Tacoma's best Reuben, according to readers, skips sliced bread. Here's how it's made
The best Reuben in Pierce County, readers of The News Tribune say, is not actually served on sliced rye — it's on a hoagie bun.
Peterson Bros. 1111, the dive bar and hot-sandwich source in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood since 2012, snagged the top spot in our March poll for being 'delicious consistently,' as one voter put it. It was something of a tight race among the 300-plus participants.
While 1111 scored 13% of votes, Lake City Pub, a cozy haunt near American Lake in Lakewood, was very close behind with just seven fewer tallies and 10% of the total. Doyle's Public House took home the bronze with 8%. MSM Deli gets an honorable mention for a cool 7%.
About a similar number of respondents said we forgot to list their favorite. Ashlynn R. called out the Country Rose Cafe in Spanaway, where she said the Reuben is 'cooked perfectly.' Donna D. cited the Windmill Bistro in Sumner for a specimen with 'perfect rye … just the right amount of toasting paired with a perfect ratio of super tender corned beef to sauerkraut.' Lindsay prefers the 'grilled to perfection' with lots of meat at Angleas, a retro-themed diner on Tacoma's Eastside.
Top of Tacoma in McKinley, Peaks and Pints in Proctor, Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor and Zog's of Fox Island rounded out the Top 10.
One reader, Kristine J., waved to Stadium Deli 'without question,' as in the deli at Stadium Thriftway. We didn't include any grocery stores on the list of choices, but perhaps we should have!
Either way, there was enough consensus for us to pay a visit to 1111 last week for a glimpse into how chef Mike Parker handles the task.
▪ 1111 S. 11th St., Tacoma, 253-284-1111, elevenelevenbar.com
▪ Daily 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
▪ 21+, but staff frequently take phone orders for pickup
Like all the sandwiches here, the Reuben ($13.49 with chips and pickle) begins with a hoagie bun from Coeur d'Alene Baking in Kent, a subsidiary of Portland wholesale company, Marsee Baking. The Kent facility created a rye version just for the Peterson Bros., said Parker. Had they been unable to get a rye hoagie, there would be no 1111 Reuben, he added.
The split bun gets a little butter and some heat on the flat-top, while 'good-quality pastrami' and sauerkraut is grilled and flipped, then steamed with Swiss cheese and flipped again. A generous layer of housemade thousand island dressing tops it off.
It turns out that the Reuben is not the bar's most popular sandwich — that's likely the chipotle turkey melt, Parker surmised. But, he said, 'Sometimes I won't make any Reubens, and sometimes I'll make Reubens all day.'
Of note: 1111 and its sister bars, The Valley and Peaks and Pints, have garnered well-deserved reputations for vegetarian and especially vegan options that don't skimp on flavor or heartiness. On Hilltop, the vegan Reuben, made with house seitan, a vegan mayo-based thousand island, and chao cheese is a topseller: 'We make a lot of vegan Reubens,' said Parker.
At Peaks and Pints, at least one reader reported loving the bread style at this beer bar. The more modest kitchen there, equipped with just a TurboChef oven and not a whole grill and hood like at 1111, uses the same bread but with the roundness removed to create a flat surface. As Craig R. wrote, the result is 'more like a French roll with the top cut off, so it will grill like a slice of toast. Love it!'
Here's a look at what else readers had to say about their picks.
▪ 9106 Veterans Dr. SW, Lakewood, 253-267-1309, facebook.com/TheLakeCityPub
'The perfect blend — a hearty, lovely sandwich! She's got it down, perfect!!' wrote Bonnie W., referencing owner Lauren Lively. What else is noteworthy about this Reuben ($17 with chips)? 'EVERYTHING!' said Tavia. Added Ciara, 'I've eaten A LOT of Reubens in the area and Lake City's is by far the BEST.' The kitchen cooks the corned beef in extra spices before slicing, topping plentifully with German-style kraut, Swiss and thousand island. You can tell the marble rye is grilled with ample butter. Perhaps the secret, though, is a little hint of bacon!
▪ 208 St. Helens Ave., 253-272-7568, doylespublichouse.com
At this everyday pub, chef Ben Marcus offers a few ways to love a Reuben. In one, pretzel-bun sliders ($14.49) combine the usual with a boost from Olympia's own OlyKraut. In another, house corned beef, Swiss and kraut get wrapped into a crispy wonton, egg-roll style, served with the dressing on the side to dip ($10.95). The classic ($16 with choice of side) boasts hand-sliced corned beef (as opposed to a mechanical slicing machine) on dark rye.
▪ 2220 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4814, facebook.com
The Reuben ($8.39-$15.99) at Tacoma's go-to deli is one of the only sandwiches on the menu that defaults to sliced bread (over the signature oblong subs). It's all toasted up, but beyond that you can choose traditional with thousand island or 'deli-style,' which omits the classic sauce and subs mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Whether that's still a Reuben is up to you.
▪ 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-1502, thetopoftacoma.com
One reader asked simply, 'Have you had one from the Top!?!? Really the best ever!' Pastrami — 'lots,' according to voter Mel — plus OlyKraut, Swiss and Russian dressing on light rye, grilled of course. The Rainier Reuben ($15.75) remains on the standard menu under the bar's new-in-2024 ownership.
▪ 109 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-604-4791, tkirishpub.com
Les S. noted the great marble rye at this Puyallup pub and extra-tender, house-braised corned beef. Topping it off is a special housemade 'Blarney sauce,' all plated with fries or tots ($18).
▪ 5226 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-302-5650, opalloungetacoma.com
The barbecue bar on South Tacoma Way received several nods from avid fans, including Richard D. who described the sandwich here ($19.50 with choice of side) as 'amazingly moist and great cocktails to pair.' Thanks to all the smoked meats, even the house corned beef gets a kiss of smoke, combined with house kraut, Swiss and thousand island on a pub roll — all served with a side like mac and cheese, Southern greens or potato salad.
▪ 10902 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253-719-7181, brunoseuropeanrestaurant.com
Lakewood's German icon got a couple of shout-outs, particularly for the kraut. Marbled rye is loaded with hot corned beef, Swiss and Russian dressing, and the sandwich is accompanied by pommes frites (spiced potato wedges) and pickles.
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