In Tacoma for a week. Visited Cooks Tavern three times during my visit. The Fall Festival menu was delish. On our first visit we had three of the seasonal menu items. Harvest Hash. Butternut squash, parsnips, smoked pork, potatoes, red bell peppers, herbs & duck fat!  Topped with poached eggs. Along with Biscuits. This dish was to die for. I could eat this everyday. Squash, smoked pork and duck fat. Yum. Fall spice spiked pancakes with candied pepitas, cinnamon butter & real maple syrup. Delish! So tasty you dont need syrup. Organic King salmon & arugula on an English muffin with poached eggs & hollandaise.  Served with crushed potatoes & fruit. Our order was missing fruit. This dish was my least favorite. The salmon was a bit chilled' and be careful of the bones. A bit more hollandaise would be appreciated. We decided to return for the beignets. So this time we tried the fall harvest dinner menu. Red Dog Salad. Local salad greens, thyme roasted apples, cranberries, roasted walnuts, Cyprus Grove Humboldt Fog cheese & orange citronette. The salad was nicely balanced. I could eat this salad morning, noon and night. Autumnal Airliner. Lightly smoked and pan roasted bone-in autumn herbed chicken breast, maple/bacon roasted butternut squash & roasted broccolini. The chicken was tender and moist the butternut squash just says FALL. The beignets were yummy while it came with a lovely a preserve I'm a purist I love them just as they are. Okay so finally night in Tacoma and I want PNW comfort food so we are back to pick up some take out. We got our favorites from the 2nd visit. Two orders of the Red Dog Salad with chicken and the Autumnal Airliner and a extra side of the maple/bacon roasted butternut squash. Unfortunately this visit the food wasnt prepared with the same care for details, the hand that prepared it wasnt the same as our other visits. The salad was overdressed and needed more cheese. The Autumnal Airliner chicken was terribly dry. The squash was amazing it fills your body with a sense of fall. Though our last meal didn't hit the mark we will likely return again to try their other seasonal menus winter, spring and summer. read more

Stumbled on this place via Yelp as our original destination wasn't allowing "dine in" due to Covid-19. It was a nice find. Really nice ambiance with windows that completely open to outside creating an indoor/outdoor feel. Ordered goat cheese scramble with potatoes and ordered a side of bacon. Eggs were just ok and quite small portion. Potatoes were the star of the meal along with the seemingly fresh made strawberry preserves on English muffin. Side of bacon was 3 good size pieces that we also shared. Wasn't much of a "low carb" meal but considered it a cheat meal and enjoyed. Definitely a place to come back to. Wait staff friendly and moderately attentive. Menus through QR code scan... so be prepared to scan to view... COVID times and all you know. read more

Cooks Tavern - Goat cheese scramble - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My visit to Cooks was brief, but overall underwhelming. It's nestled in the Proctor area in a fantastic location. The building looks like it was transported from Ireland, which I loved. However I felt the identity was confused. Usually when I'm sat next to the bathroom when there are other tables available I know I'm not going to be happy. I also take this opportunity to see why I might have been sat there, but I can't say anything other then the wait staff just didn't really care. Regarding the food, I didn't quite understand what they were going for. As a Tavern, I'm expecting tavern food. Especially since that's kind of what any online presence would lead you to believe, but they're serving a blend of Puerto Rican food and almost brunch without actually hitting the mark. If we had another brunch/breakfast spot option in the area (which we didn't) we would have chosen something else. We had the benedict and the breakfast sandwich. Both weren't amazing. However, they have a house bloody mary and it was good. read more

My husband and I frequent Cooks Tavern quite a bit and just love their food. The staff is friendly and very attentive. Great place to eat! read more

Cooks Tavern - EGGS BENEDICT - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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This is one of our favorite places for brunch/lunch in Tacoma. Our son loves their beignets, and we get them every time. Also of note, their staff is top notch, and always professional and courteous. We accidentally left our diaper bag at the restaurant when we left, and they went out of their way to find us/contact us to let us know. We will definitely continue to be happy patrons of this establishment! read more

This a cool place. The atmosphere is really cool and feels like a neat neighborhood place. Service was great and food was pretty good. Definitely recommend and we'll be back. read more

