Gig Harbor (Wash.) Visitors Guide 2018

een slowly building on it ever
since. “We want to be part of
people’s ability to have social
engagement. It’s about creating
place and about saving the
oceans.”
Alstead said his inspiration
for Ocean 5 is derived from his
passion for the world’s oceans
and being a responsibly-built
business. Alstead also wants
guests, if they so choose, to be
engaged with stories about the
oceans, the seas and the Puget
Sound. There are five oceans
in the world and they’re all
connected, he said, so the name
suggests connections.
Table 47, Alstead’s farmto-table
restaurant concept,
housed in the same building as
Ocean 5, is designed to work
in tandem with Ocean 5 or as a
separate experience, if guests
so choose. The name references
the restaurant’s location on the
47th parallel that circles the
earth, again encouraging the
notion that we’re all connected.
“Table 47 is about how we
can connect over the table,”
Alstead said. “It’s dinner at
the table, and it’s business
meetings around the table
— that’s our gathering place
and it’s the same around the
world. (The table) is a place of
engagement.”
As for Table 47, it’s a sizable
restaurant of 7,000 square
feet with a comfortable, casual
environment and upscale food.
It can seat 200 (with another
seating for 100 on a seasonal
patio). The restaurant also
houses a bar with a tap list
featuring 40 Northwest beers
and wines and upscale cocktails.
Alstead’s concept vows to
be environmentally friendly.
Even before construction of
the building, Alstead said
geothermal wells were drilled
3.6 miles into the ground under
the parking lot to heat and cool
the building, equating to 80
percent of the energy saved.
Another 15 percent of energy
will be saved, thanks to a LED
lighting design. Expansive
windows and solar tubes from
the roof will minimize the
amount of electricity used
on lighting during daylight
hours. Recycled and reclaimed
materials were also used in the
building construction. Ocean 5 is
applying for LEED certification.
Guests will have opportunities
to play 10-pin or duckpin
bowling — a concept new to
the west coast that is wildly
popular on the opposite
side of the country. There is
a two-story, laser challenge
area accommodating up to
40 players. An arcade room
features up to 50 games. Guests
can take their accumulated
points to the adjoining
redemption prize room for
unique prizes, featuring some
eco-friendly options.
Private event and party spaces
accommodating groups of up to
more than 400, on the first and
second floors, some featuring
10-pin and duckpin lanes,
are ideal for birthday parties,
receptions, anniversaries and
celebrations of all kinds.
“I think we’re creating
something that is fun
and complementary
to the
community,”
Alstead said.
Find Ocean
5 and Table
47 at 5268
Point Fosdick
Drive NW. To
stay connected,
visit o5social.com.
So good,
it goes quickly
By SUE KIDD
If there’s one tip owner Gary
Parker wants his diners to
know, it’s that his barbecue
restaurant is like a Texas
barbecue restaurant in every
way.
When the ‘cue is out, it’s
out. It’s a Texas tradition.
“We are operating just like
the real Texas joints. Like
Franklin BBQ in Austin.
Meaning, we make as much
as we can and sell until we
sell out,” said Parker, about
BBQ2U, 814 Point Fosdick
Drive NW, Gig Harbor.
Lesson: Get there early.
Like you’d find in Texas,
the restaurant is cafeteria
style with complete counter
service, meaning diners are
served everything at the
counter.
Pulled pork is Carolina style,
but otherwise Central Texas
is the theme here. Parker
cooks on a big kitchen
smoker fueled with Texas
mesquite or post oak (or
fruitwood or local alder in a
pinch).
Brisket, beef ribs (one of few
in the area to serve these),
pork ribs, pulled pork,
smoked chicken thighs,
smoked turkey breast,
sausage. No meats are
served sauced.
Sides include fried okra,
macaroni and cheese,
baked beans, potato
salad, coleslaw and
banana pudding.
Hours are 10:30
a.m.-8 p.m. daily, or
until the meat runs
out.
Info: 253-313-5656
or facebook.com/
BBQ2U
2018-19 GIG HARBOR VISITORS GUIDE | GIGHARBORGUIDE.COM 31