Dog-Friendly Dining: The list you’ve all been waiting for!
May 1st, 2009
A lucky customer cools off at Lucia's Dog Bar
By Meredeth Barzen
Note: Throw us a bone and tell us about your favorite places to grab a bite with your dog in the comments section below. Or go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.
You asked for it, you got it! Our readers have been hounding (nudge, nudge!) us for a definitive list of places to dine with their dogs. Everyone (hopefully) knows about Lucia’s Dog Bar–the creme de la creme of doggie dining–and some of the bigger names we touted in last year’s doggie dining roundup. Now that the season’s officially upon us (catch these 72-degree days while you can,) Sidewalk Dog’s here to offer a few of our favorites.
1. Riverboat Grill - That’s “Captain Fido”, thankyouverymuch. This old-timey riverboat docks at Saint Paul’s Harriet Island and serves up choice chow and scenery in an extremely dog-friendly environment. Since the entire dining room is outdoors, dogs are permitted to roam just about anywhere they’d like–brave pups can even take in the view from the top deck, provided they’re not afraid of a flight of stairs. Water, treats and ample tie-up spots are a given.
2. Toast Wine Bar and Cafe – This North Loop cafe in Downtown Minneapolis has three separate sections to its patio to accommodate all levels of doggie dining interest. Plus, they’ll be hosting their second annual “Yappy Hour” on June 6, where lucky pups will get to taste-test their special treats. Stay tuned to Sidewalk Dog for more info on this event!
3. Blue Plate Restaurants - With hip, dog-friendly spots all over the metro (3 Squares, Edina Grill and Groveland Tap, anyone?), two of this local diner dynasty’s restaurants have really gone to the dogs: Longfellow Grill and Highland Grill. While dogs are welcome to keep you company on the other side of a low fence surrounding all Blue Plate patios (though not on the patios proper), four-legged friends seem especially taken with the casual atmosphere and official, restaurant-branded water bowls at these two locations. Some owners even order lunch for their furry dining companions.
4. Gigi’s Cafe – Need nourishment after a romp around Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun? This South Minneapolis bistro has a lovely sidewalk where you and your dog are welcome to relax with brunch and a bowl of water. Dispatch from the rumor mill: Homemade dog biscuits are coming soon!
Picosa's patio on St. Anthony Main's cobblestone streets
5. Picosa – With walking trails and a park bordering a long, narrow patio along Minneapolis’ historic St. Anthony Main, dogs are a natural fit at this Latin American/Caribbean restaurant. Water bowls and treats are available for canine customers.
6. Birchwood Cafe – If the homemade dog biscuits that this Seward eatery has in the works are anything like its often local, sustainable and organic people-food, then Twin Cities dogs have a reason to rejoice.
7. Pumphouse Creamery - For dessert, you can’t beat Pumphouse’s decadent ice cream–for you and your dog. That’s right, the South Minneapolis shop makes their own gourmet doggie ice cream. Inspired by 2 neighborhood dogs, the treat comes in two flavors: Bella’s
Tracks (plain) and Bruno’s Tracks (peanut butter). With half the fat and sugar as “people” ice cream, your pup can go gonzo for a treat that tastes like people food, but won’t mess with his system.
