Elmer's Restaurant and Lounge

This is what a bar in Burien should be like: run down, full of 50 year olds, a sassy elderly lady bartender, pool tables with talented players, live music of wannabe garbage band senior citizens, and terrible frozen then deep fried bar food.

I had the privilege of visiting Elmer's one night after coming from a hockey game down in Kent. Since that was the only bar I could think of somewhat in the vicinity, that is where I ended up. It was a Saturday night and the place was jumping with a pseudo funk/soul band and about four patrons dancing the night away.

The bartender makes you wait until she's ready to serve you. I have nothing but love. When you've worked at a bar that has been around FOREVER you can do whatever the hell you want to. The beer selection was okay and the menu consisted of fried foods like fries, onion rings, poppers....you get the picture. I'm not picky about food but even I was a little skeptical about anything on the menu. Nothing handmade. All the effort needed is to open the freezer and throw the food into the fryer.

Three pool tables are in the back and everyone I saw playing was good. Bring your A game or get the hell out, yo.

As stated previously this bar is old and could use some renovations but then again that is where its charm lies. Somewhat divey but not dangerous, a great place to hang out without crowds on the weekend.

At work I overheard a customer talk about her experience there one night. "Talk about a dive!" she guffawed disgusted at the bar. I took that statement as compliment.

sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and the fixing it requires duct tape. pool? golden tee? pinball? figuring out what that smell is? live music on the weekend? cheap drinks? burien? what the hell else do people want? observing a few random crackheads in a controlled environment, no people theydo not thrive at elmers, but what kind of moths flutter to neon, being the only bar i know of that is consistantly open to the actual 2 a.m. time and holidays well that neon light sez open, and how about that food...whaaaa? cream cheese pizza?  absolutly delicious!!!!! yup i'm on it! over and out.

So... You think you can handle dive bars, huh? Real dive bars?
You haven't been to a dive bar until you've been to Elmer's..

You feel safe among the riffraff of society? you play a mean game of pool on a crooked table & don't mind landing on thirty year old crusty carpet when you happen to slip from your bar stool in a drunken stupor? well, then Elmer's might be your kind of place.
It's been around for 30 years & nothing but booze has been replaced since then (that means cash only & you are lucky if the cash machine in the corner actually has any cash in it).

There is live music on Friday & Saturday night.. mostly redneck-classic rock cover bands, but every now & then you get a gem. (local original music) .
so, yeah.. go in & have some super cheap strong drinks & I might just end up being the one cutting you off & kicking you out.

;-)