Royal Orchard Thai

Royal Orchard Thai is a small, well-regarded Thai restaurant at Shop 5, 1 Ocean Grove Avenue in Cronulla, a short walk back from both the beach and the mall. It trades dinner only, seven nights a week, and the tables out the front take dogs, which makes it a rare proper restaurant option for a night out with the dog in the Shire.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables directly out front, on lead and close to your chair. The enclosed dining room inside stays people only. What sets this outdoor area apart from the usual strip of footpath tables is the setup: roller blinds and heaters keep it comfortable through cooler or windy evenings, which matters for a dinner-only venue. The dog-friendly tables are limited in number, so flag that you are bringing a dog when you book or arrive rather than hoping one is free.

The vibe

The kitchen covers the Thai classics properly: stir-fries, soups, noodles and curries, with the crying tiger and the red duck curry drawing regular orders. The salt and pepper calamari is the signature, fried ice cream closes out most meals, and there are gluten-free options across the menu plus a short wine list with corkage. It gets busy on weekends, so a booking is wise any night of the week.

Getting there and parking

Ocean Grove Avenue runs off Gerrale Street, a few minutes walk from Cronulla Station and the main shopping precinct. Street parking in the surrounding blocks is free but tight on summer evenings, so arriving by train or on foot from the beach side is often easier.

Close by with the dogs

Set the dog up for a sit-down dinner with a walk first: the Cronulla esplanade path runs along the water a couple of minutes away. If you are building a whole day around the suburb, Shelly Park Shop covers morning coffee near the beach, and Salt Meats Cheese Cronulla is another dog-welcoming dinner option on the same side of the station.