Bar Rosa
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Fun fact, I used to not like pizza. I loved it as a kid but hated it in my early 20’s and now I have it more often than I can ever imagine. I guess your taste buds really just change over time!
I took a little drive a few weeks ago to Tacoma, which is about 30-40 mins south from Downtown Seattle on a good day with no traffic. I never venture out this far but if it’s for food, I will go the distance. Tucked away in a little area of Tacoma called Hilltop, there is a new pizza restaurant called Bar Rosa. Now, for people who are familiar with this area or know of it, it can be a little off putting. The pizza restaurant is in an area with other dive bars and restaurants, but also near homeless tents that can be seen lined up on the sidewalk across the way. I went by myself on a Sunday afternoon, so it was light out, there were people around, and I parked close, so it wasn’t all bad. I would certainly try to go in a group of 2-3 if you can. Especially the ladies who go out for girls’ night. You can never be too sure what you’ll encounter out there!
The restaurant itself was very cozy and immediately as you walk in, you’re greeted by the pizza oven. This is one of the most beautiful pizza ovens I have ever seen with my own eyes. It really is the centerpiece of the restaurant. It’s bright white with black detailing is a nice contrast to rest of the restaurant. This is what use to cook anything that requires heat. No bulky kitchen appliances here!
Because I came in right as they were opening, the restaurant was nice and quiet. The vibe was chill and relaxing, especially with the natural light peering through the window. I grabbed my seat at the bar where I met Bailey, who is super sweet btw, and she recommended some cocktails for me! I needed something light because I wasn’t wanting to have dark liquor at noon. I decided to get the Jewel Box which was a vodka-based cocktail with Campari, passionfruit, and lime. This was a little too tart for me, but still delicious. After a few sips, I was ready for food! I couldn’t order too much because I didn’t want to have too much to take home, so I decided to get a small plate and pizza.
Though their menu may seem small because it’s one page, it offers all the things you need. They have simple salads to roasted brussel sprouts. I opted for the warm marinated olives to start with, and they were AMAZING. The olives were simply warmed with olive oil, orange, and lemon. The citrus did not overpower the olives themselves but complimented them very well. I’m a happy gal when I can just have a bowl of olives.Blue cheese stuffed olives are the best. And going back to my first statement, I used to never like olives either, proving that your taste buds can change!
For the pizza, I was recommended to get the spicy greens. This was probably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. It has everything I like on a pizza; roasted broccolini, garlic, mozzarella, pecorino, capers. That is all folks! Pizza does not have to be complicated. I don’t mind the bells and whistles but sometimes, simple is better. The taste satisfied all my tastes buds. There was a little bit of spice, cheese, veggies, and a nice crunch to the crust. One of my favorite side dishes is roasted broccolini. And when I say roasted, I mean I like it to be a little burnt and this pizza delivered that flavor. If you ever had Neapolitan style pizza or Naples’s style pizza, then you know you can’t get much simpler than that! The dough is simply yeast, salt, and water. That’s it! To accompany this delicious pizza, I ordered the Zelda cocktail which was perfect! I was expecting this to be a little tart as well like my previous drink, but it was sweet, light, and refreshing. This will probably be my go-to cocktail when I visit again!
To end the meal, I of course had to have dessert. I was given the option for a cannoli or panna cotta. I couldn’t decide so I left the choice up to Brandon (awesome cook behind the pizzas) and he went with the panna cotta. He mentioned it was his first time making it and wanted to try it out and it came out well! It was a nice thick texture, which I love, and it was simply dressed with fruit and honey.
This little gem is by far a nugget I’ll keep in the back of my mind whenever I head down towards Tacoma. It encompasses everything that I enjoy about going out for food. It has a great atmosphere, a simple menu, & fantastic service. You don’t have to go to an over-the-top place with loud music or a fancy menu to have a great time. Simple is more and Bar Rosa holds up to that.