Tacoma Urbanist
Jan. 5, 2008 at 12:25am
Tacoma Woody's on the Water Excels
Although the inside looks similar, Woody's on the Water is a completely different restaurant. And a very good one. Why?
Calimari
Here's why:
Thomas Johnson who started at Woody's in December 2007 has turned the place completely around. Especially the food. From their web site:
Thomas joined Woody's on the Water in December, 2007. He has been in the restaurant business for over 25 years. A native to West Texas, Johnson has since made the Northwest home for his family. His local experience over the last decade began at the Georgian Room and The Waterfront in Seattle. Johnson continued south to Tacoma, where his passion about food and service premiered in Tacoma’s El Gaucho, Sea Grill and Masa where Thomas was known for his delivery of high level service and customer attention.I knew it was going to be a good restaurant when I saw the green selection in the salad.
Here's what we had. All appetizers.
Woody’s House Salad
Wild Greens, Diced Tomatoes, with Balsamic Blue Cheese Dressing
(Salad design and green selection usually telegraphs the entire meal. Such was the case here)
Seared Tenderloin Tip
Merlot Peppercorn Sauce, Toast Points
(Translation : chunks of high quality steak seasoned well, fancy bread with mashed spuds. Yum)
Calamari
Lightly Dusted, Oil Roasted, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
Tipsy Steamers
White Wine, Shallots, Sweet Onion, and Fresh Herbs
Another good sign is that they have changed is that they have a completely different web site.
Steamed clams.
Here's another picture of the night:
Gin Julep Martini
Woody's on the Water. Bring your high expectations and try them out. You are basically getting something approaching the Sea Grill food on the cheap.
1715 Dock Street E
Tacoma, WA 98402
253.272.1433
(Free parking in the garage on the left)
More info on the change via Ed's Diner.
comments [21] | posted under Tacoma, washington, woody's on the water
Comments
 by jcbetty on 1/5/2008 @ 2:15pm | Ooooh! I especially like the "on the cheap" part!!
Sounds super yum! |
 by Erik on 1/5/2008 @ 2:36pm | Ooooh! I especially like the "on the cheap" part!!
Sounds super yum! Yep. There's happy hour too. If I really wanted to get the maximum benefit for the dollar, I would have ordered the Seared Tenderloin Tip and gone there during the happy hour. We over ordered but I wanted to check out more of their menu. |
 by andrew.austin on 1/5/2008 @ 5:31pm | Good to know it has changed from the mediocere overpriced food when it opened as the warf a few months ago. |
by Erik on 1/6/2008 @ 11:34am | Good to know it has changed from the mediocere overpriced food when it opened as the warf a few months ago.
Go there and try a appetizer and let me know what you think. |
 by KevinFreitas on 1/6/2008 @ 11:37am | I'll give 'em another shot after a mediocre experience when we were there when it was Woody's Wharf last September. |
by Erik on 1/6/2008 @ 9:52pm | I'll give 'em another shot after a mediocre experience when we were there when it was Woody's Wharf last September.
Yours was typical of the time. You won't recognize the food. |
 by Gorman on 1/7/2008 @ 7:20am | I went there last night for their happy hour. The food is really good. Great Calamari!!
I would say it's comparable in quality to Sea Grill but a little cheaper. |
by Erik on 1/7/2008 @ 11:01am | I would say it's comparable in quality to Sea Grill but a little cheaper.
Yes. Normally, I would not try to make such a comparison. But here we have the same person running the place who monitors that "plating." |
by Erik on 3/24/2008 @ 6:45pm | Tacoma Mamma is reporting that Woodys on the Water and Dock Street Sandwich will be extending their hours with the opening of D-Street overpass: With the opening of the D-Street overpass and increased traffic to the Dock Street area, two of the neighborhood's restaurants will be extending their hours. I was over at Woody's on the Water today, when owner Coy Wood let me know that they'd be serving breakfast, beginning this Saturday. Their planned hours are Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 am to 1 pm. www.tacomamama.com/article.php?story=200... |
 by Jake on 3/24/2008 @ 6:59pm | Is the overpass fully operational now? |
by Erik on 3/24/2008 @ 7:25pm | Is the overpass fully operational now?
Tacomamamma appears to say so. Kevin went over it a month or so ago and took a video of it. |
by KevinFreitas on 3/25/2008 @ 7:46am | I don't believe so. They just started making the ramp that leads from the new D Street overpass to Dock Street. The city's project website says it won't be fully complete until between May 31 and June 2. |
 by jenyum on 3/25/2008 @ 12:10pm | So, is the overpass not open at all then? Did I mistakenly drive over something else and think it was that (entirely possible) or is it just partially open?
I just discovered I could take 15th st under the freeway, so this whole part of town confuses me. |
 by thriceallamerican on 3/25/2008 @ 12:22pm | The D Street overpass is open, but last I checked the turnoff to Dock Street was still blocked off. |
by Erik on 4/13/2008 @ 1:06am | Looks like people are slowly and surely finding out about Woody's on the Water. www.flickr.com/photos/tacoma-urbanist/24... |
 by intacoma on 4/13/2008 @ 12:47pm | going to have to check this out didn't realize it wasn't the wharf anymore |
by Erik on 4/13/2008 @ 2:47pm | Their food is pretty amazing. Thomas is from Sea Grill.
Had breakfast their this morning:  |
by Chef 007 on 4/14/2008 @ 2:49pm | Yes but Chris Bangert is the Chef and Thomass has nothing to do with the food. The chef is from a good background. |
by Angela on 4/14/2008 @ 3:34pm | No, the D street overpass does not yet provide Dock Street access. Tried to take it when being diverted all over downtown by the Daffodil Parade and ended up having to make a u-turn and ask permission through a couple police blockades to make it to Dock from A Street. |
by KevinFreitas on 4/14/2008 @ 3:44pm | Angela's right. You still cannot get from "D" Street down to Dock Street. Sometime in the next couple months that should change. |
 by morgan on 4/14/2008 @ 8:42pm | Erik- that breakfast photo is making me hungry and it's 9pm! Was it as good as your phone camera suggests? |
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