This was my first time dining at merchant since their makeover and was looking forward the visit. They still have an inventive menu and a nice cocktail lineup. I tried the shrimp cakes but was disappointed. They are more breading than shrimp. The four silver dollar sized cakes were very thin and devoid of flavor beyond the deep fried breading. This selection was a swing and a miss. At least the sazerac was good. I would suggest re-tooling this selection or omit all together. read more

I made a late afternoon reservation for a Friday night in order to have time to relax and get to a downtown show later that day. My reservation was during happy hour, 4-6pm. Unfortunate the beer selection was lacking specially or craft beers and the wine choice was bland. The restaurant was noisy, but maybe that should be expected during happy hour and the table of a large group with kids that loved to hear their voices echo. I ordered Cauliflower Cobb Salad and Hand-Cut French Fries, both items were delicious, I would order them again and again. The hostess and waitress were attentive and checked on our table often. read more

Merchant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This place was 10/10 delicious! I recommend making a reservation if you have a larger party as it's a popular place. The inside is too cute the way everything is decorated. I also would recommend Ubering to this location or planning to walk as parking is scarce. I highly recommend the Bloody Mary that comes with a beer chaser and ordering the cheese curds for the table! Our service was fast and very kind. All over an amazing experience I can't wait to eat here again! read more

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We secured a reservation for tonight, May 10, 2025, graduation day for the University of Wisconsin, last January, with a deposit of $60.00 for six people. That is completely understandable, seeing as it is a busy weekend. If we had not shown up, we understand that the deposit was not refundable. However, when we paid our bill, the charge of $60.00 was not subtracted from our bill. The explanation was that they had to charge it because of the weekend. Every restaurant we've ever gone to has always subtracted the deposit from the bill. This is unacceptable and we will never do business with you again. The food was ok, the server was nice, but your policy regarding deposits not being credited to the bill is greedy. No other word for it. read more

Best cheese curds and REAL old fashion. We try a couple Old Fashion cocktails in Madison and some places top off the old fashion with sprite or 7-up. Merchant does their old fashions right. No soda and not overly sweet. They have an awesome happy hour too! Their cheese curds were not greasy and they give ranch and hot honey to dip the cheese curds. So yummy! Forget the over hyped places and come to Merchant. You won't be disappointed. read more

Merchant - Deviled eggs and cheese curds. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The restaurant has a trendy atmosphere and modern décor. The menu is not huge, but what they offer is quite good. For appetizers, we tried the oysters Rockefeller, snails on toast, cheese curds, ahi tuna Nicoise salad, and roasted brussels sprouts. Of those, I recommend the cheese curds, brussels sprouts, and ahi tuna salad. I had the hanger steak for entrée and it was delicious. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and the french onion butter + red wine reduction served as a great accent to the dish. For dessert, I liked the flourless chocolate brownie, but wasn't a big fan of the lemon tart. read more

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I like going to Merchant at Christmas time. Their decor is so fun and the ambiance is great. I usually get their burgers and the staff are always super friendly! The food is a little on the pricier side for what you get but it is a still a good experience. read more

I had the pleasure of dining here for the first time yesterday 7/13 for my birthday and the service was amazing the rain came down pouring I made into the restaurant soaking wet I was offered a towel to dry up as much as I could (thank you so much to the two wonderful greeters who welcomed me in I'm so sorry I remember your names ) and to our server who was equally fabulous who made sure my nut allergy was not an issue. With that said the atmosphere was very pleasant and inviting. The food was delicious I different recommend and I will back hopefully not on a rainy day read more

