We arrived about five-thirty the night before to find the deck full at the Lobster Shop, so we dined in the bar. Even with Happy Hour pricing our tab and tip was well over a hundred dollars. We weren't complaining, however. We had a nice time.
On Thursday as temperatures rose into the 90s, we opted to visit the Lobster Shop again . . . but just a little earlier. We arrived right before four and were seated on the deck by our favorite server, Diane, now apparently a hostess. She remarked, that even on the deck I would be able to get as many cherries as I wanted with my Shirley Temple. Ah, she knows me well.
The deck has large umbrellas that almost overlap, so shade was not a problem, especially in the late afternoon. By the time we left, the deck was probably 3/4 full and it was just sliding into dinner time.
Even though, it was a hot day, sitting on the deck was relaxing and the heat wasn't even decernable. We were able to sit without caps and sunglasses to enjoy the view and each other.
Our pleasant server, Veronica, got the idea easily about my Shirley Temples and numerous cherries. Peg was sipping on a glass of white wine, when another patron waved for her attention to ask what I was drinking. Peg said, "A Shirley Temple. They're not on the menu." I turn to look at the other patron and added, "Basically, I'm eight years old." She understood.
Peg had the Heirloom Tomato Salad, and skewered prawns. I had two Signature Salads and nicely chewy bread with real butter. For dessert we had the same as the night before. We ordered the Chantilly Berry Cheesecake with a walnut crust, as well as the day's sorbet. It had been mixed berry the night before. Tonight it was lemon. Both were perfect.
We were entertained with parachute sailors, fireboat squirting, and loud-talking gulls. It was an incredible early evening by the water in Tacoma.
One seagull was dining on a rack of raw salmon. He let everyone know it was his . . . and how good it was. He soon took off and left it floating, however. One of the Lobster Shop diners crossed the deck and went down the ramp to the little dock where his boat was tied off. We could hear him start it up and the gull decided he could find food elsewhere. The boater motored out about a hundred yards and then opened it up and headed toward Brown's Point. Some of the noise filtered back to us, but I thought, "How polite. How northwest."
I could have stayed there on the Lobster Shop deck for hours if they had a large screen TV out there, cable, and my bed. We shall return. Both our salads and everything else we ate was fantastic . . . as was the service. The tab on this evening was just over $65. The Lobster Shop remains one of our favorite restaurants in Tacoma . . . even without dinner.
