Tag: Local Food

  • Scuttlebutt’s Paws & Pints Is the Most Everett-Feeling Beer Promo of the Year

    Scuttlebutt’s Paws & Pints Is the Most Everett-Feeling Beer Promo of the Year

    Scuttlebutt Brewing and the Everett Animal Shelter’s Paws & Pints photo contest closed voting on April 17, 2026. The grand prize is a Scuttlebutt beer named after the winning dog, unveiled at a celebration party at the Scuttlebutt Taproom (3310 Cedar Street, Everett) with a food truck, swag, and a puppy playpen. The celebration date is forthcoming — keep an eye on Scuttlebutt’s channels.

    Scuttlebutt’s Paws & Pints Is the Most Everett-Feeling Beer Promo of the Year

    Here’s what happened. The Everett Animal Shelter partnered with Scuttlebutt Brewing on a fundraiser called Paws & Pints. People submitted photos of their dogs. Other people voted — at a dollar per vote — and the money went to the shelter. The grand prize? Scuttlebutt brews a beer, names it after the winning dog, and releases it at a celebration party at the taproom.

    Voting closed on Friday, April 17 at 9:00 PM. Which means somewhere in Everett, right now, there is a dog about to get its own limited-release beer. And we are very much here for it.

    The Basic Breakdown

    Paws & Pints ran from March 27 to April 17, 2026. Dog owners uploaded photos of their dogs — “glamour shots,” basically — and friends, family, and strangers paid a dollar per vote to push favorite pups up the leaderboard. The top vote-getter wins the beer naming. The top five get prizes. Everyone’s dollars went to the Everett Animal Shelter.

    In the list of reasons to live in Everett, “you can pay a dollar to get your dog a beer named after it” is a sneaky one.

    Why This Promo Actually Matters

    Breweries run dog-friendly events constantly. Most of them are the same: dog-friendly patio, dog-themed event name, maybe a rescue has a table set up. Scuttlebutt went further. The winner doesn’t just get a photo on a wall — they get an actual Scuttlebutt beer, in Scuttlebutt’s taproom, with Scuttlebutt’s name on it.

    That’s the kind of community promo that only works when the brewery actually cares. Scuttlebutt has been an Everett institution for three decades. They’ve done major-league collabs, including the Big Dumper beer earlier this year with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. They could absolutely spend their marketing budget on bigger swings. They chose to spend a chunk of it on a fundraiser for the local animal shelter and a goofy, joyful promo for a stranger’s dog.

    That says something about who Scuttlebutt is. That’s a brewery worth supporting.

    The Prizes (and Why the Leash Is So Good)

    The grand prize:

    • A Scuttlebutt beer named after the winning dog, unveiled at a celebration party at the taproom
    • A Scuttlebutt-branded dog leash autographed by Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners catcher

    The top five also get prizes. Details on the exact top-five prize package weren’t spelled out in the announcement, but the winner’s Cal Raleigh leash is the piece that made local news. Cal Raleigh’s autograph on a dog leash. Sold at literally no store, anywhere. Owned by one dog in Everett.

    Scuttlebutt has been leaning into Mariners collabs all season. The Cal Raleigh tie-in for the Big Dumper beer and now this leash is a smart extension of a relationship they’ve clearly built deliberately.

    When Is the Celebration Party?

    As of this writing, the exact celebration party date has not been announced by Scuttlebutt. What organizers have confirmed:

    • It’s at the Scuttlebutt Taproom (3310 Cedar Street, Everett — not the main brewery and restaurant at 1205 Craftsman Way on the waterfront)
    • There will be giveaways
    • There will be a Puppy Playpen
    • There will be Scuttlebutt swag
    • There will be a food truck on site
    • And — critically — dogs are invited

    For the exact date, watch Scuttlebutt’s Instagram (@scuttlebuttbrewing) and the Everett Animal Shelter’s channels. The announcement is likely to come in the weeks after voting closes, so late April through May is the realistic window.

    Which Scuttlebutt Location Is the Taproom?

    This trips people up, so let’s be clear. Scuttlebutt operates two Everett locations:

    • Scuttlebutt Brewing Company restaurant & brewery — 1205 Craftsman Way, on the waterfront near the marina. This is the full restaurant.
    • Scuttlebutt Taproom — 3310 Cedar Street. This is the smaller dedicated taproom where the celebration party is happening.

    The Cedar Street taproom is the more intimate, taproom-first of the two. It’s set up for events, beer-first crowds, and dogs. If you’ve only ever been to the waterfront restaurant, the Cedar Street taproom is a different vibe and worth a visit for its own sake.

    How to Prep for the Party

    If you plan to go — and you should — here’s the prep list:

    • Bring your dog, on a leash, well-behaved enough to be in a crowd
    • Bring cash or card for the food truck (varies per event)
    • Bring a tag with your dog’s name in case the leashes get mixed up at the playpen
    • Budget for a flight — you’re going to want to try the new namesake beer, and flights let you pair it with a few others
    • Plan for the Cedar Street taproom, not the waterfront restaurant

    Arrive early if you can. Dog-centric events at Scuttlebutt tend to fill out fast, and the Puppy Playpen setup has capacity limits once things get busy.

    The Bigger Point: Everett’s Brewery Scene Is Paying Attention

    We’ve written a lot about Everett’s brewery trail this spring — the Sound to Summit taproom at the Marina, At Large Brewing on Marine View, U-Neek (formerly Crucible), and Scuttlebutt’s flagship. What makes the Everett brewery scene different from a lot of mid-size city brewery scenes is this exact kind of thing: local breweries doing promos that are genuinely for Everett, not imported playbooks from a Denver or a Portland.

    Paws & Pints is a perfect example. It raises money for a specific Everett nonprofit. It partners with a Mariners player Everett has adopted as a local hero. It gives a real product to a real dog. It makes the Cedar Street taproom into a party.

    That’s Everett-brand community building, run by a brewery that has been around long enough to know what that looks like.

    The Bottom Line

    Voting is closed. The winning dog is somewhere out there. In a few weeks, that dog’s name is going on a Scuttlebutt beer and the Cedar Street taproom is going to be full of dogs, food truck food, and people having the exact kind of Saturday you move to Everett for.

    Watch Scuttlebutt’s channels for the party date. Bring your dog. Order the namesake beer. Pet every dog in the room. Scuttlebutt earned the loyalty.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Scuttlebutt’s Paws & Pints contest?

    It’s a fundraiser for the Everett Animal Shelter. Dog owners submitted photos of their dogs, and the public voted at $1 per vote — all proceeds to the shelter. The top vote-getter wins a Scuttlebutt beer named after their dog, unveiled at a celebration party at the taproom.

    When did Paws & Pints voting close?

    Voting closed Friday, April 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM. The winner and celebration party date are expected to be announced in the weeks following.

    Where is the Paws & Pints celebration party?

    At the Scuttlebutt Taproom, 3310 Cedar Street, Everett — not the flagship brewery and restaurant on Craftsman Way.

    What’s the grand prize?

    A Scuttlebutt beer named after the winning dog, released at the celebration party, plus a Scuttlebutt-branded dog leash autographed by Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.

    Are dogs invited to the celebration party?

    Yes. Dogs are explicitly invited. There will be a Puppy Playpen, food truck, swag, and giveaways at the event.

    How do I find out the celebration party date?

    Watch Scuttlebutt Brewing’s Instagram (@scuttlebuttbrewing) and the Everett Animal Shelter’s channels. The date is expected to be announced in late April or May 2026.

    How does Scuttlebutt’s Paws & Pints compare to other brewery dog events?

    Most brewery dog events offer dog-friendly patios and rescue tables. Paws & Pints goes further by committing an actual beer release, autographed memorabilia tied to a Seattle Mariners player, and substantial fundraising dollars to the Everett Animal Shelter. It’s one of the most genuinely community-integrated brewery promos in Snohomish County this year.

  • Birrieria Tijuana Is the Casino Road Birria Spot Everett Should Be Talking About

    Birrieria Tijuana Is the Casino Road Birria Spot Everett Should Be Talking About

    Birrieria Tijuana at 205 E Casino Road (Suite B19) in Everett serves Tijuana-style birria tacos, quesabirria, and vampiros using 100% halal beef. Open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 9 PM, the consommé alone is worth the drive — and it is one of the strongest birria operations on Casino Road right now.

    Birrieria Tijuana Is the Casino Road Birria Spot Everett Should Be Talking About

    If you have not had proper Tijuana-style birria in Everett yet, there is a specific strip plaza on East Casino Road where you need to go. The address is 205 E Casino Road, Suite B19, and the restaurant is called Birrieria Tijuana. It has 253 Yelp reviews. It runs 100% halal beef. And the consommé is what you’re going to remember.

    This is a Casino Road International Eats installment, and Casino Road earns that designation every single time we write one of these. The food on this stretch is as deep, as specific, and as diverse as anything in Snohomish County. Birrieria Tijuana is one of the restaurants that proves it.

