I was out and about, exploring Madison, and Merchant looked like a cool place to stop for happy hour. I sat at the bar, and Mi took great care of me. I had dinner plans, so I just wanted to stop in for a drink and snack. They have some really good offers for HH and their cheese curds are half off. I had never had one, so it sounded like the perfect time to try. I got a glass of wine and the curds. They came out quickly, hot and fresh. It was a big bowl of fried cheese. They come with ranch and hot honey, and apparently they recently won best cheese curd at the cheese curd crawl. They were super tasty. Well seasoned, perfectly fried, and kind of chewy. I am not on the hot honey frenzy train, but I tried it and thought it paired well, just wasn't for me. The ranch was tasty though. Even the happy hour portion was hefty and I couldn't put down half. A little wine and cheese on a beautiful day, just makes for a good experience. They were making some pretty interesting cocktails behind the bar, and it is definitely worth coming back to try out their other options. read more

See all

Wanted to sit outside for dinner and came across Merchant. Waitress was quick to come over with menus and water. We started with the cheese board for $32.00. Let's say not the best board I've ever had. Very light on the cheese for the price. Wouldn't order again. Cheese curds were tasty. My husband at the steak which came rare had to return to cook more. The fries were over cooked. My son had the Mac n cheese with chicken that he enjoyed. We also ordered a salad which was fresh and tasty. The menu was small but a nice place to come and have a drink after work then move in for dinner. read more

See all

We went here for a Girls Night and had a reservation for 07:45PM. However, service was extremely slow in which we did not get our food until an hour later. We were a little disappointed in the wait because there were some empty tables around, which showed that Merchant was not extremely slammed, but we wanted to give benefit of the doubt. Fried Cheese Curds tasted alright. We probably got the unlucky batch though, because halfway through eating them, we had dime-sized cheese curds. It certainly didn't feel like we got a full appetizer size of cheese curds because of this. I think typically the smaller cheese curds are at the end of the dish, but here it felt like we had it for 50% of the dish. The Merchant Burger was alright, but nothing to wow my senses. The black pepper aioli was delicious though, but it felt like that was what was saving the burger. Not pictured was the Floral G&T drink, which tasted delicious. Overall: giving this place 3 stars because it wasn't amazing, but it was OK. The interior is beautiful though, but food and service were below our expectations. read more

Merchant - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

We recently stopped in for brunch. Overall, our server was very kind and friendly, but it was very slow. For example: It was disappointing to see other tables who were seated after us receive their food and drink before we did, especially when our drinks were canned sodas and other groups were ordering handcrafted cocktails. By the time our food came out, it was all lukewarm. When waiting for the check, a couple next to us was seated, ordered food and drink, and then received their full order before we even paid. Overall, this was not the best experience for us. I'd rate this a 3-3.5. read more

We stopped through here on our way home from Galena back to Chicago, after visiting House on the Rock. It was a gorgeous day and we sat outside. Server was lovely and nice, and we had a filling and delicious lunch, I had burger and fries which was upscale. read more

I visited the Merchant for a Saturday brunch and they sat our large walk-in party immediately! We were seated at a high top table that was seasonally decorated and surrounding restaurant was filled with lots of artwork, florals and natural light. Both initial service and our food took a noticeable amount of time, but the drinks and apps came out quickly -- the espresso martini was a table recommendation! Their brunch menu had many diverse options; we ordered traditional breakfast dishes: Breakfast Platter & Brioche French Toast. The breakfast potatoes were perfectly cooked and we loved that it also came with a side salad. The french toast was good, but lacked a unique spark and we expected more from the photos shared on previous Yelp reviews! read more

See all

We came on a Sunday which happened to be trivia night. The staff was friendly, the Christmas decor was gorgeous will have to update this review with more photos (not on this phone). Our waitress, Betty, was attentive and friendly. We liked her. My daughter received a birthday treat. We ordered cheese curds, macaroni and cheese, burger, and fries. I did find it interesting that the kids meal didn't come with a side. I am not used to that. I was not a fan of the beignets at all. These did not taste like any beignet I had ever had. The food was okay. I'd be willing to give them another chance but there was some seasoning lacking so hopefully that changes. If I were in the Madison area I would come again. read more

Merchant - Birthday brownie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Fun night out with friends! We choose to sit outside which was clean and had great service. We stopped by during happy hour and thought it was such a good deal! I had The White Lotus which was phenomenal- definitely on the sweeter side and the fries. Only shortcoming was the lack of prosecco in the aperol spirit and use of bubbly water instead which was misleading. Also can be challenging to find parking at times so plan on parking on the streets or in a parking garage. * they have a gender neutral bathroom which is very cool! read more

