It was going to be the Great Grant Street Hot Dog Cart Taste Test.

We were ready. We had an extra team member and were going to eat our way from the Steel Plaza T Station to the City-County Building. Granted, that was only going to be two carts, but how much cholesterol can one ingest for one article? We had the perfect fall day to walk up to Grant Street. Munch, Outdoorsy Friend of Munch (OFOM) and Buddy of Munch (BOM) were on the move. The first lunch stop was Silver Star Hot Dogs, a red cart parked outside the T Station.

OFOM ordered the kielbasa combo ($4.50), which was a kielbasa that was split and grilled, chips and a drink.

BOM decided to get the hot sausage combo ($4.50), which also was grilled. Munch had the hot dog combo ($3.50). Our orders were taken and then handed out the window of the cart in a bag.

Once we had our lunches in hand, we had a much more difficult task -- finding someplace to eat it. The pretty little park between the T station and Seventh Street was out of the question. Every bench had at least one or two people on it. The stairs were fully used, so we couldn't sit there, either. Across Ross Street was a little grassy area next to the Mellon Client Services building. A wall along the sidewalk had raised metal between the stones, discouraging would-be nappers, but far enough apart to make a nice seat. We plopped ourselves down and started eating.

Silver Star is the same company that makes the hot dogs served at The Original Hot Dog Shop. While The O has a different spice mixture for its specially made dogs, the tube steak from the cart Downtown has a wonderful snap as you bite through the casing. OFOM's kielbasa was also a winner. It was grilled perfectly and had a meaty sort of heft to it. BOM pulled the short straw with the sausage. While advertised as hot, it was more spicy than hot and it was completely overcooked.

Once we had finished the chips, it was off to the cart in front of the City-County Building in further celebration of clog-my-arteries day.

When we arrived, we were met with terrible news. The hot dog cart doesn't sell hot dogs. The vendor was not allowed to sell them because the city ordinances won't let him sell within 200 feet of an established hot dog place and a snack bar inside the City-County Building sells hot dogs. Jason, who introduced himself to us as he was explaining his predicament, said he isn't allowed to sell sausage or kielbasa either, even though they are not sold inside. Instead, he grills burgers and chicken on his cart.

If we wanted good dogs, he said, we should head toward the Omni William Penn Hotel to Mellon Square Park across the street, where Eddie and Irene, his son's best friend's parents, have a hot dog cart.

There, right across from the main entrance to the hotel, were Eddie and Irene operating Dennis' Lunch House. Dennis, they told us, is their son who is still in elementary school.

Eddie and Irene sell their hot dog combo for $3 or a single dog for $2. The kielbasa went for $3.50. We all decided just to get the meat and forgo the chips on the second round of eating.

While Dennis' Lunch House may be in a worse location for foot traffic, it's a lot better for finding a place to sit. The park, with its low stone walls and shade trees, offered plenty of room for diners. The kielbasa was more blended than Silver Star's brand. Munch's hot dog lacked the snap, but had a better spice mixture.

The kicker was watching the dog be prepared. Munch is used to New York carts where some big guy grabs a wet dog out of steaming water, slaps it on a bun and motions that the ketchup and mustard are over there.

At Eddie and Irene's cart, Eddie takes the dog out of the hot water and places it on a little grill built into the cart to give it a little char. Then he places it in the bun on which Irene had already loaded the chopped onions, ketchup and mustard. It was so civilized and they were so nice. Like the classical music in the subway, Eddie and Irene are the sort of people who make Pittsburgh so dang livable.

Silver Star Hot Dogs, on the sidewalk along Grant Street across from Oliver Avenue.

Dennis' Lunch House, William Penn Place at Mellon Square Park.