The Cannibal
New York magazine’s annual “Best of New York” came out last week and one entry intrigued me and this was it: "Best Hot Dog." I’ve never seen that in a “Best of New York” issue. I love hot dogs, so I have to check this out. The Cannibal is nearby where I live, so let’s hoof it on over and see if we agree with this judgement call by New York Magazine. And yeah, it’s a great excuse to go out and get a hot dog and a beer!
It's nice out tonight, I'm so glad winter is over, even though it wasn't much of a winter.
There's the Empire State Building all lit up. I think I'm finally going to face my fear of heights and go there next week, stay tuned for that!
And here we are at The Cannibal, let's go check it out.
Here's the front room, which features a large beer selection. Right after I took this photo, this gentlemen approached me and asked if I was Marty...
I told him I was and asked how he knew me. It turns out he's an EV Grieve reader named Ben and found out about this blog through my comments over there! It's a small internet world out there!
AS you can see, there's a huge selection of beer to be had in here. You can get it to go...
Or you can drink them at the bar. I chose the latter.
I wasn't sure what kind of beer to order, I'm always at a loss when there's no Budweiser, so I had bartender Cory choose for me and he did an excellent job. The beer was great, so I had another!
Free peanuts almonds on the bar!
Here's a shot of the bar from the other side.
The Cannibal really lives up to its name, in the back there's a butcher shop.
Here's some of the fresh meats on display. They need to put out some fave beans and a nice Chianti to truly live up to their name!
There's a nice beer garden in the back, with picnic style wooden tables.
And when I got back to the bar the Cannibal Dogs were waiting for me! They look great, let's see if they live up to New York Magazine's claim as the best hot dog in New York City.
Wow, between the homemade chili, mustard and onions, there's a whole symphony of flavors going on and it's all packed inside a bakery fresh bun. I have to agree with New York Magazine, best hot dog around town!
Not quite ready for the clean plate club, but close! See you tomorrow!
The Cannibal
113 E. 29th St. (Near Park Ave.)
212-686-5480
Further Reading: EaterNY, New York Magazine and Village Voice.
I live and breathe for you,
But what good does it do,
If I ain't got you, ain't got you?
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Bonus Cardboard Box Man Mutation Massacre!
TWM commenter, csp found this frightening CBBM news photo online. Hide your children, no one is safe! Aaaahhhh!!
Gramercy Park, Hot dogs, The Cannibal Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 10:26AM
Reader Comments (28)
That place looks awesome. I'll have to find some time to get down there.
AWESOME!.....Chili dogs and beer for all
Good to know — was curious about this place myself.
PS
Is there a referral fee?
@Jason: Check it out when you can, it's a nice spot, great hot dogs and a friendly group of people working there!
@Terry: It's a new spot for the BBC!
@EV Grieve: No referral fees that I know of, but it's always nice to meet fellow EV Grievers! They're everywhere!
The Grievereader is drinking a smoked beer, which many people think tastes like bacon, which many people probably like on hot dogs. Maybe someone should try dipping a hot dog into a smoked beer?
Looks good !
Have you ever eaten at Crif Dogs yet ? I'd like to try there also. Both places in the same day would be ideal !
I wish that Grievester asked you if you were Marty, then (with that expression on his face), said, "We've been expecting you at Cannibal!"; and then broke out into maniacal laughter.
@Spike: I'll try it as a dipping sauce on my next visit, excellent idea!
@GENE: I haven't been to Crif Dog's yet, but will try in the future, every time I go by the place is packed!
@csp: I'm going to have Hannibal Lecter nightmares after reading your comment!
Being recognized by random strangers is the first sign that you're becoming a celebrity, Marty. Pretty soon you'll be signing autographs. Then it'll be posing for cell-phone photos with the stranger's arm around you shoulder, and being forced to talk to the stranger's buddies on the phone ("Dude, you won't believe who I'm with right now -- Marty Wombacher! Really! I'll put him on to prove it. Here, Marty, talk to my buddy Brian, he doesn't believe it's you.") Eventually, though, you'll get tired of being hounded every time you step outside your apartment, so you'll spend your nights home alone, drinking your two or seven 16-ounce Budweisers each night, and longing for the days when you had the pleasure of anonymity.
