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The Peninsula loves its pets. With pleasant weather here for much of the year, it’s not unusual to see dogs out and about with their people, even faithfully waiting (or maybe begging) under the table during mealtimes at restaurants with outdoor dining.
Usually, the best a pup could hope for might be a few dropped morsels, or perhaps a doggie bag to take home. But some local eateries have taken it to the next level, offering special dog menus so that canines can enjoy chowing down on a meal just for them alongside their human companions.
7 Mile House, Brisbane
At 7 Mile House in Brisbane, “When you come in and we see your dog, we greet the dog first and then the people,” owner Vanessa Garcia said with a laugh. 7 Mile House has a large menu, including some Filipino specialties, and a long history dating back to the 19th century. But it’s in the past decade that it’s established itself as a haven for dog lovers.
The idea was sparked when the city paved the area in front of the eatery in 2016, allowing a patio to be added (7 Mile has since added even more outdoor dining space.) Garcia is a dog lover and had the idea to not only welcome dogs, but also make the experience extra special.
“We’ve been really committed to that, even way before everyone went dog-crazy,” she said, noting an uptick in dog adoptions since the pandemic. “We truly are a dog-friendly and dog-loving restaurant, and we have been for the past nine years.”
Dog diners can choose from menu options including grilled Angus beef, grilled chicken, lumpia bits, grilled New York steak, smoked pig ear, a “dog cigar” (cigar-shaped jerky treats), Ben & Jerry’s dog ice cream and peanut butter biscuits (all ranging from $5-$12). All dog customers are offered a “VID” punch card and their fifth meal is free. Free peanut butter biscuits are also offered during “Yappy Hour” from 3-6 p.m. each day the restaurant is open.
Garcia curated the doggie menu based on foods she’d seen her own dogs enjoy in the past, mindful of keeping offerings healthy. 7 Mile will soon add new beverages for dogs packaged to look like beer and wine (and has offered a different brand of “dog beer” in the past).
Another offering that’s been a hit with dog lovers is 7 Mile’s doggie birthday parties (or “pawties”). In addition to water bowls, treats and VID cards for each dog guest, the restaurant provides a festive banner, centerpiece and pawprint tablecloth. The party package is free with a $200 minimum, and Garcia said their biggest bash so far had around 40 human and 10 canine guests.
“It’s been great seeing families and their dogs coming over. You can really see that they treat their dogs like their children and we love seeing that, and we love being able to have a space for those families to come to,” she said.
7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd., Brisbane; 415-467-2343, Instagram: @7milehouse. Open Wednesday to Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (bar open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday).
Millbrae Pancake House, Millbrae
Family-owned Millbrae Pancake House has been going strong for 66 years, opening back in 1959 and known for its pancakes and waffles. In 2021, the venerable breakfast spot started offering a doggie menu. That’s when the restaurant reopened after a pandemic closure, adding outdoor dining for the first time.
“Once we had garden and patio seating … the dogs would come!” owner Erin Burke wrote in an email.
Current offerings include the doggie burger (a plain hamburger patty, $5), the doggie scramble (scrambled eggs well done, $5), and the doggie combo (a hamburger patty and scrambled eggs, $8.75).
The dog options were added to the online menu during the pandemic, but Burke said they’re not yet part of the in-restaurant main menu.
“Dogs seem to like the hamburger patty and eggs in their own to-go box. We also have water bowls for them,” Burke said.
Millbrae Pancake House, 1301 El Camino Real, Millbrae; 650-589-2080, Instagram: @millbraepancakehouse. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, a restaurant chain serving American cuisine with seasonally inspired ingredients, has multiple locations in California and beyond, including in San Mateo and Cupertino. It offers dog-friendly patios at all six of its Bay Area restaurants and has a dog menu currently offering two entrees at $6 each: grilled chicken with veggies and a grilled hamburger patty with veggies, each with an option of brown or white rice, available to eat on the patio or to go.
According to Spencer Schroeder, regional director for Lazy Dog Restaurant Bay Area, the dog options are “incredibly popular, especially on weekends and sunny patio days.”
For a company that has “dog” right in its name, it perhaps makes sense that its eateries would be dog-friendly.
“Our founder wanted to create a place where you could come as you are, bring your pup along, and enjoy a great meal together,” Schroeder said in an email.
Lazy Dog’s culinary team created the menu items to provide a healthy and appealing option for dogs. But it’s not just about the food, Schroeder said — it’s also about helping human and canine customers connect and relax. And over the years, Lazy Dog has partnered with local rescues and dog-centric nonprofits to host community fundraisers.
“Supporting causes that help animals is something we truly care about, and it’s become a meaningful part of who we are,” Schroeder said. “We’re proud to be a place where everyone — two- or four-legged — feels welcome.”
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, 2208 Bridgepointe Parkway, San Mateo; 19359 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino; Instagram: @lazydogrestaurants. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.
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