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There's a new dining option in the Stadium District. Art House Café opened April 6, with an in-house bakery, coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner menus all from scratch and made with local ingredients, as well as cooking classes.

Co-owners Lucia and John Armstrong, who also own neighboring Open Arts Studio, and chef/co-owner Dustin Joseph envisioned a cool place to hang out, with a fun environment and a focus on local and sustainable ingredients.

"The cafe has a family atmosphere with clean, fresh food," says Joseph, former chef of Chamber's Bay Grill.

It sounds very promising. He described house-pickled vegetables and a bloody Mary with tomato water ice cubes so it does not get watered down. The menus are filled with epicurean delights. For breakfast and bakery items, menu highlights include to-go breakfast sandwiches and burritos and eggs Benedict with house-made English muffins. For lunch, look for an ample selection of pizzas and gourmet grilled sandwiches. The "late crafts" menu features small plates with house-made charcuterie and specialty salads and pizzas.

Pastries, baked goods and coffee are available all day, with breakfast from 7-11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner items 4-10 or 11 p.m.

According to Joseph, cooking classes have already begun for kids, and will start in a couple of weeks for adults.

ART HOUSE CAFÉ, 6 A.M. TO 10 P.M. MONDAY-THURSDAY, 6 A.M. TO 11 P.M. FRIDAY, 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M. SATURDAY, 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. SUNDAY, 111 N. TACOMA AVE., TACOMA, 253.212.2011