Jen "think locally, eat globally" K.'s Profile

I don't even know where to begin.

This is the newest eatery in West Linn and I wish I had better news to report. They've been open approximately two weeks and our family dinner was a train wreck from start to finish.

Service was nothing short of horrifying. The server seemed completely bewildered and confused... by the menu, by the order in which to serve things, who ordered what, and how to fit plates on the table.

Not all of the blame can be set on her shoulders. The menu is perplexing. Way too much information. There are pages and pages of sushi and sashimi items, entrees, combos, kids meals and lunch deals in a bound menu. Then there is a separate laminated menu with Vietnamese and Thai dishes -- curries, noodles, pho, rice dishes, appetizers, etc.

We started ordering the food by name and were informed by the server, "Just the number please." So it was J-11, G-18, H-2, BINGO! This also translates to all of us being extremely confused when the food arrives.  Only one dish arrived looking like we expected, so things went back and forth between the kitchen, sushi bar and server and it seemed like a lot was lost in translation. "Is this what we ordered?" There aren't adequate words to describe it. Even the California Roll that accompanies some of the entrees was presented in a way I don't think I've ever seen before.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I've probably eaten at every Asian restaurant in the area and many in Portland, traveled throughout Asia, blah, blah, blah. My point is that this type of cuisine is in my comfort zone and I was still flummoxed. Off all the food we were served, the best meals were from the kids' menu. For ages 12 and under, it was a large bento box filled with many different items, even fries and ketchup. That last part was unexpected and little odd.

We had a large group and ordered from all over the menu. Only one menu item (eel roll) was served in a 'traditional' manner. The tempura arrived cold and some of the most basic items and sides just tasted a little odd, including the miso soup. I would love to sit down with the owner and try to figure out what in the world is their plan. Because as a customer it feels like, "We are going to throw everything up on the wall and see what sticks."

They can take or leave my advice, but in the interest of providing constructive criticism to a new business in my hometown that I'd like to see succeed, here are some recommendations:

1) Cut the menu in half. Figure out what you do well and focus on that. We have three Thai restaurants in West Linn, so I'd drop that section from the menu.
2) Reduce the portion size by one quarter and the prices accordingly. I never thought I'd say this, but no one needs that much sashimi. I'm not just talking about the Sashimi Dinner entree (pictured), but the overflowing side dishes that accompanied some of the other entrees.
3) Train your staff. I don't expect every employee to memorize the menu, but they need to be able to understand the basics and be able to identify menu items.
4) Honor your reservations. A large group with a reservation walked in right after us and they were unprepared.
5) Publish your menu, business hours and phone number. Not every restaurant can or wants to have a web presence, but at least post this information outside your restaurant.

By trying to cover all the bases and appeal to everyone, I fear many of their customers are going walk out the door saying, "What just happened?" I know I did.

500
2,364
63 x 2
109

These are the most important numbers in town.

If you can only see one thing when visiting Tacoma, this would be it. Point Defiance Park is a very close second, but the Chihuly Bridge of Glass is pretty unique and in the heart of the city. It is a fine and diverse collection of local artist, Dale Chihuly's, work.

I visited morning, noon and night while we were in town and enjoyed it equally on an overcast day and when there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

500 is the length of the bridge (pedestrian overpass) that connects downtown Tacoma with the Museum of Glass.

2,364 is the number of objects in the Seaform Pavilion. A glass ceiling with pieces of art from Chihuly's Seaform and Persian series. It is like swimming in the deep blue sea and looking up at the most colorful shells and sea life you've ever seen.

63 x 2 is the number of Polyvitro blocks in each tower that form the Crystal Towers. It is the center point of the bridge and they light up at night. It reminded Mr. K and I of the glaciers in Alaska.

109 is the number of objects, primarily large vases, from three Chihuly collections (Venetians, Ikebana, and Putti) that are in the Venetian Wall. From elegant to whimsical, it is a stunning collection of his work. The wall, which is like the most elegant bookshelf you've ever seen, lights up at night.

With the Hot Shop tower and marina on one side and Union Station and downtown Tacoma on the other, this was really a lovely way to see the city. And, of course, it is FREE. You really can't beat that.

The bridge is over train tracks and the freeway, so it won't be quiet, but I still found it to be incredibly romantic. I think a stroll across the bridge after dinner should be a part of any date night in downtown Tacoma.

About a year ago, something changed. Our favorite family pizza place in West Linn, Bellagios, became less appealing. Pizza Schmizza picked up the slack. It was interesting that each family member made the switch for a different reason.

For the boys, it was a combination of the atmosphere (set up as a place where teens and tweens want to hang out) and the meal combos (variations of a large slice, soda and salad) that are almost always ready to go.

