You are getting a ton of misinformation: in the State of NJ, dogs are not legally allowed in any establishment where food is prepared or served, even outside. A few places in JC still allow this, but it is technically not legal for them to do so. About 10 years ago, some Karen made it her mission to get this addressed and (after enough complaints/reports) the State started sending letters to pretty much all food establishments reminding them of the rules, and there was a marked change (ie, drop) in places that continued this practice. As far as off leash, definitely not legal to do so outside of dog runs. We have those at Van Vorst Park, Hamilton Park, and a few other smaller parks, but they can get a little crowded at times and, as with everything, some dog owners are shit and don't really mind their dogs or how they are behaving. I have personally witnessed heated arguments and altercations in dog runs due to some careless, asshole owner allowing their dog to run amok disrupting the vibe of the other dogs.

Overall, JC is definitely great for owning a dog, and you will meet a ton of fellow dog owners, and it is also an easy way to get to know locals. You will learn very quickly that there are also a bunch of c*nts around town that refuse to pick up after their doggos. Some street sidewalks are sometimes akin to shit minefields, and we are soon to enter "snowy season" when a ton of additional people simply stop picking after their dogs. In the spring, or during the first hot snap, as the snow thaws and starts to melt, we are greeted with the glorious sight of turd fossils that have been encased in snow and ice for weeks/months. It's another JC thing.