Chili and Cheese

What a blessed combination. Best showcased, in my opinion, on a hot dog. Some of my favorite places to get a chili and cheese dog are:
Red Hot Restaurant
219 6th Street
Ellwood City, PA

Red Hot is a small, not too clean, diner-like restaurant in Ellwood City. The staff can be indifferent, at best. But, the chili and cheese anything are fantastic. The chili is spicy but not overpowering, and the beef is finely ground and not too greasy. The cheese used, whether on a dog, burger, or fries, is sliced American. No room temp bottles of squeeze cheese here - take note, Brighton Hot Dog Shop. The dogs are run of the mill pork dogs, and the buns are steamed, I think. The combination of all is not to be missed. Also not to be missed are the chili and cheese fries. They are fresh cut fries, covered with American cheese slices, ladled with hot chili. So very good. I am a big fan of the (surprise!) chili and cheeseburger as well. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The prices are Red Hot are another attraction. We got a large chili cheese fry (which filled two large square to-go Styrofoam containers), 3 chili cheeseburgers, and 8 chili cheese hot dogs (yes, there were other people besides the two of us eating) for under $20. Quarts and pints of the chili are available as well. Additional bonus: Cherokee Red available by the can.

Eddie's Footlong Hot dogs
16306 Conneaut Lake Road
Meadville, PA
Eddie's has been serving footlong hot dogs since 1947. I have been enjoying them, with chili and cheese, since I can remember. Eddie's chili (aka sauce at Eddie's) is, appropriately, saucy. It is mild so far as spice goes. The cheese is shredded cheddar and adds a nice bit of sharpness to to the chili. The dogs are Smith's, made in Erie, PA. I try to eat local whenever I can, so the fact that the dogs are made and the company is headquartered 20 miles to the north is a big plus for me. The fact that they are wonderful is more important, though.
The only seating available is outdoor : picnic tables. Eddie's is open seasonally, so be sure to call ahead and make sure they haven't closed for the winter.
(If you are at Eddie's, you need to go right down the road to Hank's Custard Stand and get dessert - custard, specifically. Maybe the best I have ever had.)

Basilone's
708 Roemer Blvd
Farrell, PA

MARGIE DOG - that's what you need to eat here. It is a chili cheese dog with sliced hot pepper rings. I was in a food coma when I ate this dog, so I can't be sure of the details. But, what I can remember of the dog, besides the overall heavenly deliciousness, is the tangy heat the peppers added to the dog. The chili is chunky with beans and and the cheese is shredded cheddar. The buns are buttered and grilled. Can't say much about the dog itself - I don't remember. I am going to be diligent in getting back there soon and trying another Margie Dog, this time paying attention to the dog itself. It's a sacrifice I am willing to make.

Another sacrifice I am willing to make is a trip to D's Six Pax and Dogz in Regent Square for one of their chili dogs. I hope to do so soon and get back to you. I ate a Legume recently and wanted to try a dog after, but I didn't have the room. It's tough getting old.