A few of us were in Madison for a jazz concert at UW. We were looking for a nice pre show dinner and heard great things about Merchant. The restaurant didn't disappoint. Our hostess and server were pleasant. The cheese curds, burgers and fries were delicious. My New York strip, however, was just OK; tough and not very flavorful. The baked on site carrot cake was really really good! Nice place with nice people and a fun vibe. read more

We went here for a Girls Night and had a reservation for 07:45PM. However, service was extremely slow in which we did not get our food until an hour later. We were a little disappointed in the wait because there were some empty tables around, which showed that Merchant was not extremely slammed, but we wanted to give benefit of the doubt. Fried Cheese Curds tasted alright. We probably got the unlucky batch though, because halfway through eating them, we had dime-sized cheese curds. It certainly didn't feel like we got a full appetizer size of cheese curds because of this. I think typically the smaller cheese curds are at the end of the dish, but here it felt like we had it for 50% of the dish. The Merchant Burger was alright, but nothing to wow my senses. The black pepper aioli was delicious though, but it felt like that was what was saving the burger. Not pictured was the Floral G&T drink, which tasted delicious. Overall: giving this place 3 stars because it wasn't amazing, but it was OK. The interior is beautiful though, but food and service were below our expectations. read more

Merchant - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Service has gone down. Was lured into a burger special with an old fashion and my bad, got a Wisconsin old fashion - stay away. My reservation was at 7 and my food came out at 7:58. As a solo diner this was awkward and unacceptable. The manager comped my drink and half my meal, but it would have been better if I was turned away at my reservation. I will not be returning read more

I visited the Merchant for a Saturday brunch and they sat our large walk-in party immediately! We were seated at a high top table that was seasonally decorated and surrounding restaurant was filled with lots of artwork, florals and natural light. Both initial service and our food took a noticeable amount of time, but the drinks and apps came out quickly -- the espresso martini was a table recommendation! Their brunch menu had many diverse options; we ordered traditional breakfast dishes: Breakfast Platter & Brioche French Toast. The breakfast potatoes were perfectly cooked and we loved that it also came with a side salad. The french toast was good, but lacked a unique spark and we expected more from the photos shared on previous Yelp reviews! read more

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There were six of us when I went to this restaurant and their service was excellent. The steak frites was good. read more

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We came on a Sunday which happened to be trivia night. The staff was friendly, the Christmas decor was gorgeous will have to update this review with more photos (not on this phone). Our waitress, Betty, was attentive and friendly. We liked her. My daughter received a birthday treat. We ordered cheese curds, macaroni and cheese, burger, and fries. I did find it interesting that the kids meal didn't come with a side. I am not used to that. I was not a fan of the beignets at all. These did not taste like any beignet I had ever had. The food was okay. I'd be willing to give them another chance but there was some seasoning lacking so hopefully that changes. If I were in the Madison area I would come again. read more

Merchant - Birthday brownie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Fun night out with friends! We choose to sit outside which was clean and had great service. We stopped by during happy hour and thought it was such a good deal! I had The White Lotus which was phenomenal- definitely on the sweeter side and the fries. Only shortcoming was the lack of prosecco in the aperol spirit and use of bubbly water instead which was misleading. Also can be challenging to find parking at times so plan on parking on the streets or in a parking garage. * they have a gender neutral bathroom which is very cool! read more

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We dined in around Halloween and the interior was decorated with a Nightmare before Christmas theme. We ordered the Merchant Burger, the Baked Creamy Mac and Cheese, and the Fried Cheese Curds. The burger was juicy and flavorful with a perfectly toasted bun, though it could've used more seasoning to make it stand out. The mac and cheese was rich, creamy, and comforting -- a great choice for anyone who loves classic comfort food. The sides of housemade chips was too oily, and the collard greens was too salty. The breading on the fried cheese curds was a bit soggy but the flavor was good. Overall, the food was good and the service was friendly and fast. read more

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Curds and Fries - just trust me and order them. Great cocktails and a great place to eat outside when the weather is nice. Only request is to please permanently bring back the Oklahoma Burger! read more

Merchant - Fried Cheese Curds (with honey & ranch for dipping ) and the Oklahoma Onion Burger with fries! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love trying new dishes, the corn bisque was good the mussels should have been on the side since the bisque was a thick sauce made it challenging to eat. Mushroom Étouffée was good but not what was expected, very little mushrooms and overpriced for what it was. Collard greens came with bacon so I did not eat them. Waitstaff were polite but not very attentive, I think something was as going on with the computer system that caused them to be hectic. Even the cheese curds were off. The meals took much longer than usual & and no drink refills until the food came. Love the carnations & other flowers in the dining area. read more

