{"id":1334,"date":"2013-05-08T19:39:34","date_gmt":"2013-05-08T23:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=1334"},"modified":"2013-05-08T19:39:34","modified_gmt":"2013-05-08T23:39:34","slug":"arbetter-offers-cheap-but-good-food","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=1334","title":{"rendered":"Arbetter offers cheap, but good, food"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted May 8, 2013<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By HADLEY JORDAN<\/p>\n

Living in Miami, we are lucky enough to be exposed to so many different cultures and types of foods.\u00a0 But sometimes, finding an American restaurant besides major chains and fast-food restaurants is hard to do. Stumbling upon Arbetter Hot Dogs one fateful afternoon, I found that the American food I had been craving in between my plates of vaca frita and ropa vieja had been right down the street the whole time!<\/p>\n

Arbetter Hot Dogs has been a landmark in Miami since 1959.\u00a0 Located on the north side of Bird Road, this small yellow and red family business with signs advertising \u201cARBETTER\u2019S HOT DOG- CHILI DOG- KRAUT DOG\u201d is so jarringly American in such a predominantly Hispanic culture that it begs you to stop by for a dog.<\/p>\n

The kitschy atmosphere inside adds to the charm of the place, also reminding you that it has been around for a while.\u00a0 Old photographs and\u00a0 signs such as \u201cFree Boston Baked Beans the Day After the Red Sox Win the World Series\u201d and \u201cFREE REFILLS When You Say \u2018I Love Larry Bird or Bob Cousy\u201d line the walls of the inside.<\/p>\n

The menu may seem limited, but Arbetter knows what they are good at and focus on it.\u00a0 If you are hungry for a hot dog, look no further.\u00a0 They offer toppings of chili, cheese, kraut, onion, and relish.\u00a0 The chili, cheese and onion dog is one of the best dogs I\u2019ve ever had, cooked perfectly and snaps when you take a bite.<\/p>\n

Be careful, though, the food is always steaming hot since it\u2019s freshly cooked.\u00a0 Don\u2019t burn your mouth even though you will be tempted to dive right in when you get your food. Their all meat (no beans) chili, made from a family recipe, is fresh and flavorful but not too overpowering.<\/p>\n

Corn dogs more your style?\u00a0 They have that too and they are on par with corndogs from the State Fair, made fresh when you order them.\u00a0 The French fries are hot and even better with some chili and cheese put on top.<\/p>\n

Arbetter has indoor and outdoor seating, but if it\u2019s crowded, and it usually is, you might find yourself sitting at the counter watching them cook. Leftover Valentine\u2019s Day decorations, school lunchroom style chairs, and the Coca-Cola clock that hangs near the register all scream after school hangout.\u00a0 The menu board is old wood with bright yellow painted letters to keep in with the \u201cmustard and ketchup\u201d color scheme.<\/p>\n

Classic rock tunes add to the atmosphere as you listen to Steve Miller and enjoy the meal you convince yourself is healthy because \u201cRelish is kind of a vegetable, right?\u201d.<\/p>\n

Healthy or not, Arbetter is the best hot dog joint in town.\u00a0 If you are craving a dog, fries, or just an escape from \u201cNorthern Cuba\u201d look no further. Only 10 minutes away from the University of Miami, it is conveniently close and cheap.\u00a0 Since the most expensive thing on the menu is the chili cheese fries, ringing up at $3.50,<\/p>\n

Arbetter is a college kid\u2019s dream: greasy food sold at low prices that make it very hard for you to spend more than $10. The only drawback is the cash only policy, but if you forgot, they conveniently have an ATM inside that you can use with a small surcharge. They are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n

So, if you have a hankering for some good old fashioned American food or a local greasy, slightly rundown spoon, Arbetter is the place for you. Great food, great prices, and free refills as long as you pledge your love for Larry Bird.\u00a0 And who doesn\u2019t love that?<\/p>\n