Tradition on a bun, Harvey's Hot Dogs... Part II

Most neighborhoods have a hot dog haunt. Not many have been serving guests for more than 30 years, like Harvey's Hot Dogs on Stamford Road in Churchland.

Founding owner Harvey King is no longer the top dog since he retired and sold the restaurant to Richie and Michelle Wood. The new owners re-opened in October with new management but the same name, and the addition of the Roman numeral "II" indicating a new era.

Jim Pate, the chef, makes all the homemade soups and said Friday's she crab ($3.95) is popular with regulars. He made a few changes to the hot dog chili that have been well-received.

When we visited we felt like city slickers, obviously not regulars. Our server welcomed us and adapted to our lingering lunch attitude. She offered samples of the beef vegetable and broccoli cheese soups to help us decide.

Cubed deli roast beef with an unappealing texture did not make for a palatable soup; it lacked fresh beef flavor and was too salty. Broccoli cheddar (small $2.95, large $3.95) was a better, fresher choice with easily seen vegetables - broccoli, carrots and celery - and just enough cheese.

We skipped over the "regular" ($1.95) and the "beef" hot dogs ($2.30) to choose the snappy Hormel ($2.30) with the crisp casing, prepared all the way, with mustard, onions and homemade hot dog chili. It was tasty and neat, perfect for diners who want to avoid slopping their shirt. I prefer more abundant toppings that topple, so that the last bite of the dog can be used to scoop up the remnants. That makes the last bite one of the best. Relish, ketchup, sauerkraut, cheese and slaw are also available.

We ordered barbecue (small $3.50, large $4.50), after confirming that it was made in house, with homemade sauce and cole slaw. Tender, slow-cooked pork, flavored with a slightly sweet sauce, was very good on a lightly grilled bun. The slaw tasted as though it had come from a commercial tub. Mustard and onions flavored a piquant homemade potato salad ($1.10).

When we saw the chalkboard special of a chili cheeseburger with fries ($5.95) delivered to an adjacent table, we had to order one even though we could not have it rare. We received a nicely constructed, hearty, well-done burger topped with homemade bean chili, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Hot crinkle fries completed the satisfying lunch.

Raspberry bread pudding with creme anglaise ($2) was sweet and gooey, adding to our indulgent lunch.

Tammy Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com