Toledo is known throughout the United States for its hot dogs. Celebrities and politicians proudly tout their relationship with the city as they venture into these establishments.

Sometimes they use these visits to make their presence known, such as when President Obama stopped by the city in 2011. Other times they look as awkward as Michael Bloomberg at a hot dog-eating contest. There’s no denying that. But the rest of us, like Jamie Farr, genuinely get a knack to brush aside our fine-dining bibs and pick up our greasy spoon and indulge.

A fit establishment for these cravings is Ideal Hot Dog, which has locations at 4330 Heatherdowns Blvd. and 1135 W. Alexis Rd. The restaurants have called Toledo home for years and aren’t going anywhere.

RELATED CONTENT: Recently reviewed restaurants

“Sit anywhere you like, we’ll take care of you,” said the man behind the counter of the Heatherdowns location.

A warm holiday invitation.

In the corner of Ideal Hot Dog, underneath the replica painting of the Discobolus statue, orders for the Greek hot dog ($4.95) and the spicy jumbo chili mac ($7.99) were placed.

The representative dishes of Toledo and the Cincinnati area arrived in large portions.

The Greek sausage was char-broiled and served on an 8-inch bun topped with mustard, chili, onions, and shredded cheese piled high. The casing of the kielbasa was a bit tough at one end, but other than that, it suppressed drawn-out cravings with satiety. Ketchup did not come close to this dog, and I respect that.

The jumbo chili mac with Ideal’s homemade recipe, “made fresh daily,” came with spaghetti noodles, shredded cheddar cheese (Romano cheese is a choice as well), kidney beans, onions, and two slices of garlic bread. Hints of cumin and paprika spices were tasted in the blended sauce and paired well with the piping hot pasta, onions, and beans.

A macaroni mixture lies underneath this mound of meat and noodles and customers keep coming back for more. Look around and it seems that every other order at Ideal Hot Dog is the chili mac. The garlic bread was a bit overdone though.

Thanksgiving wishes were offered after the filling meal.

At the Alexis location, the restaurant closes a half hour earlier than the Heatherdowns spot, does not serve alcohol, and certain items are scratched out on the menu.

They seemed a bit short on staff as well because the waitress was sweeping the floors and cleaning tables while attending customers. In between bouts with the broom, orders for the marinated chicken sandwich ($5.55) and the gyro ($5.25) were placed.

The chicken sandwich is a simple marinade with black pepper and oil, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. The menu claims the bun is sesame seed or pita bread, but the sandwich this go-round was a plain white bun. The selection is a healthier option than the dishes mentioned above.

The gyro was dressed with onions and tomatoes. The meat was bland and the tzatziki sauce was missing. There’s a laundry list of places in Toledo to get a gyro; this eatery is nowhere near the top.

Ideal Hot Dog also has a breakfast menu for the early-risers or fans of the particular fare in the afternoon and evening.

In closing, you should have a general idea of what you are getting into when visiting Ideal Hot Dog. But you should also be aware if one location is better than the other. The answer is that the Heatherdowns spot was much more prepared in the recent visits.

Contact Bill of Fare at fare@theblade.com.

First Published November 25, 2015, 5:00 a.m.