Went to Merlin's for the first time as an adult on St. Patty's day. Very perfect vibe for St. Patty's. Lowkey grungy. Just such a PUB. They had live Irish music when we first came too, which was so lovely. They have a good beer selection and lots of different food. It feels very fun and community-y in there (though I am interested what it's like on a non-St. Patty's day day). A good neighborhood hang (saw so many people from high school). Excited to come back and see what it's like normally :) read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Silly green photo - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is the hardest review I think I have ever written. We attended Burns night and love it every year. But this year we had the most horrible service. More on that below. We started with Sausage Rolls and Cheese Curds (don't miss) and they were both very good. Good thing we ordered them early. Our waitress didn't seem to write anything down. She came by later to ask if we wanted the special Haggis dinner. We were sharing the table with another couple and 2 of us ordered the special. But she wouldn't take an order from the other 2. The Haggis was served lukewarm and she still hadn't taken the order from the other 2. Finally I flagged her down and they ordered. We were pretty much done eating when their food arrived. At this point we still hadn't received the requested water we all ordered at 6:40pm. It took a while but I finally got her attention and we ordered water again and dessert. Forty minutes later - no dessert. She had forgotten to order it. Another 30 minutes until it came out. By then I wanted to go home. Most people had already left. I asked for the check - 40 minutes later it is delivered and it is totally wrong. We had extra drinks and meals and no credit for the prepayment. I get in line at the order register behind another customer whose ticket was wrong (his took 5 tries to correct). More people fall in line behind me. The couple at our table also had an incorrect bill. On the bill I had written the correct items and crossed out the wrong charges. Right there in purple ink. She still messed it up on the 2nd try. At this point there was another line at the register so we just paid the bill as it was close. We really didn't want to be there another hour. The food and Burn's Night I would give a 4 star rating, the waitress a 0. I decided to make this a 3 star as Burn's Night is special. read more

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Man, if I could walk here it would be my regular spot. It literally feels like the spot you see in sitcoms as the "regular bar". Love the dive vibes, service always knocks it out the park (my third time coming?), the food and pricing is solid, and they have a massive whiskey menu. What more could you ask for? If you're from the burbs a parking lot? I guess you can't have everything, but it's in the city. Also, cocktail of the month was a "black old Fashioned", so good ‍ Absolutely recommend checking them out. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Fish & chips - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I have never had a bad thing here and I think Merlin's rest may be the most underrated restaurant in town. It seems unassuming, but give it a chance. I've always thought of British pub food to be lackluster, but Merlins does a fantastic job of turning bland dishes into a flavor and texture journey! The sausage wrapped in pastry appetizer was perfect for a meal. The pasties are always delicious. They do a wonderful job with the buttery, flaky pastry topping. The stew is also very good. We've come on trivia and sea shanty nights. It's always a fun time here. Tip: you can get half pints of anything on tap! read more

I love Merlin's Rest Pub. The staff are friendly and good. The food is fantastic. And what a Whisky & Scotch choices. The Best Fish and Chips. You really should check this place out!! read more

Merlin's Rest is one of our faves and has been for years. The food is consistently delish and we love the cozy vibe, especially the bar. Service is always friendly and prompt. If you're a whisky connoisseur, this is the place for you. Magners cider is the go to for me, iykyk. Tried the Reuben this time around and it's one of the best I've had in the cities. The corned beef is cooked to perfection. Street parking is always easy!! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Reuben - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Such an awesome place! I don't go to many pubs anymore, but I came out for their DnD night. The staff was absolutely phenomenal. The manager and server checked in often and made sure we were well taken care of. The theme was very cool. People were dressed up, Gus the Bard played awesome music, and the trivia was very fun. They had themed food and drinks, all of which I really enjoyed. I'll have to make it back to try all the other menu items! read more

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Made my first stop at this local Irish pub and really enjoyed it. It is street parking but we had not issue finding a spot. The staff was super friendly and we got seated right away. Lots of seating options whether it's table booth or bar. Very classic Irish decor and pub vibes. For the menu they have a decent tap selections for beers, cocktail options and a massive whisky list. Their food is mostly Irish fair but also have some standard American fare. I had the meat Pasty with onion rings. This was served with gravy so you can decide your moisture level. Pastry was flakey and the meat and veggies inside were done well. I thought the onion rings were fantastic. I also got 2 of the hot beverages. One was nanny's cure all and the other was snow shoe. I loved both. My partner got the British style fish and chips and some whisky pours with a black old fashion. He says the variation between the 2 old fashions was obvious even though they were the same kind. One was more bitter. But he still enjoyed them. I would definitely go in again. Our server Luke got VERY busy while we were there but was still super kind and attentive. Also very knowledgeable about the menu and was great at answering questions and making recommendations. read more

