When you look for a nice gastropub in Mercer Island, you have to go a tad bit off of the beaten path just south of heart of economic core. In a small strip mall next to some other restaurants is the Crawlspace. Definitely part sportbar, part gathering place, and part pub, you can find this as your gathering spot away from the hustle and bustle of the town, less than a half mile away. Need a burger, they got it. A nice beer. Absolutely. SPAM Masumbi. You got it! Don't forget happy hour from 3pm to 6pm, but the menu is sometimes too good to wait, and that's okay. I honestly found that the appetizer of the SPAM Masubi and Diet Coke was good enough for me for light snack. But there's definitely more. Just as the incredibly helpful staff who are definitely friendly. read more

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Decided to try this place after a hike. Parking lot shared with other businesses and there was a farmers market on Sunday. Bartender - very friendly and cheery. Venue nicely set up and a plus was the tv with the World Cup on. Ordered brunch items - the omelete and the shakshusa (medium spice). Food was tasty and good portions. Owner stopped by our table which was nice. We both like this place and would come back again read more

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I love, love, love Crawlspace! While I've tried many items on the menu - the North Shore Shrimp, the Crawlburger, the curry special, the tacos - I always go back to the Korean fried chicken sandwich. I am hopelessly addicted. It is crunchy on the outside, tender chicken, juicy without being greasy and an incredible array of savory flavor it is the best fried chicken sandwich I've eaten. The butter mochi is a "must" for any salted caramel fan. The cake is soft, light, and delish but that caramel sauce is to die for. Just delicious!! I love the cocktails. Yes, they are not inexpensive but pretty much the same price everywhere else on the Island. I find them to be delicious and balanced. They serve a killer Hemingway daiquiri. I have always had great service here. The staff is friendly! When they get busy the service will slow. And they do get busy, especially around 6-8 PM ramping up during the 5 PM hour. But as long as I have a drink in hand I am happy. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Chicken Sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

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Food was delicious & fresh and hot! The kimchi was potent spicy but extremely good! Highly recommend 9/10 read more

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This place was pretty disappointing overall. It's definitely more of a fusion restaurant with very high prices, and unfortunately the quality didn't match the cost. Our drinks were almost the same price as the food, and the total came out close to $100 (with tip and taxes), not worth it in my opinion. I don't mind paying more if the flavors are exceptional, but here it felt like we were just paying Mercer Island prices rather than for standout food. Crawspace Wings (Garlic Buffalo): The food came out very quickly, which usually makes me question how fresh it is. It tasted like it may have been prepped ahead of time and reheated, then tossed in sauce. There was no real garlic flavor, just standard buffalo. Mac Salad: This tasted a bit off, almost like it had been sitting for a while. I don't mind that it's served cold since that's expected, but the flavor was bland and underwhelming. Bulgogi Tacos: The portion of meat was generous, which I appreciated. However, the meat itself was quite salty. Based on other reviews, it seems like the flavor can swing between too sweet or too salty. Either way, it feels overpriced for what you get. Lilikoi Mai Tai: This drink leaned heavily on a nutty flavor, with very little passion fruit coming through. For an island-style cocktail, I expected it to be a bit sweeter and more vibrant, but that wasn't the case. Overall, it missed the mark and wasn't very enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend it unless you specifically prefer a nuttier profile, similar to a Long Island style drink. Overall, I wouldn't return. The pricing doesn't align with the quality or execution. read more

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Probably a 3.5 star restaurant but I am rounding down due to the high price and I feel the 4.4 star yelp rating is just not justified for this venue. Service is good. It seemed like all the wait staff were high school or college students. They worked very hard and were friendly. Zero complaints here. The space is larger than it appears from the entrance but it was pretty much packed. For Friday dinner, you have to have a reservation unless you can wait until after 8pm or so. Food was good. Not amazing or anything but everything my buddy and I had was decent. Calling this a Korean restaurant is a stretch but it is definitely Korean-inspired. Obviously even at these expensive prices, they seem to be doing well, so maybe I am just wrong here , but I personally think there are cheaper options out there. The outdoor patio seating is also not recommended unless you like facing another business building next to a road with lots of cars driving by. But all in all, a solid venue. Just make sure to make a reservation before coming here during weekend dinner time. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Creole Fries - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

