1022 South J

My son and daughter took me to this little gem while I was visiting from Hawaii. We shared the wings. For dinner we had scallops, chicken breast sandwich, and flatiron pork. Unbelievable is all I can say. The complexity in flavors makes every bite simple, yet elegant. This small restaurant may be my favorite so far in Tacoma. The bartender, Beth, is lovely. Her drinks are spectacular and it is a joy to watch her prepare each one individually and with such finesse. Will most definitely be returning to this fantastic place!!!

Love this place!!! The food is SO yum and the drinks are unique and also quite delicious! This is a SMALL location which can be a bummer but does add to its charm. My favorite drink is «In The Meantime», please try it! A perfect little hipster gem without all the pretentiousness!

I visited 1022 s J with a group of ladies, attending a bachelorette party. The atmosphere is that of an average, clean, neighborhood bar.
The drinks were good and had some fun names as well as many including the nostalgic and creative ingredient of «cereal milk», which is exactly what it sounds like.
I had what I recall was titled «When she speaks, you listen». It was primarily orange, gin, and absinthe based. Those flavors were well represented but it was hard to find any hints of the other listed ingredients within my glass. Overall though, it was tasty and they didn’t hold back on the alcohol.
The food was disappointing. I ordered «Pom frites» and I believe that if you are gonna slap so much French on the fries (Ha) that they better be magnifique. They were not. They were greasy, over cooked, and little nubs. The sauces served along side it were each maybe one notch away from being memorable. The blue bleu cheese aoli was a little hard to mentally overcome the expectation of a sweet sauce. My friends ordered other dishes and were equally unimpressed.
The service was a bit slow and I think we may have been forgotten at one point.

Probably the best place in Tacoma to get craft mixed drinks and they also have a great selection of bourbon and scotch which is not on the menu so observe the top shelves when you go in. I was surprised at what I found there.
The just expanded their kitchen and menu, the food coming from it looking amazing. We just ate prior to showing up and were not hungry. But we will definitely be back and give it a whirl.
Like I mentioned earlier the drinks are amazing and since Hilltop Kitchen closed /​relocated this place has become my number one place for craft mixed drinks. The staff has always been friendly and quick to bring out the drinks even when they are busy. Usually a younger, hipster crowd but still a nice place to grab a drink with the wife or friends.
Overall a great place I just wish the area was a bit better. I was hoping this area would see a revival, but since Hilltop Kitchen closed I think it might be like this for awhile. I would suggest not leaving anything visible in your car when you park, it is Hilltop.

Hard to beat a craft cocktail from 1022. Has it evolved over the years? Yes. But I think it’s now hit its stride and may be the best it’s ever been.

My drink was made very well, loved the atmosphere, waitress was so sweet and gave my group amazing recommendations that everyone loved. Sweet potatoes fries and all of the sauces. My friends and I will definitely be back.

I enjoy the atmosphere and menu a whole lot. We used to go semi-​regularly with a steady group of friends which was great but the service has slowly become less awesome. We have a friend who orders an old fashioned and the last two times he’s been they’ve made it wrong. I also asked for a bartender’s choice once and the bartender made a drink off the menu… the drink was good because they’re all good but I wanted something different which was why I asked for a bartender’s choice. We’ll likely still frequent though it sounds like we’ll be doing so less frequently due to service ‘issues’. The food and drinks are fantastic and the atmosphere is definitely unique so I’m still a fan. Just wish they had better consistent service.

Great drinks, but forgetful when putting in a food order. We ordered two drinks and a side, and our girl forgot about placing the order for our side dish… After talking about how we would like it. She was sweet, we were all smiley, we asked if our side was coming because we need to get going, but she came over with our check… Whaaaat? Politely kicked out – I guess. Drinks were good enough for us to want to try again.

Really great drinks. The owner is really great and will work with you to find what you want. Its sad for me to say, because I love this place, but Hilltop Kitchen is better…

I love the drinks here. I had some sort of lavender lemon drink the first time I went (incredible!) and some fantastic bourbon drinks the seconds. Their avocado tartar kinda changed my life. It was awesome.

What a great find! New to the neighborhood and found 1022 South J on a walk with my dog. Cocktails were lovely, the avocado tartare was elegant, and the cheese and charcuterie plate was perfect. I think this may be my new post work relaxation place!

