Deep-fried corn dogs, Sonoran hot dogs with beans and jalapeno pepper, bratwurst German sausage with sauerkraut and Irish bangers with home-cut fries and a fried egg are among the mouthwatering offerings at Neighbor’s Sausage and Hot Dog House in Chester Township.
Deep-fried corn dogs, Sonoran hot dogs with beans and jalapeno pepper, bratwurst German sausage with sauerkraut and Irish bangers with home-cut fries and a fried egg are among the mouthwatering offerings at Neighbor’s Sausage and Hot Dog House in Chester Township.
Local couple Gary and Rose Bamber opened the eatery, at 12770 Chillicothe Road, in October after spending two years navigating paperwork and paint, they said in a recent interview.
Sitting at a red-and-white-striped table in the colorful dining area, Gary, 63, and Rose, 60, pointed out the restaurant’s bold color scheme.
“We’re trying to do the mustard-ketchup theme,” he said, running his hand along the bright yellow edging of the table top.
The couple renovated the interior to create a cheerful, welcoming atmosphere.
Gary built the butcher-block countertop himself, using his construction skills and repurposed materials.
“We recycle everything,” said Rose.
Gary said owning a restaurant has long been a dream, though he initially followed his father’s advice.
“I’ve always liked cooking,” he said. “But Dad was a welder in North Ireland and told us kids, ‘Get a trade. You’ll not make any money cooking.’”
After more than four decades in the construction industry, Gary decided to change course a few years ago, prompted in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I got COVID and almost died. That’s when I decided if I’m going to do it, do it now,” he recalled.
Gary and Rose met in the Philippines, one of many locations where he served with the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalions, commonly known as the Seabees. He joined the service during the Carter administration and spent six years stationed in various parts of the world.
Married 43 years, the Bambers have three children – Gretchen, Genevieve and Edward – all graduates of Chardon High School. Edward, 30, followed in his father’s footsteps and is well known locally for the pizza he makes in Noche Gourmet Pizza on the Chardon Square. Rose and Gary now live in Munson Township.
Neighbor’s Sausage and Hot Dog House offers a wide selection of sandwiches, featuring 100% beef hot dogs with names such as the Chicago dog, New York dirty dog and Carolina red slaw dog.
Gary said a favorite is the value dog, priced at $2.50, which includes a hot dog on a bun, with add-ons such as jalapeno peppers, sweet or dill relish and diced onions offered for 50 cents each. Bits of bacon, sauerkraut, cheese and chili toppings can also be added for $1.50 each.
Gary’s familiarity with the Chicago dog dates back decades.
“I went to boot camp in Chicago,” he said.
He prepares the dogs with yellow mustard, neon-green relish, tomato wedges, diced onions, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt on a steamed poppy-seed bun.
“Ours have got to be authentic,” Gary said.
Sausage sandwiches include a Cleveland-style Polish boy — kielbasa topped with homemade red slaw, fries and homemade barbecue sauce — priced at $13.25, according to the menu
Besides popular Andouille, chorizo, Italian, Slovenian, Hungarian and knockwurst sausages, the Bambers plan to introduce a longanisa sausage sandwich topped with atchara. That offering will debut when unripened papaya becomes available for pickling, Rose said.
Rose also prepares deep-fried lumpia as a side dish. The Filipino egg rolls are served six to an order and are filled with pork or beef, accompanied by sweet chili sauce or hot or regular banana ketchup, according to the menu.
The Bambers pride themselves on their homemade toppings, including Russian dressing for the K.C. Reuben dog, marinara sauce for the Italian sausage sandwich, chimichurra paired with chirozo, Creole mustard for the Andouille sausage and barbecue sauce on the Cleveland Polish boy.
Ingredients are carefully sourced, Gary said, adding the sausage comes from Fligner’s Market on Cleveland’s west side, while buns are supplied by Vera’s Bakery in Newbury Township.
The restaurant does not use vegetable oil, instead relying on beef tallow, pork lard, olive oil and clarified butter to enhance flavor, he said.
Nothing on the main menu costs more than $14, including the specialty chicken sausage. The Bambers also serve French fries, potato and macaroni salad, coleslaw, onion rings, chili and soup at the bright, cozy eatery.
Neighbor’s Sausage and Hot Dog House is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
