Maybe it's because it was the first week they opened, but the service wasn't great and the food options are limited. The atmosphere is very similar to Stoddards, but has less of an intimate feel. The cocktails are fun, and the make their own berry syrup, which is lovely. They also have a great draft beer list. I probably won't return unless the food changes. read more

The Merchant - Draft beer list - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I had the K'ichy Richy which was fantastic--don't be worried that it says 'on the rocks'--just means it's not frozen or warm, I think. It wasn't too strong anyway. Beautiful presentation with a giant slice of cucumber in it. My friend and I shared the gnocchi which you need to try. We almost fought over it. Comes with a great sauce and mushrooms, which I would have gotten a plate of on their own. I also had the crab cakes which were beautiful and delicious too. Service was fast and pleasant. read more

The Merchant - Crab cakes. Everything about them was perfect - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I highly recommend The Merchant! I had the chicken, which was so so delicious, and I think I need to go back and have it again soon. Friends had the Inca Bowl with tofu, and the burger, and both said they were really good. Our server Elizabeth was awesome, and the noise level was not too bad, considering it was a Friday night. Plus, they validate for the Garage at 33 Arch St, so it was only $6 for parking! read more

One of the first things my co-workers and I noticed when we walked into Merchant was the acoustics. It was pretty dang loud in here. Given its proximity to the financial district I would say it's an iffy location based on the noise level alone for a client friendly lunch. For food I has one of their specials which was a BBQ Pulled Pork. The sandwich itself looked great but the meat was not tender and actually pretty chewy. Secondly there was a large chunk of my sandwich that had no meat at all, leaving me to chew on some BBQ sauce soaked bread, they weren't generous enough with the meat. read more

The Merchant - Pulled pork - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I like the Merchant. No matter what time I get here after work, I know the place will be packed, and I won't be able to find a seat. Which is perfect for my client lunches. I never sit down during client lunches. I want to appear aggressive and imposing. Plus, standing is better for your legs (fewer blood clots). Five stars for The Merchant for this reason. Sincerely, Dwight K. Schrute Assistant Regional Manager Dunder Mifflin Paper Products, Scranton Branch read more

The atmosphere and location are what keeps us coming back to The Merchant. It opens at 11, which is early enough to have a nice lunch before a matinee at the Theaters close by. The food is quite variable. Generally if you get one of their specials, you are guaranteed a good meal. Some of the ones on the menu are either very small or too mundane. Avoid the lemonade, it is completely unsweetened and was the most awful thing I have ever had. read more

Fantastic staff, great food and the Espresso Martinis are awesome too :-) A huge range of beers on tap and everyone behind the bar knows what they're talking about. Highly recommended! read more

The Merchant - Steak Frites - very well cooked! - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Hopped in here to grab a drink and watch the week 16 games. The atmosphere is dark, but in a good way. For some reason I feel like it promoted a more intense intimate conversation.... but that might've been the alcohol. Who can tell. Drinks were decent. Apps were tasty... can't go wrong with the Poutine. Good viewing for a future sporting event. I'm intrigued enough to go back for a dinner.... read more

Interesting and great menu! The grilled sea trout was a pleasant surprise--it was seared crispy on the outside and had a bit of spiciness. It was topped on kimchi fried rice, which formed a surprisingly well pair. The only downside was that the ginger--there were noticeable chunks in the dish, which made the ginger too strong and noticeable. The drinks were good, a bit strong but I guess that's more preferred for some. The service was incredibly nice--our waitress was extremely friendly and checked in often. read more

Was denied service here at the bar. Me and my 2 friends (All in our 20s, legal to drink) stopped by the bar and handed the bartender our IDs. He told us that he could not "accept any out of state IDs" and we were turned away, even after offering our vax cards w DOBs and photos of passports. We were polite but I guess he assumed we were underage despite our valid IDs. Very rude. We left and went to go have drinks at another bar. read more

I've only eaten here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner, so bear that in mind, but I think you'll understand why it hasn't been more often. It's not that the food or the service or anything are BAD, per se. They're just nothing to write home about. Bland burgers, lackluster oysters, etc. Nothing I've eaten there was what could be called memorable. The food does its job; I've never left hungry. Just wishing I had picked a different place, both times. I will say this: the drinks are pretty good, and the service is great. If you're wandering around downtown after a game or a show and want somewhere to chill out and drink until the traffic dies down, go for it. Otherwise, there are better places you can go. read more

Super delicious with healthy options. They also have vegan/veggie options too. The buffalo cauliflower was fantastic. Just the right amount of Buffalo. I also has the steak frites with was extremely flavorful and tender. I would definitely go back. I highly recommend a reservations. It was extremely busy on a cold Wednesday next. Luckily, we thought ahead. read more

