Sorting and filing the receipts from a trip several weeks ago and realized I forgot to post.
In my nationwide search for the best crab cakes, Katie Downs doesn't even place. The plating is definitely better than a diner, but the ratio of crab to filler was about the same. And, if I would have had my brain turned on, I would have realized that roasted red pepper vinaigrette will overwhelm the delicate taste of crab, and ordered something else.
Best crab cakes so far:
Missoula, MT: Red Bird - the wine bar area, not the restaurant
Missoula, MT: Pearl Cafe
Montpelier, VT: wish I should remember the name of the restaurant.
I agree with Jessica K. that the service is bizarre for that level of restaurant. But they did greet us warmly on coming and going. Does that mean that they are listening?
Fiancee and I came here for the view after playing some basketball on a Sunday evening. We had their deep dish pizza, which we both enjoyed. As a starter we had the bruschetta, which was awesome. The place was a bit pricey, but we knew we were coming here for the view. We sat on the second floor, overlooking Puget Sound and the water. Although it was a rainy day, we still enjoyed ourselves.
Review Source:Katie Downs is in a great location with an excellent view of the sound. Be advised that it is a counter order establishment with the food brought out to you after you pay. For this reason I'd recommend it for a large group or if you just want beer and a snack and to enjoy the view. The food was just ok, nothing spectacular. The beer selection was pretty good. My overall reaction was that it was very expensive for what you're getting  - for example, mozzarella sticks are $11! I'd always choose the Ram or CI Shenanigan's over Katie Downs.
Review Source:I really don't know where to begin with this place. Where does Katie Downs think they can get off charging $26 for a pizza?! The artichoke chicken with white sauce pizza was ok taste wise and could have been warmer, the $8 curly fries looked and tasted just like Jack in the Box's, but the clam chowder was pretty good. Mozzerella sticks seem hard to mess up, but Katie Downs succeeded in that; every single stick was hollow on the inside with a very thin layer of cheese on the sides of the batter, I'm still confused as to how that even happens. The beer is decently priced but any well drinks or cocktails are beyond over priced.
You have to order at the counter here which is fine, however they don't give you a number so the servers can actually find you, instead they walk around waiting for guests to tell them "hey, that's my order". I used to hear such good things about this place, but today was my first and last visit here.
I have been going to Katie Downs for years and will continue to. It can get pretty busy, but the staff always handle it really well. The pizza is a good deep dish, with a crust that has a crisp on the outside, but is good and soft on the inside. Couple one of the pies with a Caesar Salad and an ice cold beer out on the deck, and you've got yourself a great afternoon on the beautiful Tacoma waterfront.
Review Source:We wanted to get some dinner and didnt want to wait, so we figured to try this place out. I had heard about it so we went in. Yes its a bar, but I was expecting the Eatery! I ordered the fish tacos and my wife ordered the fish trio. Fish Tacos were honestly among the worse I have had, and the batter on my wifes fish was very very very soggy and thick. I was very dissapointed. The beer was good, but how can they mess that up. The view is good, there was no wait, and it was fun. Maybe they dont do FISH. I hear they do good pizza and should have gotten that. The other thing that kept annoying me was you have to stand in line to order and it seemed some customers had preferential treatment: Maybe they were friends or regulars and they were allowed to go right to the front. It happened twice as I was waiting! I know I am not blonde and have big boobs, but give me a break!
Review Source:I was extremely disappointed with this place.
Katie Down's seemed to have this air about it that I absolutely had to try this because it was great. No.
Walked in with a party of 3, and the service was terrible, I know you're supposed to order your own food, Â but you could check up on me when my drinks haven't arrived and it's been 20 minutes since we ordered them. The food took an hour to arrive, which is unacceptable in ANY food location. The menu said if you ordered pizza it'd be at least a 20 minute wait, fine, but if you're so backed up with orders that the food will take 45 minutes don't you think someone should tell me you're backed up, or tell me that I might think about ordering something else?
You pay for your food first, so there's really nothing you can do when it takes too long for your food to arrive except go through the hassle of getting a return and leaving.
