How to Find a Dog-Friendly Restaurant

So, you’d like to meet your best friend and grab a bite. But you’d also like to bring along your other best friend…except that one has a tail and four legs. Many restaurants with outdoor patios allow dogs, but not all. So you’ll want to do a little research first.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access
• Leash
• Portable dog water bottle/dish

1. Search online under “dog friendly restaurants.” These will normally be restaurants and cafes with outdoor patios. There are some establishments that even have "yappy hour" (a dog friendly happy hour).
2. Call a restaurant you have in mind with an outdoor patio (even if it's not on the list). Not all dog friendly lists or guides are updated or even complete, and you may be in for a pleasant surprise.
3. Find out how weather-proof the patio is. If it’s a cold day, for instance, see if there are heaters. If it's hot, check if there's enough shade and perhaps spray misters.
4. Inquire as to how close together the tables are to determine if there’s room for your dog to lay down and not be on top of everyone.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
• If you arrive at the restaurant and it looks like they've already reached their canine quota...and yours is not known for eating well with others—it might be time to consider another restaurant—or maybe take-out.
• Tie your dog's leash to your chair, not the table...to avoid spills.
• Don’t feed your dog off of your plate or let him drink from your glass. You may do it at home, but the restaurant and your friendly, local Board of Health may not approve.