They say that beer is the breakfast of champions. If that’s the case, then give me a gold medal and slap my picture on a box of Wheaties, because I rocked both breakfast AND beer at The Chieftain on South Tacoma Way. A reader board that I’m sure hasn’t been updated since FDR was in presidency reads: STEAK & EGGS, BREAKFAST ALL DAY, BAR OPEN.
 
The Steffen family has owned The Chieftain for the past 38 years. Scott Steffen, the young buck of a son that he is, helped out and fed me answers to all the nosey questions I could muster up. He was adorable and treated me very well. And by “treated me well” I mean “gave me a beer” alongside my five-dollar “Chief’s Special” breakfast.
 
78-year-old Mrs. Steffen made the plate of pancakes, eggs and grilled ham that nestled itself beside my Budweiser in a can. It wasn’t until this moment that I realized just how well cheap domestic beer complimented breakfast syrup. Next time I’m all over the S.O.S. served on toast. I hear sausage gravy really brings out the hops in an American craft beer.
 
The décor inside The Chieftains “Totem Room,” located behind a hidden doorway in the back screams “Dive Bar!” in the most retro way I’ve ever heard. Imagine Burt Lancaster screaming those words in 1974’s The Midnight Man, and there’s your mental image. Wood paneling, iron gates, orange carpeting, and large leather booths pulled together this perverted, yet thrilling, swinger image I seemed to be developing in my brain. I expected to see a large fishbowl for people’s key’s at the front door. You know the one I’m talking about. The bowl that you randomly pick a set of keys out of, thus determining who you’ll go home with that night? Swingers party? What? Never been to one?
 
Yeah, me neither.

The Chieftain

3015 South Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 253.475.1313
 
Beer: No drafts, but tons of bottled and canned Budweiser.
Food: Breakfast all day!
 
Bar Exam Dive Grade: A+