ANNOUNCER: Beginning tonight, the Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe celebrated its one-year anniversary of being the one bright spot in the McKinley district. Will it, in time, usher in more business to the area and revitalize East Tacoma? Only time will tell, but for right now, the boys appreciate a place on the hill above the Tacoma Dome where they can enjoy a cold beer and food that’s a cut above your typical bar fare.

JASON: For the past year Natasha has given the Top of Tacoma a lot of ink in this fine rag — talking constantly about how it’s the happening place and how fortunate it is that East Tacoma now has a more upscale place to throw back beers. I admit I’ve lived vicariously through her columns. Even after all of Natasha’s praise, I still didn’t expect the set-up to be inspiring. McKinley has been a dilapidated neighborhood for as long as I can remember — but now that I’ve seen the place first hand, I believe the Top of Tacoma may change everyone’s impression of the East Side.

JAKE: The bar is long and narrow with lots of rail space pushing to the deep back of the room with high tables and stools to the opposite side with a cool wooden bench that provides a fifth seat at each table. While the dark atmosphere provides a little mystery, the place is certainly a bright spot on the East Side.

JASON: The Top maintains an extensive menu — a summertime menu they still provided as of last week plus a larger basic menu. The options range from 13 grilled Paninis to pastas, appetizers, soups and salads plus sandwiches.

JAKE: The beer list is decent, of course with Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap (why is that so popular?), plus plenty of hard alcohol and a few signature cocktails to keep everyone’s spirits up. On two TVs behind the bar it’s usually sports commentary and games rolling from 2 p.m. when they open to closing time.

JASON: I started with the nachos — foolishly thinking that on a rainy Friday I could actually eat at least half of the order on my own. The nachos arrive on a large baking sheet — it’s an appetizer for four. I liked the baking sheet because all of the chips get doused in cheese and toppings as opposed to several layers of naked chips buried in a pile. The pepper jack and cheddar cheese arrives with green onions, red onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream and guacamole — all liberally applied. They offer the option of adding pulled spicy barbecue chicken, but that didn’t sound right to me so I ordered the basic seasoned ground beef and felt more than satisfied.

JAKE: My first entry into the Top was the spaghetti with meat sauce. They simmer a great sauce — not too smoky and not too sweet — just the right balance of acidic tomato, beef and spice. The noodles are firm, which I prefer, and the portion – huge. Also arriving in a large heap of heaven, the creamy mac ‘n’ cheese is tops in this town.

JASON: Paninis seem to be a place the Top wants to make its mark offering such combinations as pesto, artichoke, tomato, mozzarella, red onions and black olives, or pastrami, Swiss and bistro sauce. Thirteen in all, I dived into the Black forest ham and Gouda — a creamy, meaty experience with firm bread and a mountain of ingredients. I took half home, and it tasted great heated in the microwave the next day.

JAKE: Of the two paninis I tasted, I loved the prosciutto, mozzarella basil and tomato — a light and fresh taste that fitted the environment well. 

JASON: It’s all good in McKinley.

Top of Tacoma

Where: 3529 McKinley Ave, Tacoma. 253.272.1502

Hours: Daily from 2 p.m. to  2 a.m.

Cuisine: An expanded bar menu by comparison with lots of paninis, pasta and salads.

Scene: Delightfully clean, upbeat with lots of seating space and a big long bar. The Tacoma music scene hangs here. Check out the concert posters from years past

Drinkies: Plenty of options with a few signature cocktails but mostly folks are there for a cold one and grub

Menu

Bowl of soup >> $4.50

Spinach salad >> $6

Mac & Cheese >> $8.50

Nachos with beef >> $10