Came across The Mainzer while staying next door for the night and of course I was curious thinking this was a German place based on the name. Apparently the owners might been from Mainz but that's about it. The ambience and food were great and so was their beer! Cheers read more

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Wanted a simple casual meal and wanted to eat in downtown Merced. This venue was spot on. The salad was large, fresh, shareable and tasty. Our sandwiches were tasty as well. Each freshly prepared. The vibe of eating in a movie theater 'refreshment stand' modernized into a bar, was a lot of fun. We walked around a bit, and saw that they were setting up for live music in the former theater area, plus some arcade games, and just liked the whole vibe. Service was attentive. read more

Came on a Saturday for a bunch event including house music. The overall vibes were chill and the djs were doing a great job. The service was also excellent, it was pretty full and the server still kept checking in on us. The burger was nothing special, but it was really solid. Adding the fried eggs helped take it over the top though. read more

The Mainzer - Royale with cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

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The restaurant is inside a cool old movie theatre. I had the Crème brûlée French toast with a raspberry mimosa..Yummy. Staff super friendly and helpful. read more

Second review of the Mainzer. My family and I went around 11 am or so. The service was exceptional as always and the food well the pictures speak for themselves. The place was clean from tables, chairs, and utensils. The only thing that I noticed is the bottle of Chalula was empty. The good news is that it won't stop us and it shouldn't stop you from going. A family of five $115. Not bad. read more

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Definitely a great spot to eat! This is a pretty hidden place. Even though it stand out in downtown but the fact that it has like a movie theater and a little section to play games and a stage and than a restaurant on the side! Great place to chill and get a bite and enjoy the vibe. Very clean and impressive bathrooms too. read more

The Mainzer - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

Great place for brunch or just fun!! Enjoyed the breakfast tacos- chorizo and scrambled egg on homemade tortillas served with hashbrowns! Yum! read more

The Mainzer - Breakfast tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

My rating is based on the take out order we called in while at the tap room across the street. We got pizza, wings, tacos, and two sandwiches (spicy chicken and pulled pork) and they were all great. The hostess was very accommodating in filling our order. read more

The Mainzer - Lunch menu 6/7/2025 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

Drinks were good. Food was okay and overpriced. Nice environment and vibe. Service is on the slower side -- one person working. Overall, it was decent. read more

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Second time here for an event! My friend and realtor hosted us for another lovely day of friendship and The Sandlot! The theatre is so lovely, cozy, and the cushioned chairs and booth seating make the place even better. With room to stretch your legs out, walk across the room without shuffling, and little side tables to place our food and drinks. Separately, they have a very nice outdoor dining area and an indoor arcade. read more

I came here for a comedy show with my hubby and my brother and other half :,) it was the funniest show and the food was delicious! The service was so nice and welcoming and the ambiance was great! I definitely recommend this spot for a good laugh and night out :) read more

The Mainzer - Fun times - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

So we order 3 meals for us. It's a bit of a wait for our food, no biggie, it's Easter. But don't bring out 2 meals & tell us you're out of plantain waffle mix and ask my niece if she wants something else. Now she has to watch us eat and wait for her food order again.. SMH...I was beyond pissed. The kitchen should've communicated with the server right away so he could let us know the problem. This is my first & last visit to this place. They've left a sour taste in my mouth. Uodate: Maria V..we were not told about you being out of mix before they brought out the rest of our orders. While the cook was making the other meals, we should have been notified right away so a different order could have been placed & ALL of our plates brought out at once. That was my biggest thing. When the cook received the order & knew about being out of mix...why didn't they ask the server to inform us sooner?? read more

The Mainzer - 2 meals instead of the 3 we ordered cause they were out of something. Don't bring out 2 meals without the 3rd. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

