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    The Merchant

    3.6 (446 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

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    THE MERCHANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    $1 oysters!
    Michaela P.

    This is the spot! Happy Hour oysters for a buck! Boom! I'd eat here every day if I could. Not really sure what else is on the menu. Oysters were all we ordered. LOTS of oysters! Friendly service (a lil' slowwww). Nice cocktails. Cool spot!

    Holly B.

    A colleague of ours was leaving and we wanted to have a small send off lunch before she left. We made reservations as we figured they may have a lunch crowd and so glad we did because it was very busy. We arrived on time for our 12:15pm reservation and were promptly seated. Once all 6 of us were seated a few minutes later we were given water and then asked if we wanted to order. It was a tad difficult to hear the server due to it being very loud but we got it done. A few appetizers and several lunch entrees. I had the red Thai curry and it doesn't say it has a kick, but be prepared it doesn't, it was a tad salty for my taste and the ratio of sauce to rice was disappointing. I was told the calamari, steak frites and chicken sandwich were all good. Great atmosphere and energy from the staff. I would def return to try out their drinks and maybe later in the day to avoid the busy lunch crowd.

    $1 oysters!
    Geoffrey P.

    M-F 4-7 $1 oyster happy hour. This is why we come here. Don't even need a menu. This is all we're eating. Cocktails are pretty good and reasonably priced (during HH). Service is sweet but a little slow. Cool bar area.

    Pink Moon oyster from Prince Edward Island
    Sharon P.

    We came here on a Monday before 5pm, for one reason and one reason only - $1 oyster happy hour. We never expected to order 3 dozen oysters, but that is exactly what we did! We expected oyster that cheap, it must be blue point. But no, they served Pink Moon from Prince Edward Island. Small, super fresh, sweet, and simply awesome! We sat at the bar, bartender was very attentive. What a great happy hour! Next time we are in Boston, we will make sure we include either a Monday or Friday so that we can come here for $1 oyster!!

    Great spot with excellent service and really tasty food. Everything came out fresh and flavorful, and they also have a great selection of beers on tap. Definitely worth a visit!

    All Natural Burger
    Winni Z.

    Great place to go to on a Friday night without a reservation. I liked that it felt spacious and not too noisy. Our server was also attentive and nice. The food was yummy, and I plan on coming back to try the dollar oysters + the new items on their menu.

    Side fries
    Natalie P.

    No complaints here! This place is great. A dim bar setting with hints of nautical accessories throughout. I came here mostly for the dollar oysters but stayed due to the relaxed setting, cocktails, and good service. The $1 oyster special, at least on Friday, started at 4pm. A thorough search of oyster specials lead me here. A very cool restaurant provided my sister and I respite from a scorching summer day. We enjoyed a couple rounds of oysters and French fries over drinks and couldn't appreciate the relaxed setting any more. The place was very clean and the staff attentive. We came here before a dinner reservation elsewhere and I wish we had just stayed here! The food was really good!

    The Merchant has both indoor and outdoor seating and a solid classic American menu. I ordered the tuna melt -- it was fine overall, though I wasn't a big fan of the flavor in the filling. The sourdough bread was really good, though, and the fries were decent. A nice enough spot for a casual meal.

    Dollar Oysters
    Adina S.

    I came here for the dollar oysters on a weeknight after work. I didn't actually order any food or drinks besides the oysters, so I'm not sure about the rest of their menu, but the oysters were pretty solid. It seemed to be fairly typical for an American spot, so probably not the type of place I would go out of my way to visit, aside from the oysters. It wasn't especially busy, so I wouldn't expect too much of a wait. In terms of the ambiance, this felt like a good after work spot. The decor was fairly upscale and I could imagine a business crowd visiting this place. The staff was attentive and came by a few times to see if we'd like to order anything else. I would happily come back to order some more dollar oysters, so I hope they continue to run that special!

    Jess B.

    For a small mid day menu everything was delicious! It was quite dark inside and we were the only ones in there around 4pm which made the service fast. They had good local beer on the menu.

    Shishito Peppers
    Caroline S.

    Come for the dollar oysters!! They're super fresh and delicious :) Besides that, everything else was just ok. Interior is super dark, service is slow (we were there when it wasn't busy), and food was okay. All of our entree dishes were salty and a bit disappointing after having such delicious oysters to start.

    Christine L.

