allister

Overall, we enjoyed the food and would come back again! We came for a late date night on a weekday and they let us order off the dinner menu even though we arrived minutes before it was supposed to transition to 'late night.' Everything was very flavorful and seasoned well! However, I do have to mention that we were offered bread and not told that it would cost $10 for bread service, and it is not shown anywhere on the menu, so that was a less than ideal surprise for the night to end on when we got our check. Otherwise, service was great to us in every other aspect. We really enjoyed both the Chicken Marsala Pasta and Branzino. The sauces were tasty, the pastas were fresh, and the balance & depth of flavors was really enjoyable. However, at this high of a price point, we expected the chicken breast and the fish to not be overcooked, and unfortunately both proteins were on the drier side to our taste. Despite this, we still thought every other element of both entrees were really great, especially the sauces. The chanterelles in the Marsala might've been our favorite bites of the night, with such an intense savoriness to them. We were also so pleased that the bucatini was fresh pasta. The Branzino's sour tang of romesco sauce paired against hearty chorizo spaeztle was also a really excellent and thoughtful addition. The nicoise was nicely lemony and the sardines were a great savory touch. However, the olive tapenade was a bit overwhelmingly salty & sour, so we ended up leaving a lot on the plate after eating up everything else. The bread was actually really good and if we had been aware it was $10 we would have been happy to pay it! It's apparently house-made, including the butter, which is all the more impressive. Overall, the dishes had specific things we had hoped would be better because of the price point. We don't usually dine at this level and we had saved up for this special occasion. But in the end, the Chicken Marsala was intensely savory and delicious, the Branzino had an addiciting creamy-tangy balancing act, the housemade bread was chewy and satisfying, and we would recommend all three to anybody. And the portions were superb! In short, there may be some things to nitpick here, which got put under a microscope because of the price we paid, but we have seen enough that we want to come back and give it another taste. The overall vision for the space, the menu, the late-night hours, the passion that's apparent — it's hard not to root for their success in filling a community niche. As someone who works quite late on weekdays but still wants to treat his partner to a nice space rather than the usual dive bar that's open that late, I very much appreciate that Allister exists.

This is a great restaurant to have on Mercer island. The concept is great and the feel is very nice. The menu items sound good but lacked a bit of flavor. The pommes dauphine tasted like fried uncooked dough, the cauliflower was good but would have been better with added spices. Was not a huge fan of the pesto pasta with mushrooms, interesting combination. The portobello mushroom burger was a great idea but also lacked flavor and felt kind of watery. Drinks were the best part. All in all this is a great add to Mercer island and hopefully their kitchen can work on adding more flavor to the dishes to make it really stand out

They have only been open a week, and already have been three times! First it was on opening night, and I had the vegetarian pasta and it was delicious! The next time I went, I had the salmon and it was cooked perfectly. The third time I went, I had bread and a drink (the mamma bear) at the bar. All the food is tasty, the staff is friendly and the atmosphere is beautiful. The owner also came over to my table on all three visits to check in and see how everything was going. I appreciate her thoughtfulness and deep care of her customers. Highly recommend this place!!

We had a fantastic dining experience at Allister. The restaurant has a warm ambiance with a lovely French touch. Our server, Nico, was friendly and attentive, and the cocktails were a highlight as well. Everyone in our group enjoyed the appetizers and main courses. The steak, the chicken marsala and the cheeseburger were all beautifully prepared. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for great food, drinks, and a cozy atmosphere.

Such a great addition to the MI dining scene! Service was top notch and the drinks/food were amazing. Gnocchi ragout was delicious and the Oaxaca old fashioned was UNREAL. Definitely adding this to the date night rotation.

Such a great patio! The staff is amazing! They LITERALLY stuffed olives with blue cheese just for my friend! I’m living at the bar eating the AMAZING Caesar salad and martinis as my daily lunch. The tartar is my favorite app when dining with friends. Owner Sara is so warm and lovely! I’m so happy we have this space on Mercer Island. Long overdue!

