TNT Diner

TNT Diner

Here are readers’ favorite spots to dine outdoors in and around Pierce County

Since patio season has arrived, The News Tribune recently asked readers to vote for their favorite patio seating in Pierce County.

The results are in — and the winners include classic waterfront restaurants, breweries and pizzerias. Here are readers’ top 15 most-loved patios.

Duke’s Seafood on Ruston Way hovers right above Commencement Bay.
Duke’s Seafood on Ruston Way hovers right above Commencement Bay. Duke’s Seafood Courtesy

Duke’s Seafood

This popular restaurant on Ruston Way has an expansive deck looking out toward Commencement Bay. Readers noted the “great food” and “absolutely gorgeous, sweeping view.” Duke’s serves seafood staples like fish and chips, fish tacos, wild salmon and clam chowder.

Katie Downs is a popular pick for waterfront dining on Ruston Way, with a deck that can get easily packed on a nice day.
Katie Downs is a popular pick for waterfront dining on Ruston Way, with a deck that can get easily packed on a nice day. Katie Downs Courtesy

Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern

Katie Downs boasts that it’s one of the first waterfront restaurants on Ruston Way, opening in 1982. The patio is right above the water with built-in heaters, and it can get quite packed if the weather is nice. “On a summer day, there’s no better place to be — the breeze is soft and cool, the view is spectacular, the food is delicious,” one reader wrote. The menu is a mix of American staples and seafood, including burgers, pan pizzas, steamer clams and beer-battered cod.

The deck is full of people enjoying lunch and the Friday sunshine at Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, on Sept. 8, 2023.
The deck is full of people enjoying lunch and the Friday sunshine at Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, on Sept. 8, 2023. Pete Caster pcaster@thenewstribune.com

Tide’s Tavern

Tide’s is a Gig Harbor staple, with a flower-adorned deck right on the harbor. The building was built in 1910 but became Tide’s Tavern in 1973. “You can’t beat being right over the water,” one reader said. The seafood-forward menu includes dishes like wild salmon, fish and chips, a crab BLT and a lobster roll. Note that Tide’s Tavern is 21+.

A fried seafood platter at Boathouse 19 is best enjoyed outside, on the scenic deck overlooking the Narrows.
A fried seafood platter at Boathouse 19 is best enjoyed outside, on the scenic deck overlooking the Narrows. Kristine Sherred ksherred@thenewstribune.com

Boathouse 19

Boathouse 19, owned by the Anthony’s chain, is situated at the Narrows Marina and offers views of the Narrows Bridge and Fox Island. “The food and views make it great!” a reader noted. The menu, like many of the other waterfront winners on this list, includes a mix of seafood and classic American fare, with a few Creole dishes like jambalaya and a shrimp po’ boy. You can also order dishes like fried Alaskan cod, wild salmon tacos, burgers and Dungeness crab dip.

David Long and Shannon Brundle of Vashon enjoys the good weather while having lunch at Ram Restaurant & Brewery on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.
David Long and Shannon Brundle of Vashon enjoys the good weather while having lunch at Ram Restaurant & Brewery on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Lui Kit Wong The News Tribune archives

Ram Restaurant and Brewery

Another Ruston Way winner, this brew-pub chain has mostly the same views of Commencement Bay but leans more towards pub fare, rather than seafood. The menu includes beer-crust pizza, nachos and burgers, with mains like IPA baby back ribs and sirloin steak.

Zog’s co-owners Dwayne and Andrew Herzog pose in front of the pub’s large beer garden.
Zog’s co-owners Dwayne and Andrew Herzog pose in front of the pub’s large beer garden. Lee Giles III The News Tribune archives

Zog’s

This bar is much more than meets the eye, with indoor seating, plus a fully covered patio and an expansive beer garden. A reader noted that the beer garden is “beautifully landscaped with [a] cascading waterway … secluded by tall trees and singing birds.” Customers can order beer, pizza, burgers and other sandwiches. Note that the beer garden portion of Zog’s is 21+.

Donna Ragazzo and her son Jarin play corn hole on the outside lawn at Mill Haus on Thursday July 7, 2022.
Donna Ragazzo and her son Jarin play corn hole on the outside lawn at Mill Haus on Thursday July 7, 2022. Clare Grant The News Tribune archives

Mill Haus Cider Co.

