McMenamins Elks Temple is such a fun spot and easily one of the most unique places to hang out in Tacoma! The whole building has so much personality, and I love that they fully lean into the weird, playful aesthetic. The tiki bar downstairs is my favorite part, every so often they do these little lightning and rainstorm effects that make the whole experience really fun. The food is solid, the cocktails are good, and there's a huge beer selection, so it works really well whether you're coming for dinner, drinks, or just wandering around. It's also a great date spot because there are so many different rooms and bars to explore, and you can keep moving around and trying different things instead of sitting in one place all night. Service has always been really friendly too. I'd come here as for the venue and the drinks more than the food, but it's one of those places I always love to take people who visit Washington. read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Pulled pork nachos, beer flight - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I never pass up the chance to visit a McMenamins when I'm in Oregon, so we decided to try this one on our way north to Seattle and I'm so glad we did. The restaurant is enormous, with plenty of seating and the classic McMenamins eclectic charm. Instead of my usual McMenamins cheeseburger, I ordered the shrimp and crab roll, and I'm glad I branched out. My daughter had the crab mac and loved it as well. Then we headed downstairs, which got even better. There's a tasting room, bottle shop, and one of the best-stocked McMenamins gift shops I've seen. If you're a fan of their merchandise, this is the place to shop. Other locations can be hit or miss when it comes to selection and sizes, but this one had plenty of both. I'm a Ruby Ale fan, so I couldn't resist picking up a new red Ruby hoodie. (Yes, I own more than one Ruby hoodie. ) Our server was friendly, attentive, and struck that perfect Pacific Northwest balance of being available without hovering. Overly, a great stop! read more

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Great service! Food was amazing! The fish & chips are delicious and I alway love tatter tots!! I love any and all McMenamins! It's always a cool funky vibe. I love taking friends who've never experienced one whenever I can! read more

Just check this place out if you are in the area. It is the coolest. Adorned with the classic McMenamins rehabilitated detail that leaves the elder structure seen, it's a marvel of artistic expression on each floor. I ordered an earl grey martini in a speak easy that was so tucked away, there was a hidden door that required finding to access it. Later, I made my way to the Tiki bar of which I can honestly say was an amazingly strong and healthy beverage. I had an early morning workshop the next day, but the grit of the experience was worth it. read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Poster - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Definitely a busy location, but easy access.The parking is horrible, but once you do find parking, you can walk all of the city of Tacoma coming back to your hotel and crashing! Food is good! read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This review is based on bar service and not on food! The ambiance was second to none! I could not believe the number of bars/restaurants and the intense decorating. A whole day could be spent looking. Very interesting concept. The martini I ordered was super and the service impeccable. Would have liked to spend more time in the different bars but one drink was enough for me! read more

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Got invited out on a Saturday night for a 2010 recession pop dance night couple of weekends ago held here. The main floor is busy with dinner, prom season, while the typical maze structure of a McMenamins found on us down on floor 2, where it opened up into a big hall. We got there mid evening and stayed until midnight when the event was closed. The vibes of the attendees were positive, the dj and playlist delivered, the bartenders were cool enough yet the drinks were on the pricier end (while well drinks began at 8.50), but the pre-event tickets were super affordable. May come out again on another themed evening sometime:) read more

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We love it here, it's fun showing people around when they come and visit. We stopped at the secret bar called the vault. If you find it they make great drinks. read more

