Category Archives: Dining with Dogs

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix AZ March 2019

“WOO HOO!” “We are going out to eat!”

Dining out with dogs is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started when my dog Louie came down with aggressive cancer and was only given a three-six months prognosis. He was elderly and couldn’t do a lot but he enjoyed going out to eat so I took him out to eat as often as I could and instead of the three-six months he made it another SEVENTEEN months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat and they also enjoy the experience.

There are a few things you need to know before you dine out with dogs. Many restaurants in Metro Phoenix have patios but not all patios are dog friendly. It’s ALWAYS BEST to call a restaurant before you show up and ASK if it’s ok to dine there with dogs. It is also BEST to dine at off times to avoid as many other people and dogs as possible because not all people like dogs and some are allergic to dogs. Other people might complain and ask you to leave. It’s also best to avoid other dogs because dogs are dogs and they often bark at each other so you could be asked to leave for that too. Avoid problems call the restaurant first and dine at off times.

There are some rules for dining out with dogs. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates. Dogs must be close to you and by your side at all times. Most food and drink that you consume is NOT safe and can be TOXIC to dogs. You must get a safe food list and foods to avoid list from your veterinarian. Usually a small amount of lean un-sauced meat is a safe bet for dogs. You might want to bring a collapsable water bowl for your dog too. You also need to know that dogs are NOT AS HEAT TOLERANT as you. All dogs have a different heat tolerance just like people but in general 90 degrees F and above is too hot for dining out with dogs. Not all but most healthy younger dogs can tolerate up to 90 degrees F BUT ONLY IN SHADE at 90 degrees. When in doubt it’s better to leave your dog home. Hopefully you know your dog’s heat tolerance.

Now we are ready to dine out with dogs!

The Forking Truth is being turned over to my dogs….I’ll take a break and let my dogs do the talking.

“We are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix”

“Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is a Pho Free Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in the Banh Mi Sandwich.” “Our folks and us have tried Banh Mi Sandwiches from several other Vietnamese Restaurants and we like Banh Mi Bistro’s Banh Mi Sandwiches the best!” “The fillings are always fresh and delicious.” “We don’t eat much of the bread but out folks say that the bread has a Nice crisp exterior and a soft fresh middle.”

Chicken Banh Mi

“Those Banh Mi Sandwiches smell Forking Good!”

“I love all the food I’ve tried from Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.” “Today I’m loving Chicken Banh Mi and one of the Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches!”

“Ummmm everything is so good and I can’t wait for my next bite!”

“We always enjoy ourselves at Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery!”

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

“We are on our way to Burger King”

“Our folks sort of screwed us and took us to a Burger King Drive Threw.” “They don’t FORKING eat Burger King and are going someplace nicer.” “Burger King is ok but not the best for dogs.” “At least our folks sat with us and fed us on the nearby Safeway Patio.”

“It’s a Bacon King.”

“I bet Old Man Louie wouldn’t eat this burger if he was still around and then I’d get more to eat!” “He used to spit out most fast food but me and the little guy aren’t as picky.” “No one was like Louie”…….”He could tell the difference between ground beef from Costco and home ground beef”…..”That Louie wouldn’t eat the Costco ground beef”……”He was THAT picky.”

“WOW” “I wish I met Louie.” “He sure doesn’t sound like any dog I’ve ever met.” I’ll eat Costco Beef.” “What’s Costco beef anyway?” ” “I’m Forking hungry!”

“We’ll eat someplace better next time.”

www.BurgerKing.com

“We are on our way to Culver’s”

“Culver’s is considered to be a national fast food chain based in Wisconsin and growing in locations that are mostly in the mid-west.” “They are famous for their butter burgers that are never frozen, hand battered fish and fresh made frozen custard.” “We are here for their limited time special on hand battered Canadian Walleye Pike.”

“OOOOOOooooh yes…..smelling yummy!”

“They both got walleye pike but I smell more on this side of the table because he has THREE pieces.”

“That walleye pike has such a great crispy batter on it and the fish is so mild and meaty……I just love it!”

“We did Forking alright at Culver’s!”

www.Culvers.com

“We are on our way to The Twisted Italian in Peoria.”

“The Twisted Italian is an American Chicago-Style Italian Restaurant that also offers some Twisted Food such as Italian Rellenos and Pierogi.”

“Our male human companion got this Loaded Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich that smells incredible.” “His sandwich also came with a salad……I tried a crouton and and some lettuce and it was ok but I enjoyed the thin Angus Beef Best!” ($11.50)

“Our female companion got the Salmon Grilled Vegetable lunch special that comes with Angel Hair Pasta in garlic parmesan wine sauce.” ($10.50) “We thought it all was pretty tasty and I even ate zucchini!”

“Ummmm I’m ready for more Angus Beef!”

“That Angus beef sure does smell pretty good!”

“We got to eat pretty well at the Twisted Italian today.” “We had fresh roasted vegetables, croutons, salmon, some pasta and tasty Angus beef!”

www.EatTwisted.com

“Well that was Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix for March 2019.”

“We hope that you enjoyed and we hope to see you next month!”

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix February 2019

“WOO! Hoo!” “We are going out to eat!”

Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started when my dog Louie got diagnosed with aggressive cancer and was given only a 3-6 months estimate. I thought the nicest thing I could do for him was to take him out to eat as often as possible since he enjoyed it and instead of the 3-6 months he made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat and they also enjoy it very much!

