Dining with dogs is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. We usually go to very casual places that aren’t too far away from home. There are some rules to dine with dogs. Dogs are to be kept near your side. Dogs are not to sit on restaurant furniture and dogs are not to eat off restaurant plates. It’s usually a good idea to dine with dogs on off times to avoid diners that don’t want to eat with dogs. In Metro Phoenix most restaurants do have patios but NOT ALL patios are dog friendly. It’s recommended to call a restaurant first before you dine there with your furry friend because on occasion dog friendly patios sometimes turn non-dog friendly and sometimes the patio might be already booked for a party.

This week we have unseasonably hot temperatures in Phoenix so we needed to dine as early as possible to avoid the screaming high temperatures. We decided to dine at Humble Pie. They have a covered patio with fans and it’s quite comfortable. The pizzas are thin and sort of crisp the cheese is hand pulled. Humble Pie also offers one of the best Lunch Deals in Town. Choice one of several salads and a generous lunch size pizza for just under $10.00. You get BOTH a NICE Salad and a PIZZA for only $10.00!

We both got lunch specials and we started with a chopped salad and a gorgonzola and strawberry salad. The both salads are very good. At many places in Scottsdale these salads alone would cost more than what we are paying for that includes a good pizza.

“The Strawberries taste sweet and fresh farm picked and not like those cardboard strawberries from the supermarket.”

Soon our pizzas arrive.

Crust is thin with a nice crisp. The sauce is concentrated and sweet. The hand pulled cheese is melty and milky and the fresh basil is the perfect accent.

“I did alright at Humble Pie!.”

www.HumblePieUSA.com

“My folks and me like the salads from Pita Kitchen” Pita Kitchen is a small casual Greek Style Restaurant.”

“I got to try Chicken and Gyro.”

“All was tasty to me.” “I did alright and it was great getting away from that Forking little runt that now lives in my house.” “I think I hate him.” I wish my old man was still here…..as he was perfect.” “I loved him.”…..”even if he didn’t show love back to me he still was perfect and a perfect gentleman at all times……I really miss him.”

This is the one that she called a “runt.”……….”Not ready for the Dining with Dogs team yet.”

Oscar’s Pier 83 serves up a variety of fried fish and some other items. Today I went with the Ahi Tuna Salad. They gave me a large tomato, hard boiled eggs, crisp romaine a few other veggies and a generous portion of Ahi Tuna.

My husband had the Battered Cod Platter.

“It’s not fancy food but I enjoyed everything my folks would let me eat.”

www.OP83.com

Leo’s Island BBQ specializes in the Hawaiian Plate Lunch. The typical Hawaiian Plate Lunch is lots of meat, a double serving of rice and creamy macaroni salad served in a styrofoam container. They offer around 30 choices and pricing runs on average less than $10.00.

I had a non-typical order today and got the BBQ Chicken Salad.

It isn’t fancy but does contain lots of chicken for sharing. It’s really only fast food priced and far better than what I’d get from a fast food joint.

My husband got the BBQ Pork and Chicken Lunch Plate.

“Whoa, lots of meat here…I’m not leaving hungry.”

www.LeosIslandBBQ.com

Hopefully our newest arrival will be able to join the Dining with Dogs Team Soon.

He’s just now learning how to ride in the car.

“Don’t worry folks I got this down.”  “I’ll be Forking Dining with Dogs in no Time!” “I’ll be Forking dining out next week!” “I had this down a month ago but nobody knew yet!”

That was Dining with Dogs in May 2017. We hope to see you next month!

 

 

Dining with Dogs is just a “Fluff” Storyand not a full blown restaurant review that’s about taking my dogs out to eat. Most restaurant in Metro Phoenix do have patios but not all restaurant patios are dog friendly. It’s always best to call a restaurant the day of your visit and and ask if its ok to bring your furry friend to dine there. It is also suggested to dine at off times to avoid a bigger crowd of people that might include people with allergies or dog haters. There are some rules to live by with dining with dogs. Dogs are to stay close to you. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture. Dogs are also not to eat off of restaurant plates. It’s important that you are aware of the dog friendly food list. Basically most foods you eat are not healthy or possibly TOXIC to your dog. Your usually safe feeding your dog sauce free plain piece of meat. You know that’s what your dog wants anyway….a few of the foods to avoid are anything related to a grape, onions, garlic, chocolate, avocado (some veterinarians do disagree with avocado) bread, alcohol and more.

We went to Tru Burger in Peoria AZ. This is a casual Build your own burger place and more. You have your choice of style of burger, type of patty, sauces, toppings and side.

Tru Burger is very DOG FRIENDLY and even has a special gate on the patio just for people with dogs. The patio is nice and comfortable with a relaxing blue color scheme.

We started with an appetizer of Green Bean Fries.

The Green Beans were sort of addicting but very substantial and came with a mild but tasty creamy wasabi sauce.

I had the Lettuce Wrapped Salmon “Burger” with guacamole, tomato, onion, Habanero sauce (on the side) and Onion Rings.

