The Original Pretzels and Dogs Café: With Fabulous Ice Cream Treats, Too!

Bridge Street is more than its first three blocks. It winds through the Borough from east to west with interesting places that reward those who walk its length.

The Original Pretzels and Dogs Café is worth the walk, although after our visit there, we wondered why “ice cream” wasn’t in the name. The fountain treats are among the best in the borough, yet we had no idea they offered ice cream until we went inside the store and looked at the menu!

Although the café’s name implies it’s a snack shop, we were pleasantly surprised to find all the fixings for a full meal. The menu, available on tables and on blackboards behind the counter, features 17 different hot dogs, 11 different sandwiches, four stuffed baked potatoes, cole slaw, baked beans, chili, soup, pretzels with three different sides, seven drink categories and nine ice cream treats, including a made-to order Belgian Waffle Sundae Split that feeds four people. Each entrée item includes a small bag of potato chips.

My cousin Ed, who loves hot dogs, started out by ordering a Sloppy Joe Dog ($3.13), a Stuffed Baked Potato with Cheddar Cheese ($2.99) and a custom-made Vanilla Coke Fountain Soda ($2.25). The hot
dogs, Vienna 100 percent beef from a company in business since 1895, along with the poppy seed rolls, relish and chili (with or without beans) are all delivered weekly from Chicago.

Although he enjoyed the hot dog, the perfectly baked potato, dripping with melted cheddar cheese, was the highlight of his meal. The custom-made Vanilla Coke had the complex taste of true vanilla rather than the canned, not-really-missed vanilla-flavored Cokes put out by Coca-Cola a few years back. For dessert, he chose a two-scoop waffle cone ($4.25) with vanilla ice cream.

Since so much is imported from Chicago, I had to try the Famous “Chicago” Dog ($3.99), which is topped with tomatoes, pickles, hot peppers, onions, mustard, relish and celery salt, and served on a poppy seed bun. I like “stuff” on my hot dogs and this didn’t disappoint. 

However, the stand-out at my meal was the Root Beer Float ($3.49). Too many root beer floats are simply a glass of soda with a tiny scoop of ice cream on top. This one had at least two scoops of hard ice cream (and maybe more, but I was busy taking pictures of all our food for this review!) that melted nicely into the root beer for a frosty drink that was creamy, bubbly and refreshing. I picked up a Philly Soft Pretzel ($0.55) for my husband, who hadn’t been able to come that day.

Sue chose the ”P& D Signature” ($3.99), ham and cheese sandwiched between two halves of a Philly Pretzel and grilled in a Panini machine. The ham was layered on the bottom to make a secure platform over the pretzel holes for the cheese which melted in the Panini grill and melded the flavors into a memorable sandwich.

She also ordered a side of Cole Slaw ($1.85) and one of the best Milkshakes ($3.99) I’ve had in a long time. Sue chose straight vanilla shake, crafted with vanilla ice cream, white milk, whipped cream and a cherry, but the café also makes milkshakes with chocolate milk which is an innovation I haven’t seen often.

Service was outstanding. William Ryan and his family, the owners, couldn’t be more friendly. Our orders were brought to our table along with a large bucket full of colorful bendy straws so we could choose our favorite color for our drinks. We were also given complimentary red Twizzler candy sticks and told to help ourselves from the Twizzler container at the counter. The entire café shines with 50s chrome/movie posters/ records and the pride of on-site owners.

The restaurant scene on Bridge Street is always worth patronizing—just make sure you walk down Bridge Street long enough to find and enjoy The Original Pretzels and Dogs Café.

If You Go:

Location:  640 Bridge St. (corner of Rt. 23 and Rt 113N), Phoenixville

Cost:  Hot Dogs: $2.65 - $3; Sandwiches: $2.84 - $3.95; Ice Cream: $2.15 to $5.99

Phone:  610-933-7878

Website:  Find the café on Facebook.

Hours:  Sunday – Tuesday:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

             Wednesday – Saturday:  11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Payments accepted: Cash

Parking:  Free lot