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Wed. April 19, 2006, 09:36pm PDT
Cafes in Tacoma that leave something to be desired
Lunch duties are passed around the office each week so I've got a decent knowledge of places to grab some grub during the noon hour. I'm usually pretty easy to please but it's time to take the gloves off. There are three places in Tacoma that generally do not impress me and certainly don't persuade me to go out of my way to pay for what's on their menus. I'll tackle explaining why by laying out all three in order from best [of the worst] to worst.
Rosewood Cafe
First comes the North End's own Rosewood Cafe. Tucked away in an odd corner of town where the lines behind neighborhood and businesses are pretty much blurred beyond recognition. I hold nothing against their local-friendly location but I do have beefs elsewhere. My first experience with Rosewood came second-hand from one of my co-workers who called up to place our lunch order. Seeing how businesses fuel most of the day-to-day profits of many of these small restaurants I thought they would be more than receptive to our order. The experience was quite the opposite. My co-worker was actually told they didn't have time to take our order and left it at that. No "give me your number and we'll call you back" or "can you call us back in X number of minutes". This is poor service and poor business and it truly rubbed me and most folks in our office the wrong way. The food, once they let you order it, is decent. I had a ciabatta something sandwich today that was pretty filling but not all that tasty. Their menu leaves much to desire as well with a selection that doesn't do much to get my taste buds oiled up especially since pretty much every sandwich comes standard with red onions. I'm not sure if that's some kind of culinary hook or something but I'm not impressed.
These guys get a rating of "a few times a year" for shoddy service and a paltry menu.
Commencement Bay Coffee Co.
The name should pretty much say it all but they too offer up lunch fair for those brave enough to venture to their part of downtown Tacoma. It's not so much that the location is a door-locker but there's really not much around it. At all. No sizeable businesses within walking distance nor much in the way of housing (yet -- plenty of condos a'coming!) to encourage lunch time traffic. I don't have any immediate memories to call upon covering my experiences getting lunch there but we've had it in the office and it was memorable just enough that I know I wasn't impressed. Either the flavor was lacking or the quantity wasn't enough for me to feel my money would be well spent. Some food just has "it" and whether ordered last week or last year you remember how good it was. For Commencement Bay, I got nothin'.
The rating here would be "once or twice a year and I wouldn't go out of my way to take visitors". Stick to the coffee.
Antique Sandwich Co.
On a cute corner in Ruston at the gateway to Point Defiance sits a cute corner cafe that is an inviting stop to anyone expending energy biking or strolling through our gem of a park. Not so, says I. I've been in there a couple times after biking around the point and have been disappointed every time. For one, the sandwiches are only slightly larger than a slice of Wonder bread (which is small) and they pretty much only have multi-grain stuff that doesn't suit me at all. It's sour dough or better for me, baby! And although size doesn't always matter, taste most certainly does especially if your trying to satisfy a well-earned hunger from being out and about around Point Defiance. My biggest protest comes from the grotesque amount of sprouts they load onto each sandwich. They pile that stuff on like a blanket covering a mess on the floor. It's dry, has no flavor, and looks like little sperm that have confiscated your food. There's nothing refreshing about a dry, small sandwich and, for my money, I'd head a couple blocks up Pearl and hit up Tatanka for some serious buffalo burgers or burritos.
I give a pretty low rating of "only if I'm being polite" to Antique Sandwich Co. and that's if I'm with someone I don't know well. To anyone I know, I won't be polite. Let's hit up Tatanka instead!
So, that's all the negativity I have to dish out for now. There are so many other great places to eat around Tacoma that it's no shame to point out a few bad seeds. If any of them turn their act around, I'm more than willing to give them another shot. Cheers!
Comments (18) | To Top
4/20/2006 @ 7:36am
Kevin,
I hope somehow city developers read this. This is an underlying problem with not only Tacoma but its supporting communities. Oh sure there are a number of good little mom & pops but mostly it's lacking sheer numbers when it comes time to find lunch. Now don’t get me wrong I know there are good ones out there, but if you go to Seattle on every corner you have a choice. Tacoma is trying to become a destiny city but, I think in order to do this they need to give a little incentive to those brave enough to open a restaurant. We are the 9th highest taxed city in the nation when it comes to small business I know I work for one. Situation upon situation our city council has proven they can’t spend wisely. It’s time we give breaks to businesses that are just starting out. Are you listening Tacoma? University Place? Ruston way? Anyway ”that’s all I got to say about that”. Quote from Forrest Gump.
by Steve
4/20/2006 @ 8:28am
Thanks for the perspective, Steve. My co-worker and I were just talking about how the area we work has zero options for convenient and/or inviting lunch stops. Once you leave the area around Union Station and head south from 21st all the way to 38th there's pretty much nothing and you can't tell me that with all the businesses around here there isn't a demand.
It's just a shame since the pockets around here that do have nice little places to grab lunch (e.g. Union Station, top of the UW stairs, Proctor) actually feel like real communities.
by KevinFreitas
4/20/2006 @ 8:33am
You have tried MSM, right?
by Jamie
4/20/2006 @ 10:14am
I have I think once here at work -- what's their real name? I got the wrong kind of sandwich that time, though, as it paled in size to the ones my co-workers picked up.