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We chose this place because it won some superlative from the Seattle times. "Best Korean restaurant", but not sure if it's for all of Seattle area or just Mercer Island. Unfortunately, there was nothing great about this place except for the free parking lot. Service was horrendous and weird. It seems like they were short staffed because the hostess was also bussing tables. She was quite snappy and short, but also heavily pregnant so we gave her a huge pass. However, at the table, our server was obviously fake nice, like saying nice things but also not giving a shit about it or her job. In terms of food, everything was close to being awful. Things came out cold, some things came out bland, and some came out salty. There was no consistency and while we ordered a good sampler mix, we didn't enjoy any of it. read more

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Cool bar with outdoor seating in the back. Interesting Korean and Hawaiian dishes. I had the bulgogi burger with a gluten free bun, creole fries (contain some gluten as they are fried with gluten containing items) and a Yonder gluten free cider. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Bulgogi burger on a gluten free bun, creole fries and a gluten free hard cider. - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

The Crawlspace Gastropub is easily my most favorite restaurant on Mercer Island. The service is phenomenal, the restaurant's ambiance is welcoming, and the food is delicious! Some of my favorite dishes are the loco moco and the japchae. I also really enjoy the spam musubi. Some friends have tried their fried chicken sandwich and the bulgogi plate and really loved them! I'm looking forward to going back soon to try out some more of the dishes. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Japchae with chicken - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

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We had a great experience! The shrimp tacos were absolutely delicious, and the French fries were some of the best I've ever had. My daughter loved her Korean wings with Buldok sauce, and my husband said his burger was so good he'd definitely order it again. A special shoutout to Thomas, our waiter. He was amazing--friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience even better. Give that man a raise! We'll definitely be back. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Korean chicken Buldok sauce - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

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Our first visit to this restaurant and it wasn't bad. I would give it 3.5 stars. Service was good and attentive. The interior decor has a good balance and blend of modern with a classic bar feel. We ordered the chicken tacos, the bulgogi tacos and the Crawl Burger. The chicken tacos were good. I would skip the bulgogi ones as the meat is just overly sweet. My family and I liked the burger the best. The meat was juicy and tender and I appreciated the pickled veggies. We will give it another try and select different entrees on our next visit. read more

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The Crawlspace Gastropub was on my radar prior to it being voted in the Seattle Times Best of the PNW for Korean and Best New Restaurant. As a former MI resident, I welcome any new restaurants, and more so that it has Hawaiian roots. The owner also owns the famous Lahaina Bakery and Rainbow Drive In on Oahu, so it already has a big reputation to live up to. Anyway we came at the end of October, on Halloween, in fact. It was quite festive with the Halloween decorations, the staff were decked out in Halloween costumes, as were some patrons. We sat in the bar area, as the main dining area was pretty full. Although I wanted to try the loco moco, as that's my gauge for good Hawaiian food, I ordered the Huli Huli Chicken plate and my hubby ordered the Bulgogi Crawlburger with fried egg added, of course. Portions were generous for both dishes! The Huli Huli chicken was practically half a bone-in chicken, and I could only finish the quarter leg portion. The chili-vinegar-fish sauce was a great accompaniment as it cut down on the smokiness of the chicken. The Bulgogi Burger was ginormous, he had to portion it out to tackle this bohemoth! All the flavors were on point. Enough that we're looking forward to when we'll visit again. Service was a bit slow at times, but the staff was great. We ended up chatting with the GM, Kyle. He's got some great ideas for some special menus, hinting towards linking the Oahu restaurants on MI! We'll be back! read more

