The ambiance was beautiful right on the water. The service was top notch, always on time. The food was another story. My wife got oyster chowder and an oyster po-boy. I think she got about 3 Oz of soup, which was flavorless until salt and pepper were added in significant quantity. My wife liked the po-boy. I had a special - the swordfish - for $28 the portion was miniscule and left me quite hungry. I think there was about 8 cubic inches of fish, over a red pepper broth, and served with fried cauliflower. It also required a large dose of salt and pepper to induce some flavor. read more

Great outside space with great oysters. Extremely over priced menu, especially for the quality of food. Server was very friendly but after bringing water initially, took over 10 minutes to take any orders at all. Also took a while to come to our table each time. Scallops were cooked absolutely perfectly! However, there was soooo much salt on them that it was overpowering and made the dish not good. The corn with it was great though. The red pepper crab soup was the worst on the table, they have a lot of work to do on this soup. Ceviche was flavorless and in whole pieces of shrimp, wish they were chopped up. Can't go wrong with oysters! The lemon coconut custard was not a custard, it was runny coconut yogurt with coconut flakes and fruit on top. If you want a yogurt parfait, order this! Chocolate cake was okay, nothing crazy. Would not come back to eat read more

The food here is amazing. The oyster po boy, while nothing like a po boy from New Orleans, is so delicious, it deserves a category of its own. The oysters were amazing, the slaw and cucumbers were fantastic, the sub roll, it all was so delicious, so juicy, fresh, a masterpiece. A great selection of unique beers. Our server was fun and funny and cheerful. The owner's playlist of 80's music was a fun surprise. The setting is beautiful with lots of outdoor seating. Can't wait to go back! read more

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What a great spot. Outside seating on a warm day is outstanding. Oysters and wine! Also had some well prepared rockfish. read more

Merroir - Glass of wine and the view. - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

If Merroir were located somewhere else I would probably knock it down a star, but since there aren't a lot of dining options in the area, it gets 5 stars. It has a water view and a nice casual atmosphere. They serve Rappahanock and Olde Salt (Eastern Shore) oysters and they are the stars of the show...fresh and delicious. My husband loves the red pepper and crab bisque. I really enjoyed my strattietella (sp?) which is a bread with a ricotta and honey spread. They are a "tasting room" which means small portions for high prices. Service has been very good both times I have been. read more

First time in tonight. Wonderful place, giving view to boat movements paired with a play area for kiddos. We shared a nice bottle of wine. A bowl of red pepper crab soup (which I thought was delicious! A seafood roll with a side of chips and a shared piece of key limb pie. I think next visit, we'll try and sit at the oyster bar. Great setting, fair prices, cordial staff. We'll be back. read more

We had dinner here both nights as we were staying at an air b and b that was walking distance. Both nights the raw oysters were super fresh and delicious. Our favorite items were the stuffin muffin, raw oysters and scallops. The house salad with shrimp and poke tuna tacos were good but nothing special. The oyster chowder soup special was creamy, delicious and filling! Service was good and ambiance right on the water was wonderful! read more

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last year, my three friends and I came to Merrior and had an unbelievable crabcake. We looked forward to having that same recipe this year and found that ,upon our lunchtime arrival on june 3, 2025 there was a crab cake special! regretfully the crabcake recipe was very different this time and very disappointing. It tasted like the crab had been frozen as the crab cake was watery and less than appetizing. To add insult to injury the crab cake was very expensive. again we were super disappointed and would not recommend the crabcakes at this restaurant. read more

I love this place! It's truly a gem and a must visit if you're passing through the area. With gorgeous views and delicious oysters, it's the perfect place to grab a view, a dozen, and a glass of sparkling wine. I've loved everything I've eaten there, and I can say with confidence I've had a majority of the menu. The stuffin muffin is sold as a main, but really is more of a small plate--it is a must get! The oyster stew is so simple, but so good. The poboy is immensely satisfying. Even the non-oyster offerings are good! The burger and the crostini have no right to be that delicious at an oyster restaurant! But really I love the Rap oysters raw with the humble offerings of mignonette, lemon, and horseradish. The only reason why this isn't a 5 star is the odd smell the interior restaurant has. It smells like a bathroom. You get used to it after a little bit, but in the meantime it's off--putting. Service is friendly and informed. Restaurant is accessible inside with one step up into the restaurant. Accessibility is somewhat limited outside as areas are paved with broken shells, possibly complicating things for those with mobility limitations. Outside dining offers an attractive view from the many picnic tables with umbrellas for shade--the perfect place for outdoor dining in fair weather. Docks are available to those who arrive by boat. Make the time to visit and enjoy! read more