See all

Dined here on 9/13/26. Booked on Open Table which would only allow me to book a high table. We had a couple littles so really needed a regular table, once we arrived we noticed the place was practically empty so requested regular table, the manager came over and they did accommodate. Now to other issues: did not have iced tea, we were told they were out of fries and had to substitute other items, then noticed people at a table near us got fries now we were told they got the last ones??? 2 women ordered the classic burger but received the Merchant blue burger, also another ordered a peach chicken tardine dish that was suppose to come with asparagus, it came with apples no peaches and burnt broccoli not asparagus. We waited an extremely long time for the food so we just dealt with the issues, but I did let the waitress know of all the issues. She did offer us 1 dessert, but at that point we said no thanks. Just a very poorly run operation. Would not recommend going here. read more

This is a nice restaurant with fun atmosphere and a creative menu. Service came and went, too bad. The outdoor seating also looked really great. Loved the red beans and rice filled portobello and the crab cakes were outstanding. If the restaurant was full, I think it would be a pretty lively loud place. Just be aware. Recommended! read more

There were six of us when I went to this restaurant and their service was excellent. The steak frites was good. read more

See all

We dined in around Halloween and the interior was decorated with a Nightmare before Christmas theme. We ordered the Merchant Burger, the Baked Creamy Mac and Cheese, and the Fried Cheese Curds. The burger was juicy and flavorful with a perfectly toasted bun, though it could've used more seasoning to make it stand out. The mac and cheese was rich, creamy, and comforting -- a great choice for anyone who loves classic comfort food. The sides of housemade chips was too oily, and the collard greens was too salty. The breading on the fried cheese curds was a bit soggy but the flavor was good. Overall, the food was good and the service was friendly and fast. read more

See all

Service has gone down. Was lured into a burger special with an old fashion and my bad, got a Wisconsin old fashion - stay away. My reservation was at 7 and my food came out at 7:58. As a solo diner this was awkward and unacceptable. The manager comped my drink and half my meal, but it would have been better if I was turned away at my reservation. I will not be returning read more

Love trying new dishes, the corn bisque was good the mussels should have been on the side since the bisque was a thick sauce made it challenging to eat. Mushroom Étouffée was good but not what was expected, very little mushrooms and overpriced for what it was. Collard greens came with bacon so I did not eat them. Waitstaff were polite but not very attentive, I think something was as going on with the computer system that caused them to be hectic. Even the cheese curds were off. The meals took much longer than usual & and no drink refills until the food came. Love the carnations & other flowers in the dining area. read more

See all

Merchant is located in a great spot right off the square - we were able to sit in the patio area which had great vibes! The menu is limited, but everything we ordered was tasty. I liked the red bean veggie burger! The fries were a little too salty (coming from someone who very much likes salt), but the Aperol and Hugo spritz made up for it. read more

Curds and Fries - just trust me and order them. Great cocktails and a great place to eat outside when the weather is nice. Only request is to please permanently bring back the Oklahoma Burger! read more

Merchant - Fried Cheese Curds (with honey & ranch for dipping ) and the Oklahoma Onion Burger with fries! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I came in on a Saturday evening around 5:30pm with a party of 3. We made a reservation because it can be a pretty popular spot. The atmosphere is pretty cool, but a little too dark in my opinion. It could be a pretty romantic spot for a date though. We ordered a French fry appetizer, which was a mistake because most entrees come with BIG sides of fries. But having extra fries isn't too big of a problem when they're seasoned so deliciously. Food came pretty quick and service was friendly. For an entree I ordered one of the only vegan options besides a salad, the Mushroom Étouffée. I love mushrooms and appreciate that they're from local Vitruvian farms, but it was just okay. It didn't have that deep umami punch I was looking for. And at that price point I was looking for something a little more memorable. read more

