Every dog has its day at Phoebe’s wine bar
Vin Room is going to the dogs.
With approval from Alberta Health Services in hand, the wine-focused restaurants are now able to welcome man’s — and woman’s — best friend onto the patios at their two locations in Mission and West Springs.
If the weather co-operates, proprietor Phoebe Fung expects pooches on the patio hanging out with their owners as early as May.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than sipping rose on a patio with my dog,” said Fung.
The pilot project will start with dogs allowed on the front patio in Mission and on any part of the Vin Room West patio on Sundays and Mondays. Depending on response, Fung said, they’ll expand to more days.
“Our licence is for seven days a week. We’re starting with Sunday and Monday to see how the public receives it,” she said.
While Stampede hot spot Ranchman’s was the first establishment to get AHS approval for dogs on their patio back in 2012, Vin Room is the first licensed restaurant in the city to do so.
Under the food regulation portion of the Public Health Act, restaurants, bars and pubs can have domesticated animals provided they follow processes that meet AHS approval.
“Vin Room is one of the food permitted facilities that has received permission from Alberta Health Services … to allow live animals,” said a statement from the AHS. “These facilities will be inspected regularly for this condition, in addition to standard food facility inspections.”
Fung said she worked collaboratively with health inspectors to ensure there will be no health or safety risks.
“They were very supportive. Their first reaction was ‘Nobody has asked us, but we’re keen to make it work,’ ” Fung said.
“Now we have a template. If it’s successful, it will be easier for other restaurateurs to apply for that licence.”
City officials said the only requirement is a permit from the AHS.
Dogs will need to have up-todate shots and be well-behaved. The patios have to be stone or concrete surfaces that can be washed down.
Fung is organizing water stations and the chef will be baking up house-made goodies for the canine patrons.
“They don’t just have to watch their owners eat. They’ll have their own treats from the kitchen.”
Fung said she began hatching the plan about a year ago following holidays in the U.S. and France, where dog-friendly patios were de rigueur.
The move should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Fung, who is known for being passionate about dogs. For the last couple of years, Vin Room has produced a calendar featuring photos of the staff’s pets to raise funds for the Calgary Humane Society. Her own pup, a Pomeranian called Dom — as in, Dom Perignon — can sometimes be spotted in the wine store Fung runs next to Vin Room West.
“Dom is one of my most popular employees,” she said with a laugh.