As the Mayor of Mercer Island, I may be a little biased, but Allister, our community’s newest dining gem, deserves every bit of the praise it's been receiving—and then some. I recently celebrated my wife's birthday here with a group of close friends, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The attention to detail in the decor creates a space that’s both elegant and comfortable, making it perfect for everything from a casual meal with family to a special celebration. Now, let’s talk about the food—simply outstanding. The Miso Caesar Salad was a delightful twist on a classic, with the miso adding just the right amount of umami to the fresh, crisp greens. But the real star of the evening was the Steak Frites. The Grilled Hanger Steak was cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and complemented by a rich, classic Sauce Au Poivre. The French Fries, paired with Garlic Aioli and Ketchup, were the perfect accompaniment. The service was top-notch as well, with a team that’s both knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about what they’re serving. The staff handled everything smoothly, ensuring that our celebration was seamless and memorable. Allister is a fantastic addition to Mercer Island, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have it here. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and make a reservation—you won’t be disappointed. I’ll certainly be back, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they continue to impress.

High hopes but it didn’t live up. The food took about 45 minutes to get to the table. Some food came out first and it was 5-10 before the next dishes came out. The food overall wasn’t anything special. The French toast with Nutella and bananas was a piece of toast that came with a little cup of bananas. I was excited about a new place on the island but this just wasn’t it

Allister has become my new favorite on MI! After a few visits for dinner service, I recently tried their Brunch menu which was simply *chef's kiss*. The staff was very attentive to us during our visit. The decor is classy and I love the morning light we got in the dining room. I have a feeling this will become a regular spot for me.

This was a really nice newish restaurant on Mercer Island that has appeared to have a great start. We went on a Tuesday night and it was hopping. The vibe is really lively and feels warm and inviting. The service was kind, helpful and efficient. The food was genealogy good. My mushroom gnocchi was a little too salty for me but it wasn't anything that would prevent me from eating it. The cocktail I had was excellent!!

TL;DR: AVOID. MISERABLE SERVICE from front to the table puts a shadow on the entire experience. Food is very average. The main reason to go here is if you're not wanting to leave the island for a nice-ish new American cuisine meal. This place is a huge letdown. We were very excited for a new modern American cuisine restaurant to open up in Mercer Island. However, from the moment we entered, we had a subpar experience. The service is the biggest failure. Rude, sassy staff do not offer prompt service. There was no line and we had a reservation, yet the hostess took about 5 minutes to acknowledge us and another couple minutes to seat us. No mention of "thanks for waiting." When we were seated, it took another 10 minutes to get menus and water. Again, it wasn't busy and we saw staff meandering around the floor. Just not our server. We had to wave down our server to place our order as well. The food itself is nothing special for brunch. We got the sandwich and soup combo and the wagyu burger, as well as the miso Caesar salad. The burger and sandwich were OK. The salad seemed interesting but the miso flavor was non existent, and the dressing was very light so that you could only taste the bitterness of the salad leaves (which were dry). The worst part was the tomato soup. Salty and oily. In fact, we could see a layer of oil at the top. We couldn't eat this soup, and the server couldn't have cared less.

Gave this place another try for dinner. We had: 1) crab bucatini - 3/5. Flavor was ok, but the pasta was way overcooked. 2) chicken - 2/5. I've had chicken in their salads and this chicken kept with the dry-ness of their poultry overall. 3) gnocchi - 2/5. Not a fan of this dry version and the ragout was also dry. 4) flourless cake - 2/5. We got fair warning that it'd be rich and dense, but none of the other desserts sounded good so we went for this one. Just don't get dessert. The drinks were the only good part of this dining experience. Nice to have a late hangout place, but please work on the food.

A fun place for lunch on Mercer island. We were greeted promptly and also snatched the last available during lunch. I had the lunch specials and my coworker had the burger. It looked super good and he said it was amazing! I loved the onion soup in the combo but the sandwich was tiny but with quality ingredients. It's like a quarter of a normal sandwich.

With Grandma in town, we snuck out for a late dinner after putting the kids to bed. We arrived at 10pm. I ordered the Steak Frites and my husband got the fish and chips. Portions were big and matched the price. The steak was delicious. To any Canadians - the fries taste like Swiss Chalet fries. I cleared my plate. I ordered the Mr Bluesky cocktail, it was perfect. Service was attentive, but they weren't busy. I have heard mixed reviews about the food. I think that the late night menu is where they shine. I'm really looking forward to going back.

