Cloos’ Coney Island

Unbelievable… takes forever to get you food. The portions are small. PUT SOME MEAT IN THE HOAGIE!!! The hotdogs are tough to bite into. I guess you have to grow up eating this stuff to like it. It’s not for me, I’ll pass on going back.

Hot dogs… Nah, they’re not that good. Cheese steak… Ha!.. Moved the meat over to half of the bread. Weak at best. Nearly $ 14 bucks for lunch… For that? No thanks! Glad I went, I ain’t going back!

So far the best hot dog in Raleigh. Still think a dog should NEVER cost more than $ 3. I suppose I’ve been spoiled by the NY Sabrett carts of my youth and realistic Windy City prices as an adult. I think I paid $ 4.25 for the Chicago style at Cloo’s. A hot dog is a slop of pig parts people, not a premium cut meat. Dog tasted as it should, bun wasn’t correct but had the poppy seeds.
The staff was super friendly and service was quick. The orange ade was primo.

I’ve lived in Raleigh for years and had never been to Cloo’s. I wish I had come sooner. Dogs were fantastic, fries were served old school style. If you’re looking for a place to grab a hot dog in Raleigh Cloo’s is one of the few I would recommend. I will be back soon.
Went back the next day and had another hot dog and French fry… may or may not be getting addicted. Think I’m just going to steer into the skid on this one

Food quality and service is hit and miss. Mostly miss. I am from Michigan which is the home of the Coney Dog. I haven’t left a review out of the times I have come here. But tonight will be my last visit. The place was only half full but our order took over 40 minutes to get. There were only two us at our table. My wife and myself. The fries were brought out 20 minutes before our the rest of our order so it was a choice of letting them get cold or eating them and having none to eat with the rest of our food when it finally arrived at our table. The waitress got our order wrong. We didn’t want to wait twenty or thirty minutes more so we just ate what she brought. The food also wasn’t good. Not the taste we had expected based on previous visits. I’m not sure why, but the worst thing in a restaurant is inconsistency. I mean seriously, even at McDonalds you can trust what your going to get. At one point BEFORE we had received our order the only cook on duty stopped working to take pictures of a small group of 4 having a birthday get together. At first we didn’t think much of it until we realized it had been 30 minutes since we ordered and was take photos instead of cooking our food. The food is very expensive for what you get, and they take payment up front before you receive your food. So if it is bad you have no recourse. McDonalds may take money up front, but they also will instantly replace whatever you were dissatisfied with or was missing from your order. Our waitress only argued with us. She wasn’t belligerent about it, but none the less told us we were wrong. Since the do not provide you with a written receipt of the menu items you ordered its your word against theirs. But being from Michigan I miss eating Coneys so I came here as the closest alternative. Save your money and your precious time and go to Five Guys or something similar. I feel bad because it is a local «mom and pop» type place but there other things to consider in the overall experience. Maybe there are better and worser times to come here but I just not like that kind of hit and miss in my dinning experience.

This place opened up right about the time I started school at NC State in 1988 and nothing much has changed since. Because there isn’t a reason for it to change.
The hot dogs are sourced from Michigan, where the owner grew up, and have a nice snap to them and a great taste. The fries and onion rings are on point as well.
I hadn’t been in 10 years and it’s exactly as I remembered. Can’t wait to get back.

What a Great place, it was our first time here. They have Hot Dogs !!! in natural casing!!! Which is turning into a real rarity. The snap when you bite into a hot dog and natural casing is just unbelievable, an explosion of Absolute flavor. They have great menu to choose from. I wanted to try every hot dog combination on the menu. Even if its not on the menu if they have it you’ll get it. The staff were nice and friendly like I said in the beginning this was my first time here but it won’t be my fast. Long Live Hot Dogs in Natural Casing !!! :-)

A great little diner with de-​lish Detroit style Coney Dogs, shoestring fries and Greek salad — all cooked/​made to order. Ordered at the register then sat at the counter with the other regulars. Friendly waitstaff and a tasty meal at a reasonable price! Enjoy a meal then catch a movie at Mission Valley Theater.

They have great crispy, skinny fries and philly chicken cheese steaks. This place actually knows how to make the Phillies so the ingredients are all one wonderful messy meshed pile of hot goodness inside. Its a nice break from the typical layered versions that have dried out chicken sitting on the bottom of the bread. Oh, and no freaking lettuce and tomato… I hate when I get lettuce and tomato on a damn philly.

The Cloos family has got it dialed in — if you visit and become a regular — well everyone knows your name! We always have burgers and fries but they are famous for hotdogs and cheese fries. Michigan establishment so Lions, Redwings etc — Mark Cloos is also famous for song writing and preforming — catch him locally before he ends up on tour and out of the area! Near NC State so easy access from anywhere in the Triangle

My favorite lunch spot in NC. We go every trip down to visit my parents. I first ate there in 1988, same amazing hot dogs and sliders for 27 years!

Simply can’t find great Detroit style coneys and sliders anywhere else in Raleigh. Oh and they just rolled out tacos and burritos on the menu! Family owned and they do it right for a great price. Love all the Detroit themed memorabilia as well, makes me feel back at home. Detroit and Cloos’ Coney island VS Everybody!

So, I saw a PBS special on this place and was entranced. They showed it as a hopping joint where people are clamoring for their dogs and ice. I had to go.
The reality was a bit different, but they still have managed to get me to return a few times since the inaugural visit.
How, you ask? Their ice. I mean, the dogs are good, but they are replicated all over town and the country. But their ice, it’s soft, cold, and perfect with any soft drink. In fact, I’ve gone there just for the drink so I can get that sweet, sweet ice.
Three stars for ice? You’re damn right.

