Metronome Coffee worth the trek down 6th Ave.

At the corner of 6th Ave. and Union St. in Tacoma, Metronome Coffee is about a ten minute drive from campus. Though it may be a bit out of the way to grab a morning pick-me-up before class, the food, atmosphere and the quality of their coffee is enough to make Metronome worth an occasional visit at any time of the day.

Initial impressions of the establishment are quite positive; buildings in the immediate area are generally new and well maintained and Metronome is no exception. Outdoor seating is not only available but comfortable: chairs are comfy and an outdoor fireplace ensures that even on colder days, customers will not freeze.

The interior is equally if not more inviting than the outside. Metronome has a relatively large dining area, comparable to an average sized restaurant. A variety of seating options are present.

The pastries seen through the glass at the coffee bar are fantastically well made and the lunch options are equally enticing. Though some of the seasonal menu items lean a little on the expensive side, they are well worth the cost. Food at Metronome is high quality, filling and delicious.

The sandwiches, being the most expensive menu item, are toasted to perfection. Different sandwiches are available from season to season and some of the sandwiches may have surprising combinations of ingredients. All of them, however, work quite well and nicely compliment a cup of java.

Sandwiches come on bread with no visible crust. Instead, the bread is toasted uniformly to perfection. The ingredients are all proportioned just right to produce the desired flavor. On top of all this, sandwiches come with a side of mixed green salad served with a delicious vinaigrette.

Of course, Metronome would not be a coffee shop without coffee. If one visits for the coffee and nothing else, they will neither be disappointed by the selection nor the quality of the drinks. Metronome’s coffee is rich and flavorful, and if ordered “for here,” comes served in a nice, large, clean mug.

The Americano is very strong and the white mocha is very frothy. Like the sandwiches, there is a seasonal menu for coffee, which provides extra options for those looking to try something new. The coffee is well worth the price, which is comparable to Starbucks or Cutter’s Point.

In spite of being off the beaten track, Metronome is not a coffee shop to be overlooked. With excellent atmosphere and top notch food and coffee, this is a great place to unwind and catch up on reading, homework, or to simply relax. Mon. - Thurs. 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m. - 1 a.m., Sat. 8. a.m. - 1 a.m. and Sun. 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.