Looking for the best food around Tacoma? Check out OpenTable’s diner recommendations

Have you been wanting to break out of your usual dining out routine and try something new? Tacoma is filled with delectable restaurants that serve everything from seafood to Italian cuisine to Japanese food.

But with so many options, looking for the right restaurants to visit can be a bit overwhelming.

Every month, OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation website, analyzes nearly two million recent global diner reviews to curate a list of the best restaurants in your area.

Here is OpenTable’s list of best restaurants in and around the City of Tacoma.

Best Restaurants around Tacoma

The following list is in no particular order, as OpenTable does not provide exact reservation numbers. Because these restaurants are some of the most popular in Boise, consider reserving a table ahead of time.

The restaurant descriptions are provided by the restaurant to OpenTable and the top reviews are left by customers who have recently dined at the restaurant.

Over The Moon Cafe

• Type of food: American
• Cost per person: $31 - $50
• Address: 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, WA 98402
• About the restaurant: “Small and romantic we specialize in celebrations with family and friends, or just a quiet dinner with good conversation. We are family owned and operated and have been serving our community since 2001. Drive in to Opera Alley and be transported. We strive to bring approachable food and beverage, a sense of comfort and community, as well as a unique and quality dining experience. We call ourselves a ‘cafe’ in the sense that we are not pretentious and offer a fine dining experience in an atmosphere of comfort and respite.”
• Top review: “Amazing food and service at this lovely boutique restaurant. Our favorite gem in Tacoma!”

Marzano Italian Restaurant

• Type of food: Italian
• Cost per person: $30 and under
• Address: 516 Garfield St. S., Tacoma, WA 98444
• About the restaurant: “The chefs at Marzano’s attain the freshest ingredients to prepare authentic Italian cuisine. Owner Elisa Marzano grew up in Vicenza, Italy, and consistently refers to these roots to design Marzano’s unique yet classic menu. Once a quaint two-bedroom home, the restaurant was transformed but still keeps the rustic, home-like feel for an inviting, welcoming atmosphere. The pleasing combination of intimate lighting and natural window light make it the ideal spot for either lunch or dinner. A top menu choice is the boscaiola, which features a creamy tomato and Bolognese sauce over rigatoni pasta, topped with various spices and forest mushrooms. Guests can enjoy complimentary bread and salad with every entree, so eating at Marzano’s can ensure a satisfied appetite. Marzano’s also aims to please those with various dietary needs, such as diners who desire gluten-free options.”
• Top review: “Amazing staff, the atmosphere was intimate and relaxing. Food was so delicious. We will be making this a regular date night place.”

Duke’s Seafood - Tacoma

• Type of food: seafood
• Cost per person: $30 and under
• Address: 3327 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402
• About the restaurant: “Duke’s Tacoma is an upscale casual Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant located on Ruston Way with spectacular waterfront dining and views. Duke’s offers signature, flavorful, 100% sustainable wild seafood, Award Winning Chowder and grass fed burgers in a gathering place that is friendly, comfortable, unpretentious and filled with personality. We only source all natural, healthful ingredients. Duke’s food is free of hormones, antibiotics and free of harmful chemicals. Guests sum up their favorable assessment of what Duke’s has to offer with three words: It’s so good!”
• Top review: “Went for a Birthday and found the food and service to be excellent. Used Open Table for reservation. We walked in and were seated right away. Total experience wonderful. I highly recommend this restaurant. This is one of our favorite places. The e-Mail club is worth it with discounts on Birthdays. If you go, sign up. It was a crazy weather day with rain and since we were on the waterfront, we saw a beautiful rainbow.”

The Adriatic at Oakbook

• Type of food: Italian
• Cost per person: $31-$50
• Address: 8102 Zircon Dr. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498
• About the restaurant: “The Adriatic at Oakbrook invites you to dine with the most award-winning chef in the South Sound, Chef Bill Trudnowski. Famous for his Italian and Mediterranean cuisine Chef Bill partnered with the Oakbrook Golf Course to create a unique dining experience where guests can enjoy Rigatoni with Bolognese, the Adriatic Burger, or Creamy Porcini Mushroom Soup while taking in the peaceful surroundings of the golf course. Since opening in November of 2019 Chef Bill and his team have added a Wine Spectator Award (2023) to their list of accomplishments. We invite you to join us for Happy Hour, Lunch & Dinner, Holidays, Patio Dining, Wine Wednesday, Banquets, etc. for a truly unique dining experience.”
• Top review: “I think this must be one of the best kept secrets anywhere. Maybe people think you have to be a golfer to eat here? It was quiet for lunch and most people with me got the special. The value was great, the food was amazing. and the portions were sizable. Our waitress was informative and nice. The only suggestion I might have is to make the restaurant more inviting. It is really just a box where the bar has more decor. Would definitely recommend.”

