My family has driven past Cooks Tavern so many times and each time I've made a matter of factly remark that we should try it in the near future. After what I believe to have been 2 years of saying that, that day has finally come. First, parking near the restaurant was limited, however finding parking in the residential area was fine. We found parking about 2 minutes away from the restaurant. As we came with my best friend, who, by the way, was the reason why I finally stepped foot here, wait time wasn't long as she came about 5 minutes earlier than I. We came for brunch and it was busy but the wait was not bad at all. The both of us ordered the same items on the menu from both the drinks, the main and dessert - a sangria, Shakshuka with lamb, and beignets. We also brought our daughters with us. They ordered a cheeseburger with a side of caesar salad and a mac n cheese dish from the kids menu. Our orders were delicious, although I was expecting the shakshuka dish to be heftier. For the price - $17. xx with an additional $4 to add lamb - it was a little disappointing, to be honest, especially since it was lacking in the lamb department. I was still hungry but thankfully I had my 4 year old's leftover cheeseburger and salad to fill me right up. As for the beignets, it was good. I don't have anything to compare it to since I don't know what an actual beignet tastes like. Would I return? Sure. read more

Seek and you shall find. A Sunday late breakfast. Finding a place to eat breakfast in the afternoon can be a daunting task. Some want lunch what can one do. Go to Cooks really seriously head on down the place is fantastic. The booths are private and big. Providing a great place to join and eat. Music in the background jazzy at the perfect volume. Walked in waitress greeted us asking us if we were going to eat breakfast, close to cutoff time. We replied yes as we browsed menu selection made order placed. How kind to tell us. Food wonderful selection diverse and simple with something for everyone including kid menu. I chose between two breakfast selections going with my gut of course. The foragers omelette with biscuits. Not disappointed at all cleaned my plate. Everything was hot, nice good spices great flavor. Potatoes were nice with fruit and biscuit to accompany. Burgers were ordered with the clean up on aisle 12 as well. No one talked at first sure indication as we shared our finds. Wow we ate it all and all I have is a smile and one photo. read more

Cooks Tavern - Try this for breakfast? Forager - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I'm such a diehard fan of Brewers Row (especially the sweet potato black bean burritos) that I'd never been to Cooks Tavern next door until a friend (who'd never been to Brewers Row lol) asked me to meet them there. Just to get this out of the way, service was great, no complaints. But what's really special about Cooks is that the restaurant regularly rotates the menu and the decor to showcase different cultures. This month it's Persian food and Persian art on the walls. How awesome is that? Basically, you can go to Cooks every month and never eat the same thing twice. Plus they offer 15$ Friday specials which means you can do it affordably. On my first visit, we were just eating light so we took advantage of the sides menu from which you can order simplicities as fried eggs and arugula salad. I am always appreciative of a comprehensive sides menu because I don't always want a full meal but I still want "something." In addition to the sides, we also had beignets, which are a rare and special treat and I only know of one other place in Tacoma that serves them (Radnors on South Tacoma Way). These were fluffy, yeasty and incredibly tasty and what made the experience even better was that our waiter shook the bag with powdered sugar at the table and then cut the bag so we could more easily get our hands in. Nice touch. Will be back. read more

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Love coming here. Always something new to try smh see. Staff was attentive, but felt rushed. Great atmosphere. Loved the Moroccan theme. Shakshuka is one of my favorites. We tried a god variety. The table fav was the Pigs in the Orchard. Great flavor combination with the apples, ham and cheese. We'll be back! read more

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We came in for brunch on Friday and enjoyed the service, the grilled cheese and tomatoe soup and ambiance! We ordered off the "Not So Early Bird Special" and also got the grilled cheese with tomato soup. The special was a great price which came with a side salad and country potatoes. It tasted great. The only downside side was my scramble was cold when it came to the table which was a little disappointing. The soup and grilled cheese combo was comforting and full of flavor. The interior was clean, comfortable, and relaxing, which made the whole experience even better. Our waitress was so sweet, attentive, and checked on us often. Overall, such a wonderful brunch spot highly recommend. read more