Great $1 oysters on Monday nights. Has nice, high top tables near the big open windows when it's nice out. The bar is huge and has a great beer selection. I have only eaten at the bar, but the food is good and the service is ok. I plan on returning again soon. read more

The Merchant - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here for a New Year's Day brunch - really enjoyed the food, the service wasn't the greatest. We came in around noon. I had a reservation so we were seated promptly, but it took over 20 minutes for our server to take any part of our order (though someone had come around earlier to give us water) We put in all our drinks/food orders at that time, not wanting to miss the chance. The drinks came out first and also felt like they took a while, but the food followed soon after so at least we were full. We got the avocado toast and the lemon ricotta pancakes, and I will say they were both phenomenal. I was pleasantly surprised - the pancakes didn't have maple syrup but had a blueberry compote that added sweetness, and a delicious not-too-sweet whipped cream that complimented everything really well. The avocado toast just had good ingredients - nothing too surprising but very satisfying. The price tag wasn't exorbitant for a brunch in downtown Boston, but the service was so slow it made me question if I'll be back. read more

Came here for dinner on a Friday night with some girlfriends. The place was half full, we were seated right away. Absolutely loved the food, drinks and service. We got the scallop and short rib entrees. The scallops were really tasty, they give about 5/6 scallops per entree. But the short rib was my favorite - maybe the best short rib I've had at a restaurant. It was packed with flavor (I suspect they use a house made bbq sauce), really juicy and the portion size was really generous. Their mixed drinks are also really good - my favorite is the Saber-Tooth - really light and refreshing but also had a little spice kick to it. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was super attentive and nice throughout our dinner. read more

It's a nice quiet atmosphere, lunch portions are really good for the quality and price. Would highly recommend for formal lunch meetings and casual meetups. read more

It was fine. Caesar wrap with pretty good, nothing special but got the job done. Cool spot.

I came here the other night for dinner with my girlfriend and her friend, the drinks are worth it but the food was not. We each ordered a burger, which was the most plain burger in the history of burgers. The bacon was like a rock, and the fries were okay. Do it for the drinks, but not the food. read more

Came here for an office luncheon. Sadly most of ordered cokes which came out flat. We asked the waitress for new sodas which she did provide to us without being upset. I ordered the Cobb Salad which was HUGGGEEE. It is made with organic chicken. My boyfriend and I actually finished the salad for dinner, that's how big it is. My other co worker got the fried chicken sandwich, she said it was amazing. A few of my co-workers got the fish 'n chips. I heard the breading with decent, however the fish was greasy and the tatar sauce was watery. The overall atmosphere is chic. They have a large selection of beer. This place is your cookie cutter after work Boston crowd type of bar/restaurant. read more

Decent brunch with fun menu and tasty drinks! From a Croque Madame to an avocado melt or Homemade cinnamon waffle this place has everything you need for a delicious brunch. I had a Croque Madame and a tasty Bloody Mary. Although the Croque Madame did not look exceptionally beautiful or all that traditional (there was no cheese covering the top, only a small amount of creamy white sauce and the egg was a bit too under cooked for my liking), it tasted delicious. Home fries were also a winner. My date order the Big Breakfast and there were wins and misses. Again the waffle, eggs and home fries were delicious, Sausage and bacon was eh. The overall atmosphere is very fun with the dark wood and nice bar. They also have a ton of great beers on tap. I would not go out of my way to go here, but if I was in the area I'd return for at least a drink. read more

Came here for $1 oysters and a drink so nothing much can go wrong. Oysters were fresh with multiples condiments which provided zest, tartness and spice. Paired well with the Jack's abby house lager which was a full body malt, if not mast landing pale ale for a lighter ale. read more

There's some amazing reviews for this place but I was just kind of disappointed. Had a girl's night out here and we got duck breast, stuffed pepper, and steak frites for entrees. Gnocchi and wings for appetizers! Happy with the gnocchi, so fluffy, cheesy and beautiful. Wings were ok, not drenched in sauce, slaw was flat and weirdly named "asian slaw.." - I never understood why restaurants would name dishes with such vague cultural descriptors. Anyhow, we were just so confused by the stuffed pepper; we all assumed it would be a bell pepper BUT it was a poblano pepper, which was a little painful to eat. The wild rice seemed sort of mild and bland comparatively and could have definitely been more interesting to match the pepper. The duck breast came with grilled bok choy, which was definitely the highlight of my dish. Steak had such a gorgeous presentation and the portion size seemed quite generous. We were generally pretty ok with most of our meal but then we ordered dessert. In the spirit of the season, we ordered the seasonal cobbler - which was apple. It was the biggest disappointment of the night. Instead of a cobbler, it was more of a sad bread pudding. The apple slices were soggy and in big chunks, which was unpleasant to eat. It came with vanilla ice cream, such a good pairing, but it was really ruined by the lack of sugar in the cobbler. We could taste cinnamon and nuts in the dish but honestly it fell so flat. Definitely didn't feel like I was treating myself to dessert then. Stick to the meat protein entrees and it looks like you'l be okay; else, I don't think I'll be going back. read more

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Good food and refreshing cocktails. Good location for commuters but definitely difficult for people driving and looking for parking.

