St. Anselm: Deep Fried Dogs

St. Anselm
355 Metropolitan Ave
Williamsburg- bk


On Wednesday I took the train out to Long Island City to snap some pictures of the graffiti mecca 5 Pointz, it was 3pm when I got back to brooklyn and I had yet to have a bite of food all day and had been walking around Queens in 90 degree heat for an hour or so. I figured there was no better time to check out the newly opened St. Anselm. They are yet to secure their liquor license to as of now they are serving lunch from noon until 11PM. Later in the evening when Spuyten Duvil is open you can get your beer from next door and enjoy your meal in the courtyard. But arriving around 3pm there was no alcohol available which lead to a totally empty establishment when I walked in.

At this point the menu consists pretty much of sliders, deep fried hotdogs, sausages and french fries. Service was quick but uninspired with the bartender spending most of teh time I was there dawdling with her blackberry.

But on to the food!!

As I mentioned is was over 90 degrees on Wednesday so I didn't want to go overboard and order the "Newark Dog" which consists of 2 deep fried dogs with fried peppers, onions and potatoes wrapped in a pizza bread. Instead I just went with a single deep fried dog with cheese and fried potatoes in a cup along with a root beer float.

The hot dog took me back, way back. To a roadside hotdog, hamburger, fried clam and ice cream shack of my youth by the name of Frate's in Westport, MA. In the summer growing up Frate's was pretty much a ritual. My family would weekend at a campground nearby in the summers so we would all go to Frates, grandparents, uncles, cousins and friends. You would eat clam cakes, fried clams, hot dogs and drink frappes all while swinging on swings in the back of their parking lot or making yourself dizzy on one of those self propelled little carousels.

Well Frate's has been closed for at least 15 years, but after snapping into my first bite of the Karl Ehmer crafted deep fried dog I was transported 200 miles and 25 years away back to Frate's and the these incredible hot dogs of my youth. The rolls were buttered and lightly fried, just like a Frate's dog and the deep fried dog of St. Anselm had a taste that was eerily reminiscent of the perfect summer hotdog of my youth. Divine! Come to find out "fried potatoes in a cup" is a covert name for french fries and these were cooked to perfection. A thick and crunchy coating on a wide cut french fry is just right. Plus many of the pieces were on the small side adding to the perfect crunch factor.

When the liquor license is granted the menu will expand for dinner, but in the meantime if you want to beat the crowds head on down to St. Anselm for a kick ass hotdog with zero crowds or hassle.