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Merchant, Madison, WI

Merchant

3.9 (1617)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Lively
  • 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

  • Merchant's Weekend Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Please note our full dinner menu isn't available until 4pm, but Bar Snacks are available! Happy Hour Specials include: -$4 CORN DOGS served with hot honey -50% off all Merchant Favorites -20% off all Classic Cocktails -$3 Lawnmower Beers -Buy One Get One, House Wines By the Glass -20% off Our Bar Snacks Menu -50% off Curds and Fries
    Merchant's Weekend Happy Hour 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

Offers

  • 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

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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,617 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

3.9
3.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.0Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Madison

    Innovative

  • Madison

    Lively

  • Madison

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Merchant offers "amazing food" paired with a "stylish decor" and an "intimate vibe," making it a standout dining experience. The cocktails are "spectacular" and the service is friendly. While some reviews mention occasional service delays and menu discrepancies, the overall atmosphere and cuisine are praised. A "great local place," it's perfect for brunch or a night out.
1,617 Reviews

  1. Divya

    Chicago / Illinois4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Super underwhelming experience. The food was terrible and the ambience was nothing remarkable. I am not sure why people like this place.

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  2. Tanya

    Wisconsin1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our party of 4 all liked their food, appetizers, and drinks. We ate outside and it was lovely. I emailed beforehand and asked about allergies so I didn’t have to ask too many questions in front of our guests. I got a detailed and helpful response from Merchant to help me order with ease. Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Cassidy

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was AMAZING and the outdoor seating was so nice
    MerchantResponded 4 days ago
    Thanks for the review, Cassidy! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both our food and our outdoor seating at Merchant. It's always wonderful to know when our guests have had a great dining experience with us. We strive to provide excellent service and it's wonderful to hear that we hit the mark for you. We can't wait to welcome you back soon for another meal!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Sonja

    Wisconsin3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Menu is small, but the food was good! Forced me to order something I normally wouldn’t.
    MerchantResponded on June 23, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Sonja! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food! And thanks for your note on our menu offerings, we'll certainly keep that in mind as we move forward! We're always here to provide a good dining experience for our guests and hope to see you back at Merchant soon :)

    Is this helpful?

  5. Deb

    Wisconsin13 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    I’ve eaten at Merchant before and had a nice experience. Yesterday it took over 1/2 hour to get our food (we had simple breakfast food) and it was hot/stuffy in the restaurant (uncomfortably so-also booked an inside table knowing I didn’t want to outside in the extreme heat). The food was good and our server did the best he could with the circumstances.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Katherine

    Wisconsin1 review

    2.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Air conditioning was broken and environment was not comfortable at all. Apparently it had been broken all day. It would have been helpful to get an advance heads-up from the restaurant as we would have just rescheduled.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jamie VIP

    Chicago / Illinois3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    The air conditioning was barely working and the salads were not great

    Is this helpful?

  8. Courtney

    Chicago / Illinois2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 17, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was wonderful, all around. Drinks were good, expensive but good. Our party both ordered steak and it was cooked fine, but the lowest quality of meat available. I don't mind paying for food and drinks, but when the bill is almost $200 for low grade meat, it's hard to justify a return.

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  9. Raquel VIP

    Las Vegas11 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    We had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant. I ordered a steak, which arrived overcooked. I sent it back and received another—also overcooked. After two failed attempts, I gave up and chose not to eat. Despite this, the restaurant still charged me for the steak, stating it was because it was an “expensive item,” even though I didn’t eat it. When I raised my concerns, the management showed no interest in making things right. They offered the excuse that the steak was overcooked due to the lighting in the kitchen, which made it hard for staff to tell if it was cooked properly—an odd and frankly unacceptable explanation. Overall, this was a poor experience in both food quality and customer service. I left hungry and frustrated. I won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to others.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Paul

    Philadelphia County1 review

    3.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Just eh. Slow waiter. Menu needs more creativity. Won’t return.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Merchant is rated 3.9 stars by 1617 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 25 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

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