Other great places to nosh with your dog:
- Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar (Longfellow neighborhood, Southeast Minneapolis)
- Aster Cafe (St. Anthony Main, Downtown Minneapolis)
- Liberty Frozen Custard (South Minneapolis)
- Butter Bakery Cafe (South Minneapolis)
- Nomad World Pub (University neighborhood, Minneapolis)
- Coffee News Cafe (Grand Avenue, St. Paul)
- Maverick’s Wood Grill (Champlin)
- View Restaurant and Bar (Uptown Minneapolis)
- McCoy’s Public House (St. Louis Park)
- Laredo’s Tex-West Grill and Cantina (St. Louis Park)
- French Meadow Cafe (Lyn-Lake neighborhood, Minneapolis)
- Wilde Roast Cafe (Northeast Minneapolis)
- Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar (St. Paul)
- Costello’s Bar and Grill (Selby Avenue, St. Paul)
- D’Amico and Sons (Locations all over the Metro Area)
- Grand Ole Creamery (Grand Avenue, St. Paul)
- Joe’s Garage (Loring Park, Minneapolis)
- The Tin Fish (Lake Calhoun, Uptown Minneapolis)
- Sea Salt Eatery (Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis)
- Town Hall Brewery (University neighborhood, Minneapolis)
- Barbette (Uptown Minneapolis)
- Cafe Maude (Southwest Minneapolis)
- Cafe Twenty Eight (Linden Hills neighborhood, Southwest Minneapolis)
- Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge (Northeast Minneapolis)
- The Happy Gnome (Cathedral Hill, St. Paul)
- W.A. Frost & Company (Cathedral Hill, St. Paul)
How about you? Throw us a bone and tell us about your favorite places to grab a bite with your dog in the comments section below. Or go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Patricks in Wayzata is dog friendly.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I’ve eaten with one of my dogs on the patio/sidewalk at Figlio and it was fine – but does anyone know the “official” Parasole policy on doggy guests? The same company owns Figlio, Chino Latino, Salut… and it would be nice to know if they are all dog-friendly patios…or not…
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
This is fantastic! Thanks so much for putting this together! I can’t wait to visit the Twin Cities again with my dogs.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I loved Psycho Suzies! Drinking a tiki drink, eating a slice of yummy pizza, while sitting out on a patio with your fuzzy four legged friend is AWESOME!
May 4th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I have never seen anyone complain about dogs at Cuzzy’s back patio-watering hole. It’s also conveniently near the North Loop off leash play area.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Isles Bun and Coffee, at 28th and Hennepin in Uptown Minneapolis, has marvelous human food, with outside seating, dog water bowls, and dog biscuits.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:11 am
I love Butter! It is so nice sitting out on the sidewalk enjoying their yummy baked goods while my dog Ducky enjoys a dog treat (or three). They also provide water and let you bring your dog in while you order, which is good for me because Ducky gets anxious if I leave her tied up somewhere- even if she can see me through the window
May 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Dunn Brothers in St Paul at 1569 Grand Ave (cross street is Snelling) provides nice outdoor seating and water for the dogs. A couple doors down is also Jamba Juice and bakery for more choices. We usu. see a least one other doggie there. There is free parking a block down on the same side of the street.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi Kortney. Thanks for your question. Parasole doesn’t have an official policy regarding their restaurants’ patios, so I called around and asked each one. ONLY Figlio and Salut are dog-friendly. Got the impression that Figlio loves having dogs (they put out water bowls and might be getting treats). Salut is totally fine with dogs, but the furry little beasts have to be tied up on the other side of the fence. In other words, you’d need a table along the perimeter in order to eat there with your dog. Bone apetit!
May 8th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
From Therese: I like to take my Beagle to the Tin Fish. After a nice stroll around Lake Calhoun it is a great spot to sit by the water, watch the sailboats, and enjoy some great fish. Plan for a long line to purchase your catch but it is worth the wait, especially for the fish tacos. Dogs are welcome and there are several water bowls provided to quench their thirst!
May 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
This is a marvelous reference tool! Thank you for doing this. Dunn Brothers in Excelsior and Caribou in Wayzata have patios with water bowls for the pups. My dogs Teddy and Emmie rate the Minnewashta Dog Park in Carver Co. 10 bones out of 10 bones.
Harmony,
Janet
July 21st, 2009 at 6:05 am
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July 21st, 2009 at 6:06 am
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October 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
We can’t forget the bull dog in NE or Grumpy’s downtown! If your dog is nice and/or cute the servers will bring bacon (Grumpy’s) or a chew toy (Bulldog)
January 5th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
[...] welcomed?) dogs on their patios. Check our map of dog-friendly patios, read about a few of our favorites and think [...]
April 28th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
[...] The season of the dog is upon us. That means the reemergence of swimming, running, walking, patio dining, ball-chasing, picnic-mooching and more in your dog’s life. And since we all get a little [...]
May 15th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Pairings in Minnetonka (Hwy. 62 and Shady Oak) has a patio that is always dog friendly! Enter through the back gate (pups not allowed inside the restaurant or great wine and beer shop). Perfect place to while away a few hours with your favorite companion (human or otherwise!).
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:42 pm
[...] a good time to be a dog in the Twin Cities. With more and more dog-friendly restaurant patios, dog-friendly stores and lovely pet boutiques popping up every day, that much is obvious. But what [...]