Merchant

4.2

1570 Reviews

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Make a booking

2 people

27 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 22 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
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
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Experiences

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😎
Date Night at Merchant! Prixe Fixe $60 for 2
US$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!
Winter Restaurant Week at Merchant 2025!
US$30.00 per person
19 Jan 2025 - 24 Jan 2025
Join us for Winter Restaurant Week 2025! Once again, Merchant will be offering a 3-course dinner menu showcasing options from our standard dinner menu, plus adding some fun new additions in celebration of Restaurant Week! Not interested in Restaurant Week? No problem! We'll have our full dinner menu available as well :) Additionally, we'll be opening up for dinner service on Monday, January 20th specifically for Restaurant Week! We can't wait to host you!

Offers

Everyday Happy Hour!
Multiple dates available
Sun - 15:00 - 16:00,Sat - 15:00 - 16:00
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
Friday Fish Fry
Multiple dates available
Fri - 16:00 - 22:00
Wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish from Bodin Fisheries, Bayfield, WI, coleslaw, cornichon tartar sauce, rye bread, butter, warm potato salad w/mustard vinaigrette

Hand-Cut French FriesUS$8.00
with black pepper mayonnaise (v, vg*)
Fried Cheese CurdsUS$10.50
buttermilk-battered and fried. Served with ranch and hot honey (v)
House Marinated OlivesUS$12.00
served warm with citrus oil, marcona almonds (vg)
Chile-Pimento Cheese Deviled EggsUS$10.00
creamed hook’s 1 year cheddar, guajillo, red peppers, bacon bits, smoked paprika (v*, gf)
Fried Chicken WingsUS$11.50
choose: mild or spicy choose dipping sauce: buttermilk ranch, hot honey, citrus remoulade
Cheese, Charcuterie & House PicklesUS$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 SaladUS$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 SaladUS$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 MusselsUS$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 BurgerUS$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 MeltUS$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 US$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 CakesUS$26.00
three large shrimp cakes, panko, spicy pickled relish, scallions, tabasco, creole seasoning $26
Broiled WhitefishUS$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 AvailabilityUS$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 CutletUS$25.00
oven braised collard greens, house-pickled okra, and red-eye gravy $25
Vegan Mushroom ÉtoufféeUS$26.00
stewed Vitruvian Farms oyster mushrooms, red beans, haricot verts, spinach, steamed rice (vg) $26
Crispy Fried Chicken PlatterUS$26.00
crispy chicken thighs, braised collard greens, celeriac slaw $26
Steak Au PoivreUS$36.00
spinach, brined green-peppercorn sauce boudran (gf) $36

SIDES FOR THE TABLE

Warm Homemade CornbreadUS$6.00
crystal hot sauce-roasted garlic butter with chow chow relish (v)
Macaroni & CheeseUS$8.00
Creamy Buttermilk Mashed TurnipsUS$8.00
Sautéed SpinachUS$8.00
French Green BeansUS$6.00
with shallot
Braised Bacon-Collard GreensUS$8.00

DESSERT

Flourless Chocolate BrownieUS$11.00
vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, flake salt (v, gf) $11
Banana Cream PieUS$12.00
graham cracker-pecan crust, chocolate shavings, freeze dried banana $12 (v)
Warm BeignetsUS$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 & CheeseUS$7.00
Single Patty Burger (w/cheese $7)US$6.00
Crispy Chicken Strips with ranchUS$6.00
Side of Green BeansUS$3.00
Side of French FriesUS$2.00
Side of Seasonal FruitUS$4.00
(v)

FRIDAY SPECIAL

Friday Fish Fry *available only on Fridays!US$26.00
wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish, cornichon tartar sauce, fries, black pepper mayonnaise, celeriac slaw with pickled sweet peppers $26

What 1,570 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

4.1Food
4.1Service
4.4Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Madison
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Merchant offers a vibrant downtown dining experience with standout dishes like the "farmers market omelet" and unique drinks like the "lemon and herb gin&tonic." While some find the menu pricey for portion sizes, many praise the "great service" and "delicious food." Ideal for brunch, happy hour, or group gatherings.

