I am not a hot dog connoisseur. Yes, hot dog connoisseurs exist. Friend wears the badge with honor and dogged determination (pun unintended) to consume a hot dog whenever one is spotted on a menu. On the other hand, I could count the number of times I have enjoyed a hot dog on one hand - a pilgrimage to Gray's Papaya with aforementioned friend, that one (very hungry) time at Costco, a stop at a Chicago style dog vendor...in San Diego, and my first and only trip to The Happy Dog.
Let me tell you that the Coney Company changed that. Every item sampled from the extensive menu is delicious! Even the food with cheese sauce/American cheese on it (there's a backstory involving Florida, a 7 eleven breakfast sandwich and a fishing charter behind that statement). We have been back several times and favorites are as follows:
1) Loose burger
2) Chili cheese fries
3) Coney dog
4) Cinnamon roll pancakes
5) Mac n cheese bites
We have yet to order anything that doesn't elicit a 'grrr...mine...all mine!' reaction. The menu is extensive with something for everyone including superman ice cream!
The sister-brother entrepreneur team has done a fabulous job with what used to be an Arby's. Additions like a counter made with reclaimed wood from Coney Island's old boardwalk and a string art piece on one of the walls turned what could have been a very drab location into a (retro) cool space. You order and pick food up from the counter which means you get your food super quick. The prices are extremely reasonable. The most we have spent during our many visits is $13.
So after all of that, if you still need an excuse to go - the zoo is just down the road! Plan a trip to the zoo, and a stop at the Coney Company before/after. My recommendation - invest in a zoo membership because once you eat at the Coney Company, you may find yourself making plans to visit the zoo often ie every week.