Rutt's Hut

My job had me in Totowa the past two Saturdays. I had heard of Rutt's via the Travel Channel, web and some of my other co-workers who had been there.

My first impression was not much. The building is old and dated with a rough looking apperance. As a plus the parking lot is kept up and not full of trash or pot holes. The steel posts and guard rails that sorround the place had been painted with...+READ My job had me in Totowa the past two Saturdays. I had heard of Rutt's via the Travel Channel, web and some of my other co-workers who had been there.

My first impression was not much. The building is old and dated with a rough looking apperance. As a plus the parking lot is kept up and not full of trash or pot holes. The steel posts and guard rails that sorround the place had been painted with a fresh coat of white paint. The white paint looked like polish applied to liven things up a bit, as they contained and ample amount of dings, dents and bends that held stories told and untold. To me they just lend to the decor of the joint. The bar and its' entrance look dumpy as does the entrance breezeway to the walkup part as they had defied the scrapes and late night bumps the guard rails had absorbed, and were proud to be aged and still intact. Walking in you see the whole joint at once. Left is the order counter with the very dated menu board above the dated decor. The place just screams, "This is a joint " and if we were in the south the menu would be BBQ. To the right as you look are large counters, no booths or seats just standing room only. I liked the dumpy unchanged attitude and the menu board with it's old style letters that snap into the grooves. I think they add to the experence. I noticed a local clientele being greeted by name. With the guy behind the counter offering a chair for a sick patron to sit on should the friend he was talking to bring the sick guy by. I also noticed on both visits that everyone comes to Rutt's. There were Mercedes, motocycles and beat up junkers in the lot. All walks of life from the brick layer down the street to the officer worker come to dine on Rutt's deep fried gastro intestinal delight.

So with the decor out of the way onto the food. I had seen enough on-line to know what I wanted before walking through the doors . I ordered up two rippers and cheese fries with a Pepsi the first time and onion rings instead of the fries the second. I slathered the dogs both times with the cabbage, carrot concoction which I would describe as sweet. I found the onion rings to be crispy and greasy just what I was expecting. I didn't go there expecting a health salad. The dogs were good and had a particular taste that was imparted from the oil in which they were fried. I wouldn't say they were the best ever but, they weren't bad. I found the staff to be a wait staff. They have been taking orders all day (if not years) so they don't have a large meet and greet appeal. They aren't rude but, they don't go out of the way to say hello either. You order they yell it out and the process begins and ends without any fanfare, next !! is yelled after you have paid and received your food. Over to the counter along the window and a stare at the traffic on Route 21 and chat with my co-wokers as we watched a van try to back up the two lane exit ramp. Only to relize that the school buses and traffic flowing towards him honking was not going to let him complete his dopey idea.

Overall I would have to say that Rutt's was what I expected. An aging roadside joint that rufuses to change and has been pumping out the same food the same way for the last 50 years. Rutt's doesn't claim any curbside appeal or some cute charm with a trendy flare. The only thing that has changed is Rutt's customers . They come and go both young and old, with those vowing never to come back or those returning for the 100th time (this year). You either like it or you don't. I wouldn't drive hours out of my way to go there. But, if you are near the place and want to try something different Rutt's Hutt is worth a try and a visit. If not for the food, just to see a relic that hasn't changed and would die if it tried. And If you find you are among those who don't like it what have you lost ? $8.50 ehhh I have wasted more on dumber things.

As a side note I bought a T-Shirt. Why not ? It took me years to get there so I figured why have something to remember it by.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (123 Replies) (by Jersey_guy, created November 28, 2011)

»Doggone good!

After catching part of the TV show, and reading online reviews, I had to travel to Clifton, NJ to service the alarm system at Unclaimed Freight, a discount furniture store on Rt. 46, so I decided to get some grub while I was in town. Actually I went to The Hot Grill first. Thank goodness for GPS! As I pulled up, the orange roof looked liked a recycled Pizza Hut (just like Willy Joes, Lehigh St.,...+READ After catching part of the TV show, and reading online reviews, I had to travel to Clifton, NJ to service the alarm system at Unclaimed Freight, a discount furniture store on Rt. 46, so I decided to get some grub while I was in town. Actually I went to The Hot Grill first. Thank goodness for GPS! As I pulled up, the orange roof looked liked a recycled Pizza Hut (just like Willy Joes, Lehigh St., Allentown, PA) but once inside, it was a plesant family place full of great food choices. Ordered the Texas Weiner smothered in their sauce. Good dog, sauce sort of prevented me from getting the full flavor of the hot dog. Next time I am in Clifton, I will be back.

Off to my real reason for being in Clifton, Unclaimed Freight. Fixed their alarm!! Then back on the road.

Finished off my trip with a stop at Rutt's Hut. Two Rippers and two drafts. Tried one with their house condiment, 2nd one with just spicy mustard. Liked that best. Good hotdogs. Really old bar! Dirty? No! Just old. Wish it was close to home. I'd like to drop in for two beers and two dogs. Got the onion rings for the road, and brought two dogs home for my wife in Bethlehem, PA She liked the one with spicy mustard over their own condiment. The take out side, with tables for standing to eat, is bright and clean. The server was super friendly!

Well, now I am back to eating at the hotdog places in the Lehigh Valley - the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton (ABE) area. Yocco's (Allentown, Fogelsville, Emmas), Pete's (Southside Bethlehem) Potts (Bethlehem, Coopersburg, Nazareth) Jimmy's (the Original 25th St. Shopping Cener, Easton) and where Jimmys was first, the Phillipsburg(NJ)-Easton free bridge, another Jimmys. And of course, on Memorial Parkway Rt 22 Phillipsburg, NJ Toby's Cup. Also Traubs Doggie House, Emmaus.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (4 Replies) (by unit417, created September 25, 2011)

Rippers and Rutt's Relish! Grew up on this, complete with their delicate thin onion rings. Yum! I have relatives who have moved from NJ to Ohio and this is their 1st stop when they come back for a visit. Love it! REPLY (48 Replies) (by GBQyum, created August 1, 2010)