Merchant Bar

Name: Merchant Bar
Address: 426 N Market St, Wilmington, DE, United States, 19801
Telephone: (302) 502-3385
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.9

4.9

71 Reviews

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Top Tags:

Merchant Bar is an elevated gastrobar that infuses a chef-driven menu with an original hand-crafted cocktail menu focused on high-quality ingredients, aiming to bring you a unique bar and dining experience. Both for intimate dining or for a large group, Merchant Bar's dynamic space is perfect for any occasion.

For parties of 7 or more, please call the restaurant at 302-502-3385.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 5, 2022

9:30 PM

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Gastro Pub
Hours of operation
Dinner Tuesday - Friday: 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Saturday: 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(302) 502-3385
Website
http://www.merchantbarwilmington.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Bryan Sikora

Location
426 N Market St Wilmington, DE 19801
Neighborhood
Wilmington
Cross street
5th Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Merchant Cheese & Meat Board$22.00
selection of four cheeses, serrano ham, spiced nuts, honeycomb, condiments, baguette
Bistro Fries$8.00
crispy thin cut fries, za'atar, saffron aioli, curry ketchup
Guacamole and Salsa with Chips$10.00
Marinated Olives & Hummus$12.00
harissa crackers
Crispy Shrimp Toast$12.00
gingered shrimp mousse, toasted sesame, chili lime sauce
Garlic Shrimp$12.00
spicy garlic oil, toasted baguette, pine nuts
Crab Dip$14.00
jumbo lump crab, béchamel, brown butter crumbs, crudités, toasted baguette
Tuna Poke$14.00
ahi tuna, soy, avocado, scallion, crushed macadamia nuts, sesame seeds, seaweed, tortilla chips
Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns$14.00
crispy fried chicken, korean bbq sauce, sesame seeds, cucumber, red onion, cilantro
Fried Calamari$14.00
sweet corn chow chow, spicy aioli

Soup & Salads

Chicken Tortilla Soup$8.00
braised chicken, crispy tortillas, avocado, crema
Merchant Mixed Green Salad$12.00
mixed greens, honey balsamic dressing, ricotta salata, dried cranberry, toasted pecans

Burgers

Classic Burger$13.00
fresh ground chuck, cooper sharp cheese, lettuce, pickles, spicy sauce, house fries
Market Burger$13.00
fresh ground chuck, bacon-onion jam, smoked bacon, cooper sharp cheese, lettuce, tomato, house fries
Black and Blue Burger$13.00
blue cheese, bacon, caramelized onion, lettuce

Mains

Shrimp Tacos$12.00
marinated shrimp, mango salsa, chipotle aioli, queso fresco, lettuce, corn tortilla
Carne Asada Tacos$13.00
marinated flank steak, cilantro, onion, lime, morita salsa, corn tortilla
Tempura Fish Tacos$14.00
battered grouper, avocado salsa verde, queso fresco, pico de gallo, corn tortilla
Smoked Pork Belly Reuben$14.00
bok choy kraut, gochujang 1000 island, sharp cheddar, pickles
General TSO Cauliflower & Broccoli$14.00
lightly battered cauliflower, charred broccoli, general tso sauce, sesame seeds, scallion, chiles
Crab Pad Thai$18.00
jumbo lump crab, rice noodles, thai shrimp sauce, salted peanuts, bean sprouts, scallions

Wines on Tap

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
- Glass$10.00
- Carafe (5 Glasses)$40.00
Harkin Chardonnay, California
- Glass$10.00
- Carafe (5 Glasses)$40.00
Silver Totem, Washington State
- Glass$10.00
- Carafe (5 Glasses)$40.00
Saint Julien Malbec, Napa Valley
- Glass$12.00
- Carafe (5 Glasses)$48.00

Bubbles

Simonet Blanc de Blanc Brut N/V
- Glass$9.00
- Bottle$36.00
Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon Rosé$10.00
slightly sweet, sparkling, taste of strawberry

White

Tiffenbruner Pinot Grigio, Italy
- Glass$11.00
- Bottle$44.00
Pike Riesling Hills and Valleys, Australia
- Glass$10.00
- Bottle$40.00
Costamolino, Vermentino, Italy
- Glass$10.00
- Bottle$40.00
Novellum, Chardonnay, France
- Glass$10.00
- Bottle$40.00
Radley & Finch Chenin Blanc, South Africa
- Glass$9.00
- Bottle$36.00
Protocolo, White Blend, Spain
- Glass$7.00
- Bottle$28.00

