Darien Going to the Dogs: Franks & Frites Coming to Noroton Heights Shopping Center

Food options at the Noroton Heights Shopping Center is going to the dogs.

According to manager and operator Michael Hutton, Franks & Frites is going to offer a lot of interesting and homemade fare. The hotdog-focused shop has the same owners as Heights Pizza, which has existed for roughly 20-years or so just two doors down from where the new shop is opening.

"It's going to be mostly hotdogs with funky style," Hutton said. "We're going to have the same hot dogs you'd find on a New York City street, but you won't find these creations anywhere else. And they're all-beef and gluten free."

The store has many specialty offerings, like traditional brautwurst and currywurst, there's the standard traditional New Yorker and other regional highlights like the Coney Island Dog and the Chicago Dog, Noroton gets its own namesake, and there are animal-related creations like the Chihuahua, or the mini-franks wrapped in pizza crust called Puppy Dogs.

Perhaps Franks & Frites most unique—and challenging—offering will be The Great Dane, a 13-inch, one-pound monster with all the toppings you want and the dare to try and eat more than one.

"It's eight times the size of a normal hotdog." Hutton said, and explained the idea behind the business. "Hotdogs are always something people crave. And hotdogs don't grow on trees. This is going to be a fun place."

Hutton said the store should be opening up by mid-month if all goes according to plan.

"As long as everything goes well," Hutton said. "We were originally planning for today, but we were having some electrical issues downstairs. So, with the holiday weekend coming up, the final inspection probably won't take place until next week."

Franks & Frites actually grew out of an idea to offer Belgian fries, a twice-baked offering Hutton said isn't offered elsewhere usually. The accompanying hotdogs kind of took the lead as they played around with the idea.

"You don't see those anywhere else and we'll be hand-cutting them all right here," he said. "The toppings and dipping suces are all made right here as well."

The store will also offer delivery, Hutton said. For a peek at the menu, check out FranksandFrites.com.