    What Birria Actually Is (Short Version)

    Birria is slow-simmered meat — traditionally goat in Jalisco, typically beef in the Tijuana style — cooked down in a deep chile-and-spice braise. The meat goes into tacos. The rich, red, glossy cooking liquid gets served on the side as consommé. You dip the taco in the consommé. That’s the move. That is the entire ritual.

    Tijuana-style birria is the version that swept the country a few years back — birria tacos fried on the flattop until the cheese melts and the tortilla crisps, served with a cup of consommé for dipping. When it’s done well, it is one of the best three tacos you can eat. When it’s done poorly, it’s just a greasy cheese taco with some brown liquid next to it.

    Birrieria Tijuana does it well.

    Where It Is

    Birrieria Tijuana is at 205 E Casino Road, Suite B19, Everett, WA 98208. It sits in the complex on the south side of Casino Road, a short drive off I-5 Exit 189. Phone is (425) 374-2867.

    You are in a plaza, not a destination street — which is the Casino Road story generally. The best food in this neighborhood lives in strip plazas, converted spaces, and small family-run rooms, not polished main-drag storefronts. That is a feature of Casino Road, not a bug. The people cooking are cooking for their actual community first.

    Hours

    Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. A full twelve-hour day, six days most people aren’t eating birria at 9 AM, which is their loss. Breakfast birria is a completely underrated move. Check current hours before a late-night run, especially on weekends.

    What to Order

    Here is what we order and why:

    Quesabirria Tacos

    This is the single dish that put birria on the American map. Tortilla pressed on the flattop, cheese melted into the shell, birria meat packed inside, the whole thing crisp on the outside and molten in the middle. Served with the consommé for dipping. If you order one thing here, order three of these. You will not regret it.

    Vampiros

    A vampiro is a flat-crisped tortilla with cheese and meat — sort of a cross between a taco and a tostada. Birrieria Tijuana’s version uses the birria meat, and it’s a good choice for people who want the crunch of a tostada with the depth of the birria braise. It’s less famous than the quesabirria but frankly just as good.

    Straight Birria Tacos (Not Quesa)

    A regular birria taco — soft tortilla, meat, onion, cilantro, no cheese, served with the consommé. This is the traditional play, and if you grew up on this style, this is your order. The meat reads cleaner without the cheese, and the consommé hits differently.

    The Consommé Itself

    This is genuinely what sets Birrieria Tijuana apart. Reviewers repeatedly call out the consommé as the restaurant’s signature — deeper, richer, more layered than the average Tijuana-style operation. Order extra. Drink the rest of it like soup when the tacos are gone. Yes, really.

    The Halal Beef Detail Matters

    Birrieria Tijuana advertises 100% halal beef for its birria, which is a deliberate choice and worth noting. It opens the door for Muslim diners who are often navigating a very limited birria map in the Seattle metro, and it signals that the kitchen is paying attention to who its customers are. Casino Road is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Snohomish County, and the businesses that last here tend to be the ones that understand that.

    Real Talk on the Service

    We are not going to pretend the Yelp reviews are universally glowing about service. They’re not. Some reviews mention attentiveness issues, and we’ve seen moments during busy lunch stretches where front-of-house is clearly stretched. The food, however, is consistent. Go expecting family-run casual, not full-service polish, and the experience lines up with the price point.

    Also: this is a cash-friendly, order-at-the-counter operation depending on the time of day. Don’t show up expecting a host with menus and a wine list. Show up expecting great birria and a very specific smell coming from the kitchen.

    Price and Portions

    Casino Road restaurants universally give you generous portions for the money, and Birrieria Tijuana is no exception. A plate of quesabirria tacos plus consommé runs well under what you’d pay for the same plate in Seattle — and the meat-to-price ratio is better than most mainline taquerias in Snohomish County. Lunch for two is easy to do under $30 if you share a plate.

    Parking

    Plaza parking, free, plenty of spaces. You are not fighting Casino Road traffic to find a meter. You pull in, you park, you walk 30 feet, you eat.

    Where Birrieria Tijuana Fits on Casino Road

    Casino Road’s food scene is the best-kept secret in Everett dining, and we keep saying it because it keeps being true. Tasty Indian Bistro handles the Indian corner. Pho To Liem handles Vietnamese pho. Casa El Dorado and Aliberto’s Jr. run the broader Mexican lineup. Birrieria Tijuana is the birria specialist in that map.

    You do not have to pick. Most Casino Road eaters rotate through two or three of these in a single week. Birrieria Tijuana earns a permanent spot on that rotation specifically on the strength of the quesabirria and the consommé.

    The Bottom Line

    Go to Birrieria Tijuana. Order three quesabirria tacos. Order extra consommé. Dip every bite. Do not fight it.

    If you grew up eating birria and have been waiting for a version in Everett that actually tastes like home, this is closer than most of what’s around. If you’ve never had Tijuana-style birria at all, this is a solid first stop. Either way: the Casino Road food map gets better every month, and Birrieria Tijuana is one of the restaurants doing the work to keep it that way.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Birrieria Tijuana in Everett?

    Birrieria Tijuana is at 205 E Casino Road, Suite B19, Everett, WA 98208, in a strip plaza on the south side of East Casino Road. Phone is (425) 374-2867.

    What are Birrieria Tijuana’s hours?

    Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Weekend hours may vary; call ahead for late-night or Sunday visits.

    Is Birrieria Tijuana halal?

    Birrieria Tijuana advertises 100% halal beef for its birria. That makes it one of the more accessible birria stops for Muslim diners in Snohomish County.

    What is birria?

    Birria is a slow-simmered, chile-braised meat dish. In the Tijuana style served at Birrieria Tijuana, the meat is beef and it comes in tacos or quesabirria with a cup of consommé — the rich cooking liquid — for dipping.

    What should I order at Birrieria Tijuana?

    The quesabirria tacos are the signature order. Also recommended: the vampiros, classic birria tacos, and extra consommé on the side to drink or dip into.

    Is Birrieria Tijuana good for takeout?

    Yes. It’s set up for quick takeout, and the consommé travels in lidded cups. Birrieria Tijuana is also on major delivery platforms like DoorDash and Grubhub for anyone ordering to a hotel or office in the area.

    How much do birria tacos cost at Birrieria Tijuana?

    Prices on Casino Road are generally well below Seattle taqueria pricing. A filling lunch of quesabirria tacos and consommé typically runs a reasonable price per person, with generous portions that make it one of the better value picks on Casino Road.

  • STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen Is the Downtown Everett Café Doing Scratch Food Right

    STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen Is the Downtown Everett Café Doing Scratch Food Right

    STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen is a hip downtown Everett café at 1422 Hewitt Avenue (corner of Hoyt & Hewitt) serving Ladro espresso, scratch breakfast, gluten-free pastries, and a from-scratch lunch menu. Open Monday through Saturday, with a funky beatnik vibe and a 4.7-star Yelp rating.

    STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen Is the Downtown Everett Café Doing Scratch Food Right

    Most coffee shops in Everett pick a lane. You get your third-wave espresso bar that sells a couple pastries from a local bakery. You get your full-breakfast diner that pours drip coffee that’s been sitting there since six in the morning. STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen, on the corner of Hoyt and Hewitt, does both lanes at once — and that is why the line at the counter keeps growing.

    We’ve been stopping in all spring. Here is what we can tell you: this place is the real deal.

    Where It Is and Why the Location Matters

    STRGZR lives at 1422 Hewitt Avenue, right on the corner of Hoyt and Hewitt in downtown Everett. You can reach them at (425) 297-2396.

    That corner is one of the more interesting stretches of downtown right now. You’ve got Narrative Coffee a few blocks over, Artisans Books & Coffee down the street, Sobar Coffee on Colby, and Tabby’s tucked inside the Everett Public Library. Downtown Everett finally has a real coffee scene, and STRGZR is the newest room in the house.

    Walk in and you get what the regulars call “a funky little cafe with sorta a beatnik hippy vibe.” The space is warm, lived-in, and a little weird in the best way. It does not feel like a chain. It does not feel like a coffee shop that is performing coffee-shop aesthetics for Instagram. It just feels like somewhere people actually hang out.

    What to Order

    STRGZR runs on Ladro espresso, which is a Seattle roaster with a long reputation for doing things correctly. That means your latte is going to taste like a Ladro latte — which is to say, good.

    But the real story here is the kitchen. The kitchen is why you stay past one cup.

    Here is what we order and what we recommend:

    • The turkey club sandwich. This is the move. It is the single most-praised item in the 200+ Yelp reviews for a reason. Stacked, fresh, and the bread actually holds up.
    • Homemade hash browns. Not the freezer-bag hash brown rectangles. Actual hash browns. Crisp edges, soft inside. Breakfast food that respects you.
    • Breakfast burritos. Wrapped tight, filled right, reasonably priced.
    • Hand-punched fries. With the sandwiches. Skip the chips option.
    • Gluten-free pastries. A real gluten-free selection — not a single sad muffin in a plastic wrapper. If you have a person in your life who has been suffering through coffee-shop GF options, send them here.