Rosé

Conde Villar Vino Verde, Portugal
- Glass$10.00
- Bottle$40.00
FiGuière le Saint Andres, Provence, France
- Glass$11.00
- Bottle$44.00

Red

Annabella, Pinot Noir, Russian River
- Glass$12.00
- Bottle$48.00
Lamadrid Malbec, Argentina
- Glass$12.00
- Bottle$48.00
Canaletto Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Italy
- Glass$10.00
- Bottle$40.00
Carol Shelton Wild Thing, Zinfandel, California
- Glass$15.00
- Bottle$60.00

Beer

Funk Citra IPA, 6.1%$7.00
Union Red Fox IPA, 6.5%$7.00
Funk Brewing Funktoberfest, 5.4%$5.00
Big Oyster Stout, 6.5%$7.00
Brooklyn Lager, 5.5%$6.00
Yuengling Lager, 5%$5.00
Amstel Light, 3.5%$5.00
Miller Lite, 4.8%$4.00
PBR, 4.7%$4.00
Crispin Hard Apple Cider, 5%$6.00

Classic Cocktails

$12

Old Fashioned
bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel
Sazerac
bulleit rye, cognac, sugar, peychauds bitters, lemon twist
Bee's Knees
blue coat gin, honey, lemon, twist
Classic Margarita
cazadores tequila, patron citronage, lime, agave, salt rim
Moscow Mule
vodka, lime, fever tree ginger beer
Champagne Cocktail
blanc de blanc, cognac, lemon, sugar, lemon twist

Original Cocktails

$12

Off the Wagon
bourbon, walnut liquor, earl grey, sweet vermouth, toasted cinnamon
Jameson Smash
cucumber, st. germain, lemon
Blackberry Sour
whiskey, lemon, blackberry purée
Over the Cuckoo's Nest
hendrick's gin, amaro montenegro, lemon juice, cucumber
The Bali Hai
dark rum, giffard's banane liqueur, cream of coconut, orange and pineapple juices, nutmeg
Mamacita
jalapeño-infused tequila, mezcal, vanilla syrup, pineapple, lemon
La Flama Blanca
blanco tequila, luxardo bitter bianco, lillet blanc, orange bitters
Blue Sky for Dayz
pineapple-infused vodka, vanilla, lemon, blueberry
Big Pampin'
vodka, giffard's pamplemousse liqueur, orange juice, orange bitters, splash of club, sea salt

What 71 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.6Ambience
4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia / New Jersey Suburbs
Gastro Pub
Delaware
Best Overall
Delaware
Best Food
Delaware
Best Service
Delaware
Best Ambiance
Delaware
Best Value
Delaware
Fit for Foodies
Delaware
Good for Groups
Delaware
Hot Spot
Delaware
Neighborhood Gem
Delaware
Scenic View
Delaware
Vibrant Bar Scene

