Woven Seafood & Chophouse — Restaurant in Tacoma

My partner and I revisited this beautiful establishment last night, and it’s clear that Woven never fails to leave a lasting impression. On our first visit, we arrived without a reservation but were warmly welcomed to sit at the bar, where we had full access to the menu. The bar staff was lovely, though understandably busy, making this second visit feel like an even greater treat.

What truly set this experience apart was Zach, whose passion for sharing the history and traditions behind Woven was evident. Though not a member of the Puyallup Tribe himself, he spoke with such reverence and authenticity that it felt as if he were sharing his own family’s story. While we’ve encountered rehearsed historical explanations at other places, Zach’s genuine enthusiasm and deep respect for the culture shone through. His warmth made us feel less like restaurant guests and more like we were sitting at his own tutu’s (grandmother’s) table.

If I were in charge of training new employees, I would want Zach setting the standard—his presence alone elevates the dining experience. He ensures that Woven’s message is not just heard but truly felt, making it impossible to overlook. He is truly one of a kind.

On our first visit, we began our culinary adventure with the oysters—unbelievably fresh and complemented beautifully by the accompanying sauces. Each bite was a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to quality.

Next, we sampled the Pho-Inspired Baby Back Ribs, and let me tell you—I have been forever changed. The meat was so tender, so flawlessly cooked, that it practically fell off the bone at just a glance. The combination of flavors and textures was nothing short of perfection—an absolute must-have every time we visit.

For my main course, I had the Misoyaki Glazed Black Cod, and it was nothing short of brilliant. The Wasabi Beurre Blanc was flawlessly balanced, while the wild rice was cooked to perfection, offering delightful little pops of texture with each bite. Paired with the freshness of the lomi tomato, the dish felt like a harmonious blend of cultures and flavors, coming together in a way that truly spoke to my soul.

This time, we asked Zach for his recommendation, and he did not lead us astray. I had the Short Ribs, served with Au Gratin potatoes and locally sourced vegetables—and it was nothing short of glorious. The presentation was stunning, the short ribs were rich and melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the beurre blanc and demi-glace brought everything together flawlessly. By the last bite, I was practically in tears of joy.

My partner built his own plate, selecting the bone-in pork chop with a side of shrimp, mushroom gravy, and grilled asparagus. Everything was cooked to perfection. The sauce, recommended by Zach, paired flawlessly with the pork chop, the shrimp were expertly prepared—avoiding the common pitfall of overcooking—and the asparagus carried a smoky depth that could only come from a well-maintained wood-fire grill.

We ended the night with another one of Zach’s recommendations: the Wojapi Berry Panna Cotta—a “perfect palate cleanser,” as he described. And it was exactly that. A truly exquisite ending to an unforgettable meal.

We will be visiting this incredible establishment weekly and look forward to allowing our new friend Zach to guide our palates, just as he did last night. He’s a beautiful reminder to let the professionals show us the way.

Mahalo to Zach and the entire Woven staff. It is abundantly clear that every team member—from the host to the dishwashers—cares tremendously about their craft. We are forever grateful to be...

I’ve been going back and forth on how to write this review, but I’ll start by saying we had a terrible experience for our Easter brunch. Earlier in April, we had a few places in mind for our meal, and the places we had in mind had availability. My wife called Woven on April 10th to make a reservation for a party of 6, and we were all set. However, less than a week before our reservation, we received a call informing us that they had changed their Easter brunch to a buffet for $85 per person. Not ideal, but we decided to hold on to the reservation and started calling other spots, only to find everything was already booked. When we reached back out to Woven, they offered us a reduced price of $45 per person for the inconvenience, so we decided to stick with it.

We’re a family from Hawaii, and we’re familiar with the menu from places like Roy’s, so I was excited to try Woven. Our reservation was for 10:45 am, and we arrived a little early. I have fond memories of C.I. Shenanigans, but Woven has given the space an impressive upgrade. The renovations were lovely, and we really appreciated the fresh new look.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by three friendly ladies at the front, and our hostess seated us at a window table with a beautiful view of the water. The layout of the restaurant is well thought out, with almost every seat offering a great view. While the restaurant wasn’t too crowded when we arrived, it did fill up quickly as we ate.

Before I share some of the concerns we had about our Easter brunch experience, I want to highlight the excellent service we received from our server, Kjersti S. She was attentive, friendly, and checked in with us regularly to make sure we were well taken care of.

