Frank & Chitch

Frank & Chitch is the corner cafe at 2-4 Barnes Avenue in Earlwood that local dogs know by name. It is literally named after a regular's British bulldog, and that heritage shows: the front seating is set up for dogs, staff bring water on request, and the kitchen keeps a dedicated treats menu for canine customers, complete with custom pupcakes for birthdays.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables out front, roughly half a dozen in a bright, open corner spot. Keep your dog leashed and settled beside the chair; the footpath traffic gives a people-watching dog plenty to do while the food arrives. On a hot morning the corner catches sun early, so pick your table accordingly.

Worth knowing

The room gets properly busy, because the food earns it: chilli scrambled eggs, a bacon and egg roll, French toast and an acai bowl all have followings, and rotating fortnightly specials keep regulars guessing. The fried chicken burger is a house signature. Coffee is solid specialty-grade. Hours run 6:30am to 3pm weekdays and 7am to 3pm weekends, with the kitchen winding up around 2:30pm, so late breakfast is a weekday game.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking is generally findable in the residential streets around Barnes Avenue, and the cafe sits within walking distance of the Cooks River cycleway for a car-free arrival.

Close by with the dogs

For an off-lead run before breakfast, Hughes Park is close by, and Shepherd Parade Reserve in Bardwell Valley is a short drive. If you are cafe-hopping, Two Chaps over in Marrickville is another dog-friendly favourite.

More options are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Earlwood destination page.

Max: order the dog a biscuit from the treats menu and a chilli scramble for yourself, then walk it off around the Cooks River path.