As a restaurant critic’s dog, my pup has learned to recognize a good patio even without any food or drink.

But somehow he also learned not to seat himself.

When he sees some nice tables set outside, he’ll pull me toward a door, in search of a host stand, in hopes of being seated.

Which is why my dog Kōl Chu and I have paused on so many morning walks at neighborhood cafes to share breakfast, or brunch if we’re lucky. Our usual order is what we call a Kōl Special: a burger with the plain beef patty for him, leaving a toppings sandwich for me, sometimes with fries.

It’s an unexpected dog’s life. Likely a Dutch shepherd who didn’t want to be a K-9, he was given up to an animal shelter in Kentucky, pulled by a rescue in Tennessee, and transported to PAWS Chicago . I adopted him when he

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