The Roast Grill has been serving hot dogs and nothing else since 1940 — a tiny, smoke-filled diner a few blocks from the Capitol where the menu has not changed in eight decades. The hot dogs are grilled on an ancient flat-top, served on plain buns, and topped with house-made chili, onions, and mustard. That is the extent of it.
The place has attracted attention from food writers who find it remarkable that a single-item restaurant has survived for this long in the same spot. The charm is real: the décor is original, the staff are the third generation of the founding family, and the chili dog is genuinely good. Cash only.