SCENE OF THE CRIME by Natasha
An acquaintance of mine once turned to me and said, "Dude, I don't understand why you like going to the West End - it's for 30-something townies."
My response was simple: A 30-something townie is exactly what I am.
But I think the West End Pub & Grill attracts much more than that.
You really, really get every walk of life there. University of Puget Sound party animals, summer teeth (some are there, some aren't) locals, pretty people, ghetto, ghetto fabulous, yuppies, yuckies, mechanics, doctors - the list could go on forever. Watching people at the West End is like being at Disneyland.
And gawd, do the people pile in there. It's packed on Fridays and Saturdays. Even with its gritty edge, that place is always busy, day or night, weeknight or otherwise.
When I first went to the West End, I didn't understand the attraction. I've never really trusted a bar with carpeted floors and pull tabs. But when you add big-screen sports, karaoke greats like "Love Shack" and "Black Betty" (you know, the Bam-ba-Lam song) and beautiful bald bartenders providing good service (you, too, Precious Patty), you get a business model to reckon with.
If you really want to fit in, you should go there often. The entire crowd at the West End seems united by Tacoma's one degree of separation.
A seat at the long bar is premium for getting the swerve on. You can distance yourself from the karaoke killers, and hold a conversation with the people next to you - all while not getting run over by the hustlers hustling about.
Now, I have seen a fight or two in this establishment, and the West End's reputation does precede itself, but the situations are always quickly resolved. Getting on the "protected list" is beneficial, girls, which is probably why there are so many hot chicks there.
This schmuck once tried to blow me off after he spilt his drink on my belongings. When I asked him to apologize, he cussed me out (winner). The Napoleon complex tends to appear in the likeliest of places. The door guy swiftly swept in and took care of it - thank you very much.
Dear Napoleon Dynamite: Don't mess with the girl who has the fire in her eyes and the fury in her column (right, Ginger?!).
The food at the West End is definitely an artery clog, but it's affordable and awesome. I love the steaks, the Philly sandwich and yes, yes - the cheesy bacon fries.
Yet another Sixth Ave success story, a stop at the West End is worth it.
Cheers!
West End Pub & Grill, 3840 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, (253) 759-2896.