As We Do More With Our Dogs, More Restaurateurs Are Taking Notice.
Restaurants that cater to cus- tomers and their dogs are real- izing a source of extra revenue in a competitive industry. It’s not seen as trying to profit off pets. It’s an effort to attract and draw in more customers. Guests with dogs tend to stay longer and visit more often, which translates into higher food sales. Many
outdoor seating have water bowls, treats for the dogs and sanitizers on the tables. Some restaurants are going one step further and offering special dishes, or even special menus for dogs.
Many restaurants along Beach Drive in St. Petersburg are dog friendly.
The menu item for dogs at Gaspar’s Grotto includes
ground chicken, rice and organic vegetables.We recently visit- ed and saw several dogs enjoying their meal, right alongside their humans. In Palm Beach, Kent Thurston, chef and co- owner of Cucina Dell’Arte, created a separate menu just for dogs. The chef at Cafe L’Europe on Sarasota’s St. Armand’s Circle, first consulted with Chris Baer, owner of Wet Noses Dog Boutique before creating a special dog dining menu. At Wildflower Café in Clearwater, while dining on the
newly-renovated deck, it’s not unusual for servers to bring out a plate of bacon for their dog guests.What dog doesn’t love BACON!? In the super dog-friendly town of Dunedin (aka DogEden), Cappuccino’s Café & Wine Bar always has home- made dog treats on hand for their customers’ dogs. Before restaurants open their patios to dogs, they must
comply with building and health codes, which vary across the state. In 2006, then-Governor Jeb Bush felt that his dog, Marvin and his buddies deserved to tag along to outdoor din- ing spots with their humans. He signed the Dixie Cup Clary Local Control Act into law. In 2009, the law became perma-
nent.The original bill was sponsored by Senator Charlie Clary, and named after his dog, Dixie Cup. Some Florida cities with approved dog dining ordinances in place include Bradenton, Cocoa Beach, Crystal River, Dunedin, Indian Rocks Beach, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Ocala, Orlando, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg and Tampa. Restaurants must apply for a license, the fee of which varies in each municipality.
www.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 115
restaurants with
Photography byAnna Cooke
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