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Merchant, Madison, WI

Merchant

4.3
4.3
1550 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 21 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighbourhood gem
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
  • Website
    http://www.merchantmadison.com/
  • 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.
  • Location
    121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
  • Area
    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, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Date Night at Merchant! Prixe Fixe $60 for 2

    USD 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

  • A Nightmare Cocktail Tasting Sneak Peek!

    USD 30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    3 Dec 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

  • Merchant's Nightmare Before Christmas!💀🎄

    3 Dec 2024 - 31 Dec 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

Menu

SNACKS & SHARING (20% off during happy hour)

  • Hand-Cut French FriesUSD 8.00

    with black pepper mayonnaise (v, vg*)

    • Fried Cheese CurdsUSD 10.50

      buttermilk-battered and fried. Served with ranch and hot honey (v)

      • House Marinated OlivesUSD 12.00

        served warm with citrus oil, marcona almonds (vg)

        • Chile-Pimento Cheese Deviled EggsUSD 10.00

          creamed hook’s 1 year cheddar, guajillo, red peppers, bacon bits, smoked paprika (v*, gf)

          • Fried Chicken WingsUSD 11.50

            choose: mild or spicy choose dipping sauce: buttermilk ranch, hot honey, citrus remoulade

            • Cheese, Charcuterie & House PicklesUSD 32.00

              rotating selection served with fruit preserves, honey, toasted nuts, Potter’s crackers, with house pickles, cornichons, whole grain mustard (v*, gf*)

              SOUP & SALADS

              • Chopped SaladUSD 14.00

                Chopped Salad romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, cornbread croutons, red wine vinaigrette, sarvecchio parmesan (v, gf upon request) $14 add bacon $4 | add crispy chicken $6

                • Cauliflower Cobb SaladUSD 16.00

                  crispy fried cauliflower florets, chopped romaine, cherry tomato, avocado dressing, celery, hard boiled eggs, moody blue cheese (v, vg*, df*) $16 add bacon $4 | add crispy chicken $6

                  • Spicy Corn Bisque with MusselsUSD 16.00

                    spicy corn bisque with steamed Prince Edward Island mussels (gf) $16 also available without mussels (v) $8

                    SANDWICHES

                    served with housemade, warm potato chips (substitute a petite salad $2)

                    • The Merchant BurgerUSD 16.50

                      double patty from fox heritage farms*, brioche bun, Hook's 1 year cheddar, black pepper mayonnaise, dill pickles $16.50 (served medium) add bacon $4 | add an egg $2

                      • Braised Collard MeltUSD 16.00

                        braised collard greens, Vitruvian Farms oyster mushrooms, celeriac slaw, remoulade, swiss cheese, sourdough toast (v, gf*) $15

                        COMFORTING CLASSICS

                        served with braised collards with bacon (substitute spinach or green beans $2)

                        • Baked Creamy Macaroni & Cheese USD 23.00

                          Hook’s 5-Year cheddar, velveeta, Sarvecchio parmesan, black pepper, Zapp's Potato Chip Voodoo gratin (v) $23 add bacon $4

                          • Parmesan-Crusted Shrimp CakesUSD 26.00

                            three large shrimp cakes, panko, spicy pickled relish, scallions, tabasco, creole seasoning $26

                            • Broiled WhitefishUSD 26.00

                              Wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish, cornichon tartar sauce, marble rye bread, braised red cabbage, potato salad with giardiniera aioli & scallions. Make it fried on Fridays for Fish Fry!

                              • Steak Sandwich - Limited AvailabilityUSD 18.00

                                Top sirloin, hoagie roll, horseradish-garlic aioli, giardiniera, arugula, and french onion fondue. Served with potato chips

                                MAINS

                                served with french fries (substitute creamy turnips or cornbread $2)

                                • Fried Breaded Pork CutletUSD 25.00

                                  oven braised collard greens, house-pickled okra, and red-eye gravy $25

                                  • Vegan Mushroom ÉtoufféeUSD 26.00

                                    stewed Vitruvian Farms oyster mushrooms, red beans, haricot verts, spinach, steamed rice (vg) $26

