New restaurants: Downtown Tacoma diner, self-serve wine bar, homemade gelato and more
A highly anticipated bagel shop, another downtown destination and an all-day diner top new restaurants in and around Tacoma so far this summer.
Also downtown, a Thai restaurant has changed hands after two decades and you can now find homemade gelato without leaving town. In Puyallup, try the new self-serve wine system at a speakeasy-style bar.
Late spring brought us late-night eats and dancing in South Tacoma, another Indian spot on Sixth Avenue, Vietnamese quick-serve and cupcakes.
Here’s a look at recently opened restaurants in and around Tacoma.
MEDZO GELATO
▪ 612-B Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, 253-600-9491, medzogelatobar.com
Tacoma’s only gelato shop, Medzo opened around Memorial Day weekend with pans made daily on-site by owners Jennifer and Fareed Al-Abboud. Inspired by their travels, the couple has been in the gelato business for about a decade; their first homemade shop was in Burien, with a stop in Victoria, B.C., before deciding on Grit City. Flavors range from classic gelato takes — pistachio, chocolate hazelnut, coffee, riso bianco, Amarena cherry — to seasonal specialties like strawberries and cream or blueberry and fig with almond. Across the street from The Mill and Infinite Soups, up the street from Corina Bakery and The Grand Cinema, the addition of Medzo only adds to this growing corner of the St. Helens district. Open Monday at 3 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday at 1 p.m.
CHILI THAI - DOWNTOWN TACOMA
▪ 1129 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-272-3393, chilithai.com
After more than 20 years on Broadway, Galanga Thai closed this spring. The owners, reflecting on being part of downtown as their own family grew, told The News Tribune they decided to sell the business last fall. Chili Thai, which operates four other restaurants — on 38th Street near Tacoma Mall, University Place, South Hill and Silverdale — opened in its stead in June. The menu (most dishes $13.95-$15.95) features many Thai favorites, from larb and tom yum to kee mao and curries, but also a few lesser-seen dishes, including miang kum, a lettuce wrap you build with toasted coconut, shallots, peanut, ginger and baby shrimp. Finish with mango sticky rice or black rice pudding.
WEST 122
▪ 728 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-327-1570, west122.com
Continuing good food news in downtown Tacoma, West 122 opened in late June in the old Little Radio space, a couple doors down from the always-bustling Wooden City and across from the also-new Amor Wine & Tapas. The owners of North 47 Brewing Co. in Browns Point have enlisted chef Joaquin “Keno” Buttner, who has developed a menu of classic dishes with a PNW bent: flash-fried calamari, salmon tartare served with house chips, an in-vogue wedge salad, and mains including wild mushroom ravioli, Greek-inspired halibut, clam spaghetti with homemade noodles and a ribeye with whipped potatoes. A full bar and wine cellar completes the experience. Next door, the team is planning a taproom featuring North 47 brews and lounge food from the same kitchen. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4-9 p.m. weeknights and until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
GRIT CITY BREAKFAST / TACOMA COMEDY CLUB ON 6TH
▪ 3829 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-533-3840, gritcitybreakfast.com
In the throes of 2020, Tacoma Comedy Club briefly transitioned to selling burgers. Shows returned, of course, but one aspect of their its game that stuck was breakfast — burritos, to be specific. They became popular enough that owners Adam and Bree Norwest have opened an official location for Grit City Breakfast on Sixth Avenue, where they now also operate a more intimate, 100-seat comedy venue — shows kicked off in June. Served all day, dig into the Smothered Comfort with hash, sausage and gravy, one with bacon and avocado or a vegan iteration with Impossible sausage and Daiya mozzarella ($9.99-$10.49). Burgers, wings, fried pickles and a taco salad are also on the menu, along with a full bar. Open daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m. (shows run later in the evening next door).
HOWDY BAGEL
▪ 5421 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-301-1586, howdybagel.com
Since opening in early June, Howdy Bagel has drawn lines of bagel fiends eager for a rosemary round with roasted garlic and herb cream cheese, or a bagel sandwich with sausage, egg and cheese. Owners Jake Carter and Daniel Blagovich amassed a massively loyal following over two years of farmers markets, pop-ups and home delivery before securing this South Tacoma brick-and-mortar. They are baking as many bagels as they can to keep up with demand, in addition to their other housemade accoutrements like pickled onions, Howdy sauce and miso-pecan butter. Even if bagels sell out, the cafe still serves coffee and espresso through the afternoon. Open Tuesday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
THE FLYING TOMATO - SPANAWAY
▪ 17106 Pacific Avenue S., Spanaway, 253-875-0770, flyingtomatogrillandbar.com
The Flying Tomato had to close its Graham restaurant in 2021, and the family’s search for a new location led them to Pacific Avenue South and 173rd Street in Spanaway. The new digs debuted, after a two-year journey, June 2 with the same expansive menu from chef-owner Gary Walker of Italian favorites mixed with eclectic bar fare. Start with bruschetta and calamari, steamed clams and housemade mozzarella wedges, or one of nine salads. Mains range from chicken saltimbocca (with prosciutto and feta in a creamy tomato sauce) to fish and chips and pastas from ravioli, ziti and tortellini to chicken and spinach manicotti ($14.99-$21.99). There are also burgers, a meatball or sausage sandwich, build-your-own pizzas thin-crust pizzas (starting at $13) and, of course, cannoli for dessert. Open Wednesday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
TIM’S KITCHEN - TACOMA
▪ 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, tims-kitchen.com
With more than 10 years under their belt in Orting and a few more in Puyallup, Tim and Kassandre Speakman with their son Alex Handy have opened their third restaurant. Tim’s Kitchen quietly opened in downtown Tacoma June 30, in the longtime home of Harmon Brewing, which closed last spring. It was “a once-in-a-million” opportunity, said Alex Handy, to snag this high-profile space, where you can now enjoy breakfast all day along with burgers, sandwiches, salads, sausages and diner fare. Most dishes fall in the $11.99-$15.99 range. Open daily at 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. weekdays and midnight Friday-Saturday.
THE LAZY BALLERINA WINE BAR - PUYALLUP
▪ 319 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-904-8287, lazyballerinawinebar.com
Designed to feel like a 1920s speakeasy, sink into a teal velvet sofa with a glass of wine (or share a bottle’s worth!) that you pour yourself from a self-serve system. Owner Cathy Fenimore introduced The Lazy Ballerina in May, focusing on reds, whites and rosé from California, Washington and Oregon with a few from Australia and New Zealand, South America and even Austria. The self-pour system is a similar concept to U-pour beer bars, of which there are a couple in the area with one soon to open in South Hill. Shareable plates complement the lounge feeling, from charcuterie boards to toasts, flatbreads to salads and sandwiches. Open Tuesday-Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at noon.