Since the initial changes made by new owner Steve Anderson upon taking the reigns at Tacoma's Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge, the reported response has been good. "People are liking what we're doing, I'm going with it," Anderson says.

The "it" Anderson refers to is offering a greater variety of dishes at a lower price. And Anderson is making changes yet again to the very popular lounge menu, like the grilled naan with a house-made IPA hummus, which has sweet stone fruit chutney and pickled grapes as accompaniment that truly make the new dish.

Ahi nicoise salad is a thing of beauty: pink peppercorn seared tuna, fingerling potatoes, green beans, beets, olives, hardboiled egg, and mixed greens are set off by pesto mint blood orange dressing.

A new dessert of dense flourless chocolate cake topped with crushed pink peppercorn sitting atop a berry sauce is oh so right.

Fans of the Walker burger need not worry at its disappearance from the lounge menu; it's still available on the dinner menu.

Last but not least, Maxwell's recently won the "Judges Choice" award with Anderson's Hawaiian Kahlua pork slider at the first-annual Slider Cook-Off competition Shake, Rattle & Grill presented by the Museum of Glass.

[Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge, 454 St. Helens Avenue, Tacoma, 253.683.4115]

LINK: Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge is participating in Tacoma Restaurant Week April 15-26