Sonoma County's best dog-friendly restaurant patios

It's a sure sign that spring has arrived in food-centric Wine Country: restaurant patios reopen after the rainy winter, and instantly, throngs of diners converge at their sun-soaked tables.

But look beside the chairs at many eateries, too, and under the shade of those tables. You'll discover another kind of sun-loving guest - the four-legged, furry kind.

We love taking our dogs on outings, and certainly they drool at the thought of sharing a burger with us, as well. So put on your pooch's fanciest collar and leash, and parade them at these canine-friendly cafés.

Nick's Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages, Marshall - The waterfront retreat is so dedicated to dogs and their companions that it hosts an annual Pet Appreciation Month, to herald its official “dog season” opening in May. That's when staff rolls out outdoor couches, tables, and canine water bowls for its porch-patio and wooden plank walkway Waterfront Lounge. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through summer, a shucker/bartender presents Tomales Bay oysters, soups, salads and cocktails. Guests can also order more food and drink inside, seven days a week, and bring it outside. New chef Joshua Seibert, on board since September, tempts with more oysters like the hot, bacon braised model drenched in sherry and shallots, plus plates such as lobster risotto, deviled duck eggs capped in salmon and avocado, and any pampered pup's first choice, wood fired Wagyu Manhattan steak with wild mushrooms. After dining, let Fido romp on the adjoining dog-friendly beach, where, at night, bonfires glow while guests make s'mores.

23240 Highway One, Marshall, 415-663-1033, nickscove.com.

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Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar, Healdsburg - The popular small plates eatery has just wrapped up an extensive interior renovation, unveiling a more modern, much brighter look in teal, silver and wood. But it's the patio that draws the pups, luring with prime people watching along Healdsburg Avenue and shareable snacks like crispy pork belly rolls, grilled fish tacos, and the addictive crispy French fries dunked in Laura Chenel goat cheese ranch dressing.

403 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-9191, starkrestaurants.com.

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Underwood Bar & Bistro, Graton - Head around the side of the building, to the tucked-away gate entry past the covered patio and onto the bocce courtyard. A handful of tables await in the usually quiet space, like a private hideaway for you and your puppy. You'll have to go inside to order, but then servers will deliver your top-notch food and drink to your table. Some standouts include flat iron steak frites in mushroom-shallot butter, crisp-skin rosemary-lemon brined roast chicken with lardons and crimini mushrooms, or rich mac-n-cheese laced with prosciutto.

9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com.

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Zosia Café and Kitchen, Graton - The new Polish eatery impresses with its expansive entry courtyard, sporting shaded tables arranged around an artistic garden decorated with red maples, planter boxes and lots of flowers. The eclectic menu ranges from eastern European delights like sumptuous Siberian pelmeni beef-pork dumplings bobbing in chicken broth with herbs and sour cream, to a classic American steak sandwich mantled with caramelized onions and Swiss on ciabatta.

9010 Graton Road, Graton, 707-861-9241, zosiacafe.com.

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Fork, Sebastopol - Surrounded by apple orchards, goat pastures and weathered ranch homes, this charming cottage boasts a gorgeous patio spanning to a grassy area overlooking a creek. Often there's live music, and there is always wonderful seasonal food, such as Tuscan bean breakfast in a soupy Meyer lemon broth stew of white beans, kale and two fried eggs under a shower of Parmesan with thick griddled toast for sopping; pork belly fried egg tacos; or slow roasted and grilled baby back ribs slathered in Korean barbecue sauce with fennel cabbage slaw and tangy crème fraiche mashed potatoes.

9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, 707-634-7575, forkcatering.com.

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HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol - Dogs dig the beer garden at this boisterous brewpub, and have been known to howl along with the live music. Everyone enjoys the casual but nicely executed menu, for savories like fried local sausage bites, hefty pulled pork sandwiches, and entirely satisfying steak frites.

230 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, 707-829-7300. Also HopMonk Sonoma Beer Garden, 691 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-935-9100, hopmonk.com.

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Garden Court Café & Bakery, Glen Ellen - Check out the “Bleu's Corner” menu just for Fido. Mouthwatering options scamper between eggs scrambled with ground beef, garlic and zucchini, or a babaloo pizza of biscuit crust smothered in jack cheese, catsup and fresh herbs. People are happy, too, with choices like seven different eggs Benedicts (the Valley of the Moon is the bomb, loaded with ham, Gruyere and Portobellos), biscuits and Granny's Texas sausage gravy, and The Sonoman sammie of roasted turkey, grilled onions and peppers and Vella Toma cheese on grilled whole wheat with spicy homemade jalapeño jelly on the side.

