I am an Athens County dining enthusiast with a flexible, unsophisticated palate. I aspire to find the delightful in each dining experience. When I was a kid, my dad taught a night class as an adjunct instructor at a local college, in addition to working full-time as a police officer. My mom, not thrilled with his professional development engagement, decided that on the nights my dad taught, we would go out to dinner. For three solidly middle-class kids who occasionally dined out in celebration, this was very exciting. My mother’s decision to spend my dad’s side-hustle earnings inspired me, three decades later, to take myself out to dinner after my weekly side-hustle (adjunct instructor). I still consider going out to eat a real treat, and sometimes it doesn’t have much to do with the food. I’ve never been to a Michelin star restaurant, and probably never will, but have enjoyed dozens of five-star dining experiences right here in Southeast Ohio. I am thrilled to share my love of local dining with you.
O’Betty’s Red Hot! is a charming, casual dine-in and take-out restaurant tucked into the smallest building in uptown Athens. Open for lunch and until after last-call, O’Betty’s is an Athens staple providing unique, affordable offerings Monday through Saturday.
The intimate indoor seating area includes a hot dog museum (where I learned that Fill-A-Frank and Stuff-A-Dog were rival hot-dog coring and filling devices a few decades ago), spinning disco balls, a souvenir coin machine, and photos of classic burlesque performers. A few additional tables are available outside. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. orders are placed at the counter inside, and from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. take-out orders can be placed at an exterior window.
O’Betty’s might lead with their hot dogs, but the real showstoppers are the french fries and dipping sauces. The fresh-cut fries cooked in peanut oil are delightful naked, but for $0.75 (each) you can plunge your fries into one of 12 dipping sauces, including some very fancy mayonnaise: roasted garlic and rosemary mayonnaise and wasabi mayonnaise. I thought ketchup and mayonnaise swirled together was something until I discovered wasabi mayonnaise. While the dipping sauces are intended for your fries, consider dipping your dog as well. The Very Cheesy Fries are also a delightful indulgence. Topped with both cheese sauce and shredded sharp cheddar, it’s best eaten with a spork. The fresh garlic fries, topped with mounds of minced garlic, are best eaten alone.
I have been enjoying the Shy (their name for the vegan hot dog) Dixie for a decade: homemade chili (hot dog sauce), stadium mustard from Cleveland, aged sharp cheddar, and diced onion on top of a grilled vegan dog. It’s perfection on a toasted bun. The 100% all-beef Dixie is O’Betty’s most popular item. But on this mid-day Monday dining adventure, I brought some new dogs into my life: The Shy Sally and the Firecracker. The Shy Sally, topped with vegan bacon, diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise was underwhelming. The Firecracker, on the other hand, was bursting with flavor: a Creole-style sausage topped with sweet pepper mustard, sauteed peppers and onions.
I also enjoyed a new menu offering: a cup of homemade chili made with local beef, paired with half of a grilled cheese sandwich for $6.50. The chili is hearty, and the grilled buttery sourdough with cheddar cheese is a satisfying, classic grilled sandwich.
The charm of O’Betty’s is in the details: The plastic red and yellow baskets that the fries and hot dogs are nestled in; the buy-10-get-one-free hot dog punch card, with punches in the shape of a high heel; the eclectic interior décor where you’ll always notice something new. The secret sauce, though is the team: They are consistently kind, fun, and provide great service.
O’Betty’s is one of the best uniquely Athens spots to take out-of-towners for lunch. Or place a to-go order, carry it 43 strides to Tony’s Tavern, and pair your hot dog and fries with a pint of Jackie O’s Mystic Mama for a real Athens-y trifecta. 5/5 stars.
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