1,570 Reviews

C
Catie
Milwaukee
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
It just took forever. We only ordered entrees and were there over three hours. I think maybe they forgot to put our order in? My friend normally orders dessert and specifically didn’t last night because we had already been there for so long.
Is this helpful?
M
Michele
New York City
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
I really wanted to like this. The bar manager was great, although he was swamped. Our server didn’t seem to know what was going on. We are really patient people but I am not sure I’d go back anytime soon. Drinks were good. Service was not. Food was just ok. I’d probably go back for drinks at the bar only. No fault of the staff at all but there was a large table seated by us which had a really loud, really rude woman who demanded stuff be taken off of her bill. It was gross of her and it just added to the experience being off.
Is this helpful?
d
denia88
Chicago
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
This is a small place so I thought the service would be better. Really cool looking on the inside and good good. Price for a glass of orange juice for a kid at $6...pass.
Is this helpful?
B
Barbara
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed the food and the service was excellent!
Is this helpful?
B
Betsy
Greater Boston
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
I’ve enjoyed eating here and have also enjoyed drinks at the bar. I was excited to go back and it was very disappointing. The cheese curds (normally awesome) were not good. I ordered the chopped salad which was meager. The glass of wine was MAYBE 4 ounces. Not going back—cost definitely doesn’t equal the value!
Is this helpful?
K
Kellie
Milwaukee
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on 17 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Merchant was very cute and decorated for Nightmare Before Christmas with drinks to go with the theme. Service was attentive and prompt without being overly attentive. We had issues with the level of salt in all of the dishes. The cheese curds, oyster mushroom melt sandwich and the accompanying fries were so salty that I couldn’t eat it. The shrimp cakes were fine but the collards that went with it were also so salty that my friend couldn’t eat them. I wish it wasn’t so because we would have given Merchant a 5.
Is this helpful?
J
Janet
Milwaukee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful brunch menu that had a fun play on the movie, Nightmare before Christmas. Drinks were tasty and in cute glasses/cups. Food came out hot and flavourful. Will return. 😁
MerchantResponded on 16 December 2024
Thank you so much for your review, Janet! We're absolutely thrilled you love the theme of our holiday pop-up this year and enjoyed your holiday cocktails and your food! We're so excited for you to return and hope it's very soon :) Cheers!
Is this helpful?
K
Kaitlyn
London
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We really enjoyed the Nightmare Before Christmas popup. The ambiance was delightful and the themed drinks were delicious! Our meal was also fantastic.
MerchantResponded on 16 December 2024
Thank you so much for your review, Kaitlyn! We're so glad to hear you loved our themed holiday pop-up and enjoyed both your holiday drinks and your food! We really hope you'll join us again and we hope it's very soon :) We're very much looking forward to it! Cheers!
Is this helpful?
J
Jeff
Chicago
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 13 December 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
We had a billing issue that was not corrected very easily or very professionally. This soured the entire dining experience.
Is this helpful?
M
Maya
Milwaukee
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on 13 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Food was great really enjoyed it! Service was a bit slow and not great - was offered a refill on our drinks and never received it. But overall nice place!
MerchantResponded on 16 December 2024
Thanks for your review, Maya! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed your food during your recent visit with us. However, we're disappointed to hear you weren't impressed with your service and our team dropped the ball in following through on an offered refill. We will certainly be discussing this internally as a team and appreciate you outlining where we can improve. We take all feedback seriously and appreciate your comments! We hope you'll consider giving us another shot soon so we can try and make up for our mistakes :) Cheers!
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FAQs

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

Merchant is rated 4.2 stars by 1570 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

27 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 22 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

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
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

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.

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Merchant

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Merchant's Nightmare Before Christmas!💀🎄

Date Night at Merchant! Prixe Fixe $60 for 2

Winter Restaurant Week at Merchant 2025!

Everyday Happy Hour!

Friday Fish Fry

SNACKS & SHARING (20% off during happy hour)

Hand-Cut French FriesUS$8.00

Fried Cheese CurdsUS$10.50

House Marinated OlivesUS$12.00

Chile-Pimento Cheese Deviled EggsUS$10.00

Fried Chicken WingsUS$11.50

Cheese, Charcuterie & House PicklesUS$32.00

SOUP & SALADS

Chopped SaladUS$14.00

Cauliflower Cobb SaladUS$16.00

Spicy Corn Bisque with MusselsUS$16.00

SANDWICHES

The Merchant BurgerUS$16.50

Braised Collard MeltUS$16.00

COMFORTING CLASSICS

Baked Creamy Macaroni & Cheese US$23.00

Parmesan-Crusted Shrimp CakesUS$26.00

Broiled WhitefishUS$26.00

Steak Sandwich - Limited AvailabilityUS$18.00

MAINS

Fried Breaded Pork CutletUS$25.00

Vegan Mushroom ÉtoufféeUS$26.00

Crispy Fried Chicken PlatterUS$26.00

Steak Au PoivreUS$36.00

SIDES FOR THE TABLE

Warm Homemade CornbreadUS$6.00

Macaroni & CheeseUS$8.00

Creamy Buttermilk Mashed TurnipsUS$8.00

Sautéed SpinachUS$8.00

French Green BeansUS$6.00

Braised Bacon-Collard GreensUS$8.00

DESSERT

Flourless Chocolate BrownieUS$11.00

Banana Cream PieUS$12.00

Warm BeignetsUS$11.00

FOR THE KIDDOS

Small Mac & CheeseUS$7.00

Single Patty Burger (w/cheese $7)US$6.00

Crispy Chicken Strips with ranchUS$6.00

Side of Green BeansUS$3.00

Side of French FriesUS$2.00

Side of Seasonal FruitUS$4.00

FRIDAY SPECIAL

Friday Fish Fry *available only on Fridays!US$26.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Merchant offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Merchant restaurant rated?

Is Merchant currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day