Shame on me for not taking pictures. Food and service was equally top notch. We were in a group of six and everyone loves their meal and attention given by staff. Food was top notch. It's a must visit in St. John's. read more

Wasn't really all that impressed. I wasn't treated at the door. I then just went to the bar. Bartenders were really good and friendly. The food was just like any other pub; but there are some good choices too. The vinegar pie is NO longer on the menu. I was super disappointed. I tried a blueberry tres leches cake. It wasn't terrible but wasn't the best. They seem to try and create a pub environment and a casual setting in same restaurant. I personally feel like it's loud and not great for a small personal experience. I would return to try other offerings on the menu. read more

Live! Love! Love every single Meal I have had here. The vibe is so nice and the staff are friendly . read more

The Merchant Tavern is a true gem for anyone who appreciates quality food and a welcoming atmosphere. The dishes are crafted with care, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and every bite feels thoughtfully prepared. read more

I have been here quite a few times. I've also had a big group in "The Vault", which is so cool to experience. The food of course is phenomenal and drinks are always good, a little more the pricey side but that's what you pay for good service and atmosphere. read more

We came here on a Tuesday evening without a reservation and sat at the bar (recommend making a reservation, this place is popular!). We ordered some cocktails and appetizers followed by the main and dessert. The nacho appetizer was topped totally with nacho fixings and my main Steak Frites was cooked to the requested temperature and had nice grill flavor. I didn't partake in the dessert, but those ordered by the group looked decadent! Service was friendly and attentive. The inside of the restaurant is very cool - open concept, laid back but sophisticated. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Steak Frites - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

The food, service, and ambiance here were amazing!! I wish I had taken photos but we ate everything so fast I didn't have the chance. Menu highlights for me were: oysters, scallop ceviche, scallop and pea risotto, beef tartare. This was my favourite restaurant during my trip to St John's - highly recommend! read more

Food and drinks were fantastic. We sat at the bar and had excellent service. The mussels were out of this world. Large place with a great atmosphere. Would definitely eat here again. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Beet salad. - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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Always quality meals, great service and changing menu. Always busy and a good selection of cocktails and wines. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Chicken Supreme - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Great atmosphere and staff! Good was awesome, best piece of Cod I've had in a very long time. Super fresh and delicious! read more

The Merchant Tavern - Oysters - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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Food was awesome and drinks were delicious! Bar was overwhelmed and sent our drinks to 3 different bartenders only to have the first bartender serve them 10 minutes before our food arrived. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Birria nachos - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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I'm keeping this review simple because it doesn't need the hype. Amazing Brunch! Awesome industrial setting located on Water Street in downtown St. John's. Because of their good reputation I couldn't help myself. With close friends - we ordered Pancakes, Fish Cake and Scrambled Cheesy Eggs. Everything was amazing. Washed down with a special champagne it was the perfect brunch. I can't wait to come back. read more

Pretty good food and drinks, but very, very slow service. We had a group dinner on a weeknight. Surprisingly, the main restaurant was very busy - maybe they didn't expect this? Our service was very slow, and sometimes drinks and/or food didn't arrive until we prompted them. The food was pretty good, but not outstanding (admittedly, we had a limited menu). The highlight for me was their maple cinnamon Old Fashioned. Excellent! read more

I was disappointed that Raymond's was closed for the season, but The Merchant also had an excellent reputation, which Raymond's supported. I was hopeful that the lunch menu would be impressive, but I was once again disappointed. There was a wedding that night, so no dinner for us. We settled for the squash ricotta cappellacci and moose/pork lasagna. All of the lasagna noodles were stuck together and the ground meat mixture was a bit dry and crumbly, in a not-so-great way. Minimal cheese and seasonings unfortunately. The cappellacci was more complex, with a rich creamy sauce with a hint of complimentary acidity. I was hoping for more squash in the filing, but it seemed to be nothing but ricotta inside with tiny diced squash on top. The Nomel cocktail was on the sweet side for my liking, but I appreciated the limoncello getting to dance with sparkling wine. The rim was delightful, with a hint of spice added to the citrus-infused sugar. The bathroom had me cracking up with this antique picture of a very dissaproving woman looking down on you in the toilet. I appreciated the wild river mint and rosemary soap as well. read more

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Excellent food and service from Reese!! Wine and chefs take on traditional menu items was refreshing. read more

