RON SWARNER: BEST SANDWICH IN TACOMA? >>>

Of course I love the Mandolin Café. It’s the Harmonic Concordance of restaurants. It's one of those rare venues where students studying calculus, vibrant flamenco guitar music, businesspeople updating their Web sites, Tacoma French Club, family lunch, teens texting on comfy couches, espresso pulled right, warm interior and delicious food take a step forward in unison, and inward, cosmically and spiritually speaking. It’s shockingly cool interconnectedness of all spirit and sandwiches and music and wine make me want to tear my clothes off and make love in front of its fireplace while you sit home and scoff and shrug and watch Howie Do It.

And somehow I love the Mandolin Café even more today. Holy Bring Back Pluto As A Planet I discovered the Mandolin’s tuna salad croissant. I knew I had tasted perfection. Somehow owners Creig Kostoff and Marla Simms have managed to find the perfect combination of creamy tuna goodness with celery and cheddar cheese and flakey buttery bonus and grilled flat (your choice) so people may fling it like a Frisbee and I would fetch it every time.

Why is it not on this list?

[Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482