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

Merlin's rest is a comfy pub that offers the biggest list of Single Malt Scotch and Irish Whiskey in all of Minnesota. The lists are books, actually. It's always a great place to pop in and try sipping something new that makes you feel like a distinguished lad or lassie. They also have a full bar, food, entertainment, and events. I think every week they host a Scotch tasting, Whiskey tasting, trivia, and live music. We went to their annual Robert Burns night to celebrate the poetry of Rabbie, toast with Scotch, and the best part -- chow down on haggis. I had haggis for the first time at Merlins and wow, guys, I'm a regular ol' haggis hag. It's delicious, savory, packed with tasty spices, and the tatties and neeps (potatoes and turnips) were creamy and hearty too! Service can be inconsistent but I overall enjoy my stay every time at Merlins. read more

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Besides copiously consuming pints of beer beforehand at this busy but friendly bar-restaurant, I cannot stop ordering a Ploughman's Salad ($15) here. Served on a wood cutting board as a platter, the salad consists of a pile of spring greens that had been tossed in citronette. The salad is accompanies by freshly sliced tomato wedges, thinly sliced cucumber, sliced Granny Smith apple. It's also accompanied by a crusty white bread and two hunks of cheese: one Stilton and the other a sort of sharp Irish cheddar. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the little cup of a rhubarb chutney, but I haven't really figured out its purpose. It has a sort of cinnamon/clove type of flavor that some may like. Perhaps a dip for the apples? A spread for the bread? There are add-ons to this salad including a scotch egg (hot or cold, +$6.50), roast turkey (+$5.50), or grilled chicken (+$5.50). I just like this salad as-is; no need for extra protein! This salad turned me from merely liking blue cheese to adoring blue cheese--specifically Stilton. The Irish cheddar is also so good: though sharp, it has a sort of sweetness to it, reminiscent of butterscotch. Service is efficient, though nationwide staffing issues in 2022, particularly in the service sectors, have me believing that Merlin's is running pretty lean right now. Nevertheless, I have never left the Rest unhappy. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - The Ploughman's Salad at Merlin's Rest. Currently my favorite salad! - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

I would only recommend this place if you're looking for a good burger or a place to drink. If you want good service, look somewhere else. Walked in and was told there would be a 30 minute wait. There was a table open...30 minutes later, we were seated at the table that was open the entire 30 minutes. Host left us at a sticky dirty table and we didn't see a waiter for another 30 minutes. We were about to leave when they finally came. Took our order and within 10 minutes 1 out of the 4 dishes came out. Another 10 minutes, a second dish came out. Another 15 minutes and the last 2 dishes come out. The Smsh Burger was good. But disappointing in size. The kids grilled cheese was on wheat bread, so my kid wouldn't eat it. Would have been nice to know before ordering it...the other 2 dishes my friends had they complained about them not being very good either. It was an experience to say the least. Definitely seemed like the only people that were a priority were the ones sitting at the bar. The waiting staff for tables didn't seem to care about the guests at the tables. And the rude looks we got when we asked for our check was ridiculous. I've never seen a staff be rude about getting paid before. Also, don't order a drink without asking the price. I wouldn't have ordered the cocktail I did if I had known it was $14 for such a small size. They conveniently don't list their prices... read more

Unpretentious authentic re-creation of British pub--the real deal, run by real Brits. Menu features house-made savory pies and other specialties, including excellent fish & chips. Always good selection of draft beers, but it's really all about the whisk(e)y here. Ask for "the bible", be prepared to specify Scotch or Irish, and peruse the binder of single malt options. I try to try something different each time. There are also scheduled monthly tastings, pub singing, poetry readings, etc. Always wanted to be a regular here--but didn't live close enough, until they opened up a sister pub in Eagan--same menu, same vibe. Check out Eagan Arms Public House if you're south of the river. read more

