Went here for dinner and drinks with 4 friends. I got the gnocchi as my dinner and it was incredible. My cocktails were also delicious. We didn't have a reservation but they were still able to squeeze us in on a Thursday evening. Overall great time read more

Walked by there couple days ago and saw their $1 oyster board, so decided to give it a try. Everything is just average. OK service, OK atmosphere, good deal on $1 oysters, a little more expensive beer (others are selling the same draft for $9.50-10 and it is $11 here), above average priced foods but quality is just about average. Not sure if we will go back. read more

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Gave this place a 2nd chance and it failed. I ordered the ham & brie sandwich, mostly bread and pimentos. So I asked her for aioli hoping that would cut the pimento taste that is saturated in the sandwich that I scraped off but I'm not sure what it was but it wasn't definitely aïoli but I got charged .50 cents for it. It was bad and the salad was limp and soaked. Service good, management doesn't care. Ambiance very dark, maybe hoping you don't notice what you're eating. Too bad. Fresh fish shouldn't smell and place really is smelling of fish. We ate here last week and our appetizer and main meal came all at the same time. Ordered extra bread so we could finish the hummus and got charged six dollars for the bread. No more. No thank you. read more

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This was a bad experience. Nothing big nothing small. Food is just adequate. Greasy fish. Noisy. If you have another alternative seek that out. I'd even say Shake Shack is better than this place. Server LUISA was horrible. Asked for more tartar sauce. Four minutes. Asked for another cuppa coffee after my entire meal is over. She grabbed my cup, went back. Six minutes. when she returned that was cream in my coffee and I never asked her for any. I did not trust her so I did not drink it. Close this place down! read more

Pre planned group dinner. Greeted and seated in private room. Staff friendly and professional. Food was well prepared and tasty.

Came in again on a windy Tuesday and everything was as great as remembered. The staff remembered me, and our server was very friendly and helpful. I ordered the Red Curry again and it was just as creamy and delicious as remembered-- perfect for a cold fall day. It was hard to split the Togarashi Fries because they were SO GOOD. Seriously could eat those again...and again. For dessert I had the cheesecake again (not a cheesecake person but this one is so good, and I could appreciate it more this time because I wasn't as full). We ordered a shot of bourbon and a scoop of vanilla to pour the bourbon on the ice cream for dessert...so if you see this on the menu any time soon, you heard it here first. :) read more

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We are extremely pleased . The staff was more than friendly here . Food was perfect and the ambiance was perfect and the drinks were tasty . 5 stars all day . read more

Pretty solid place over all. The restaurant is dimly lit and intimate. Wait staff was attentive and helpful. had oysters and drinks, so I can't talk to the food, but if I was in the area I'd come back. read more

Two months ago, I dropped by this place for brunch. It was kind of quiet during the weekend compared to the lunch crowd during weekdays. I ordered the big breakfast which came with sausage, bacon, 2 eggs(I asked for scrambled), french toast, and home fries. First of, the portion was very generous. The french toast was just one crispy, thick slice with whipped cream and maple syrup. Pretty good.. The sausage had a spice to it and didn't really taste like regular pork sausage. It tasted good. I asked the waitstaff whether it was pork or lamb but I never heard back. The bacon was a bit dry however. The scrambled eggs were normal but I really liked the home fries which were crispy and sauteed with onions. Overall, it was a good brunch. read more

The Merchant - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Staff was friendly and attentive and food was excellent. Will definitely be back. American read more

Dark, cozy-glow pub/restaurant/brasserie vibe. Lots of high tops and bar seating. Lively atmosphere. Food is good, we just had appetizer bar fare and it hit the spot! Great place to gather read more