Most restaurants in Metro Phoenix have patios for dining but not all patios are dog friendly. It’s always best to call a restaurant before dining there with dogs and ask if it’s ok to dine with dogs. Even if the patio is certified Dog Friendly it could be booked for a party. Sometimes restaurants suddenly go from being certified Dog Friendly to No Dogs allowed suddenly.

It’s always best to AVOID PROBLEMS and dine at off times to avoid other diners and other dogs. Some people don’t share your love of dogs and complain. Others are allergic. Often dogs will bark at other dogs and both parties will be asked to leave. So call first and ask the restaurant if it’s ok to dine with dog(s) and it’s best to avoid others so dine at off times.

There are some rules for dining out with dogs. Dogs are to be close to your side at all times. Dogs are not to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates. Most food and drink you consume can be harmful or toxic to dogs. You MUST get a list of recommended foods and Foods to Avoid list from your veterinarian. Usually a safe bet is a small piece of lean un-sauced meat. It’s also IMPORTANT to KNOW that DOGS are NOT as heat tolerant as you. Individual dogs do differ in tolerance to heat. Over 90 degrees F is TOO HOT FOR DOGS TO TOLERATE. I’d say for most but not all younger healthy dogs might be able to tolerate up to 90 degrees F but ONLY IN FULL SHADE. Hopefully you know your dog well enough to figure out their heat tolerance. When there is any doubt leave the dog(s) home.

I think we are ready to Dine Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix now! I’m turning The Forking Truth over to my Dogs Now! The Forking Truth has gone to the DOGS!

“We are on our way to Angelina’s Pho & Grill in Glendale

“Angelina’s Pho and Grill is a Modern Vietnamese Restaurant that offers a changing Asian Fusion menu along with a variety of Flavorful Pho.” “Angelina’s Pho & Grill was recently featured in the Arizona Republic by the food critic as serving officially GOOD PHO and is included in the top 14 Metro Phoenix Vietnamese Restaurants for beef noodle soup!”

“Angelina’s Forking changed the menu again as they usually do.” “Today my female human companion went with the “NEW” Smoked Salmon salad.”

“The egg is prepared nice and forking jammy just how I like to “woof” them down.” The smoked salmon is pretty darn good too!” “Our male human companion got the fried rice plate that has shrimp and chicken on it and he added the lap suong (sausage) to it!

“We enjoyed everything we ate at Angelina’s Pho and Grill!” They don’t have a website but you can find them on Facebook.”

“We are on our way to Culver’s”

“Culver’s is a National Fast Food Restaurant that specializes in serving hand battered fried cod, butter burgers and frozen custard.”

“I really like Culver’s battered Fish and Butter Burgers!” “Culver’s was so generous and put out a buy one get one so I got to share a burger with my dog companion too!”

“I love butter burgers and battered fish too!”

“We enjoyed ourselves at Culver’s”

www.Culvers.com

“We are on our way to Phila Deli in Glendale.”

“Phila Deli is a small sandwich shop in the Arrowhead section of North Glendale.” “They offer a limited menu of cheesesteaks and hoagies.”

“The patio is pretty nice for a small sandwich shop.”

“Dogs get complimentary beverages.”

“They Forking offered us meat scraps too!” “DID YOU HEAR ME?” “Meat SCRAPS, MEAT SCRAPS….WOOOOOOooooooooooo!”

“Our male human companion (and us) had a large cheese steak.”

“He picked out the onions for us and gave us lots of meat.” “We LOVE MEAT!” “Our female companion had a small fried chicken sandwich with sauce and hot and sweet peppers…..We don’t know know why the Fork she’d get a small when she could have shared a large.”

“We enjoyed our fried chicken.” “I’ve could have eaten more!”

“We Forking enjoyed ourselves at Phila Deli!”

www.PhilaDeliAZ.com

“We’re on our way to Cucina Tagliani in Glendale!”

“Cucina Tagliani is an American Italian Restaurant that offers your usual American Italian Favorites and also offers healthy spins on American Italian foods like a spaghetti squash lasagna, about half a dozen fresh vegetable sides and healthier pasta options too.”

“Today our female companion got the Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad.”

“Today the chicken is a little dry but usually it isn’t.” “We don’t mind because we are dogs and we usually get to eat more when the meat runs dry so that is a WIN for us!”

“Our male human companion got the rigatoni with chicken and shrimp.” His chicken ran a little dry too today!” #WINNING

“We did Forking GREAT at Cucina Tagliani!”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

“That was Dining Out With Dogs in Metro Phoenix for February 2019.” “We hope that you enjoyed and we hope to see you next month!”

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Dining Out with DOGS in Metro Phoenix January 2019

“Woo Hoo!” “We are going out to eat!”

Dining out with dogs is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started when my dog Louie was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. He was given only a 3-6 month diagnosis. Louie enjoyed going out to eat so I thought I’d take him out to eat as often as I could. Instead of the 3-6 months Louie made it 17 months more. Today I take my current dogs out to eat.

Many restaurants in Metro Phoenix do have patios for outdoor dining but not all patios are dog friendly. It’s always a best bet to call a restaurant in advance and ask them if it’s ok to dine there with your dog(s). Even if a restaurant is certified “Dog Friendly” it is still best to call first because the patio might be booked for a party. It is suggested to dine with dogs at “Off Times” to avoid other diners might not like dining with dogs and might complain. Other diners can also be allergic to dogs and also will complain. It’s also better to dine at “OFF TIMES” to avoid others that are dining with dogs because they might start barking at each other and everyone will be asked to leave. For these and other reasons just FORKING dine at off times to avoid as many other people and other dogs and potential problems as possible.