Came for dinner and drinks one night. They have an extensive whiskey list and many cocktails. My husband got a cucumber mojito and said it was one of the best he has had! The drinks are also strong so be careful! My husband went with the fish and chips - British (they are malted). He went with the small portion which comes with 2 pieces of fish. At first he was disappointed but then it ended up being enough food since there were plenty of fries to fill him up. I really wanted to investigate an entree item with a buttery crust but I try to avoid dairy and then absolutely hate mushrooms. This limited my choices so I went with the cornish pasty and got a side of mash. This is a hearty winter meal but the AC was blowing and I was cold so it was okay for me! I loved the buttery pastry that enveloped my meal and appreciated the gravy as this is on the drier side since there isn't cheese on the inside. I had enough for a small lunch for the next day. Overall, it wasn't the unhealthiest dinner option either. Service was great! We were able to find street parking easily. read more

I love this place. They are amazing, the clientele is amazing and the food is terrific. I always get reuben tots, scotch egg and fish and chips to share at the table. Great scotch, great beer. And my British mother swears by this place; hallmark of a good pub! read more

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

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Great local bar/restaurant. Saw it written up in the Star Tribune for fish fry. Enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We will be back

First time visitor. Went to see an excellent Irish band, Purgatory Creek. The staff was very professional, thoughtful and considerate. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. BUT the best part was the food. I attended college in England and enjoy well prepared pub food. I ordered the Cornish Meat Pastie and chips (french fries). IT WAS EXCELLENT! The best pub fare I have had since I left England. I will definitely be returning to try more of the menu. The prices were reasonable. I had a brandy and the pastie, with a 24% tip my tab came to twenty dollars. I consider that a good value. Doc read more

Merlin's is a good British pub. It's got a lot of good classics, a good beer menu, and amazing whiskey and scotch selection. It's service is consistently good. However, DO NOT go on a Wednesday if you're not a regular. They have bar trivia, and the regulars who go are rude as fuck. Plus, the guy who runs trivia hates questions, loathes talking (in a pub), and staff is overworked as hell. read more

Food was pretty unimpressive for the price and service was slow. Bills were also incorrect but we didn't want to wait any longer.

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

There is not enough praise you can give this little gem!! The food is delicious, the staff is extremely friendly and it is beautiful. It seems harder and harder to find a spot with not only great food but great service, Merlin's Rest does both superbly. 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

Celebrated St. Patrick's day here and was very satisfied with the service and cocktails! My girlfriends and I were looking for a festive time but not wanting to deal with the crowds and debauchery of downtown St. Paul and we're so glad we chose Merlin's. They had a lot of real estate at their bar and we enjoyed great Whiskey Ginger's and some Strongbow. The service was fast even with the busy crowd. We were able to snag one of the banquette tables facing the bar and enjoyed the Reuben Tots (so good!) we went deluxe and added the kraut and thousand island. My friend ordered the Irish Stew which was also very flavorful and hearty. There is also a dining room on the other side of the bar if you were seeking more of a dining experience than a bar scene and their full menu looks great. The whiskey and scotch selection available is also unmatched! read more

Mormon's Nest is a great public house. They have multiple bibles available at the bar, no book of mormon but that's okay. The best thing about Merman's Fest is probably the attentive service, from tail to fin! If Merwin's Nets had any room for improvement it would be maybe catching more fish. Their fish are adequate, for sure, but more is always better, right‽ Long live Mervyn's Vest !! read more

So what can I say of this place? Awesome? Friendly? Surely? Gruff? Warm? So I haven't had the fish and chips yet but everything else has been amazing. Soups? Ever changing. From a clam chowder to beans and beef to something else with beans. They are tasty and made from scratch. Did I not mention they were from scratch and really f'n good? Throw some fresh made bread on the side and you are styling. So food wise I've has the mussels(big heaping bowl), their London broil salad, and of course soups. All have been delicious. The place is a hangout for locals, but all are welcome. You can usually find live music and there and a rousing go around of trivia. And while there is a nice beer and cider selection, for those in the know will come here for their scotch and Irish whiskey selection. Almost 300 different scotches and nearly 80 different Irish whiskeys. But what I like best is that their kitchen stays open late. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This pub is very busy. It is a great location for many of the Longfellow residents to come and enjoy a great time with friends and family. it is one of my favorites in the Twin Cities. Their food menu is interesting. Their mussels has great flavors. We sat at the bar and was treated nicely by the bartenders. They are very knowleagdable about the drinks. Sometimes they have live music on the other side of the room. Nothing could go wrong here, well maybe the bathroom since it is tiny, lol. Street parking. read more

