Gus' Red Hots

You can’t leave the Adirondacks without trying a michigan, Plattsburgh’s signature dish. For our last stop before the border, we chose Gus’ Red Hots, a true local institution on Route 9 north of town, right by Cumberland Bay State Park and the ferry to Vermont.

It all started in 1951 with a small hot dog stand opened by Peter Larios and his brother-in-law, Gus Neforus. It has since grown into a real family diner serving three meals a day, with a full menu that runs from breakfast to sandwiches to Lake Champlain perch. But the michigan is what people come here for.

A michigan is a red-skinned hot dog in a steamed bun, topped with a finely ground meat sauce, mustard and onions. Every Plattsburgh stand keeps its recipe a secret, and at Gus’, it comes in a little cardboard boat. Despite the name, it’s a local creation through and through: you won’t find it in Michigan! The town is so proud of it that it made July “Michigan Month,” with a passport to get stamped at the four classic stands, Gus’ included.

The decor is far from fancy and shows its age, but that’s exactly what gives this 1950s spot its charm. Prices are reasonable, and Interstate 87 is right next door: the Lacolle border crossing is about twenty minutes away. Gus’ is open year-round, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.