Tacoma Cabana refers to its style as vacation fusion, and though located in downtown Tacoma right on Pacific Avenue, it makes you feel as if you truly are on vacation.  From the menu, the dark interior and bamboo everything, to the vacation-styled drink menu, it is an in-town escape from reality.  Bartender Jason Alexander's participation in last week's Tacoma Cocktail Mixoff should be enough evidence for you to try one of his concoctions.

The vacation fusion menu is truly driven by its selection of appetizers designed to be shared.  The pineapple BBQ pork sliders are unique to any other slider you may find in town, and add the meatball skewer, the Tiki platter filled with tropical fruit, macadamia nuts and dipping chocolate, or my favorite  - the bacon wrapped pineapple, I couldn't find a bad appetizer on the entire menu.  

Combine your appetizer, one of the classic vacation drinks, and add ten friends, and you will be in the vacation mindset that Tacoma Cabana advertises.  Help yourself to one of the grogs available, a Mai Tai, or even a Chi Chi if you find yourself so inclined.  I went full tourist and tried the Polynesian Paralysis, which is a combination of pineapple and orange juice mixed with bourbon.  Be warned, when the menu states "served very tall", it doesn't mean the standard tall bar class, Tacoma Cabana means a foot tall bamboo cup.  But, remember people, we are on island time!

The dinner menu, though much more limited than the appetizer and drink menus, still has some great options. Jerk marinated chicken or curry and coconut flavors drive the dinner menu, but the Kona Coffee rubbed steak caught my eye, and at only $18, is the most expensive item on the menu.  All the flavors on the plate, from the rice, to the grilled vegetables, work perfectly with the bold coffee and earthy tones of the steak.  I've eaten a lot of steak in my day, but few that matched so well with everything else on the menu.

When you are in need of a "staycation" right here in town, grab your friends and drive downtown.  I have no doubt that you will all be caught up in the vacation mindset that the Tacoma Cabana strives to deliver.  Order some appetizers, have a few drinks, maybe even a meal or dessert, but you will definitely enjoy yourself, and at least for the time being, forget that you're still in Tacoma.

Tacoma Cabana, 728 Pacific Ave., 253.222.4184