Two things you notice right away about the Brown's Point Diner in northeast Tacoma: First, it's a little slice of Americana with no-fuss food and friendly staff; second, for all of its old fashion sensibilities, it's in a strip mall.

Jason: I think its funny when a diner is in a strip mall.  It almost seems out of place.  And yet, if you think about it, the shops and diners along an old-fashioned main street are like a strip mall.

Jake: I love walking into a traditional American diner with the booths on one side and an eating counter on the other.  You just know that you're going to get a well informed and slightly sassy waitress.  This is exactly what you can expect at the Browns Point Diner.

Jason: We were seated by a guy who was practically yelling from the other end of the room - he was friendly and obviously excited to have us there.

Jake: If you show up at breakfast time, you are sure to enter a packed house, as the Browns Point Diner has built its reputation on the hearty breakfast diner classics that it serves daily.  One hidden gem not to miss is the chicken fried steak, which comes with two eggs any style, hash browns, and toast or a biscuit.  Make sure to smother it in the country gravy.

Jason: We had to sit in the bar because the dining room was full for breakfast.  I thought that would take away from the experience, but I was wrong - the best view is from the bar.  Plus, we ordered a pretty decent Bloody Mary, so we were close to that action.  As for breakfast, I went with the Mom's Mess, a flavorable combination of sausage, mushrooms, onions, bacon, peppers mixed with hashbrowns and cheese - great portion size and not too greasy.  I'd also recommend the cinnamon roll - certainly on the sweet side, but that can be tempered by removing some of the cream cheese frosting.

Jake: The menu isn't limited to just the breakfast items - they also offer burgers and sandwiches as you might expect, but don't look past their salad selection.  Specifically, the Crispy Asian Chicken Salad, which features fresh romaine lettuce topped with chicken, cashews, sweet mandarin oranges, and crispy chow mein noodles drenched in a tangy ginger dressing.

Jason: The lunch and dinner menus are fairly basic, but you'll find a classic diner burger, deli sandwiches, your favorite hot sandwiches like French dip, Monte Cristo, burger dip, and Reuben, a lot of signature salad choices, plus full-course meals like chicken, salmon and more.  Then, every Wednesday, they also do a full German dinner.

Jake:  And lastly, the Browns Point Diner has a fully stocked bar in the back that also overlooks Commencement Bay.  If you're looking for a new place to grab a drink and relax with a great view, then stop by.

Jason: They have patio seating in the summer with front-row seats to the sunset.

BROWNS POINT DINER, 6622 East Side Dr. NE, Tacoma, 253.952.3743, www.brownspointdiner.com