Back at the beginning of April Bandito Betty and I attempted to get our drink on in the Harvester’s lounge. As with many things attempted in my life, another mission had failed. When we first visited, there was no bartender in sight for at least 15 minutes. We eventually gave up and left.

This week I returned to the Harvester, ready to give the ol’ lounge another shot. 

I was ready to belly-up, but the bar was completely full during my daytime trip, and only a couple of tables were unoccupied throughout the room. Wow, I was impressed, to say the least. A nice lady, whom I assume was the manager, looked a little surprised (as did all other bar patrons) to see me enter the room. They looked at me as though to say, “Hey now, you aren’t one of us regulars!”

I ordered a very yummy Bloody Mary that set my belly on fire with pepper and Tapatio, just the way I like it. After settling into a back table, the real bartender entered the room and declared two cabs waiting outside. She knew everyone by name, and knew exactly what two people would have called a cab. Again, I was impressed. She knew her shit.

I tried to blend in and simply people watch, but a nearby table caught onto me. A gentleman at said table gave me googly eyes and flirted with a smile. I glared at him and whispered a warning, “I’m watching you. Be good.” He immediately picked up his boring newspaper (obviously not a Weekly Volcano) and began reading. That’s right, be afraid, mister. Be very, very afraid.

With the amount of alcohol inside this fiery and flavorful Bloody Mary, it was easy to forget I had anything to do. Thankfully the pretty bartender read my mind and hooked my up with yet another reason to sit back and chill. The Harvester lounge is a great place to get going on your afternoon drunk, I guarantee.

Harvester Restaurant

29 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1193

Beer: a few domestics on tap

Food: It's the Harvester! (Like you don't now what the food's like. Yeah, right.)

Service: very friendly

Bar Exam Dive Grade: B-