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Carol's Lunchbox

4.5 (53 reviews)
InexpensiveHot Dogs, Sandwiches
Closed • 11:00 am - 7:30 pm

Carol's Lunchbox Photos

CAROL'S LUNCHBOX ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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That's the little handful of french fries I got for 17 bucks with the sandwich. Big disappointment.
Rusty O.

Pulled in for dinner on this Thursday night to a full parking lot. Then I realized half the parking lot was getting paved and was blocked off. Greeted warmly by the server-cashier and possibly one of the owners. This place has counter service where you order there, pay for it, leave the tip, and then the server brings the food out to your table. I ordered the special fish sandwich and french fries. $16.95 And a can of Coca-Cola. My accountant ordered the cheeseburger, with ketchup and onion, and french fries. $15.95 He also ordered the lemonade iced tea. Within 10 minutes, the food arrived at our table. The fish sandwich was deep fried perfectly on a really nice soft roll with lettuce and tartar sauce. Unfortunately, the fish wasn't seasoned fully to my liking nor salted. Also, no lemon was on the side to squirt on the fish sandwich. The fish was lacking any flavor other than the tartar sauce. This was a big disappointment. The french fries were very good, but it was like a kid size portion for like a three-year-old. Come on now I'm paying $17, give me at least a handful of french fries. Not eight! My accountant who ordered the cheeseburger picked the winner. It was a thick well seasoned piece of beef cooked, medium rare, and he said it was delicious. He also received a ration portion of french fries. I paid a lot of money for two sandwiches, a little bit of french fries, and two drinks. I bet it was close to $43 with 20% tip. This was no bargain. The seating at the restaurant was OK. Our table top was loose and a little bit sticky. The restrooms were marginal. There flies flying around. So overall cleanliness was a little bit disappointing....come on now! I'm glad I got to try Carol's new place. If I come again, it's gonna be for the hotdog special and eat it outside.

Menu
Jason P.

I recently learned that Taste of Home recognized Carol's Lunch Box for the best hot dog in CT. That's pretty much an instant visit situation for me. Carol's has a small structure where they prepare the food, and there are some nearby picnic tables. Carol's uses bun length Martin Rosol's dogs, and I'm on record as a fan of Rosol's denser than typical hot dogs. Carol's fully steams the dogs, which distinguishes them from other top CT places. I can't say this way my favorite way to prepare a Rosol dog. I think at least partial grilling brings something extra to a dense dog like a Rosol. Carol's has some specialty dogs and build your own options. They're probably about average in terms of the number of topping options. I ordered a Reuben dog and a Chili Dog with mustard and onions. The kraut and chili are both above average for CT. I like that Carol's has the Thousand Island dressing to go with the kraut. That's pretty unique for hot dog spots. But Carol's super power may be the house spicy pepper relish. I didn't order this on my dog, but I met Carol. After hearing it was my first time, Carol offered me a sample of the House Relish. For me, the flavors are more well balanced than one of CT's famous pepper relishes. I was a big fan and I would probably get a dog with just the relish next time I visit. If you like to sample all the best CT hot dog contenders, add Carol's to your list. 4.25 Stars

Chili dogs!
Miles G.

Nice little hotdog stand. Very friendly service! I had two chili dogs with the cooper cheese. Very yummy. Picnic table seating was nice on a sunny day.

Carol's Lunch Box
Bill M.

Great food Cole slaw was great, chowder absolutely loved it. Hot dogs & chilli were perfect...service was spot on...price & value great deal for your dollar $$

Carols Hot Dogs

They won Best In The Valley for a reason! They are the best!! Two German Brats today hit the spot. Fabulous fresh bean and corn salad too.

This is take out only
Kelly B.

Such sweet ladies and loved that they serve real dogs in casing plus they heat the buns (which are quality ones). I am a cole slaw snob and theirs is very good! They serve Lay's chips and Doritos. I would say a guy would need at least 2 dogs to feel full.

Front of restaurant
Chris E.

This is a perfect example of customer first service. I was greeted with a smile and a welcome, and with a very happy attitude. The food was great with a price you can't beat. Its the perfect happy little place. Excellent choice for simple lunch!

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27 days ago

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16 days ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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11 months ago

Solid wings. Cozy spot. Service was great, really nice owner and great spot for some hot dogs.

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11 months ago

Carols is fantastic!!! Fresh food and now an incredible setting at Westwoods. I look forward to your homemade soups this winter.

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Excellent Dogs, great selection, very clean, reasonably priced! Just wish they had Onions in Red Sauce ; )

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

Drove 30 minutes to find out they are closed until 3/9/2020. No notice on their website or otherr social media.

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

This is my favorite lunch spot! Carol & co are so friendly!The hotdogs are delicious & Carol's relish is a must try! Absolutely the best!

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

Great little hotdog stand love the chili dogs and potato salad, coleslaw and Mac and cheese. Quick bite to eat with friendly service.