Or you will marry the matriarch of a family of attention whores and no matter how much plastic surgery you get, people will still recognize you and mock you. Wish I had ate my Wheaties.
I am sooooooo incredibly jealous of the awesome looking chili dogs.
fuck i want one...
if someone was ever to recognize me anywhere we'd know it would have to be a stalker...
not sure if anyone knows what I really look like...
or even if i really exist...
last weekend i did an interview on a radio station in florida and we talked about the shirt the dj was wearing.. after the show he was in 7-11 and the woman asked him if he was who is..
he was weirded out at first and then she said that he was talking about his shirt on air.. ha! with me!
You should have had a 'Nice Chianti' instead.
The Hell with Peanuts, they should have free Fava Beans on the bar.
Hannibal Lecter could not be reached for comment.
@Bruce Davis: Ha ha ha! Interesting scenario! I actually did get asked for an autograph a few times on the bar crawl after the Daily News wrote about it and it was really uncomfortable and awkward. I'd ask why and the answer was always, "If you become famous I'll sell it on eBay!" I bet those autographs are worth at least a wooden nickel by now!
@Bruce Jenner: Thank you, maam!
@Gidget: You'd love the chili dogs there, really tasty! Too funny about the DJ in 7-11!
@"Boris:" Quid pro quo, “Boris!”
Them look like almonds to me.
Those look a little bun-y to me, but I'd probably eat them anyway. I do love a good chili dog. TO: PULVERIZED MEAT IN INTESTINAL CASINGS!
Great looking place. What kind of beer was that Marty? Looks like some BadAss Begium beer.
@legitimatebeef: You're right, I'll fix that in a minute! Thanks for catching that!
@Biff: Bun E. Carlos! TO: PULVERIZED MEAT IN INTESTINAL CASINGS!
@danny the freelancer: I can't remember the name, I asked Cory for a good blonde beer and he picked it and made an excellent choice! It was Belgium, but I don't know the name. One of the cool things about the place is that you can sample the beer at the bar and then get some to go if you want to. It's a bar, beer store and butcher shop all rolled up into one!
In regards to CSP and the bonus photo;" Bullets can't stop him....ROCKETS can't stop him....WE MAY HAVE TO USE NUCLEAR FORCE!" - Frank Zappa. "OH...THE HUMANITY...THE HUMANITY!" - Freaked out Hindenburg disaster newscaster.
Marty's beer would appear to be a La Meule: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2958/30956
@Jaws: Ha ha ha! It appears to be true! Lock your doors people!
@Bruce Davis: That's it! Too cool that you found it online! Thanks for supplying the linkage!
For some reason the old Groucho Marx line came to mind (don't think he was talking about hot dogs, though):
"Outside of a dog a book is a man's best friend, inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
I'm not a Janis Joplin fan but always mention that clip as the best rendition of that song.
@DaveW: Love that Groucho quote! And glad you liked the Janis Joplin clip, she really belts that one out!
If this place were below 14th Street, I'd go there tonight. Alas, my plea bargain agreement with the authorities was that I'd confine my presence to the area between East Houston and East 14th Street.
@Uncle Waltie: Maybe they'll open a sister store below 14th Street in your honor! I hope we can meet soon, my friend! Sip Ahoy!
Speaking of streets, in case you wake up in a time warp and find yourself in colonial New York; Broadway runs North to Albany and the Boston Post Road runs North-East to Boston. Glad to e helpful.
I'd love to get a couple of those dogs! You are a lucky man!
Wow. Chili Dogs, Janis and Two Girls, One Hotdog AND the Cardboard Box Man come to life. This might be one of the finest yet. Not even the sumo wrestler could stop the CBBM. I always knew he'd start with the kids first. That diabolical SOB.
@csp: Thanks, but I'm sure I'll still get lost on the way!
@Reggie Thistleton: As much as I hate to quote Emerson Lake & Palmer, here I go: "What a lucky man, I am!"
@randall: You can't beat chili dogs and Janis and it appears there's no beating the CBBM either! Run and hide!