Breakfast in Tacoma? (31. July 2006, 12:10 by Derek Young) ~ I Need Your Help
Rec’d via email:
Question: Is there anywhere in Tacoma to get a really tasty and somewhat gourmet breakfast? We love some of the greasy old-fashioned favorites (Knapp’s, Harvester, HobNob, Southern Kitchen), but would love to find something on par with Dish Cafe in Seattle (gasp!) or even one of the Coastal Kitchen/Five Spot variety.
Answer: Short answer – No. Long answer – I can’t think of any. It’s that ‘gourmet’ part of the question that throws me off. Mmmm.. the Five Spot… Anybody else have input?
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I think tacoma is all about grease… I personally like Burrs in lakewood… Elmers is also really good and maybe a little more “gourmet”
Believe it or not, the Pegasus on Puyallup ave has a large selection of omlets.
1 | Posted by Zintradi | Jul 31, 02:26 PM
I’m a big fan of the Old Milwaukee Cafe on 6th ave. Best breakfast in town.
2 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Jul 31, 02:44 PM
Not being familiar with those locations, please elaborate. Are we talking greasy super-size helpings, or quality, not quantity? I’ve always thought the Antique Sandwich always has a nice breakfast menu. And I don’t mean Denver omelets and biscuits and gravy. And great coffee to wash it down. Guilty pleasure – I do like Elmers, though.
3 | Posted by Dave L. | Jul 31, 03:00 PM
It’s funny I was talking with my wife just the other day about this very same topic. We would love to see a Coastal Kitchen or Cafe Flora type place down here. We tried the Hob Nob, but I was not impressed. What will it take for Tacoma to get more quality restaurants that are both creative and affordable?
4 | Posted by morgan | Jul 31, 03:29 PM
What will it take for Tacoma to get more quality restaurants that are both creative and affordable?
People in Tacoma love Knapps food and the food at the Hob Knob. It is risky to start a restaurant with a different type of a menu. Yet, I do think the market is getting close to supporting a new breakast place on 6th Avenue or downtown (in another 6 months).
5 | Posted by Erik | Jul 31, 04:03 PM
People in Tacoma love Knapps food and the food at the Hob Knob. It is risky to start a restaurant with a different type of a menu.
I totally disagree with the implication that Tacoma “isn’t ready” for restaurants in this vein… I think it vastly underestimates the people of this city to say things like this, and frankly find the statement a bit snobbish.
Not to mention that, now or five years ago, a good vegetarian restaurant would do bang-up business in this town…
More on topic, Shakabrah may not be an elegant-looking place, but they sure put together some good breakfasts.
I’ve heard good things about Sunday brunch at Old House Cafe in the Proctor District. Haven’t tried it yet though.
7 | Posted by Allison | Jul 31, 04:21 PM
I think it vastly underestimates the people of this city to say things like this,
Restaurants designs follow the perception of the market out there whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
I personally support a whole new slew of different restaurants in Tacoma.
However, like it or not, the people running current restaurants and starting new ones are going to follow what they think is popular enough to survive.
With that said, new restaurants in Tacoma are springing up and I would not be surprised if we saw a different crop soon. We certainly have for lunch and dinner.
8 | Posted by Erik | Jul 31, 04:41 PM
I heard that Puget Sound Pizza had a good breakfast. When I went there one morning though – and I am not able to get out frequently – I was told “Sorry, we’re out.”
Out!?
How do you run “out” of breakfast?! It was not even 10am!
Tacoma businesses just do things “differently” it seems…
9 | Posted by morgan | Jul 31, 09:35 PM
We’ve tried a few breakfast joints in Tacoma but have found the food to be underwhelming. Maybe we need to hit the right restaurants.
Our favorite eatery for breakfast is Wild Wheat in Kent. They bake their own breads and desserts in-house and make some of the tastiest omelets around.
Is there a restaurant in Tacoma of the same caliber? If this type if restaurant can thrive in Kent I’m sure it can here.
