According to New York City law dogs are verboten inside restaurants unless they are an official service animal. In fact, New York City has historically been a very unfriendly city to dogs. Up until recent times, for example, restaurants wouldn’t even let you sit at an outside table with your pooch, lest the dog is on the other side of the sidewalk enclosure, separating Fido from its owners. Not cool, New York.
But the pandemic really changed New Yorkers’ attitude toward giving canines a seat at the proverbial restaurant table. The law may still be the same but it’s not uncommon at all to see leashed dogs strolling through a dining room or a dormant dog snoozing under the table as its owners tuck into some hearty fare.
Then there are the outdoor spaces. Today, many restaurants happily allow your furry friend to sit by your side on an outdoor terrace or a sidewalk table. And, some eateries take it a step further by offering everything from water bowls to dog beds to mutt-friendly menus.
If you’re heading out to dine with your dog, there are a handful of particularly pup-friendly places to point yourself to.
Barking Dog Luncheonette
With a few outposts sprinkled around the city, the Upper East Side version of Barking Dog Luncheonette is an especially excellent place to turn up with your pet. Grab an outdoor table and let your dog go wild with the dog water fountain. In between sips, you can feed your pooch treats from the treat jar while you’re digging into a burger or a salad. 1678 Third Ave., Upper East Side, barkingdognyc.com
Shake Shack
There are dozens of Shack Shack locations scattered around New York these days, but the original, which started flipping burgers in 2004 in Madison Square Park, is by far the most dog-friendly outlet of this NYC-born, international mega-chain. That’s because every seat at every table is located within the park.
On top of that, the chain has a wee dog menu that you can order (at most outlets, by the way). You can get a Bag O’ Bones, a sack of five ShackBurger dog biscuits, or a Pooch-ini, a cup of ShackBurger biscuits in vanilla custard. Multiple locations, shakeshack.com
Judy Z’s
Judy Z’s, a sports bar with pub grub located in the southern swath of the West Village, is all about catering to canine clientele, complete with a pet-friendly menu. Some of the stand-out dog dishes include The Grrrrilla (seasoned grilled chicken with sweet potatoes and string beans), Mutt-Loaf (lean ground beef, peas, carrots, panko, rice with steamed veggies), The Saluki Tzu (fresh-water Alaskan salmon with steamed rice), and dog-friendly, lactose-free ice cream.
For drinks, the bar offers fido-friendly libations, including FetchMe Grigio (bacon-infused, salmon-oil-enriched filtered water), a dog-friendly beer called Pooch Hooch for the alcoholic dog in your life, and Dog Water, filtered H2O with CBD and vitamins. Owner Robert Sayegh was inspired to create a dog menu because growing up his mother, Judy Z, would actually cook extravagant meals for their pet pooches. 1 Seventh Ave. S., West Village, judyznyc.com
La Contenta Oeste
This corner Greenwich Village restaurant has consistently served up solid South-of-the-Border fare since it first fired up its burners in 2017. The restaurant also has a short but solid menu for Man’s Best Friend. The dog-friendly menu includes Pollito con Papas (poached chicken breasts, carrots, and potatoes), El Slider (pan-roasted beef burger, baby spinach, and roasted sweet potatoes), and El Vegetariano (romaine lettuce, broccoli, roasted sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, and green beans). 78 W. 11th St., Greenwich Village, lacontentanyc.com
Jams
California-leaning chef Jonathan Waxman is famous for the roasted chicken at his long-standing West Village restaurant, Barbuto. But at Jams, his California eatery just south of Central Park, he offers a canine-accented menu that’s worth barking about.
Sit on the patio and your pooch will get a choice of salmon with wild rice, carrots, and green beans, ground beef with wild rice and carrots, chicken with wild rice and sweet potatoes, mixed berries, or cucumbers and carrots, you know, for the vegan dog in your life. 1414 Sixth Ave., Midtown, 1hotels.com
Avoca
Since 2021 Avoca has been serving the Upper East Siders excellent versions of American comfort food, such as thick burgers, gravy-slathered Disco Fries, Chicken-Fried Mushrooms, Chicken Schnitzel, and a juicy Grilled Pork Chop. And one thing the restaurant doesn’t do is snub dogs.
