The first time I went here two years ago, the food was amazing. Everything was perfect. Then I came back again around two months ago. The coconut shrimp was small, a little burnt, and just not as good as many other places. My fillet mignon was also kind of stringy. How ever our waiter was good and my drinks were well made. Another downside is a busser named Alex, he was pretty rude. However this place gets four stars bc despite my mixed experience many other people I know with good taste in food swear by this place and have assured me that my second experience is a fluke. read more

We went with a group of 8 last Saturday and they sat us at a long table right next to the double swinging doors of the kitchen. It was loud and very annoying to listen to the doors swing and see the servers continuously go back and forth between the kitchen and dining area. The manager even asked if everything was ok after our dinner and we mentioned the noisy doors. She said, " Yes, those do get annoying." Then she walked away! read more

Fantastic! We drove here from Rockford after hearing about the great steaks from friends. Manny was our server and he was great. My wife and I ordered the Ironworks and the NY strip steaks. Both were cooked to perfection plus the toppings and seasonings sealed the deal. We had reservations and didn't wait long. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was great and the fried dinner rolls melted in your mouth. The salad was normal and the atmosphere was nice. The value of the meal with included sides is what was most appealing. $36.95 at a Chicago steakhouse does not include 1 side. read more

Always good food and fantastic service! Jason is an awesome bartender and our Waitress Amanda is also amazing. I've never been here and had a bad experience, service, or food. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. read more

Very good food and service. My steak was fantastic but my friend's was a little overdone. The person seating us didn't seem too friendly, but everyone else was great! read more

Took my Dad here for a daddy/daughter dinner to show him how much he is appreciated! Waitstaff and atmosphere was excellent! We enjoyed a scenic dinner with our table next to the window, the waitress took our picture outside, and the wine, dinner, and dessert were delicious! read more

Dined here for dinner last evening. The decor is clean and contemporary with a rather cozy feel for a steakhouse. Located beautifully in the Ironworks hotel right on the river. There was a short wait for my companion and myself, but there was room at the bar where we sat and waited for our table. Bartender was polite and attentive. After we were seated our server introduced himself and filled our waters. We ordered some appetizers which consisted of the calamari and bruschetta. The calamari was phenomenal. Crispy breaded and perfectly deep fried. The bruschetta was a little bit of a different presentation than traditional bruschetta, but the portion was generous and the flavor was on point. Fresh and bright. Our server was professional and attentive. I ordered the NY Strip with bleu cheese and garlic mashed potatoes, my date ordered the scampi. The meal was also accompanied by warm dinner rolls and choice of soup or salad. I had the soup du jour which was pretty tasty. The steak was cooked perfectly. The bleu cheese was melted nicely while not over cooking the meat. It came with sautéed mushrooms and crispy onion rings which needed seasoning. The mashed potatoes were average, but were a nice accompaniment. My date said her scampi was exceptional as well. Overall, a really pleasant dining experience at a moderate price for two people. The cost was definitely worth the meal. I would definitely recommend it as an area destination and would return given the opportunity. read more

First visit for dinner. Beautiful restaurant, obviously a popular bar but overall not impressed with the dinner especially for the price. Service was mediocre, at best. Appetizer (calamari) was good. I had a special of twin filet medallions oscar style. I ordered the steaks cooked medium and they were extremely rare (raw) - there really was not opportunity to say anything. The seafood stuffed potato was decent. My husband had the Shrimp Scampi served on linguini and he enjoyed it. We agreed for the price we expected better service and steaks cooked properly. read more

Nice atmosphere. Oysters Rockefeller contained chunks of sand or shell bits. Steaks were over cooked. Both times. Service fell short in so many regards. Price very high for the quality. Will we return? Not likely. read more

Had dinner there tonight. I had the chicken Vesuvio. It was very dry. The mushrooms were good . I would rate it 6 out of 10. My wife had the ravioli and it was OK. ( olive gardens is much better) She gave it a 6.5 out 10. Salads were good with lots of green greens. House Cab was good as well. For what you pay its marginal. read more

