Hot Foodie’s guide to dining with dogs across Gauteng
Hot Foodie’s guide to dining with dogs across Gauteng
Hot Foodie’s guide to dining with dogs across Gauteng
Gary Oberholzer
Hot Foodie’s guide to dining with dogs across Gauteng
This season’s hot restaurant trend for cool people is dining with dogs. Where once our canine companions stayed home hoping to be remembered at doggie bag time, modern mutts are increasingly included in the original epicurean experience.
Which is wonderful so long as the two-legged members of the party remember that their four-legged friends are not people. No matter how much you wish to pamper your pooch there are certain ingredients (onions, chocolate, artificial sweeteners etc) that will do damage to dog digestions.
Ultimately care, not cuisine, remains the highest form of devotion. To avoid unpleasant incidents, the posh pet set should pick places that offer a dog menu specifically designed to suit Fido’s physiology.
So where should you go for a meal that treats your taste buds and your furry sidekick? Here’s our top dog-friendly picks this season.
Posh pet paradise
The Goddess Café is pink and pretty. Ladies lunch amidst florals with bubbles and bonbons galore. Gluten free orange and almond cakes compete for (human) customer attention with a pancake bar and pain chocolat. Waggy tailed visitors receive a complimentary dog biscuit on arrival after which they can enquire about the Fury Friend Meal of the day. On our last visit, options included steamed chicken with cauliflower rice and a seriously sexy steak tartare.
The Goddess Café has 7 restaurants to choose from in Johannesburg, Centurion and Pretoria. Visit https://goddesscafe.co.za for more information.
Pancakes for You, Puppy Plates for Them
Arbour Café is the perfect place for Johannesburg bitches who brunch. This cute courtyard space has a twinkly, splashy water feature and live music on weekends. The dog menu includes grilled chicken strips with mashed sweet potato, peanut butter biscuits and scrambled egg with beef sausage morsels. People prefer orange butter and brandy sauce laden pancakes. Delicious duck confit and gorgeous galettes too.Arbour Café and Courtyard; 64 St Andrew St, Birdhaven, Johannesburg. www.arbourcafe.co.za
A Room for Rover
The Home Suite Hotel, Rosebank welcomes good boy (and girl) guests. They also have two (super-friendly) resident dogs (Maggie and Molly) who meet and greet all arrivals. The inhouse bistro has a human menu with Mediterranean-inspired culinary classics - think magnificent mushroom risotto and perfect penne. The dog offering changes daily but on our recent visit the doggie dish du jour was an organic, steamed chicken platter. A portion of profits from the dog menu are donated to Oscar’s Arc animal charity.Rosebank Home Suite Hotel. 50 Bristol Road, Corner Oxford road, Rosebank, Johannesburg. https://homesuitehotels.com/Doggie Day Trip
Hartbeespoort is less than an hour from both Pretoria and Johannesburg. This tiny town’s Paoli Dog Park has mountain views and a fenced off field with splash ponds and plenty of balls to throw and fetch. Energetic owners and animals can jump through hoops and tunnels in the agility course but most of the pups just run about and make furry friends. There are shaded picnic tables for people. The human menu features hearty pulled pork sandwiches, classic bacon and egg breakfasts, salads, burgers and gorgeously gooey brownies. There is also a small selection of beer, wine and spirits. The dog menu includes beef bombs (aka bite sized frikkadels for Fido), grilled chicken strips and a peanut butter rice crispy treat.The Paoli Dog; 3 Jan Smuts Rd, Meerhof, Hartbeespoort. https://www.instagram.com/paoli_doggie/
Mutts who Muse
Muse Bakery in Modderfontein serves breakfast, lunch and baked goods for people and pups. Two legged types can treat themselves with beautiful baked cheese cake and fabulous French toast. Tail wagging is guaranteed with savoury snacks such biltong biscuits and steamed chicken a la woof. Pupsicle peanut butter and banana lollipops for pudding.
Muse Bakery; 078 274 2361; 1 Main St, Founders Hill, Lethabong, Modderfontein,Johannesburg; https://muse-bakery.co.za
Walkies on the wildside
Just 30 minutes from Sandton, Walkhaven has 50 acres of open fields, forests and ponds so it is the pawfect place for dogs and owners looking for outdoor adventure. The Dog Box Grill and Pizza Mutt open Thursday to Monday. In addition to pizza there are salads, schnitzels and steaks. Picnic and braai areas too.
Walkhaven; Plot 77, Walkhaven Farm, M5, Zwartkop, Johannesburg. 071 212 9955; facebook.com/walkhaven
Ahmed Kajee
