AFK Elixers & Eatery Review

(As of the posting, the main website is under construction, but the AFK Tavern site has a very similar menu)

Jason here. Recently we took a trip down to Renton to eat at AFK Elixirs & Eatery. If the name sounds familiar that is most likely because it is the sister restaurant to AFK Tavern up in Everett. Known for its popular geek references, and free board games which you can play while you eat. I’ve heard about AFK since the moment we moved out here, so we were happy to finally have one open a bit closer to home. 

As the menu and waitress explained, the restaurant only just opened up a few months ago, so some of the kinks are being worked out. With that said, it’s important to note the main sign to the restaurant is not up yet, so there is a smaller sign closer to street level. It’s a bit hard to see and we actually drove right passed it the first time. The restaurant is located on an easy to find road, with plenty of parking so that was no issue.

The first few things I noticed while entering the building was the Link’s sword and shield from the Zelda series, and Farscape playing on the TV in the waiting area. If geek\nerd culture is your thing, then you will feel right at home at AFK E&E. References to everything from Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar, to your favorite video games, and many more are all represented. 

It was busy the night we went, but we were still shorted after just a short wait. I was happy to find many of the tables around us playing various card and board games. One group even brought their laptops and were playing League of Legends. 

The drink menu is just a fantastic read. Even if you are the DD and don’t plan on drinking that night, at least read through the menu. 

It took while for our food to come out, but we had a blast just chatting and laughing and discussing references in the menu. I don’t really count the meal taking a while against AFK because your experience is designed around playing games and having a good time. If your came in looking for a quick traditional meal, then your expectations were off to begin with. There are plenty of board games which are all completely free to play. Just remember a board game does not mean it has to be a 2 hour game of Risk or Monopoly. If you’re not sure what to play, just ask your waiter and they can recommend you fun group games which are easy to pick up, and have a great time right out of the gate.

For my drink I ordered a Mana Potion and later a Demon Hunter. The drink menu is laid out so you can quickly find Sweet, Fruit, Bitter, and other drink types. Both of the drinks lived up to their descriptions, and I found myself a bit tipsy by the end of the night. 

While the menu does not have items individually labeled as gluten free, it does specifically call out that gluten free pasta is available as a swap for $2 extra. The waiter also answered our questions and went and verified with the chef anything she was not immediately aware of. 

For my meal I ordered the Firebat Penne, with bacon and mushrooms, and a spice rating of 3. We arrived to AFK far later than original planned, so luckily I was starving when I received the huge bowl of pasta. Normally I would have definitely had some left overs, which is great. I always appreciate when a meal more than fills me up and I am able to take some in to work the next day for lunch. 

It was sufficiently cheesy, and a spice that added both taste and heat. At a spice rating of 3, it was not immediately burning, but did build up some eat as I began to finish. I can definitely see reordering at that rating, or a bit higher if I’m feeling up for something spicier. There was no shortage of sauce, filled with mushrooms and smaller strips of bacon. The mushrooms definitely added some taste and texture to the meal. The bacon on the other hand, I will probably leave out next time. The bacon flavor was mostly overwhelmed by everything else, and the texture did not really add to the meal. It was an extra I added on, so no points against the Firebat itself. 

Kayleigh here. This place is a must-visit if you think you might enjoy the theme, or if you are starting to feel bored of regular dining-only restaurants. Even if you don't plan on pulling out a game to play yourself, the regulars at nearby tables are entertainment enough with what they choose to bring. Try to name the references to your favorite franchises (or internet jokes) on the menus and decorations, or get a seat near the bar to watch whatever nerdy show they have on that night.

As for the food, the gluten free pasta is directly called out on the menu, but the burgers can also be served without buns. The soup does change periodically, but it was gluten free when we went and our waitress mentioned that the salad could be made gluten free as well. We did not ask about the other entrees, but several appeared to be gluten free from the descriptions and there were a couple of dessert options to be found. As Jason pointed out, though, the drink menu is well worth a read-through, and we found quite a few unique cocktails that we will have to try on future visits!