There are some rules for dining out with dogs. Dogs are to be by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates.

It’s IMPORTANT to know that MOST food and drink that you consume is NOT recommended for dogs and can cause health problems or can indeed be TOXIC. Please get a list of foods and drink to avoid from your veterinarian. In general usually a small piece of lean un-sauced meat is safe and is usually recommended for dogs. You should bring a water dish for your dog so he or she can have water. It’s very important to know that dogs are not as heat tolerant as you. Over 90 degrees is too hot to dine out with dogs. Not all but most healthy younger dogs can tolerate up to 90 degrees F but only in FULL SHADE. Dogs are like people and have different heat tolerances. Hopefully you know your dog well enough to notice their individual heat tolerance. When in doubt leave your dog home.

January started out very cold for desert standards. We had to wait till the second week to dine out with dogs.

“We are on our way to Pita Kitchen in Glendale AZ”

Pita Kitchen is a fast/casual Mediterranean restaurant in the Arrowhead section of Glendale Arizona.

I got my usual, the Greek Salad topped with a Chicken Kabab. Now I’ll take a break here and turn The Forking Truth over to my dogs.

“There’s plenty of juicy, tasty chicken for sharing!” says the little one from under the table. “Ummm my mouth is watering!”

“Our other human got the two meat plate with gyro meat and chicken.” “More food there for us to try.”

“I FORKING love this chicken from Pita Kitchen!” “It’s so juicy, plump and tasty!” “I just love it!”

“Big Woman is right.” “That chicken is really good!” “Much better than a lot of Grilled Chicken Kababs in the area!”

“We always enjoy ourselves at Pita Kitchen!”

www.PitaKitchen.net

“We are gonna see food at Oscar’s Pier 83 in Glendale”

“Yum!” “I got CRABS!”……..”Soft Shell Crabs!”

“I can go for some salad with ahi tuna shaped like a Forking Stingray too!” “Look at that fish!” “It looks like it got wings!”

“mmm I’m starving”

“We also like the crispy romaine, eggs are good and we also like ahi tuna….we are glad the portion is large so we get to eat more!”

“We enjoyed ourselves at Oscar’s Pier 83!”

www.OP83.com

“We are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix”

“We love going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix.” “The food is always fresh, delicious and always comes in large portions.”

“Both of our human companions got rice plates.” “We love the meat on the rice plates!” “It’s always so juicy, flavorful and abundant!

Grilled Pork Rice Plate
Grilled Chicken Rice Plate minus the egg roll already

“The food is always delicious at Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.” “We love coming here!”

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

Sadly Salad and Go is no longer an option

“Sadly Salad and Go is no longer a Dining Out With Dogs Option”. “Our location removed all the tables and the walk up window is now a Kiosk.” “We have a long list of happy memories there and really enjoyed the fresh healthy low priced fast quality salads.” “We still love the salads from Salad and Go but we can’t enjoy them there anymore.”

“Natural Organic Chicken…Not too Shabby” from Salad and Go

“Me and my old man Louie used to love our salads here!”

“We Forking miss you Salad and Go ……all that tasty food and dog biscuits too!”

“That was Dining Out With Dogs in Metro Phoenix for January 2019.”

“We hope you enjoyed and we hope to see you next month.”

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix December 2018

“We are Going Out to Eat Yippie”

Dining out with dogs is just a fluff story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started when my dog Louie came down with cancer and was given only 3-6 monthsto live. He couldn’t do a lot back then but he enjoyed going out to eat so we took him out as often as possible. Instead of the 3-6 months he made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat. 

Most restaurants in Metro Phoenix do have patios but not all restaurant patios are dog friendly. It’s always best to visit a certified dog friendly patio and it’s also best to call before your visit to make sure the patio is available. I also recommend to go at off times to avoid other diners and other dogs for numerous reasons. Some of the reasons are not everyone wants to dine with dogs. Also some people are allergic to dogs. Sometimes dogs bark at each other. You could be asked to leave for these and other reasons. Remember it’s always best to call first and dine at off times with your dog(s).

There are some rules for dining with dogs. Your dog must be by your side at all times when you dine with dogs. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture. Dogs are NOT to eat off restaurant plates. Most of the food and drink that you consume is not safe and might be toxic to your dog. You must get a list of dog friendly foods and foods to avoid from your veterinarian. It’s also important to know that your dog is not as heat tolerant as you are. Dogs absorb heat threw their paws and can’t sweat. 90 degrees F and above your dogs should stay home. Each dog is different (just like people) and do have different heat tolerance. Most younger healthier dogs might be able to tolerate up to or almost 90 degrees F BUT ONLY IN FULL SHADED PATIOS. Hopefully you know your dog well enough to figure out your dog’s heat tolerance. When there is any doubt it’s best to leave them home.
“We are on our way to Humble Pie in Glendale”
The first week of December was very cold for dessert standards so we had to wait for week two of December to dine out. We made it to our local Humble Pie. Humble Pie is an Arizonian Group of nine restaurants that specialize in serving pizzas with house made mozzarella cheese. They feature their own house made sausage but also offer the locally made Schreiner’s sausage. 

I ordered a Margherita for myself and a side order of grilled chicken for the dogs ($3.00).

Someone thought this smelled yummy!

“Ummmm I can’t wait to dig in”
“OH you FORKING RUNT!” ……”GET OUT!” “I’m getting first taste!”

“OK whatever you say Big Pretty Woman.”

