This was my first experience at a McMenamins property and we found it to be lots of fun! The Tacoma property is at the old Elks We explored all seven floors, five of which featured different bar/restaurants! All under one roof. We are in the main dining room, and then went down to the Old Hangout for after dinner drinks. We loved the artwork on every floor the unique chandeliers, and the eclectic atmosphere!
David
It started out really great. Waitress was super friendly. Then I think there was a shift change cause after we got our appetizers and drink from the first waitress, we waited around 40 minutes for someone to come back and take our food order. Plus the first waitress said cause it was my birthday she was gonna bring a little something out for me and that never happens since I guess her shift had changed.
Elliot
I use to love this place, but no longer. Last Dec. we waited 2.5 hours for 2 garden burgers and fries, that arrived soggy and cold. I chalked it down to being an extra busy night and gave them the benefit of the doubt, and decided to try again when they were less busy.... boy was I wrong. Went there again, this Sunday afternoon. Place was not busy, maybe 3 other tables. While the wait wasn't as long it was a good 40 min, which I could have understood, if the food didn't, yet again, arrive cold and salted fries after ordering no salt. Then after asking for a to-go box and a dessert to go, our waitress, Zoe, goes on break. Granted that is fine, she should go on a break if needed, but that doesn't mean your customers are on a break too, especially when you know they're ready to leave having asked for a box. That is on management, they should have taken over, got the dessert and cashed us out.... NOPE! We waited for 15 minutes until we finally went to the counter and asked the manager who rudely snapped "I had to send her on a break, what to you expect? We'll get to you, go back to your table." I expect you to still serve your customers and not talk to me like I'm your child you are berating in the grocerystore... not unreasonable IMO. So I go grab my stuff from my table and return to pay because I don't want to spend another minute in this place. The waitress is finally off her break so I flag her down to pay, and tell her to cancel the dessert, to which she replies "that's good because I was coming to tell you we're out of that, I just found out." So I order it, and you went on break before putting it in? Very poor service. A shame too because I have been enjoying McMinnamins restaurants since the 1980s. Looks like they are no longer enjoyable, at least not this one. Save yourself time, money and hassle, there's better places in Tacoma, ones that actually care whether or not you have a good time.
Lorraine
Burgers, fish and chips and Ruben were all very good! Server was nice but service was slow.
C
Our server was very nice. She timed the order so we had plenty of time to enjoy an appetizer before dinner arrived. There were some minor issues with food and drink and I opted not to make a fuss. I hoped for a better dining experience but I made a decision to keep it light and not to say anything. The issues were about quality control behind the bar and in the kitchen. Cheeseburger with no cheese. Beer not cold. First world problems. The turnoff of the night was as we were heading to a show in the ballroom. The ushers were obnoxious. Yelling at the customers, like cattle. No respect. I wish I was their boss. I would have fired them on the spot. Two staff, and one in particular, did not like how customers were lined up down the stairs and the path patrons were taking to access the ballroom. Bear in mind -that's a facility set up issue, not your customers. Don't verbally yell at your paying customers, “Up against the wall, up against the wall. No!! NO!! Get UP against the OTHER wall! All of YOU need to be up against the other WALL! I wanted to invite that disrespectful loudmouth to walk down the stairs and talk to us like human beings. It was a training issue. On the upside, the music was great.
Janet
The jambalaya bowl was very good, but the hamburger was overcooked (supposed to be med rare), and the aztec salad was missing the avocado and the corn salsa. It also took close to 40 minutes to get our order, ands the restaurant was not that busy! They did adjust the bill to make up for the salad snafu, but we likely will not return.
TroyKa
It took 30 minutes to get our drinks (not really fault of pregnant server) soda was out in basement. Appetizer showed up at same time as burgers.
Erin Dilsaver
Food and drinks: It's not worth the money!
Noteworthy details: The crab mac and cheese was gross. It was like eating out of a box of Veleta mac and cheese. It was luke warm. The crab was ice cold. The bar tender was horrible, and he made bad drinks. We stuck with beer after the first round. They started playing very loud music on another floor during the seahawks game. Wtf! Possibly bad management! Lucky for them they have the name mcmenamins on the building.
Service: 2
Mark Felter
A fantastic McMenamins. The staff is friendly and very helpful. I would recommend spending some time here exploring this facility. Make sure you see the ballroom and then seek out the vault.
