In a dog eat dog world…

Red Hot Lovers lies stubbornly in between a residential landscape

Ann Arbor is often touted to be the New York of the Mid West. And that is entirely believable only if you have never been to New York. The city certainly cannot match the size and the behavioral complexity of NYC but can offer just as much variegated cuisines all located at walk able distance from each other. Imagine the town to be a sea of restaurants and shops interspersed by University of Michigan buildings and it’s I-pod listening, puma-wearing students.

But away from this pizzazz, on a street that is much neglected lies eating joint of infinite possibilities. Infact, situated between two residential buildings this red structure almost looks a defiant rustic local. Reusing to give way to the franchise monsters or the harmonically inclined architects of the city!

The name is mildly misleading. So is love?

The place is called “Red Hot Lovers” which gets its name from the original reddish looking hot dogs, served steaming hot in Chicago. For the uninformed, A ‘Chicago’ style hot dog is unique as it comes with mustard, relish and chopped onions by default. Further if your tongue dares, pickles, tomatoes, hot peppers are also available as standard condiments.

Keeping inline with this Chicago tradition, this place serves more then just “hot dogs”. It elevates the 6 inch marvel to new found levels by encompassing it with an always-fresh-baked bun. The meat itself is free of fillers and additives and is cooked to perfection offering just the right amount of crispiness and juiciness as you bite into the bun. Of course, you can run berserk with the condiments and get a dog with everything on it. And instantly you will make a trip to a land of thousand smells, textures and tastes. In all my visits to this place, the vegetables have never been less than crisp and fresh.

The menu of absolute Hot Doggery

The menu is lead by dogs each one named peculiarly. Start with the original ‘Red Hot’ and then experiment with toppings. I have now managed to try almost everything from the menu and its no surprise that the sausages, chicken sandwiches and burgers that are on offer are just as good. And vegetarians, no need to feel ostracized. For you animal loving folks there are the tofu dog, BBQ tofu soybean patty burgers and cheese sandwiches. The fries, if shared, have been known to cause to cause mini wars.

A splattered wall long forgotten

The décor is non pretentious. That could be read as old and worn down and decorated in early ‘fuck’. The walls have absorbed years of cooking and grilling smells. If you get here at lunch, good luck finding an open table considering the place is no bigger then perhaps an average living room. You can of course overflow onto the red painted benches outside (my favourite) in the summer months.

Some trashy humour, anyone?

There is an ample sense of humor prevalent as you read a sign saying “Please give our dogs a nice warm home” and referring to the belly of a much satisfied individual. “Please help us save our baby red baskets” says another. The wall is littered with Chicago memorabilia, from old yellowed newspaper cuttings to parking signs.

The music is never main stream. Always some rock or jazz that was created by some artists that I have still not accustomed myself to during my commercial music listening years… The cook sports a mean beard and imposing stance. So much so that if this place served alcohol, I would expect Harley Davidson’s thumping outside. Despite this, the cook and servers are always doing their own thing. Taking orders and firing up the grills.

And so it stands a place I highly recommend for an afternoon lazy lunch. Not for the health conscious but only for those who like to fill their minds and stomach in one spicy chew and swallow.