Then, when the food arrived I was not impressed. Fish & Chips, was fish & chips, nothing delicious, oriental salad was poorly executed, and personal pizza was just "good".
An hour wait for mediocre food, I won't do it again.
Never my first choice, but a great place to sit by the water and have a beer on a sunny day when The Ram's deck has an hour+ wait time. I do have to say that the place seems a bit disorganized. It seems like every time I get up to get something or walk anywhere other than our table I get ID'd which gets really old really quick. I don't really get ID'd anywhere else anymore and the staff at the grocery store has started to call me "ma'am" now (gag!) so I guess I will just take it as a compliment.
Review Source:I haven't yelped in a while, but I was so disappointed with this place I just couldn't help myself. We've been to all of the other restaurants on Ruston and thought we would try this place out.
When we walked in, there was nobody in front. I had read on here that you order up front so we grabbed some menus and stared at them for a while. There were two people at the far register that kept looking at us, but they didn't smile or say "welcome" or "hello, do you need any help". We finally realized that the first register was closed (there was a sign in front of it that you can't see unless you walk around to the front of the register) and went and placed our order. I ordered a huge beer (bad day) which was the only good experience I had here, aside from the spectacular view.
We ordered crab cakes as an appetizer, and then I wanted the itlalian hero sandwich -my boyfriend ordered a burger. They brought all three things at the same time. Ok, I guess we should have asked about that, but nobody ever explained to us how things worked, so really how would we?
At any rate, the crab cakes were horrible. If there was any crab in them, it was tiny little shreds that could not be found amongst the huge mound of fried breading. I only ate one - not good. My sandwich was (I kid you not) served on the exact same hoagie rolls that I have at home right now. I was expecting a sub sandwich, but this was just a hoagie roll out of a bag, toasted with some deli meats and mozzarella on it. The french fries were ok.....they were crispy and not too greasy, but nothing spectacular. My boyfriend said his burger was nothing special.
The view was great of course - we were able to snag a table right in the corner overlooking the water. The interior is so drab though - it's just a sea of brown tables and chairs with nothing special whatsoever. The staff that came to check on us occasionally were all nice, so I really did appreciate that. I was expecting that no one would come by after we got our food, so that was a pleasant surprise. My boyfriend commented "it's a shame - they could really do something great with this place". I agree.
Next time I'm craving the waterfront, I'll stick to the Ram, Shenanigans or Dukes.
I had out-of-town guests and we went to Katy Downs for lunch. We ordered nachos, which were predictable, but fine. We also ordered the crab cakes. They were a disappointment. I took the leftovers home and assert that they are ALL filler. There is not ONE tiny piece of crab in them. I tore them apart to be sure. If you want filler with some spices added, go ahead--otherwise, the pizza is great, the salads and sandwiches are nice. Pass on the crab cakes.
Review Source:$20 for halibut and chips? Really? Its good, but not $20 good. Â
We used to make the trip to Tacoma for fish and chips in this waterfront pub and eatery. Â After today, the return trip is unlikely. Â The halibut was kind of blah, saved only by the yummy beer batter. Â They have really jacked up the price, however, and is not a great value at $19.99 for a 2 piece fish and chips.
While this place is a Tacoma institution, it's not my favorite place. Â I find the menu to be overpriced, and the service lacking in general manners. Â The people taking your order up front are generally rude and in a bad mood, no matter how nice you try to be. Â
I went here for my birthday a few years ago, and my friend forgot his I.D. Â While I understand that he couldn't drink as he was carded, they would not let him in, and were quite rude about it. Â I wanted to move the gathering elsewhere, but not every one had arrived yet and people were coming from quite a distance. Â The poor guy had to wait outside. Â It was awful.
The beer and wine selection is quite good, and so is the food. Â The view is amazing, not to be missed. Â But if you're looking for friendly service, this isn't the place for you.
5 stars on pizza alone! Â It lived up to every memory I had about Katie Downs pizza!