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My food was fabulous! Wish I knew how to create this recipe. It was divine! If you're ever in Tacoma come to Cooks Tavern! WAs totally satisfied read more

Cooks Tavern - Yum! - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My friend said some great things about this place, so we decided to meet for lunch. I got the griddled cheese with fries. The service was friendly, and the seating was fine. The griddled cheese was really disappointing. It's a 3-cheese sandwich, and I think one of the cheeses might be in the bread? The filling of cheese was very sparse compared to the thickness of the bread. Grilled cheese- especially grilled cheese with several types of cheese- should be heavy on the cheese and not heavy on the bread. My friend liked his meal (it was a hash). read more

I just had to go enjoy a sumptuous breakfast (again) at one of Tacomas best restaurants. DO NOT LET THE NAME FOOL YOU AS NOT A TAVERN BUT IS A RESTAURANT SERVING ALCOHOLIC DRINKS. Cook's Tavern is a popular American restaurant in Tacoma's Proctor District known for not only classic comfort food like steaks, burgers, eggs Benedict, but also a quarterly new fresh sheet based on different cultures or counties. Excellent service began the second we entered as Marvin welcomed us 2 feet inside the door. Upon asking for the " warmest" table he sat us inside the "lounge area" which you would not recognize as such as in same room as main floor with small divider. Marvin was perfect, not rushing, but checked back two minutes after food delivered and checking always for coffee. (Last time I had Bloody Mary to die for). Today I enjoyed the special menu of Francisinha ( see menu pic) while wife gladly ate early riser biscuit n gravy & scrambled egg. I took close up pics to prove how great their dishes are, but only tasting it can solve your taste curiosity buds. Once again, Cooks delivered superbly cooked tasty dishes with fresh herbs n spices! Thanks again Marvin for your perfection of how service should be. Cooks is Tacomas best kept secret I think. However, once known, it becomes a habit or for special occasions. A 10 in ALL aspects today. read more

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Loved the space, on a nice sunny day it's very well lit, comfortable seating and great windows. Service was very friendly and attentive. Downside was they did not mention salad/fries would be an additional $1.25 when they asked if we wanted those with our sandwich/burger. Their mayo was a nice black peppery aioli. read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

What a friendly neighborhood location. From the moment you walk in, it felt like they already knew you. Loved the large window views and comfy seating. We loved our salads. Both had fresh ingredients and didnt take long at all. I loved how the waitress, Justice never rushed us and was very attentive. They do not accept AMEX, just a fyi. We will be back for lunch and/or dinner soon. Check it out! read more

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We came here fire a girls night out with RealRoots. It was fairly empty on a weekday evening so service was good and we didn't have long waits even as a decent sized group. We all tried something different. I enjoyed my meal- I enjoyed a nice pasta dish and had some to take home. I would say it was comparable to any American dining restaurant. read more

Amazing food that is never stagnant. Fun, amazing cooks, waiters and bartenders. Cozy dining spaces, not too loud, but not cold and sterile either. We will be back! Looking forward to our next international dining experience! read more

Cooks Tavern - Beignets YUM - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I know not why my first review of Cooks wasn't published. So it goes. My partner accompanied me for this my third visit. She-who-must-be-obeyed ordered the triple-cheese sandwich and tomato soup, and a small side salad. All was wonderful, especially on a cold, rainy sloppy PNW day. Based on my last visit when my chef nephew proclaimed their chicken fried chicken sandwich possibly the best sandwich he'd eaten, I went all in. The sandwich was lovely as was the tomato soup. I wasn't wild about the balsamic salad dressing because it was too salty for my tastebuds. The ambiance is chill and I love the wooden bar. If you're in the Procter District of Tacoma you could do a lot worse than dining at Cooks Tavern. Enjoy. read more

