I treated my dog to a $75 tasting menu at a new SF restaurant for canines. She loved it, and it was so fun watching her eat from the table.

• Kristen Hawley took her 7-year-old canine, Heidi, to Dogue, a brand new San Francisco retail retailer for canine.
• On Sundays, Dogue opens its Bone Appétit Cafe, which has a $75 tasting menu and shock treats.
• Hawley spent $100 on the cafe and loved it, however says it's a splurge for particular events solely.

Dogue (rhymes with "vogue") is a brand new storefront, cafe, and pastry store for canine and their house owners in San Francisco's Mission District.

Dogue opened in September 2022 on a stretch of Valencia Avenue, a closely trafficked space positioned in one of many sunniest components of the town.

Dogue has supplied recent meals to canines on-line since 2015. After studying in regards to the new brick-and-mortar spot, I made a decision to take my 20-pound, mini Aussie, Heidi, and my 5-year-old daughter to test it out.

Dogue has gotten numerous consideration as a restaurant for canine, however most days it's a retailer promoting recent pet food, customized canine meal plans, and decadent canine treats.

It was began by Rahmi Massarweh, a skilled chef who informed me he "went down a rabbit gap" studying about animal diet in an effort to increase his personal canine's life.

Dogue sells refrigerated uncooked pet food. Massive 12-ounce-packages embody wild venison for $14.50; pastured hen for $24; and grass-fed beef for $34.

Dogue sells extra canine dietary supplements for intestine, coat, and pores and skin, with costs starting from $9.95 to $14.95. Its web site incorporates info on the best way to transition a canine to a raw-food food regimen.

The dog-centric vibe at Dogue matches the town. It even sells fashionable canine equipment like bowls, leashes, and collars — excellent for San Franciscans, who declare there are extra canine than kids dwelling right here.

Supply: SanFrancisco Journal

In 2016, the town had between 5,000 and 35,000 extra canine than children underneath 18. Dogue caters to this crowd by promoting merchandise in addition to dried treats.

Supply: KQED

It's additionally change into a spot for canine house owners to have a good time birthdays or different particular events. Dogue affords canine and their house owners a seated meal at its Bone Appétit Cafe, on Sundays solely.

Company — four-legged and human — are inspired to get comfy on the furnishings. There are 4 small tables for eating, every with loads of house to stop any undesirable canine jealousy.

Once I arrived, round 11 a.m., all tables had been occupied. We noticed a small Frenchie, a big mastiff, a contented goldendoodle, and two excited corgis.

After a 40-minute wait, our desk, set with three chairs close to the door, grew to become obtainable. The Bone Appétit Cafe is walk-in solely. I beloved the detailed rugs.

Even the lighting was elegant! Chandeliers cling from the ceiling to create a vibe that's extra "full-service restaurant" than "pet food."

We had been offered with the menu in a leather-based portfolio, similar to a typical restaurant. On this Sunday, the rotating menu contained three choices, every obtainable à la carte or as a part of the complete tasting menu.

My daughter learn Heidi the choices, however we had been already set on making an attempt the $75 tasting. After we had been seated, employees waited for a couple of minutes earlier than checking our resolution.

There have been additionally some complimentary human treats included within the expertise. We had been supplied our alternative of glowing water, orange juice, or mimosas served in carafes and tiny crystal goblets.

The primary course arrived shortly: Hen and Chaga Mushroom Soup made with entire pasture-bird hen and simmered with apple-cider vinegar for eight hours. This dish is individually priced at $27.

Dogue proprietor, chef Massarweh, poured the broth for Heidi tableside — simply as a server at a restaurant would possibly do for a human patron. It's served lukewarm so keen canine don't burn their mouths.

At first, Heidi appeared confused about consuming the meals off of the desk. She began by hesitantly licking the broth, me for permission each few licks, however clearly excited.

Her trepidation lasted solely seconds as she realized it was all for her. She completed the broth and shortly ate three items of cooked hen breast in a single chunk every. It took her about 90 seconds to complete the dish.

By now, Heidi understood that this expertise was actually for her. She stood quietly on her chair anticipating what would possibly come subsequent. Different canine within the house behaved equally.

The tasting menu additionally comes with some off-menu surprises, very similar to a human tasting menu. Heidi loved this chunk of natural pumpkin served by Massarweh.

The second course arrived shortly after the pumpkin: Hen Pores and skin Waffle and Charcoal Flan. If bought alone, it prices $29.

Heidi stood up on two legs to snag the small waffle, constituted of hen pores and skin and floor cassava. She ate it in a single chunk, earlier than I might {photograph} it and earlier than Massarweh might put it down on the desk.

Heidi paused after licking the gelatinous flan, briefly confused. She ate the garnish first, however pushed by to complete your complete dish.

Making good on the promise to be the sort of place canine house owners love, Massarweh served my daughter and I a tackle Caprese salad with burrata and basil.

Massarweh labored intently with California's Division of Meals and Agriculture to get his enterprise state-inspected and licensed. He stated that human eating places want solely two certificates to open, however Dogue wanted seven.

Heidi was decidedly much less well-behaved as Massarweh displayed the ultimate course. She jumped onto the desk to get nearer, and possibly would have jumped onto this plate if she might've. This habits is completely allowed!

Massarweh holds a plate of grass-fed steak tartare constituted of filet mignon, quail egg, and broccoli sprouts. Bought à la carte, it prices $32.

The steak tartare seemed almost similar to a restaurant dish for people. Massarweh stated he's tried almost the whole lot on the menu and the tartare is sweet, however lacks all seasoning human diners anticipate.

This dish contained the one ingredient that Heidi didn't recognize — sprouts. She appeared annoyed as they received caught in her tooth.

Sprouts eliminated, she regained curiosity within the beef, however appeared to be getting full. Massarweh serves the identical parts to each canine who visits the cafe, however Dogue's customized meal plans embody serving sizes adjusted to a particular canine's caloric wants.

Then got here an off-menu dessert constituted of uncooked antelope coronary heart. It's one of many few dishes Masserweh hasn't tried. (He tastes for stability earlier than including the guts.)

Massarweh stated apart from particular days, like birthdays, many individuals carry aged animals to take pleasure in a once-in-a-lifetime, extra-special meal. (Heidi is 7.)

Our complete, after tip, got here to $100. "If components of this high quality had been being served to people, they might be like 4 instances the value," Massarweh stated.

My canine, and others within the house, had been remarkably calm all through your complete meal. Most house owners stored their canine leashed, however each animal appeared too engaged with the expertise to stray.

Massarweh stated the entire level of Dogue is to rethink the way in which we feed animals. "I feel the thought of presenting and plating this meals is my automobile for shining a lightweight on this," he stated.

Dogue additionally affords a wide range of lovely treats crafted to seem like pastries ($15 every), however constituted of components like hen and antelope. The case was full once we arrived and almost empty once we left.

No element was forgotten! The canine theme continues even inside Dogue's lavatory, which is adorned with canine decals and humorous signage.

We loved our go to to Dogue. Heidi left with a full abdomen, however had regular power on our stroll residence. We didn't discover any adjustments to her digestion or lavatory habits, both.

I'd save this splurge for a particular occasion, however I'd return to Dogue, possibly subsequent time with a gaggle!

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