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I came here specifically for oyster HH. As of this month (October 2023), they offer it on Mondays and Fridays, from 4-9pm. When we checked in with the hostess, it was unclear if HH is only in the bar area or for the whole restaurant. We were seated at a high top table within the bar area though. The waiter (guy) we had was a bit slow. It took forever to get our drinks. I know he put in our order because the oysters arrived within 2 minutes of ordering. I ate a couple and then proceeded to wait till we got our drinks to eat more. Luckily it wasn't hot food and they were on ice, so waiting was fine, But I feel like we waited like 10-15 minutes for our beers. A couple sat down at the table next to us - they gone a glass of wine and a soft drink, I think. And they got their drinks before us. I started giving dirty looks at our waiter and he came over and did say the beers were coming. Still it was like 5 minutes after that. I know the bar is busy but pouring beers seems like it would be quicker than making a cocktail. A little frustrating. But after we received everything, we enjoyed our drinks and oysters. Oysters were very tasty and served with lemons, cocktail sauce and mignonette. It's pretty loud in there so you have to get close to talk - typical for a bar though. They have TVs showing sports above the bar. Ambiance was dark and "romantic. " I would come back for oysters really only. read more

The $1 oysters were pretty good. The fries and fish tacos were solid too. Good selection of beers and cocktails. Service was really slow and our table was in such a dark area you couldn't read the menu. Despite this, ambiance was quite nice. Overall, would probably come back for the 1$ oysters. read more

Really cannot comprehend the low rating! $1 oyster on every Monday and Friday before 9pm is a great steal! Love the shishito pepper, tuna tartare, great portion with reasonable price! Main courses were also reasonably priced. The only downside is when there are lot of people, they might be a short of hand. I have been here for 3 times in the past 10 days as an oyster fan! read more

The Merchant - Shishito - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Went for dinner with a group of 4. Service was excellent, drinks were very good and service was good. Took a little bit for the food to come out but it was a busy night so it was to be expected. Definitely recommend read more

The food didn't quite live up to expectations. Cocktails were good. Not much of a non-alcoholic beverage selection. Shrimp tacos were salty.

I visited The Merchant for brunch last weekend. I went with my boyfriend and met a friend who was visiting from out of town. I made a reservation for noon, but didn't need one as the place was barely 1/4 full the entire time we were there (2 hours). I hadn't seen my friend since the fall, so we spent a good 2 hours catching up over brunch. At first, the waitress seemed a bit annoyed that we were taking our sweet time to order, but then she let us be for the most part. We got 1-2 rounds of brunch drinks each and coffees, so we weren't just sitting there with waters forever. There is an internal debate in my brain with whether to give this place 3 or 4 stars, but I went with 4 because nothing was "bad". I got the breakfast sandwich which was decent and came with home fries. I'm not a huge home fry fan, so I tried 1 and kinda left the rest. I wish they had french fries at brunch time. I woulda been all over that! I got a basic mimosa as my drink, which was fine. Nothing to write home about. The juice probably wasn't fresh squeezed, but it tasted fresh, which made me happy. I was supes hungover from my Saturday of drankin', so I didn't go for the stronger cocktail options. Next time! While the waitress was a bit surly, the live band, happily playing music in the corner lifted my spirits. By "band", I really mean 2 dudes shoved between the door and the bar. Every time I looked over and caught their eye, they smiled politely. They had a much better vibe than the waitress! Anyway - I'd come back for brunch to try some other food and drinks without the hangover. I'll stick with my 4 star rating for now! :-) read more

The Merchant - Nitro Espresso Martini - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had an amazing dinner! The service was awesome and the food was great. I had the fish and chips, which came with amazing shoestring fries. My friend had the chicken and she cleaned her plate. We had a short window for dinner and they made sure we were out in time to make it to the theater. Would recommend The Merchant. Atmosphere, food, service. You cannot go wrong. read more

Went with a co-worker for lunch. Service is abysmal. Waited forever for drinks and for food then had to hunt the server down for our check. Wasn't crazy busy so don't really understand why. Servers/bussers can't really speak or understand English which makes it tough to order or ask questions about the menu. Food was ok but nothing too exciting. Had the cod and the tacos. read more

