Many people identify their four-legged friends as members of their family—a sentiment some New York City restaurants default to.
Instead of a kids menu, La Contenta Oeste in Lower Manhattan has a dog menu. The dishes use human-grade ingredients and are specially prepared for the four-legged clientele who partake in al fresco dining.
Chef Luis Arce Mota, the owner, makes a point of leaving out unhealthy or potentially dangerous items for dogs, including garlic, onion, avocado, and salt.
Another company that serves dogs and their owners is Boris & Horton, which started in the East Village and just opened its second location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Many of their clients are looking for ways to spend time with the pets they’ve adopted during the pandemic, said Logan Mikhaly, co-owner of The Dog House & Cafe.
“In general, the general trend in dog ownership is that people want to spoil their pets,” Mekhli said at the Williamsburg Cafe.
Overall, the American Pet Products Association estimates that approximately $144 billion will be spent on pets this year, but it is difficult to estimate how much pet owners are spending.
“There are so many things you can spend money on, and it’s really hard for us to estimate the cost of ownership,” said Mallory Curley of Muddy Paws Rescue, a pet adoption service in New York City. “The sky is the limit when it comes to spending money.”
Meikhly said she tries to keep items in stock that correspond to a variety of price points, but the average bill at Boris & Horton comes out to nearly double what someone would spend at an average coffee shop in the area. She attributes this to sponsors buying gifts and toys for their pets during their visits.
“One of the reasons I think this makes sense as a business is because there are so many different types of sources of income,” Mekhli said.
Boris & Horton and La Contenta Oeste say they seriously follow the requirements set by the New York City Health Department regarding dining with dogs. This includes ensuring that dogs are not in areas where food and drinks are prepared or served.
Since waiters are not allowed to serve dogs meals, at La Contenta Oeste the dishes are served on disposable plates to the owners, who then feed their pets.
To allow dogs to hang out off leash while their owners sip coffee, Boris & Horton has been split into two separate storefronts. Each side has its address and staff and connects to a set of double doors.
While some pets love them, dog-friendly establishments aren’t for everyone.
Curley said it’s important to pay attention to how your dog feels when he’s in a new environment.
“Our dogs can’t tell us back that they’re uncomfortable with their words, but they certainly can with their body language,” she said.
If a pet is hiding behind someone’s legs or their ears are pushed back, these may be signs that it’s time to go.
[ad_2]
