Pay no attention to the thermometer, SPRING IS HERE and we've got our annual round-up of can't miss events! Plus we've got a slew of weekend ideas including theater, concerts and a screening of the 1962 classic film "To Kill A Mockingbird." Dig in!
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Meredith Goad
Meredith Goad has harvested oysters on the Chesapeake Bay, eaten reindeer in Finland and sipped hot chai in the Himalayas. She writes the weekly Soup to Nuts column and enjoys a good cocktail.
Where to dine with your dog in Greater Portland
Love to dine out but hate to leave your pooch at home? We’ve got great news! Unlike service dogs, dogs that are pets are not allowed inside a restaurant. But they can sit with you outside as long as they don’t have to walk through the restaurant to get to the outdoor eating area. Always a great idea to check before you head somewhere though because restaurants have the right to ban them all together.
We found that many Portland-area restaurants have not only embraced their customers’ dogs, they even provide a dish of water and, occasionally, a treat.
So gather up your canine companion and head out to one of these pet-friendly restaurants while it’s still warm enough outside to enjoy it.
Aimsel Ponti contributed to this story.
AZURE CAFE
123 Main St., Freeport
After a long day shopping for a new collar and trying out the therapeutic dog couch (memory foam!) at L.L. Bean, relax with your furry best friend and a cocktail on the cafe’s elegant, roomy patio overlooking Main Street.
Photo by Claire Jeffers
BRGR BAR
11 Brown St., Freeport
They've got water dishes out and your pooch is quite welcome to hang out with you on the BRGR BAR deck. It's up to you whether you'll cave to their longing looks and share your french fries.
Photo by Aimsel Ponti
DAVID'S
22 Monument Square.,Portland
Anything can happen in Monument Square and you and your pooch can have a front row seat to the action seated in David's patio area.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
DUCKFAT
43 Middle St., Portland
Duckfat has an enclosed, shaded sidewalk seating area, so there’s no need to worry about your pet getting heat stroke on a hot day.
Staff photo by Logan Werlinger
EAST ENDER
47 Middle St., Portland
The outdoor space is small here – basically some sidewalk seating – but the restaurant welcomes dogs and keeps a water dish on hand. The chefs are known to sneak out of the kitchen once in a while to say hello to their canine customers.
Staff photo by Jill Brady
EL CORAZON
190 State St.,Portland
Watch the traffic- both vehicular and food- go by as you nosh on some enchiladas and nurse a margarita by Longfellow Square.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
EL RAYO
245 Route 1, Scarborough
El Rayo allows dogs on its patio as long as they are “well-behaved.” That means no tequila shots, right? You can also bring your pooch onto the back deck at the El Rayo Portland location on 26 Free. St.
Staff photo by John Patriquin
EVENTIDE OYSTER CO. AND THE HONEYPAW
86 & 78 Middle St., Portland
These two places are owned by the same restaurant group, and they say they welcome dogs in their sidewalk seating areas. They provide water, too.
Staff photo by Gabe Souza
FEDERAL SPICE
225 Federal St., Portland
Federal Spice has a nice, large patio in front that will give your dog lots of wiggle room.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
FUJI
29 Exchange St.,Portland
You'll be in the middle of the Old Port as you sip your sake and down some edamame.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
The Garage BBQ
3 East Grand Ave., Scarborough
You can dine with Dino out on the patio and then have your pick of beach walks as you're steps away from Pine Point and just down the road from Old Orchard Beach
Photo by Samantha Schnare
GRITTY MCDUFF's
396 Fore St.,Portland
Hoist a pint in the air while you toss your pal a biscuit on the Wharf Street alley backside of Gritty's.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
HIFI DONUTS
30 Monument Way,Portland
Repair to the square and find a perch outside where your dog will give you stink eye if you don't share your delicious HiFi donut.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
INN BY THE SEA
40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth
You know how people do something really good on stage and then do that “mic drop” thing? When it comes to welcoming dogs, Inn By the Sea is the place that is mic drop-worthy. It has a years-long reputation for pampering pets on the Sea Glass deck. Your pup can order from the gourmet pet menu, which includes “Meat Roaf.” If you stay at the inn, your dog will have access to water bowls, beach towels, blankets, pet massages and signature treats at turndown. On top of all that, the inn, working with the Animal Refuge League, keeps a foster dog on site that you can walk or eat with – and adopt. Last year, 46 dogs were adopted from the inn.