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WOW WOW WOW!!! the food here is SOOOO good. I'm so happy we decided to stop by. The cheese curds were amazing and my favorite thing we got was actually the buffalo cauliflower Cobb salad. I truly recommend getting these two. Other items we tried were the burger, fried chicken and another salad. The burger was AMAZING and the fried chicken is also great. The other salad we got was not good. The name was bibb. I do not recommend getting this one but everything else was amazing. The ambiance was also great. My only recommendation for improvement was in regards to their service. It took a while for us to get everything and they forgot something we asked for, but everyone was really kind. I still recommend trying this place 100%!! read more

love the interior decoration and open window concept! outdoor seating is so fun for summer. food was kinda mid, someone told me this was the best cheese curds in madison... which i disagree with. pork katsu was very westernized and the bacon made the rice/dish overall very salty. poached egg was done PERFECTLY tho. also the katsu was giant and disproportionate to the amount of rice imo. shrimp cakes were fine but i probably wouldn't get it in the future. drinks are seasonal which is fun and was very fun/fruity! great service too, definitely has the feel of a more high end/nicer restaurant. would totally come back for happy hour/bar snacks tho! read more

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Middle of the road. Some things were done well (cheese curds, deviled eggs, mac and cheese), but my main (shrimp cakes) were a bit of a disappointment. I think someone with a shellfish allergy could eat them due it being mostly breading. Server brought me the wrong meal so I ended waiting longer than my table for a dish that let me down. Beautiful location I just wish the food was more consistent. read more

Wednesday night some friends and I went out to a show and dinner. Merchant always has close parking and good food so were ate there. We all ordered the Oklahoma and Onion Burger and Fries because it was there $10 Wednesday special. The burger came with 2 patties, American cheese, and carmelized onions. I like a messy burger with lots of dressings-ketchup, lettuce, mayo, tomato, mutstard, pickles, etc however they did not have tomatoes or mustchard with is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Merchant - Oklahoma Onion Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

decided to come back (bc the food was just THAT good) despite the poor service we received last time and I'm glad we did! the ambiance was just as good as last time and we had a different server (Jessie) who was simply phenomenal and a completely different experience from what we dealt with last time (came March 2024 last time)-- the food definitely didn't disappoint: - charcuterie board (10/10): every element was simply *chef's kiss* wouldn't change a thing, especially loved the fig jam, summer sausage, and skinless almonds in honey - fried chicken sandwich (8/10): loved the jalapeno slaw, the fresh element really cut thru the grease and the chicken was super super crispy. Only thing I'd change is perhaps the thick ass dredge on the chicken (some parts were hard to chew, but mostly fine) and I think the pepper aioli needs something else to it (but my partner loved it so it might be fine LOL) I won't judge the steak frites since my partner got it but I will say that it looked a tad smaller from the last time we came but the sauce on it was definitely an upgrade and the fries were fr crispy this time !! Overall, great food, great service, definitely would come back :) read more

Merchant - charcuterie board - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food is super good. The first time I came here was for Restaurant Week. The food and atmosphere was great but I had a migraine so I basically had my head down the whole time and tried to drown out the loud noise waiting for my party to finish eating. I tried the duck and risotto and they were fine. Duck better than the risotto. The second time I came I was in good health and all the food (appetizers, broccoli, dessert, and drinks) was good. We sat outside and it was so nice. Will be back. read more

Merchant - Outdoor seating. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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So good, I had to come back! Two weeks ago, I tried Merchant for the first time and was very impressed, so I came back again and was satisfied again. The drink menu is extensive; colorful cocktails and extravagant presentations. Our crew all got something different and each one was delicious. The first time around, I tried the fish fry. Perfectly fried, crisp and salty, flaky fish. The fries were the star of the show. Freshly made and simply addictive; I could've eaten them all night. The streak sandwich is also a hot item as it quickly sells out. The cheese glues all of the slices of flank steak together while the bread ties it up nicely. Not the best steak sandwich I've ever had, but hit the spot nicely. Both of our servers were great and kept us content all night. Whether it's for a happy hour or a nice dinner, Merchant is an excellent choice for a night out downtown. read more

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This was my first trip back to Merchant after the revamp! I was really impressed. I loved Merchant before, and it has only gotten better! The long, almost communal tables give the place a really warm and cozy feel. I like that the bar is more tucked away and not the focal point of the place, way more aesthetically pleasing. All of our food was awesome. Cheese curds are in my top 3 in Madison - not pictured because we got too excited and ate them quick! The herbed dumplings were fabulous. The drink menu is just ok, in my opinion, but the food and atmosphere makes up for it. read more

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The Merchant old fashioned was one of the best I've ever had. Friendly bartenders, great olive appetizer (they lightly sauté them!).

