As the nights are getting longer and colder finding outdoor dining in the evening is getting harder. We picked Streets of London in Downtown Sacramento to try out this month. If you are looking for “Pub Grub” as they call it this is your place to dine! If you are looking for a mellow place to enjoy a meal, this is not the place to dine in the evening.
Since their web page has an event list, we picked a Thursday evening when nothing was going on to try Streets of London in Sacramento. The Pub is located on the corner of J and 18th streets. They have 2 patios to pick from, one in the front and one in the back. We opted for the front patio, as you have to go through the bar/dining room to get to the back patio. The front patio has an iron fence enclosure with a Very Loud Banging Gate. The front patio has a few tables to chose from that are first come first serve. They do not have a wait staff to come out and take your order so you have to go inside to get a menu and order your meal at the bar. If you bring your pup make sure you have someone with you to stay outside while you place your order.
Once you get a menu you can see that they do have a great selection of things to try, from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. It was not easy to pick what to have for dinner or for an appetizer since there was so much to choose from. We finally picked the Fried Zucchini as our appetizer and it came with “chips.” The zucchini was beer battered and very good; it was served with chips that I am not sure I would call “chips”. I ordered the Battered Shrimp appetizer as my meal and it was served with the same “chips” which were more like soggy fries. The shrimp was battered in beer batter and they were very good. Since Billy LOVES fish he was very happy that I got the shrimp so he could have a couple. Grandma and Grandpa ordered the Big Ben Burger with onion rings and it was very big! Both G-ma and G-pa said the burger was good with the exception of a strange sauce on the bun that tasted somewhat like horseradish. The menu did not mention the sauce so we were not aware of it and since G-ma does not like horseradish she said the burger was “just ok”. Daddy ordered the “Daily Special” which was a French Dip with the aforementioned “chips”, and again there was the “special sauce”……… So needless to say his dinner was also “just ok.” The “chips” as they call them were not the greatest since I am not a fan of soggy potatoes. Like the menu states the food is “Pub Grub,” so they might be GREAT after a couple of beers. Since we are not big on drinking we did not order any drinks from the bar so we didn’t get to try any of the large selection of beer that they offer.
Once I ordered our meal, I told the bartender that we were sitting outside so they would know where to bring our meal. Our meal was brought out to us pretty quickly and the staff was friendly. Billy felt left out since he wasn’t noticed by anyone and he wasn’t offered anything besides the shrimp that he got from Mommy. Billy ended up lying down and taking a nap while we had our dinner.
Dinner for 4 was $55.00 with the tax and tip. The prices are fair for Downtown Sacramento. If you are in the mood for a couple of beers and some grub with your pup (as long as your pup doesn’t mind the loud gate and the people going in and out) give Streets of London in Downtown Sacramento a try! Until next time, this is Julia for Patio Paws. Rover and Out!
Hallelujah! Well, near-bliss. Wow-ish. More than good enough to say “grab your dog’s leash and check it out!”
We FINALLY had our first truly peaceful “diner dog” experience. Danielle’s Creperie on the corner of Watt Ave. and Fair Oaks Blvd. has the best “dog friendly” outdoor seating we’ve seen yet, a brick half-wall, overlooking an enclosed green space with a big, leafy tree. They have huge umbrellas for shade, and it’s surprisingly peaceful for a place at the intersection of two busy streets.
The patio is crowded, so a big dog would have trouble finding a spot without some table rearranging. Merlin was on his hind feet, front paws on the bricks, watching people learn to fly fish by casting into the courtyard (the waitress explained that there’s a sporting goods shop in the mini-mall).
I thought he’d bark insanely, but he just watched, head cocked (“Humans are crazy!”), then curled up for a nap. Imagine our shock. Merlin. Napped. In a crowded restaurant. Abby cadged treats from our friend Carol, but had a bit of trouble finding a place to lie down. When you go, take one dog and one friend who can go inside to the hostess station to get a table.
