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    Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern

    3.0 (622 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Bars, New American
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    KATIE DOWNS WATERFRONT TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern

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    Steak fries
    LEM G.

    We stopped by Katie Downs in old Tacoma by the water for a quick, light dinner. Started with calamari, a beer, and a drink. The calamari was delicious--really enjoyed it--but it was almost gone by the time our water and drinks finally arrived. Then we ordered the guacamole burger and fish tacos. Unfortunately, the tacos were a big disappointment--everything about them was bland. The guacamole burger had a thin patty that was cooked well (pretty much the only way it could be, given how thin it was), but the steak fries were overdone and crispy in a bad way. Service was inconsistent; the staff didn't check on us at all throughout the meal, and I had to go out of my way to get the check. Beautiful waterfront spot, but the food and service didn't quite live up to the location for us last night.

    Lilian H.

    Great service from everyone here! The ambiance was chill especially since I went on a Tuesday evening. Plenty of free parking in the lot, and the outside of the building is decorated as a moat so it was pretty cool I got the customized 7" my pie, I think they said about $1 per topping you put on. Not too bad of a price point since they give you a choice of sides. I'm not the biggest fan of deep dish pizzas because there's too much bread but I thought they did theirs pretty well but their crust did get soggy pretty quick. Their curly fries were crunchy tho! Prob one of my favorite fries place now

    White pizza
    Karin P.

    Been here twice now. Once for book club (recommend something like that in the warmer months and outdoor seating) and again while the in-laws were in town. Service was exceptional both times! Super friendly and accommodating! Both times were great! The menu had something for everyone, from the vegetarian to the FIL who refuses to eat vegetables! The personal size pizza with side salad was perfect! The mocktail lemonade is an absolute must! I didn't get pictures of what everyone else ordered, but it all looked good, and everyone said they enjoyed it. The Asian salad was massive and satisfying to the family vegetarian!

    Louis L.

    Last few weeks I visited Tacoma and had a chance to eat here at this water front restaurant. The place is very nice, the foods are quite tasty. I was craving for patty melts since I haven't had for a long time. My sister had a reuben sandwich which also very good. The appetizer calamari was excellent. The prices are reasonable for a nice restaurant with a view like this one. The server is attentive and fast. It's close the pier where people are squid fishing which is nice to stroll after the meal. It's lunch so we didn't try the pizzas. The patty melts and reuben rye bread toasted perfectly. I really enjoyed them. The fries are great. Sometimes it's nice to have lunch with a view and here in Tacoma, wonderful when it's not raining.

    We shared: my favorite White Shark Pizza (personal size) with salad #6. Great White
    Carrie C.

    This has been a family-owned business for 40 years and I've been coming for over 25 years. This is THE place for PIZZA! If you love rich flavor pizzas, where you don't need to eat 3 slices to feel full, Katie Downs is da bomb! We came on a Friday night around 8pm, no lines and not too busy: perfect! You've gotta be 21+ or you can order the deliciousness for pick-up, it's a great spot for winter or summer as the deck over the waterfront is gorgeous and fun in the summer. Winter is great as there's lots of TVs with games and big tables for parties. Cocktails here are 5-star good!!

    Outdoor patio!
    Michael W.

    I had a personal pan pizza of Great White. Great tasting chicken, white sauce, artichoke and some other ingredients. I added red pepper flakes for some balance- SO good. 7" pan is perfect personal pizza size. Our server Holly was polite, professional and answered questions for our experience which was helpful and great! We were out on the outdoor patio. I loved that you could feel the patio ever so slightly moving to add to the seaside charm - loved that. I highly recommend the Citrus Mistress IPA beer if you want a refreshing beverage for a nice hot day!

    Fried Calamari this was okay it's average frozen calamari
    Moani H.

    This is a just sports bar and restaurant on the water. I would not expect good food, but good enough to be food. We got their pizza, diablo shrimp, and calamari. The pizza was good but it was like a fancier pizza hut pizza which I wanna say is not a bad thing, I love the old pizza hut hand tossed thick crispy crust. They call it "deep dish" but it's just a thick crust. The diablo shrimp was definitely not worth it we got about 8 shrimps that were the previously frozen tail-on shrimp about size 41-50. Service was great and there were a lot of tvs for sports. Overall If I wanted to watch a game on the water with mediocre food, I'd come. Other than that it wasn't anything special.