The beer selection was very good, although the mixed drinks seemed a little light by our tastes.
Service, or a lack of it, is where Katie Downs fails. Â The process is complicated to those who have never been here. Â It detracts from the overall experience and makes tipping a normal amount more difficult to justify.
Really, Yelp? Â 92 reviews and not one picture of their PIZZA!? Â Katie Downs is known for their delicious, deep-dish pizza. Â
See my photo. Â :)
Love Katie Downs:
1. Come in, order right at the entrance & get your drink (how convenient!)
2. Choose where you'd like to sit - beautiful deck outdoor on the water, or an indoor patio. Â All the walls are sliding glass doors; very beachy.
3. Enjoy your food, which is brought out to you - I am especially impressed with their pizza, caesar salad (great dressing and texture), steak fries and in particular their wide range of salads. Â
4. Â Leave when you wish! Â No waiting for a bill! Â
Katie Downs is the best place on the waterfront for lunch, good for a casual date, and perfect for enjoying a beautiful day with some beers and friends.
Service? Â They lack it - by choice. Really. If you are going to look like a resteraunt but act like a self serve establishment you should make the extra effort to explain this to your arriving guest at the door when you hand them a menu.
Let me help you with some scripting. Â "Welcome to Katie Downs, are you a returning guest?" No? - Oh, well we do things a little differently here. Â I would recommend that you swing by the bar here place your food/bevereage order - then head out and find any table you like. Â Our server will bring you your food.
Beware -Once you are handed a menu you are on your own. Â
You will need to seat yourself - that's fine I can live with that.
Oh, if you want a drink or food....now you have to get up from the seat you finally found to go order AND pay for at the bar, along with your drinks.
Here's the rub Katie Downs.....if you see a guest sitting at their table for 20 minutes, smiling at the waitstaff as they past by (who say nothing) you might want to greet them with a "do you have any questions", or "thanks for coming in, are you familiar with how we do things here". Â Didn't get that out of any employee there. Â Finally I had to tackle someone one and question why. Â He then so rudely explained like I was an idiot at the same time walking away like he didn't have time for me. Â
I have lots of choices to where I can spend my money, which will be at one of the other establishments when I am on Ruston Way.
1 Star for Service.
I would give 4 for the food, 5 for the view. I can get those anywhere along the waterfront though.
Managment......it's about the experience. Â You need a lesson from Disney on how to enhance the customer experience/perception.
If I never step foot in Katie Downs ever again in my life, it would be too soon. Here's the synopsis: my roommate Arrie, my best friend Dani + my trans-friend Chloe, and myself are on our way back from Capitol City Pride 2012. We all express that we're hungry, so Arrie suggests Katie Downs. Mind you, Chloe and I are in Drag. And yes, we realize "it's a TAVERN!" But, the following behaviors from the Katie Downs staff members are unacceptable anywhere, Tavern or not.
Anyways, we all agree to go, and everything is peachy keen.
Once there, they have the typical protocol of seeing if we're 21 by checking our IDs, albeit a bit aggressively for a Sunday afternoon. We find our table by the window, minding our own business, despite the fact that we're getting death stares from the entire staff and a select few patrons who obviously have never seen a man in woman's clothing before.
One of the waiters comes over, clearly nervous and apprehensive, and asks to see our IDs again. I reply that we've already had ours checked, but thank you very much. He retorts that his manager sent him over here to check them for a second time. Clearly, this was to decipher and find out if Chloe and I were indeed men or women. Harassment at its finest!
Obliging his awkward request at the behest of his uncomfortable manager, we all proceed to give the waiter our IDs again. He scurries away afterwards like a cockroach seeing the sunlight.
After that, we all go up and pay for our meal before it has even been given to us (how this that innovative? It's not.) Of course, once Chloe and I stand up, we get stared at relentlessly. Even my friend Dani, who ordered a simple glass of wine, inadvertantly caused the passionately awkward manager to drop and break the wine glass, because he was so darn uncomfortable with the fact that she was accompanying Drag Queens. Like, what?
