What People Are Saying

“A hot dog without chili is not a hot dog!” proclaims John Selario, known in Clarksburg as Hot Dog John. Mr. Selario’s parents opened Ritzy Lunch in 1933, and he shows us pictures of his father in front of the same storefront some time in the 1940s when hot dogs are listed on the window for seven cents each, hamburgers a dime. “Ritzy lunch has always been known for hot dogs,” he tells us. “Clarksburg itself is an important hot dog town, not so much because of the weenies but because of the way we make our chili. There are so many immigrants and sons and daughters of immigrants – Greeks and Italians, mostly – that when we spice up our chili, we know how to do it right!”

Hot Dog John will get no argument from us. His dogs are lovely little pups, buried deep inside a steamed-soft bun and topped with a zesty ground-beef sauce that is gently peppered and earthy-flavored. If you want to add a sweet note, ask for a layer of cole slaw to go atop the chili – a very popular configuration in this cute little diner.

Although hot dogs are the specialité de la maison, you should also consider sampling a special kind of hamburger in one of Ritzy’s old wooden booths. Listed on the menu as a Giovanni, it is a patty of meat topped with melted cheese and roasted peppers served between two slices of butter-and-garlic-infused toast. Excellent!

Ritzy Lunch is an immensely happy place, a sort of non-alcoholic tavern where old friends and town characters hang out on the ancient counter stools to kibbitz back and forth among each other and the waitresses and where, on any pleasant day, two or three wise-acres are likely to be found out on the sidewalk joshing with each other and making friends with newcomers.

Clarksburg has many culinary wonders, including several top-notch Italian restaurants, Olivierio’s Cash and Carry grocery store, and Tomaro’s bakery; but no culinary tour is complete without a chili dog and a little conversation at Ritzy Lunch.

Testimonial by Michael Stern

West Virginia has a number of culinary traditions based on portable, quick food; there is perhaps none finer, in my humble opinion, than the Slaw Dog. It’s a hot dog with cole slaw and chili. Ritzy’s comes with a tiny stripe of their special mustard. Only upon revealing i lived over 2000 miles away was i able to purchase a bottle of the mustard. It’s a little smoky and has some sort of molasses kick underneath the mustard bite. It’s bloody amazing.

That’s not the best thing at the Ritzy, though. The best thing is in fact the Giovanni Burger. It’s made with a healthy-sized patty inside two slices of gorgeous, locally baked garlic toast, topped with cheese and roasted peppers. The burger is unparalleled; it’s not the best i’ve ever had but it’s damn good.

Clarksburg has lots of fine Italian food; the Ritzy was opened by Italian immigrants way back before you were born, and much of the Italian flavor remains in this little city. For example, you can get pepperoni rolls and sometimes real Italian sausage at the Ritzy, and it’s dirt cheap to boot. If you know Northern W.Va, you know it’s gonna be unpretentious and friendly, and that the Ritzy is.

Testimonial by Gwen C.

I can remember going here as a kid and loving the meatball sandwich. The hotdogs are just as you want them. The decor is what makes this place what it is a hotdog joint with draft beer and the old patrons at the bar. I love it if it changed it would be a tragedy.

Testimonial by Unknown

Best hot dogs in the area!

Testimonial by Justin

Thanks for making me feel welcome at your GREAT establishment…Your restaurant is “What’s right with America” keep up the tradition…

Testimonial by Ken Skala, Ohio

Taken from choppedonion.com …

“The City of Clarksburg, named for General George Rogers Clark, is the birthplace of CSA General Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson. It’s also the home of Ritzy Lunch, one of America’s best hotdog stands since 1933. I had a purple slaw dog with chili, mustard, onions and purple slaw and a regular hotdog with chili, mustard and onions. The dogs, made of pork and beef, are steam cooked. The buns are steamed as well. Although my purple slaw dog was very good, my regular dog was top-notch. Cash is king @ Ritzy Lunch, so they don’t take credit cards. Tiny as it is, Ritzy Lunch does have bathrooms for their paying customers. They also sell Budweiser, Bud Light, etc. And there is a metered parking lot just across the street. Enjoy!”

Testimonial by Choppedonion.com