Great atmosphere! Our server Alex was charming and quick on his feet. Tough to find a better steak in stateline area. Patio in the back provided a nice area to have drinks while we waited for our table. read more

Best Steak Pace in Rock County!!! I ordered the filet medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. It is nice that Rock County has a steak place to go to now that the Gun Club is gone. Wait staff was efficient and friendly. I will be back again and again!! read more

We were disappointed with what we had been calling our favorite restaurant since it opened. When one is going to drop $100.00 on a meal you expect some type of experience, rather than a fast food meal. We sat down at 5:55 and were getting in our car at 6:35. We hadn't finish our mediocre salad when here came the steaks. The menu has been reduced in size to hurry up choices. The wait staff pushes continually "You still working on that"? Ugh. We had been recommending this place since it opened, no longer. What ever changes management has made for efficiency has left us cold and not to return. read more

Just moved to the area and was told by everyone that this is the best steakhouse around. Was not disappointed. The steak was cooked perfectly, and they have the best Oysters Rockefeller I've had in almost 20 years. Very good cocktails as well. Our server Amy T. was absolutely wonderful. Definitely will be going back! read more

I walked in with a friend on a Wednesday night around 6 pm. We waited about 5 minutes for someone to seat us ... Finally walked into the restaurant looking for someone. Once seated we sat with our menus for about 15 minutes. Several waiter staff walked past us without any acknowledgement and no water on the table. We finally got up and walked out. So disappointing...especially on a week night when it isn't that busy. We won't be back in. If you expect good service do not go here. read more

So very shocked and disappointed, went to Merrill and Houston's after a film at Domenico's during the Beloit Film Festival, sat in the leather chairs near the bar, after waiting for cocktail service for 15 minutes I went up to the bar and waited to be acknowledged, 3 bartenders were huddled with a customer, when I finally got one of them to respond to me and told her we had been waiting and no one acknowledged us, she walked away and again I waited, when she finally came back and I told her we were leaving, she replied, "have a good night!" Hospitality at it's best! read more

Very nice inside. Great atmosphere but didn't have any steak I couldn't get at Texas Roadhouse for about 1/2 the price. Didn't offer any bake potatoes either. My wife was looking to have Lamb which they didn't have either so had to give them three stars. read more

Took my wife and 2 kids here to eat because a friend recommended it. First off there is no kids menu which isn't a huge deal but every place should have one. Second the lemonade tasted like blandly flavored lemon water. Third the steak was only decent at best!!! My wife loves steak and didn't finish it because it was tasteless and dry!!! The only reason it gets a 2 star is because the bread is good. That's it. Will definitely not be back and definitely don't recommend it to anyone. It does have a cool western style bar though. Might be a good spot for drinks or something but definitely not a steak dinner with the family. read more

Saturday night was our first visit to the establishment. Though we've heard so much about it....apparently it was an "off" night! Obviously, deemed as a "steak joint", maybe was our first mistake. As an appetizer we ordered the Crap Cakes ($10-/2) and though very small were delicious! We each enjoyed a glass of wine($10-/glass). I ordered Duck-ala Orange, my wife ordered Chicken Vesovio. My duck wasn't completely done, horribly tuff to the point I couldn't separate the meat from the bones and horribly tough to chew!! The two large Aspragrass stalks with my meal were served cool and crunchy...also not properly cooked! The so-called Al Gratin potatoes were presented as a luke warm potato mush, apparently scooped onto your plate with an ice cream dipper and not a hint of cheese! I'll give the food presentation and wait staff and "A" for effort. My wife said her chicken was tender. While we have no problem paying for a quality dinner, last night's $100 meal (tip included) for what we received really hurt. Doubtful if we'll ever chance going there again. Sorry. read more

Wow! Spectacular! Smashing atmosphere, outstanding service, music, lighting, cozy booths all add to this spectacular restaurant.. food was perfect! I am eagerly awaiting my next date night there! read more

Lisa our bartender was amazing! Extremely hard worker who really cares for her customers. Really made our experience. Because of her, we'll definitely be back! read more

