My wife and I had dinner at The Merrick Inn last night. Food was good Service was good Ambiance was good Our waiter asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and I said yes, it's my wife birthday. In my experience, over 77 years, when a waiter or waitress asks if it's a special occasion and you say yes, they comp at least a small desert. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT WHY BOTHER TO ASK. But that didn't happen last night. Thus 4 stars. read more

So disappointed with our meal at Merrick. My food was over cooked... walleye & baked potato. Our service was not up to par either, had to asked several times for food/condiment items and refills on drinks. Malones and Tony's prices, unfortunately not Malones and Tony's quality of food. read more

Amazing birthday meal! We love Merrick. Best steak in Lexington. And we always get the wedge salad. The blue cheese dressing is absolute perfection. Our waiter was prompt and accurate. I love their updated patio area and new inside bar area - it's more casual and modern, but still charming! read more

See all

This restaurant was great. The staff was knowledgeable (ask for Grayson), assisted in menu choices based on preferences. They crushed it. We had the ribeyes and the filet. They were both tender and well seasoned, the butter was not overwhelming. The crab cakes were incredibly fresh, I would order those again and again. Yes they are pricey but are well worth it. I will be back! read more

See all

The place is nice- special even. Very old Kentucky we hear. An institution. Beautiful property. The service was exceptional. The food was meh. The salads were skimpy; other items - like the hot brown- were outsized. The filet was tiny, the halibut special was very sweet. The rolls were very good. We wanted to love it. We're glad we went but won't go again (we visit a couple times a year). read more

This was an amazing meal. The fried chicken had 4 large pieces. The corn pudding and baked potato was delicious. And to top it all off the blueberry bread pudding was otherworldly--- mouth watering!!! read more

Loved our recent visit to Merrick. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was quite enjoyable as well. Will return. read more

Merrick Inn - Tomato salad - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

A group of 7 women went to The Merrick Inn to celebrate an upcoming birthday. We all ordered drinks and several appetizers. Instead of an appetizer, I ordered a wedge salad which took forever to arrive. In the meantime we all ordered our dinners. Again waited a long time for any food to arrive. However, the meal came out exactly the same time as my salad, so I asked our server if he could take my fried chicken dinner back and keep it warm while I ate some of the salad. Now everyone is happily eating and I asked the server to please bring back my dinner. I waited and waited. In the meantime everyone is now finishing their meals and two more times I asked the waiter if he would please see where my dinner was. Now desserts were ordered. when he finally came out with my meal, it wasn't even what I had ordered (it was the Mediterranean chicken, not fried)! He seemed surprised when I told him I didn't want it. We are now over two and a half hours and he brings our bill and charges me for my salad. By this time, I asked to speak to a manager. He listened and then told me that mistakes happen, so he would go ahead and take my salad off my bill. I'm hungry; I'm mad and I will not be back read more

LAZY & UNINSPIRED = Management to Food to Service Service = POOR at best. Not one staff remembered it was a 50th birthday celebration. Waitress, Carmen, forgot dressing, couldn't describe most food or sides, literally told us she "can't work and watch t.v., especially when basketball is on" as she forgot bill, did not offer desert and was rarely around for food. NOT ONE bus person came around to fill water or help. MANAGEMENT= Never walked around. Absolutely no oversight. When I went to him before leaving, he never stood up. LAZY & TOTALLY NOT MANAGING. Food: -Pecan crusted pork tenderloin - flavorless, covered by fruit suffocating all food, no pecan crust noticeable. Definite skip!! -Fried chicken- dark meat good, fry delicate and flavorful. -Bacon wrapped shrimp - very good SIDES -Corn pudding - good and fluffy -Asparagus - standard fair All else (green beans, etc. Mediocre and not worth it) Ambiance - pub style with a light aire of jeans and dress shirt, not elegant​​ Price = $$$ too expensive for mediocre quality and way too expensive for such terrible service. ​ read more

Amazing environment excellent staff great food. Fried chicken is a must. Recommend the Kentucky hot brown as an appetizer

The best patio for a cocktail!!! Came here to waste some time before a date and grabbed a drink- the bartender was so sweet and made me a type of orange martini (no idea what exactly was in it but it was delicious)! Came back a few weeks later for dinner, the food was good but being able to sit on the patio made it better! read more

Merrick Inn - Perfect patio - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Charming. The space is one of a kind. Old, romantic, historical vibes. Great service and great food. read more

See all

Great food, friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere. Definitely a place for groups and occasions.

