# Detroit Area Dopers - Coney Islands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438 "2010-05-23T04:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/21 "2010-05-24T00:51:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I lived in Livonia in the 60’s and early 70’s. I loved the “loose” hamburgers at Coney Island Of course, you could just eat at Bates’, which pretty much serves “loose hamburgers” in the sense that if you show up there, sooner or later someone will sling a stray hamburger at you. Never been to a greasier place, bless it. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/22 "2010-05-24T01:01:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I hear tell an appropriately-named dude mentioned this way back in post #3. 😃 Missed that Mean Mr. Mustard. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/23 "2010-05-24T01:39:11Z")
Yeah, they’re clearly all over Michigan. I’m partial to Leo’s, Senate, Kirby’s, and L. George’s. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/24 "2010-05-24T02:38:55Z")
> [@Queen\_Tonya](#): > > The best thing about coney islands is that they’re cheap, quick, and while there is a full menu available of standard diner food, it’s all about the breakfasts, coney dogs and saganaki. Around here they are known for their spanikopita (feta-spinach, phyllo, pie/popovers) gyros, chili, chili mac, and coney dogs, not their flaming cheese. The Detroit Coney Island tradition pretty much runs down 75 South to Toledo and as far as Cincinnati (Skyline Chili). We have a pretty famous [Coney Island Hot Dog](http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=coney+island+toledo&fb=1&gl=us&hq=coney+island&hnear=toledo&cid=15439052951645209791) in downtown Toledo… oldest Restaurant in the downtown, been there since 1919. Although Toledo is best known for our Hungarian Sausage Coney, we also have the best Greek tradition Coney Dogs that I would put up against the Detroit Dog anyday. We have [Rudy’s Hot Dog](http://www.rudyshotdog.com/), Coney Island Hot Dog, [Netty’s](http://www.nettyscorp.com/), and Hot Dog Charleys. Personally, I think Rudy’s has the best and most traditional Coney Dog. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/25 "2010-05-24T03:31:46Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Around here they are known for their spanikopita (feta-spinach, phyllo, pie/popovers) gyros, chili, chili mac, and coney dogs, not their flaming cheese. The Detroit Coney Island tradition pretty much runs down 75 South to Toledo and as far as Cincinnati (Skyline Chili). We have a pretty famous [Coney Island Hot Dog](http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=coney+island+toledo&fb=1&gl=us&hq=coney+island&hnear=toledo&cid=15439052951645209791) in downtown Toledo… oldest Restaurant in the downtown, been there since 1919. Although Toledo is best known for our Hungarian Sausage Coney, we also have the best Greek tradition Coney Dogs that I would put up against the Detroit Dog anyday. We have [Rudy’s Hot Dog](http://www.rudyshotdog.com/), Coney Island Hot Dog, [Netty’s](http://www.nettyscorp.com/), and Hot Dog Charleys. > Personally, I think Rudy’s has the best and most traditional Coney Dog. I always thought [Tony Packos](http://www.tonypacko.com/index.php) was the most well known because of the M.A.S.H. connection. Their fried pickles and peppers are great but the dogs I had were only mediocre. Don’t even get me started on the abomination that is Skyline Chili. I lived in Lexington for a few years and always saw them along I-75 when traveling back to Michigan and decided to try it out. Big mistake. It is fine for Cincinnati but it can be its own tradition. Does not belong to Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/26 "2010-05-24T03:43:47Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > I always thought [Tony Packos](http://www.tonypacko.com/index.php) was the most well known because of the M.A.S.H. connection. Their fried pickles and peppers are great but the dogs I had were only mediocre. Yea, pretty much what I said… Toledo is probably best known for the Hungarian Sausage Coney Dog (Tony Packo’s). Well, I would strongly protest that they are mediocre dogs. They are the most perfect sausage coney dog ever conceived! Better than the Maxwell street Polish, and far better than that Washington D.C. Half Smoke with Ethiopian sauce. I will admit that pre corporatization (pre-90’s) Packo’s dogs were much better than what you might get today. The sausage specifically… the sauce hasn’t changed much. [Quote=Wolverine] Don’t even get me started on the abomination that is Skyline Chili. I lived in Lexington for a few years and always saw them along I-75 when traveling back to Michigan and decided to try it out. Big mistake. It is fine for Cincinnati but it can be its own tradition. Does not belong to Detroit. [/QUOTE] I’ve never had skyline chili… only ever had the greek diner chili fresh and local over spaghetti. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/27 "2010-05-24T03:45:59Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > I always thought [Tony Packos](http://www.tonypacko.com/index.php) was the most well known because of the M.A.S.H. connection. Their fried pickles and peppers are great but the dogs I had were only mediocre. Tony Packo’s isn’t a Coney Island. It’s a restaurant (one that isn’t open for breakfast), and not a Greek restaurant either – it’s predominantly Hungarian in addition to the more-famous dog & sausage selection. