Late-Night: Best Wieners
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Uneasy is the head that has tasted all the wieners in Rhode Island. When GoLocalProv put a gun to this very head and made me choose my top five wiener joints, I did. After all, I like my head. Of course this list is entirely
subjective; everyone has his or her own favorites. And if you ask me again next week, I might tell you something different. Do what I do…visit them regularly, and nominate your own winners (and wieners).
5th place: Harry's NY System, Warwick 2003 was Harry's 50th year of filling hungry mouths. Pay a visit and enjoy a savory wiener (or three) under the watchful glass eyes of their carousel horses and taxidermied turtles and alligators. We describe the strangely dark sauce as "savory" but it actually has an earthy, almost bitter taste. We're guessing cloves… let us know if you agree. 2168 Elmwood Ave, Warwick, 785-0712.
4th place: Rod's Grill, Warren Opened by Mariano and Margaret Rodrigues in December 1955, it was then located on Main Street. The business is now run by siblings Ray Jr. and Sandra Rodrigues, who still use the secret hot wiener sauce developed by their grandmother. 6 Washington St, 245-9405.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST3rd place: Wein-O-Rama, Cranston From its enormous retro sign to the fact that it was named after Cinerama, the short-lived 1950s ultra-wide movie screen phenomenon, this is a local gem. And the sauce is made from fresh ground beef. 1009 Oaklawn Ave, Cranston, 943-4990.
Runner-Up: Original NY System, Providence This Smith Street landmark claims to be the very first Rhode Island hot wiener place, ever. 1927 is the year they say they began purveying the little dogs. But Sparkey's Coney Island System over in East Providence also claims the distinction, and traces its pedigree back to 1915. Perhaps it's time for a hot wiener cage match to decide the question. 424 Smith St, Providence, 331-5349.
And first place, best all-time wiener joint:
Olneyville NY System, Providence It's historic, it's delicious, it's worth a drive from anywhere in the state. Read the whole story here.
Christopher Scott Martin is a founding editor of www.quahog.org, and a passionate archivist of all things historic and local.