'The O' goes to college: Original Hot Dog Shop expanding

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review ^ | Saturday, June 14, 2003 | Dave Copeland

[Willie Green]

An Oakland landmark is trying to become a national brand name with a new franchise program.

Sid Simon, owner of the Original Hot Dog Shop, is planning a regional expansion of the restaurant, with a long-term goal of opening stores throughout a 1,000-mile radius of Pittsburgh. His initial plan is to follow the business model that made the flagship store in Oakland a success: locate the stores on or near college campuses, including Penn State, Ohio University and West Virginia University.

[Willie Green]

Testimonials:

*Gourmet Magazine "America's 10 Best Hot Dog Joints" October 2001

Here's what Jane and Michael Stern had to write about the "O":
"On the Original Hot Dog Shop grill, row upon row of beautiful wieners are marshaled according to the degree of doneness, from the pale pink ones barely warm to the darker ones cooked through and ready to be bunned."
"These are taut dogs that burst with flavor when bitten into, available with cheese or in a Super configuration with bacon and cheese. On the side, you must get french fries. Big O fries are legendary-crisp and dark gold, with a clean flavor and a savage crunch. Even a small order, for about two and a half bucks, is a substantial dish, but you can get them in sizes all the way up to extra-large for a group potato orgy."

---

*Money Magazine "Top Dogs" January 2000

As told by Paul Lukas:
"Here we have the Holy Grail. This non-descript corner eatery, which opened in 1960, serves the single most amazing hot dog ever eaten. These dogs have a tight outer casing, so they snap and literally burst with flavor when you bite into them. And what flavor! The nicely charred exterior gives way to an unmistakably beefy center that's heads and shoulders above most other franks. This isn't just a great hot dog-it's a great piece of meat. And don't miss the excellent twice-fried french fries, made to order and served in insanely huge portions."

---

*USA Today "10 Great Places to Bite a (Hot) Dog" October 19, 1999

"The O", as generations of regulars call it, is such a local tradition that "a good friend went there on her wedding night." It serves locally made, natural-casing dogs and "the best fries you ever ate. A small order is five times as big as a large at McDonald's."

---

*Digitalcity.com

"It's nothing fancy, but the Original Hot Dog Shop is the quintessential Pittsburgh eatery. Among locals it's an institution simply known as "The O." What's the appeal? Two words-dogs and fries. They may be the humblest staples of the American diet, but for many aficionados, the O makes them the best."

---

*Gayot.com

"Affectionately called "The O" by a loyal, loyal crowd, this restaurant probably deserves an honorary degree for the number of students it has seen through the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School. The stuff of study breaks, The O is renowned for its hot dogs, and arguably the best french fries in the city. Twice-cooked in peanut oil to produce the perfect crispness, they're served finger-burning hot in portions large enough to sustain a large tutorial group."

[Willie Green]

Step aside, Pizza Hut and Mickey D's --- "The O" is going global!

[Rebelbase]

I like his idea of expansion, though I hope he pays attention to the regional nature of hot dog toppings.

Down here its chili-slaw and onions.

[hometoroost]

I wasted more than a few hours at the "dirty O" when I was a lad. I really enjoy the snap of those dogs and the grease of the fries.

If they open one up near me my doctor will have to double the doseage of my cholesterol medication.

[xsmommy]

"We're going to try a different concept -- steaks and a higher grade of food," Simon said of the South Side location

We're gonna try a new concept... cleanlinesss! LMAO!

OMG the GREASY O!!! i know they have one in plum boro already. i was astounded to see it franchised. Do they still do the restaurant sanitation codes on the doors in PA? What was the O's? had to be a C or a D at least!!

[csvset]

In other weenie related news, check out this Japanese cocktail weenie Oragami site.

Cocktail Weenie Origami

Click on the animals for instructions!

[BCrago66]

3 dollars for a large pizza at the O, and the churned them out, hundreds a night.

Many a time in collage I was out of cash, and me and my friends would scrape together loose change, the buy a pizza a the O. :)

Man I'm getting old.

[tet68]

Hard to get a decent dog here in the south.

People forget too that dogs were blue collar food.
Birmingham Ala. used to have zillions of dog joints when the mills and steel production was going on, now they have disappeared.

I have to go to the Dekalb farmers mkt to buy my dogs,
Patak weiners or debrecina. There used to be a hungarian
expatriot who had a pushcart type of operation down town but
haven't seen him in years. He was great to talk to, about the Prague spring.

Debrecina, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Satadru]

Don't forget Chicago's Jim's Original on Maxwell Street.

[dennisw]

Best Jewish knockwurst on the planet is at Katz's delicatessen in NYC Lower East Side. Last I was there you could have as much hot sauerkraut as you wanted with it.

Their knockwurst is pretty much like a hot dog but with some great spices in it. It's boiled in water that prolly gets changed once a week.

[mountaineer]

I've always wanted to eat there (don't ask me why), but almost never go to Oakland. One of these days ...

[Willie Green]

but almost never go to Oakland. One of these days ...

As a Penn State alumnus, I don't have much use for Oakland either. ;^)

But seriously, The O has some of the BEST Dogs & Fries you'll ever come across.
I'd recommend stopping in for lunch next time you have a chance to do some of the touristy things Oakland has to offer: Carnegie Museum, Phipp's Conservatory, Soldier's & Sailor's... maybe even stop in and take a peek at Heinz Chapel and the International Classrooms and Gothic Architecture on the ground floor of the Cathedral of Learning. It'd make for a pleasant little day trip.

Of course, you could go in the evening as well. But (depending on the time of year) you're more likely to run into a semi-rowdy beer drinking college crowd. (Not that it's "dangerous", it's just that it gets a little more crowded and cramped, etc.)

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Well, I was looking for a website for the O - and came across this thread and felt that I had to post this article:

Closing of Oakland’s landmark hot dog shop means changes for the neighborhood

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/mostread/s_407842.html



That's right - the O is closing :(

[Willie Green]

That's right - the O is closing :(

Bummer...
The dog shop was the only thing that made it worthwhile to go to Oakland 'nat.
'Cept if yinz like goin to the museum n Soldiers n Sailors 'nat, of course.
Phipps flahrs are pretty nice in the springtime too.
But ya gotta stop in fer a dog n fries an a beer when yinz do those things...
It jest ain't gonna be the same...

:(

[martin_fierro]

I was trying to retort with a "Winky's Hamburgers" sign graphic, but it's so damn old/gone that none appear to exist on the internet!

[martin_fierro]

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[cjshapi]

I grew up in Plum. Are you close by?

[Kokojmudd]

Pittsburgh has the best food in the world bar none.

[Explorer89]

Only went to the "O" once. I was fairly grossed out. This from someone who's idea of college grease was the Philly cheesesteak.

[jimfree]

U of Maryland College Park and a number of other good size DC area campuses are well within the 1K radius. I look forward his expansion. I hope I am still permitted to indulge when he makes it here. Maybe I'll take that day trip or day and a half trip. Mrs. jimfree is very much into museums.