Scooby's Hot Dogs

So I am from Chicago. We have the best hot dogs ever. Don't even try and tell me any different. It is VERY hard to find a place that really makes a Chicago dog right. You need the poppy seed bun. The VIENNA beef dog. The Sport Peppers. And of course the mustard, sweet relish, tomato SLICES, onion, and celery salt. NO KETCHUP! NEVER ANY KETCHUP! Finding all of the above is pretty rare outside Chicago. However, I found somewhere that had REAL dogs and Chicago Italian Beef. Complete with giardiniera. Scooby's in Richmond. So I trecked my happy little butt 20 mins there to grab some lunch. I let the guy know when I ordered it BETTER be right. He chuckles. I didn't. Did he not know how life or death important this was to me? Anyway, I ordered a hot dog and an Italian Beef. The Hubby and I were going to share. I ordered and paid and waited. I got my food, told him again it better be just like home, and I left. Drove an agonizing 20 mins home. The whole well smelling the beef, picturing the hot dog, tasting my precious food in my mind. I walked in the house and the kids thought they needed their food first. Apparently they did not realize the importance of a woman who has not had her hometown favorites in well over a year.

FINALLY, it was my turn. I bit into my dog while The Hubby started on the beef. It was delish! Not 100% Portillos but close. Close enough for me to be a happy mommy. Yes, I know my picture is sideways.

Then, I tried some beef. Not bad. Not perfect, close, but it needed some more flavor. Also more au jus. What is with these places? The bread was barely wet. That is just not right. I want it wet. I want a side of au jus to dip it in. Yes, I see the side of au Jus sitting there....it was like an oz. Teeny, tiny, cup. I need MORE. I want to need a dang spoon by the end. Nope, not here. After the 20 min drive home the bread should have been wet through the bottom, nope all dry. I realize they might have done this so my bread was not soppy when I got home. Ok, even if you use that argument the amount of au jus they gave us was NOT enough to make the bread wet. Everything was still pretty dry, bread and meat. So still, not enough.

It was ok. Would I order it again? Maybe. if they gave me more au jus. If not I would pass. So if you are in the Richmond area and need a Chicago Dog head on down to Scooby's. If you need an Italian Beef really bad give them a shot too, just make sure you get it wet!