Tom's Long Hot Dogs — Restaurant in Whately

Starving after a long drive with little food choices in the area, we were excited for a traditional dog joint with a funny name. There is plenty of parking here and several tractor trailers pulled in for lunch and it was still was easy to park. It's also a decent location and not far off Rt. 91. The menu is what you'd expect-dogs, burgers, ice cream. My rating is for a dog. I ordered the chili cheese. The hot dog was mild in flavor (i prefer more spice personally but this was mild enough to not offend a kids palate) but it did have a nice snap. The chili was probably the best hotdog chili I've had-spicy, but without a burn you feel down to your gums. I got nacho cheese sauce but they also offer regular (where else offers a choice?!). The reason for my rating is the build and wrap of the dog. It was impossible to eat. The cook put the chili on the bottom! Let's examine the physics of friction. The hot dog is smooth and slightly greasy. The chili is wet and slippery. The bun (New England style top split with crustless sides-which I love, but not toasted. Why use these buns unless you are toasting? This seemed like a missed opportunity for texture, and added friction!) provides some grip to the dog, if you put it on the bottom. But put slippery chili on the bottom, then the slippery dog, then top with the slippery cheese, and you have a projectile hot dog shooting out the back of the bun at first bit. Please Chef, hot dog first, then the topping. That's why they are called toppings. I was not able to eat this as ordered because it wouldn't stay together. Yea, I expect a bit of a mess from a chili cheese dog, but this was a disaster with cheese on in the inside and outside of the bun, chili running all over. And an escaped hot dog. I would have love to get some ice cream after, but I was too embarrassed from the chili and cheese all over my clothes to go up and place another order. Next time, I'll make a special request and ask for a...

Really cozy looking hotdog joint here! I really like the windowed garage doors; it gives it a very unique look!

The restaurant itself is not bad at all. Staff were very friendly, there was plenty of parking, and they had hand sanitizer and other amenities! Bathrooms are in the back!

Food was very good, but the small proportions of mac and cheese on the hotdog didn't really give it all that much appeal to me (and sadly I came here with expectations off the top photos).

The only thing I could think of that might be more convienent to a customer is having forks readily available around the ketchup and such (hotdog fell apart halfway thru eating it). I likely could have received a fork from the staff but at the time there were two large families trying to order.

Only other thing is space to eat is a little tight (three picnic tables). Other idea would be to have accomodations to eat outside, but you guys likely already do during the summer! :)

Overall not a bad place! I'll definitely try just the mac and cheese next time for those good...

Edit: aaaaand there’s exactly the reply I expected from the owner: thinking that lashing out and rolling over are the only two ways to do business. You literally JUST freaked out and made bizarre accusations against a 3-star review that didn’t even say anything negative. Grow up.

original review:

Food is fine I guess. Nothing special. The owner’s behavior, though, has killed any interest I have in ever eating here again.

Demanding that people bring their complaints to you directly in private and not discuss them publicly? Mocking your dissatisfied customers in an online forum where they can’t reply? Truly childish and immature. Just look at the his replies to low ratings here — absolutely pathetic. If you don’t want bad Google reviews, you’re free to remove your business from the platform. Of course you have a quite high rating so yapping at the odd low one’s seems to just be a weird hobby.

There are plenty of places to get a hot dog in the valley that aren’t run by a vindictive internet warrior with contempt for his own...