Greenhouse

• Type of food: Seafood
• Cost per person: $31-$50
• Address: 4793 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
• About the restaurant: Experience the freshest family favorites in Uptown Gig Harbor at the Greenhouse restaurant. This casual, family-friendly eatery features seasonal menus, bursting with local produce, seafood and spirits. Helmed by renowned chef Erik Smith, each dish is created to order, using responsibly, locally sourced ingredients, artfully prepared and plated in an elegant, inviting ambience.Greenhouse features full lunch and dinner menus, as well as appetizers, small and large bites and decadent desserts that change daily. It also offers a special Twilight Menu, with three-course meals ranging from light to hearty fare, and a Happy Hour menu that is featured in the bar. The extensive wine and beer list also changes daily, spotlighting local microbreweries and wineries, as well as perennial favorites that pair perfectly with the menu options. Greenhouse is open for lunch and dinner; information about private bookings for parties, meetings, receptions and corporate events is available on request.
• Top review: “The service was spectacular. the food was absolutely divine. the drinks were unique and delicious. Best restaurant experience we have had since moving here in 2020.”

Gino’s at the Point

• Type of food: Italian
• Cost per person: $31-$50
• Address: 6912 Soundview Dr. NE, Tacoma, WA 98422
• About the restaurant: “Proudly serving the greater surrounding areas for the past 17+ years! We aim to give our cliental a fabulous dining experience from the moment they are greeted, to perfecting their craft cocktail and finishing it off with a spectacular meal that leaves you wanting more. Nestled in the Dash Point community our new waterfront location housed in the original Lobster Shop, is a perfect place to come enjoy delicious food and drink.”
• Top review: “The ambiance is superb, I highly recommend this restaurant, the food was amazing and the service was fantastic.”

Slahal Restaurant and Bar

• Type of food: Steakhouse
• Cost per person: $31-$50
• Address: 2920 E. 29th St., Tacoma, WA 98404
• About the restaurant: “Introducing Slahal Steakhouse: A wonderful addition to Tacoma’s upscale dining scene. Pairing classic steakhouse cuisine with stunning views of the City, Commencement Bay, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains, Slahal Steakhouse offers an unparalleled dining experience.”
• Top review: “My husband and I enjoy starting our date nights here. The food is good and reasonably priced, great atmosphere with a view since it is on the 11th floor of the new hotel. We park in the hotel parking, go to dinner, and finish the night at the casino. Always a good time!”

The Windmill Bistro

• Type of food: American
• Cost per person: $30 and under
• Address: 16009 60th St. E., Suite A, Sumner, WA 98390
• About the restaurant: “Located at Windmill Gardens, The Bistro is an upscale casual restaurant that serves a seasonal, made-from scratch menu in a refreshing atmosphere featuring a loft wine lounge and outdoor dining garden. We invite you to join us. Come relax and enjoy delicious food and the best service you’ll find anywhere.”
• Top review: “Everything I have ever ordered has been exceptional. Service is A+. Prices are perfect. (Hesitant to praise too much, because it becomes difficult to get in.) Love love love this jewel.”

Tokyo Japanese Steak House

• Type of food: Teppanyaki table side grilling
• Cost per person: $31-$50
• Address: 1404 S 320th St., Federal Way, WA 98003
• About the restaurant: “Experience the excitement of Teppanyaki table side grilling at Tokyo Steak House. This artistic and entertaining style of cooking is a favorite to the thousands of guests we have served since 1998 at our Federal Way restaurant. Fresh seafood, steaks, vegetables and rice are perfectly seasoned and grilled to order. Tokyo Steak House guests dine grill side experiencing the authentic cooking skills of our talented chefs who juggle hot flames and sharp knives while artistically create a delicious meal for their guests. Our guests relish in the aroma of our special herbs and seasonings and enjoy a completed meal fresh off the grill. At Tokyo Steak House we serve only the highest quality product and strive to give the best service possible.”
• Top review: “Our family loves this restaurant! The chefs are always so interactive and it takes it from a dinner to an experience! We are always seated quickly and they are attentive to refilling drinks, etc. My favorite is the fillet mignon, but everything is good! Definitely the perfect spot to celebrate birthdays or other special occasions. The little scoop of ice cream at the end also makes it so dessert is included:).”

Pimienta Bistro and Bar

• Type of food: Latin American
• Cost per person: $30 and under
• Address: 34029 Hoyt Rd. SW, Federal Way, WA 98023
• About the restaurant: “Pimienta Bistro and Bar is an urban fusion of Latin American cuisine. Chef Blanca Rodriguez takes great care to create a delectable piece of art for every guest, appealing to every sense.We strive to provide exemplary service each and every visit for our guests. We invite you to our restaurant, where you will find a combination of an eclectic, rustic atmosphere that captures the best of European cuisine with a Latin American flair.Our mission is to create something memorable with every dish we present our guests. And with every delectable plate,we will deliver a superior service making us a stand-alone restaurant in our neighborhood.”
• Top review: “Great dinner and delicious drinks. Service from Brie was great. Love the intimate feel of the restaurant. Very nice evening!”

This story was originally published April 30, 2024 at 2:51 PM.

Rosemary Montalvo

The News Tribune

Rosemary Montalvo was previously a service journalism reporter based in Tacoma, WA. She started as a summer news intern after graduating from California State University, Fullerton in May 2023. She has also worked as the photo editor and reporter for her university’s student-run newspaper. She was born in Inglewood, California.