10 | Posted by Mike H | Jul 31, 09:49 PM
I agree with Mike H. regarding the bread and pastry goods at the Wild Wheat – some of the best in the Sound. Not in agreement about the rest though. Does anyone know of an artisan bakery in Tacoma?
I like Shakabrah and Old Milwaukee for breakfast. As places, filled with people, they have each their own unique character.
11 | Posted by Wildono | Jul 31, 11:29 PM
One of my very favorites in Seattle is the Portage Bay Cafe. They have a fresh fruit and berry bar for all your french toast, buckwheat pancakes, various oatmeals, etc. They also have interesting things like Chicken Sage sausage and the like. It’s definitely worth the trip up north and be prepared to hang out, read the paper and wait a bit for a table.
I realize this was not the original question, but if any Tacoma restauranteurs are reading this, they should take note!
13 | Posted by laura | Aug 1, 10:01 AM
Has anyone tried Dad’s Bakery and Deli on 6th? I haven’t had the chance to stop by, but the promise of fresh pastries is enticing. Also, on Saturday mornings you can sometimes get fresh bread from the family who owns Upper Crust; the owner is a baker by trade, and he makes some yummy stuff.
14 | Posted by Rachel | Aug 1, 10:42 AM
The Dish
The Scarlett Tree
Pete’s Egg Nest
Geraldine’s Counter
Both Ways Cafe
...some places we used to like in Seattle. It seems like every neighborhood has one. And there are also independent bakeries, etc. Tacoma, well, it really lacks. This is a serious quality of life issue, people.
I too disagree that Tacoma isn’t “ready” for places like this. Any bfast joint neighborhood with a small commercial area could make a killing. My wife and I used to go out every single Sunday. Wait lists in most good restaurants are at 20 or more minutes by 9:30 am. I have thought of opening a place just so I will have one near my new house, but don’t have the time and don’t want to be an absentee owner.
In case anyone is thinking of it too, PLEASE OPEN A BREAKFAST RESTAURANT IN LINCOLN!!!!! To make ends meet, serve cocktails like the Scarlett Tree. I promise to eat there ALL the time.
17 | Posted by kanpai | Aug 1, 06:34 PM
As much as I’m loathe to critique a fresh business, I found Dad’s cafe (responding to April’s question) to be slightly less than adequate. One might expect a hearty grilled sandwich…or at least a hearty grilled CHEESE sandwich, but they only serve cold and with materials that seem very Safeway.
And with Krispy Kreme basically over-franchising right about when everyone realized just how fat everyone else had become, it seems to me a bit foolish not to employ the “hot turkey goodness” that a name like Dad’s evokes.
I don’t know about food but I know what I like to eat.
Oh…and if you are ruing the absence of a joint that serves breakfast with garnish you actually want to eat, consider that a few short years ago you couldn’t find upscale gravy-laden Thai food anywhere along Sixth…but you can now!
In other words, I would guess there Coastal Kitchen, et al, are paying VERY close attention to Tacoma.
18 | Posted by Pete | Aug 1, 09:00 PM
Over the moon cafe on Opera Alley is a cool hip little joint…They have a killer pound cake!!
19 | Posted by Macy | Aug 2, 02:26 PM
Thanks, y’all…
Too bad about Dad’s—I had high hopes. Ditto the desire for Coastal Kitchen or, better and better, Geraldine’s Counter! I can’t imagine there wouldn’t be lines miles long outside a North End, 6th Ave., or Stadium District eatery that featured black beans, decent salsa at breakfast, something with eggs besides omelets, and home-baked scones without the icky sugary toppings. Or a local outlet of the extraordinary “Besalu” bakery in Ballard. (I’m not dissin’ on other neighborhoods; just don’t know them as well). If only the Rosewood served breakfast, at least on weekends!
I had fantasies of a letter-writing campaign to some of my favorite Seattle spots…Bick’s in Greenwood would be a great addition, too (NOT that I want Tacoma to be Seattle-South. We love the quirky local stuff, too).
20 | Posted by Alison | Aug 2, 05:40 PM
I believe the Rosewood is serving brunch on Sundays.
21 | Posted by John | Aug 2, 07:46 PM
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