Our furry friends are more than welcome at Avoca. So much so, the restaurant has a compendium of delicious delights just for dogs including German Shepheard’s Pie (a homemade ground beef blend with mashed potatoes) and Mutt Loaf (lean ground beef, peas, carrots, bread crumbs, and steamed vegetables). Or you can just opt for a side of bacon or a dog biscuit. If there’s room for dessert—and with the pooches, there always is—add on a Dog-Friendly Ice Cream. Avoca servers have even been known to bring out a comfy dog bed for Fido at times. 1678 First Ave., Upper East Side, avoca-nyc.com
Loulou Petit Bistro
Anchored on the corner of Eighth Avenue and West 19th Street in Chelsea, Loulou Petit Bistro is a mainstay for locals. Heck, even the Real Housewives of New Jersey have been known to cross the Hudson River to eat here, as spotted by DiningOut contributors in the past.
But New Jersey housewives are not the only loyal patrons to Loulou: The Real Dogwives of Manhattan (a.k.a., Manhattan residing dogs of all breeds) also love this spot, thanks to Loulou’s extensive dog menu. Request the dog menu and your pooch’s tale will be wagging for Steak & Eggs, Grilled Chicken, Seared Salmon, the Loulou Burger, and, for dessert, a “Pup”sicle. 176 8th Ave., Chelsea, loulounyc.com
Boris & Horton
“The happiest place on Earth” is the slogan of this East Village cafe. And with so many joyful tale-wagging dogs meandering around the interior, it’s likely the truth. Boris & Horton has a great human menu of coffee drinks (many of which are named after various dog breeds), an overstuffed Breakfast Burrito, gravy-clad Poutine, and a Mushroom Grilled Cheese.
But make it a dog-day afternoon with the special menu catered to our furry four-legged friends. Here the cafe becomes a “pawtisserie.” Let your pooch chowdown on Doggie Doughnuts, Puptarts, Pupcakes, Pride Pup Cookies, Pup Pretzels, and Goodest Dog Bones. And if it’s your pet’s special day, B&H even has a Dog Birthday Cake. 195 Ave. A, East Village, borisandhorton.com
The Wilson
Located along the murky border between Chelsea and NoMad, The Wilson serves up American feel-good fare like Mac ‘n’ Cheese, a Double Patty Burger, Steak Frites, and Fish & Chips. The restaurant also has a cozy terrace where dog owners can have a feast with their favorite furry one. The Wilson’s dog menu consists of Grilled Steak, Grilled Chicken Breast, and the juicy Wilson’s Burger. For dessert, any pooch would not pass up a Pupsicle in various flavors (pumpkin, peanut butter, or banana).
If Fido isn’t that hungry, there is lighter fare available, too, like sliced apples and cucumbers and a housemade dog biscuit. While The Wilson is very dog friendly, they like to remind dog-owning guests that their pets are forbidden from eating off the same plate or drinking from the same glass as their humans. Save that for the privacy of your own home. And, as noted on the menu, please let your server know if your dog has any dietary restrictions. 132 W. 27th St., Chelsea, eatatthewilson.com
Industry Kitchen
Industry Kitchen is 3,000-square-feet of fun. The restaurant, located in the South Street Seaport neighborhood, has an enormous outdoor seating area where regulars graze on a selection of raw oysters, Lamb & Feta Meatballs, Braised Short-Rib Bao Buns, Ahi Tuna Nachos, and Mini Lobster Tacos.
Industry Kitchen doesn’t have a dog menu but the outdoor seating area is a haven for canines and the people who love them. Staff often bring over water bowls for dogs to rehydrate. So feel free to BYOT (Bring Your Own Treats). 70 South St., South Street Seaport, industry-kitchen.com