    The breakfast and lunch menus are both made from scratch. The menu lists sandwiches, burgers, breakfast plates, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries — and the kitchen runs during business hours, not just for a rushed morning window.

    The Hours Situation (Check Before You Go)

    STRGZR runs a slightly unusual schedule. Here is what is currently listed:

    • Monday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Thursday: Closed
    • Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Sunday: Closed

    Two things to flag. First, they’re closed Thursday and Sunday, which is not the schedule most downtown coffee shops run. Do not show up Thursday morning expecting a latte. Second, the kitchen closes at 3 PM — this is not a late-afternoon or evening spot. It’s a breakfast and lunch operation, full stop. Hours can shift, so a quick call before you drive over is never a bad idea.

    Parking and Getting There

    Parking in downtown Everett is mostly street metered parking, and 1422 Hewitt puts you right in the thick of the downtown grid. If you’re coming mid-morning, there is usually a spot within a block or two. The garage options at Wall and Wetmore are a short walk if the street is full. Bus riders: multiple Everett Transit routes run along Hewitt.

    Who This Place Is For

    STRGZR is for:

    • Anyone looking for real scratch breakfast food downtown before 11 AM
    • Remote workers who want a funky, quiet-ish spot that’s not another third-wave white-tile espresso bar
    • Anyone with a gluten-free friend who deserves better than they’ve been getting
    • People who want Ladro coffee without driving to Seattle
    • Anyone avoiding chain breakfast and wanting something that feels like the owner actually made it

    It is not really for: evening crowds (closes at 3), people who need laptop outlets at every table (we’ve seen a mix), or anyone who wants their breakfast done in under 15 minutes during the Saturday rush.

    The Bigger Picture for Downtown Everett

    Between Narrative Coffee, Sobar, Makario Coffee Roasters, Tabby’s at the library, and STRGZR, downtown Everett now has more genuinely good coffee shops in a four-block radius than it’s had at any point in the last two decades. That’s not an accident. Hewitt Avenue has been in a slow, steady lift for years — condos going in, old storefronts getting reinvested in, new restaurants filling ground floors — and the coffee scene is one of the clearest indicators that it’s actually sticking.

    STRGZR showing up on the Hoyt & Hewitt corner is part of that. It’s exactly the kind of independent, scratch-kitchen, mid-morning-to-mid-afternoon operator that a real downtown needs in order to feel like a downtown. Not a drive-through. Not a chain. Just a neighborhood cafe doing the work.

    The Bottom Line

    Go. Order the turkey club. Sit at a window seat. Get the hand-punched fries. Leave a tip. If you have a gluten-free person in your life, bring them. If you hate Thursdays already, now you have another reason.

    STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen is the kind of downtown Everett spot that proves the neighborhood is not just getting built up — it’s getting better.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen located?

    STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen is at 1422 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, on the corner of Hoyt and Hewitt. The phone number is (425) 297-2396.

    What are STRGZR’s hours?

    STRGZR is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and closed on Thursday and Sunday. Hours can shift, so call ahead if you’re making a trip.

    What kind of coffee does STRGZR serve?

    STRGZR serves Ladro espresso, the well-known Seattle-based roaster. They also offer standard cafe drinks built on that espresso.

    Does STRGZR have gluten-free options?

    Yes. STRGZR is specifically known for a real gluten-free pastry selection, not just a single token item. It’s one of the better gluten-free cafe options in downtown Everett.

    What should I order at STRGZR?

    Regulars consistently recommend the turkey club sandwich, homemade hash browns, breakfast burritos, and the hand-punched fries. The scratch breakfast and lunch menus are the draw alongside the coffee.

    Is STRGZR good for remote work?

    It has a warm, lived-in vibe that works well for short to medium work sessions. It is not a quiet library, but it’s a solid spot for a morning of focused work before the lunch rush hits.

    How busy does STRGZR get on weekends?

    Saturday mornings can draw a line, especially mid-morning. If you want a table without a wait, go right at open or after 1 PM.

  • Sobar Coffee on Colby Avenue Is Downtown Everett’s Best Remote-Work Coffee Shop

    Sobar Coffee on Colby Avenue Is Downtown Everett’s Best Remote-Work Coffee Shop

    Sobar Coffee has quietly been the best new addition to downtown Everett’s Colby Avenue corridor for over a year now — and most of the city still has not been through the door. If you work remote, if you have a stroller, if you need a meeting space that is not another chain, this is the Everett coffee shop you should already know about.

    What Sobar Actually Is

    Sobar Coffee is at 2820 Colby Avenue, in the space that used to hold Renee’s Clothing — a downtown mainstay that ran 28 years before closing in 2022. The coffee shop soft-launched on February 6, 2025, which means as of this writing it has been open for 14 months. The family that owns the Banya day spa next door also owns Sobar, which explains how the space got its specific flavor: calm, clean-lined, treated like an extension of a wellness business rather than a fast-in-fast-out commuter shop.

    What makes Sobar different from the other 10 shops on downtown’s coffee map:

    • Colibri Coffee beans. Locally roasted, veteran-owned. The espresso program is pulled off Colibri. This is not a national chain pulling corporate beans.
    • House-made syrups. No dyes, no high-fructose corn syrup. The vanilla is actual vanilla. The caramel is actual caramel. This matters more than it sounds like it does when you are drinking a latte every day.
    • Macrina Bakery pastries. Seattle bakery, legitimate pastry program, delivered fresh. Macrina is the move.
    • A layout built for sitting, not grabbing. Ample seating, fast Wi-Fi, a community table, and enough space between tables that two laptop users do not share one another’s Zoom calls.

    The Space Is the Point

    Here is what Sobar nailed that most Everett coffee shops miss: the room is the product. The shop describes itself as a “cozy living room café,” which sounds like marketing copy until you actually sit in it. The ceilings are tall, the light is good, the layout is stroller-friendly, and there are enough outlets that you do not have to negotiate for one. It is the only downtown Everett coffee shop where you can reliably pull a three-hour work session in the middle of the afternoon without feeling like you are holding a table hostage.

    The shop also functions as a gift shop and light retail space — a small curated selection of books, children’s toys, games, and local odds and ends. It is not trying to be a bookstore or a boutique. It is trying to be a living room, and it succeeds.

    What to Order

    • Latte. The Colibri espresso program plus the house-made syrups is the honest reason to come here. Order a vanilla latte or a brown sugar latte and pay attention to what a clean syrup tastes like.
    • Matcha latte. The matcha holds up. Not powdery, not over-sweetened.
    • London Fog. If you are a tea person, this is the pour that tells you the syrup program is legitimate.
    • Lotus energy refresher. For when you are not drinking coffee but you still need to wake up. This is a quiet favorite of the remote-work crowd who hit Sobar after 1 PM.
    • Pair with: A Macrina pastry. Any Macrina pastry. The morning buns are non-negotiable.

    Who Sobar Is For

    Every coffee shop in Everett has a core crowd. Narrative Coffee is for coffee nerds. Tabby’s is for library regulars and downtown walkers. Makario is for roaster-forward customers. Café Makario, Velton’s, and RedDoor all pull their own people. Sobar’s core crowd is three groups:

    • Remote workers and freelancers — The layout was built for laptop sessions. The Wi-Fi actually works.
    • Parents with strollers — The aisles are wide, the community table is low, and the staff is unbothered by kid energy.
    • Small meetings — The space can be booked for private meetings, holiday parties, and small birthdays. Few Everett coffee shops offer that.

    The Hours

    • Monday–Friday: 7 AM – 7 PM
    • Saturday: 8 AM – 7 PM
    • Sunday: Closed

    The Sunday closure is worth flagging. If you are running a Sunday morning downtown loop, Sobar is not on it. Narrative Coffee or South Fork Baking Company are your Sunday plays. But for six days a week, Sobar runs later than most — 7 PM is a real late close for an Everett coffee shop, and it opens up a slot for an evening work session that almost nobody else in town offers.

    Why Sobar Matters for Downtown Everett

    Downtown Everett has been filling in its third-place economy for about three years now — Narrative Coffee in 2017, Makario more recently, Tabby’s at the Everett Public Library, Artisans Books & Coffee, and now Sobar. Each shop targets a slightly different use case, and a healthy downtown needs all of them. Sobar’s specific contribution is that it is built for the sit-and-stay crowd, not the grab-and-go crowd. It makes remote work possible in downtown Everett without driving to Bothell or Bellevue. That is a civic good.

    The location also reinforces a Colby Avenue corridor that has been filling in nicely. Between the Banya day spa next door, Sobar itself, and the ongoing downtown retail recovery, Colby is finally doing what Hewitt Avenue has been doing for a few years — pulling people downtown for experience reasons, not just errand reasons.