Frustrating. I visited 2x prior to Covid and the service was rude (very rude) both times, so I didn't return. I eat out a lot, and there just isn't a reason for a small local place to put on such airs. Called this evening at 6pm asking for a 7:30ish pickup for a birthday dinner ~ thought the service was rude, the food was delicious. Was told to call back 20min before I would be picking up the food as they did not take advance orders... When I called back was told "oh sorry, they just sold the last of that." Brewers Row allows you to order online and will gladly take your order anytime. I've eaten there 40+ times. The quesadillas are fantastic! read more

Cooks Tavern - Ample outdoor seating ~ and dog friendly on the patio too!!! - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

amazing food and service!! the parking was not too bad. we went on a weekday and there was no wait. the drinks were delicious and the mushroom omelette was fantastic! read more

Cooks Tavern - espresso martini and Wild Mushroom Omelette - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Overall, I'm very disappointed with my dining experience at cooks. I will not be back nor will I recommend to others. There's another review on here where the customer asked the restaurant about vegan options. The customer stated the server was really rude after that. I also encountered that too. But, I think this particular server just has a very poor attitude and lacks customer service. I'd recommend the owner go over customer service 101 with all their staff. I guess the first server was so annoyed with us they handed our table off to a different server. The second server at least tried to help with vegan options (the only reason I'm giving this review 2 stars). The restaurant was also extremely inflexible with altering meal items. I asked if something could come without cheese and they said no. Now I get that happens with certain items, but I asked similar questions on 3-4 other menu options and was told no every time. The food was also meh, the highlight of the meal was the side of fried plantains. I think that should tell you enough. read more

Brunch on a Wednesday- it's a decadence anyway, but here it's spectacular! Eggs Benedict. Pugs in a pool & chicken & waffles did not disappoint. A carafe of mimosas was the perfect accompaniment. Service was great & customers were all pleasant. read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My Daughter and I had my Birthday Breakfast there and it was delicious Hawaiian Breakfast to my surprise. I had a wonderful sweet purple pancakes stack and my Daughter had the Kamehamea pork breakfast. We were totally happy and satisfied. read more

Good food, good service, good atmosphere. Nice restaurant in quiet neighborhood. My wife and I have eaten here several times. The food has always been good and service is exceptional. The place has a nice atmosphere. read more

Thanks Cooks tavern for building a quality restaurant in Tacoma. I hope your establishment here thrives into the following years. I truly appreciate the service and fresh food from last night. We went here for a girls night out, and it was a hit! The weather was nice for a change so we ate on the patio. My girlfriends ordered the salmon dish, a salad, and I ordered the empanadas. I'm so glad I ordered these delightful pockets of goodness. Inside had chunks of lamb, eggs, and potatoes. The lamb was not gamey at all, and the spices put inside were delicious. The pesto added to this dish was absolutely phenomenal. And the added fresh cilantro was a plus. For under $10 you get 3 filling empanadas. The Salas's were beautiful and not wilting. Everything was firm and beautifully displayed. I was also able to have a bite of their beignets. Freshly fried and powdered with sugar, if that doesn't entice you they add melted hazelnut chocolate on the side. Wow. Such a great choice! Street parking is convenient and there is a bike rack. read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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One of my new favorite restaurants! Despite the wait, they made sure we were taken care of with excellent service and the food made it SO WORTH IT! We stopped for brunch and tried a little bit of everything between 4 dishes that we all ordered -- so good that we didn't even get a chance to take a picture. We tried the Foragers Omelette, Breakfast Enchiladas, and two specialty dishes from their Calabrian menu: Omelette Peperoncino and Calabrian Pork & Polenta Hash. They were all incredible! If you want to swap out any potatoes + bread, you can add a little salad for some extra greens. They offer specialty touring menus that they change out quarterly which is a fun way to try new dishes and flavors too! read more

Cooks Tavern - Mimosas for Brunch - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Horrible service. We walked into cooks last night, stood there for 10 minutes. We noticed a young man who seemed to be working hard attending tables (carrying food and clearing plates all while having an arm in a sling). There was another young woman who appeared to be cashing someone out as we first walked in, but after went over to the counter and joked around with the cooks for awhile, played around and shuffled receipts and then danced around near the bar. After 10 minutes we left. Never an acknowledgment, a "we'll be right with you", nothing. We won't be back. read more

Great biscuits and gravy! It was a lot of food and I'd recommend sharing with someone who ordered something with their amazing potatoes. Ambience was very chill, vibe was nice and service was great. read more

This place is always busy, I had to stop in. Despite their capacity, service was a great! Food was exceptional. I loved the shaved ham, a nice touch for the Benedict. If you're kidless opt for bar seating to get in quicker. Blueberry pancakes Eggs Benedict San Jose (breakfast) tacos Under $55 read more