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I stayed here for a few nights over Thanksgiving with my spouse and a couple of friends. Here's how I would rate things: Hotel rooms **4 stars** The hotel is very fun and quirky, like a lot of McMenamin's properties. It's well located in a downtown area and you can walk to a lot of shops, cafes, etc. The only bad experience was a night they had a concert going. The place was mobbed and it was difficult getting to the restaurants and back to our rooms. We loved our room, it was on the top floor and you had to go up a couple of flights of stairs after exiting the elevator. It was cool to have such a private room. We also had a great view of the bay. What we didn't love was that you have to go to the concierge to get ice, there are no ice machines. There's also no coffee machines though they did a good job of keeping coffee stocked at a station on the 6th floor. Tiki Lounge **3 stars** --We came here our first night at it was just okay. Our friends got the Asian nachos. I didn't taste them but they didn't seem too impressed. I had the pork and wasabi tots. Sounded great on the menu, but in reality, not so great. The sauce was kind of bland and the pork was basically bacon, which fell off the tots, so there were just bacon bits scattered in the basket. My husband and I did split a cheeseburger and that was pretty good. Service was friendly, though almost too talkative. But that's much better than having a rude server. Elks Pub **4.5 stars** My two friends and I had breakfast here for three mornings in a row. The female redheaded server was great, super friendly and efficient. Food was also pretty good. The first day I had the huevos rancheros and they were just okay. They were sort of bland and also sort of sweet, I'm not sure why. The next day, we all got the Sunrise Bowl, which is vanilla yogurt, granola and fruit. This was super tasty and not overly sweet, which is my preference. On the last morning, I had the breakfast platter, which was also very good, with eggs, veggie sausage and toast. I got a scone on the side and loved it. It was made like a real scone, meaning it was buttery and only very slightly sweet. It was not like cake, which some places do. We had lunch in the pub one day. Our server, Madeline, was awesome, friendly, kind and not overly intrusive. My hubby and I split the reuben and it was one of the best I've ever had. It was just a flavor explosion of meat, gooey cheese and kraut. The truffle fries were also excellent. Thanksgiving dinner was my least fave of the meals we had in the pub. I was wanting something different, so I had the crab and shrimp roll, it was edible, but soooooo bland. What saved things was dessert. I had the tiramisu and it was incredible. The put it on top of some fudge sauce. Not authentic, but so decadent and fantastic. Spanish Bar **2.5** We had our final dinner here. Service was good, but the ambiance was off as people were going back and forth for a concert that was about to start in the next room. I had the chicken gyro, which was pretty good, and our friends seemed to enjoy their ahi tuna salads. However, my husband's Greek salad was a disaster, the lettuce was slimy and brown, and they tried to cover it up with scattered feta and olives. We brought this to the server's attention, she did apologize, but it wasn't taken off of our bill. That is simply NOT acceptable, we never should have had to pay for this. All in all, I would stay here again, but focus my meals on the pub and avoid the Tiki and Spanish bars. read more

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Hey this place was super fun. Several bars. A nice restaurant with good food. A gift shop on the bottom floor. Even a speakeasy but you have to find it. The decorations are really eclectic though out the building. There is even a hotel on the upper floors. The service was great. I definitely recommend this place especially if visiting Tacoma. read more

Food in the rest is the best out of all the McMenamins' restaurants, hands down! Loved the selection of salads and the Blacken Ahi Steak was delicious! Great selection beverages (coffee, specialty drinks, spirits....) and the staff was great! Would recommend all the pubs at the Elks Temple. Real gem For North Tacoma. read more

Not amazing, not terrible. I would not go out of my way to eat here, but would not be upset to eat there again. Waited with zero acknowledgement with a crowd for a host/hostess, but was seated right away. Food was pricey and just okay. read more

We stopped by the pub for lunch and had a great meal. The restaurant vibes are immaculate and it is so cozy. There is plants everywhere in the hotel and they're gorgeous! I got the crab and shrimp roll. It was delicious and not too mayo heavy which is always appreciated. I also got a latte which was delicious. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

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A million cool decor details. Breakfast menu has something for every taste and diet. It was really hard to pick. The portions are HUGE! Unless you are starving or a big eater, consider sharing. Wait staff was attentive and very kind. Great food and atmosphere! Highly recommend for locals and visitors! read more

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Wanted to try this place since it was in a great location of everything. We got greeted and sat at the restaurant section where we could look out at the water. We ordered beer, cocktail and one piece of appetizer. Our first server was a bit on unhappy side. She didn't have a perky smile or anything. Felt like we were a bother. The second waitress who came to took our order was very nice and all smiles so we felt welcome! Too bad I didn't take down her name but she was awesome! ( short black hair with pierced Nose ring?) she was great. The menu for the food was a bit pricey and the brew ok. Maybe next time we'll try them again. read more

Absolutely beautiful! If you decide to stay, I recommend getting a room with a balcony/view. It was so worth it and having the in suite bathroom is a lifesaver. It was so much fun searching for the hidden bar, looking for the clue, and the Spanish ballroom tour learning more about the history. Such a great time, staff was friendly and food was good. read more

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The Pub had great food and the service was thoughtful, friendly, and attentive. The ambience and decor is creative and interesting. This is a fun place for a friend meet-up, a date night, or a meal before catching a concert. Delectable desserts! read more

