Boston Hot Dog Company: The Best Thing I Ate There

Salem, Massachusetts is, among other things, home to arguably the best place to grab a unique hot dog meal. The Boston Hot Dog Company has been thriving for over 15 years. I recently frequented this legendary establishment, and here I'll detail the best thing I ate.

First, here is what you need to know about this specialty restaurant. Boston Hot Dog Company is located at 60 Washington St, Salem.

On the way home from a sports road trip, I realized we were driving right near this place. An unplanned, spur of the moment, "I'm starving, let's pull over moment," led to a chance encounter with a place I've longing to try.

Now, I am by no means an enthusiast, nor have I consistently reviewed such cuisine items. However, I do have an intrigue for places that specialize in one particular item, and can hit it out of the park. Speaking of which, it's almost baseball season, and hot dogs are synonymous with going to a ball game.

There are 11 different hot dogs on the menu. Though you could request it, there is no hot dog that is served just plain. There is the "classic" section, which is where you will find a corn dog, or the O.G. with relish, onion, and mustard. You can also build your own, where you can add four toppings of choice.

Then, you have the specialties. This is where things get wild and where my interest went as a tourist visiting. Though there is a short rib dog and a perro loco dog (chorizo, pico de gallo, cilantro lime cream, cotija cheese, and avocado), I had to revert back to the carnival dog.

Here's why: it checked all the boxes. The hot dog (or burger, for that reason) simply has to be amazing on its own. That means the hot dog has to be the star of the show, not hidden by the other explosive tastes on top.

It had the basics, but with a kick. This is essentially a chili dog. At Boston Hot Dog Company, this item is topped with house made chili and beer cheese.

Upon receiving my order, I immediately noticed it passed the first test. The presentation looked like an artisan hot dog. Nothing was just slopped together. Dare I even say: it was Instagramable.

The carnival dog required a pile of napkins and I completely welcomed it. It was the perfect balance of tastes. Though the chili certainly tried, the hot dog took center stage, reminding you that it is the foundation of the meal. The beer cheese put it over the top. It was not overbearing. It accented the hot dog, serving as a perfect compliment that was perfectly content serving in its supportive role.

A shared plate of French fries also had its place at our table. Similar to chips with a sandwich, the hot dog was great when we opted to finish the fries (basically the dessert) so that the hot dog was the last flavor enjoyed.

I'm now looking for the chance to go back to Salem, or drive through the area. The Boston Hot Dog company is a food "experience." With all their items made fresh they say, "You've never had a gourmet hot dog quite like this."

My sentiments exactly.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.