Merritt Canteen

I’ve been going to the canteen since I was practically born. You can always rely on good food there. I used to stick with hot dogs or hamburgers but lately I’ve been getting the clam strips. They’re delicious.
The canteen is also open super late so if you are looking for a late night snack it’s the best place to go.

I come here every now and then to enjoy something fun to eat.
Donut burger is amazeballs but I usually stick to their hotdogs with chilli or coleslaw. Combine it with their Mac and cheese tots you’ll have yourself a good late night snack.
Servers aren’t too energetic but they haven’t messed up any of my orders thus far.

I’ve been eating here for well over 14 years and I still love it! When you want fast food, this is the place to go!!! The BIG PLUS; they’re still old school with verbal ordering! I’m in the industry and I began my career in a fast food place; exact environment. As an Exec. Chef today I still frequent here for a burger or a brutal dog w/​light chili, cheese, mustard, relish, ketchup, & of course bacon! Yes, it’s a lot and it’s AMAZING!
P. S. & disclaimer; I put light chili because as most know, it it very hot!!! I love their chili. The food is fast, consistent and great! From menu items to their weekly specials!

My favorite burger spot. The chili cheeseburger & onion rings will not disappoint. You can order pretty much anything here & it will be good. Even when there’s a line, they move pretty fast.

Went here one afternoon with a friend who has been going here for years. The place itself is very old and not too clean.
I ordered a steak and cheese sandwich — my friend ordered a cheeseburger and fries.
All of which were just ok at most.
The service is terribly slow, and one of the guys behind the counter was extremely rude and told my friend he had to sit up properly otherwise we would have to leave! It’s not some kind of 5 star fancy place so they need to get a clue and realize it for the dump it is!
I doubt I’ll be back !

Great throwback to the early days of fast food. Hot dogs (with or without spicy Chili), burgers and all day breakfast sandwiches. Open all hours and usually a line. Don’t let a line turn you away, though. The staff is courteous and efficient at filling the orders in a very timely manner. If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by. You won’t be disappointed.

I hate to say it but I can’t believe that the bleach-​blond bearded wonder from Triple D would give this place a stamp of approval. My wife and I saw the review and decided that this would be a good place to stop on our way to NYC this weekend. Given the fact we were on the road late in the evening we knew that options would be limited so again this place seemed inviting.
I have to admit that the ambiance and décor are very nostalgic and cool, even the old school short order service but that’s where it ends. The food was just awful, my wife ordered a cheesesteak and I got a burger to try. Plus we got onion rings, curly fries, pretty much the whole shebang to try including the chicken patty our son ordered. Once we sat at the table we could not believe how greasy the fries and onion rings were. I couldn’t even eat my burger it was all full of fat and bone pieces, just horrendous.
I really wanted to like this place because of the future possibilities of coming back. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen.

A true icon of north Bridgeport. I like that they’ve stood by the formula that made them successful and never tried to ruin the original items. Apparently, some newer stuff like Mac & Cheese bites and fried desserts are gaining traction as well.
Recommendation for a classic meal: Chili dog w/​onions, Fries w/​ketchup.
Chili is uniquely spicy. The fries are like the 1970s carnival style that is rarely done right anymore.
Their prices have also stayed pretty stable over the years, relative to the inflation in the rest of the area.

Returned for a burger and grilled chicken sandwich. This was the worst, blandest and toughest/​chewiest chicken sandwich ever have had. Not really edible. Burger was not good this time either.

Man I should have ordered a hot dog at this place! I am so mad at myself for trying to stay «healthy» and ordered a grilled chicken sandwich — not worth it. If I solely judged this place by the grilled chicken sandwich I would’ve been disappointed. After reading all the good reviews, I don’t think the grilled chicken gave it justice, it was just okay. Thank goodness My boyfriend went all out and ordered a bison burger + a hot dog and he let me try some. The hot dog was so good! Their mustard (I think it’s home made, it’s different from the regular yellow kind) is sooo good!!!
Also, love the fact that this place has been there since 1942! It still has the old school feel!
Bottomline:
Good fast food place to get a hot dog or a burger.

Merritt Canteen as been around since 1942, and was featured on the Food Network. This a traditional fast food place that offers a variety of foods from tasty hotdogs, hamburgers, breakfast, seafood, fries, sandwiches, the list goes on and on. Quick service, sit in, or, take out. The food is great and it’s a place I enjoy returning too. If your in the area, you have to try this place, you won’t regret it.

I was in Bridgeport for an interview and I wanted to find some local eats. It was actually harder than I thought to find anything worth driving to but I saw on Unilocal that Guy Fieri came here. I ordered the chili cheese dog with all the toppings (mustard, relish, onions, sauerkraut). The sign said spicy — no refunds! And it was really spicy but that’s all I could taste. I couldn’t taste the dog, cheese or even the chili, just spicy. Definitely would not get this again.
I also ordered the ¹⁄₃ pound Bison cheeseburger (all toppings) which was amazing! It was so juicy yet lean and filling! It was the perfect burger. If I was ever in the area again, I would definitely come back just for this burger!
Homemade onion rings were nicely done– when you bite into it, the onions didn’t pull out which is a classic sign of a good onion ring. But batter was okay and needed more seasoning.
*You don’t pay when you order. You pay after you get your food, which comes out quick. It was a little awkward though when some of us (customers) didn’t realize this and were still standing at the counter.

What can I say? Merritt Canteen is a Bridgeport institution. They upgraded the décor since the last time I was there giving it a faux-​60s feel to go along with the car-​hop menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, shakes, and the like. The food tastes great, although the nutritional value is suspect at best. It is also not the cleanest option. But it has retained its classic character over the years and remained faithful to the aspects that made it a hit.
Be aware that the place is packed at lunchtime and weekends, so it is best to come in during off hours.