Mrs Pasta

Mrs Pasta is an Italian trattoria on Darling Street in the heart of Balmain, and its homemade gnocchi is the dish that keeps the bookings coming. The dining room runs lunch Tuesday to Saturday, plus a Tuesday dinner service, and the courtyard out the back is the part dog owners care about: the venue invites diners to bring dogs along to that outdoor space, per its Instagram and local directory listings. No ratings quoted here, just a steady local following.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the rear courtyard, according to the venue's own socials and a local directory listing, which is a step firmer than a passive outdoor-table arrangement. The courtyard is out the back, away from Darling Street foot traffic, so it suits dogs that get wound up by passing traffic. Staff know the drill with regulars' dogs; ask for a courtyard table when you book rather than trusting the weather to hold for a footpath seat.

Worth knowing

Hours are particular: closed Monday, lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm Wednesday to Saturday, and dinner on Tuesdays only from 5pm to 8:30pm. The menu covers boscaiola, puttanesca, lamb ragu, pork and chicken schnitzels and the cheesy garlic bread that regulars order on arrival. Darling Street parking is metered and busy on weekends, so allow a few minutes to find a spot in the side streets. Book ahead for the courtyard on Saturdays; the dining room is small and the gnocchi keeps tables turning steadily through lunch, so a 12:30 arrival is safer than 1:30.

Close by with the dogs

Balmain's village strip is compact enough to pair a few stops. little Ethel's covers the morning coffee run up the road, The Cottage Balmain is another of the suburb's dog-tolerant dining rooms, and The Balmain Hotel rounds out the strip if you're working through the afternoon.