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Great pub, authentic decor and atmosphere plus tap brews plus menu with traditional pub food (somewhat Americanized). Loved the fish and chips and meat pies. Service was prompt and friendly. They have a full Monty breakfast some weekends. read more

Enjoyed the ambiance, and certainly the pint of Guinness. Very busy on Friday evening. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love this place. Good neighborhood bar. Really good lunch special. Today I had the pie and pint special and everything was delish and fresh. Service is a little slow but nothing outrageous. Love to come here. Thanks! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Happy hour - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Ok... you cannot venture into Merlin's Rest without getting fish and chips or an Irish coffee. Both amazing! For the fish and chips... I recommend getting the yankee version and sharing! The fries (chips) are so good too. The Brussels rocked our world too and you can get with or without bacon... fortunately they taste amazing without it since I don't eat pork. Service was a little odd for us as we were at the bar and the bartender was grumpy. I tried to spread the kindness and she wasn't having it... I tried! I love the new feel with the bigger windows and whiskey decor all over. It's comforting being in here. It's been a while since I've been here, but I will be back. read more

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Food is ok. Service absolutely sucked. The female server sat us then got us 3 out of four drinks then ignored us for almost 30 mins finally had to go talk to the manager to get served. The manager ended up taking our orders and got us water. Def do not recommend if you are in a hurry to go anywhere after. Manager was great. Server was awful. read more

Great selection of beer and whiskey. Food is pretty good too. Fish and chips are well done. Unfortunately, they still use ketchup with high fruit to his corn syrup. read more

We had a great late lunch there today. Nearly empty but who was there were delightful, and the service was stellar. It really is like the pubs we've visited in Scotland and Ireland , charming with big leather booths . Food was excellent especially the sticky toffee pudding. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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3.75* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 3* 04/07/2023 Our son recommended this place for a Good Friday dinner of fish. He made reservations online for us, only to find out upon our arrival that they ignore the online reservations on the weekend. They were quite busy and we ended up waiting 20 minutes for a table. The good news is that they have a good selection of Irish / British tap beers, so sipping on them helped pass the time while we waited. The neighborhood was average - some boarded up businesses but generally clean and we felt safe during the dinner hour. Once seated, we first ordered appetizers to share - a Basket of Crisps (see picture) and a Cauliflower Bites (see picture). The Basket of Crisps were tasty - light and quite crispy, with a delicious accompanying sauce. The Cauliflower Bites were also quite tasty - crispy outside and a little crunch left on the cauliflower inside, with just the right amount of buffalo sauce. For our main courses, most of us ordered the British Fish & Chips (see picture), which had the fish pieces tossed in vinegar and wrapped in paper. I found the 2 piece to be more than enough to eat, especially after sharing a couple of appetizers - but also enjoyed the added cole slaw on the side. My wife stuck with the Yankee Fish & Chips (see picture), unwrapped, crispy and not tossed in vinegar. We thought that both versions of the fish tasted very good - so it depends on whether you like vinegar or not when you make your selection. Service was average, as we found ourselves looking for our waitress a few times for water, silverware and condiments, but will admit that it was also packed for dinner - so she was quite busy. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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We had a good time and food was ok, but I wouldn't go back. Distracted staff. I like a good pub, but this place was a little too divey... Came for the Scotch list, but it was a giant binder of regions and descriptions with the prices in the front. I finally picked one and there wasn't a price for it. Guess it wasn't meant to be. Our server said the list isn't accurate anyway as they don't have all of them. Why not pare it down into one easy laminated sheet?!?! People would love to dabble but are turned off if it's a job! Had an old fashioned and it was all alcohol and no mixer. The next one was normal. Maybe they found the mixer? Hmmmm. read more

Cozy, classic irish pub. Attentive and kind waitstaff. Food was excellent. Would have liked more differentiation between menu items, lots of it seemed very similar, but at the same time I wanted to order more than I could eat in one sitting. Outside seating is available, but it's right on a busy road so it's not that nice. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I haven't been there since they updated the interior and it was lively and bright. We had a retirement celebration there and I cannot say enough about how awesome the server was. I ordered the fish and chips to go. Three pieces of perfectly cooked fish and fries that was very tasty. Can't wait to go back and try some other things. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Fish & Chips - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I met three of my high school buddies at Merlin's. We are all in our 60's. Appropriately our waitress carded all four of us Merlin's is a cozy South Minneapolis bar and restaurant. I looked over the menu before we arrived and I was intrigued. Great variety with an Irish Flair. Bangers and Mash. Scottish Eggs, Irish Stew, and a variety of Gaelic pies. I like menus where I could easily order one of six different items. That's Merlin's. I had the English Burger which was awesome!! I almost ordered the fish and chips maybe next time. Our server was new to Merlin's and definitely not perfect. She was friendly and kind. That made up for any shortcomings. Parking can be difficult so park on a side street and walk up. I highly recommend Merlin's. Cozy, friendly, neighborhood bar and restaurant read more