My wife and I came in on a busy Friday night and had a great experience. Service was quick and friendly. We had bruchetta for an appetizer.... large portion and very good. My wife got a filet and I got a bone-in ribeye, both were fantastic and cooked just as requested. We had creme brulee and the banana bread pudding for desert, also fantastic. Its a little pricy, but for a quality steak absolutely worth it. The atmosphere is great too, plus there was live music! This is our new go to date night restaurant. read more

It is hit or miss. Depending on the night you go the service, and drinks are great. Other nights the service and drinks are terrible. Watered down drinks and some staff that could really use some training in customer service. The food is good but for the price and the inconsistency with the bar and service staff it is not worth it. When we have out of town guest who stayed at the hotel they used the restaurant frequently when it was Cafe Belwah. They loved it so much they purchased gift certificates for their return. Merrill & Houston says it will no longer honor these certificates thereby costing them money. The restaurant has not been open a year and I think they should honor the certificates. So I will simply suggest another hotel and restaurant to our out of town guest. Not a very good way to do business. read more

Pretty frustrated this place didn't live up to the hype that we've heard of and expected. I took my wife there as a surprise for Valentine's Day as she had been wanting to go here for quite a while. I get that we went on Valentine's Day and that's usually a pretty busy day for restaurants, but I made a reservation early at 5pm hoping we'd beat the rush (which I think we did) and would be able to do some other things on our agenda for the night. Let's start from the beginning. While it appeared the entire restaurant was open for service, we were seated in front of an exit door which I think led out to a patio which was right in the traffic pattern coming out of the kitchen and not 3 feet where we found out (disappointingly so) where all the server/busboys congregated while waiting. I asked the gentleman who seated us if we could maybe move, preferably to one of the booths for a bit more privacy, and was curtly told that those were unavailable (I think there was five booths, maybe six, two of them were occupied at the time). By the end of the meal there were still open booths, so I'm still not quite sure why we couldn't have been moved there. Initially I thought it was because there were only two of us, but they seated couples in them throughout our service there. I was thinking the entire time we were sitting at our table, that this was a horrible position for this table, and that ended up being confirmed when my wife said the same thing to me halfway through the meal. We were then handed menus for the evening, which to my surprise were special menus for Valentine's day. GIven the fact that I called and made reservations it seems like they could have informed me it was a special menu that night. I notice now that the day of they posted their special menu on Facebook. I was pretty excited to try the duck there, but oh well, I guess I'll never get that chance. For those planning a date night on a special night it seems like they had a lot of time (not 10 hours before meal service) to communicate it would be a slimmed down menu. Going onto the drinks menu I was excited to see that they had a lot of good beers on tap, plus a wide selection of bottle beers, JUST ASK THE SERVER! So being a bit of a beer junkie I asked the server which bottled beers they had. Her response was to ask if there was something I was interested in. When I told her I didn't really have a specific beer in mind and was hoping to try something different and was hoping for a list or something, she couldn't provide that. So essentially, yeah it's great they have a wide selection of bottled beer, but only if you know in advance what you are looking for or so it appears. I ordered the King Cut Prime Rib, done medium. It arrived slightly under lukewarm temperature, and honestly it was fairly bland. I wasn't super impressed. Not much to say there I guess. The wife ordered the Land and Sea special , which was listed as a New York Strip, shrimp, scallops and lobster. She asked for no scallops, but was told that unfortunately there was no substitutions. Should have known then the description wasn't what she thought. It arrives, it's shrimp, scallops and lobster all cut up and on top of the steak. I wish the description on the menu had been a bit more clear, we were expecting a lobster tail, shrimp and scallops separately. We felt a bit taken on that one. All in all it was a fairly disappointing experience for something we held in high expectation. I would actually be halfway OK with what we received, service and food wise knowing it was Valentine's day and it's a busy night. The fact though we were there at 5pm when the restaurant was half full at that time I would have expected a lot more. read more