When we first walked in, the food looked promising, but right away, I had my doubts about whether it was truly worth the $85 buffet price. My goal was to sample a little of everything and then go back to my favorites, but unfortunately, the experience fell short.

To start, the majority of the food was cold—except for the ham and lamb, which were kept warm under the heat lamp. The mushroom arancini seemed like it could have been a highlight, but it was served cold. Thankfully, they brought out a fresh batch later, and that was much better. The fried seafood pillows were another disappointment—they were soggy and cold. The potatoes, though tasty, were also cold, even though they were sitting in a warmer. The slow-cooked short ribs were bland, with an overpowering oil taste, and the baked salmon had no flavor at all. The Kalua pig sandwiches, served on Hawaiian sweet rolls, were especially tough to stomach—the Kalua pig had an odd texture that honestly felt like it had already been chewed on, which was a first for me. There were so many other issues with the other food, but I think you get the point. Some things I did like were the seasonal jam and the fresh fruit.

As we ate, we noticed at least two other parties left without getting much food, which further raised doubts about the quality and value of the meal. For $85, this was one of the most disappointing brunches I’ve had in a long time, and sadly, I can’t see us returning to Woven in the future. It only made matters worse to realize that others who had reservations before the buffet change were also paying the same steep price for the same underwhelming food.

My advice to Woven would be to reconsider offering a buffet again, unless this is how the food always tastes. As it stands, I can’t recommend this place to anyone, especially at that price point. What a disappointing...

We came to Woven on the third opening day. It was a wonderful first experience and they are doing great especially as a new restaurant. We made reservations for 6:30 on a Thursday and we were seated immediately upon arrival. Our initial impression of the inside was that it was aesthetically fresh and bright. There is a bar area to the right, a grill facing the entrance and the kitchen to the left with the dining area overlooking the patio and the waterfront. The seating of the dining area is thoughtfully tiered so everyone has an opportunity to see the waterfront. The kitchen was fully visible so you could watch the action. The music was spunky and not super loud at all, contrary to what another reviewer noted a couple days ago. It was quite noisy due to echo but it’s to be expected for a large open space. Our server Amber was very friendly, timely and professional! She immediately asked about allergies. All the other servers were also friendly and it wasn’t exclusively our waiter who made sure we were content. Our water was never empty and might I add it was chilled but not iced- something my husband and I thought was a solid touch as neither of us fancy ice in our water. We were served complimentary cold edamame which had a light coating of sesame sauce (?). I would say the menu did not do the dishes justice. It was overwhelming yet underwhelming at the same time. Items on the menu were not described very well and so they didn’t sound interesting. However when you see the food, it’s beautifully presented and the taste is exquisite. We had to ask what several things were and asked for recommendations. I feel like the menu downplays how great the dishes really are.

We first ordered a strawberry field (not pictured) off the drink menu. It took about 15 minutes to arrive and tasted very delicious! You could not tell there was vodka in it; it tasted (and presented) just like a strawberry lemonade. Next we ordered the Hamachi Crudo and the salmon roll. They both came out very quickly. The Hamachi Crudo was delicious. It was buttery and the topping was an explosion of flavor. It was presented beautifully. The salmon roll (we forgot to take a picture until after we dug in) was refreshing and tasty, however the salmon inside the roll had the taste and texture of canned tuna salad. Next we ordered the smoked salmon dip which was incredible! It arrived quickly and the frybread was hot. The frybread was heavenly. It was fluffy and wasn’t greasy. The dip was extraordinary with roe and dill to top it. We decided we were too full for a main dish, so we headed for dessert. We got the Wajopi style berry panna cotta. It took just over 30 minutes to arrive to our table. Our waitress was apologetic for the wait and asked her manager to remove the panna cotta from our check even though we didn’t mind having our own conversation while we waited. The panna cotta was good! My husband loved it for the tartness and mint leaves. I liked the fruit and tartness as well however I thought the rice crispy-esque sprinkle on top detracted from the bright flavor of the dessert. The addition of a crunchy texture faired well.

TLDR: We loved our experience here! The atmosphere was refreshing, the presentation was beautiful and the food tasted exquisite. Everyone has an opportunity to see the waterfront. Pricing was appropriate and timing was sporadic however still respectable. Staff was knowledgeable and professional. The menu doesn’t do justice to how good the dishes are so you have to see them as they leave...