You can find it. Just look for the "M" on the stodgy building. The restaurant is a re-purposed bank and should be the fate of most all the local banks across the United States and Canada. There is a large room with a long bar and lots of 2 and 4 tops. The vault has been turned into an intimate dining room suitable for taking a knee and offering that diamond chip and a promise of forever. There is a secluded glassed in section with a few tables which was the former Loan Officer's office where the automaton smiled sheepishly said no to everything or bared fangs and claws and called your barely overdue note. Now, it is set up for civilized behavior and dining. Shows you what Wells Fargo could have been instead of following the Madoff model. There is a pastry/pasta station next to a huge open kitchen where line cooks assemble gorgeous plates. You know you're in the right spot when you see the Hobart Mixer tucked away in the corner like the showroom Tucker you have covered in the back of your 10 car garage. A good sign this kitchen and you know what's for serious adults. The Staff: Who is totally pleasant and friendly early in the AM without being caffeinated, tranquilized or inebriated? Certainly not bankers. JB had the patience of a Veterinarian and made me a happy puppy. The Vibe: Hardy eaters devouring heroic portions of excellent vittles to better endure the hard life in NFLD which requires an extended pinkie while sipping the Semillion. The Bar: Opens at 11;00 AM. There is something for every taste from those who think a Pinot Noir is a Philippine murder mystery on Netflix to Bill Koch who would cheerfully murder Rudy Kurniawan for sullying his legendary wine collection. I had a magnificent Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 Sparkling Rose Private Cuvee Brut from Nova Scotia not because I sip with pinkie extended but because Brother JB said it was unique and I'd like it. I did indeed. The Food: Be prepared to be sad when you can't order everything. Watching the plates come out of the kitchen is like having runway seats at the Vogue Couture 2018. The Soup 'n Sandwich daily special was a deep well of garden fresh Tomato Soup and baby Basil. This is definitely not what you gagged down at school which put you off Tomatoes until now. This soup was thick, rustic and satisfying. It came with a Grilled Two Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Bacon on house baked Brioche bread. This was the perfect day time dalliance (well, one of them anyway) and just enough to top off the tank and yet not make you feel like you were training to take Joey Chestnut's crown. The Fish and Chips rivaled Red Fish, Blue Fish on Victoria Island but without the two hour wait in the sun. The best Fish and Chips anywhere on the Planet is at both ends of Canada and better still, something Trump can't levy a tariff on...yet. Fish and Chips should replace the Maple Leaf on the Nation's Flag and the version here should be a National treasure. The Cod was fresh line caught, surrounded by a batter that was bone jarring crunchy. The fish remained moist, tender and inviting 30 minutes after service (which is more than you can say about most honeymoons). The Merchant Tavern's Fish 'n Chips could make any senseless fish hater beg for more. The Fries were easily the measure of the potato twigs from In 'n Out or perfect potatoes at Petit Trois in LA and these are in the hunt for the Golden Potato Award which I just made up. Finally, I had the Vinegar Pie with Sagamite Crust just because I never knew someone made a pie with Vinegar as the star. (And, no, Sagamite is not some inedible sludge scraped off a rotted tree stump in an Australian swamp. It is hulled Indian Corn.) Think Pecan Pie with no Pecans. Just a hint of Apple Cider Vinegar to keep it honest. (Maybe our politicians should have a tablespoon before they go to work each day). It was topped with Tetley Tea Ice Cream on a bed of Graham Crumbs and the pie's tail end was treated to a ladle of Appleberries. Put a Lady Apple in a small room with a Raspberry, a feather bed and soft music and...voila, an Appleberry. This was absolutely delicious in a sweetly subtle way. The Merchant Tavern is where I'm putting my money as the yield on investment is terrific. read more

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Food is okay. Nothing spectacular to be honest unless you're into hamburgers. Lamb dish was just okay. Pasta didn't taste homemade and steak was tough like shoe leather. Certainly not expected given the hype. Service was okay. Loud environment but vibrant. read more

We enjoyed a really nice dinner with oysters to start followed by mussels (which were fresh and beautifully steamed). Wine list was equally nice. read more

A tremendously mediocre meal for the money they ask. Cold fries, gristly steak and bleh desserts. Cocktails were top notch, but they should be for the price. I will not return read more

(Long) I cannot remember the last time that we had a fantastic meal and such a good time. We stopped into The Merchant at 6:30 on a Saturday evening. We knew our chances at getting a table either inside or out was very slim. We asked about sitting at the bar, and it too was full. The hostess must have seen the disappointment on our faces when she looked up and asked, "Would consider a seat at the Oyster Bar?" I said, "Is it a full menu?" She said, "Of course. And led us through the restaurant to a 6 seat bar in the corner of the restaurant. What we found was a treasure! We were greeted warmly by the gentleman behind the bar, and as we looked over the menu he asked what we had planned to order for an appetizer. We said, "The Newfoundland Greens and Fritters." About five minutes later he presented us with Newfoundland Atlantic Salmon on toasted bread with aioli, Newfoundland, greens, and Newfoundland tomatoes in a yogurt sauce, and 2 fresh Newfoundland Oysters. We hadn't ordered any of it but what a treat! Our meals were equally delicious, but watching the entire staff prepare appetizers and entrees was as entertaining as watching a Broadway show. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were! If you go, and there doesn't seem to be room for you ask about seating at the oyster bar. You will not be disappointed. read more

