Hippy the Dog: Delish

[mbasnack]

I work in the Natick area and had seen an interesting hot dog truck camped out in front of the Hampton Inn on Speen Street. Did a Google search and came up with their site... http://hippythedog.com Went on Friday for lunch with a few co-workers and will be going back- for sure.

Ordered a number 7 with spicy fries and a lime rickey--for $6!!!. And could have happily had any other dog on their menu. Also serve burgers and chicken sandwiches...Great service (by owners) and a good alternative to our cafeteria.

I promised I'd spread the word to my fellow 'Hounds...Enjoy.

[THE Hotdogman]

They are OOB. Sold the truck, closed their commercial kitchen. They never had permits for Cleveland Circle! Too bad, the dogs were good.

[mbasnack]

They are now located in Cleveland Circle- which makes a lot more sense...And they'll likely do great there.

Beginning December 1, 2009
Corner of Beacon St. and Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton, MA
Hours: Monday-Saturday 12 PM to 6 PM
Plus weekend late nights
Weather Permitting

BTW, I happily pay $5-6 for a hot dog if it means the meat is high quality, etc. Kelly's charges $18 for a lobster roll...And Starbucks $5 for a coffee. It's all relative if you love what you're paying for.

[Boston_Otter]

Well, their dogs are actually $4.50 each. I don't know where the "six dollar hot dog" thing came from. $4.50 for a hot dog with chili and bacon is a great deal. (By the way.. a coffee at Starbucks is not $5. $1.50, yes. Not five bucks.)

[suzyspurs]

Boston_Otter - Where are they parking their truck now?

[Boston_Otter]

http://www.hippythedog.com/toursites....

[L2k]

I enjoyed them twice in early August in Cleveland Circle, have driven by a few times in the past month (just after Noon, and mid afternoon), and don't see the truck there anymore. Sent an e-mail on Monday to the addy on the website, no reply.

I hope they are ok!

[surferbettygal]

Thank you for validating my findings! I too have sent an email and NO REPLY!

[L2k]

There's a phone number on the website . . . who is going to call?!?!?

[trueblu]

I called a couple of weeks ago, left my number and no reply!

Anyone know where they are/ if the business is still going strong?

tb

[suzyspurs]

They have gone bellie up, fini. Closed up shop! Too bad they didn't last - I hate to see anyone go out of business. These guys just did not have their act together.

[L2k]

Darn. Loved the dogs, must admit I never saw a crowd there, but now with BC back in session I wonder if the college kids would have made their way over

[RVT]

Gotta be honest, never saw anything great about this place. Hot dog seemed really bland (the owner, who seemed like a nice guy, told me he was getting them somewhere in California) and the toppings and sauces were nothing really special to me. Thought the giant New England style roll was kind of neat though. In the end, if I was going to go over to Cleveland Circle for a hot dog, I'd just assume cross the street and get a grilled Pearl from Eagle Deli.

[suzyspurs]

No one is there anymore.

[cambridgedoctpr]

and starbucks is mediocre.

[rchudy]

Yeah I haven't seen him in weeks, as I drive by that spot to go to work every day.

[suzyspurs]

Sold the truck, too!

[suzyspurs]

One hot dog for over $6.00?? I can go to Subway and get a footlong-anything-delicious-sub for $5. It would be one thing if I were at Fenway Park watching a Red Sox game. But a parking lot at The Hampton Inn in Natick? Give me a break. Hippy the Dog must be on an LSD trip. Or we are all high for paying that much...

[Blumie]

Keep in mind that a Speed's dog will set you back $7, and it's well worth it, notwithstanding the absence of a Sox game (and, as far as I know, any LSD).

[ac106]

Speed's is $7. He is located in giant dirt lot surrounded by diesel trucks. Am I on drugs for happily paying this?

Subway delicious huh? think we have our answer there.

[steve999]

$4.50 each. Mustard, relish and onions included according to: http://www.hippythedog.com/menu.html

A good dog doesn't need any of the crap they list as toppings and I agree - a grilled dog from a cart should cost $2-$3 tops.

[edgewater]

Exactly where us the truck located? I drove all around there Friday at 11:30 and couldn't find it.

[mbasnack]

When we went it was parked in front of Hampton Inn in the parking lot. You should email them and see where they are located just in case they've moved to a new spot...

[edgewater]

Thanks mbasnack. I emailed tham and John responded this afternoon. Apparently they had some mechanical problems with the truck so there missed a few days. They
are still in front of the parking lot at the Hampton Inn Monday through Friday from 11:00-3:00. I will definitely try them tomorrow or Thursday.

[hotdoglover]

$5.75 is way overpriced. And to charge extra for mustard is wrong. They don't give the brand or if it's a natural casing dog or not. A place in my area served jumbo quarter pound dogs for close to 4 bucks. Good dogs , but they went out of business in large part because they were considered too expensive. But at least they didn't charge extra for basic condiments like mustard, relish, onions, or sauerkraut. Will be interesting to see if this place survives.

[Blumie]

It also sounds, if mbasnack's experience is indicative, like the prices on the website might not reflect what they're actually charging. We should get some more data on this one. Never want to write off a hot dog place too quickly!

[Gordough]

Any idea on the days/hours? I didn't see this info on the site. Or does it move around all the time?

[mbasnack]

11-3pm at this Hampton Inn location. I emailed Steve and he responded right away when we were trying to figure out what time/day to have lunch there.

[Blumie]

Nothing like a hot dog served out of the back of a truck!

Here's a corrected link:

http://www.stevehussey.com/ClientAcce...

BTW, the menu lists the dog as being $5.75, the spicy fries as being $2.50 and the lime rickey as being $2.75-$3.75, so how'd you do all three for $6? (In fact, they charge $0.25 each even for ketchup and mustard! This place ain't cheap, folks!)

[mbasnack]

New location...so they were doing a lunch combo special. Considering lunch at the Natick Collection or some place nearby can easily top off at $20...it's worth it while there's still no snow on the ground.

[Blumie]

It strikes me as a good deal for $6 (not so much at full price -- $11), but it does seem offputting if, as their menu indicates, they charge $0.25 if you want mustard on your hot dog. ($0.25 for ketchup, too, but who would put ketchup on a hot dog!!!)

[Joanie]

I agree that it sounds like a rip off unless the dog is gigantic (and personally I'd rather have a normal sized $2.50-3 dog with free freaking mustard and relish). And you can't compare it to having lunch at the Natick Collection.