The Merchant is a hidden gem in the heart of Boston, with its high ceilings and classy ambience. My friend and I make it a weekly tradition to catch up over their ultra fresh dollar oysters, which are hard to come by in the city. The rest of the menu is standard fare, but everything is executed to perfection. The space is ample, making it a great option for larger groups or just a cozy date night. The service is attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere is lively without being too loud. I highly recommend The Merchant for anyone looking for a solid dining experience in downtown Boston. read more

The Merchant - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It's been a while since I've been here (May 2024) but this place holds a soft spot in my heart. The dollar payers are a fantastic deal and they are cleaned BEAUTIFULLY. Without this deal and the level of care and attention to detail that they put into the quality of these oysters makes it so that for times my party and I make it a weekly ritual to come. The togarashi fries are fantastic and the perfect side to the perfect dollar oysters. The entrees beyond these is good but nothing to write home about, a great start to the evening. Clean inside read more

I ordered the gnocchi. The food came out relatively quickly and the service was ok. The interior decor was gorgeous. The bar looks amazing. (I don't drink so I can't really asses anything else about it aside from its appearance). I like the food but there wasn't really anything special to it. I mean, it was good but just not great which is why I rated it 3 out of 5 stars. The location is really convenient, its super near downtown crossing so its very easy to get there by public transit. The atmosphere and space itself is very nice but the food is just ok. read more

Terrible experience and poor management. Went for a company event and was given the run around about ordering from the bar and having a reservation/dedicated server. The service was average, drinks/appetizers below average and overall will never return. read more

I've been here a few times for work events. Today I decided to do lunch here. I sat at the bar and ordered an espresso martini as well as a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. The service was okay, nothing to write home about. The lettuce was wet and soggy. The dressing was super salty. I ordered from the lunch menu. The salad was $15 and extra $3 to add grilled chicken which in my option is reasonably priced, if it was eatable. When the bill came I realized there was a "premium alcohol" up charge. I'm not sure why as I only ordered an espresso martini, didn't make any special requests. Update* called for clarification on the up charge. It was explained to me that they have their own espresso martini on draft, I requested it to be made with baileys which is an up charge. The woman who answered was pleasant, she advised me to come back and try the martini without the baileys. read more

This restaurant and bar is conveniently located around downtown crossing and across the street from where I work. It's become an office go-to and deservedly so! The interior is surprisingly large! Tall ceilings boast dark woodwork with lower lighting, white tile floors compliment the black leather seating. The bar runs along the entire left side, so plenty of seating. Bar height seating (seat yourself) compliments that side. The other side is table seating that often requires a reservation (during the week as this location is not very residential). He staff has always been friendly even when busy and I've popped in with a group of 15. There are a few decent options for salads so a nice lunch spot in addition to happy hour. The drink menu features many signature cocktails. My favorite is the Sweet Heat... a tequila drink that leaves a little heat in the throat. Definitely check this place out! read more

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We had an extraordinary experience with the wildly talented chef Ignacio here last Saturday evening! A knowledgeable foodie friend of ours suggested we arrange ahead of time to have a specially prepared chef's tasting menu dinner. We did so on our last Red Sox outing in Boston and boy were we floored! Wow! Chef Ignacio came out to inquire about allergies, aversions and general likes/dislikes. We relaxed with our grey goose martinis and let him do his magic. First course was a unique charcuterie board like none other. Flavorful ham like I've never experienced, pickled zucchini, gerkin pickle pieces, spicy seeded mustard, chicken & duck liver pates with toasted sourdough slices, topped off with delicious rehydrated cherries on the side to complement the flavors. Second course was fish, sushi grade. Bluefish on a vinaigrette based sauce, spicy & sweet Mexican style jalapeño fluke, & smoked trout with quail egg garnish. Tomatos, radishes & Brussels sprout leaves punctuated this course. Then came a plate of three aroncini. Flavorful, light and with a perfectly textured filling. At this point the charming chef Ignacio came out and actually sat with us for quite a while. We became acquainted as we had a happy discourse on all things food. He's a real regular guy despite his first class culinary training and experiences. The final course was an artfully prepared flank steak. He suggested we abandon our finished former grey goose martinis in favor of a red wine for the meat entree. We chose a house Malbec. Fabulous call! Alas, we were too full for a dessert. The monetary damage with all this special personal treatment was very fair. It was a one of a kind experience in a very pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Overall It's a really cool Bostonian ambience. Throughout the evening, the staff was smiling and congenial. It's infectious! What a happy Saturday evening culinary experience in Boston. Kudos to our friend & fellow elite Paul M. And big shoutout of THANKS to CHEF IGNACIO! Salut! read more

