Inside an unassuming bar at Williamsburg's Union Avenue and Richardson Street hides one of the city's most delicious hot dogs. Santa Salsa, a Venezuelan street food eatery, runs a small window at the back of Over The Eight, a bar and venue pub with a craft beer bent. They're dishing out delectable eats, almost all of which seem to be topped with crushed potato chips. In essence, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one.
Especially of note, their Perro Con Todo ($4), a Kosher beef hot dog topped with onions, cabbage, cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard, their house Santa Salsa (a sweet corn salsa) and, of course, potato chips. It's fully loaded, to be sure, but absolutely add avocado for an extra buck. It lends a wonderful creaminess to the snap of the dog and crunch of the chips. They also offer two vegetarian dogs, including a Pan Con Queso ($5) that's essentially a wedge of griddled cheese shaped like a tube and plopped on a bun. After a few of the bar's shot-and-beer specials ($5), it's a welcome alcohol sponge.
Ask the staff their favorite and they'll point you to the La Especial ($9), an insane burger made with a 6 ounce beef patty, onions, cabbage, chips, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, a fried egg, a slice of ham, avocado and more of that Santa Salsa. Whether a burger, dog or one of their special sandwiches, a side of Yuca Frita ($4-$5) is an absolute necessity. The inside of the cassava fries are creamy and hot, while the outsides are crunchy and dusted with a salty, spicy rub. Dip them into the accompanying guasamayo, redolent with cilantro and parsley, and you'll never look at french fries the same way again.
594 Union Avenue, inside Over The Eight bar, (347) 683-26-05 and Beach 97th Street starting in May, (347) 683-3345; website