Beautiful new restaurant on Mercer Island! Featuring New American cusine with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. They are having a soft opening this week serving lunch & dinner from 11am to 10pm. Eventualy Allister they will be open 7 days a week serving brunch on the weekends also lunch and dinner, with a late night menu as well. I was excited to be able to snag a reservation on OpenTable during the soft opening week. The owner and staff could not have been more welcoming! Everything we tried was wonderful, favorites had to be the Albacore Crudo and the Pastured Chicken! The friendly and fun atmosphere made for a memorable night, I will definitely be back to try more in the near future!

This place is dog friendly, a big plus point for us. They have covered outdoor seating and the decor is very chic and simple. We ordered the portobello mushroom burger and it was absolutely delicious! The whole mushroom wasn't deep fried or battered, which was a pleasant surprise. We also got some drinks which were great and ordered the spruce tip profiteroles - loved it! We discovered this place while walking around looking for a light bite, but I would absolutely come back for brunch or dinner!

New and larger menu was introduced a few weeks ago. Food is much improved!! Service was on the slower side, but not an issue if you are just out to enjoy the experience. Ambiance is beautiful. Only negative is that the background noise level is loud.

We shared the burger, and it was delicious. I was super hungry, so that probably helped. But even the fries were awesome; nice natural cut salty delicious fries. The place is pretty inside and was busy, but not uncomfortably busy. It's brightly decorated and the bartenders were nice. I liked it, I had liked the place that used to be there too called Bennet's, sad to see them go. Seems like a nice replacement though. Drinks were good too. I just had a beer, but my friend got the expresso martini, and liked it a lot. Pretty solid place for a date or to meet a friend.

Was super excited to finally try out Allistair for brunch today and was extremely disappointed. There was pretty much no service, no asking how things were and most importantly? All of the food was tepid at best. Plus the fact the hollandaise (um, I hope I don't get sick!) was not only tasteless but I can't imagine that it is healthy to be serving something that has raw eggs in it after sitting for who knows how long under some heat lamp that was apparently not working. Don't even get me started on the over priced tasteless bloody mary. I would have preferred plain old V8 with my vodka.

We made our first visit to Allister last night and can't wait to go back. Everything was wonderful-the service, ambience, food, and cocktails. It's a beautiful setting in downtown Mercer Island that we highly recommend.

So was looking forward to trying this place but unfortunately it is not up to the high prices they are setting. I got an heirloom tomato salad and there was barely anything. Presentation was sloppy. For 17 dollar entree this did not serve me or give me enough to call it an entree at all. Others at my table commented on how they didn't feel like food was seasoned at all. Cocktails across table took over 20 min. Granted they were training which is fine but when they came they were not balanced. Didn't say anything at the table since I didn't want to make a scene but not worth what I paid. Hope this is growing pains and they can improve.

Super cute new spot on Mercer Island! The decor is lovely and of course, it's on beautiful Mercer island so you can expect the best! The only disappointment were the incredibly small portions. I can for brunch and was shocked how small the portions were. I would definitely come back, but only for HH and maybe dessert.

Sadly this place really missed the mark. Service was abysmal. We didn't even get water till we asked. Then, the waitress spilled while pouring it and didn't even offer to clean it up. The food wasn't that good. The crab bucatini the pasta was way overcooked and incredibly bland. We ordered chicken tenders for our child and they charged us for the adult version (assuming they gave us the adult one? But why would you do that when we clearly ordered for our child). Service was slow overall and the food didn't make up for it. Cocktails was the only thing that was ok. I won't be back.

We came for the soft opening. The restaurant is clean with aesthetic appeal. We were promptly greeted upon arrival and seated immediately since we had a reservation. We were seated near the kitchen entrance and throughout the meal, the room temperature was a little on the warmer side. Taylor was our server and she was friendly, attentive and truly made us feel welcome. The food was delicious. We love that they serve Sea Wolf bread! One very important tip- be careful on the way to the restroom. We saw several people trip on the step up near the bar. Overall, it was a good experience and we will probably return in the future.