Good brunch. Spicy chicken and waffles was pretty amazing. Unfortunately I was not able to try their dinner menu. I will be back. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Spicy chicken and Waffles - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

WOW!!!! I don't have words to explain how spectacular this place was! For my birthday dinner on a Friday night, we had reservations at 8:45 pm. We had a slight wait for our table, but not too long Ambiance: it was bustling, busy, with a friendly cool, and somewhat hipster crowd. Everyone enjoying their night. Great Vibe! They had a gentleman come in later and played live music and he was great! Food: honestly it was spectacular from beginning to end!! We started with some oysters, they were shucked and really cold and came with 2 hot sauce options. Then.. a must try: Cod Tacos - these little bites of heaven were light, crispy, and so tasty!! I could have eaten them all night. For our mains we had the chicken with creamed spinach and potatoes. Which was very tasty with crispy skin and juicy meat. The creamed spinach was also delicious We also had the smaller portion of the lamb casarecce pasta dish. The sauce is a "jus" along with peas .. and my goodness, the pasta was perfect al dente and that lamb in that jus... just wow!!! The half size portion was more than plenty ! We enjoyed a dessert of lemon madeleines with the vanilla custard and they were a beautiful light and delicious end to our fantastic meal!! Overall this was an amazing experience of food and ambiance. Loved the easy flow, as there was time between our courses and we did not feel rushed ! A definite must try!! read more

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Excellent food and drinks.you can't go wrong here. Nice atmosphere. Service is on par with the quality of the food and drinks.

Good food. Reasonable portions. Expensive drinks. Great atmosphere. Great dessert. It was good to try it out at least, but I'm sure there is plenty more out there that's comparable quality for a lower price point. The staff was impeccably coiffed and young, which means they are being intentionally hip; with intention comes a price, sorry to say. In regards to specific dishes, we ordered a cod that was smaller than we would have liked but it did have an authentic approach for the region. Pasta even light on the chiles still roasted the taste buds. A creme brûlée to finish was quite nice, as the flavour of the day was cacao. The only thing was that even with this food, I felt I was paying about 30% more than I should have for the quality of the meal. Alas, you have to try the place at least once. read more

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Always a stop when in NL !! Food is always amazing & love the atmosphere. Can be a little noisy but still a must try,

awesome burger great ambiance and service would highly recommend must go in Downtown read more

Had high hopes for this restaurant. The quality of the food is good, if over priced. My two stars is for my pasta meal, which was tiny. It looked like an appetizer. Don't come here if you're hungry. This restaurant has good reviews...and seems to know it. Plenty of attitude, just not much food. read more

Apologies for staying off of the "me too" bandwagon on this one. Normally I am quick to be drawn in by local places with celebrity chefs and jaw-dropping interiors. Merchant Tavern is all those things (the interior looks like it belongs in a luxe downtown Toronto restaurant), yet... 1. The lunch menu is pricey pub food. Burgers, fries, fish and chips, club sandwiches, etc. Every place in St.John's is practically a pub. This is the most expensive one. 2. At my table we were cleverly up-sold gravy and dressing for our fries. (We were never told that they were extra charges or necessary) Each are 2$ extra and not all that great after a few bites because of the salt. Up selling is better suited for Jack Astor's. I had rather have a 23$ salty burger and fries than a 19$ one with surprise charges on the bill. 3. Service is reasonably good, upselling aside. 4. The burger and fish and chips (27$) at my table were both salty. The burger was rather small. 5. Cocktail offerings at lunch were fairly standard... aperol spritz, Harvey Wallbanger, mimosa, etc. For the price and food, this is pretty average. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Lunch menu - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Food, drinks and service is great. Great for a night out with friends or date night. They are very busy so I would highly recommend reservations. read more

The service was top notch from all the waitstaff. The ambiance was nice having an old pub feel. The food was great especially the deserts. Giving it a 4 star cause the bar tender wasn't great. read more

Since Raymond is still closed, we tried this other venue by the same owner. Very good brunch place and we happened to have exceptional live music with the musician very good with guitar and great voice. read more

