Grills on wills road

Grills on Wills Road is a suburban grill at 37 Wills Road in Woolooware, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire, doing burgers, schnitzel rolls, steak sandwiches, BBQ chooks and fish and chips. Locals come for the generous portions and the friendly counter service, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables out the front and along the side.

The dog setup

Dogs are permitted at the outdoor seating along the front and side of the shop; the interior is people-only. The tables are casual streetside seating rather than a dedicated dog courtyard, so pick a spot with room for your dog to lie clear of foot traffic. Staff are generally accommodating, but bring your own water bowl rather than assuming one will turn up. If the weather turns there is no indoor fallback for your dog, so a mild afternoon beats a hot or wet one.

Pepsi: order the chicken schnitzel roll, take the front table, and keep a bowl of water under the chair. The staff have never minded a polite dog at my feet.

Getting there and parking

It is an easy walk for Woolooware locals and a short drive from Cronulla or Sutherland, with street parking directly out front and along Wills Road. Hours run 9am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 7:30pm Friday and Saturday, with Sunday closed.

Close by with the dogs

Sutherland Shire Council requires dogs to be on leash in all public spaces unless a park is designated off leash, and Woolooware has good on-leash options. Hagger Park on Denman Avenue is a convenient green space for a pre-lunch stroll, and the Woolooware Bay shared pathway runs along the foreshore towards Taren Point, where dogs must stay on lead to protect shorebird habitat. For a proper beach fix, the off-leash sand at Kurnell Dog Beach is a short drive away; dogs are not allowed on the sand at Cronulla's patrolled beaches. Afterwards, Toast 2230 and Woolooware Playground Cafe and Bar cover the coffee side of the neighbourhood.