Went here for brunch with 2 others on 7/12. Zero urgency with anything from drinks to the meal. Average at best. There are better options. read more

We were in downtown Madison, and this place caught our eye so we stopped in for drinks. The restaurant/bar has swing out windows, so you can get fresh air when it isn't too hot outside. We were in for breakfast, and tried their Waffle, Shrimp Fritter Benedict and Florentine Benedict. All were very good. We wrapped up breakfast with 6 oysters, and called it a day. Service was solid. The room was nice but a bit noisy due to all the hard surfaces. read more

Overall, a good experience. The cocktail menu is fun and extensive, and the food was quite good, although not quite exceptional. the boudin blanc had the potential to be a truly stellar dish, but some uneven seasoning results in some bites that were amazing and some that were pretty bland. The overall service was quite good--unobtrusive and attentive. I will say that my dining companion and I both struggled to read the menus in the VERY dim lighting, something that is not normally a problem for me in restaurants, but that's a minor concern. read more

This was my first time back for a meal since the restaurant's reopening. It's a great spot for gathering with with friends or a date. We started with several dishes including the Bibb lettuce salad, cheese curds and the charcuterie board from the bar snacks/starter portion of the menu. The salad was very refreshing and light. It's fairly big and we were able to share it across 4-5 people. The curds came with a spicy hot honey (not spicy so give it a try) and an aioli. The charcuterie board came with two cheeses, a couple of meets, jam, bread, pickles and more. I would rate it as in my top five. My friend and I shared the steak and frites along with the beet salad. One of the best beet salads I've had! It was a friend's birthday and he got a choice of dessert. The carrot cake was amazing and I'm not really a carrot cake person. The cream cheese frosting melts I. Your mouth. We also tried the flourless cake and which I'm always a sucker for. It was small but didn't disappoint. read more

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I sincerely cannot remember the last time I left a restaurant without being served. We had reservations for 5pm. Showed up at 4:58pm. We were seated promptly. 10 minutes later we still didn't have a server (though the hostess had brought water). No one even looked at us. And the restaurant was 2/3 empty. This was their second chance. We had been months ago and didn't have a great experience. But it was busy and we were a large group. So we gave them the benefit of the doubt. Shame on us. We will not be back. read more

Went here for restaurant week and it was a good thing we got here right as they opened because otherwise I don't think we would have gotten a seat. We were excited to try them out since we haven't been here since the remodel and we had pretty high expectations, but ultimately were let down a little. Our waitress was very friendly, but service overall was pretty slow. We get that they were getting busy towards the end, but it did seem that they had enough staff, maybe could have just used an extra person behind the bar. As for the food, for the appetizers we got the beet salad and the bibb lettuce salad. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't have more options for the appetizers, since I would have liked to try the brussels sprouts, but they weren't part of restaurant week. My friend thought the beet salad was well balanced between the beets and creme fraiche. Unfortunately, the bibb lettuce salad I got was probably the worst part of dinner. It was super salty without even eating any of the capers, so I bailed out after a few bites. For the entrees we got the crispy duck leg and the roasted chicken breast. The duck had good flavor and came off the bone clean. The brioche croutons that came with were full of flavor, probably from the oil they were soaked in, and the frisee added a tartness that the dish needed. The chicken was fine as it was moist, but a little salty for my liking. The harissa carrots were very interesting since they had the crunch and texture of a raw carrot, but were warm. Not my favorite combo. I clearly ordered wrong tonight. The desserts were by far the best! We ordered the lemon tart and the flourless chocolate brownie. The lemon tart had a lot of zing with good textures and flavors. No soggy bottom here! The brownie was also quite good as it was warm and gooey and the dark cherry chocolate ice cream was a helpful accompaniment. The flake salt also added the extra texture and nice contrast to the sweet brownie. We also got a drink since we were there for happy hour. Normally $14, we got the creme brulee old fashioned for 20% off. It was a pretty strong and tasty drink, that depending where you were in the drink, you got different notes. We would recommend. Overall, the staff was very friendly and the desserts and drinks are quite impressive, but pretty expensive. The rest of the food was pretty hit or miss. The kitchen clearly is talented and know what they're doing, but they just don't mesh with my tastes. As a note, the restaurant is also pretty loud and dark, so it can be difficult to have a conversation. The remodel is quite impressive and more functional, but I'm not sure if I'm sold enough on the food with the prices that are on the higher end for the area. read more