Me and my parents went to the Merrick Inn on New Year's Eve!! We had made a reservation. The man was very kind and easy on the phone! We got there and got seated quickly. When we walked in it smelled like an old lady's perfume and looked like an old lady's house. Once we got seated they took our drink order. Their appetizers on the menu were awful choices. We did not get any. They took our orders I got a drink and the 8oz filet Oscar it was yummy! I did take off the crab but I am sure it was delish. I also got the New York cheese cake for dessert it was the best. The waiter was really nice and I thought it was cute that they also got to dress up for new years while they worked. Over all it was delish! read more

See all

Went for NYE! I had the 8oz filet Oscar, crantini, sweet potato mash, asparagus, wedge salad, and salted caramel cheesecake. It was all excellent!!!!! Can't wait to go again! read more

Merrick Inn - Winter Crantini - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Ambiance is everything! Service spectacular What else is truly required for a great evening? Any bourbon ever is available! read more

Had my choice of where to take out work colleagues , I chose Merrick because every experience had been exceptional. Until Tuesday, 8 of us, the drinks were good, the wedge salad solid. The baked potatoes were not even warm , and serviced on a dish smaller than the potato, couldn't even open it without getting it everywhere. I had the NY 16oz, upon delivery I should have sent it back, it was so thin it looked like a Aldi sirloin. Ordered it med Rare, the thinner part was well done and it temp worked its way to the thickest part. My buddy also ordered the NY his looked much better, unfortunately he could only eat half as most was gristle , the same with pretty much everyone, very very subpar dinner . Deserts weren't much better as the delivery just looked like slop. I won't be back for some time due to this subpar performance, we spent a bunch and no manager ever came by to ask anything. The poor girl waiting did the best she could. read more

Nice vibe. Great service. Young waiter was tired and weird but, sleeper after early UK football games. Instead if rushing downtown just go to this place. Great Patio when it's not too hot outside read more

Don't be alarmed when pulling up to this place. Its location is one of the best things about this restaurant. Merrick Inn is so neatly tucked away on top of the hill, with plenty of outdoor parking and valet service. As soon as I approached the entrance, I was immediately greeted by the valet. Everyone else I met after them were equally as welcoming. Walking into the place, honestly reminded me of my grandma's house hahaha. The decorations and layout definitely gave off a "homey" feel. My colleague and I had made reservations prior to arriving and were immediately brought to our table. Our server was super kind and was able to answer all my questions. It was my first time here, but my colleague had already been here several times. She first brought us over a bread basket, which consisted of 3 different kinds of bread (two are pictured, the third was a chocolate bread). We didn't have any appetizers, but we both got drinks. I chose the sangria, since none of the wines listed were sweet enough for me. The sangria was really good and actually stronger than I expected! For the main course, I went with the Italian Chicken Pasta which was fantastic! The chicken was delicious and seasoned amazingly. Their Chardonnay sauce had a hint of sweetness, which was great and they had the perfect amount of parmesan on top of the whole dish. The entree also came with two sides, so I choose the house salad and their crinkle fries. The house was pretty okay. It didn't have enough dressing, so I asked for extra. The crinkles fries were really good! They came out firing out and I enjoyed every last one I ate. Our server was really friendly and definitely almost convinced us to have dessert, but we were so full by all the food, that there was no room for another bite. Next time, I'd love to be able to enjoy their outdoor patio once the weather gets warmer. Until then, I may consider stopping by for some more pasta! read more

See all

On a recent outing with friends, Fat Man Reviews made a trip into the Merrick Inn Restaurant, in Lexington, KY. Merrick serves southern fare with fresh ingredients in a comfortable manor house with a large patio. I sampled the Pineapple Martini made with house made pineapple infused vodka and vermouth. The pineapple is present from smell to finish, it was creamy, frothy but not overly sweet. It was excellent. Our group ordered the Fried Banana Peppers with house made cocktail sauce. The peppers are thick cut, breaded and fried to a golden brown and not greasy. The cocktail sauce is ketchup forward with a nice horseradish finish. The only knock is they are hard to cut with a butter knife. We also tried Trick's Beer Cheese, this is made with Wisconsin cheddar, smoked jalapeños and Country Boy brew served with crackers and pretzels. The beer cheese is very thick, but it is creamy. It has enjoyable heat and a smoky flavor. My fiancé ordered the Walleye Pike with fries and asparagus. The fries were out of a bag, cooked well but needed salt. The asparagus was steamed well but required seasoning. The walleye was flaky and had good flavor but was a little soggy and not crispy. The house made tarter sauce was very creamy and flavorful. I had the Angus Rib-eye(rare) with Mediterranean potatoes and corn pudding. The pudding was well-balanced with a pleasant buttery sweetness. The potatoes were au gratin style, cheesy and creamy. They were made with feta cheese, onions, red peppers, heavy cream and seasoning. The steak was cooked perfectly, seasoned well and fork tender. It was almost too tender as it melted like butter. Merrick has several starters, entrées, salads as well as weekly specials. The service is friendly. I highly recommend a reservation. The Fat Man says that Merrick Inn Restaurant is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin. read more

