Sit. Stay. Sip. A Dog Park Café & Bar Is Coming to Portland, Maine

There are many great combinations in this world: peanut butter and jelly, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, cookies and cream, Siskel and Ebert, coffee and donuts, just to name a few.

However, let's add another to the mix: dogs and restaurants.

Normally, we don't associate these two things. Typically, the dog has to stay at home when we head out to a bar or restaurant. But times are changing, folks, especially with news of a new joint planning to open in Portland.

Is Portland Getting a Dog Park Cafe?

According to the foodie sleuths over at Portland Food Map, a new joint called Woof Eat Play is in the works. The venture will be located in the North Deering neighborhood at 49 Northpoint Drive.

The concept is simple, and wonderful. It will be part restaurant, part dog park. Basically, it's just taking two of the greatest things in this world and mashing them into one.

Think about it: who doesn't love a dog park? It's filled with dogs. What else do you need? Oh, right—a restaurant. It's the kind of idea we've all had, but now someone is actually going through with it. What a great country we live in.

What is Expected to be Found at a Dog Park Cafe?

According to Portland Food Map, the space will include both on- and off-leash areas for dogs, a bar that serves coffee beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and, of course, food, with a menu that's still in the works. I hope they serve everything on a biscuit... get it? I'll see myself out.

Back to being serious for a moment—this is very exciting news for the community and beyond. As we already know, Portland has a wonderful foodie reputation, and this concept should fit right in. It's also being built in an area that could become a bit of a new hotspot, especially with the recent opening of the North Deering Tavern just a block up the road.

This is also the second dog park/restaurant concept to be announced recently. Portland Food Map reported earlier this year that a joint called The Barkery (amazing name) is planning to open soon in South Portland.

I’m all for every town in Maine having one of these establishments, so this is a great start.