Story and photos by Kelsey Warren-Bryant
I took my 15-year-old Lab mix named Boo to the Winston restaurant patio in Nor-
man at about 5 p.m. on a Sunday. Downtown Norman has mostly free parking, and with smaller crowds on a Sunday, we parked right by the glowing green Winston sign. The patio is covered and is right in front of the restaurant, so Boo and I walked straight onto the patio without the hassle of stepping inside the restaurant.
A host came out almost immediately and led us to an outdoor table. Restaurants are a rare treat for Boo, so while she excitedly investigated the area as far as her leash would allow, I settled into my seat. Our waitress, named Adi, brought water for both of us. She asked to pet Boo, who was thrilled to receive the attention.
The patio had a relaxed, chill vibe. A few groups were already seated, but the acoustics did not carry well outdoors, so noise was not an issue. Adi wasted no time in coming back to check on us.
Tasty Choices
When it was time to place my order, I asked if the restaurant had any options for my dog. Adi explained that the chef would be happy to grill some chicken, so I ordered grilled chicken for Boo and spiralized veggie noodles with chicken for myself.
Adi arrived with our food 15 minutes or so later. It looked delicious. My plate was full of orange spiral noodles made from sweet potatoes, topped with sliced grilled chicken with a perfect char on top. Boo’s plate of chicken looked great, and she gave it a hopeful sniff.
I could see steam rising from Boo’s plate, and it was clear that the food was going to be too hot for her. I poured some of my water on top to cool it down. Once I thought it was the right temperature, I set it on the ground in front of Boo. She went straight for the plate and gulped down the chicken in seconds. I would say she was a fan!
As for my dish, the veggie noodles with chicken were pretty good. The sliced chicken on top was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. The mixed-in sauce was tasty, and I was surprised to find that even though the noodles were made from sweet potatoes, the texture did somewhat resemble flour-based noodles. However, the noodles were loaded with rather large chunks of pepper and spices. I’m not a spicy girl myself, but I appreciated the unique and healthier menu option.
A Good Dining Experience
To sum things up, my experience at the Winston outdoor patio was a good one overall. The patio had a relaxed vibe, and Adi was an excellent server. The restaurant has unique dishes on the menu.
My dog Boo seemed to love her experience as well. The staff at the Winston took excellent care of her. If you are looking for a dog-friendly restaurant patio in Norman, I would definitely recommend checking out the Winston.
