Stellina Ristorante

Stellina Ristorante at 17 Peterkin Street is a restored 150-year-old heritage cottage doing proper Italian in Traralgon, and the draw for dog owners is the outdoor setup: a spacious deck and courtyard backing onto a park and creek. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome out there while the historic dining rooms stay people-only. It is a genuine dinner-out-with-the-dog option in Gippsland, which is rarer than it should be.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor dining area and courtyard, not inside the cottage. The deck is set up for all weather with blinds and heaters for the cooler Gippsland evenings, and staff are accommodating about bringing out a bowl of water. Keep your dog on lead and tucked beside the table; the green outlook over the adjacent park and creek gives a settled dog plenty to look at.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is built on wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta and antipasti, with local wines behind them. The San Daniele pizza, topped with aged prosciutto, gets the regulars' nod, and there is a solid run of vegan dishes plus arancini and proper desserts. Service runs Wednesday to Saturday with lunch and dinner sittings, and the doors are closed Sunday through Tuesday, so this is a plan-ahead weeknight or weekend dinner.

Getting there and parking

Peterkin Street is just off the Traralgon CBD, and free street parking is easy to find in the surrounding residential streets. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Book the deck ahead if you want an outdoor table with room for your dog, and confirm the dog area is open when you reserve, since evening service can shift outdoors indoors at short notice in bad weather.

Close by with the dogs

The park and walking trail along the creek run right beside the restaurant, ideal for a stretch before or after your meal. For other dog-friendly tables in town, Food Co, On Franklin does the daytime garden shift, Green Olive is another local option, and the Traralgon destination page lists the rest.

Creek walk first, wood-fired pizza on the deck second. More Victorian options sit under the Victoria restaurants listing.