Lunch escapes with Alicia Lawver always lead into inevitable food coma.

As she works downtown, a quick and free trip on Tacoma's Link Light Rail will drop her off right in front of Freighthouse Square located in the Tacoma Dome District.

With more than a handful of dining establishments serving quick bites on real plates (not paper) and with real cutlery (not plastic), diners can't help but feel they're partaking in a meal a few steps above fast food.

Every food vendor in Freighthouse Square is local and independent, and the quality of the meals is a reflection of how invested they are in their business.

Rj's Burger joint serves buffalo meat while The Palace Mediterranean Cuisine is known for their chicken gyros.

After much deliberation I chose to grub on a lamb coconut curry dish from Little India Express with a side of homemade naan.  Alicia grabbed some fish ‘n' chips from Paya Thai (which kind of confused me), but then I understood her choice after I took a small bite of fried fish...yum!

Only in Grayland, WA at Bennett's, and hand made by Mr. DeRosa have I ever had such perfectly tasty fish ‘n'chips. 

My coconut curry dish was as comforting and pleasant as I had hoped, and I certainly have been craving it since.  Food comas be damned, I want more curry!

[Freighthouse Square - 2501 East D Street, Tacoma (253) 396-0738]