Friendly service and great beer. Love the VCR and video tape collection…read more Great non alcohol selection as well!

Nice comfortable place with beer, but alas, no food offerings. They have a food truck outside that…read moreI assume is open at some point, but not for us when we stopped in. It has some comfortable seating around, so we ordered beers at the bar and sat outside. They had 12 (I believe) beers on tap - 10 of thier own and 2 NA ones from somewhere else. As a self proclaimed beer snob, none were really that great.

Everything was amazing on this visit. The cheese steak with Cajun tots was so delicious. Every…read morecomponent was perfect. The meat, peppers, cheese sauce and roll come together really nicely. The tots were so crunchy and had a great amount of Cajun seasoning. When I order tots at places I'm often disappointed because they're undercooked or very greasy or lack flavor, but these guys really nailed it. These tots were not greasy, as crunchy as they could have been and so tasty. Friendly service from the server with the cool short blonde hair and the rest of the team as well.

Before a show nearby we checked out the Spar Cafe. My husband and I are huge McMenamins fans and…read morethis was one we hadn't been to yet - perfect opportunity to get our McMenamin's passport stamped! The vibe here is identical to all of the other McMenamin's properties. Low lighting, eclectic, and lots of original components. So cool to see the pictures here from back in the day with little changed in the space! The barback here is super cool and you can tell it's original. Our waitress was great - she was nice and huge shoutout to her for recognizing we had our passports because we almost forgot to get them stamped (hate to say we do this pretty often). I always get their hazy IPA, it never disappoints. They also usually have good cider options for my husband which is always a relief since he can't do beer much anymore. The food at any of their properties is always pretty solid and that was true here as well. I went pretty basic and just got a cheeseburger, but it was delicious! Cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. Stoked that we finally checked out this location - we'd definitely return if we were in the area again.

The pizza is SOOO good, and the staff is always real nice. Been back a few times to make sure it…read morewas as good as it seemed the first time...and it always is! We'd been meaning to try this place ever since we moved to Oly a few years ago, and man we should have tried it sooner, it has become our favorite pizza along with (but entirely different than) Old School. Oly Taproom is a great place to eat and chill, or to meet friends, have a conversation or people watch, and on nice days they often open the garage door type windows making the inside seating feel like part of the outside, which is cool. As a bonus, after your meal, the Percival Landing boardwalk is right across the street, so you can take a walk and take in the lovely views. Besides the beer on tap, there are more in the coolers, as well as some soda options (and I think iced teas?). I'm not a big beer drinker but the staff is always great about helping me choose the right one based on my preferences, and because there are hops in the pizza sauce, the pizza & beer combination is especially delicious. But for non-beer drinkers, the pizza is still super tasty and the sourdough crust always cooked just right.

Oly Taproom was a mostly pleasant surprise! Very nice selection of beers and pretty good pizza,…read morerelaxed but not creepy ambiance, friendly staff, all good ... except for the hops in the red sauce. Although our server reassured us that you couldn't taste them, even my IPA-loving, definitely-not-bitter-sensitive husband could absolutely taste them. Of course there's plenty of good drinks to wash away the bitter taste, (the cynical part of me suspects that's why the hops are in the sauce in the first place - to get you to drink more) but that being said, I would give the place five stars were it not for the bitter red sauce. Great ambience, friendly staff, pretty good food and drink, could definitely do without hops in the red sauce.

We were in Olympia for a visit to The Evergreen State College and since we were in town, a stop at…read moreState & Central was mandatory. We've eaten here several times over the years, this was the first time we eat dinner here. Fam. Let me tell you, the very reasonable lunch size portions? They're significantly bigger on the dinner menu. Almost disturbingly so Being able to get a selection of interesting regional beers is always a draw, tonight was no exception. And the pretty good lunch menu is expanded for the dinner hour - as well as the portion sizes being expanded. I ordered the fish and chips, my partner ordered the bar steak (which was New York strip), and her daughter ordered the salmon burger with fries. Because it was a special, we also got a giant order of poutine. Despite being in almost at closing, the service was absolutely spectacular. We very nearly had the place to ourselves, so the overall vibe was very homey and welcoming. As noted, the portions were enormous. I opted to finish my fish at the expense of the chips. My partner wound up with a significant take home portion as did her daughter. Couldn't possibly have been happier about our decision to stop in. Since we seem to have a new Greener in the family, I'm sure that we will be in Olympia significantly more frequently. And frankly, I am pretty happy about that, just based on being able to stop in here on the regular again.