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I do actually love Merlin's. Not having your prices on your menu is not okay. It's a way to gatekeep poor people out of figuring out if they can afford to eat something nice at your establishment and/or to make people who can afford it embarrassed to ask the price of things and overspend. It's the opposite of transparency and it hurts my heart. Please do better, I believe in you. read more

It's been awhile since we have been here. We came to see Lojo Russo. We had dinner before the show. The Merlin's Stew was awesome and the pie was great, too. We enjoyed the music along with a Guinness and an Angry Orchard. We enjoyed the evening. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Pie of The Week - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Scotch bible and pub quiz. 'Nuff said. But if you'd like me to say more...I will. I love this Welsh Pub! I've been coming here for years! The food is authentic. You can't go wrong with the fish and chips, any of the meat pies, and the reuben is delicious too! Most recently I enjoyed the steak & pudding with a whiskey ginger. Lovely traditional pub fare. The scotch bible is another paragraph entirely! It's a bible...of scotches! An entirely too thick book of the most glorious drinks you ever did drunk. My good friend and I tried our damnedest to get through those delicious scotches one cold Sunday afternoon. We tried and at least found some new elixirs to warm us on a frigid Minnesota weekend in March. I've enjoyed various pub-masters with difficult quizzes, live music of all sorts, and always delicious grub. Though I've never been to Wales I will definitely bring my new Welsh cousin by marriage here when he comes to visit the states! Authentic! read more

If you've never been to the UK & you want to experience a Minnesota-rendition of the UK pub experience-come here! Great pub grub (UK style), great taps, great whiskeys and distilled bevies. Live entertainment, games and trivia nights, live Morris dancers, good service (although on live music nights it can become very busy). I haven't had an entree here that I haven't loved but I think they changed their fish & chips recipe (sorry-no photo-it went down with a Guinness by my friend). read more

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Been here a few times, sometimes just for a drink and sometimes for dinner. Their fish and chips (yankee style) are outstanding. It can get pretty crowded on the weekend so be prepared to wait for a seat. They have live music some nights. If you are trying to enjoy dinner and conversation, you might want to do that before they start to play. The place isn't that big so live music can get a little loud. The bartender is cool and nice but when it's busy the service can get a bit spotty and slow. Nice selection of beers and hard liquor (though they don't have a cider I like). The pies are decent (though I'm not in love with them like my guy is). The soups and stews are really good and hearty. Located in a nice neighborhood and easy to get to. Worth the stop if you are in the area. read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Late dinner. Everyone else is closed in this storm! - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I hate to be "that person" who rates based on service, but alas. Merlin's would probably be a 3.5, because the food was great. My boyfriend got the Excaliburger, and I sort of wish I got that too. Two patties AND a slice of chicken, heck yes! My stew was good as well, just what I was in the mood for. Although it sort of seems like something that could be made at home. But since I'm too lazy to make stew usually, this will do. I will definitely have to come back for the pies and the fish and chips! The bartender seemed really cool. Unfortunately we were stuck with one of the worst waitresses of all time. It wasn't extremely busy, but we were not even noticed for about 10 minutes. The waitress (Vee) took her sweet time with everything. She leaned against the head of the booth as she took our order. I would love to come back again, but please, PLEASE think twice about hiring people like her. read more