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Good option for breakfast/brunch in Tacoma. On the good side, this McMenamins is spacious, comfortable, and not at all crowded on a weekday morning. The staff are relaxed and friendly. And they have the usual idiosyncratic McMenamins menu, which is very favorable towards vegetarians. I had the "wild mushroom" benedict which was pretty good, although the crispy hash browns were really the best thing on the plate. Biscuits were very good too. Caveats: like other McMenamins, not all items will be executed with the same skill; food quality can be "best effort" sometimes. And, if you're in a hurry instead of using up the morning while you wait for the Museum of Glass to open, this is probably not your best choice. read more

What a disappointment. We used to visit this restaurant often when we lived in Tacoma so thought a Christmas breakfast would be fun. After standing at the hostess desk for 5 minutes we were seated. There were six booths and tables in our server's area and we were told when we were seated that it would be awhile before anyone got to us. Having been a server in college that many tables is not over working any server especially given the fact there are not multiple courses when you have breakfast it's pretty straight forward. So we sat there, no water, no silver, nothing for 35 minutes. Seems like the hostess could have at least done that. Server finally shows up, doesn't ask if we want to order drinks just takes our order for food and we had to remind him we wanted drinks. Off he goes, still no water or silverware. Finally about 15 minutes later we get drinks and we watched and the bartenders were not that busy. We were chatting about the service when the people in the booth in front of us turned around and said they waited forever and their food was cold when they got it. So almost an hour after we were seated our food arrives. Mine is warm enough to eat, my friend's was cold. Apparently everything was sitting in the kitchen and no one bothered to serve it when it was hot. I said tell the server, my friend said it would take too long to get more. So as we are eating our eggs, I crunch on something hard. Couldn't figure it out what it was and when the server finally came to see if all was well I showed it to him. Oh he says, it's the pit of an olive, guess it shouldn't be there. He did manage to take that part of the bill but seriously I could have broken a tooth. Don't know if today was a one off or if the place just isn't as good as it used to be but we don't think it's worth trying again. read more

Scored major romance points bringing my wife here, who said it's like Disneyland for adults. Art, history, music, architecture, and even a secret speakeasy behind a hidden door. We stayed four nights in the hotel and still didn't see all the art and read all the local history. So 5 stars even if all they were to serve was just bread and water. Service was friendly and welcoming everywhere, and drinks were strong ($15+ for cocktails, $8 for beer, hey, they gotta make their money somewhere). Most of the food we ordered was 4/5: Jamaican rice bowl, omnivore pizza, broccoli cheese soup, Brussels sprouts (ask for an aioli as it isn't served with one). Green goddess Benedict was 5/5, crab mac & cheese 3/5, jalapeno grits 2/5 (bland). Parking wasn't a problem on the Sunday-Tuesday we stayed but it's a bear on Saturday night unless you've found the secret entrance to the 7-story underground parking garage. Spoiler alert: there isn't one. read more

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We loved exploring each bar at McMenamins, and the Old Hang Out tiki bar was such a fun experience. They have a great selection of cocktails and the ambiance is one-of-a-kind. read more

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It's difficult for me to understand how this location is just shy of 4 stars. Our party of four could barely make it 2 1/2 stars. Our server came across as brusque which made us a bit intimidated to mention our lack of satisfaction with the food after it was delivered. Three of us had burgers, which were rather dry and tough. One had fries, which were described by my seat mate as "comparable to McDonalds fries after sitting in a bag driving home". Although the ambiance of the establishment is amazing, it's not worth $43 for a tough burger, cold fries and a pint of amber ale. read more

We went here for Thanksgiving tonight and it was not good. I ordered the Jamaican bowl, which I have had in the past, but it was about half onion. Both strips and chunks throughout the whole thing. I like onion, but after I picked it all out and ate more onion than one person should, I gave up. I told the server I was unhappy and she offered to remake it. At that point I was over it and really just wanted to go. The whole situation was awkward and she seemed like she knew it was made poorly. Anyway, my partner paid for it all, which I wish he hadn't, and that was the end of the evening. He feels bad and I'm not pleased. Total bummer! read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Mystic 18 vegan burger with salad - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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So much fun! Attended their inaugural Holiday Brewfest which was amazing! The Spanish ballroom venue was filled with live music, beers and ciders, a merchandise booth, and even photos with Santa. We were encouraged to wear Christmas attire and it was so festive! Purchased a $33 Brewfest which got us a souvenir glass and 10 (4 Oz pours) of special beer and ciders. We tried some amazing food, too, the turkey pizza and turkey leg dinner. All the staff were busy but did a great job with all the Revelers. Loved exploring the 7 story building with a hotel upstairs. McMenamin's sure knows how to throw a party! The only downside is there is no free parking. We love this place and will come back! read more

