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    Jewel Box Cafe

    3.0 (435 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    JEWEL BOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Jewel Box Cafe

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    Front entrance of the cafe.
    Jeremy W.

    Beautiful, relaxing cafe in Rustin near the Pt. Defiance ferry dock. Had the "zombie" iced tea, which was made with real strawberries and was heavenly. Staff were relaxed and friendly. Lots of seating. A great stop on the way to the nearby movie theater. Will definitely visit again.

    Gluten free donut
    Jesica V.

    I can't believe it took me so long to peek my head in this place and discover that it's a super groovy coffee house that makes me feel like I'm back in the 90s! The coffee and tea drinks are fine, nothing special, but the vibe is great. The interior is all wood and there's an upper level where you can get cozy in the booths. I've started going here regularly and the best part (besides being able to go for a walk along Commencement Bay with your coffee) is that - even though it's part of the Point Ruston development - it doesn't feel like you're in a mall. The only downside are the gluten free donuts That have taken over Tacoma. The baker must have a fabulous sales team because they're EVERYWHERE but if you're not gluten free they're just not good. Which is a shame because Tacoma has some excellent donut shops ( like Paos!)

    Rosa S.

    Stopped by for a quick coffee drink. We came in just before the big rush. The young lady taking our order was super nice and helpful. I was able to get a good tasting drink for my mom who is a diabetic. They offer a few sugar free options. There is upstairs sitting and plenty of room for downstairs sitting. Super stroller friendly! Bathrooms needed attention. Overall it was amazing experience highly recommend!

    2nd floor seating available

    Jewel Box Café has a nice interior and a blocked-off outdoor area that is blocked off for further use. The parking isn't straightforward, and while they have a QR code for parking info, I didn't see clear signage that it's free for retail visitors. Inside, they offer free Wi-Fi and have two unisex restrooms that can only be opened with a key. It was clean but not the most convenient. The setup is a bit different here; food orders are self-pickup since they aren't a full-service restaurant. What really killed it was the long wait for coffee. I understand weekends are busy, but it dragged on so long that people in line were visibly frustrated and even chatting about the slow service. Once I finally got my coffee, it was fine, but the experience didn't feel worth the wait. Efficient: No First-Time Friendliness: No Would I Return: No JY review

    Jewel Box cafe interior.
    Margery S.

    Comfortable. Cozy. Clean. Relaxing coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch options and friendly staff. A little cheaper than the competition.

    Crepe - berry
    Kim C.

    Cozy place with indoor and outdoor seating. I stayed at the Silvercloud, so this was my go to place when I wanted a cappuccino and something light to eat. I had the turkey deli sandwich and it was good. Another day I had a berry crepe it was okay, felt like the crepe could have been cooked a bit more but I am not a crepe expert. I ate it all anyway. Service was relatively good, some days I waited longer than other days but overall it was good.

    Plate has clearly been chipping away with every use and that is not good.
    Violet H.

    Food and latte was great but I was really disappointed in the plating and cornered to even cut into my crepe as I did not want to end up eating microplastic. I ended up just scraping from the top. Probably will not eat here again until their plates are changed.

    Jewel box
    Lawrence S.

    Stopped by here for a coffee. The environment was awesome. Cool chill vibe. Coffee was great. Service was great! Staff extraordinary!

    Outside decor

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    5 months ago

    The staff here is SO SWEET! Coffee is consistent and yummy. Love the fireplace and fun furniture! Can't wait to enjoy in the summer!

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    2 years ago

    I was craving a GF crepe, so I came here with a friend. Unfortunately they ran out of GF batter on a weekday.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Jewel Box Cafe

    What are the good, reliable vegan options?

    They have vegan pastries. A really good one is their blueberry crumble.