“That’s better little boy now we can get along.”
“That Margherita is very thin….Good thing we got grilled chicken!”
“Our other human got the Humble Pie Signature Sausage Pizza.”

“We enjoyed ourselves at Humble Pie!”
www.HumblePieUSA.com 

“We are on our way to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale.” 

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant that specializes in serving Neapolitan Pizzas,  House Made Pastas and more! They recently updated their menu so we thought we’d  give it a try.

“Why does she drink wine when there is beer?”
New Menu item Chicken Pizzaiola (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella and Imported Prosciutto) 

“OMG look at all that chicken (Chicken Milanese)…she can’t eat all that we will have to help a lot!”

“Ummmm that’s some good chicken….I can’t wait for my next bite….I’m so hungry!”

#We need to sample the Chicken Pizzaiola too!”

“Everything was delicious and portions were super extra large!” 

“We enjoyed ourselves at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante 

www.BottegaRistorante.com 

“We are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix”

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is a Vietnamese Casual Restaurant that is Pho Free and specializes in offering about a dozen different varieties of the Banh Mi Baguette Sandwich. They also offer almost anything other Vietnamese restaurants offer except for Pho. They offer delicious rice plates, noodle bowls, appetizers, salads, curry chicken, desserts and MORE!

Today my husband went with a BBQ Pork Banh Mi that I forgot to photo and today I went with the Curry Chicken with Rice.

“The food is always so tasty that it can make even dogs smile.”

“We LOVE going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery!”

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

“Well that was Dining Out With Dogs in Metro Phoenix for December 2018.” “We hope you enjoyed and we also Wish You a Happy New Year and Hope to see you next month!”

The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ November 2018

 

“Whoo HOO!” “We are going out to eat!”

Dining out with dogs is just a “Fluff” story about my adventures eating out with my dogs. It all sort of started when my late dog Louie was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and was given the 3-6 months to live but somehow he made it another 17 months. He couldn’t do a lot back then but he enjoyed going out to eat so I tried to take him out to eat as much as possible. Today my current dogs enjoy going out to eat.

Many restaurants in Metro Phoenix have out door patios but not all patios are dog friendly. It’s always best to call a restaurant and ask them if it’s ok to bring your furry friend. Even if the patio is certified dog friendly it is still best to call because you never know if the patio is booked for a party. It’s also always BEST and RECOMMENDED to dine at off times to avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. Many people don’t share your love for dogs and some people are allergic to dogs. You might be asked to leave. You also might be asked to leave if someone’s dog or your dog starts barking at others. Avoid all potential problems and call first and dine at off times.

You need to be aware that most food and drink that you consume can be harmful or toxic to your dog. You must get a list from your veterinarian of safe and not safe foods for your dog. Usually a best bet is always a small amount of lean plain sauceless meat. You also should bring a water bowl with you for your dog.

There also are dining rules that you need to be aware of. Dogs are not allowed to sit on restaurant furniture. Dogs are not allowed to eat off restaurant plates. Dogs should always be close to you by your side.

It’s also very important to know that dogs can NOT TOLERATE the temperatures that you tolerate. 90 degrees up is TOO HOT TO DINE OUT WITH DOGS. The MAXIMIN for healthy younger dogs might or might NOT BE maybe p to 90 degrees F BUT IN FULL SHADE…..FULL SHADE.

Now that we got all that out of the way we might be ready to Dine Out with Dogs!

Our first Dining Out With Dogs for November 2018 was Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ. This is an American/Itailian Restaurant. That serves traditional American/Italian favorites and also offers healthy spins on certain dishes. They offer about a half dozen different vegetables a day. They offer healthier pastas alternatives like whole wheat, or spaghetti squash and zoodles (zucchini cut like spaghetti). Cucina Tagliani offers a nice roomy certified Dog Friendly Patio.

Depending on what server you get they might serve the dogs water.

Today I went with the Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad that includes chicken and my husband went for a Stromboli.

The dogs got plenty of chicken and a few small pieces of the Stromboli.

“We did really well at Cucina Tagliani!”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

“Woo Hoo we are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix!”

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is a Pho -Free Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in the Banh Mi Baguette Sandwich. They offer around a dozen different Banh Mi Sandwiches. They also offer many fresh made appetizers (not from frozen like some places), some salads, noodle bowls, rice plates, the Chef Special Curry, some desserts and MORE! This isn’t an official dog friendly restaurant but they have a secret folding table for out door seating.

Today I went with the Grilled Chicken Banh Mi and my husband went with the BBQ Pork.

“We love the large portions and how fresh and delicious everything always is.”

“We Love Dining at Banh Mi Bistro in North Phoenix!”

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

“We are on our way to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale AZ”

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant that specializes in Neapolitan Pizzas, House made pastas and more. They offer nice contemporary dining indoors and an outdoor dog friendly patio that features an indoor-outdoor bar.

Today I went with a grilled chicken panini and had the chicken on the side so it was easy to share with the dogs.

It’s made on fresh baked seasoned bread that is shaped like pita bread. Actually is more like two pita breads and is served with mixed greens with balsamic dressing and shaved Italian hard cheese.

“The Chicken and Cheese is Forking Delicious!”

“Everything I tried was Amazing!” “I can’t wait for my next bite!”

www.BottegaRistorante.com

“That was November 2018 Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix.”

“We hope you enjoyed as we did and also hope to see you next month!”

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

 

 

Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix October 2018

 

WOO HOO We are going out to eat!

