Fine Dining for Dogs Comes to San Francisco’s Mission District with “Dogue”

Dog and cat cafes have been on the rise, as well as food trucks catering to people and pups. Still, a new restaurant in San Francisco has taken the concept to a new level with a fine-dining establishment with canines in mind. It’s called Dogue, and it opened its doors to discerning pooches and their humans in the Bay area on September 25 in the Mission District. As an interesting side fact, Dogue translates to Mastiff in French and is an homage to the founder’s roots in classical French cuisine and their first Mastiff, Grizzly.

Bone Appetit

Rahmi Massarweh, owner and head chef of the new doggy dining establishment, says Dogue might well be the first restaurant in the U.S. to offer a tasting menu just for dogs. Massarweh, who not only prepares the food but presents it himself, stated, “What we do doesn’t generally exist. My approach is as if it were a human restaurant. It’s as if you have come into my restaurant, and the star guest is your dog.”

Haute “Dog” Cuisine

The restaurant boasts handmade Parisian pastries created in its very own “pawtisserie,” along with other French-inspired dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Your dog may never want to return to his old diet after eating there.

On weekdays Dogue serves its furry guests “dogguccinos” that begin at $4.95. On Sundays, visitors can enjoy a savory three-course meal prepared with seasonal ingredients for $75, but it’s for walk-ins only. Pet parents can also select from a number of tasty options like beef chuck steak (organic, of course!) accompanied by fermented carrots and beets to nosh on.

Only the Best for My Dog

A dog owner himself, Massarweh has four dogs of his own who benefit from his culinary wizardry. Since all of his dishes feature organic whole foodstuffs, they are likely treated to dishes such as green-lipped mussels served with fermented carrots and wheatgrass, too. Yes, that’s also on the menu. In case you’re wondering, he’s cleared his creations with his veterinarian to ensure the entrees are balanced and contain ingredients safe for canines.

Artisanal Dog Restaurants

So far, the response to the new high-end dog eatery has been positive. One customer, who noted they’d found Dogue via their Instagram feed, couldn’t be happier with his experience there. The owner of two corgis felt it was a way to take care of them while exposing them to healthy yet fun food.

Curious to learn more? You can find Dogue at doguesf.com or explore their IG page at @dogue.sf. Both feature amazing photos from Albert Facultad of AFImage, including the featured image for this piece.