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    3 years ago

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    Lucky Lotus Bar

    Lucky Lotus Bar

    4.0
    (18 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Great neighborhood bar. One of a very few bars in North Merced. If you're looking for a loud,…read morepacked bar, this isn't it. It's pretty lowkey. Finding a table isn't too bad. Music isn't too loud. They have a bunch of TVs with different programming. They don't serve food but it's in the same mall as a bunch of restaurants. Wingstop is a few spaces down and they stay open later than the bar. You can grab some wings before you go home.

    This is one of the places in Merced with the most refreshing and affordable array of drinks. It's a…read moregood place to start your night. The music and vibe are great usually on Thursday through Saturday nights. If you go early enough, it's attached to Thai Cuisine II and you may be able to order Thai food and drinks at the same time. They also have QR codes attached to the tables so that you can order drinks on your phone, if you're able to get a seat. Once the bartenders are done serving the people in line, they'll deliver your order directly to your table. Unfortunately, the owner (Bobby, I think his name is) doesn't necessarily have the best sense of hospitality and can be rude sometimes. My friend ordered three waters for our table after she ordered some shots, and the owner gave her attitude as if it were such a chore to get us those waters. I didn't see a self-serve water station so I didn't appreciate the attitude. He can be quite dismissive, unless you're a fresh new female who he can flirt with. A different time, my female friend was visiting from out of town and all of a sudden, he was extremely attentive to us and friendly. A change from his usual sour demeanor. I don't go here too often due to the lack of a welcoming vibe from the owner (his staff are usually fine and generally more easy to get along with). Every time I go back, I'm reminded why I don't go too often anymore.

    Photos
    Menu of their main cocktails
    Menu of their main cocktails
    View of the bar from the door
    View of the bar from the door
    Menu of draft beers

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    Menu of draft beers
    Vinhos

    Vinhos

    4.4
    (39 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Vinhos is a gem on Main Street! We happened upon this lovely place looking for a good meal and…read morewe're big fans of tapas. We stopped in just before 6:00 and we're greeted by a friendly woman getting the restaurant ready for opening. We later came to find out she was an owner. She was so sweet and offered to seat us before the servers actually showed up, as they had worked a local event that day. The waitress soon came and our wonderful experience began. They have a great wine list and wine cocktails. We ordered three dishes and were pleased with the presentation and flavors. Pica-Pau - a traditional Portuguese dish with beef and spices in a delicious broth. It's served with bread for soaking up the broth. I really enjoyed this dish, especially the broth. Crostini di Mare - shrimp on crostini's with a tangy garlicky sauce on top. This was my favorite and I wouldn't hesitate to order this again. Sea Legs - octopus over a sweet potato mash. This was tasty as well and the octopus was cooked perfectly. The sweet potato mash is divine!! We also had a Caprese salad, pretty average, but nice presentation. The outdoor seating area is comfortable and so nice to people watch on the main drag. We really enjoyed ourselves and plan to go back next time we visit. The service is excellent, portions in line with tapas and atmosphere is great.

    This place is always packed on Friday and Saturday nights! My mom and I came in on a Wednesday…read moreevening and it was a great vibe. Andre, the owner, showed us class and hospitality and was helpful and attentive. Michelle, the chef, was extremely classy and served us delicious food with finesse. There's a huge selection of international wines to choose from. My mom ordered the Moscatel dessert wine and I ordered the White Blend from Spain. I enjoyed my wine and if you're a sweet tooth, dessert wine is the way to go! We ordered the Spicy Moroccan Lamb Meatballs with some cornbread and really enjoyed it! I do think the dishes are slightly on the pricier side, but the quality and finesse of the dishes makes them definitely worth it. Our meatballs were so soft and tasty. And we couldn't help but finish all the leftover sauce it came with by dipping our bread in it! I enjoy the vibe of the inside. I love all the blue dim lighting and there's even a small stage for folks to perform on busier nights. The patio is in a prime spot if you wanna enjoy the sidewalk vibes, especially on a Friday/Saturday night or on Thursday's if downtown is hosting a street fair! Def coming back!

    Photos
    The back lounge area with couches and awesome lighting.
    The back lounge area with couches and awesome lighting.
    Musician's stage area.
    Musician's stage area.
    Long wine bar with screen and artwork.

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    Long wine bar with screen and artwork.
    Bella Luna

    Bella Luna

    4.0
    (647 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Bread is freshly baked and yum but not complimentary. Meatballs appetizer is tasty, comes with 4…read morebig meatballs. Combo: half salad and half sandwich are limited to a few options only. Asked the waiter if I can pay extra to select a different salad on the menu and they said No. Pasta is great, salad is average, the beet salad plate was cold, seems like it came straight from the fridge. Pizza took very long to make, it came towards the end of our meal. The waiter gave us some free fries and soups to make up the long wait time. Overall it's not a bad experience, I would go back for pasta dishes only.

    We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and service at Bella Luna. My wife and I…read moreare light eaters and enjoy sharing. We started off with the steamed mussels which were excellent - large meaty mussels in a roasted tomato garlic broth. The broth was so good we both spooned it down long after the mussels were gone. This was followed by the beet salad which was the classic pairing of bitter arugula with the sweet beets. The crab and lobster ravioli as our main course didn't disappoint - lots of sweet crab and lobster meat stuffed into each ravioli, all draped with a creamy rich sauce. We topped off our meal with another classic - crunchy cannoli fingers. Mmm, good! Our friendly server gave us excellent wine service and food suggestions. The back dining room was cheerfully noisy and gave off the vibe of eating at your Italian Grandmother's house. We had a great time, highly recommended.

    Photos
    Best Seat in the House
    Best Seat in the House
    A Place To Bring a Friend
    A Place To Bring a Friend
    Book for Private Events. 
Contact : banquets@bellalunamerced.com. 
Tuscan Room. 
Seats 80.

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    Book for Private Events. Contact : banquets@bellalunamerced.com. Tuscan Room. Seats 80.

    The Den - hookah_bars - Updated July 2026

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