Found Treasure: Abalonetti and Nine Other Great Dog-Friendly Restaurants

July 1, 2022 – When I learned that Poppy, the rescue puppy with the atmospheric eyes—whose humans describe her as part husky, part German shepherd, part raccoon and all heart—hadn’t been apart from them for more than a few minutes, it was time to rearrange lunch priorities. 

Our plan to hit Sandbar & Grill, a Found Treasure among Found Treasures, would be a non-starter, given no outdoor seating. 

We’d need some place with a patio and a dog-friendly disposition. 

Since we were walking Poppy and her new pal Atticus across Del Monte Beach toward Sandbar’s Wharf II, the choice materialized quickly. 

Perhaps my favorite Fisherman’s Wharf destination, Abalonetti Bar & Grill, does superb calamari that it cleans in house, a stunningly uncommon practice. (I know it sounds crazy, but most ship it to China and back because that’s actually cheaper.) Their specialties include calamari Siciliano, calamari over eggplant (the Marty Special), calamari Buffalo and calamari filets. Most importantly, on this tour of doggie duty, Abalonetti loves dogs and dogs love Abalonetti. 

There are reasons for that. The outdoor seating is wind-screened and often sun-splashed. Bowls of water are part of the process. Doggos get their own menu in short but satisfying format: char-grilled diced hamburger or roasted (and chopped) chicken, served in a souvenir frisbee for $4.95. 

Local novelty act George and His Birds had even parked his bike rig right in front, allowing more animal entertainment.

Another reason there’s an attentiveness to dogs at Abalonetti is…Marci Bracco. 

She works with dozens of restaurants across the region and the county, and something happens when she does: They develop a dog program.

Bracco is many things, among them thoughtful, funny, hard-working and super-connected in the Monterey Bay Area and beyond through her work as a PR consultant and serial volunteer. 

More than any of that, she’s all about her four-legged fam or, as she calls them, the #bulldogparkinglot, to the point her chef husband Brandon Miller made peace with his lost parking spot long ago.

Any time I meet a French bulldog and its human wants to talk Frenchie, I feel compelled to tell her story: Bracco got her first few from a breeder, teaching them to eat out with her (at the table) and to sing the National Anthem (which sounds similar to “Jingle Bells,” but Geno gave both full pipes). 

When her breeder told Bracco she couldn’t bring another one home because only a professional could handle that amount of emotionally and intellectually needy Frenchies, Bracco took exception. At this point, I am a professional! she thought. 

She also didn’t give up. It so happens Bracco is tight with Animal Friends Rescue Projects and other aid networks, so she started adopting rescue Frenchies on her own.

At one point she rescued a white one whose ears had been partially eaten by rats after her human passed away and the dog was so starved it lacked the energy to ward off the rodents. 

The parking lot included 11 French bulldogs at its peak.

Some passed along the way—recently I missed a New Orleans-style parade through the closed streets of Salinas to celebrate the lives of some of the original crew, including Geno the singer, Lulu the angel and Hugo (aka Huge-o) the one whose size approximated a small iceberg. (In fact, at Abalonetti Geno and Hugo hosted a Halloween dog costume contest for several years.)

But I wouldn’t miss a chance to message Bracco for her thoughts on her top dog spots of the moment. 

She emailed me back immediately with a dissertation featuring both why the dogs love her choices and why she does too.

Those thoughts appear below (note #TheKids and #NewKids are code for the dogs). Meanwhile, back at Abalonetti, Poppy went bonkers on the chicken and Atticus fell hard for his burger. 

Twisted Roots Tasting Room • Carmel Valley

#TheKids reasons: 

• Newly renovated dog-friendly patio. 
• The staff always has treats and makes you feel like a VID (Very Important Dog).
• They show our mugs on Insta and treat us like royalty. (Us #NewKids are all about Insta.)

Mom’s reasons:

• The patio makes you feel like you’re in Europe.
• They just added charcuterie and a cheese board that is yum.
• The summer music series is super fun.
• And, of course, the pink bubbles [in the Brut Rosé] rock.

Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa • Monterey

#TheKids reasons:

• New dog suites that open onto a newly redone dog play area that enjoys a lawn, amazing views, fire pits, great dog treats and toys! There’s even a doggie jungle gym.
• The special suites are totally geared for us kids with toys, beds, bowls, water and there’s a special pet parking zone (with wider slots and identifying paw prints). It is the best STAYCATION EVER.

Mom’s reasons

• Newly remodeled hotel and its restaurant-adjacent patio are awesome.
• The food at SeaRoot goes beyond expectations—really great, locally sourced ingredients, forward thinking menu—not what you expect from a hotel menu.
• The craft cocktails from the Hearth bar are OMG YUM.
• They donate all pet fees to Max’s Helping Paws Foundation, one of my favorite nonprofits. In 2021 they donated more than $10,000—yes, $10,000, in one year—to Max’s.

The Secret Garden at Haute Enchilada • Moss Landing

#TheKids reasons

• The dog menu rocks and sales from it benefit local nonprofits. 
• LOTS of choices on the menu.
• Owner operator Kim Solano treats you like a VID, kisses on you, loves you and massages your back. Arfff arfff.
• There is a park-like setting that you can roam around in—and an owl box!
• There are three or four VRBOs on the property and mom rents one for us sometimes so we get to eat great food in the secret garden, hang out in the park and watch the owl box and spend the night in a pet-friendly space. We love it there.

Mom’s reasons

• The VRBOs are so fun to stay in and pet friendly.
• You can stroll all around The Haute Enchilada property and walk around Moss Landing—it feels like you are a million miles away but you are only 20 minutes from home.
• The Haute’s new secret garden is brilliantly designed with special plants from Kim’s mom’s house and statues and the food is truly brilliant. They also have a great wine list.

Mezzaluna Pasteria and Mozzarella Bar • Pacific Grove

#TheKids reasons

• Chef Soerke Peters always makes us a special treat upon request. (He will make any pet a special treat if you ask. He LOVES animals).
• The outdoor seating is fun to watch the world drive and stroll by.
• And MOM loves it there, so she is EXTRA happy when we are there.

Mom’s Reasons

• The food, the food, the food. The cocktails, the cocktails, the cocktails. I mean really!!!!!!!! Housemade mozzarella, housemade pasta, homemade gelato and a blood orange gin and tonic. My idea of HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• And the chef cooks for my dogs and treats EVERYONE like family. If I could, I would MOVE IN!

Bonus #1: A nod to the #OG, the last of the #BulldogParkingLot

Bracco adds this: “I asked Rooney, the lone surviving member of the original bulldog pack, what his favorite thing in life is at 16 years old now—almost 17?—now blind and most days struggling with mobility. This is what he told me he loves most and me too! Our very special day once a month.”

The first Sunday of each month it’s “just Rooney and mom and memories” and this routine:

• Pick up a bottle of wine from Mezzaluna. (Not many people know they have a wine retail store and locals’ program. The wine is cheaper than most grocery stores and 15% off on full cases.)
• Head to Café Carmel for a slice of asparagus and ham quiche.
• Stop at The Cheese Shop for some fun French cheeses.
• Head to Lafayette Bakery and get a nice baguette for mom and a mini salumi finger sandwich for Rooney. (“When you are his age, you can eat anything,” Bracco says.)
• Pack up the picnic at home. Put Rooney in a special pet backpack and point toward Creekside Trail in Fort Ord. Head off to trail 41, which leads to the very top of the Creekside Trail looking over Highway 68 and Toro Park and toward the ocean. Sit on our favorite bench (there is only one), remember the #OGs that passed, and take in life. Rooney loves sitting and eating his sandwich (and sipping a little water) while we talk and remember all the kids that are no longer with us. We toast to him—and them—each month. 

Bonus #2: Other dog-friendly places we still love to visit

• Alvarado Street Brewery
• La Balena (back patio)
• Tarpy’s Roadhouse