WILTON, CT — Google released data on Wednesday — in honor of the upcoming July 4 holiday — on the highest-rated and most-searched hot dog venues across the United States.

It's okay, we understand: You were really not expecting to find a Wilton venue on that list. But even you're not as surprised as Jesse Cipollone was when we told him, and he owns the place.

The restaurateur's Dog Daze Café on Route 7 more than just makes an appearance among the top list of best-reviewed hot dog stands, it positively crushes it. It's the only Connecticut hot dog joint to make it into Google's Top 100, placing 62nd nationwide with an average rating of 4.81 stars across 116 reviews.

All of that was news to Cipollone, who says he really doesn't spend much time on the computer, and defers to his wife Brittany in the social media game.

"I just turned 40 this year. So I'm kind of outside the bubble of Instagram and TikToks, and all that stuff," he told Patch.

The couple is in their 10th season of slinging sauerkraut at Dog Daze. They both established their fine dining careers in the hectic South Florida food service business, before turning to their more serene roadside on Route 7.

"Once we got started, I realized just how great it was and how great the people are in the area. Wilton is just a phenomenal place," Cipollone said.

Asked why his enterprise has gotten so Google-icious over the past 10 years, Cipollone guessed the high marks were due to the friendly way he and his wife interact with their customers.

We suggested it might be all the bacon. The Dog Daze Café menu is brimming with bacon.

"Yeah, yeah, bacon is key, we really do fly through bacon," Cipollone agreed. "The demand for bacon is actually kind of extraordinary. You'd be surprised how many times people will even come in and get a veggie burger and ask us to put bacon on it."

Not at all. A veggie burger with bacon is probably the most Wilton meal we can imagine.

Another factor in the roadside stand's popularity is undeniably the fresh ingredients used. Tomatoes, onions, potatoes and the other veggies that pepper the entrées are all picked and diced fresh daily. The meats are cooked on a cast iron grill, which Cipollone said "adds a lot of flavor, it gives a great char, it gives a different aspect than just … pulling a hot dog out of some water."

If it all seems a bit excessive, so are the reviews:

"This is always our favorite stop when we are town. Fresh, delicious & inspiring food at a roadside cafe that never ceases to amaze! Crazy burger & hot dog choices added to fish n chips & chicken sandwiches, but don’t forget to look for the daily specials like Squash Blossoms!"

Another Googler gushed: "This is an absolutely amazing little cafe food is prepared by a five-star chef who makes a cheeseburger taste like a filet mignon!"

This reviewer sounds like he was having a bad day, but the food at Dog Daze set everything right again: "The people of Connecticut, who use their horns too much, can't drive, and are generally brats do not deserve this awesome place, onion rings, fries, all that stuff burger, awesome."

Not many people know that the top-loading hot dog bun is a New England invention, but one online Dog Daze fan did, and connected the dots to the café's classic-but-humble roadside architecture:

"As genuine and new England as it gets...farmstand hot dog stand. Different kinds of sausages and brats, plus hot dogs with a variety of toppings. Mix in great fries and even burgers and some pulled pork options and it's a home run! Love this Wilton gem!"

Even more New England-y: Dog Daze accepts cash only, and shuts down in the winter. The rest of the year, it is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Monday.

See Also: Outrage: New 'Best Pizza Cities' Report Snubs Connecticut

What's that you say? You were thinking about planning a road trip to hit all the best wiener joints in the area before the end of summer? Good call, let us help.

The top hot dog joint on the list is just a morning commute away. Billy's Hot Dog Cart in New York City is also the only one with a five-star rating on Google. The blue-ribbon bratwursts are a movable feast, but can generally be found on Central Park West between West 82nd and 103rd streets.

Here are the top dogs with a Google Maps link, sorted by their average Google rating, in the CT/NY/NJ/MA vicinity:

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