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A small space, and a good add for Mercer that struggles with some quality options on-island. The biggest problems are noise in the small space, where simple fixes like acoustic tiles on the ceiling would go a long way, or other soft space baffling adornment. The food, it was definitely ok and not bad -- a mix of Asian fusion and Polynesian blends. We sampled a gamut and would have preferred some of their brunch only options be on the main menu. That is probably the biggest let down of the whole thing -- watch for things on the menu that may be locked away by times. Like a lot of regional pricing too high for what it was, but on the right track. Just for someone with a lot of variety and ties to things like Korean flavors, nothing too innovative. I would definitely come back to try a few things, but given the small price errors it would not be on a regular rotation for me, definitely not a "towny return point". read more

The sandwich is a combination of textures, flavours, spice. The bun was soft but not soggy.Fries done to perfection. You could tell that a lot thought went into the reaction of the sandwich. The bread pudding was weird taste for me. Very fresh though. Service was excellent ! read more

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The Crawlspace Gastropub on Mercer Island is a standout spot where bold Korean flavors meet the laid-back warmth of Hawaii. My daughter has been raving about it since they opened, so I was excited to finally try it during my visit -- and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is effortlessly relaxed, yet the food feels elevated and thoughtfully executed. Our group ordered the Huli Huli Chicken, Bulgogi, Chicken Katsu Mac & Cheese, and finished with the warm butter mochi à la mode for dessert. Each dish was flavorful, comforting, and perfectly balanced -- a true reminder of home. We were hoping to meet Chef Jason, but he wasn't in that day. Even so, the experience was still wonderful from start to finish. Reservations are recommended, and parking is available. read more

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Overall it wasn't good -- deal/experience/ taste/service wise. We got there at 5:30 and they were full and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table and even after we were seated it took almost 10 minutes to get water and even then our waitress wasn't ready to take our order and we had to say we wanted to get the happy hour deals and she asked us what time it was and it was 5:58 and she said let me come back for your order now, and we immediately saw her grab the device to put orders and ask another table if they want anything else off the happy hour before us. It didn't bother us too much bc we did get the deal but didn't think it was great customer service. Something weird I did notice is that the Mac salad price on their normal menu and happy hour menu are the same price. The food itself was mid at best in my opinion. I thought the bulgogi taco was pretty good with a good mix of flavors and the chicken taco was not good and didn't go well with the rest of the taco ingredients. The gumbo wasn't bad, def put the rice in the gumbo and it'll taste way better.We all didn't like the wings and It just tasted like ok. We tried the buffalo flavor which is like Buffalo garlic or something but I don't remember bc we only tasted the buffalo. The kahlua pork wasn't my fav either, It comes with rice and Mac salad and the pork and some kimchi and to me the Mac salad wasn't very flavorful besides just creamy and the kahlua was just alright. Overall all the food is just okay but everything is at a pretty high price point and just a bit bland to me, I could taste the flavors but nothing was that deep or Interestring . We got the tacos off the happy hour and it's like 8 dollars per a single taco. The service seemed pretty swamped and I do feel like they were going fast and trying. I wouldn't say the service was rude but it didn't feel very friendly, but I did hear our waitress small talk with a different table. The spot is nice enough and we were seated in the back outside area which was nice and warm. Overall, if you want like "Asian fusion vibes" in the area then maybe this is for you but for me the taste , service, and price point is not there for me and I will not be back. I would also note that people should know about their credit card charge printed on the bottom of their menus and that we put this on company card so I didn't even pay with my own money and I'm still like wow this wasn't worth the money. read more

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All dishes were phenomenal, though the general tso chicken dish was definitely on a pricier end at $27 considering it didn't come with the side dish (banchans) like the bbq bowl for example. The loco moco was absolute hit as well. The atmosphere and service were really chill, cozy, neighborhood bar vibes. Space overall was kept very clean as well. I can see myself coming back to check out their other dishes especially more of the Hawaiian ones! Love the prime walkable location and ample parking around the area. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - All dishes were phenomenal - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

Didn't expect much from it since I don't typically expect much from Asian fusion, but it was actually delicious! I ate here quite some time ago so I don't remember exactly what I ordered, but I remember being pleasantly surprised by how good it was. The butter mochi was also standout for sure, I would recommend getting it as it wasn't gimmicky at all. Service was quick and friendly, and it's a great place for a casual sit-down with friends! read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