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Such a fun idea to have different bars/restaurants at different levels in the building. I would like to go back and watch a concert/show there one day. I did manage to find the hidden room upstairs. I ended up getting drinks and food at the Tiki Lounge and it was decent food but the atmosphere was awesome. read more

We stayed here for an evening after a work event. We parked in the parking lot next door easily. Went to check in and had a friendly and pleasant experience. We had a room on the 7th floor with a wonderful view. The room was clean, no refrigerator. I noticed some old books on a shelf, all upside down. Flipping through them I found a note. I snapped a picture and put it back the way I found it for next person to discover. When we got back from our event we went exploring. The old pictures, the paintings, the plants, all perfection! We found The Vault very easily as it was packed, we still got a table in the corner for a couple of drinks. We tried to go to the tiki bar but it was packed so we called it a night. I had made a reservation for breakfast the next morning at 8:30. Didn't need one there was hardly anyone there. We were walked down to a back corner past all the open tables and were sat directly next to another couple, the only other ones there. 10 minutes later another couple came in and they were sat on the other side of us. She looked at me and I could tell she thought the same thing we did, like really? 10 minutes later another party of 6 loud woman came in and were sat directly across from us. Thankfully we were about done with our meal at that point. The food was AMAZING! He had biscuits and gravy, some of the best I have ever tasted. I had the chicken and waffles, which had a bourbon sauce on it that I wanted to lick the plate for more it was so good. Will we back? Yes. Not to stay the night but for the tiki experience and hopefully more good food. I just would recommend if there is an empty restaurant, maybe space people out far enough so you don't have to hear them talk in detail. read more

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We were there for drinks and a show, plus ordered a couple of appetizers for the table. Not impressed with my espresso martini, it was boozy but overly sweet just not great. The Cajun tots were enjoyed by all but the steak and mushroom bites "had a taste" and the sauce got so reduced that it was salty. Customer service was good although a little slow even though the place was nearly empty. The concert venue was nice, lovely original carvings and moldings, good sound but the folding chairs they provide are so uncomfortable they destroyed my back so I ended up having to stand for a big part of the show. read more

I brought friends here for an overnight "stay-cation" during Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, we all left with on quite a sour note. Both hostesses at the main lobby check in and also at the lobby restaurant were super surly and dismissive. No one was in the lobby and only a few in the restaurant, but we weren't even approached until I asked he we could be heled. Both of these employees acted like we were disturbing them for wanting to be checked in to the hotel or to sit at the restaurant, even the bartender ignored us. Once we finally got seated, the restaurant wait staff was friendly, so I tipped them well, but the food and the drinks were all just OK- we did not finish any of our meals or bar drinks. Very disappointed in the guest experience compared to their other venues read more

The worst food ever!!! Made us sick. Tasteless crab Mac and cheese. The jojos had so many spices. The green salad was the only thing we could finish. read more

Very fun place to go to for a night out! I was told that I had to go visit McMenamins while in town for the weekend, and it definitely had a cool vibe. I went on a Saturday night and bar hopped around a few of the bars. Quite the variety of crowds here so you can come and enjoy yourself no matter what age or what you're looking to do. My favorite bar was The Hang Out on the bottom floor, a cool tiki bar. I heard there is also a private speak easy but I didn't try hard enough to figure out where it might be. The hotel is very pretty and the elevators are kinda fun with their different UFO themed paintings. There was even a concert going on the night I was there, so it seems like there are a lot of events happening in this one place. Pretty cool spot and I am glad I stopped by for an evening! read more

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A group of us went here for New Years eve 80's party. First time at this location. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were all friendly. Special shout out to Dave and Luke working the doors for the 80s party. They went above and beyond to accommodate us!!! Thank you so much! read more

