Step Right Up - Donut and Hot Dog Eatery

Owner August Lococo, a 1975 Hudson High School graduate, decided to come back to his roots and open a family eatery in Hudson in November 2008.

[Doglover]

I was initially turned off by the limited menu and high prices. I gave it a try because of a 2 for 1 coupon. It wasn't bad but wasn't great either. Although chargrilled, the dogs don't taste that much different than the $.99 jumbo dogs you get at the Circle K down the road. Certainly not worth the 3x mark-up. I'll probably go again if I have another 2 for 1 coupon but I would never pay full price for those dogs. They weren't that great.

[Geauga Laker]

Gasper treated me like a dog when I worked at Geauga Lake as a 15 year old kid. His kid doesn't deserve my business as a result.

[mrdecker]

This place is a complete joke. Everybody has to stand in front of this little grill and wait for your food to cook & watch the guys poke the hotdogs over and over with his bbq set and then put your burger or hotdog on the smallest paper plate know to man, THEN you get to slide to your left 1 step and tell the lady what toppings you want..The person in front of me had mustard put on his hotdog, I ordered ketchup, and she took the same plastic knife she just used to put on the mustard and dipped it into the ketchup?? I'm allergic to mustard and there was ketchup mixed with the mustard. Even if I wasn't, say I just hated mustard..oh well,it was all over my burger.
Prices are a joke too. I would pay 3+ dollars for a Hebrew dog or something quality and good, but their hotdogs are gross. The gas station sells 2 for a buck and they taste way better then Step Right Up. What was this guy thinking when he opened this place up. Just plain disappointed overall. I don't see it staying in business very long.

[Jack Myers]

Not worth the price.

[Chicago Girl]

I'm from Chicago, so I know a thing or two about hot dogs. The hot dogs this place sells are Sahlen's from western New York and they are a quality dog. I would have to completely disagree that you can get a better dog at the gas station. Not really a fair comparison - these dogs actually come from a 120 year-old-company. The sweet potato fries are awesome. His donuts are very good, way better than Dunkin. Obviously the other reviewers feel better eating at Sheetz than they do at a quality small business like Step Right Up. I hope that Hudson will support this small private business and appreciate what they offer. The rest of you - Circle K has no waiting, plenty of mustard and ketchup packets for you to dress your own dogs.

[BlindLeadingtheB lind]

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx...
Discussion about Sahlen's...lots of good info here. Guess it depends on where they get them and individual tastes. Read all the comments...interesting

[Jack Myers]

Chicago Girl.., I really thought this place is exactly what Hudson needed, a good, simple place to get a cheap lunch. But like so many others, was greatly disappointed after eating there. I even gave it a second, and third & fourth chance. But I had to give in..its just not that good of food. and for the price, I'd rather pay only a few dollars more to eat at one of the quality restaurants in Hudson. Every time I was in there I would hear other customers commenting on how it wasn't that good. I'm a big grill/bbq fan myself and have tried many hotdogs too. I'm sorry, 120 year old company doesn't mean they taste good, I would rather have a Hebrew National any day over the Sahlen dog. Try one yourself and you just might change your mind. Also the whole set up of the place seems awkward, just about every person who walked in, was all confused on where to stand, where to order. Its just too bad, the idea was good, just some poor decision on prices, quality and overall set up.

[Jack Myers]

I checked out the roadfood website..interesting..most posts were neg. against Sahlens.

-For years in Western New York, Sahlen's put out an excellent hot dog until around 2 years ago. All of a sudden, the width of the hot dog was reduced (length remained the same) and they reformulated their product. Needless to say, which once was a great hot dog is now an average one at best. Sahlen's has been in business since 1867 and puts out other products which are excellent like Ham off the Bone, Turkey, Liver Sausage, Corned Beef which are sliced fresh in most super markets in the area.