It's always a delight to pay Cooks a visit and indulge in a familiar favorite and perhaps venture out into a monthly special. We love the artistic installation hanging from the ceiling to match whichever food scape they are highlighting. They have a great Bloody Mary and the bottomless drip coffee is also quite good. read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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We went here for brunch. It was very busy, and we had to wait for a little bit, but the food was worth the wait. The restaurant had nice decor, and our waitress was very nice. The food was great. My only criticism was that there was not enough syrup. My waitress brought over more, so it was easily remedied. We will definitely be going back! read more

Cooks Tavern - Chicken n' Waffle - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Amazing gem with delicious food! We came here as a party of 5 adults and two infants for breakfast on a beautiful Friday. The family friendly ambiance was fun and unique. The service was fast and accurate. The eggs Benedict was the best I have ever had. I will coming back! read more

The wife and I were looking for a brunch spot and found Cooks Tavern after playing a quick nine holes of golf. First off the staff made us feel genuinely welcome and was attentive during our entire time. The restaurant itself was clean with colorful paintings on each wall. Cooks Tavern had exactly what we were craving and more. They had a list of Jamaican dishes that looked very appealing. My wife ordered the Rasta bowl which was full of flavor and I ordered the chicken n waffles which had bacon infused into the waffle. Both dishes were very delicious and a must try. We also ordered a bag of beignets that took care of our sweet tooth craving. We added Cooks Tavern to our list of favorite places and highly recommend others to check out. read more

Cooks Tavern - Chicken n' Waffles with a side of two eggs. Drinking a hurricane 75 cocktail. - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My husband and I dined in for the first time and had a great time! We went on a Friday night and thought it would be very busy, but we got seated right away. I got a pineapple sage gimlet which was delicious! Would also try the Tacoma Paloma next time. They had a Jamaican menu and a lot of the items sounded delicious and I ordered the sirloin which had coconut collard greens and they had to substitute a broccolini because they ran out of an ingredient (I can't recall now). The sirloin was cooked perfectly (rare), which tends to be more medium rare for other restaurants, but I was also impressed with the char and spices which gave it a nice crunch. My husband enjoyed his lamb burger. The service was also great, above average for Washington. Our server was very attentive and quick. We had a great time here and would definitely come back! read more

Cooks Tavern - Pineapple sage gimlet - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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The lamb burger on the menu caught our eye so we stopped for a late lunch. Burger was good standard fare. Fries were okay. I had the Tavern Salad similar to a Cobb Salad. Again good standard fare. HOWEVER!!!! The tomato soup was house made and outstanding! Thick with chunks of tomatoes and not the shocking red of canned soup. I am STILL thinking about that soup. "Prime Meats" is featured on the building; I'd replace that with "Fabulous tomato soup". Will return next time for the soup! Service was friendly and prompt. Stay tuned for the amusing bathroom "attendant" picture. read more

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A lovely spot, though it can get popular. As I understand it, this establishment is from the same people that brought us the 5-Spot in Queen Anne, with similar rotating themes behind the menu, changing every few months. The theme this time - NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana). We were there for breakfast. They had a variety of usual breakfast items, and some New Orleans inspired specials like beignets and a voodoo skillet. I had the chicken & waffle -- I got spicy chicken and scrambled eggs. The chicken was delicious, the waffle was good, and the scrambled eggs pretty standard. One of our party got the breakfast sandwich (as she usually does), The other trend the voodoo skillet and was very happy. The service is attentive but not intrusive, the atmosphere friendly and warm without being crowded. This is a great restaurant. read more

Please clean more. Too much dust everywhere Very good atmosphere but not so many food verity read more

Great meal. Excellent service. Nice ambiance. The music level was low and we could actually have a conversation with our friends.