We came in to try the new menu. My ultimate favorite was the deep pried pickles. They changed them to panko pickles. I did enjoy the panko, and the pickles were more crispier. Unfortunately, they no longer have the same dipping sauce for the pickles and eating it with ranch was just plain. I miss the old dipping sauce. I tried the Ruben which was absolutely delicious. The pastrami was lean and there was the perfect amount of sauce and sauerkraut. The rye bread was delicious. I did upgrade to a salad for an additional price and it was worth it. Fresh ingredients. They did remove my go to chicken salad. I don't know if I will go as often without my favorite salad. As always the service was WONDERFUL. Always a smile and our server ( bartender) did go check on the bread ingredients for us. My husband has an allergy and she checked in the ingredients for us first. I love that willingness to take that extra step. read more

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Finally got around to a second visit. Brought my hubby with me! We hit this spot for brunch. Immediately fell in love with the art and music that was throughout the building! He had the biscuits and gravy. Doesn't matter what spot we're at for breakfast or brunch. If biscuits and gravy are on the menu he's getting it. He really enjoyed the gravy and homemade biscuits. The menu stated it came with a fried egg but he had asked for over easy instead. When the food came, it was fried. I ordered the brûlée brioche french toast w/ caramelized pineapples. When my food arrived it looked amazing! The crème anglaise was smooth and not too thick or too thin. I wish there was a bit more on the plate along with more pineapple. Maybe in the middle between the brioche. The french toast was light and fluffy. The brûléed sides gave it a nice little crunch. I highly recommend if you have a sweet tooth for breakfast/ brunch. I ordered a strawberry mimosa however they were out of strawberry syrup so I went with a pineapple one. Just tasted like champagne. We'll definitely be back in the near future not just for the food but for the other festivities as well! read more

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I have been here various times, and felt the food and service inconsistent. One time I came for brunch and the doors were locked because the staff said 'the manager was late' . I found the food to be expensive as well , and the preparation was inconsistent. read more

The food quality was not what I expected. I ordered fish and chips. The fries were cold and very dark brown. The fish did not appear appetizing, as if the oil had been overused. When I brought it to the manager's attention, he responded poorly. I hadn't consumed any of the fish, but opened it with the fork, and I ate some of the coleslaw. He took off half the cost, but in my opinion, a restaurant of that caliber should've comped the meal. This was the first time I had a bad meal at the Mainzer, but I would be very reluctant to return there for another. read more

I don't normally leave reviews but after going in for lunch yesterday here we are. There was 1 person working the bar and all tables (only 1 other table besides me and my husband). Asked for sweetener for my tea and she walked past us 3 times before we found it with help from the girl at the front counter. The food was good and came out pretty fast, which was great. Not so great, it took forever to get our check and, to be fair, she had 2-3 tables outside. When she brought our check, we requested change for a $20 (for her tip). Finally, she came and ran our card for the meal, and said she was waiting for the manager for change....and we waited....and we waited..... finally left to get back to work. so, she got a $20 tip for mediocre service. Do better.....hire more staff and have change available in your register..... read more

Really special place in Merced and surprised to find such an establishment in Merced. We got takeout but enjoyed the experience as we waiting and checkout the place and their beers on draft. The food was also excellent. Skillfully prepared and worth visiting for the food alone. read more

Worst service I have ever experienced. Also can not seem to get a drink 30+ mins after sitting.

It was a first time for my wife and me. The server was awesome. She gave us great recommendations for our lunch. My wife really enjoyed her flatbread. The smoked turkey sandwich was delicious. The venue is amazing. The old theatre still operates as a theatre. Full bar and twenty craft beers on tap make it a great place to get together with friends. Definitely stopping there next time read more

Genuinely such a disappointing experience. The food is extremely subpar and tastes almost defrosted. Our service was also very slow and we came in at 8pm on a Sunday, not many people were in the restaurant to begin with. My sprite was flat and our waters were never refilled during our time spent with the restaurant that evening. Ambiance is standard, the place does echo and the lighting is nice. read more

this place was soooo good! delicious food! such a cute place in merced to hang out, eat, & just vibe! the mainzookie was so bomb - we keep going back for dessert read more

The Mainzer - mainzooke gone - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