Merchant - Vegan Mushroom Etouffee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I went to Merchant twice this past week! Once immediately after the Yelp Elite event where I learned that Merchant is the sister restaurant of Lucille, and once for a work dinner. Merchant has their Nightmare Before Christmas theme going on, which makes it look so fun. The lighting is also fun, but makes taking photos tricky (a note for my soup photo)! I had the corn chowder without mussels for dinner along with the tell tale heart mule to drink (NA version). The chowder was tasty, with a little kick, but I would have preferred a chunkier/less puréed version. I was grateful for the option to choose with or without mussels as I'm not a huge seafood fan. The mocktail was great - a slightly different version of a traditional mule, and not spicy despite the habanero. The second dinner I attended, I had the mac and cheese with green beans. It's a decent portion, covered in bread crumbs. The green beans are super garlicky, which I loved! Our table also shared a bottle of red wine. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Merchant. The menu is a little limited, but it's good comfort food overall. I'd return especially for a happy hour with all the various options. read more

My husband and I stopped in after a Yelp Elite event at Lucille, as we were able to get $1.00 off beverages on their holiday menu. They have the place decked out in a Nightmare Before Christmas theme, and it looks amazing! The details are fabulous, and it's such a fun atmosphere. The wait was a bit longer than I would have expected, with not many seated at the bar and 3 bartenders, but the staff was friendly and looking around at all the pretty lights helped distract us. I ordered the NA version of Sally's Deadly Nightshade, and it was delicious! The subtle coconut flavor was so tasty. It came in a cute little Oogie Boogie mug, but I was stunned by the price - $14 for a tiny little drink that didn't contain any alcohol. Overall it was a nice time, but the wait and the prices will probably keep us from returning on a regular basis. read more

See all

I had been wanting to try brunch here and one of my favorite students worked here for a bit, so I made sure to go. They have a very cool downtown ambience inside with a gorgeous wall of alcohol. We were seated against the kitchen window, so there was a bit of traffic beside us. The odd part was that despite being so close to the kitchen, everything seemed to take a fairly long time to come out. It was amongst the longest wait times for a restaurant we've experienced, even with a reservation and a restaurant that was not full. The plates are smaller and prices higher, but I expect that from a downtown trendy spot. I have also been here for cocktails at night, and that's when I recommend Merchant the most. Their night scene and drinks have a very classy vibe! I had the eggs benedict, my usual and my friend had a classic omelette. It was fairly basic on both counts, but we very much enjoyed our breakfast cocktails. read more

See all

We went here on Easter Sunday after church service. Sike we're Muslims alhamdulliah, let me know if you wanna convert. We really enjoyed the deviled eggs. Highly recommend that appetizer. Our favorite thing on the menu was the burger, highly recommend a Grass Fed grass finished burger. This did not disappoint. Everything on the menu was amazing, they really put in a lot of detail to the restaurant. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

A few of us were in Madison for a jazz concert at UW. We were looking for a nice pre show dinner and heard great things about Merchant. The restaurant didn't disappoint. Our hostess and server were pleasant. The cheese curds, burgers and fries were delicious. My New York strip, however, was just OK; tough and not very flavorful. The baked on site carrot cake was really really good! Nice place with nice people and a fun vibe. read more

Stopped in for Trivia night (Sunday). Trivia is played over the speaker indoors, heads up if you were not expecting it. We dedicated to play and had a lot of fun even after joining late! For dinner, we started with the olives and cheese curds. Cheese curds are very well seasoned. We've had the steak frites before and they are consistently delicious. The Shawarma was ok, I think for a vegetarian dish it was portioned a little small. The salad was overdressed, in my opinion. I will say, Merchant always has really unique, creative dishes and many vegetarian options. Service was a little slow, considering it did not seem that busy for dine in, and I noticed this last time also. Did not impact the meal, would just keep this in mind next time! read more

See all

An amazing brunch spot. Fabulous drinks and the food is spectacular! Never had shakshuka eggs Benedict before, it was delicious. The PB&J Napoleon was a delightful treat. The staff was attentive and prompt. Looking forward to the next time I come here. read more

