Rutt’s Hut 417 River Road Clifton, NJ 07014

Rutt’s Hut

417 River Road

Clifton, NJ  07014

973-779-8615

http://www.ruttshut.com/

Open: 8:00am-11:00am

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46365-d522531-Reviews-Rutt_s_Hut-Clifton_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

I have been coming to Rutt’s Hut since I was 12 years old and I swear that the place has not changed since then. It is a somewhat run down roadside restaurant that has been around since 1928. Today you still have the bar, the sit down restaurant and the walk up stand for hot dogs and fries.

The dining room here is very interesting

The hot dogs here are amazing! They deep fry their pork hot dogs in hot oil and they come out of the fryer all shriveled and crackly. When you bit into them, they snap and crackle with each bite. They also make their own homemade mustard-relish that you can put on top and it is delicious. You can taste the spicy pork in every bit.

The deep fried hot dogs

The French fries and onion rings are also cooked to perfection in the fryer and come out golden brown. They snap when you bite into them. For an extra fee, you have them topped with gravy or melted cheese sauce.

The French Fries here are so crisp

I have to admit in the forty years I have been coming here I have never had anything outside the hot dogs, hamburgers, French Fries and Onion rings and that is okay with me. Maybe one day I will venture further on the menu but for right now a hot dog for $2.35, French Fries for $2.20, hamburgers for $2.00 and Onion Rings for $2.85 (2020 prices) is okay with me.

Just to let you all know that is  CASH ONLY here.

The Hot Grill 669 Lexington Avenue Clifton, NJ 07011

The Hot Grill

669 Lexington Avenue

Clifton, NJ  07011

(973) 772-6000

https://www.facebook.com/thehotgrill/

Open: Sunday-Thursday 9:00am-1:00am/9:00am-2:00am

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46365-d458517-Reviews-The_Hot_Grill-Clifton_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

 

I have visited The Hot Grill a few times recently having been introduced to the restaurant by my aunt. It is a real homey and friendly restaurant that serves the community well. It is a real gathering place for locals. I see a lot of police and firefighters eating here as well as locals catching up on local gossip.

Their deep fried hot dogs have a nice snap to them

The food is really good and extremely reasonable. You can have a nice meal here for under $10.00 and every thing is cooked to order for you. The restaurant has an extensive menu both at breakfast and at lunch with breakfast sandwiches and eggs, French Toast and pancakes on the menu at breakfast and deep fried hot dogs, grilled hamburgers  and other sandwiches at lunch. Very few prices are over $5.00.

The first time I ate here with my aunt, we had the deep fried hot dogs and well done French Fries and everything was delicious. The hot dogs are deep fried for a few minutes in oil which give them a crinkled appearance and a nice snap to them. A plain hot dog is $2.75 and you can get it ‘all the way’ which are extra items on the hot dogs that include mustard, chopped onion, and chili sauce at no additional charge. The second time I ate here I had a hot dog, cheeseburger and French Fries with a small Pepsi ($11.00).

Their French Fries are frozen but still have a nice crisp consistency to them and are perfectly cooked. French fries plain are $2.75 but with either gravy or chili sauce are $3.10 and all the way are $3.35. It is a nice size portion and getting them with a topping many customers rave about. The guy next to me ordered them with chili.

The hot dogs and burger here are quite good

The Cheeseburger ($2.90) was a frozen patty but still good and well cooked. I kept it plain but it was a nice accompaniment with the hot dog and fries that I ordered.

Their soft serve ice cream on a cone ($3.00) is a nice way to end the meal. It is rich and creamy and swirled to the top of the waffle cone. They also have milkshakes ($3.70) and Root Beer Floats ($3.70).

The service is friendly and very welcoming and they get the orders out quickly to you. So if you are looking for a place that the locals eat that is reasonable and freshly cooked, The Hot Grill will be for you.

The restaurant has been in existence since 1961 and the original owners are still involved in running the restaurant. This is why there is care in the quality.

The iconic Hot Grill sign off Route 46 East in Clifton, NJ.