The menu has a good choice of appetizers, everything from a brie plate to pâté, plus sandwiches, soups, salads, and the thing we were there for, crepes. Mark’s Bonne Maman was Belgian, so crepes are in his DNA, and Danielle’s has around 20 choices of lunch and dinner crepes. We all opted for the brunch special, a crepe, croissant and fresh fruit ($12.99 per person.
The croissant was hot, flaky, and buttery. Too often, croissants are served a bit stale and greasy, but these were toasted (just a bit) and just right. The fresh fruit was a mix of grapes, melon and strawberries that had never seen a freezer or can. The melon wasn’t as ripe as it could have been, but the grapes and strawberries made up for it. It’s served with whipped cream by the way, so if you don’t do dairy, as Carol doesn’t, ask for it to be left off.
Which brings me to one of our few complaints. Carol ordered her Spicy Avocado Crepe without cheese. It came with cheese, so she had to send it back. She rated the finished product “pass the fire extinguisher” spicy, but said the avocado was “exquisitely fresh” and the cornmeal batter (one of several options) was “flavorful.” Overall, though, she said that without the cheese, it was “bland, every bite the same,” with the hot sauce overpowering the avocado, tomato and mushroom.
She wished for a few more ingredients to liven up her entrée. We didn’t see a list of ingredients available to add. Had the menu listed the heat of the dish (the way some Chinese and Mexican restaurants do), or used a lighter hand with the sauce, she’d have been happier. They might have offered a list of optional ingredients and prices, or offered to replace the cheese with something else. Either would have been nice. That said, they offer a fair number of vegetarian entrees, so this is a good place to go when you have omnivores and herbivores brunching together.
My Crepe Medley crepe (chicken and shrimp) had a creamy texture and was perfectly cooked, generously filled, and delicious. I was a happy girl. Mark’s Crab and Spinach crepe was rated “ultra creamy” with “nice chunks of meat.” Danielle’s didn’t stint on fillings, so by the time we finished our meals, we were full.
When we arrived I was very hungry, so I also ordered a Petite Salad. It’s a nice size for a side salad. The base salad ($3.50) is butter lettuce. From there, you can add from a list of choices. Croutons and/or red onions are free on request. Other options range from mushrooms for $.50 to avocado for $1.50. Most are in the fifty-to-seventy-five cent range, and include things you don’t normally see, like peppered pecans and gorgonzola cheese crumbles. The salad was fresh, flavorful, and I would have appreciated it properly had I not been wondering if my pants were about to split a seam.
Gamely, we waded into the extensive dessert menu, which includes, in addition to dessert crepes, cakes, puddings, cheesecake and crisp. You have the option of splitting your lunch or dinner crepe so you get a half dinner crepe and a half dessert crepe, a decision you have to make when you first order, of course. I wish I had, or opted to pack half of my entrée and salad for later enjoyment.
My Pear and Dried Cherry Crisp ($4.25) was a nice blend of sweet/crunchy. If you love crunchy granola (and I do), you’ll probably enjoy it. It wasn’t heated, which would have been nice, but it had a good mix of textures and the flavor was full without being too sweet.
Mark rated his Preserves Crepe ($3.79) “perfect” and said the taste took him back to childhood. He ate a lot of crepes growing up, so this is a high compliment. The crepe itself was firmer than he expected, but he said that was probably so it could hold its own against the generous filling, and he had no complaints.
Carol had the Christine Favor crepe ($6.79), bananas, almonds, strawberries, raisins, and applesauce. She skipped the ice cream, and proclaimed her dessert “very tasty.”
Mark enjoyed the “robust” coffee. I preferred Danielle’s Special Blend tea, a mix of Lipton’s, orange spice and peppermint tea, refreshing and spicy, but not overpowering.
The background noise was low enough so we could visit (why do so many restaurants think customers want to have to choose between shouting over a rock concert or ear plugs?), and the dogs seemed to feel secure with the option to lie along the wall. It was shady, cool, and peaceful. The food was pretty good, too. On the whole, a very good diner dog experience.