Baller new spot downtown. Really great that these old spaces are being taken over by new businesses. DTX is starting to turn around slowly but surely. Food was very good and priced reasonably. Service on the other hand is not up to par (yet) - but that's likely because it's brand new. If they try to seat you downstairs, say no. It's like being in someone's basement when the party is upstairs. And there's no cell phone service. read more

Wow the best duck I have ever had. Going again this Saturday I don't see duck on the menu so looking forward to trying something new. The cocktails perfect. Martini for me and beer for him. Atmosphere was very nice, lots of people though, very busy. If like quiet and reserve don't go here. Can't wait to go back . read more

Excellent food- not into their work attire but really liked the food. Service was amazing! Had a nice girl nameD Leannna she paid us great attention and was so sweet! Def will be back to see her read more

An updated review - so soon, you ask? Well I got a nice response from the restaurant after my previous review. They were taking the feedback from everyone regarding their lack of a bar menu and were in process of putting one together. Nice! So I went back last night to try out the new bar menu. My friend and I sat at a high top across from the bar, but the waiter didn't give us the bar menu, just the regular menus. We did ask for the bar menu and eventually got it (I had seen it online so I knew it existed!). Ok it's a new menu so the staff might not be used to handing it out, but I would hate for someone going there for the first time to be looking for a shareable appetizer and have no idea it's there, and then potentially never come back. Back to the food. They had a few vegetarian options on the bar menu (thank you!)! We had the hummus, which was delicious and came with grilled pita that is soft and chewy. A lot of places around town have hummus and pita on the menu, but I think The Merchant's pita are the best, hands down. We also ordered the spinach wontons - I wasn't quite sure what this was, but figured since I bitched and moaned about a lack of veggie options previously, I should give it a try. I'm glad I did! They are spinach and cream cheese (I think) wrapped up in a wonton and then fried to crispy perfection, with just the right amount of salt on top. They were quite good and my friend and I had to fight over the last one. They had some other interesting things on the bar menu, so definitely go back and give it a shot if you were previous unimpressed by the lack of shareable snacks. Service was good - I asked the bartender for whichever was the fullest body red wine and he wasn't entirely sure so I just randomly picked one. Two minutes later he comes back with a taste of one (that I didn't pick), but was recommended by the bartender as the fullest body of the reds (it was tasty and I went with that one). That's really good service if you ask me! Yes I wish the prices were slightly lower, but it is pretty typical for most places downtown (lower prices would've gotten them 5 stars). I will say that I am VERY impressed with the fact that this new restaurant opened recently, actually took the time to take feedback from its customers, and implemented changes (the bar menu) very quickly. Thank you for listening to your customers - I definitely will be back! read more

Tiny tiny portions! Went for lunch today and got the braised oxtail ravioli ($14) and was given 4 raviolis. Absolutely ridiculous - especially for that price. Service was good, we were seated and served promptly. read more

Merchant is a modern, lively gastropub with a great after work atmosphere. The beer list is extensive with many unique selections and the staff are all really professional and attentive. The place is super loud so come stoked and don't expect a relaxing atmosphere. The menu here is a bit awkward however. It's one of those places with tiny plates of food but massive price tags. Not really my kind of place. Merchant is in the heart of the financial district so they're catering to high rollers with bottomless wallets but the rest of us may be turned off. I ordered steak frites and was served up a tiny sliver of flank steak with a pile of fries for $26. Even at $15 the portion and quality of food that I got was inappropriate. This place is lively after work and is great for a drink during the work week. You may want to grab your dinner somewhere else though. read more

Wonderful wine selection and a vast yet thoughtful cocktail menu is offered by The Merchant. We popped in with only an hour to wine and dine before seeing a show at Orpheum. We found seating in the bar section at a high top and though it was busy and bustling, our server was attentive and the food was served very quickly. If we had not been staying a hotel for the evening, I would have purposefully rationed my meal in order to have leftovers. The menu is well constructed and the food did not disappoint. read more

A little on the pricey side, but great variety of apps and solid entrees. I'd go 3.5 stars but service was slow given how busy the restaurant was. The mussels and ribs were excellent orders right off the bat, but my trout was uninspiring. Apparently the burgers were the way to go... Good local beer list and big tv's (too bad the game was a blow out). read more

