Lunch Break - Fresh off The Grill

Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County

After the fourth of July, sometimes the realization hits that you actually love hamburgers and hot dogs, and maybe it shouldn’t only be a summertime, sometimes meal.

For me, I was craving a good old-fashioned cheeseburger and a side of fries. Sure, I could’ve gone to McDonald's or any other run-of-the-mill burger joint, but one place caught my eye a few months ago, out of season, and I had to return.

When I first spotted Wot a Dog, it was a particularly frigid day, and I was craving soup more than anything. However, I kept the empty restaurant in the back of my mind until it was burger and dog season again.

Finally, I was trying the adorable burger place that was now booming with customers and bustling with car hops. Wot a Dog reminds me of the kind of place you’d see while in Hocking Hills or Red River Gorge. It’s an adorable little drive-up diner on the side of a somewhat busy road, tucked next to the river and the woods. It’s adorably vintage and similar to the vibe of the Rootbeer stand.

There are a few things that made Wot a Dog stand out. First, the outdoor seating is accompanied by ’50s and ’60s tunes that make you want to share a strawberry milkshake with your lover, then promptly head to the nearest sock hop with the Pink Ladies. I was put into a Dirty Dancing mood immediately. That’s why I opted to order the classic burger instead of the hipster one. However, now that I’ve had the deliciously juicy yet crisp Backyard Burger, I’m definitely returning for the Dog House Burger.

When I say juicy yet crisp, I mean that the outsides were crunchy, and the inside was bursting with flavor. The obvious choice for Backyard Burger was American cheese, and it was perfectly melted underneath pickles, lettuce, and everything else Jimmy Buffett sings about. At Wot a Dog, I had a cheeseburger in Midwest paradise. The vibes were so great that I almost forgot it was 2025. That was, until I checked my receipt later that night. You win some, you lose some. I’m still going back for the Dog House, $12.00 or not.

Wot a Dog, 603 South Main Street, New Carlisle.