The Crown Bar ranks as my favorite hip spot in the South Sound because it delivers on intimacy, an excellent street foods menu and cold beer. I like many items on the menu, but when I want perfection, I dive into a plate of their fried oysters. With just the right hints of oil and sea, these hummers slide down nicely with a Guinness chasing them. Patterned after a Dublin pub, Crown Bar has been a welcome addition to the Tacoma area, and the oysters are just cream on the top.

[2705 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4177]