                                    • Crispy Fried Chicken PlatterUSD 26.00

                                      crispy chicken thighs, braised collard greens, celeriac slaw $26

                                      • Steak Au PoivreUSD 36.00

                                        spinach, brined green-peppercorn sauce boudran (gf) $36

                                        SIDES FOR THE TABLE

                                        • Warm Homemade CornbreadUSD 6.00

                                          crystal hot sauce-roasted garlic butter with chow chow relish (v)

                                          • Macaroni & CheeseUSD 8.00

                                            • Creamy Buttermilk Mashed TurnipsUSD 8.00

                                              • Sautéed SpinachUSD 8.00

                                                • French Green BeansUSD 6.00

                                                  with shallot

                                                  • Braised Bacon-Collard GreensUSD 8.00

                                                    DESSERT

                                                    • Flourless Chocolate BrownieUSD 11.00

                                                      vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, flake salt (v, gf) $11

                                                      • Banana Cream PieUSD 12.00

                                                        graham cracker-pecan crust, chocolate shavings, freeze dried banana $12 (v)

                                                        • Warm BeignetsUSD 11.00

                                                          three fried doughnuts served warm with powdered sugar, served with a cherries jubilee dipping sauce $11 (v)

                                                          FOR THE KIDDOS

                                                          add milk or juice $2

                                                          • Small Mac & CheeseUSD 7.00

                                                            • Single Patty Burger (w/cheese $7)USD 6.00

                                                              • Crispy Chicken Strips with ranchUSD 6.00

                                                                • Side of Green BeansUSD 3.00

                                                                  • Side of French FriesUSD 2.00

                                                                    • Side of Seasonal FruitUSD 4.00

                                                                      (v)

                                                                      FRIDAY SPECIAL

                                                                      • Friday Fish Fry *available only on Fridays!USD 26.00

                                                                        wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish, cornichon tartar sauce, fries, black pepper mayonnaise, celeriac slaw with pickled sweet peppers $26

                                                                        Last updated: 16 September 2024

                                                                        What 1,550 people are saying

                                                                        Overall ratings and reviews

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

                                                                        4.3
                                                                        4.3 based on recent ratings
                                                                        • 4.3Food
                                                                        • 4.2Service
                                                                        • 4.5Ambience
                                                                        • 4.1Value

                                                                        Noise • Moderate

                                                                        Loved For

                                                                        • Madison

                                                                          Good for groups

                                                                        • Madison

                                                                          Neighbourhood 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.

                                                                        1,550 Reviews

                                                                        1. Mark

                                                                          Austin

                                                                          5 reviews

                                                                          vip
                                                                          3.0

                                                                          5 reviews

                                                                          Dined 6 days ago

                                                                          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.

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                                                                        2. Paula

                                                                          Chicago

                                                                          8 reviews

                                                                          vip
                                                                          4.0

                                                                          8 reviews

                                                                          Dined 6 days ago

                                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Second time at Merchant. Again, great food & good friendly service.
                                                                          MerchantResponded 5 days ago
                                                                          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!

                                                                          Is this helpful?

                                                                        3. rebecca

                                                                          Milwaukee

                                                                          63 reviews

                                                                          3.0

                                                                          63 reviews

                                                                          Dined 6 days ago

                                                                          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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                                                                        4. Rose

                                                                          Milwaukee

                                                                          4 reviews

                                                                          vip
                                                                          3.0

                                                                          4 reviews

                                                                          Dined on 15 November 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 3
                                                                          2. Food 2
                                                                          3. Service 3
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Food was mediocre for the price, the cheese curds were good, the rest was ok but not something I'd order again. Ambiance was nice, but the music was very loud for a 5pm dinner and swung from 2LiveCrew to ACDC to Taylor Swift. Don't plan on revisiting
                                                                          MerchantResponded 5 days ago
                                                                          Dear Rose, thanks for your review. We're happy to hear you enjoyed your cheese curds and our ambience. However, we're sorry to hear you didn't find the value in your other food and our music turned you off. We'll certainly be looking into these aspects of your visit to evaluate for improvement. Thanks again for your feedback and we hope you'll consider giving us another try in the future!