I wanted to love this neighborhood place. I've been following them on Instgram since before they opened. On that site, it looks like a colorful, lively place. The drab, gray interior didn't match the expectations set on Instagram. The bulgogi dinner bowl was a generous portion and the meat had a nice flavor. The banchan served with it were mostly successful, the best being mac salad. The worst being the long, stringy pieces of spinach(?) that we couldn't chew. The ahi poke bowl [spicy] was a good portion as well, and the fish and sauce were tasty, if one-note. However, most of the banchan served with it did not go well with the poke. I would have appreciated different accompaniments. Most disappointing was the spam musubi. We ordered it to share as an appetizer. It came at the same time as the entrées. We had no time to enjoy it. Sadly, even if served as an appetizer as requested we wouldn't have enjoyed it. See the picture. There was a large piece of spam, that tasted like it came straight out of the can. If any heat was applied I couldn't tell. The thick sauce over it didn't help. Service was pleasant enough. And when I explained why we only tasted one piece of the musubi (it had been sliced for sharing), after a long pause, the waiter offered to remove it from the table and the bill. We appreciated that. However, when I gave $100 in cash to pay the $72 bill, the waiter asked me if I wanted any change back. I said yes. Then he asked me how much change I wanted back. So I told him to hang on a minute while I did the math. What an uncomfortable end to the meal. I suspect the waiter might have needed help, perhaps he was spread too thin and was trying to speed things along. I'm not sure. read more

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Love this place! We have been in twice & both visits were amazing! Our first visit we sat inside at their cozy bar & the bartender took great care of us. We had a tequila flight & their amazing tacos with homemade tortillas- absolutely delicious! This last visit we sat outside on their cute patio & shared a bottle of wine & decided to try their shrimp & grits with a side of buffalo sauce- OMG- amazing! Creamy grits with so much flavor & a generous portion juicy prawns. We also got the musubi with Juli sauce- yum! The owner Jason was such a great host & greeted each table- he explained he is Korean & grew up in Hawaii but also loved Mexican food so his restaurant beautifully reflects that with the perfect infusions. We'll definitely be back to try more of his delicious creations on the menu. Food 5 Service 5 Atmosphere 5 read more

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Sat in bar which is always slow but last night was slower than usual. Bartender was much more interested in jawing with one of the owners and his buddy to ask if we needed refills or serve our food, which was luke warm at best when arrived. Usually such a good experience with great food in dining room. read more

We hosted a rehearsal dinner here for 25 people and were quite pleased. We are from out of state, but the manager, Thomas, did an excellent job of making sure that everything went smoothly. All our guests were very complimentary of both the service and the food. We offered a custom menu, which was easily accommodated. Every item was highly praised. If you need a place with good food and great service for a larger group, this is it. Thanks Crawlspace for making our occasion special! read more

My husband came here with a couple of his coworkers and got me the Bulgogi Burger to go. He had the same burger. The burger is super flavorful but fyi also super messy. The fries are super good. His coworkers had the KBBQ chicken dinner and the Bulgogi Dinner. Everyone liked their food. My only complaint is my husband came home with my burger and fries and goes oh the sauce for the fries is soooo good. Well, there was no sauce in my to go box, so I feel like I missed out a smidge. But still enjoyed my food. I'd eat food from here again for sure. read more

Great restaurant and bar on Mercer Island! The owner/chef Jason is from Hawaii so the menu has many local favorites with Korean fusion to kick it up a notch, and he comes around to all the tables to "talk story". My wife and I shared two dishes. The Indonesian Fried rice was chock full of chicken and loaded with flavor, topped with an egg and peanuts. The banchan salad was perfectly seasoned with their sesame dressing and lots of Korean sides, and adding seared ahi to the top was perfect. We ended our meal with butter mochi topped with vanilla ice cream, which was amazing how the sea salt paired nicely with the sweetness. We really appreciated all the staff who were friendly and welcoming, patiently explained all their menu items, and regularly checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking. There are so many things on the menu I want to try, from their chicken wings to their tacos to their burgers. We will be back regularly to try everything! read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Banchan salad with seared ahi - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