Our family of two adults and two teenagers dined at allister in celebration of a birthday. We had a mixed experience. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing, was relatively full, and had a nicely moderate level of energy. We ordered the Miso Caesar Salad, Falafel Plate, and Sea Wolf Bread for appetizers. Disappointingly, they were out of the bread. The salad and falafel plate were very good, but the latter seems more suited as an appetizer than an entrée despite its categorization as the latter on the menu. For the main course, we chose the Smoky Gnocchi with Wagyu Ragout (excellent name!), the Crab Butter Bucatini, and two of the allister Wagyu Burger. I enjoyed the gnocchi dish despite the unusual dryness, which I was prepared for based on other reviews. The bucatini was a hit. One of the burgers was great, but the other was significantly overcooked (the phrase "cooked to death" came to mind and probably out of my mouth) and lacking sauce. The service had its highs and lows. We were seated promptly, our order was taken in a timely manner, and our food arrived quickly. On the other hand, most of our utensils were taken after the appetizers and we had to ask for replacements after our main course was served. When we decided to send back the overcooked burger, it took a while to flag down our server, but the freshly made one was perfect and delivered surprisingly rapidly. Finally, the check came with charges for three burgers rather than two, but our server readily corrected it with apologies. Like I said, a mixed experience. Given the proximity, we might return in the future, especially given pancakes are on the brunch menu :-)

We arrived with our reservation for 2 in early evening. There were 12 diners in total inside the restaurant with everyone bunched around the tables by the door. It was 37 deg outside and every time the door opened there was a blast of cold air. Diners and the hostess were commenting on the chill. We asked if we could sit at one of the open tables for two that were well away from the entrance. Our waitress told us that the restaurant "would be full" so we could not move to another open table for two. We were in the restaurant for about 90 minutes (we waited quite a while between the salad and the entrees) and towards the end of our stay, the other tables for two well away from the entrance were finally filled by a few other couples. There must be some restaurant reason why they wanted everyone clustered around the entrance despite there being other tables for the same number of people that were open nearly the entire time we were there. We skipped appetizers and dessert because the occasional blast of cold air left us wanting to be quick with our meal. At least the food and the menu were better than the first time we were there, apparently the first chef was fired. Not spectacular but solid and priced reasonably. If you go there in winter, dress warmly. We certainly won't return until there is much warmer weather, and perhaps we won't return at all, too many other restaurants to try out. Sent from my iPhone

This space is so beautiful!! Stopped in for a cocktail with my husband, we will definitely come back to dine. The staff are were knowledgeable and kind and the drinks were beautifully prepared. From the glassware to the napkins to the high quality ingredients. A welcome addition to Mercer Island!

Dinner at the bar: lovely. New menu is fantastic. Recommend the venison dish. Cucumber salad so yummy. Happy surprises for you taste buds

I went here for lunch for the first time today and really enjoyed it! I called ahead to ask about vegan options and they let me know their salads are available as vegan. I ordered the mixed greens salad which was really good! My friend ordered the grilled caesar with salmon and loved it! They have a good iced tea and the service was great as well!

We tried this restaurant for brunch and were totally underwhelmed! Minimal options to select from and very high prices! How they can charge $4 for one small slice of bread is unheard of. It comes plain so if you want to add butter and jam that is an additional $3! Trying to end my review on a positive note so I will say that the food was decent and our server was attentive I'd suggest they rethink their menu prices if they want to thrive and be successful. Charging $18 for the equivalent of an egg McMuffin is just too high!

Judy and I are big fans of Allistir and the new menu is great. Had the scallops the first night after startup of the new menu and again last night. Really fresh and tasty. We had a party of ten on Wednesday night and a party of nine last night and the service was excellent as it has been almost from the startup of this friendly with a warm feeling restaurant. We recommend you give Allistir a try.

Delicious New Year's Eve dinner. The service was also great and the atmosphere is very nice.

Went last night with a friend. Ambience and interiors are lovely. Drinks were well done. The food- middling and over priced. My friend had the wagyu ragu gnocchi and that was great. I had the king salmon- total miss. It was over a bed of rice sprinkled with shaved carrots and boiled turnip? In an oil/ butter glaze. I feel like it was a missed opportunity to celebrate a beautiful fish like king salmon and I could've made this at home. For the price they charge for the salmon dish- it should have been more thought out in taste compliment and presentation. Desserts were good. All in all the food was not spectacular, just fine-to-good. This place represents itself as a higher end restaurant, and the prices reflect that. The wait person we had was lovely, attentive, and wonderful, but the kitchen didn't have their service together. Between the appetizer and main course, there was a 30+ minute wait and the food came out tepid. I realize they just changed chefs and may be reorganizing, and they've only been open a couple of months. I'll go again to try other dishes because I believe in supporting local business and I need to try other things to really get a feel for the place, but I'd say at this moment there are some kinks yet to be worked out between the dishes offered and the line of thought behind them in terms of flavor profiles and presentation, and back of the house organization.