Dining out with dogs is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It sort of started with my dog Louie who was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. I wanted to take him out to eat as often as I could because he enjoyed it. Instead of his three-six month prognosis he made it another 17 months maybe from going out to eat……..Now my current dogs enjoy going out to eat.

It’s important to know that not all patio dining is Dog Friendly. You need to see a dog friendly sign or certification posted.

Or call the restaurant you want to dine at and ask if it’s ok to bring your furry friend. It’s ALWAYS BEST to call the restaurant first. The patio could be booked for a party….you never know!

It’s ALWAYS BEST!!!!! to dine at off times to avoid all conflict you might endure. Other diners might not share your love for dogs and do complain. Some people are allergic. Other people with dogs might start barking and you all will be asked to leave. AVOID other diners and dine at off times.

There are rules for Dining Out With Dogs.

Dogs are not allowed to sit on restaurant furniture.

Dogs must be by your side at all times.

Dogs are not to eat off restaurant plates.

It’s also important to know that MOST FOOD YOU EAT AND DRINK IS NOT SAFE FOR YOUR DOG! Please consult your veterinarian for the safe and non safe list of foods for dogs.

In general a small amount of lean meat without sauce is usually your best bet. You also might want to bring a collapsible water bowl for your friend.

It’s also important to know that your dog is not as heat tolerant as you. 90 degrees and over is too hot for your dog to dine out.   My dogs can do (at this time it might change at some point) up to 90 degrees F BUT IN SHADE ****NOT WITH SUN *****FULL SHADE as shade makes a difference.

Cool weather finally hit Phoenix and we made a quick stop to our favorite gourmet fast food place…..Salad and Go. ( a local group of restaurants)  Salad and Go doesn’t have a dining room and is drive threw or just walk up to the window. They do offer a dog friendly patio and sometimes hand out dog biscuits the doggy customers. For people they offer breakfast, about ten varieties of natural organic salads, wraps and smoothies.

Today I got the Seasonal Harvest Salad with Chicken.

The Dogs enjoyed some Chicken and some Sweet Potatoes from my salad.

They also enjoyed some Shrimp from my husband’s salad.

“We enjoyed eating at Salad and Go!”

www.SaladandGo.com

“Today we are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix”.

BMBVE is a Pho Free Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in the Banh Mi Sandwiches. They offer close to a dozen different sandwiches so there is one for everyone’s taste. They also offer various noodle bowls, rice plates, desserts and lots of tasty appetizers….several desserts too!

Today I went with the Chef’s Special Chicken Curry.

Today I got it with rice but I have gotten it with the Vietnamese Baguette before.

My husband got the BBQ Pork Banh Mi Today.

We all enjoyed ourselves at Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix.

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

“We are on our way to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale AZ”

Bottega is an Italian Restaurant in North Glendale AZ. They specialize in Neapolitan Pizzas, hand made pastas and other Italian foods.

Today I went with one of the seasonal specials…The Chicken and Strawberry Salad.

It was a generously sized salad with lots of fresh greens and lots of chicken to share.

“WOO-HOO!” “I’m getting me lots of chicken!”

“Move the FORK over Runt” “Ladies first” “I’m getting the Forking Chicken before YOU!”

My husband got the Pompei Panini. It’s made on house baked bread and is filled with Cotto Ham, Salami Parma, Provola Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Onion and comes with a mixed greens salad…..

It’s a really big and also a nice meal for only $11.95 (***price subject to change)

“One Sandwich for YOU and one sandwich for ME!”

We decide to share a dessert (but not with dogs because chocolate is harmful to dogs).

Our server called it a Semifreddo but I don’t it was…because the last time I had a semifreddo at Bottega it looked like this and was more like ice cream mousse……

but whatever it was it was delicious and more like ice cream embedded with Italian cookies and got covered with this rich chocolatey sauce where some of stayed saucy and some of it magically hardened.

Whatever it was the dessert was delicious and everyone enjoyed themselves.

www.BoteggaRistorante.com

“We hope you enjoyed Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix October 2018.”

“We hope to see you next month!”

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

 

 

 

 

 

Dog Friendly Patios in Metro Phoenix Arizona

 

Not all but most many restaurants in Metro Phoenix Arizona have patios. NOT ALL PATIOS are Dog Friendly but more and more are these days. Even if a patio is certified “Dog Friendly” It’s a good idea to dine with your furry friend at off times to avoid conflict with humans or other dogs that don’t share your love for your furry friends. Some people are allergic to dogs and there are those who just hate dogs and will complain. Even though your dog(s) are well behaved another dog might start barking at your dogs and you might be asked to leave. These are just some of the reasons why dining with Dogs at off times is suggested. There also are some rules to Dining Out with Dogs. Your Dog must be by your side at all times. Dogs are not allowed to sit on restaurant furniture and are NOT allowed to eat off restaurant plates. Another thing to be aware of is that most food and drink that you consume might be unhealthy, harmful or even TOXIC to your dog..You MUST get the list of safe and non safe foods from your veterinarian. Usually a small amount of lean meat without sauce is usually a safe bet. In Phoenix there are months when it’s too hot and DANGEROUS to dine out with your dog. Dogs can’t tolerate as much heat as you can. All dogs are different (just like people) some are more heat tolerant than others. My dogs can tolerate up to a SHADED 90 degrees F. IN THE SHADE. Your dog(s) might NOT! It’s also a good idea to bring your own water bowl so your dog can have a beverage too. OK now that we got that out of the way…..

Here are just a few of the Restaurants in Metro Phoenix I found to be Dog Friendly.

