The lunch rush was rolling in at Pete’s Hot Dogs in Newburgh on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Some people were in and out, back to the hustle and bustle of the workday; others chose to stay for a while, sit on one of the barstools and enjoy the company.
It might look like your average hole-in-the-wall spot, but this place has been creating community on South Williams Street in Newburgh for 94 years.
From the happily dancing, holiday-themed hot dogs posted up on the walls to the family memorabilia dotted around the joint, the vibe is not pretentious. Anyone can give Pete’s Hot Dogs a shot — grab a single dog for $3.25 including tax.
Regina Hulse, of Coldenham, isn’t a descendant of the original Pete who started the business back in 1932, but has become a part of the extended family, having worked at Pete’s Hot Dogs for 34 years.
“I think they try and stay competitive,” Hulse said. “They’re not here to make millions and rip people off. They’re here to serve good food at a good prices.”
It’s tasty, affordable and, as readers told us, a beloved American classic.
In an Aug, 3 poll asking voters to decide the top all-American food spot in the mid-Hudson Valley, Pete’s Hot Dogs came out on top with nearly 50% of the votes.
Adults young and old and just about all walks of life stopped into Pete’s on this summer weekday, forming a line of customers that never seemed to get any shorter.
Pete’s Hot Dogs truly embodies what a neighborhood spot feels like, and it is a rare gem in the modern food industry.
A bit of background on Pete’s
The key to Pete’s Hot Dogs is their slogan to “keep it simple,” said owner Vincent Orsino, who is the grandson of the original Pete.
Orsino is retired now, but he worked at Pete’s for over 50 years. To this day, his favorite thing about it is meeting the people who come in, from their long-time regulars to their newest customers.
Currently, Jeffrey Orsino and Renee Purcell, the fourth generation of the family, are running the day-to-day operations.
But there are two more younger family members representing the fifth generation to work here. Purcell’s sons, Patrick Purcell and Kieran Purcell, work part-time at Pete’s.
Patrick Purcell, a graduate of Bentley University in Boston, is working toward his CPA. He fills in when he’s home on breaks, and Kieran Purcell, who attends Cornwall High School, works after school and on weekends.
When talking about the family, Hulse said they’ll never ask employees to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. It’s fair and a major factor in why she’s stayed for over three decades.
“They are amazing people,” Hulse said.
We tried the staff recommendations
There are six hot dogs to choose from on the Pete’s menu. You might get some chips, potentially some potato salad or coleslaw on the side, and a soft drink, but they purposely didn’t add fries or anything else.
If you like char-grilled hot dogs, this is not the place to go, but you’ll find the all-beef Boar’s Head hot dogs they’re serving up have a crispness and snap with the all-natural casings.
Everyone has their hot dog topping preferences. If you want to have yours served as the original Pete and his family line intended, here are a few musts:
#1 “Mustard & Kraut”: This is the original Pete’s Hot Dog, the one that started it all in 1932. It’s also the hot dog Vincent Orsino recommends. Out of the three we tried during our visit, this was the clear winner. It’s clear why it’s been on the menu for going on 95 years. Their motto to keep it simple is represented in this hot dog, and especially if you like mustard and sauerkraut, you’ll love it. If those aren’t your cup of tea, the next two might be a better fit.
#2 “Chili,” Hot Bean Sauce: If sweet and savory is your thing, this hot dog is giving it. The sweetness — not overpowering but still present — was not unlike a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar. The flavor was a surprise at first, but led to a satisfying second bite.
#4 “New York,” Sauteed Red Onions: The onions gave a bit of a punchy first impression to this one, but it ended up being everything we’d hope these red onions would bring to the table. With ketchup and mustard on top, this certainly could end up being someone’s go-to pick, especially if you’re a big onion fan.
For Zeke Secor, of Beacon, who described himself as one of the four “casino guys” who pop in at Pete’s before their wagering ventures, the best pick is menu item no. 3, the “Texas,” with mild meat sauce and no cheese.
When he feels like switching it up, Secor orders the classic no. 1.
To keep up with Pete’s Hot Dogs, visit their website at peteshotdogsinc.net or Instagram page, @petes_hot_dogs.
Other top all-American food spots in the mid-Hudson Valley
The winners of second and third place in the poll for the most all-American mid-Hudson Valley spots were Brother’s Barbecue and Adam’s Fairacre Farms — specifically for the apple cider donuts.
Brother’s Barbecue came in with 30.28% of the vote, and Adam’s Fairacre Farms’ apple cider donuts took 8.92% of the votes.
Brother’s Barbecue: Brothers Gavin, Jamie and Chris Farella grew up on their mother’s Southern cooking and hospitality. The three have two locations. One is in New Windsor, Orange County, called Brothers Barbecue, Smoken All Day. The other, in Ramsey, New Jersey, is dubbed Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul. For what to try, there’s a North Carolina staple on the menu the brothers grew up on called chopped barbecue — the family has strong roots in Beaufort. You may also want to indulge in their great-aunt Edna’s fried chicken recipe, “a brother’s favorite,” according to the website at smokenallday.com.
Adams Fairacre Farms: In the mid-Hudson Valley, we’d argue apple cider donuts might be our region’s all-American pick, akin to a New England Clam Chowder or a Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza. Yes, apple cider donuts are a dessert, but when the fall rolls around, we’re fairly certain one apple cider donut — or four — has made a great meal for someone in the area. Thus, in that light, Adams Fairacre Farms and their apple cider donuts made the list. Patrons can enjoy the pinnacle fall treat, with cozy spices and a sparkling coat of cinnamon sugar, warm while shopping. Find a location near you at adamsfarms.com.
Top 3 write-in answers
Just under 7% of voters took the time to write in their own local all-American favorites.
Listed below, from most to least write-ins, are some other local spots that represent what all-American looks like in our region, directly from our readers.
Carole’s HotDogs: A classic local hot dog truck and family business now run by Carole’s daughter, Lynne Alessi; 2 St. Andrews Road, Hyde Park; facebook.com/CarolesHotDogs1/.
Holy Dog: Joint serving up specialty hot dogs and comfort food favorites; 44 W Main St., Middletown; holydogny.com and instagram.com/holydogmiddletown/.
Tony’s Newburgh Lunch: Find breakfast sandwiches and platters, hot dogs, such as Texas hot wieners, burgers and French fries, including their Buffalo chicken bacon ranch fries as well as handhelds like the Tom Tom patty melt; tonysnewburghlunch.com.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Why Pete’s Hot Dogs won poll as mid-Hudson’s ultimate all-American spot
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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By Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
