Loko Waterford, Restaurant Review: Dog-Friendly Restaurant, Waterford

Loko Waterford is located on the Dunmore Road about 10 minutes from Waterford city centre in Ireland. The restaurant is located on the same retail park as Ardkeen Quality Food Stores. Loko is quite a large restaurant which spans over three floors. The decor is very trendy indeed with lots of quirky and interesting items decorating everything from the ceiling to the lampshades. You will also find some great pieces of art hanging on the walls.

I had been to Loko a few times before but I recently heard that they allowed dogs. With the recent change of legislation in Ireland, more and more restaurants are allowing dogs inside. As a dog owner, this is great as there is no more having to leave the dog at home, eat in the freezing cold in the outside area of a restaurant or just having to eat a take away in the car (all because a restaurant won’t take a dog … well done to Loko on that stroke of genius). Some restaurants treat you as if you wanted to bring your pet rat inside … those restaurants need to change with the times! Some restaurants say ‘we are dog friendly’ and then put you in a covered outdoor area but Loko actually bring you inside.

Booking a Dog-Friendly Table at Loko

So we booked a table for 2 humans and one dog. On arrival, we were greeted and shown to the doggy friendly area downstairs. We were given a water bowl for the dog and menus. You will find lots on the menu for you to enjoy. I do like seafood, and there is normally quite a selection on their menu. On this occasion, we had the monkfish scampi and the roast chicken. The Roast Chicken was superb as it came on a bed of mash, with onion gravy and large dumpling style balls of delicious stuffing. The scampi was light and perfectly cooked with a really crunchy panko style coating. 

During the meal, the owner came down to see if our dog would like to try some doggy beer. “Bottom Sniffer” is an alcohol-free, non-carbonated doggy beer. Apparently, the label says that it is the ultimate doggy refreshment which will help make your dog the leader of the pack and will have other dogs sniffing their bottoms with jealousy! (a marketing text which would work for this beer but probably would not work for Budweiser)

Of course, we enjoyed dessert afterwards, Bread and Butter Pudding and a brownie as far as I recall.

Loko is a very trendy and very enjoyable place to eat, with a menu which will suit almost every diner and welcomes everyone, including the canine members of the family. We really enjoyed our meal and we will certainly be back again soon.

The only thing is that the portions are on the larger side and for me, I would need to be hungry, even for some of the brunch items. (but hey, that’s just me)

On other occasions I have also enjoyed the PoBoy Seafood Baguette, the Sting Onion Rings and also the most amazing cinnamon rolls with icing that you have ever tried in your life. The staff are very friendly and there is a lot to enjoy and savour at Loko Restaurant Waterford.

Loko – Photo Gallery