Rutt's Hut worth the detour?

[Withnail42]

Am going to be in the area or at least within an hour of the place. Heard some interesting things about their dogs.

Is Rutt's Hut worth the detour?

[Caralien]

I generally trust HollyEats.com:
http://www.hollyeats.com/RuttHut.htm
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overv...

This is a lot closer than Rawley's in CT and we must try it.

[hotdoglover]

I can tell you that there is no middle ground with Rutt's Hutt. People either love it or hate it. The dogs are unique in that they are made for deep frying. They have 2 unique ingredients that make the dogs puff up and withstand the high temperatures of deep fat frying. The result is a unique dog. Crunchy on the outside tender and somewhat juicy on the inside. Mildly spiced, this dog goes best with their relish which is like none I've had. I love this relish and it's the only place where I'll put relish on my dog.

I love the dogs here. But as a hot dog lover I would say it's worth the trip even if you don't end up liking the dogs just to satisfy your curiosity. I think if you like Rawley's deep fried dogs, you'll like Rutt's. I was to Rawley's once (years ago when they used Roessler's) and liked it, but liked Rutt's more.

[Caralien]

thanks for the additional information--now we really have to get to Rutt's!

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[tommy]

of course it is. it's an opportunity to try something unique and new.

[fourunder]

In a word, yes. If not anything else, you'll experience American road food in it's purest form and satisfy your curiosity as hotdoglover suggests and as tommy points out to try something unique......but I will tell you it's my favorite hot dog spot, serving my favorite hot dog with my favorite hot dog condiment/topping. Whenever I know I am traveling in the area of the Route 3/21 corridor, I know where my lunch stop will be. Here's a thread with a spirited discussion with more details and opinions......

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/465475

[roro1831]

I would say yes as well. Now your choice would be whether to eat in the bar area where you can sit down or go to the side area and stand at a counter to eat. I work about ten minutes away (if that) and I hit it up at least twice a month, i would prefer more but some from the office don't care for it.

All I can add is, do not get a hamburger there!

[Ambimom]

You could also try Hiram's which is on Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee, NJ, about 5 minutes from the George Washington Bridge. It was featured on Anthony Bourdain's program a couple of years ago. My family LOVES Hiram's hotdogs. They have burgers, fries, and beer too! http://www.hollyeats.com/Hirams.htm

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Hiram's Roadstand
1345 Palisade Ave, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

[Sally Potatoes]

Don't waste your time or risk chipping your teeth on one of the worst hot dogs ever made on earth. If you like the feel and taste of cardboard then you will like Rutts. I am a hot dog afficianado and Rutts is garbage. People are fascinated with the catchy easy to remember name. The place is filthy and the health department should close it down. The dogs are terrible.

[ttoommyy]

I like them.

[buttertart]

I love them. A reason to move to the Clifton area! ;-)

[Passadumkeg]

I'd pull off the Parkway an hour from me mum's house, after a 10 hr. drive, just to get ripped before listening to me poor now deceased mum. I now miss it!

[buttertart]

Me: close to dogs.
You: close to lobster and that incredible crabmeat.
Who's to say that you are not the happy genius of your household?

[Passadumkeg]

I just ordered lobster, crabs & steamer clams from my students. No real hot dog cultchah in Maine, except for Flo's way down in Wells. Again lots of the same discussion. Folks go expecting nirvana from a tube steak and wonder why they are disappointed. I do love hot dogs. On the drive down to NJ we also stop at George's Coney Island Dogs in Worcester, Ma.

[buttertart]

Best of both worlds. Can't complain too much, lobster is so cheap these days even here. And it's softshell season!

[Passadumkeg]

My favorite childhood sandwich, soft shell crab at all the Poliah bars in South River & Sayreville. The Morgan Fishery in Morgan, rt 35 has good ones.

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Morgan Fishery
1812 State Route 35, South Amboy, NJ 08879

[buttertart]

So amazingly does a restaurant in Penn Station, Tracks. Irish pub and raw bar.

[Passadumkeg]

Sorry since they tore down the old Penn Station, I only frequent the Oyster in Grand Central.

[buttertart]

I'm a wannabe NYer, just here since 1989. I take your point though.

[roro1831]

Wow, two whole posts on chow and they both bash Rutt's. Seems like you have an axe to grind

[johnlockedema]

I love the dogs, don't like weller or cremators though. And I can't eat in the restaurant part, it's filthy, I order at the service bar.

[buttertart]

Cremators are not my thing either.

[roro1831]

I'm a service bar guy myself. I sat inside a couple of times, once at the bar, which I don't find that bad as I have eaten at much worse places back home (but they typically had the best food), and once at the tables and watched a friend order a hambuger, which may have been the saddest hamburger I have ever seen.

[ttoommyy]

Yeah, Sally Potatoes must be the owner of a competing hot dog joint near Rutt's Hut! lol

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[flashdahash]

I know Im going to get killed for this, but I didnt think Rutt's Hut lived up to the hype. I dont regret going, but was expecting way more. Although I haven't been in a decade, I feel like Callahan's dogs tasted better. Just my opinion.

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[tommy]

Hype? What hype? It has fans. People who like it say it's great, because they think it is. This isn't hype.

Although, I think I speak for the generations of fans when I say we only really like it because of the catchy and easy to remember name.

