Pretty dive bar type place with a bunch of homeless people hanging around. Cheap beer though! Came after noon but they were only serving breakfast, monte cristo was OK. Food was OK and service was decent. Pretty loud but everyone seemed happy. Nothing special, nothing terrible. read more

The Valley - Dive Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

I had the toasty club sandwich. Oven roaster turkey, black forest ham, Swiss, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, mayo served on a French hoagie. It was delicious!!! I will definitely go back and get this same sandwich again. Although maybe next time I'll try something else. But I have to say, the French hoagie was amazing! It was a game changer. Large in size, soft and delicious. I'd put this sandwich up against anyone else's. Yes that good! Unfortunately I didn't take pictures but will for sure when I go back. read more

This place is outstanding. I have been here 3 different times when visiting my sister. Go on a Sunday please and give their shrimp and grits a try. I can say you will never experience any better. Having spent several years in New Orleans, I can't say I have had nothing as amazing as this dish. The Valley is one of the best dive bars I have ever been too. Amber and Angie were the bartenders both Sundays we came. They were funny, attentive, and caring. Last Sunday I missed the shrimp and grits by one order. As sad as I was, I gave the chicken fried steak and eggs a chance. My sister and I split it on their advice. Great call because it was enough to feed an army in my opinion. It was outstanding. Such a friendly place, love sitting at the bar. They have an outdoor area as well. Tacoma has so many great places to visit, but please put this on your list. read more

See all

I've been here twice and had great experiences both times! They pour strong and serve up some great food at unheard of prices. I think there is live music most weekend nights, so if you're looking to do a lot of talking, probably avoid Friday/Saturday nights. But if you're looking for cheap entertainment, this is the way to go! The bartender last night was so attentive and helpful despite serving tables and working the bar. Great place that I highly recommend you check out! read more

The Valley - Quesadilla - Dive Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The chicken quesadilla was really good. Was there to listen to a live band. Totally enjoyed it. The service could have been better. But it was loud and the bar tender was having to make drinks as well as take food orders to patrons. So, understandable that he could not be as friendly as bartenders are. read more

Food is great, they have one of the best Reuben style sandwiches I have had and their chipotle chicken is delicious. Service is fantastic and on point. There at 90% of restaurants out there who could use an education in how service is done by watching these ladies and gentleman. Had brunch there once and the shrimp and grits were out of this world, comparable to the Deep South. Dive bar vibe but that is why it is such a great hangout. read more

I still remember this experience even though it happened two years ago. My friend and I met some work colleagues there before a work commitment and were very deliberate in only ordering two drinks. My friend was charged for four drinks, and I was charged for three. We pointed out the mistake to the server, and she doubled down, accusing us of lying. The entire barstaff joined her in ganging up on us and accusing us of being liars. With no chance of having our bill amended, we paid the tab but left no tip. I still remember that as we paid, the woman behind the bar avoided eye contact the entire time, which gave me the very specific feeling that she knew we were being scammed but refused to go contradict her coworkers. It was honestly one of the most surreal experiences I've ever encountered patronizing a bar or restaurant. I will never set foot in this place again. read more

I've been in here quite a few times and the sandwiches and burgers are always on point. Bartenders are always friendly. Neighborhood is a bit sketch but don't let that stop you! read more

Upmarket dive bar vibe with cheap drinks and killer burgers...what more could you ask for?

The Valley makes delicious food. I have had the Smokehouse, the Brutus, and the Turkey Bacon Pesto sandwich. All three are amazing. Also, the soups are perfection and homemade. The service is great. You can't go wrong with anything you order. I work at a nearby hotel and always send people here. They always come back happy. read more

I have to admit that the first time I decided to try this place I got as far as the front door and thought to myself "this is a little too much of a dive"....so I turned around and left. Months later a good friend of mine I will call Gordon, asked me to meet him for breakfast at this "great spot called The Valley". Thinking "what the hell do I have to lose" I told him I would meet him there. Not only is the food pretty damn good but the staff WOW...super nice and very personable. Now it's on my gotta take my wife list and see what she, a REAL foodie thinks of the place. The neighborhood is just a little "shady" with what appears to be homeless (my meager attempt at being socially sensitive) walking the street and, at least for me, fearing for the safety of my car parked where I couldn't keep my eye on it..... according to Gordon the did have one issue with a person walking into tge restaurant and causing a scene and breaking some item and talking off before police arrived (can you imagine that?) But rest assured, I plan on a return visit very soon and once settled in found that it filled up with local folk who all seemed to get along fine. read more

