A frugal meal at Leo's Coney Island
Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
So, where did we go? What is today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature?
Leo's Coney Island. You can't go wrong with hot dogs, that consummate comfort food!
There weren't terribly many options that would qualify for our $5 or less per person budget; however, I did manage to get both the requisite chili dog and some vegetables by ordering cole slaw on the side. Yes, I am happy to delude myself that this somehow constituted a semi-nutritious dinner!
And not only did I get a hot dog, but I ordered an all-beef kosher Coney dog... oh, it was so good! Lots of rich chili and a generous supply of onions (thank goodness I wasn't kissing anyone!) completed the perfect package.
The cole slaw was creamy and had good flavor. Some people are very particular about these matters, but I'm a big fan of virtually any variety of cole slaw. I liked this one very much and certainly recommend it as an accompaniment to the star of the show.
My friend also ordered the kosher Coney, because it was just the right thing to do. And he also ordered a small Greek salad (over the $5 per person budget, but that was his choice), which was generously topped with all the expected goodies of banana peppers, olives, cheese, beets and tomatoes.
Leo's provided a welcoming atmosphere where we loitered for quite some time, good hearty food and excellent value for our money. What more can you ask for? A worthy expenditure of $5!
Leo's Coney Island
3644 Carpenter Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-971-2388
Mary Bilyeu has won or placed in more than 60 cooking contests and writes about her adventures in the kitchen. She was thrilled to have her post about Scottish Oatmeal Shortbread named as one of the daily "Best of the Blogs" by the prestigious Food News Journal.
Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — on which she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related. Her newest feature is Frugal Floozie Friday, seeking fun and food for $5 or less ... really! Feel free to email her with questions or comments or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.
The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers as they cook along with her ... may you always be happy here.
Comments
Ann English
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
Jay McNally just interviewed the owner today, on his radio show now running from noon to 1 PM. Bashar cutting up vegetables in the kitchen there, looking like he couldn't be happier doing anything else. Committed to quality. Wants happy employees and customers. What I didn't hear from the interview, but from other readers infer, is that this legal Lebanese immigrant is friendly to Jews and Jewish preferences. Weeks ago, Jay McNally said on his radio talk show, then at 7 AM Saturdays, that his favorite restaurant was this particular Coney Island one, standing out as a restaurant he and his wife would eat at again and again. At others, they would visit and then decide not to return.
Thor143
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
I feel vindicated. I only eat Hebrew National hot dawgs!
Gordon
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
My only question: Is the chili their own recipe or do they buy the chili from National Coney Island?
Mary Bilyeu
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
I have no idea whether they make their own chili, but it was really good nonetheless!
CynicA2
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 1:25 a.m.
Yes. For those of us who live on the west side, it is a gem. Lots of reasonably priced, tasty food - and plenty of it. Should be on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives".
CynicA2
Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
Uptown Coney Island has $1 coneys on Mondays, and also during certain hours on Wednesday and Friday. And if you don't want a dog, you can get a big bowl of coney chili, with a "small" (but very generous!) order of excellent fries, for just under $5, any day of the week. Swirl a little yellow mustard on top of the chili, and you will be good to go for the rest of the day! Good stuff!
Mary Bilyeu
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 1:18 a.m.
That is exceptionally good news -- thank you so much for letting me know!!! Chili dogs or chili fries ... can't go wrong with either ... :)