Profile

Childhood friends Brian Shebairo and Chris Antista grew up eating hot dogs all over New Jersey before opening the first Crif outpost on St. Marks Place in 2001. Their extensive and ever-expanding menu has hit Williamsburg, steps from the Bedford Avenue L train stop, with a takeout window on Driggs Avenue. Star Wars toys fill a display case above arcade game tables and flat-screen TVs. Though the majority of their dogs are a beef-and-pork mixture, smoked and deep fried to order, they also offer a grilled all-beef "New Yorker" option. Skip the create-your-own menu and trust their creative combinations, from cream cheese, scallions, and everything-bagel seeds (the Jon-Jon Deragon) to a bacon-wrapped dog covered in teriyaki sauce, pineapple pieces, and green onions (the Tsunami). Vegetarians get a veggie-dog option with all the same toppings, including basics like sauerkraut, cheese, and jalapeños, as well as less expected avocados and fried eggs. If you’re all dogged out, there is a burger on the menu, as sub-par as it is out of place, along with generous sides of crispy tater tots and waffle fries. Wash it all down with shakes, floats, or Brooklyn Lager on tap. — Daniel Benjamin

Tsunami dog, $4.50