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We absolutely love Merchant and make sure we stop by for a visit every time we are in town! It has been a while since we were in the area due to COVID-19, but we were THRILLED to see that Merchant had established a 'Streatery' seating in the street for outdoor sitting! PERFECT! We snatched an early afternoon reservation off of OpenTable (we were even able to specify Outdoor seating...WOOHOO!) and showed up ready to eat! Firstly, the outdoor seating is GORGEOUS! You can see the lake down the street and the setting of Merchant is on such a cute little street in the first place! We also lucked out with beautiful weather! Second, the staff were very helpful! We were able to select a table that best suited us and our server was so helpful and friendly! A truly great experience! My spouse and I both started with some drinks. I got the house Mimosa (made with gin) and it was TO DIE FOR!! I could have drank 3! But I kept myself to just one, lol! My spouse got a Pilsner from the local beer list and loved it! To start, we got the house cheese curds with dill dipping sauce AND THEY WERE EVERYTHING! If you like cheese curds, PLEASE stop by Merchant and try their cheese curds. SO YUM! For our meals, my spouse got the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich with fries and was very happy! He loved the quality chicken and was pleased with the level of spiciness. The fries were a lovely touch with a delicious dipping sauce. I got the Market Omelet with steak, raisins, goat cheese, and kale. O.M.G. IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD! It didn't LOOK like the most magical dish, but once it was in my mouth, IT WAS the most magical dish. Soooo good!! The side salad was fresh and delicious! But the paprika fingerling potatoes were the most phenomenal side! I could not get enough of them! All this to say, we were blown away by our dining experience today. We've always loved our time at Merchant, but the combination of fine food in a beautiful outdoor setting in the midst of pandemic made it really special. I urge you to get yourself over to Merchant and try it out today! You'll be very pleased with your life flavor choices! read more

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Went to the Merchant for Valentine's Day. Fixed menu but we decided to do it anyway. The bar was nice. The atmosphere was really neat since their remodel. The food was "fine." The drinks were visually pleasing, though pricey for what you got. Apparently, paying for the presentation not the alcohol. Asked wife if she'd want to return. She said maybe for the ambiance and one drink. Would give 3.5 stars but rating won't allow half stars. read more

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First time back for drinks after their renovations and reopening and we weren't disappointed! The ambiance and cool vibe is still here and the drinks are as good as ever :) Love the new place. Can't wait to come back and try their new menu. Definitely a great place to try craft cocktails and chill with friends. read more

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After an event at the Capitol a couple weeks ago, we stopped at the Merchant for a late lunch. We waited a bit and then asked the bartender if we should seat ourselves. He said no, someone would seat us. We waited a bit then the hostess said the kitchen is backed up and they wouldn't be able to accommodate us. The restaurant was only half full and one person at the bar. We were stunned that he turned us away. I looked at the hours and they weren't closing soon. We would have had a drink at the bar but after that we left. Never again. read more

The appetizers were delicious but the entrees took over 2.5 hours to arrive. Very short staffed & little to no communication or discount on the bill. Had a good experience the first time we dined here & will not return after this. read more

Came at 925 for a cocktail says they close at 10 was told they already did last call. Shitty.

