ANNOUNCER: A quick call was made to Meconi’s earlier this month.

“Hello, Meconi’s? What’s the name of the restaurant next to you?”

“No, not Matador. The new one right next to you, by the park.”

“No, it’s not Capers anymore and yes, I’m serious.” There was a pause and silence. “Oh, you didn’t notice anything had changed? OK, thank you.”

And that sums up the visual impact of the sale of Capers and subsequent birth of Seven-Oh-One. This new bistro has slipped hermit crab-like into the space at 701 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma. Owner Patti Iseman is new to Tacoma’s dicey sustenance game having formerly owned a very casual dining spot in Gig Harbor, the Hy-Iu-Hee-Hee. A bistro in Tacoma is a different animal entirely. Hopes are high.

Read Jake and Jason de Paul's review of Seven-Oh-One on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

Photo: J.M. Simpson