Should Pets Be Allowed Inside Restaurants? Here's What Chefs Say
"Sometimes it's hard to be a good person," one chef says.
(SPOT.ph) Are you a little sick of this one? It seems your retired (or unemployed) cousins, aunts, and uncles on Facebook aren’t; and we here at SPOT.ph are obviously still invested in this whole dogs-in-restaurants issue (tomorrow, who knows, we’ll be frothing at the mouth about men in crop tops naman). Because maybe there’s still something to be had here; given more recent events, namely the alleged termination of an employee for daring to feed a stray while on break.
So we’ve decided to consult the people who actually own these establishments and/or make the food. From wanting to ban pets in public spaces altogether to claiming “it’s just business” is a legitimate reason to fire a well-meaning staff member, we’ve witnessed a lot of misunderstandings. And misunderstandings are kind of inevitable in these dark days when a bean soup recipe can and will get inundated with comments about not liking beans, but getting some notes from insiders should clear a few things up, right?
Right?
Well, here’s hoping.
Chef Kevin Villarica of Ginza Gyu and, more recently, Le Feu fame says on the subject, “You have to remember, [we] work in the service industry. So for me, I’m always going to prioritize the safety of my guests first. And that’s coming from a dog lover; you know, my dogs are the type to jump all over me if I smell like a burger or something! That’s behavior I don’t want to take away from them. I admire and love restaurants who can manage around animals, but if you call yourself pet-friendly, you can’t choose [breeds]. Dapat lahat pwede.”
On the ongoing story involving one Quezon City branch of Goto Tendon, he adds, “Sometimes it’s hard to be a good person; I’m confident that [the individual] will receive a better opportunity soon, with that attitude. But I personally would rather support my staff in their individual passions whenever I can.”
Nowie Potenciano of The Sunny Side Group—and proud dad to dog Mari—also understands both sides of the equation. “Being a dog dad myself, I don’t mind having pets in restaurants; I actually hope more establishments [will have the same thoughtful policies],” he says. “But as a restaurant owner, I’m also keenly aware that the circumstances of restaurants vary so widely, so some are just unable to allow pets.”
“Ultimately, it’s a matter of considering the varying comfort levels of different clientele and finding the balance with their operational capabilities,” he adds. “That’s what you don’t want to overlook in putting together such a policy. Plus—and this is just me speaking as a pet parent—the most memorable places for me don’t only ‘allow’ but really welcome; a mano provides a bowl of cold water for your dog without being asked, basically the way they fill customers’ glasses. [It’s an opportunity to show shared values], like they also think of our pets as part of the family.”
“In a larger venue, I'm okay with pets,” quips renowned chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou, “but I don’t recommend it in small, cramped, or high-traffic settings. Imagine large crowds in public spaces on a weekend. That can also be stressful for the pets!”
He reflects further: “When space allows, there should be designated areas for guests with pets in consideration of people who simply cannot be seated with animals, such as people with phobias or allergies. I feel that casual restos or cafés with large seating spaces may be ideal for taking pets along. So, yeah, when there’s space, when the setting is casual, it shouldn’t pose an issue.”
Asking for a little reciprocity
It sounds like it should be a done and dusted matter… if only things were so simple and straightforward. In the end, because food itself is so varied—because people are so varied—there’s a lot more to account for in every dining experience. Chef Kel Zaguirre who, like many of his peers, has always mixed things up in terms of what he provides—asks for a little reciprocation in terms of being accommodating.
“We work in hospitality, after all,” he says, “and we try to cater to the target market, of course. Personally, I like allowing pets in a more casual or family-oriented establishment; otherwise, let’s say the energy is a little more formal, I would really think twice. Ultimately, communication is key, so if you’re not 100% sure about a restaurant’s policies, you can always call ahead.” (To clarify, he does mean to call ahead to be sure—not to insist on bringing a pet where it might not be appropriate to do so.)
“It’s the risk we’re taking at [our restaurant], trusting owners to be responsible for their pets—there are, in fact, many irresponsible ones—but so far, it’s worked well!” says Toni Potenciano-Abesamis, Creative Director of Kodawari. “We’ve made some cute furry friends along the way [because of that risk]. Our official position is that we allow them, but emphasize owner responsibility.” Vaccines, awareness of behavioral triggers, and hygiene are some of the basic things she hopes owners can be mindful of; it can be argued that such concerns do not differ all that much from dining out with children of a certain age.
A dog mom herself, the writer-strategist-restaurateur understands all angles of the recent uproar. “Sanitation and allergies are very real issues, of course,” says Potenciano-Abesamis. “And I feel that some who are vitriolic about animals might be coming from some kind of traumatic experience, which is a different, larger conversation… But in general, it’s hard to deny the rise of ‘pet parenting’; [our policy] really started out as me wishing I could go to more places with my pet, and hammering out something reasonable from there.”
And while some incidents can be rather extreme—it apparently is not unheard of for some pet-toting customers to ask for plates for the animal rather than bringing their own bowls—it’s hardly fair to punish all rational owners for the actions of an irrational stranger. It’s hard to say what an ideal scenario would be, let alone expect all establishments to adhere to whatever standard might be set. For chef Cheska San Juan of Barakuda and formerly Lunes, for instance, it’s a little more freeform: “I personally do not have [formal] pet policies in place, but we are also a restaurant that practices inclusive dining whether or not you are with your pet.” In the same vein as most of the people we got to speak to, the only real ask is due diligence and responsible ‘parenting’ from pet owners.
“I welcome pets in my restaurant in any form and shape,” she continues. “It’s people that [can be a little scary].”