Service: 5
Eileen Daugherty
I’m Rating the Hotel rooms Only because we love everything else about the McMenamins.
My first impression was that there was 1 mirror tucked in the corner and no plug in near it to be able to get yourself ready. ( plus the lighting is terrible). There are two plug-ins in the whole entire room and none of them are convenient to use( especially if you are a Girl). There is NO counter space in the bathroom and only 1 plug so no one can get ready at the same time..
If it wasn’t my Anniversary weekend and hadn’t booked 2 nights I would have left just based on the inconvenience of my husband and I not being able to get ready at the same time!!
Again, this Rating is for the rooms ONLY, the rest is beautiful.. We will not stay here again but will continue to enjoy the restaurants ?
The lobby is decked out with fabulous pumpkins and fall flowers. What a joy to stay here.
Food and drinks: Spend some hours enjoying small bites and signature drinks at all the bars.
Service: 5
Sandy Huff
While the decor is amazing the food left allot to be desired. It was over priced for quantity and quality. The serve was less than desired. Had to ask for utensils. And upon paying server left card machine on table,which we returned upon leaving. The experience was disappointing, thank goodness the company wasnt
Service: 1
Nate Nielsen
This place has been pretty much five stars since it's opened. Tonight's experience didn't disappoint either. Great staff. Great atmosphere and even better drinks in the basement.
Service: 5
Christopher Tombe
The room wasn't ready at check-in. which understandably happens. Was given a $20 gift card to get a couple of drinks while waiting for the room. Both front desk employees were friendly. Won a voucher from Kenedy School Drag Bingo, which was supposed to include the overnight stay along with dinner for 2, 2 ales in room, and breakfast next morning. Was told none of that was included, and employees knew nothing about it. Contacted Poison Waters, and she confirmed McMenamins representatives did tell her those were included when she was given the certificates to hand out to winners. Service in restaurants and bars were slow in late afternnon. Food and drinks are way overpriced. No on-site parking. Pay for street parking or lot parking. No coffee in the room. You have to go down one floor and all the way across that floor just to get it. Not really worth the $250 per night.
Service: 2
Katrina Black
Haven't stayed there yet but I'm obsessed with all the bars - this is a must do in Tacoma!
This was my first experience at a McMenamins property and we found it to be lots of fun! The Tacoma property is at the old Elks We explored all seven floors, five of which featured different bar/restaurants! All under one roof. We are in the main dining room, and then went down to the Old Hangout for after dinner drinks. We loved the artwork on every floor the unique chandeliers, and the eclectic atmosphere!
It started out really great. Waitress was super friendly. Then I think there was a shift change cause after we got our appetizers and drink from the first waitress, we waited around 40 minutes for someone to come back and take our food order. Plus the first waitress said cause it was my birthday she was gonna bring a little something out for me and that never happens since I guess her shift had changed.
I use to love this place, but no longer. Last Dec. we waited 2.5 hours for 2 garden burgers and fries, that arrived soggy and cold. I chalked it down to being an extra busy night and gave them the benefit of the doubt, and decided to try again when they were less busy.... boy was I wrong. Went there again, this Sunday afternoon. Place was not busy, maybe 3 other tables. While the wait wasn't as long it was a good 40 min, which I could have understood, if the food didn't, yet again, arrive cold and salted fries after ordering no salt. Then after asking for a to-go box and a dessert to go, our waitress, Zoe, goes on break. Granted that is fine, she should go on a break if needed, but that doesn't mean your customers are on a break too, especially when you know they're ready to leave having asked for a box. That is on management, they should have taken over, got the dessert and cashed us out.... NOPE! We waited for 15 minutes until we finally went to the counter and asked the manager who rudely snapped "I had to send her on a break, what to you expect? We'll get to you, go back to your table." I expect you to still serve your customers and not talk to me like I'm your child you are berating in the grocerystore... not unreasonable IMO. So I go grab my stuff from my table and return to pay because I don't want to spend another minute in this place. The waitress is finally off her break so I flag her down to pay, and tell her to cancel the dessert, to which she replies "that's good because I was coming to tell you we're out of that, I just found out." So I order it, and you went on break before putting it in? Very poor service. A shame too because I have been enjoying McMinnamins restaurants since the 1980s. Looks like they are no longer enjoyable, at least not this one. Save yourself time, money and hassle, there's better places in Tacoma, ones that actually care whether or not you have a good time.