A note – when we called to find out if dogs are allowed, we were told yes, they are, but only at the Watt and Fair Oaks location. The person answering the phone said, “We allow dogs if they’re well-behaved and…” he hesitated, “uh…if the people are responsible.” He hurried on to say that they allow dogs if the dogs don’t become nuisances to the people. When I replied that we wouldn’t expect it to be otherwise, he muttered, “You’d be surprised what we’ve seen.” Okay, dudes and chicks, here we go again. If we want dogs to be allowed in restaurants, parks, etc., then it’s up to us to be sure our dogs are good canine citizens.
If your aim is a relaxing brunch with people you want to talk – and listen – to, this is the place to go. We’ll be going again. – Joey Jones, The Patio Pup, for PatioPaws
FOOD: 3 ½ out of 4 paws (the Spicy Avocado crepe was a miss, but the rest were right on target)
AMBIENCE: 3 ½ out of 4 paws (love the patio, but it is a bit crowded)
PET FRIENDLINESS: 3 out of 4 paws (they did bring water when we asked, although they didn’t seem to notice the dogs otherwise)
SERVICE: 3 out of 4 paws (harried but polite, although it was hard to catch anyone when you needed something)
PRICE: 3 out of 4 paws. A (very) full brunch for three ran us a pricey $78.90 with tax and tip. Next time, we'll order the brunch special with a split crepe - half entrée, half dessert, and skip the salad.
September is a busy month for Billy, so by getting to review Paesanos Elk Grove he was able to combine a handful of events into one. Billy was rescued from the SPCA in September of 2007 and mommy and Grandma’s birthdays are in September so we picked a Friday night to have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and celebrate the events.
Paesanos Elk Grove is located in the Elk Grove Marketplace at 8519 Bond Rd and it is 1 of 3 Paesanos locations. The original location is in Midtown Sacramento’s “Handle” District at 1806 Capital AveSacramento. The 3rd location is Paesanos Pronto located at 1501 16th St on the corner of 16th and O streets. The Elk Grove location has a wonderful patio with a nice fireplace and waterfall in the center along with outdoor heaters. The patio is gated with sturdy gates for hitching the pup to during your meal. To enter the patio area you do need to go in and let the hostess know that you would like to have a table on the patio so it is best to have someone to help with your pup. The parking area is shared with the Marketplace, which has ample parking even when the shopping center is busy.
Since it was a Friday night we did have to wait a few minutes but not long at all. We were sitting outside in the waiting area when the manager came out to see Billy. Since Billy is a people dog he just had to lick her toes. We weren’t too sure how she was going to react at first but she started to laugh and say thank you to Billy since she was in need of a pedicure. At that point I knew we had landed on a great place for dogs.Once we were seated the service was great and very on top of things. Everyone made sure that Billy was not left out as they all came over to say hello, even though he was not offered any treats or water.
The menu at Paesanos has a great variety of items, from pizzas, pastas, salads, appetizers, and steaks and even includes breakfast on the weekends at the Elk Grove location. We started our dinner with the Baked Garlic Sourdough appetizer. The garlic bread is a round loaf like you get in San Francisco and is cut open and filled with butter and garlic and then baked in the oven to make it nice and crunchy and oh so good and served with a dipping oil. The amount of bread is just right amount for 4 people to enjoy yet not over do it on the appetizer.For our dinner we were not all in the mood for pizza so the variety on the menu was great. The guys ordered a Grande Paesanos combo, which was topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, red onions, olives and mozzarella cheese. The Grande pizza was 8 large slices of wonderful goodness. Since we had the appetizer I knew I would not want a full meal with a salad so Grandma and I decided we would share a pasta dish. We both ordered a Caesar side salad and we shared the Carbonara with penne, apple wood smoked bacon, cracked black pepper, garlic cream sauce and parmesan to which we added chicken. Since we said we wanted to share the pasta at the time of ordering we were able to have the kitchen split it for us for $1.00 and they include an extra piece of garlic bread with the split charge. The amount of pasta was just the right amount for us with the salad and bread. I wish we had more room for one of the yummy looking desserts that they offer.