Sort by

Filters

CA
CASWilmington
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have been here a couple of times. The food is very good. The menu is a minimal twist on comfort food.
RP
RobP
Philadelphia
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful evening. Our server was awesome. As was the food. First time back since covid
a
analytic
Philadelphia
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience3
Excellent service, very good food, pricey wine, needs noise reduction panels on ceiling and above windows.
n
nephron
Philadelphia
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic experience all around. Menu is very compact, but interesting. Chef does some very creative things within the Mexican theme, not conventional Tex-Mex fare! Everything was well presented, with unique or unusual flavor combinations. Service prompt, friendly. Prices very reasonable. This has become one of our regular "go to " downtown pre-show dinner spots. Quick, friendly, casual, delicious, convenient, and affordable. What's not to love?
JR
JanetR
Philadelphia
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
First time here. Dinner before a show at the Queen. You can't get more convenient than that! Right across the street. Our table of 4 enjoyed all the food and drinks. The dishes we ordered were plentiful and delicious - fish tacos, short rib quesadillas, and short rib sandwich. Our service was efficient, with our server mindful that we were catching a show. We each had one drink and the bill total was quite reasonable, just slightly north of $100 without tip. Hard to do better than that for the same quality. Highly recommend!
BM
BillM
Philadelphia
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We loved it. Albert's service was excellent - prompt, friendly, full of personality. His recommendations re their interesting menu were excellent, from the original cocktails (try Off the Wagon) to the fun I enjoyed the Tacos Campechanos, a delish mix of steak and chorizo and a fabulous Smoked Morita Salsa. Bonus: everything was hot. These dishes weren't sitting around. The food did come out more quickly than we'd hoped for; I would recommend holding off on the entree orders until you're well into your first drink. Very minor quibble. This was great service, great food and we'll be back.
AS
AllyssaS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place to share a few apps before shows at The Grand or The Playhouse. Will return for date nights as well.
KM
KristiM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent dinner. This place is the whole package - good food, service, decor and drinks! We will definitely be back soon!
NP
NickP
Atlantic City
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good time with good friends! 😊👍🏻
T
Taylor
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food, drinks, service, and ambiance all good.
JS
JoelS
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
The food was great and the beer list was excellent. There were 2 Other Half IPAs on tap.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Baltimore
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Merchant Bar was awesome! It’s so cute inside, and the food and cocktails were awesome! Don’t skip the spicy garlic shrimp or the Korean fried chicken bao buns!
CS
CaseyS
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent meal and ambiance. Give it a try. Friendly staff.
JR
JRCho
Philadelphia
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cocktails and food were very good! Service was excellent as our server was very knowledgeable and informative about everything on the menu. Definitely recommend!
D
Dawn
Philadelphia
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Four of us shared the meat and cheese board and then ordered separate entrees. It was amazing! I had the crab pad Thai. The drink menu is fun. The service was perfect.
C
Caroline
Seattle
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was delicious, unique dishes that were executed well. Our server was so personable and was great with our timing, making sure our needs were met, and overall giving a great atmosphere to the restaurant. 5/5 Would recommend to anyone! I would say get a reservation if you're dead set on a day/time, not too much seating - which made the dining experience better but if we hadn't made a reservation it may have been a wait - although there were still seats at the bar!
G
Geoff
Philadelphia
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was perfect for bar food…creative, beautifully cooked and DELICIOUS! The service was attentive but not overly so, friendly, welcoming. Even the water was ice cold. A great addition to the LaFia family We’ll be back
GD
GiselliD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is such a vibe, the drinks are delicious as well as the food. Our waiter Andrew made excellent recommendations!
CG
CharlesG
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wait staff and food were all great. Recommended!
C
Charles
Philadelphia
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a fantastic experience at Merchant! The food is sensational and the cocktails are superb. The bartenders are the best (Greg rocks)!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was our first time there and we had a great time! The wait staff and bartender were very friendly and the food was delicious. In particular the fried chicken bai buns were excellent.
KB
KimberlyB
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great evening! We will be back
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 21, 2021
overall5food4service5ambience5
I highly recommend this place. The guacamole and chips and crab dip and Korean chicken bao buns were amazing. The French dip was a bit too sweet and salty and the hamburger was okay. But my daughter ordered that and I would recommend being a bit more adventurous. But this place is still amazing with great ambiance, service, and style.
MA
MichaelA
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2021
overall4food4service3ambience3
Good place to visit for a drink and light meal. Pick your time carefully, place gets busy as the day gets late. We had a 6:30 reservation and the resturant tables were all taken. By 7:30 any walk in was directed to the bar area
H
Hannahd1
Philadelphia
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good service in casual gastropub environment
TM
TerrieM
Washington DC
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Came to Wilmington for a concert. Had dinner at Merchant before the show. A perfect start to a perfect night. Everything was on point. The food, the drinks and the staff. A must repeat when I come back.
M
Mikanngo
Philadelphia
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2021
overall4food4service4ambience4
This was our second visit to Merchant Bar. The menu has some interesting offerings. I had the pork Belly Reuben that was very good. My wife likes their burgers. The wait staff is very good. I especially liked Albert, he was very engaging and friendly. They are proximate to entertainment venues we frequent. We will certainly return.
m
matthewf
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 9, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server was awesome and food/drink recommendations were on point. I’m pretty sure the bar tenders cannot make a bad drink. Great experience and I would not hesitate to go back.
JI
JazzmanInPA
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 24, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Among other things we ordered a "Mamacita" cocktail on the basis of a strong recommendation we read online. But didn't like it, because we didn't realize that we didn't like mezcal, which adds a pretty smoky flavor. The waitress offered to bring something else kindly, but we stuck with it because we ordered. We also tried the Jameson Smash, which was amazingly refreshing.
u
urbanyetti
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 8, 2021
overall4food4service4ambience4
This is a great spot. So great to get out finally. It looks like Wilmington's Market street got hit pretty hard by Covid. I'm glad to be able to get out for a tasty meal. This corner restaurant is great: large windows, great light. Feels like an old school, Manhattan bar. The staff were great. The food was excellent and savory. Good mix of ideas and new twists on old standards (the burger was excellent, as were the korean chicken buns). Good wine selection.
JW
JWes
Philadelphia
57 reviews
vip
5.0
57 reviews
Dined on June 25, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waiter was great. We had a party of 10 and we only had an hour before a music show across the street. He did a terrific job of taking our orders & getting the food out right away. We loved the cheese board & garlic shrimp.
NP
NickP
Atlantic City
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good and great spot that is awesome in Downtown Wilmington!! 😊👍🏻
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome appetizers
TS
TammyS
Philadelphia
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Small but great menu! We ordered several small plate dishes and they were all delicious!
J
Jewels
Philadelphia
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2021
overall4food4service5ambience4
Small, but the staff was very friendly; food was delicious, and the drinks were very good.
DS
DeanS
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2021
overall4food4service4ambience4
Very nice places for dinner. Nice view and lots of room.
AF
AshleighF
Wilmington
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great time!! Would definitely go back. The drinks were strong and delicious.
PG
PGSBest
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2021
overall5food5service4ambience5
If you want to have a nice romantic yet casual dinner please give them a try. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I plan on returning very very soon. Good food, good drinks, great ambience.
P
heatherP
Philadelphia
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food & Drinks were good as always. Waitstaff are always so nice and friendly.
K
Kristen
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 6, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Merchant Bar is one of my favorite spots, great food and drinks and the staff is excellent:)

