Southwest Barbecue

Southwest Barbecue is a low-and-slow American-style barbecue joint at 1/79 Appin Road, the kind of place where a table of ribs and a well-behaved dog under the chair are both completely normal. It is dog-friendly by policy, not by accident, and it is a solid stop when you are passing through Wollondilly on the drive south of Sydney.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor dining area, both covered and uncovered, on a leash. Indoor seating is people-only. Staff are used to dogs at the tables and the venue is known for being genuinely welcoming rather than just tolerant. Water for dogs is often on offer at the outdoor tables but not guaranteed, so bring a bowl. Keep the lead short and your dog settled: it is a working dining area with other diners close by.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs its meats low and slow: 16-hour smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, pork ribs and southern-style fried chicken, with brisket jalapeno and cheese pies, mac and cheese, loaded fries and corn bread on the sides list. There is an all-day breakfast run and a line of hot dogs including a brisket dog stacked with the smoked meat. A halal-friendly menu is also offered with care taken to avoid cross-contamination. Hours run 6:30am to 7:30pm Tuesday to Friday, 8am to 7:30pm Saturday and 8am to 7pm Sunday, closed Monday, and it is walk-in rather than a reservations venue.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant sits right on Appin Road, the main road through town, with onsite parking and street parking nearby as backup. Weekday lunches are the easiest time to get an outdoor table without a wait.

While you're out there

Appin Park, at the corner of Appin Road and Market Street, has a council-designated dog off-leash area in its eastern corner with a water tap and bins, a two-minute drive away for a leg-stretch before or after eating. Another dog-friendly option in town is the Wildgum Cafe.

More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly restaurants guide and the Appin destination page.