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Went there today for brunch. I had been to the mainzer many many many years ago and all I remembered was it was small, the cook smoked a lot and the food was amazing. It was also very small. So that's kinda what I was expecting. I was absolutely floored with how they redid the entire restaurant! I love the way they have it set up now. They have lobby games my kids took advantage of when we were waiting for food. The brunch menu was pretty varied. It was delicious, I really enjoyed it. Our server was amazing- super attentive and honestly I was super impressed with how she didn't have to write anything down but every came exactly right (and im picky about condiments and stuff so I do make amendments when I order). I will definitely be back, this is the perfect place to catch up with friends for brunch here in Merced. read more

The Mainzer - Eggs benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

Destiny was our server, she is very friendly and professional was very helpful. The food's good the restaurants nice and clean so it feels Pizza Hut comes up first read more

We hosted our pre-doc reception here and I ordered food before we had our event. I got a burger and the cookie pizookie and it was so good! We could not finish it because the portions was huge! We definitely loved the vibe and service was good! read more

Worst customer service, forgot one of our orders it took 1 hr to get 2 breakfast tacos. Had to ask for utensils. Food was cold when we got it to our table . Will i ever come back no. Worst part was there were only three parties in the restaurant. read more

The food here is mostly good. Most breakfast options are pretty tasty but I was disappointed with the chicken and waffles. The servers are usually friendly and nice. The place does have a really cute aesthetic though. They have a beer wall if that's your thing. read more

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Mainzer was good! Not the best food I've had, but I'm glad my family and I made this our lunch spot on our way to Yosemite. Service was very friendly, albeit a little slow for a Saturday afternoon. While I wish their weekend brunch menu was a little more expansive, I didn't have much trouble finding something I wanted to eat. I ended up ordering the carnitas tacos, with an option to sub the French fries for a side salad. Considering Mainzer is not really known to be a Mexican restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised by the tacos. The meat was cooked a medium rare (just how I like it!), and they paired beautifully with the homemade blue corn tortilla shells and guac. My parents and brother, meanwhile, ordered their breakfast plates. The portions were just right! So much so that all of us left feeling juuuuust satisfied. All in all, I think Mainzer is a really good breakfast/lunch option. read more

customer service here is atrocious. The staff was too busy chatting about their personal lives to notice customers. I waited nearly 50 minutes, and in all that time, I only received one coffee refill... a nd that was after having to flag someone down. The lack of attention and professionalism made it clear that customer care is not a priority here. Sadly, what could be a great local spot is completely ruined by poor service. I will not be back. read more

Theater and restaurant venue in downtown Merced. We sat in their outside sidewalk sitting, which ended up being pretty loud with construction and unwelcomed street noise. Had there spicy fried chicken sandwich w/fries - excellent! Service was adequate. read more

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The fries were delicious. They are open late and take reservations. The slaw was delicious. The fish was just ok. Waitress was great.

Our server was Thai. She was super helpful, kind and gave great menu recommendations. For bunch drinks, we ordered the Aperol Spritz, Pineapple & Mango Strawberry Mimosas. Aperol disgusting 2/5. Mimosas decent 3/5. Steak Tacos - 5/5 fresh blue corn tortillas with juicy meaty steak Breakfast Mainzer Flatbread - 10/5 basically a pizza. Quite delicious. Must get! Only on the brunch menu though! The chunks of bacon were great and pizza wasn't as oily as you'd think. My friend ordered this tomato cast iron brunch dish - without meat. She said the crostini toast was way too hard so we requested some new regular toast. We were meeting my friend before she starts her 2nd year of Med school and there weren't much good food options nearby but this was recommended by her friends. It was blazing hot outside and we had our doggo. So we had to sit outside. The server, Thai, immediately brought out a doggie water bowl for our girl which I loved. You usually need to ask the server for this. It was too scorching! read more

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We were just passing through Merced and wanted to try this historical venue. The interior is fun and charming. Mt husband had the Spicy Fried Chicken sandwich and it was delicious! Not too hot. Just right. I had the Cobb salad with chicken. It was more like a spicy Greek Salad and it was wonderful! The beer taps were great....easy to sample all the beers. read more

I visited two days in a row due to being so impressed. The ambiance, free games, customer service, and food is high quality. The artwork and music set a romantic modern mood. I highly recommend the mainzookie for dessert. It made my day. The free games are also amazing. read more

Very nice service, classy place, yummy and great happy hour deal: half off all school 4 pm to 6 pm!

