Samson Fish Seafood

Samson Fish Seafood keeps things simple on Shore Street West at Cleveland: seating is entirely alfresco, picnic style tables set up overlooking the harbour, and leashed dogs are welcome at those outdoor tables. There is no indoor-outdoor split to navigate here because there is no indoor seating at all, which makes this one of the least ambiguous dog friendly restaurants on the bayside, per the venue's social pages and local visitor guides.

The dog setup

With every table alfresco, the dog question answers itself: leads on, park the dog beside the picnic table, and the staff treat it as part of the scene. The venue's own social pages and visitor guides describe the setup, and the open air format also means the usual cafe etiquette matters less than at places where dogs share space with diners indoors. Trading runs from 11am daily, with later close on Friday and Saturday nights, so both lunch and early dinner sessions are on the table.

The vibe

The menu is a love letter to the fryer and the display case: fish and chips with a crispy batter gets the most attention, calamari and garlic and parsley chips hold the middle ground, and the cold seafood platter is the celebration order when the whole table is in. Reviews lean on two things repeatedly, the generous seafood and the sunset over the harbour, and an evening visit around golden hour earns that second one honestly.

Pair it with

Walk the harbour foreshore before or after, and if the dog needs a real swim, GJ Walter Park Beach Dog Off Leash Area is close by. For a sit down alternative on the same strip, The Lighthouse Restaurant handles the white tablecloth end of the precinct. More options sit on the QLD restaurants page and in the Cleveland guide.