This new pub has pressure-fried chicken with jojos, half-pound burgers and daily breakfast

The parking lot nightmare is over.

After 24 years at the same location, Summit Pub moved last week. No more competing for parking spots with neighboring Blue Max or the vape shop. No more prowling down side streets and walking on narrow shoulders, all to get an order of chicken and jojo potatoes.

Summit Pub’s new location comes with an expansive parking lot at the Summit County Center (where Albertson’s is).

It only took two years to complete the move.

“Two years and three months,” pointed out co-owner Shawn DeCicco, who bought the pub from his stepfather more than a dozen years ago. He operates the pub with his wife, Emily, and business partners, Josh Slott and Tracey Cook.

Summit Pub is the sister pub to Loose Wheel Taverns in Puyallup and Tacoma, which Shawn and Emily co-own with two sets of business partners.

Summit Pub outgrew its space and septic system, which prompted the move.

Walking into the new location might cause a serious head snap. The space is a significant upgrade from the tavern that was getting a little shabby around the edges because, as DeCicco noted, “We couldn’t throw money at two locations.”

The long process of designing and permitting meant the tavern could spend more time thinking through the design of the building, including the furniture.

“The wood tables were made by my brother-in-law,” DeCicco said of the high-top reclaimed-wood tables festooned with live edges and glossy finishes.

The seating space doubled in the new space with room for about 100 diners at large, communal-style tables in an open dining room that has a small nook in the back for games. Two pool tables flank the left side of the room along with dart boards. The pull-tab counter found a home on the backside of the bar next to the bathrooms.

The lineup of brew is still as it was — a mix of craft beers and typical domestics — and the pub’s famous chicken and jojo potatoes are still on the menu along with the big burgers. Pizza is new, said DeCicco, and it’s a duplicate of the style of pizza served at both Loose Wheels.

And here’s a big score for a neighborhood short on sit-down breakfast options: Breakfast will be served daily at Summit Pub, which is open to diners 21-and-older only.

Here’s a quick look at the menu and what to order on a first visit. It’s this paper’s policy to avoid criticism of food and service in a restaurant’s first month.

Food style: Good ol’ pub fare, heavy on fried food and hefty portions for prices paid. While Tacoma is a city filled with bars with well-made food, that end of Pierce County is light on such a thing. Table service is offered here, a welcomed offering considering the location is surrounded by an awful lot of fast food restaurants.

Appetizers/salads: Wings ($7.95 to $14.95), fried pickles ($6.95), nachos ($10.95 to $11.95), poppers ($6.95), fried zucchini ($6.95) and more.

Soups/salads: Southwest chili or soup of the day ($2.95 to $4.95), plus seven salad choices ($4.95 to $12.95).

Burgers/sandwiches: Patty choices include half-pound ground beef, grilled chicken breast, a veggie black bean patty, the Impossible Burger (vegetarian substitute) or an elk burger. Nine burger choices ($7.95 to $13.95). Sandwiches and wraps include 16 choices that include a dip ($9.95), a full-pound BLT ($9.95 to $12.95) and Reuben ($8.95 to $11.95). Served with fries, tots or house-fried chips.

Pizza: Eight specialty 14-inch pizzas include chicken-bacon-ranch ($17.95), Hawaiian ($15.95), supreme or meat lover’s ($19.95) made on a house-made beer crust. A build-your-own option starts at $13.95.

Entrees: New York steaks ($15.95 10-ounce/$19.95 16-ounce), fish and chips ($10.95), chicken strips ($8.95) or chicken and jojo dinner ($11.95).

On a first visit: Do not miss the pressure fried four-piece chicken with a bone-in breast, thigh, drum and wing flanked by the same terrific jojos from sister taverns, The Loose Wheels in Puyallup and Tacoma. Jojos — oversized potato wedges— were deep fried until the breading was crispy and golden brown, the insides soft and steamy. Chicken carried a clingy, well-seasoned jacket. On the side was a dish of coleslaw and a biscuit with Darigold butter pats and honey.

The half-pound Summit Burger with cheddar was piled on a toasted bun with both top and bottom swiped with tangy burger sauce. It came dressed with two crisscrossed dill pickle slices, green leaf lettuce, tomato and yellow onions. Get it with the tots.

Summit Pub

Where: 11012 Canyon Road, Puyallup

Info: 253-503-6163

Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. this week during the soft opening and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. starting next week.

Note: 21 and older only.