Dog Days of Summer
The Dogs of Good Egg Dining Group
Visitors to the Good Egg Dining Group’s headquarters on 24th St. are greeted by a 20-foot sign made of lights that spells out the company’s ethos: Food People. But another thing is immediately clear as well. These food people are dog people.
There is almost always a diverse and eager welcoming crew that might include a Burmese mountain dog, a French bulldog, or an elderly golden retriever, depending on the day. The offices, which are visible from the front door, are each barricaded with baby gates, and more often than not a wet nose or an exploratory paw extends through the slats. If a meeting is in progress in the glass-walled boardroom, you might notice that a mastiff is quietly in attendance.
The Good Egg office is home to 15 people and 15 dogs. Animals don’t usually mix with food businesses, but this is not a food prep space; it’s the corporate office that powers some of Oklahoma City’s favorite restaurants, including Cheever’s, Tucker’s, Red Primesteak, and Barrios. Owners Keith and Heather Paul (who have two mastiffs) created an official pet policy when they moved into this building 10 years ago. Since then, things have gone to the dogs in the best way.
Taking Your Dog to Dinner
If a dog is your dinner date, your list of options gets a lot smaller. Per health department rules, dogs are not allowed inside bars or restaurants, but the word “inside” is key here. Patios are pretty much fair game under those rules.
There are only a few parameters to keep in mind when selecting a dog-friendly establishment:
• The patio needs to be a truly outdoor space, not just an open air room. So The Power House is a yes, for example, but Mexican Radio’s rainbow sunroom is a no.
• Dogs can’t go inside at all, even to access the patio. If the patio is in the back, ask if there’s a side gate where your dog can enter. If there’s not, no bueno.
• Bring your own water bowl. Some kitchens keep dog-specific dishware, but most don’t. The Health Department really frowns on canine-related cross-contamination.
• Even if the Health Department doesn’t object, an individual restaurant might not allow animals on the patio, so it’s best to call ahead or stick to the list of dog-friendly places we’ve compiled here.
And it goes without saying that good behavior is a must. Growlers, beggars, and barkers need not apply for a seat under the table.
Selected Dog Friendly Patios
Bar K, 901 SE 5th St, OKC
Solo’s Park & Pub, 13310 Pawnee Dr, OKC
The Pump Bar, 2425 N Walker Ave, OKC
Louie’s Grill & Bar, 9401 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC
Fassler Hall, 421 NW 10th St, OKC
The Other Room, 3007 Paseo, OKC
Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo, OKC
Social Capital, 517 S Hudson Ave, OKC
Cheever’s Cafe, 2409 N Hudson Ave, OKC
The Patriarch Craft Beer House & Lawn, 9 E Edwards St, Edmond
Pub W, 2452 E 2nd St, Edmond
Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, 132 W Main St, Norman
The Winston, 106 W Main St, Norman
