We have to admit that we were a little skeptical about finding the perfect dog in Beaver Dam, WI. The Conlon family grew up enjoying the food of Chicago's finest hot dog stands and wanted to one day open their own restaurant. That day came this past Memorial Day weekend, when Windy City opened its doors and the Conlon's shared their passion for Chicago's finest with Beaver Dam.

As we pulled into the parking lot we knew this was going to be a special place. The building is small and unassuming, but Vienna signage is in plain sight on both the exterior and interior of the building. Seating is limited on the inside, but you can always enjoy your dog at one of the outside tables. Windy City is family owned and operated and we were immediately greeted by the Staff (Larry, Jamie, and Michael). We noticed a hot dog mascot near the counter. Mitch and I couldn't get past the fact that the "hot dog man" was defacing himself with ketchup, so we had to bring this to the staff's attention. We were assured that they were just as concerned and were busily brain-storming on how to deal with that issue. We later found out that the un-named little guy used to be on the roof, but after a failed kidnapping attempt, they decided to keep him indoors.

Windy City oozes the atmosphere found in a typical Chicago hot dog stand. We love the fact that the staff was so friendly and value the connection with their customers. We ordered two Chicago Dog meals along with a couple of kids dog meals for the boys (we decided to bring some backup). Clearly Windy City Chicago Dogs are catching on. We were excited to hear some locals order a "Chicago Dog with the works".

When our Chicago dogs arrived, they looked fantastic. The first thing that caught our eye was the gleaming red ripe tomato wedges and the huge pickle spear. In our opinion, presentation is often just as important as taste. These dogs were created by someone who definitely knows what a Chicago Dog should be.

Windy city uses skinless Vienna dogs and they were done to perfection. The poppy seed buns were from a local bakery and were nice and airy and held up extremely well (the kids meals are served on a plain bun). The large pickle spear was excellent. It was big enough to span the entire length of the dog and had the perfect taste and crunch. Sam, our "pickle expert" remarked that it was one of the best pickles he ever had. The neon green relish was great and the onions were finely chopped. The two tomato wedges were just the right size and two sport peppers (with a little kick) rounded out the dog nicely. Our dogs were a little light on the celery salt.

The kids really liked their hot dogs and almost polished theirs off before Mitch and I could even get started. Sam thought his Chicago Dog was excellent and Ben said that his was "Yummy".

The Windy City Chicago dog passed the ultimate Mitch and Kevin test since we couldn't stop thinking about having another while we were only a couple of bites into our first. We were also stopped cold by the fries. These are some of the best fries we ever had. They have a light batter and the seasoning puts them over the top. Our resident "fry experts" (i.e. the kids) agreed and added that the fries were the best they ever had.

Overall, Windy City has one of the best dogs we've reviewed to date. They are currently only the second establishment that passed our authenticity requirement for all ingredients. The Chicago Dog meal runs $3.95 and includes a dog, fries, and a drink, while a Chi dog and fries goes for $3.25. A "southside" version is also available. Windy City serves all the Chicago classics but considers the Italian Beef to be their signature sandwich. We'd love to see a char dog added to the menu and would like them to open a store in Madison (hint, hint). Anyway, we highly recommend Windy City and can't wait to try one of their Italian Beefs or Gyros on our next trip.

Hartford knows Chicago Dogs! Mickey's Frozen Custard, known primarily for their assortment of fresh custard and sundaes, has hit one out of the park, "Chicago Style".

Mickey's offers a "standard" size Chicago dog for $2.08 as well as a jumbo version for $2.73. Fries and something to drink obviously aren't included in that bargain price and will run you a couple of extra bucks.

The dog arrived wrapped in wax paper, which was definitely a good sign. The mustard was applied to the bun, the pickle was a thin slice (not a spear) and the tomatoes were sliced. All minor nits and all were easily forgiven the moment I took my first bite. The pickle was fantastic. All ingredients were in perfect harmony, since you could taste a smattering of each in every chomp. The dog was juicy, the peppers had ample kick (but not overpowering) and the bun was perfect. This dog passed the ultimate "Mitch and Kevin" test, especially since I couldn't stop thinking about having another while I was still working on my first.

If you are ever passing through Hartford, you owe it to yourself to stop by Mickey's. They have quite an extensive menu, including hamburgers, onion rings, cheese and chili fries and tons more.

Sammy's claims to have the best Chicago Dog in Milwaukee. We felt obliged to find out how the Sammy's dog stacked up against our current contenders so we headed off to their Slinger location in search of the perfect dog.

Sammy's interior is pretty typical for a fast food joint. You won't find any Chicago memorabilia, since afterall, it's a Milwaukee original. There's plenty of booth and single seating. A drive-thru is also available if you're really pressed for time. The menu is pretty extensive and includes many Chicago classics such as the Maxwell Polish and the Italian Beef. Traditional fast food fare, such as burgers and fries are also available, but we can't imagine why you'd ever need to look past a glorious Chicago Dog.

We had high expectations, so we ordered up a traditional Chicago Dog with the works. I was a bit paranoid when I ordered, so I confirmed ketchup was not included. I was relieved when the cashier did a variation of the "not in my house" response we usually get in Chicago. Actually, the only ketchup I saw was by the condiment bar, far removed from the food prep area, reducing the chance of any "ketchup mishaps". I unwrapped my dog and was pleased to see that Sammy's wasn't shy about applying the toppings. The dog had a nice even coat of neon green relish, and the finely chopped onions were in perfect proportion. The sliced tomato halves were perfectly wedged in the bun and the two sport peppers were tucked in so there would be no chance of them squirting away as the dog was devoured. The bun length pickle slice was the perfect size and had a great taste and crunch. The peppers were nice sized and had a kick that balanced well with the other ingredients.

Sammy's uses their own "Windy City Dog", which is a skinless all beef Klements dog. The dog was juicy, but not quite as tasty as some of the best natural cased dogs we've had. Mustard was carefully applied to the dog and in perfect proportion to everything else. The poppy seed bun had ample seeds, was nice and airy, and kept the structural integrity of the dog in check. Lastly, there was a light dusting of celery salt, but patrons are free to add as much as they want since each table has a shaker. Maybe it was the heat, but I thought this was genius. I'm surprised we haven't seen this at other establishments.

Overall, Sammy's has a nice Chicago dog, and should easily satisfy your craving if you're traveling through the greater Milwaukee area. Sammy's has 4 locations. The standard Chicago Dog goes for $1.89, while a jumbo version will run you $2.65. As an added bonus they also offer Sprecher Root Beer on tap.