Gig Harbor, WA: A culinary hotspot?
Since June 2022, my family (mother, brother, and sister) have been living in the great state of Washington, a stunning state known for its forest landscape, crystal clear beaches, and a bit of rain now and then.
While my brother works for a company in Bellevue (East of Seattle) and my sister is attending Seattle University, my mother has been living with my stepbrother in his family on the small but gorgeous Fox Island.
Located to the West of Tacoma, Fox Island might be a small island, but the views that it provides are stunning, the only issue is that there is only one restaurant on the whole island, so when my mother feels the need to get away from my 4-year-old nephew and baby niece, she usually heads up North to the beautiful peninsular town of Gig Harbor.
As the name might suggest, Gig Harbor, along with its Western neighboring town Artondale, is a popular spot for boaters, water travelers, and the occasional seal. And, having spent a few weeks up in that gorgeous area, the restaurant scene is popping!
I am not saying that I’ve been to every restaurant in that area, but I will tell you 4 of my top picks that I would highly recommend to anyone who may be heading to that area soon.
In no particular order, the first stop happens to be the first restaurant I visited after making my way up to Washington, Lunchbox Laboratory.
A chain restaurant based in Washington, Lunchbox lab is a trendy spot serving classic American dishes, or what they call experiments, such as salads, nachos, fries, and a wide array of burgers.
Also, lately, a few locations, such as the one in Gig Harbor, have been trying out some experiments of their own with classic Korean-inspired dishes like bulgogi beef and bibimbap.
My personal recommendations are the crispy brussels sprouts appetizer that’s tossed in a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze, as well as their James West burger, topped with spiced guajillo cream cheese, housemade barbecue sauce, and thick onion rings. (You know a burger is going to be great when it’s topped with onion rings)
The next stop takes me right along the boat-lined waters of Gig harbor to a spot you can guarantee will be relatively peaceful, because you have to be 21 to enter! Of course, I am speaking of Tide’s Tavern.
Tide’s Tavern offers a nautical décor next to the great Washington waters, some tasty cocktails to make you feel good, and a wide array of delicious bites. Now, if you manage to get there for their fall seasonal menu, then I would strongly recommend the BLT burger.
“But wait, wouldn’t that just be bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a burger?”
Oh, you don’t know how wrong you are. What they do is they take a patty made of ground pork and pork belly, and smoke it with applewood to infuse it with that signature smoky bacon flavor. They then take this smoked patty and top it with crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes for a bite that makes you confused about whether you’re eating a BLT or a burger, but that keeps you going back for more.
Their pesto chicken burger isn’t a bad option either.
And if you’re thirsty, the Tide’s pink lemonade is the perfect thing to brighten your spirit. Made with raspberry vodka, cranberry juice, and lemonade, this drink is as refreshing as it is fruity and delicious!
Ok, maybe you’re not in the mood for burgers; perhaps you want to go on an overseas trip to, say, Thailand. If that’s the case, then Gig Harbor Thai Cuisine restaurant is right for you.
Also next to the water but a mile or two North of Tide’s Tavern, Gig Harbor Thai Cuisine offers an array of classic Thai dishes that will make you feel like you booked a flight and flew all the way to Thailand yourself.
My mother and I went there, and first, we tried their vegetable summer rolls with peanut sauce; it was fresh, tasty, and a perfect way to start the meal. I then proceeded to have their version of the legendary dish, pad Thai. It had all of the essential flavors of salty, sour, and sweet, the noodles were perfect, the chicken and vegetables were perfectly cooked, and all in all, it was a great bite.
Moving away from Gig Harbor and along Tacoma’s waters, the next stop is an adorable seafood restaurant worth every penny, Harbor Lights. Harbor lights offer eclectic sunset dining by the water with flavors of the sea that may have come right from the waters the restaurant looks over, and the food perfectly matches the ambiance.
When I went there, I had a cup of their clam chowder, but they served the Rhode Island chowder style with no flour added was new to me. It tasted good, but I expected more of the thicker New England-style chowder. It could be that it was not what I was used to until that point.
Fortunately, the meal improved as I was given a stunning platter of fish and chips, which at Harbor Lights comes with either cod or halibut, but I chose the classic cod. That I did enjoy; the batter was crispy, the fries were golden, the tartar sauce had a good flavor, and it was what I expected from a good fish and chips.I enjoyed that
However, what made the experience even better was the drinks and desserts.
Since I dined during late fall, the restaurant had an array of cocktails and desserts that featured tiny but delicious huckleberries, which, having come across dozens of wild huckleberry bushes during my time there, I knew I had to try.
For a drink, I got a taste of their huckleberry mojito, and the tartness of the berries matched the fresh mint and zesty lime perfectly. As for dessert, my mother and I treated ourselves to a wonderful huckleberry slump.
For those who don’t know, a slump is like a cobbler or crumble, but it has a biscuit dough baked on top of the fruit, and the one we had was to die for. A flaky biscuit layer, jammy huckleberry filling, and all topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream were the ultimate way to end the meal.
There is no doubt that Washington is an incredible state with gorgeous scenery and excellent restaurants, and Gig Harbor is the perfect destination for any foodie looking to explore some Washington island bites.