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                                                                        5. Steve

                                                                          Milwaukee

                                                                          26 reviews

                                                                          5.0

                                                                          26 reviews

                                                                          Dined on 9 November 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                          2. Food 5
                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                                          If you’re a fan of eggs…Merchant is the place for you! I’ve never had eggs cooked to such perfection; from the omelette to poached, they do eggs right!
                                                                          MerchantResponded on 11 November 2024
                                                                          Thank you so much for your review, Steve! This is exactly the type of brunch review we strive for! We're so happy to hear we delivered perfect eggs to provide you with a great brunch experience. We hope you'll join us again very soon, we're definitely looking forward to it! :)

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                                                                        6. Anna

                                                                          Milwaukee

                                                                          1 review

                                                                          2.0

                                                                          1 review

                                                                          Dined on 9 November 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 2
                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                          3. Service 1
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          The food was good but service was so slow. Seemed understaffed. Had to flag down our server multiple times. Drinks took forever to come.

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                                                                        7. Elizabeth

                                                                          Washington DC

                                                                          8 reviews

                                                                          3.0

                                                                          8 reviews

                                                                          Dined on 2 November 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 3
                                                                          2. Food 3
                                                                          3. Service 2
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Got there early when it was still mostly empty - initially seated at worst table in restaurant next to service station. Waiter was very slow. Took 25 minutes to get our drinks. App came way before drinks. Then main disheds took less than 10 minutes to come after order and did not taste freshly cooked. Good. But not great. Fun atmosphere. Cool looking place.

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                                                                        8. Wayne

                                                                          Seattle

                                                                          11 reviews

                                                                          5.0

                                                                          11 reviews

                                                                          Dined on 1 November 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                          2. Food 5
                                                                          3. Service 5
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Lots of great menu choices including vegetables that are hard to find at more traditional restaurants. Great taste without excessive butter and cheese. Well done!
                                                                          MerchantResponded on 4 November 2024
                                                                          Thank you so much for your review, Wayne! We're so happy to hear you found our menu to have a variety of choices...especially more unique vegetable options! This is exactly what we strived to do when putting this menu together and we're so proud it's been noticed by you. Thanks again for your review, we hope you'll join us again very soon!

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                                                                        9. Lenn

                                                                          Denver

                                                                          1 review

                                                                          3.0

                                                                          1 review

                                                                          Dined on 28 October 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 3
                                                                          2. Food 3
                                                                          3. Service 3
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Food was good - had a bit higher expectation for burger and buffalo cauli salad. Nothing bad, but just nothing that would make me want to return again sadly. One highlight was the cheesecurd/hot honey combo and pumpkin patch drink. Good ambience, fairly slow service (but we weren't in a hurry)
                                                                          MerchantResponded on 30 October 2024
                                                                          Thanks for your feedback, Lenn. We're happy to hear you enjoyed your cheese curds and pumpkin patch drink! However, we're sorry to hear you were let down by your other food and that your service wasn't super prompt. We'll certainly discuss this further during our manager meeting to see if we can make improvements to offer more value there. Thanks again for providing your feedback, we hope you'll consider giving us another try in the future!

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                                                                        10. Alex

                                                                          Chicago

                                                                          7 reviews

                                                                          vip
                                                                          5.0

                                                                          7 reviews

                                                                          Dined on 27 October 2024

                                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                                          2. Food 4
                                                                          3. Service 4
                                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                                          Service and food were good, drinks were great! We went for brunch early (9:45a) so there was no wait.
                                                                          MerchantResponded on 31 October 2024
                                                                          Thank you so much for your feedback, Alex! We're thrilled you had a great brunch experience with us and enjoyed your food, drinks, and service! We hope you'll join us again very soon, we're very much looking forward to it :)

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                                                                        FAQs

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

                                                                        Merchant is rated 4.3 stars by 1550 OpenTable diners.

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

                                                                        Make a booking

                                                                        2 people
                                                                        7:00 pm
                                                                        Booked 21 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
                                                                        • Area
                                                                          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, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
                                                                        • Website
                                                                          http://www.merchantmadison.com/
                                                                        • 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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