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We came in around peak dinner time without reservation fully expecting to wait for a bit, but luckily a table just opened up. I got the Kentucky bramble to start with, which was sweet and very refreshing. For food Ingot the shrimp tacos. Although it's listed under appetizers, it was filling for me. I'm normally not a shrink person but I loved the dish. The shrimp was very well flavored and I loved their queso. read more

The Merchant - kentucky bramble - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Stopped in here to watch the Bruins game and it was such a great experience! They have so many excellent beers on tap and wonderful service! I didn't get any food but the burger my friend ordered looked fantastic. Will definitely come back to try their steak tips since I've heard such rave reviews about them! read more

The Merchant - Buffalo cauliflower - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice restaurant, lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. The neighborhood is beautiful and classy but a little bit uncomfortable to walk! Many homeless at 9pm!! Food is very good. I recommend this place. read more

tl;dr: good drinks, good service, close to T -- a trifecta! We were looking for a convenient but out-of-the-way meeting spot after work. The Merchant is very close to the T (2 min walk from Downtown Crossing; 5 min walk from Park Street) but tucked away from the crowds. When I entered alone around 5 pm, I was surprised at how crowded it was. Two hostesses greeted me warmly. So far, so good! Bar seating is open, including, I'm pretty sure, the hightops just behind and beside the very long, dark, wood bar. The seats themselves are sturdy with backs. I was meeting a date and so needed two seats but was early and so aimed to take the only empty seat at the very busy bar, a singleton. The only problem was that the woman in the adjacent seat had shoved her seat up against the open seat where her coat and bag prevented anyone from using the seat. So I kindly asked her if she would move. She refused and turned back to talking to her date, who looked embarrassed. As I stood there in front of the only open seat in a very crowded bar, trying to decide what to do, the bartender placed a glass of water and menu at the place. So far, good marks for attentiveness and vibe. Except for the selfish bag lady, the vibe was pretty good. So while I was standing there, I said to the bartender, thanks, but I don't think I can fit into the seat. It took him about a millisecond to recognize that the woman was taking up two seats and he asked her to move, which, with great fanfare and huffs and whatnot, she finally did. (Life advice, folks. A bar is like a subway. If it's crowded, take up only your space.) And more marks to Merchant for managing the bar from the barside and corralling the unruly. Once seated, I asked for a whiskey list, which he promptly produced. I love it when a bar actually has a list of whiskeys with prices. With a range from $10 to $25 for a 2oz measured pour (also good marks -- not just a bartender's eyeball), I like to know what I'm spending. More great marks for having a good selection. I went with the Blanton's at $13 with ice on the side. Soon enough, the crazy lady left and my date arrived. The beer selection is extensive so he created a black and tan which was poured to perfection by another bartender. We later ordered the Thai curry mussel appetizer which was very very good. The toast it came with was perfectly crunchy. We both could have eaten more toast (dipped in the broth!) and when we jokingly said as much while the bartender cleared our plates, he offered to leave the broth and get us more toast. We declined (-- it would be like licking the bowl, non?-- ) but it's good to know that they're generous that way. While we were there, several bartenders attended to us so that we never wanted for anything. And a barback kept clearing dishes. Everybody was chatty and pleasant and fun and modest. No arrogance at all. I'll be back!! (This review is for the bar. I barely glanced at the dining room, which looks dark and, well, dark.) read more

