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    Central Tavern

    3.5 (100 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Central Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    CENTRAL TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Divey
    Live music
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Central Tavern

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    ReRe

    I was physically assaulted by the manager "ReRe the bartender". I by mistake stepped outside with an almost empty can, and walked back inside to toss it. Out of no where with zero words of communication (I thought it was a crack head) this older woman grabs my hand and physically crushes it while digging her nails deep into the back of my hand. My hand was left with multiple small cuts and a bruise. It would be common sense to use your words, and politely address a patron without physically harming them. The security team was useless, did nothing to help, then threatened to 86 me if I didn't leave when I asked why this bartender physically assaulted me. "ReRe" should be fired. She was also breaking health code regulations with her excessively long bacteria ridden nails. What a disgusting and shameful establishment! This is not a safe place for women to have a drink. There are several complaints about how poorly the bartenders have treated women at this bar, and it is 100% "ReRe" and the other older woman. This bar use to be good before it was sold in 2017. Honestly the entire staff should be fired for how hostile and rude they are towards patrons.

    Warning
    Jacques I.

    It's a dive bar, as you probably suspected when walking by Central Tavern. Located in downtown Kirkland, behind these closed doors is a dark room with red lighting and a funky odor. Thus, I bring you Central Tavern. It's definitely a locals hang out. We visited Central Tavern after a wine tasting event and the place was alright. After ordering a local IPA on tap, we sat at one of the tables and the place quickly filled with peeps who seems to frequent this spot. We visited on a hot day, so the place was extra muggy because the AC was broken. And the mugginess brought on an odor, mixed with people sweating, so yeah, it was one of those instances. Central Tavern isn't a bad spot though, if you forget about the broken AC issue. For a dive bar though, people didn't seem as chummy like at other dive bars I've visited. A little standoffish, I must say, which was surprising. Not the most fun place in Kirkland for drinks, but it'll be cheaper than most spots around. They have darts and pool tables.

    the neon sign above the bar
    Victoria H.

    Perfect dive bar. Everything you want in a dive bar. The bartenders are awesome, attentive and fun. Bouncer is great. Wish there were more of these around town.

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    15 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

    You go to the Central for the drinks and the no-nonsense bartenders. Ask for Jen. Period.

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    15 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Decent dive bar. Pool and darts are a lot of fun. Bartenders are quick. Had a good time.

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    12 years ago

    Still my go to spot when out in Kirkland. Jen, Sandy, Zak and Drea. Can't beat it!

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Central Tavern

    Is this place Dog Friendly?

    No. Dogs are not allowed.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Central Tavern

    Very chill vibe, friendly staff, fun jukebox, pull tabs, pool, one dart board, lots of tables, not horrid bathrooms and cheap tasty drinks.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    0.1 mi
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    Just WOW- we visited at lunchtime to celebrate a birthday and was blown away. Stepping into this…read morerestaurant feels like you're walking into a gorgeous minimalistic zen space that still manages to incorporate warmth through the natural wood paneling and thoughtful touches. Tables and booths are laid out in a way that gives patrons both privacy and a wonderful space to have conversations. The tableware is immaculate and thoughtfully picked out. Our server, Brandonlee A was truly a star! He was very friendly and has the entire menu memorized right down to the specific ingredients used in EVERY single dish- yes, even the side dishes! He's a big reason that we had such a wonderful first experience at Noii and I sincerely hope Management takes notice and promotes this guy to become a manager because he clearly is so passionate about his job, cares about the customers he serves and so knowledgeable about the food! That's something very refreshing to see in the service industry. The lunch bento set was wonderful - the sushi upgrade was definitely worth it too IMO, because I'm a huge aburi toro fan. Everything from the beef croquette to the salad with crispy fish skin and ikura was delicious. The food presentation/plating was 10/10 and it was a feast for the eyes too. Even the grilled chicken rice bowl with the onsen egg was so yummy. We also loved the yuzu mixed drinks as well. The birthday dessert with a yuzu jelly topped with meringue and edible flowers added the perfect finishing touch to our meal. The ambience, food and service were all a home run for me. That says a lot because VERY few restaurants are able to achieve the perfect trifecta of all 3. Hopefully they will keep these high standards up! This is now one of our favorite restaurants in Kirkland and we've already told all our friends to come check it out.

