Dine N Dash is a family-owned spot in Colfax that’s been around for seven years, and it’s the kind of place where you can bring your dog and actually feel welcome instead of tolerated. The patio is set up for dogs—we sat out there with our dog and weren’t crammed next to the kitchen exhaust or anything. They make their food from scratch, which you can taste in the comfort food offerings. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, they’ve got real options beyond just removing meat from a burger. Same goes for gluten-free—they take it seriously.

The bar side is legit. They pour local brews and mix craft cocktails, so you’re not just getting a beer list that exists out of obligation. If you’re traveling Highway 49 between the Bay Area and Tahoe, you’ll pass right through Colfax, and this is a solid lunch or dinner stop that doesn’t feel like a chain. The atmosphere shifts depending on when you visit: Friday nights they have live music, Saturdays there’s karaoke, and they’ve got screens for games if you want to catch something. Your dog won’t care about any of that, but you might.

What made the real difference for us was how the staff treated both the people and the dogs. They brought water for our dog without asking, and the owners clearly built this place on the idea that families include dogs. Coming up from Sacramento or down from the mountain passes, you’ll appreciate having a restaurant that serves actual food rather than microwaved rehash. The dog patio gets decent shade in the afternoon, which matters when you’re driving through in summer heat heading to higher elevation.