New restaurants: Hot breakfast spot, AYCE sushi, a favorite Tacoma pub lands downtown

Tacoma officially has several winery tasting rooms, and a young chef who turned heads at a 2-year-old brewpub has launched her first personal endeavor.

A favorite Eastside pub now has a downtown location, and a regional Mexican chain has expanded yet again, this time to Puyallup.

This month’s look at recently opened restaurants adds to the year’s blossoming scene, which has brought us the likes of Tacoma Pie and Birrieria Gourmet.

Here’s a look at a few new spots to eat and drink in Pierce County.

DAHLMAN CELLARS

113 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma, 253-342-9455, dahlmancellars.com

A wine-tasting room dedicated to Washington bottles opened in May. Andrea and Jim Dahlman debuted their first commercial bottle in 2019 after nearly a decade of honing their wine-making skills at home. From grape selection at small, family-owned vineyards on the Eastern side of the state to production at a custom crush facility in Woodinville, the couple is actively involved. They will be your bartender at the Stadium District space, where living room vibes offer weekend relaxation and a semi-private back room opportunity for future parties. Consider the low-barrier wine club for first access to vintages and special events. Open Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at noon and Sunday at 1 p.m.

SIDE PIECE KITCHEN

Pickup-only at Edison Squre, 5415 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-289-1800, sidepiecekitchen.com

Get down with Tacoma’s hottest new breakfast — but order fast because Side Piece Kitchen has been selling out early right out of the gate. Chef Hailey Hernandez, one of six ladies featured in our “Stirring Things Up” series, recently departed her post at Sig Brewing Co. to launch her first business with husband Dante Hernandez. If you visited that 2-year-old spot for brunch, you’ll recognize The Croque Ma-Damn, oozing with Gruyère, and vibrant orange yolks, courtesy of a true farm egg. Another export to this new venture: slices of decadent cheesecakes in flavors like strawberry shortcake, pistachio and honey lavender. Follow instagram.com/sidepiecekitchen for updates and specials. Order online in advance for Friday, Saturday or Sunday pickup at Edison Square in South Tacoma.

DUSTY’S DOWNTOWN

112 S. 9th St., Tacoma, 253-503-0532, dustyshideaway.com

Since the flagship Dusty’s opened in 2019, Tacoma has been smitten with the unique brand of neighborhood pub owners Dana and Dave Verellen brought to McKinley. As of June 13, you can also find it — with burgers, breakfast burritos, tots and more — in the heart of downtown. The only things missing are the bar’s signature drinks, including rotating boozy slushies, for which you’ll have to head to the original location. Near the stretch of bars and restaurants on Pacific Avenue, the new digs offer pickup and takeout only, for now. (Hint: Take your order across the street to Odd Otter Brewing Co.) Open daily at 9 a.m.

MOCAMBO COFFEE & CHAI BAR

3518 6th Ave., Tacoma, facebook.com/mocambocoffeechaibar

The mysterious coffee and chai bar, whose signs have been teasing this cafe since 2020, has finally opened. Mocambo, a German brand of coffee roasted by the Italian Drago family, replaces Metronome Coffee, which closed pre-pandemic; the Sixth Avenue shop is run by Marigold Trade Inc., a Seattle-based company that imports the beans. With a variety of pastries sourced from Wild Wheat Bakery in Kent, paninis and salads, it soft-opened June 4. In addition to coffee, the menu offers smoothies and loose-leaf tea, notably an array of chais that are also available for retail purchase. You can also taste Mocambo coffee at Alan’s Country Cafe in Port Orchard, according to Marigold’s business development manager Jayanta Madhu. Open daily at 7 a.m.

TRAPPER’S PUYALLUP

10403 156th St. E., Puyallup, 253-604-4582, trapperssushi.com

Appreciated for its generous sushi rolls and daily all-you-can-eat deal, the Puyallup Trapper’s was one of the Washington-based chains most popular locations, according to marketing director Glen Sears. Earlier this year, the company moved the restaurant into a larger space in the same South Hill plaza, Sunrise Village. “The new Trapper’s Puyallup has significantly expanded bar and dine-in areas,” said Sears, with “twice as many televisions for sports and live events, a large AYCE sushi bar, and a dedicated pickup and to-go area.” Reservations and delivery available. Open daily at 11 a.m.

ATHENS PIZZA & PASTA

959 E. Main St., Auburn, 253-939-7444, athenspizzaauburn.com

After the plaza known as Tommy’s Center suffered a devastating fire in December 2020 (no one was injured, according to reports in the Auburn Reporter), Athens Pizza — serving Auburn since 1980 — promised to rebuild. It took a year-and-a-half, numerous campaigns of gift cards and sandwich pop-ups, but in April the Contoravdis family welcomed guests once again for in-house dining and takeout. “We are so lucky and blessed to have such loyal customers and such a supportive community that helped us get through these past 16 months,” they posted on their website. As they navigate their renewed life, they recommend calling ahead or ordering takeout orders in-person at least 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time. Open Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at noon.

ACEITUNO’S PUYALLUP

12118 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-466-3081, aceitunosmexicanfood.com

Known locally for its customizable taco box — $50 gets you 20 tacos with meat of your choosing, plus rice, beans, chips and salsa — Aceituno’s has 11 locations in the Puget Sound region, now four in Pierce County. The Puyallup shop also offers the local chain’s breakfast burritos, $1.25 per taco Tuesdays, and carne asada fries. Drive-thru and online ordering available. Open daily at 7 a.m.-11 p.m. save for Sundays, when it closes at 10.

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE - GIG HARBOR

5601 Soundview Dr., Gig Harbor, 253-777-0520, iloveoph.com

In place of the late Harvester, a locally owned franchise of The Original Pancake House has opened in Gig Harbor. (Harvester Tacoma continues to serve from its Stadium District restaurant.) The owners also run restaurants in Tacoma, Puyallup and Maple Valley, plus four others in Western Washington, as The Gateway reported in late 2021. Expect standard breakfast fare plus diner staples, and a few modern spins like coconut pancakes. Open daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

COMING SOON

▪ Scamp Brewing should open its South Tacoma taproom by next month, owner Arthur Cohn hopes. The bar joins a blossoming destination for food and drink, next to the forthcoming Howdy Bagel.

▪ It will be a minute before the Puyallup Tribe reveals its new restaurant in partnership with celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, but take in the details of the concept that will replace C.I. Shenanigans, which closed in 2020 after almost four decades on Ruston Way.

▪ Al’s Hot Chicken, Tacoma’s first restaurant dedicated to the mouthwatering heat of the Nashville-style fried bird, anticipates a late summer opening. The owner, a longtime Tacoman, partnered with the Los Angeles-based brand to bring the concept to the South Sound.

CLOSINGS

▪ After five years in Gig Harbor, Gertie & The Giant Octopus closed permanently on June 4. The European-styled bistro focused on local, seasonal fare.

Reporter’s Note, 11/21/2022: This story has been updated to reflect Side Piece Kitchen’s pickup location, now at Edison Square.

This story was originally published June 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.