Casino's Restaurant - Morrisville, PA Review

Most people who have lived in the Hamilton/Trenton area know about Italian Hot Dogs. The orinator of this delicious sandwich made of the best Torpedo roll, a hot dog, giant potato cuts and green peppers all topped with strategicly placed mustard was Casino's Restaurant. They first introduced at the Festival of the Lights in Chambersburg over 60 years ago.

Since that time many have tried to reproduce it, but never, ever get it right - they add onions, make the potatoes too small, slice up the hot dog, put ketchup on it, and of course do not get the rolls from the right bakery, Barbero's if I remember correctly.

Over the years, the family that owned Casino's had opened at least two other restaurants, one was called Tony Goes on South Olden Avenue, I know because I worked there decades ago and the other was a second Casino's in Morrisville. Tony Goes was run by one of the grandsons, and the second Casino's was run by a neice of the family.

Tony Goes closed up shop in the 1990s. Casino's in Chambersburg was sold to an hispanic family and they were provided the recipe for the Italian Hot Dog. This place did not last long, the reason I think is because they made a disgrace of this Trenton heirloom. I sampled the dog there after it was sold, the roll was too soft, the potatoes were wet and soggy, and the hot dog was undercooked. In short, they f'd it up. Now they are a little grocery store.

I did not fear however, there was still the family run Casino's located in an hidden corner of a strip mall in Morrisville. I would go there whenever the craving hit me. Late last year, the matriarch of the family, a dear woman in her 80s, took ill. The family opted to sell the new Casino's and devote their time to taking care of her.

The new owners, much to my delight, stayed true to the recipe. I had not been there in at least two months, but I had a craving today. I called the number, which I had programed in my speed dial to call in an order for my mother and myself. To my dismay, the number had been disconnected. I figured maybe the new owners decided to change the number for some insane reason, so I took the ride over the bridge.

The sign was still there, all teh fixtures were in place, but to my dismay, the doors were locked, the open sign and all the lights inside were dark. There was no sign stating they had closed, there was no informaiton at all, just this terrible locked door.

I left disappointed, wondering are they gone forever. Has this great Trenton icon become extinct? Will I ever taste another Italian Hot Dog ever again? Good bye old love, you will remain a fond memory always.