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Casual business lunch. Reservations are available through Open Table. The front desk staff were attentive and efficient. The floorplan id a bit unusual with limited seating in the front and more searing in the back with a bar in the middle. Seems a bit awkward but no big deal. The tables against the back window are cold and drafty this time of year. Interesting menu. Numerous Korean dishes. A few vegetarian items. I had a noodle and tofu dish that was quite good. Plenty of parking available. read more

Crawlspace is a much needed addition to the MI food scene and they are churning out amazing hawaiian fusion dishes. I've dined here a few times now and have always had an enjoyable experience. Dishes here are solidly executed and the cocktails are also wonderful. The bulgogi tacos are always a hit, as are the wings. On our last visit, we also tried the kalua pork and bulgogi dinner plates, along with the indonesian fried rice, which was surprisingly flavorful. The bread pudding for dessert was a miss, as it was on the dry side, but the kids demolished their ice cream. Overall, the food and service are consistent and it's a great place to catch up with friends or have a family dinner. My only gripe is that the dinner plate portions are a bit on the small side. I get that they're trying to replicate the idea of a plate lunch with the rice, mac salad, kimchi, etc, but each scoop could be bigger given the price. read more

The Crawlspace had excellent foood. Portions are great. Service is excellent. Owner is on site & visits with customers to ensure everything is good & everyone is happy read more

It was good but something felt off somehow. I can't put my finger on it but I didn't love the vibes there. Service was fine and nothing amazing. Food was decent for neighborhood experience but definitely not anything destination worthy. I would want to return to check out HH menu because we were here for brunch. read more

I was looking for a lunch spot in Mercer Island and stumbled upon The Crawlspace Gastropub, which just opened a few months ago. Always game to try a new place. Here's my take on the items we ordered: Taco Trio: Of the 3 meats: chicken, short rib, the bulgogi was our favorite. It was flavorful and the meat was moist. The chicken was good, but the short rib was on the dry side. Creole fries: The fries were on the bland side. I was expecting more of a kick. Mochiko chicken had a nice flavor, but was over cooked and super crispy. Perhaps it's intended to be served this way, but it's not what I was expecting. The salt & pepper wings were nice and crispy, but I also felt this dish lacked flavor. JT enjoyed the wings. It may not be fair of me to compare the salt & pepper wings to what I would get at a restaurant in the CID. The service was great and staff friendly! We were constantly checked on and our water glasses were always full. I love the Asian inspired food and the location, as MI is an easy meeting spot for lunch and there's plenty of parking available. This is a great spot for lunch, happy hour, dinner and good for families. This is a new spot and I see the potential. I plan on coming back to see if my experience was a one-off and I would like to try some of the other dishes. read more

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I loved the experience of dining at the Crawlspace Gastropub. I told my boyfriend I wanted Kalbi and he suggested we go here. I checked the website to see the menu and to read the about me section. I'm from Hawai'i so the menu spoke to me! I did discover they were sold out of Kalbi ribs, but the food options were too good to pass up so we still ate here anyway. My boyfriend called to double check if the Kalbi ribs were indeed sold out and it was. They replaced it with braised short ribs. We made a reservation to secure a table. We arrived to a cute little restaurant. The ambiance is pretty dim. The host was friendly and he sat us right away. We already knew what we wanted to order because viewed the menu. Ordered drinks first and got a dirty martini and the lilikoi maitai. I highly recommend the lilikoi maitai. It's tropical and delicious. Next up, food. We ordered A spam musubi to start and for our entree we got the chicken katsu and bulgogi fried rice. The spam musubi is made fresh and has a decent amount of sauce. Definitely something you might want to consider eating with your fork and knife, but the flavor was great. The bulgogi fried rice was very oily and the meat over powered the taste of kimchi. It was really weird because it mainly tasted like a bulgogi mushroom fried rice versus what they advertise it as. Also, the rice was very brown from the sauce and mushrooms. Left a bad taste in my mouth. The chicken Katsu made up for the bulgogi fried rice. I hope in the future, they get the kalbi back because I'd like to try it. I would like to go back to try different menu items, but overall it was a pretty good experience dining here. read more

