Tempe restaurants are including man’s best friend in the lunchtime grind with patios and accommodations that allow customers to dine with their pets.

Several local restaurant owners said they realize the bond between people and their animals, and Carol Phillips, owner of AZ Bread Co in Tempe, said she can relate to those who want to spoil their dogs.

“When [someone] is old, like me, as soon as they become empty nesters, the dog becomes the child,” Phillips said. “Our dogs go with us everywhere and we spoil them rotten.”

AZ Bread Co, located on the southeast corner of South Kyrene and West Elliot roads, has always allowed customers to dine with their dogs on the patio.

“When I was in Europe people would take their dogs everywhere, even inside restaurants,” Phillips said. “When I decided to have a breakfast and lunch place, I thought dogs could sit out on the beautiful patio.”

Phillips said owning a dog-friendly restaurant has been rewarding.

“I get to know the pets that come in,” Phillips said. “I have noticed that people who bring their dogs are people that have good manners.”

Phillips puts out water on the patio for the pets and also provides dog cookies.

Exercise and wellness senior Patricia Connelly owns a Corgi and Australian Shepherd mix and said she thinks it’s great that Tempe is trying to be more dog friendly, especially with restaurants.

“I love taking [my dog] places because I hate leaving her at home,” Connelly said. “I feel bad when I have to put her in the crate so I can go somewhere. I’d rather just take her with me.”

Connelly has taken her dog with her to some restaurants, but said she would stay away from nicer restaurants with indoor dog accommodations.

“If it was a nice sit-down restaurant then I would probably leave her home just because I know she would try to get my food,” Connelly said. “I would probably eat outside.”

Some restaurants, like Pier 54 on East Baseline Road and South Lakeshore Drive, wouldn’t be the same without dog-friendly accommodations said Assistant General Manager Brad Taylor.

“People seem to really enjoy walking their dogs and enjoying lunch and drinks while socializing with their pets and friends,” Taylor said. “I think our daytime sales at Pier 54 would definitely be affected [if it weren’t dog-friendly].”

Pier 54 is a mostly outdoor, dog-friendly restaurant where customers usually take their time dining and spending time with their pets, Taylor said.

“Most people spend around three to four hours here, so people feel bad about leaving their pets at home,” he said. “Most of the guests love having pets here and about 99 percent of other restaurants wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

The restaurant requires that dogs are well behaved and on a leash.

“It has been a trademark since Pier 54 opened, so I really couldn’t imagine it without dogs,” Taylor said. “It just seems a natural fit. The dogs enjoy the social interaction and the clients enjoy the comfort of being with their pets.”

Kirk White, manager at House of Tricks restaurant on East Seventh Street and South Forest Avenue, agreed that customers feel comfortable in a dog-friendly setting.

House of Tricks doesn’t allow dogs on the main patio, but does allow them in the bar area.

“For the most part we have always been dog-friendly,” White said. “We’re not like Portland where you can take your dog everywhere, but I think the customers understand that and are OK with dogs being allowed.”