    Lemon cake ($14 per slice)
    Scott K.

    We enjoyed going here, but the food was not the best this time. And the pricing was a sore spot. It was very slow when we went. I much prefer to eat outside, but obviously, that is not an option during the winter. The service was fine. The steamed clams, southwest salad with chicken, and lemon cake did not meet our expectations. Typically, steamed clams are served in a broth alongside bread. While they included the bread, there was no broth. Instead, they served the clams with melted butter and hot water. Either way, it would not have made the clams taste better. The clams were mediocre at best because they were not cleaned properly and had sand in them. The clams were certainly not worth $26. As for the salad, it wasn't necessarily bad, but I had an issue with the price. It is around $20 without the chicken. $28 seems like a steep price for a basic salad with protein. I have the same complaint about the cake. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it was not $14 for a single slice of cake good. If we weren't celebrating a birthday, we would have skipped out on the cake because of the price.

    Leftover Togo
    Rene D.

    It's a great day 84 out AND we got a spot in the deck! Some shade and some sun. Fish n chips to share(3 piece) with fries and added cup of clam chowder. Mmmm. And my friend has left overs. It was good food and service was great today.

    Personal pizza and Fries
    Fred W.

    The food here is what you would expect from a tavern. It's not bad and I would not say it's exceptional. My calamari was tasty and cooked perfectly. The pizza, burger, and fries were average. It's not bad, but it's also not exceptional. Is it good? Yes. If you want a waterfront lunch or dinner with decent food and not super expensive, then this place will fit that requirement. They do have an outdoor seating area right over the water. You basically sit on a large dock. The service is great and I am sure it can get busy during the normal mealtimes. Plan accordingly and arrive before lunch or dinner. I did like the decor and the clean restrooms. If you're looking for tavern type meal offerings in a good location, you've found the place. I would go back again.

    Sorry overpriced chicken sandwich ...
    Mahealani K.

    It seems like the food quality went down...I went there with my work peeps and orders a chicken burger and this crap came out...the chicken was so small for the bun and the cheese tasted gross. I usually like this place, but I won't be going back...I'm cool..there are other places that serves better food. Don't waste your time and don't waste your money. If you want shit food then go there!

    Cindy H.

    I think their food has gotten better over the years. The personal pizza was baked nicely. The crust was crispy and there was a good amount of white sauce, cheese and toppings evenly spread on each slice. The prawns Diablo was good too. The shrimps were plump and the sauce had a good kick but wasn't too spicy. The clam chowder on the other hand was just okay. The flavor was a bit bland and there wasn't alot of clams and potatoes in the soup. Service has also improved. The servers came more frequently to check on us which I did appreciate.

    Lemon Caper Prawns
    Toni J.

    I just wanted to make Katie Downs aware that this is unappealing looking and the taste was off. I feel like this needs a revamp

    The view from our table

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    3 months ago

    Overpriced, flavorless and service was just okay. Do not at all recommend the veggie or turkey sandwich.

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    6 months ago

    Great service, food, and views! A bit pricier than some similar places, but you're paying for the view! It's worth it!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern

    Is it very expensive?

    It used to be reasonable but the prices have gone way up. Last time my husband and I went I had shrimp tacos, he had a french dip and we had ice tea. For the two of us with tax and tip it was $93 for lunch which to me seems expensive for a casual… Read more

    Is it 21 and over?

    Yup.

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    Tacoma Pie

    Tacoma Pie

    4.3(150 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Tonight was such a nice surprise. We ordered takeout and for once felt like we actually got our…read moremoney's worth. The food was genuinely delicious, fresh, and clearly made with care. So often these days it feels like you spend good money on mediocre food and walk away disappointed, but that was not the case here at all. Everything we ordered was excellent, and we'll absolutely be back. On top of that, the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, even for a quick takeout order. That made the whole experience even better. Thank you for a great meal.