AND, even before the manager broke the wine glass, he carded Dani for a record-breaking THIRD TIME to see what her age was. Cue Nancy Kerrigan screaming "WHY!? WHY?! WHY?!?!" in perpetuum.
So, after all of that absolute nonsense, I completely lost my appetite. Quite frankly, I could have bought: a deep-fryer, mozzarella sticks, and french fries from Costco and had a much, much better meal and wouldn't have been harassed or deal with homo/trans/Dragphobic restaurant workers.
Tacoma Pride is coming up, Katie Downs staff members. You might want to gird your loins!
Katie Downs Tavern and Eatery is a great restaurant on Tacoma's waterfront specializing in pizza, gourmet burgers and fresh seafood. Keep in mind this place is for ages 21 and up.
I have been here a few times for lunch now and I can say that the halibut fish and chips is over-rated, get the cod! The halibut is almost $10 more and the cod is just as good. Beer battered and fried perfectly each time I have had them, makes a great entree. The pizza here is deep dish and is great, one pizza can typically feed 2 people very nicely. I recommend the Sicilian.
I really don't understand why they make you order and pay prior to sitting down, its just weird.
Overall: The food is just OK for the price (expensive!!) and the service is adequate. Makes a nice spot to stop in a couple times a year.
I've visited Katie Downs probably 20 or more times over the last 7 or 8 years, so I obviously don't have too many problems with it. Â This is a tavern (over 21 only) that serves fair pub food: burgers, salads, pizza, fish & chips, etc. Â The beer selection is modest by Tacoma standards. Â They serve by the pint or pitcher. Â The wine selection is better than average for a tavern; you would not go there for the wine, but if you don't drink beer and go with a bunch of brewheads, you should be able to find a decent glass. Â
The real attraction is the floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of Commencement Bay, and the over-the-bay deck, weather permitting. Â They justify the slightly higher prices and at least one of the stars.
I've never had a burger there that I thought was worth repeating. Â They aren't bad, per se, just not a good alternative to other things on the menu. Â The pizza is quite good if you like deep dish. Â The chowder is good. The salads are not great, but are fresh. Â The dressings are fine if you aren't expecting too much. Â The fries are not good; get the soup (or the salad, as weak as it is). Â The fish and chips is good if you prefer the beer batter type (and substitute something for the fries). Â The food is consistent - if you try something and like it, stick with it. Â If not, it won't be better the next time.
The service is what it is. Â You stand in line to place your order, then sit down and wait for them to bring it to you. Â It works. Â I've never had a problem with that set-up. Â The tip jar is fine. Â Sure, you're tipping ahead of the service, but don't tip 20% like this is a regular restaurant. Â Your food may be slow to come out, but I've otherwise not had a problem with the service. Â
It can get noisy; all hard surfaces and if it's busy at all, you'll have trouble hearing anyone in your party who is more than one or two seats away. Â They have several good quality TV screens tuned to sports offerings. Â The tables and chairs are very nice cafeteria type. Â The men's restroom is clean. Â Interesting lighting. Â Basic, utilitarian utensils, plates, etc. Â Parking is rarely a problem unless you get there late on a nice, sunny day. Â But if that happens, you're not getting in anyway.
I recommend this place for lunch. The menu prices are based on the views. You can't really enjoy the view at night. Â
It was a little odd to me that we had to order at the counter and then seat ourselves but I also liked that it was more casual than I was expecting. We ordered the prawns diablo, a steak salad, grilled steak entree and a soda. That came out to $50. $50 for a place where you have to order at the counter. Plus tip because it's awkward not to leave one.
Still, I was not judging until I tasted the food. The appetizer came out and the sauce was tasty. It only came with 6 shrimps and that was disappointing. Those were gone fast. Luckily they are accompanied by 4 toasted pieces of bread which you can use to soak up the white wine sauce. Our salad and entree came out soon after. We went on a Sunday night and it wasn't busy at all.
