Siena Tavern

A reported dog menu, and a restaurant that does not mention it

do312's dog-friendly patio guide says Siena Tavern has "a puppy menu." Choose Chicago is more specific: a "puppy ciao" menu of "grilled meats and dog-friendly ice cream."

What Siena Tavern publishes itself is the address, the phone number, the hours and its food and drink menus — and nothing about dogs, a patio or outdoor seating anywhere.

Both halves of that matter. The dog menu is reported by two sources this directory accepts at overview level, and the restaurant's own site does not confirm it exists, does not price it, and does not say where a dog may sit.

It joins a familiar group. Nonnina, Lyra, The Bandit, Taureaux Tavern and Barrio are all reported to serve dog menus by the local press, and not one of them mentions dogs on its own website either. The exception is Bar Siena, which puts a priced "Puppy Ciao" menu on its own menu page — and even that does not say where a dog is allowed to sit.

Two things to know before you go

It is 21 and over after 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Siena Tavern's own site says so. Lunch and the earlier part of the evening are the window.

Every dog menu in this city sits awkwardly with the ordinance. Chicago Municipal Code 4-8-031 permits a dog to be given water but not food in a food establishment's designated dog-friendly area. This directory records both facts and does not pretend to resolve them. The Patios and Restaurants page explains the code, including the requirement that the dog-friendly area be outdoors with its own street entrance.

Since Siena Tavern publishes nothing about outdoor seating, that is the first question for the phone: is there a patio, and may a dog sit there?

Lost dog? Chicago Animal Care and Control at 2741 S Western is the city's open-admission shelter and the first place to look.