Tony Packo's, - Toledo - Restaurants, Cafes & Food Reviews

Tony Packo's Cafe is located in the Hungarian/Polish neighborhood on the east side of Toledo, Ohio.

During the depression in 1932, Tony Packo used a $100 loan to open his shop, which originally sold only sandwiches and ice cream.

Tony's signature "sausage-and-sauce sandwich" on rye was first made when he decided to add a spicy chili sauce to his sandwiches for more flavor. Eventually, his creation became known as the "Hungarian hot dog", even though no such thing had come from the Old Country. The dish quickly became popular, and in 1935 the Packo family was able to purchase the current wedge-shaped building on the corner of Front and Consaul streets, which includes the former Consaul Tavern.

The "hot dog" is really a Hungarian sausage, probably a variety of kielbasa, about twice the diameter of a conventional hot dog, and slicing the sausage in half yields about the same amount of meat.