The Rustic Olive

The Rustic Olive is an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant at 3/75 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe, with outdoor tables looking across Moreton Bay. It is a longer, slower sit-down meal than the strip's cafes, and the outdoor seating takes dogs, which makes it a solid pick for a bay-view lunch or dinner with the dog parked beside the table.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed in the designated outdoor seating only, on leash and kept close to the table, while the indoor dining room is people-only. The outdoor tables face the waterfront, so a settled dog gets the bay view too. The dog-friendly spots are limited and popular, so book ahead by phone on 07 3889 3199 and say you are bringing a dog; staff are dog-aware and can arrange a water bowl, but carry your own as backup.

Worth knowing

The menu runs deep on Italian and Mediterranean staples: pastas, pizzas, risottos, seafood and steaks, with generous servings built for sharing. Signatures include the pumpkin arancini with Napoli sauce and the BBQ pork belly over mashed potato, and the kitchen supports gluten-free and vegetarian diets well, with plant-based options available on request if you ask the waitstaff. Lunch trades Friday to Sunday from 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner runs from 4:30pm to 9pm most days, though shifts vary, so confirm hours when you book.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant sits on the Redcliffe Parade waterfront strip about 40 minutes from Brisbane. Street parking on Redcliffe Parade fills at peak times and on weekends; try the Bee Gees Way parking area or adjacent streets like Sutton Street, and the seaside path makes for a pleasant on-lead approach if you are walking from nearby.

Close by with the dogs

The Redcliffe seaside path runs directly opposite for a pre- or post-dinner stroll, and Settlement Cove Lagoon is a short walk along the foreshore. For more dog stops, Clontarf Dog Beach sits up the bay for a swim, Dru Point Fenced Dog Park at Margate covers the off-lead run, and Jetty Lounge is another dog-friendly Redcliffe table nearby.

More options are in the dog-friendly restaurants across QLD list and the Redcliffe dog-friendly guide.

Max: negotiated a share of the pork belly from the waterfront table and has strong opinions about arancini drop zones.