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Sue Kidd is the Lifestyle Editor at The News Tribune and the ringleader for the Food and Home&Garden sections. She has worked as a food journalist at Northwest newspapers since 1993, most recently as a food writer, editor and restaurant reviewer in King County before joining The News Tribune in 2004. Her food obsessions at the moment are honey, cheese and oysters.
Craig Sailor is the Arts&Entertainment editor at The News Tribune. He grew up on a garlic farm near Gilroy, Calif. and now farms oysters in his spare time at Willapa Bay. He’s traveled the world from Kyoto/Kuala Lumpur/Hong Kong to Zanzibar in search of great food.
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Good eats and drinks around Tacoma, Pierce County and South Puget Sound
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 10:37:51 am
Maggie Sandford, a producer with the Food network show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," called this morning asking for suggestions in the Tacoma area. A visit by the show apparently is in the works.
Boy, do I have a list for her. We have no shortage of little joints with character around South Sound. Click the "read more" button to see my list.
What's on your list? Who would you want the show to pay a visit?
My list of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I know I'm missing some. What are they?
Classic(ish) burger drive-ins:
Frisko Freeze: 1201 Division Ave, Tacoma; 253-272-6843
Pick Quick Drive-In: 4306 Pacific Highway E, Fife; 253-922-5599
Little Holland Drive-In: 5008 Center St., Tacoma; 253-564-8661
Wally's White River Drive-In: 282 State Route 410 N.,
Buckley; 360-829-0871
Big Daddy's Drive-in: 1138 Auburn Way S, Auburn; 253-833-7255
Hot dog diners:
Lucky's Hot Dog Diner: 106 W. Main, Puyallup; 253-445-4191
Hot Rod Dog: 1742 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-593-6030
Red Hot: 2914 6th Ave., Tacoma; 253-779-0229
Klem's Hot Dog Diner: 1015 Auburn Way S., Auburn; 253- 334-7264
All-out diner or diner-type joints (I am seriously lacking in this category. What would you recommend?)
Hob Nob: 716 6th Ave., Tacoma; 253-272-3200
Poodle Dog: 1522 54th Ave. E., Tacoma; 253-922-6161
Categories: All-Purpose Stuff
• 80 comments
COMMENTS:
Don't forget Sumner! (We're in Pierce County.) And, we're the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World! For hamburger drive-ins, there's the Main Street Dairy Freeze. Excellent milk shakes too. For all-round diners, we have a lot with the Berryland Cafe, KC's Caboose, Sully's Alder Street Cafe, Midtown Station, and Dixie's.
For the best all-around gourmet food at the lowest all-around price, there is nowhere in Pierce County like the Fife City Bar and Grill on Pacific.
This is a little diner by the side of the road that looks like your old motel stand-by. But don't let the looks fool you. Inside is one of the best chefs in the Puget Sound region, whipping out gourmet meals for regular folks at regular prices. The Rueben is to die for, the slow-cooked meals are great, the salmon dish is perfection.
This is a little diner by the side of the road that looks like your old motel stand-by. But don't let the looks fool you. Inside is one of the best chefs in the Puget Sound region, whipping out gourmet meals for regular folks at regular prices. The Rueben is to die for, the slow-cooked meals are great, the salmon dish is perfection.
I am partial to the 12th Street Diner. They could use some lovin' and it's looking pretty classic inside these days.
tfowler: thanks for clearing that up. Hands down my favorite breakfast in town, just during my last visit did the gravy seem well, different, but not in a good way. I'll be back for sure. Cheers.
Also: speaking of gravy, does anyone know what's happening with the breakfast brother from Wallaby's?
Also: speaking of gravy, does anyone know what's happening with the breakfast brother from Wallaby's?
I'll put in a plug for Marcia's Silver Spoon. I just discovered it last year when I bought a car at Titus Will Ford. Now I head down there for breakfast every time I get an oil change (which, with the miles I drive is about once a month). I frequently get the chicken fried steak, and the gravy has always been good. You can feel your arteries hardening. The Floatation Device in Purdy also has great breakfasts, but it's more of a tavern-with-a-restaurant-license than a real diner.
Best Burger is a good drive in. The spudsters are a must have! We also love as people have stated Alfred's and Marcia's. I would love PSP but they raise their prices at least once a month often times more. (i understand about the economy but really like 6-7 times in the last year) Personally think the owner could work on customer service skills also. Don't know if Mad Dog in Bonney Lake/Sumner area falls into the county lines, but they are delicious! Oh now I am starving....
I like that show. They are always looking for unusual menu items or preparations. Background and history is big too. There are many Diners, Drive-ins and Dives around, but my vote goes to Gerties for it's bountiful, great meals and of course, it's history.
I wouldn't recommend the Poodle Dog. Lots of history, perhaps, but any place incapable of producing a good French Dip sandwich shouldn't be on the list. The last (and it will be the last)time I was there, the service was non-existent. We were finally seated by an off-duty employee who was having a cup of coffee. Carr's is a much better choice.
If you haven't tried Marcia's Silver Spoon you haven't had the best diner style breakfast in the Puget Sound! Make sure you bring someone with you to help you finish your plate! Carr's in Lakewood is like the not quite grown up version of Marcia's, they try but their not there yet, maybe someday.
I would say stop in at Friesenburgers located at: 308 E. 26th St. Great burgers and even have fried Twinkies!
HEY Tacoma - My family and I go to Friesenburger at least once a week, to this great burger joint. It's the closest thing to IN/OUT burgers of California. Michael and Bob are great host(owners). My favorite burger is the friesenburger itself - you have to try it!!! Also try - their new onion burger, and of course the Deep fried Twinke for desert. They're located at - 308 East 26th, Tacoma right between the freighthouse and the Tacoma Dome.
For dives how about Quickie Too on MLK? It is Jamaican vegan and so good and kinda run down, slow service but it is sooo good!
The "12th STREET DINER"!!! Since under new ownership, you should most definitely add it to the list!... Their HOMEMADE SOUP (that is made by one of the owners, Rachel) is "the bomb.com" They have PITA WRAPS, BURGERS, SALADS, SEASONED FRIES, POTATO SALAD & SANDWICHES! They also have an array of MILKSHAKES that make you want to come back and try a different flavor each time. Got to try the CUPCAKE or PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY milkshake.
4008 S. 12th StreetTacoma, WA
4008 S. 12th StreetTacoma, WA
If you've ever watched the show they don't tend to show placed that use frozen hamburger patties and pre-made food.
To me that automatically knocks places like frisko freeze of the list. While it's nostalgic and a decent burger...I don't think it would be too exciting to watch them toss some patties on the grill and add lettuce and sauce to them afterward.
That being said I'm pretty much drawing a blank right now. I'll jut blame it on it being 130am.
To me that automatically knocks places like frisko freeze of the list. While it's nostalgic and a decent burger...I don't think it would be too exciting to watch them toss some patties on the grill and add lettuce and sauce to them afterward.
That being said I'm pretty much drawing a blank right now. I'll jut blame it on it being 130am.
Why are people recommending the Tides? It's neither a drive-in, hot-dog place nor diner. It's a tavern, and an expensive one at that (although I'm sure their property taxes and insurance for the dock account for a lot of that).
I'll vote for Marcia's Silver Spoon! The atmosphere is classic diner and the food is terrific! Every time we've eaten there, we've had good experiences. We love the sausage gravy. And the side of grilled ham is yummy. I've never been a hashbrown fan but I can't pass them up when I have breakfast there. It's cool too b/c the Lucky Silver tavern next door is owned by the same family. I believe Marcia's sister owns the tavern and the girls bought both places from their mother. Would make for an interesting story for TV!
Hello! The Burger Express in Federal Way, has the biggest, tallest and fattest burgers with a ginormous batch of fresh homemade fries. This place beats the Frisco Freeze burger by 1/2 pounds of sheer goodness! And the shakes are thicker and tastier than the Freeze too. They even have the black and white checkered floor!
Carrs~~ Forget it unless you have cleared your calender for the day!
Carrs~~ Forget it unless you have cleared your calender for the day!
Tides Tavern is a great bar...but the food is only average.. go for the micro's and the view. Diner's,
Drive-ins and Dives focuses more on homey scratched prepared top notch foods... Southern Kitchen and Its Greek to Me come to mind. Kelly's and Judson Street in the Harbor are good, but not "Divey"; Marcia's is a good choice too. For a way cool Pizza joint Rock Pizza is worth a look.
Drive-ins and Dives focuses more on homey scratched prepared top notch foods... Southern Kitchen and Its Greek to Me come to mind. Kelly's and Judson Street in the Harbor are good, but not "Divey"; Marcia's is a good choice too. For a way cool Pizza joint Rock Pizza is worth a look.
OK I know you are wanting Pierce Cty. locations, however. The finest breakfast in Washington St. is in Elma. The Rusty Tractor has two-fisted size, freshly baked biscuts they call cow patties and lumberjack sized portions. Guy would love this place. It is more than worth the trip. Scale burger isn't bad but,the west is a tough place to find the kind of diners and dives this show likes to feature. We just don't do it with the same flair as the mid-west and east coast do. I mean, the Red Hot is a fun place, but anyone can make those dogs at home. Southern Kitchen is a dive, but the food is just average. My search continues for the ultimate dive, but I'm not sure there are any in the Puget Sound area.
Follow up~ The MSM deli is a great place for sandwiches, but. It's just a deli, with average soup. The Fife City B&G is totally overrated here. Dry food and a High price menu, 11.95 for fish and chips???? Gortons fish and coated fries. And too few of each. I'd be ashamed to have Guy visit. The BBQ joint in Fife is pretty good, can't remember the name tho. Send em' to Dick's.