NORTH KITCHEN

North Kitchen is a modern family restaurant at Shop 2, 202 Curtis Road in Munno Para, on Adelaide's northern fringe, cooking over wood fire and in a stone pizza oven. Social posts and local diners describe it as pet friendly at the outdoor tables, so it is worth a call ahead on 08 7286 9945 to confirm an outdoor spot before you arrive with your dog.

The dog setup

Reports put dogs at the outdoor and courtyard-style seating only, with the indoor dining room off limits. Keep your dog on a lead and settled beside the table. Bring your own water bowl rather than expecting one to be provided, and if you are turning up at peak dinner, ring first so the team knows to hold an outdoor table.

The food

The draw is the wood oven and open flame: wood-fired pizzas with blistered crusts, handmade pasta, grilled meats and share plates, plus desserts and coffee for the road. Hours run across lunch and dinner, roughly 11am to 3pm earlier in the week with dinner from 5pm, from 8am Thursday to Sunday, and the kitchen goes later on weekends. Check the venue site for the current split before you drive out.

Pepsi: the pizza oven smoke drifting over the courtyard had me on my best behaviour all afternoon.

Getting there and parking

Curtis Road sits off the Main North Road side of Munno Para near the Munno Para Shopping City end of town, with plenty of shopping-centre style parking close by, which makes an easy in-and-out with a dog. Weekday lunch is the quietest window.

Close by with the dogs

Burn some energy first at Blakes Crossing Pooch Park or Fremont Park fenced dog park, and for another feed nearby, Cafe 77 Bakery and Restaurant in Smithfield is an option.

Good for families doing a northern suburbs loop: fenced parks for the dog, a long Italian-leaning menu for everyone else.