Connected to Pomo Pizzeria in Scottsdale used to be Forno Fabri. It’s now Luna Gelateria. You can get a really great Gelato or Sorbetto and enjoy a little time with your furry friend.

Cucina Tagliani (Glendale & Peoria) is certified Dog Friendly. They offer a covered patio with misters and heaters. Depending on the server you get you dog might get served a bowl of water.

Red’s Bar and Grill in Litchfield is Dog Friendly.

Tacos Tequila Whiskey in the Arcadia part of Phoenix is Dog Friendly.

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix isn’t officially Dog Friendly but they have a secret folding table that they will set up for regulars that come with a dog (or two). I do note when we dine with dogs we always dine at off times when there are very few people there.

The Twisted Italian in Peoria has two tables for Dining with Dogs. They are listed on www.BringFido.com

Humble Pie ……Glendale (I believe this area is really Phoenix but is listed as Glendale because it used to be…The zip codes changed three times since I’ve been near this area) This Humble Pie is officially Dog Friendly with a shaded patio with heaters and fans.

PNPK Restaurant in Scottsdale is Officially Dog Friendly and serves individual bowls of water and biscuits to well behaved dogs.

Sosoba in down town Phoenix is Dog Friendly.

Pita Kitchen is not officially Dog Friendly. But we asked if we could dine with dogs and they gave us the ok. I do note that we always dine at off times when nobody else is on the Patio.

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale is Officially Dog Friendly. *******On Sundays they serve Sunday Brunch with live music on the patio and the music is too loud for dogs so while I do recommend the restaurant for humans I don’t recommend for dogs only during Sunday Brunch) Dog Friendly every day. They offer a nice covered patio with heaters and it looks like misters in the ceiling.

Dogs are Welcomed with Dog Biscuits at Salad and Go in Glendale.

Not officially Dog Friendly but there are four tables for dining with dogs at Leo’s Island BBQ in Peoria.

Shake Shack in Scottsdale is Dog Friendly. They even have a Dog Food Menu and sell Doggie Shirts.

Scottsdale Beer Company in Scottsdale is Dog Friendly.

Oscar’s Pier 83 in Glendale offers a Dog Friendly Patio.

Rhythm and Wine in North Scottsdale is Dog Friendly. I read on website that they offer a Yappy Hour on Sundays around 3:00.

JJ’s Deli in Scottsdale is Dog Friendly.

AJ’s Patio in Glendale is Dog Friendly.

These are only a few of the Dog Friendly Patios in Metro Phoenix.

Everything is subject to change. Restaurants close or change ownership and often drop being Dog Friendly. I had SEVERAL restaurants go from Dog Friendly to NOT Dog Friendly…….Again. Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

 

 

 

 

 

Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ June 2018

 

“We are on our way to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante  in Glendale AZ”

Dining out with dogs in metro Phoenix is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It sort of got started when my dog Louie came down with cancer and I wanted to take him out to eat as often as possible because he enjoyed it very much. Today my current dogs enjoy going out to eat. You do need to know that many restaurants on Metro Phoenix do have patios but not all patios are dog friendly. You really SHOULD CALL a restaurant in advance of dining and ask if it’s ok to bring your dog. Some restaurants suddenly turn non-dog friendly and sometimes the patio is already booked for a party. IT”S ALWAY BEST to avoid other people and other dogs. You never know if a person is allergic or just hates dogs and that person can spoil your dining plans. You also never know how your dog or someone else’s dog will react….It’s possible that the dogs will start barking at each other and YOU MIGHT BE ASKED TO LEAVE. Avoid trouble and dine out with dogs at off times. More restaurant really do need your money at off times and more of them are likely to welcome you and your dog during the lean times of the day. There are a few rules for dining out with dogs. Your dog(s) MUST be by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates. You also NEED TO BE AWARE that MOST of the food and drink you consume can be hazardous or even TOXIC to your dog. You must consult your veterinarian on a food friendly list and a list of foods to avoid. Usually lean un-sauced meat is a safe bet.  Here in Metro Phoenix IT IS TOO LATE by now to dine out with dogs because dogs can NOT TOLERATE as much heat as you do. Your dogs may differ from mine but I’d say under 90 degrees F and ONLY IN SHADE are the top degrees that might be safe to dine out with dogs. At the end of May we had cooler weather at lunch time as it was only in the 80’s so my dogs got to dine out at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale AZ.

“Here I am at Bottega…I’m hungry what will I eat?”

“Maybe if I look Forking Cute and rest my head on someone’s leg I’ll get more food?’

“That FORKING RUNT is such a suck up!”

“Smells like we got a Sicilian Tuna Salad and a Sausage Panini.”

“We enjoyed ourselves at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante.

www.BoteggaRistorante.com

Most of June was too hot to dine out with Dogs but then came Monsoon Season and we had one day around the middle of the month that was nice.

“We are on our way to Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ”

Cucina Tagliani in Glendale Arizona has been in business over twenty five years. They serve casual American/Italian Food. They are a little different from other similar American Italian Restaurants and do offer many healthy options and many vegetable dishes. Cucina Tagliani happens to have an official Dog Friendly Certified Patio.

“This is how I wait for the food!”

“This is how I wait for the food!”

Here’s what we ordered. I had the Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad that comes with Chicken and my husband had the Papa’s Platter (sausage lasagna, two cheese and spinach manicottis, and veal parmesan).

They made my salad extra good today…(yeah!) Everything is fresh and tasty. The strawberries are super sweet too.

The dogs are very happy and did some celebrating under the table.

They just have to wait to be served.

