Wednesday, May 25, 2011
First Bite Try Jim's Coney Island for Dogs and Burgers
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, May 25, 2011 at 5:38 AM
Detroit Coney Dog? I thought Coney Island was in New York? Time for more leaning, this time from the old Wikipedia. Apparently Coney Dogs originated in the early 20th century in Michigan, particular becoming popular in the cities of Flint and Detroit a few years before they ever made it to the Big Apple. An authentic Coney should be made with a Koegel Vienna beef wiener from the Koegel Meat Co. in Flint and should be topped with onions, mustard and a beanless chili sauce heavily flavored with cumin and made from beef hearts.
Still with me after the beef-heart chili deal? Good, because it definitely is a dog worth experiencing. Ron Butler, the owner/chief cook/bottle washer at Jim's overnights his chili sauce and Koegel dogs from Michigan to ensure their authenticity. (Speaking of dogs, look for the picture of Jim above the counter and you'll see the namesake of the establishment.) Keeping with the Midwestern theme, Ron serves case after case of Faygo soft drinks and Vernor's Ginger Ale to accompany the dogs, burgers and well-seasoned fries. If you're a cream soda fan, try a Faygo Rock and Rye with your next Coney. You'll thank me.
The beef casing of the Coney has just enough snap to it, and the fact that the dogs are grilled instead of steamed or boiled ensures a little bit of pleasing char. The chili sauce is wonderfully messy, and no one will look down their nose at you if you use a fork to finish up the drippings. Mainly the reason no one would look down their nose is that everyone in the entire joint is facing in the same direction.
You see, Jim's Coney Island is tee-tiny. With only 8 or 9 stools facing the grill and Ron's entertaining ongoing chatter, if the weather doesn't allow for outside seating you better get there early or consider a to-go order. There are a few bistro tables outside, but the parking lot is small and spaces aren't marked, so expect a little anarchic traffic to entertain you while you eat. Jim's shares the lot with a service station, so it's pretty much every driver for themselves when trying to park.
Because it is so small, my most recent dining companions pleaded with me not to tell the Bites-Net about it. However, since I learned yet another fact about Jim's from Bites commenter Shannon, who shared how wonderful their burgers were, I promised not to keep my secret any longer. A repeat trip was planned, and this post moved from my to-do list to my actually-do-it-dammit list.
Ron makes loosely packed beef patties at the time of order and slaps them on the griddle under a shower of seasoned salt. Each burger is actually two patties with condiments thoughtfully layered between the buns, cheese and patties so as not to get all mixed up in a steamy mess that ends up tasting like bad Big Mac Special Sauce. (Read: Thousand Island.) The burger was juicy and well-seasoned without being too salty. The bun could hardly contain the amount of meat and toppings, but there were no complaints from our dining party. Except we needed more napkins ... and a nap.
Is it the best burger in town? That's still up for debate, but it's definitely in my Top 5. However, Jim's may well be the best burger deal in town. A lunch combo of either a burger or two (!) Coney Dogs with a generous helping of fries and a drink will set you back less than seven bucks. That alone will earn my return business. Especially if I can get somebody else to drive and hassle with the parking.
Jim's Coney Island
4663 Trousdale Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 445-3006
Comments (13)
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I went and had a couple of coneys, no mustard, one with cheese and one without to compare and contrast. They were both very good. I watched a burger being made and I will definitely go back to try one. Nice folks.
The stated hours are Mon-Fri 11 am - 7 pm Sat 11 am - 5 pm, but I've heard of people getting fed much later than that if the sign is still flipped to "Open."
Thank you, Chris, for this great write-up about the best chili dog joint in town.
As someone that has trekked to Detroit for 21 years, if it can match up to the Senate's Coney Dogs in Dearborn, then Nashville will finally come of age. Faygo's Rock & Rye? It doesn't get more authentic than that - certainly not in NYC....
bistro tables? where I come from there called picnic tables
These dogs are pretty tasty. My favorite hot dog in town is the Chicago dog at Hot Diggity Dog, but for this coney style Jim's is the way to go. I'm not sure I would ever get the burger, because I could just go a few miles north to Gabby's for that. Just the same I would never get the chili dog at Gabby's, but that's just me.
Thanks for writing this Chris! I go through my food addiction phases & the cheeseburger from Jim's is my current one. I have to say it's my favorite burger. And you're right, it's definitely the best combo deal. It probably gets nuts there during the week, but Saturday seems to be pretty quiet. Ron recently got in 200 cases of Rock & Rye. They're piled up everywhere! He was driving hundreds of miles a week just to track it down. I don't drink much soda, but I love that one. And Vernor's too.
Went back for the burger, Ooofff. What a nice burger. Hand pattied, nice seasoning. I'll agree with CC, it ranks somewhere in my top five. Ted's, Gabby's, Five dudes, Jim's, Melrose? then Brown's. Something like that.
Thanks for the info....I would suggest you change the picture you have on here though---the picture you have represents a "Flint" Style Coney Island.....and not a Detroit style (which is what Jim's serves). I was a bit disappointed when I got my coney and it was not as pictures above....was good...but still nothing like a Flint style one as pictured.
Sorry to disappoint you, John. The editors that be have made a quick photo change, but in my defense I did call it a Detroit Coney throughout the article.
But thanks for giving me something else to hunt down. Any Flint dogs in the area that you know of? I'll buy you one!
Chris....thanks for the reply. Yes you did say Detroit Coney through the article....I just didn't know there was a difference---but I do now! :-)
I do not know of any places in the area serving up a Flint Coney---I wish I did.....if you find out of one...the meat coney sauce, the Kogel's hot dogs in the steamed bun...with mustard and onion......please please let me know! MMMM :-)
