- Photos:
-
Dog-friendly rating: 4 bones (out of 4) Scale: 1 = not accommodating to 4 = bends over backward for doggie diners
Bella and Jay planned to start Saturday afternoon with some stretching outdoors, but spotty rain showers didn’t allow for doggie yoga—also known as doga—on the rooftop of the Lakeshore Athletic Club as planned. Instead, Bella strutted into the club showing off her stylin’ Metromix T-shirt. The pair set up on a mat for a 45-minute morning workout, then it was off to meet the rest of the Patio Hounds at O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe on the South bank of the
Patio scene: Nothing screams “seasonal setup” like plastic tableware and a port-a-potty. But beautiful views of the city and river abound at this outdoor dining area, which is also a dog’s dream—tables are adequately spaced so there’s no fear of tangled leashes. Bella took in the boats floating by and sniffed at the colorful flower boxes. The human Hounds, on the other hand, wished we had a real toilet and chilled glasses to keep our tasty beverages cold.
Food & drink: Simply put, our food was A-OK. Cereescia and Jay dined on steak sandwiches ($13) that looked delish, but the fries took the prize by far. Vonetta stuck by her “You can’t go wrong with chicken” mantra and ordered the Cajun chicken sandwich ($10). Laurie tried the chicken pasta salad ($12). It was filled with fresh fruit and pecans, but where was the meat?
Drinks drew mixed reviews. Cereescia’s bloody mary ($9) was so stiff it could’ve knocked her over, but Vonetta wasn’t wowed by her Golden Margarita ($9). Jay and Laurie stuck to beer: Amstel Light ($5.95) and Corona Light ($6.25). Prices were a little steep, but hey, you’re paying for the view. (You’re clearly not paying to eat off of bone China. What’s with the plastic plates and cups?)
Service: Bella and Jay really worked up an appetite, and our dog with a dark coat was happy to see a huge bowl of water—with ice—waiting for her on what turned out to be a hot, sunny day once the showers subsided. Bella sat in the shade of a huge plant and soaked up amazing views of the city.
Our server was great, showing our girl Bella plenty of attention while also keeping our drinks full. We were surprised we didn’t see any other dogs, since the cafe is so canine-friendly. With plenty of room for people and their pets, O’Brien’s is perfect for doggie diners.
Crowd: The view here is a “must see” in any
Bottom line: Dining with your pooch at O’Brien’s is a breeze. Just keep in mind that the concrete jungle doesn’t allow for the most discrete bathroom breaks for Bowser.
Doggie Yoga at Lakeshore Athletic Club
Next class:
Dog-friendly rating: 3 bones (out of 4) Scale: 1 = not accommodating to 4 = bends over backward for doggie diners
I was skeptical about doggie yoga at first—what business does a 70-pound lab have getting stretched and pulled in 1,000 different directions? Turns out it was pretty cool. Most of my fellow four-legged friends were friendly, except a couple of little brats. But I didn’t let them faze me—I was there to relax.
Frankly, I think Jay got most of the yoga action. I had to sit there patiently a lot, but I did get to tangle with a doggie dude my size. Oh—and if Jay puts me on another one of those inflatable stability balls, I’m running away.
Bottom line: Looking for a low-key alternative to your usual game of fetch? This is a great way to work out with your owner.
—Bella, Jay Carlile's black Lab
>> Click here to read more about the Patio Hounds and their pooches.
[ The Patio Hounds, Laurie Baker, Jay Carlile, Vonetta Logan and Cereescia Sandoval, were selected by Metromix producers through an application and interview process. ]
metromix@tribune.com
Add a comment