Hungry Goose Bistro

I was disappointed. I give the experience a 2+ total rating about a C- if you will.
Atmosphere: It was attractive but a bit too dimly lit, perhaps not to notice the barely there vegetables? Seating was tight, they have perhaps two more tables than comfortably fit in that area. The people at our table and the one in front of ours were constantly hitting each other during the course of the meal do to normal movement and getting up and it looked to be the same at the tables adjacent.
Service: poor at best, we had reservations yet we had to wait until our tables could be “readied”, ie set. The waitress was not cheerful; she sported no smile nor sweet disposition until time to pay the bill, then there was a pretty smile and comments of hope that we would return. Water had to be poured by members of the table, one meal was brought after reminding her one guest at our table was still waiting. Bread had to be “ordered” because she failed to bring it to the table after the water. She held up each plate asking who ordered it, there were only 4 people at our table, wait staff should know who ordered which dish. Not a busy night, possibly 25 people in the establishment on the dining side.
Food: Just average: just a small selection on the menu but not a surprise as it’s a small restaurant, however the food was somewhat average and the plate was oh so hot yet the food was tepid. Although the food appeared to be cooked precisely to order it was served room temperature rather than hot. We checked with the table next to us and theirs too was tepid. Not a good sign and most likely the norm.
Value: Servings were average size with the exception of the vegetables, those were more like petite to barely there. The zuchinni was two half slices about 1/4 inch thick not even a serving, the asparagus was 5 very skinny spears close to a serving, red pepper was minced so small and about a tablespoon clearly not defined as a serving of vegetable. A simple caesar salad is $7. One, appetizer, the spring type rolls (2) were mini rolls, the kind you get at an Asian restaurant 2/$1 with more sauce to dip in than roll to dip yet this appetizer was $8. Pasta with seafood included: one scallop, 6 tiny clams, and 8 small shrimp, and two little pieces of ice cold crab, ok portions with the exception of the scallop but it’s price tag was $24 for a pasta dish you could get elsewhere for $15 and get the same size portion. I’m also not sure the crab should have been ice cold in this supposedly hot pasta dish which was also served room temperature.
The rack of lamb was a good portion, the potatoes accompanying it however were very similar to instant mashed with a teaspoon of goat cheese plopped on the top, and of course that barely there zuke. The crab cakes were more bread crumbs than crab and over-blended to a slightly crab flavored mush that was lightly fried. The asparagus 5 spears was the highlight of this dish and it was accompanied by again the mashed potatoes reminiscent of instant.
The mignon medalions were cooked to order and a true serving size, but again tepid and served with the instant-like mashed potatoes and a teaspoon of gorgonzola plopped on the side of them instead of crumbled on top or gently folded into them.
The prosciutto was cut into thick mini bits instead of sliced paper thin and ribboned and really did not present well.
The desserts were lack luster including lava cake @ $8 each, one would expect more originality.
The prices are high for the quality/quantity of the crab ingredient in the cakes and seafood pasta dish and for the quantity of the vegetables and quality of the potatoes on the dishes.
You can get a better, high end dinner for the same or less expense at several restaurants along the water in Tacoma that contain a full size vegetable portion, better quantity of crab as an ingredient in the cakes and pasta dinners, and served hot.
The bathroom was clean but economy minded in it’s building design and decor.
In conclusion, you wouldn’t be missing much if you skipped this restaurant on your tour of Puyallup during the fair or for a graduation or special annual celebration or just for a splurged evening dinner.
Your money would be better spent elsewhere.