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Yummy, cozy, unique, and friendly. Many spicy and non-spicy food options. We found it helpful that they take reservations. We had fish and chips, Katsu chicken curry, and beef tacos. Everything was excellent, and the service was fast. Will go again for sure. read more

The food was just alright, too sweet for my liking. I would give this a 3 star but the vibes were amazing so I'm giving it 4. Our server was actually an amazing human being and we came during the Seahawks game which was awesome. Ok back to the food. The grilled cheese, funny enough, was my favorite dish of the night. A tad too greasy but other than that, very very solid grilled cheese. The kimchi fried rice was just okay, again very sweet but lacking in the kimchi department. Maybe we got the wrong sauce for the chicken sandwich (we got buffalo) but it was just alright for us. For the bulgogi tacos, the bulgogi was overpowering and much too sweet, I wish they toned it down a little. read more

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6/5 stars! Tied for best restaurant on the island, if not the best! We have been one time, instant fans for life!! We got the crispy wings, side of mac salad, tofu tacos, and the kahuna burger. Everything was amazing bite after bite! Our server Ben was awesome! The cocktails were awesome! The Mai tai is authentic and makes it feel like you're on Oahu! The chef came out and was beyond nice! Everything. Was. So. Dang. Good. Fun christmas decor right now that's done right. But it feels cozy and also classy. You won't regret coming here! Go go go!! Instant favorite! Aloha! read more

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Ever since they opened last Fall, I've been coming here to grab some ono island style food, which is deeply rooted in Hawai'i culinary cuisine. They host various events throughout the year, such as Halloween, football season, Mardi Gras, and many others! They even host Karaoke Nights every week! Chef Jason hails from O'ahu (my home island) and brought his love for island & Asian food to the Seattle community. Chef Jason, his wife, and his entire team create a welcoming and energetic environment that makes me feel at home. - *Loco Moco *Portuguese Sausage *Butter Mochi *Huli-Huli Chicken (NEWEST ITEM) *Kimchi Fried Rice *Kalbi Dinner *Spam Musubi read more

The food is SO good. Hawaiian, Korean, Latin, American fusion. My kids loved the kids chicken katsu, kids grilled cheese on fluffy Japanese bread, and spam musubis. They never run out of musubi because they make them fresh to order. I got a taco flight on taco Tuesday. It was delicious--chicken, bulgogi and short rib. Each one was so flavorful and fresh, topped with my salsa of choice and a side of their homemade kimchi. Right now they have festive decor for their "Santa's Crawlspace" and they are all decked out!! They have a private dining room available and reservations can be made online. They also have karaoke night. The owner and staff are so friendly! We will be back and want to try the kimchi grilled cheese, wings, and burger. read more

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- Not good for non-drinkers - Food: 2 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Price: 1 star Overall: 2.75 stars Let's face it, most pubs have great food. They tend to be a bit more flavorful to make you drink, but I think it's too much here. We arrived shortly after they opened on Friday, and the restaurant was about 40% full at that time. There was only one waitress serving everyone, but she's quick and efficient and I like her. You can also scan the QR code to pay as well, which she will appreciate. I got the kbbq chicken bowl ($19) and hubby got the bulgogi bowl ($23). Our food came after 10-15 min, and they look great but portion size is super small. I usually have leftover everywhere I go, but not this place. Both plates come with kimchi (or pickled carrots), cooked Korean vegetables (one leafy green and one cooked bean sprouts), Mac salad, and the meat of choice. I think his has slightly more Mac salad and meat as well. I enjoyed the chicken, but they were a bit too salty for me. My husband also said everything is super salty and he was super thirsty after, so maybe some MSG is involved. The plates we ordered were essentially bibimbab with a super small portion of rice, and you can usually get much more food (rice or side dishes) from other places. That's right, you'd get free side dishes if you visit a Korean restaurant as well. The CP value here is quite low and even though it's fusion, nothing is really Hawaiian other than the Mac salad (they serve that in Asian restaurants in Hawaii a lot). The interior design is somewhat industrial, and I like the wallpaper in the bathroom. The ambiance is great for drinkers. You can also charge your laptop at the bar seats. However, back to what I was talking about...I do understand that they tend to make food more savory to promote alcohol consumption, but I'm not a fan of such practice when it's overly done. On top of that, the portion size is small for the price you pay, though I've never dined on Mercer Island and can't make a judgement here. My husband said it is normal for here. He also said the food is soso and he won't come even if it's $10 cheaper, and he rarely has a strong opinion about anything he ate. While we won't step in this place again, it might be great for whoever that orders alcohol with their meals. read more

