Best location (it has parking too!) I highly recommend Mercer Hall, for food and accomodations. The food....... oh my the food. So amazing, their cocktail list is one of my favourites as it's very carefully crafted with clever names. We were in town for the Stratford Chef School Celebrity Chef Series dinner and during a snowstorm enjoyed cocktails and apps while the snow storm blew through town. No better way to enjoy Stratford. The rooms are nice and large with a fire place and cookies!!!! Go for brunch, it's yummy. read more

It took the 3 bartenders at Mercer Hall 5 minutes to offer me a drink even though I was sitting at the bar. Not particularly busy either. The food, Hallumi salad, was the most effortless salad I've seen in a long time, and not in a zen like way. And at 16 bucks I may as well be in Toronto. Meh on all counts. Par for the course in a tourist town. read more

I visited Stratford to see some shows and this was the perfect spot to stay. Right in the center of town, Marcer Hall has a beer hall with good food on the first floor and hotel spots upstairs. The room was large. comfortable and clean. The convenience of the great food and beer downstairs was great. Absolutely I will stay here agan read more

Mercer Hall - Inside from the bar - Bars Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

After spending the day wandering around, and enjoying the weather and sites of Stratford, my friends and I stopped in here to get something to eat before the long drive home. We didn't know what to expect but immediately fell in love with the atmosphere. We were greeted very quickly by our server who was very friendly. We each ordered our individual orders, which came to the table quickly. The drinks were delicious, and mine specifically was something I had not tried before, despite it being distilled in my town. When the meal was done, we were all very satisfied (2 of our party had had maybe a little too much to eat) and were ready to hit the road. I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who is looking for a place that fits any occasion and has and amazing selection of food to choose from. I do have to say, hopefully when next time I visit, they will have perfected making churros and added it to the menu. They were practicing that day and they smelled so delicious! read more

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Great beer selection, excellent food and service, dine outside or inside. Pricing is fair for the quality of food and atmosphere. Its the must do restaurant in Stratford read more

10 years ago a new friend introduced me to BET (Black Entertainment Television, for those who don't know). An instant love for rap music ensued. While listening to music and watching videos, the mention of chicken and waffles kept popping up in conversation. While this trend is hugely popular in the States, it has yet to really come north of the border. Of all places to embrace this urban trend, the Mercer Hall in Stratford has added chicken and waffles to their brunch menu. My sis and i came on the weekend, maybe at an off hour, because the place was surprisingly dead. We were lucky enough to get a table with a view directly into the heart of the restaurant, the kitchen of course. Our entrees came fairly quickly, both were beautifully presented. I have eaten chicken and waffles in so many preparations, from sweet to spicy to modern and some attempting to upscale the down home dish all together. This version came with two waffles and four pieces of chicken, maple syrup and house made hot sauce for $15. The waffles were great, they weren't crispy, they were more on the chewier side. The balance of the sweet maple syrup and heat from the hot sauce was perfect. The flavour of the hot sauce was vinegary but spicy, it paired so well with the chicken. The coating of the chicken was paper thin, it was slightly crispy, i wish that they would use a thicker batter that would yield a crunchier result. The chicken was dark meat and it was boneless. The absence of the bones made the dish easier to eat, but i prefer the chicken to have a bone in it. I thought that the chicken was a slight miss for me. It was juicy but i wasn't a big fan of the coating, and this is the first time that i have had boneless chicken, i prefer some carnage. Overall, i was beyond impressed with the quality, fair prices, and the inventive and modern menu. I cannot wait to come back and try one of their brunch cocktails. read more

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We had a lovely meal at Mercer Hall. Would definitely come back. The kids couldn't make up their minds so we ordered a good slice of the menu and let people pick and choose what they preferred. The salad with mint was stellar. The pickerel fish sandwich was great. The burger a knockout. Smoked salmon charcuterie tray excellent. Fried chicken very good. Ramen delicious though too sweet. Sides of potatoe salad, fries, and baked beans all enjoyable. Decor was very pleasant. Our table at the back got wonderful lighting from a skylight. A great pre-play meal. Service was pleasant and timely. read more

Looking to treat a friend to a nice casual dinner and Mercer's delivered. We showed up without a reservation and were initially told they had no tables available. A more senior staff member intervened and quickly separated some tables and created space for us. Server gave a great recommendation for a good wine that was actually less expensive than the one we had chosen! Menu is a bit eclectic but very good - a great place to try something out of the ordinary. The "bowls" section of their menu is very interesting and combines a variety of ingredients and yummy flavors. I had the whole fried fish - photo does not do it justice - but it was very tasty. read more