Plenty of parking, great staff and dinner with a view of the Rappahannock! Great swordfish and sweet potato hash and crabcakes. Definitely worth a trip! read more

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A friend from the area recommended this place to us. We were camping at Belle Isle and as it was cold, rainy and windy we decided to treat ourselves to a meal out. We had a great time. There are three dining areas - indoors, closed in porch, and outside. The outside area looked best but again - cold and rainy - so we opened for the porch. I liked the cozy atmosphere of it. The service was great, and the food was a delicious. We started with soup - Roasted Red Pepper and Crab and Oyster Chowder. So many fresh oysters in the chowder! I would have liked a bit more crab meat in the pepper soup but the taste was outstanding. For dinner we had the roasted oyster (angels on horseback style) and the steamed clams. Sooo good! I would have loved some crusty bread to go with the clams because there was so much delicious broth that I felt got wasted. I can't wait to go back when the weather is nice and we can sit outside by the water! read more

Merroir - Red pepper crab soup and oyster chowder - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

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Nice servers and atmosphere, pretty location on the water with a cute outdoor area. Food was good. I thought the portions were good for what a normal meal should be. read more

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This place was a great spot. It's a really cute restaurant with a beautiful outdoor seating area right by the water. The oyster soup was good, raw oysters were delicious. The scallops were huge and perfectly cooked. The waitress was friendly and efficient. Only a reason a star is down is because they couldn't give a side salad instead of chips on the side of the roll- seems like something they should be able to substitute. Also the fire pits were not working and it was a bit chilly. read more

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Great atmosphere!! We enjoyed the oysters and wine. It was so relaxing and tasty! I definitely recommend this place.

This was our fourth visit, and probably our last. We have never had good service, but always give a place a few opportunities to shine. However, it has gotten worse, not better. Today, we were seated right away, but waited a while for a server. Another server brought us some water since we had been waiting a while and it was pretty hot. Our server finally arrived, and took our order. My wife ordered oysters, my daughter (10 yr old) wanted grilled shrimp and chips, and I ordered a burger. We ordered a bruschetta appetizer we saw on another table. It wasn't on the menu, but looked good. They delivered my burger, and my daughter's food. 8 little shrimp on a saucer and a little bowl of potato chips. My burger looked good, and was. My wife's oysters were MIA, as was our appetizer. We waited for my wife to be served while our food got cold. Finally they brought our appetizer, and her oysters. Weird that oysters would be harder for an oyster bar to prepare than cooked food, but I digress. My wife asked for crackers and hot sauce. We waited again so that we could all eat together. Five minutes later our server delivered 8 crackers for a dozen oysters, so we asked for more. 10 minutes later they arrived. The oyster were tasty, but only 6 of the twelve were normal sized. The remaining ones were tiny. Two of them did not make one of the normal sized ones. We would have said something, but our server had disappeared. We waited, out of drinks for her return and by then we just wanted to get out of there. She finally came by and I asked for the check. 10 minutes later she dropped it off. I started to sign it and thought that it seemed high. I looked at the breakdown. Wow... 17$ for the bruschetta (pricey for 3 slices of bread and a spoonful of diced tomatoes). But the big surprise was my daughter's meal. 8 small grilled shrimp $20 and small bowl of chips $4. That's just ridiculous. As my server was MIA again I just paid and left. I will go elsewhere. There are better values and lots better service in the area. read more

Wonderful view food was amazing! Service a bit slow Eating out was gorgeous! The crab cake was pure meat no filler!

Hubs and I found this delicious pearl while camping about a mile away in Topping VA. Merroir is located on a quiet waterfront which is beautiful by day or night. We know this because we had lunch and then came back later for dinner! We lucked out because we enjoyed our dinner during a warm October evening lit by a full Harvest Moon. The location is laid back, quiet, fun, upscale (but not uptight) and the perfect place to enjoy with friends or just a romantic dinner. Lunch was ceviche and tortilla chips. Some of the best I've tasted and consisted of small shrimp and bay oysters, cilantro, onions and jalapeño. I could eat that everyday. Our amazing server Sierra helped us narrow down our dinner selections because we entirely wanted one of everything on the menu: Carolina shrimp French onion (special) Roasted red pepper soup with crab Burger (lady at table next to me said it's her fav burger) Blackened Fish tacos Caramelized bananas All 100% in flavor!!! There were so many other things we wanted to try on the menu but we ran out of space. Everyone around us seemed to enjoy their dining experience. If we are ever back in Topping we will be sure to stop here! read more

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Service was terrible. It was almost painful. Server essentially ignored us. Food was overpriced and the fish was disappointing. Server never asked how our food was or made any suggestions on the menu basically one of the rudest experiences I have had in a long time. Mind you we spend over $200 on our visit would not recommend or plan to come back read more