When I'm staying at El Capitan Hotel. I usually order here. This is my second time ordering the Asian salad with carrot mochi balls. I like the unique texture of the mochi carrot. The greens soften a little when the miso dressing soaks up. One of my healthy meal favorite. read more

The Mainzer - Asian salad with carrot mochi balls - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

I have always wanted this place to succeed, but I feel like they can never get it quite right. I came on a date with my honey on a Saturday night and practically no one was there. They had changed the menu pretty drastically (removing my favorite items--the masa blue corn fried pickles w/ aioli and the Asian chicken salad). The new menu was less interesting, and less healthy. We ordered cocktails and water, but had to wait a long time for both (couldn't we get our water while the drinks were being made?). We opted to try the new panko fried pickle appetizer, and I ordered the spicy fried chicken sandwich with a side salad (an up charge instead of fries), while my wife had the fried oysters and chips. I was bummed that the new entree salad options looked so boring, as I would have preferred a healthier option. Our entrees arrived before our appetizer (I had to remind the server about the appetizer). My chicken sandwich was the best thing I had, though it was quite spicy and the lettuce tasted like plastic. The side salad was ok, though the dressing was definitely not homemade and will probably make me sick from the preservatives. My wife's oysters were over cooked and over-breaded. Her coleslaw was totally bland (pro tip--coleslaw needs more than just mayo! I suggest adding celery seed, apple cider vinegar, and a small amount of sweetener). Our pickle spears finally arrived and were also quite disappointing. The ratio of coating to pickle was all wrong (the reason the masa pickle chips worked was in part because there wasn't too much pickle relative to masa). The sauce was also a store-bought ranch (more gut-killing preservatives that will make me sick!), instead of the tasty homemade aioli that the other pickles came with. The old pickles were the main reason to come here! And, apparently our server left because after our food arrived no one asked if we wanted more drinks and we had to flag someone down to bring us more water. In spite of the fact that there were more staff than guests in the establishment! Finally, I have to comment on the ambiance. The curved bench seats with round tables make absolutely no sense and are actually painful to sit at in groups greater than two. I gave two stars because my chicken was cooked very nicely and the bun was also tasty. I would love to see more healthy (and gluten free) options on the menu! And the service should not be so slow when you are so empty. I can't say I am planning to come back soon. But next time I do I hope the guests outnumber the staff. The food is too expensive to rely on pre-made ingredients filled with crap, so I would appreciate homemade sauces and dressings. read more

Thank you always for great service and awesome food! We sat behind a disgruntled group who were complainers and don't understand the logistics of food service. Sometimes things happen in the kitchen and they tried to make it right but some people just aren't satisfied with anything. Anyway we love it here and it's a great place! Happy Easter!!! read more

The Mainzer - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

What a pleasure to eat here! Looking at updated historic building (great artwork, fun games, and refined lighting and floors) was only amplified by the twist on classic foods. Make sure you walk around. I need to catch a movie here! #spicemeister approved! read more

The Mainzer - Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts and Sashimi Nachos. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Merced, California

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Wow I'm surprised this place wasn't packed! Ambiance- The decor and ambiance was unique- felt old school but modern. The tables were cool since they were decorated w/ board games and a checker board. They have self-served beer on tap by the wall. Lots of choices and you get to try different ones. There's a theater and arcade next door so there's lots to do! Felt really spacious and the distance from the tables were spread out. Food- I ordered the scrambled. The eggs were soft and cooked perfectly. The bacon was crunchy and so flavorful (maybe a little more salty than I would prefer). Wow the toast was made with brioche bread. It had a crunch but was also soft with a strong buttery flavor. Not pictured, but we also ordered the chicken and waffles. Def generous with the butter, which was flavored with rosemary and was easy to spread. The chicken was tender and crunchy. Just wish the portions were larger, but def worth the price. Service- staff were friendly, attentive and checked in after our food arrived. Didn't check in too often (which I like), but were quick when we asked for water or anything else. Solid brunch spot, would def recommend if you're in the area! read more

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