Dog-lovers will delight in digs

MUSTARD ONLY | Columbus restaurant's Coney Island hot dogs worth a trip

The best way to warm up for William Wegman's goofy Weimaraners is to chow down on the best hot dogs in Columbus.

Although I spent some preteen years in Columbus, I didn't discover the lovingly funky Phillip's Original Coney Island (747 N. High St., 614-294-1251) until I was a lovingly funky adult. What the sparse diner lacks in decor it makes up with colorful characters. Original Coney Island has been serving hot dogs in Columbus since 1912 and the current diner is only a few blocks south of the Wexner Center for the Arts, home of the Wegman retrospective. Original Coney Island has been on High Street for 65 years.

You gotta have the Coney Island ($1.55), a steamed bun and grilled wiener with mustard, Coney Sauce (a chili-like hamburger and spices) and topped with diced onions. The Coney Island is $1.75 with shredded cheese.

A smart runner-up is the more upscale Press Grill (741 N. High St., 614-298-1014), which serves food until 1 a.m. The secret doggie here is Nathan's Hot Dogs (starting at $2.50 for a plain, and two for $3 on Monday night). Columbus is a mustard-only town and by all means seek out spicy Bertman's Ballpark Mustard, a longtime staple with Cleveland Indian fans.

Yes, the art-retro Chef-O-Nette restaurant is still operating in the Upper Arlington suburb of Columbus. For a short history of Columbus fast-food restaurants, visit "Restaurants We Like" on Hoekstra's Scratch Crib blog at www.blogs.suntimes. com.

Dave Hoekstra