Dinner for 4 with splitting a meal was $70.00 including the tip, sodas and pizza for breakfast in the morning. Paesanos Elk Grove offers a great value for even better food and service. So the next time you are in the Elk Grove area and you are looking for a nice place for lunch or dinner try Paesanos Elk Grove! Until next time this is Julia, for Patio Paws – Rover and Out!
The Scene:3 Paws
The patio was nice with the waterfall and fireplace, however the patio heater near our table was not working and it was a little chilly with the wind.
Food and Drink: 4 Paws
The food was great and they have great Happy Hour specials.
There are two flavors of Original Pete's: Original Pete's Pizza-Pasta-Grill and Pete's Restaurant & Brewhouse. The OP on J is a Brewhouse. Not all have outdoor seating, and not all allow pets, so check the restaurant first.
If you (and your dog) like the busy urban vibe, head on down! If, like us, too much loud, thumping bass makes you want to stuff something in your ears, check the Bee events calendar (http://events.sacbee.com/). If we had, we'd have known there were many events going on downtown, including a street fair featuring bands with very loud amplifiers. Abby took possession of the pedestal under the table and didn't come out until it was time to leave.
I have a feeling that stretch of J Street is usually quieter on a Sunday afternoon, but during our visit, in addition to the crowds, a freight train rumbled past (it's near the tracks), and a fire truck went by, siren blaring. Merlin decided we were under attack, so periodically he would emerge from his hiding place under Mark's chair, stick his head out of the fence, and bark like a lunatic until we shook the "no!" can. If you were there and we somehow missed apologizing to you, we're sorry.
You have to go inside, tell the host/ess you want to sit outside with your dog, and be seated, so go with someone who can do that for you. The waiter led us to a nice corner table in the outdoor seating area, fenced in, although the fence design is very open so keep an eye on your dog. They have patio umbrellas and large trees, so we were able to get everyone in the shade, and the tables are nicely spaced. Bring your water bowl and ask for an additional glass of water - no one offered water for the dogs.
The service was good-not-great. Food arrived fresh and hot, clearly not left to sit around, brought by people who were pleasant enough if not exactly welcoming, except for the host. No one checked us between courses, though, so we ran out of water and had to ask a few times to get more.
Food was O-Pete's strong suit. The flavors are nicely balanced. The Jumbo Ravioli appetizer is three kinds of ravioli (roasted wild mushroom, grilled chicken, and gorgonzola in spinach pasta) in a creamy sauce that enhanced, but didn't fight with, the ravioli. Mark's favorite was the wild mushroom ravioli, with a subtle, woodsy flavor. He liked that he could taste the mushrooms, the pasta, and the sauce each distinctly but nothing clashed. I liked the grilled chicken, stuffed generously, which went perfectly with the sauce. The gorgonzola ravioli was just kind of there to mop up the sauce with.
The Bistro Chicken Salad had roasted red bell peppers, fresh red onions, sun dried tomatoes, grilled chicken breast, sunflower seeds, and grated parmesan cheese. It's topped with a balsamic vinaigrette with a strong vinegar flavor. O-Pete's has a good way with chicken. The slices of grilled chicken were perfectly done, just the right moistness. The sun dried tomatoes were chewy, which isn't a texture I normally associate with salads, but added a nice sweetness.
The menu touted the flaky crust on the pizzas, and our small Pete's Combo pizza had a crust that was crisp and flaky on the outer edge, a little doughy in the middle, often the case with thick crust pizza. It's a "sensible shoe" kind of dough - a serviceable platform for the toppings, which were delicious. Mark likes pepperoni. I usually pick it off, as it's often overcooked and hard around the edges, even burned. This pizza was cooked so well that the pepperoni did what it's supposed to do - lend a nice, peppery tang. The Pete's Combo also comes with salami, ham, linguica, sausage, bell peppers, olives and artichoke hearts - just enough of each and not to much of anything, so the flavors are distinct but blend well.
Dessert - one dessert is plenty for two people. We ordered one each and hated not finishing them, but we were stuffed. Mark had the Tower Cake, one of those "mile high" fudge cakes. I've had those before and found them tasteless and dry, but this was moist, fudgey, not too sweet… We lingered at the table as Mark tried very hard to finish it, but finally surrendered, with regret.