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Wow, great first impression! Ok, you have to remember this is just week two and I am so impressed at how well they are rocking it! The owner was amazing & the staff was top notch! The space has that vibe you want after a long day ....dark with a cozy causal feel, yet just upscale enough that you know this place will be your new favorite hang! Can't wait to try more of the menu, I will definitely be back, is tomorrow too soon? I hear they just started serving lunch. read more

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Coworkers and I came for lunch last week. I was so pleasantly surprised with a Korean and Hawaiian influenced cafe. This is such an upgrade for Mercer island. I like their floating candles decor, it reminded me of Harry potter scene. We ordered cream sodas, chicken sandwiches, wings, musabi, kalbi plate for lunch. The wide cut fries that came with the sandwich were dope. It came out piping hot (which I love ) I love my chicken sandwich, it was very filling and juicy. Coworker mentioned the Kalbi was a bit too fatty. All in all I loved it and will definitely be back. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Chicken sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

This Hawaiian-Korean fusion hit the mark. As a Korean-American who travels to Hawaii every other month for work, I've got creds. I've been waiting for this place to open on Mercer Island for months. There are very few options for good food and drinks on the island and I am breathing a sigh of relief. Finally, I don't have to leave the island for good food and I can invite my friends to come to me instead! I knew going on opening night would mean some wait time. It still would've been nice to be greeted by the host within a minute of entering, but another party and I stood by the door for over 5 minutes before the host came out to say hello. He was nice enough, just not timely. Opening snafus. Once we got seated, we ordered: 1) lilikoi mai tai - 4/5. not quite the Monkeypod with the lilikoi foam, but was still good and a good size. 2) Smokey old-fashioned - 4/5. VERY smokey, but good 3) fried chicken sandwich - 5/5. hard crispy crunch and juicy. Our fave! Could use a little more pickles. 4) kimchee fried rice - 5/5. We thought the kimchee was just on top rather than integrated throughout, but come to find out they blend some kimchee (like in a blender) and still do infuse it into the rice. More palatable for those not so accustomed to kimchee, but still adding extra kimchee on top for kimchee lovers like me. Smart. It's the dry version so don't expect the wet, oily version. 5) mochiko chicken - 3/5. This was our least fave since it wasn't as flavorful and didn't have furikake like I'm used to in Hawaii. Overall, we would definitely go back to try other dishes and to just hang out on their comfy chairs. The owner came by every table to say hello and to ask how everything was. That's a nice touch that makes things go from good to great. Soooo glad we finally have a place that has good food, good drinks, and aloha vibes. read more

The Crawlspace Gastropub - Lilikoi mai tai & smokey old fashioned (can't remember the official name) - Gastropubs Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

We stopped in on their opening night and had a nice dining experience. Main dining was full, so we sat at the bar. Nice to see it was busy! Creative menu, we tried the bulgogi kimchee fried rice, the wings and salad. Everything was good however the rice was dry and salty:(. Dark inside, family friendly, several TVs and loud music. I wish they offered more red wine by the glass:( All and all, it seemed like a good first night. We will be back soon. read more

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