[Tapas52]

After 80 years they must be doing something right! When I wear my RUTT's HUT T shirt here in south jersey people freak and always come over and tell me how they love the "RIPPERS" growing up....and stop there every chance they get when up north!! YUM! go for it!

[ttoommyy]

"Hype? What hype? It has fans. People who like it say it's great, because they think it is. This isn't hype."

In all fairness to flashdash, there has been a lot of hype for Rutt's Hut on various TV shows on PBS, Travel Channel and FN.

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[tommy]

Hype:
–noun
5. exaggerated publicity; hoopla.
6. an ingenious or questionable claim, method, etc., used in advertising, promotion, or publicity to intensify the effect.
7. a swindle, deception, or trick.

None of the above apply to coverage of a restaurant that has been a landmark and a favorite for generations.

[flashdahash]

Maybe I misused the word hype. There are a ton of loyal followers on this site, so out of curiosity I checked it out. As I said, I don't regret going, but I can't see myself recommending someone to drive an hour to check it out.

[yogi70]

Do what I did. Hit Rutts, get a ripper, than go 10 minutes up to the Hot Grille and get one there. Or do it reversed. You'll be sure to love at least one if not both of the dogs. My preference was the hot grille though...

[ttoommyy]

Most of us understood how you were using the word flashdash; no need for clarification. You're not being graded for your writing on this site...at least I hope we're not! :)

[tommy]

Since you are passively implying that I was not understanding, I will say that I understood exactly what was meant. The poster apparently expected a hot dog, and "way more." Thankfully it wasn't a wasted meal, though.

Rutt's Hutt is unique in an area of the country where there are a bunch of hot dog places of varying styles. That fact alone makes it worthy of a trip. Just don't expect to be blown away.

[hotdoglover]

You don't like Rutt's Hut just like many other people, my wife and kids included. My dad and brother loved it when they went. My hobby is sampling hot dogs and I've been to well over 100 places and Rutt's is one of my favorites. It's because I like the taste, not the name, atmosphere or nostalgia. People should go and decide for themselves instead of taking your (or my) word for it.

As a self described hot dog aficianado, can you name some places that you consider worth going to? Seems to me that you are either a competitor or maybe a disgruntled former employee.

[hotdoglover]

Meant for Sally Potatoes.

[Passadumkeg]

A lot of hype, but one must keep in mind it is only a hot dog joint, not slight intended, Hotdoglover.

[MKNJ]

I was near Clifton yesterday and, remembering hearing about Rutt's on this board, punched it into the GPS and stopped in for lunch.

The hot dog was good enough. It was a nice lunch and the way the guys call out the orders made for a fun atmosphere.

To me, and based on what I'm seeing on this board, if you have nostalgiac feelings for Rutt's or civic pride from living/working in the area, then you are going to have a much higher opinion of the dogs.

Without that nostalgia or pride its just another hot dog stand and if you're basing your experience on just the food you would be disappointed with an hour detour. On the other hand, if you wanted to experience a place that many people love, that experience would likely be worth the detour.

[Sdenred]

You hit the nail on the head.

[fourunder]

Two Thoughts.......

1. If you never had the hot dog, it's worth a detour.

2...Just to have the house relish (Cabbage & Carrot), it's definitely worth a detour.

[tommy]

The relish is definitely unique to Rutt's. No other hot dog place in north jersey serves it.

[ttoommyy]

I'm not a relish person, so of all the times I've been to RH, I've never had it. I didn't know it was made of cabbage and carrot. Isn't that more like a coleslaw? I'll have to try it next time.

[tommy]

i didn't eat it for the first 15 years i went there. once i tried it i kicked myself. it's very unique so give it a shot!

[roro1831]

The consistency is more like a relish and it is very tasty

[fourunder]

While it may technically be a relish, it's not overly sweet nor sour. It's yellow, so I assume there's a mustard base. The first time I ate it, I thought it was made from onions..... As tommy indicates, it's unique to Rutt's....but I would further add I do not know of any other place that serves it beyond North Jersey either.

[tommy]

There's a place out west that serves it. The guy is from jersey so it's pretty clear he got the idea from Rutt's. other than that though, I know of no place in the country.

[johnlockedema]

He was on Diner/DriveIn/Dives featuring the relish.

[johnlockedema]

'Fab Hot Dogs also uses franks “imported from New Jersey” for their Rippers, so we ordered the Bald Eagle, the Ripper with Fab’s homemade mustard relish. Nestled in a fluffy bun, the wiener has crunchy skin with an excellent snap, having ‘ripped’ aesthetically. It is the Bald Eagle relish, however, that truly makes this dog: a spicy, savory, dark-orange brew of sweet relish, carrots, cabbage, Mexican oregano, and mustard that is nothing like Rutt’s neon-yellow mild relish. We don’t deny that Rutt’s Rippers have a taste all their own, but frankly the Bald Eagle has tastier mustard relish.'

The recipe on the Food Channel has no cabbage or carrots, so I have no idea where they got it-along with rootbeer . . .

[GBQyum]

Rippers and Rutt's Relish! Grew up on this, complete with their delicate thin onion rings. Yum! I have relatives who have moved from NJ to Ohio and this is their 1st stop when they come back for a visit. Love it!

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Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014

[Tapas52]

I had my RUTT'S T shirt ion today.....so many people comment on it where ever you go!! lol