By Jacqueline Raposo for Food Fanatics Magazine, fall 2021

The left side of the image is a page with a puppy eating from a bowl, toys and other doggie things and the title that says “Every Dog Has Its Day: The Benefits of Pups on Patios by Jacqueline Raposo.” On the right is copy of the article in Food Fanatics magazine.

Restaurants serving canine companions are no longer diamonds in the ruff. Sure, the pandemic’s increase in outdoor dining spaces and to-go meal kits has encouraged growth. But customers have long been loyal to restaurants that welcome furry friends.

But let’s cut to the chase: What modifications to the menu, space, safety and service would increase the pool of customers to sit, stay and be merry? Take in some trends and tips from these leaders of the pack.

The Right Bite

About seven years ago, Minnesota-based Craft & Crew Hospitality started offering a dog menu. “It led to this whole new niche that resulted in more people knowing us as a great neighborhood restaurant,” says co-owner Luke Derheim. Today, all six locations, including The Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar in Minneapolis and Pub 819 in Hopkins, Minnesota, offer a three course dog menu. Appetizers include bones sourced from a local meat market, entrées like a ground turkey Muttloaf® and Pup Cream for dessert – a blend of bananas, peanut butter and coconut oil topped with whipped cream and a pup cookie. There’s also the Muttloaf® with brown rice and vegetables. It became so popular that Craft & Crew trademarked the name.

At Norm’s Eatery in Seattle, a $6 chicken or beef veggie dish is called a Bow Wow Bowl. At Art and Soul in Washington, D.C., A-Woof Con Pollo of chicken, rice and vegetables runs for $10. The peanut butter frozen treat? A Pupsicle.

Doggie dining can also take an upscale approach. At Lobster Bar Sea Grille in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pups can feast on an $18 filet mignon served with potato mash and jus, and wash it down with a Dirty Dog Martini (filtered water and jus). In New York City, The Wilson offers pups grilled steak for $24. They even have a “spa day” menu that includes housemade dog biscuits and a Pupsicle made from pumpkin, banana, peanut butter and coconut oil.

A Place to Sniff Around

At Craft & Crew, dogs are welcomed outdoors with a yoga mat, water, a complimentary housemade Vanilla Woofer and heated floors that keep their paws toasty during brutal Minnesota winters. Designing the trademarked Pawtios® areas means the loss of a table or two. But the investment has been worth it. “I don’t think that we would do the volume of sales at all of our heated Pawtios® if it wasn’t for the dog menu,” Derheim says. “It’s helped all of our brands continue to grow – even in the winter months, where similar concepts see a large drop-off.”

Small touches make an impact, too. Set by the ocean in Northern California, Moss Beach Distillery’s patio perches pet friends on fluffy dog beds. The staff at Mayfel’s in Asheville, North Carolina, are known for being extra loving with dog customers, bringing them water bowls. And at Lucy’s in New Orleans, staff usher canines inside – not just on the patio – and cool down hot doggies by giving them bowls of crushed ice water.

Make It Special

Staff at Craft & Crew are trained to care for the dogs on par with their human guests. Each location has a designated dog ambassador to ensure they’re well-stocked and ready to welcome.

Most dog-friendly operators host dog birthdays complete with cakes and singing. But celebrations can carry further. At the Watering Bowl in Denver, officiants oversee “Bark Mitzvahs” and dog weddings. The Wilson hosts a popular Puppy Bowl in January and a Santa Paws Brunch complete with a Santa for pup photos and treats.

Join a Pack

Offering their Pawtios® as event space for local pet rescues has helped Craft & Crew further connect with the community.

Collaborations extend to sales of services and merchandise, too. The Wilson has partnered on events with Bond Vet and Paw Originals Pet Supplies. At Tin Shed Garden Café in Portland, Oregon, proceeds from signature dog bandannas benefited Street Dog Hero – a nearby rescue – while offering customers 50% off their next dog menu purchase.

“Dog parents are very vocal,” says Sorenson. “When they find something that they truly love for their dogs, they tell everybody. And then you’ve got them.”

Bark up the Right Tree

Craft & Crew celebrated serving 80,000 dog meals last winter by consistently leaning into fan enthusiasm on social media. The Wilson reposts guest Instagram posts with links to their dog menu. Norm’s Eatery and The Tin Shed Garden Café also post and repost – especially when a dog influencer comes to their table. “Then you’ve got more people reaching out to see what you’re doing,” says Sorenson.

Dogs Don’t Always Rule

Sanitation may seem obvious, but what about customers who don’t want to sit near tail-wagging, friendly but overeager Rover? And how are dog fights handled? Operators say it begins with a plan and protocols for staff and guests that include preventing and remedying problems. That would include removing unruly dogs immediately, designating a part of the patio for dog diners only, and clearly communicating to customers on the website, social media and on the menu that the restaurant allows dogs on the patio. It’s also imperative, Derheim says, that dog owners understand that their pet demonstrates good manners. “Honestly, dog owners don’t bring their pet with them if they can’t socialize properly, so we don’t typically have such problems,” he said.