    The $1 oysters on Mondays and Fridays from 4pm-9pm is where it's at! The oysters are so fresh. Whenever I'm craving a $1 oyster deal, I make the trek to Downtown Boston just for The Merchant. I love the shishito peppers! I don't think I'd get full entrees from here (they're a bit pricey) but I've gotten their gnocchi before and it was pretty good. It was more like baked mac and cheese, which I'm not complaining about because it was delicious, but not what I usually expect to get when I order gnocchi. I've also ordered their fish and chips, but it's two small pieces of fish with some fries. I like their togarashi fries too, but they're kind of just like any other fries you'd get just with some really yummy sauce. I've gotten drinks here too which are also just sort of average. This place definitely draws in an older crowd, but I've seen families with young kids here too. Their bathroom is also worth mentioning, it's very clean and has lots of gorgeous artwork. Parking in Downtown can be a pain, but The Merchant actually validates parking at 33 Arch Street ($6 for up to 10 hours) which is such a deal!

    Shrimp Tacos
    Sara Jieyi T.

    Only restaurant I am aware of serving $1 Oyster on a Friday night from 4-9pm! On the day we went, we got 5 dozens of black magic oysters and they were fresh! However, some of them very extremely small with nearly no meat hence I took a star off. The burger came with fries that were thin and crispy and to my surprise, it was very good. The shrimp tacos were good but it did not stand out as much as the burger. The atmosphere was chill and classy. The restaurant has a great location and it was fairly easy to find street parking in the area. Food: 8.5/10 Service: 8/10 Experience: 8/10 Value: 8/10

    Steak tacos

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    7 months ago

    Great food and great service. One of the best salads we've had. Very friendly environment.

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    Really good service and really good food in a nice enviornment in the heart of Downtown Crossing

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    Row 34 - Seaport - Oysters

    Row 34 - Seaport

    4.2(2k reviews)
    0.7 miWaterfront, South Boston
    $$$

    Row 34 in Seaport seriously blew me away. I've had oysters in a lot of places but this one is on…read moreanother level. We tried 4 different types and every single one tasted super fresh, clean, and just really high quality. You can tell they know what they're doing here, even the way they shuck it is nice and clean, no shell pieces or anything. Their menu actually has like 10+ kinds of oysters, highly selective and premium. I really wish we had more time (and stomach space) to try more. But we already had like 3 dinners planned that night lol so this was more like a "stop by and eat as much oysters as possible" situation. Honestly I'm pretty sure the other food here is just as good, based on what I saw on other tables. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Boston.

    First time here. We got the lobster roll. And while, sure, the menu said the pricing was 'MP'…read more(meaning Market Price, or...based upon current market conditions)...and while, sure, we didn't ASK what the price would be, on that day, I still think it would have been nice if the waitstaff voluntarily offered up that detail. (I'm certain the staff are aware that many of their diners express shock, once the price is disclosed...) Many folks simply make an assumption or a guesstimate, as to the price, when they see 'MP' on a menu, and this is usually based upon their prior experiences, ordering such a menu item. So, for example, I was thinking the lobster roll might be in the $40-45 range. So imagine my utter shock, when we received the bill, to see a charge for $69?? I have never in my life had such an expensive lobster roll. Yes, it was delicious, and the housemade potato chips were also great. The slaw was also good (though it was a very tiny amount...I would have liked more). But boy, did that price shock me. I would normally never have voluntarily ordered a $69 lobster roll. It simply never would have occurred to me, that a place would ever charge that much....

    Photos
    Row 34 - Seaport - Oyster

    Oyster

    Row 34 - Seaport - Local Caught Jonah Crab

    Local Caught Jonah Crab

    Row 34 - Seaport - Warm Buttered Lobster Roll

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    Moonshine 152 - Caramel cakes

    Moonshine 152

    4.5(679 reviews)
    1.0 miSouth Boston
    $$

    Fusion in the best possible way!…read more Moonshine 152 is near our son's apartment and we've only been twice.. but both times we were absolutely enthralled by the options, the vibe, and the FOOD! It is soooo good! The menu has so much variety that my only complaint is that I can't physically eat a fraction of the things that look good! Today's awesomeness according to the eaters: Chicken wings- outstanding, required if you like chicken! Meatballs- very tasty and tender and seductively fragrant with a touch of tang. Yum. Chicken dumplings- deliciously! (I asked for one word, there you have it Braised rabbit pasta- creamy but delicate, slightly tangy, tender and succulent! Short rib beef bimbab- creative, nice cut sticky glaze beef, lots of tasty textures Cajun Tilapia- The fish, the green tomatoes, the shrimp, and the sauce each have unique textures and flavors that made me smile down to the last desperate plate scrape! I recommend Moonshine 152 to everybody that visits Boston. It checks so many boxes that as I sit here waiting for dessert (pavlova, excited!) I wish again I could stuff in some of these other entrees! ENJOY and tell us about the other dishes!

