Hi Friend,
Because I know you are a passionate Foodie like me, you were the first person I thought of when I visited a local restaurant that completely satisfied my own quest to discover the best unique restaurants around our state.
The restaurant is named Tibbetts at Fern Hill and, trust me, it’s everything we look for when finding those hidden gems in our community. I had heard of Tibbetts at Fern Hill on social media but had never gone to check it out. Boy, was I in for a wonderful surprise!
The key to understanding a place like Tibbetts, is the phrase “The devil is in the details.” The owner, Shawn (who has a heartwarming story about his journey into restaurant ownership to tell) has taken a great deal of time to think of all the details that would ensure a satisfying and unique culinary experience within his walls.
The restaurant is located on 64th and Park in a very small, very quaint strip mall. It was very similar to those we see in historical downtown, but this was in a residential neighborhood!
As we went through the screen door into the restaurant to try out their breakfast menu, I was struck by how intimate it was. The tables were small and there were only 10 of them. They were covered with gingham table clothes and the seats were antique wooden chairs. The walls were covered with memorabilia from the owner’s life in our community. Looking at the walls and décor, it was a nostalgic look into the past for me!
We were seated at one of the tables near the window and it was a beautiful sunny day. As we settled and took in all the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen, our waitress presented us with mason jars filled with water (very cute!).
As I said earlier—the devil is in the details…the water was infused with lemon and cucumber and was so refreshing! A clean, crisp smell met my nose and gave me the unspoken promise of more attention to detail to come as I drank my water and looked over the menu.
The menu is small, only a handful of items, but trust me, if there were more choices, I would never have been able to decide what to order!
Everything looked so wonderful, and to prove that point, as the waitress brought out food for other tables, she carefully showed the plates to those of us first time visitors, so we could see the masterpieces on the menu “in person.”
Again, I must reiterate the “Devil is in the details” with this menu. But first I must tell you that Shawn only uses fresh, local ingredients in his dishes and creates seasonal masterpieces to tantalize your palette!
Breakfast is my personal favorite. The choices are few, but mighty!
First there is the Lobster Bomb! It boasts lobster (soaked in champagne!) avocado, Yukon Gold Potatoes, sherried fennel, candied bacon, scrambled eggs and all topped with a lemony hollandaise that is perfect! There were so many textures and tastes creating an explosion of flavor in my mouth with every bite!
The foodie in me was delighted! (Plus…the serving size was very generous and I took my treasured leftovers home with me for another meal!)
The second time I visited Tibbetts (I had to go back and try another dish from the menu), I tried the Lemon Blueberry Streusel French Toast. The magic of this dish is it’s custardy, bread pudding style foundation. All the wonderful tastes of sweetness of the custard, tartness of the berries and the lemon zest that covered the top of the whipped cream made this dish a personal favorite!
My husband’s personal favorite is the Southwest Frittata. This dish is an amazing treat for your tongue containing pulled pork, candied red onions, sweet peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms, eggs, farmed greens and drizzled with pure honey and topped with cilantro apple slaw! Yummmmm!
There are many restaurants that serve up a delicious breakfast menu, but…what places Tibbetts head and shoulders above the rest are in the details of the dishes!
Yes, there is lobster, but the lobster is infused with champagne! The bacon is candied bacon! The potatoes are Yukon gold potatoes cooked to a smooth, buttery finish that is a perfect complement to each dish. The combinations of flavors and textures in each dish is a delight to your senses!
The lunch menu is just as tantalizing! Offerings of “Adam’s Mushroom Bourguignon,” Bacon Wrapped Fern Hill Po’Boy,” and the grand ‘Savor Tacoma Creperie” which skillfully presents a complement of Pacific Northwest crab and shrimp complemented perfectly by a spicy yoghurt.
If you are like me and appreciate the finer dining experiences that offer unique dishes you have only imagined, you will want to try Tibbetts at Fern Hill soon!
Shawn is making quite a name for himself and has already, in a short two years of being open, been the recipient of several local awards (including Best of Tacoma for 2019!), been a guest on ALL the local talk shows, and is now a nominee of the prestigious 2020 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards. He also just this week received the prestigious award of being on of the Top 100 Restaurants in the US according to Yelp!
But don’t just take my word for it. He enjoys a Yelp reviews of 5 stars from over 450 reviews! Here are a few of the comments:
Kaylee from Olympia Said:
“The best breakfast I’ve
ever had in my mouth. Shawn is amazing and does fantastic work for his community.
This is my go to spot. I have not tried the lunch yet. But i can only imagine
that it would just as amazing as the bomb food he makes! He really puts his
heart and soul into making everyone feel comfortable and coming around to show
everyone all his wonderful creations so you can have an idea of what you want!
I got the lobster bomb and I never want him to take it off the menu!”
Richard from Tacoma said:
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Food: 10/5
“Any of the three entrees we got (for the 2 of
us) would have been the best breakfast dish ever. Do yourself a favor – CALL
and make a reservation and then enjoy pure joy exploding inside your mouth.”
Vanessa from Federal Way said:
“From service to food
this place is a gem!! The owner Shawn is super personable. He makes everyone
feel like they are at home with family all while teasing you with food walking
by showing you what other people ordered. This is also helpful if you are on
the fence on what to order. The menu is small but to food is big. Our server I
didn’t catch her name sadly was super sweet and kept us full with coffee. The
water has cucumbers and lemons so refreshing. It’s a small space with big
personality and I absolutely had a blast. You can tell they genuinely care
about the community and people.”
After visiting his restaurant, I can easily see why. It’s not just great, “I’ve never thought of that combination” food, the atmosphere and care they have created there is something you just don’t see every day. He is obviously passionate about his food, his customers and his community.
Shawn is very present in the restaurant, coming out to visit with his guests, and he even walks you to the door when you are leaving to say goodbye!
I’m so sure this place will be another one of your favorites, I have made reservations for us on Saturday at 10:00 am. I know you will not be disappointed.
Just give me a call before Friday to confirm your spot at my table, then Saturday morning grab your car keys and head over to Tibbitts at Fern Hill for a culinary delight I know you will enjoy and I’m so sure you will love it as much as I do that this meal is on me! See you there!