“We did very well at Cucina Tagliani!”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

That was Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix for June 2018.

Dine In with Dogs at Home Now. It’s too Hot to Dine Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix……(unless we get a monsoon!)

We hope to see you soon!

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

Dining out with DOGS in Metro Phoenix AZ May 2018

Dining out with dogs is just a “Fluff” story of my adventures dining out with my dogs. It sort of started when my dog Louie was diagnosed with cancer. They said probably 3 months so I thought I’d take him out to eat as much as possible since he looked forward to it. Dining out was among the few things he could enjoy. Louie made it 17 months more. Any ways-  You need to know that many restaurants in Metro Phoenix have patios but not all patios are dog friendly. It is always best to call a restaurant and ask if it is ok to visit with your furry friend before showing up. You never know if the patio is already booked for a party or if the restaurant suddenly turned to not accepting dogs. (that has happened to me) It is also BEST to avoid as many people as possible so I strongly recommend to dine with dogs at off times for a number of reasons. One is that the restaurant needs your business more at off times and is more likely to welcome you and your furry friend. Two is obvious….It’s best to avoid as many people as possible because some people don’t share your love for dogs or just might be allergic. It’s also best to avoid other doggy diners because dogs might start barking at each other…like dogs normally do and you might be asked to leave. AVOID potential problems and dine at off times. There are a few rules for dining with dogs. Your dog(s) is suppose to be close to you and by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT suppose to sit on restaurant furniture and are NOT suppose to eat off restaurant plates. You also need to be aware that most of the food and drink that you consume can be harmful or even TOXIC to your dog. You must consult a veterinarian on safe and harmful foods for dogs. For the most part plain lean sauceless meat is usually a safe choice for your dog. You might also want to bring your own dog bowl for water. Now that we got all that out of the way I guess you are almost ready to dine out with dogs!

Phoenix is heating up fast so any day could be the last day of Dining out with Dogs. I think for my dogs we can tolerate up to 90 degrees only if it is in the shade. It is VERY IMPORTANT to remember that your dog is NOT AS HEAT TOLERANT AS YOU. Dogs can’t sweat. Dogs also absorb lots of heat threw their paws. Your dog can die if you expose your dog to too much heat.

We had a cool snap recently and made it out to Humble Pie. They have a really nice $10.99 2 course lunch special (salad or soup and a pizza). This is also an official dog friendly patio and is listed on www.BringFido.com

We splurged for Tempura Green Beans because we had a generous $10.00 off coupon off a $25. or more purchase.

These Green Beans are really tasty…Even the dijon sauce on he side is tasty…..Dogs love the Green Beans.

I got the Strawberry Gorgonzola Salad with Pecans and the Margherita Pizza made with house made cheese.

My husband got the minestrone soup with Humble Pie Sausage and the Chicken Parmesan Pizza.

The dogs smell the food and both dogs decide they prefer the dishes my husband has the better options.

The dogs were happy with the chicken fingers and a little cheese. (I note that not all dogs are cheese tolerant…)

“We did alright at Humble Pie.”

www.HumblePieUSA.com

Wow Phoenix is really heating up. Got lucky and had a cooler day….It’s going up to around 90 today but if we do an early lunch it’s only around 80 in the shade.

“We are on our way to Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ”

Cucina Tagliani is an American Italian Restaurant that serves up all the usual American Italian Fair and also many healthy options with lots of vegetables that you won’t find at other places. Where else will you find Spaghetti Squash Lasagna and Grilled Chicken Parm? They offer at least a half dozen different vegetable side orders and offer whole wheat and gluten free pasta. They also offer a certified dog friendly patio and depending on what server you get your dog(s) might get their own bowls of water.

Today I got something I never ordered before. The chicken wrap…It’s like a big salad in a spinach tortilla with grilled moist chicken breast with a side. I thought the fresh fruit option was very thoughtful because fries or onion rings are too heavy with a wrap. A salad is an option but I don’t want salad with a salad filled wrap. (romaine was not from Yuma) My husband got a spicy pepperchini pasta with chicken.

Both dogs are very excited about the food.

“We usually get lots of food at Cucina Tagliani.”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

“We are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix!”

We had a cooler than expected weekend recently and got to go out to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery. This is a Vietnamese restaurant that serves many of your Vietnamese favorites expect for Pho. This is a PHO FREE Restaurant. The Specialty here are the Banh Mi Sandwiches. A Banh Mi Sandwich starts with Vietnamese Style Baguettes made with Rice and Wheat Flour. The Vietnamese baguette has a crispy exterior and a soft middle. The different varieties of Banh Mi include fresh cilantro, pickled radish and carrots, jalapeños and house made aioli.

Today I went with the Curry Chicken with baguette and my husband went with the BBQ Pork Banh Mi.

Wow I have more food than I can eat and it’s all good!

The dogs are pleased (to say the least) with the selections.

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

That was Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix for May 2018. We don’t know if it will be cool enough to dine out soon but we hope to see you all again!