    The Verdict

    14 months in, Sobar is not a new coffee shop anymore. It is a fixture. The Colibri beans are dialed, the syrup program is consistent, and the staff recognizes repeat customers. If you are a downtown Everett regular who has not been through the door yet, you are missing the most quietly excellent third place the city has added since Narrative. Go. Sit. Stay. Order a latte and a Macrina morning bun. Stay three hours. That is what the space was designed for.

    Sobar Coffee: The Details

    • Address: 2820 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • Phone: (425) 470-3520
    • Hours: Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM, Sat 8 AM–7 PM, Sun Closed
    • Beans: Colibri Coffee (veteran-owned, locally roasted)
    • Pastries: Macrina Bakery
    • Wi-Fi: Fast, reliable
    • Stroller-friendly: Yes
    • Private event bookings: Yes — small meetings, birthdays, holiday parties
    • Parking: Colby Avenue street parking plus nearby downtown garages

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did Sobar Coffee open in Everett?

    Sobar Coffee soft-launched on February 6, 2025, on Colby Avenue in downtown Everett. The shop has been open for over a year as of April 2026.

    Where is Sobar Coffee located?

    2820 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. The space was previously home to Renee’s Clothing, which closed in 2022 after 28 years in business.

    What coffee does Sobar serve?

    Sobar pulls espresso from Colibri Coffee, a locally-roasted, veteran-owned roaster. The shop also offers tea, matcha lattes, London Fog, chai lattes, and Lotus energy refreshers, with house-made syrups that contain no dyes or corn syrup.

    Does Sobar have food?

    Sobar serves pastries from Macrina Bakery. The shop does not have a full kitchen.

    Is Sobar Coffee good for remote work?

    Yes. Sobar is specifically built for sitting and working — fast Wi-Fi, ample seating, a community table, outlets, and a stroller-friendly layout. It is one of downtown Everett’s strongest remote work coffee shops.

    Is Sobar Coffee open on Sundays?

    No. Sobar is closed on Sundays. Monday through Friday hours are 7 AM to 7 PM. Saturday is 8 AM to 7 PM.

  • Rustic Cork at the Everett Waterfront, Four Months In: The Rooftop Lives Up to the Hype

    Rustic Cork at the Everett Waterfront, Four Months In: The Rooftop Lives Up to the Hype

    Rustic Cork Wine Bar has been open at the Port of Everett for four and a half months, which is long enough to stop grading on the new-restaurant curve. The rooftop is the real draw. The brunch is the surprise. And if you have not been up to the second-floor Barrel Room on a Friday at sunset, you have not actually experienced the Everett waterfront yet.

    The First Wine Bar on the Everett Waterfront

    Rustic Cork opened at 1420 Seiner Drive on December 2, 2025 as the first operating tenant of Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place. It is owner Lance Logan’s third Rustic Cork location — the other two are in Lake Stevens and Mill Creek — but this one is operating at a different scale. The Everett waterfront location has 2,600 square feet of interior space, another 2,600 square feet of covered outdoor patio, and a second-floor private event room called The Barrel Room that runs another 1,000 square feet of interior plus 1,300 square feet of deck.

    The pitch, per the Port of Everett, is that this is the first rooftop bar on the waterfront in Snohomish County, with panoramic views of the Port of Everett Marina, the Olympic Mountains, and Possession Sound. The Port’s pitch is accurate. We have now made the case that the view from the Rustic Cork patio on a clear April evening is better than the view from any restaurant deck at Anthony’s Home Port in Edmonds, which is the only other true waterfront wine bar in the region. Fight us in the comments.

    The Menu Actually Works

    The menu leans into what we wanted it to be — a shareable-plate wine bar, not a full-service dinner house. That is the right call for this square footage and this crowd. The menu structure:

    • Wine flights: Rotating monthly tastings of five Washington wines, drawn from the Columbia and Yakima valleys. Flights are the honest play here — this is how you learn what the menu is doing.
    • Flatbreads: Prosciutto arugula, pepperoni red pepper, chicken bacon ranch, truffle mushroom. The truffle mushroom is the one.
    • Charcuterie: Built boards, not picked-apart. The meat-to-cheese ratio here is correct.
    • The sleeper hit: Truffle parmesan popcorn. Order it. Thank us later.
    • Beyond wine: Local craft beers and ciders on tap — which is a quiet admission that even wine bars in Washington State have to serve the hop-heads who show up with their partners.

    Sunday Brunch Is the Secret

    Most Rustic Cork conversation centers on the rooftop, which is fair. What almost nobody is talking about yet is that Rustic Cork runs Sunday brunch from 9 AM to 3 PM — and it is the best-kept brunch secret on the waterfront. Mimosa flights, espresso martinis, and rustic coffee paired with the same flatbread menu. A Mimosa flight on the rooftop deck at 10 AM on a cloudless April Sunday with the Olympics in full view is a legitimate experience. We are aware “Mimosa flight on a waterfront deck” sounds like a Port of Everett press release. It is not. It is just what happens to be true right now.

    The Hours — Yes, They Are Closed Mondays

    • Monday: Closed
    • Tuesday–Thursday: 12 PM – 9 PM
    • Friday–Saturday: 12 PM – 10 PM
    • Sunday: 9 AM – 3 PM (brunch only)

    That closed Monday is worth flagging because it trips up visitors. If you are planning a weekday waterfront loop, Tuesday through Thursday midday is the move. The happy hour pricing hits during lunch, the deck is quiet, and the kitchen is running flatbreads to order without the weekend rush.

    The Barrel Room Is an Underrated Event Space

    The second-floor Barrel Room is 1,000 square feet of interior plus a 1,300-square-foot wraparound deck. It is a private-event space, which means you cannot just walk up and book a table in there on a Saturday night. But for rehearsal dinners, birthdays big enough to rent a room, or small company events — it is the most interesting private-event waterfront room in Everett that is not a hotel ballroom. Everett has needed one of these for a decade. Now it has one.

    What to Order, What to Skip

    • Order: Wine flight + truffle mushroom flatbread + truffle parmesan popcorn. Three things, two people, $60ish, a clear rooftop view.
    • Order on Sunday: Mimosa flight + flatbread. Thank us.
    • Order for a group: Charcuterie board + two flatbreads + whatever the rotating Washington red is on the flight menu.
    • Skip: The kitchen is not built for entrees. This is a wine bar. Go to Tapped Public House two doors down if you want burgers.

    The Verdict, Four Months In

    Rustic Cork is doing what the Port wanted from this building. It pulls a different crowd than Tapped and a different crowd than The Net Shed — it is the date-night tenant, the after-work-wine-with-colleagues tenant, the out-of-towners-are-visiting-and-you-want-to-impress-them tenant. The food is flatbread-and-plates rather than entree-and-sides, which is exactly the right menu for that role. And the rooftop closes the case.

    If we are being honest, the service was a little uneven in the opening six weeks, which is normal for a restaurant of this size learning a new building. By mid-February, that was fixed. As of April, the floor is running clean, the pours are generous, and the kitchen is on time.

    Four months in, Rustic Cork is the restaurant that proves the Port’s Restaurant Row gamble was worth the decade it took. Bring someone. Sit outside. Order the flight.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Rustic Cork Wine Bar in Everett?

    1420 Seiner Drive, Everett, WA 98201 — at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place on Fisherman’s Harbor. It is the first tenant on Restaurant Row facing the marina.

    When did Rustic Cork at the Everett waterfront open?

    December 2, 2025. It is the third Rustic Cork location overall, following the original in Lake Stevens and the second in Mill Creek.

    Does Rustic Cork have a rooftop?

    Yes. The Everett location has a rooftop bar that the Port of Everett describes as the first rooftop bar on the waterfront in Snohomish County, with 2,600 square feet of covered outdoor patio space overlooking the Port of Everett Marina, the Olympic Mountains, and Possession Sound.

    Is Rustic Cork open for brunch?

    Yes. Rustic Cork runs Sunday brunch from 9 AM to 3 PM, featuring mimosa flights, espresso martinis, rustic coffee, and its flatbread and charcuterie menu. Sunday is brunch-only — the bar does not reopen for dinner service.

    Can you book Rustic Cork for private events?

    Yes. The second-floor Barrel Room is a private event space with 1,000 square feet of interior space and a 1,300-square-foot outdoor deck. Rustic Cork also offers in-house catering and private bartender services.

    What days is Rustic Cork closed?

    Rustic Cork Everett is closed Mondays. Tuesday–Thursday hours are 12 PM–9 PM, Friday–Saturday 12 PM–10 PM, and Sunday is 9 AM–3 PM for brunch only.

  • Menchie’s at the Marina Is Quietly the Best New Thing at the Port of Everett

    Menchie’s at the Marina Is Quietly the Best New Thing at the Port of Everett

    If your Saturday walk around the Everett Marina does not end at a waffle cone with two mystery flavors swirled together, you are not using the waterfront correctly anymore. Menchie’s at the Marina has been open at Waterfront Place for five weeks now, and it has quietly become the best addition to Restaurant Row nobody is talking about.

