Most fine dining establishments don’t even allow dogs indoors. But a new San Francisco restaurant exclusively caters to canines. Dogue, which opened Sept. 25 in the Mission District, may be the first restaurant in the U.S. to serve an upscale tasting menu just for dogs.
About Dogue
Rahmi Massarweh, a professional chef trained in classic French cuisine, and his wife, Alejandra, own and operate Dogue. The couple’s four picky pups, who’ve eaten freshly prepared meals since they were small, inspired the venture.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the couple serves cuisine tailored to each patron’s needs and tastes, considering age, weight, activity level, food sensitivities, and allergies. Menu items are made with locally sourced, fresh, organic ingredients.
During the week, Dogue serves seasonal meat-based pastries made in its on-site “pawtisserie.” They also offer “dogguccinos.” On Sundays, Dogue becomes Bone Appetit Café, where dogs can dine on a $75, three-course tasting menu. Options include items like chicken-mushroom soup, green-lipped mussels with fermented carrots and wheatgrass, or squid tentacles and ink.
The eatery also provides take-home meals, with the same raw, locally sourced ingredients.
More Dogs Are Eating Gourmet
Dogue is part of a broader trend toward feeding pets higher-quality food. Besides top-shelf store-bought products, it’s also becoming more common to find professional chefs personally catering to canines. Daniel Tomas, an Australian gourmet chef, went viral on social media last year for making Michelin-worthy creations for his dog. And Bill Ngo of the famous Kru sushi restaurant has ventured into pet cuisine.
Dog-centered gourmet is especially popular in places like San Francisco, The San Francisco Chronicle reports, where pets outnumber children.
Raw diets are also becoming more popular. However, while most pups can benefit from eating whole foods with plenty of protein, these types of plans aren’t suitable for every pet.
If you are considering changing your pet’s diet, whether switching up kibble brands or trying paleo, talk to your veterinarian first.