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dining Out with DOGS in Metro Phoenix AZ April 2018

 

Dining Out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix is just a “fluff story” about my food adventures out with my dogs. It all sort of started when my dog Louie was diagnosed with cancer. I felt I had to take him to as many restaurants as possible because eating out was one of his greatest enjoyments. There are a bunch of things you need to know before you start dining out with dogs. Many restaurants in Metro Phoenix do have outdoor patios but not all patios are dog friendly. It’s always BEST to call a restaurant and ask them if it’s ok to dine there with your furry friend before hand. You never know if the patio is already booked for a party or if the restaurant suddenly stopped accepting dogs. It also is always BEST to dine at off times so your dog(s) is the only dog on the patio. Often even well behaved dogs start barking at each other and you might be asked to leave. It’s also best to dine at off times to avoid other people. Many people don’t share a love for dogs and you could soon find that out….Also some people are allergic to dogs. Other rules to dining with dogs are that dogs must be by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture or to eat off restaurant plates. You also need a dog friendly food list available from your veterinarian and a list of foods to avoid. Much of the food and drink you consume is either harmful or can be TOXIC to your dog. Usually the safest thing to feed your dog from the table is a lean piece of sauceless meat. In Phoenix we also have to worry about the temperature so make sure it isn’t too hot for your dog to dine out. Dogs absorb more heat than we do and can’t sweat. I think 90 degrees in the shade is the top temperature most dogs can tolerate. OK now your ready to dine out with Dogs!

Sadly we lost our nicest dog friendly patio recently. Carvalho’s Brazilian Kitchen in North Scottsdale. They actually had a separate patio just for Dining out with Dogs….Amuse Bouche in Surprise was also a nicer restaurant to dine at and is under a new ownership so I’m not certain if dogs will be welcomed there anymore.

Cucina Tagliani in Glendale offers a Certified Dog Patio so we went there. This is a family friendly American/Italian Restaurant. They serve up all your American Italian favorites and offer you the choice of many healthy spins on the food. you can substitute spaghetti squash for pasta. They also offer spaghetti squash lasagna, grilled chicken parmesan and whole grain and gluten free pasta.

I usually like the Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad here but today tried the Chicken Fritte Salad.

It’s just a basic salad with house made Italian Dressing. The Chicken is fried absolutely perfect and seems free of grease. For my taste it could use a little seasoning.

“Looks like we are getting a bunch of chicken!’

My husband get the Sausage Rigatoni.

“We do pretty well at Cucina Tagliani!”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

“We are on our way to Pita Kitchen in Glendale”

Pita Kitchen is a very casual Greek Mediterranean Restaurant. They aren’t officially dog friendly but I asked them if it’s ok for me to bring my dogs there and they said yes. I always go at off times. So far we never shared the patio with anyone.

It might be a little boring but the only thing I ever get here is the Greek Salad with a Chicken Kabob. I tasted most of the food here and the Greek Salad with a Chicken Kabob is what they do best to me. The Chicken is usually moist with a nice flavor and a little char. My husband got the Gyro Plate today.

The dogs get very excited for chicken.

“I’m watching YOU!”

“More Chicken Please!”

“We do good at Pita Kitchen!”

www.PitaKitchen.net

We get to try a new Official Dog Friendly Restaurant!

“We are off to PNPK in North Scottsdale”

PNPK is a craft slider restaurant and wine bar. It’s sort of mostly Comfort Casual American Tapas Food and Drink…..They offer many different Flights of different foods, dessert, Craft Beer and Wine.

This is an official Dog Friendly Restaurant. The Dogs got started off with individual water bowls and biscuits…..The dogs were very relaxed afterwards.

The patio was very comfortable even at 90 degrees F that it was today.

Dogs got to sample sample some macaroni and cheese and some of the sliders we tried.

For us the macaroni and cheese was good but a little too mild and under seasoned for our taste. The dogs disagreed with us and thought the macaroni and cheese was scrumptious.

Look at the smiles.

They also enjoyed some of the sliders…..(some weren’t dog friendly)

Between me and my husband we tried 5 different sliders. My husband liked the Banger and mashed slider best of what he tried and I liked the Hot Chicken best of what I tried.

Service was really attentive to us and our dogs. They made us feel very welcomed.

www.PNPKAZ.com

“We are on our way to the Twisted Italian in Peoria AZ”

The Twisted Italian Restaurant is a small local American Italian Restaurant located in a strip mall. They are indeed a bit different from other American Italian Restaurants. They serve Pirogies of the month (that have been corned beef and cabbage on my every visit all year round here) Besides Pirogies The Twisted Italian offers also offers Italian Rellenos, other American Italian favorites, pizza and they highlight their Chicago Beef Sandwich. I recently found The Twisted Italian listed on www.BringFido.com so I called them up and asked if it was ok to bring my furry friends and they said yes so we did dine with dogs here.

“We are eating “Twisted Today!”

I went with a two course $7.99 lunch special***(subject to change).They gave me a fresh pretty good size salad.  I tried the chicken pesto, mozzarella, provolone, pesto and roasted pepper panini. (I got the chicken on the side for sharing). The bread is pretty good and MUCH BETTER than when this restaurant first opened up. (different ownership) Our waiter tells us that this bread is from New Jersey Ummmmmm. The sandwich is pretty tasty even without the chicken. Then I try some chicken. It’s moist and seasoned well. It’s actually much better than most sandwich chicken I get out from many places….I have paid almost twice the price for chicken sandwiches that weren’t as good.

“This is a BIG FORKING WIN for us….look at all that food…she doesn’t need much chicken.”

My husband got the Chicago Beef.

We were told the owners are from Chicago and they get their beef from Chicago.

While this variation of the Chicago Beef is not up there with the top Chicago Beefs it is still a tasty sandwich with lots of beef.

“We did FORKING GREAT at The Twisted Italian”

www.EatTwisted.com

“That was Dining Out with Dogs for April 2018…..It’s getting Hot here in Metro Phoenix but we hope eat out a few more times and see you next month!”

The Forking Truth

In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017