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    Sandwich Starr

    Sandwich Starr

    4.1(34 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Daughter and I were looking for a quiet place to sit down and talk while having a snack after a…read morewalk through the rain at Wright's Park. We saw this little sandwich shop we hadn't seen before and decided to check it out. The atmosphere is very nice, casual, and comfortable. It looks like it would be good to sit and do homework, have lunch with some friends, or go to a casual brunch with family. There are lots of seating choices: a couch and comfy chairs, high tables and stools, and regular tables. One table had a puzzle started you could work on and there were lots of games and books you could use. You order at the counter, they deliver food to your table and there is a place to bus your own table. The beverage menu included coffee and alcoholic beverages. They offered sandwiches, crepes, pastries and soup. We ordered coffee, a pastry, soup, and order of crepes to be eaten there. The coffee was fine served in a nice mug. The cookie was large but packaged in a plastic bag that would have been ok if we had been a to go order. But we were eating there so we either had to put it directly on the table or on the plastic bag. The tomato soup was very tasty, creamy with a little kick of spice. It had occasional chunks of tomato and visible pieces of basil. All of this goodness was overshadowed because it was served in a small ramekin, the type cooks use to portion food when they are preparing a recipe. It appeared we were getting a large taste of soup instead of a cup of soup. For some reason I assumed the savory crepes would be fresh and warm, but instead my order was made with premade cold crepes loosely wrapped around the mostly cheese filling. Taken as a whole we left disappointed. The atmosphere was nice enough that I will try this place again and try something else. I hope for better because it looks like it could be a great place to eat and hang with friends.

    We were going to Poquitos on Division but looks like that place fell prey to the Tacoma curse. A…read morelot of places don't hang around too long and that spot in particular has seemed hard to keep in business. But then we looked cross the street on 1st, where there used to be an Anthem, and even though it was already 6pm, this sandwich shop was still open and...there was a BINGO game happening. Whaddya know? So we took a peak in and they were not only serving sandwiches but they also had a cooler full of microbrews and kombuchas, beer on tap, wine, and a whole list of cocktails made from prosecco and other non-hard liquors like Amaro. Truly something for everyone. So we gave our order to the sweet human at the counter and took our seats I'm not kidding, my Amaro sour was one of the best cocktails I've had in a while in Tacoma and so were the pretzel sticks. I want my cocktails cold, tart, and refreshing with a little kick of funk or herbs and I want my pretzels salty. You wouldn't think that's such a high bar to clear but you'd be surprised. Sandwich Starr nailed it. Our Zatan sandwich was tasty but even though the bread felt a little stale. Otherwise the decor is kinda '90s coffee house and they've got bingo! Overall, this is an odd spot but the drinks are really good and it's got heart and it's the heart that makes it Tacoma.

    Photos
    Sandwich Starr
    Sandwich Starr - The Serenity, with salami, pepperoni, bacon, pepperjack, tomato, gochujang, and lettuce.

    The Serenity, with salami, pepperoni, bacon, pepperjack, tomato, gochujang, and lettuce.

    Sandwich Starr - The Starrk, with roast beef, salami, brie, tomato, red onion, and sweet chili mayo

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    The Starrk, with roast beef, salami, brie, tomato, red onion, and sweet chili mayo

    Tatanka Take-Out - Bison Burger

    Tatanka Take-Out

    4.2(164 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I'm not sure why we have never been here!…read more What a perfect place to eat after leaving the zoo, park, etc. I am vegan and the menu how such great options. My boys ate everything on their plate very quickly! lol The meal was so refreshing and light , on a beautiful day it pairs great together. Makes you feel like you are at a family BbQ enjoying a delicious meal. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Highly recommend stopping by here you have to try it! It's hard to describe the meals. Delicious, fresh, and comforting.

    Not a lot of places serve bison so I am glad to find one to try it out! I went here on a Saturday…read moremid afternoon meal and was greeted by a very friendly staff who took our order and cooked the meal. We wanted to share one bison burger and he was willing to serve it up in 2 plates, cut in half, so that we don't need to do all the legwork that usually comes with splitting a dish, and this is with no extra charge. Additionally, we signed up for their email newsletter for a 15% off the order. Cheese comes at an extra 99 cents but it was all good with the discount. The bison burger is pretty good. It definitely tastes a bit different from the usual beef that you are more likely accustomed to, but it was delicious nonetheless. The bison patty was juicy, and the fixings are good though a bit standard for a typical burger. We opted for spuds for the side and he gave a very generous amount of it for each of us. Overall, friendly staff and delicious food, all around a nice restaurant to check out in the Tacoma/Ruston area, pretty close to Point Defiance. Take a look at some of the items around the restaurant while you wait, as it is all bison themed and quite interesting!

