WingMill

WingMill does one thing and does it loudly: wings, in a run of sauces that locals argue about, on Young Street in Neutral Bay. It is not a breakfast-and-laptop cafe, it is a lunch-and-dinner room with a serious following, and the umbrella-covered outdoor section has become the spot where dog owners settle in with a basket of wings.

Dogs are welcome in the al fresco outdoor area only, per the dog-friendly listing, which describes the outdoor section under the large umbrellas as the dog-friendly zone. That suits the food: wings and poutine are messier indoors than out, and the covered tables keep the setup workable in most weather. Bring your dog settled under the table, keep water up to them, and note that dogs are not permitted in the indoor dining room.

Worth knowing

The lemon pepper and blue cheese sauce combinations get the loudest repeat mentions, alongside a poutine that turns the meal into an event. Doors open from midday, Monday is closed, and service runs into the evening most nights, which makes WingMill one of the few dog-friendly options on the lower north shore for a dinner hour rather than a brunch. Fried chicken and the loaded sides round out the menu, and the room fills fast on weekend evenings, so arriving before the dinner rush keeps the outdoor section calm enough for a dog.

Young Street sits a few minutes off the Military Road strip, with street parking around and the Waverton side of the harbour within walking distance for a pre-dinner leg stretch. If you are building an afternoon around the suburb, the Waverton Park to Balls Head Reserve loop is the standout dog walk nearby, and Little Bear Pantry covers the coffee-and-cake window WingMill does not open for. More of the suburb is listed under Neutral Bay.