We stopped at Merlin's for a drink after dinner! We weren't hungry, but I would love to try the food sometime. Giving this place to three stars service was fairly slow for how few of people were in the restaurant. We did order our first ever Pimm's cup and loved it! I would highly recommend ordering this drink here as it is very refreshing and comes with lemons, strawberries, apples, cucumbers, oranges, and maybe a few other things! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Pimm's Pitcher - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

First time to Merlin's. It was a nice experience with the over ambience and staff. There are a lot of true British items on the menu along with a nice beer selection and boating one of the largest scotch selections in MN! I've had a number of my friends that are from the UK recommend Merlin's, so this place must be legit! The Steak & Stilton pie was pretty good, lots of blue cheese, which goes excellent with the steak. The Irish burger (medium cook) was was tasty as well. It can with a unique jam that I was excited to try, but left the buns really soggy. My friends really liked their Reuben, perhaps that would have been a better bet then the burger. read more

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I'm not sure if Merlin's on your restaurant radar screen, but it should be. It has a very fun vibe to it, the place feels like a pub should feel, and the food is excellent. On weekends (Friday through Sunday), you can get a bowl of mussels ($18), which is something I can't pass up. The mussels were all tasty, except for a few that were a bit gritty. Best of all, it comes in an excellent and tasty broth that is full of seasonings and garlic. I asked for a spoon and drank the broth; it was that good. I've been here several times, but it seems to be that the quantity of the mussels seem to be shrinking as the price rises. If you take a look on their website home page, it shows an overflowing bowl of mussels (compare to my photo). Perhaps it's artistic license. The bowl comes with crusty bread that is absolutely perfect for soaking up the broth and I might have enjoyed that at least as much as the mussels. Also, the bowl comes with a good portion of excellent fries ("chips") that were crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Perfect! My wife had the Speyside Pie, which is filled with leeks, mushrooms, white beans, vegetables and fontina cheese with a pastry crust. She enjoyed it, although it tasted a bit bland to me (but I'm not veggie guy). This place can get super busy. I tried to get a reservation (I checked at 3 pm) and they didn't have any. We took a chance and were able to get in at about 5:15 pm, but then it became quite busy. So plan ahead! The service was friendly (although I was not fond of the waitress continually calling me "Darlin') and efficient, but they could use more help, as do most restaurants these days. Room for improvement: The table card listed (at least) two items that we wanted, but they no longer carry; Honey, I shrunk the bowl of mussels; need more wait staff. read more

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I went in a few days ago with a few friends for dinner and drinks. I've been a few times and every time is a treat. Our server was Anna. She was AMAZING. So sweet. So knowledgeable. We had a few questions at our table and she clearly knew her stuff. Our drinks were prompt and fantastic. I'm still thinking about the Strawberry Smash(?)! The food, as recommended by our server, was delicious. Overall, the vibes were exactly what you expect in an Irish style pub. We'll continue coming to Merlin's Rest! read more

The steak and mushroom pie was divine, rich sauce, plenty of meat, so satisfying. . The fish and chips were great. This was our second visit about nine months after our last, and we were pleased again. We used to live in the neighborhood, and didn't discover it until we were ready to move. We were only there for about four months. Wish we had found it sooner, and when we stayed in the neighborhood this time, it was definitely worth a visit back. Beers are great. They have a fun Wednesday night trivia night. Wish we lived in the neighborhood again. Service was good. read more

A fun place with good booths to hang out in and drink British Isles beer and eat British food. The food is OK, don't go here to get a great meal, go to soak in the British-ness. read more

I would come back here in a heartbeat. Met a friend for lunch and we both enjoyed it. We both had the fish and chips British style. Fish was excellent as were the fries and whatever they do to the tartar sauce is amazing! Service was excellent. Nice layout. Their menu has at least a dozen other things that I would like to try. Definitely recommend! read more

Another Yelp Foodie Adventure landed me in this Irish themed food & drink spot with some authentic eats. Needless to say when in Rome, sat at the bar for complete ambience and effect. Bar tender and bar keep were great and very knowledgeable of the traditional fare. The dishes described as Pies, oh my gimme the pie! Meat and pastry combined, seemed a bit too authentic so did the Irish stew and man it didn't disappoint, deep rich sauce with chunks of beef, carrots, potatoes and some traditional vegetable I am in able to pronounce and such cannot spell! Dish came with 1/4 loaf of perhaps water bread and creamy seasoned butter to enhance the experience as every love's butter! Service was on point even for a busy Friday night, my cup stayed full and the food didn't disappoint. And I'll will be back for the Pie! read more

