Keeping up with Gig Harbor’s significant growth in recent years is an expanding culinary scene catering both new residents and visitors. Create your own movable feast with this guide for stops around the harbor and in the outskirts of the historical downtown.
Appetizers: Start at Morso Bistro with an expansive deck overlooking the bay. Chose from a long list of wines by the glass. Come for happy hour 2-5 p.m. or anytime for a platter of local clams, steamed in herbed pesto and white wine; ricotta meat balls served in a tiny cast-iron skillet; and a generous bowl of warm spanish olives sprinkled with orange zest. See.Morso Bistro
Lunch or dinner: Traditional Mexican recipes with modern twists fill a long menu at Moctezuma’s, part of a small, Northwest chain started by an Oaxacan family 45 years ago. Start with a flight of miniature Margaritas, then bring on the smoke. Several dishes come with a flaming side show. Served tableside is the Queso Flameado, a blend of three cheeses, pork chorizo and tomatillo sauce, served with warm tortillas; and the Tequila Flaming Fajitas, lit with tequila, and served with grilled shrimp, chicken and steak. See Gig Harbor — Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar (moctezumas.com)
Dessert: In a new location across from the harbor is Iscreamery where the owners delight in coming up with unique flavors for their house-made ice cream. Among a repertoire of 200 flavors are sweet corn pudding sprinkled with bits of orange biscotti; spiced chai tea with ginger snaps; and caramel apple pie. For those who like waffle cones but would rather scoop from a cup, there’s an edible waffle bowl. See ISCREAMERY Gig Harbor Ice Cream Shop Gig Harbor Ice Cream Shop (iscreamerypnw.com)
Cocktails: With 100 miniature wooden casks lining the walls, Heritage Distilling is a tasting room that feels like an intimate cocktail lounge.Cask Club members reserve a cask filled with customized spirit blends that yield a dozen or so bottles after a year’s wait. Drop-in visitors can sample classic and seasonable cocktails or build their own flights with a variety of flavored vodkas, whiskies, rums and gins. Have a sweet tooth? Try anything made with the Cocoa Bomb chocolate whiskey. This is a kid-friendly tasting room, so mocktails are also available. See HDC Waterfront – Heritage Distilling (Powered by LiquidRails)
By: Carol Pucci