The Senior Scene

White linen tablecloths and a space monster (Dalek) in the bathroom, tea in Union Jack cozies and digestives (crackers) and pasties (hand pies) for sale in the market. What? You must be in British Bites in Puyallup.
We stopped in and had a great time in the market shopping for imported British goodies, before being seated in the Bistro by Mina our server. We drank tea, ate wonderful food and met Terri and Keith, British proprietors who have operated at this location for two years, building a great reputation and providing a unique dining and shopping experience.
I ordered one of each of the delectable sweets on display. Keith looked at me and said, “Are you sure?” I said I was and he asked me if I wanted them to go, and I assured him I meant for here. We also ordered a turkey, brie and cranberry sandwich ($7.25), which came on a crusty roll and was delicious, and house special Leek and Potato soup ($5.50), chunky and rich, accompanied by a delicate cheesy scone, and three types of tea ($2.95) in small pots with British flag cozies.
I was there for the sweets, and all 17 of them were scrumptious. Ranging in price from biscuits (cookies) including the secret recipe Millionaire Shortbread at $1.25 (yummy), to the gluten-free lemon scone ($3.50), delicate and moist. I also liked the Cherry Bakewell, a tiny pie lined with cherry jam, filled with a delicate cake, topped with sugar frosting and a tiny cherry, tender and sweet, and the Flapjack, a hearty fruit and nut bar that was very rich and satisfying.
Anglophiles (people who love England) can have afternoon tea at prices ranging from $23. 95 for one person to $41.94 for two, including tea, sandwiches, sweets and imported clotted cream.
A visit to British Bites is a little trip to England. Go. Have a good time.

IF YOU GO

British Bites
720 E. Main in Puyallup (on the south side of the street, several blocks east of Meridian, with plenty of parking in back)
253-200-2343
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday noon–4 p.m. Closed Monday

Carolyn Augustine, a freelance restaurant writer,

writes the Senior Eats column.

The Green Pup is like The TARDIS. It is bigger on the inside than on the outside, and has existed for a long time. Dr. Who fans, are you with me so far?
Walk through the doors and you are in a huge room with two pool tables, lots of seating, TVs so you can watch the Seahawks while you wait for the movie at Regal Theaters to start, and it is one of the few places left in the area where you can play a friendly game of darts. With the holiday movie season starting soon, it is good to know of a place where they will take your schedule into consideration when they take your order.
Christina is the bartender and waitress, and will take your order at the bar before you seat yourself. This is not ordinary pub food. The portions are very large, homemade pizza dough is hand-tossed and baked in a brick oven, and 16 different appetizers can please anybody.
We ordered Chicken Dinner Basket (three half-breasts and fries, $8.95), four pieces of garlic bread ($2.50), a pepperoni and black olive 12-inch pizza ($15.45), strawberry margarita( $6.75, yum), onion rings ($3.95), and a cheeseburger with everything ($6.75), with jo jos, tater tots or fries. I chose jo jos.
The food came right away. Chicken pieces were large and tender; fries were long thin and plentiful. Garlic bread was fresh-baked and loaded with garlicky butter. The medium-rare burger was perfect, just done enough for me, and the cheese, lettuce, pickles and tomato were plentiful and fresh. The pizza was covered with black olives and pepperoni and lots of cheese. I like a lot of sauce and there could have been more, but overall, very good. It is very tempting to take leftovers and smuggle them into the theater, but any neighbors would be jealous.
Give the Green Pup a chance if you’re looking for casual dining and enjoy a change from your usual fare.

IF YOU GO

The Green Pup Sports Bar
2510 84th St. S., suite 15, Tacoma (In the large shopping center at the corner of South 84th and Tacoma Mall Boulevard. Plenty of parking, but be aware that a blockbuster movie at the nearby theater may make parking difficult.)
253 584-5600
Hours: 12 noon to 1:30 a.m. daily

Carolyn Augustine is a freelance outdoors writer.

