Restaurants in Downtown Tacoma
The other day, as we were leaving the talk at UWT, I somehow found myself in a discussion about downtown redevelopment. Imagine that. I don’t remember what prompted the comment, but it got interesting when I said, “I want five more Primo Grills before I see another high end restaurant or thai place.” I very quickly heard a, “Why Primo?” from a gentleman associated with the downtown business district.
So I explained that what I meant by this is not that I want Primo specifically with its red and green logo and painted tables. What I want to see are more mid-range sit down restaurants that have a good variety of Pacific Northwest style food. Not Italian. Not American bar food with micro-brew beer. Not a ‘steak place.’ I’d accept a dim sum place, of course, but that’s different story entirely. I want to see more restaurants, like Primo, where two of us can sit down and just eat entrees and get out for less than $40. Or, if we want to, get wine, appetizers, entrees, deserts, and drinks and drop a decent amount of change – but not as much as if we ate like this at El Gaucho or Sea Grill. I can think of dozens of Seattle restaurants like this that would translate well to Tacoma. Imagine the Pink Door or any number of places on Capital Hill.
To this explanation I heard, “What about the Rock?” Ummm… that’s mostly pizza, an amazing family salad, and beer. “The Swiss?” That’s more bar food. Good, but bar food still. “Hal of a Sub?” Not exactly what I had in mind. “The Harmon?” More bar food. “Ravenous?” I asked if it had changed at all in the last few years to which he answered that he didn’t think so. “The Vault?” Like Ravenous I haven’t been there in years. Do they have a good story to tell I asked? I don’t know anybody that has been to these places in a long time. “Vin Grotto?” Yes, we go there!
Now it was his turn. He proceeded to tell me that new restaurants won’t happen until the old restaurants start to succeed. So if Tacoma isn’t supporting these restaurants, then we won’t get new ones. He accused me turning a blind eye to what we do have in order to promote my own vision of the city. Does he know me? Then I explained again, I’m looking for a mid-priced place with an interesting menu that doesn’t represent any particular ethnic group or country to supplement what we already have downtown. Food that is more fusion Northwest than old school American or Italian. Food that fills a niche not currently represented. “So what you want is something like the Harvester?” No. “Hob Nob?” No. “Well with these places you have already you have all the variety you could ever want.” Huh? Imagine the menu at Sea Grill, but down a click in price. Imagine the 5-Spot or Atlas in Seattle. Imagine the Beach House in Purdy. “So what you want is cheap fish or a steak?” Who said anything about cheap? The conversation was becoming less constructive and it trailed off as we headed toward our cars.
I do like to talk to people with opinions. It makes life more interesting.
If we aren’t hearing about the restaurants we have downtown then that’s a messaging problem for the restaurants. We can see by the apparent success of other restaurants in town that people are willing to eat out. Is it my job as a consumer to hunt down the old places and see if they are evolving and innovating? Besides, none of these restaurants represent to me the style of place I had described originally. New restaurants will come whether the old places innovate or not. I highly doubt that restaurateur are waiting to see if the old ones wither on the vine or flourish. Maybe there’s a story to be told in the established downtown restaurants. If there is, tell me about it. I’m not against these places. What I want is more variety and another reason to go downtown.
It’s nice to want things.