    The New Self-Serve Fro-Yo Shop on Everett’s Waterfront

    Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt ribbon-cut at 1420 Seiner Drive, Suite 103 on March 7, 2026, making it the third tenant to arrive in the current wave of Waterfront Place openings — behind Rustic Cork Wine Bar (December 2025) and Tapped Public House (March 2026). The Port of Everett announced the grand opening with a Buy One, Get One Free promo that ran from 2 PM to 9 PM on opening day, and judging from the line we saw Saturday afternoon at 3:30, the locals remembered.

    Here is why this matters for how you use the waterfront: Menchie’s sits on the corner of the building facing the Pacific Rim Plaza Splash Fountain, with a walk-up window that opens directly to the esplanade. That means you can grab a cup without committing to indoor seating, without fighting for a parking spot in the main Seiner Drive lot, and without breaking the flow of a waterfront walk. The walk-up window alone changes the rhythm of a marina loop.

    Who Is Behind It, and Why It Feels Local

    The owners are Joe Karl and Leah Solis-Karl, the same couple who operate the Menchie’s at Canyon Park Commons in Bothell. According to Port of Everett communications, Joe keeps his 28-foot fishing boat moored in the South Marina and Leah previously worked at Naval Station Everett earlier in her career. In other words, this is not a franchise drop from Texas. These are people whose Saturdays already happen at this marina, and they chose to put a shop directly in their neighborhood. The fact that Joe ties up at the South Marina and Leah has NAVSTA ties on her résumé makes the Everett location feel less like a franchise and more like a couple who finally opened something near their own boat slip.

    Port CEO Lisa Lefeber called Menchie’s “a great addition to the Port’s restaurant row,” which is polite CEO-speak for the Port has been wanting a dessert tenant on this row for years and is relieved this one finally stuck the landing. The Port originally inked the Menchie’s lease back in January 2023, which means this opening is three years in the making.

    What to Order

    Menchie’s runs the standard self-serve format — you pay by the ounce, you build your own cup, nobody judges you for a four-flavor swirl. The menu leans on rotating monthly limited-time flavors plus the usual core rotation of chocolate, vanilla, and fruit sorbets. The topping bar is stocked the way you would expect — fresh berries, cheesecake bites, mochi, sprinkles, hot fudge.

    Here is our order:

    • The honest move: whatever the seasonal flavor is, plus chocolate, with fresh strawberries and a single square of brownie. Trust the rotation.
    • For kids: a 3-oz cup with cookie dough and rainbow sprinkles. You will not spend more than $4 and you will not regret it.
    • For after dinner at Tapped: walk down, get a tart with graham cracker crumbles. Balances the ranch-and-pretzel mood from the rooftop.

    The Verdict, Five Weeks In

    We have been through twice — once on a Saturday afternoon with marina traffic, once on a weekday evening when the splash fountain had three kids running through it and Menchie’s was the natural next stop. Both visits, the swirl towers were clean, the toppings were fresh, and the walk-up window was open. The staff recognized at least two repeat customers in the 15 minutes we were there.

    Here is the honest take: frozen yogurt is not reinvented here. What is reinvented is how a summer evening at the Everett Marina ends. Before March 7, a waterfront walk had a soft ending — maybe a coffee from a truck, maybe nothing at all. Now it has a waffle cone and a photo op by the splash fountain. That is a small shift with real consequences for how families use Waterfront Place on weekends.

    Menchie’s at the Marina: The Details

    • Address: 1420 Seiner Drive, Suite 103, Everett, WA 98201
    • Location context: Corner of Waterfront Place facing the Pacific Rim Plaza Splash Fountain, walk-up window faces the esplanade
    • Style: Self-serve frozen yogurt, pay-by-the-ounce
    • Indoor + outdoor seating: Yes, plus walk-up window
    • Parking: Seiner Drive lot is the closest; on busy weekends use the South Marina overflow and walk the esplanade
    • Kid-friendly: Extremely. The splash fountain is 30 seconds away.
    • What to pair it with: Dinner at Tapped Public House, a wine flight at Rustic Cork, or a Port of Everett Food Truck Fridays session

    Why This Matters for Waterfront Place

    Menchie’s is the third piece of a puzzle Waterfront Place has been assembling since Fisherman’s Harbor broke ground. Tapped Public House owns the happy-hour slot. Rustic Cork owns the date-night slot. The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen owns the serious-lunch slot. Menchie’s owns the after-dinner-with-kids slot and the walk-up-after-the-splash-pad slot — both of which were missing. That is how a waterfront district actually fills in: not with one flagship restaurant, but with a dessert shop that makes the other three restaurants more functional for families.

    Still to come on the row: Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina, which the Port has confirmed is preparing to open, and one last flagship dining tenant the Port is still hunting for on the final parcel. The row is almost full. Menchie’s was the easy one. The flagship is the hard one.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did Menchie’s at the Everett Marina open?

    Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt held its ribbon-cutting at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place on March 7, 2026. The Port of Everett originally signed the lease with Menchie’s in January 2023.

    Where exactly is Menchie’s at the Marina located?

    1420 Seiner Drive, Suite 103, Everett, WA 98201 — at Waterfront Place on Fisherman’s Harbor, facing the Pacific Rim Plaza Splash Fountain with a walk-up window that opens to the waterfront esplanade.

    Who owns Menchie’s at the Marina in Everett?

    Joe Karl and Leah Solis-Karl, who also operate the Menchie’s at Canyon Park Commons in Bothell. Joe moors his fishing boat in the Port of Everett’s South Marina, and Leah previously worked at Naval Station Everett.

    Is there outdoor seating at Menchie’s at the Marina?

    Yes. The shop has both indoor seating and outdoor seating, plus a walk-up window that opens to the waterfront esplanade so you can grab frozen yogurt without going inside.

    What else has opened recently at Waterfront Place?

    Menchie’s is the third tenant in the current wave, following Rustic Cork Wine Bar (opened December 2025) and Tapped Public House (opened March 2026). The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen opened in late 2025 as well. Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is the next expected opening.

  • Fisherman Jack’s Is the Everett Waterfront Restaurant Doing Dim Sum Better Than You Expect

    Fisherman Jack’s Is the Everett Waterfront Restaurant Doing Dim Sum Better Than You Expect

    Q: Is Fisherman Jack’s on the Everett waterfront worth the trip?
    A: Yes — Fisherman Jack’s at 205 Seiner Dr, Suite 101, Everett, WA 98201 is one of the only sit-down dim sum restaurants on the Port of Everett waterfront, serving Asian-seafood fusion with marina views. Locals repeatedly recommend the Jack’s miso black cod, Rainier clams with Chinese sausage, and the Dungeness crab rangoon. Open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday.

    We Keep Going Back to Fisherman Jack’s — And Here’s Why That Matters

    There’s a specific category of Everett restaurant we’ve come to appreciate: places that could easily coast on their view and don’t. Fisherman Jack’s is squarely in that category. Sitting at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place with the marina out the window and the Olympics across the Sound on a clear day, the restaurant has the kind of real estate where mediocre food would still pull tourists in on a Saturday night. That’s not what this place is.

    Fisherman Jack’s is an upscale Asian-seafood fusion restaurant that does dim sum, coastal Chinese dishes, and a genuine Pacific Northwest seafood menu — and it does them at a level most waterfront restaurants don’t bother with. If you live in Everett and you still haven’t been, you’re missing one of the two or three best things that have happened to the waterfront dining scene in the last five years.

    The Basics: Address, Hours, Parking

    Address: 205 Seiner Dr, Suite 101, Everett, WA 98201
    Phone: (425) 610-3616
    Website: fishermanjacks.com
    Hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday, 11:30 AM–10:00 PM; Friday–Saturday, 11:30 AM–11:00 PM. Closed Monday.
    Price range: $$–$$$ (entrées $18–$42; dim sum $8–$16 per plate)
    Parking: Free waterfront parking along Seiner Dr and in the Waterfront Place lots. Weekends can fill up around sunset — aim to arrive before 6 PM or be prepared to walk a block.

    The restaurant is named after owner Jack Ng, whose love of Pacific Northwest seafood shaped the whole concept. It opened in late 2023 as one of the anchor restaurants at the Port’s Waterfront Place redevelopment — the same block where Tapped Public House, Bluewater Organic Distilling, and Scuttlebutt Brewing’s downtown taproom now live. Seiner Drive has become the most interesting half-block of food in Everett, and Fisherman Jack’s is the heavyweight of the group.

    What to Order (And What’s Worth the Hype)

    Start With the Dim Sum

    This is the move. Fisherman Jack’s is one of the only restaurants north of Seattle doing proper sit-down dim sum at dinner hours — not the cart-service format you’d get in the ID, but a menu of handmade dumplings, buns, and small plates that come out fast and hot. Order the Dungeness crab rangoon — we had doubts about a crab rangoon on a serious menu and the doubts were wrong. The filling is actual Dungeness, not the pink stuff, and the wrapper shatters the right way.