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7 years ago

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9 years ago

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9 years ago

Disappointed. Nothing appears to be home made or close to it. Baked beans were definitely store bought. No meat free options either.

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Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet

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Whenever I'm in the area I always try to make time to drop in and grab my favorite junkyard dog at…read moreRiley's! They are THE best!! The place is absolutely adorable! The staff is always a breath of fresh air! Always so amicable and quick to tell you about their newest menu items and offer their personal favorites! But mostly I look forward to seeing little Deb who pours her heart into this place, she's just a little ray of sunshine. Everyone is on a first name basis! She remembered my name within like three times of being there and she's just such a warm presence there! The food is always hot and made to order, the staff makes sure the line is cared for with a smile and the food is AMAZING. My favorite little lunch spot in New Britain by far!

My husband isn't exactly a hot dog guy. So I got a sideways look when I suggested that we try this…read moreplace out for lunch....but after our meal, he said that he'd never had a specialty hot dog before and really enjoyed this! How could you not like this place?! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and an awesome menu. We tried the reuben dog, taco dog and guilty pleasure dog with the Cajun fries. Dogs are messy but fun.... loved the taco dog! Cajun fries were too salty but appreciate that they are made in house! (Wish they had sweet potato fries with a fun dipping sauce though!) Can't wait to go back and try more creations!

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Very cute interior
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Frankie's

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The food was AMAZING. Hot dog, curly fries, cheeseburgers and waffles fries were awesome. The…read morecustomer service was superb. The place was very clean and neat.. Everyone was pleasant and friendly. I would recommend anyone to go and enjoy .

Geez, this had to be the worst visit ever at Frankie's…read more Here the place was hopping, people were happy, was it me? Met a friend here for a quick bite to eat. My friend ordered a cheeseburger, the small one, with lettuce and tomato on it, along with I think a lemonade I took a chance on the special which was loaded french fries. Steak fries with cheese whiz, bacon bits, sour cream and a little bit of chives. I also ordered a Pepsi. The bill came to $22 and change for the two of us. Keep that in mind as I further write. The cheeseburger, the quarter pound one, included one little little slice of lettuce and a very thin slice of tomato. The beef on the cheeseburger looked gray, and pink inside like it wasn't even cooked up to temperature. This was absolutely gross, served on a non toasted Sesame seed roll. He thought it was awful. He ate half of it. Now for my loaded french fries.... The french fries were so soggy , that if they didn't look like french fries they could be mistaken for mashed potatoes, loaded with an extremely salty cheese whiz, and what looked like bacon bits instead of natural bacon on top, chives, and sour cream. It would've been nice if there was chili on this instead, but nope. For $7.99, the serving was extremely small, probably good for a six-year-old. Barely edible, I ate about a quarter of it and just pushed it aside saying I'm done. I can't even imagine the salt content that was in this. I know one thing for sure it was extremely high! This had to be one of the worst things I have ever been served in any restaurant. Stick to the hotdogs as they are safe For the money spent, we would've been better off going to Chili's.

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Main dining room
Main dining room
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Visited here before seeing a movie at the local theater, and we were instantly impressed by the…read morefriendliness and warmth of the staff. You can tell they're incredibly passionate about their food, and it shows in the taste. I had a veggie burger (which was made in-house), and it was delicious. Everything tasted fresh. My partner had the perogies and a burger, and he loved them! We will definitely be returning for a quick dinner next time we're in the area.

We were on a road trip and in need of a place to stop for lunch. I pulled out my trusty Yelp app…read moreand came across Fina's Kitchen and its excellent reviews. The small restaurant was like a deli with several tables inside and a lovely outdoor patio that really elevated its overall atmosphere. We placed our order at the inside counter and grabbed a table outside. Throughout our visit, we experienced extremely pleasant and gracious service from Fina and a young man, both of whom were cooking and delivering the food. Though this caused things to move on the slower side, they really had their system down to a science, managing our meals and the several takeout orders that I saw being collected. The lunch menu had various salads, sandwiches, and burgers on offer. I selected the Chicken Gyro, which used a real grilled chicken breast that had been sliced, rather than those pre-cut strips that always seem to contain fillers. The chicken was a tad dry, but the homemade tzatziki sauce, which was heavily infused with dill, helped to add moisture to the sandwich. I had opted for a whole wheat wrap, rather than a pita, and I loved that they had lightly toasted the completed dish, even with its inclusion of romaine lettuce and diced tomatoes. That method gave the wrap an improved texture and a slight crunch. I sampled a few of my companion's fries, which were thin, crispy, and had a real rustic flavor that resembled potato skins. They were great! Fina's Kitchen was a real gem, hidden among an industrial area and catering to the local businesses. It was a great find!

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Outside
Outside
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Lunch Menu

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Lunch Menu

Carol's Lunchbox - hotdog - Updated July 2026

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