Salt & Chilli Dosa & Biryani House

Salt & Chilli serves South Indian and Sri Lankan food from 14-16 Quadrant Mall, right in the heart of the Launceston CBD. The mall itself is pedestrianised, and the outdoor tables set out along it are where a leashed dog can settle beside you while you work through a crispy dosa or a bowl of dum biryani.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed at the outdoor seating in the Quadrant Mall, a busy people-friendly strip where a well-behaved dog can lie beside the table. The venue does not publish a formal dog policy, so call ahead on 0410 800 454 to confirm, and let staff know on arrival so you are seated at a table with room beside it. Bring your own water bowl; none are advertised.

Worth knowing

The kitchen's reputation rests on authentic Sri Lankan and South Indian cooking: golden crispy dosas, dum biryani, kottu, pork curry and prawn curry, with watalappam for dessert. Lunch runs from 11am, with a second dinner seating from about 4:30pm most days; the restaurant closes on Tuesdays. Aim for an off-peak window, since the mall foot traffic picks up sharply at lunch and on weekend evenings.

Getting there and parking

The Quadrant Mall sits in the middle of the CBD, an easy walk from most of the city. If you are driving in, street parking is available on nearby St John and Cimitiere Streets, with metered limits to watch during business hours.

Close by with the dogs

City Park is a short walk for lawns and shaded paths, and the Tamar River waterfront footpaths are close by for a longer on-lead stroll after dinner. Rupert and Hound on the riverfront is another dog-friendly table option in the same corner of the city, and Newstead Waterfront Dog Park is a short drive east for an off-lead run before you head home.

Pepsi: dosa crumbs and a pedestrian mall full of pats. I have decided Launceston is my city.