Bringing Some Style to Comfort Food

With a menu of either hot dogs or grilled cheese sandwiches, to say Rick Tyrell has gone back to the basics would be a bit of an understatement. Cheese Dawgs may seem to own a simple menu, but the idea of a hot dog covered in Texas chili or a grilled cheese sandwich with Buffalo chicken and Swiss cheese are difficult meals to put together at home.

"I've been in the food industry all my life," said Tyrell. "I wanted to have something different in the area. It was just my luck that this kind of food hasbecome popular again."

Open since May, Tyrell has satisfied a steady stream of hungry lunchers looking for something new for their meal options. For the extra starving, or people just looking for a little fame, Cheese Dawgs offers the Beast Challenge. 

For $10, a two-foot hot dog with a choice of toppings that include bacon, ham, chili, baked beans and jalepenos is served to the brave souls who think they can finish the whole thing in under 10 minutes. If they are successful, they receive a free t-shirt and have their picture added to the wall of fame.

We've had 90 people try so far," said Tyrell. "About half of them managed to do it. The fastest time is five minutes and eight seconds."

The BYO restaurant also offers free beer night the first Friday of the month. Tyrell brings in his own case and serves up the beer with orders between 5 and 8 p.m.

Cheese Dawgs is located at 318 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville. Hours of operation: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sundays. Call (267) 684-6470 for more information about catering and parties.