See all

Merrick Inn was once a Thorobred Horse Farm far on the outskirts of Lexington that over time has been annexed into the City, which explains its curious location in a rather charming but crowded residential neighborhood. One of Lexington's finest dining and drinking establishments-high praise indeed. Reservations highly recommended. If you are lucky enough to be seated outside on the veranda on a nice evening you probably won't ever want to leave... Highly recommended to try this hidden gem/local legend. Merrick Inn does not disappoint. read more

Friday night at 6pm this place was full of happy people. The bartenders and waitresses were attentive and engaging. We started outside at the bar with a cocktail. I had the minty mule. Very good. We had dinner inside, it looked like an old, well appointed mansion. The grouper fingers were a tasty starter. I had the pecan crusted pork tenderloin after the recommendation from our server. She said it was featured on the food network and she did not mislead me! Absolutely loved the dish and my sides of scalloped potatoes and green beans. Dessert was also delicious. We had 2...Carrot cake and pound cake with caramel and chocolate sauce. Make reservations and enjoy a true Kentucky evening. read more

Merrick Inn - Inside decor like a historic Kentucky home - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

The Patio is gorgeous. Brunch was wonderful. Our server's recommendations for her menu favorites were spot on and so delicious. Definitely will return to try their other items and the Mimosa Flight. read more

See all

Had a great experience at The Merrick Inn. The service was amazing and the food was really good. Also, we went early so it was nice and quiet and very inviting. Will definitely go back. read more

We had high hopes...there were some disappointments. Started off with Grouper Fingers, which were good & pricey for the amount. The sauces were smashing! Hubby ordered a medium rare ribeye. It came well-done. They removed it from our bill. The Walleye Pike was great, minus the nasty green beans. The baked potato was okay. We ended with cranberry/pecan bread pudding Al a mode. Service was great. read more

See all

We went with our family this week for the "restaurant week" features. Two of the group ordered the fish offer. The waitress came back and said they were out of the fish so my husband and daughter ordered another fish entree from the menu. My son had the steak offering and it was fine. The wait was unbelievably long all evening. After we finally got our dinner the food was ok. When dessert was offered my got the dessert that came with the steak special. My husband and daughter assumed that since the fish had "run out" that they would at least get the dessert. The waitress simple said oh no, only one dessert because only one person actually got the special. We were appalled. We came specifically for the fish special dinner- which they didn't even have! And then didn't give the dessert which should have been offered since they didn't even have what was advertised!! The waitress was very nice but the wait time was absurd and the response to not having what had been advertised was inexcusable. I used to love Merrick but I must say it's overrated and disappointing. Won't be back for a good long time. Our total bill was over $400. The room was so loud you had to yell to the person next to you. read more

Not 100% sure why this place has four stars but it did not live up to the Yelp reviews and seemingly stellar reputation. Went on a date with my partner and for starters, the restaurant is very dark inside which, I understand some patrons may like for certain occasions. However, romantic evening mood lighting is one thing, so dark you can barely see your food is another. Alternatively, there was an outside seating area which potentially may have been better...? The food was just okay. It was wildly under seasoned, both over (beef medallions) and under (crab cakes) cooked, and my husbands pasta tasted like an "elevated" version of top ramen. The service was great! Our waitress was very polite, engaging, and attentive. M.I. feels like one of those over hyped restaurants all the locals go to because it's just something they all do. As a visitor I'm hoping Lexington has some much better food options than this. read more

Really amazing service and ambiance. The food is great and I have Gaither the new buyers will work hard and make it lovely. read more

Merrick Inn - Amazing ambiance - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Ordered the Chicken and Waffles which most people seem to like. I found them to be just ok. I have had better where I live. Nice patio and good service otherwise. read more

See all

As much as I've heard about this place, I can't believe this was my first time dining here. Things started off a little rough trying to find a parking spot. I was there on a Thursday evening and it was packed. I drove around for a while looking for an available spot. The only thing I saw was reserved for residents. So I finally decided to go ask someone at the Valet booth where I could park. (They do offer complimentary valet, but this night it seemed like they were short staffed and had a line of cars backed up). I was finally able to find out that parking was available in the very back of the lot even though it was designated for residents only. But as I parked, one of the residents told me that I shouldn't park there normally, but since the building was currently somewhat vacant it would be ok on this night. I parked and prayed my car would still be there when I came back. I think there needs to be clear signage that directs you to restaurant parking. Now onto the dining experience. My party of 5 was seated inside near the bar area (patio was full). The dining areas were partitioned off which was nicer, but it was very dimly lit. I would've preferred more light. That may be ok for a romantic dinner, but for a group of coworkers, I wasn't a fan. We started off with appetizers and drinks from the bar. Everything was wonderful. Then we placed our orders and waited. After about 30 minutes, our waitress came by to let us know that they had run out of grouper that a couple of us had ordered. So after putting in our substitution orders, we waited again. I think overall we waited a little over an hour for our food to arrive. That made for a late evening on a weeknight. I'm not sure if it's always so busy, but I feel like I would prefer to go on a weekend next time. Overall it was a nice experience with a few hiccups along the way. read more