The food came out and the presentation was lackluster. The greens were horrible. I could've just chopped up my own lettuce and tossed diced tomatoes on top. That is basically what they call salad here. No seasoning. Just watery lettuce and not sliced tomatoes but diced. No cucumbers no mushrooms or beets. Too simple for a $15-$19 plate. So if you are a salad lover, this place will disappoint. Maybe the other salads on the menu are fancier but, from the other pictures posted, it looks like the same lettuce and tomatoes as the base. To their credit, the steak was perfectly medium rare and I liked it. It had too much pepper though and I have had better chimichurri  sauce.
I think Tacoma has better fare to offer up so I will keep looking.
It gets crowded but its worth waiting for a table. Â Katie Downs is a great place for an after work beer because of the great water views. Â Lunch its not quite as busy and it offers the same menu as dinner time. Â The burger was delicious, and so was the turkey sandwich. Â The pizza is pretty good too, but not my most favorite.
You seat your self at an open table if you can find one and you place your order at the bar, unless the waiter is not too busy serving food.
I returned here again this past sunny Sunday with some friends to enjoy the sun on the deck, unfortunately it's usually hard to secure a deck spot on a sunny day so we had to settle for a window close to outside.
This time we ordered a few pitchers of some IPA which was delicious, curly fries, clam chowder, beer battered cod and a pepperoni pizza.
The fries were very bland, but abundant.
The clam chowder was delicious. (After finding out I'm actually not allergic to clams, I savored being able to eat them again for the first time!)
The cod was decent enough, just a piece of fish beer battered and fried. Nothing special, and was pretty bland but I guess that's cod for you.
The pizza was really good too...nice thick crust and the perfect amount of toppings.
The staff, however, failed miserably. When one of my friends ordered curly fries the girl at the register ACTUALLY COMPLAINED that everyone was ordering fried foods. The only friendly people were the girl who took my order and one gentleman who cleared some of our dishes. Everyone else looked like they were rushing about to do anything except for help customers. The pained expressions they all wore were difficult to watch, and in general it seemed like they flat out didn't want to be there, making us not want to be there.
We'll return I'm sure if we're in the mood for seafood, but we hope the staff is in a better mood next time around.
If you've never been here before, here are a couple things to keep in mind:
1. Grab a menu as you walk in and seat yourself
2. When you've decided what to get, orders are only taken at the bar
It may be a little confusing at first, but you'll come to appreciate the "casualness." It has a great view and I bet the patio is awesome in the Summertime.
* Oh yeah, tipping is also a little awkward if you're paying with a card. You don't really have anything to base it on since you haven't had any service. Plus, the cashier is waiting to see how much it is so they can pull it from the register to put it in the jar.
The food is just ok. The menu isn't very big and pretty basic. It has your usual burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. But nothing out of the ordinary. I went with the Reuben and for the most part was good, but not the best I've ever had.
I'm assuming their thing is pizza since it takes up an entire page of the menu. I was with a couple of friends who ordered a pie. When it came out it looked good, but was pretty small. Maybe I was expecting something more with the (almost) $25 price tags that came along with it.
Just average all across, but like I said it's probably great in the Summertime and the view gives it the extra star.
It's March Madness!
While I'm sure you could stop by and watch a basketball game at Katie Downs, the March Madness I speak of is the Weekly Volcano's Pizza Tournament. They made up some brackets and  people can vote for their favorite place everyday online.
I went in the midst of the tournament and Katie Downs (a number 1 seed) was destroying everything in it's path. I had never really had any desire to go before, but it seemed that it was time to stop in and see what all the fuss was about.
Upon walking in there was a board that listed their specials and then informed everyone to go vote for them in the pizza tournament. I went up and ordered a personal size pizza and the woman handed me a sheet of paper to remind me to vote for them in the pizza tournament. I went back to my seat and overheard the staff talking about the pizza tournament in depth while analyzing all the places. While I'm interested in a pizza tournament... their level of commitment to it was slightly... march maddening.
The pizza arrived and I was excited. I was thinking it was time for the big payoff. All their pizzas come deep dish with double cheese and the toppings of your choice. What I was not expecting was the insane amount of grease the pizza also came with.
