Pimienta Bistro and Bar

Great atmosphere and top notch service. The dishes are very well put together and flavorful. I will definitely be back. I highly recommend this gem!

My wife and I came here for the first time on valentines day. It was a set menu and everything was phenomenal. The chef was our server and we were able to talk about her inspiration behind the menu, which is a european/latina fusion. The strawberry tres leches was the best tres leches I have ever had. The restaurant is intimate and cozy. We will definitely be back!

It's been several years since Ive been here. Im not sure why the long break...maybe just so many different and new restaurants to try. Chef Blaca's dishes NEVER disappoint. We had the clam and chorizo appetizer. A HEFTY portion that comes with rustic bread. We got a side of truffle fries....yum. We had their pimiento salad which we LOVED the champagne vinaigrette and ripe pears. For entrees, we had the duck breast (cooked at a perfect medium rare) with brussels and lamb chops that comes with a heavy risotto and tasty kale and chickpeas. Omg yum! Dessert we went with apple pie with coconut ice cream. So full...so satisfied!

Just had the most amazing meal at this sweet little gem on the border of Federal Way and NE Tacoma. Spanish night as part of their "Dinners around the World" once a month series. Not to miss! But their whole menu is exquisite. Delicioso!

Everything we had was awesome! Our server recommended the Panela Frita: warm cheese in a panko crust, with a refreshing sauce and flat breads. We then split the pear and gorgonzola ravioli, and the Paella, and ended with dessert: bread pudding. Everything was top notch. We also ogled the dishes brought to our neighboring tables: the burgers, lamb and scallops all looked amazing. So, we're going to have to go back!

Hidden gem! Rustic elegance and sophisticated cuisine. Our hostess/server was on the spot as we chose our own table. Decor is creative and fun, colors and textures are earthy. We were struck by the cutlery and glassware, thoughtfully chosen and unique. Our cocktails were fancy, delicious! The rustic bread accompanied by a dish of balsamic and melting butter was divine. By now I was feeling a French/European influence for sure. Food presentation gets high marks. I had the scallops over polenta cakes with a sauce, the flavors and textures all came together nicely. We left satisfied, happy and in awe of this little place we see all the time, in an unlikely spot. It is on the more expensive side, but worth it and a great local place!

Very nice little restaurant! To me A Bistro is more like a Cafe, this is more like a fancy restaurant. For a Cafe this place is expensive but for a nice restaurant this place is reasonable. They have a relatively new chef, so the menu has changed some. I had the linguini (excellent), I also had their Rustic Bread, that was amazing. They don't show a dessert menu because it changes all the time. You want to save room for dessert. Well worth the drive to Federal Way.

Been to this place twice..the customer service spot on everytime... this is a small modern european restaurant but the food is really good... the price is right and they do use local ingredients... the only thing is that the parking is limited.. we usually park at the gasoline station parking thats beside it.. also i suggest to call for reservation because the place gets busy quick....

I dont even know where to start with this gem so let's start with the host! Josh was amazing and attentive even when things started to pick up! Drinks were amazing, appetizers were incredible and I'm waiting on my recommended main course of lobster and prawn linguine as we speak! I'll be back!

The service was outstanding and the food was incredible. One of the best meals of my life. It was all so good: clams + chorizo, smoked pork belly, pan seared scallops and lamb ossobuco. Followed by a slice of hazelnut cheesecake.

I am a Chef...Worked with many Greats...my daughter surprised me with this hidden gem...literally best Birthday dinner ever...you Absolutely have to come here...I am in awe...still

Wonderful little restaurant tucked away next to a gas station. Magnificent food, chic decor, wonderful personalized service. It's a gem.

Came here as a party of five with a reservation and they sat us a little early. Service was very attentive and nice. The water was never empty. I had the spiced pork chop and it was well flavored, the Brussels were cooked perfectly and the polenta was the star of the meal. I had a guava lemonade and it was slightly spicy with the tejin. The cream brulee was flavorful. No gluten free menu but lots of options and they said they could make adjustments as well.

One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. The food felt like a privilege to enjoy with each dish crafted with care and packed with flavor. From the warm, welcoming Chef to the beautiful and inviting atmosphere, Pimienta Bistro and Bar delivers excellence in both food and service. Truly a gem

This was our first time here. We came with 3 friends. They had all our favorite wine and great food. We will be back.

