Trends

Keeping the foodservice equipment marketplace up to date with the latest menu and concept trends.

Advertisement

Trend: Dog-Friendly Sites

As the pet industry explodes across the country and dog owners pamper their pooches, restaurateurs, hoteliers and more respond by offering dog-friendly patios, complete with water bowls, treats and even pet-focused menus.

Mutts Dog

Dog-Friendly E&S

In accordance with health department regulations, dogs must remain outside in venues that serve food, although some bars that do not serve food allow dogs inside. Patio dining serviceware and breakable considerations drive the E&S for this category.

  • Stainless-steel water bowls
  • Closed-lid containers for treats
  • Sturdy tables and chairs
  • Durable glassware or eco-friendly, biodegradable plasticware
  • Baskets and paper liners for sandwiches

Dog-Friendly Chains

  • Applebee’s Some locations go so far as to host periodic Yappy Hours on the patio
  • Shake Shack Every location offers a dog-friendly menu
  • Starbucks Dog owners commonly request a Puppuccino, a little cup of whipped cream, for their pets

Source: k9ofmine.com

Concept Close-up: MUTTS Canine Cantina

The first of its kind, the growing multiunit concept MUTTS Canine Cantina in Dallas features not only a dog-friendly, open-air restaurant and (on-leash) patio, but also an on-site, members-only dog park where owners can grab a beer from the side window while watching their pets play.

Created in 2013 by Kyle Noonan and Joshua Sepkowitz, MUTTS has been on a more aggressive growth plan since 2017 when Michelle Boggs came on board as managing partner. This growing pet entertainment brand recently partnered with Fransmart, a franchise development company that has worked with Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill, to expand within Texas. The original two locations are in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The expansion plan includes five additional locations over the next three years.

The assemble-and-ship design of the restaurant makes it easier on franchisees to open up shop. Built in Georgia, the prefab units ship with standard kitchen line equipment. “Even the paper towel dispensers are already hooked on the wall,” Boggs says. Patio furniture — picnic tables — are also prespecified. In designing this new prototype, the MUTTS team changed the direction of the restaurant counter and window to face the street in order to encourage more general street traffic.

A dog-specific menu features the Doggie Dog — all-beef frankfurter bites — and Pupcicles — bone broth and peanut butter popsicles. Though the pupsicles are currently made off-site, Boggs says the team is considering ways to make them on-site.

M FOOD JessicaBiel 4112 2Photo by Jessica Biel

The restaurant uses no glass, instead opting to serve beverages in eco-friendly plastic cups and sandwiches in compostable paper and boats. “We don’t want any broken glass when there are dogs around,” Boggs says.