Service and ambiance was great! I I ordered the Temple Dirty Fries based on the description. Sounded like nachos but utilizing french fries- something different. Well it was nothing like the picture. Almost all the toppings were on the bottom. I found just a couple pieces of sausage. I only ate about 1/4 of the bowl. My friends seemed to enjoy their choices- me not so much... read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - This is a pic of what I thought I was ordering. I didn't bother with a photo of my own. - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Went here for mother's day, with reservation, party of 7. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. Service was good initially, with amble opportunity to order drinks, apps, and food. The apps and drinks were well received aside from one of the mixed drinks that came down to preference and not execution. Unfortunately things took a turn after the apps. The specials were just "OK" with everyone at the table mostly finishing their meals but saying they wouldn't order again. I got the beef dip sandwich and it was pretty bad. The jus was more like a burned cornstarch slurry (it was thick AND broken). I sent it back and tried the sandwich on its own, only to find the beef dry and crumbly and the seasoning non existent. I ended up sending the whole thing back after 2 bites and based on everyone else's meal I decided to just skip and eat something at home. My meal was supposed to come with Cajun tots but they gave me regular. Whatever, that wasn't a big deal. The server was gracious enough to remove the item from our meal (which was around $240 before tip for 7 people). We asked about desserts (it's mother's day) but their special "mystery" dessert was 86'd, despite it being a holiday at 6:30. We said we would need a minute but the server must have had a break because we sat there for 10-15 minutes waiting to put in a dessert order and get our bill. The hostess area was devoid of staff and there was only one other server running another section. Finally a new server came up and we ordered a dessert to go and asked for our bill. I'll probably not come back, at least not the main floor area. I'm left kinda scratching my head about what this place has to offer that's worth the price beyond a "Millennial Quirky" atmosphere. read more

From the secret room to the concerts, to the overnight stay in the king annex. This building is GORGEOUS. What a vibe, what an adventure and what a cool place to stay. No pool or space here but man does the surrounding city make up for it. This place has a unique Spanish bar which I've yet to see at other locations, the drinks are perfect. Love coming here for shows/concerts. Service is always excellent here. read more

What's not amazing?! We went to the Polynesian restaurant on floor 1! Quick the decor! Water fall included and various seating! A tropical get away feel for the connivence of home ! Loved how easy it was to order! Staff were chill and food... WOW so good and the exact portions to make you leaving full but comfortable! Would definitely go again! read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Ate here this evening with a party of four and we all had a lovely time and evening! It's cool the different bars that they have on the different levels. We especially enjoyed visiting the tiki bar and getting tiki inspired drinks! The whole tiki bar area is a must see when you visit! Husband had a mai tai and I had a mermaid spot! Both were great! Food was delicious as well! We shared the Cajun tots, wings, pizza, ahi tuna, and salad. Our server was great and checked on us often. Tons of seating! read more

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Came here for my brother in law's 21st birthday. It was the perfect place to bar crawl without having to drive or go far!! Started at the tiki bar, went to the Spanish bar, then Doc's bar, the speakeasy, and then the main floor level pub was closed when we got to it (probably for the best we were forced to stop drinking). All of the staff we dealt with between all the bars were polite and fun. All of the drinks we had tasted great and certainly packed a punch. Our food was great as well. I will definitely be coming back here with more friends. read more

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Went in yesterday to try the new outdoor patio. The service was great. the patio was kinda neat for Tacoma. I will say their beer selection is good. however both my wifes food and mine (aztec salad, Reuben and an appetizer of cajun tots was totally meh. There are lots of great places for food in Tacoma. I dont think this place is in that group. read more

Really loved visiting this McMenamins. We took the ghost tour and had some time to kill before. First we stopped at the main entrance restaurant. Their Cajun tots were pretty good, as was their mocktails. Our waitress was wonderful and super friendly. After that we wondered around and searched for the speak easy, it was actually way easy to find. Special shout out to the young man who made our drinks. He was really excited to be creative and make us mocktails. I only wish I had thought to ask him how to make it again, so I could come back and order it... It has egg whites and I think ginger....very yummy! There were two very big downsides, which is why this only got three stars for me, first, we circled for an hour looking for parking, that was not fun. They should have better parking as much as they spent on the building. The second is their prices... Two mocktails and Cajun Tots were as expensive as a full meal and drinks else where. At those prices it should be steak and lobster, not burgers and pizza. That's just my opinion. I would go again for a special occasion, but I would also make sure I could afford to take out a mortgage to do so. read more

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What an awesome experience! We only stayed for one night, but it was absolutely worth it! The hotel is so cool. We explored until we found every bar. The gift shop had everything we needed for the night. The room was spacious and the views were great. The staff was super friendly too. We got some ciders and enjoyed them on the patio as the sun set. Perfect way to round out a day! Great location, great food and drink! read more

McMenamins Elks Temple - Coffee station - Brewpubs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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