Good food, beautiful fresh look and delicious cocktails. This place really has some very good food. We enjoyed the burger with mixed greens, fries and also the fried chicken sandwich. The only thing that could have been better was service. All together we will be back. read more

I just tried the chicken sandwich and cheese curds via takeout. Chicken sandwich was good! Curds were just ok. Looks super nice on the inside! Service was nice and quick! read more

Food was delicious and so was the customer service. I visited Madison on a business trip and the best food I had in the town. Everyone said to try the cheese curds and so happy I did read more

Merchant - Cheese curds - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Was here not long ago after Frontier delayed my flight out of Madison overnight. I had the charcuterie (quite good) and the house olives (ditto). Service was very attentive. read more

Very underwhelming.... We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday. It was not necessary as the tables were plenty available. My review may not be completely fair as the brunch menu was small. The eats were edible but not memorable... the staff were pleasant but did not appear to love being there. It was okay read more

We've been to Merchant for brunch the past few weekends and we are never disappointed! The food is always excellent and the staff are wonderful! Our server Lucia was attentive and friendly during our last visit, we can't wait to come back! Recently we've had a few brunch cocktails - the bloody is our fave. We've really enjoyed the French toast, the spicy avocado blt, croque madame, and the two egg breakfast. We are working our way through the menu and have loved everything so far. read more

Merchant - Spring G&T, Bloody Mary - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The ambience of the restaurant is very nice and they offered a free beer to my husband for fathers Day and gave a glass of champagne to me because our daughter got married the day before. Very nice. We ordered cheese curds but since I don't like them, I can't review. The problem is that the prices are quite high (which I knew) but the food is nothing special. Husband and my Dad had duck confit ($30 for each) and neither thought much of it. I ordered light, shrimp cakes over greens ... overly fried, little flavor. Perhaps we hit a bad night but for $160 before tip, I won't give the place another try. read more

The drinks here are superb!!! I ordered the Guava Cobbler and it was delightfully refreshing. Perfect drink for a summer night! My fiancé ordered the Naked and Famous. Very well balanced and my favorite of the two. We ordered the Sweet Corn Fondue which was basically warm, gooey, crunchy goodness. We also got the Grilled Chorizo Verde which was also delicious. The crisp of the puff combined with the pickled jalapeños and sauce were some of my favorite parts of the dish. Loved the decor as well. Dark, cozy, and bookcases filled with liquor bottles. Will definitely come here again to try more of the drink menu!! read more

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I love the inside of this place. Cute place and delicious cocktails. Nice for meeting groups, or going solo. Also a pretty decent happy hour. The service was great! My rating: 8.3/10 5/5 Yelp stars Would I return? Yes!! read more

Merchant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Our last stop on the winter restaurant week was at Merchant. After calling early in the week for a Friday night reservation they said they were booked up so I am glad I checked Open Table since they had reservations for Merchant (OK it was the early bird time!). Our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and a delight. The time between courses was quite slow especially given the hostess pointed out that we only had the table for 90 minutes. It was still happy hour (20% off cocktails) so I tried their MaiTai which was very good though with way too much ice. I started with the parsnip soup with lump crab - it was good but a pretty small serving. The Brussel sprouts, though a strange appetizer, were very good. The salmon entree was spot on and perfectly done. My Nashville hot chicken was good but tiny - more of a slider than a sandwich. Given the $30 menu this was clearly a very poor value. For dessert I had their creme brûlée which was excellent but the tiniest one I have every had. My wife's raspberry chocolate mousse was also excellent. Despite my meal being a poor value for a restaurant week special the food for the most part was great as was our server. I suggest they look at what their competition is offering during restaurant week and step up their game! read more

Merchant - Mai Tai - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The service and drinks were good, the food was one of the worst I ever had, never had something completely lacking any seasoning at all.