You think of them as your children and very rarely like to leave the house without them. If you could bring them to work, they would be by your side every day of the week. If you could take them out to dinner with you – oh, wait! You can! While not all restaurants welcome your canine companions, there are some really great dog friendly restaurants around town to choose from. Whether or not you drop a morsel or two under the table is completely up to you.
6 Dog Friendly Restaurants
Forge
2502 E. Camelback Road| Phoenix| 602.955.0334
Head to the Biltmore for a little shopping on any given day and you are sure to find plenty a shopper accompanied by their pet, be them on a leash or a very stylish carrier or stroller. For those shoppers accompanied by their pampered pets in search of a great meal and a special spot for their furry friend, Forge has just the answer. The patio contains hi-top tables along with traditional and community style seating, creating a large enough space for both two and four-legged guests. Whether you pop in for lunch or dinner you mustn’t leave without an order of the cheese curds. If you’re unfamiliar, while there is a complicated scientific explanation, essentially they are the squeaky fresh cheddar cheese in its natural and random shape prior to it being processed into blocks. The curds here are lightly battered and fried and served with a tangy tomato sauce and may very well cause an addition.
Grassroots Kitchen & Tap
2119 E. Camelback Road| Phoenix| 602.368.8766
With your choice of two patios that cover two different sides of the building, providing completely opposing sceneries, Grassroots provides a number of options inside and out. Stop in for lunch with your pooch after a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy a comfortable space, attentive service and a diverse menu. Start things off with their pork belly that is cut in-house and served with a spicy tomato jam, candied pancetta and toast points. The Farmer’s Vegetable Chop salad is a cornucopia of cabbage, beets, grapes, butternut squash, corn, radishes, tomatoes, scallions, cucumbers, edamame, feta, basil and parsley dressed with a champagne vinaigrette which adds an additional crispness to the garden fresh flavors. If you are looking for a little decadence, you did just go for a walk, after all, the Southern Shrimp & Grits are rich and velvety, infused with jalapeno cheddar a bit of Tasso ham relish alongside some grilled focaccia so that no morsel goes without savoring.
Ingo’s Tasty Food
4502 N. 40th St.| Phoenix| 602.795.2884
Dog or no dog, the patio at Ingo’s is always a great choice for seating but is especially exceptional when your pup is in tow. The brightly colored and amply shaded patio provides a comfortable spot for all dinner and the service staff will make sure that you are treated just like family, making sure that your companion has a full water dish. The simple and approachable menu is created with high-quality ingredients and all the burgers are made with grass-fed beef. Their Fresh Shattered Potato Chips are more than delightful; fresh cut, thick and crisp potatoes dusted with salt and accompanied by lebni, a Lebanese yogurt dip. Their salads are ever evolving and the sandwiches offered are interesting and substantial but their burgers are where it’s at. These burgers aren’t complicated with infused oils or a multitude of ingredients. Ingo’s Cheeseburger is the perfect example of a clean, simple but intense burger made from Strauss grass fed and finished beef, Black Creek cheddar, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and a house made dill pickle.
Milagro Grill
4280 E. Indian School Road| Phoenix| 602.773.5844
Milagro Grill offers up a unique take on the modern flavors of the Mexican-American cuisine. The family behind the restaurant, the Johnson’s, have an impressive collective 40 plus years in the industry ensuring that the flavors, ambiance, and service are all something that you will be raving about to your friends and family. The patio is perfect for you and your best four-legged friends, they even have water dishes on hand and misters for those really hot days. Find yourself out for a walk early enough on Saturday or Sunday morning you can pop in for brunch and enjoy items like Enfrijoladas (corn tortillas stuffed with chicken and sofrito topped with white bean chipotle sauce, queso fresco, and two eggs) or Pancakes Unicos (cinnamon banana pancakes with dark chocolate chunks, topped with peanut butter and real maple syrup). Since you’re walking, make sure not to miss a glass of Sangria Unico, a delightful combination of sangria topped off with St. Germain and sparkling wine.
Scramble: A Breakfast Joint
9832 N. 7th St.| Phoenix| 602.374.2294
Whether you are out for a leisurely stroll or a nice jaunt, you and your pet pal can pop into Scramble for a fresh fruit smoothie (your choice of banana peach, berry-berry or mango strawberry), a vegan veggie scramble (tofu scramble with squash, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion & bell peppers) or a Chicago Brizza (sausage, hash browns, Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses) to share with some friends, you are sure to be welcomed on their dog friendly patio. Large portion sizes, seemingly never ending drink refills matched with knowledgeable and friendly wait staff make Scramble the perfect spot for you and Fido any morning. You can even stroll in for lunch and enjoy a variety of wraps, paninis or salads.
Windsor
5223 N. Central Ave.| Phoenix| 602.279.1111
The Windsor Historic neighborhood is all about tradition and family, and there is no exception with the restaurant of the same name. The folks at the Windsor have created a space that is akin to being in your own home, comfortable and relaxed, just maybe with better food. And as they welcome you to come in and relax, Fido is invited to do so as well with their ample dog friendly patio. Their menu provides a plethora of comforting options as well like Deviled Egg Dip & Chips dressed up with tender belly bacon and gorgonzola. The Falling Out is an eclectic salad comprised of mixed greens, pears, grapes, apples, pomegranate seeds, gorgonzola and a red wine herb vinaigrette. The burger and entrée options will have you drawing straws as there are so many great options to choose from. Luckily, there are daily specials, only available as a special, to mix things up a little bit.
This article originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of Uptown Magazine.