    Photos
    Tatanka Take-Out - Inside

    Inside

    Tatanka Take-Out - Homemade sauce

    Homemade sauce

    Tatanka Take-Out - Outside - IG @bougiefoodieboi

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    Outside - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Peterson Bros 1111 - Caesar side salad

    Peterson Bros 1111

    4.6(506 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Great dive bar with amazing sandwiches! I've been here a couple times and the bar tends to have a…read moresteady amount of patrons which says a lot. I've had several things on their menu and some of my favorites are the chiptole turkey melt sandwich and artichoke dip. I love how soft the bread is for the sandwiches. Service is usually quick and attentive. I love to visit for good vibes, food and drinks!

    The vibe was cool and all but the experience was kind of unconventional, to me at least…read more Unconventional because as a 1st time customer, I didn't know if I had to sit myself or wait so I felt kinda awkward. No welcome or anything or a "hey just sit anywhere you want". So I just took initiative, grabbed a menu and sat at an empty table. There's a sign that said "order at the bar" but the barkeep would go to other people and ask what they wanted. Okay, that's fine... Trying to follow the rules so I don't single myself out, I went to the bar and was asked for my ID, but why? I wasn't ordering drinks and when other people came, the barkeep didn't ask the other customers for their ID so I felt some type of way but whatever. We proceed to order the Philly and Mac & Cheese. Philly tasted great because it also came with dipping sauce. The only thing lacking was that I felt it wasn't enough. Plus It seemed like I had more bread as opposed to meat. Mac & Cheese was great also, it was soft and creamy plus it had crunchy bits. It had the consistency of valveeta cheese. We asked for the check, we waited, waited some more so I finally went to the bar and closed the tab that I didn't order drinks with, just food. I like the vibe, its like being in a classic tattoo studio with posters on the wall with classical prints from different time periods. Not a big establishment or room inside but just enough to have a modest amount of 30 people. It's a nice joint but not really for me, I'd probably order through Uber eats with this place.

    Photos
    Peterson Bros 1111
    Peterson Bros 1111 - Ruben Reuben Sandwich

    Ruben Reuben Sandwich

    Peterson Bros 1111 - Brutus sandwich - added ham, pep,salami

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    Brutus sandwich - added ham, pep,salami

    I Heart Mac & Cheese

    I Heart Mac & Cheese

    3.0(57 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    As a mac & cheese lover, I was beyond excited to try this place. Hesitant as I had to drive over an…read morehour to get there, but I've been wanting to try it for quite some time. We ordered the lobster truffle oil and the short rib Philly mac & cheese. We also got a BLT grilled cheese sandwich to go. The grilled cheese BLT (bacon love tomato) came with a small tomato basil soup to dip it in. And a side of tater tots. SO GOOD! I was disappointed in the Mac n cheese. The cheese sauce lacked flavor. The lobster was expensive and only had 6 small pieces of lobster. Not worth $25 at all. The meat with the Philly was really good and tender. And for your base you can pick between pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, or tater tots. I would have only given a 2 star for the mac n cheese but the grilled cheese blew me away, over an hr later, NOT reheated! I will be back for the sandwich and tots. Not the mac n cheese. The restaurant was clean and lively. Staff were very friendly as well. Is it worth the drive?.... For the Mac n cheese.... No For the grilled cheese.... Yes

    First time I went was a few weeks after it first opened. I had a build your own bowl with noodles,…read morebroccoli, and 2 cheeses. They put it under one of those conveyor belt ovens. I was very excited since I love mac and cheese. And then I was very disappointed because there barely was any flavor and it was barely heated. To say it was lukewarm was even a stretch. The broccoli was over-boiled and mushy. This second and last time I went was a few days ago. I thought to try them again since it's been a while and I give it another go. I chose a grilled cheese with tomato, and side broccoli and cheese. That was my bad though. I should've looked at the broccoli first before ordering because they were clearly over-boiled and soggy again so nothing has changed there. The cheese on top was just a sad splash of thinned yellow goo and neither had any flavor. The grilled cheese with tomato was just as basic as it gets. There's a banner on one of the beams to take a pic of your cheese-pull and tag them in social media. I should have done that so everybody can see just how mediocre even the grilled cheese is. It's over-priced and disappointing. If you actually like mac and cheese, don't go here.

    Photos
    I Heart Mac & Cheese - Ordering counter

    Ordering counter

    I Heart Mac & Cheese - Short Rib Philly Mac and Cheese and Lobster & White Truffle Mac and Cheese

    Short Rib Philly Mac and Cheese and Lobster & White Truffle Mac and Cheese

    I Heart Mac & Cheese - Classic Grilled Cheese

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    Classic Grilled Cheese

    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes - Train Wreck

    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes

    4.6(417 reviews)
    20.9 mi
    $$

    So I've lived less than five minutes from this place for 11 years, and somehow it never caught my…read moreeye. Then I saw their TikTok last night, and let me tell you, that video had me craving it instantly. The scrumptiousness was living rent free in my brain all night, so today my son and I had to stop in and see what the hype was about. We ordered the Sour Diesel, the Fire, and the Afgoo, all on their toasted jalapeño cheese bread. First of all, the female employee who helped us was so friendly and welcoming. We do not eat out much, so we were genuinely excited and maybe a little impatient to try them. When they handed us the sandwiches, I immediately noticed how heavy they were. And the smell in the car on the way home, oh my goodness. Pure torture waiting to unwrap them. Then we got home and opened them up, and I was honestly shocked in the best way. There was actually a MEAL on that bread. Not one of those sad sandwiches that's 80 percent lettuce and air. These were loaded. My teenage son even commented on how good his was, and trust me, teen approval is not handed out lightly. The portions were generous, the flavors were bold, and each sandwich was totally unique and delicious. I can confidently say I have found a new favorite sub spot. Total hidden gem if you love a good sandwich that actually fills you up and tastes incredible. I did not grab a shake this time because it was freezing outside, but after seeing all the flavor options on the menu, I will absolutely be trying one next visit. Highly recommend in every aspect. I love when you try somewhere new and it completely exceeds expectations. This one is a must try.

    I wish I took a picture but my partner and I demolished these sandwiches. This place is not talked…read moreabout a lot, we just found out about this place. I got the John gotti and my partner got the sour diesel. Soo good I have to say better than subway and Jersey mikes .

    Photos
    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes
    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes - Super Dank

    Super Dank

    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes - First time here and just pulled in.......

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    First time here and just pulled in.......

    Copper and Salt Northwest Kitchen - Zeppoles!  Delicious

    Copper and Salt Northwest Kitchen

    3.7(256 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We first heard about this place through a suggestion, but initially, we decided to explore other…read moreoptions. However, on a spontaneous decision, my husband and I finally gave it a try one day. Our first experience was quite pleasant--I enjoyed a Bloody Mary (Bunny's Brew) and a burger, while my husband savored some wine along with the spicy pork belly sandwich. We also started with a meatball appetizer. Overall, we appreciated the good service, charming ambiance, and delicious food. Our second visit was even better, especially sitting by the window with stunning views. Once again, the service was excellent, and the food was truly tasty. I had another Bloody Mary (Cooper & Salt Bloody) and spaghetti pomodoro. I can't quite recall what my husband ordered, but I remember sharing a delightful Tiramisu for dessert. By the third time, we came with the family to enjoy dessert after lunch. Most recently, during our fourth visit with friends, we found that the service and menu remained consistently enjoyable. All in all, this is a fantastic place to dine, with beautiful outdoor views--even on rainy days. My one curiosity is whether the menu changes? Although every visit has been wonderful, seeing some new dishes would make the experience even more special!

    I made a reservation for 7 people and shared with them that we were celebrating 2 birthdays and…read moreask for a cake that never came. We showed up on time and still waited 20 min to get our table. Server wasn't friendly at all and food took a while, but at least it was good. Unfortunately they force you to tip 20% when you have a large party otherwise I would have tipped 0.

    Photos
    Copper and Salt Northwest Kitchen
    Copper and Salt Northwest Kitchen - Halibut

    Halibut

    Copper and Salt Northwest Kitchen - Copper & Salt Bloody & Wine

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    Copper & Salt Bloody & Wine

    Jewel Box Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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