For Mr. K, it was the pizza sauce. Something we don't care for at Bellagios. Plus, he has become a fan of the pasta dishes when he isn't in the mood for pizza.

For me, it was my discovery of the Schpaghetti & Meatball pizza (yep, it is spaghetti & meatballs ON a pizza). They almost always have coupons floating around and the service is great.

Now on to the sad part of the story. The location in West Linn closed suddenly this week. So when I went to place a large order for a birthday party, I couldn't use my local branch. The boys were set on getting pizza from Pizza Schmizza, so I ordered from the Westlake location in Lake Oswego.

My order was ready when requested, the pizza was great and they didn't bat an eye at my 25% off coupon. So with the closure of two pizza places in West Linn this year, it looks like more drives to Lake Oswego and Wilsonville are in my future.

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Just to be clear, there are two types of pizza places - family style and artisan. Kids don't tend to be fans of thin, slightly charred crusts, and interesting ingredients. So I'm a fan of Pizza Schmizza in relation to other pizza places of this type.

Context is everything. Something I learned a long time ago when writing reviews.

Because everyone should, and typically does, experience a place based on their own interests, palate, patience and mood. The company you keep also plays a large part.

So let me disclose up front that I am obsessed with glass art. I've been collecting it for years, have blown glass on a couple of occasions myself, and visiting this museum was the primary reason for my trip to Tacoma. It was a pilgrimage of sorts. So consider this review the equivalent of a Disney fanatic's visit to Disneyland.

I don't have any issues with other (lower rated) reviews of this museum. In fact, I think it is helpful, because it probably isn't for everyone. The museum is relatively small and the largest space is dedicated to the Hot Shop, where art is being created. There is amphitheater seating and narration about what is taking place on the 'stage' as artisans create glass art. The nicest part is that it is warm. So a nice interlude on a cold day.

The other half of the museum is dedicated to exhibitions, which rotate, a theater that shows movies about the artists as well as the history of glass blowing and a design studio. You can sign up for a workshop and create your own work of art to take home. http://www.museumofgla...

While I didn't have issues with the reviews, I do feel the need to explain the pictures. The majority of photos associated with this business listing weren't taken at the museum. So it is a little bit of (unintentional) false advertising. One of the reasons is that there is no photography, or cell phone use, permitted in the exhibit. Pretty standard for a museum.

So, let me explain why you should and shouldn't visit. If you think glass art is just interesting or don't really want to spend a lot of time in a museum, start with the FREE Chihuly Bridge of Glass that is next to the museum (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). It is the subject of most of the photos, including the glass quilt ceiling, bookshelves filled with dozens of Chihuly's vases and glowing blue towers. It is a great example of the world famous local artist's work and that might be enough for you. During the week, Union Station is also open and you can see more of Chihuly's work inside for FREE. Another option is to visit the Tacoma Art Museum, which includes a Chihuly exhibit in addition to other types of art. (Admission is $10).

The Museum will cost you $12. It was worth the cost for me, based on my keen interest and to see the works of Paul Stankard. http://www.museumofgla... I have to admit that Chihuly really isn't my style. He is a little too much and is the master of the grand statement. Stankard on the other hand is my Glass God. I kept circling through the exhibit and found myself mumbling, "Oh, no, he didn't. How did he...?" repeatedly. I thought my head was going to explode. His work fascinates and the devil and the joy are in the minute details.

I thought they did a nice job of making the museum accessible and engaging for children, but I was really happy mine weren't with me that day. Having children in a room of glass can be a bit stressful. So if I was with them, we'd visit the bridge and the station and perhaps pass on the museum. Although one exhibit was a forest of glass that really reminded me of Narnia and was pretty magical. I think everyone who walked in that space had their breath taken away.

Tacoma was a pleasant surprise in so many ways. As a girl with a glass obsession, it was my kind of town.

"Honey, let's go check out the Star Wars mural."

(silence)

There are many times when I suspect that Mr. K rolls his eyes on our little road trips. We are going where? To see what?

I came across this local gem when browsing the highest rated spots in Olympia. It was an easy stroll from the center of town and just a couple blocks from the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company.

When asking a local for directions to the mural, he informed me that his friend created the mural and although it is a caricature, all characters are truthful in their representation. He was dead serious when describing the artist's motivation. This is when I turn to Mr. K and nod knowingly. Just stick with me, kid.

The mural is painted on the side of an apartment building and is in good condition. Someone actually has their apartment in the Death Star. **jealous**

The grassy area alongside the building appears to be home to the only food cart in town, so it was a fun little journey of discovery.

Not to say all my wanderings are successful. But in this case, the Force was with me.