Mercer Hall - Whole fried fish. Not so great to look at but taste is amazing. - Bars Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

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I'm definitely coming back. Not only was our service fantastic, but the food was awesome. I had one the best hamburgers I've ever had. It was cooked sous vide with a homemade bun, mushroom aioli and homemade pickles. Unbelievable. I wasn't even aware a burger could taste so good. And the homemade ketchup had a great finish. Our kids shared a chicken and waffles and loved it. I highly recommend this place. read more

Wonderful! We told the staff that we needed to get to a show, and they brought our food super fast! And, it was the best meal of our vacation! We had the seafood rice bowl, beef rice bowl, a vegie burger (my daughter's best ever), and pot stickers. The atmosphere is stylish and fun. Great beer selection. Very reasonably priced, too. The menu has a wide variety including comfort food and pan-Asian fare. read more

A must visit. Under New management and food is absolutely delicious! Oyster or calamari or bone in steak absolutely the best! Cool interior Was shocked at the quality food read more

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Went to the Stratford festival and before the play, went to try out Mercer Hall for the first time. The staff is extremely friendly and the service was amazing. One of our friends was running really late and the staff even offered to save our table while we went for a walk until our friend came. They have a really good craft beer menu and the waiter is very helpful in selecting a drink for us when we asked. We tried the tuna and salmon poke nachos, the pig tail with baked beans and homemade biscuit, and the roasted duck breast rice bowl. The food for the most part was delicious. The tuna and salmon poke nachos was definitely the highlight of the meal. The tuna and salmon was extremely fresh, the sauce had a nice tangy and creamy combination that really complemented the whole dish and the added cilantro and green onions really brought the whole dish together. The deep fried wonton that acted as the "nacho" for the dish was the perfect touch of Asian flare that brought a bit of added fusion to this dish. The pigtail was quite tasty, had a nice smoke on it, but if you are not into fatty meat, I'd suggest not getting this dish. The roasted duck breast rice bowl was also really good. The duck was super tender and you could definitely taste the smokiness that elevated this dish. The sauce was a combination of sweet and savory but there was definitely a little too much sauce for my liking. Overall, had an amazing experience. The only reason I'm giving this place 4 instead of 5 stars is the food was a little salty for my liking. I would definitely come here again. read more

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The food was really delicious and the staff in the evening were great - would have been a 4 star. We went back two days later and the day servers? Oh man, so much shitty attitude that we packed up our table of 6 and went to the pub across the road for toasted cheese sandwiches and soup. read more

We had a large party here for my last birthday and to my amazement everyone was pleased with their meals and the service - nary a problem or complaint. The food is sinfully good (try the burgers - they are to die for) and the staff is friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable with regards to the menu items. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming but be advised, it apparently can be quite busy. Honestly, this was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I've ever experienced - I highly recommend this restaurant and we will return should we ever find ourselves back in Stratford. read more

Great restaurant with some great ambiance the food was delicious and quickly served, my father had the market fish fried whole, it was fresh as can be and tasty. The standout feature of mercer hall was the beer list though, with over 100 beers in bottles, 12 taps and one of the only cask systems outside of Toronto. This is a fun, revival of their old restaurant and is now in the perfect spot for the young crowd. read more

I hadn't been here in years, but previously (pre-Yelp) was always impressed, so when my BF and I recently made a quick day trip to Stratford, I knew I wanted to have lunch here. The waitress was amazing. She was knowledgeable about the various beers on the very extensive list (both draft and bottle). When we asked for a suggestion for an appetizer, she asked what we were planning on ordering so she could pair it up with her appetizer suggestions. We ended up going with her first suggestion--the Grilled Mushroom Steam Bun (the chef's specialty). I've never had a steam bun before, but am guessing this one had to be among the best! It was amazing! I had the Veggie Burger and my BF had the Chuck & Brisket Burger--both were equally as delicious. The atmosphere/decor of the restaurant is simple, unique and tasteful. All around great experience. (Bonus, Mercer Hall Inn is upstairs--I stayed there quite a few times in the late 90s and was always happy with everything!) read more

Mercer Hall - Grilled Mushroom Steam Bun (with pickled onions, carrot, cilantro & spicy aioli) - Bars Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

Just found this gem during a day trip to Stratford. Food was great. Menu was innovative, surprising, and broad. Homemade gravlax board with steamed bun mashup. Great draft beer list. read more

This is an excellent spot for lunch. They have a very good wine selection and the sticky beef bowl was very good, I got mine with the duck egg on top. The waiter was very nice and answered all of my questions about the menu very thoroughly. I will definitely go back here next time I am in Stratford. read more