    Also get the shrimp and pork siu mai, the spicy wontons, and the chocolate dumplings for dessert if you’re feeling adventurous. The chocolate dumplings are weird. We kept eating them.

    Jack’s Miso Black Cod Is the Signature Dish

    If you’re only going once, order the miso black cod. It’s the dish that turns up in every positive review online, and it deserves that. Sablefish (black cod) is the richest, butteriest fish in Pacific Northwest waters, and the miso marinade at Fisherman Jack’s caramelizes just enough under the broiler to give it that classic Nobu-adjacent finish without being overly sweet. It flakes apart with a chopstick. It tastes like something you’d get at a Belltown tasting menu for twice the price.

    The Rainier Clams Are a Surprise Winner

    A Pacific Northwest classic with a Chinese twist: steamer clams cooked with lap cheong (Chinese cured sausage), garlic, onion, and Rainier beer. The broth is the reason to order it — lighter than a traditional clam sauce, with the sweet porkiness of the sausage threading through. Ask for extra bread. You’ll want to sop.

    If You’re Not in a Seafood Mood

    The Mongolian beef is tender and slightly sweet, sliced against the grain so it cuts with a chopstick. The Kung Pao tofu is a legitimate option for vegetarians (not an afterthought). The coconut curry mussels lean Thai but use PNW mussels and work better than they have any right to.

    The Drinks Program Is Better Than It Needs to Be

    Fisherman Jack’s has a tight craft cocktail list that leans tropical — think rum-forward drinks with fresh citrus — plus a draft list with local beers from At Large, Scuttlebutt, and a rotating PNW tap. The wine list is short but well-chosen and won’t embarrass anyone. Our house recommendations: the Oasis (light rum, pineapple, lime) at sunset, or the Darken the Ship cold brew martini after dinner if you still have it in you. They pair surprisingly well with the black cod.

    When to Go

    Go on a weeknight if you can. Tuesday through Thursday between 5:30 and 7:00 PM gives you the sunset over the marina without the Friday-night wait. The lighting inside is warm and low, the room stays quiet enough to have a conversation, and the kitchen has time to plate like they care.

    Weekends get busy — make a reservation through OpenTable or the restaurant website. Walk-ins on a Saturday at 7 PM are a gamble, especially in summer when the waterfront is packed. Happy hour isn’t the restaurant’s strength; we’d go for a full dinner or not at all.

    Who Fisherman Jack’s Is For

    This is a date-night restaurant, a visiting-parents restaurant, and an anniversary-but-you-don’t-want-to-drive-to-Seattle restaurant. It’s not a casual weekday lunch spot — that’s what Scuttlebutt and Tapped next door are for. Bring someone you want to impress without having to explain why you drove to Everett to do it.

    Families work too if you come early. The menu has enough non-seafood options (Mongolian beef, chicken dishes, fried rice) that picky eaters can stay happy while the rest of the table chases the black cod.

    What Fisherman Jack’s Means for Everett’s Dining Scene

    For a long time, the serious answer to “where should we go for dinner that isn’t a chain” in Everett was Anthony’s HomePort, Emory’s on Silver Lake, or driving 40 minutes to Edmonds or Seattle. That equation has changed — and Fisherman Jack’s is one of the main reasons why. Alongside The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen on Colby, the new waterfront brewery taprooms, and the Millwright District build-out, the city now has a dining tier that can hold its own against bigger neighbors to the south.

    Three months after our first visit, we’ve been back five times. That’s the real review.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What kind of cuisine is Fisherman Jack’s?

    Asian-seafood fusion. The menu centers on dim sum, coastal Chinese dishes like Szechuan sea bass and Mongolian beef, and Pacific Northwest seafood preparations including black cod, Dungeness crab, Rainier clams, and steamed oysters.

    Does Fisherman Jack’s take reservations?

    Yes — through OpenTable and on their website at fishermanjacks.com. Weeknights are usually fine for walk-ins before 6 PM; Friday and Saturday nights you’ll want a reservation.

    Is there parking at Fisherman Jack’s?

    Yes. Free parking is available along Seiner Drive and in the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place parking lots. On busy summer weekends, the closest lots fill up — plan on a short walk.

    Does Fisherman Jack’s have vegan or vegetarian options?

    Yes. The menu has impossible dumplings, veggie dumplings, Kung Pao tofu, and several vegetable-forward dim sum plates. Vegans have a real meal available; it’s not an afterthought.

    Is Fisherman Jack’s kid-friendly?

    Yes, especially early in the evening. Early dinner (5:00–6:30 PM) is a good time for families. The menu has non-seafood options for picky eaters, including Mongolian beef, chicken dishes, and fried rice.

    What’s the best dish at Fisherman Jack’s?

    The miso black cod is the signature entrée and the dish most regulars recommend first. For the dim sum menu, the Dungeness crab rangoon and shrimp and pork siu mai are the consistent winners. The Rainier clams with Chinese sausage are the surprise of the menu.

    How expensive is Fisherman Jack’s?

    Expect to spend $40–$70 per person for dinner with a cocktail, depending on how heavy you go on the dim sum and whether you get the black cod. Entrées run $18–$42; dim sum plates run $8–$16. It’s priced as a date-night restaurant, not a weekday lunch spot.

  • Tabby’s Coffee at the Everett Public Library Is the City’s Most Underrated Coffee Shop

    Tabby’s Coffee at the Everett Public Library Is the City’s Most Underrated Coffee Shop

    Q: Where is Tabby’s Coffee in Everett, WA?
    A: Tabby’s Coffee is inside the Everett Public Library main branch at 2702 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201. It’s open Monday through Wednesday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM, Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM–5:30 PM, and Saturday 10:00 AM–4:30 PM. Closed Sunday. Phone: (425) 623-6030.

    The Best Coffee Shop in Everett Is Inside a Library

    If you’ve lived in Everett for more than a year and you’ve never had a coffee at Tabby’s, you’ve been missing the most peaceful caffeine experience downtown. The space is a former reading room inside the main branch of the Everett Public Library at 2702 Hoyt Avenue — a building that has anchored the corner of Hoyt and Wall since 1934 and still feels like the most quietly civilized place in the city.

    The coffee program is real. The atmosphere is unmatched. And almost no one outside of regulars and library staff seems to know the place exists.

    The Basics

    Address: 2702 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201 (inside the Everett Public Library main branch)
    Phone: (425) 623-6030
    Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM, Thursday–Friday 10:00 AM–5:30 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM–4:30 PM, Sunday closed
    Price range: $ (drinks $4–$7; pastries $3–$5)
    Parking: Free street parking on Hoyt and Wall; library parking lot directly behind the building
    Wi-Fi: Yes (the library’s free public Wi-Fi)

    What’s on the Menu

    The drink menu does not pretend to be La Marzocco-pulled artisan coffee. What it does is pull a clean espresso shot, steam milk competently, and offer a bunch of fun options you won’t find at the chains.

    The hot menu covers the standard espresso lineup — lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, mochas, americanos, and drip coffee. The cold menu is where things get interesting: nitro cold brew on tap with the heavy cascading head when it’s poured right, and Lotus Energy drinks made from a botanical concentrate that blends coffee fruit, green coffee beans, and lotus flower extract. They’re sweeter than coffee but lighter than an energy drink, and they’re the most-ordered cold drink at the shop.

    Pastries and snacks include bagels, muffins, cookies, bagged chips, pretzels, candy bars, and cheese sticks. It’s not a bakery — manage expectations on food. You’re here for the coffee and the room.

    The Real Reason to Come Is the Room

    The Everett Public Library was built in the 1930s with the kind of money cities used to spend on civic buildings — high ceilings, dark wood paneling, leaded windows, and a quiet that feels physical. Tabby’s occupies a corner of the building that used to be one of the original reading rooms, and the original architecture is preserved. Wood-beamed ceiling. Tall windows looking onto Hoyt. Hushed voices because everyone in the building is reading.

    If you work from home in Everett and you need a change of scenery that isn’t another chain coffee shop with a soundtrack, Tabby’s is the answer. Bring a laptop. Sit at one of the heavy library tables in the next room over. Stay for four hours and refill twice. No one will bother you. The library is a public space, and your coffee buys you the right to occupy it without buying you a strict timer.

    What to Order

    The Lotus Energy. Order it iced. Pick a flavor — strawberry, peach, blueberry, or one of the rotating seasonal options — and it comes back as a tall, bright, slightly fizzy drink that has more caffeine than a double espresso. We are coffee snobs and we still love them. They’re $5–$6 and worth it.

    The nitro cold brew. Poured from a tap with the proper foam crown. Comes out smoother than most cold brews in town, and at $4.50 it’s one of the best deals downtown.