My apple dumpling was my favorite part of the meal. The cinnamon-spiced apple was cooked until just starting to soften but not falling apart, wrapped in pastry, with an apple-cinnamon glaze that is just the right blend of sweet and spicy. Both desserts are served with vanilla bean ice cream, and the flavors work well together in both cases.
Lunch for two, with beverage (fresh brewed tropical iced tea - fruit overtones but not too sweet) and dessert ran us $65.17, including tip - but we took half of the pizza home. I'd recommend it - just check first to see what's going on in the area and plan accordingly. BTW - a note to the management -- if there's an event going on featuring very loud music, it's okay to turn off your patio speakers. The J. Geils Band was fighting with the festival, and "Angel is the Centerfold" just wasn't up to the task. -- Joey Jones, the PatioPup, for Patio Paws
Pete's Restaurant & Brewhouse
2001 J Street, Sacramento , CA 95814
J between 19th and 21st Streets, near Capitol Park
Ok, so we are not the typical people to take our dog to dinner with us but now that we are doing Patio Paws we are starting out slow. Billy is what some people might call “spoiled” so when we decided to do reviews we thought, “Why not let Billy join us when we dine out?” So, now our mission has begun! Billy is sometimes a barker towards strangers and quite a handful if you are out alone with him. Yes, he needs classes on being a better canine citizen and I am looking into to them.
For our 1st review we picked an evening when we knew that the live bands were not playing at Luigi’s Slice so we didn’t have to worry about any bad behavior that might happen. Since it was a Monday night Midtown Sacramento was quiet and peaceful. The weather was good so we didn’t have to worry about it being hot and sticky, nice for summer evening dining on the patio.
Luigi’s is easy to find even for me . . . I’m not good with Downtown Sacramento. It seems even with a GPS I can still get turned around and have no clue where I am. Lucky for Billy and I, we got to be the passengers on what I am now calling “Billy’s 1st date night with Mom and Dad.” Once we parked and Billy had his “barkfest” in the car we picked out a table outside on the patio that had a nice railing for hitching the pup to. I went inside and got a menu off the counter so we could decide what we would have for dinner. Luigi’s ordering is the old style, walk-up-to-the counter, grab a menu and order your meal. The menu has a nice variety of toppings for “create your own” pizzas along with Luigi’s Favorites. The Slices menu has 6 different choices Sunday thru Thursday and 7 on Friday and Saturday, along with a Daily Slice, which has deal prices certain times of the day. If pizza is not what you are looking for when you come to Luigi’s you can get one of their sandwiches or a salad. To accompany your meal choice you can choose from soda, beer or wine.
We decided to get a medium Luigi’s Favorite Special (Sausage, Salami, Mushrooms and Olives) along with a small salad with what I am now calling the BEST Ranch dressing in the world! The pizza was also out of this world!! The crust was crispy, the cheese was gooey and then the final sprinkle of greatness was the seasonings on top!! As a home chef now turned food critic I had to ask what they put on top!!! I am not sure if it is a guarded family secret or not but you have got to try it for yourself and see if you can pick out the ingredients that make up their seasoning blend. Our dinner with drinks, tax and tip came to $35.00. I feel the prices at Luigi’s are right in line with other pizza places but the food in my book is off the charts!
In doing a little research before our dinner I found a few things out about Luigi’s that I didn’t know. Luigi’s Slice opened in August 2007 in the MARRS Complex and is owned by the Brida family, which has owned the original Luigi’s on Stockton Blvd since 1965. Luigi’s Slice is located in Midtown Sacramento on 20th between J and K streets across from Sacramento News & Review and down the street from the Lounge on 20th. The setting is very urban and local bands play in their Garden area, which is next to the main dining area of Luigi’s.You can enjoy live local music most nights of the week so if your pup is not into getting its grove on it might not be the best place in town for him or her to hang out. As for Pup friendliness I would say that Luigi’s is ok if you are willing to bring your own treats and water. We always travel with treats and water for Billy so we were not surprised that there was not a bowl of water and a jar of treats waiting for him.
