Ban Thai Bar and Restaurant

Ban Thai Bar and Restaurant serves home-style Thai food from a central spot at 46 Goondoon Street, Gladstone Central, opposite the regional library. The street-facing deck out front is where dogs are welcome, which makes it one of the few sit-down dinner options in the Gladstone CBD where a leashed dog can join the table.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor deck facing Goondoon Street, not inside the restaurant. The deck is an urban, footpath-style space, so it suits a calm dog settled under or beside the table on a lead, with passing foot traffic to judge before you commit. This is a busy restaurant rather than a dedicated dog stop, so bring your own water bowl rather than counting on one being set out.

Worth knowing

The kitchen turns out generous, authentic Thai: the roast duck red curry is the order regulars name first, with chicken cashew, green curry and satay skewers close behind, and spice levels run from mild to Thai hot. Service is split into sessions, with weekday lunch from 11am and dinner from 5pm, wrapping at 8:30pm, and Saturday running dinner only. Sunday is the day off. Sessions can shift, so confirm hours and a deck table on (07) 4972 9999 before heading in. Dine-in, takeaway and delivery all run from the same kitchen.

Getting there and parking

Goondoon Street is the Gladstone CBD's main strip, a few minutes' drive from the marina and the industrial side of town. Street parking runs along the block out front, and the library forecourt opposite gives a dog a small patch of open ground for a settle before you sit. It is an easy combine with a CBD walk.

Close by with the dogs

For a proper off-leash run before dinner, the Webb Park fenced dog park in West Gladstone is a short drive away. The suburb's daytime coffee stops include Lightbox Espresso & Wine Bar and The Cotton Mill, and The Queens Hotel covers the pub-feed end of the same strip.

More Central Queensland eating: Queensland restaurants and Gladstone Central.