Grill'd Burgers - Mornington

The Mornington branch of the healthy-burger chain sits at 18a Main Street, right in the middle of the shopping strip, and the undercover footpath tables out front make it a straightforward burger stop with a dog. Flat access straight off the street, no narrow interior to navigate, and the foreshore is just down the hill.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor undercover footpath tables, on a lead and kept clear of the pedestrian thoroughfare. The seating is level and accessible, which suits older dogs or anyone managing a pram as well as a lead. Bring your own water bowl; bowls and treats are not a standard fixture here. Indoors stays people only, so this is an all-weather option only as far as the awning goes.

Worth knowing

The menu is the chain's build-your-own format: grass-fed beef burgers on low-GI buns, plant-based patties, zucchini chips with herbed mayo and onion rings, plus gluten-free buns and salads. The brand's Local Matters community giving runs here too, where every table votes a token to a local cause. Hours run from 11am, closing 9:30pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10pm Thursday to Saturday.

Getting there and parking

Time-limited street parking runs along Main Street with side streets off Queen and Barkly, and the carparks around Mornington Central on Barkly Street are a short walk away. The strip is easy walking with a dog, and Mornington Park and the beach end of town are downhill from the restaurant.

Close by with the dogs

Mornington Park suits an on-lead stroll before lunch, and Royal Beach dog off-leash area down near the harbour covers the off-lead leg-stretch. For a proper run, Civic Reserve fenced dog park is a few minutes inland, and Kirks on the Esplanade is the pub option for a bay-view dinner with the dog instead.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly restaurants guide and the Mornington destination page.

Max: the footpath tables face the busiest part of Main Street. If your dog is wary of foot traffic, take the tables furthest from the mall entrance.