See all

Good food cold beer nice dive bar ambience. Service has always been friendly and quick

What a fun dive bar! Good service, and fun food.... I got the "tim chos"...a take on nachos with Tim's chips, buffalo chicken.... Will be back. read more

The Valley shares the same owners with Peterson Bros, and it's definitelyyyy a different vibe - this place is one of the diviest bars that I've ever been to and I LOVE it! My boyfriend has been raving about this place for a long time now, and we finally went in for my first visit recently; I already can't wait to come back! This is one of those "locals only" kinds of spots and I'm stoked to become a regular. It's only about 10 minutes from my house, so this will definitely be in our rotation! They have a great selection of local beers on tap, as well as canned beers, seltzers, ciders, etc. I went with a Sumerian Hazy which was really good. They don't have our tequila (Espolon) and the tequila we did get was noooot good - but I mean, whatever. What are we gonna do? NOT take the shot? Pffttt. My bf goes on and on about their sandwiches... And I will say, they ALL sound good, but I was craving a burger! So I went with their Classic Valley, and dare I say, this might be one of the BEST BURGERS I've ever had in my life. It has cheddar cheese, valley sauce, shredded lettuce, and diced onion on a brioche bun. It is suuuper messy and greasy, so if you don't like your hands getting dirty (like me) be prepared! That said, I will power through my hatred of messy food and order this again, because it was that delicious. I never eat all of my food, and I inhaled this. Note: they are credit card only!! If you're in to dive bar hangs, it doesn't get better than The Valley. Highly recommend! read more

We order 4 drinks, and two sandwiches to go. One sandwich was a French dip. When we were reviewing what was in our to go order, we kindly asked where the au jus was? Bartender said, "oh, I forgot, we are out of au jus." She didn't want to take any money off the bill, so we just refused that sandwich. When we went to pay, she started an argument, and told us, "I will never serve you again, and I'm here every night." My husband left, and she continued on me, "I feel sorry for you having to home with that." The height of immaturity, she continued to raise her voice and yell at me all the way out of the building, telling me how wonderful she was." Who insults someone's husband after they have left the building? Up to that time I had said nothing to her, merely settling the bill. 7th grade behavior, rubber glue, bounces back to you. NO, needless to say, I do NOT recommend if this is the behavior the approve for their staff. Have always enjoyed food and beverages there before. Love the 1111, the sister business. Non of that attitude there. read more

Such a great experience. Food, service, vibe-all excellent. We only had brunch, but we'll be back to try the rest of the menu.

Locals' joint and a great "dive bar" venue. Good service, good sandwiches and a friendly neighborhood type vibe... our kind of place. Went here to pick up sandwiches on my son's strong recommendation and ended up having a beer on the outdoor patio out back. Since my wife is a non- drinker and willing DD, a few turned into three. We'd still be there if my two grandsons were not waiting for their dinner. The sandwiches were all very well constructed. They looked like there was too much bread vs. ingredients, but turned out to be perfectly balanced. Our to-go: The Brutus - My favorite - Pepperoni, salami, ham, cheddar and swiss cheese on a French hoagie with fresh tomatoes and Caesar dressing. Dockside Dip - Thinly sliced roast beef topped with Swiss cheese on a French hoagie & a side of au jus. Valley Cheesesteak - Thinly sliced roast beef, American and cream cheese with grilled onions served on a French hoagie. Really enjoyed this place. My son's recommendation was spot-on. Note: 21 and over only... leave your much loved anchors at home. read more

