A mammoth fireplace, lamps wrapped in barbed wire and antlers galore give Gig Harbor restaurant Tanglewood Grill the vibe of a hunting lodge, fisherman cabin and stuffed wildlife gallery rolled into one. The rustic raw beams and log-cabin wood walls help balance the Denny's-like feel of the floor plan.

An American meets Northwest menu heavy on the proteins (as could be expected given the décor), Tanglewood Grill features specialty burgers, soups made from scratch, prime rib, steaks, salmon, cod, prawns, grilled chicken and large meat-topped salads. Recommended by the server, a small dish of blended sour cream, chives and shredded cheddar cheese called "the works" complemented made-to-order potato chips.

The Coyote burger promised horseradish, roasted garlic, thyme, black pepper, smoked mozzarella and chives. While the overall flavor was good and the burger was cooked a nice medium-well (patty moist and subtly pink at the center), the aforementioned toppings were scarce. Lacking lettuce, tomato and onion, the burger patty alone couldn't combat the dryness of the bun. The server did bring lettuce and tomato slice when asked. I think the missing roasted garlic ended up in the clam chowder. Creamy, not too thick or thin, the chowder had plentiful, tender pieces of clam, chunks of white potato, celery, onion and herbs. 

[Tanglewood Grill, open daily for lunch at 11 a.m., dinner served at 4:30 p.m. and breakfast on Sunday at 8 a.m., 3222 56^th St. NW, Gig Harbor, 253.858.5555]