Cooks Tavern - Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The food is great and definitely the best part. I got the all-day breakfast with bacon and scrambled eggs and my dad got the BBQ bacon burger. He's very picky about his food and always orders burgers medium rare (and he won't hesitate to send them back if they're overcooked) so it was a pleasant surprise that not only did the waiter ask how he wanted his burger cooked, but it came out right the first time. We were seated fairly quickly but we eventually had to flag someone down just so we could order; they seemed pretty short on staff. My food came out with fried eggs rather than scrambled but as soon as I let our waiter know, he brought a plate of scrambled over. I'm already planning to go back because several things on the menu looked really good and I want to try more of them, lol! read more

Cooks is our neighborhood treasure. Walking distance from our house. We love their rotating menu. Breakfast served until 3pm and so good. Chicken and waffles are amazing but so is the eggs benny. Lunch and dinner options are really good and the rotating menu makes it really interesting. Cant miss on the lamb burger which is a mainstay. Prices are reasonable. The ambiance is so good with high-end finishes and perfect lighting - windows open when it is warm out. Some outside seating that we love. Very good cocktails. Artwork and decor is rotated with the theme. Never been to a restaurant with so much effort put into the experience. This is our go-to place when we dont want to cook. Definitely one of a kind and worth the trek if you are out of Tacoma. 5 stars always!! read more

We had visited the History Museum and Glass bridge in the morning, and chose Cooks Tavern for lunch. My dad is not really a person who orders outside his comfort zone, but the Ube Macadamia nut pancakes really sounded good so he ordered those. Mom and I ordered the BLTA sandwich. I wish I would have ordered the pancakes because my dad did not sure a single bite because he loved them so much! The portions were large and food and was really good! We are not from the PNW so I thought the coffee was phenomenal, but that's just me. Where we live, we have Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and a bunch of other places that water down their coffee. When I bring my husband back for a visit, we will definitely come back to Cooks Tavern for breakfast! read more

I've been coming here for a few months and the food is alright I love the beignets! I don't know if it's like their ~thing~ but the servers are always super mean. I've only had one really nice server and he was super sweet, he actually talked to us, but I haven't seen him in awhile. This one older woman with glasses is always super rude tho, once I ordered a drink and I wasn't really feeling it after a sip and asked to switch it out and she respond with "what was wrong with it" took it VERY personal and still charged me for it (even tho I seriously took a sip) after awhile I found my self leaving cooks kinda uncomfortable. I am not sure if I will go back, kinda sucks tho cus they have a cozy ambience. But I would suggest trying they are kinda a hit or miss. I would suggest the art house cafe they are always 100% on point. read more

Wow!!! Just WOW! We were on the way to a completely different restaurant when we drove past this Gem! I was immediately drawn to their marquee! It's street parking and it must be absolutely great to live near this neighborhood restaurant! We were greeted by a super friendly sweet waitress with super fabulous customer service! 5 Star indeed! The decor is open with big windows, very modern with local art on the walls. It's chic and clean! Full bar! I loved everything about this place! We ordered the Chicken Caesar salad (they make their own dressing) delicious and The Tavern Burger with fries!! To drink a Bloody Mary, they make their own bloody mix and it's fabulous! All was delicious! With that said I was remarkably surprised how delicious the French fries were!! OMG! Out of this world hand cut delicious fries!!! I seriously almost asked if I could order some to go but I was completely delightfully stuffed!! If you're anywhere near this place, I highly recommend this fabulous corner restaurant! read more

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Tavern in the name has kept mẹ away for an unknown number years. Gave it a try about a year ago. Now it's in our quê for worthwhile places. Never a total disappointment. Even see families with small children as guests. Very inviting inside. For most of year jazz music that is soothing and comfortable. My last visit however is a disappointing change. A typical restaurant choice of music is the boom boom and yet unable to discern the music genre. Please get back to good music. Menu changes about every 3-4 months featuring a different country and it's dishes. I've tried Hawaiian, Argentinan and now Santa Domingo. Limited fish choices limits my visits. Tonight- Gin gimlet with sage cocktail- not exciting but had twice, Old Fashion once-again not exciting. Shrimp with mango- good. Flank steak, sweet potatoes, avocados with red onions- pretty good, pretty spicy black beans. Pulling pork shoulder-good, with spicy beans, avocado dish. Dessert pineapple dessert- excellent, good coffee. read more