In the world of people who care about how greasy things are, I have to believe that I'm in the lowest 10%. Greasy burgers, spicy meats, lots of cheese... I'm all about it. But what I got here was just absurd. I had to dab the bottom of every slice of the pizza to sop up some of the grease. Sadly, when the grease has made it all the way through a deep dish pizza so that the bottom of the crust is sweating oil, you're really not going to be able to save anything.
I've always referred to Pizza Hut pizza as "Pan Fried Grease." Â It took many years of good luck, but I've finally stumbled about a second place whose pizza deserves the same accolade.
Sad to say, but I will not be voting for them in the much fretted about pizza tournament.
A real divey-esque tavern with waterfront seating, college sports playing on the flatscreens and the seats jam packed with everyone soaking up the last bit of summer. The ambiance is in check.
Tacoma is a midway between family so while I was in town why not kill two birds with one stone and make some time for those you won't be seeing for some time? My aunt found Katie Downs and when we walked in, there were several open seats inside but the sun was out in full force and seating was limited outside until someone either got up or jumped off of the deck and into the water.
Typical pub fare for the food, my companions had chicken salads. I had the Veggie Burger and a side salad, fully expecting ranch dressing but when the food was brought out a nice side dish of balsamic vinaigerette made me smile. I liked how you ordered up front, sat down and then-poof-here comes your order directly to you. No swooshing your drinks all over the floor, spilling some fries or slipping on ketchup.
I loved the idea of ordering  my food and drinks up front. You don't expect the bartender to jump over the bar and come save the day when you've finished the glass of scotch and water now  do you? Plus, it gives you an excuse to walk away from your seat and steal a glance out of the many windows to watch a barge coming into the Port.
We came here for an early afternoon lunch and to enjoy the sunshine on their deck.
Thank goodness for expandable stomachs!!
We decided to get the Sicilian pizza and they only have one size. Â At first I didn't think the two of us would be able to finish the whole thing.. Well, we didn't, but we came pretty close!! Â Only one slice left.
As usual, pizza was good, beer was good (Manny's of course, but they do have other selections), service was good (you order up front & then they serve you when your food is ready and then check in with you periodically). Â
One of my favorite places to head when the sun is out and down in the Tacoma area...
I've been coming here since I turned 21 which was *coughmanyyearsagocough* and it's always been a favorite, both for food and atmosphere. That being said, however, i've fallen out of love with it the past few years. I don't think the food is as good as it once was and the ordering system at the bar is just awful!
Last night there was a line out the door and only two registers open. Seriously - for the prices they charge, take orders at the table! Sorry Katie Downs, you're not aging well :(
Located in between The Ram/CI Shaningans and Duke's, I expected this place to be the same caliber of awesome as the rest, but sadly, I was disappointed... twice. Â It's true, like the others, it has a great ambiance and a very nice view of Puget Sound, but honestly, I just am not a huge fan of the food here, and the drinks are not any different, and are more espensive than at the neighboring facilities.
Pizza: Â It's ok. Â I certainly don't think it is bad, but it's nothing to write home about, and it's pricey. Â The crust is underwhelming and the sauce lacks zest.
Beer: Â Just not a good enough deal to really warrant going out of your way to come down here.
In the end, it really just comes to having too many better options within 300 feet of here. Â Don't blame those who like Katie Downs, but my heart belongs to its' neighbors.
The best thing about Katie Downs is the location. It is built out over the water along Ruston Way. Â The places down here are all interchangeable to me. Maybe I like the food at the Lobster Shop a little better, and I like the location/atmosphere at Woody's a little better due to the proximity to the Museum of Glass. Â Why can't someone open an AWESOME restaurant (for food, not just views) on the water in Tacoma?
I came here with a friend for lunch. The first thing she said to me when we walked in was "Pssst... we're the only people of color in here right now besides the kitchen staff!" Ha - true. Also the only people with visible tattoos & under the age of 50... so we were outliers on multiple counts! Â We definitely got some looks from the geriatric lunchtime set, but nothing bad! It was mostly funny. Â It was a good place for people-watching. For us.