Salmon is seasoned nicely and is juicy. I’m able to cut off a good slice without avocado for my furry friend.

Onion rings are really tasty and that habanero sauce is REALLY HOT but tasty!

My husband had the Grass Fed Green Chili Burger with Fries. It’s a really big burger! Our waitress said it was a half pound patty! My husband said the burger was a good tasting burger and the chili was also a good tasting one.

 

www.TruBurgerCo.com

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery specializes in the Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich called the Banh Mi. This Vietnamese Restaurant is Pho Free. You can’t get a bowl of Pho here. They now offer around eleven varieties and also offer various appetizers, salads, noodle bowls, rice plates and more!

I decided to try a new menu item. The Chicken Curry with my choice of rice or bread. I’ve had Chicken curry from other Asian Restaurants but only one time before from a Vietnamese Restaurant. At B.M.B.V.E. I got a generous portion of tender tasty chicken with fresh carrots and potatoes. The sauce is light, thin and very fragrant with lemongrass. I like the lighter more fragrant sauce.

 

Our furry friend got to try some of my husband’s Shaking Beef from his Banh Mi Sandwich.

“Everything I tried from Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery was so delicious!” ” Both the chicken and Steak were so tender and flavorful. I’m a big fan of both!” ” I do well every time I visit!”

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

Salad and Go is a Drive Threw Eatery with several locations in Metro Phoenix AZ. They serve about a dozen varieties of gourmet salads, breakfast, wraps, smoothies and child’s meals. Salad and Go is very Dog Friendly and Dog Patrons are served complimentary Dog Biscuits.

Today I went with a Southwest Style Caesar Salad.

I got a big bowl of fresh crisp romaine, garbanzo beans, tortilla strips, added flavorful tender chicken that was tossed in a poblano pepper dressing.

My husband got a seasonal special salad with seasonal Chicken Corn Chowder Soup.

Someone thought the Italian Salad gave off an appetizing aroma.

“I’m a big fan of Salad and Go!”

www.SaladandGo.com

We are proud to announce a new member that we hope to be a part of the Dining with Dogs team.

He is only pint sized but has a great big appetite. But for now he is young and very rambunctious. I don’t know how long it will take to get him dining with dogs ready.

That was Dining with Dogs for April 2017

We hope to see you next month!

 

Dining with Dogs is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. We usually go to many of the same local places over and over but we do find a new place now and then. Many of the restaurants in the Metro Phoenix Area do have patios but not all patios are dog friendly or officially licensed to accept dogs. You should always call an establishment to find out if your furry friend is allowed to dine there. I have found that one once dog friendly patio suddenly went non-dog friendly. It’s also always a good idea to have a back up restaurant to go to because the patio might be booked for a party or sometimes another customer will make a stink if they see a dog come in and you might have to leave. There are some rules for dining with dogs. Dogs are not to sit on furniture and dogs are not to eat off plates. Most food that you eat is not safe for your dog and some are toxic. A few of the foods to avoid are most nuts, anything that is or made from a grape, onions, garlic, avocado, chocolate, bread and more. The best snack for your dog is a small plain piece of meat with any sauce removed.

On this particular day went went to Pita Kitchen in Glendale AZ. This is a casual Greek/Mediterranean Grill.

I got a Chicken Kabob Salad.

I received a very large and very generous Greek Style salad with TONS of nicely seasoned moist Chicken and warm pita bread.

“UMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmM!”

My husband had a two meat shawarma plate.

“I FORKING need some more chicken”

For more information please visit www.ThePitaKitchen.net

“I never leave hungry from Leo’s Island BBQ”

Leo’s Island BBQ is a family owned casual restaurant in Peoria AZ. They specialize

in the Hawaiian Plate Lunch. That means your meal will consist of generous portions of meat, rice, macaroni salad and some steamed vegetables. They offer around 30 combinations and most are priced at around $8.00.

Today I shared the Lemon Pepper Chicken Plate.

The Chicken is tasty and even with three of us eating it we still had leftovers.

“Hey…I could have eaten more!”

My husband had a combination plate of Fried Fish, Fried Shrimp with BBQ Chicken.

While it’s not fancy food it is good value plates and not much different in price than fast food and is much better than fast food.

www.LeosIslandBBQ.biz

Cucini Tagliani serves American Italian Foods and offers an Official Licensed Dog Friendly Patio.

The food isn’t trend setting but it’s tasty, made in house, fresh and reasonably priced.

“You better get me something I Forking want because I’m not getting any younger”

I got the Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad and had plenty of moist seasoned chicken to share with the dogs.

“You can Forking hit me again with some chicken.”

My husband got his usual Papa’s Platter that contains, Veal Parmesan, Sausage Lasagna and TWO Spinach Manicottis.