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I came in on a Saturday evening around 5:30pm with a party of 3. We made a reservation because it can be a pretty popular spot. The atmosphere is pretty cool, but a little too dark in my opinion. It could be a pretty romantic spot for a date though. We ordered a French fry appetizer, which was a mistake because most entrees come with BIG sides of fries. But having extra fries isn't too big of a problem when they're seasoned so deliciously. Food came pretty quick and service was friendly. For an entree I ordered one of the only vegan options besides a salad, the Mushroom Étouffée. I love mushrooms and appreciate that they're from local Vitruvian farms, but it was just okay. It didn't have that deep umami punch I was looking for. And at that price point I was looking for something a little more memorable. read more

Merchant - Vegan Mushroom Etouffee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I went to Merchant twice this past week! Once immediately after the Yelp Elite event where I learned that Merchant is the sister restaurant of Lucille, and once for a work dinner. Merchant has their Nightmare Before Christmas theme going on, which makes it look so fun. The lighting is also fun, but makes taking photos tricky (a note for my soup photo)! I had the corn chowder without mussels for dinner along with the tell tale heart mule to drink (NA version). The chowder was tasty, with a little kick, but I would have preferred a chunkier/less puréed version. I was grateful for the option to choose with or without mussels as I'm not a huge seafood fan. The mocktail was great - a slightly different version of a traditional mule, and not spicy despite the habanero. The second dinner I attended, I had the mac and cheese with green beans. It's a decent portion, covered in bread crumbs. The green beans are super garlicky, which I loved! Our table also shared a bottle of red wine. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Merchant. The menu is a little limited, but it's good comfort food overall. I'd return especially for a happy hour with all the various options. read more

My husband and I stopped in after a Yelp Elite event at Lucille, as we were able to get $1.00 off beverages on their holiday menu. They have the place decked out in a Nightmare Before Christmas theme, and it looks amazing! The details are fabulous, and it's such a fun atmosphere. The wait was a bit longer than I would have expected, with not many seated at the bar and 3 bartenders, but the staff was friendly and looking around at all the pretty lights helped distract us. I ordered the NA version of Sally's Deadly Nightshade, and it was delicious! The subtle coconut flavor was so tasty. It came in a cute little Oogie Boogie mug, but I was stunned by the price - $14 for a tiny little drink that didn't contain any alcohol. Overall it was a nice time, but the wait and the prices will probably keep us from returning on a regular basis. read more

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I had been wanting to try brunch here and one of my favorite students worked here for a bit, so I made sure to go. They have a very cool downtown ambience inside with a gorgeous wall of alcohol. We were seated against the kitchen window, so there was a bit of traffic beside us. The odd part was that despite being so close to the kitchen, everything seemed to take a fairly long time to come out. It was amongst the longest wait times for a restaurant we've experienced, even with a reservation and a restaurant that was not full. The plates are smaller and prices higher, but I expect that from a downtown trendy spot. I have also been here for cocktails at night, and that's when I recommend Merchant the most. Their night scene and drinks have a very classy vibe! I had the eggs benedict, my usual and my friend had a classic omelette. It was fairly basic on both counts, but we very much enjoyed our breakfast cocktails. read more

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I hadn't been in the Merchant since the remodeling and it was opened up with soft lighting and nice relaxing music playing. Parking is very close by in a inclosed ramp,great for this January weather! Whiskey sour was excellent and they have dry January fifty percent off pricing on mocktails! Deviled eggs and cheese curds with hot honey sauce were delicious. Get the suggested Shrimp cakes! It was not busy when they opened on a Saturday evening and service was quick and friendly. We will be back soon! read more

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The security is a biased. They're only checking black men that come in. They verbally asserted they only check men. They only let you know you're being patted down after paying the cover. I read more

Stopped in for Trivia night (Sunday). Trivia is played over the speaker indoors, heads up if you were not expecting it. We dedicated to play and had a lot of fun even after joining late! For dinner, we started with the olives and cheese curds. Cheese curds are very well seasoned. We've had the steak frites before and they are consistently delicious. The Shawarma was ok, I think for a vegetarian dish it was portioned a little small. The salad was overdressed, in my opinion. I will say, Merchant always has really unique, creative dishes and many vegetarian options. Service was a little slow, considering it did not seem that busy for dine in, and I noticed this last time also. Did not impact the meal, would just keep this in mind next time! read more