See all

My wife and I stopped in yesterday to celebrate our 25th anniversary, and we couldn't have picked a better place! From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the host, who we later found out was a AG Manager Dillon. He immediately made us feel welcome. After we were seated, Dillon brought us water right away and let us know that our server, Kyle, was helping a few other tables but would be over shortly to take our drink order. We really appreciated the communication, as so many restaurants leave you wondering where your server is. We had seen the Date Night menu online, which included a choice of wine. Since we don't drink alcohol, we asked if we could substitute a pitcher of iced tea instead. Dillon was happy to make that happen, which was such a thoughtful touch. We also had a wonderful conversation with him while getting settled. Seems like he has a wonderful future ahead with schooling. Always wonderful to see kind and hardworking young matured adults. Kyle soon came by with our tea, introduced himself, and took exceptional care of us throughout the evening. He made sure we were comfortable, anticipated our needs, and even surprised us with extra desserts alongside our beignets to celebrate our anniversary. His hospitality was truly top notch, and he made our evening feel special. For dinner, we ordered the etouffe and the shrimp bbq dish, and both were absolutely delicious! There were so many other menu items that caught our eye, so we'll definitely be back to try more. What impressed us most was watching the team work together. It seemed like they might have been a little short staffed, with Dillon and Kyle constantly moving throughout the dining room alongside the bartenders and kitchen staff. Despite that, they never missed a moment. They were attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about every guest. We even overheard other tables complimenting the service and food they received. This was such a wonderful place to celebrate our anniversary. Merchant delivered outstanding service, incredible food, and genuine hospitality from start to finish. If you're looking for a restaurant with amazing food, exceptional service, and a great atmosphere, whether for dinner or drinks, Merchant is the place to go. We will be back for more soon! read more

I hadn't been in the Merchant since the remodeling and it was opened up with soft lighting and nice relaxing music playing. Parking is very close by in a inclosed ramp,great for this January weather! Whiskey sour was excellent and they have dry January fifty percent off pricing on mocktails! Deviled eggs and cheese curds with hot honey sauce were delicious. Get the suggested Shrimp cakes! It was not busy when they opened on a Saturday evening and service was quick and friendly. We will be back soon! read more

See all

The security is a biased. They're only checking black men that come in. They verbally asserted they only check men. They only let you know you're being patted down after paying the cover. I read more

Came here with a group of coworkers after a conference. Their beet salad was fantastic, and so is their carrot cake! It wasn't too loud, so we were able to get some great conversations which was nice. Fast service, very attentive, would definitely recommend as a good place for a group. read more

Merchant - Beet salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Dark and cozy! Sat at the bar and the Darjeeling, Did you miss me? And The Campfire. Loved the sweet potato in the vampire and the marshmallow was a fun touch. We grabbed happy hour which is 4-6pm! Grabbed some curds. Came with this chili infused honey and sour creamy sauce! $6 Grabbed some drinks. Gin and tonic $6 Sert Nothing $9 An amazing deal and good stop for happy hour! They open up the windows and get that fresh air flowing. It's low lighting and intimate and plants galore. Service is great! read more

See all

I had dinner from here on a weekday evening. I was there early, so got a seat right away. Kitchen starts for dinner only at 5, even though the place opens at 4. From 4-5, it is only bar snacks. The merchant burger and oklahama onion burger were both excellent burgers. Kid's chicken strips was good. read more

See all

Sister restaurant to Lucille, this attractive Madison spot has more of an alluring nightlife vibe. Beautiful bar (first come, first serve), intimate community high-top seatings, and a dimly lit dining room area. They have a whole booklet of spirits, wine, beer, and cocktails. A seasonal, brunch, date night, dinner, and late-night menu. Reservations are recommended but not required. We walked in and were seated immediately. Whiskey Sour- I picked a Japanese whiskey, shaken with egg white. It is not overly sweet. Just a velvety perfectly balanced cocktail. Cheese Curds- Buttermilk-battered fried cheese curds served with ranch and hot honey. A good bar fare finger snack. Herbed Dumplings- Gnocchi, squash, butternut purée, apple, and radicchio. Cozy warm winter dish. Pan Seared Branzino- Bouillabaisse, mussels, shrimp, calamari, red potatoes, parsnip, served with toasted ciabatta. If you love seafood, you will certainly enjoy this dish. Overall Service: Exquisite. We were seated at a table. Jonathan was fantastic and handled my cute indecisive friends very well. Just absolutely friendly and patient with us. The bartenders were helpful. Even the hostess and folks who brought out the food were excellent. read more

See all

My husband and I visited Merchant on October 11 around 9:30 PM to celebrate his birthday. We've been to this restaurant a few times before and usually have a great experience, but unfortunately this visit was very disappointing. When I approached the bar to order a drink for my husband and myself, the bartender immediately stated (without greeting us) that we had 10 minutes left to order before the late-night menu began. That wasn't an issue for us -- we completely understood -- but his tone and attitude were unnecessarily rude. When I tried to order a drink for my husband, who was sitting directly behind me, I was told that I couldn't order two drinks and that my husband had to come up and order his own. Even after I pointed him out, the bartender insisted. Another bartender kindly offered to help and began making our drinks, but the first bartender interrupted her, repeating that he "already told them he can't serve two drinks." By that point, my husband was standing right there and had verbally ordered his own drink. What made this even more frustrating was that a couple sitting next to us -- who happened to be lawyers -- confirmed that this was not a legal issue and expressed their own frustration with how the situation was handled. They, too, were unhappy with their experience that night. We've always enjoyed Merchant in the past, but this interaction felt dismissive and unprofessional -- especially when we were simply trying to celebrate a birthday and enjoy an evening out. A little courtesy and better communication would have made a huge difference. read more

