The Stockpot Kitchen - Smokehouse BBQ and Fried Chicken

The Stockpot Kitchen is a casual smokehouse at 133 Molesworth Street in the Lismore CBD, doing Southern-style barbecue and fried chicken, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area. It is a relaxed, low-fuss setup, and the staff have a reputation for backing patrons who bring their dogs along.

The dog setup

Dogs sit with you in the outdoor seating, not inside. The entrance and seating are step-free, which makes bringing a larger dog through easy. The outdoor setup is geared for quick, casual meals, so bring your own water bowl rather than counting on one being out.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is known for ironbark-smoked brisket and pork, tender fried chicken, loaded fries and house-made lemonade, with vegetarian plates like smoked cauliflower and eggplant burger holding their own on the menu. Opening days are limited, generally Thursday to Saturday with the kitchen closing mid-afternoon, so check the current hours before you make the trip, particularly for dinner.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking runs along Molesworth Street and the surrounding blocks, and the venue sits right in the CBD grid, which is easy walking with a dog on lead. Lunch is the reliable window if you want the outdoor tables without a wait.

Heritage Park and the Wilsons Riverbank are a short walk for a stroll after your plate. For other dog-friendly stops in town, the old bank building at The Bank Cafe & Espresso and the courtyard at Dark Horse Espresso both cover the daytime shift, and the leashed exercise area at Elizabeth Gardens handles the leg-stretch.

More of the town's dog-friendly venues are on the Lismore destination page, and the regional list is in the NSW restaurants index.