Green Olive

Green Olive is a big, casual family bistro in central Traralgon, trading wood-fired pizza, schnitzels and parmas, pasta and a full bar from morning to night, seven days a week. It is a sprawling venue with a large indoor bistro and a spacious alfresco deck, and the deck is where dogs are welcome: an 80-seat outdoor area with room for a well-behaved dog beside your table.

The dog setup

Dogs stay on the alfresco deck at street level, on a lead, clear of the main indoor dining room and the kids' play area. The deck is easy to access and roomy, so a settled dog has space without being underfoot. It is a service area, so bring your own water bowl rather than expecting one to appear. The venue is listed as allowing dogs in its outside areas, which matches how regulars use the deck.

Max: live music, a full bar and a busy crowd make the deck a lively place. Fine for a confident dog, a lot to take in for a nervous one.

Worth knowing

Think pub-style favourites at family prices, with a TAB and live music nights adding to the noise floor. It suits a social dog far better than a timid one. Hours run 10am to 9pm daily, and evenings and event nights are the loudest sittings, so an afternoon table or an early dinner is the calmer bet with a dog in tow.

Getting there and parking

The venue sits at Shop 1, 149 Argyle Street, per its own location listing, in the commercial heart of Traralgon near the Seymour Street intersection. Street and nearby public parking serve the block, and the step-up from the street to the deck is easy.

Close by with the dogs

Before or after lunch, run your dog at the fenced Traralgon Dog Park, which has separate large and small dog sections, then walk it off around town. For other tables, Cafe Evviva in the central plaza and Food Co on Franklin are both short walks away. More options sit on the Victoria dog friendly restaurants guide and the Traralgon destination page.

Pick an early sitting, claim a deck table away from the band, and this is an easy long lunch with the dog in Gippsland's biggest town.