Gourmet Teriyaki Wins First Patch 'Best of Mercer Island' Poll

Drum roll please! Patch is pleased to announce the winner of its first-ever Best of Mercer Island poll, a series launched last week with the question: What's the best teriyaki spot in Mercer Island?

And the answer is:  in Town Center, a local favorite since 1999. Gourmet scored 7 out of 16 votes. Second was with five votes, followed by with 2 votes and south-end restaurants and with on vote apiece.

Owners Minwa and Kisuk Kim pulled up stakes in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle to move to Mercer Island and make all their own teriyaki sauces. The smokey, sweet smell of grilled meats greet passersby in the Tabit Square parking lot. Fans love the place so much, their redeemed "Ten-Meal Cards" are hung as a sort of wall art around the restaurant.

So congratulations Gourmet Teriyaki, fans and voters!

And on with the second in our series of 12 Best of Mercer Island polls: top preschools on Mercer Island. Nothing is more important than children, so we expect quite a competition, especially considering that there are over a dozen preschools in town. A story announcing the new poll will post here at 5 a.m. on Monday.

We've already begun compiling our list of preschools for the poll, but would gladly accept and appreciate suggestions and nominations. Please reply here with a comment, or email the editor, Kendall.Watson@Patch.com, or let us know on Facebook.

Thanks to all who have participated so far! After all, Patch is not a one-way street. Rather, Patch is inclusive and interactive, expecting and encouraging all to comment, review and post announcements, as well as post events on our calendar.

Please join the conversation!