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

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Merlins Rest is your amazing neighborhood hole-in-the-wall type joint you've never heard of but DEFINITELY should go to! Right as we walked in we were greeted warmly by Carl, the bartender, who asked our names and got our first drinks. We were there for my boyfriends birthday and Carl recommended some great scotches to taste. I ordered the Speyside Pie (beans and vegetables in a stew topped with puff pastry) and my boyfriend got the Irish Burger with onion rings. Do not miss out on these onion rings!!! They were heavenly, easily the best part of the meal hands down. To end our visit, Carl sang happy birthday to my boyfriend in a lovely baritone voice. It sealed the deal for us! The food, drink, and service are 5 stars at Merlins Rest! Thanks for an awesome birthday outing! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Speyside Pie - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Their Fish n Chips are excellent. Great tasting, loads of yummy fries, malt vinegar, lemon wedges & tarter sauce -- a regular order for my mom & I. Clean & orderly inside. You sign your cc receipt & keep the pen! Friendly staff. Reasonably priced. So far I haven't had a very long wait either. I'm not kidding you, these are excellent fish n chips & right in my neighborhood! read more

We arrived at 8:13pm on a Friday night. While the place was full, we got the last table. So far so good. Now it took however 28min to place our order and that only because we walked to the waiters and insisted he come to our table to take our order. Understaffed and bad service. read more

A pub full of character; great selection of English food, beer, and whiskeys. Food quality and sizes have gone done, with prices pretty high. Still worth a try. read more

They charged me 17.50 for 4 ounces of mead. Ridiculous. Band canceled, so there was no live music either.

Burger and was good and ambiance was surprisingly cool! Friendly bar and wait staff! A nice vintage homey feel to the place!

Since the owners started paying more attention to their suburban place, the quality, consistency and friendliness here have dropped like a rock. We keep trying, as it is close to home, but continually, poor service, cold chips, soggy fish, and a revolving door of employees. We're looking elsewhere now. read more

One of my favorite places to go when I have a craving for classic pub food and drinks. They have a wide selection of beer, cider, and cocktails too. I have also been there for scotch and whiskey tastings which are an amazing experience. read more

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I love Merlin's. Giving it a 4 because I don't want ppl having unrealistic expectations, it's a great place, yummy food, good selection of beverages. Especially if you like scotch. But, don't expect fancy. Servers and bartenders are nice, but often have a lot of tables to handle. Recommend checking the website for events because sometimes it can get loud when there's a band, and packed when there's trivia. read more

Holy Scotch! If your a scotch drinker you have to come here. They have a scotch bible, which is about 2 inches thick. They have it all, shots or drams, ranging from $10 to over $300. This is the place if you've been wanting to try that 40 year scotch. They have really good meat pours. The first week of March is Pie Week! read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Warm and friendly, good English pub atmosphere with excellent pub fare food to match. Try one of their freshly made pies ( not the dessert variety). I had a mushroom and Stilton pie that was delicious- I bought four more to take home. Good beer selection- I know they have Irish music later in the evenings- I wish I could stay up that late. I guess this place is also well known for their Scotch/ Whisky selection- not my cup of tea. Speaking of which they serve PGTips in a proper tea pot- I'll come back for breakfast read more

Hidden upcharged, poorly prepared, wrong product. They expect to get away with overcharging. No explanation forthcoming.WATCH YOUR RECIEPT! Last time for me until staff ousted. read more

Cute bar with a nice atmosphere. The drinks are a little pricey but the mac and cheese is really good. There's a small but nice outside place to sit too. read more

My favorite pub in Minnesota and I would have to say they have the best fish & chips I have had so far! Their staff is always friendly and knowledgeable (especially when it comes to their selection of 300+ Scotches!). So if your looking for a cozy pub experience or have traveled abroad and want to reminisce about English pubs, they have a pint with your name on it read more

Merlins Rest Pub - Fish & Chips with a Pint of Guinness - Burgers Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A fun, ultra casual place to enjoy well prepared pub food. Honestly, The Local, George and the Dragon and The Anchor all serve better Fish & Chips. However, Merlins rendition is not at all bad. For hearty comfort food the The Bangers & Mash and the Proper Steak and Mushroom Pie are solid choices. If you're so inclined, they offer a very large selection of Single Malt Scotch and Irish Whiskeys. It can get very loud and crowded. But hey, it's a pub not a library. read more