The Clamshell Diner

With family living in Muscatine, we get here once in a while. We drive by The Clamshell but never seem to be there at the right time to stop. It is only open in the summer. We also saw it featured on Alton Brown’s «Feasting On Asphalt 2» a few years ago. It is a genuine Valentine Diner (#2111 built in 1955). This time we finally stopped in. It apparently has changed hands since it appeared on Alton’s show. I have no idea how the menu or food may have changed. They no longer have the deep fried hot dog.
We were the only customers at the moment on a nice Memorial Day. Ms T and I ordered Coney Dogs and had a good discussion with one of the owners. He explained that there is a difference between a Coney dog and a chili dog. I don’t disagree, since I constantly am disappointed when a chili dog has chili on it that is the same as they serve in a bowl. He is from the East Coast and shared his secret for the sauce with us, but you have to go there and ask him yourself. He is a great guy and we had a really good conversation about a number of things in the diner food area.
Our Coney dogs were good, not spectacular. I felt the sauce was underseasoned a little, but it was OK and I liked the consistency. I guess, growing up in Iowa, I really don’t have any authentic Coney experience to compare to. I would have no problem stopping in again when the time is right and I am driving by. It is a nice piece of post-​war Americana.