Great little restaurant for higher end food. We tried the calamari and the rosemary bread for starters. The bread was soft and delicious and the calamari was tender. For the main course I had the linguini that had large shrimp, other seafood, sweet potato, squash with a butter/white sauce. It was amazing. My husband had the paella, it was very flavorful and had a good amount of seafood. We tried the house tequila in a tequila old fashion, it was a fun change and I also had a whisky kiss- loved it. I was impressed with the menu choices and will be coming back!

What a wonderful meal! From the moment I walked into this charming restaurant, I was captivated by the inviting atmosphere and the tantalizing aromas wafting from the kitchen. I began my culinary journey with a house margarita, which set the tone for an exceptional dining experience. The tajin rim added a delightful kick, perfectly complementing the smoothness of the house reposado tequila. It was an excellent start to what would become a truly memorable meal. For my appetizer, I opted for the beet salad, which was a revelation. The greens were impeccably dressed, and the softened beets offered a lovely texture and sweetness that balanced the dish beautifully. However, the pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the lamb shank. I walked in not expecting to find the best lamb shank after four decades on this earth, but it absolutely surpassed my expectations. The meat was tender and flavorful, falling off the bone with ease. Each mouthful was a celebration of rich, savory notes that left me savoring every bite. To top it all off, the wine-by-the-glass menu provided the perfect pairing for my dishes, enhancing the flavors without overshadowing them. The service was warm and attentive, adding to the overall wonderful experience. In summary, this restaurant is a hidden gem that delivers an unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're a local or just passing through, I highly recommend stopping by for a meal that will leave you raving for days!

Man the food at this place was amazing! I came with a couple friends and we had a great time. I had maybe a few too many Tequila sunrises, but yolo 🤷‍♂️

My wife and I have been coming to Pimienta for almost 10 years and it never disappoints. The food and service are always top notch and the clams & chorizo dish is the best you are going to find anywhere. We will keep coming here for date night any time we can.

We had our anniversary dinner here and it was absolutely lovely. The executive chef was extremely attentive and thoughtful. Cocktails were excellent -- they make their own tequila! Food came quickly, beautifully presented, and everything was delicious. They pull off a great balance between sophisticated and approachable flavors. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. We'll definitely be regulars!

My wife and I had heard great things about Pimienta. We decided to give it a try for date night. When we first entered, we were greeted by a friendly waitstaff and the beautiful charm of the restaurant itself. The waitstaff was incredibly attentive all evening. The food was amazing! My wife has pretty limiting dietary restrictions and they even had a menu items that worked for her. The chef came out to our table to see how everything was, and what a friendly, caring and accommodating Chef he was. I could go on and on, but 10/10 we will definitely be visiting Pimienta again soon!

This delicious fine dining restaurant is a great place to go for special occasions or, well, any occasion. It is pricey, but the fine cuisine is 💯 worth it. They have incredible specials that are definitely share worthy, but not gonna lie, their gourmet burger is so good that sometimes I just go to Pimienta for that and the chickpea appetizer! Their desserts are huge, so plan on sharing unless you have a big sweet tooth. So good!!! Fun fact- they make their own tequila.

Pimienta is an unexpected gem. From the moment you step inside, you’re warmly welcomed by staff who make you feel like your visit genuinely matters. The hospitality, attention to detail, and overall ambiance feel like something you’d expect at a high-end restaurant in New York, Paris, or Bellevue—not in a modest space tucked away in Federal Way. Chef Blanca has created something truly special. The menu is elegant yet approachable, offering a thoughtful mix of familiar comfort and Mediterranean-inspired flavors. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a selective eater or someone who enjoys exploring new dishes. The location might surprise you—it shares a lot with a car wash—but once you’re inside, you forget all of that. The cozy atmosphere and top-tier service create an experience that stands on its own. Pimienta has quickly become one of our favorite spots. We’re looking forward to coming back often… hopefully before it gets too popular to grab a table (which we wouldn’t be surprised to see happen soon).

The intimate, quiet ambiance of the restaurant instantly transported us to a high-end dining experience that felt both sophisticated and welcoming. For our entrees, we opted for the seared scallops and the special, pan-seared red snapper — both of which were exquisite. The scallops, perfectly cooked with a delicate, buttery finish, were a highlight for my husband. I savored the red snapper, which was fresh and flaky, paired with flavors that truly enhanced the fish without overpowering it. The attention to detail in each dish was evident, showcasing the skill and care that goes into each preparation. We were impressed not only by the quality of the food but also by the restaurant’s dedication to providing a truly refined dining experience. The service was attentive without being intrusive, and the owner’s personal touch made us feel right at home. Even though it’s been around for over a decade, we’re so glad to have discovered Pimiento Bistro & Bar. We will definitely be returning soon for another memorable meal. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fine dining experience in Federal Way.

