Ed. Note: Since food critics Jake and Jason de Paul grabbed their families and blew town for a week, the Weekly Volcano sent scribe Julie Jordan for a first bite at Capers Downtown. The boys will visit Capers in the next couple of months.



In “Swingers,” John Favreau judged hookups by area code. In Tacoma, we filter our goods by zip. 98409? Stay away, unless you’re forced to go to the mall. 98402? Totally money. That’s probably why Capers moved its second location to Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma.



The original Caper’s Take Home Eatery sits on North Proctor, where you can take a meal home or let them serve it up right there. I checked out the new digs on the corner of Pacific and Fourth.



Since the simple interior lacked charisma, I opted for an outdoor table next to Fireman’s Park. Of course I had to go back in once I realized that my wine glass had lipstick on it. Yum.



Capers gets a good weekday lunch crowd, but closes its doors on Saturday and Sunday. All orders are taken at the counter, and you’re given a number — a little tacky for a joint that charges nine bucks for a sandwich.



The menu is broken down into six categories: Capers favorites, salads, side salads, soup/chili, sandwiches and hot sandwiches. On my first visit I opted for the “favorite” zucchini quesadilla with sunset salad for $9.99. When it finally arrived, it was burnt black and crispy. The salad was old with brown edges, but probably would’ve been tasty if fresh. It had a light, fruity taste with a vinaigrette dressing and mandarin oranges.



My dining buddy, Sharkface, ordered the turkey, avocado and Swiss sandwich with macaroni salad for $8.99. The avocado was pretty much non-existent, just a scrawny layer on bottom, and it was smothered in mayo. Sharkface refused to finish it, which is weird.



On a positive note, the macaroni salad was delicious. We both finished it off with a glass of Barnard Griffin Riesling ($6) and an IPA ($3.50). Wine at Capers starts at $6 per glass, but the beer selection is scarce.



It was nice to see that their soft drinks are only $1.50, seeing as how I paid four bucks for a lemonade at the Ram last week. It’s robbery, I tell you.

Throughout our entire visit, no one came to check on us, although three people stood at the counter and chatted.



My second visit to Capers was at dinner time. My other half stayed home due to the first trip. The place was completely dead. The menu stayed the same, and this time I tried the pulled pork and coleslaw sandwich ($8.99). I’m a pulled pork junkie, and I couldn’t even finish it. Once again, the service disappointed. If they focused on details like clean glassware and customer service, it might improve the overall effect.



Sure, it may be nestled in T-Town’s coolest hood, but with places like Matador, Vin Groto and Paddy Coyne’s so close, I can’t see why anyone would choose Capers. It might be mellower, but when it comes to taste, it doesn’t even compare.

   

[Capers Downtown, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.2240]