Route 66 Stop: Cozy Dog Drive-In

Category: Food Drink

Was Ed Waldmire, the creator of the cozy dog (originally called the “crusty cur”), the first person to sell the corn dog? Some say so, but it's a highly disputed fact. Hot dog historians argue that the cozy dog—which was created in 1946, sold at the Illinois State Fair that same year, and later led to the opening of the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield—was preceded by the Texas State Fair’s “corny dog” and the Minnesota State Fair’s “pronto pup.”

Whether the Cozy Dog Drive-In holds the title or not, it’s a can’t-miss stop for tasty fried food and Route 66 kitsch. Just make sure you remember one important fact: you’re not ordering a corn dog, folks. It’s a cozy dog. Get that right and you’re in for one heck of a dining experience.

The Setting
If it’s lunchtime when you stop into the Cozy Dog Drive-In, odds are you’ll be greeted by a line at the counter. Never fear. It moves fast—so fast that, by the time you fill your drink at the beverage station and find a seat, your freshly fried order is up. The friendly crew behind the counter is efficient, to say the least. They want you to enjoy your cozy dog and get the heck out of dodge so there’s room for the next round of customers.

While you wait for your cozy dog to cool (rest assured, it will be hot), take a peek at the cozy dog and Route 66 collectibles adorning the walls. You’ll find classic menus and advertisements from the restaurant’s early days, the hand-written story of the invention of the cozy dog, license plates and Route 66 signs galore, and more than a few pieces of old-school hot dog artwork. You can snag your own Cozy Dog Drive-In memorabilia from the corner shop, and don’t be afraid to snap a photo with the travel treasures on display while you’re there too.

The Food
You’d be remiss not to try a cozy dog—particularly since they'll only set you back $1.85 per dog. If cozy dogs aren’t your thing, however, there are plenty of other menu options, including the usual breakfast fare, burgers, tenderloins, chicken strips, and chili. Sides include fries, onion rings, mushrooms, cheese sticks, and nachos.

Best of all, there isn’t a menu item that costs more than $3.75—unless you’re after one of the family baskets for $8.95 to $11.95. To feed a family of four? That’s pretty a darn good deal for a taste of cozy dog history.

Get There
Cozy Dog Drive-In
2935 South Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62703
217.525.1992

Tags: Food & Drink | Springfield | Cozy Dog Drive-In | Route 66 |

( Share this post | Read More)