Wasn't acknowledged for over 5 minutes when we walked in which set the bar low... but the evening turned out stupendous. I'm from New Orleans so when I saw they had a NOLA traveling menu I had to try it. Serious. The. Best. Pork. Tenderloin. I've. Ever. Had. My date loved her gumbo too. Gumbo is super hard to make convincingly, but they did. The shrimp corn chowder was world class too. Honestly as good as any I've ever had. Beignets finished off the evening and the homemade compote took them to the next level. All that plus some stellar service from Zack and this place earns a solid 5 stars. read more

Went to Cooks Tavern for breakfast for the fest time and ordered their special Waffle Slam. They had so many options to good from their menu and was recommended to try the Waffle Slam and it didn't disappoint. The waffle was really crispy and fluffy and it goes perfectly with the house made maple syrup they provide on the dish. The bacon is perfectly crispy and the sunny side eggs were cooked to perfection. The service was great, the waiter was nice and friendly to us. We were seated to our table pretty quickly and our food came out quickly too even though it was a busy morning. The ambiance of the tavern is really nice and modern. Very clean and visually appealing. Overall my experience was really good and i definitely would recommend the waffles if you are in the mood for breakfast. read more

Cooks Tavern - Waffle Slam (Waffle, bacon, and eggs any style) - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Great food. The atmosphere was nice and staff were quick and friendly. The gluten free bread had a nice texture when toasted on the sandwiches. read more

Cooks Tavern - Gluten free BLAT - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I came into this restaurant and it was pretty busy for an early breakfast. We got seated right away in a huge booth that could easily seat 6-8 people without it feeling overcrowded. We ordered the eggs Benedict (Hawaiian version with pork), the loco moco, and a bag of beignets. As a person who frequently orders eggs benedict for brunch, I was a little disappointed by what I got. The entire benedict dish was just okay and a little underwhelming - the pork (under the eggs and sauce) was good but not amazing. I felt like it was missing something. I was most disappointed and saddened by the pineapple salad on the side. It felt like the salad was just drenched and marinated in the sour vinaigrette. I couldn't eat a small bite without making the sour face and drinking a ton of water to wash out the taste. I couldn't eat more than a few bites of it. The loco moco was just okay. It felt underwhelming as well and a bit flavorless. I was really excited about the bag of beignets (which they come to your table and shake it up in powdery goodness) but they were small, like dunkin donut munchkin size, and super super dense. I don't know if I'll return but if I do, I'd probably order something else. read more

Cooks Tavern - Eggs benedict (with pork) - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Justice gave amazing service with a friendly smile. We were sat promptly, explained the menu and time limits on ordering breakfast. Offered beverages. When my husband noticed I was cold next to the window he asked if we could move to another table. They had no problem accommodating our request. When it came to ordering, we had a couple of questions about the menu that Justice was well equipped to handle as she knew the answers off the top of her head. Our meals were delivered quickly, fresh and hot. Most of all delicious. Justice came to check on us but was not overly present. She provided perfect service. The staff moved quickly and seamlessly together. All the guests were seated appropriately spaced which provided a comfortable dining experience. read more

Cooks Tavern - Churasco Steak Sandwich - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Firstly,this place is not a tavern.It's a restaurant with a bar which seats about six people.Popped in to have lunch.Cool thing about Cook's is they have monthly food specials,beit French,German or for September,Hawaii...no problem with that!Settled on the Loco Moco.A dish I had in Honolulu several years ago.Rice,hamburger,gravy,onion.A good meal spoilt only by an enthusiastic amount of Worcestershire sauce mixed in with the meat.Very pleasant eatery with informative and polite staff.Interior was decked out with the Hawaii theme...funnily enough the piped in music was Reggae and not your Ukulele heavy island you know what.Weekly specials include Paella Thursday nights which I intend on trying.Certainly a place one can return to because of the variety on the menu. read more