Burgers, fish and chips and Ruben were all very good! Server was nice but service was slow.
Our server was very nice. She timed the order so we had plenty of time to enjoy an appetizer before dinner arrived. There were some minor issues with food and drink and I opted not to make a fuss. I hoped for a better dining experience but I made a decision to keep it light and not to say anything. The issues were about quality control behind the bar and in the kitchen. Cheeseburger with no cheese. Beer not cold. First world problems. The turnoff of the night was as we were heading to a show in the ballroom. The ushers were obnoxious. Yelling at the customers, like cattle. No respect. I wish I was their boss. I would have fired them on the spot. Two staff, and one in particular, did not like how customers were lined up down the stairs and the path patrons were taking to access the ballroom. Bear in mind -that's a facility set up issue, not your customers. Don't verbally yell at your paying customers, “Up against the wall, up against the wall. No!! NO!! Get UP against the OTHER wall! All of YOU need to be up against the other WALL! I wanted to invite that disrespectful loudmouth to walk down the stairs and talk to us like human beings. It was a training issue. On the upside, the music was great.
The jambalaya bowl was very good, but the hamburger was overcooked (supposed to be med rare), and the aztec salad was missing the avocado and the corn salsa. It also took close to 40 minutes to get our order, ands the restaurant was not that busy! They did adjust the bill to make up for the salad snafu, but we likely will not return.
It took 30 minutes to get our drinks (not really fault of pregnant server) soda was out in basement. Appetizer showed up at same time as burgers.
Food and drinks: It's not worth the money!
Noteworthy details: The crab mac and cheese was gross. It was like eating out of a box of Veleta mac and cheese. It was luke warm. The crab was ice cold. The bar tender was horrible, and he made bad drinks. We stuck with beer after the first round. They started playing very loud music on another floor during the seahawks game. Wtf! Possibly bad management! Lucky for them they have the name mcmenamins on the building.
Service: 2
A fantastic McMenamins. The staff is friendly and very helpful. I would recommend spending some time here exploring this facility. Make sure you see the ballroom and then seek out the vault.
Service: 5
I’m Rating the Hotel rooms Only because we love everything else about the McMenamins.
My first impression was that there was 1 mirror tucked in the corner and no plug in near it to be able to get yourself ready. ( plus the lighting is terrible).
There are two plug-ins in the whole entire room and none of them are convenient to use( especially if you are a Girl).
There is NO counter space in the bathroom and only 1 plug so no one can get ready at the same time..
If it wasn’t my Anniversary weekend and hadn’t booked 2 nights I would have left just based on the inconvenience of my husband and I not being able to get ready at the same time!!
Again, this Rating is for the rooms ONLY, the rest is beautiful.. We will not stay here again but will continue to enjoy the restaurants ?
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The lobby is decked out with fabulous pumpkins and fall flowers. What a joy to stay here.
Food and drinks: Spend some hours enjoying small bites and signature drinks at all the bars.
Service: 5
While the decor is amazing the food left allot to be desired. It was over priced for quantity and quality. The serve was less than desired. Had to ask for utensils. And upon paying server left card machine on table,which we returned upon leaving. The experience was disappointing, thank goodness the company wasnt
Service: 1
This place has been pretty much five stars since it's opened. Tonight's experience didn't disappoint either. Great staff. Great atmosphere and even better drinks in the basement.
Service: 5
The room wasn't ready at check-in. which understandably happens. Was given a $20 gift card to get a couple of drinks while waiting for the room. Both front desk employees were friendly. Won a voucher from Kenedy School Drag Bingo, which was supposed to include the overnight stay along with dinner for 2, 2 ales in room, and breakfast next morning. Was told none of that was included, and employees knew nothing about it. Contacted Poison Waters, and she confirmed McMenamins representatives did tell her those were included when she was given the certificates to hand out to winners. Service in restaurants and bars were slow in late afternnon. Food and drinks are way overpriced. No on-site parking. Pay for street parking or lot parking. No coffee in the room. You have to go down one floor and all the way across that floor just to get it. Not really worth the $250 per night.
Service: 2
Haven't stayed there yet but I'm obsessed with all the bars - this is a must do in Tacoma!
Service: 5
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