    Beautiful restaurant on Main Street. The feel of a bit of luxury hits you in the face when you walk…read morein through the sides. Detail was not missed on me! Even the chop sticks rest was well thought out. Sushi tasted fresh and presentation very pretty! I recommend. This place is especially nice if you want to impress your guests with a modern, sleek, pretty space. Service was very friendly, polite and they went over and above to provide the requests we made. I'd go back.

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    Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen is one of my FAVORITE Thai restaurants on the Eastside. They have a second…read morelocation in Seattle too. My favorite dishes are the PHAD SEE EIW with chicken ($16.25) and the THAI GRILLED BEEF SALAD (cooked medium) ($20.50). The PHAD SEE EIW has the perfect sauce balance of sweet and savory flavors and comes with broccoli and carrot. The noodles are super long and wide so you know they are fresh and not from the box. The THAI GRILLED BEEF SALAD definitely has a kick to it. This dish comes with raw cucumbers, carrots, onions, and basil and is served in a tangy and umami fish sauce vinegar mix. The beef is extremely tasty, tender, and well-marinated. This past visit, my friends and I also tried two new dishes that I've never had at Isarn before- their CHIANG MAI NOODLES (aka Khao Soi) ($17.25) and the MINCED LAMB WITH THAI BASIL ($16.50). The CHIANG MAI NOODLES were beautifully presented with a nest of crunchy egg noodles on top of a creamy yellow curry with soft egg noodles underneath. It was served with pickled mustard cabbage and onions for extra punch of flavor. The MINCED LAMB WITH THAI BASIL reminded me of Vietnamese larb. However, this dish was more savory and less tangy than larb and the basil really shined through. It is quite oily though so make sure to enjoy it with a side of JASMINE RICE ($2.75). Portions are generous for all dishes and I always leave with leftovers. The atmosphere is modern, clean, and trendy. It's a great place for catching up with friends and not too loud. I will say the restaurant is a bit on the darker side, but that's just how they set the ambiance. Service was good and we got our food promptly within 15-20 minutes after ordering. It took a bit of time to waive the waiter down for to-go boxes, but they were attentive otherwise. Note that Isarn doesn't take reservations and it's street parking only. However, they have a waiting list kiosk inside the restaurant and so if they're busy, you can sign up for notifications and walk around the downtown Kirkland shops while you're waiting. Overall: 5/5 for food, 4/5 for service, 5/5 for atmosphere

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    RockCreek Seafood & Spirits

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    Off days happen, and honestly, if it wasn't for the tremendous save I probably wouldn't even bother…read morewriting a review. My husband and I came in on a Monday, and while it didn't feel busy to us, I noticed the lack of a host and only two servers covering inside and outside. Our server, while kind, patient, and knowledgeable, was definitely juggling and struggling. It was actually the manager who noticed we needed a little more attention and greased the wheels to get our drinks and food out quicker. We loved this extra bit of service from leadership. This place is good, the remodel is beautiful, the food is fun and creative, and the staff (albeit limited) genuinely seems to perform well under pressure. There was a miscommunication with the kitchen and they had an extra side of potatoes, which they gifted to us. Pretty cool.

    We randomly decided to stop by for a couple of drinks and decided to order some foods with it…read more Surprisingly; the food was really good. We are used to mediocore foods at places like this; and to find the foods to be so delicious was very pleasant surprise. Service was great; we got seated right away and taken care of. We sat outside since it was a nice day and we had our pup with us. Plenty of seating inside and outside. And its right by the lake; (sunset was on point when we went) What we got: Fried kalamari (4.5/5) *not pictured Very creative! Its more of a fried calamari salad; served in a chinese style to go box; i think we found it cool. The calamari was nicely fried; and the breading has sesame seed powder? I think it was delicious! And pair it with the bitter leaves; and some kind of soy dressing. Fried smashed potato (5/5) Delicious! Love some good smashed and deep fried potatoes; and nicely pair with the morney sauce. 1/2 crab fried (5/5) This is sooooo good. It was nicely fried, plated and taste delicious with the aioli and fried basil and everything else that came with it. We also got a couple drinks that were pretty good (not picture) Lots of option when it comes to the drinks Overall it was a good choice to stop by here. Prices reflect the kind of restaurant it is and what it serves; no surprises there.

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    Central Tavern - divebars - Updated June 2026

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