We were visiting the Tides Inn and was looking for a place to eat. I have been to some other restaurants part of the Rappahannock Group so I knew I would not be disappointed! What a cute quaint place, I only wish we arrived before it got dark so we could see the beautiful view. We ordered quite a few things, I'll share our favorites and some dishes you could skip. We started off with the Red Pepper Crab Soup, delicious and perfect for a cold evening. We ordered some Rappahannocks and Old Salts Oysters - fresh / crisp / salty / buttery! We moved on to the Ceviche, not a fan but it's was not bad. The scallops were wonderful, huge! We enjoyed the smoked corn and cilantro twice. Now on to our favorites! I have to mention the Stuffin Muffin was one we overlooked to be honest. We wanted one more thing and was not sure which one last dish we should indulge in. Our server suggested this dish and she was right! The stuffin muffin is literally stuffing mixed with bacon and oysters topped with a yummy creamy sauce. The other thing we loved was the Roasted Oysters with the Chipotle Butter, wow. Great place check it out! read more

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Tried Merroir again.....because it is so close to home....and, we'll....the view. FANTASTIC!!! ...and yes, the above deserves it's own line, as that is how great the experience was! It was my birthday dinner, and we weren't hugely hungry, so it seemed a perfect fit, and after the rainy day, the sun finally came out and there was little humidity. To begin with the fellow who seated us was quite accommodating as we chose where we wanted to sit (best view possible, of course!). Then, our super sweet waitress couldn't have been more amazing! She was personable, efficient, and absolutely sweet to the core! She was helpful, knowledgeable of the menu, and even helped me understand the amazing sauce that my tuna had (more on that next). The food. THE FOOD! I know! I've had some not-so-great reviews from here in the past, but tonight is proof that THEY LISTEN! We had the most wonderfully seasoned roasted oysters for an appy.....delish! Hubs ordered the oyster po boy for his dinner, and said it was the Best Ever.....as good as his last one there! I had the fish of the day (tuna), that was seared to rare over lightly curried mushrooms, carrots, peppers and onions. LET ME TELL YOU.....that sauce. THAT SAUCE! OMG, it is amazing! The curry was truly an undertone, but it complimented the fish and vegetables perfectly! I DESPISE carrots, but I cleaned my plate. BEST carrots (and mushrooms) EVER!! I kinda figured out the ingredients in that otherworldly sauce, and our super sweet waitress went the extra mile to help us out with the other ingredients! I don't expect to recreate this at home (we live too close), but I will certainly try to get something close when I cook veggies......just spectacular! Thank You, Merroir, for such a memorable birthday dinner! read more

Merroir - Yeah, THE VIEW. - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

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This was a quick stop for us on the way to the Tides Inn. 2 glasses of wine and a dozen oysters. We sat outside since it was a beautiful day with gorgeous views. We were sat right away but it did take a minute for the waitress to come over. Friendly - but definitely not overly friendly. The oysters came out quick....we got 6 salty and 6 that were sweeter. You could definitely tell the difference. They were delicious. I would love to go back and order some other items. The Red pepper Crab Soup sounds delicious. Poke tacos, shrimp, clams and their is even a burger for the one that doesn't eat seafood. You must get a picture of the Ruby. We did explore and go inside but certainly did not feel welcome so we quickly left and got in the car and we were on our way to the Tides Inn. I was actually looking for a gift shop because I was wondering if the glasses were for sale because I liked them. I still don't know if they sell them. read more

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The most lovely outside patio with water view. Fresh oysters, oyster po'boy recommended read more

Merroir - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

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A wonderful location, great service from our server Prema and finally, great food. My wife and I had the swordfish special paired with ratatouille, excellent. Oh did I mention the oysters are delicious. read more

Merroir - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

I took my wife and daughter here on a whim one chilly Sunday. The raw oysters were outstanding, we ordered a second dozen. The shrimp was large and fresh and perfectly cooked, if a few fewer than I was expecting (sold by weight, not volume, I assume.) An excellent "stuffin muffin" (oyster dressing, bacon, creamy peppercorn sauce.) Also good maple and coconut panna cotta for dessert. A pity the oysters rockefeller included on the online menu was not on the printed one, I was looking forward to that! Merroir also has an offering of craft brew and local wines, but we were not in that mood. Nice ambiance, right on the water. Next time we will sit outside, if it is warmer. read more

Merroir - a feast! - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

The vibe here is amazing! Our server was so helpful, giving us recommendations as my partner + I had never eaten here before. If you have been on the hunt for a luxury restaurant by the "Rivah", you will love this place! Pro-tip: The scallops are a must-have. read more