Nice venue in a beautiful town. The menu wasn't big at all but the food was really good. I had the duck leg over pancakes and my friend had the steak. For this kind of restaurant I felt the prices were good too. Nice selection of wines too! read more

Mercer Hall - Bars Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

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Good food and even better service. My wife and I shared the smoked salmon to start. It was delicious. I had the rib steak, very nice portion (8 oz), and cooked to perfection. My wife had a burger, and she loved it as well. Their fries are amazing! I recommend ordering it as a side to share. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Definitely on my list to re-visit on our next trip to Stratford. Such a contrast to my horrid experience of Bentleys' pub right across the street! read more

The restaurant is great. Really good menu many choices. The beer selection is insane almost too many choices. Good staff great atmosphere. Overall the restaurant was awesome! ... Unfortunately we decided to stay in the inn above the resturant. Unbeknownst to us the restaurant plays really loud music until ( well at least midnight) cause that's what time it is now. So in short I would say come eat drink but stay somewhere else. read more

Both the inn and the beer hall are fantastic - beautiful, great service and sensational food. The brunch is highly recommended.

We only got drinks here this trip. Despite having an extensive drink and cocktail menu for whatever reason their seemed to be no bartender. Our server made our drinks and although she was very nice, she had no idea how to make cocktails. It was too late and we were too tired from travel to search around for other places, but every drink she made was a little off and it took forever. I would maybe understand if we were ordering obscure things or even things off the menu, but if a restaurant goes out of its way to list a hot toddy, I would expect a staff member to know what it is. Also why list a hot toddy on the menu, if you don't have things like cloves to add to it. I was given whiskey and hot water. read more

Amazing food and service . We drove from Toronto for the day and will defiantly come back. We had the miso borscht soup, sausage plater with wasabi mustard.the pulled pork calamari . Everything was up above par . We were so glad the restaurant we were planning to go to was closed read more

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Cool atmosphere and an excellent beer selection! I enjoyed dinner on their patio on one of the last nice nights of fall. Prices were reasonable and the food was fresh and delicious. Service was great, would recommend! read more

Well executed experience overall. Had a dinner reservation and showed up a few mins early. We had asked for a table with some privacy ahead of time and table wasn't ready yet - so we had a drink at the bar. Both the dirty martini and Mercer mule were delicious. Food was excellent overall, albeit a bit salty - woke up parched. read more

Mercer Hall is the sister restaurant to The Prune. Overall the restaurant can be NOISY. It gives you lots of choice and the price point is pretty good. The service can be spotty, sometimes an over-the-top server, and sometimes a busy, haven't-got-much-time-for-you server. They serve food from international places, including a little sushi, pasta, fish, burgers etc. The menu has flair, though be careful what you order!! I really like the vegetarian burger here. It's got a little spice. They do pickled onions on several dishes - it would be great if they used caramelized onions too. I also recommend that they use an aoli on their sushi which was bland. The fries are excellent! Avoid their sandwiches which come on extremely bready French bread. Difficult to eat. The fried chicken bowl is delicious though too much rice not enough vegetables. I will return. read more

This is easily my favourite restaurant in Stratford. Jessie's front of house skills are an extraordinary compliment to the skills of her husband, Chef Tim Larsen. Locally sources ingredients are crafted into delicious dishes that will not disappoint. Outstanding! read more

Such an amazing restaurant-great food and great staff. 10/10 recommend :) had the veggie burger and it was delicious!

The food was mediocre -- especially the mushroom bowl -- and needed to be flavored more subtly. The service was pretty offhand too.

Our experience here was so good, I absolutely had to go online and write a positive review about it. My first yelp review ever. All because this restaurant really knows what they're doing, and the meaning of hospitality. We arrived early on a busy Saturday night before going to see a play. After being (very rudely and not at all graciously) turned away by neighbouring restaurant Pazzo (which, I will say having been there before, have nothing to boast about), we wandered into Mercer Hall hoping that they might be able to work something out for our party of 3. The hosts worked together to move some things around and make it possible, while having a wonderful attitude the whole time, never making us feel like a burden. After only a 10 minute wait, we were seated at a lovely table. Service from there on out remained excellent; this restaurant should be proud of its staff. The food was amazing, local and seasonal produce combined with expertly cooked meats. I had the Mushroom Veloute (amazing) to start, and then the Bison with exquisitely cooked chanterelles, carrots and heirloom potatoes. Their cocktails were exceptional, I had the Caesar (which was more than generous) and my friend had the Vesper. Both great. I would have loved to have tried dessert but we had to run off to our show. Thank you Mercer Hall! We will be back, maybe even to stay at the inn. Keep doing what you're doing! read more

