A Fan-Favorite Footlong

Glenwood has a dedicated fan base for a reason – the hot dogs are top-notch.

The next stop on the Great Connecticut Hot Dog Tour was Glenwood Drive-In, an old school joint in Hamden serving their famous foot long hot dogs for over 65 years. In 1955, the Stone family opened up a classic drive-in restaurant, and it's been growing a loyal following ever since. One guy stopped me after his lunch to let me know this is "the best hot dog in the state," in no uncertain terms.

Glenwood Drive-In is an old school joint in Hamden serving their famous foot long hot dogs for over 65 years.

The menu offers burgers, sandwiches, and seafood, but I obviously opted for the famous foot long – my first foot long of the Tour! I got a nacho chili cheese dog on a toasted bun. If you've been following along, you'll know I am particular about my chili: I generally like the no-beans hot dog chili, but this one wasn't too heavy on the beans and it was delicious. You also can’t go wrong with a side of their crinkle cut fries.

I obviously opted for the famous foot long – my first foot long of the Tour!

Glenwood has a dedicated fan base for a reason – the hot dogs are top-notch. Be sure to stop by the next time you’re driving down Whitney Ave in Hamden. 10/10

Can't Take the Heat? Try a Cheese Dog Instead

At Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport, you'll see charm and history all around you when you sit down in a booth.

Bridgeport's Merritt Canteen was featured on the Food Network a few years ago, but this place has had a serious local following going to back to its days as an old-fashioned drive-in. Today it looks more like your typical counter service restaurant, but it’s still got a lot of charm.

The menu here is split in two: you have your seafood menu and you have your more classic grill fare. The fried fish and chowder was hard to resist, but since it’s a hot dog tour, I’m sticking with the standard.

Here, the chili dog is so hot it comes with a warning.

Chili dogs are my favorite – it’s hard to go wrong – but here at Merritt Canteen, the chili dog is notoriously spicy. It’s so hot, they have a sign with a warning that reads, “EXTREMELY HOT! No Refunds!” And so some less adventurous chili dog lovers (like me) are forced to adapt. So I went with a cheese dog.

The buns here at Merritt Canteen are toasted on the inside, leaving the outside soft and cool while the inside is crisp and buttery. I added some cheddar and broccoli bites, which were good.

As you can see, they grill these buns a little differently, leaving a soft outside while the inside is perfectly crisp.

This Bridgeport institution has been serving the community for more than 80 years and it’s easy to see why. Great vibes and a great hot dog for our 4th stop on the tour. Have to imagine the spice level is 12/10, so that’s what we’ll give Merritt Canteen— make sure you check it out!

Off the Beaten Path

Leo's is a humble, roadside cart in Willimantic, and a rising star in the Connecticut hot dog game.

While some hot dog spots in Connecticut are institutions with decades of great food under their belts, others are just starting out. Today’s stop was a humble, roadside cart in Willimantic run by two women, Sabrina and Alexandra, who have named their cart “Leo’s” after Alexandra’s late father.

Though neither has previous experience running a restaurant or a food cart, they were determined in the aftermath of the pandemic to take their destiny into their own hands and start a small business. Like me, they love hot dogs.

Though neither has previous experience running a food cart, Sabrina and Alexandra are masters of their current menu.

Having only opened in April, the offerings at Leo’s are limited, but they are masters at their current menu. Like most hot dog joints throughout CT, Leo’s has their own signature hot dog that takes inspiration from the roots and traditions of their founders.

In a nod to Puerto Rican-style hot dogs, their specialty chili cheese dog includes papitas – thin, crispy fried potato sticks – atop and beneath the layers of meat sauce and cheese. The added crunch is a surprising addition and puts a creative twist on a classic.

Papitas provide a thoughtful, authentic twist on a classic— this was an awesome chili dog.

If you get the chance to check out Leo’s make sure you leave time to stop and chat—Alexandra and Sabrina bring awesome energy to great food. With inventive toppings and a thoughtful approach, Leo’s was a top-notch recommendation. It is, without a doubt, a rising star in the Connecticut Hot Dog game. 11/10 - An extra point for the papitas!