Dinner was delicious, just like I remember from years ago. I love that Pimienta Bistro and Bar is consistently fabulous. Easily one of my favorite places to eat. Butternut squash tacos and pan seared scallops over crispy polenta cakes will always be my favorite, but you will not be disappointed with any choice from this menu. Service is top notch here as well. Thank you Zayda!

The Pimienta team is always so lovely and the food is delicious. I have celiac, and Blanca and her staff always take the time to walk through gluten free options and also modify dishes if needed to I don't miss out on trying all the amazing menu items. They are able to do this because each meal is made to order with high quality ingredients. Aside from the food, the specialty drinks are always fresh. The staff and food have kept us coming back for years.

My wife and I have been coming here for 5 years and we’ve only ever had amazing experiences. The food is fantastic, the service is unmatched, and the atmosphere is incredibly pleasant and intimate. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a memorable dining experience.

Finally, a meal out that wasn’t disappointing. My girl friend had the special, surf and and turf, lobster and steak pasta well seasoned nice proportion. I had the duck with roasted brussels sprouts, and a honey sauce with enough arugula to make it interesting, and butternut squash risotto. All the flavors were excellent,well cook on the duck, just pink and juicy. Nice atmosphere, and fun music. Will definitely try again!

Really tasty, creative plates here at this restaurant. It is pricey but it is high quality. It is a small, intimate place with only a dozen or so tables. Pleasant staff. The only knock is the comfort of some tables. Bench seating against the wall isn’t the comfiest way to eat and you are very close to other patrons. By no means is this a reason not to enjoy the artistic culinary creations here.

My husband found this place on Open Table. I'd call it a hidden gem. First of all the staff is extremely friendly and super kind. Then, they didn't exactly have a kids menu, but the chef gave the waiter what he could cook and TAH DAH!! We enjoyed the freshness of the food. The food was delicious. The lemonade, YUMMMMNN!! The dessert... Yaassssss please! All of it was freshly made! I ordered the steak, although cooked well, I think it could have been seasoned a bit more. I needed hot sauce to make it pop a lil more with flavor. Literally everything else was delicious and perfect! Oh... and my daughter never ate clams before and she almost ate the whole bowl! It had chorizo with this red sauce... All we needed was noodles and that could have been an entrée! So good!!!

It was my first time coming here for a party of 2. The restaurant is super cute with such powerful beautiful art work. There was only one person working the floor who made our drinks and served us. She was AMAZING! Great service. We ordered 2 drinks, The hibiscus and the spicy tequila drink. They make their own tequila and we enjoyed both. Great pours as well. Tequila was tasteful. Appetizer: We shared the calamari. Oh my goodness... let me tell you.... it was so yummy! All the flavors and sauce made a great mixture that gave your taste buds something to dance too! Dinner: We ordered the Steak and the scallops. The scallops came with this fried potato on the bottom which I didn't love the potato but an okay combo together. Steak was well cooked and seasoned. Got a side of mash potatoes that were plain; I don't recommend them. Need more flavor. Over all it was a cute dinner place. It's in a parking lot of a gas station that threw me off BUT once you walk in, it gives super chic and cute!

My family and I went out for dinner here and overall we had a pleasant time :) the atmosphere was calming and I enjoyed the style of the restaurant, lovely art to look at on the walls. Our server was very kind as well, which was much appreciated. Our food was good as well, we got a variety of dishes including steak, lamb, lobster Mac n cheese, and I ordered their pollo Rostizado. My dish came out dry so out of all the entrees I liked mine the least, but everything else was good! Our drinks and dessert were delicious too! Definitely recommend their lemon cake :) All in all it was a good experience and I would love to come back and try more things!

The food isn't worth the price you pay. I took my family here for a special occasion and ended up paying $350. I was expecting real Paella Valenciana and it's not Paella Valenciana. It wasn't terrible, it was just expensive and I don't think it was worth $40 per plate. I would pay $18 to $20 per plate. The waitress was nice and food came out pretty slowly. There wasn't a lot of people here either.

Google hours of operation are wrong. Indicated they opened today (Tues) @ 4pm but door indicates 4:30 pm. Happy Hour is no longer honored due to restrictions per waiter per the owners???? I have no idea what that means but we chose this location for our Anniversary and were disappointed in the staff not honoring what is advertised online! However, the Lamb, Ahi Tuna Entrees as well as Strawberry Shortcake desert was excellent.

