Each year, we ask Orange County Register readers to choose their favorite places to shop, dine, play and do business in OC.
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Here are the top picks for Best dog-friendly restaurant:
1. Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
Brea, Irvine, Orange; lazydogrestaurants.com
It’s more than just a name. In the case of Lazy Dog, it’s instructive. Canine companions are not just allowed, they’re invited and catered to.
“Creating a welcoming experience for guests and their dogs is part of what makes Lazy Dog special,” says Chris Simms, CEO and founder of Lazy Dog Restaurants.
There’s even a menu, which includes a complimentary bowl of water
There are also Dog Bowls, featuring grilled chicken or hamburger with rice and vegetables, that “allow pups to enjoy mealtime alongside their owners,” Simms says.
Of course the restaurants, three in Orange County and about 50 nationally, are more than just doggie diners, although they enjoy a five-bone rating on Bring Fido. The people’s food menu includes an array of American classics such as BBQ ranch bacon burgers and international dishes such as Korean bao buns and Cuban sandwiches, plus seasonal surprises like peach burrata. You can also get salads, soups and starters.
Guests, human ones, can enjoy craft cocktails, beers, wine and nonalcoholic beverages.
The eateries haven’t gone completely to the dogs. Other than service animals, pups must stay on the patio. They are not allowed in laps or to eat from human plates and glasses, and three Bs are NOT allowed: barking, biting and begging.
As Simms puts it, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many guests make Lazy Dog part of their everyday outings and special moments with their pups.”
— Greg Mellen
2. OC Local Taproom
30100 Town Center Drive, Laguna Niguel; 949-481-5800; oclocaltaproom.com
If you want an idea of the dog-friendliness at OC Local Taproom, this is all you need to know: Troy Barton, director of operations at the popular local brewer and scratch kitchen, met his girlfriend when she came specifically because of OC Local Taproom’s pro-dog reputation.
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“We have a large patio that’s open to dogs and people with service dogs can bring them inside,” Barton said, and jokes “Everyone has a service dog these days. I’m looking at two right now.”
Dogwise, on Wednesdays the Taproom has a Yappy Hour, during which dog owners get Happy Hour prices all day. The restaurant is also a purveyor of Irvine-based Crazy Grandma Treats, which are fresh, oven-baked, all-natural dog delicacies handcrafted in small batches.
Barton also notes about the spot that “everything is local,” from the independent craft brews on through California-sourced wines, whiskeys, organic vodka and gin.
3. Simmzy’s
21028 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; 714-831-1240; simmzys.com
Huntington Beach is a dog walker’s paradise, not to mention home of the county’s only dog beach. So it’s no surprise that Simmzy’s, a couple miles south of the dog beach, scores high among canines and their companions.
The casual indoor-outdoor eatery in Pacific City sees plenty of walking traffic of the two and four-legged kind. Its wide outdoor patio is ideal for people and pooch watching, not to mention enjoying the scenic beaches of Huntington.
Simmzy offers complimentary dog water bowls and has occasional specialized menu options as well as a five-bone rating on the Bring Fido website. Dogs must remain on the ground and leashed at all times.
The menu is primarily casual American fare and California cuisine with a full complement of burgers, tacos, salads and bowls.There are also a half-dozen homebrews on tap as well as wine and craft cocktails.