I feel so transgressive placing an exclamation point smack dab in the middle of a sentence. But here goes. If you’re looking to slake your wine thirst in public, Cork! is a very good place to do so. There. I did it. Still, I feel a little unsure about the punctuation. What is its point? Does Cork! warn about the possibility of errant, airborne champagne stoppers? Is it a command? A new expletive? Whatever the case, reports are coming in that Cork! is a lovely place to spend the evening, sipping wine by the bottle, glass or two-ounce taste and munching on small plates of food. And the friendly staff leaves all pretense at the door. In the sometimes snooty wine world, that is definitely something to shout about.

–James

The Hotel Murano, with its first class lobby and astonishingly beautiful rooms, has one area that, in my opinion, doesn’t get enough attention. I’m talking about our restaurant, Bite. The service is always prompt and attentive and the food is great. Drop by Bite for no other reason than to get its fresh-squeezed tangerine juice. The only one of its kind in the Northwest, as far as I know. But I get the feeling it won’t be the last.

Check out the circular booths…

…and the bar:

–James

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my recent “addiction” – to the Sea Bass at Fujiya, just steps from our front door. One of our esteemed guests returned with a picture of this lovely dish. Fujiya has such a warm and friendly staff, and the food is fresh, delicious and unpretentious. Try it once – and you’ll feel what it’s like to be “in the know.”

–Dale

When you hear the term “Pan-Asian,” all too often it refers to cuisine that is nominally Asian, but which panders to American tastes. (Kind of like old school Chinese food, much of which you’ll be hard-pressed to actually find in China.) Thankfully, there’s Indochine, at 1924 Pacific Avenue. After a couple of years serving up specialties from Thailand, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam, Indochine continues to knock our socks off by staying true to the roots that are their namesake. When out-of-towners ask me for dining suggestions, Indochine is always in my rotation of recommendations. And when guests return to the hotel with beaming smiles and tell-tale cardboard takeout boxes laden with leftovers, I know that, once again, I’ve hit my mark.

–James

If you’re the type of person who tends to beat the contestants to the buzzer on “Wheel of Fortune” or who, while watching “Jeopardy!”, says, “Pshhh, I could do that,” well here’s your chance. Three pubs around town offer Trivia Night on Wednesdays, with a chance to win cash and prizes. No word, though, on whether they offer a home version of their games.

Ale House Pub @ University Place. Trivia Night with a “Wheel of Goodness” + cash prizes 7 pm.

Doyle’s Public House Tacoma. Knowledge Night Team Trivia 7 pm.

Engine House No. 9 Tacoma. Win “Doggie Dollars,” starting at 7 pm.

–James

Don’t get me wrong, this place lowers the, er, bar when it comes to dive bars. Sticky carpeting, lawn furniture in the dining room and all. But you have to give them props for coming up with the best happy hour name in the city: Lush Rush. During said Rush, all wells are two bucks. I guess people ain’t going there for the fancy wallpaper.  Check out this article on Weekly Volcano to find out more.

–James

Coffeehouses, brewpubs and other watering holes will soon be making room in their liquid ecosystem for another drinkery. Exit 133 recently broke the news that an application for a liquor license has been submitted for Cork! A Wine Bar at 3012 6th Ave. Bottoms up!

–James

Wi-Fi is as essential to a cafe’s survival as cream and sugar. Numerous local cafes and eateries around town help you stay connected to the Internet via a free wireless Internet connection. Here’s a great map, courtesy of the News Tribune that can help you find one nearest you. If your favorite spot is not on the map, an easy mechanism allows you to add it. Judging by the number of laptops flipped open on those café tables, I’d say that the blogosphere (including this site’s contribution to it) wouldn’t be nearly the phenomenon it is without these caffeine-fueled literary havens.

– James

More and more of our guests are asking us to direct them to eateries and grocers who can accommodate various food allergies and diet needs. Gluten intolerance seems to be the leading dietary need, and Tacoma is admirably stepping up to the plate to help. (I don’t know which is worse: having a food allergy or dreading eating out because of the strange looks you get from onlookers while asking wait staff to guide you through the menu choices.) Tacoma Mama has a special page set up for wheat-free dining choices. Her latest addition points visitors to The Red Hot, where there’s always a wheat-free brew on tap and where they serve Vienna Beef hot dogs, which contain no wheat, dairy and other potentially harmful ingredients. Chow down!

–James

Sure, Doyle’s and Paddy Coyne’s are great places to tip a pint. They exemplify all that we hope to find in an Irish pub, and you can bet your bottom shamrock that they’ll be crowded to the ceiling on St. Pat’s Day. Instead, why not zig where all others zag and head for “neutral” territory? I’m talking about the Swiss Pub, of course. With dozens of beers on tap and by the bottle, they can well keep you occupied any night of the year. And while I love trying out new places, I’d like to raise a pint to The Swiss, who have been at it for 15 years.

-James