FAQs

Merchant Bar is rated 4.9 stars by 71 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 5, 2022

9:30 PM

426 N Market St Wilmington, DE 19801

Additional information

Cross street
5th Street
Neighborhood
Wilmington
Hours of operation
Dinner Tuesday - Friday: 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Saturday: 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Gastro Pub
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Bryan Sikora
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.merchantbarwilmington.com/
Phone number
(302) 502-3385

Merchant Bar

Make a reservation

Additional information

Shrimp Tacos

Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns

Market Burger

Shareable

Merchant Cheese & Meat Board$22.00

Bistro Fries$8.00

Guacamole and Salsa with Chips$10.00

Marinated Olives & Hummus$12.00

Crispy Shrimp Toast$12.00

Garlic Shrimp$12.00

Crab Dip$14.00

Tuna Poke$14.00

Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns$14.00

Fried Calamari$14.00

Soup & Salads

Chicken Tortilla Soup$8.00

Merchant Mixed Green Salad$12.00

Burgers

Classic Burger$13.00

Market Burger$13.00

Black and Blue Burger$13.00

Mains

Shrimp Tacos$12.00

Carne Asada Tacos$13.00

Tempura Fish Tacos$14.00

Smoked Pork Belly Reuben$14.00

General TSO Cauliflower & Broccoli$14.00

Crab Pad Thai$18.00

Wines on Tap

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Harkin Chardonnay, California

Silver Totem, Washington State

Saint Julien Malbec, Napa Valley

Bubbles

Simonet Blanc de Blanc Brut N/V

Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon Rosé$10.00

White

Tiffenbruner Pinot Grigio, Italy

Pike Riesling Hills and Valleys, Australia

Costamolino, Vermentino, Italy

Novellum, Chardonnay, France

Radley & Finch Chenin Blanc, South Africa

Protocolo, White Blend, Spain

Rosé

Conde Villar Vino Verde, Portugal

FiGuière le Saint Andres, Provence, France

Red

Annabella, Pinot Noir, Russian River

Lamadrid Malbec, Argentina

Canaletto Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Italy

Carol Shelton Wild Thing, Zinfandel, California

Beer

Funk Citra IPA, 6.1%$7.00

Union Red Fox IPA, 6.5%$7.00

Funk Brewing Funktoberfest, 5.4%$5.00

Big Oyster Stout, 6.5%$7.00

Brooklyn Lager, 5.5%$6.00

Yuengling Lager, 5%$5.00

Amstel Light, 3.5%$5.00

Miller Lite, 4.8%$4.00

PBR, 4.7%$4.00

Crispin Hard Apple Cider, 5%$6.00

Classic Cocktails

Old Fashioned

Sazerac

Bee's Knees

Classic Margarita

Moscow Mule

Champagne Cocktail

Original Cocktails

Off the Wagon

Jameson Smash

Blackberry Sour

Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The Bali Hai

Mamacita

La Flama Blanca