Route 66 Diner

Route 66 Diner is a fifties-themed retro diner at 8A Williams Street in the Whyalla Norrie retail precinct, done properly: Elvis memorabilia, mannequins, classic tunes and a menu of honest diner food. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating out front, which makes it an easy breakfast or burger stop with the dog on the footpath.

The dog setup

The deal is outdoor only, so the indoor dining room stays people-only and your dog settles beside the footpath tables. Staff will usually bring out a water bowl on request, though carrying your own is the safer bet in Eyre Peninsula heat. Because the tables sit right on the street, keep the lead short and your dog tucked in while trays of chips go past.

Worth knowing

The menu covers a Big Breakfast with the works, breaky rolls, pancakes with ice cream, classic burgers and heavier diner plates like the Yiros Mess, shredded meat and cheese over a tray of chips with garlic sauce. Thickshakes and coffee round it out. Hours run Monday to Friday 8:30am to 8pm and weekends 9am to 4pm, so unlike most cafes this one works for a dog-friendly dinner as well as breakfast. Street parking sits right along Williams Street, close to the door.

Close by with the dogs

Whyalla Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away on McLennan Avenue, with separate small-dog areas and agility gear; note the council closes it for maintenance on the third Wednesday morning of each month. The Whyalla foreshore allows off-lead beach time before 8am and after 6pm in winter under council rules, if you want sand before the pancakes. For a second coffee option in town, Blended Cafe and Eyre Pantry are both dog-friendly stops.

More options are in the South Australia dog friendly cafes guide and the Whyalla Norrie destination page.

Pepsi: order the thickshake, take the footpath table, and let the fifties soundtrack do the rest. It is the most cheerful outdoor dinner table in Whyalla.