Phenomenal! Out of Sight! Flavored Down, and Satisfying!…read more When it is Good baby I will shout it out! State & Central is that girl!! Very nice spot! Not super big but, just right! My family hit this joint up on a Saturday mid-morning and we did not have to wait. Our waitress was Suyen I know I'm not spelling her name correctly. But, this soul was absolutely bright and kind. We ordered the fried chicken salad and the smash burger! This fried chicken was Perfection in my mouth! Sheesh the breading, the seasoning, the tenderness, and so juicy! The salad came with homemade ranch again awesome Flavor. The smash burger was juicy, full of flavor, perfect size and homemade fries. The fries were fresh and hot but, not greasy. And for dessert we had a key lime pie! I doubt know who was in that kitchen cooking but, babyyyyyy they got some soul in their blood. I am such a fan of this establishment! Come check them out and I believe you will not be disappointed.

Cute little restaurant overlooking Capitol Lake, great for a date night or special occasion. This…read moreis a house converted into a cozy upscale dining spot. It was cold the day went but, if you get warm weather, try for their outdoor patio. I ordered the lemon rosemary hummus (delish) with gluten free crackers and it came out with lots of sliced veggies, olives and pickled carrots and onions. A great value! My main course was king salmon and it was perfect. I ordered a lemonade and was disappointed that the tall skinny glass it was served in was full to the top with ice, so there was very little left to drink. My husband enjoyed the Cesar salad he ordered, tasted like a traditional Cesar. He tried the special beef cheeks and found them to be very fatty and gelatinous. He wouldn't recommend them. They did have a N/A beer option he was happy about. Service was attentive and friendly.

Swing Wine Bar Review: A Disappointing Anniversary Dinner My…read morewife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and I chose Swing Wine Bar as a surprise because I wanted the evening to be special. Based on the restaurant's reputation and reviews, I expected a memorable dining experience and a wonderful way to celebrate together. Unfortunately, while the restaurant made a strong first impression, the experience steadily declined and ultimately left us disappointed. Upon arrival, we were seated at a great table with a beautiful view that offered a sense of privacy. At first, everything seemed promising. However, after introducing himself, our server appeared distant from the very beginning. When he asked what we would like to drink, everyone at the table requested water. From that point on, his demeanor seemed to change noticeably. He became more formal, less friendly, and responded to our questions about the menu with very brief answers. He brought our water and told us he would return to take our order. After waiting nearly twenty minutes without seeing him again, I eventually got up and looked for him myself, asking if he could come take our order. He followed me back to the table, and each of us ordered a different entrée. Throughout the interaction, he seemed detached and uninterested in creating a welcoming dining experience. When we first arrived, he had placed small plates and silverware on the table. Later, after we had ordered and he happened to be passing by, I asked whether bread or a salad was included with the meals. His response was simply, "No," before immediately turning around and walking away. It was an abrupt and somewhat dismissive interaction that further reinforced the impression that customer service was not a priority. About twenty minutes later, our food arrived. I ordered the New York steak. The steak itself was decent, and the gravy served with it was quite good. However, the broccoli was burned, and the meal consisted of little more than the steak, mashed potatoes, and two very small carrots. Overall, it felt like an expensive version of a basic roast beef dinner. To be fair, not every dish missed the mark. My son's pasta was enjoyable overall, although the shrimp was overcooked and there was very little sauce on the pasta. My wife's hamburger was well prepared, and my father-in-law's brisket was flavorful and tender. After we finished eating, our empty plates sat on the table for quite some time. Eventually, another employee noticed and came over to clear them. A short while later, our server returned, collected my plate, and said he would be back so we could order dessert. When he returned, he listed the dessert options, but none of them sounded particularly appealing to anyone at the table, so we declined. I then asked for the check. Ironically, this was the quickest service we received all evening. The check arrived almost immediately, and I paid it without delay. The final disappointment came with what should have been a thoughtful anniversary gesture. Our server dropped off a card that read, "Thank you for celebrating your anniversary with us." While the gesture itself was appreciated, the card was unsigned and presented without any personal touch. Rather than feeling like a sincere acknowledgment of our special occasion, it felt more like an obligation. What should have been a special surprise anniversary dinner for my wife ultimately became a frustrating experience. While some of the food was enjoyable, the inattentive service, lack of hospitality, and absence of any meaningful personal touch overshadowed the positive aspects of the evening. For a restaurant that presents itself as a destination for celebrations and special occasions, Swing Wine Bar fell well short of my expectations. Based on our experience, I would not recommend it.

Yo. Rodney is legit a boss! His customer service is a perfect example of what it SHOULD be! Thank…read moreyou for restoring some faith!! Marti is sweet, polite, attentive & so charming! Thank you Marti!! Why are you so cute?!

