than 75 years, Augie and Ray’s has been a mainstay in East Hartford. Generations of Connecticut families have made their way down Main Street to this iconic roadside restaurant, but no one has frequented this humble hot dog joint more than the workers of Pratt and Whitney.

Staff are clearly proud to continue this stand’s tradition of serving good food to the community.

When Augie and Ray opened up this hot dog stand in 1946, they wagered that they’d always have a steady stream of patrons if they set up shop right next door to a place where folks worked long hours building jet engines and other great machines. Unsurprisingly, they were right.

The menu at Augie and Ray’s is expansive, offering everything from fried fish and clams to breakfast sandwiches and egg scrambles (they even have one named for Congressman John Larson, who’s a regular) – but the signature offering has always been the hot dogs. There are lots of different toppings for your ‘dog, the best of which is their specialty chili sauce.

There aren't many better ways to connect with East Hartford than a meal at Augie and Ray's.

This is not your average meat sauce— the Augie and Ray’s chili features a good mix of ground beef and veggies. It’s a recipe passed down from the founders to its current operators, Ray’s great-grandsons, that remains a closely guarded secret to this day. In talking to the staff, it’s clear they love working behind the counter and are proud to help continue this stand’s tradition of serving good food to the community.

My go-to order: chili dogs! This isn't your average meat sauce—it's an Augie and Ray's secret recipe.

If you’re in East Hartford, there’s really no argument, you have to try Augie and Ray’s— the food is good, the atmosphere feels timeless, and there aren’t many better ways to connect with this community. Who knows, you may even see Congressman Larson eating a ‘John Larson’ scramble!

Easily a 10/10.