Antique Sandwich Co — Restaurant in Tacoma

After we visited Pt. Defiance Zoo, we were craving lunch. We looked at a few nearby places. Antique Sandwich Co. stood out with its inviting ambiance and promising menu, so we tried it. I just read a quick bit of history. The Antique Sandwich was originally a grocery store built in 1916. The upstairs of the building was an Oddfellows Hall, where dances and wedding parties were held. Later, it became a little movie theater.

I was eager to capture more of the restaurant's lively atmosphere but couldn't bring myself to disturb the patrons. It's a testament to the restaurant's popularity. Honestly, I would have loved the opportunity to check out some of the items for sale, but most of the items were up against the walls, with tables full of people sitting in front.

The restaurant also offers a variety of in-house-made sweets, which I understand changes often. It all looked so tasty. They also offer a variety of drinks, including espresso drinks, and a small breakfast menu.

Onward to our lunches. I had the Tabouli salad, and hubby had the Rueben.

My Tabouli salad was a refreshing mix of finely chopped mint, parsley, onion, garlic, lemon, and wheat bulgar. It was then topped off with cucumber and tomatoes, adding a burst of freshness to each bite. The salad was so full of flavors, perfect and refreshing on such a beautiful and warm day.

My hubby's Rueben was also tasty, and we both agreed that the bread was perfect—soft and not toasted. The combination of Cornbeef, Saurkraut, and Swiss cheese layered on dark rye bread was a delightful treat for the taste buds. Everything looked clean, especially since it was located in an antique shop. There were no foul odors, and the table was clean and not sticky.

So, with good comes the term "it could be better." The restrooms are located on the top floor, and as far as I am aware, the only way to get there is by a flight of stairs. This could pose a challenge for anyone with a disability or a stroller; it's a factor the restaurant should consider for better inclusivity. That said, the Antique Sandwich Co. is located in a very old building, which means any improvement will, I'm sure, cost a great deal and detract from its original history. It's unfortunate that many people are left out of enjoying this lovely little restaurant.

The restroom upstairs could use quite a bit of improvement, and with only two tiny stalls, this alone could pose a challenge to anyone who isn't a child. Only one stall was working, and the other was out of order. Three people in the lady's room would be crowded. My husband confirmed it was no difference with the men's room.

Overall, even with the upstairs restrooms, I recommend this intriguing little place.

Antique Sandwich Co is at 5102 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407. As far as parking goes, there is a handful on the side of the building. Aside from that, it is street parking, as far as I could tell.

This is a perfect way to help support a local small business and take in a unique experience.

Please remember, "Be kind to ALL living...

Like a lot of other reviewers I'm mostly confused why this place has such high reviews. Maybe it used to be less expensive with better food and service. But we paid $75 for my wife and I to have a sandwich each, our sons each had a plain bagel with cream cheese and we ordered 2 cheesecakes, I also had one beer. The desserts came out first and while the server did notice that we hadn't got anything else it didn't seem like she did anything about it. The bagels came out next, the cream cheese was warm, but the bagels were cold. That server also noticed that the dessert was already there and we still hadn't gotten sandwiches even though we ordered about 30 min before. Finally the sandwiches came out after another 5 or so minutes and my Ruben was small for a $15 sandwich and the bread was soggy like it was sitting there for a while. My wife had a mushroom and cheese sandwich, which was mostly iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and some canned mushrooms with shredded cheese on top? Her bread was also soggy. My side of chips was a tiny bag and her side was a warm, not room temp, warm salad. I think everything that they serve there is just warmed up in a microwave from premade sandwich ingredients, which fair enough for a sandwich shop, but why is it $15 before tax and tip if that's the case. And in what world does it take more than half an hour for some lukewarm sandwiches to get slapped together, it wasn't exactly busy when we showed up. The staff that we interacted with were fine, which is kinda the only nice thing that I have to say about this place. Not necessarily good service, but nobody was rude or anything. The dining room was eclectic and busy in a way that seems to fit the business. Apparently their "Poor boy" sandwich is what they're most known for but it's a wheat bun with ham and salami,...

I was in town for my daughters wedding and prior to going to do the ceremony. We wanted something kind of light due to going to have dinner later and they heard good things about the place so wanted to check it out. There were four of us in total, my daughter, her husband and their best friend. They each got a half sandwich and I got a whole.

The restaurant was busy for the lunch rush, which at 1230 is to be expected. Not a problem whatsoever. They had a nice dessert case opposite of where you ordered that had a lot of great looking options of which i did not partake due to wedding cake in a while, but they did look great.

I enjoyed the eclectic and welcoming atmosphere of the place. Having family that is LGBTQ+, seeing how welcoming they are there was refreshing compared to the ultra conservative area i am from. The staff was so awesome and great and they made it worth it.

I generally judge sandwich places like this on their Reuben Sandwich if they have it as an option. it is the flavor of the corned been, the sauerkraut, cheese, dressing and bread. It was a decent tasting sandwich, was piled high with thin sliced corned beef, a generous amount of sauerkraut and cheese on marbled rye. I was a bit let down that the bread was not toasted at all and almost felt microwaved. to heat it up. The flavors of everything together was good do not get me wrong, but could have been better if toasted a bit. Everyone else's sandwiches did look great and were piled high with topping and condiments and they were all very happy.

All in all, next time I am in Tacoma, i will definitely eat here again and try one of the other options as well, and hopefully it is not over 90F and can try one of...