We shared a pizza with side salad and a clam chowder. Pizza was the best thing about this meal, but still not great. This is the deep dish, toppings-hidden-under-cheese, greasy crust kind of pizza. It was like Pizza Hut but with better veggies.
The side salad was classic iceberg with a lil' spinach thrown in for good measure, "This is why Americans don't like vegetables" salad.
Chowder had a hint of packagedness to it. I couldn't tell if that was because it's been previously frozen & reconstituted, or if it's canned, or maybe it's just a bunch of maltodextrin for thickener, but it was blehhh.
Waitstaff & the server who took our order were friendly and courteous. No problems on that front.
I don't think I'll be back. Because I can get better food for the same/less $ elsewhere. I haven't tried Shenanigans, Duke's, or Harbor Lights yet... so those will be the next stops to see if Woody's and Lobster Shop really are the best there is, 3 stars vs. 2 in the sea of mediocrity along the Tacoma waterfront.
I am like a bad Vegas magician's white dove because when I disappear it's for 7 years. Leaving said magician sad, broke and alone working as a card-flicker on the strip or maybe making balloon animals for children so he can buy booze. Then I re-appear TAAAA-DAAAAH.... Why so glum magician?
I recently had a family reunion of sorts here and everything was indeed A-ok. I had not seen my sister in 7 years. We enjoyed hilarious conversation, a great view and decent food.
Katie Downs caters to my kind of people, you know the ones over 21 and that I can appreciate. You do have to walk up to the counter to place your order but that's why you have legs. Once you order your food it is then brought out to you. Seriously I could care less about table service because once I am ready to place my order I can do so. I don't have to wait around for someone to come take my order and forget half of it.
I went with a cheeseburger ($9.50). They are char broiled and served on a sesame seed bun with tomato, lettuce, funky relish, onions and a dill pickle spear. The patty was indeed charred and juicy as they claim them to be but next time I will pass on the funky relish. It was overpowering so I said no and scraped it off. However said funky relish might not be funky to you so I suggest you try it on the side. I am a big supporter of trying everything at least once to include funky relish.
By far the best thing that Katie Downs has to offer is on the back of their menu. It is a map showing you how you get to Katie Downs. If you don't know how you got there should you really have been driving in the first place? I am sure this comes in handy when you are a drunk lonely magician, gently weeping in a bathroom stall, wondering where you are and how you got there or if you have the memory of a goldfish......
What was I saying?
I'm agreed with others that the prices on the menu merit wait staff ordering, as opposed to having to go up to the counter to order. Â I also had to go back to the counter to get a refill. Â I'm not sure what the wait staff actually do here.
The pizza is 12 inches (about medium size), and starts at $16 with $1 for each additional topping. Â Their specialty pizzas are a whopping $24 a piece. Â The crust is nice and thick, floury but not buttery, and baked about 5 minutes too long; my green peppers were black.
We went at night for the water view, but couldn't see out of the windows through their strong reflection.
And I can't say I appreciate having staff trying to clear out our plates before we were ready, and bussing/wiping down our table while we were still sitting there.
Outstanding pizza and seafood, but the service leaves something to be desired. It is nice to have an option that is 21 and up, where you can have a nice dinner and drinks and watch a sporting event. We often go to Katie Downs for dinner -- with the understanding that the service will be terrible. It is always slow, and it takes asking multiple times to get a refill on drinks or something as simple as extra salad dressing.
The last time I was there, they forgot my food (but the rest of my 5-person party got theirs), and tonight, they brought me the wrong pizza (I had said pepperoni, not pineapple). Fortunately, they remade my pizza to go -- and it was worth the wait. Their pizza is by far the best in the area -- try the build-your-own with white sauce.
As for their seafood offerings, the halibut and chips (or a much healthier, good-sized salad) is a bit pricy at $18.99 for 3 pieces, but it's consistently delicious. The beer-battered prawns (with fries or salad) are also great, as is the crab and artichoke dip. The seafood trio is good, but you only get one crab cake, which is kind of sad. All in all, a great menu, though.