See all

Absolutely the BEST patty melt I've EVER had, and I've been a patty melt fan since the 70s!!! Although they use two different cheeses instead of just Swiss (traditional), it's the first time EVER that I've gotten a patty melt on a hoagie roll. But not just any hoagie roll, it was actually RYE! Didn't even realize rye hoagie rolls existed! But what really made me an instant fan after my first order ever here was that their patty melt came on the hoagie roll mentioned, but with a beef patty ON EAC HALF!!! Yes, TWO beef patties! Seriously it was so big I had to save a half for dinner! Oh, also the absolute BEST French fries I've EVER had!!! My boss said they just got a fancy fry maker and they used to only offer tater tots. I'm instantly hooked on this place after just driving by it for 30-40 years or more!!! Pretty spendy, but getting the BEST of what you ordered is worth the extra money! We at Delta Camshaft call this our Go-To place for the best lunch EVER! read more

Cool vibe, tasty food, but super slow and super skimpy on the meat. I spent 30 bucks on a shot of Jameson and 3 thin slices of vegan deli meat. read more

The Valley - That's suppose to be a Ruben. I took the top off. Super tasty, but about a third of the meat a Ruben deserves. - Dive Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Great little dive bar by the Tacoma Dome. It appeared that there was only a bartender and a cook on duty so we had to serve ourselves and order from the bar which wasn't a problem since it wasn't too busy. The cheeseburgers and pizza bread was great. Music was a little too loud for having normal conversation with our friends. read more

Great beer, one of the best turkey sandwiches and the fries are incredible. We grabbed a quick lunch before dropping family off at the train station. Will definitely be going back. Plus they are dog friendly and that's a huge bonus right there. read more

We were looking for somewhere close to grab a quick bite to eat and this was within walking distance from our hotel. Although the neighborhood was a little questionable, the inside of The Valley has had the necessary updates and improvements while still keeping its original charm. The bartender ended up being our waitress since the restaurant wasn't very busy in the late afternoon. (And she was very attentive despite having a half full bar of other patrons to attend to) We chose from their extensive drink list and even ordered a couple $2 Jell-O shots. Which were actually really flavorful in a good way! Their menu had so many delicious sounding options and after reading reviews I figured I couldn't really go wrong no matter what I ordered. I opted for the Philly and a cup of clam chowder. I was extremely satisfied with my meal. The clam shower was the perfect consistency, seasoned just right, and had tons of clams and potatoes in it. And the philly was rich and delicious. The cream cheese was a really nice addition. Other than not having fries as an option with the sandwiches (they only had bagged chips) I was very satisfied with my meal and would definitely recommend this restaurant to a friend/return here in the future. read more

See all

Second time going for live music. Went to see The Loose Floor Boards. Food was good and the service was good.

The Valley kicked me out on sight for asking about a dog So I'm a stagehand. I often work weird hours and last night I saw a pit bull on the side of the road by the Tacoma Dome as I was coming home at three am. I posted a picture on Facebook and got some messages by today. Apparently there was a car crash last night where this dog ran out of the wreckage. His name is Boogie. When i got up about an hour ago I decided to help find him. My search ended when I was incredibly demoralized by stopping to ask the folks at The Valley if they had seen this dog. I pulled up and parked in the lot alongside the business but left my car idling (i can keep my keys in my pocket), someone was passing by on the sidewalk so I just paused at the entrance for a second to make sure he didn't get into my car. The bartender shook her head at me before I said a word and when I turned to walk in, a patron shoved my chest back to the door. I said "woah, I have my ID I'm just trying to help someone find a dog." the patron said it didn't matter because the bartender said no. i said that i didn't do anything and i don't understand why im receiving this treatment for just asking a question. the patron just kept asserting that they didn't want me there. I was shocked and stayed in the doorway trying to reason with them about what had happened in my story. They didn't care and just told me not to block the door. sharing so people can know, i feel it's relevant to the people of tacoma to know this read more

Great gathering place, friendly staff, knowledgeable bartenders. The only downfall is limited parking and questionable area (homeless/transients). However, I'll be stopping by occasionally. read more

Excellent food and the weekend staff is awesome! Angie and Amber are the best! Food is excellent.

