Inside: Wünderdaug

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Food: Wünderdaug, located on High Street in Clintonville, uses hot dogs ($2.09) that are all beef, Kosher and free of artificial ingredients and colorings, corn dogs ($2.79) made of pork and beef, as well as "Coney" brats. Vegetarians can try the veggie dog, and for the very hungry, there's a jumbo dog (both $2.79).

Start by picking whichever dog sounds most appealing, and build from there. Create a personally unique Wünderdaug or brat, or try a "favorite," like the popular "Wunder!" loaded with chili, cheese, onion, coleslaw, tomato, banana pepper and mustard, all piled onto either a regular or jumbo dog in between an extra-large, super-moist bun.

Some of the "favorites" really cater to adventurous eaters. Take the "Haute!" for example: chili, cheese, onion, hot sauce, jalapeno pepper, banana pepper, red pepper flakes and spicy mustard. Then there's the "Bam!," featuring a blanket of warm spiced pears and bleu cheese on top of the dog of choice. Or keep it simple by just adding a topping or two onto a regular dog or brat.

Beware of the brat, which tastes decent enough but has a rather rubbery skin that can be annoying and rather messy. The dogs themselves are just plain sloppy, with ingredients falling off (especially as you near the end of your meal), but this is probably why Wünderdaugs are served in a paper-lined basket with a fork.

Speaking of forks, Wünderdaug also serves bowl-style meals that take the bun calories out of the equation while also transporting customers back to their childhood. The Mac & Cheese bowl ($5.25) probably isn't just like Mom used to make it, as now it has tomato and onion in addition to the hot dog and cheesy noodles. It can be ordered just as a regular side of macaroni noodles, cheese sauce and a topping of shredded cheddar cheese. The food can be a bit greasy and can also put one to sleep, especially when eaten midday paired with a regular brat, but it definitely fills you up.

Libations: Drinks at Wünderdaug are straight forward, with standard fountain drink and iced tea options ($1.69/$1.89), regular bottled water for $.99 or flavored Aquafina for $1.99.

Décor: Wünderdaug is located right next to Panera in Beechwold Plaza, a relatively new strip also containing a Chipotle. The interior of Wünderdaug is simple, yet fun, colorful and clean, with a general "diner" feel about the place. There is nothing to stare at on the walls except a wall montage of the "Top 5 Reasons to Eat at Wünderdaug" ("To watch vegetarians bite a dog" or "our wieners are bigger!") and a flat-screen TV in the opposite corner that shows things like U2 concerts. The slanted, wood-lined ordering counter is odd to a lot of people, but serves a legit purpose, waiting for diners to fill it up with cards about their favorite thing at/about Wünderdaug.

Service: It's hard to tell if the great service at Wünderdaug is just because owner Rebecca Krutko is around or if diners can expect such friendly service during all hours. Whatever the situation, the dog preparer is open to removing or adding any items to the mountain of toppings on the franks. The employees might forget a few harmless parts of your order (like giving you your water) but everyone is so friendly that it will hardly matter. They keep everything clean and sometimes offer to clear off your table after you've had your fill, but generally Wünderdaug is a pay-and-order-at-the-counter sort of place.

Crowd: Feel free to order the dog and run, or to stick around to catch the rest of that silent U2 concert on the tube. There's a wide range of people who come to this place—some who take several dogs to go and others who dine in and devour those franks (overflowing onions and all) before they get cold.

Insider's tip: If it doesn't feel too silly to do this, try using the paper basket liner as a wrapper for the hot dog to keep all of the goods in one place. Also, don't go to Wünderdaug on a first date. Go to Wünderdaug for things like the combo deals, such as a corn dog or regular hot dog, a chocolate chip cookie and a small fountain drink for $3.99. Be warned that there is a $5 minimum for credit card purchases, but rejoice in Beechwold Plaza's free parking lot.

Bottom line: Despite attempts to be foreign, Wünderdaug is an all-American take on a German tradition, offering childhood staples to those with adult taste buds.

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