By Michelle McGinley
My boyfriend Tim and I make a point of having date night at least once a week. We love experiencing new places and amazing food in the area, so our most recent date night brought us to White Dog Café in Wayne. On the recommendations of friends, I was dying to get to White Dog Café, not only for their food, but for their décor and ambiance as well. On the weekends, I definitely recommend making a reservation. I made ours about a week in advance using Open Table.
Upon approaching the modern looking building, the amazing decoration starts to come into view with two dog-shaped bushes on either side of the entrance. As we made our way into the restaurant, the hostesses greeted us with friendly smiles and escorted us to a brightly lit room in the back.
The restaurant is composed of numerous rooms for dining. The room we sat in had boat-like characteristics, with arched ceilings, mason jar lights, mix-matched wooden chairs, and lots of natural light in this mainly white room. On our way to be seated in this room, we passed by an atmospheric bar to the left and several other rustic rooms to the right revealing books suspended from the ceiling, plush chairs and rich furniture. Everywhere you look, you see dogs. White Dog’s strength is their attention to detail with both food and decor.
Tim and I began by ordering beverages. The woman next to us was drinking a refreshing looking beverage, so I inquired about it and discovered that it was a mango mojito garnished with mint and limes. From the beer list, Tim decided to try the Leg Lifter Lager by Stoudts. Our server brought us rolls and butter on a wooden serving tray, and we started by sharing a tasty bowl of Spiced Carrot-Saffron Soup. The presentation of this item is very unique, and to see it, you’ll just have to go order it for yourself!
For entrees, Tim ordered Hawaiian Spearfish from the specials menu. It came with fresh avocado and blackened shrimp, all on top of grilled pineapple, a coconut curry sauce, bok choi and micro greens. The spearfish was full of decadent flavors and I kept finding my fork wandering over to Tim’s plate. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this item eventually makes it to White Dog’s regular menu. I ordered the Icelandic Arctic Char on top of artichoke risotto and topped with preserved tomatoes, pancetta and delicate pea tendrils. This dish had subtle, fresh flavors. Now, to the best part – well for me anyways – dessert! Again, our order was swayed from looking at what our neighbors were enjoying. Glad we did, because the Caramel Apple Pudding is to die for! The presentation is so creative – it is delivered in an old-fashioned mason jar. This is a dessert you will not soon forget!
The service and staff were very friendly and accommodating. Many different people had visited our table to either bring us something or to see how we were doing. On our way out, we used the restrooms, which are just as wonderfully decorated as the rest of the establishment. Tiles on the walls show profiles of dogs and the tiles on the floor sported dog prints. If you are into dining at places with a quaint ambiance and fresh, locally bought food, then White Dog Café is definitely a must for date night. Enjoy!
About the Author
Michelle is an art teacher by day and a foodie by night. She loves to eat out at the different restaurants in the area with her boyfriend, Tim. She has a slight addiction to desserts or anything with sugar, for that matter. In her free time she enjoys riding her bike (to balance out her love for food), photography, cooking, baking, creative projects and traveling. She also has a dog named Jetta, who eats pretty well herself.