As someone who dines out frequently, there are many servers that just want to get the job done. Which is fine as a diner, but some never seem to deviate from a checklist. When you have a server go above and beyond, and I'm not talking extraordinary measures, just thoughtful human interaction, I want to give them a High 5 in addition to a nice tip.

This is a sandwich shop. Not even a particularly fancy sandwich shop in downtown Olympia. It reminded me most of places I would visit in college. Large portions, reasonable prices and a 70s touch when it comes to decor. Not because it is retro, but more likely because this place has been around that long.

Our sandwiches were both excellent. I had the tuna and Mr. K had the club. The club sandwich in particular was enormous. Our server joked that the bread really rose that day, since it is all made in house. Served simply with a pickle spear, I most certainly felt like we got what we paid for. My tuna sandwich even appeared with a side of pasta salad and all throughout our meal the server was funny and informative.

She had to take care of a large group at the back of the restaurant, so she apologized in advance if she went AWOL and explained that the woman at the counter could help us if we needed anything for the next few minutes as we ate. When we were leaving, she asked if we would like to box up our leftovers and we declined because we were on a road trip. She then returned with two cookies for our drive.

High Five!

I did not have high hopes walking into this restaurant. We bypassed nicer options in town for a casual lunch by the water. The atmosphere reminded me of Joe's Crab Shack, but with the kitsch turned down to a 6. I get the impression they are a single restaurant, but it feels like a chain.

Service was just fine. Only one bobble during our meal and it was handled gracefully and quickly. Based on the other reviews, perhaps we were lucky.

I enjoyed my dish, a half order of the halibut and chips. That being said, there were two relatively small fingers of halibut in my meal. Mr. K has ordered the fish tacos with halibut and I far preferred my meal. The sauce and the cheese really turned me off. Between us, our meals came with fries, chowder and coleslaw. The coleslaw was inedible for me and I also wasn't impressed by the chowder.

We were partially lured in by the view. The restaurant is not quite on the water since a parking lot sits between the tables and the Port of Olympia Marina. There were multiple small TVs in the dining area, not just the bar, that I found distracting.

Looking around the restaurant, their primary clientele appears to be older diners and family groups. Next time I'll encourage my family to make another choice.

A really lovely spot along Commencement Bay as you head towards Point Defiance from Tacoma. It is a Grade A fishing pier complete with covered overhangs and benches. Even instructions for different types of fishing. On a clear Winter day, the views were beautiful... to the left towards Puget Sound. Looking back towards Tacoma was not so pretty.

A trail extends all along Marine Park for miles and it was lovely to see people out running, biking and walking dogs in this gorgeous area. Another nice little attraction is Fireboat No. 1 (a National Historic Monument) which adjoins the pier. We saw another active fireboat in the bay that day, so it completed a very pretty picture.

On the first Saturday of the month from 1:00 - 5:00p, look for the Red Shoe Banners outside stores and galleries in downtown Gig Harbor. I read about the Art Walk in a Tacoma paper and so we decided to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge for a little outing, not really expecting much. I thought it might be held outdoors along the waterfront, similar to a Farmer's Market. Instead, galleries open their doors, and in some cases offer appetizers and drinks, which is so very smart with our typical NW weather.

There is also a scavenger hunt element. Pick up a form at any gallery, collect the stamps at each location and you are entered in the monthly drawing for a gift certificate or prize from one of the galleries.

The Art Walk is just an excuse to visit the charming city of Gig Harbor. My husband was ready to strap his kayak to our car and move here. It was that beautiful.

When we visited, there were seven businesses participating in the Art Walk and everyone was very welcoming. Most were clustered within easy walking distance of each other in the heart of Gig Harbor, so it was a nice way to see this town. One gallery was located about a mile north, but still an easy drive with a pretty view.

Of the seven businesses, we made purchases in two. So great for the businesses and even better for me.

Frugal Jen tip for my fellow Oregonians - mention you are an Oregon resident to the gallery owners and you don't need to pay sales tax on your purchases. Just present your OR driver's license and enjoy some tax-free shopping!

Nestled at the back of a running store in the old Fine Arts Theatre on California Avenue, Cafe Zombie was one of my finds during my last visit to Palo Alto. Many years ago, I worked a couple blocks from here and had a blast revisiting the street. I was amazed at what remained, but the street is full of new-to-me businesses.

Due to its prime location, the cafe was packed during the California Avenue Farmer's Market. It was worth the wait.

The beans are micro-roasted and there is a small lounge area, but I preferred to get my drink to go. During the same trip, I ordered coffee from Printers Inc. Cafe just down the street, and it wasn't in the same league. There are some nice coffee houses in downtown Palo Alto, but this is the best I've found in this part of town.

So bypass the running shoes and apparel and make tracks for the cafe.