After reading many positive reviews, we were excited to try this place for our anniversary dinner. We love a nice higher end restaurant with great food. The atmosphere was very nice and since it was a Wednesday there was even some awesome live music playing shortly after we arrived. We had a couple drinks at the bar prior to dinner. Unfortunately the male bartender was mixing very weak drinks which affected the flavor but oh well, we can get over that. Sort of a first strike for us though to be honest. When you go out for a nice dinner and may the prices to go with it, we expect a nice fair drink. (on a side note the woman who poured the first one did a great job) We ordered dinner - tenderloins for us both, and one with a 10oz lobster (the surf and turf). The steaks were incredibly dry and not flavorful. A good tenderloin should melt in your mouth or at least be somewhat juicy and flavorful. We have had many great steaks at many restaurants.- this was definitely not the meat of a steak house. I would go back to a place like Buckhorn Supper Club in a heartbeat over coming back here. Too bad because we enjoy the vibe of downtown Beloit. I guess we will stick to Lucy's 7 Burger Bar for a fun night out when we go back down to that area. Also, I asked for none of the fried onion rings due to a Gluten allergy and my food came out topped with them. My husband swapped me his steak since his were at least on the side. I couldn't eat the potatoes as they were both covered. He did not get mushrooms but I did when they were supposed to come with the steaks. Not a big deal on the mushrooms but all these details do add up and shape a persons experience. Normally I would send my food back when it comes to my allergies but when you have $125 in two entrees you would like to eat them together and I figured they would just scrape them off anyway so I was safer to go this route. Red flag for Gluten-Free diners. On a side note my husband thought the lobster was delicious. I thought it was too salty (maybe the butter?) and slightly over cooked but it sure beat the steak by a lot and we were trying to be optimistic but it wasn't easy at that point. Spent $200 and left very disappointed. We will not be back to take a chance again with those prices. We want a sure thing (and are happy to pay for it) and there are plenty of other choices in the region. The staff was nice overall. I felt it was a little odd they wore jeans though in that atmosphere. In my opinion, it away from the overall ambiance, atmosphere and tone of the restaurant. The manager tried to offer us a $25 gift card to return but we declined it. Not to be rude to him, but we just are not interested in returning. We did appreciate that he tried and he did his job nicely. Such a shame, so disappointed. I wouldn't take the gamble if you really love a good steak and nice drink. read more

Our first visit to this popular spot happened on a Friday night. I made reservations based off of reviews re: long wait times. We arrived 45 min early to have drinks at the bar. The bartenders were nice but young and inexperienced on identifying empty glasses. The bar and waiting area are all one area and it is small and cramped. I was really surprised when a band started setting up in the space as well. Overall it worked though by the time we left for the evening the bar was way over capacity. Beer selection was nonexistent. Basic, standard beers with nothing really awesome on tap. This is a big downfall for this otherwise great restaurant. We were seated 10 min before our reservation at a lovely table overlooking the river. We could hear the music from the band and still hold a conversation. Our server, Valencia, was AMAZING. Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and we really enjoyed her. The support staff was a bit too quick though. We would still be eating or have food on a dish and they would try to take it. Slow down, folks! My water was always full though! The crab cakes (2) were delicious but small for the price. The shrimp de jonghe was nothing special but it was shrimp. Both appetizers seemed overpriced for size and quality. My top sirloin was great! An unusual looking cut for top sirloin but definitely good. I would have liked a few more mushrooms on top but whatever. The parmesan au gratin potatoes were delicious. My dinner salad and dressing (*something* peppercorn) was wonderful. Good bread. Hubby's ribeye was tasty and his lobster bisque was the perfect consistency and flavor profile. For dessert we enjoyed creme brulee and a to-go piece of the chocolate decadence cake. Both were definitely delicious but neither were standouts. We had a huge meal and great service for a minimal price. Nothing blew me away but it was good and a nice place for the area. I would definitely return! read more

I've been here about four times so far and it's been pleasing. The wait varies, but it's been as short as one minute and as long as fifteen, but you'll find that anywhere. The seating is good and the only complaint I have is that the service is slow. The food is quite good, albeit a bit pricey, but what really shines is the bread and the salad; both of which are delightful. I always order a steak and it is always executed perfectly. The sauteed mushrooms are a bit on the potent side and the onion crisps are plentiful. I recommend the steak Oscar style if you are willing to rack up an extra $8 dollars on your bill; although it isn't necessarily worth it. The location in downtown Beloit is very nice and is only a short walking distance from Beloit College. The ambiance is a plus as well. The decorations bring out a very local feel to the establishment. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the area. read more