I was really looking forward to what sounded like a great new restaurant opening up on the Island. Our initial visit for dinner was good enough, decent portions with some great flavors, though a bit overpriced for the portion sizes, IMO. Service was lacking, but I assume they were still just working out the kinks. However, our more recent visit for brunch was not good. The portions were TINY, and I am normally not a huge eater. When my minuscule scramble arrived, I immediately asked for an English muffin to at least make it somewhat filling. I had already finished my five-bite breakfast by the time they brought out my $4 plain English muffin - no butter or jam or anything - that would have added an additional $3! No one ever came and checked on us after bringing our food out either, as we wanted to at least order more drinks, and we finally had to flag someone down to get our tab. $25 dollars later, and still hungry, I ended up just making myself another meal when I got home. That said, I know they're still pretty new, and likely still working out the kinks, so may give them another chance in a few months and will absolutely update my review if things have improved.

This was a restaurant that could definitely use improvement. The decor is beautiful but the food was quite questionable. Overall, the food was ice cold, lacked taste, poor quality and disappointing especially it being on Mercer Island. To top all of this, the table next to us had found and complained about a piece of paper in their "wagyu burger". The waiter did nothing but offer a free dessert which they obviously said no. Im so dissatisfied and hope something changes.

I've been 4 times and really wanted to love it. I appreciate there are growing pains with opening a new restaurant, however, between the terrible experience sitting at the bar with my husband and being completely ignored to the very mediocre food and service, we won't be back. I hope they improve as Mercer Island needs more dining options.

I love this place for brunch. We sit at the bar - and the service is amazing. The bartender remembers our order every time and is super thoughtful about how our food and drinks are. Always a regular!!

Great food & drinks. Everything is high quality. Easily the best dining option on the island. Will definitely be back.

Absolutely amazing! We arrived tonight at 5:00 pm with no reservation (thinking Labor Day weekend would be quiet). We learned they were not taking walk ins tonight because they were short staffed (totally get it!) . However Siena who is the most amazing hostess and Nico our server recognized that they had just had a cancellation and could fit us in. Seamless service and amazing food (laundered martini and falafel) for the win. Thank you Allister for being our go-to place!

This was my 3rd time visiting Allister- twice for lunch and this most recent time for dinner. First 2 times were fine but this last time will be my last time. We had a huge issue with both food and service. Never experienced such bad customer service. It was appalling. Our friends ordered the falafel plate (which they have had there before). The whole dish was over-cooked. The pita bread was more like pita chips and the falafel was so overcooked, you couldn't cut it with a fork. We told our server, who then took it back to the kitchen, then came back and told us that they could bring out a new one but that we would be charged for both. We all looked at each other dumbfounded. We obviously weren't going to pay for two falafel plates so we said we didn't want it at all. We finished our first glass of wine and ordered a second of the same kind. When our 2nd glasses came out it didn't taste the same for either of us so we told our server, who went back to the bbar and came back insisting it's the same ones we had before. When our server brought our check, he said that HE would pay for the bad falafel dish. Some of us thought we heard wrong so when he came back, we asked if that is what he said and he confirmed. We said that wasn't right and he should pay for it either so we asked if the owner was around so we could speak with her. The owner came out after a bit and we explained what happened and she said there must have been a misunderstanding. No apology about anything, just said there must have been a misunderstanding. Our server was nice and it didn't seem like he was new to being a server. Something clearly didn't seem right. They obviously don't care about customer service.

Great new restaurant on MI! Owner did not miss one detail on the decor, inside and out. Everything is beautiful, even the bathrooms are gorgeous. Great bar with artisanal drinks and a menu with great food with fresh ingredients. Lots of choices for all dietary choices. Fab customer service. Food a bit slow to come out, but understandable since it's their soft opening. Already going back!