Paul has cute little dogs.

When I start talking about eating at one of the many hot dog places around Wilmington, it is only a matter of time before my father with bring up Paul's Place.I wasn't exactly sure where it was, and figured maybe one day I'd go find it. Early last week one of my coworkers actually mentioned it, so I figured I'd ask where it was. Apparely it isn't that far! Sure enough, it's only a few miles from where my office is on North Campus, and I'd driven half way to Pauls on many occasions. There's an Andy's Cheesesteaks just north of campus, and if you drive past it you'll run into Paul's Place. Well as long as you don't blink. Paul's is very small, unassuming, and competely in the middle of nowhere:Apparently some people know it exists though, because they've been in business for a long time and apparently doing quite well, according to thier sign:As you pull into the parking lot you will notice right off that there are lots of trucks park around. Also plenty of old timers inside and outside. It's basically the local watering hole. The community gathers to socialize and eat hit dogs. Prior to making the drive up, I of course hit the Web Site to get the scoop. It's worth taking a moment to go see the site and read the history. Everyone talks endlessly about the relish at Paul's. It's apparently a love it or hate it type of thing. (I hated it!) This past Friday I went in to get some work done. I don't normally work on Fridays but it's so quite on campus I get a lot done! I decided to try and blend in like the natives and went with their 3 dog combo, BUT I only got one with relish. The other two I got chili, since the relish is supposed to be a chili alternative. The relish dog is in the middle.The fries were great. The relish wasn't for me. It sort of seemed like a mutant child of Salsa and Barbecue Sauce. But when I tried the regular chili dogs, something seemed a bit off as well. I was stumped. How can you mess up a chili dog? I decided I better got for broke and went back for another. (And by "going for broke" I don't mean my wallet. The dogs are CHEAP at Paul's.)Oh yes, everything tastes better with cheese on top! And yet, somehow this dog didn't make me roll over and start pawing the sky either. Something was amiss, but I couldn't figure it out. I suppose I'll have to go back to Paul's about 13 or 14 more times to figure it out. After a huddle with my mother, we suspect it is the onions. Rather than simple diced onions, Paul appears to use "grated" onions and that may be the problem. Looking around the place one of the things you just can't miss are the millions of jars of pickled, jellied, jammed, peppered, and sauced items If they can fit it in a jar, they'll pickle it and sell it. They sell their relish in sizes from a small jar to a gallon jug. I'll pass. Twice. As you step up to the counter you can look down and see the hot dogs in the hot water right below you. They literally assemble your dogs within arm's reach. They place them on big squares of tissue paper and place them on your tray. Then you get your cup to go get your own drink. This is when you may notice one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Since moving to eastern NC (the birthplace of Pepsi Cola) from Georgia (the birthplace of Coke) I have fallen repeatedly into the Coke/Pepsi conundrum. The first week or so everywhere I went I would order a Pepsi and be asked if Coke was ok. So then I'd ask for a coke and occasion get asked if Pepsi is OK. Frankly, you cannot win. I'd say there's an even Coke to Pepsi ratio here. Often it's a mad dash to scan the menu or look for the drink fountains to see if you are in a Coke or Pepsi place. As I walked in to Pauls I quickly saw the Pepsi fountains to the left of the counter. So I ordered a medium Pepsi with my lunch. But as I turned to my right to find a seat I saw Coke fountain to the right end of the counter. I then had to turn completely around to make sure I hadn't mis read something. I hadn't. Paul goes both ways, apparently. This is the only time I have EVER seen a place with both Pepsi products AND Coke products. Next time I go back I will certainly get a picture. I haven't figured out exactly where to stand to get them both in the same shot. While the cola wars is currently a cold war situation (get it? Cold Cola war?) I suspect Paul's would be the perfect spot for a taste-off. Lts face it, when they hand you your cup it's 3 steps to a Coke and 3 steps to a Pepsi. Come to think of it you also have the opportunity to "cross the streams" by mixing Coke AND Pepsi in the same cup at the same time. Oh yes, my next trip to Paul's will be an enlightening and entertaining experience for sure! But please, hold the relish.