My boyfriend and I were in the area and wanted to grab some food before heading back home so…read moredecided to stop by here. When we arrived, we weren't sure if we seated ourselves or someone would seat us. After waiting several minutes, we decided to just seat ourselves and one of the bartenders came over with menus and water. The menu is concise and I thought it was neat that they make their own ranch sauces. I got the chili cheese fries but with tots and my boyfriend got their polish dog and an order of waffle fries. It took some time to get our food but when we did receive it, the portions were bigger than what I expected and it was good. Our server was friendly and checked in on us every so often as well as the other patrons. She asked if we needed anything else and I asked if I could have their ranch, she asked which one and I told her that I would like to try both their regular and jalapeño. The jalapeño is definitely ranch that I've had with a great kick to it. The chili here was flavorful and had good chunks of meat, I wish there was a little less onion and more cheese. My boyfriend loved his Polish dog and waffle fries, especially how they cooked the onions. Only one thing that was a bummer was there were flies that were trying to get to our food and it was just annoying having to swat them away every couple of minutes. The inside is pretty huge as they have two pool tables, a TV playing, music playing at a good volume, and plenty of seating at their dining area and bar area. They do have outdoor seating too. Overall, not a bad spot to stop by to hang out or enjoy a good meal.

Came here with a group, the waitress was great and accommodating. We came here just to eat but…read morewould be fun to come here and have a few drinks and play some of the arcade games! I didn't see the back patio but I've seen pictures and there's plenty of room here combined to enjoy a night out.

Sigh. I really wanted to like this place…read more I ordered a ribeye and they served me a sirloin instead. But they charged me for a ribeye anyway (it costs more than a sirloin). I KNOW what a ribeye tastes like. So disappointing. There was one server managing all the tables. My sister and I waited FOREVER for take out boxes and even longer for the bill. Then once given the bill, I noticed there were extra items that I didn't order. Turns out the server gave me someone else's bill. So I had to wait some more for her to figure out what happened and give me the correct bill. Food tasted ok. If you want to visit this place, come in the daytime before it gets really busy around happy hour.

Talking Cedar is a solid alternative to the dining at great Wolf Lodge…read more It's just around the corner with ample parking. We got there around 6:30 PM on Thursday evening and the wait was about 20 minutes for families, but we sat at the bar at a high top and got right in. We found service to be friendly and prompt. The gentleman who was taking care of us was attentive without being pushy. We started with the fried pickles which came out with ranch and aïoli for dipping. It was a huge portion. Tasty indeed. While I know pickles are inherently salty, I did find these to be exceptionally salty, leaving me to wonder if the batter was also salted, which definitely would not be necessary. Just know that if you are planning on ordering them. We also both got the Smoked Steak Salad. The salad was fresh and nicely dressed. Both of them came with a very generous serving of meat. The meat was just OK. They do not ask you how you would like your steak cooked, so once I got it, that made sense. I'm guessing they don't just smoke it for a little bit and finish the cooking it another way because it is well done with some rough bits - perhaps leftovers from something else. Honestly, I would prefer to have a nice juicy steak on top of a salad, and while I enjoyed this enough, I probably would not get it again for this reason. We both got a beer flight too, and found all four choices to be really good! I will definitely come back here when I'm tired of options at Great Wolf. I'd be interested in trying their sandwiches, as I saw a couple people with French Dips that looked really good.

Last weekend was the second time my family & I visited Talking Cesar Restaurant, this time with my…read moremom with us (from out of town). We were excited, greeted nicely and were sat down pretty quickly. Then it took a turn. Our waiter took alittle while to get to us. Once he did, he was basically rushing to get our order. 20 mins later came back with our water and my husbands Bourbon Flight. This is me by the way looking at my photo album to track the time. 25 mins later our appetizer came and they were delish. We had ordered Garlic Parmesan Wings and Giant Pretzel. We waited over an hour and our waiter finally comes back to tell us that due to a Big Table outside our food is running behind, we said that's fine. 30 mins later, he comes back and tells us he mistakenly did not put our orders in and he takes full accountability but the fact that he only placed 1/2 of order and realized it an hour and a half later and waited 30 mins passed to tell us was beyond acceptable. We had a 1 year old and a 2.5 year old babies with us, we got there at 5:15pm and left at 8pm with no Main Course, we decided to leave and they offered to give us our main dishes for free and that had to pay for our apps and drinks. At that point, we weren't even hungry anymore- we were more upset than hungry. Word of Advise- don't dismiss a table of 5 for a table of 20. That party of 20 already includes 16%-18% Gratuity on their Tab, whereas a table of 5 could be giving you 20%-25% Gratuity for yourself only & not to have to share with other servers esp. if you are given cash. That table of 5 could sit there for hours just sitting and chatting and won't turn the tables over to new guest, whereas a table of 5 can eat, enjoy their meal, give good tip and leave within an hour and a half. And you'll have new table instantly, more money for you. To the kitchen staff, don't walk past your guests when they're asking you a question and as if they didn't exist. I'd hate to think it's Race Discrimination because we were the only Asians there but that's definitely how it felt.