Lunch today with some of my favorite people at 208 Garfield,which sensably enough is located at 208 Garfield Street South, Tacoma, WA near PLU. The restaurant really has a great menu. I had a delicious grilled cheese with grilled red onions and a small side salad for only $4! I also had a filter dripped coffee for $2.
Bob’s Famous Java Jive at 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98409 is indeed a Tacoma landmark. It was constructed in 1927 and it was originally known as The Coffee Pot Restaurant. It has functioned as a drive through restaurant, a speakeasy during prohibition, a go go bar and a place for karaoke. Between talking to the bartender and online research, I learned a couple of things. At one point the Java Jive had two chimpanzees — Java and Jive. When it was a speakeasy the liquor and gambling was hidden away behind a secret door behind the men’s room urinal. But it was the secret room in the ladies room which had the illegal supplies for the mayor and other VIPs. The structure was built in the tideflats and then the sections were bolted together on the site. Two movies were filmed there: I Love You To Death with River Phoenix and Say Anything with John Cusack. Nirvana and The Ventures have both played here. And it is on the Tacoma Historic Register.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2977
After work my friends and I went to Stonegate Pizza and Rum Bar at 5421 South Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409. It had a comfortable feel, good food, friendly service and was reasonably priced. I didn’t haven rum, but apparently there are over 100 types. While we were enjoying our meal, a magician came to our table. How cool is that?! And he was great. Even up close, I couldn’t figure out how the magic was done.
The building was constructed in 1908 and renovated for its current use in 2007. Their 
Facebook Page is located here http://www.facebook.com/pages/STONEGATE-RESTAURANT-BAR/252566649502
I’ve been wanting to go to 1022 South in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma for ages and today was the day. They have happy hour from 4 to 8 everyday and their prices were very reasonable for the quality. I treated myself to a hot mulled cider with brandy and it was very wonderful. We also had some small plates that were delicious. We made an agreement to go back soon because they had many other delicious looking drinks and it is a great place to unwind after a long work week. My one small complaint was it was such a small space and pretty much packed.
Their website is here 1022south.com/
The mural celebrating Doyle’s Public House is truly glorious! It is large scale reproduction of one of the original Guinness advertising signs. Per Wikipedia a slogan associated with Guinness in the 1940 was “Toucans in their nests agree/Guinness is good for you/Try some today and see/What one or toucan do.”
Doyle’s is located in the Stadium District at 208 Saint Helen’s Avenue and is a well regarded traditional Irish Pub which celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day every month on the 17th.
http://www.doylespublichouse.com/
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
After work today a group of us stopped at a relatively new place called D.O.A. (Dirty Oscar’s Annex) at 309 Sixth Avenue. We each got an appetizer and had a scrumptious fest! There was beer battered asparagus (my favorite), flat bread. two kinds of chicken wing, potato wedges and fries. All this wonderful food was very reasonably priced.
Here is a recent review
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/spew-blog/2011/01/dirty-ocars-annex-opens-in-tacoma/
After a long work week I was glad to meet my friend for a quick happy hour glass of wine at the Top of Tacoma. We shared the delicious chicken nachos and really there was enough there for a couple more people! The food there is not the fried food I typically associate with bars, but instead is pretty darned tasty.
During nicer weather, there is outside patio seating. I love their ornate metal fence which features tops!
♥
Flying Boots Restaurant & Spur
614 South 38th Street
Tacoma, WA 98418-6716
(253) 475-9628
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
Today was a rainy day that got away from me before night fell. In the darkness, I found the 43rd Street Pub and loved the neon. No, I didn’t go in! Just took the photo. This is a neighborhood bar and it is my understanding that it has new owners. In any case, it has recently been fixed up and cleaned up. The great neon sign says “Time to stop, U Betcha Pub” and it also has a clock.
4302 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98418-7734
(253) 475-6358
If you’d like to see a better photo of the sign (and really, it wouldn’t take much!), look here! http://www.flickr.com/photos/justintron/6423115601/