So good!
It’s nice to have a «different» kind of dog for a change. There is definitely more of a snap with the dogs than the ones we are used to having here in the south. The Coney Island Dog has: mustard, relish, chili, and onions. The exact way I like my hot dog. The bun is steamed so the whole thing comes out pipping hot.
The slider was tasty as well. Not greasy. With cheese and onions. I almost thought the pattie wasn’t there but once you bite in to it the taste doesn’t lie.
I woke up the next day dreaming about the fries! They are cooked perfect, sufficient amount of salt, gold crispiness. They were so good! I really want some more now as I am typing this.
I’d definitely say go enjoy you a nice dog people.
Happy snapping!

Cloo’s is not a bad place by any measure. Actually, I really, really enjoyed this place. So please, don’t take this 3-​star review as me deeming this place average. It purely came down to the fact that there is no 3.5 option, and my slight hesitance to give Cloo’s 4 stars.
Damn good hot dogs for a great price. Cloo’s serves up their variations of hot dog classics, from Coney to Chicago to Polish. They also offer up variations of classic french fries, burgers, cheese steaks and pitas. Pretty much, they serve something for everyone.
I ordered 3 hot dogs and was surprised from my first bite at the «snap» that the hot dog had. It was awesome and abruptly reminded me how inferior regular grocery/​concession hot dogs are.
Unfortunately, this place simply does not have the gusto to stand among the treetops of all the other restaurants in Raleigh. If I had not experienced such great food in the area and given them 4 stars, Cloo’s would be appropriately deserving of that rating. But that does not diminish the quality of this place.
I highly suggest this place if you’re looking for classic American fare and would definitely come back.

How long has Cloo’s been here in Raleigh? Well it seems like forever. I practically lived in this shopping center off of Avent Ferry during my early college years but I guess hot dogs wasn’t really my thing back then. After an afternoon movie I was starving and was in the mood for a hot dog, this was finally my chance to check this place out.
I would say the atmosphere is more diner like. It’s not a great looking restaurant but it does the trick. There are stools at the bar looking into the grill, and some tables inside and outside to sit at. They have everything from dogs, burgers, cheesesteaks, fries and more. It’s exactly what you would expect and really hits the spot for some good American junk food.
They also serve beer on tap and by the bottle. I’m a plain Jane when it comes to my hot dogs unless of course you are wrapping it in bacon and frying it I just like my dog with a little bit of ketchup. The fries reminded me of cafeteria fries but they were nice and crispy. My sister ordered the Coney Island dog it was a hot mess to eat but she enjoyed it as well. Soda with crushed ice and we were all set for the day. A delicious cheap meal and I will be coming back again.

I don’t go here often because it’s not my part of Raleigh that I visit a lot. But the atmosphere is what you would expect for fine dining on hot dogs, french fries, and burgers.
I get the hot dog: mustard and onions only, thank-​you-​very-​much, and it’s as good as a top notch dawg can get… and the fries? Hot and crispy. Soda comes straight from the fountain on top of a mound of crushed ice. Couldn’t ask for a better place to chill and watch a game a football on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I don’t get it. Sure, everything was fine… but that’s all, fine. I got the same experience as I feel I would have gotten at any olé hot dog shack.
I ordered two Dixie dogs and boyfriend ordered two Coney dogs. We split a Coney fry… basically shoestring fries, cheese, chili, mustard, and onions. We got two sodas, of course with the famous Slushie ice everyone is so thrilled about. But nothing stood out. I could have made the same at home. We were just expecting something that dazzled a little.
And it was hot a hades in the small space, which just made us want to leave quicker.
On another note the staff and service was quick and efficient… friendly too.

I love «snap when you bite ‘em» hot dogs. Its a rare find in North Carolina! At least for me anyway, I miss them since I’ve been here. Cloo’s has them, thankfully.
I only had the Kraut Dog, which I must say the kraut was a little dry. I’m used to a more «wet» sauerkraut that moistens the bun, but this sat on top of the dog and didn’t even quite reach each end. So, eh on that. My honey had a Dixie Dog (chili, slaw, onions) and was happy with it. I must say I was envious of his dog. :-)
It looked like a good place for the local College Crowd and if I lived closer (and wasn’t always watching what i eat) I’d love to try them more often, and I’d try some different Dogs, Burgers, Fries, Pitas, and Sandwiches too.

What a surprise awaited us inside Cloo’s! They are nestled in a pretty bland strip mall so you’d never guess what an colorful and fun place this is from the outside.
Cloo’s specializes in dogs and burgers. They have a Coney dogs, Chicago dogs, sauerkraut dogs, and more… and they are delicious! The burgers are outstanding; so tasty! And the shoestring fries are scrumptious. The sodas are served over that super fine crushed ice that make them taste almost like a slushie. They serve beer by bottle or draft (although the draft was not working on our visit.) Everything is so fresh and delicious; we were truly impressed with the menu.
We had an absolutely delightful visit… The staff are super friendly. And you know you’re at a good ol’ landmark place when people entering are not only greeted by name but asked «you gonna have the usual?» Yep — that sold it for me!
When you enter, you order at the register and then find a seat. They have tables along the right hand side and a bar with about 8 – 10 stools. The walls are decorated with 50’s images (Marilyn, Elvis and Cadillacs) as well as a fun checkered floor and bright red lights. You can watch some of the local games on overhead TVs.
Overall, a truly great place for an afternoon visit. We will definitely be back.