Category Archives: Coffee Shops, cafes and bistros

Krispy Kreme

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About once a year or so, dear daughter and I stop at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts by the Tacoma Mall. I remember when Krispy Kreme came to Washington State. I dragged my dear husband up to Issaquah to check them out! We must have stood in line for almost an hour, but it was like a party with everybody happy and visiting. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they handed out warm, fresh doughnuts to everybody in line! Now that there are 8 locations in Washington State the novelty has gone away.

This afternoon when we stopped at our local Kripy Kreme, there were only two other customers in line, a father and his wide eyed son. But the doughnuts are still good and I look forward to next year when we go again!

http://www.krispykreme.com/home

Bertolino Bros Coffee Bar

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by Gexydaf
, a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

I didn’t realize that Bertolino Bros. Coffee at 2421 South Union in the Tacoma Central Shopping Center was open 24/7 until I made a quick stop. Good to know. I don’t usually have blended drinks, but the green tea cream just looked so good that I gave in. This family owned and run business has a wonderful feel about it and the staff and food are great.

http://www.bertolinos.com/owner.html

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Seasonal Delights Cafe & Espresso Co.

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Days when everything goes right deserve a treat, so dear daughter and I stopped at a new to us place in Freighthouse Square called Seasonal Delights Cafe & Espresso Co. We shared this wonderful, still warm cinnamon bun and half was plenty. Next time we’ll go for dinner or lunch and try the crepes!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seasonal-Delights-Cafe-Espresso-Co/135368629853945?sk=photos

Ha!  Nobody has ever accused me of being cutting edge, but two days after we were there the Tacoma News Tribune reviewed this restaurant 🙂

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/tntdiner/2011/04/08/butter-me-up-the-waft-of-cinnamon-returns-to-tacomas-freighthouse-square/

Update June 2013: Sadly when I stopped by this week to buy a pie, Season Delights was gone. It appears that they vacated the space in April or May.

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Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt

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Gibson's Frozen Yogert by Gexydaf
Gibson’s Frozen Yogert, a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt opened on Valentine’s Day 2011 in the Stadium District and tonight after dinner we went there to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break. It was fun and delicious and not very expensive, so what more could we want?

Dear daughter and I sampled almost all of the flavors before going with the French Vanilla, Chocolate and Cookies & Cream. Then we added Hot Carmel, Hot Fudge, Strawberries, Maraschino Cherries, Gummy Bears, M&Ms, Walnuts, Whipped Cream and Rainbow Sprinkles (not all items were on both servings!). Then we sat down to eat some serious tastiness. The place wasn’t very crowded when we got there, but by the time we left, it was packed. And both the employees and the customers seemed to really be enjoying themselves. I was glad to see the crowd in hopes that Gibson’s Yogurt is here to stay!

UpdateL 6.16 Sadly Gibson’s was not here to stay. The store closed earlier this year.

http://www.gibsonsyogurt.com/

  

Starbucks, always reliable

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by Gexydaf
, a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

Today’s new place is the Starbucks at the corner of Sixth and Pine (601 Pine Street, Tacoma). It looked much like all the other Starbucks, warm and comfortable. The service was friendly and fast and the coffee especially good for some reason. The breakfast roll was warmed and very delicious. There is a reason that Starbucks has a following.

http://www.starbucks.com/

Update 2/2015 This location has closed, which surprises me since it was always busy when I went.

 

Hello, Cupcake

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It’s my dear daughter’s birthday and instead of a cake she wanted a cupcake from Hello, Cupcake in the University of Washington, Tacoma area. They have the best cupcakes that any of us have ever had! Dear daughter prefers the red velvet, I like the vanilla on vanilla and my husband likes the carrot cake version. But, really, you can’t go wrong!

They are located at 1740 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405. A single cupcake, which is large enough to share, costs $2.55.

Their website is here
http://www.hello-cupcake.com/

Hello, Cupcake is located in a building owned by the University of Washington. The property had originally been known as the Birmingham Hay & Seed Co. Warehouse and was constructed in 1903.

Today’s Soup Tomato Basil

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Today’s Soup Tomato BasilOriginally uploaded by Gexydaf

Forza is a relatively small chain with 23 locations and today I stopped at the Forza at 1202 S Union St., Tacoma, WA 98438. I met a dear friend and we had coffee and visited. Twas a lovely after work event.

http://www.forzacoffeecompany.com/

Update: This Forza location closed in early 2012 and the space is available for lease.

Dorky’s Arcade Pinball Food Drinks

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Dorky’s is one of the newer businesses in downtown Tacoma. It is a multilevel arcade that as of tomorrow will offer food and in the future will have a liquor license. For a couple of dollars, you can have a lot of entertainment with machines like Ms. PacMan, Frogger and Asteroids.

I love the PacMan on the wall that they made out of keys!

Their Facebook page says “Dedicated to Old School Video Games and Pinball Machines we are working to have a place to play all the fun machines from our youth that you can’t find any where. 80’s and 90’s Classics All Video Arcade Games and Vintage Pinball Machines are 25 cents Newer Pinball machines are 50 Cents.”

754 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 627-4156

 
  

Bair Bistro in Steilacoom

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Today I had lunch with my dear friends at Bair Bistro (Living Museum, Restaurant & Country Store) at 1617 Lafayette Street in Steilacoom, WA 98388, (253) 588-9668. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy their meals and the service was good.

This building, which was constructed in 1895 used to be Bair Drug and Hardware. Information provided by the business via Yelp states “The Bair Drug and Hardware building has been in existence since 1895. Since that time, it has been a post office, drug store, hardware store and restaurant. Currently, the Bair Drug and Hardware building is home of The Bair Bistro. However, the dining area is full of relics, tools and gadgets from its earlier days.”

The newest use, The Bair Bistro, opened on Mother’s Day in 2010
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/18/1075176/historic-bair-drug-to-reopen-as.html

Their Facebook page is here
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1247456349#!/pages/The-Bair-Bistro-at-The-Bair-Drug-and-Hardware/372346062940?v=info

Patty’s Burger on South Tacoma Way

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So for the first time today, my husband said let’s go find you a new restaurant for lunch so you have your new place of the day. That was so sweet! He had read a good review of Patty’s Burgers, so after seeing The King’s Speech at the Grand, off we went! Patty’s Burgers is a cheerful place with a 50s theme. The service was super friendly and quick. Our burgers and fries would never be mistaken for health food, but they were a tasty treat! Next time I’m trying one of those great looking milkshakes! The TV screen shows photos of people that have tried the ambitious cake burger with 8 hamburger patties.

For a review of Patty’s Burgers go to:
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/restaurants/restaurants/south-sound-restaurant-guide-tacoma-pattys-burgers-and-milkshakes/

For a list of restaurants where you can buy an extra huge hamburger look here:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/07/30/1282725/caloric-monsters-make-sure-to.html

5615 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409-4215
(253) 474-0844

Patty’s Burger is located in the South Tacoma Business District. http://southtacomabusinessdistrict.com/