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An amazing brunch spot. Fabulous drinks and the food is spectacular! Never had shakshuka eggs Benedict before, it was delicious. The PB&J Napoleon was a delightful treat. The staff was attentive and prompt. Looking forward to the next time I come here. read more

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We went here on Easter Sunday after church service. Sike we're Muslims alhamdulliah, let me know if you wanna convert. We really enjoyed the deviled eggs. Highly recommend that appetizer. Our favorite thing on the menu was the burger, highly recommend a Grass Fed grass finished burger. This did not disappoint. Everything on the menu was amazing, they really put in a lot of detail to the restaurant. We will definitely be back. read more

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Came here with a group of coworkers after a conference. Their beet salad was fantastic, and so is their carrot cake! It wasn't too loud, so we were able to get some great conversations which was nice. Fast service, very attentive, would definitely recommend as a good place for a group. read more

Merchant - Beet salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The ambiance and decor are what lured me in. The servers were nice and attentive. The happy hour was generous and offered great deals on drinks. The reason for two stars is the quality of the food. I can see the effort in trying to be vegan friendly, but the flavors, the ingredients, and the presentations were subpar. My fries were cooked too long and they were inedible and burnt. The catfish was bland and cooked a few minutes too long as well and was also burnt instead of blackened. The turnips were a nice idea that sadly didn't come together well. The consistency was a bit too watery and there was nothing to balance out the tart flavor of the turnip, again no seasonings. The biggest disappointment was the mushroom etoufee. I was excited, hoping it would blend some Cajun flavors with a vegan spin. I get the use of oyster mushrooms especially since the base of traditional etoufee is a crawfish roux. The oyster mushrooms did not blend well and threw off the taste and tasted metallic - likely because of cooking errors. The etoufee mostly tasted peppery and metallic without any other southern flavors shining through. This review has nothing to do with the service provided but rather the food preparation and ingredients used. read more

Dark and cozy! Sat at the bar and the Darjeeling, Did you miss me? And The Campfire. Loved the sweet potato in the vampire and the marshmallow was a fun touch. We grabbed happy hour which is 4-6pm! Grabbed some curds. Came with this chili infused honey and sour creamy sauce! $6 Grabbed some drinks. Gin and tonic $6 Sert Nothing $9 An amazing deal and good stop for happy hour! They open up the windows and get that fresh air flowing. It's low lighting and intimate and plants galore. Service is great! read more

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My husband and I visited Merchant on October 11 around 9:30 PM to celebrate his birthday. We've been to this restaurant a few times before and usually have a great experience, but unfortunately this visit was very disappointing. When I approached the bar to order a drink for my husband and myself, the bartender immediately stated (without greeting us) that we had 10 minutes left to order before the late-night menu began. That wasn't an issue for us -- we completely understood -- but his tone and attitude were unnecessarily rude. When I tried to order a drink for my husband, who was sitting directly behind me, I was told that I couldn't order two drinks and that my husband had to come up and order his own. Even after I pointed him out, the bartender insisted. Another bartender kindly offered to help and began making our drinks, but the first bartender interrupted her, repeating that he "already told them he can't serve two drinks." By that point, my husband was standing right there and had verbally ordered his own drink. What made this even more frustrating was that a couple sitting next to us -- who happened to be lawyers -- confirmed that this was not a legal issue and expressed their own frustration with how the situation was handled. They, too, were unhappy with their experience that night. We've always enjoyed Merchant in the past, but this interaction felt dismissive and unprofessional -- especially when we were simply trying to celebrate a birthday and enjoy an evening out. A little courtesy and better communication would have made a huge difference. read more

I had dinner from here on a weekday evening. I was there early, so got a seat right away. Kitchen starts for dinner only at 5, even though the place opens at 4. From 4-5, it is only bar snacks. The merchant burger and oklahama onion burger were both excellent burgers. Kid's chicken strips was good. read more

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Merchant Madison! Is such a vibe I had the privilege to attend their Raise your spirits happy hour event for Madison's hummingbirds and I had an amazing time!! The service was phenomenal, had the opportunity to chat with Josh, the owner and indulge in some tasty food and drinks. We sat outside which I love doing when it's warm out. Can't wait to be back and enjoy the scenery. P.s. There's street parking and multiple garage parkings near by so no worries ! read more

