Make sure to lock your car doors. Lawrence.

Guest written by Liz.
On a cold and grey Saturday Jess, Rob, and I decided to take a 40 minute trek north out to Lawrence. Why Lawrence of all places you ask? Because it’s the home of Lawton’s Famous Frankfurts! Remaining unchanged in its 80 years of hot dog perfection making existence, Lawton’s is a true hidden gem in this run down and forgotten city. What makes Lawton’s so good is the fact that they are fried in oil and are 10 inches of beef and pork filled hot dog heaven that are then engulfed in toasted buns! Each hot dog is made to order, which also adds to their greatness. One of the saddest things ever is seeing a hot dog rotating on a grill for hours at a time all sad and lonely. Freshness is definitely a major factor in hot dog greatness.
Lawton’s is surprisingly easy to find thanks to Google Maps. It’s a small red shack of a building that hangs somewhat dangerously over the edge of the canal surrounded by deteriorating mill buildings. With barely any room to stand in their building you get to know your fellow hot dog lovers quite well. The smell of delicious grease filled the air as we waited making us hungrier by the minute. While we waited for our orders to be finished we chatted up a woman in line who grew up in Lawrence, but now live in NH and she took a trip down from NH just because she was in the mood for a Lawton’s hot dog. True devotion at its best! Our hopes and expectations grew higher with our new information.
Jess and I ordered a side of fries and 2 hot dogs each of, “the works” – fresh onions, mustard, and relish. With our orders in hand we packed ourselves back into by car, (due to its tininess, Lawton’s has no room for indoor seating). We bit in simultaneously. Pure deliciousness! I must say that it was the best hot dog that I have had in a very very long time. A full-bodied hot dog with a crispy skin and pilled with mouth watering condiments and a buttery, toasted bun. Rob ordered a chili dog, which he was not as impressed with. Rob’s disappointment was not because of the hot dog, but because of the chili itself. As Rob sulked in his disappointment, Jess and I savored our hot dog purchases and encouraged him to eat some fries to cheer himself up. On the ride back home we decided that Lawton’s was truly the best hot dogs that we have enjoyed since our Great Hot Dog Hunt has began and that we would definitely be back soon.