Most of the Unilocal reviews about 1022 really do it a disservice and are grossly misleading as to the type of place it is. A good majority of the poor reviews are by 21 year olds complaining about their drinks being too strong, needy assholes whining about how the bartender didn’t discuss the meaning of life with them or that its not the same old 1022… Well guess what? Things change, get over it. Yes its not the same old 1022 but the people who work here and put in COPIUS amounts of time at this place put out a quality product but you obviously can’t please everyone. If you can’t drink liquor and you want juice with malibu or fucking peach schnapps go to TGI Fridays. 1022 is a small bar that usually only has 1 or 2 bartenders at a time and it fills up to capacity regularly. The bartenders are busy making drinks because thats their JOB. When its slower and they have the time they’re wonderful, hilarious people that would gladly chit chat with you but that’s not always possible on busy nights. They have just opened a new kitchen and Riley (the chef) is constantly coming up with new delicious recipes and ways to improve the menu. Rose pours herself into the lengthy drink menu, inventing fresh new drink ideas that will please the whiskey/​gin/​vodka/​scotch etc. Lover in anyone. And Beth. Who can forget Beth, shes the cutest little pocket sized bartender you’ve ever met! She makes a mean drink, shes amazing with improvising when someone doesn’t like «this» or is allergic to «that». Plus the woman doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Unilocal tends to be a better platform for complainers rather than happy customers. So if your looking for an adult beverage or an awesome meal and don’t have a stick wedged firmly up your ass give this place a try!
I recommend:
A slap on the wrist (sweeter)
Dicey proposal
A brief interlude
The boozey arnold palmer
The 1022 blt
The fries
The bacon Mac and cheese

Came here for a friends birthday and was very impressed by the gracious welcoming. The server was a little flighty and this place could use some systems to help with training on table times and visits, but to find a server/​bartender that truly cares about making each drink memorable and personalized is hard to find for the price point and we will definitely be back. The food was also delicious, I tried the scallops and a friend got the shrimp and grits. Good portion sizes, especially for the money. So great to see a cool place like this popping up in Tacoma. Keep em coming!

I’m honestly baffled by any review with fewer than 5 stars. This is hands down the best cocktail in Tacoma and I can’t think of a superior experience I’ve had in Seattle. It’s that good. I pretty much let Rose do as she pleases now, as I’ve never had a bourbon drink go wrong. The meat and cheese plate is top notch, as well. Give this a go. Or don’t. I’d prefer not to compete for a table anyway :)

Visited for the first time recently and sat at the bar. It was a quiet night so I had lots of time to chat with Rose, who was great to talk to. She also makes a mean old fashioned with a stiff pour.
Ordered the grilled cheese which was served with potato wedges. It’s pretty amazing what the cook can pull together in a kitchen the size of my bedroom closet. The sandwich had three cheeses and was the perfect mix of toasty/​gooey.
It sounds like they’re pretty close to opening their new kitchen in back with a much larger menu. I’ll definitely visit again!

I do enjoy this cozy little place, though i will say the amount of wine in a single pour is pretty small, about half of most other places charging the same. Pretty disappointed in that alone.

My husband and I love trying new places. We looked up Swanky bars in Tacoma and never been to this place. Walked in and we immediately loved it. Small and intimate and unique.
I think the owner was there and she gave great recommendations and made us delicious drinks. I love lavender drinks and my husband likes smokey bourbons. We were gonna go to a second place that night but ended up staying for the whole evening. Relaxing, delicious food, and great service.
We even met some nice people who just raved about the place.
Im sad that there are bad reviews but everyone will have its haters. The more room for me :)

Really cute bar! The awesome owner makes the drinks. I love the drinks– they’re delicious! (Try the jalapeño pineapple or the lavender!)
I can never remember the name though! I love that once you DO remember, it’s easy to find. But until then… I google «cocktail bar» and see.

We always enjoy 1022 south J. The vibe is real laid back, and their food is amazing! I am truly bummed about the scallop dish being gone though. I thought of it for days after. :-) So, I Hope it returns soon. Im also excited for the upcoming changes. :-) We had the white bean dip and it was truly amazing!

Want amazing cocktails and thoughtful, tasty food to pair? This is the place. Brought fun clients and friends here after hearing about the cocktail list and we were so impressed. Very much a craft here. Great service, attentive, helpful and all around cool vibe too. Looking forward to returning soon.

best drinks in Tacoma. Huge variety in a small place. Service is pretty quick. Sit at bar if you can and allow her to create if you are unsure

My positive review: Love the outdoor seating and very easy to drink cocktail.
But, the manager was smoking INSIDE the patio area, not on the street but in the fenced off area. And downwind, as in, the smoke blew through the whole of the patio. This is the height bad form and not even legal, for staff or patrons.
The whiskey cocktail was weak/​watery. You can and should shake a cocktail with a juice element but if you are going to then pour it over ice, after the shaking, you better make sure you put enough flavor and booze in the drink to carry it through. BTW, strain your cocktails, I felt like I was eating a salad.
Also, if you open at 4 you might want to sweep and water the plants before 4pm. maybe not have a water fight, using a hose, with your friends in range of the customers.
For a craft cocktail place the drink was pretty poor. Bartender didn’t know if tax was included in the price. After I paid for the drink I was never offered water or spoken to again. I was kinda treated like I wasn’t there and I wish I hadn’t been.
Someone spend a bit of money here to build this place out so it’s a pleasant enough place to be and have a drink. But there was a big red flag when I walked in: I saw the owners getting drunk and treating the restaurant like their living room. But they might have just been friends of the manager.

