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• Dyno Jax

DynoJax jumbo hot dog with everything (Michelle Pemberton/Indy.com)

The cheery space where DynoJax lives. (James Yee/The Indianapolis Star)

Even if it's a good day, a little bright spot always makes it better. And for Ben and me, a visit to DynoJax was the ticket.

Even though the restaurant is set back from the road, and in a strip mall, you can't miss the fun and vibrant sign - exploding with stars -- it's Dyno-mite!

The mood

It's a straight carnival at this joint. The sunny yellow walls were plastered with bright, cockeyed posters of daily specials. Cubs and White Sox pennants were tacked under the counter, appropriate since Jax specializes in dogs of the hot variety, Chicago-style in particular. We were a little early for lunch, but as we waited, a steady trickle of patrons arrived, until the line was nearly through the door. Conga, anyone?

The food

It's like going to the ballpark. The list of hot dogs, corn dogs, chili dogs, brats, sausages, Italian beef and more just kept going.

Tenderloins, chicken fingers and fish sammies shared menu space with nachos and grilled cheese. And if you like, the char-broiler can whip up burgers and chicken. Sides of fried and beer-battered everything rounded out the list. Oh, and there are a few salad choices -- as if you would come here to eat "healthy."

I chose a Chicago-style hot dog, ($2.49 -- how much would they charge at Wrigley Field?). The poppy seed bun was so stuffed with ingredients -- mustard, neon green relish, onions, cucumber, tomato, a pickle, mild peppers, celery salt -- that I barely tasted the dog. (As for the pickle, I had to ask it to kindly live outside the bun.) I added a side of hot pepper cheese balls with marinara sauce ($3.50). No complaints -- it's cheese!

Benji ordered the breaded tenderloin basket ($5.99), served with lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayo, pickles and his choice of kettle chips, which he topped with Parmesan cheese.

There was nothing too out of the ordinary about the tenderloin, but the chips could be flavored to taste with regular, seasoned or garlic salt.

The drinks

One diet, one regular Coke, comin' right up ($1.62 each). Straight out of the fountain along with "refreshing" free refills, as advertised on our table tent.

The damage: $16.59

As we sluggishly made our way toward the exit, we realized how full we were. Simultaneous moans of Thanksgiving Day-like fullness escaped us as we dumped out our trays.

We probably could've lived without cheese balls.