Swanky Frank’s

** THIS RESTAURANT IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED **

Swanky Frank’s is a highway dog house that has served its raunchy wieners to generations in search of cheap eats in lower Fairfield County. It has been a dump for years; even as the management and personnel behind the worn-out counter have changed, the mischievous hash-house ambiance have aged and improved like fine wine. Sit at a wobbly table in the annex to the left or at the counter to the right and call out your order. There are hamburgers and fried clams and tuna salad and such on the menu, but at Swanky Frank’s, the hot dog is king. Here sit truckers, working people, and junk food connoisseurs scarfing them down two or more at a time, with or without spicy chili sauce. What makes these dogs especially great is that they are cooked the Southern Connecticut way, meaning they are deep fried, emerging from the oil with a crunch to their skin and insides that are drippingly luscious.

The French fries that complement the franks are hoisted from the hot cooking oil and tossed directly into a wax-paper-lined basket. They are cut thin and they are usually cooked quite dark; and while still hot from the fry kettle, these French fried potatoes are simply some of the tastiest ‘taters on earth.

Spicy dogs, hot fries, the sound of traffic zooming past outside: here’s a bargain taste of Roadfood heaven!