allister
Downtown Mercer Island, Mercer Island
Restaurant in Mercer Island, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$50–100per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
allister offers one of Mercer Island's most flexible dining schedules, staying open until 10 PM Thursday through Saturday and serving brunch from 10 AM on weekends. The casual dining room suits families, date nights, and celebration meals without formality, and easy booking makes it a reliable choice when other island kitchens close early.
About allister
allister is a Mercer Island restaurant with daily hours and a smart-casual dress code. It opens at 11:30 AM Monday through Friday, at 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday, and closes at 9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday. Wednesday through Saturday, it stays open until 10 PM.
Allister's schedule and location in Mercer Island are key details, as specifics on cuisine type, chef background, menu format, pricing, seating, and beverage program are not available. For diners comparing timing across nearby options, Crawlspace Gastropub is another restaurant to consider, along with other Mercer Island dining rooms.
What to Expect
Expect a smart-casual Mercer Island restaurant with broad weekly availability. The hours support daytime and evening visits, including later closes on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
For first-timers, the safest planning details are the opening and closing times: 11:30 AM–9 PM Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 AM–10 PM Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM–10 PM Saturday, and 10 AM–9 PM Sunday. If you're choosing between allister and other Mercer Island options, consider the day of the week, your preferred dining time, and the smart-casual dress code.
Who Should Book
allister fits diners who want a Mercer Island restaurant with daily service and clearly stated hours. It may be especially practical when timing matters, since the restaurant is open every day and remains open until 10 PM from Wednesday through Saturday. For more context on dining across the island, see our full Mercer Island restaurants guide.
If those factors are central to your decision, confirm directly before booking, or compare allister with other Mercer Island restaurants such as Bis on Main, BluWater Bistro, Mediterranean Kitchen, Takai by Kashiba, and Crawlspace Gastropub.
Planning details
- Location
- 7650 SE 27th St Suite 100, Mercer Island, WA 98040
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- allister-mi.com
- Phone
- +12065520224
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Allister presents itself as a neighborhood restaurant that prefers steady, returning business to fleeting trend-chasing. Tucked into a commercial suite on Mercer Island’s southern residential edge, it reads as a quietly confident spot rather than a destination spectacle. The editorial framing emphasizes precise Pacific Northwest sourcing (Puget Sound seafood, Yakima Valley produce and Cascade-region proteins) so the dining room feels rooted in seasonality and provenance. That combination of local ingredient focus and a community-oriented location produces a relaxed, charming atmosphere: the kind of place where familiarity and thoughtful cooking take precedence over flash.
Best For
Allister is best suited to evening dining when the kitchen’s Pacific Northwest-driven menu is in full swing. The restaurant’s format and menu (centered on dishes such as Coq au Vin, Trio of Lamb and Steak Tartare) fit a dinner occasion that leans toward upscale casual meals with friends, couples on date night and small group gatherings. Its placement off the island’s brief main-street strip makes it particularly appealing to local regulars and those seeking a quieter, neighborhood experience rather than a tourist-focused outing. Reservations are sensible for popular evening service.
Ordering Tips
Order with an eye toward the kitchen’s regional sourcing: expect dishes that highlight Puget Sound seafood, Yakima Valley produce and Cascade proteins. Signature plates listed include Trio of Lamb, Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, Coq au Vin, Steak Tartare and a Miso Caesar Salad: those selections showcase the menu’s range from composed classic preparations to comforting, ingredient-forward fare. Because the restaurant emphasizes provenance and seasonality, look for specials that reflect current harvests or recent catches; choosing from those daily or seasonal items will give the clearest sense of the kitchen’s sourcing priorities.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm glow from upscale dining room with pastel and bronze accents; lively bar atmosphere where guests bump knees while watching sports; refined yet welcoming neighborhood feel.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Farm-to-table
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Craft cocktails, Local beers, Wine
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- Trio of Lamb
- Fish & Chips
- Bangers & Mash
- Coq au Vin
- Steak Tartare
- Miso Caesar Salad
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 7650 SE 27th St Suite 100, Mercer Island, WA 98040
Planning details
Location
7650 SE 27th St Suite 100, Mercer Island, WA 98040 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Crawlspace Gastropub, Notable alternative
- Bis on Main, Notable alternative
- Mediterranean Kitchen, Notable alternative
- Takai by Kashiba, Notable alternative
- BluWater Bistro, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
Among Mercer Island's limited dining options, allister stands out primarily for its operating hours rather than cuisine or ambiance. Crawlspace Gastropub offers comparable late-evening service with a more casual pub format and a stronger beverage program, making it the better choice for groups prioritizing drinks over a sit-down dinner. Bis on Main delivers a more polished dining experience with French-inspired technique and a tighter menu, though it typically closes earlier and skews higher in price, book there if you want a special-occasion meal rather than a reliable weeknight table.
Mediterranean Kitchen focuses on Greek and Middle Eastern flavors with a family-friendly format, while Takai by Kashiba represents the island's only sushi option with omakase service at a significantly higher price point. If you need a table after 9 PM or want the flexibility of weekend brunch service, allister is often the only practical choice without leaving the island. BluWater Bistro offers waterfront views and a seafood-forward menu but closes earlier in the week, making it less useful for late arrivals.
For value and ease of booking, allister competes directly with Crawlspace and Mediterranean Kitchen, all three operate daily and accommodate walk-ins, but allister's extended Thursday-Saturday hours give it an edge for groups finishing work events or family gatherings that run past 8 PM. If you're splitting your trip between Mercer Island and Seattle, save Takai for a special occasion and use allister for everyday dinning when you need a reliable late table without advance planning.
Explore Mercer Island
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full allister guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare allister
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| allister | Mercer Island | No published awards |
| Crawlspace Gastropub | Mercer Island | No published awards |
| Bis on Main | Bellevue | No published awards |
| Mediterranean Kitchen | Bellevue | No published awards |
| Takai by Kashiba | Bellevue | No published awards |
| BluWater Bistro | Seattle | No published awards |
How allister Mercer Island compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is allister good for a special occasion?
allister may work for a special occasion if the schedule and smart-casual setting fit your plans.
What should a first-timer know about allister?
allister is a Mercer Island restaurant with a smart-casual dress code. It is open 11:30 AM–9 PM Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 AM–10 PM Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM–10 PM Saturday, and 10 AM–9 PM Sunday. Menu specifics, cuisine type, and chef background are not available.
Is lunch or dinner better at allister?
The schedule supports both daytime and evening planning: allister opens at 11:30 AM Monday through Friday and 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Dinner timing is more flexible Wednesday through Saturday, when the restaurant closes at 10 PM; it closes at 9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday.
What are alternatives to allister in Mercer Island?
Other restaurants to compare include Crawlspace Gastropub, Bis on Main, BluWater Bistro, Mediterranean Kitchen, and Takai by Kashiba. Compare current hours, menus, and reservation availability directly before choosing.