This almost entirely outdoor restaurant and beer garden is kind of like one big patio, complete with ample seating, corn hole, a fire pit and a large water wheel. “Hard to beat the outdoor space and vibe and food and drinks are great too!” one reader wrote. Along with a funky cider selection, you can nibble on flatbreads, sandwiches, sliders, street tacos and other bites like German sausage and cheesy bread.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill

This downtown Tacoma eatery looks out toward the Thea Foss waterway and offers waterfront seating. The menu includes eats like oyster shooters, wings, fried seafood baskets and burgers. The bar also regularly hosts live music, trivia and karaoke. Note that Rock the Dock is 21+.

Al Lago Restaurant

This Italian restaurant offers a patio with views of Lake Tapps and Mount Rainier. The menu includes a variety of pizza and pasta dishes, along with a few seafood dishes to complement the water views, like salmon, blackened ahi tuna and clams in white wine sauce.

Anthony’s At Point Defiance

Another waterfront Anthony’s restaurant, right next to the Point Defiance ferry terminal, offers views of Commencement Bay from the patio and from inside, thanks to 20-foot-tall windows in the dining room. A reader notes that the restaurant has “beautiful views and the food is excellent.” The menu is seafood heavy, with dishes like clam chowder, pan-fried oysters, blackened rockfish tacos and wild salmon fish and chips.

The Haven at E9 Firehouse & Gastropub features Italian sausage, sweet peppers, roast red sauce, a blend of mozzarella and Tillamook cheddar cheese, dusted with Romano to finish.
The Haven at E9 Firehouse & Gastropub features Italian sausage, sweet peppers, roast red sauce, a blend of mozzarella and Tillamook cheddar cheese, dusted with Romano to finish. Pete Caster pcaster@thenewstribune.com

E9 Firehouse and Gastropub

This longtime Tacoma eatery, right off Sixth Ave., offers a cozy patio out back, decorated with string lights. Our readers loved that it’s pet- and family-friendly, and also noted the nice shade from the large chestnut tree. “Best beer in the city and solid pub food,” another reader wrote. The menu includes bites like garlic parmesan fries, wings, nachos, burgers and pizza.

Hank’s Bar and Pizza

This neighborhood bar, nestled in the North End, offers a semi-covered patio off to the side, with heaters and TVs. Along with quite a few different pies, the menu also includes bar snacks like cheesy garlic bread wings, nachos and tater tots.

Parky’s Pizza Bar (colloquially still known as Parky’s Tavern) serves excellent bar pizza and calzones in Tacoma’s McKinley neighborhood. The early 20th-century bar was renovated by new owners and reopened in 2021, equipped with a secluded, fully fenced and covered back patio with a built-in fire pit.
Parky’s Pizza Bar (colloquially still known as Parky’s Tavern) serves excellent bar pizza and calzones in Tacoma’s McKinley neighborhood. The early 20th-century bar was renovated by new owners and reopened in 2021, equipped with a secluded, fully fenced and covered back patio with a built-in fire pit. Kristine Sherred ksherred@thenewstribune.com

Parky’s Pizza Bar

This casual pizzeria, which readers also ranked as having the best pizza in Eastside Tacoma, offers an enclosed back patio with a built-in wood fire pit. The inexpensive Neapolitan-inspired pies take up most of the menu, along with calzones, paninis and snacks like nachos and cheesy flatbread.

Mikey’s Public House and Frog Bar

Mikey’s, which used to be Zeek’s Pizza just a few months ago before rebranding, offers a quaint, semi-covered patio adorned with string lights. Mikey’s offers whole pies and slices with housemade dough, finished with a herby green drizzle. There are also wings with over a dozen sauce and dry-rub options, plus other bites like cheese curds and jalapeño poppers.

Island Lodge at Lake Tapps

This casual eatery, run by the same team as Al Lago, offers a raised patio with “the best view of Mount Rainier and Lake Tapps!” according to one reader. Customers will find classic American fare like burgers, flatbreads and mains like New York strip streak and mushroom chicken.

Other reader favorites

Readers also gave love to the outdoor seating at Le Sel Bistro, Marzano Italian Restaurant, Tacoma Pie, Dusty’s Hideaway, Dawson’s Bar and Grill, NetShed No. 9 and Morso Bistro, among others.

Related Stories from Tacoma News Tribune
Profile Image of Minnie Stephenson
Minnie Stephenson
The News Tribune
Minnie Stephenson covers restaurant and business news in and around Tacoma for The News Tribune. She has previously worked for WBZ NewsRadio in Boston and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. Through the Howard Center, she worked on the Associated Press investigation “Lethal Restraint,” which was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2025. She grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Maryland.
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