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Open since July 2012, Boathouse 19 is a good choice for excellent food, great service and a view of the marina at the western end of South 19th street in Tacoma.

We went on a grey cold day and the restaurant managed to be warm and friendly as well as modern and organic. Prices range from $4 for snacks to $34 for crab legs. The menu is steakhouse fare with a twist, such as southern touches like Cajun seasoning and hand made desserts featuring brown sugar. Our server, Mary, brought us a cup of San Francisco Cioppino with tomato broth, chopped clams, Alaskan cod and bay shrimp at $4, the Philadelphia Cheesesteak with onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheese sauce, southern slaw, and provolone at $12, and Carolina Pulled Pork with southern slaw, sweet onions, pickles, coca-cola barbecue sauce on a and naked fries at $10. We also ordered iced tea and root beer with refills at $2 each.

We enjoyed the soup which had several small shrimp, a piece of fish and clams in broth with lots of chopped vegetables in tangy mildly spiced tomato base. The cheese steak, served on a baguette, was delicious. It had plenty of meat, cheese, and vegetables which added texture and flavor. Not spicy at all but smooth and delectable. The pork sandwich was served on a large bun and loaded with pork and sweet cooked onions. Barbecue sauce added juice to the texture of the sandwich. The sandwiches were large with plenty of filling and lots to share. The southern slaw was chopped cabbage with a sweet tangy dressing, and was good as a side and a sandwich filling. The fries were fat and crisp, served with ketchup. The food was rich and filling and very tasty.

The bathroom was accessible, neat and clean, but the door was very heavy and a disabled person might need help. Service dog friendly.

Of   Poor -Average -Good- Very Good and Excellent, I rate this restaurant Very Good.

IF YOU GO

Boathouse 19 is at 9001 S. 19th St. in Tacoma. Phone: 253-565-1919. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Carolyn Augustine by — February 7, 2013 in Food, People

When you walk into Mama’s Muffins and Bakery, expect the unexpected. Maybe the shelves will be groaning with their loads of huge delectable muffins, specialty sweet bread and other tender pastries and sweets. Or there may be a sampling of goodies left after the crowds sweep down and gobble everything in sight. Whatever there is, Tina Hamilton, the owner, will be happy to describe all the baked goods and help you decide what to buy. Sit down at the big table and have a cup of coffee and a treat.

This is a commercial wholesale bakery that has been providing wonderful sweet things to coffee shops and small restaurants all over Pierce County for years. They opened this retail store and bakery a couple of months ago and found instant customers who were familiar with their wares, and were happy to buy them at the source.

I wanted dessert, so I bought muffins and turnovers. For $2.75 each ($29.95 a dozen), I picked strawberry cheesecake, Dutch chocolate, pumpkin cheesecake, and two flaky turnovers, apple and cheesecake pineapple coconut. These were fresh out of the oven, still warm and so tender and fragrant you wanted to eat them standing at the counter. Since the muffins were five inches across and five inches tall, this would have been a little much, but it would have been fun trying.

Delicious! The chocolate would have been perfect for a little birthday cake, as it was so sweet and good, loaded with chocolate and topped with toasted coconut and sugar crystals. The rich, smooth pumpkin cheesecake tasted of fall and holidays, and the cherry cheesecake just made you smile with sweet flavor. One of these was plenty for two. The turnovers had tender filo style dough that practically floated off the plate and the generous fillings were mouthwatering.

There is plenty of parking, so take a chance and try Mama’s for your next brunch or coffee celebration. Call ahead to reserve your favorites.

No restroom; carryout menu available; service-dog-friendly.

 

2 ½ stars. Very Good.

Mama’s Muffins and Bakery

10518 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood

253-589-6262

Hours: 7  a.m. to 7 p.m.

Carolyn Augustine by — December 12, 2012 in Food, People

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.

Carolyn Augustine by — August 28, 2012 in Food, People

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.

Carolyn Augustine by — August 10, 2012 in Food, People