I don't have pictures unfortunately. For drinks I got the hurricane and my partner got a martini that was good but pretty small. They don't have great cocktail options but overall the drinks were pretty good. We had the cheese curds which were not the best in Madison for sure. They didn't taste like anything but pure salt- and too much at that. For my entree, I had the mac n cheese with bacon. I was skeptical but I actually liked it - I have a feeling the bacon helped add more flavor. I liked the collard greens as well. Unfortunately my partner didn't like the food so much. He said his burger was the best thing there and it wasn't anything write home about. That came with chips which are obviously made in the kitchen but were a bit too hard and crunchy. The service was great though. Our waitress was so nice and the guy at the front allowed us to move inside when our food came because the gnats were getting bad outside. Our waitress was very kind and good at explaining everything. The ambiance of the restaurant is casual but nice! The lights inside are dim and give a cozy vibe. Or you can sit outside when the weather is nice. Overall I give the place a 5/10. read more

Merchant Madison! Is such a vibe I had the privilege to attend their Raise your spirits happy hour event for Madison's hummingbirds and I had an amazing time!! The service was phenomenal, had the opportunity to chat with Josh, the owner and indulge in some tasty food and drinks. We sat outside which I love doing when it's warm out. Can't wait to be back and enjoy the scenery. P.s. There's street parking and multiple garage parkings near by so no worries ! read more

See all

I have been here a few times for cocktails and it's always so delicious. Finally tried their food while at a birthday party for 15. Service was excellent and was able to accommodate a last minute meal change (orders were due the week before). Cheese curds with the honey we're FABULOUS! Would've never guessed honey was a great dipping sauce!! Shrimp cakes were also super tasty. Not minced up shrimp but actual shrimp tails in the cakes was a great surprise. Main entrees were absolutely delicious! No leftovers or complaints. Only thing I would've changed would be to have the fans on, it got a little hot in there! Otherwise such a cute place with ambient lighting and seating. read more

See all

Merchant currently has a fun "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme overlay for the holidays. The decor and specialty drinks can make for a a fun stop if you are out on the square celebrating. There was no wait on a recent Tuesday night and everything was well organized and neat. read more

See all

This was an absolute fav!!! It is in such a convenient spot, right off the square. Our waiter was extremely friendly! And the service was so fast! Pictured is the two appetizers we got. We got the caramelized onion fondue and fried cheese curds! Both were absolutely phenomenal! The drink pictured is the "Something in the Orange" and my friend got "Lavender Haze." Both of the drinks were super yummy! For dinner I got the Oklahoma onion burger and she got the Crispy fried chicken sandwich! We both enjoyed our meals! One thing was we each got salad as our side. The salad could have used some fixings and more dressing. It was just lettuce with no cucumber, tomato, onion, croutons.. nothing. But overall, this was an amazing dinner and drink atmosphere. It's so cute inside and it such an inviting place. I highly recommend if you're ever in the Madison area!! read more

See all

The Nightmare Before Christmas theme was so fun for the season. The drinks were solid and the Chile-Pimento Deviled Eggs were solid with a nice kick to them. Plus, they have shotskis and touch tunes. A perfect stop for a Christmas bar crawl! read more

See all

I've been to Merchant on a few occasions now, both for dinner and drinks at their bar. I've always enjoyed my time here and appreciate the new drink creations the bartenders com up with each season. My last visit I tried their Risotto which I enjoyed thoroughly. We also had their fried cheese curds as a starter and those were delicious. The ambience is nice and more on the fancier side for downtown Madison. I would definitely return to Merchant on another dinner/drinks outing! read more

See all

Me and my partner decided to try Merchant. When we arrived we were sat right away. It wasn't very busy, maybe 8 tables full in the restaurant with multiple servers on. It then took over 20 minutes for a server to come over after we had to grab someones attention to ask who our server was. Took a long time to get our drinks (sodas) and never got waters. Every time someone came over it was a different server. Food was delicious but it was very unfortunate how terrible the service was because we really wanted to like it! read more