Get More Than a 5 Cent Hot Dog at The All-New Nathan's Famous!
Written: Jun 26 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Juicy Hot Dogs, great Value Meals, freshly-squeezed Lemonade, crinkle-cut French Fries, inexpensive prices/coupons
Cons: Noisy, lack of any décor, food lines, fatty foods, crowded at meal times
The Bottom Line: Stop in at any Nathan's Famous and enjoy the world's famous Hot Dog and French Fries. Order freshly squeezed lemonade and you've got a terrific meal for little cost.
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| glomarrone's Full Review: Nathan's Famous |
Recently I noticed smaller Nathan's Famous Restaurants springing up everywhere. I have seen new units opening at numerous airport locations, hotels, colleges, sports stadiums, convention centers and department stores. They carry the core product line. When I visit supermarket chains, convenience stores and even the wholesale clubs like Sam's Costco and BJ's, I find Nathan's products, as well. What's going on, I wondered? So, I decided to head over to my local large Nathan's Famous Restaurant to see what's new there. I hadn't been there to eat for a few years even though it's within walking distance of my house. Was I surprised to see all the changes! I wonder why I waited so long? I've been a regular visitor ever since then.
Background
As everyone knows, the birthplace of Nathan's Famous is Coney Island. The chain began back in 1916 as a small hot dog stand. The company has been in business now for almost 85 years. Since the fast food industry has saturated the market, Nathan's had to come up with a new growth strategy to gain a stronger foothold. What they did was diversify their product offerings by acquiring rights or entering into alliances with other well-known food product brands like Pizza Hut Pizza, TCBY ice cream, Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Miami Subs and Kenny Roger's Roasters. I knew that they had acquired the last two companies last year, but I was surprised to see how quickly Nathan's assimilated the famous brand products into their product line. Acquiring Miami Subs provided them with co-branding rights to the Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips brand held by that company.
The Nathan's Famous, Inc has now achieved a presence in 42 states, the District of Columbia and 14 foreign counties. There are 27 Company owned units and 401 franchised or licensed units. Their products are sold at over 1,200 other points of distribution places. The company has seen significant growth in the last few years. A new Restaurant just opened on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. Three new ones opened in Egypt. Two Kosher restaurants opened recently, one in Los Angeles and one in Flatbush (Brooklyn, NY.)
My Neighborhood Restaurant
My local Nathan's Famous has been on Central Ave in Yonkers for over 25 years. It is a large fast food place on the corner of a busy intersection on a main thoroughfare in the large suburban city of Yonkers, NY. You often see school buses, 18-wheelers and touring buses camped behind the restaurant. It has a large rear parking lot to accommodate these large vehicles plus automobiles. The restaurant gets lots of walk-in traffic, as well, from a garden apartment complex across the street. It is a very busy location during the day because of its location in a large commercial area. You can even make reservations at Nathan's for day bus trips to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City on Adventure Tours. They are practically free and fun.
You stand on lines here to order your food. Carrying your tray, you pick up condiments, including all the sauerkraut and onions you can pile on, from a separate center island along with other usual necessities like straws, napkins, salt and pepper and tiny paper cups. Up until recently, Nathan's Famous had mainly a busy lunchtime crowd serving a core menu of 100% beef hot dogs, freshly made crinkle cut French fries (the best), hamburgers and chicken & deli sandwiches. It still serves these items.
Now, however its expanded menu includes seafood offerings under the Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips brand label with the addition of Pizza Hut Pizzas and TCYB ice cream treats. I went over to eat at dinner time and lunchtime on several occasions recently and it was always busy with patrons. Arthur Treacher's Restaurants serve mainly dinner time fare and acquiring rights to this well-known brand was an ingenious move on Nathan's part. It brought in patrons wanting seafood and dinner. The same goes with expanding the menu to pizza choices and ice cream.
There is also a relatively new Drive-Through division. An extensive menu is listed on a lighted sign in large letters at eye level as you drive over to the service. It is very popular with customers. I watched a steady stream of drivers pull up and place orders. The service was prompt and experienced no delays.
Décor
Frankly, there is little decor here. The outside is plain looking with advertising sprawled over the windows. The dark brown window frames are unadorned and. the entrances lack any appeal. Large containers of garbage are stored out back away from the building. Although the area is fenced in and swept regularly, the stench walking by it is terrible on hot summer days. It is not the ambiance you come here for but the great food.
