This restaurant has the best patio in Pierce County, according to you
We asked for your patio picks, and the winner probably won’t surprise you.
It’s been open for 40 years. It’s on Ruston Way. It’s equipped with deck seating perched above the rocky shoreline.
Yes, it’s Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern.
ALMA Patio, the outdoor-only restaurant on Fawcett Avenue in downtown Tacoma, gave this stalwart a run for its money, though, garnering just one vote shy of Katie Downs’ 21 — about 8 percent of our 277 tallies.
Tied for third place, Boathouse 19 landed 15 votes, or about 5 percent, as did Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor. We agree: Both have epic views, but with views come waits!
In fact, six of the Top 10 vote-getters boast waterfront views — seven if you count Le Sel’s peek of the bay from its secluded deck off St. Helens Avenue.
The only non-water view to land in this arena (9 votes/3 percent) was Dusty’s Hideaway, the McKinley haunt in a Craftsman house with a full-blown backyard, side yard, front porch and back deck.
Another 14 voters claimed their pick wasn’t on the list. We attempted to whittle down our much-longer list of everywhere you can eat outside across Pierce County to 60 of the finest setups.
The rest of the votes revealed that we all have our allegiances away from the water, too. Below you’ll find a rundown of the nine winners per your tallies. We’ve also rounded up seven patios a bit more off the beaten path.
KATIE DOWNS WATERFRONT TAVERN
▪ 3211 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-756-0771, katiedowns.com
John Hilger opened Katie Downs at 3211 Ruston Way in 1982 with friend Mike Ebert, whose Irish grandmother lays claim to the name. Hilger’s son Dan took over seven years later, updating the menu, adding spirits to the bar and — importantly — expanding the deck to what we know today. Bringing it into a third generation, Dan’s son Luke Hilger has joined the team.
Though you can often snag a seat in the restaurant, the deck on a sunny day is almost always packed to capacity — even on a Monday at 6 p.m. — with friends catching up over fish and chips, big salads and their spin on pan pizza. Expect to wait at least 30 minutes at peak times. On weekdays, consider a late lunch or early dinner — as in 3 p.m. — to secure a seat straight away. Built-in heaters lend year-round appeal, sans precipitation.
The service is friendly, the beers are cold, but it’s the lapping of the water, the occasional vroom of a passing boat, the seagulls cawing overhead that keep Tacomans (21+ only) coming back.
ALMA Patio
▪ 1322 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253-368-6509, almatacoma.com/alma-patio
This massive concert venue, art gallery, cafe and restaurant space in downtown Tacoma rebranded earlier this year to become simply, ALMA. The Lounge offers intimate dining for indigenous-inspired cuisine and excellent cocktails, while the Cafe serves coffee, pastries and breakfast. The outdoor-only Patio in the expansive courtyard provides a counter-serve setting for every meal of the day. It’s a popular choice for families and groups, as well as work meetings.
Boathouse 19
▪ 9001 S 19th St., Tacoma, 253-565-1919, anthonys.com/restaurant/boathouse-19
Accessible via the Narrows Marina, this West End favorite has been serving fresh seafood since 2012. Anthony’s Restaurants bought Boathouse 19 from founders Katie and Dennis Driscoll in January but kept the name. The menu is similar, with chowders, salads and fish-focused apps, plus sandwiches, fish tacos and the tempura-fried cod, calamari and prawns. Expect peak-time waits for deck seating, with views of the Narrows Bridge, Fox Island and incoming boats, and note that weekday happy hour specials are only available inside at the bar. Families are welcome, but for a kid-free environment, consider ordering takeout to enjoy on the Narrows Brewing deck above.
Tides Tavern
▪ 2925 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, 253-858-3982, tidestavern.com
A local’s tip for snagging a seat at Tides Tavern: “Get there when they open.” This Gig Harbor staple has won locals’ hearts in part for its great fish and chips, chowder, salmon burger and house beer by neighbor 7 Seas Brewing. But we can’t get enough of the deck seating, where boaters can dock and order a meal and Mount Rainier shimmers in the distance. Since 1973, the Stanley family has nurtured it into a beloved institution because it is, at its core, a neighborhood pub only for those 21 and older.
The Beer Vault - Purdy
▪ 14004 Purdy Drive, Gig Harbor 253-514-8426, thebeervault.net
The former safety vault of an old Key Bank branch on the east side of the Purdy Bridge is now a beer cooler, hence the name of this Gig Harbor taproom that opened in February. In just a few short months, Ronda and Hal Haase have amassed a loyal following (21+ only) for live music, trivia nights and $4-a-pint “kill the keg” Sundays. Find a table near one of several garage doors to catch a breeze, or if you’re lucky snag a stool on one of two side patios with a view of the Purdy Spit. There’s also a larger semi-covered patio under the building’s original ATM drive-thru.
Duke’s Seafood
▪ 3327 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-752-5444, dukesseafood.com/locations/tacoma
Though the company has roots dating to 1976, Duke’s didn’t land in Tacoma until 2006. What founder Duke Moscrip believed would be a minor ad in the local paper at the time turned out “hordes of diners.” They have continued to flock to the over-the-water deck, outfitted with string lights and heaters, under which guests enjoy Dungeness in varied forms, Duke’s regionally famous chowder and many other seafood specialties that have kept up with changing times better than some of the restaurant’s peers. Reservations available via OpenTable, where you can request deck seating but, of course, it’s never guaranteed.
Anthony’s at Point Defiance & Gig Harbor
▪ 8827 N Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, 253-853-6353, anthonys.com
▪ 5910 N Waterfront Drive, Tacoma, 253-752-9700, anthonys.com
In business since the 1970s, Anthony’s Restaurants opened its Tacoma outpost in 1998, followed by Gig Harbor in 2001. The company also owns Harbor Lights, which we omitted from the poll but also deserves appreciation for its waterfront deck seating. At the namesakes, guests look forward to seafood fresh from nearby waters, scratch chowder prepared daily, and Olympic Mountain Ice Cream for dessert.
Dusty’s Hideaway
▪ 723 E 34th St., Tacoma, 253-292-0106, dustyshideaway.com
Dusty’s is one of only three non-waterfront restaurants to break the Top 10. This family-friendly, group-friendly, hangout-friendly McKinley pub boasts several outdoor seating areas that feel much like being in your own backyard — if it were really nice and you had a frozen drinks machine pouring high-octane Mai Tais. Neighbors, families, industry folk and friends flock here for the burgers, tots and sandwiches like the Sam Elliot — turkey, bacon, cream cheese, spicy blackberry jam and arugula on Texas toast, as well as co-owner Dana Verellen’s delightful cocktails. Note: there’s also a Dusty’s Downtown now, with limited indoor seating but the same burgers and tots.
Le Sel Bistro
▪ 229 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-327-1015, leselbistro.com
The facade on St. Helens Avenue deceives in where it takes you, which is down a hallway and into a petite dining room. Through another set of doors, settle into cushioned wicker chairs and fancy French toast, a croque madame or a filet mignon benedict. Add a bloody mary and a mimosa with pear-ginger, coconut or pomegranate. Relax. You’re sitting on one of Tacoma’s best year-round patios, with a peek down to Commencement Bay from this unexpected urban oasis (21+ only). An extra-sweet bonus: It’s the only restaurant on this list where you can reserve a patio table (recommended). Consider a romantic evening here for dinner, served only on Fridays and Saturdays.