“That was a Forking Great Meal for me….I was hoping I’d get to eat at Tags Tonight”

www.CucinaTagliani.com

We are so lucky that the older dog  15 3/4 yrs. has made it this far. In September 2015 he was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. At the time he was only expected to make it three  to six months more. He has been on oral low dose chemotherapy since but this sort of medicine can’t be taken at full dose strength for more than a year since it’s so hard on the organs. Currently the cancer has spread to the lungs. We don’t know how many days or weeks we have left. We have to be happy for what we had so far.

That was dining with Dogs for February 2017

 

 

Dining with dogs is just a “Fluff Story” about taking my dogs out to eat. This is not a full blown restaurant review. Many restaurants around Phoenix do have patios but not all patios are dog friendly. Even if the restaurant has a dog friendly patio you still can be refused service due to a person with allergies or fear of dogs. Other reasons can be that the patio is booked with a party or once I encountered a once dog friendly patio suddenly turning to not allowing dogs so it’s always advisable to be prepared for a dining plan that includes two locations. There are some rules for dining with dogs. Dogs must be by your side at all times and you dog must be well behaved. Dogs are not allowed on restaurant furniture and are not allowed to eat off restaurant plates. You also need to know that most food you eat can be harmful or toxic to your dog. A few of the many foods to avoid are onions, garlic, chocolate, avocado, grapes (anything made from grapes like vinegar, raisins wine) macadamia nuts, most nuts, baked yeasted items  and artificial sweetener. I mostly give my dogs plain meat and try to remove any sauces.

We recently visited Amuse Bouche Restaurant in Surprise AZ. This little cafe makes some of the most impressive food in this immediate area. The husband and wife Chef/Owners have trained in France in French Culinary School.

We started with Risotto Fritters.

I don’t know how they made these Fritters so perfect. The rice is firm but cooked and is in creamy delicious sauce in a very thin and very crisp  bread crumb shell. These Risotto Fritters were excellent.

I had one of the specials of the day, it was Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Quiche.

The onions and mushrooms settled to the bottom but the taste was amazing. The custard was light and silky and laced with cheese. The crust was thin and buttery and golden brown under the filling and on the bottom. Not soggy at all and was delicious. The mushrooms that  the Quiche contained were developed with flavors. It was delicious. Off to the side of the plate I had a fresh mixed green salad with toasted almonds with blue cheese.

My husband had the Cuban Sandwich with the same side salad I had.

I was told the sandwich was tasty but light with meat for a man’s appetite.

Fortunately he was still willing to share some roasted pork with the dogs.

The dogs also enjoyed some egg custard from the Quiche.

Amuse Bouche does provide a community water bowl for dogs.

For more information please visit www.AmuseBouche.biz

Salad and Go is a fast casual Drive Threw Restaurant that specializes in serving inexpensive take away salads. You either use the walk up window and sit on the patio…. or take your salad with you back to work or home to eat. They also offer breakfast, soups, wraps and children’s meals.

We all liked the salads last month and my husband ordered the same one called Santa Fee with added steak.

“Oh I like the steak”

I tried the Special Seasonal Salad with Chicken.

It was packed with tasty walnuts, spiced fresh pears, cranberries and blue cheese in a fig vinaigrette.

“The Chicken is really good!”

We are very pleased with what we tried from Salad and Go!

For more information please visit www.SaladandGo.com

 

Cucina Tagliani is an American/Italian family friendly restaurant with wait service and an official licensed dog friendly patio. I decided to get something different and got the “lasagna style” Baked Spaghetti Squash.

It looks like a heavy brick but actually the way they made it the baked squash seems very light. The squash is carefully held together and is nicely seasoned and blanketed with cheese and Alfredo Sauce  and surrounded in a pool of marinara. It’s very good I’ll get it again sometime.

“I’ll eat spaghetti squash” “I love spaghetti squash!”

“Only weird dogs eat spaghetti squash.” “Good thing my human ordered a side of chicken ($2.99) for us dogs (particularly ME). “I’d Forking Starve before I’d eat spaghetti squash.”

My husband got his usual “Papa’s Platter” that’s by far the best deal on the menu.

“Man “O” man did I do Forking Good today at Cucina Tagliani!”

For more information please visit www.CucinaTagliani.com

Oscar’s Pier 83 is a casual seafood restaurant. The specialty is their fish and chips.

Oh No!!!!!!!

The patio is closed due to being rained on. I live only a short ride away and by my house it’s dry and sunny….Well that’s how it goes…here in mostly sunny Arizona…

I didn’t have a back up plan so we did take out.

Oscar’s Pier 83 has a whopping 4.5 star average on a popular review site from over 300 reviews. While I don’t agree that the 4.5 star average is truthful most of the food they serve is much better than fast food. Both me and my husband ordered the 2pc fish and chips. The cod seems fresh tasting and is flaky. The batter isn’t crisp due to being steamed from the take out package but taste like it was fried in clean oil. The fries taste how they look. Coleslaw is fresh tasting and very mild with flavor. I like that the cabbage is sliced very thin and that it’s not too drippy.

Both dogs enjoyed the fish with me.

For more information please visit www.op83.com

That was Dining with Dogs for January 2017.

We hope to see you next month!