Late Spring and early summer are ideal times to visit three of my favorite sunny weather restaurants: the Topside Bar & Grill in Steilacoom, The Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, and Katie Downs on Ruston Way in Tacoma. Katie Downs is only a mile from my home, so it was my first choice for a lovely spring afternoon lunch.
Katie Downs is only a mile from my home, so it was my first choice for a lovely spring afternoon lunch.Katie Downs has a large deck with tables that accommodate singles, couples, and more. Sliding glass doors give easy access to the deck or the pathway to the bathroom. Guests can either order at the bar or sit and have the waitstaff find you. While waiting you can enjoy the view of Vashon Island, Northeast Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, and the shoreline that runs from downtown Tacoma all the way to Point Ruston and beyond.
While waiting you can enjoy the view of Vashon Island, Northeast Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, and the shoreline that runs from downtown Tacoma all the way to Point Ruston.We usually know exactly what we want when we stop in for a meal at Katie Downs. Peg loves the personal Pizza. This time around she ordered a veggie pizza with Canadian bacon. It came with lots of greens and a wonderful orange vinaigrette. I got a nibble of the pizza and it was excellent as usual. Peg ate half and took the other half home for her dinner.
I ordered my usual: fish and chips with three pieces of cod. I was disappointed that Peg didn’t order the prawns and chips, because we share. I often order the salad, but this time had the curly fries, which were excellent. The fish was perfectly cooked. We like the batter. It’s not overcooked and greasy. They also don’t charge extra for tarter sauce . . . even when you ask for extra tarter sauce. I always start by squeezing lemon juice over the fish and then eat my cole slaw, while the lemon juice soaks into the batter. I gave half a piece of fish to Peg, even though it broke my heart. As always, it tasted like more . . . www.katiedowns.com/
Katie Downs is 2 blocks from my house, excellent food, but very expensive, so I get my Alaskan Cod fish n chips from The Daily Catch at Pt. Ruston for $7 less. I go for the food, not the ambiance.
I do K-D once a year, and Daily Catch 4-6 times. Just sayin’….
P Rose,
Thanks for writing. I haven’t been to the daily catch, yet. I think they just do outside seating? Like you I’m just a few blocks from Ruston Way. I’ll try the fish out. Have you tried the fish and chips at the Spar, which is also probably only a few blocks away from your home. You are right, the food at Katie Downs is a bit pricey but the ambiance and view are worth it (every once in a while). I was also impressed the Just Around the Corner #2 on South Tacoma Way for their fish . . . and it was a lot less expensive than KD as well. Would appreciate your take on Fish, Fish, Fish (new on Sixth Avenue) if you try their fish and chips. I ate there during their first week, but won’t write a review until I go back next month.
Thanks, again for reading AND for commenting.
Don
The Spar fish n chips is ok for some, but the home made chips give me a digestive misadventure. Must be their cooking oil. The Daily Catch is indeed outdoor dining, but one can use the adjacent restaurant outdoor seating with permission, but that is good consideration anyway. I choose to make a pinic of it at a nearby waterfront park table.
The Topside Bar and Grill in Steilacoom has excellent reasonably priced Cod fish n chips, but don’t believe it is on the printed menue, so I just ask for it. Afterwards ice cream at Blairs Drug Store. Also in Steilacoom is the Steilacoom Pub and Grill with excellent Cod fish n chips accompanied with questionable coleslaw.
Ruston Way also has the Northern Fish monger store with consistently excellent Cod fish n chips, with a couple outdoor picnic tables and railroad ambiance.
Not visited the Fish Fish Fish store on 6th Ave as it has iffy street parking, same for The Daily Catch at Ruston Point with its unique parking issues.
All things said, I certainly am pleased with the increased numbers of fish n chips stores in our area compared to what was available in the last century
Don – Last week Evening Magazine did a shoot from a place called Little Jerry’s out near 84th & Park in the Fern Hill area. It’s a Jerry Seinfeld show themed restaurant and the food looked pretty good. Since you liked the place out on South Tacoma Way you might want to check this one out. From their website it looks like they’re only open until about 3:00 pm. I haven’t been there yet.
Hi, Colin,
Thanks for thinking of me . . . take a look at http://www.nwadventures.us/Little-Jerrys-Review.html. I like the place . . . kinda quirky . . . not always open when it should be . . . but YES you need to try it out. Good food and good prices.
Don
p.s. Enjoy!