Avila's El Ranchito: A taste of Old Mexico in San Clemente for you and your pooch

 

The life-size ceramic golden lab at the front door, along with a doggie water bowl, announces that this busy Mexican eatery is pet-friendly. They allow dogs to dine with you on an outdoor patio on the north side of the restaurant. Avila’s is moderately priced and justifiably popular. You’ll enjoy the food, prompt service and moderate prices.

For you: This tasty restaurant boasts menu items like Quesadilla Eggcelente, Chingolingas, and an opportunity to create your own burrito. For a light meal, we like Mama Avila’s Soup, a spicy chicken breast and rice soup that really hits the spot.

For the pooch: Avila’s has a pet menu (but you need to ask for it, as they don’t always bring it to the table). Your dog can enjoy either a large or small Chicken or Steak Bowl, which offers strips of grilled chicken breast or steak in a bowl with Mexican rice.

Avila’s El Ranchito • 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 • (949) 498-5000

 

Dog Friendly Sierra Madre

The Only Place in Town:

A Sierra Madre stalwart

As evidenced by its name, The Only Place in Town used to be the town’s only restaurant way back when. It’s been joined by numerous other great restaurants since then, but has outlived much of its competition, and is very possibly the most popular place in town. Fortunately for us dog lovers, The Only Place in Town (and nearly every other eatery in Sierra Madre) is very pet-friendly. On any given day of the week, their front patio is filled with people and a number of dogs.

For you: This restaurant has a huge menu ranging from pancakes in the morning to a variety of burgers at lunch, and salmon fillets for dinner. They even have homemade ice cream. For brunch, we like Eggs Emily, two poached eggs in potato cups with chopped bacon, sliced avocado and Hollandaise sauce.

For the pooch: No doggie menu here, but water bowls are plentiful.

The Only Place in Town • 110 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA • (626) 355-3502

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Star Cafe

Star Café:

Great Italian food in pet-friendly Montrose

Montrose is a real breath of fresh air, and seems like a town where time has stood still. Many of the shops and restaurants have been in existence for many years and turnover is low. Many of the restaurants have pet-friendly sidewalk dining, most of which faces Honolulu Avenue, Montrose’s quaint main street. The Star Café (and neighboring Black Cow restaurant, which are owned by the same company) are very popular, moderately priced, and welcome your dog in their sidewalk dining areas.

For you: Star Café is best known for its pizza and pasta (their pesto shrimp & andoulli sausage fettuccine looks especially dee-lish), although they have great salads as well. We like the Italian-Style Chopped Salad, which is chock-full of goodies like salami, garbanzo beans, turkey, Roma tomatoes, and mozzarella and provolone cheeses.

For the pooch: Upon request, the cook can make a side of grilled chicken for your dog for a very reasonable price.

Star Café • 2217 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020 • (818) 957-7827

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