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Merchant, Madison, WI

Merchant

4.2
4.2
1558 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 36 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
Merchant is Madison's energetic industrial-chic cafe, craft cocktail bar and late night destination specializing in no-nonsense, affordable fare and drink steeped in old school culture and soul.

Our menu features elevated American classics like shrimp cakes, steaks, burgers, and mac and cheese. As Madison’s first craft cocktail bar, our drink list includes twists on classic cocktails using fresh ingredients and heritage spirits, fresh innovative non-alcoholic drinks, and wines from boutique producers, fresh beers on tap, and heritage beers.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cajun, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 9:00 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Late Night Fri, Sat 10:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Phone number
    (608) 259-9799
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Paulie Bolland
  • Private party facilities
    We have semi-private dining available. Please call (608) 259-9799 to speak to management.
  • Neighborhood
    Madison
  • Cross street
    E. Doty Street
  • Parking details
    Streetside and Parking ramp available across the street
  • Public transit
    Downtown bus lines are one block away.
  • Entertainment
    We have Madison's finest DJs late night on Friday and Saturday nights and live bands on Thursdays at 9:30. Please check the entertainment schedule athttp://www.merchantmadison.com/entertainment/
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • A Nightmare Cocktail Tasting Sneak Peek!

    $30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Dec 3, 2024 only
    4:30 PM
    Join us on our opening day of our first annual Nightmare Before Christmas holiday pop-up! Launching December 3rd, you'll get an exclusive preview to our full holiday cocktail list served in Nightmare Before Christmas-themed mugs and experience our spooky holiday decorations in full effect! Each ticket gets you a sample of the 5 holiday cocktails on special + one specialty shot...AND you get to take home your choice between a Jack Skellington or Sally monster rag doll mug! Scare you there😎
    A Nightmare Cocktail Tasting Sneak Peek! Photo
  • Date Night at Merchant! Prixe Fixe $60 for 2

    $30.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Choice of any snack, starter, and any entree, and a bottle of wine to share. Starting at $60 for two guests!
    Date Night at Merchant! Prixe Fixe $60 for 2 Photo
  • Merchant's Nightmare Before Christmas!💀🎄

    Dec 3, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024
    Let us bring you the spookiest holiday experience in Madison! Debuting this year in 2024, Merchant is putting on its first annual holiday pop-up series, Merchant’s Nightmare Before Christmas! An experience offered to all reservations who book with us from December 3rd until NYE, it’s filled with eerie decorations and specialty cocktails served in ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’-themed cocktail mugs! Join us for this spooky twist in celebrating the holidays, we’ll scare you there😎
    Merchant's Nightmare Before Christmas!💀🎄 Photo

Offers

  • Everyday Happy Hour!

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM,Sat - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    DRINKS: 50% off draft cocktails $3 Lawnmower Beers $6 Boilermakers BOGO House Wine $6 Gin and Tonics $7 Regrets FOOD: $4 Fries $6 Curds $5 Fondue $6 Olives

    Everyday Happy Hour! Photo
  • Friday Fish Fry

    Multiple dates available
    Fri - 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish from Bodin Fisheries, Bayfield, WI, coleslaw, cornichon tartar sauce, rye bread, butter, warm potato salad w/mustard vinaigrette

    Friday Fish Fry Photo

What 1,558 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Madison

    Good for groups

  • Madison

    Neighborhood gem

  • Madison

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Madison

    Lively

  • Madison

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Merchant offers a vibrant dining experience in a fantastic downtown location with "great food and innovative drinks." The atmosphere is lively, making it ideal for groups. Highlights include creative cocktails, tasty cheese curds, and a diverse menu. While some guests note inconsistent service, the "delicious food" and "great service" keep patrons returning.

1,558 Reviews
  1. Angel

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The place seemed a little understaffed as our server was managing many tables and took a while to get to us, but the staff were otherwise very friendly. There was a mixup with our table's order which resulted in me getting my meal after quite a wait. Unfortunately the corn bisque with mussels I ordered was very bland and the mussels were very undercooked, so I did not eat much of it. The cornbread and fish fry were fine, but nothing too impressive. I had been to Merchant in the past and thought it was fantastic and was surprised to have not a great experience this time.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jason

    Minneapolis

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Disappointed with portion size to cost ratios. Speed of service for food was great, yet we already had finished the apps when our drinks were delivered. Overall it felt like a fast casual at a very high price point. Not likely to go back for food.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Dan

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a big group and the service was excellent. Thank you.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Jon

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Has now become more of a bar with a restaurant than the other way around. Food menu is now very limited. Disappointing given where this restaurant has been in the past.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Julie

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and service. Would like to see more gluten free options on the menu.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Randy

    Milwaukee

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the fun holiday atmosphere and warm hospitality to the delicious, beautifully plated meal everything added to a memorable evening! Can’t wait to return.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Mark

    Austin

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Good food. Slow kitchen in an empty restaurant. No attention from staff until we complained.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Paula

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Second time at Merchant. Again, great food & good friendly service.
    MerchantResponded on November 18, 2024
    Thank you so much for your review, Paula! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed your food and our team took care of you :) We can't wait for you to visit us again! Cheers!

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  9. rebecca

    Milwaukee

    63 reviews

    3.0

    63 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Not our first time here and it’s fair to say that the service and the food were lackluster this time. The menu is very small and the timing was terrible. Drinks arrived after food and entree arrived while still eating salad. Not impressed by this visit and unlikely to return. Had the crispy “chicken thighs”, but one piece was definitely a breast. Also needed a dipping sauce of some sort. Soup with mussels was good but super stingey portion (4 mussels)!

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  10. Michael

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I just had two complaints related to ambience. One was that they had TouchTunes on during dinner time and someone had queued up several Christmas songs in a row (two weeks before thanksgiving). I’m no grinch and I love bars with TouchTunes but I just wouldve preferred a more lowkey soundtrack during dinner time. The second was that they still had Halloween decorations up inside.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Merchant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (608) 259-9799.

Merchant is rated 4.2 stars by 1558 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 36 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Merchant

121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703

Additional information

  • Cross street
    E. Doty Street
  • Neighborhood
    Madison
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 9:00 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Late Night Fri, Sat 10:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cajun, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Streetside and Parking ramp available across the street
  • Public transit
    Downtown bus lines are one block away.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Paulie Bolland
  • Entertainment
    We have Madison's finest DJs late night on Friday and Saturday nights and live bands on Thursdays at 9:30. Please check the entertainment schedule athttp://www.merchantmadison.com/entertainment/
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (608) 259-9799
  • Private party facilities
    We have semi-private dining available. Please call (608) 259-9799 to speak to management.
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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