About Us

Serving the Best Texas Weiners Since 1961

The logo for The Hot Grill

located at 669 Lexington Avenue

in Clifton, New Jersey is a hot dog

dressed in a what supposedly is a Texas

get-up. Hat, scarf and fancy boots with a gloved

hand tipping the hat in a gesture of a friendly "hello"

which, by an odd fluke resembles a fedora more than

a ten gallon hat—but who cares? This hot-dog cowboy is

actually the real McCoy—the famous and fictional Texas Weiner gentleman character created for

owners Carmen LaMendola and Domenick Sportelli of the oh, so popular Hot Grill—a place which means many things to many people.

Most of all The Hot Grill means good eats to their thousands of customers who drive from all points West, East, South and North to relish and savor the terrific Texas Weiners, placing the truly "hot" spot in Clifton.

The Texas Weiner had its beginings not, as you might suppose in the state of Texas, but in the state of New Jersey in the city of Paterson. And for over 40 years since 1961, those tasty Texas Weiners made especially for The Hot Grill have been holding down the fort in Clifton.

Naturally, while their Texas Weiners are the "bread and butter" of The Hot Grill, the place is also noted for its homemade soups, freshly made-on-the-premises hamburgers, their delicious and tender roast beef with gravy platter, and their homemade chili with beans as well as outstanding chili sauce. An indication of the popularity of the homemade chili sauce is the abundance of orders the owners receive for chili "to go." Those orders "to go" don't necessarily mean home, either. The chili prepared at The Hot Grill travels the world, as far away as Italy and England. True or not, with competition at its highest level, it has been rumored that the country of Chile sent a delegate to The Hot Grill in Clifton just to sample the sauce.

In the many years of business, Carmen and Domenick have kept

their menu concise. However, at the request of many customers they

have added a few salads and hot and cold sandwiches to the menu.

They don't require more selections. Celebrating their 35th Anniversary

for three days in 1996, The Hot Grill sold 60,000 hot dogs alone with

many being ordered "all the way." Now, with those numbers in sales,

does this place need a huge variety of choices? What they offer is

more than enough to pack the place. And here's a case in point about business. Give the dining-out public what they want and make it good, and they'll be back for more.

The proof of the pudding? When The Hot Grill was celebrating their 30th Anniversary, it took them four days to sell the same amount of their noted hot dogs. Obviously, their business and fame just keeps growing. The place has been enlarged three times and remodeled six times.

The Hot Grill has catered to many notables. Tommy John is a customer, actor Tim Conway has enjoyed his Texas Weiner many times as did the late Allen Ludden and the late president Richard Nixon before he made it to the White House. Clearly hot dogs are universally coveted and you'll travel far and wide to beat those served at The Hot Grill.

Remember I said that The Hot Grill with its great foods and large staff which push out the food meant many things to many people? Here's one difference for you. An about-to-be-married couple approached Carmen and Domenick to discuss the possibility of allowing them to hold their bridal reception at their place. They asked if the men would close off one section of the restaurant for them. The partners, pleased as punch that a newly wedded couple desired their premsies, happily complied with the request. Sure enough, in all their bridal splendor, the party arrived at The Hot Grill and feasted on Texas Weiners, hamburgers, and chili—much to the delight and pleasure of other patrons.

Through the good times and the bad days, The Hot Grill has been a

most welcomed stop for the plain and the fancy—for the rich and the

modest, for the actor and the active and for the populace at large.

You know they grow 'em big in Texas, via Clifton, New Jersey.

The Hot Grill is open 7 days a week, 8am to 1 am on Sunday through

Thursday, from 8am to 2am on Friday and Saturday. Closed Easter,

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. For more information,

call (973) 772-6000