Dog friendly restaurants on the rise in Houston
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston has gone to the dogs! If you've been out for a bite to eat recently, you've probably noticed more and more canines tagging along with their owners.
ABC-13 found some parents to four-legged children take the dogs out to eat every chance they get.
"I've had so many kids and babies come up and want to pet him and asking me if they can pet my dog," said dog owner Cynthia Unger. "It gives me a chance to socialize him, which is why I'm here."
Unger, like many dog owners, says her pup isn't just a pet, but a member of the family. Restaurants all over town are starting to recognize that. One of the first on the dog-friendly bandwagon was Gratifi in Montrose.
"We were the first restaurant permitted for dogs. We spent 6 months lobbying the city," said Gratifi owner Kevin Stickland.
Strickland says since he worked with the city in 2012 to allow dog-friendly dining, restaurants all over town have applied for the permit.
"It's really a quality of life issue. With everything the city has been trying to do to make it more pedestrian friendly, it's just an extension of that to allow people to bring their dogs with them," Strickland said.
Other hot spots for pups are the several Barnaby's Cafes, named after the owner's beloved sheepdog.
"We have not only been a pet motif, but very pet friendly," said manager of the downtown location Juan Hazle.
Hazle says he loves it when pedestrians and their pooches sit down for lunch, even during the dog days of summer.
"Days like this, we have bowls of water. We have Milk Bone dog biscuits," Hazle said.
Hazle says there's times where owners will feed their pups something off the menu too.
"I've made hamburgers for dogs. I've made definitely bacon for dogs," he said. "They seem to be very appreciative."
As of now, dogs are only allowed to dine with owners at restaurants that have outside patios. The city ordinance does not allow pups inside, unless they're service dogs.
If you want to bring your pooch along for a dining experience, below are Houston's dog-friendly restaurants.
