With no prior restaurant or professional cooking experience, Brian and Susan Large took the plunge on July 6, opening Dog & Deli in Freighthouse Square's food court.

"I sell food I like to make and eat," Brian Large confides with a chuckle.

They pride themselves on slowing cooking their creations: "Our Philly cheesesteak is our most popular. We thin-slice rib eye steak and actually slow cook the onions, peppers and cheese into it - not just put them on top. It takes longer, but it's worth the wait."

You won't find vegetarian or vegan dogs at Dog & Deli - it's all about the meat. Standard Nathan's Famous quarter pound beef dogs are $4.99 to $6.99. Hot dogs named for cities are served with ingredients specific to that region's tastes. Take the Atlanta Dog smothered in house-made sweet coleslaw. From neon relish and sport peppers to poppy seed buns and celery salt, Chicago Dog ingredients are imported and oh-so-authentic. The Larges also offer Italian sausage and Polish dogs.

For $5.99 you can get sandwiches and subs with a half pound of non-processed deli-shaved meat with a side chips or potato salad. Susan's own recipe for American potato salad tastes slightly sweet with just a little hardboiled egg for flavor.

Bowls of smooth Coney Island sauce-style beanless chili are topped with cheese, onion, tomato and jalapeno. The same Coney meat sauce is used on the second most popular dog - a Vienna True Foot Long Coney Island Dog. 

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday