I such had an outstanding experience at Tankard & Tun last week that I just have to share it so others know.

Background info: This is run by the same folks as Pike Place Brewing. In fact, it's right next door! But the atmosphere is updated, more attractive, and a little sexier than the brewery. Which isn't meant to imply that the brewery isn't also a great spot, but the shine of this space hasn't worn off; and let's face it, things that are brand new are always so darn pretty.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't frequent shops and restaurants in the Market too often. Since I live close by, I'm all too familiar with having to fight for sidewalk space amongst all the tourists that are scrambling to take photos and visit all the popular destinations. But consider me a changed woman! A friend of mine was hosting a little HH gathering at Tankard & Tun and I was pleased to be invited. Having not been in this section of the Market in a few months, it was really great to see the expansion of the Pike Brewery and the addition of this cute restaurant.

We were greeted and seated right away. The seating area we nabbed included almost a ship-shaped table. Long and triangular, perfect for a large group but small enough and shaped perfectly for socializing, eating, and drinking in a good size group. All of the servers were polite and well-informed about the menu. They walked us through the beer and food pairings, suggested beer cocktails, and even talked about the oysters in depth. As a big fan of other well known oyster spots in Seattle, I was wowed by their knowledge and suggestions. In fact, when the oysters were delivered they were brought out by the man that had just shucked them in the kitchen! He talked about where each oyster was from, its flavor profile, and then pointed to an oyster type that he claimed to be his favorite. The name is escaping me now but he talked them up so much and they totally came through! His passion and knowledge of the farmers and the oysters and their bay ran so deep that I wasn't expecting them to be as good as they were. But he was totally right and his expertise was spot on. That to me was just another sign that the staff here know what they're doing and they're passionate and excited to come to work every day.

So our group enjoyed oysters, some fresh baked bread, and then we each ordered a fish n chips plate. As a fan of fish n chips, this was a stellar dish! The breading was perfect, the fish was delicious, the serving was enormous, and even the fries were awesome. Just thinking about the dish is making me want to pop through again and have it tonight.

So does Tankard & Tun hit all the marks?
-Great beer
-Great pairings
-Great cocktails (featuring local spirits!)
-Local produce, oysters, etc.
-Great service
-Great atmosphere

Yep. What more could one ask for? I'm excited to come back and show my friends what a hidden gem this is.

Hands down one of the best dining/drinking experiences I've had in months. And the very best I've ever had in Tacoma!

My husband and I are big sherry drinkers so when we heard about En Rama opening we hightailed it to Tacoma to check it out. The location is stunning if not somewhat tricky to find. But that's all part of the charm, and once you've been there you'll be dying to go back again and again. I absolutely love the way the interior of the restaurant doesn't compromise the architectural history and historical integrity of the grand building its in. It's a bright, open space with tall ceilings and (soon?) a huge patio out front. This is definitely one of those places that will wow a boss or a date. It's not so pretentious or expensive that it's off-putting or stuffy, but it's not so casual that it's boring or uninteresting. It's perfectly classy and warm and lovely.

But let's get to what's important... drinking and eating!
If you like meat boards, cheese boards, baguettes, sea-salted house made butter, and sherry (or wine or cocktails) - this is your new favorite place to be. I picked up the menu and instantly thought, "Yep, getting that. Yep, that too...Yep, YEP, YEP!" Every single thing on the menu sounds worthy of trying, whether it's a cocktail, a glass of wine, or some food to eat. I've only been just once but I'll be back again soon.

Tacoma, I'm jealous that we don't have an En Rama in Seattle! See you again soon, I'm dreaming about you.

Consider me spoiled rotten but Lancer and Lace has set the bar so high that I can't imagine going anywhere else for my salon needs.

They're in my building so I can walk out my door less than 5 mins before an appt and be on time and not worry about parking. So convenient! But for those of you who don't live in the area, the salon has lots of available paid street parking in both the form of lots nearby and spaces along 6th. Morning and midday there are lots of free spots.

I also just love the various treatments and amenities the salon offers. You can get haircuts, color, lash extensions, and even microblading!

I've gone a few times for haircuts from Johnny and not only is he crazy talented, he's a great conversationalist and just an overall warm and friendly person. Even on my first visit I felt like we had a great rapport and was glad to have found that connection so easily.

I recently popped back in to get my eyebrows microbladed by Lorena and she did an amazing job. I have fair skin and super light, thin eyebrows. I was concerned that most of the patients or friends I know who've had microblading done have black hair and that finding a color-match for me would be hard. But it wasn't at all! I met Lorena for a quick consultation and she talked me through each step of the procedure well in advance. I asked a million questions, she had great answers and we booked an appointment for a week or so later. When the appointment day came she was so sweet and reassuring of this semi-permanent decision. We matched the color perfectly, she asked my opinion constantly about the shape and density of my brows, and it felt very much like a team effort. Which I loved because it's certainly a procedure that you want good results from. Lorena was confident and capable but also made absolutely certain that I was getting the brows I wanted. During the appointment we laughed so much and had so much fun chatting that we almost had to take a brief break from laughing too hard. For a treatment that can be uncomfortable, Lorena made it as fun as could be.

It's now been a week since my brows were done and I'm so over the moon with them! They're PERFECT and I came to Yelp to write a review not just about the salon but about the brow experience because it was truly 5 stars. Everything about L&L is top notch. So happy they're so close by and beyond thrilled that every experience I've had there has been wonderful.

You know what's amazing about Harvest Vine? EVERYTHING.

It's been many years that I've been coming here to dine and they truly hit the nail on the head each time. I've sat at tables, at the counter, in the back room...etc. I've dined with vegetarian friends here, not-so-adventurous friends here, small groups, big groups, and more. No matter the group or our needs, the menu here is always fantastic and people find more than enough items to choose from. Oh! And they have special events, a private dining room, and they host sherry and wine tastings form time to time. Truly a neighborhood gem that's worth driving to from all ends of the city and beyond.

My best advice? Come in a small group or with just one person. Sit at the counter and watch the chefs cook, order wine and/or sherry, and order lots of shared plates.

The menu changes but in general you can't go wrong. On my most recent visit my husband and I shared (and loved):
-foie gras with quince puree
-arroz cremosa, a creamy rice with mushrooms, jamón, and sheep's cheese
-blood sausage and pork belly

Other standouts I'd always recommend here are the salt cod dishes, the venison, and the octopus. Dessert is also outstanding so save room! My favorites are the goat cheese cheesecake and the espresso flan.

Important for me to note: This is a restaurant that has been around 20+ years! Which is a HUGE feat in a fast-growing city like Seattle. New restaurants open (and close) all the time. It's an incredible thing to see a restaurant like Harvest Vine staying so strong and competitive with all the hip new spots popping up. I equate their success to consistency and fantastic service and food. They're successful because they hire incredible chefs and staff that are always upping the game. They're also busy service a lot of regulars. Just like in Spain, you might not get over-the-top smiley service, but you do get respect and fantastic treatment nonetheless.

The counters are a great spot to sit and watch the kitchen work but if you have a million allergies or you're afraid to try new things, or you just have a ton of questions, it's best to sit at a table and ask the serving staff to assist. In my experiences here the chefs will approach and make small talk and be cordial and funny, but only when there are slow moments. My absolute favorite person to engage with is Jeff. My husband and I always try to nab the stools in front of his station. He's hysterically funny and charismatic, but also super focused on 10 things at once. Fascinating! I enjoy watching him multi-task and put together the best plates in the house. If I'm in a chatty mood, I just talk to the folks around me and let Jeff get shit done.

Though the restaurant serves upscale food you can get away with coming in jeans and a t-shirt. The food is more formal than the space or the atmosphere, but it's still dimly lit and romantic if you're wanting to dress up. I think for the price, you get the most bang for your buck here. You can have an incredible meal, drinks, and dessert for less than you'd pay at many other places with the same quality food. Service is fast as well! We tend to eat slow and savor, but still make it out of here in under and hour and a half. Highly, highly recommend!