Harbor Lights

Love this place! The food is excellent! On Valentine day we had reservations elsewhere but decided we didn’t like their menu so we decided to go here. Got the steak & lobster so well cooked and so flavorful! Oh and the service is awesome! Can’t wait for my Birthday Dinner this month!

We were impressed with our appetizer and entrée but very disappointed with our server. Her name was Robbin and she made us truly feel like we were not wanted. When she took our drink order I requested their Sauvignon Blanc that was written in the menu as Fume. When I ordered she was insistent on correcting me to pronounce it as Fumé. If your going to make customers feel stupid about ordering a new wine they have never had before then perhaps the restaurant should practice adding the accent marks to the menu. Sorry that I’m not a sommelier. She was rushing us by asking us to give her our meal orders before even trying to up sell us an appetizer. We requested the clams as an appetizer. They were very good. My husband got the Salmon and I got the scallops. She took my plate because I was done but started taking my husbands plate before he was even finished. We eat out very often and I was shocked by how rude she was being by rushing us. I ordered the Crème brûlée and was disappointed. I didn’t eat any because the moment I went to crack it I realized there was no crack. The sugar was barely cooked on top and there was no contrasting layer of a hard caramel on top. We tipped her 20% in hopes that she will not discriminate against a young couple again. I can only hope that she felt ashamed for being so rude after she received a 20% tip for poor service. We will not be going back. It’s sad because we love all the other Anthony’s locations and have never been given so much grief before.

We loved the old Harbor Lights, we love the new Harbor Lights. The stunning views cannot be beat. We’ve enjoyed our last several visits and had excellent service! I recently ordered the prawns and chips and requested the fresh cut fries. Perfectly done and delicious!

Had the Sunday steak oscar special for $ 21.99 and it was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had and that includes steaks I’ve had for much more money at el gauchos. Excellent service as well.

Pleasantly surprised by the food and ambiance. I feel that with minimal effort they could become a great restaurant (again) in Tacoma. The only thing that I could suggest is that the wait staff receive a little more training on ‘fine dining’ etiquette. I.E. don’t reach in front of me to place a steak knife. I will admit that this is a minor thing, but I feel that Harbor Lights could be a great fine dining experience if they just tried a little more.
Food was great, drinks were great, view was great, and the staff were friendly.
It’s just minor things here and there that prevents me from giving 5 stars. Though I do feel that they deserve it.

Sad. Over-​priced. Poor quality. Shrimp Cocktail was previously frozen, which equated to mushy shrimp. Salad was wilted, turning pink and slimy. The entrée was OK. Service was OK. She forgot to place our order, causing a delay in getting dinner. Overall, will never come back.

Great seafood food and service; generous drinks; beautiful Commencement Bay views! A Tacoma Original!

This restaurant is the best all around place to eat. Good variety of food choices, well priced and a wait staff that is golden.

I never about this little gem, but then again I have only lived in the state for six years. I used to run Ruston Waterfront when I was training for my half years ago and always wondered about Harbor Lights. Its a quaint little seafood/​bar establishment that has a wonderful view of the water. We went in for a drink and happy hour and their oyster shooters are delish. Oysters were plump, cocktail sauce sweet and tart goes great with their Manhatten.

(October post) This is an up date with manager’s invitation. We went back a month later but six of us got were escorted to sit in front of entrance. I saw bunch of empty window tables and chairs. We made a reservation .
they all give them to seniors or something. Entrance table and chairs were too tight. My family side and my guest were barely moving. Why were they assigning guests like that. It was like 4 to 5pm!
(September post) Last Saturday, on this labor day weekend, at 1pm, I made a reservation for 4 including my infant baby. ‘Thank god she didn’t taste any one of them,
Basically my friend from California found a live fly in my wife’s salad but so I told a bus boy immediately about it then server comes «oh no you want another one?» as you would think they are supposed to apologize first but she said «oh no, you want another one???’ I was beyond disbelief and embarrassed in front of my wife and my friend from CA.
Is this place became a no sorry feeling or even care how serious is this when they see a nasty food for customers because they are a waterfront restaurant? Maybe because all the other would care because of the view? By the way we had all three entrees, 2 captains platters and my wife s some sandwich, they are like a baby dog food amount but guess what worst of all after we came home we went straight to to restroom because we all got sick!!! A live fly in food what do you expect? This place needs to be inspected!!!#

I ordered a crown and coke. I’m not sure if there was actually any coke added to the drink — but when I asked for more coke to add to the existing glass of crown, the bartender called me a sissy and asked if I had any business drinking crown if I didn’t like how it tasted. Uh… Excuse me? I’ve never had someone mess up a crown and coke before.
The food was nothing to be excited about, I got the crab and artichoke dip. Probably wouldn’t order it again.
Overall, service was poor, the food was subpar and the drinks were horrendous.