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Amazing Food, Amazing Service and Atmosphere. Midweek date night. :) Bangers and Mash, Beef Pot Pie. .it was also Triva Night... great time...except they listed a drink special, but it was for the Eagan Location....well pull the flyer then... or honor it... besides that it was a great meal! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Located next to some awesome walking trails. Drove 1 mile to rehydrate and get some grub. The food ok. The beer cheese dip lacked flavor but the pretzels were good. The fish was excellent and tasted really thick and meaty. Yum! The reuben was ok. The corned beef had excellent flavor! I was disappointed in the bread. It wasn't very toasted and felt like I was eating half toasted and half soft bread texture. The fries were soggy when we got them so not sure of they sat too long or their oil wasn't hot enough. I love a crispy fry on the outside and soft on the inside. With a couple simple fixes, I'd give this place 4 stars. read more

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The service was non-existent, so we left. Apparently business is good enough that the waiters can ignore customers.

A unicorn. Get your British/Irish fix here regarding both food and drink. Service can be a bit funky but always sufficient. Food is perfect for the place. Unlike some pop-up suburb Irish pubs, the ambiance keeps it real as a neighborhood spot. If you are a connoisseur of whiskeys, this is your place! read more

A coworker raved about this establishment, I had to try it. Got a perfect Guinness pour, fish and chips I felt were a proper pub British style food. Not as greasy or large like back in Hampshire where you get one long piece of deep fried greasy cod goodness , did get three pieces and lots of "chippies ". The scotch malt whiskey is really why I went- had glenfarclas 12yr. Single malt delicious- also had a taste of the balvenie 14 yr. carribean cask, was delicious as well with a few drops of water in it to tame it. Will be back again, read more

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I really like the rustic yet pleasing decor. Merlins is one of those not so pretentious but still enjoyable restaurants. They have a very lengthy drink list. I ordered the fish and chips. It was exactly the way I expected it to be. Fresh and tasty. I also hear they have a bag pipe band. Can't wait to see them on the next visit. read more

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I had the fish and chips and a shepherds pie. Both were fantastic! The fish and chips were so crispy and flavorful. The pie was buttery and the puff pastry was perfect. Great portions for the price! The selection of beers and drinks here is wonderful and tasty. Our service was quick despite the place filling up quickly for happy hour on a Thursday! I really appreciate the bartenders attention to detail when pouring beer and drinks. The ambiance is great, with a very classic pub feel but I noticed the details in the wall gargoyles and all of the great photos. Will definitely be back again! read more

After being on my list of restaurants to check out for years, I finally stopped by this weekend. Fun British ambiance and an extensive tap and scotch list, they offer lots of authentic options. Service was friendly, but slow, and food was just average. All in all glad I checked it out, but an overall tepid experience won't inspire me to return. read more

While it might be a while before I can pony up to the bar at Merlin's to grab a pint or enjoy something off of their extensive whisky list (which can't come soon enough), they still make some good pub grub to enjoy at home with your preferred beverage of choice during these Covid times. Merlin's menu contains a number of British favorites, but it's their burgers that have become my go-to. They use grass fed beef that has always been a perfect medium rare (even after a short drive home for takeout). I have tried a few other items on their menu and have no complaints, but I doubt I'll stray away from one of the many burger options too often. For the near-term their online ordering is easy, pickup is a breeze, they offer a number of menu items frozen for reheating at home and I'll countdown the days until I can cozy back up to the bar again. read more

Merlin's Rest is a fun Irish Pub with lots of atmosphere. Trivia nights are a blast. Outdoor seating is on a busy street, so not ideal, but the food and drink are good. Recently, they added several vegetarian options to their menu (wahoo!) so we will be going more often. read more

whoa-what happened to the prices? merlins new menus lack price transparency and landed my mother/daughter dinner with a shocking bill. the drink menu has no prices on it whatsoever, so when I ordered my child a butter beer (soda with whipped cream on top) and saw on the bill that it cost $11, I was stunned. so sad to see this at a local business that has loved it's customers up for years. unfortunately, we will be moving on. higher prices are one thing, but being transparent with your guest so they can make an educated decision based on their wallet is another. read more

The closest thing to a real Irish pub in Minneapolis. By that, I don't just mean the decor and menu (both wonderful) but also the service. Don't expect to be coddled if it's your first time. You're a stranger here. Be polite and patient as if you're visiting a friend's house for the first time. It'll be worth it because when you come back, they will remember you and you'll be part of the family. read more