When new restaurants open, occasionally I’ll find flustered service or a kitchen producing less-than-stellar results. That’s why I return for a second visit to test whether the restaurant is suffering the usual aches of fledgling restaurants, or if there’s a bigger problem. Unlike diners who turn to review websites to post “I hate you! So there!” assessments after a single visit, newspaper critics who follow AFJ standards always return to the scene of the crime a second, third or fourth time. Here are second bites of two restaurants that earned mixed reviews after first-bite visits in April. Read more »

Harbor Lights is expecting to open this afternoon after a five-week remodel – click this link to read John Gillie’s story about what the interior looks like.  Anthony’s (the corporate owner) COO Jeff Arnot gave me a snapshot of the new menu in a phone interview last week. Read more »

South Sound is getting something its needed – a German themed pub. Veltins Bierhalle is planned for a summer 2013 opening in Tacoma’s brewery district.

The building housing the new restaurant – where Neener’s formerly operated at 2401 Pacific Ave. – has been vacant for seven years. Owners Dennis and Lydia Mascarinas plan an extensive remodel of the 3,500 square foot space. “It’s going to be a nice space. It’s a beautiful building, the windows are boarded up now. It’s got the second story,” said owner Lydia Mascarinas by phone. She added, “It’s got a side business, which we’ll use as a separate business.” She was referencing the next door building that until January housed American Motorcycles. The Mascarinas are not yet sure what the future holds for the neighboring space. “We don’t have any definitive plans as of yet. We’re going to concentrate on opening the Bierhalle,” she said. Read more »

Gyros come, gyros go. We’ve seen that happen a lot the last year. Recent restaurant closures include Zara Mediterranean and University Gyro House, both in downtown Tacoma, My Greek in Puyallup’s South Hill last July, and the closure several months ago of Gyros Place. It seemed as if the closures would drastically reduce our access to gyros, souvlaki and falafel (the horror!). Lucky for diners, when one gyros door closes here, another seems to open. Here’s a report about the recent moves and upcoming openings of four Greek restaurants: Read more »

After seven years, Denise Tempest has retired from bartending. The owner of the popular cocktail destination in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood served her last customers Tuesday. Tempest Lounge opened in November 2005. Read more »

Baked into a bread, sliced for a sundae or turned into a pudding – I’ve noticed so many more banana desserts on menus this summer. Some are so good, they may bump Corina Bakery’s banana pudding – which I’ve nicknamed “banana crack” – off the top of my dessert list. Read on. Read more »

Matt Colony is a familiar name to restaurant watchers in Tacoma. He was the chef until April 2011 at Maxwell’s Restaurant + Lounge and worked for Gordon Naccarato at Pacific Grill and Naccarato’s former restaurant, The Beach House at Purdy. Two months ago, Colony became the general manager at Green.House in Uptown Gig Harbor. Read more »

You won’t have to eat in your car anymore – unless you want to. It’s Greek To Me will move later this year across the street to a location that will have a single digit address change – 1702 Sixth Ave. The new space will triple the dining room of the tiny drive-up stand Jim Wick has operated on the edge of the Sixth Avenue business district for more than 20 years. Read more »