In Detroit you hear "Hey ! Gimme one of each on two heavy chili light onions, two up on three light chili heavy onions, 2 fry, one chili fry, one of each light chili, heavy onions, bowl chili, two heavy chili no onion, two loose light onion, bowl of chili heavy onion, two loose heavy chili only." - Lafayette Coney Island Waiters
In Detroit, where we call soda "pop," we call our chili-dogs "Coney Islands." Throughout the city there are hundreds of Greek owned restaurants serving up these hot dogs covered in chili sauce, mustard, and raw onions named Coney Island. The name recalls the birthplace of the hot dog but this treat was born in Motown. In the heart of downtown there are two historic spots, owned by brothers and side by side, which have been serving up this coveted concoction for over 70 years. The competition between Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island is fierce and there isn't a Detroiter who hasn't had to pledge allegiance to one shop or the other.
Gus Keros immigrated to Detroit from Greece in 1910 and opened American Coney
Island in 1929 on Lafayette Avenue. His nickel dogs were so successful that he
sent for his brother William and trained him in the business. When the
storefront next door became available, William started Lafayette Coney Island.
The two have remained side by side for the past 70 years and are still owned by
third generation family members. This friendly rivalry has supported them
through Detroit's rise to industrial power and fall into racial strife. Both are
opened seven days a week on downtown streets where most stores are boarded shut.
Their clientele is still the office workers, city employees, police officers,
baseball and hockey fans, and simply the diehard coney lovers who drive in from
the suburbs have kept them open 24 hours a day.
Lafayette Coney Island: Deetroit Coney's !!
The menu is simple, chili-dogs, with or without raw onions, a loose meat hamburger or "loosey", a bowl of chili, with or without beans, and fries. Lafayette recently expanded their menu by adding chili fries, if you can count combining two things already on the menu an expansion.
Lafayette is best enjoyed by sitting at the counter in full view of the grill where the cooks are heating the hot dogs and steaming the ground beef for the chili. Your order is shouted, in a thick accent, by your waiter from your table and is served almost instantaneously. The standard order is two Coney dogs with mustard and raw onions, they are guaranteed to keep you awake for days! While ketchup is available, it does not belong on a true Coney dog. Beside the toppings are piled so high that half will end up on your plate anyway.
Deetroit Boys, eating Deetroit Coney's, with Deetroit Vernor's !!
Ain't Nothin' Better !!
Mike and Bone being frequent "customers" over the year absolutely devoured their
four coney’s with much gusto and aplomb.