    The vanilla latte with edible glitter. Yes, edible glitter. The baristas decorate the foam on a number of drinks for fun, and yes it’s a little corny, and yes it’s delightful. If you have a kid in tow, this is the move.

    A bagel and a drip coffee. Cheap, easy, and gives you an excuse to sit for an hour before you head into the stacks.

    The People Who Run It

    Tabby’s is locally owned and operated and the staff have been featured in the local press for the kind of hospitality that doesn’t show up at chains. The Everett Herald wrote a profile years back titled “The customer is king at Tabby’s Coffee” — that kind of customer-first reputation is rare and worth supporting. The baristas remember regulars’ orders. They take time with kids. They’ll make a recommendation if you ask.

    When to Go

    Mornings (10 AM–noon) are the quietest, especially on weekdays. The library hasn’t filled up yet, the baristas have time to chat, and you can grab any of the big tables in the adjacent reading area for laptop work.

    Lunchtime (noon–2 PM) picks up with downtown workers from the county courthouse, City Hall, and the surrounding office buildings.

    Afternoon (2–5 PM) is when the library fills with after-school readers and homework crews. Quieter at the coffee bar, busier in the stacks.

    Mon/Tue/Wed late afternoon (5–7:30 PM) is the secret slot. Most coffee shops in Everett close by 4 or 5; Tabby’s stays open until 7:30 three days a week, which is the only place downtown to grab a real espresso drink past 5 PM.

    Where Tabby’s Fits in the Everett Coffee Map

    Everett’s coffee scene has gotten genuinely good. Narrative Coffee on Wetmore is the city’s destination roaster and the place serious coffee nerds pilgrimage to. Makario Coffee Roasters downtown does the heavy single-origin lifting on the espresso side. The Muse Whiskey & Coffee in the historic Weyerhaeuser building near the waterfront pulls double duty as a daytime coffee shop and a nighttime speakeasy. Bargreen Coffee Co. has been roasting in Everett since 1898 and is woven into the fabric of the city.

    Tabby’s doesn’t compete with any of those — it complements them. Tabby’s is where you go when you want to be somewhere quiet for two hours, drink something solid, and not have to talk to anyone. It’s the working-from-anywhere coffee shop. The studying coffee shop. The reading coffee shop. The civic-pride coffee shop in a building Everett built when it still believed libraries were monuments.

    If you live or work downtown and you’ve been driving past it on the way to a chain, walk in once. You’ll be back.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Tabby’s Coffee inside the Everett Public Library?

    Yes. Tabby’s Coffee operates inside the main branch of the Everett Public Library at 2702 Hoyt Avenue. It occupies a former reading room in the historic 1934 library building.

    What are Tabby’s Coffee hours?

    Monday through Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Sundays.

    Can you study at Tabby’s Coffee?

    Yes — and it’s one of the best places downtown to do it. Free Wi-Fi from the library, ample seating in the adjacent reading rooms, and an atmosphere designed for quiet focus. Bring a laptop and stay as long as you need.

    Is there parking at Tabby’s Coffee?

    Yes. Free street parking is available on Hoyt Ave and Wall Street, and the library has a parking lot directly behind the building.

    Does Tabby’s serve food?

    Yes, but it’s a limited snack menu — bagels, muffins, cookies, bagged chips, pretzels, and similar packaged items. It’s not a full café food program. Come for coffee, stay for a snack, but don’t expect a meal.

    What is the Lotus Energy drink at Tabby’s?

    Lotus Energy is a botanical-based energy concentrate made from coffee fruit, green coffee beans, lotus flower extract, and various super fruits. At Tabby’s it’s served iced with flavored syrups. It has more caffeine than a typical espresso drink and is one of the shop’s most popular menu items.

    Is Tabby’s Coffee kid-friendly?

    Yes. The library is a family destination, and Tabby’s caters to families with kids’ drinks, glittery decorations on lattes, and a generally welcoming atmosphere. Combine a coffee stop with a trip to the library’s children’s section for a great Saturday morning.

  • Dick’s Drive-In, Cathouse Pizza and 2 More Food Trucks Are Rolling Into Downtown Everett on April 25 for the Energy Block Party

    Dick’s Drive-In, Cathouse Pizza and 2 More Food Trucks Are Rolling Into Downtown Everett on April 25 for the Energy Block Party

    Q: When and where is the Snohomish PUD Energy Block Party 2026?
    A: Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Snohomish County PUD Electric Building headquarters, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201. Free admission, no RSVP required. Food trucks for the 4th annual event include Dick’s Drive-In, Ryan’s Rezipes, Cathouse Pizza, Miller Meats, and Baker’s Dozen Mini Donuts. Rain or shine.

    The Best Free Food Event in Everett This Spring Is Also a Block Party About Electricity

    Hear us out. Snohomish PUD’s Energy Block Party is on its 4th year, and what started as a utility open house has quietly become one of the most interesting free community events on the spring calendar — largely because they figured out something other community events haven’t: if you put good food trucks in the parking lot, people will show up for reasons that have nothing to do with the official programming.

    This year’s edition rolls out Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the PUD’s Electric Building at 2320 California Street in downtown Everett. The food lineup is better than it has any right to be. And if you’ve been waiting for a Saturday where you can get Dick’s Drive-In without the Seattle line, this is your morning.

    The Food Truck Lineup

    Dick’s Drive-In Food Truck

    This is the big one. Dick’s Drive-In — the Seattle institution that has been serving Deluxes, Dick’s Specials, and hand-cut fries since 1954 — brings its mobile truck to the Everett waterfront for the first time in a long time. The permanent north-end Dick’s location is in Edmonds (the closest brick-and-mortar), so getting the full menu at a truck in downtown Everett is not a weekly occurrence. Expect a line. Bring cash or be ready for the card reader; either works.

    What to order: The Deluxe burger, hand-cut fries, and a chocolate shake. That’s the classic trio and that’s what they do best. Don’t overthink it.

    Cathouse Pizza

    Handcrafted New York-style 10-inch personal pizzas with a serious twist — Cathouse specializes in vegan, dairy-free, and egg-free dough and sauces. That doesn’t mean the pizza is only for vegans; it means everyone at the table can eat it, which is the whole point. The crust is proper thin, the sauce is proper red, and the pizzas are sized for one hungry human each.

    What to order: Whatever the daily special is. Cathouse rotates their specials based on what produce they picked up that week. Ask the window; they’ll tell you what’s worth it.

    Miller Meats

    The carnivore counter to Cathouse. Miller Meats is a Snohomish County-based operation doing the heavy meat lifting — burgers, sandwiches, smoked items. Good pick for anyone who looked at the pizza lineup and said “where’s the beef.”

    Ryan’s Rezipes

    Local family-run food truck with a rotating menu of comfort food — think hand-held sandwiches and creative takes on diner classics. Ryan’s Rezipes shows up on the Snohomish County food truck circuit regularly and has a loyal following. Good “I don’t know what I want” option because the menu covers a lot of ground.

    Baker’s Dozen Mini Donuts

    Fresh mini donuts made to order. Sugar, cinnamon, chocolate, or whatever seasonal topping they’re running that day. Bring a bag home for the kids. Bring a second bag for yourself.

    Coffee

    A coffee vendor will be on site — which matters, because this is a 10 AM event. Details on the specific roaster haven’t been announced, but you’ll be able to grab a latte without walking three blocks to downtown.

    What Else Is Going On

    The Energy Block Party is, technically, about energy. Snohomish PUD uses the event to show off the utility side of what they do — which, if you’re curious about how the grid works, is actually more interesting than it sounds.

    • Touch-a-truck: The line trucks are there, bucket trucks are there, and kids can climb on them. This is the reason every family with an under-10 in Snohomish County shows up.
    • High-voltage demo trailer: A PUD-run demonstration that shows what electricity actually does in the real world. Loud, smoky, safe. Very popular.
    • Line worker demonstrations: Real line workers in gear explaining how they keep the lights on.
    • Info booths: Solar power, lowering your bills, electric vehicles, and — new this year — booths on future energy tech including small modular nuclear and fusion. If you’ve been meaning to learn how to lower your bill or install rooftop solar, this is the one-stop shop.
    • Electric vehicle showcase: EVs on display, conversations with owners, and PUD staff available to answer rebate and installation questions.

    The Practical Details

    Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
    Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Location: Snohomish County PUD Electric Building, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201
    Admission: Free
    RSVP: Not required
    Parking: Free street parking on California Street and in the surrounding blocks; PUD lots open to visitors during the event
    Kids: Yes, it’s kid-central
    Dogs: Leashed dogs generally welcome outdoors
    Weather: Rain or shine (the food trucks will be out; some of the demos are outdoors)

    How to Work This Saturday

    Get there at 10:15 AM. Grab coffee first, hit Dick’s before the line gets long (and it will), then rotate through the info booths while you eat. The mini donuts are the dessert move. The touch-a-truck area peaks around 11:30 AM, so if you have kids, plan to be done eating by then so you can enjoy the stuff they care about.

