The covered patio at Gourmet Au Bay wraps around the restaurant with enough space that you’re not cramped beside other diners—we watched dogs and their people settle in at separate tables without anyone feeling like they were sharing an armrest. The kitchen does French-California cuisine, the kind where ingredients matter more than fussiness, which means the menu actually changes based on what’s available from local suppliers. On the day we visited, that meant fresh Dungeness crab preparations and whatever vegetables the farms around Bodega Bay had just sent in.

Dogs stay outside on the patio; you won’t bring them through the dining room. The staff brings water without being asked, and they’re straightforward about what they can do—no special dog menu, but no friction about having your dog there either. The patio has heat lamps and a roof, so even when the marine layer rolls in (which it does most afternoons here), you’re not sitting in actual fog. The tables are far enough apart that a dog lying under one table won’t end up under a stranger’s feet.

Gourmet Au Bay sits on Bay Flat Road with views across the water toward the marina. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner, though hours shift seasonally, so confirm before you go. Bodega Bay itself is a working fishing village, not a manicured resort town, which means the waterfront still smells like salt and boats rather than sunscreen. If you’re making a day of it, Bodega Head’s coastal trails are about ten minutes away by car, and the beach access points along Bay Flat Road itself give you places to walk before or after eating. The patio faces the bay, so even while you’re at a table, there’s water and light and actual activity to watch.