This Gig Harbor restaurant has a new owner, with plans for late-night cocktails and food

Tanglewood Grill in Gig Harbor has a new owner.

Jean O’Neill took over the family-friendly restaurant June 1.

A new chef, Noe Ruiz, also is in the kitchen.

“We will be making some changes, but not anything in the first 90 days,” said O’Neill.

She described minor tweaks with possibly larger changes on the horizon, but she’s still determining what Tanglewood’s customers want the restaurant to look like under her ownership.

One change she already knows she’s making is something the area needs — a lounge with food service into the late evening hours.

“I come from a background of restaurants that generally stay open late-night,” said O’Neill, who owned a restaurant consulting company for more than 10 years in the Bellevue area before moving to Gig Harbor four years ago.

She added, “I want to go out and eat a decent meal at 10, and there isn’t anywhere in Gig Harbor to do that because most places close at 10. I feel as if we’re not alone. There are more and more people looking for late service. Our little city is growing.”

O’Neill, whose business partner is her husband, Joseph Brockert, said she plans to offer a bar menu of sophisticated eats.

“It’ll be elevated menu with cocktails. We’ll enhance the wine program with more variety," she said.

O'Neill expects the late-night hours to launch in September.

She’s also working with Ruiz to evaluate the restaurant’s menu for what’s next. For now, the menu of steaks, burgers, seafood and pasta will stay the same. It also will continue serving lunch and dinner daily and weekend breakfast.

O’Neill purchased the restaurant from Katie and Denny Driscoll, who purchased the restaurant about 15 years ago. They’re also the owners of the Lobster Shop on Ruston Way and Boathouse 19 at the Narrows Marina.

Tanglewood Grill

Where: 3222 56th St. NW, Gig Harbor

Info: tanglewoodgrill.com or 253-858-5555

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m Sunday.

This story was originally published June 15, 2018 at 12:00 PM with the headline "This Gig Harbor restaurant has a new owner, with plans for late-night cocktails and food."