Hot dog, it’s Red Sox season

In honor of Opening Day at Fenway April 11, it’s time to hunt down some good dogs to start the season right.

Chef Mike Gracie of The Harp, a sports bar just steps from TD Garden and North Station, kicked off the 2016 Red Sox Season with a creative line-up of fun frankfurter flavors heaped atop a base of all-beef Block and Barrel on a buttered and buttery grilled hot dog bun. Each dog is $3, but I suggest ordering a platter of all of ‘em, including a plain dog.

I took a couple of 12-year-old members of Red Sox Nation to try out the dogs. They tried flavors they’d never consider before, and some of them they were surprised that they liked.

THE GREEK — Feta & roasted red peppers. They didn’t like the feta so much. I liked the mix of salty and savory, struggling to prop the cheese and diced tomatoes back onto the hot dog. It was a great combination.

GUAC DOG — house-made guacamole mixed with sour cream, and topped with chopped red onion. Henry liked this one, although Xander was no fan of the guacamole. I loved this combo, so creamy.

REUBEN — Sauerkraut, melted Swiss & Russian dressing. I had to convince these boys to try it, and they were surprised it wasn’t that bad. “Not a strong flavor,” said Xander. Add his friend Henry, “It was vinegary, and I didn’t really taste the Russian dressing.” So that’s a win, I guess. I thought this was a fun hot dog to try.

MARGHERITA — House made mozzarella with roasted tomatoes & basil. Xander: “Very tomato-ey.” said Henry: “I loved it. Hot dog that tastes like a pizza!” This was perhaps their fave.

SPICY PICKLES + BACON — Housemade crunchy pickles & tiny cubes of smoked bacon. The chef makes the pickles in-house, with apple cider vinegar brown sugar and pickling spices, including cardamom and allspice. Henry: “The pickles blended well with the bacon and the hot dogs.” Xander liked the pickles, and he liked the bacon, although he didn’t like them together so much. You can also order the pickles as a side.

SRIRACHA DOG — Kale slaw, with broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots and ranch dressing, Sriracha BBQ & ranch dressing. Apparently, the kids didn’t like the spicy sauce. “It hurts!” said Xander. “It killed me!” said Henry. But I love spicy, and combined with a healthy salad atop the dog, this was a full meal.

Be sure to order a side of fries, which are crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, perfectly seasoned. We also had the xxx salad, with xxx

Open for lunch, dinner and late night dining, the Harp is a fave for happy hour, pre-game gatherings and post-game partying with plenty of sports on the many TVs. It has a huge square bar, with two separate doors, with entertainment at night.

Other ideas for Opening Day Dogs:

• At Tico, Chef Michael Schlow’s famous Schlow Burger with oozing cheddar cheese, crispy onion strings, and renowned horseradish black pepper sauce is making its way from the exclusive late night menu to the all day menu just for Opening Day. Tico guests can get their hands on a Schlow Burger and any draft beer for just $20. Tico, 222 Berkeley Street, www.ticoboston.com
• The Sonoran Dog at Lone Star Taco Bar East is a Pearl hot dog wrapped in bacon and deep fried, topped with refried beans, pico de gallo, chipotle mustard, and ancho cream in a New England-style brioche bun. lonestar-boston.com
• Griddled Dog at Parlor Sports offers a griddled sausage and buttered bun, with toppings like house-made pickles, chili, and bacon. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, parlorsportsbar.com.
• Max & Leo’s at Game On Fenway offers a coal-fired all-beef hot dog is charred in a 900-degree oven and topped with house-made chili and cheese, or any two pizza toppings such as oasted red peppers, caramelized onions, pepperoni, bacon, or nacho cheese. 82 Lansdowne St., Boston, gameonboston.com.
• Dogzilla at Hojoko is a Neuske’s hot dog is bacon-wrapped, American cheese and jalapeño-stuffed, and deep fried, the glazed with sweet kabayaki sauce and sprinkled with umami bonito flakes, 1271 Boylston St., Boston, hojokoboston.com.