OMGosh, yes. I'm super-excited to find this place because I take the train out of town from the Tacoma station quite a bit. Food is quick to arrive, service is generally good, and it's within easy walking distance of the station, so this makes for the perfect stop for me before I get on the train. Last time I was there, just before Thanksgiving, I ordered the Turkey Bacon Pesto. I asked if they could hold the cheese and pesto (not a fan of cheese) and do mayo instead and they happily obliged. This was a seriously delish sandwich with the flavors of the garlic butter-toasted sourdough hoagie blending perfectly with the tender turkey, crisp bacon, and juicy tomato. Pretty amazing. They have a good selection of beers and mixed drinks also. My only complaint (hence four stars instead of five) is that I felt a bit rushed the last time I was there. I had some time to kill before my train and probably would have ordered another shot and/or beer, but the bartender asked more than once if I was ready to go yet. Even so, The Valley is definitely on my list of places to return for a seriously good sammie. read more

Great service & live music was awesome! The kitchen manager was on top of his game during a busy night and still had time to be social with customers. We will totally be back :) food was great! read more

Tacoma's X Group is known locally for creating unique restaurants that fits the neighborhood of which they are located. The Valley is another Gem with it's "Blue Collar-Dive" feel that you will find Port & Construction Workers, Hipsters and Business Professionals mingle with ease which adds to the laid back vibe of this bar. They offer a nice array of domestics to regional beers to satisfy the beer snob with a solid liquor selection to kick the buzz into high gear too! What really elevates The Valley is their food! While you won't find a huge menu; it's simply not needed here, as you will find an on-point selection of quality & filling Sandwiches (The Brutus is my favorite), Burgers, Salads to their Friday BBQ Brisket Plate that always satisfies! On Saturday & Sunday they offer breakfast that is a perfect start to the day whether you are building-the-base or recovering from the night before, it's legit! My favorite is the Shrimp & Grits that even my Southern Friends agree, it's the best North of the Mason-Dixon line! Do you like authentic, roots based music? WARNING: You won't find vanilla, top 40 cover bands or a DJ spinning club music here. The Valley does a great job of bringing in local, regional and national music acts to their stage that will kick your ass with original, roots rock, alternative county and more! It's a small, intimate room that the Artists can really connect with their audience! So give this place a try for Lunch, Happy Hour, Weekend Breakfast or a Show! FYI: There is no ATM, so bring cash for Door Cover Charge when you come for a show. read more

The Valley - Dive Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Super yummy sandwiches! We Had the 'Smokestack' & 'The Brutus' along with cheesy pizza bread they all had a great homey taste and arrived hot We Ordered through Uber eats, & didn't even know it was a bar!! Lol. Will definitely be ordering from here in the future and maybe even dropping on by. Happy new customer! read more

Taco Wednesday in case you forgot on Tuesday,LOL. The shrimp taco's rock although I do love the beef ones as well. Also the Gorgonzola Pasta is super yummy and a nice change from traditional Mac & Chz. Very happy that I am able to get my favorite sandwich or burger as a wrap because I have never been much of a bread person. Easy to stop by a couple of times a week!!! read more

Gravy! Bloody Mary! Laid back! Great food! Awesome staff! If those sound good then go eat here for brunch, but please don't tell your friends cause it's a great place that's not insanely busy on the weekends with good food and a Bloody Mary that is just spicy enough with nice big olives!!! Love their monster Cristo, potatoes are yummy, burrito, breakfast sandwich and brisket with chicken fried steak are all perfect and to order! Place is legit and delish! read more

I was looking for lunch with vegan/vegetarian options. I saw The Valley had 2 vegan sandwiches. I know a lot of my friends go here for shows on Friday and Saturday nights, but I didn't realize they had a decent menu. I got the vegan melt (side veganaise) and my friend opted for the toasty club. We were both pleased. The vegan melt had a vegan meatloaf with vegan chao cheese. I really liked it. It actually reminded me of Eleven Eleven. Apparently, they have the same owners. I had no idea. The Valley is on Puyallup Ave and looks grungy on the outside, but inside, is quite pleasant. Our server was prompt and very cool. The sandwiches were a bit pricey, only including chips, which I don't eat, unfortunately. My sandwich bread was really good, although I would opt for something a little thinner (next time). All of that said, we will for sure be back. read more

See all

Ate breakfast here with my buddy. Just driving through and read the reviews. Place at first seemed very sketchy but it turned out awesome. Quick service, friendly staff and great food. I love it all....and the sketchy ambiance just added to it. read more