The space is lovely, very intimate. And the presentation of the food is very nice. However, my party was very disappointed by the quality of the food. The highlight of our order was the lobster prawn linguini, which had a wonderful cream sauce with a lobster base, but the actual prawns and bites of lobster were very overcooked. The lobster was so overcooked that there was slight browning of the meat, and the prawns reminded me more of chicken than shellfish. Our other two dishes were lacking in flavor as well. All the vegetable garnishes seemed unevenly cooked, which makes me believe that the food was freezorburnt. It's possible the food would have been better on later in the evening, but at nearly $30 a plate I am not willing to try again.

I dont leave reviews often, but I will here. I believe this place is extreme overpriced for the food they offer. My New York tasted as it was just removed from the freezer. Completely void of flavor for $45. They took it back which I swapped for a burger. Burger was very plain and dry, worse than a joint. Their prices are high for the very low quality food they serve. Plain as that.

We visited on Valentine’s Day, when they had a special menu with only 1 or 2 options and we were not able to order anything else to eat. This was not advertised on their website or when booking, so we were not aware beforehand. As far as the food goes, it was disappointing, bland, and overpriced. We enjoyed the soup, but both of our mains left a lot to be desired. My partner got a steak with lobster Mac and cheese, but the steak was tough (despite being cooked medium rare), and there didn’t appear to be any lobster in the Mac and cheese. I got red snapper with lentils and prawns. The fish was okay, but the lentils were severely under seasoned and the 2 shrimp were flavorless and overcooked. Not worth the $75 we were charged for sure. We also got a “bread pudding” for desert which was dry. We spent over $100 for mediocre to bad food that we did not want. The drinks were also subpar, my partner got a spicy guava margarita which he enjoyed but was not spicy. I got a ginger tamarind margarita which tasted like perfume. I would not recommend this place to anyone, and I will not be going back.

I regret not reviewing negative reviews before visiting the place for our anniversary. Our group ordered several appetizers and main dishes for each. You should expect a long waiting time when a lady runs the entire show. You should expect hunger after your dinner when most food costs $40+ before tax or tips are so low. Some of the main dishes were even smaller than a typical appetizer. For example, I am attaching a dinner menu ‘Pan Seared Scallops’ $43 before tax. After the dinner, we went to another restaurant when we were starving. Because I don't feel it's worth spending more time on the review, and our experience totally agrees with a past review. Let me copy it. I’ll be honest, looked at the reviews and was really excited to try this place. But it’s way over hyped. Me and my wife arrived and they gave us a table to a group that was loud so the whole time we listened to them. They only had one person who was all three - serving, hostess and bar tender. When we ask what was good it was a basic reply of everything is good. We ordered calamari and truffle fries as an appetizer and the calamari where cold and mushy, the fries with “truffle” where also cold and had shaved cheese not a lot of flavor, we ordered soup ahead of time and asked if it was ready becouse we where starving and ask to bring it before the meal and we got it as the meal and it was cold. The only thing that was good was the Mac and cheese. My wife ordered the stew and it was cold and we decided to leave with the plate full and the waitress did not even ask if it was okay. Will not be coming back

I have gone to this place couple years now but last weekend was total disaster. 3 of us ordered burger, lamb and tacos. First it took almost 1.5h to cook our food. The server apologized that they were short staffed, thats ok but then you should give people heads up before sitting on the table. Next the food itself was not great, my lamb was cold and i sent it back to warm it up. When I got it back it was luke warm and not very enjoyable. But the worst was my friends burger, totally under cooked, just awful. We were not offered to take this off from bill, I honestly used to like this place a lot but now am never going back. They lost me as a customer.

I’ll be honest, looked at the reviews and was really excited to try this place. But it’s way over hyped. Me and my wife arrived and they gave us a table to a group that was loud so the whole time we listened to them. They only had one person who was all three - serving, hostess and bar tender. When we ask what was good it was a basic reply of everything is good. We ordered calamari and truffle fries as an appetizer and the calamari where cold and mushy, the fries with “truffle” where also cold and had shaved cheese not a lot of flavor, we ordered soup ahead of time and asked if it was ready becouse we where starving and ask to bring it before the meal and we got it as the meal and it was cold. The only thing that was good was the Mac and cheese. My wife ordered the stew and it was cold and we decided to leave with the plate full and the waitress did not even ask if it was okay. Will not be coming back