Using a pillowy bun as a barrier, hot dogs are safely protected from environmental hazards such as open manholes and greasy-handed schoolchildren. Enjoy snugly shielded franks with today's Groupon: for $5, you get $10 worth of specialty hot dogs and homemade root beer at The Edge in Shrewsbury.

Situated in what once was a hoppin' 1940s diner, The Edge cooks up a plate full of Americana with its specialty selection of hot dogs accompanied by house-made relishes. Purebred hot dogs share menu space with their munchable mutt kin, including carnivorous cuts such as the Taco Dog, topped with homemade chili, lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheddar ($2.75). Tongues bite into every apostrophe of the Aloha Dog soaked in pineapple relish and homemade barbecue sauce ($2.25), or tickle taste buds with the saucy selection of the Jalapeño Dog, featuring chili, brown mustard, and jalapeño relish ($2.75). Multistoried, towering bites are demolished by uvula wrecking balls, filling roomy tummies with rubble such as the chili double cheeseburger ($5.25) or the loaded fries, piled high with bacon, chili, and cheese ($5.50). Molten mouths can cool off with a root-beer float ($4), buoying spirits with a homemade root-beer concoction of brown sugar, molasses, and top-secret ingredients.