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The burger and the bar staff made the 15-20 minute walk worth it. I ate there several months ago and had to revisit due to the experience from previous visits. read more

Came here on a Thursday night and it was fairly busy during happy hour. I ordered the squirrels purse and it was a good strong drink. The dinner meal was ok, which drove a majority of the ranking. I got the steak frites and a few of the oysters. I ordered a medium steak and came out well done. In addition, the fries were underdone and still soggy - needed a few more minutes in the fryer. This is a good place for drinks, but wouldn't come back to eat dinner. read more

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Food was overly salty. Drinks were flavorless, all bread (cheese board and burger) had distinctive charred taste, like being in an oven that had something burning. read more

Bars in downtown are confused. Some aim for elegant with low-light and black vests and end up just being pricey (looking at you, Pabu). Others you can tell have had the same prices and decor since the Depression (wassup JJ Foleys). And others just do this schizo dance between towny and pretentious (yeah, it's Silvertone) which, come to think of it, is a pretty Boston thing to do. And I'm not counting the State Street/Faneuil Hall bars, which aren't worth talking about. The Merchant errs on the schmancy side, with prices to match. However, out of its type of bar, I've had a hard time finding better. Their beer selection is dynamite (I say that mainly because they have like 10 sours any any given time). Their food, though a bit pricey, is pretty reliably good. They have this buffalo cauliflower dish that kicks the crap out of their wings, which are also good, but not greasy/spicy cauliflower good. And honestly, when I think of where to take someone I want to date or get employed by, Merchant is the first thing that comes to mind. The beer is good, the food is decent and the service is quick and reasonably friendly. I should mention: I haven't really gone for a full meal, mainly just appetizers. Seems like people haven't been super keen on the entrees. Maybe just get the apps and drink the difference. Win-win. read more

I would give a 3.7. The miso ramen had a strong eggy flavor. The ricotta gnocchi was good -- a little salty but still a delicious dish. The chicken Milanese was absolutely delicious; the Caesar salad completed the chicken. The Japanese fries were good, but not great, I've had better fries. The orange creamsicle mocktail was not my favorite. It would have been better if it were made with orange soda instead of juice. The staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere for date night or to catch up with friends. The bathroom is nice -- good opportunity to take photos. Overall, I would recommend trying for the first time. It was convenient for a Saturday night for a party of 8. read more

Pretty good service, pours were slightly inconsistent. The entrees were all deliscious but the appetizers were the disappointment here. We went out for the 6 of us and ordered 1 charcuterie plate and 1 cheese plate. The waiter didn't make any suggestions and the charcuterie plate arrived after 15 minutes with only 2 meats on it. 1 being shaved prosciutto and the other being pâté. A couple of girls didn't like pâté and had asked that it be swapped out with anything else but instead they gave it to us and the waiter never aknowledged the failed request. We then ordered another cheese platter because there was just 2 pieces per slice, which if we're ordering for 6 people should be mentioned. I'm not new to Boston, I know this is the norm, but challenge the norm by providing superior service and try to understand what the customer wants. GIVE US CHEESE. I got the ramen with shrimp by strong recommendation from the waiter. It was delicious! Others at the table got the scallops with squid ink - enjoyed, burger and fries - enjoyed (good shoe string fries), steak frits - enjoyed, and the grilled cod with Yukon gold potatoes and carrots - surprised at the soupy presentation but enjoyed. Overall the stats come in as follows: - food entrees are a 4. - service is a 3.5 - light appetizers are 2 - drinks are 3.5 read more

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Beautiful interior decor with dark wood and high ceilings. It's a nice set up with a bar area and the dining close together. It's a great spot to come for after work drinks but the bar fills up very quickly. If you want to get a table, you have to wait for the whole party to arrive which can be frustrating because there isn't a great spot to wait in. The drinks are delicious and the true standout. Tasty and innovative there are a lot of choices. The food is ok. The burger is really good and the pouting is decent. The rock shrimp portion size is pretty small compared to other dishes. read more