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Sister restaurant to Lucille, this attractive Madison spot has more of an alluring nightlife vibe. Beautiful bar (first come, first serve), intimate community high-top seatings, and a dimly lit dining room area. They have a whole booklet of spirits, wine, beer, and cocktails. A seasonal, brunch, date night, dinner, and late-night menu. Reservations are recommended but not required. We walked in and were seated immediately. Whiskey Sour- I picked a Japanese whiskey, shaken with egg white. It is not overly sweet. Just a velvety perfectly balanced cocktail. Cheese Curds- Buttermilk-battered fried cheese curds served with ranch and hot honey. A good bar fare finger snack. Herbed Dumplings- Gnocchi, squash, butternut purée, apple, and radicchio. Cozy warm winter dish. Pan Seared Branzino- Bouillabaisse, mussels, shrimp, calamari, red potatoes, parsnip, served with toasted ciabatta. If you love seafood, you will certainly enjoy this dish. Overall Service: Exquisite. We were seated at a table. Jonathan was fantastic and handled my cute indecisive friends very well. Just absolutely friendly and patient with us. The bartenders were helpful. Even the hostess and folks who brought out the food were excellent. read more

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Merchant currently has a fun "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme overlay for the holidays. The decor and specialty drinks can make for a a fun stop if you are out on the square celebrating. There was no wait on a recent Tuesday night and everything was well organized and neat. read more

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I have been here a few times for cocktails and it's always so delicious. Finally tried their food while at a birthday party for 15. Service was excellent and was able to accommodate a last minute meal change (orders were due the week before). Cheese curds with the honey we're FABULOUS! Would've never guessed honey was a great dipping sauce!! Shrimp cakes were also super tasty. Not minced up shrimp but actual shrimp tails in the cakes was a great surprise. Main entrees were absolutely delicious! No leftovers or complaints. Only thing I would've changed would be to have the fans on, it got a little hot in there! Otherwise such a cute place with ambient lighting and seating. read more

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Me and my partner decided to try Merchant. When we arrived we were sat right away. It wasn't very busy, maybe 8 tables full in the restaurant with multiple servers on. It then took over 20 minutes for a server to come over after we had to grab someones attention to ask who our server was. Took a long time to get our drinks (sodas) and never got waters. Every time someone came over it was a different server. Food was delicious but it was very unfortunate how terrible the service was because we really wanted to like it! read more

The Nightmare Before Christmas theme was so fun for the season. The drinks were solid and the Chile-Pimento Deviled Eggs were solid with a nice kick to them. Plus, they have shotskis and touch tunes. A perfect stop for a Christmas bar crawl! read more

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We went to the Merchant for date and overall was just super disappointed:( We started our meal with mussels and the broth that they were in was great, super tasty. It could have been hotter however, the dish was just kinda luke warm. Mussels are a favorite and comparatively to others these seemed to not have a lot of meat on them and the worst part was they were extremely fishy. There were only 10 mussels served, which considering they were $16, was disappointing. As far as entrees one of us got the Friday fish fry and the other got the steak. The fish was good, again a very small amount. I think it took 4 bites to eat total. It was served with bread that was very tasty as well as a yummy black pepper mayo. The steak however was almost inedible, I watched my partner cut off the entire crust because the pepper on it was so overbearing. I tried a bite myself and it truly felt like the whole steak had been rolled in pepper. It was not good at all. The entree was served with some sautéed spinach that was very tasty. We ordered a small mac and cheese to try which was good but again was not hot and frankly felt like it was sitting awhile. It took an extremely long time for food to come and we saw our waiter a total of three times and once was for the check. Not attentive in anyway. The theme they have going on right now is pretty cool and the overall atmosphere was nice but the food really needs help, overall extremely disappointing. read more

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

This was an absolute fav!!! It is in such a convenient spot, right off the square. Our waiter was extremely friendly! And the service was so fast! Pictured is the two appetizers we got. We got the caramelized onion fondue and fried cheese curds! Both were absolutely phenomenal! The drink pictured is the "Something in the Orange" and my friend got "Lavender Haze." Both of the drinks were super yummy! For dinner I got the Oklahoma onion burger and she got the Crispy fried chicken sandwich! We both enjoyed our meals! One thing was we each got salad as our side. The salad could have used some fixings and more dressing. It was just lettuce with no cucumber, tomato, onion, croutons.. nothing. But overall, this was an amazing dinner and drink atmosphere. It's so cute inside and it such an inviting place. I highly recommend if you're ever in the Madison area!! read more

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I've been to Merchant on a few occasions now, both for dinner and drinks at their bar. I've always enjoyed my time here and appreciate the new drink creations the bartenders com up with each season. My last visit I tried their Risotto which I enjoyed thoroughly. We also had their fried cheese curds as a starter and those were delicious. The ambience is nice and more on the fancier side for downtown Madison. I would definitely return to Merchant on another dinner/drinks outing! read more

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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

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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