Stopped in for an early dinner on Saturday without a reservation. They found a spot for my family and we're gracious hosts. The food was spectacular and the atmosphere is awesome. Can't wait to return - Highly recommended. read more

Great little hotel! This is how Boutique hotels should be! Very neat touches and attention to details - Books and CD's of local artists and writers are provided in the room. Excellent staff and great cafe downstairs. Highly Recommended. read more

It was good but not great. Customer service was very friendly and the restaurant had a nice vibe to it. A bit on the price side as well

Great beer and food. The braised beef poutine with fois gravy and Montforte Cheese curds was amazing. Best poutine this big man has ever ate. Wife ordered the Montforte Halloumi cheese salad and I the Perth County pork ramen with smoked trout. Both were excellent. Dessert was the s'mores sunday with a slab of homemade marshmallow. Beers an awesome Black Swan Wild Child (local brew which was sessionable so ordered 3. Love sours? Then order one. Thoroughly enjoyable meal. Stop in if you have a chance. read more

Had their Chuck Burger with English Bacon and could not have been better. Their home made Wasabe sauce is top notch to put on pretty much everything. Gives you all the flavor of Wasabe without the unbearable heat. Service was a little slow as we had to call over to get served a few times. Other than that, good food spot. read more

Must be said... we love the beverage selection at this place. And the food is pretty delicious with a tonne of great options for dietary restrictions without sacrificing the flavour. HOWEVER, the staff are awful and really ruin this place. The first time I ate here we had the manager as our server (which we had no idea was the manager, thought he was some half-stoned, bad attitude guy that had this as a part time job). Too many things that really left a bitter taste in our mouths about this guy to write down... but what bugged me the most, aside from neglecting to take my order when taking everyone elses, shrugging his shoulders and acting as if he really didn't give a sh*t about his job, was that when he was asked by an interested party at my table what the stout on draft is like he responded "I dunno, it's good, it's like a Guiness but darker." Ummmmmmm hello? At a place that takes pride in it's beer list, I would imagine the manager would do a little better than offering bullsh*t as a tasting note. And if he was unaware of the notes he could've at least been honest and told us he would find out. As a Cicerone certified server... I was very much insulted by the lack of knowledge or care put into his service. Poor effort myfriend. Next, I decided to book with them for the private room brunch the morning after my wedding. I spoke to him many times about this booking (that's when he decided to tell me he was the manager). I even came back in to talk in person with some family and try out the brunch. When we spoke I was very clear about the number of people joining for brunch, stating anywhere between 20-30 people. His response was always the same, shrugged shoulders, a casual lean, and "ahhh doesn't matter, not a problem, you can have as many people as you want we've fit plenty of people back there!". WRONG. Day after my wedding, myself and my party arrive, and this (terribly rude) girl approaches me as I sit down, infront of my entire party, and decides to introduce herself (forgetting to introduce herself) on the defensive, arguing that the 26-28 people that actually showed up was too many and her restaurant was full for the morning. Here is what is wrong with that: A) the restaurant was not near full at any point throughout the 3 hours we were there. B) she was instantly rude, abrasive, and continued to approach me numerous times INFRONT of my family and friends in the middle of our experience. C) she refused to let my party sit, so my mother, stepfather, and grandma had to leave for there 4 hour drive home abruptly, and my mother in law and their siblings had to move to a table at the front of the restaurant, rendering the remainder of the chairs in our private room useless. D) she argued me that I was in the wrong, when HER MANAGER had assured me I was okay to bring even more people than I did. On top of the stress of that entire hour long situation of her constantly approaching me with rudeness and anger, 80% of us hadn't gotten drinks for the first hour and a half we were there, and we didnt get to order for the first two. I have served for ten years of my life. Working in various environments, cities, and roles in the industry. And I have NEVER been more shocked by staff running a restaurant. If you're going to have a restaurant that offers great food and amazing beer, then you better have the staff to match, otherwise you're just another sh*tty KFC chain represented by lazy, entitled, half-assed excuses. read more

The service was exceedingly slow. When were told that there was an equipment malfunction in the kitchen. The duck was tough and not flavorful. The chocolate in the sauce just doesn't work. The duck is much better at Revival (the Church). The salmon appetizer was good. The burger is good. read more

We love the menu and have been here a ton of times - but lately the service has been lacking and we've had longer and longer waits or servers that really didn't seem to know the menu. Hopefully it's just an off season slump! read more

Mercer Hall should be Merci Hall. thank you for the wonderful food and service. Starting with a glass of wine on the sidewalk cafe, it just got better ad better. From start to finish every element was well prepared and delivered. Don't miss a chance to try this one. read more