Staff photo by Derek Davis
INN ON PEAKS ISLAND
33 Island Ave., Peaks Island
If your dog loves sticking his head out the car window, imagine how he’ll feel about taking a ferry ride. Pick a nice day, grab a ferry and have lunch on the inn’s patio. Your lunch companion must be on a leash.
Photo courtesy of the Inn on Peaks Island
J’S OYSTER
5 Portland Pier, Portland waterfront
J’s loves having dogs visit its outdoor seating area, where the pooches can breathe in the waterfront air and bark at seagulls. Jokes one staffer: “We serve the dog water first, before we serve you.”
Staff photo by Aimsel Ponti
LAZARRI
618 Congress St.,Portland
Their pizza is becoming more famous by the minute and your pooch is going to want some so be ready to share and be ready to stare because people watching is key at this spot.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
LITTLE TAP HOUSE
106 High St,Portland
From micro-brews to farm-to-table menu offerings, you'll find your happy place in the sweet outside seating spot at the crossroads of downtown and the West End.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
MUNJOY HILL TAVERN
189 Congress St.,Portland
Munjoy Hill Tavern is a neighborhood bar with a backyard spot that has cornhole and picnic tables . You and your pooch will love to hang out here.
Staff photo by Leslie Bridgers
PAI MEN MIYAKE
188 State St.,Portland
You'll devour noodles, sushi and other Pai Men Miyake specials while your pooch gets in some good people watching and hopes for the occasional bite to miss your mouth.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
PO BOYS & PICKLES
1124 Forest Ave., Portland
Po Boys & Pickles has a big deck overlooking busy Forest Avenue where dogs are welcome. The restaurant will provide your pet with a water bowl while you enjoy your ice cold Abita.
Staff photo by Meredith Goad
PORTHOLE RESTAURANT & PUB
20 Custom House Wharf, Portland waterfront
The Porthole has a large deck overlooking the water and waterfront businesses. The deck is loaded with umbrella-covered picnic tables and counter-height seating along the edges. Locals love to come here for after-work drinks and brunch, and it’s a very popular spot to bring dogs. The restaurant provides a limited number of water bowls for the pets.
Staff photo by Jill Brady
PORTLAND LOBSTER CO.
180 Commercial St., Portland
Portland Lobster Co. has a ton of outdoor seating, including covered picnic tables in case it’s raining, right on the water. You and your dog can enjoy a lobster roll and a beer while watching the tour boats glide in and out of the harbor.
Staff photos by Jill Brady on left and Aimsel Ponti on right
SHAY'S GRILL PUB
18 Monument Square.,Portland
With aromas from several restaurants wafting in the open air your dog will be plenty distracted while you down a tasty burger and a beer.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
SICHUAN KITCHEN
612 Congress St.,Portland
You'll love the Gong Bao Chicken with jasmine rice and the pork buns while your canine companion waits patiently by your feet for you to finish up and continue your jaunt.
Staff photo by Aimsel Ponti
SISTER'S GOURMET DELI
15 Monument Square.,Portland
Your dog really hopes you order the roast beef but they'll settle for a bite of just about anything from Sister's Gourmet Deli.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
TACO ESCOBARR
548 Congress St.,Portland
Even if it's not taco Tuesday, you and your favorite pal can enjoy Portland's colorful Congress street.
Staff photo Aimsel Ponti
THE ROOMS
The Front Room (73 Congress St.), The Corner Room (110 Exchange St.), The Grill Room (84 Exchange St.), and Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room (86 Commercial St.) all have dog-friendly patios and will provide water.
Boone's photo by Wendy Almeida
TIQA
327 Commercial St.
Dogs are allowed on the patio here, but if you want your pooch to really have a good time consider going to the Tiqa Cafe in Deering Oaks Park, where there are lots of squirrels to drool over obsessively.
Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
WOODFORD FOOD & BEVERAGE
660 Forest Ave., Portland
Dogs are welcome at the restaurant’s patio space with picnic tables and umbrellas, but they must be tied up just outside the big planters that sit next to the tables. Tie them up well, because Forest Avenue is a busy street.
Photo courtesy of Woordford Food & Beverage