See all

Probably the best atmosphere of a restaurant I have been to, and I have eaten at the Yale Club. CRAZY nice establishment, and the food itself is not as expensive as one would imagine. Very fancy, and location is great for parking. Food was great. Crazy bourbon selection. Only loses a star is that you sit very close with other parties, making it slightly uncomfortable. We'd come back if lived closer, but I suggest to anyone in the area read more

My friends and I have visited Merrick twice in a month. We found the food good, especially the fried chicken, with the exception of overcooked walleye, the first visit and dry salmon the second. The atmosphere is wonderful and service is good. Love the patio. An all time favorite with our group. read more

To start - fabulous service from the moment we walked in the door. The hostess was very welcoming and accommodating. Our server was fantastic and knew the menu inside and out. All of the food was delicious and timed perfectly. The tables were well distanced from each other so each party felt like they had their own intimate space even on a busy night. I highly recommend checking this place out. It is a bit nicer dining so recommend dressing up a little to have an exquisite evening out. read more

See all

The food was below standard; the octopus and shrimp scampi caused me to vomit as well as dreadful stomach reactions. The Sangria wine was like oversweetened fruit cocktail juice, and no alcohol taste whatsoever. Save your money and research more before frequenting this establishment read more

Merrick Inn Restaurant was a delight. It had been awhile since being at Merrick, returning to a place of so many fond memories can sometimes be dangerous, but this was not so. My wife's southern fried chicken meal was the experience that so many restaurants strive for but few succeed at. My center cut pork chop was a delight. Nathanial reached the perfect balance of allowing us to enjoy our evening and meeting our every need. My fond memories of Merrick were not diminished, and a new one was created. read more

What a wild set up! So the Merrick Inn used to be the clubhouse for an apartment complex. Apparently it wasn't used much and someone decided to start frying chicken and selling it from the kitchen which then became a full-blown thing! My dad and his friends used to eat here when hanging out in Lexington so it's been around for quite a while. (At least since the 80's anyway.) I went with a group and was really looking forward to their fried chicken since I had heard so much about it. I'm not generally a chicken eater nor a fried foods eater but hey, when in Rome, right?! I really liked the chicken and they served me a HALF A BIRD! That was a lot of food. I got asparagus and a baked potato as my sides. (I LOVE when food comes with sides!!!!) Everything was delicious! The only thing I would skip is the dessert. I got strawberry shortcake, girlfriend got bread pudding and other friends got pound cake. So basically not a lot of variety lol! Definitely go! read more

We got a seat by the burning fireplace for Sunday Brunch. Great for a cold dreary day. Then we got Sandy as our waiter. We will ask for her again. She's awesome. Eggs and Crab Benedict. Salad with the best Champagne dressing ever. Fried Chicken and Waffles. All were wonderful. Just a great place to go. read more

Excellent old-school Kentucky ambience in a historic inn, on what was formerly a horse farm, now surrounded by townhomes. Being a historic property, the many interior rooms are a bit small but nicely decorated. Our group of 8 had a table in the bar area, which is decorated with historic horse-racing paintings, vintage pictures and a humorous "drinking monkey" theme. There is also an attractive outdoor bar area. Our waitress Sandy did a great job and came back to check on us multiple times. Most of us had the fried chicken which was excellent, one person had the pork tenderloin and one had steak which they liked. I had asparagus and a baked potato which were good. We also got the creme brulee dessert which was excellent. I thought the menu was a bit pricey for what it is, but not totally ridiculous and it's obviously a busy, popular place. Parking is tight shared with surrounding townhomes, but they offer valet parking. One minor point, the double exit doors next to our table were blocked by a large marble table in the outdoor bar area, a potential fire safety issue. read more

Lovely atmosphere and ambiance. Love the history of the building and the food is fabulous. This place is nostalgic.

A friend and I visited Merrick Inn for lunch today. She had been in poor health recently and was walking very slow. It took us probably ten minutes to reach the front entrance from her car and when we got there we realized that climbing the steps was out of the question. An employee saw us and went to get the manager for help. The manager turned out to be an angel named Chris, who assessed the situation, put us in his own car, and drove us to the handicapped entrance around back. He then helped support her and walked us to the door. Above and beyond. And the food and wait staff were excellent, as always. Thank you, Merrick! read more