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Merchant, Madison, WI

Merchant

4.1 (1605)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for happy hour
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.

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
    Tony Hargrove
  • Private party facilities
    We have semi-private dining available. Please call (608) 259-9799 to speak to management.
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
  • 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

Featured in

Experiences

  • 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 Trivia Night Is BACK!

    Feb 16, 2025 - Jun 8, 2025
    Merchant has teamed up with America's Pub Quiz to put on Trivia nights every Sunday from 4-6pm! Grab your favorite group of pals and join us for themed events, hilarious questions, drink specials, and a chance to win gift cards! See you there!

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 - 10:00 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

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,605 people are saying

Merchant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.1
4.1 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Madison

    Great for brunch

  • Madison

    Innovative

  • Madison

    Healthy

  • Madison

    Lively

  • Madison

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Merchant offers a vibrant dining experience with "excellent cuisine and service." Enjoy "delicious craft cocktails and gourmet comfort food with a southern flair" in a stylish atmosphere. The "perfect spot" for brunch or a dinner date, Merchant stands out with "friendly staff" and a "fun vibe," making it a must-visit in Madison.
1,605 Reviews

  1. Amy

    Chicago8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful time celebrating Mother’s Day at Merchant. Great food and service! The setting is awesome!
    MerchantResponded 4 days ago
    Thanks for visiting us, Amy! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time celebrating Mother's Day at Merchant and we were able to make the day extra special :) We hope you'll join us again very soon, we're looking forward to it!

    Is this helpful?

  2. kelli

    Orange County2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was slow and good just ok. Many better options in Madison
    MerchantResponded 4 days ago
    Hi Kelli, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Merchant. We're sorry to hear that you found our service to be slow. We always aim to provide a smooth and enjoyable dining experience for our guests and we're sorry we missed the mark. Your feedback is important to us and we will certainly work on improving our service speed. We appreciate your comments and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Joshua

    Milwaukee1 review

    1.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I requested patio seating that was confirmed by the restaurant. However, when I arrived, the restaurant had no knowledge of this request and did not make any effort to remedy the situation. I will not dine here again.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Carly

    Chicago5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Having been a server myself for many years, I understand someone may be new, however this was horrible. We waited for all our drinks, having to get our drinks ourselves from the bar. My allergy, due to cross contamination, did not allow me the potatoes for brunch. Yet, they decided themselves to not give me anything instead. Until i asked. I then received greasy toast. Will not go back.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Eva

    Chicago1 review

    3.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The serving staff was attentive and helpful. And the beignets were great!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Yamuna VIP

    Chicago56 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 30, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    It was ok. Catfish was the best. Both rare steaks we ordered was given to us medium. Old fashioned was passable.
    MerchantResponded on May 7, 2025
    Hi Yamuna, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our catfish. We appreciate your feedback on your steak temperatures and our old fashioned. We're always aiming to improve, and your comments will help us do just that. We hope to welcome you back to Merchant in the future :) Cheers!

    Is this helpful?

  7. John

    Unspecified1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Took 3 hours to get our food and servers lacked attention to customers

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jeffrey VIP

    San Francisco58 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great local place with excellent cuisine and service! Great vibe !
    MerchantResponded on April 28, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Jeffrey! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at Merchant. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed your food and service! We always strive to provide a great value for our guests, so we appreciate your feedback on this. We hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Madelyn

    Chicago2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Came for brunch. Had the Paloma which was fabulous. Server was friendly. Ordered French toast with a side of potatoes. The French toast was basic, it was good…. Until I got the hair in my mouth. It happens, I get it but that was it for me. The potatoes were so heavily salted they were not edible sadly. They were hot & flavorful, just WAY too salty. The Paloma was the highlight.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Apryl

    Houston3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was great and the atmosphere is fantastic. It had been my favorite place in Madison until this visit. I think the prices are high for the quality of food. My steak was overcooked, as well. 7.5 out of 10

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Merchant is rated 4.1 stars by 1605 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Wisconsin
  4. Madison
  5. Madison

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.
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
    Tony Hargrove
  • 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
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct

Featured in

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