Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Anthony's stays pretty busy as a result. You'll find everything from clam chow-
der and pan-fried oysters to alder-planked salmon and cioppino. For a light
meal, try the fish tacos.
5910 N. Waterfront Dr.
&
253/752-9700.
www.anthonys.com. Reservations accepted for 6 or more people
(call-ahead wait list available for smaller parties). Main courses $5-$17. AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-
9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm; Sun 10am-9:30pm.
Café Divino
ITALIAN This little hole-in-the-wall wine bar and
restaurant is located in the historic Old Town Tacoma neighborhood, which is
north of present-day downtown Tacoma. The menu is short and the wines by
the glass tend to be a bit pricey, but the food is good and the atmosphere is bois-
terously convivial. Some simple sandwiches (try the pesto chicken) and a few
pasta dishes comprise the bulk of the menu, but most people end up assembling
meals from the excellent salads and appetizers. Try the oven-roasted prawns and
the smoked salmon quesadilla. Because this restaurant is only 2 blocks from the
Ruston Way waterfront, you should try to get in a stroll before or after a meal.
2112 N. 30th St.
&
253/779-4226.
Reservations recommended. Main courses $8-$12. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri 11am-11pm; Sat noon-10pm.
Harmon Pub and Brewery
AMERICAN Located in a renovated old
commercial building across from the Washington State History Museum, this
large pub is Tacoma's favorite downtown after-work hangout and business lunch
spot. The menu is primarily burgers and pizza, but there are also usually more
interesting specials, and, of course, plenty of good microbrews. The pub has
adopted an outdoors theme, with the winter ski season seeing various skiing-
oriented special events.
1938 Pacific Ave.
&
253/383-2739.
www.harmonbrewing.com. Reservations not accepted. Main courses
$7-$16. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-8pm.
The Lobster Shop South
SEAFOOD This is the most upscale and
expensive of the Ruston Way seafood places and has long been the city's top
special-occasion seafood restaurant. The view's the thing here, and in summer
there is lots of outdoor seating on the deck. Starters include a respectable New
England-style clam chowder and a good lobster bisque. But the appetizer not to
miss is the hot Dungeness crab dip, made with crab, artichoke hearts, onions,
and Parmesan. Dishes on the main menu tend toward simple preparations made
with lots of butter, but the daily fresh sheet has more creative dishes. The crab
cakes and the cioppino are always good bets, too. Sunday through Friday
between 4:30pm and 5:30pm, there are $15 three-course dinners.
4013 Ruston Way.
&
253/759-2165.
www.lobstershop.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$8-$15 lunch, $17-$30 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm and 4:30-9:30pm; Fri
11:30am-2:30pm and 4:30-10pm; Sat 4:30-10pm; Sun 9:30am-1:30pm (brunch) and 4:30-9:30pm.
IN STEILACOOM
The Bair Restaurant
SODA FOUNTAIN/INTERNATIONAL
Perhaps the best reason to visit Steilacoom is to have a milkshake or an ice
cream soda at this historic 1906 soda fountain. The interior of this old wooden
building is kept the way it might have looked back when it was a hardware store,
making the place part museum, part soda fountain. However, people no longer
drop in for nails or tools, but they do line up for ice-cream sundaes and the like.
This is the oldest soda fountain we know of in the Northwest and is one of our
favorites. Although dinner is served on Friday and Saturday nights in summer
Finds
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