San Diego's Top Ten Pet-Friendly Brasseries

Your pet may not be a French poodle and the following restaurants are anything but Fran�ais, (save one) but "brasserie" seems just a tad more deliciously descriptive.

At any rate, dining out with your pet has become "de rigueur" and San Diego is the best place in which to partake. Perfect weather and many an outdoor dining space make eating al fresco with a pet a winning combination.

The following is a list of 11 places for you and Fido (though we're not sure about Pussums, Snakeums, or Tweetums):

THE PATIO

Mission Hills: 4020 Goldfinch Street
Pacific Beach: 4445 Lamont Street
MH: 619.501.5090 - PB: 858.412.4648
thepatiorestaurants.com

Feel the need for some grrrreat food for both you and your pet? Then, The Patio's two locations are the places to park your butt and mutt at both. An amazing craft house beer, drink and wine selection (hint: Try the Sangrita cocktail and the Blanc du Noir for white wine, both are delicious!), along with California-inspired cuisine, flood your palette with delightful tastes every day of the week (the Poutine is one of my favorites and the Wild Mushroom Risotto is creamy-goodness). There's a house-made biscuit for your four-legged family friend as well. Brunch is oh-so-fun but beware the mimosa demon, or that puppy of yours better be an apt guide dog.

SALT & CLEAVER

3805 5th Avenue
Hillcrest
619.756.6677
enjoysausage.com

Who doesn't enjoy a good sausage? Salt & Cleaver has them down... along with many other things. A delightful location with a perfect patio at which to park your pooch. Their menu is filled with unique appetizers. Seriously, you have to try their Southern Sunday and the trifecta of Brussels Sprouts, yum, yum and yum. Their sausages are extensive, the notables for us were the Duck.Duck.Pig, the classic Smoked Beer Brat and the Chicken and Waffles. And the Brunch menu, oh my! Local craft brews and cocktails that will leave you happier than a pig in a bun... and did I say the cocktails were good?

THE REGAL BEAGLE

3659 India Street #101
Mission Hills
619.297.2337
regalbeaglesd.com

And while we're talkin' sausage, here's another place for "hot-dogs." It's cozy, but they make the best of the space by packing in a whole lot of tasty treats and more beer than you can spit a hop at. 24 rotating taps keep your taste buds challenged, with "dogs" provided by T & H Prime Meats and Sausage in San Marcos, as created by Sausage-Meister, Jacob Kappeler. He specifically created their line of delicious, high-quality sausages that you just can't find in the supermarket (check out the Chicken Diablo; hot, spicy and oh so delicious!). Sausages aren't the only things available, there's a righteous selection of ap- petizers (so addicted to the Fried Green Beans) and a respectable burger or two. They are pet-friendly and will provide water... and an occasional bone has been
seen being tossed from the kitchen.

BAJA BETTY'S

1421 University Avenue
619.269.8510
bajabettyssd.com

GOSSIP GRILL

1220 University Avenue
619.260.8023
gossipgrill.com

Well-travelled Hillcrest standards both of these may be, but there's no place better than their respective patios for great people watching with your poochie. Though watch out for the tipsy, paw-stompers! Both have blissful happy hours and daily specials, with cocktails that are bordering on d-a-n-g-e-r-o-u-s (though no one complains that I've heard). Gossip's Truffle Mac'n'Cheese and the Chicken Ranch Paninni are to die for and the Cha Cha Chimichanga, Chicken Adobo Quesadilla, homemade salsas and the plethora of Tequilas at Baja Betty's, fulfill a happy digestive place indeed.

SALLY AND HENRY'S DOGHOUSE

3515 5th Avenue
Hillcrest
619.501.8638
sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com

Tucked away on 5th Avenue, this is the little bar and grill that could. It may not be the most glamorous, but the atmosphere and the dog patio in back are worth it. Loved the Burger, the weekend brunch was a real treat and their Bloody Mary's were a spicy ladened hit! Great Dane, Brooklyn, visited with us and was treated like the princess she is with great dog treats - bones stuffed with cheese-filling, big meaty bones, etc., water, shade and a handful of buddies to play with in the separate gated area. They even have Movie Night under the stars on Tuesdays.