The staff at Luigi’s is just as good as the food!! Very Friendly and Very Helpful!! When I gave the cashier the tip she even asked me if I was sure about the amount!! Now who does that?? Luigi’s!!!!!
So, if you see us with a white dog in tow you might never know where we are off too next!! Julia, For Patio Paws - Rover and Out!!
Luigi’s Slice
1050 20th Street Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95816
916-447-1255
Sunday thru Wednesday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am to Midnight
Friday & Saturday 11:00 to 2:30 am
Dog-friendly rating: 3 paws
The Scene: 3 paws
Food and Drink:4 paws
Now if we could just get our paws that Ranch Recipe!!!!!
Okay, having tried this "take a dog to lunch" idea a few times…
We’ve seen some of the mistakes businesses make when dealing with the dog-accompanied customer, and let's face it, the faux paws made by well-intentioned but distracted, or plain clueless, pup partners. Most of this probably holds true of the cat-accompanied, as well.
First a word to the restaurant owner. If you're smart, and lucky enough, to have cafe seating, consider allowing those with dogs to bring them. Most dog partners share common traits with our dogs. We're interested in the world around us. We like to be comfortable, value good relationships, and are grateful for good treatment, so treat us well and we'll be loyal. We make, in other words, good customers.
You have concerns, and I can't say they're groundless, but remember -- it's okay to set limits and enforce them. We're used to the concept of territory. The restaurant is yours. We can respect that, so long as the rules are reasonable and consistently enforced. Make it possible for us to comply and we will. After all, if you make us feel welcomed, we'll want to please you. A few tips:
Don't want dogs to interfere with people coming and going through the doors? Designate a section of seating away from the doors as "for people with pets" and ask that we use it. Put it under an awning or other overhead, and we'll scamper for it.
Cafe Bernardo, and other savvy pet-friendly restaurants, bring a pet bowl of water. Smart, because it allows the humans to relax. Watching your dog pant in the heat makes you feel like you really can't stay for dessert. Ditto with a patch of shade.
A nice, heavy railing, or a table with heavy legs, gives us somewhere to loop the leash so we can eat.
Now for those of us holding the leash. Come on, y'all, seriously. Do you expect restaurants (or hotels, or...) to accept people with pets if they've had a series of unpleasant experiences?
All the rules boil down to: Thou Shalt Not Be A Nuisance. First, remember to walk your dog before going to the restaurant. Even if you love dogs, watching Fluffy dump a load will put you off your feed, and it's unhygenic. Take a baggie walk. You do carry poo baggies, yes? If nothing else, it'll walk off your dog's fidgets before you sit down.
Be honest with yourself. You know your dog. Some dogs, like some people, value personal space, especially when surrounded with strangers. Abby likes a little personal space, and too little makes her nervous, so we sit apart. If we push her to crowd in past her comfort level, it won't go well. Accept your pet's limits and you can both have a good experience.
By the same token, if your dog is a Party Animal, respect the fact that not everyone is boisterous, and that's okay. If you let your Bouncing Bounder harrass the quiet dog at the next table and trouble ensues, guess whose fault it is? Right – yours.
Ditto for two-legged patrons. Just because your dog likes to jump on everyone doesn't mean everyone likes being jumped on. Plus, what's cute from your own can be annoying from another. Ever had someone else's uncontrolled toddler smear you with a sticky hand? Cute, wasn’t it? That nice older lady in the linen pantsuit might find your dog's dripping muzzle adorable, but she doesn't want it in her lap. Keep Bounder to yourself unless invited.
This goes for patrons entering and exiting the restaurant, and restaurant staff, too. No waiter wants to defend a tray full of dirty dishes from a Labrador Retriever who just smelled leftover hamburger.
If you haven't broached the subject of obedience training with your pooch prior to going out, now, friend, is the time to address it. Witness the tantrums of unsocialized toddlers who have received little, or no, training in manners and you get an idea what you're inflicting on those around you. Plus, your toddler has sharp teeth. Little dogs, too.