Billy McHales had several locations throughout the South Sound, but now the one in Federal Way is the last remaining. Billing itself as “a fun eatin’ and drinkin’ place,” the restaurant has activities, such as Wine and Art Night, a large all-homemade menu, dozens of TVs for watching favorite sports, a model train that runs around the walls of the dining room, and a friendly staff.
We stopped in on a Friday afternoon for a late lunch and found it welcoming, and comfortable. Sara, our server, brought drinks and the extensive menu, and we decided on the turkey sandwich ($10.99), a cup of seafood chowder ($4.99), the Killer Cajun Prawns ($12.45) and warm apple crisp ($4.95). Water was free, and coffee was $2.75.
The turkey sandwich, with deli turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes, had good whole wheat bread, and we asked for dressing on the side. It also had french fries, crispy and seasoned.
The seafood chowder was thick and had lots of seafood, but smelled fishy and didn’t seem fresh.
The Killer Cajun Prawns, five medium-size shrimp, came with four pieces of French bread for dipping.
I am sure I made it clear that I wanted to take home the apple crisp to eat, but it was put into a container raw, and there was no mention of baking. After I took the time to bake it, it was quite good.
Billy McHales has food made on the premises, lots of activities and an unusual menu, and if you enjoy the area, stop in.

IF YOU GO
Billy McHale’s
1320 S. 324th St., Federal Way. From Pacific Highway South, turn west onto South 324th Street and right into the first driveway. Go all the way to the west end of the shopping complex. Billy McHale’s is in the corner.
253-839-4200
Hours: 11a.m. to 2 a.m. daily

Carolyn Augustine, a freelance restaurant writer, writes the Senior Eats column.

Cheers Grill and Casino took over the old building that housed Happy Days Restaurant in Lakewood. The vintage cars and 1950s posters are gone, replaced by a sparkling sports bar with a venue for events and food I would never have expected. The change is remarkable, and since this is the fifth Cheers in Pierce County, management seems to have the recipe for success.
We sat near the windows but were more interested in the neon, pull tabs, electronic games and sporting events being shown on the 10 big TV s on the walls. A full bar, pool tables and rooms for larger groups were provided. There is handicap parking, but bathrooms were small.
There was a full menu with the usual burgers and beef offerings, but we wanted to try something that looked different so we ordered the Santa Fe Pizza ($9.95) and the California Wrap ($9.95). I had water but my companion ordered a Doctor Pepper for $1.99. The food was tasty, creative and like nothing we had before.
The pizza came on a Nan bread base. Nan is the Indian flat bread found with curry and lamb dishes. The toppings were sauteed red and green peppers, red onions, pepper jack cheese, and Philly steak shredded fine. It was perfectly cooked, the Nan was crisp and the seasonings were delicious. The steak and peppers were so tender each bite just melted in your mouth. This pizza was delicious.
The wrap was just as surprising and just as good. On a plate with a stack of seasoned crunchy fries, it was rolled in a bright orange corn tortilla and contained some of the most tender, flavorful turkey I have ever tasted. It also contained lettuce, bacon, tomatoes, avocado and mayo. The seasonings were again perfect, and we were so happy with the food that we asked who was cooking and our server, Keshia, said it was Jjust C.J.” and that both of them had been there since Cheers 5 had opened earlier in 2015.
There is a complete menu with steaks, chicken, and fish, but we were certainly happy with our choices.
If you go: Cheers is at the southern end of Bridgeport Way in Lakewood, in a large parking lot , just north of the Bridgeport exit from I-5.

Cheers Casino and Grill
15521 Bridgeport Way S., Lakewood
253-587-8862
Open at 11 a.m. daily, closes at midnight except Friday and Saturday, when it’s open until 2 a.m.

Carolyn Augustine, who writes the Senior Eats column for Senior Scene, is a freelance restaurant writer.