So, does anyone think I'm right on with my critique above or am I way off base?
by KevinFreitas
4/20/2006 @ 10:26am
I believe that MSM stands for Magic Sandwich Makers. I don't know if they really are magic or not, but they make a great meatball sandwich. Pretty much any of their giant deli sandwiches are great, but I don't think I have quite the same discerning palette as you.
by Gabe
4/20/2006 @ 10:48am
Haven't eaten at Rosewood and I've only had coffee at CBCC, but I have always been underwhelmed with Antique Sandwich Co.--all atmosphere, but mediocre food. I guess atmosphere counts for something, but...
by Jamie
4/20/2006 @ 10:51am
Jamie: Antique Sandwich Co. has great atmosphere and location -- to bad they don't do more with it.
Gabe: Don't get me wrong, I loves me a fat, tasty sandwich. Ask my wife and you'll find out I made my own about every other day for dinner. I do Subway every now and then (depending on how lazy we feel) too. If my sandwich doesn't have any solid flavor, count me out. That's pretty much the extent of my palette's sophistication.
by KevinFreitas
4/20/2006 @ 4:21pm
You aren't that far off...
However, I've generally had good experiences at Rosewood. It's been strictly dinner time. Lunch may be different. We've walked there with our dog and sat outside. MSM was a regular staple in my diet for many years. A 13 inch Italian sub always lasted two meals for me. Now I'm getting hungry.
There aren't many options in town. Burger Bar for some Teriyaki. Lots of Thai places. Vuelve la Vida for Mexican. But as far as a good sandwich place goes - I can't think of anything other than what's been said already. MSM is it. Cajun Club from the Harvester? Hardly a stellar choice, but it is a choice.
We once tried to find a late lunch - 3:00 ish - on a Sunday in downtown Tacoma. That was a miserable experience.
by Derek
4/21/2006 @ 8:36pm
Have you tried Meconi's (www.tacomapub.com)? They're near the end of Pacific at 7th Street. I've been there for lunch a few times and have always been able to find something on the menu (big for a "selective" diner like myself). Nice change from my standard downtown choices of Subway or Park Place (love their grilled cheese!). I also enjoy the occasional sandwich from Hal of a Sub, also located at the northern end of Pacific. BTW - I lived down the street from MSM for years. None of us know what the MSM stands for but I buy the Magic Sandwich Makers!
by Angela
4/21/2006 @ 8:38pm
Oh, and I forgot to add - in reference to Commencement Bay Coffee Co. - I don't know about the food but they have the best hot chocolate I've ever had!
by Angela
4/21/2006 @ 10:23pm
Meconi's is pretty good. Nice clean place as well. Since our old office was right off Fireman's Park I grew to love that little corner of town especially since they painted up all those buildings. Good call on that one.
I will have to try out Commencement Bay's drinks sometime. I'm sure, like you say, they're fantastic. After all, coffee and warm drinks are what we do 'round these parts.
by KevinFreitas
4/22/2006 @ 6:35am
The Pacific Grill @ 15 & Pacific, the Marriott, has these great little burger - they call them "sliders" and they also have an awsome ahi sandwich both are great for lunch & are discounted for happy hour. I also have heard that a Pita Pit (healthy sandwiches and smoothies) is coming to the Marriott.
by Mark
4/22/2006 @ 7:27am
Thanks for the Pacific Grill tip, Mark. I haven't ventured there for lunch yet (even though my wife works across the street) but those sliders sound pretty tasty. I presume the cost is a bit more than more of a mom-n-pop place but I can dish out a bit more for a good dish.
by KevinFreitas
4/24/2006 @ 9:16pm
I've been enjoying Joeseppi's on N 21st and Pearl. They have good, solid deli sandwiches for lunch, as well as yummy pasta and salads. Doesn't look like much on the outside, but worth the price of admission - under $25 for two people with boxes to take home.
by ensie
9/1/2006 @ 2:09pm
Maybe you can help me out... I'm looking for a good place to have coffee and conversation after work, but I get off work at 8:30pm and everything seems to close at 9pm.
by Andi
9/1/2006 @ 2:59pm
Andi: You can try the Mandolin Cafe (http://www.themandolincafe.com) up near Proctor and S. 12th. Their hours are M-W 6a-10p, Th-F 6-12, Sat 7a-12p, Sun 7a-10p That's probably your best bet for coffee here in town unless someone can think of something better.
Enjoy!
by KevinFreitas
10/24/2006 @ 9:27am
You might want to try Bertolino's for nighttime. They're open 24 hours. They don't have much in the line of foodstuff, sticking to bagels and cookies mostly, but the coffee flavor list is huge and they also serve cocoa, italian soda and the like. I've given you the url (above) so you can check it out.
by sack36
10/24/2006 @ 9:29am
sorry. The url didn't show. here it is:
http://www.bertolinos.com/
by sack36