Truly unexpected gastropub in Nfld. Williamsburg chic. Food prepared meticulously. Drinks are both local, Canadian and int'l. I spotted a bottle of Middleton. How often you find that in a gastropub?! Highly recommend folks who come unexpectedly to pay a visit. read more

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This was our first real meal in Nl and my favourite by far! The restaurant is just beautiful and the service was the best we had in St.John's. We lucked out when a reso for 2 didn't show up. We had the raw scallops and butter cooked shrimp to start, followed by the cod entree and whelk pasta. The raw scallops were seasoned perfectly. The sauce was delicious and the portion was very large. The shrimp were a little small for my liking, but there were so many of them, so it made up for it! This was the best pan fried cod we had. The sear was so crisp and the cod just flaked off in the nicest chunks. The whelk pasta was so rich and creamy. The bacon added a nice crisp to the soft dish. Just thinking about the pasta right now, is making my hungry! Out of all the restaurants we tried in St.John's, this is the one I'd recommend to anyone from out of town. Especially if this is your first and only visit! You won't be disappointed. read more

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You might actually pass this place by thinking it is a bank, which it formerly was. But don't miss this place if you want an amazing meal in downtown St. John's! Start with oysters, the farm salad and the snow crab. Oh yea don't forget the seafood soup. And then. Move on to any pasta which are all freshly made. We had the linguine with shrimp and mussels, the pan roasted cod the chicken and the spaghetti with garlic and chili. Yum! Great service and amazing food. read more

Jeremy Charles has another restaurant? I owed it to my mouth to go. Finally, the Merchant Tavern has opened and I made sure I checked it out with my sisters and cousin. We dashed in for their lunch service on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It has a crisp yet relaxed atmosphere. Artfully decorated with oversized photos of Newfoundland items. The servers and staff wear old-timey looking shirts and aprons. Some even sport matching old-timey moustaches, that I'm guessing, are not required. I ordered the feature of the day: a meat pie and I substituted the fries with the beet salad off the regular menu for a charge of $6. The pie was made with beef and pork and had peas, carrots, and mushrooms mixed in. The crust was light and in all it was very flavourful. The beet salad employed roast seeds and flavours to complement the greens and beets. As a filling mixup, I was given fries with the salad that seemed to be a full order instead of half. What I liked as well, was the gourmet quality for the same price as a low quality chain restaurant. To cap it off, on the enthusiastic recommendation of the server, I had a vinegar pie with dandelion ice cream. Don't let the name deter, it is perfectly sweet and the crust is delicious. It is probably the only item I had that I would say was overpriced - $10 for a small slice. The staff was very very friendly and quick to help. The general manager came and introduced himself and the local celebrity himself even brought some food to tables. I will definitely return. read more

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A must place in St John's first time visiting and we were a group everybody was blown away! read more

The Merchant Tavern - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

We had a lovely supper after a long day of hiking. We sat at the bar, on the corner. Had muscles and the whelk & shrimp salad to start, salmon and crab as mains. Drinks were very tasty. Food was delicious. Only complaint was bartenders were chatting with each other/guests, and left us waiting a considerable amount of time with empty drinks. read more

The Merchant Tavern - Canadian (New) Near Me - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

We came by The Merchant on a stop for a culinary tour (you have to try the tomato salad or the ricotta gnudi!) and knew we had to come back for a meal after our tour teaser. I saw lobster roll on the menu and was sold, there was nothing that would convince me to get anything else. I had high expectations and was not disappointed one bit. You are talking succulent pieces of lobster lightly coated in a creamy citrus dressing on a buttery roll and a heaping pile of fries. We learned about the love and labor that goes into preparing the food from our tour so do not expect any less than spectacular when you dine here! read more

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We heard of this Merchant Tavern since it is the sister restaurant of Raymonds, but much more affordable! Being a busy place, service was slow, but the server was really accommodating with what we needed, like red chili flakes. We both ordered the Norcina Rigatoni dish and shared a pistachio creme brulee (serving size on the creme brulee was bigger than we imagined, which was great for sharing!). We thought it was the best meal we had on this trip! read more

My friends and I created our own tasting menu and ate it at the bar as the place was pretty crowded. This included the Snow Crab Rarebit, a cheese plate, steak tartare, the "Crispy Chicken" (fried chicken thigh pieces, bread butter pickle, ranch dip), and Oysters Rockefeller. The steak and oysters were both exceptional. For desert we had the Vinegar Pie and the Organic Vanilla Soft Serve with Salted Caramel. Both were sublime. The service was also superb and the ambiance very enjoyable. It was easily the best dining experience I've had in St. John's to date. I look forward to going back -- like, a lot. read more

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