Burgerlab

Burgerlab is the burger institution of Parkdale Village, at 194 Como Parade West on the Frankston line, and one of the most genuinely dog-welcoming venues in Bayside. The front courtyard runs to around a dozen shaded tables where dogs are not just tolerated but catered for, a short stroll from the Mentone and Parkdale foreshore. Buffalo wings, crab burgers, lamb burgers and a Raclette cheeseburger anchor a menu that also covers vegetarian and gluten-free territory.

The dog setup

The front courtyard is the dog zone: shaded, off the street, and big enough for groups. The Bayside Dog Owners Group's write-up of the courtyard is the detail that sets this place apart; dogs get their own water bowls, and the kitchen has been known to cook unseasoned Puppy Patties for canine guests. Dogs stay out of the indoor dining area in line with food-safety rules. It remains worth bringing a lead you can anchor to a table leg on a busy night.

Worth knowing

The venue is licensed, with local beers, wines and milkshakes alongside the burgers, and Saturday wing specials get a regular mention. Hours run from 11:30am, closing 8:30pm most nights and 9pm Friday and Saturday. Street parking lines Como Parade West and the side streets, and Parkdale Station is minutes away on foot, which makes a train-plus-walk arrival easy with a dog.

Pair it with

The obvious pairing is the water: Mentone Beach Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive north for an off-leash beach session before burgers. Closer in, Walter Galt Reserve Dog Off Leash Area covers the park-run option. For coffee in the same village, Station Stop Cafe sits by the station, and Busy Boy in Mentone is another dog-welcoming brunch stop.

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