This is a cool place. I absolutely did not expect the food to be this good. It Is a walk up bar and grill. So read the instructions on the top of the menu. Drinks and food are reasonably priced. Don't be shy either. No one had anything bad to say about the food. I will post pics of what we had read more

See all

Stopped in here recently for a live music show. I've driven past this place for years and never stopped, mostly because I had no reason to. It's pretty small, so when my friend told me his band was playing there I was rather interested in how that would work out. I got there early hoping to find a spot to sit a little away from the stage and the bulk of the "loud". But, there is no getting away from the stage in here, and the few seats that were a bit further away were already taken. Okay fine, I'll pick one that isn't right on top of the stage. Sadly, the only real option was the one right next to the back stock-room so we got to deal with staff running in and out of there, squeezing between our table and the sound guy who was shoe-horned in a tiny corner over there. Part of why I got there early was to have some dinner. Word on the street was that this joint had good food, luckily I was not let down here. So let's rewind just a touch before I get into the food itself. I was a bit frustrated when I found out I had to go to the bar to order. That means I need to stand in line with the big group of people who want booze, just so I can order a coke and some food. Not my favorite thing to do. If you've ever tried to order at the bar you know it usually turns into a mob that just sort of pushes their way up there because "lines" aren't really a thing, nor is any sort of respect for someone who may have been standing there before they arrived. The bartender was a bit snippy, which frustrated me too. She cut me off twice while I was trying to tell her what I wanted to order so that she could ask me a question that probably could have waited until I was done talking rather than cutting me off with a "No, hold on! I'm not done with this yet!" If I wanted treated like that I could have went to the local Denny's. As for the food, I ordered a Gorgonzola Chicken Pasta which arrived very quickly, which tells me a couple things. One, the pasta is pre-made. Two, the chicken is pre-cooked. no way they got this thing out to me in the few short minutes from the time I ordered it without that being true. I wasn't even done eating my salad yet when it landed on the table. Setting that aside, it was good and I enjoyed the zip of the Gorgonzola in what was essentially a mac-n-cheese with some chicken. All in all, a teeny tiny space with live music and decent food. Had my friend's band not been playing I'm not sure I would have been inclined to stop in here, and that's probably what it'll take to get me to return. read more

This place is a great dive bar with the best shrimp and grits in town! We try to come here every Saturday that we can for brunch. My husband always gets the hammie time and enjoys it. If you want shrimp and grits, come early! They sell out pretty quickly! All in all, a good dive bar with exceptional food! read more

Best sandwiches ever, great beer for a good price. French dip is so amazing! 10/10!!!!

What a cool bar. Being relatively socially anxious, I drag my significantly better half to things on non-peak hours--weve been to The Valley twice for a late lunch. Food is consistently great. Beer selection is pretty terrific, except for one garbage macro lager on tap. Can not recommend this place highly enough. One day I may put on my big boy pants and try to come out for some live music. read more

See all

This is rapidly becoming our weekend brunch spot of choice, which is saying something because there are basically two things on the brunch menu that are vegetarian, but one of them, the Ranchero, is more than worth the trip. AND, the Ranchero is a breakfast burrito...it takes an awful lot to get me to get excited about a breakfast burrito, because really, what's the big deal about taking a bunch of breakfast food, putting it onto a tortilla, and rolling it up...it's just repackaging, right? Well, the Ranchero sets itself apart, and if I knew how it does so, I'd just sit at home and make my own, but I'm happy to plead willful ignorance and just keep showing up to the Valley and let them work their wizardry. Plus, the classic mimosas are a great means by which to wash 'em down. I haven't been to the Valley in the PM hours, but given the good experiences I've had with their sister hangouts (Eleven Eleven and Peaks and Pints), I would assume good things are happening on the lunch and dinner menus, and they have live music too! Plus, I really like the friendly servers and the mix of dive bar regulars, bikers, aging hipsters and random walk-ins that populate this charming little spot. Parking is a bit dicey, and yeah, add another veggie thing to that brunch menu...the Ranchero and the avocado toast could use a little bit of company, even if it's just sides of those adorable little Field Roast veggie breakfast links. Otherwise...heck yeah. read more