Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern

Katie Downs has been on the Ruston Way waterfront since October 1982, family-owned across four decades, and it remains the most straightforward way to eat with Commencement Bay directly in front of you. The tavern describes itself as one of Ruston Way's first waterfront restaurants, and the format has stayed a tavern rather than drifting toward a view-priced dining room: pub food, a deep-dish pizza the house treats as its signature, and a seasonal deck built over the water. The one thing to check before you plan around it is the door policy — this is a 21-and-over establishment with no all-ages room, which rules it out for families walking the Ruston Way path. Kitchen hours are the same every day of the week, so it is a dependable stop at the end of a waterfront walk, and takeout is available if you would rather eat on the shoreline benches.

Verified details

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What to know

• Katie Downs is 21-and-over only, so it is not an option for a family walk along Ruston Way.
• The deck over the water is seasonal; the indoor room runs year-round.

Editor's tips

• Time it to the end of a Ruston Way walk — the tavern sits directly on the paved shoreline path rather than a block inland.
• Groups of eight or more should call the restaurant to reserve; smaller parties are first-come, first-served.