Day 1 in Boston and decided to try this place, big mistake. Not much on their bar/evening menu. If you order a burger it doesn't come with anything you'd expect on a burger. No lettuce, tomato, pickle or onion. Just burger, cheese and spread on a brioche bun. If I want McDonalds I'll go there and pay 25% of the cost. The burger seriously didn't look much better and at least there is get the lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion I'd expect. Also we were there to eat, not drink at all. And the bartender acted like we were not going to pay our tab and said we wouldn't be served unless we left a credit card with him ahead of time. I've never been treated like this when dinning. Instead we paid upfront so we could eat. I'll never eat here again. Lousy food and service. read more

Upscale food and vibe. As mentioned, portions are not that big, although quality is definitely high. I had the seared scallops which were of good size and quality...the chef cooked them just right as well. The only downside is there really is nothing else to the plate...a few thin slivers of greens and grapefruit. A little heartier side would be more filling. Service was attentive and friendly...overall would give high marks for quality and selection of beer...but not filling for the price. read more

I'm rating this based on the fact that the restaurant is brand-spankin' new. My boyfriend and I went to try it the other night (made reservations, but even for a Saturday night, the wait for a table didn't look horrible). They have an expansive beer selection, great cocktails (I had the Boston Collins, it was good), and tasty food at just the right portions (if you want to walk out super-duper stuffed, go elsewhere). We started with awesome oysters; my boyfriend had the pork, which was delicious; I had the tofu and loved it. But here's the part that gets all sorts of awkward. Our food took about 30 minutes (maybe more) to come out. It didn't bother us at all since the waitress was attentive (offered us bread in the meantime) and we were enjoying ourselves. Since it took so long (we later learned apparently two cooks didn't show up...), she offered us drinks on the house, so we figured we'd take advantage of it and ordered another round. After a few sips, the waitress came back and said that she actually couldn't give us free drinks... I'm no expert in the hospitality field, but promising two free drinks and then retracting that offer seems like a big no-no. She came back and asked if that was ok; how was I supposed to respond? "No, that's not ok! I've had a couple sips of this but please take it back to the kitchen." Anyways, certainly give this place a try, but maybe give the staff time to get settled and know their limits. I agree with other Yelpers in that the menu is fairly limited, but there's still good food, great drinks, and a nice ambiance. Just don't take them up on free drinks just yet... read more

Well, I've been a few times now. #1 This restaurant is EXTREMELY loud. It's nearly impossible to have a conversation, or even hear your server tell you about the specials. #2 The service is seriously lacking. Extremely slow service along with awkward waitstaff do not a great combination make. #3 Menu options are not conducive to the area. This is an after work crowd type of place. Their menu, despite multiple posts from others on here and on FB, does not allow for any sort of sharing for appetizers. The apps that they do have are extremely small and over priced. This scenario somewhat overflows to the entree menu as well. #4 I just don't think it's worth the trouble. I won't be going back. read more

Very delicious. The restaurant area was very busy but we were seated right away. The staff is smiling and helpful. We got all 5 dishes in under 10 minutes and we were not disjointed when they got here. I personally had the gnocchi and the mixed greens and I couldn't get enough (I ordered a salad for my lunch tomorrow). Definitely a must go if you are in the area - and even if you just make a trip out. read more

The Merchant - The all natural burger - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My friends and I came in for a quick drink and bite to eat after work and this will be our go to late night restaurant from now on! The cauliflower buffalo bites were spicy crispy and amazing, and the pulled pork sliders were smokey and just the right size ! Also, if you want craft drinks, this is the place to go. There "I love you Ginny" was one of the best cocktails I have ever had. read more

We were wondering around the area looking for a place with a reasonable quick bite to eat on a Sunday evening---did not find it here. The dinner menu was primarily composed of $40 fish meals or $15 and up sandwiches. I sipped some water while my husband was in the bathroom and then also went, as we were debating to stay or not. For as nice of a place that this is, I wasn't expecting to drip-dry, no toilet paper at all in the bathroom stall I was in. This decided for me. We walked out. Bathroom quality definitely does not match for the ambiance and what they want to charge you for a meal. read more

I ordered the braised beef here...and within 2 hours of eating here, I got extreme food poisoning. No, it wasn't because I was 7 months pregnant. I really think the veggies that came with the braised beef was not cooked correctly. Thank goodness for tums! My husband got a burger here...nothing mindblowing from his end, but at least he didn't get sick from his meal. No...I'm not sure how people gave this place high rankings other than the people that work here weeknight and just need food right after a long day of work! Pass!!!! read more

Great food (we came in for brunch), great music. SLOWWWWW service. Lovely ambiance. Our hotel was right around the corner and I would definitely recommend this place (there are FAR too few Jazz brunches left in the world), just be prepared for slow service. read more