    Really bad vibe tonight. Definitely not what I remember a year ago…read more Why does it matter if we are ordering dine in or takeout, why can't we just still order while we were standing in line just behind one person at the register? So then two people walk in and get to place their order before us who were waiting in line?! Especially when we know the food does not come out right away! Put a sign in front of the restaurant saying you don't like Asian people and don't waste our time like this. I don't know what it is about the red hair cashier if he was autistic which is fine or if he was just in a shitty mood, but what a very horrible and weird experience. Waited over a half an hour for pizzas to come out, and it was just bland. You guys also forgot mushrooms on my friend pizza, not a single one on there. Don't get pissy with me because I asked for a receipt, it's not my fault that I get paid sometimes for meals by my job. And why am I getting grilled with the 21 questions on asking for a small and big box for me and my friend? Also weird that we are waiting in line for you to finish putting receipts on boxes when you could easily be like are you guys ready to pay and just get us out the door? Why are we waiting five minutes for that in line? Absolutely ludicrous service. Just do not understand why people still treat people like this in this economy, why not treat everyone with great respect and service to get a better tip and leave a five star review again. Disappointing will never be back and will let people know. Can't believe this was 43 bucks.

    Photos
    Tacoma Pie - Pizza counter

    Pizza counter

    Tacoma Pie - Cheese pizza slice $6

    Cheese pizza slice $6

    Tacoma Pie

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    Bar Rosa - Hilltop Diavola pizza

    Bar Rosa

    4.4(149 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    This is my second visit here. So lucky we have this restaurant close by! I just went for the happy…read morehour for the first time yesterday with a few friends. The environment is cool and hip, art tastefully decorated on the wall. You can definitely tell they put effort into the atmosphere of this bar! Now for their pizza... it is out of this world. It is wood fired so you know they're serious about their food! I go the margarita pizza and passion fruit daiquiri. Both DELICIOUS. Service was quick and efficient with the perfect amount of check ins. Absolutely recommend!

    Wow! I'm following a bunch of five star reviews, so perhaps an off night? A group of us tried Bar…read moreRosa tonight for dinner. Bar Rosa is located in Hill Top right by some other great bars. Not a huge fan of the ambience in Bar Rosa, plywood floors and very dark. We were sat in a booth, and it was as the sun was setting. The windows are all illuminated and beyond filthy (inside) - it was hard not to notice with the windows open and leaning towards our table. I also was the unfortunate one to have the sun straight and my face for about half of our dinner. Service was hit or mess. We waited a long time with no check in for more cocktails. The cocktail choices are great, however, they were out of a particular cocktail my friend wanted to order. We started with the meatballs, not good. The sauce however was phenomenal! Meatballs were just very dense and dry. The appetizer came out not even 5 minutes after our order was put in, so they were lukewarm at best. When we ordered our pizza, they were out of the homemade sausage, this was Saturday night at 6pm???, so we ordered the foraged pizza as is. The pizza was delicious. My friends ordered the Marguerita - crust was a bit over done. Food was good- $30 a pizza good, not in my opinion. Hi, generally do not leave negative reviews- I look for the silver lining at majority of restaurants I visit- but this was a tough one for me. Again- maybe an off night.

    Photos
    Bar Rosa
    Bar Rosa - Peach tartine

    Peach tartine

    Bar Rosa - The bar is open

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    The bar is open

    The Redd Dog - table number and menu QR

    The Redd Dog

    3.8(108 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I received a text message that I got a birthday coupon which was so cool as I didn't know that was…read morea thing. Additionally, they had another coupon for 50% off pizza that you can combine with your birthday offer. They are located close to where we live and we've only visited their location in Puyallup. I got the 12 inch Carnivore and it was ready within 10-12 minutes which was great as that was a little less than how much it took to get there. It looked gorgeous when I took a picture of it and I shared with my boyfriend and little brother who enjoyed it too! Some differences that I noticed is that the outdoor seating is just a few tables and chairs outside so you can enjoy your meal outside and they do have dog water bowls out too! The other difference is that dogs are also welcomed inside! I told this when I received my order and I was chatting with the two employees at the counter. I wished I had gotten their names but they were so inviting and kind. That was another difference, I got service as I feel like that is very lacking at the Puyallup location. They were also friendly with their other guests as well! I definitely look forward to coming back with friends, family, boyfriend and fur babies!