I love Katie Downs. Â One of the main reasons.....no kids. Â Now, I have two, but knowing it's adults only makes a night out to dinner all that more special!
The view is fabulous and in the summer sitting on the deck is awesome! Â I have always had good food here. Â From burgers, to fish and chips, and one of my favorite pizzas in Tacoma it's all good. Â My favorite meal is the Great White My Pie with a salad. Â I know this may sound nasty, but try dipping your great white pizza in some of their honey mustard dressing....delish! Â
Now to the drinks. Â They have a decent variety of nice cold draft beer. Â I tend to stay away from their wine due to the fact I have been served old (open for a while) wine. Â The mixed drinks are decent too. Â
Good times can be had with very large groups of friends. The seating is plentiful and you can even sit up in the tower which can be fun. Â Just make sure not to leave wasted....you may fall down the stairwell! Â Then again, please do...and I hope I am there to see it and laugh;-)
I give this place 2 stars because of the beautiful view. Â I actually only went in here once with a friend and haven't been back since. Â
From the get-go you have to snag a seat, then while someone holds your table you have to stand in a line (for some reason this screams cafeteria to me?) and order from a semi-friendly staff member who takes your name--heaven help you if your name is Joe-- and order. Â You are expected to pay for your meal AND tip the staff before receiving any food OR service. Â
In my one experience, my friend had to stand in line for almost 20 minutes...then we waited for about 45 for a plate of nachos...which never came...so "friend" stood in line once again to ask about our one plate of nachos, and when it was deemed missing they made us a new plate of nachos---which we scarfed down quite quickly, having shared a pitcher of beer on empty stomachs. Â
On yet another note, I have a friend in the F&B industry who worked here for a short while and quit very quickly for the same reasons I have described above. Â He just didn't feel right about giving such mediocre service. Â
I will say the nachos were delicious and according to other reviews so is the pizza...but if poor service drives you crazy like it drives me crazy (I also work in F&B), save your soul by getting pizza and beer at your local supermarket.
I was really not impressed, but maybe I was expecting something a bit nicer for my pre-(taking my Ma to see)Loverboy dinner. I wasn't expecting anything super fancy, but I'm not used to paying $30+ (before pre-paid 30% holiday tip) for a soggy half cooked burger with digusting relish and decent reuben with a pathetic salad and the saltiest 1.5 pounds of fries known to man when I have to go to a counter and order it myself and pay in advance  then respond to my name being yelled from next to the bar. Also, the employees were all milling about gossiping with the cashier - probably not as annoying if I weren't seated RIGHT NEXT to the cashier. Also, getting out of our table when there were 8 people in line around us was no easy task.
If I try it again, I'll do so in the summer when I might be able to enjoy the view and I'm not sitting next to three tables full of Sears employees having their office party.
What the world needs is more non-stuffy waterfront restaurants. Katie Downs understands this. They serve up burgers, fried seafood, salads and pizzas alongside pitchers of beer and glasses of cheap house wine all in a beautiful waterfront setting. The deck itself is huge and extends out over the water, and the dining room is composed mostly of large windows that allow you to feel like you are outside without having to deal with all the hassles. They also have a turret! Yep, a turret that you can reserve for your friends to hang out in - I can't tell if pirate jokes are appropriate here but I'm sure I'd turn this into my own personal crows nest and try to fashion an eye patch out of a coaster and a bit of string.
Thank you Yelpers for steering me in this direction when I was looking for a bite to eat in Tacoma.
The pizza is famous, but I've never tried it. Â Instead, it's always the same thing -- three piece fish&chips with halibut (vs. snapper) and extra tartare sauce. Â We always take my 82 year old mom there - she collects every bit of leftover and savors it for the next few days (gotta love the elderly ;-) ). Â
Service and food isn't consistent - sometimes it's fantastic. Â Sometimes it's seriously lacking. Â But Katie Downs is my Tacoma regular.
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