TACOMA, Wash. — It's no secret.
Dusty's Hideaway is a big hit in Tacoma's McKinley neighborhood.
"The best thing about this place is that neighborhood vibe, " said customer Brandon Dooley. "It's got a great happy hour. Staff is friendly. Food's great! We can bring our kids and our dog. And nothing better on a day like this. It's awesome."
But five years ago when experienced restaurant owners Dave and Dana Verellen first saw the location, a craftsman house that had just failed as a coffee shop, such success required imagination.
"It was really old and kind of rundown," Dave Verellen said. "And, you know, it was a home in the '50s so now we had to turn it into a restaurant. We had to add all the decks and fences, and build out the kitchen in what was a bedroom."
The couple wanted a place where kids could run around. Dogs could eat at the table. And people could celebrate the end of sunny days. They've delivered.
"Yeah, we had a lot of customers that thought it was just a house that had a lot of parties all the time," Verellen said. "Until they realized the could some inside and order food which is kind of cool to hear about.
The most popular menu item is the Hot Honey Chicken sandwich
"It's a fried chicken thigh that's got spicy honey drizzle on it with some slaw and mama's little peppers and people love it," Verellen said. "People come here for it."
The Dusty Burger is another big favorite.
It's kind of like your classic burger that we throw a fried egg on top of," Verellen said. "I'm a fireman in my day job so we make those burgers at the fire station all the time."
There's also the popular Veggie Sandwich.
"We try to appeal to our veggie vegan folks and that's a really tasty sandwich that everybody loves," Verellen said.
Fans of the Southwest will appreciate the here and there. Like the painting of actor Sam Elliot in the hallway. Also, the restrooms are spectacular. Waiting in line to order? Take it all in.
"We got a spoon collection which is pretty cool," laughed Verellen.
Dusty's Hideaway. It's the big secret everybody already knows.
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