Nothing says summer like a hot dog. Though it’s fall and the pools are closed, students can still enjoy a great dog by stopping in at the local Bethesda restaurant Bold Bite.

Bold Bite, which opened in July and is located in Woodmont Triangle, is a gourmet hot dog eatery owned and operated by the Roche brothers, Alonso and Alvaro. Customers can build their own hot dog or choose from one of the many original creations on the menu while sharing a laugh with the person taking their order.

“We wanted to open up a restaurant, and we loved hot dogs growing up,” Alonso said. “We thought hot dogs were a good thing to do in the area because the market was very open.”

Customers have a wealth of dogs and sausages to choose from, ranging from the owner’s favorite, the Merguez, a half lamb, half meat sausage topped with green peppers, red onions, cucumbers, mint yogurt and pita chips, to the Bold, a beef frank with diced onions, shredded cabbage, crunchy potato sticks, ketchup, mayo and mustard. If neither of those leave customers mouths watering, they have the option to build their own dog.

“My favorite is a regular hot dog because it’s delicious,” sophomore Steven Miller said. “They make some really unique hot dogs that I wouldn’t normally order, but I want to try one like the Bold.”

Even vegetarians can find something to love at Bold Bite, which now offers veggie dogs. Clients can also enjoy some of their favorites late at night on Fridays and Saturdays since Bold Bite stays open until 2:30 a.m. on those nights with a limited menu.

“We always knew that Bold Bite would have a late night crowd, and when we found the space next to all the bars we didn’t hesitate to open late,” Alvaro said.

When a customer first walks in, he or she may find it hard to believe that this store originally was a Ben and Jerry’s. The interior has been completely redone, giving the restaurant the feel of an old-fashioned diner mixed with a log cabin. Customers can watch their order being made before going over to sit at a picnic-style bench with stools, giving the restaurant a very sociable feel.

“The atmosphere is pleasant,” Miller said. “They seem really nice and informal. There is a very homey feel.”

There are no plans to open up another location, but the Roche brothers are hopeful for their new restaurant’s success.

“For now we are happy where we are with one location,” Alvaro said. “We feel that a place has to be perfect before we can even think that there would be space for another. For now only Bethesda, later we’ll see.”