Start at the Top - Toulouse

The French love their dogs, we daresay more than Americans. In Paris, it is quite normal to see perfectly behaved dogs sitting in cafes at their owner's feet. In America, on the other hand, nervous public health officials ban dogs from restaurants for the most part presumably because the dogs might spread disease. Yet, in Paris, we cannot recall ever hearing of a person getting sick from a dog-borne illness in a restaurant.

It is no wonder then that one of the dog-friendliest restaurants in Dallas is French cafe: Toulouse. At the end of Knox Street where the Katy Trail crosses the road, Toulouse gladly accepts dogs on their large bistro-style porch. One or two dogs are almost always present during peak hours, as dog-walkers from the trail will stop in Toulouse for a nosh with the pooch in-tow.

The food is good, sometimes great. The pomme frittes are some of the best in Dallas, especially when paired with mussels for a traditional moules frittes (we prefer the uber-traditional poulette style). Other menu stand-outs are the salade Niçoise, duck confit (rich and crispy) and the seared diver scallops served with Meyer lemon risotto. Sadly, the onion soup gratinée has consistently been weak on the few times we've ordered it, either not being richly onion-y enough, not hot enough, or both. On the other hand, the "bouillabaisse" has consistently pleased us in cooler months despite often being filled with (easier to find) salmon instead of monkfish or bream.

Toulouse is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves a brunch on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9 AM. It is very crowded on weekends during the rush, especially when the weather is nice. The porch is completely weatherized, rain-or-shine, hot-or-cold.

Toulouse Cafe and Bar
3314 Knox St, Dallas

The Ground Rules

Before a dog can go out to eat at a restaurant, there are a few ground rules.

Check with the restaurant first. Although there are many restaurants that accept dogs, you need to ask the owner beforehand if the restaurant can accept dogs. Restaurants must be licensed for dog-friendly use, and not all restaurant owners bother with the license. Check first before bringing a dog.

Proper attire required. All dogs need to be leashed and controlled while at a restaurant. Leashes should be short enough to keep the dog at least 3 feet away from your nearest neighbor. Hitching leashes (like this and that) are de rigueur for restaurant dogs, as they are both easy to secure and far-less likely to come loose. If you're dog is a barker, consider a gentle muzzle as well.

Table manners required. Dogs must obey your commands to come and sit or lay down. Dogs must not bother other patrons without an invitation and permission. Dogs must not beg. Dogs must not eat from the table. That's right, do not feed your dog from the table. It is appropriate to save a morsel to give to your dog as a reward for good behavior after you have completed your meal and you've left the restaurant.

The dog's seat is under your table. Dogs should stay out of the way of the staff or patrons.

Tip accordingly. If your server goes out of his or her way to accommodate your dog and you, remember this when calculating a tip. Consideration towards your dog should boost the tip at least 5% above the standard pet-free calculation. If your server brings your pet a bowl of water on a hot day, show your generous appreciation.

No bad dogs. It should go without saying that ill-behaved dogs, dogs that display aggression or over-excitement around other dogs, dogs that beg, dogs that bark, and dogs that are threatened by strangers should never set foot in a restaurant.