Being a new dog owner, I am met with a newfound struggle: where to go out to eat when I can’t find a dog-sitter, or when I want to bring my new pup and make sure she’s not under a ton of stress. When you do a quick google search, it can be really hard to parse the reviews to figure out if the place really is dog-friendly, or is just known for being ‘friendly’ which often comes up in reviews. It can also be hard to assess if dogs are allowed inside, or if you’ll be on a patio. And with it quickly approaching the bad months in Seattle, who wants to sit on a freezing patio in the rain? Not me. So on top of figuring out if it’s dog-friendly, you’ve got to find out what the patio situation is, if it’s covered, if it’s heated etc.

I am a native Seattleite and just made the move across the water to the East-Side of Seattle, in between Bellevue and Redmond. So I’m also just starting to figure out the best restaurants and where I even like to go for a night out to dinner or drinks. Since I might not be the only one facing this dilemma, here’s a few of my findings of restaurants I have been and places I have yet to go— to be updated when I try out new places and can give a full review!

• Hollywood Tavern: I know for a fact this place is dog-friendly, as I’ve been there pre-dog and have met several cute pups there. They also have amazing food, particularly with some great options for vegetarians (the beet bean poblano burger is incredible, as are the fried pickles). It’s a great spot in the summer, with a fire pit and outdoor seating with umbrellas over the picnic tables, and the inside is a vibe, with kind of a rustic cabin meets the inside of a ship. I’m not sure how the patio changes to accommodate the less-friendly weather, but I do know that the tables are covered with umbrellas at the very least.

• 520 Bar and Grill: I haven’t been here in years but I know it has great food and drinks and generally a pretty good happy hour. A recent walk-by showed me it has a covered outdoor patio (covered in plastic) that’s heated and dog-friendly. Win-win.

• Redmond’s Bar & Grill: Though I haven’t been here, I’ve heard good things about this classic pub set in an old house in Downtown Redmond. From reviews, it’s got a dog-friendly patio with heaters and umbrellas. Looks pup-approved.

• Woodblock: This restaurant is well-known for being pet-friendly: the owner even makes homemade cat and dog treats for any porspective patrons. The patio is pet-friendly, but not covered. I’ve only been here in the summer though, so can’t be sure how they adapt to the changing seasons.

• Cactus Kirkland: I’ve been to many a Cactus restaurant in Seattle, and they all have the same good formula: great margaritas and mexican food. They even have a few solid options for vegetarian, the favorite being the butternut squash enchiladas. According to reviews, the patio in Kirkland is dog-friendly and it appears to be at least partially-covered by an overhang.