Merroir - raw oysters + tuna dip - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

Flies, dead flies everywhere. The plate that was on the table before we sat down had some thick sticky mess on the bottom. When I picked it up I had to go wash my hands after, no idea what it was but there was a lot of it. I got a burger and it was ok but what kind of restaurant sends you a burger with a cold bun, I mean even fast food heats the bun . I live a couple miles away and really hate that we can't get a decent meal there. Lovely setting outside as long as you don't mind seafood dumpster smell while you're trying to eat. Also very limited menu. read more

We go here several times a week in the Summer. I recommend bringing a small fan for the heat and the flies and a towel to sit on. Below is my favorite dish. Merrior is a great boat destination and has excellent seafood. If you bring a dog, they will give you a bowl of water for dogs if you ask. If you are hot and thirsty, so is your dog. read more

Merroir - Clams and Barretto with sparking rose wine. - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

This has always been one of our favorite places for food, views, atmosphere but yesterday was a different experience. It was 3 of us and we decided to eat inside with my elderly mother. The flies were the worst I've ever seen anywhere in my life. We literally had to cover our drinks, plates and utensils with napkins. I'm certain this would not have been acceptable by the health department. It was right down disgusting. After sitting for 1 1/2 hours, we still did not get our entrees until we said we were leaving. The food miraculously arrived, well 2 of the 3. We told the waitress to remove the 3rd item and bring our check. We were the only table inside and surprisingly they were not busy outside. The food we did get was delicious but we will rethink going here in the future, the fly experience was overwhelming and needs to be addressed! read more

We booked a reservation outside for a table of 7 at 700pm on a Sunday night in late June. The weather was really warm and humid. The heat was tolerable but we fought off the flies throughout dinner. A couple of fans to circulate the air need to be added to the outdoor seating area. The service was adequate but they were understaffed. Oysters were great and the seafood roll was VERY well received. Totally worth the food but the flies were a major distraction. read more

Beautiful views & delicious oysters!! I only wish they had more than 1 bathroom for guests.

The food is always amazing and the staff are always welcoming. We were able to buy a quart of oysters to take home.

Delicious raw oysters and excellent wine in a beautiful setting. I couldn't ask for more on our anniversary trip!

Nothing special. Yes, the oysters were very good. But, come on. They are an oyster company first and a restaurant second. It would have been nice s if they'd served saltines with the oysters and possibly a side of straight horseradish. Probably could have asked but every other raw bar I've experienced served horseradish and saltines. The drum that my wife had was bland, and my mahi tacos were average at best. If someone asked if the food was worth the money, I'd have to be honest and tell them to save their money. Sorry for the bad review but I feel I need to be honest about the food. read more

This place is in the middle of nowhere and it's completely worth the drive. I could've spent the whole afternoon just looking at the beautiful view and relaxing. The food is mostly small plates and you can order a variety of things and get a sampling of different seafood. It is very seafood focused and the oysters are incredibly fresh. The one dish that disappointed a little bit was the red pepper crab soup the red pepper overpowered everything and you didn't really get the taste of the crab! read more

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Stopped by for lunch on a couple's weekend to the northern neck. Not much of an indoor scene, but great outdoor seating/ scenery. Delicious beers and amazing oyster po boy. Service was also excellent. Definitely worth the trip! Note: FWIW bathrooms are glorified portapotties read more

Merroir - Oyster po boy - Seafood Near Me - Topping, Virginia

Nice outdoor location right on the water. Decent food and drink selection, but people go there for two main reasons: the oysters and the view, both of which are amazing. It is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. read more

Food was very good- the seafood roll was great. The place has character! Good draught beer selection. Oysters were overpriced and service was slow however But would go back again! read more

Food was amazing. Very delicious. 5 star chef skills on taste and visuals. Staff very friendly

What's not to like about this place? Great location overlooking the Rappahannock River. We were fortunate enough to get in at a time when we did not have any wait. Service was quick. We were immediately attended to as soon as we were seated. Rather than order individual plates, we went with full on appetizers: Ceviche, raw oysters, grilled oysters with bacon, crab cake (it was amazing!!) and bread rolls. We enjoyed every dish with the crab cake being my personal favorite. Brandy was our server and she was incredibly nice and attentive. Give this place a try and enjoy your experience! read more

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We stopped by on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Lovely setting and found a shady spot. I ordered the crab cake with a side salad and my husband ordered the fish tacos. It was a nice size crab cake, but I got shell in every bite, not so great considering it was not cheap. My husband got the fish tacos. They were meh, they didn't take the time to soften the cold flour tortillas which detracted from the dish. The service was great, the server kept the cold beer coming. Not worth coming back. read more

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