In one word: Disappointing. The cocktails were awful. We ordered a moscow mule (served in a glass tumbler, are you kidding me?) and the «seasonal» spiked lemonade that was featuring peaches, cause they’re in season in the PNW evidently? My mule was one of the worst I’ve had, and the spiked lemonade tasted neither of peach nor lemon.
The food. This is a seafood restaurant, right? I ordered the «special» of «breaded and fried scallops.» They were fried fish balls. Rubbery, and the batter separated from the fish with each bite. I’ve had better fish sticks out of the freezer section. My lovely date had a slightly marginally better than average salmon salad with more peach and other pieces of fruit. It was the star in a dull flavorless evening, which isn’t saying much.
Here’s the thing with these mixed reviews, people. Look at the reviewer. You see some 50 year old geezer giving this place 5 stars and pontificating about the senior specials, then take that 5 star review for what it’s worth, which isn’t much. If you’re looking for fresh delicious seafood, DO NOT COME HERE. The restaurants on Ruston Way have become lazy and let standards slip because of their location and because all you old people keep enabling shit like this to continue by blindly emptying your wallets for this substandard bullshit.
Want a view? Go to Stanley and Seaforts. Want to be on the water? Go to Boathouse 19. Avoid Ruston like the plague. There is some seriously incredible food happening in Tacoma, but it sure isn’t happening anywhere near Ruston.

We visited this Tacoma landmark twice in the past week, once for an anniversary celebration and once for a get together with old friends. In the past few years, the building has been remodeled and the menu modified away from the deep fryer and towards the broiler, featuring, as always, regionally sourced seafood.
Bar does a wonderful job on cocktails and does not skimp. I ordered some Knob Creek and received a tumbler full, neat, kept me warm and fuzzy throughout the meal. Faithful companion raved about her Singapore Sling and Lemon Drop. Beer selection is limited, wine selection is fine.
If you reserve before 6:00 PM, you can sign on for the Geezer Gala, which includes appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert, all for under $ 25. The portions are generous and the quality outstanding. Since my cardiologist starting following me on Instagram, I’ve been ordering either the Idaho trout or the silver salmon, but there are a number of scrumptious, artery-​clogging entrees available, as well. The appetizer features their chowder/​nectar, just to die for.
A few of the old faithful servers I so enjoyed have retired, but the service remains consistently outstanding. Price range is a notch below most of the other restaurants on the waterfront, many of which have gone upscale.
Enjoy the 180 degree view of container ships, regattas, harbor seals, and happy seagulls. Then walk off your meal on the esplanade that stretches from downtown to the new development at Point Ruston.

We most likely will never be back. I don’t even know where to begin. They forgot to add the special sauce that was supposed to come with our meal. So when I asked our waitress about it, she said that she will bring it right out. Minutes passed when finally she came out with frozen butter sauce. Can you really smear frozen butter on fish that is already cold?
We will go somewhere else next time for quality service and a better meal.

Just dropped in for a drink and app. Had a cucumber cooler, scallop app and calamari. They don’t skimp on alcohol here. Drink was amazing. Scallops were great. Our server Robin was friendly and even inquired on how my drink was made so I could make it at home.

This is a small yummy little hidden spot on the waterfront!
Be sure to order the Copper
river King salmon! Delish! @ $ 37.00

My parents are fans of this place. They like to come for happy hour, so I sometimes join them for a little Sunday Funday afternoon. Seems like a good time to go as it isn’t crowded. We sit in the bar, soak in the view, and shoot the breeze. When I sit by the window, a seagull will watch me closely from a nearby railing, hoping that he can somehow get some of that food through the glass.
*WARNING* stiff drinks. So that makes this the good kind of warning. Pro tip: bring a dad who isn’t a big drinker to be the driver so you & your mom can get silly and laugh about the littlest things. I just love the slow paced, nostalgic vibe here. I like the blue-​hair crowd.
The staff are quality. Good people. The calamari is the best. The oyster shooters are tasty and well-​priced on happy hour. We usually get those, clams, and the burger isn’t anything super special but it’s tasty and you can’t beat the price.

I had a cup of chowder and salmon with hash browns for lunch.
Their chowder is very good. I can’t say the same for the rest of the meal. I could have made a far better meal at home.
Seafood restaurants should never over cook salmon and the hash browns were a greasy gob.
I know, I should have complained on the spot but that’s just not my way. Instead, they have lost a costumer.

This used to be my favorite restaurant before the menu was changed and the inside was updated (it’s not that I’m old and opposed to change, I’m only in my 20s). The new look is so impersonal and sterile. Like a buffet. For the price of the food it feels like I’m at a cafeteria. If you were going to change it give it some character. It looks cheap.
As for the food It still taste okay and the service was good, but they no longer offer fried scallops and stopped including a choice of soup or salad at the beginning of the meal as well as a baked potato with the choice of rice pilaf or fries, but now the baked potato is extra. Why?! These options are what made this place great and paying the dinner price worth while (and the price went up without these options!!). Also under the classics section of menu the captains platter option is said to be a favorite kept on the menu, but it seemed more sparse compared to what the traditional platter used to be. The only good part of the change is that they didn’t change the cocktails and still make a great martini… Other that that I am So disappointed.
After one visit we all agreed this place wasn’t the same and we didn’t see a reason come back. It’s an end of an era. So sad, I have been going here for every special occasion since I was a little girl and now it’s gone not worth it at all.
Now it’s just some expensive seafood place on the water.

We had a perfect evening here, the food was banner. There was not an empty seat and yet the service was second to none in every instance. The view was excellent.
We had scallops for an appetizer that came with bacon jam to die for! Turns out the chef made it fresh for each order, I ordered extra to go with the Wild King Salmon. Not only did Arne our, our waiter, secure our special order for the jam but gave us the recipe as well.
It was a very special occasion made perfect by a first cabin dinning experience.
Thanks Arne, thank the rest of the staff for me.