My sister-in-law is getting married on Saturday, so I'll be heading up to Olympia on Friday. My wife is already up there, so I plan on hitting The Eastside as soon as I get to town Friday afternoon to take the edge off before dealing with the mother-in-law. Anyway, my question is: are there any good restaurants in or around town with good tap lists? I figure we'll probably be doing dinner with the fam on Friday night, and I'd like to try to steer them toward a place that will have both good food AND good beer on tap. Also, what, if any, are the chances I'll find Kentucky Dark Star or other Fremont beers around town? I plan on hitting Gravity Market, but I wasn't sure if there's anywhere else I should check. Also, are there any other seasonal goodies out right now that I should be on the lookout for?
Check out Taplister.com for a list of a few places in town. The Skep and Skein also has a nice tap list and they accept debit cards and allow you to bring food from area restaurants. They also have mead on tap that is made on site. Some don't like the clean feel of the Skep, and prefer the more one-with-the-earth unique character charm of the Eastside Club. The Eastside only accepts cash, but also allows outside food. Both the Skep and Eastside club allow for growler fills. As far as restaurants it would depend on what your family likes to eat. I've heard good things of a new brick oven Italian Pizza place called Basilico. Bread Peddler has great food for lunch. I avoid the Fish Tail Pub because I don't like how the new owner has been doing business/treating employees, but the food has been good. California Taco Trucks have great Mexican food with multiple locations. Pints and Quarts in the mall has good food and nice tap list. Also on the Westside of town I like Apollo's Pizza, Vic's Pizza, Wally's Sandwich Bar, and Hot Iron Mongolian Grill (tip: put your noodles on last.)
Fred Meyer will have the regular Fremont stuff in bottles and cans, but no KDS. The only other seasonal right now is Hop Lab #1 IPA.
If the weather is nice it might be worth a trip just a touch up north to eat at Topside in Steillicom. Amazing views of the South Sound out on the deck and a pretty solid tap lineup. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28755 But if your really tricky you will convince the family to order food through the window at the Eastside (great calzones) and revel in the gloriousness that is the Eastside 42 taps all throughout dinner. KDS did not make it to the South End (thanks Odom) but message me if you want to try and work something out.
Topside sounds good, I'll have to see if I can convince them. We were up in Oly with my father-in-law in February, and we gave him the full experience of the Eastside & the calzones, but I doubt the whole fam will be gathering there for dinner. Eastside is my favorite spot in Olympia. I've been there every time I've visited. I definitely plan on stopping there before meeting up with them on Friday. Gotta keep my streak going. Plus, a couple pints will help ease me into dealing with my mother-in-law's antics...
I've been meaning to check out Skep & Skein with my wife, as she's big time into fiber/crochet/spinning/etc, but we've never made it there. Doubt it'll happen this weekend, but who knows...
call in an order to go from quality burrito, drink a beer at eastside, get said food, come back for more beer at eastside.
If you decide on Topside, call and make a reservation. Their large banquet table is inside, but if you want to eat outdoors I'm sure they can accommodate. I highly recommend the Chef Salad, rockfish burrito, or special of the day. As always the food is spot on with quality ingredients and prepared with care.
I live in Seattle but have an office in Olympia, but I don't often eat dinner down there. I do have lunch around town and think The Oyster House has a decent, but not great tap list. If you haven't been there, it's not fancy but the food is good. Ramblin' Jacks also has really good food and a decent taplist.
As long as you have them convinced to venture outside Oly, you should make the short drive up to Federal Way and hit 99 bottles. If you have some cabbage to throw down, it's absolutely worth it. Gravity in Oly is nice as well but nowhere near the selection at 99 bottles.
Yeah, I agree about Gravity. Unfortunately, I really doubt 99 Bottles will happen. I'm the only serious beer geek in the group, and since this weekend is about my sis-and-future-bro-in-law, I'm not gonna push it. But I'll definitely be heading up to Seattle before the end of the year, so all hope is not lost.
Ah, the good ol' three year bump... Making my triumphant return to Oly tomorrow for an overnight trip. I can't believe it's been 3 years. Anyway, anything new to be on the lookout for? Is 3 Magnets worth a stop? I'll definitely be hitting the Eastside, as always. I also plan to stop at Gravity Market. Should I keep my expectations low, or might I find some Reuben's, Black Raven, Bale Breaker, or some of the less-available-near-Oregon Fremont stuff? I'd love to get some more Brother. Anything I should be on the lookout for? Any lesser-known fresh hop offerings?
I can't speak for Oly these days as I no longer have an office there and avoid the trip now if I can at all help it. But as for what's out right now around Seattle and, hopefully, Oly --- Fremont The Brother is out in cans. The only fresh hop I've seen and had is Two Beers. I had it on tap and it was fantastic. I bought a bottle and was quite disappointed.
Also check out Oly Taproom on Columbia near Percival Landng. They do pints, growlers, and have bottles for drinking there or taking away. I believe they had Brother on tap when I was there Thursday. Their tap list is primarily tiny NW breweries. I haven't been, but there's also a highly regarded beer bar off 4th near the Martin Way diner called NW Beerwerks. Super varied taps, recently had Rodenbach Grand Cru on draft.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll be hitting Oly either this month or October to visit family. Not sure if my bro and I will be able to break away for a beer or two or not, but it's nice to have options.