Just don't understand why the management at Sahlen's cheapened up their once great hot dogs

-My wife and I had the opportunity to experience a char broiled Sahlen's hot dog for lunch today. The dog was natural casing and char grilled, served on a non-steamed bun with mustard. It was dry, bland, and tasteless, unlike the all beef Chicago hot dogs, I was raised on and am used to eating.

[Hudson High Graduate]

Hot Dogs and Doughnuts? Yet one more unhealthy choice. Of course we don't need to eat there everyday, just the idea of expensive fat and sugar isn't what our community needs.
It sounds gross and grossly overpriced.

[short_stuff]

I COMPLETELY disagree with the negative comments. It is great concept and atmosphere. The prices are reasonable. I don’t know what else your going to get for $2.99 that is that good and is made right in front of you. For those of you who want to go to Circle K for a hot dog, by all means go ahead…but you’re missing out. How you could sit there and compare Step Right Up hot dogs to Circle K is beyond me. There is NO comparison. The doughnuts are fresh everyday and made right there for people to come in and get a “hot” doughnut. And…talking about Gasper Lococo in that way is very rude and unnecessary. I hope the Hudson community supports them so they will be around for a long time.

[Sahlen Fan]

Being from Buffalo & very familiar with Sahlen hot dogs...I am very happy to see them available right here in Hudson. For anyone who's been to Buffalo, Step Right Up is very much modeled after a very successful Western New York restaurant...Ted's Hot Dogs. Char-grilled hot dogs & burgers cooked right in front of you!! I think it's great to see a kid friendly restaurant that's not a franchise...owned & operated by a local family. These are the types of restaurants we should be supporting!! People who live & invest right here in our own town...not the corporate giants of America. Oh, and by the way...they have the BEST donuts ANYWHERE!! Well worth the trip for the donuts alone!!

[thetruth]

I tried it last week, yup, it sucks.
After reading the last 2 comments, I had to laugh, I would bet it was written from someone who works there. oh by the way..I agree, the dogs are not very good, taste like a canned vienna sausage put on a grill...yup, it was that good.

[thetruth]

To short_stuff,
~you wrote~

"I COMPLETELY disagree with the negative comments. How you could sit there and compare Step Right Up hot dogs to Circle K is beyond me.There is NO comparison."

~its very simple, they taste better and cost less~

you: "The doughnuts are fresh everyday and made right there for people to come in and get a “hot” doughnut"

~ a hot doughnut?? who in the World wants a hot doughnut, really?? ewwwww.

[TopHat]

I tried it too. I hate to say it, but I didn't like it either. I had a hot dog and fries, fries ok, hot dog- not good.

[Auroraguy]

Does anyone like this place?

[worker]

i work at step right up in hudson and even i wont eat there.

i spent almost $7 on a chicken sandwiches and fries.
and i got that half off.

[GoBuckeyes]

Hey, this place is a rip-off, the good isn't even that good. Save your money and go somewhere else.

[Employee]

The more I read these comments, The more I'm convinced you make this stuff up. I think the negative comments come from the same person, Maybe a disgruntled employee or a sour competitor. The Sahlen brand Hot Dog is a good product. Some of you talk about it as if it was steak that you pay $30.00 for. Step right up is unique in the way they cook the Hot Dogs/Hamburger. Right in front of you. Everything in full view.Not many places do that. Donuts made fresh everyday on site. It's a great place for families and friends to get a good meal at a resonable price. For those of you who want those .99 dogs. Go at it, But don't bash a reputable establishment.

[Retired]

I've been to Step right up several times. We love it. They cook a Hot Dog the way they should be cooked. On charcoal. Everybody loves Hot Dogs and the Sahlen brand is a good one. Thanks STEP RIGHT UP

[Family man]

My wife and I have been there a couple times with our Kids. We found the place clean and pleasent. My daughter had the burgers and Tim had the kids dog. We will go back because The food was great and service was good. We like the Sahlen Jumbo dogs.