Inside everything is build for ease of maintenance. The floors are constructed of nice new wooden -looking squares. Beneath the counters are ceramic tiles. Many of the comfortable upholstered swivel red chairs are off the floor and attached to tables for ease in mopping. The fixed hunter green Formica-topped tables are easy to swipe with a cloth. Large comfortable upholstered booths line the many large picture windows. The view, however, is of busy street traffic and a strip mall. Still, the place is clean and well lit. Neon brand name product signs decorate the place inside and outside. Two large beautiful stained glass mirrors grace an inside area by the entrance and relieve the stark interior. The rest rooms are properly maintained. Near the rest rooms are several working public phones.
The condiment section is constantly being refreshed and cleaned. You are expected to empty the contents of your trays in the conveniently located trash bins. If you go at an off peak time, make sure the sauerkraut and onions are hot. Employees make the rounds of cleaning tables, chairs and floors on a constant basis. It is one big open space for seating with some movable furniture to accommodate groups. Because of the large open space, it gets very noisy at meal times.
One separate section is a large indoor playground for toddlers called the Frankster's Playport. It is opened from 9am-9pm every day and until 10pm on Saturdays. I wish I was a kid again, I love this area! The next time my little grandson comes to visit, I'll take him here. He'll love the colorful equipment. An adjoining section contains plain benches and long tables where parents can eat while supervising their children. A large colorful jungle-theme mural covers the wall. There are large picture windows that face busy Central Ave. This restaurant is a great place for children's party. Pick up a brochure describing the options at the counter.
Another attraction at Nathan's Famous is the large Smiles Entertainment Center attached to the restaurant. Although it is extremely noisy here, kids and adults love the large variety of new arcade games. My favorite is Sega's Strike Fighter. Games cost .50, .75 or $1 to play. Better bring your wallet; the costs run up after awhile. Racing pennants and other colored pennants decorate the ceiling. Employees roam the area to prevent problems and to keep an eye on things. Coin machines provide change. This is an especially popular spot in the evenings and on weekends. Even teenagers and older students frequent the center late at night. It brings lots of business to the restaurant. The noise from the entertainment center does not permeate the restaurant. There is inside access between the center and restaurant.
Food
You will find all the typical fast food items at Nathan's. Value Meals are a good bargain here. Each includes regular fries and a medium drink. You have nine different ones to chose from costing about $4.39-$5.99. The #3 Char-grilled Chicken Sandwich Value Meal is especially good. My husband loves the #8 Philly Cheese Steak for $5.99
Hot Dogs are the main attraction here. Your tray is usually lined with a paper mat that now has a coupon for a second Hot Dog for 5 cents. The local Penny Saver Shopper's Magazine also has great coupons for Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs and also other menu items. As you bite into a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog, you can taste the juiciness of it. One costs $1.99. They are made from the same 85-year-old original recipe of 100% beef with added spices. Cheese dogs and Chilidogs (mild) are $2.39/$2.49. A Chili Cheese Hot Dog is $2.79. Their famous crinkle cut French fries are $1.69 (small) and $2.19 (large.) They are a must if you enjoy fries. Hot dog nuggets are deep fried in corn oil and served with either barbecue or sweet and sour sauce (6,9, 15 count sizes.) Actually, I prefer the Natural Casing Nathan's Hot Dogs that are not served here but are available at Pathmark Supermarkets. I buy them all the time and serve them at BBQs. They are extra crispy on the outside but they are not Kosher.
Other food items at Nathan's are Chicken Nuggets, which are small battered pieces of dark and white meat, deep-fried and served with the same above sauces and in the same counts. My husband always orders Onion Rings ($1.99 or, .99 with a Value Meal) or Potato Knish ($1.49) with his meals.
The burgers are charbroiled and of high quality ¼ LB chopped steak. They taste better than what you buy at McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King, I think. They are all served on a Kaiser roll topped with sesame seeds. Choose from five varieties. They come with lettuce, ketchup, pickle chips and onions. Cheeseburgers ($2.59) come with at least 1 slice of American Cheese as well. Buy a platter with chips and fries for $4.49 or a basket for $4.99. Additional patties, numbers of slices of cheese and bacon make up the differences in the varieties of meals and cost. If you prefer Mayo, request it.
