Fat Frank's

I wanted to report on the awesome experience I had Fat Frank's in Bellows Falls last weekend. If you're going toward the south of the state on 89, it is really worth a short detour. Just head to downtown Bellows Falls. When you see the sign with a mouth opening wide to accommodate a giant hot dog, you're there.

Inside, the choices are overwhelming. I went for a lamb sausage topped with caramelized onions, a knockwurst with tangy and slightly crispy sauerkraut, and a "Fat Frank" topped with chili spicy enough to make even me blush, thick-cut, black pepper-crusted bacon and cheese. I wanted to try a freshly-ground burger but had no room.

The whole place, like the town of Bellows Falls as a whole has a delightful eclecticism. There are eight different kinds of mustards on each table, including a ginger one. There are also sheets to study as you wait that detail hot dog manners. I didn't know, for example, that using a cloth napkin would be considered "gauche." The menu lists the supplier of each product served. Most everything but the sausages themselves are made in-house. I can't wait to go back.