Corina Bakery

Corina Bakery works out of the Merlino Arts Center on Fawcett Avenue, next door to the Grand Cinema, which makes it the likeliest place in the Theater District to be holding a coffee before a matinee. Molly Ott owns it. When SouthSoundTalk profiled her in October 2018 the bakery was already described as a Tacoma staple of more than a decade, and that profile is still the clearest account of how the place thinks about its own job.

What it is known for is baking around a restriction rather than apologizing for one. Gluten free, vegan and gluten free vegan versions sit in the same case as everything else, built on certified flours rather than added as an afterthought. “We really like to be the bakery that can bake something for the person with dietary restrictions,” Ott told the magazine. Two signature cakes are worth knowing by name: the King’s Favorite, a banana cake under peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache, and the Tacoma Tiramisu. Custom and wedding cakes are a real part of the business and tastings are by appointment.

There is savory alongside the sweet, croissants and breakfast burritos and stratas, with espresso to go with them. Hours are 7:30 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM on Saturday and 9 AM to 3 PM on Sunday, so it is a daytime room and not an evening one. Go on a weekday morning if you want a table.