8802 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98465
253 565 4532

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekdays
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Steamers Café at Titlow Beach, at the far west end of 6th Avenue in Tacoma, presents some accessibility problems, being on the far side of railroad tracks, and up a rise, but they have done everything they can to make it accessible to everyone. There are two handicapped parking spaces right next to the building, a large passenger drop off area right there, and a ramp to the door. There is plenty of parking on the far side of the tracks, and I managed to cross over with my walker with a little care. If the interior is too crowded for you, eat outside at one of the many view tables and relax.

That being said, I had the best salmon dish I have ever had in my life and I have tried a lot of salmon.

We ordered at the counter and food was brought to our table. We had the Smoked Salmon Salad sandwich at $8.99, True Cod and Chips (3 pieces) $7.99, they mixed a bowl of Clams and Mussels for us at $11.99, we had a Caesar side salad at $1.99 and a 6 ounce glass of white wine at $3. Everything came with coleslaw which was very bland and not up to the standard of the excellent main dishes.

The smoked salmon salad had salmon, dressing, and seasonings on rye swirl bread, a heavenly combination, with smoky tangy flavor and flaky texture.  I loved it. The fish and chips were excellent with very crisp breadcrumbs and tender, perfectly cooked fish. Both these dishes came with good fries. The shellfish were tiny, tender, and delicious, and so good right from the shell that they hardly needed the garlic butter. The broth was so well seasoned with herbs that you wanted to drink it. A nice sourdough roll was good for dipping.

Really excellent food, casual dining, medium priced, great view, and worth the visit.

204 Center Street E
Eatonville, WA 98328
360-832-7866

Sunday to Thursday

8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hours flexible for events.

On a recent trip through the Eatonville area, we stopped in at Bruno’s and it was very interesting.

The restaurant was dirty and rundown. The bathroom was not accessible. The service was terrible.  But, the food was delicious!

It is hard to understand how such amazing food could be produced at a restaurant where there is so little interest in making the patron comfortable.

When we mentioned this, our waitress said this was only her third day, but that did not excuse the dirty carpet or the fact that our appetizer came long after our main dish, or that others were served in a more timely manner than us. Prices range from toast at $1.99 to a 16 oz. rib-eye steak at $24.99.

We had the Fettuccine Alfredo Light Lunch at 7.99,which had homemade Alfredo sauce (wonderful!) on fettuccine noodles topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, served with two pieces of garlic toast, and a piece of grilled chicken breast that I did not order but which added $1.99 to the cost. I don’t like grilled chicken but this was at least tasty. Also, Bruno’s Kibble at $7.99, hand-cut Certified Angus beef steak tenders, cooked chicken-fried steak style, in the original or less spicy style, with delicious aoli dip, also ranch sauce and barbecue sauce, barley soup at $6.99, and a house salad at $3.99. The salad was fresh and the house ranch was very good, but it only had one slice of cucumber and one slice of tomato. The barley soup was very good but tasted like it was mushroom soup from can combined with something else to pick it up.

The appetizer, Kibble, came last and it was wonderful. Crispy, tender, lightly battered beef with great dipping aoli.

A very edible meal in a less than appetizing place.

4306 Pacific Hwy E
Fife, WA 98424
(253) 922-5599

Open Feb. 1 to Nov. 30
M-Sat: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On a nice Saturday we were driving down Pacific Highway in Fife when we saw a line of people standing out front of what appeared to be a hot dog stand.  Being a lover of a good frankfurter, in a few minutes I was parked outside of the Pick-Quick Drive-In, a tiny establishment with a big reputation that goes back 63 years. They have a walk up window, a basic menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, shakes and fries, lots of parking and picnic area with about 20 tables. You need a little patience since the line can be two dozen people deep. If they are busy, be sure to check your order before you leave the window because the three women taking orders and cooking are friendly but frazzled.

We had fries two ways, with chili (lots of mild meaty chili) for $3.65, and plain for $2.05. The fries are hand cut, thin, with skins on, and very tasty. We had a Polish Coney dog at $4.40, a plain Polish hot dog and a plain hamburger at $2.65. The Coney dog was a good spicy dog with lots of chili, cheese, and onions on a big soft roll.. The flavors blended in a moment or two as the heat from the hot dog and chili melted the cheese and warmed the onions. The plain hot dog was pretty standard but big. I got the plain hamburger just to see what a basic burger was, and it was a commercial patty on a very good hamburger bun. We had a mountain blackberry shake at $3.01 that was thick and tasted just like blackberries.

If you are in Fife and you are not in a hurry, eating at the Pick Quick is a lot of fun, inexpensive, and pretty tasty. They have a big fancy new restaurant in Auburn, but I like the casual atmosphere of the Fife Store.

Wheel chair accessible, no indoor seating.

Carr’s Restaurant and Bar
11006 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253 584-4622

Monday-Thursday
6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chris and Ellen’s Carr’s Restaurant is fun. In the 4 ½ years it has been open, the restaurant has become a local favorite in the community. The walls are covered with automobile memor-abilia and the chairs at the tables have a Hawaiian theme, giving you the feeling you are on vacation.
The menu has breakfast, sandwiches and entrees, at prices from $1.49 for an egg to $20.99 for a big steak dinner.

The portions are very generous, and the service is friendly but during a busy lunch or dinner hour be prepared to wait. I went at 12:45 p.m. and food came in ten minutes.

I ordered the Hummer at $13.99, and substituted onion rings for French fries for $.99. This is a huge hamburger, which can easily serve 4, with a pound of meat, lettuce, pickle, tomato, cheese, bacon, onion, mushrooms, and mayo. I added ketchup. It was eight inches across, with a six inch sesame seed bun, and a patty an inch thick, with a total thickness of five inches. I measured. I tried the medium well done burger and it was delicious. Juicy, crunchy, with lots of different flavors and textures. The onion rings on the side tasted like they were wrapped in yummy little crispy biscuits. A cup of the house soup was $3.49 and was Italian vegetable, very good, and served blazing hot. It was full of chopped vegetables of every kind, including squash, beans, carrots, potatoes, celery, tomatoes and onions, in a slightly spicy base that left a little bite on the tongue.

I also had the chocolate cake, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, at $7.99. This was rich, dark, sweet, and had lots to take home for later.
The restaurant is accessible with an easy open front door, wide aisles between tables, and a nice handicap friendly bathroom with décor continued from the dining room.

Don’t be in a rush when you go to Carr’s. Be hungry and enjoy.