    Bit of an odd situation with the self pour/card/app but we figured it out eventually…read more We got a couple of beers, a sandwich and the loaded tots. My husband loved his sandwich and said he's definitely going back for more. Sandwich came with house made potato chips that were perfectly crispy. I liked the tots alright. Service was good and the food came out fast.

    Photos
    The Redd Dog - Use this to get your drink

    Use this to get your drink

    The Redd Dog - Redd

    Redd

    The Redd Dog - The booze

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    The booze

    Wooden City Tacoma - Half Caesar salad

    Wooden City Tacoma

    4.6(758 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$$

    Wooden City has always been one of my favorite spots, and I finally got to share their newer…read morelocation with my parents for a late Mother's Day dinner. It absolutely did not disappoint. The restaurant was already busy right when they opened, so I definitely recommend making reservations in advance. Even with how packed it was, the service was warm, attentive, and everything came out beautifully paced. The food was incredible across the board. The chicken schnitzel is always my go-to and my mom completely understood the hype; crispy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with the slaw and rice. The scallops were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly, and the burrata bread pudding appetizer was such a standout that the whole table was talking about it. We also tried the tapioca dessert (not pictured) and I already know I'll be ordering it again next time. One of those places that manages to feel lively and trendy while still being comfortable and welcoming. Great food, great atmosphere, and consistently one of my favorite dinner spots in the city.

    We found this place when they were located on Pacific Avenue last year. The food has always been…read moregood and the service is exemplary! They have relocated onto Broadway now to a larger location. There was a line to get in! Perhaps 30 to 40 were waiting when we arrived. Reservation are HIGHLY recommended. At 5 the doors opened and the hostess with the help of other staff got everybody in and seated in a quick and timely manner. The food was excellent! Sam our server made sure we had everything to enjoy our experience at their establishment. Crafted cocktails a Hugo Spritz & a paperplane were perfectly mixed. Finally for dinner we both had a chicken sandwich plus crispy fries to complete a memorable experience! Yes we will def be back! Thanks for ALWAYS making our dining experience a great one!

    Photos
    Wooden City Tacoma - Bar at the new location on Broadway

    Bar at the new location on Broadway

    Wooden City Tacoma - The Fancy Burger

    The Fancy Burger

    Wooden City Tacoma - Wood fired sausage and mushroom pizza

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    Wood fired sausage and mushroom pizza

    APizza Little Italy - A slice from a small pie

    APizza Little Italy

    4.3(111 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    This was my favorite pizza place for the past 3 years. My husband and I loved all the pizzas here,…read moreespecially their classic Margherita. We encountered the owner, Marshall a few times in the first year when it opened. He made sure every table enjoyed their food. He also introduced us with Calabrian chili peppers and we absolutely fell in love with it. It has become our favorite Italian ingredient to add to our homemade pizzas and pastas. Thank you so much for opening our eyes to Italian chili peppers! We took many of our friends and family to APizza. We both are huge fans of wood fired, thin crusted pizzas and APizza just nailed it! Everyone we took to APizza had the most delicious, thin crusted pizzas. When we found out about the closure, we were so sad... We wish the best of luck to the owner's family in exploring the next step in their culinary lives. We hope that you will consider opening a restaurant again in South of Seattle. We will travel to taste your pizzas! Until then, we will make trips to Veraci Pizza in Seattle. Thank you so much for the good food and memories again!

    Delicious pizza! Quick service. I ordered online for delivery. It was delivered in the time exactly…read moreit said. Meaning the service of the restaurant was on top of their in person and online ordering. I will order from here again to try their other pizzas, there were so many options!

    Photos
    APizza Little Italy
    APizza Little Italy - 12" margarita pizza, didn't skimp on the basil.  Very good

    12" margarita pizza, didn't skimp on the basil. Very good

    APizza Little Italy - Homemade clay oven.  Only takes a few minutes to cook your pizza!

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    Homemade clay oven. Only takes a few minutes to cook your pizza!

    Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern - pizza - Updated May 2026

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