1022 RIP
The wrong ice, the drinks were poorly constructed, Bartender did not even bother to taste the drinks which tells me how little she cares, and I watched her shake a drink a good three times longer than it should be so it had to be watery.
Did not stick around for food given how poor the drinks were. And the menu? What was the point of adding «a real kitchen» when the food menu is now smaller and less interesting than it was without a kitchen?
Service was fake and over eager. Drinks were fast (maybe because on a friday night traffic was light) but if they are not good this does not matter.

The restroom is eloquent. But the cocktails are amazing, the scallops and collared greens made me want to hug the chef. no, seriously, they are that good!

I heard about this place a few times and decided to try it out with some friends. The place is small. I want to say no more than 8 tables were inside this small venue. (Unless there is a part of the venue I didn’t see??) Drink options were «handcrafted» as mentioned in previous reviews but to me, they were all odd mixes. The only thing my friends really enjoyed was the whiskey ice ball thing. Didn’t try the food; don’t even think I recall there being a food menu given to us. There wasn’t a lot of people traffic either… once people got in, they kind of lingered. More of a chill spot for book readers and laptop workers.

This place is great! I’ve been here twice and both times I was impressed with the speedy service and reasonably priced small plates. I’ve ordered the hen egg and the avocado tartare (which I believe changed between my visits, now it may include mango?). Mm. That avocado is fresh.
Nice décor, very small and intimate setting. Great classic rock playing in the background. I don’t know if they have an extensive beer selection, but the beer I ordered (stout) was good and cheap for a bar ($ 4).
I haven’t tried many of their cocktails but they have plenty of interesting options.

What to say about 1022 J? I almost don’t want to share this gem for selfish reasons but it is becoming a Tacoma gem. Expect hand made drinks with a personal touch from Rose and delicious plates from Chef Riley. They are always willing to provide recommendations based on your preferences and personal taste.

Haven’t been here for a long while, we were pleasantly surprised! Rose was an amazing mixologist, thou she doesn’t like being called that. The tequila drinks on the menu were over the top! And the vegi tar tar was amazing! Love the current vibe of 1022! Warm and inviting with that non pretentious hilltop edge. Keep it real, Tacoma! Stay Gritty!

First time I went here, second time for my GF, neither of us where impressed with the food service was extremely slow and the food took forever I’ll cut them slack on that though since the cook has a small oven 1 sandwich press and a microwave and it was a little busy. The drinks where very unique and delicious most of their alcohols are imported which is pretty awesome. The atmosphere was very enjoyable except the benches in there where super uncomfortable.
If your looking for a small unique place to get some cocktails and such it’s a great place to go, inside and outside seating. Food 3 stars. Atmosphere 5 stars drinks 5 stars overall I’d say it’s a solid 4 stars.

Me & some friends came in to just get some drinks.
Our server was Rose and that’s about all I can tell you about her since after she took our orders we weren’t a priority anymore.
It was happy hour and I chose something with coconut milk in it because she suggested it … it was pretty horrid. All I tasted was the liquor with a thick film covering my mouth :(
I also tried a dessert (took about 20+ min to arrive but I couldn’t help but notice a group after us received their order in a timely manner) & that was a complete let down too. Everything on the plate tasted like raw mint & the chocolate sauce had this lingering burned after taste.
My bill came to about $ 14 & I will probably never return.
Horrible customer service, horrible drink, horrible food.

I went to both 1022 and it’s Hilltop competitor in the same evening. I’ve been to both before (and 1022 before the ownership change) and I must say back to back really made it evident how much better this place is.
The service was faster, the drinks as good or better, and the food great. The environment is much more cozy and low key, which is certainly my speed, but that is definitely just personal taste.
Truly at the end of the day what made this place better was the bartender, she was quick, attentive and FAR friendlier. I will definitely come back again.

I was a little leery of trying this place because it had a three and a half star average. From my experience after moving to this area places with such an average can either be solid or not good at all.
In the case of 1022 South J it swayed in a favorable direction for me. I have been here twice now and enjoyed their drinks and food! The mixed drinks choices seem to be better than others. Steve got the Passenger Seat mixed drink but did not care for too much. I got the Hot Spiced Toddy and enjoyed it immensely!
The next time I went back we both got the BLT1 and the BLT2. The difference between the two sandwiches was that different ingredients were added. I enjoyed mine and Steve enjoyed his!
1022 has several variates of beers on hand too and the choices they carry are good ones.
The place is not a big venue yet the atmosphere is chill and good music is almost always playing here. The lights are dimmed to a comfortable mood and the seats are cozy. Because of it being smaller the place seems more intimate and is quiet enough to enjoy your time here with conversation without shouting over noise and poor acoustics.