When it comes to dessert, sometimes what you need is a slice of decadent tiramisu, filled with rich and complex flavors, the contrast of creamy mascarpone with the sharpness of espresso. Or perhaps crème brulee or cheesecake or even bread pudding. But sometimes what you need is something more down-home, something simpler and yet irresistibly sweet-tooth satisfying, something that seems so basic and yet can be done so incredibly right. You need a cookie. And when you need a cookie, there are so many better ways to go than a bag of store-bought cookies. Tacoma's restaurants and bakeries have got your cookie needs covered.
Met Market
Metropolitan Market has a whole lot of cookies to choose from, including coconut macaroons, macarons and cookies from local bakeries galore - but they only have one called The Cookie. You'll see The Cookies as soon as you enter the store. They beckon to you and you'd do well to answer. The Cookie is huge, as big as your hand and tall, too, unable to go flat for all the chocolate and nuts within. These cookies don't mess around and are most suited to anyone needing a serious chocolate fix. They're rich and decadent, crispy on the edges yet moist in the center, and overly stuffed with Belgian chocolate and walnuts. Even better, they're served warm. 2420 N. Proctor St.
The Cookie from Metropolitan Market in Proctor is possibly the best cookie in all of the South Sound. Photo credit: Kristin Kendle
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Rosewood Café
The Rosewood Café is a cozy neighborhood café with a pleasantly varied menu, highlighted by one of Tacoma's best cookies - the Cowboy Cookie. One of the best things about the Cowboy Cookie is that you can have it your way. You want just a straight-up cookie? Get that straight-up cookie. This giant cookie features chocolate chunks and nuts and is big enough to nearly fill up the plate it comes on. You won't go hungry, and yet if that is not enough, go for the cookie gold and get the Open-Faced Cookie Sandwich. That's code for a Cowboy Cookie served with ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauce. 3323 N. 26th St.
Corina Bakery
Corina Bakery does a lot of things right, mostly baked things. Enjoy a menu filled with cakes, pies, cheesecakes, scones, muffins, as well as savories like quiches and pot pies. Like any bakery worth its salt, Corina has several cookie offerings, including shortbread, rum balls and even a giant nine-inch cookie for those for whom no average cookie can satisfy. And yet, it's the Classic Chocolate Chip cookie that stands out. Corina's chocolate chip cookie is a nice balance of chewy and soft; it's filled with big chunks of chocolate. It's not overly sweet and tastes like the finest homemade cookie you'll ever taste. Another perk of Corina is that the bakery makes several gluten-free and vegan items, including a chocolate chip cookie. Sure, it's not quite as decadent as a cookie made with wheat, eggs and butter, but for a gluten-free and vegan cookie, it's pretty dang good. 602 S. Fawcett Ave.
BJ's Brewhouse
Sure, it's a chain restaurant, but sometimes chain restaurants do things right. BJ's knows how to make a cookie. Their Pizookie is an ooey gooey cookie in a small pizza-style deep dish pan served hot with ice cream scooped on top. Can you go wrong? No, you cannot. Pizookies even come in a few different flavors, including chocolate chunk, peanut butter, white chocolate macadamia nut, salted caramel and a few non-cookie varieties. 4502 S. Steele St. #1500
MSM Deli
MSM Deli is known for making sandwich magic (and for the long lines that ensue when you're good at making sandwich magic), but that's not all this deli is good at. They also make a mean cookie. If you're lucky enough to spot some Magic Cookies for sale on the counter, grab one (or a few ... you might need an instant replay). These cookies aim to be a little bit of everything, combining chocolate chips, oatmeal, raisin, coconut and nuts all into one cookie. 2220 6th Ave.
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