If chicken, burgers and hot dogs are not for you, order one of their Fish Fillet (Cod) sandwiches. The fillets are lightly breaded and fried in corn oil and served on a toasted roll with tartar sauce. Add American Cheese at additional cost. I haven't tried these yet, but lots of patrons order them. I love the Shrimp Basket. There are 36 Shrimp with triple chips and Hush Puppies for $11.99. There is also a Tuna Melt sandwich for $5.49.
Since a full service Pizza Hut is only a few blocks away, I never order the Pizzas here. I see lots of kids and adults ordering the several varieties of pies so they are probably taste like the ones served at Pizza Hut. The employee behind the counter said the Meat Lover's Pizza was very popular. Personally, I prefer my neighborhood pizza store to Pizza Hut Pizza but I know lots of people love Pizza Hut
If you like salads they have them here also. Last night there was a manager's special of $1 off any Chicken or Turkey Caesar Salad (regularly $5.49 - Caesar Salad is $4.29.) Pasta Salad is $1.99. For $2.99 chose Potato, Seafood or Cole Slaw to add to your meal. Soups are also available. Yesterday, the Soup of the Day was Clam Chowder ($1.49) and it smelled delicious. But, alas, it was too hot outside to make me want to order it.
I, however, visit Nathan's for their great deli sandwiches (and fries of course.) You get a very stacked sandwich for $6.99. I particularly like their lean Pastrami and Corned Beef (Brisket is also available.) Purchase their meats by weight to take home. Another favorite of mine is the Reuben for $7.49. Their Pastrami Supreme with Cole Slaw and American Cheese is $7.49 but I prefer my Pastrami without cheese.
Nathan's Famous carries Coca-Cola beverages ($1.37-$1.69.) The chain has been carrying Coca-Cola products for 85 years. Coffee/Decaf, Teas, Hot Chocolate, Milk, OJ and bottled water are also available. We come here, though, for the freshly squeezed Lemonade that is delicious.
If you still have room for dessert stop over at the TCBY counter. Get delicious ice cream in a dish, cup or cone with one or two scoops ($1.79-$2.89.) Frozen Yogurt or various ice cream flavors are available. Non Fat/Non Dairy varieties are equally tasty. White Chocolate Mousse, Ripe Strawberry Sorbet and Chocolate and Vanilla were Today's Flavors when I visited last night. Next time I want to taste the Strawberry Banana or the Cotton Candy flavors. The usual toppings are also available. Sometimes we just stop in and order a Banana Split, which is very refreshing in the summer. Smoothies are also served. A good selection of packaged desserts like brownies, slices of marble cake, variety of Danish, and large chocolate cookies round out the dessert selections.
Kids Menu
Nathan's Famous loves kids & kids love Nathan's as well. They come in droves with their families. The kid's menu includes a choice of any kind of drink (soda, lemonade or juice,) kids fries, and a choice of either a Hot Dog, or Chicken/Hot Dog Nuggets and a special prize all for $2.99. You can't beat this value.
Service
What service? It's a good thing there is only counter service because you can wait a long time for service if no employee is at the counter when you want to order. For the most part, employees are helpful and friendly but often very overworked at peak times. There seems to be a big turnover of help and most of the employees working the counters are young.
Nathan's Hot Dogs are the official Hot Dog at Yankee Stadium. They just signed a three-year agreement. One of the minor league teams of the Mets also selected Nathan's as their official Hot Dog. Find them at concession stands and mobile vendors. Find Nathan's Hot Dogs at EAB Park, L.I. Coliseum and now Sarvis Center. Other basketball and Soccer teams sell Nathan's Hot Dogs at their games as well. .
July is National Hot Dog Month. American will eat over 7 million hot dogs this summer. So, why not visit a Nathan's Famous near you and try their terrific Hot Dogs, fries and freshly squeezed lemonade. Don't expect the frills, they don't have any. Although the smaller Nathan's Famous units do not carry the expanded menu, you can expect the food to be equally fresh and cooked to order. You WILL get a great meal at inexpensive prices.
By the way- what condiments do you enjoy on your hot dogs? I like mine with Boar's Head Delicatessen Style Mustard with white wine and sauerkraut or, maybe some Dill Relish - not the sweet kind. Anyone hungry for a hot dog?
Nathan's Famous
2290 Central Park Ave
Yonkers, NY
1-914-779-1800
Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 8 am - 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 8am - 12 pm
Recommended:
Yes
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glomarrone
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Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Reviews written: 167
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About Me:
It's been fun for 2-1/2yrs. Now it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss you all!
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