NE Minneapolis Restaurant Creates 'Canine Cuisine' Menu

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities restaurant is catering to a new kind of clientele.

Stanley's Northeast Bar Room in Minneapolis is debuting its canine cuisine. Now, both dog and owner can sit down to a meal together on the patio.

Brunch at Stanley's has the typical breakfast fare. Customers Craig Ellestad and Julie Horak may have ordered pancakes and French toast, but they were much more interested in the restaurant's newest menu.

"It's homemade turkey meat loaf loaded with veggies, oats and flax," customer Julie Horak said.

The menu features appetizers, entrees and desserts. But it's not cooked for Craig and Julie; it's for their four-legged friends, Ruby and Goldie.

Stanley's is among the growing number of restaurants and businesses taking a pet-friendly approach. Dogs on patios are quickly becoming a normal part of outdoor business.

"There's a large contingent of people out there who have dogs and want to bring them with them," Ellestad said.

For Stanley's manager Kelli Holloway, canine cuisine seemed like the natural next step after opening up the patio to dogs.

"They're here, they need to eat," Holloway said.

The menu caters to a pup's palette with doggie favorites like pig ears and bone marrow.

But there are also options for the adventurous eater. Entrees include a turkey "mutt" loaf and a "pooched" egg brunch bowl.

"My dog isn't used to that kind of food at home, but I guess when we come out, just like, you know, when you go out to eat, you get something a little nicer than you get at home," Ellestad said.

Each dish is made with organic, wholesome ingredients of lean meats, organic rice and veggies.

"If we all eat this, we'd be so healthy (laughs)," Holloway said.

The menu also features a "Yappy Hour" to go along with the traditional happy hour deals.

Holloway says restaurants don't have to go through any special licensing for pet patios. They just have to follow state health guidelines.