Seattle

13 Coins

Tacoma

The Crown Bar — Sixth Avenue

El Gaucho — Downtown

Twokoi Japanese Cuisine — Downtown

13 COINS

Sit in the “Star Trek”-like swivel chairs and pretend you’re Spock while nibbling on pickled veggies at 3 a.m.  Dinner is pricey, but breakfast and lunch are not bad.  The portions are huge.  The Joe’ Special is killer good. 18000 Pacific Highway S., SeaTac, 206.243.9500. Also at 125 Boren Ave N., Seattle, 206.682.2513.

THE CROWN BAR

This is comfort food with an exotic bent. The menu is chock full of great late night treats. I adored the fried oysters, roasted garlic tartar and Creole slaw. The oysters are crisp, not greasy. Crown’s earthy zihua mushroom quesadilla and creamy Cougar Gold mac and cheese complement bartender Dino’s new creations. The Charmoula beef — a marinade from North Africa consisting mostly of cumin, clove, olive oil, and coriander — is out favorite item on the menu. 2705 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4177.

EL GAUCHO

At El Gaucho the steaks are awesome; the service is gracious; the wine list is impressive; the sides are stellar; the baby grand in the corner fills the room with “Girl From Ipanema”; cozy couples enjoy romantic candlelit dinners; red maple walls glow from the low lighting — a dream.  El Gaucho feels like a swank 1940s New York nightclub.  The prices are up there, but you get what you pay for: the best steaks in town. 2119 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 253.272.1510.

LINK: Full review

TWOKOI JAPANESE CUISINE

This Japanese restaurant, housed in the historic Calton Building in downtown Tacoma, must have had a bamboo smart bomb explode inside as the floors, key walls and the bar back are covered in it. This open concept treat offers inventive sushi, sashimi, and tuna and salmon carpaccio, plus teriyaki, tonkatsu, yosenabe, salads and starters. Full bar with 40 sake varieties, sake cocktails, beer and wine.  It’s open until 2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. 1552 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.274.8999