Tony Packo's

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1902 Front St., Toledo, Ohio 43605(419) 691-1953

Cuisine:
Burgers, American
Price:
$$
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Tony Packo's

by MonnieR

Niles, Ohio

July 9, 2007

"I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven" probably isn’t the best way to describe an outstanding culinary experience. But when I say the food at Tony Packo’s is to die for, maybe you’ll understand.If the name sounds a bit familiar, it's with good ...Read more "I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven" probably isn’t the best way to describe an outstanding culinary experience. But when I say the food at Tony Packo’s is to die for, maybe you’ll understand.

If the name sounds a bit familiar, it's with good reason. Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Max Klinger on the popular show "M*A*S*H," is a native of Toledo, Ohio. In one of the episodes, Klinger told a newspaper reporter that Tony Packo’s had the "greatest Hungarian hot dogs", and the reference subsequently was written into five more shows plus the final episode in 1983.

About four years ago, my husband and I planned a visit to Toledo, and since we were familiar with the "M*A*S*H" reference, the restaurant was at the top of our list of places to have a meal. Since then, we’ve been back twice and placed a couple of orders online to enjoy at home.

Packo’s has been a staple in Toledo since Tony Packo, the son of Hungarian immigrants, opened a sandwich and ice cream shop in 1932 with his wife, Rose. In 1935, they needed more space and purchased a distinctive wedge-shaped building at the intersection of Front and Consaul streets. Today, there are a handful of full-service and express locations in the Toledo area.

Dining here is quite an experience; the Front Street restaurant retains an authentic ethnic flavor, complete with red-and-white checked oilcloth on the tables. You can’t miss what has become a Tony Packo’s tradition; when celebrities visit here, they "autograph" a hot dog bun, which is then hermetically sealed in plastic and hung on the wall. Plenty of big names have been "hot doggers" here over the years, from Alice Cooper to Bill and Hillary Clinton to Jerry Seinfeld to the most recent, Donald Trump.

The food, though, hasn’t changed all that much over the years, and it’s always delicious. The chili is filled with meat and beans (and there’s no shortage of "heat"). The hot dogs are best "loaded" with chili sauce, cheese, and onions. For starters, try the chicken soup with Hungarian dumplings and add a side of paprika dumplings. For dessert, you can’t beat an apple or cherry strudel, preferably with ice cream.

How about pickles with a kick? Pick up a jar of sweet hot pickles and peppers in the gift shop on your way out. And don’t forget a couple of T-shirts and maybe a barbecue apron. I guarantee friends will be jealous (now that I think about it, why not bring some for them)?
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From journal Tony Packo's Packs Culinary Punch

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