Off the Leash

4 dog-friendly dining spots in Dallas

Mutts Cantina in Uptown offers treats for four-legged and two-legged friends.

Photo courtesy of Mutts Cantina

Dallas's innovative, upscale restaurant culture adds a canine twist with great eating options for dog-lovers in the Dallas area. Each welcomes man — and man’s best friend — and offers a fun atmosphere that ranges chic to spandex-casual.

Mutts Cantina
This new restaurant in Uptown offers a reinvention of the standard American burger joint. Serving gourmet burgers and hot dogs, custard shakes, a beer garden and free Wi-Fi to its patrons, Mutts Cantina adds a fenced-in dog park. For a daily or a monthly membership, customers can set their dogs loose to frolic with canine peers, while attendants provide water, doggie snacks and cleanup service.

Dream Cafe
A longtime neighborhood favorite, Dream Café features a shaded porch and open lawn, perfect for children and dogs alike. Located in Uptown, Dream Café offers innovative American- and southern-style food and a lively atmosphere. On Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, diners and pooches enjoy live jazz. It’s a great way for your dog to stretch after a long day inside waiting for his favorite human.

Toulouse Cafe and Bar
This elegant bistro offers French cuisine with both modern and country flavors. Just off the Katy Trail, its open-air porch (graciously shaded and air-conditioned in the summertime) allows patrons and their pooches to enjoy the weather and the passersby. Everything, from the atmosphere to the menu to the service, stays true to the spirit of the French bistro that inspires it, including the easygoing courtesy with which your dog will be welcomed.

Katy Trail Ice House
A relatively new addition to Uptown, the Ice House is a self-proclaimed Austin-style restaurant that boasts a 50-foot-long bar with more than 50 beers on tap. Its tree-shaded garden opens to the Katy Trail. During the day it’s a welcome oasis for runners, bikers and dog-walkers, and at night, a wildly popular hangout. Watch a game, catch up with old friends or take a break when your furry running mate gets thirsty.

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Patio at Dream Cafe in Dallas.

Courtesy photo

Patio at Dream Cafe in Dallas.

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Chef news

James Beard-nominated chef RJ Yoakum joins team at Dallas' Sushi Kozy

Photo courtesy of Sushi Kozy

Chef RJ Yoakum has been named chef de cuisine of Sushi Kozy.

A local chef whose last tenure at a high-profile Dallas restaurant included both high acclaim and a mysterious departure is back in the kitchen: Chef RJ Yoakum has been named chef de cuisine of Michelin-recommended Sushi Kozy.

According to a release, his position at the omakase restaurant started January 3.

“Sushi Kozy is a place where tradition and creativity coexist,” says Yoakum in the release. “I’m excited to collaborate with this team to build an experience rooted in precision, seasonality, and a deep respect for the ingredients and the people behind them.”

After tenures at lauded restaurants such as The French Laundry in Napa and Angler in San Francisco, Yoakum was hired in 2023 as executive chef at Georgie, the buzzy restaurant in Dallas' Knox Street district. He quickly become a favorite of foodies and made Georgie a hot reservation.

During his time, Georgie nabbed a spot on the Michelin Guide's list of "Recommended" restaurants — one of 57 in Texas and 19 in the DFW area.

In addition, Yoakum himself earned a nomination in the 2025 James Beard Awards for "Emerging Chef - a chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability."

But in June 2025, Yoakum left Georgie at the request of Stephan Courseau, founder of Travis Street Hospitality and owner of Georgie, who said in a statement, "We recently became aware of multiple violations of company policy that do not align with our company's values."

Sushi Kozy, an upscale omakase restaurant, opened in 2025 in downtown Dallas from chef-owner Paul Ko, previously of Uchi. Sushi Kozy earned Michelin-Recommended status last fall.

"Rooted in the principles of kaiseki, Japan’s traditional multi-course dining style, Sushi Kozy offers a progression-driven experience that emphasizes balance, restraint, and artistry, the release says.

Ko says Yoakum brings teamwork, a pursuit of excellence, discipline, and a respect for sourcing to Sushi Kozy's omakase experience, and that they'll work together "to further refine the restaurant’s seasonal narrative."

“Sushi Kozy represents everything we value — intention, seasonality, and respect for craft,” says Ko. “RJ’s background and mindset align seamlessly with our philosophy, and his addition allows us to push forward thoughtfully while staying true to the soul of what we do.”

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.