Des Moines

Salty's At Redondo Beach

Olympia

Oyster House

Tugboat Annie's

Puyallup

Toscanos Café & Wine Bar

Ruston

Unicorn Tavern

Tacoma

Duke's Chowder House — Ruston Waterfront

Engine House No. 9 — Sixth Avenue

Stanley & Seafort's — McKinley Hill

Woody's On The Water — Downtown

Steilacoom

Jake's Bar & Bistro

 

DUKE’S CHOWDER HOUSE

This Duke’s mirrors the Seattle version with blue and white checkerboard colors, heavy on the nautical motif, but this one offers large windows and an awesome deck overlooking the bay. Simple menu split between burgers, salads, some Tex-Mex, a few fish selections and, of course, the must-try chowder.  3327 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.5444.

ENGINE HOUSE NO. 9

The converted fire station welcomes patrons with a patio, literally.  Patrons must stroll past metal tables secured to the cement patio before grabbing one of Tacoma’s largest selections of brew inside.  Or if it’s not raining or cold (umbrellas and heat lamps aren’t firehouse issue), skip the game inside and have a cold one with University of Puget Sound professors or Greek system youth outside.  611 North Pine just off Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, 253.272.3435. 

JAKE’S BAR & BISTRO

Jake’s brings great beers and fun to Steilacoom — but stick to the basic pub grub and you won’t be disappointed. Their list of microbrews is staggering. We adored the Johnsonville Bratwurst. It reminded us of tailgating — in fact, next football game, I am doing takeout. Beer and a brat —on a great deck. 215 Wilkes St., Steilacoom. 253.581.3300.

OYSTER HOUSE

Relaxing on its deck under a heat lamp, surrounded by flowers, just off Budd Bay with downtown Olympia twinkling just over the bridge, we don’t care if it’s the oldest seafood restaurant in Washington state.  320 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia, 360.753.7000.  

SALTY’S AT REDONDO BEACH

Hovering just above the lapping waters of Redondo Beach, this deck offers a prime view in the fading evening light of Puget Sound dotted and streaked by boats winding between Vashon and the “mainland” as the sun slips away to appreciative applause of the patrons, nestled under umbrellas and heat lamps while breathing salt air and live guitar.  28201 Redondo Beach Dr. S., Des Moines, 253.946.0636. 

STANLEY & SEAFORT’S

Their deck, overlooking downtown Tacoma and the giant dirty dome, is the perfect place to kick off the weekend, sip mojitos or nibble off their High Tower, a three-tier appetizer offering shrimp, teriyaki beef and crab and artichoke dip. Heat lamps are spaced accordingly in case of a nip in the air flanked by colorful flowerbeds. Stanley’s deck can house around 36 people, happy hour and late nights reaching maximum.  115 E. 34th, Tacoma, 253.473.7300.

TOSCANOS CAFÉ AND WINE BAR

Chef Tom Pantley’s Italian-influenced menu serves big-city food surrounded by farmland with a huge patio in the front. Full wine list with more than 70 bottles and 12 selections by the glass, plus full bar offering hand-shaken, classic cocktails.   437 29th N.E., Puyallup at the edge of Sumner, 253.864.8600.

TUGBOAT ANNIE’S

It’s as casual as they come — a nice treat for prime waterfront views.  An alternative to the nautical and beer paraphernalia explosion inside, the deck sits off the front door, plastic shielding the breeze.  Leave without a burger and see if we help you again.  2100 West Bay Dr., Olympia, 360.943.1850. 

UNICORN TAVERN

Three, maybe four, plastic tables rest on the small patio with a rock-formation waterfall in the corner, no heat lamps, and Plexiglas topping the fence. But you know no one really gives a damn if the Unicorn’s patio lacks “swagger.” The swagger of the joint is located all in its rock ‘n’ roll attitude, and its view.  With Ruston residential housing butting all four sides of the Unicorn, the Unicorn cranks the Sabbath so the patio folks can feel the riffs off the glass door.  The view?  A perfectly painted picture of Commencement Bay and Vashon Island. 5302 N. 49th St., Ruston, 253.752.5939.

WOODY’S ON THE WATER

Nautical meets hip with a view of the Museum of Glass and marinas and the game in the middle, open bar. The sampler platter arrives with Woody’s three tastiest appetizers — hot smoked salmon with dill crème fraiche and capers; ultra crispy coconut prawns topped with a wasabi orange glace; and crab cakes with a kick to them. The King Salmon with a terragon red bell pepper coulis and white balsamic reduction on garlic chive potatoes tastes even better than it sounds. The rib eye arrived just as ordered — medium rare with a blue cheese sauce to die for. 1715 Dock St. E., Tacoma, 253.272.1433.