CAF� CHLOE

721 9th Ave
619.232.3242
cafechloe.com

This is for all of you downtowners. A jewel if there ever was one is this sweet, French-inspired street caf�, right in the heart of East Village. Some of the best food we've had with homemade pates and olives, truly fabulous entrees, a great happy hour, friendly staff and great customers, make this one of our favorite spots downtown! For brunch, the Croque Madame and Pissaladi�re; ni�oise olive, caramelized onion and white anchovy tart are absolute must haves and their dinner menu's Poulet au Vinaigre; jidori chicken leg braised in red wine vinegar with pommes lyonnaise and baby artichokes are quelle fantasique! The gourmet coffee, tea and boutique wines are nothing to complain about either.

BABYCAKES

3766 5th Avenue
619.296.4173
babycakessandiego.com

What can we say about everybody's favorite baby? Babycakes Hillcrest has long been known for its yummy cupcakes, handsome beefcake and the much tasty menu, but did you know that your pooch is also welcome on the patio? They are very accommodating and the shaded patio keeps your doggie from overheating, though he or she may not be able to contain their sniffin' cuz the food is yummy. We especially love their Taco Tuesday (chicken, pork or potato), Posole on Friday, both favorites here at The Rage Monthly. There are specials every day and now you can visit them in Imperial Beach as well!

LA JOLLA BREWING COMPANY

7536 Fay Ave, La Jolla
858.246.6759
lajollabeer.com

This one's for Brooklyn, as she is part owner in this La Jolla gem... okay, maybe not directly, but her owners are. Love to hang out at this local gem with Brookie. The covered patio is perfect for dog-day-afternoons and the restaurant is open, clean and fresh. The food is broad and varied for a brewery; starters were the Fries 3 Ways, which made us happy and Mac'n'Cheese bowl four-ways made us delirious. The Duck Confit Salad was rich, but not too and the Grilled Chicken Sando as well as the Build a Burger options were fun and satisfying. Did we mention the craft beer selection? An assortment that rivals any I've seen - 24 on tap at last count. Be sure to check out their in-house brews as well.

FIG TREE RESTAURANT

Pacific Beach: 5119 Cass Street
Hillcrest: 416 University Avenue
Liberty Station: 2400 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 103
PB: 858.274.2233 - HC: 619.298.2010 - LS: 619.821.2044
figtreeeatery.com

Three for the price of one - okay - not really for the price of one, but the "three part" is true! Each location is unique and yet there is a lovely consistency... that of good food, great service and pet-friendliness. We have been to Hillcrest and Liberty Station for brunch and let me tell you, they do not disappoint. I started at Liberty Station with a concoction called Daddy's Pepper: Vodka, soda water, jalape�o, mint, lime, strawberries and I so lost my heart to da-da-daddy. The Braised Angus Beef Short Ribs "Bennie" was a whole lotta good (get the avocado add-on) and the Breakfast Sushi was bacon-rolled heaven - O-I-N-K!

THE PRADO AT BALBOA PARK

1549 El Prado, Balboa Park
619.557.9441
cohnrestaurants.com/theprado

Some complain that the pet area is a little restrictive, but I was perfectly happy there when I visited with adoptee, Brooklyn. Anyone who can accommodate this sweet, large harlequin Great Dane gets an A+ in my book! It's one of my favorite happy hour spots (4 to 6 p.m. daily, a late-night is also available), because the cocktails are tasty and their wine selection is quite good. The menu is limited to their lounge offerings. The Black Bean Soup is a flavorful filling choice, the El Matador Flatbread is bueno and my favorite quickie bite is the Roasted Poblano Quesadilla. Their specialty martinis are dangerously good, "hello" Acai Blueberry, the Ramon Bilbao Albari�o for a summer white and the Graffigna Malbec as a richly flavored, yet well-priced red.