Dogtown Hot Dogs, Middletown

Most people can remember eating hot dogs as a kid, but the toppings they recall depend on where they grew up. Natives of the Carolinas might prefer dogs topped with chili and slaw, while New Englanders savor baked beans, onions, and miniature lighthouses atop their franks. At Dogtown Hot Dogs in Middletown, owner Patti Lindstrom aims to give diners a taste of home—wherever that might be—through a menu of regional and international-style hot dogs.

Memphis, Miami, and southern California are just a few of the areas represented on Lindstrom's menu. Flavors from abroad come into play in items such as the British-style Bloke sausage or the German bratwurst with sauerkraut and Heidelberg mustard. The Dogtown Hot Dogs team also prepares black-bean burgers and veggie dogs to order and serves up slushies, shakes, and sundaes.