Hank's Bar and Pizza — Restaurant in Tacoma

As a recent transplant to Tacoma—originally hailing from Seattle—I must admit I never envisioned myself settling in this city. Over the years, I had only visited sporadically, and each time I noticed subtle changes. But now, having spent more consistent time here, I can confidently say that certain areas, particularly the one surrounding Hanks, have undergone a remarkable transformation. The neighborhood feels calm, inviting, and steadily cultivated, with a sense of community that’s both unexpected and refreshing.

In my search for a relaxed spot to enjoy a decent meal without the disruptions of a rowdy crowd or unwelcome energy, I stumbled upon Hanks through a quick online search. The photos looked promising, the menu seemed approachable, and it was close enough to feel like a neighborhood gem. Upon arrival, I was a bit surprised to find it tucked into a quiet residential pocket—directly across from a corner store. Slightly unconventional placement for a bar and grill, yet oddly comforting. The location exudes a laid-back charm.

Inside, the ambiance was mellow. Country music played softly in the background—not typically my genre of choice, but it contributed to the calm, unpretentious vibe. The bartender was attentive, quick to greet me and offer a menu, making it clear I could order whenever I was ready. I decided to keep things simple for my first visit and ordered the French dip—always a reliable benchmark for gauging a new place.

To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I wasn’t ravenous by any means, just moderately hungry, which makes what happened next even more impressive. This French dip may very well be the best I’ve ever had. The bread was thin, yet sturdy—perfectly complementing the finely sliced roast beef. It was served with a side of Tim’s Cascade Chips, which I appreciated over the standard fries. The au jus leaned a bit peppery for my taste, but still worked well enough to tie the dish together. Overall, it was exceptional—unexpectedly so.

As the evening progressed, the environment evolved. What initially felt like a gathering spot for country-western regulars subtly transitioned into a more diverse scene. By the time I left, Latin music was playing, and the clientele reflected a beautiful mix of cultures and backgrounds. It’s rare to find a spot that holds space for such a range of people while still maintaining a sense of warmth and familiarity.

If you’re looking for a place with a peaceful atmosphere, diverse crowd, and food that genuinely surprises you—in the best way—I highly recommend giving Hanks a try. It’s one of those places that reminds you why exploring local gems is...

It’s funny I loved this bar. My wife found GLASS in her mouth from her plastic cup. (Her mouth was cut) the bartender completely over served all night (I have 5+ witnesses and videos to prove) & there was a wreck. I am not one to EVER blame personal problems on a bartender but when you pour to the rim of the bucket glass you better know when to say “hey buddy you’re done” I called the next day to INFORM not threaten and I was extremely polite and only wanted them to know I would be suing (Their bartender NOT the bar) I made that very clear to the women I spoke with who was extremely sweet and I appreciated her empathy towards the situation ( I really tried to relay we did not blame the bar for our misfortune only the BARTENDER) however we went in last night and the bar manager though I will say professionally informed us they will not be doing business with us, which I can understand however he mentioned that I had made “threatening phone calls” I only had the one EXTREMELY calm phone call where I informed them I was going to take action against the bartender not the bar (I mentioned “not the bar” several times) and he was just a BIT condescending. I was only avoiding suing the bar as a whole because we love and respect this bar so much and it was infact a newer bartender we thought this was the better method BUT after the conversation and several conversations with many patrons who have been over served (with AND without Incident) & speaking with our lawyer this morning. We have decided to take action against the bar as a whole. This is an unfortunate decision I don’t take lightly and quite frankly There’s a bit of sadness in my heart that we will be losing this place as a spot we frequent. I know this review is almost an add for how heavy they pour and how they’re a great bar, just stay...

Somebody told me this place had good pizza, so I decided to go. I knew it was a Friday night, so I wasn't going to hold it against the place if it had mediocre service. Yes, the service was not great, but that is not why I decided to leave a bad review.

I ordered a philly cheese steak pizza. The pizza's are supposedly hand made and they are not cheap. Anyway, once I received my pizza I was noticing it looked quite light on toppings. The pizza ended up being not the most flavorful. It was fairly bland and I still cannot believe the dough is hand tosses as it was not very chewy and tasted like it could have been pre-frozen. What really annoyed me the most though that there was almost no beef on my pizza at all. It basically was a Vegetarian Philly pizza without the steak. I think there may have been a few chunks of beef. Basically, one slice of roast beef would have been more meat than what was on my 12 in pizza.

So, one of the bartenders came up to me and asked how the pizza was and I told her I was a bit disappointed. I told her there was no meat on the pizza and asked if there was a mistake on my order. She, then proceeds to look at the screen and then just walks away, basically like she doesn't care. I know that bars in Tacoma don't have great service in general and this one pretty much is on par with others. Basically, if I complained about the food I am not worthy of their establishment.

I won't be going back here for pizza. They do have a decent looking beer selection and think this bar may be good just as a place to go for drinks. Poor customer service, mediocre food at best and...