The Merchant - Rock shrimp - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Had a surprisingly good meal here! I ordered the squash and chickpea bowl with chicken and it was AMAZING. Extremely large portion size, very filling, and unique flavors across different sections of the plate. I loved the mint chutney that came with it and only wish there was more of it! The chicken was perfectly cooked and the potatoes and other veggies very well roasted. Only downside was the price point, that bowl alone cost $30, which I wouldn't have expected. My friends ordered the mahi mahi tacos and the ramen, which they also enjoyed, though the ramen is apparently spicy. Overall, convenient location for a meal right next to the downtown crossing T stop and good food, but know that some of the menu items can get pricey. read more

The Merchant - Squash and chickpea bowl - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This New Years eve we decided to go for an early(ish) dinner at The Merchant and they were super accommodating, the food (and drinks) were great and our meal was fairly priced. A few highlights below. 1. Learned upon arrival that I accidentally booked our reservation for the wrong time & staff was happy to change our reservation. 2. Our server was very lovely, quick & answered all questions about the menu. (wish I remember her name) 3. We had ricotta Gnocchi & Pan Seared Dayboat Scallops - both were delicious!!!! 4. On tap espresso martini's are delicious! However, proceed with caution. I had 2 and, well, you get it... All in all, would recommend & The Merchant and will absolutely go back. read more

The Merchant - Oysters & Wine to kill some time - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

While The Merchant takes reservations, they won't seat you til your entire party arrives. Unfortunately, the area by the host stand isn't ideal for waiting beyond a couple of small groups. And they seem to do a pretty good weekday lunch business. Three of us opted to share 3 dishes. One from the Appetizer side of the menu, an entree and a flatbread. Maybe because our meal was unintentionally all around cheesy, we were satisfied with the portions The cheesiest was the Housemade Gnocci $11 (Parisienne Gnocci Au Gratin, Mushrooms, Brussel Leaves, Parmesan Cheese). These were really soft pillows, enrobed in melted cheese with a scattering of mushrooms and leaves. It was good, but even for me, this was a really rich dish. The Grilled Flatbread $13 (Sweet Potato, Bacon, Baby Kale, Fontina) felt healthier, and was the only one of the three that I could see myself consuming all by my lonesome if need be. It came with either salad or french fries. Their fries visually resemble those of Mickey D's, but were not as crisp. The flatbread itself was also rather soft and did not hold up the toppings that well. The Stuffed Pepper $14 (wild mushroom and goat cheese stuffing, wild rice, pepper confit) was a surprise. It was not the bell pepper we imagined, but a whole poblano pepper! No, it wasn't spicy, we were told, and I was relieved to find this to be true. It was an interesting mix of flavors and textures, but not quite what I had in mind. It did, however, win over one friend to the wonders of wild rice. It is not a bad option for a sit down place in the Downtown area for lunch. *** 2/2018 lunch visit *** The chilled jumbo shrimp ($3 each) were firm and tasty, but not as large as I had hoped given the price. From the appetizer side, the Housemade Papparaelle $14 wild mushroom bolongnese, cream, parmigiano-reggiano crema were wide al dente ribbons, homey and tasty, while the Baby Kale $12 honey mustard, toasted pepitas, crispy carrots, parmesan cheese was a shareable portion, healthy yet tasty. I opted for a healthier sounding entree - Pan Roasted Sea Trout $16 roasted winter vegetables, red quinoa, tomato maple sauce which was crisp moist fish accompanied by tender squash and firm cauliflower. Praise was heaped upon both the Grilled Marinated Tofu $14 and the Steak Frites $18 by others. Dessert in the form of Floral Panna Cotta $9 Grand Marnier, seasonal compote, granola was quite good, and creamy smooth contrasting with the crisp bits. Service was pleasant and sufficient, but what brought it over the top was the clean towel and club soda offered to a DC whose sleeve had an unintentional close encounter with her plate. read more

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