New York: Crif Dogs (February 2017)

My spouse and I stopped at Crif Dogs for a late-day snack on a Sunday afternoon in mid-February 2017. Crif Dogs is open daily from 12:00 noon until 2:00 am (4:00 am on weekends). A second location of Crif Dogs in Brooklyn offers even more extended hours with a 10:00 am opening daily. 

Crif Dogs is located on the Lower East Side/East Village in the basement of a row home on St Mark’s Place. You must descend a few concrete steps to access the shop, so it is not handicap-accessible. Although a few steps below street level, the restaurant space features a glass-front door and window that let in light, although the overall effect is tiny and cramped. The interior is purely functional; you order your dogs at the counter, and staff delivers it to you as you wait at small tables (some of which are actually vintage video game unit tables), or at a counter with stools alongside one wall. The famous PDT phone booth is located on the same wall as the barstools, and you’ll periodically hear Crif Dogs staff call out to perplexed customers who try to access PDT during non-operating hours.

Two childhood friends from New Jersey started Crif Dogs in October 2001. Prior to opening their shop, the duo spent two years researching and sampling hot dogs from locations near and far. The restaurant’s name originated because one friend (Brian) mispronounced the other friend’s name (Chris) because he spoke with food in his mouth.

Not surprisingly, Crif Dogs offers many variations of hot dogs. A “Crif Dog” is made of beef and pork that is smoked and then deep fried in oil, producing a shiny flavorful dog. A “New Yorker” is a grilled all-beef dog. You can order unique spins on the classic hot dog, such as cheesesteak, BLT, teriyaki pineapple, bacon egg and cheese, and bacon peanut butter potato chips and pickles. Vegetarian options are also available, as well as burgers, fries, tater tots, coleslaw, milkshakes, floats, and beer. The restaurant also offers delivery service.

We waited for our food for at least 20 minutes after we placed our order, along with what seemed like the entire restaurant. Perhaps we all arrived and ordered within moments of each other? Our dogs were tasty, but not worth the wait in the hot overcrowded space.