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We came here for a late lunch and although they were very busy we lucked out and snagged the last available table. My husband and I were both super hungry since we skipped breakfast. When it comes to choosing sweet or savory, I always go for the savory option but seeing that the waffle slam comes with bacon and eggs I decided to go for it. I also ordered a side of fries because they looked really good. My husband ordered the eggs Benedict with a side of tomato soup. Can you tell we were hungry? Food arrived quick enough and every bite was better than the next. The waffle was fluffy and light and was topped with a generous amount of butter. The bacon was crispy and the eggs that I ordered over easy were just right. I asked for a side of ranch with the fries but they didn't have ranch and instead they brought me a side of their green goddess sauce. It was so delicious and paired well with the fries. The eggs Benedict was great too. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection and were so airy. The hollandaise sauce was delicious too but a little bit salty. The soup wasn't my favorite but my husband loved it. I tend to like my tomato soup a little creamier. Service was fantastic too and we enjoyed our time there. read more

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Food, service, and atmosphere was fantastic. Highly recommend! The food is unique and the flavors are something you aren't usually exposed too. Quick turn around, if you have to wait. Tots worth. read more

3/24/19 update- So rating is staying the same. I've been here 2 times since my last visit, last time Madison was wonderful, she was kind, attentive and just very sweet. Today we had Chris, he was great and accommodating to our party of 8. To the date I have brought a total of 9 dining companions with with over 3 visits since my first outing like a month ago, I thoroughly enjoy the food, atmosphere and especially cappucinos I've experienced as have all of my guests. I have one issue and it was with the hostess today, Cassie. I get it. It's Sunday brunch there's already 12 people waiting to be sat and I come in with a party of 8 at 11:23 and you're less than thrilled. However you showed it in a rude manner by rolling your eyes and disgustingly seeking out a potential spot for us and letting me know it would be at least 45 min or an hour. And being in hospitality and customer service you should be able to mask it better and not be blatantly annoyed by us. And she was. She was obviously nicer to other tables than she was to us and kinder to other parties who came in to wait, my family even noticed it when she sat them or checked on their tables. In respect for the restaurant you would think you would be happy to sit an 8 top with a bill that would be obviously over $100 to help your sales for that day. But she made us all feel like we were not welcome at all. As noted, the food was great again everyone loved their dishes. Our server was great, our bill was $125 and we tipped a well earned 20%. I wish the brunch experience hadnt started out with the nasty attitude from the staff that is responsible for first impressions when you walk into a business you plan on supporting. read more

Cooks Tavern - Huevos Ranchero, biscuits and gravy. Side biscuit. Side potatoes - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I loved the food, drinks, and vibe here. The lamb burger was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Onion rings were light and crispy. My husband had a chicken Caesar that was fresh and perfectly dressed. I had a 'Strawberries in the spring' cocktail that not only looked beautiful, it tasted like candy. They have comfy indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Cooks Tavern - Tutto Calabria Lamb Burger - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Saturday morning brunch at its finest! We were in town for a wedding and needed to kill some time and find a place to eat. We stumbled upon Cooks Tavern and it was SO good! The eggs Benedict was top notch! Very clean and comfortable to sit and have a quiet breakfast. The biscuits were my favorite! read more

Cooks Tavern - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Love Cooks! Been there 4 times now and always a great experience from the servers as well as the kitchen. Servers are always on point making sure that you have everything you need and super attentive without the hovering feeling we all have had. Kudos to the management for the hiring and training of the right people. The theme of this restaurant changes every so often, keeping a basic menu and changing to a new regional theme every few months. The latest I experienced was Cuban theme, and loved it for both breakfast and dinner. Also loved the dinners for two, which gives a chance to try a bit more in one visit. The Havana Hash was a perfect breakfast option finding myself in Tacoma after an 8AM meeting cancelled on me. Win/win!! After living on Queen Anne years ago and visiting 5 Spot weekly (or more!), finding another restaurant owned by Chow Foods in the south end was epic! read more

Cooks Tavern - Havana Hash during Cuban menu. - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Tried a takeout couple of days ago. 1. Tutto Calabria Lamb Burger: well cooked, spices were well balanced, maybe a bit garlicky, but overall excellent taste. Would give 4.5/5 2. Bignets: were ok.3/5 Definitely, looking to go back and try their other dishes. read more