Stuff that helps: a bag packed with a “regular” leash (Flexi leashes are great for walks, but the normal, non-extending leash is easier to control in tight spaces), a baggie of tiny treats (little treats often for good behavior beat big treats. If you’ve found a treat your pup loves, just carefully cut it into tiny bits with kitchen shears), poo baggies, a collapsible water bowl (just in case the restaurant isn’t enlightened yet), and a “no” can (a small can with a lid holding several pennies or washers and nuts) to shake (gently) when telling your pup “no,” as in “no, it’s not okay to bark your head off right now.”
I have a dream, as someone smarter than me once said. My dream includes many beautiful things, but one of the nicest is dogs and humans, being able to go places together, and being made welcome, because everyone knows a person with a dog is a considerate, responsible person – because we all behave that way. If we all do our parts, this dream could come true, now.
Having decided we needed to socialize our two dogs, Abby, our main hound, and Merlin, our emergency backup dog, we’ve started making them “do lunch” with us. We’ve undertaken this experiment with reservations. Some people have “y’all come” wet-nosed tail waggers. We have Queen Victoria in a dog suit and her Prince Consort. Their general attitude towards strangers is, “Do not place your grubby hands upon Our royal person, Peasant.” Could they join café society? Will they eat a waiter or bark until they leave of trail of hearing damage throughout the valley?
We decided not to risk the busier hours for restaurants (usually 11:30 am – 1 pm and 6 – 9 pm). Baby steps. We’ve eaten with them at café tables in San Francisco, where you hang out on the sidewalk inches from dodging cars driven by angry, frustrated drivers while rushing pedestrians threaten to trod paws and tails. We quickly learned that rush hours did not improve the situation.
Ideally, we were looking for a relaxing lunch, but we’d settle for “manageable barking and no disasters” to start. Plus, summer in Sacramento is penance for our sins – would we broil in the sun, panting along with the dogs?
Our first venture into Sacramento café society came at Café Bernardo on R and 15th, one of the Paragary restaurants. The Paragary Restaurant Group has, by my count, 12 restaurants under 9 names in Sacramento, Davis and Stockton. The list includes Italian, Mexican, American, bar chow and pizza, with restaurants, cafes with indoor and outdoor seating, bars, even a billiard room.
Not all have outdoor seating, and not all allow pets, so check the restaurant first.
Our pack spent a sunny Sunday afternoon at Café Bernardo at 15th & R in Sacramento. As many times as I've driven by the place, I didn't know it was there -- it shares space with Paragary's R15 bar, which has a more prominent sign.
Late on a Sunday afternoon, the street was fairly quiet, as was the restaurant. There's an enclosed area with a sturdy railing, perfect for hitching a leash. It would be out in the sun around noon, but the building shades the seating later in the day. The dogs felt secure enough to settle down, despite the fact that the 16th and R light rail station is steps away, so every few minutes, bells clang as a train approaches. The main patio section has fans, and there are heaters for winter – but summer in Sac provides its own heat.
The layout is roomy, so dogs don't have to crowd each other and everyone can get comfortable. Entering the seating area, we came upon a large and rather territorial VBD (Very Big Dog) who took exception to Merlin, but were able to find seating far enough away so they could ignore each other.
The service was top notch. Friendly and relaxed, without that overwhelming forced cheerfulness that grates on the nerves. Asked if they permit dogs in the outdoor area, a cheerful cashier told us, "Absolutely!" Mark picked a good spot and I went inside to order at the counter. The waiter brought a pet bowl of cold water, which he refilled periodically while we were there, chatting with us about his dogs.
Now for the foodie stuff.The restaurant's approach to food seems to emphasize textures and harmonious blends, as opposed to starring dominant flavors. Some of the dishes seemed bland at first bite, but turned out to have pleasant aftertastes, and blend well with other dishes. Nothing clashed.
They were out of the heirloom tomato salad, so I ordered a small "chop salad" and a quesadilla, with a turkey burger and house-made
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