This is one of the nicest restaurants in the stateline area. Steaks are Chicago-quality, and the menu is reasonably priced. Service is always above-average, and is occasionally outstanding. If you haven't given it a try you owe it to yourself to take Merrill and Houston's for a spin. You won't regret it. read more

Very cool atmosphere and the food was excellent with quality service. Highly recommend this steak house if you are in the Beloit area.

Went here for our anniversary. Great atmosphere, excellent steaks!! Outdoor seating on the river.

My second dining experience at M & H was as delicious as the first! The dining room was refreshingly alive with activity on a Tuesday evening in late February. We were immediately seated in a corner booth as our reservation requested. Our server was classy, knowledgeable and gingerly enticed us with their house specials. My sweet and beautiful lady recommended the blackened cowboy ribeye steak. She ordered the center cut filet with "The works". My personal trainer would have tipped the server and chef herself for preparing my steak with fresh veggies and no starch. They were happy to oblige my entree request. Our drinks were delivered promptly as were our salads. It was difficult to resist those amazing rolls and fresh butter! Both the caesar and garden salads were fresh, well balanced and dressed properly. On to my new favorite steak, The Blackened Cowboy Ribeye. Truly a culinary masterpiece. A dry aged ribeye, being a well marbled cut, has to be hand trimmed and carefully seared for full flavor. The chef skillfully designed the seasoning rub and grill char to balance with the richness of the cut. A peppery cajun flavor without being overly sweet. I also tried the works steak topper and was amazed. A buttery indulgence that could only be designed for dining bliss. The filet was perfect in everyway. Tender and delicious M & H puts a great deal of pride into every meal. Thanks again for a world class evening! read more

I love this place! Great atmosphere on Fridays nights when the band is playing. Great food as well. Alex was our server when we went last, very professional , and our steaks were great! We both had the filet read more

My husband and I had a gift card and went on a Friday night. Although it was crowded, we got seated right away. The service we received was excellent. Their lobster bisque was fantastic. We also ordered the sirloin steak and duck. Both were cooked perfectly. We ordered their creme brûlée for dessert and it was the best we've ever had. My only complaint would be their prices were pretty high, and the martini I ordered wasn't quite mixed right; other than that, a wonderful evening. read more

Food is amazing, staff is wonderful, very relaxing atmosphere! It is a pretty expensive spot for dinner, but worth the splurge...especially for a special celebration. read more

Sirloin was tough- difficult to saw through with a knife and even harder to chew. Gave up after a couple of bites. Service was cloying- every time one of us put a utensil down someone wanted to know if we were done or could they take our plate. Have had better at the local chain steakhouse. Seafood pasta was the highlight of our four meals. And if you want a piece of fish you better like salmon. read more

Excellent all around! We come here quite often and always have a great dinner! Steaks are great, but my personal favorite is the Duck A L'Orange! The service is always exceptional. It is even nice just stop by for a cocktail at the bar. Greatest place for an upscale dinner in Janesville or Beloit while not being overly formal. Make sure to try the Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer. read more

Fried rolls and juicy steak...a welcomer addition when visiting Beloit. The decor is very cool too.

Surprised to find a 1st class steakhouse on short notice! Great for entertaining business associates!

Not only are the food and drinks fantastic, the design/decor is amazing. The whole atmosphere of the place is awesome. While there was a slight wait for a table (which is 100% worth the wait), our waiter, Alex, was very friendly and provided all around great service. If you're in the Beloit area, this is the place to be! read more

Well after wait a time for the manager to make up for my terrible meal, as was promised I guess I take away a star.Thanks a lot Jayme B. BTW take a look at the filtered reviews, they have 6 which Yelp conveniently does not show or include. I think that's pretty unfair for those of us who use Yelp for deciding where to go. If I had seen the hidden ones I would have said not to go read more