    If you’re on an EV and thinking about solar or a home charger, get there early and actually spend time at the info booths — PUD staff are not trying to sell you anything, and the rebate and tax credit landscape in 2026 has real money in it if you know where to look.

    Why This Event Matters for Everett

    The Energy Block Party has become one of those quietly great downtown events that does several things at once: it pulls people into downtown Everett on a Saturday morning, it puts independent food trucks in front of a captive audience, and it makes the PUD — a utility that most people only interact with when they pay a bill — feel like a neighbor. That’s a rare combination.

    It also lines up perfectly with the Everett Farmers Market’s Get Ready Market week and the broader spring-into-downtown push the city has been running. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to spend a Saturday morning in Everett that isn’t just a coffee run, this is the one.

    Go hungry. Bring cash for the smaller trucks. And yes — order the Dick’s Deluxe.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the Snohomish PUD Energy Block Party free?

    Yes. Admission is free, and no RSVP is required. Food and drink from the trucks is at your own expense.

    What time does the Energy Block Party 2026 start?

    The event runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

    Where is the PUD Electric Building?

    2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201. It’s in downtown Everett, a few blocks east of the waterfront and within walking distance of the Everett Transit Station.

    Is Dick’s Drive-In really coming to Everett for this?

    Yes — Dick’s is sending their food truck to the event. The closest permanent Dick’s Drive-In location is in Edmonds, so this is one of the few times per year the Dick’s truck is easily accessible from Everett without a drive down I-5.

    Are dogs allowed at the Energy Block Party?

    Leashed dogs are generally welcome in the outdoor areas. The demo trailer and some info booth tents may not allow pets inside — use judgment and keep your dog away from the high-voltage demo area.

    Is the event kid-friendly?

    Yes. This is arguably the most kid-friendly free event in downtown Everett in April. Touch-a-truck with real utility line trucks, the high-voltage demo, and the mini donut truck make it a strong family pick.

    Can you still go if it’s raining?

    Yes — the event happens rain or shine. The food trucks will be there, and most of the info booths are under tents. The touch-a-truck and outdoor demos may have modified schedules if the weather is severe.

    Will there be vegan food at the Energy Block Party?

    Yes. Cathouse Pizza specializes in vegan, dairy-free, and egg-free pizza dough and sauces. You can get a full vegan meal at this event — which is more than you can say about most food truck festivals.

  • Makario Coffee Roasters Is the Downtown Everett Coffee Shop You Should Already Know About

    Makario Coffee Roasters Is the Downtown Everett Coffee Shop You Should Already Know About

    Is Makario Coffee Roasters worth going out of your way for? Yes. Makario at 2613 Colby Ave roasts its own beans, builds some of the most genuinely inventive lattes in Everett (the Mt. Rainier, the sesame latte, the Dirty Chai), and runs a plant-filled Colby Avenue space that works for a pourover as well as a breakfast panini. It’s the best downtown Everett coffee shop you’re probably still sleeping on.

    Everett’s Quiet Coffee Story Is at Makario

    Everett gets one coffee shop right in most local roundup lists, and that shop is Narrative Coffee. Narrative earned the national recognition — Sprudge named their flagship one of the best new cafés in the world — and we’re not here to litigate that. But if you only go to Narrative, you’re missing what’s actually happening in downtown Everett coffee in 2026. What’s happening is four blocks away at 2613 Colby Avenue, inside a cramped, plant-covered storefront called Makario Coffee Roasters.

    Makario is a local roaster, not a café that pours someone else’s beans. That distinction matters. The team roasts in-house, which means the espresso you get at Makario is dialed specifically for Makario’s machine, the pourover is cut for their water, and the flavor choices — which are the most interesting part — come from the same kitchen that sourced the green coffee. That’s not a small thing in a county full of drive-through espresso stands serving commodity roasters.

    What to Order on Your First Visit

    The signature is the Mt. Rainier, a salted caramel latte topped with salted caramel whipped cream. It’s sweet, yes, but the espresso underneath is strong enough to stand up to the whip, and the salt cuts the caramel the way it’s supposed to. If you want a specialty drink that reminds you this is an actual coffee program and not a dessert disguised as coffee, order the Mt. Rainier and then get a straight espresso after. You’ll see the whole range.

    The sesame latte is the curious pick. Toasted sesame syrup, espresso, steamed milk. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, and the first sip takes about three seconds to land. Then it clicks. The nutty bitterness of toasted sesame plays against the roast notes in the espresso in a way that feels less like a flavored latte and more like a deliberately composed drink. It’s the one we keep coming back for.

    The Dirty Chai is the sleeper order. A lot of cafés make a bad Dirty Chai — too much chai syrup, underextracted espresso, milk that’s been sitting. Makario’s is balanced. The chai spice has bite, the espresso shows up, and the milk is pulled to the right texture. If you drink Dirty Chais often, this is the one in Everett you should be ordering.

    For the purist: specialty-grade pourover. Ask the barista what’s on bar that week. Makario rotates the pourover menu based on what’s fresh off the roaster. You’ll get a conversation about the origin, the process, the notes — if you want one. You can also just say “whatever you’d drink this morning” and trust the answer.

    The Food Side

    Makario isn’t a pastry case operation. They run a small but real kitchen doing brunch items, paninis, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, bagels, and waffles. The breakfast sandwich on a fresh bagel is the pairing we recommend with a pourover. The waffles are the weekend move. Portions are not generous; this is café food, not diner food.

    What matters: the food quality matches the coffee quality. Too many local cafés pour good coffee and then serve frozen quiches. Makario’s kitchen is dialed enough that you can make it a proper breakfast stop rather than a caffeine grab on the way to a real breakfast.

    The Space

    Makario is small. That’s the honest review. It’s a tight Colby Avenue storefront with tall windows, exposed brick, and enough hanging plants to qualify as a jungle exhibit. There’s seating for maybe fifteen people at a stretch. On weekend mornings you will wait — for a table, for your drink, for a chance to look at the pastry shelf without bumping into someone.

    On a weekday afternoon, though, Makario is one of the most pleasant third-place environments in Everett. The plants, the natural light, and the hum of the espresso machine combine into something that feels more Ballard than Broadway. We’ve written entire drafts of articles from the two-top in the back corner.

    Hours, Parking, and How to Plan Around Them

    Makario is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. That’s a coffee shop schedule that will disappoint you once — when you show up on a Monday morning expecting to work there and can’t. Write it on your mental schedule.

    Parking downtown Everett is street-metered and usually easy to find within two or three blocks of the shop, especially in the morning. Colby Avenue has been getting better at pedestrian life, and Makario is a central stop on any downtown walking loop that includes the Historic Everett Theatre, Artisans Books & Coffee, or the restaurants along Hewitt.

    How Makario Fits Into the Everett Coffee Scene

    Narrative is the internationally-recognized flagship. Artisans is the books-and-coffee combo. Nadine’s is the hidden-alley dog-friendly pick. Bargreen is the historic roaster with 127 years of Everett on its resume. Each of these shops does a different thing, and Everett coffee drinkers should know all of them.

    Makario is the one where the coffee program is the most creative. The flavors are thought through. The menu changes. The roaster operates intentionally rather than by rote. If you drink coffee as a daily ritual rather than a utility, Makario is the shop that rewards repeat visits.

    The Verdict

    If you’ve only been to Narrative, your downtown Everett coffee life is incomplete. Walk four blocks to Makario. Order the sesame latte, sit by the window, let the sun through the plants, and pay attention to what you’re drinking. Then come back on a different day and order the Mt. Rainier. Then come back on a weekend and get the breakfast sandwich. This is how downtown Everett mornings are supposed to feel.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Makario Coffee Roasters located?

    2613 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, between downtown and the Hewitt corridor.

    What are Makario Coffee Roasters’ hours?

    Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

    Does Makario roast its own coffee?

    Yes. Makario is a local roaster, not a café pouring someone else’s beans. Fresh-roasted beans are available for purchase to take home.

    What’s the signature drink at Makario?

    The Mt. Rainier — a salted caramel latte topped with salted caramel whipped cream — is the most recognized order. The sesame latte is the cult favorite.

    Does Makario serve food?

    Yes. Breakfast sandwiches, paninis, burritos, bagels, waffles, and a rotating brunch menu. The food matches the coffee quality rather than being an afterthought.

    Is there seating at Makario?

    Yes, but limited. The space seats about fifteen people. Weekday afternoons are the easiest time to find a table.

    How does Makario compare to Narrative Coffee?

    Narrative is the internationally recognized flagship with a spectacular flagship space. Makario is the more creative coffee program with the in-house roasting story and a broader flavor menu. Everett coffee drinkers should know both.

    Is there parking near Makario Coffee Roasters?

    Yes. Colby Avenue has street-metered parking, and it’s generally easy to find a spot within a few blocks during weekday mornings.