Bone Appetit: 11 Restaurants with Pup-Grub Menus

Dining out with your best friend is one of life’s little pleasures. When that best friend has four legs and a penchant for barking, going out to eat requires a bit of forethought.

Thanks to South Carolina’s warm climate, lots of establishments offer patio dining. Increasingly, they are welcoming people and their pups who want to experience the joys of a human-canine culinary adventure. This can be especially appreciated by travelers who don’t want to ditch their hound in unfamiliar hotel surroundings.

While many offer water and perhaps a doggie biscuit, there are those that go beyond the drinking bowl to make your pet feel just as important as any paying guest.

Here are 11 restaurants across the state with menus just for furry friends, followed by a brief review of doggy dining etiquette. From steak to scrambled eggs to frozen treats, these establishments aim to please a variety of pooch palates.

Dog-friendly Dining

Sneaky Beagle, Myrtle Beach
Pups are greeted on the Sneaky Beagle patio with their own menus and water bowls. For added fun, buy a Sneaky Beagle bowtie or bandana and dress your dog for dinner.

Canine cuisine: Doggy donuts, pupcakes, peanut butter coco balls, chicken jerky

Tidal Creek Brewhouse, Myrtle Beach
Four-legged friends are invited to run and play in the brewery’s K-9 Korral dog run and pose for pics at their own selfie station.

Canine cuisine: Turkey patty with rice, ice cream cup with doggie biscuit, Spent-Grain dog treats

Bruster's Real Ice Cream, All Locations 
Sniff out this ice cream shop for treats for humans and pooches to go or to enjoy on the patio.

Canine cuisine: Complimentary doggie sundae with a crumbled dog biscuit topping

Publico, Columbia
The pet-friendly patio at Publico boasts a fun vibe for humans and pets. Order a treat for your pet from the VIP—Very Important Puppy—menu. All puppy foods are all natural and nutritious.

Canine cuisine: Peanut butter bacon biscuits, turkey entree, seafood casserole, pumpkin biscuits with blueberry yogurt frosting

Blueberry Frog, Greenville
Cool treats at Blueberry Frog come in the form of a wide variety of house-made frozen yogurt with fresh fruit and tons of toppings along with frozen cakes for pups.

Canine cuisine: Froyo pup cups and Snack Pack Paws (paw-shaped dog cookies)

Nose Dive, Greenville
This Main Street gastropub shows a lot of love for customers with furry friends by offering a pup menu for patio diners. 

Canine cuisine: Pup patties, bacon, scrambled eggs

Charleston Sports Pub
Clemson, Greenville, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, Goose Creek, Summerville
All locations of Charleston Sports Pub offer tasty grub and cold beverages to a sports-loving crowd.

Canine cuisine: Bacon, shredded chicken, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, angus beef burger

The Cottage, Bluffton
This cozy cottage serves baked goods, lunches and more with quaint, pet-friendly porch and patio dining.

Canine cuisine: Mojo Chow (chicken, bacon, egg); Daddy Dallas (bacon, cheese, chicken); Tanka’s Tummy (chicken and cheese); Skyler’s Licker (peanut butter, apple, yogurt)

Southern Barrel Brewery, Bluffton
This tavern and beer garden serves a seasonal menu and craft beer.

Canine cuisine: Buddy & Brady’s Burger, chicken nuggets, Dogsicles, Mosey’s Meat Munchies with shrimp, chicken, brisket and bacon

Watusi Cafe, Hilton Head Island
Come to this gourmet coffee bar for a healthy menu with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. Staunch proponents of the puppy veg-to-bowl movement.

Canine cuisine: Grain-free and vegetable dog meals featuring high quality protein; scrambled eggs, egg whites, white meat chicken; doggie chews

Hotel Indigo, Mount Pleasant
You don't have to check in to check out this pet-friendly boutique hotel catering to humans and their pets. Poolside Yappy Hour is held Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. with proceeds benefiting Charleston Animal Society.

Canine cuisine: Brown rice bowl, grilled burger, grilled chicken, frosted doggie biscuits

Before you leash up, remember these rules of etiquette for patio dining with your dog:

1. Do your homework. Not every patio welcomes pets. Inquire about pet policies before you show up.
2. Take a good, long walk prior to taking a table so your pet can expend energy and have potty time before settling down for a meal and socializing.
3. Bring a toy or chewy bone in case a distraction is needed.
4. Keep your dog on a leash unless the establishment offers a run or fenced-in area for pets. And keep that leash secured to your person or chair. Avoid long leashes that enable your pet to wander to other tables.
5. Always ask permission of other dog owners before allowing your dog to socialize with their pets.
6. Be mindful of your fellow diners. Barking, sniffing and begging might seem cute to some folks, but annoying to others. If necessary, leave the patio and take your pet for a quick, calming walk.
7. Always arrive with plenty of poop bags—and use them. Every. Single. Time. No exceptions.
8. Scout out grassy areas appropriate for potty breaks. Make sure they are far enough removed from the patio to protect fellow diners from unpleasant sights and smells.
9. Keep pets off the table to maintain a clean eating surface for yourself and the diners who come after you.
10. Ease into it. If your pooch is new to the patio dining social scene, practice first with a few brief visits during non-peak times.