High American Energy at the European-Style Lazy Dog Restaurant

(Gerry Furth-Sides, All photos courtesy of Lazy Dog Cafes).  The first time I saw Paris, the first memorable evening in fact, I watched a chic couple finish supper at (at 11 PM!) and before leaving, scoop out a basket with a puppy in it from under the table.   To complete the picture they also put on motorcycle helmets, too.

 

The fun European habit of allowing pets into a restaurant not only official at Lazy Dog Cafes. It is encouraged. And it’s hard to miss a gaggle of people waiting outside at mealtime, many with dogs on a leash.

Lazy Dog Café’s pretty, organic rock and wood free-standing building outside a shopping center also make it easy to spot. Out front is a comfortable little patio with Adirondack chairs and a custom fire-pit.

That’s one way to know that the Lazy Dog Café offers substantial food, good prices and be a lot of fun. Another is because the café was created by the same Simms’ family responsible for Mimi’s Cafés. Lazy Dog Cafes differ in their higher casual dining level, wood oven for pizzas and full bar with a long list of wines and beers (16 draft) plus many specialty drinks.

Restaurant veteran Thomas Simms, founder of Mimi’s, and his entrepreneurial son, Chris, joined forces on this venture. Chris told us that the Lazy Dog name just “sort of happened. I grew up with dogs and they are so welcoming and loving and happy to see us… and that describes the concept we were aiming for. In other words: Sit. Stay. Play. ”

And it’s impossible not to laugh at the doggies sizing up each other or knowing on a bone under the table on the outside patio. Doggie guest are offered a box of water, and a bone when available.

The doggie menu comes with complimentary bowl of water and included a grilled hamburger patty or grilled chicken breast & brown rice ($4.95). Plain brown rice is$2.50.

Dogs are not allowed inside the spiffy airy, two-story beamed interior with warm colors and ledge-stone fireplaces. Crowds range from kids and 20-somethings to empty-nesters and seniors in casual attire or a dressed dressed up group in for a special occasion like graduation this time of year.

“We tried to create a good quality family restaurant because there are not a lot of them there now,” explains Chris. “We’re a very social restaurant but you can still be comfortable coming in shorts and a t-shirt or you can dress up.

Lazy Dog Restaurants are already known for its great food and reasonable prices for favorites are their tortilla soup, wok dishes, and salads, says Huntington Beach green maven, Victoria Alberty. “We stop there all the time.”

A perennial favorite are the grilled Street Corn Wheels smothered in lime, garlic, queso blanco, tajin, cilantro

Seasonal Lemon Grilled Chicken is a lighter yet substantial dish, complete with “high” marks.  The marinated, then  grilled boneless chicken breasts served with cauliflower mash and sautéed green beans.

Another light option is Alaskan Halibut with parmesan and herb crust, warm brussels sprout + heirloom tomato salad, croutons soaked in lemon caper sauce.

 

The Burrata Heirloom Tomato Crisp is blanketed in pomodoro sauce, pesto, creamy burrata cheese, parmesan, romano, balsamic reduction, chili oil, fresh basil

 

Dessert is a dense, lush, citrusy Lemon Cake rivaling any pastry in a European bakery. The reason is all in the buttercream, almond flour vanilla cake, huckleberry, lemon curd, whipped cream

“We’re serious about food, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” says Chris.  This is defined by the build-you-own-sundae and pizzas. “Kids of all ages” love to order the banana split dessert – served, wouldn’t you know- in a dog bowl.

Lazy Dog Café
www.lazydogcafe.com