    This review is for delivery!…read more We ordered the crispy basil chicken, crab rangoons, shishito peppers, artichoke salad, brownie, and butter cake. Everything was sooooo tasty. They even gave us an extra dessert as a thank you which was totally unexpected but very much appreciated. The chicken was full of flavor and they dressed the rice in the perfect amount of sauce. The crab Rangoon have a spicy jalapeño sauce and come on a bed of greens. The shishito peppers have a sauce too - couldn't tell what it was, but we enjoyed it. The artichoke salad was a surprise - lots of different flavors and textures. All three desserts were sooo yummy!!!! We will be ordering again soon!

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    Moonshine 152 - Inside

    Inside

    Moonshine 152 - Chicken wings

    Chicken wings

    Moonshine 152 - RON SWANSON BRUNCH INSPIRED SCALLION PANCAKE QUESADILLA

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    RON SWANSON BRUNCH INSPIRED SCALLION PANCAKE QUESADILLA

    Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant - Fruity Pebble Pancakes

    Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

    3.9(1.2k reviews)
    1.5 miSouth Boston
    $$

    My boyfriend and I ventured out to South Boston on a cold winter night for some dinner. We were in…read morethe mood for some tavern style dishes, but wanted something a little more elevated. This is when we found Lincoln Tower Tavern. When we arrived, it was a moody atmosphere that we both were drawn to--high ceilings, brick walls, and dark brown accents. Since it was our first visit, we were excited to learn that Tuesdays feature $1 oysters. We ordered half a dozen and tried all three oyster varieties available. Each had a standalone flavor which I liked. It was also plated nicely for a quick photo op. For my drink I ordered the perfect pear; it had different flavors than what I'm used to, but in a good way. My boyfriend chose the Meat Pie and I ordered the Chicken Fettucine Fricassee. The waitress said these dishes would take half an hour to prepare (which it did not), so we ordered a side caesar to start off with because we were starving, it worked out because it was awesome. When the dishes arrived, the meat pie was a huge hit. I even tried the mashed potatoes and they were delicious. As for my dish, it just wasn't for me. I do want to state that it was prepared well and creative, the flavors just did not mesh with my palette well. It really tasted like turkey and gravy to me for some reason. It was a fine dish, just wouldn't order it again. Overall we had a great experience at this tavern as we really like the oysters, the drinks, the salad and my boyfriend did like his meat pie. The ingredients were also super fresh. That being said, I would try it again. They seem to be known for their wood fired pizzas, most tables were ordering them. Unfortunately we weren't craving pizza that night, but next time this is what I would order. Overall Lincoln Tavern has my vote, I just would order another entrée dish. Our picks: -Perfect Pear -Guinness -6 Oysters -Side Caesar -Meat Pie -Chicken Fettucine Fricassee -Skillet Sundae

    Rustic establishment in South Boston, great for weekend brunch, make a rezy! Chloe was a fantastic…read moreserver (5/5) and the dim (mood) lighting was intimate for a lunch time. Large pew style booth seating. I recommend the strawberry mojito (mocktail) and the fruity pebbles pancake. If you don't want to stack of pancakes, just get one on the side, it's large and delicious! It's perfect. I was not a fan of the Breakfast style wood fire pizza, the egg lacked flavor. The popcorn cauliflower is a new item and the hot honey sauce is good, but I've had better cauliflower dishes in the past.

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    Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant - Chicken Fettucine Fricassee

    Chicken Fettucine Fricassee

    Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant - Special: s'mores pancakes. BOMB!

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    Special: s'mores pancakes. BOMB!

    SAVR - Brussels Sprouts

    SAVR

    4.2(196 reviews)
    0.9 miWaterfront, South Boston
    $$$

    We came here for New Years Eve and were able to get a reservation easily. Our server was very…read morefriendly, attentive, and helpful! The food was great. We got the Thai chicken meatballs which were seasoned well and had the perfect amount of spice for the coconut green curry sauce. Their beet salad was also good, the shaved fennel and avocado really helped. For our mains, we got the cider brined Berkshire pork chop and the organic chicken. The pork chop was cooked perfectly, had a good sear/crust was juicy, really my favorite. The chicken was also delicious well, not dry and seasoned well. For dessert we had the orange cream pie which was the perfect finisher.

    The service was amazing my server was friendly and knowledgeable with drink options and appetizers…read more The view from the table was over looking the water at the seaport The appetizers variety was a good selection, I wish they had a charcuterie board, the drinks were delicious we had the expresso martini flight a delicious lemon drop and 3 Mango drinks off the menu. THE Crab corn chowder was yummy and had big chunks of crab . The mussels were full of flavor and big and juicy. The oysters were salty and shocked to perfection the Thai meatballs, had an amazing sauce creamy and slightly spicy. I would have liked a little more spice lobster and scalloped pot stickers great. The calamari yummy

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    SAVR - Shrubberies

    Shrubberies

    SAVR - Boston Lettuce Salad with Chicken

    Boston Lettuce Salad with Chicken

    SAVR - Bread

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    Bread

    The Merchant - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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