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/28 "2010-05-24T04:25:44Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Tony Packo’s isn’t a Coney Island. It’s a restaurant (one that isn’t open for breakfast), and not a Greek restaurant either – it’s predominantly Hungarian in addition to the more-famous dog & sausage selection. They offer only one dog… and it is not a Frankfurter or a Wiener, or colloquially a Hot Dog. It is sausage. Hungarian Sausage. Probably, most likely, if it had a geographic name a Budar or Pester. From Buda or Pest. Or Szeged style sausage. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/29 "2010-05-24T04:35:26Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > They offer only one dog… and it is not a Frankfurter or a Wiener, or colloquially a Hot Dog. It is sausage. Hungarian Sausage. Probably, most likely, if it had a geographic name a Budar or Pester. From Buda or Pest. Or Szeged style sausage. You are mistaken sir. Tony Packo’s sells their own sausage in three sizes, as well as the Front St. Frank, an “American style hot dog.” Regardless, it isn’t a Coney Island, even though they sell Coney dogs, which was my point. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/30 "2010-05-24T04:42:49Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > You are mistaken sir. Tony Packo’s sells their own sausage in three sizes, as well as the Front St. Frank, an “American style hot dog.” > > Regardless, it isn’t a Coney Island, even though they sell Coney dogs, which was my point. Like I said, Three sizes of the same **Hungarian Sausage** , basically to build the M.O.A.D (Mother of All Dogs). Which is actually a menu item… it’s a giant Hungarian Hot Dog… The Front St. Frank is on the children’s menu. You go to Packo’s for a Hungarian Hot Dog or nothing Else. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/31 "2010-05-24T17:01:56Z")
I love Coney restaurants for their french fries. They’re crispy and salty on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, and come in massive portions. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/32 "2010-06-03T22:22:23Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I always thought “Mr. Greek’s Coney Island” in Ann Arbor was trying to bridge the phraseology gap between Michiganders and the many U of M students from New York City. 🙂 > > An ex of mine from Michigan refused to believe me that the term “Coney dog” has no meaning in NYC, until he tried to order one and the waitress said “a what?” My hypothesis is that the terminology “Coney Island Hot Dogs” is also tied up in the great Lake Erie Boardwalk, Beach, and Island Resort Tradition of the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. We had some really first class boardwalks that were always evoking the Coney Island ennui and style in competition with the Eastern Seaboard and visitors and emigrants from the Yankee East. Oh, another thing that the local coney Islandsin Toledo are known for are their Greek Salads (greens, tomato, feta, cucumbers, kalamata olives) and proprietary greek dressings. They also have killer braised lambshank specials on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/33 "2010-06-03T23:29:23Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > My hypothesis is that the terminology “Coney Island Hot Dogs” is also tied up in the great Lake Erie Boardwalk, Beach, and Island Resort Tradition of the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. We had some really first class boardwalks that were always evoking the Coney Island ennui and style in competition with the Eastern Seaboard and visitors and emigrants from the Yankee East. As a matter of fact that Yankee sea resort tradition as exemplified by Coney Island, Atlantic City, the Hamptons and Martha’s Vineyard carries on, and is outdone by Boblo, Cedar Point, Marblehead and the Erie Isles. They did it first, but we perfected it. Fresh water too… no salt scaling or bleaching… better fishing. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/34 "2010-06-03T23:57:13Z")
Although a differnet lake, I wouldn’t want to forget Makinac Island, either… Unfortunately, You Eastcoasters want to know what real traditional seasiding used to be like need toi come to the Midwest for the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/35 "2010-06-05T05:57:30Z")
No idea why I’m up this late, but I just flipped onto Food Network and they are comparing American to Lafayette… just checked the guide, and Food Feuds is the show. Now I’m really mad I’m 5 hours away. edited to add results… American won. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/36 "2010-06-05T06:23:15Z")
Coney Island restaurants aren’t confined to Michigan. When I was a kid growing up in Johnstown, PA, it was a family treat to go to Coney Island and get a bunch of dogs and fries. They’re [still in business.](http://www.coneyislandjohnstownpa.com/index.html) The restaurant was founded in 1916 and has been run by four generations of the same family. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/37 "2010-06-07T03:17:25Z")
Mmmm. 2:30 am: “I’ll take 2 coneys (hell yeh onions & mustard), a side of chilly fries, and a Pepsi.” Heals all wounds. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438/38 "2010-06-08T06:11:29Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Although a differnet lake, I wouldn’t want to forget Makinac Island, either… Unfortunately, You Eastcoasters want to know what real traditional seasiding used to be like need toi come to the Midwest for the real thing. You can also get the very best Jamaican food in the United States at Mackinac if you know the right people or ask kindly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detroit-area-dopers-coney-islands/540438.md?page=1)