Bam Bam Italian

Bam Bam Italian is a lively wood-fired Italian restaurant on the Belgrave-Gembrook Road in Avonsleigh, in the Dandenong Ranges. It runs a genuinely dog-friendly front verandah, so you can bring the dog along for pizza and pasta rather than choosing between the two.

The dog setup. Dogs are welcome on the covered front verandah, which has heating for cooler evenings and enough space between tables that dogs are not underfoot. Water bowls are provided. Booking ahead is worth doing if you want a table in the dog-friendly section, especially on weekends.

Good to know. The kitchen is known for wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta and a solid vegan and gluten-free selection, which is handy if the group has mixed diets. There is also a fenced, turfed playground for kids, so it works well as a family stop as much as a dog stop.

Getting there and parking. It is about two minutes drive from Emerald, with free on-site parking.

Nearby with the dogs. Emerald Lake Park is a five-minute drive away with walking tracks and picnic areas, and the Cockatoo Creek walking tracks are close by for a short bushwalk before or after lunch. Emerald town centre also has a few footpath-friendly cafes and shops within an easy walk.

Go early evening midweek if you want the verandah to yourself, or book ahead for weekend lunch when it fills fast.

Sources

• Dog Friendly - Bam Bam Italian · bambamitalian.com.au
• Bam Bam Italian Facilities · bambamitalian.com.au
• Bam Bam Italian, Food and Wine, Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia · visitvictoria.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.