The Senior Scene

El Pulgarcito means Tom Thumb in Spanish, and this is a little piece of El Salvador in Lakewood. Nestled between a tattoo parlor and a pizza house, the restaurant is in the Ponders neighborhood, but get past the unassuming exterior and walk in to the clean blue and white (the national colors of El Salvador) dining room and get ready to eat some great food.
Family-run at this location for over seven years, El Pulgarcito’s menu features both El Salvadoran and Mexican food. Prices range from tamal de Elota at $1.95 each to a Mexican combination platter for $17.95. Portions are generous and everything is made on-site. Mexican drinks include hot chocolate, beers and juices.
Papusas are flavorful traditional El Salvadoran sandwiches – handmade, white corn, fluffy, filled with meat or vegetable filling. They had great flavor and light tender texture. Individually they cost $2.50, but I ordered the combination plate with two pupusas, rice and beans, and a Tamal de Elote for $9.95. Traditional pickled cabbage, carrots and pepper were included as well as a spicy tomato sauce. The serving was large and had plenty to share or take home.
I had one pork, cheese and bean and one spinach and cheese pupusa. They are about the size of regular corn tortillas but soft, light and delicious. Fillings were very gently seasoned with salt pepper, cumin and onions. Eat with your fingers, dipping the treats into the sauce. The black beans and rice was the best I have ever tasted, perfectly cooked, and also good for dipping the papusas. I also spread some on top. The Tamal de Elota was a large corn tamale, a bit on the sweet side served with sour cream. Light and delicious, best eaten piping hot.
My server, Patricia, was happy to explain everything I wanted to know and didn’t mind my questions in spite of the fact that there was a steady stream of customers. Nice people, good food, plenty of room to move a walker or wheelchair, with very clean, accessible bathrooms. El Pulgarcita is worth a try. Rating: good.

IF YOU GO
El Pulgarcito Restaurant
12134 Pacific Hwy. SW., Lakewood
253-582-5173
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Joe’s Deli has been in the same strip mall, south of I-5 at the Portland Avenue exit, for 15 years but owned by the same family for the last three. They offer a wide variety of fresh foods, big portions and affordable prices.
On a freezing cold day, we found the deli warm and bright with lots of seating and pleasant people. It was early and we wanted breakfast, but a craving for a toasted cheese sandwich turned our visit into brunch. Sandwiches and burgers dominate the menu, with soup, salad and wraps included. All the items are sold separately – for instance French fries are 75 cents – so order what you like as you go. Prices range from a cup of soup at $1.95 to specialty box lunches at $9.95.
Order at the counter, get your drinks, and wait for your order to be brought out. We ordered toasted cheese at $5.50, a Rueben sandwich at $5.50 and coffee at $1.50. Hot tea is free from a carafe at the coffee station, and there are racks with dozens of flavors of bottled drinks to choose from, as well as candy, snacks and desserts. The food was delicious. They do their own baking, and we ordered a big piece of carrot cake for $1.95. It was heavenly, rich and delicate.
Toasted cheese was not on the menu, but toasted ham and American cheese with the ham on the side works perfectly. Three slices of cheese, big Texas-style bread, buttery flavor and light grilling made the toasted cheese melt in your mouth. The perfect classic Rueben was made with lots of corned beef, big slices of dark rye bread and good Russian dressing. If you like your sandwiches crunchy, ask for extra grilling.
There are daily specials, and a full carryout menu.
Joe’s Deli was a pleasant surprise and is worth the visit for an economical, well-made meal. Restroom clean and accessible. Service-dog-friendly. Rating: Good.

IF YOU GO
Joe’s Deli Restaurant and Catering
3216 20th St. E., Fife
253 926-6994
Hours 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday thru Friday.

Open since July 2012, Boathouse 19 is a good choice for excellent food, great service and a view of the marina at the western end of South 19th street in Tacoma.

We went on a grey cold day and the restaurant managed to be warm and friendly as well as modern and organic. Prices range from $4 for snacks to $34 for crab legs. The menu is steakhouse fare with a twist, such as southern touches like Cajun seasoning and hand made desserts featuring brown sugar. Our server, Mary, brought us a cup of San Francisco Cioppino with tomato broth, chopped clams, Alaskan cod and bay shrimp at $4, the Philadelphia Cheesesteak with onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheese sauce, southern slaw, and provolone at $12, and Carolina Pulled Pork with southern slaw, sweet onions, pickles, coca-cola barbecue sauce on a and naked fries at $10. We also ordered iced tea and root beer with refills at $2 each.

We enjoyed the soup which had several small shrimp, a piece of fish and clams in broth with lots of chopped vegetables in tangy mildly spiced tomato base. The cheese steak, served on a baguette, was delicious. It had plenty of meat, cheese, and vegetables which added texture and flavor. Not spicy at all but smooth and delectable. The pork sandwich was served on a large bun and loaded with pork and sweet cooked onions. Barbecue sauce added juice to the texture of the sandwich. The sandwiches were large with plenty of filling and lots to share. The southern slaw was chopped cabbage with a sweet tangy dressing, and was good as a side and a sandwich filling. The fries were fat and crisp, served with ketchup. The food was rich and filling and very tasty.

The bathroom was accessible, neat and clean, but the door was very heavy and a disabled person might need help. Service dog friendly.

Of   Poor -Average -Good- Very Good and Excellent, I rate this restaurant Very Good.

IF YOU GO

Boathouse 19 is at 9001 S. 19th St. in Tacoma. Phone: 253-565-1919. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

When you walk into Mama’s Muffins and Bakery, expect the unexpected. Maybe the shelves will be groaning with their loads of huge delectable muffins, specialty sweet bread and other tender pastries and sweets. Or there may be a sampling of goodies left after the crowds sweep down and gobble everything in sight. Whatever there is, Tina Hamilton, the owner, will be happy to describe all the baked goods and help you decide what to buy. Sit down at the big table and have a cup of coffee and a treat.

This is a commercial wholesale bakery that has been providing wonderful sweet things to coffee shops and small restaurants all over Pierce County for years. They opened this retail store and bakery a couple of months ago and found instant customers who were familiar with their wares, and were happy to buy them at the source.

I wanted dessert, so I bought muffins and turnovers. For $2.75 each ($29.95 a dozen), I picked strawberry cheesecake, Dutch chocolate, pumpkin cheesecake, and two flaky turnovers, apple and cheesecake pineapple coconut. These were fresh out of the oven, still warm and so tender and fragrant you wanted to eat them standing at the counter. Since the muffins were five inches across and five inches tall, this would have been a little much, but it would have been fun trying.

Delicious! The chocolate would have been perfect for a little birthday cake, as it was so sweet and good, loaded with chocolate and topped with toasted coconut and sugar crystals. The rich, smooth pumpkin cheesecake tasted of fall and holidays, and the cherry cheesecake just made you smile with sweet flavor. One of these was plenty for two. The turnovers had tender filo style dough that practically floated off the plate and the generous fillings were mouthwatering.

There is plenty of parking, so take a chance and try Mama’s for your next brunch or coffee celebration. Call ahead to reserve your favorites.

No restroom; carryout menu available; service-dog-friendly.

2 ½ stars. Very Good.

Mama’s Muffins and Bakery

10518 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood

253-589-6262

Hours: 7  a.m. to 7 p.m.