Bites Nearby: The Little Dog House

If a plain old hot dog with mustard and relish just doesn't cut it for you anymore, then head to The Little Dog House in Benny's Plaza in North Plymouth. It is just that, a small hut in the parking lot, but a true hot dog stand in every sense of the word.

Owner Eileen Higgins is from New York and grew up with hot dog stands serving up wieners with toppings like onion sauce. She aspired to do the same one day.

"I wanted to have a hot dog stand," she said.

But her life took her on a different path and she found herself in Plymouth, commuting to work in Fall River. She eventually got sick of it before seeing the kiosk for sale, which she thought would be the "perfect place" to sell hot dogs. She bought it and opened The Little Dog House last June.

"I'm glad I did it."

Local hot dog lovers will be glad too because hot dogs are The Little Dog House's specialty.

Higgins uses Boar's Head all-beef hot dogs with natural casing, which she steams. She offers grilled Kayem beef and pork franks as an alternative. The toppings, though, stand out.

In addition to the onion sauce of the owner's youth, patrons may have a dog with sauerkraut ("The German"), with a pineapple, jalapeño and onion relish ("The 5.0") and with Higgins' take on Coney Island meat sauce ("The Phoney Island"). There is also a hot pepper relish and the "Chow Chow" relish, a Southern relish made with tomatoes, cabbage and onions.

The Little Dog House sells "Paw Prints," which are Pearl all-beef flat dogs, too.

"Kids love them," the owner noted.

Besides hot dogs, chili, potato and pasta salads, Del's Frozen Lemonade and Speedwell Coffee make up the rest of the menu.

"We put out a really good product," Higgins said.

A hot dog, chips and a small Del's goes for $5.25. Two dogs and a soda is $6 and three and a soda is $7.50.

"The hot dogs are absolutely awesome," regular Jim Vincenzi offers. He added that the hot dogs toppings available can only be found here and that the service is fast and friendly.

Visitors may drive right up to place their order, or walk up. The owner described her business as fun, simple, quick and easy.

She hopes guests have "as much fun here and enjoy the hot dogs as much as I do."

The Little Dog House is located at 179 Court St. and is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. until 3 p.m., through September. 

Phoney Island Sauce -- courtesy of Eileen Higgins

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
• 16 oz. tomato puree
• 1/2 tsp. celery salt
• 2 Tbs. cider vinegar
• 1 Tb. yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (skip for traditional Coney Island sauce)

Brown meat. Cook the other ingredients on low for 20 minutes to make the sauce. Then pour over the meat. Serve on top of hot dogs.