Cooks Tavern - Loco Moco - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This place is near the University which is one of the reasons we picked it. Looked popular which is good and bad. The ambiance is tavern, Hawaiian and eclectic. The service is very good but the food came out somewhat slow. I got the fried chicken sandwich which I thought it was very good. Nice thick piece of chicken breast crisply fried to perfection and the bread was ciabatta but not too thick. I got a perfectly dressed side salad too! My family went with the breakfast route and they weren't as happy with their dishes. I would come on an off time and try other items. Their cocktail and beer menu is pretty extensive. read more

Cooks Tavern - Fried chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Fun Hawaiian decor and menu theme without being over the top! Art on the wall And lamp shades set the tone nicely, music was not too loud, and the Hawaiian themed menu did not disappoint. I tried the mahi mahi which I thought was just a tad dry, but the pineapple salsa was a bright spot. Hubs had spice rubbed pork chop from the Suppers menu and this was amazing juicy and tender and seasoned right! I'd go back for this pork, and would love to try some of their chicken and vegetarian options as well. I enjoyed the Forever Loving Ube cocktail very much and the Direct Flight a little less. Hubs liked his pale ale and the Maize Haze IPA Attentive and helpful service. Looking forward to returning! read more

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Since my first review, we have been here a few times. Similar experience, its okay, but the food is average at best. The wings we had on our last visit were literally the tiniest, saddest attempt at wings for a decent pricepoint, that I have ever seen. Just not worth with with better restaurants very close by. We have always sat at the bar and this is where we've made the decision to not come back. The bar is always a hot mess of items, bottles, everything just not put away. Just not clean enough for me to trust what happens in the kitchen. read more

After this incident occurred, my mother and I called the business to inform them of what happened with their employee. A couple days later the owner called my mother and profusely apologized and sent $100 worth of gift cards for her. He was incredibly nice and the problem was with the employee was quickly rectified. We will be returning to Cooks Tavern. read more

The Castleton Garden is by far one of the best plant-based meals I've ever had! I'll be back for it again.

Great spot for a breakfast or brunch with low-cal choices that aren't full of calories.

Amazing food. Love that they change their menu to different cuisines. Great service, full bar and espresso.

Very cool spot!! Highly recommend the seasoned pork chop! The best chop I've ever had. The staff were very friendly and helpful!

We decided to give Cooks Tavern another try. We have eaten here several times over the past few years, mostly disappointed... and then we wait a year or so to come back and see if things have gotten better. Unfortunately, we were disappointed once again. We thought that since they advertised Moroccan month we might find something tasty out of that vibrant cuisine. There were very few 'Moroccan' dishes, mostly seeming to feature a lamb sausage. We ordered the dish of sausage with shakshuka and it was mostly mediocre. Oddly spiced lamb sausage just doesn't make it ... The service was slow and uneven. They don't have bussers to clear tables and the wait staff is not well organized enough to clear, prep and seat diners even they had at least a dozen people waiting in the front Great location, easy parking, pleasant atmosphere, great bathrooms. Now, if they could only serve better food and be more professional in the dining room. We will give it a try in a year or so and see if they ever get it right. read more

Great food and service. Got a table pretty quickly. Drinks were great. Service was helpful.

Their collard greens were cooked down so well. Their guava jam and coconut whip cream is to die for SO GOOD. I love the vibe with a touch of the island feel. It feels very open inside with the big windows and clean. The pulled pork type of meat on the benedict felt a little salty for my personal taste but i love this place. Will def come back! read more

Cooks Tavern - It was one of their special egg benedict with collard greens and pulled pork. - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I come to cooks once every couple of months. It is a great spot for brunch. They have a full service bar with espresso drinks as well as cocktails and beer. People don't regularly come to just hang out at the bar but it has a pretty cool 1920's french vibe so I think it's a good spot to do that too. One of the things I like about the food is that they rotate a portion of their menu every month focusing on cuisine from different parts of the world. The price is on par with other brunch spots (around $17 per dish) and the quality of the food is really good. The service can be a little slow but is usually friendly and helpful with the new menu items. All in all it's a good spot in north Tacoma for quality eats. read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington