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Jewel Box Cafe

2.9 (445 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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JEWEL BOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Touristy
Romantic
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - Jewel Box Cafe

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Brenda L.

Super excited and happy that this place is still here. It is such a local staple and a Tacoma favorite. Their drink menu is vast! Now featuring the energy drink called Lotus. Which apparently is a plant based energy drink which supposed to be a healthier option. My daughter's friend recommended it. I had the mocha latter with alternative almond milk and ugh it was as good as I remember. The hot coffee was perfect for the rainy weather. I had my usual Tuna sandwich which came with a house salad. The salad had tomatoes and the girl at the front couldn't tell me if it was Roma tomatoes or not. I just asked her to remove them. It would be nice for her ti check because it is allergy related but she didn't bother to go and ask so thats the minus star. It is important to cater to allergies. The sitting arrangements are great. Indoor, outdoor and upstairs. I usually like to seat in the enclosed wooden tables but they were taken. It is such a vibe! Free covered parking across the street or free 2hr parking right at front. Strong wifi to work with too. Overall, if you are visiting and wanna experience local vibes, you must stop here.

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

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27 days ago

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

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18 days ago

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3 months ago

This place is so slow....it doesn't seem that busy but takes 25 minutes for a late insane.

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3 months ago

Took forever to get our drinks and food. The crepes weren't great for the price. The coffee was good but not worth the $7.59 price.

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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10 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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1 year ago

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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

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.

Food was pretty good, but the sandwiches weren't really that big. The atmosphere is pretty inviting…read more and they have lots of games to play.prices are a little high for the size of the sandwich. I did enjoy the pickle. It seemed home made.

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•Ruston
•$$

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!

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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

Mosa Sandwich Makers

Mosa Sandwich Makers

4.5(94 reviews)
9.1 mi

Had lunch today for the first time.... First…read moreobservation...NO ADA entrance, only stairs, ramp needs to be installed; after a yr in business they should have already figured that out. The staff are very attentive and friendly, the store itself could use some tweaking; more details in a minute. My 9" Veggie was very good, real Deli feel, and two slices of cheese with all the trimmings, but they forgot my tomato slices, which they quickly remedied, and the bread was a bit chewy but still good. Also, when you advertise "avocado" one would expect fresh slices, avocado spread is not a vegetable; I suggest real sliced avocado for the best veggie hoagie, or maybe an option? My husband had the Ruben, he wanted a 9" but also wanted Rye Bread so they said they would make the inside 9" on the 6" Rye, that was nice of them to offer. There was a lot of meat and plenty of dressing, hubby said very tasty,too - however, the meat was cold on the inside and it was a Dark Rye instead of Marble Rye, and the bread slices were very small and thin; suggest getting a larger slice Marble Rye and make it as a 9" sandwich. Drinks and chips are offered at a seperate price. Parking is very limited, and The building needs some work. The eating area is small but okay, the tables were mainly a waiting area for take out, but for those of us who did eat in, the tables were not wiped down once while we were there, and the floor needed a desperate sweep. The wait was a bit long but they were very busy (a very good sign) take out orders are many, and for the most part only 1 person dedicated to making sandwiches. Suggestions: You're busy! Hire more people to make sandwiches and Dedicate someone to the register and taking care of the lobby area, clearing tables, sweeping etc. Honestly, the concept is ideal, and the food is great and can only get better with time. The one thing that I would add for continued success would be a womans ingenuity and touch, just sayin' All in all.... We had great experience. The food was good! And, We will definitely be back. Thanks

Wonderful sandwiches, I think they make the best sandwiches with a friendly smile and good…read moreconversation. These people got it right. They make it your way. My favorite is the big bite. Thank you for opening the sandwich shop.

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Mosa Sandwich Makers - Seating

Seating

Mosa Sandwich Makers - Dipster looking @ U

Dipster looking @ U

Mosa Sandwich Makers - The Dipster

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The Dipster

I Heart Mac & Cheese

I Heart Mac & Cheese

3.0(67 reviews)
0.1 mi•Ruston

The first time I ever went in, Tenlee helped my daughter and I. She was very helpful and so…read morefriendly! I will definitely go back there again next time we are in town again!

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.

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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(420 reviews)
20.9 mi
•$$

Best sandwiches ever ! My co workers and I are constantly ordering or thinking of these sandwiches…read more! Always friendly staff ! Five stars for me!

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.

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.......

Wren's Nest Baking - Got the goods!!!! 3 cakes~

Wren's Nest Baking

4.1(145 reviews)
0.5 mi•Ruston
•$$

I found out that I have an allergy to gluten and thought GREAT no more delicious comfort baked…read moregoods and such for the rest of my life. I was wrong. This place is life changing, mine anyway. It's right here in Tacoma. Parking is street parking but easy enough if you head out early. The inside of this epic brick establishment looks as if it were there for years but it's fresh and new. Laureen, the owner, greeted my husband and I, the first time we tried it. She is the sweetest and so down to earth. Expect a long line because this place is amazing. The cashiers are all so patient and you never feel rushed. I love that so much, especially when you're new to a spot. We ordered some kolachees, personal sized quiches focaccia and cinnamon rolls. They were so delicious. I'm so impressed. I've been back a few times and plan to return. I've even recommended it to my friends in Seattle as well. I heard that people from all over Washington come to buy. It's THAT good. I'm so grateful to have this so close to me.

Wren's Nest at Night is a dinner service and drinks on the rooftop of Wren's Nest Baking. You can…read moremake reservations online which starts at 4:30pm which is also when the doors open. After checking in, I would suggest waiting to go up as your whole party. I went up without my friend, who was in the restroom, and they, at first, wouldn't let her come up without another group needing to come up. I had all her things so I had no way of knowing and was waiting for her up on the rooftop for quite some time. The dinner was good. I tried the focaccia, feta dip and crostini, the braised short ribs, and the double chocolate skillet cookie. The foccacia was good but I wish there had been butter or maybe oil and vinegar. It was a bit plain on its own but my friend ate it with her lasagna so it worked out. I really enjoyed the feta dip. It was quite tasty. I know crostinis are supposed to be hard but I found it to be too hard. I really enjoyed the braised short ribs. The meat was tender and was well seasoned. I liked the mashed potatoes which weren't perfectly smooth which is something I prefer and there was a little bit of potato skin. I wish there had been just a tad more sauce for the potatoes. The double chocolate chiller cookie was so good especially if you're a fan of chocolate. It was rich but too sweet and the ice cream that came with it was delicious as well that was slightly coconutty. There is kind of a time limit for your reservation as they ask you to limit your time to 90 minutes on their website. We came on a Friday night and they had live music which was such a great vibe for the rooftop. Because you're outside, I would recommend bringing a coat or something just in case.

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Wren's Nest Baking - Menu, no prices up here

Menu, no prices up here

Wren's Nest Baking - I'm back!!

I'm back!!

Wren's Nest Baking - I wish I can try them all!

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I wish I can try them all!

Jewel Box Cafe - coffee - Updated October 2026

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