We have been coming here for years and always enjoy the atmosphere, service and rotating seasonal menu. What made our night was the wonderful meal recommendations made by server, Mason. Ordering off of the Calabria menu, the Brasato with the polenta and pickled grapes was mouthwatering. Make sure to have a bite of the grape with the polenta! Topping off the meal, we had the Pana Cotta that had a warm cookie like crust. This completed the meal perfectly. Thankful for this neighborhood restaurant that never disappoints. read more

Found this place because a friend and co-worker live down the street. LOVE IT. Not until after we visited did I learn it's owned by the same company that owns Endoline Joes in West Seattle. Makes sense as they offer a similar rotating menu and corresponding decor. For our first visit, we did the fried chicken family style for the table. The chick is excellent, sides and gravy awesome! Highly recommend it if you have never had it. We have also since been for breakfast and the potatoes they serve on the side are, well, the best I have ever had. They must deep fry them after boiling them and season them so they have this awesome flavor and crunchy outside with soft and squishy inside. Also ordered a side pancake which was served with real maple syrup, which is key to the deliciousness. My breakfast was the clean up on aisle 12, which has this kale in it that I really like. Not normally a fan, but wow! The poached egg on top was done really well. Great dish, certainly would rather try something different next time though. read more

A group of us came in and asked for a table.... The maître d' asked us how many and we said four. At that point we asked how long it would be approximately ....his response was "I don't play that game. I don't tell people anything because they just get mad at me when I'm wrong." At this point, he turned his back and walked away from us. That was the point that we turned our back and walked away from your restaurant for the rest of our lives! read more

Went to Cooks Tavern for the first time today and had the best breakfast I have ever had roasted crispy potatoes covered in sausage gravy and boy was it amazing!!! read more

Wonderful service, clean and inviting. Good food, reasonable prices. Windows can fully open and patio dining. Once twist on classics. Will come back soon. read more

I visited for the first time during their Greek inspired menu. My mom wanted to treat me to a girl's date after having a positive experience here with my dad. We came in right before the dinner rush so we were seated fairly quickly. Our server was very kind and helpful on guiding me, as i told her it was my first time. She was the same server my parents had just days before, and she even remembered my mom! Service overall was excellent. I ordered the grilled pork chop with broccolini and creamy mashed potatoes. The dish used quality ingredients, and was very filling. My only critique is there was a little too much pink near the bone, and it could have used a little more flavor. I added salt and pepper which helped a bit, but for their prices I'd expect a little more attention flavor wise. The cocktail i ordered was amazing. Would definitely get that again. read more

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Outstanding brunch with good ambience for the morning. Amazing waffles (no, really, amazing), good scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon, and great coffee. Very friendly service. We had a group of 10 (including three children) and they somehow managed to get all the food out at the same time. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the kids liked the food too - that's almost the hardest thing in the world! Highly recommended. read more

I don't know why it took me so long to come here but I'm really glad I did. They rotate the menu every few months as well. They have quite a few beers on tap as well as different cocktails that go with the menu. The menu this time was southwest style. We shared the fried green tomatoes which were delicious and the sauce on top was so good. I had the poblano relleno. It had tamale inside and a yummy sauce that was slightly spicy but not overpowering. Everything was delicious. I will definitely be back to try their rotating menu. read more

Cooks Tavern - Poblano relleno - New American Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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It's been a while since I have had an opportunity to visit but have been there several times and have always had wonderful service with great food! read more

Having a neighborhood restaurant with such a diverse selection was exciting to us. We've been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unfortunately, the quality and execution of the food is wildly inconsistent. Some days, everything is on-point. Other days there are multiple quality issues. To elaborate, the other night my husband and I, along with a couple of friends, decided to try out some new menu items. We ordered onion rings, chicken sandwiches with fries and a salad, Mac and cheese, collard greens, biscuits, and nachos. The good: - Collard greens were tender and flavorful - Chicken sandwiches were well-seasoned, great texture, fresh veggies The not-so-good: - Biscuits were tough - Nachos were lacking in toppings and greasy - Mac and cheese tasted like they cooked noodles and threw cheddar cheese in the pot. No emulsifier, no creamy sauce. Just noodles and loose cheese - Onion rings had raw batter in the middle - Fries were cold and unsalted - The $3.50 salad was literally mixed greens in a box. Nothing else. No toppings or extras. The bottom line: Inconsistent food that's sometimes great but sometimes lackluster. For the price ($15 chicken sandwiches, $16 nachos), I could get more consistently solid food elsewhere. read more