13647 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-935-1565, gardencourtcafe.com.

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Mateo's Cocina Latina, Healdsburg - Sneak to the back, where a lovely landscaped patio awaits, its ornate scrolled metal tables shaded by umbrellas and olive trees. The Yucatán-French-Sonoma cooking is magical, such as Parade Farm coq au vin slow-braised chicken in red wine sauce with Mangalitsa pork bacon, or Ritual Farm Suckling Pig with savory bread pudding, spring vegetables and oregano sauce. Share a tiny bit of Progressive Pastures beef carpaccio with your pup, and he'll think he's gone to heaven.

214 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1520, mateoscocinalatina.com.

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Twin Oaks Roadhouse, Penngrove - Recently revitalized under new owner Dean Biersch, the iconic roadhouse beckons with its new patio, set with teak tables shaded by trellises and umbrellas, flanked by sloping garden walls, and grooving with periodic live music. The place gets so busy that there is a five-dog limit (“first come, first serve”), and really, it's best to plan puppy visits during the quieter day times. But anytime is wonderful for a ravishing double battered buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with slightly sweet coleslaw and spicy aioli on a lightly toasted English muffin from Sebastopol's Village Bakery, or superb sausages from Yanni's in downtown Penngrove, presented in a small skillet sizzling with caramelized onions and peppers, with mustard for dunking.

5745 Old Redwood Hwy., Penngrove, 707-795-5118, twinoakstavernpenngrove.com.

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Handline, Sebastopol - A former Foster's Freeze has been transformed into a fast-casual shrine that's part Cal-Mex eatery, part seafood shack, and part fancy burger joint with a craft beer and wine bar. It's new, so the patio landscaping is still growing in, but this is the best al fresco perch in town for terrific batter-fried rockfish tacos on handmade corn tortillas (even the masa is handmade on-site), poached calamari ceviche tumbled with sugar snap peas, spring onions, mint leaf and avocado, or Pollo Correcto tostadas mounded in Mary's shredded chicken, heirloom beans, pepitas, a drizzle of mild mole and cilantro with a side of pickled vegetables.

935 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol, 707-827-6297, handline.com.

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Village Inn & Restaurant, Monte Rio - The quaint California-Mediterranean restaurant features dining on the deck overlooking the Russian River, plus an expansive riverfront lawn so your pup can play, play, play. A fancy comfort menu pleases, with dishes like basted pork loin with browned butter, spiced walnuts, apple chutney and black rice, or braised short rib atop roasted garlic-thyme red bliss mash, butter poached dill carrots and red wine reduction. Neighborhood dogs love the Sunday locals' nights, too, when a more casual menu offers bites like French dip sandwich with caramelized onions, Swiss and horseradish on sourdough.

20822 River Boulevard, Monte Rio, 707-865-2304, villageinn-ca.com.

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Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma - The mascot logo is a hound dog, and one of the signature beers is called Dogtown Pale Ale. Naturally, then, this is a great place to bring Rover, for nibbling on snacks including grilled sausages, smoked brisket sandwiches, and a DogTown mushroom Gruyere sandwich.

1280 N. McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma, 707-778-8776, lagunitas.com.

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The Birds Café, Bodega Bay - This Alfred Hitchcock-inspired café welcomes bird dogs, lap dogs, and dogs of all kinds to its spot on a bluff overlooking the water. The large deck brims with picnic tables that you'll soon load up with excellent fish ‘n' chips, shrimp tacos, briny fresh oysters, crunchy crusted artichoke fritters, and creamy New England clam chowder studded with bacon.

1407 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2900, thebirdscafe.com.

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Amy's Drive-Thru, Rohnert Park - Is your dog a vegetarian? He or she will salivate over Amy's Burger, bringing a double patty crafted of veggies and grains, topped with double cheese, tomato, onion, pickle, and Fred Sr.'s regular or spicy secret sauce all on a toasted bun. The trellised patio is a great place to stretch out and feast on a line-up of all organic, all non-GMO, all vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free treats like tofu chili, spinach pizza, and red beans and rice burritos.

58 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park, 707-755-3629, amysdrivethru.com.

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Buster's BBQ, Calistoga - After the humans gnaw the meat off the ribs, the dogs will find that the bones are straight-from-heaven joy. Grab a picnic table, spread a blanket for the pup, and watch the cooks at the oak-fired grill right in the parking lot, slow cooking and patiently basting gorgeous meats like tri-tip, pork and chicken. Don't miss the sizzling hot links, either, piled on crunchy garlic toast.

1207 Foothills Blvd., Calistoga, 707-942-5605, busterssouthernbbq.com.