Lexsolis

I'd like to second Matt's in the Market for fantastic seafood (if you can find the restaurant). It is up a relatively unmarked staircase in the heart of the market. Matt's has about four or five tables and a 8-10 seat counter bar, so its a bit of a hard ticket at popular times, but well worth it. The menu is pretty short, but always stocked with excellent seafood--I've had the best clams at Matt's that I have had anywhere, period. I think they have live music on Thursday nights, which is a quite an experience since the place barely has room for the patrons let alone the entertainment......but, that's Matt's..... MW

This is my first post to this forum (thanks to Anita for pointing a fellow food lover in the right direction)... If you ever find yourself lost on Mercer Island, its worth checking out the "other" pub on the island. I'm not talking about the Roanoke (checkered history, cool atmosphere on a summer night, not so hot food), but about the Islander (formerly "The Pleasant Hour" formerly "The Islander") located above True Value Hardware in the downtown MI business district. Several years ago, the place was transformed from a dive bar into a polished wood and brass "upscale" kind of establishment. The food as a whole is kind of hit or miss, but the burgers are first-rate, ground sirloin, thick and cooked to order. The pub also has a decent selection of microbrews on tap. The place has (unfulfilled) aspirations to be a finer dining kind of establishment, but you won't go wrong with an Islander Burger--bleu cheese, steak sauce, etc.--and a cold pint of Mac and Jacks. Despite the obscure location, this is my favorite place in town for a beer and burger. MW