Merchants Pub and Plate

5 Reviews on “Merchants Pub and Plate”

• Dante Mallory

  From what Ive heard, you guys need new management or something because there are some unscrupulous things happening and the wrong people are suffering from it.

  April 5, 2020, 4:29 am

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• Molly Laughlin

  If you arent intending to go to Merchants, you might not make it there. Anyone driving down Massachusetts with a mission to find any food to satisfy their hunger will stop at one of the first or even second good looking restaurant they see. With the possibility of not finding anything decent further down the street, an average sushi restaurant or upscale chain restaurant will do- as long as the food is served and is served fast. However, for those few with the patience to inspect all the options and make the full journey down Mass street, Merchants stone building on the corner will catch their eye. And for those who make the trip inside, their taste buds will not be disappointed.Upon entry, you will be seated on the first floor or potentially brought up to the balcony level. The dcor in the building gives it an upscale feeling, but not so upscale that you cant dress casually for a meal. A first look at the menu gives away that Merchants ingredients are local and from the Midwest area. A taste of the food confirms the menus description. There is something about locally grown and produced food that gives it an extra burst of flavor and freshness. If you are a Merchants regular, you know that many items on the menu are changing based on season of fruits and vegetables, guaranteeing their freshness. The appetizer menu gives opportunity to try a new dish such as a parsnip dip. This creamy root vegetable time is covered with a bacon-chilli jam that sweetens the mix. This burst of new flavors is both refreshing and addicting. Youll find yourself quickly trying to get the next bite in before it runs out or your friend has eaten it all. It is eaten with parmesan crostini on the side-gluten free if you request. The majority of dishes on the menu can be made gluten free, lactose free, or both. For someone with both food allergies, this opens up a whole world of possibilities for what can be ordered and eaten.With a wide variety of main dishes, it was difficult to go with any other option than the classic Merchants Burger; dont be fooled by the name because this burger is anything but classic. Its hard to make a burger wrong in any circumstance, but its just as hard to make a burger right. Merchants is one of the few who does a burger right, and this is apparent in the lack of need for extra condiments to help bring out flavor in a tasteless, classic, burger and bun. Who needs ketchup when the cabernet onion jam overtakes you with flavor? Who needs mustard when the micro greens and house aioli bring the jam and burger together to create a new, higher standard for a classic burger? And who needs typical, dried out and stale gluten-free bread when the gluten-free buns at merchants are the exact opposite? Yes, I would like fries with that and unfortunately, no, I did not save room for dessert. And if you dont have time to make it to Merchants for dinner, fear not because their weekend brunch meets and exceeds brunch standards. There isnt a menu with brunch options but instead a large buffet filled with classic brunch food with a twist. Instead of a regular egg casserole, Merchants adds in asparagus for a refreshing twist. With the ability to choose your own serving sizes, its difficult not to get carried away when faced with the decision of plain French toast or French toast with cinnamon. Youre faced with an equally difficult decision when deciding between fresh, still sizzling bacon whose smell overwhelms the entire room or the organic turkey sausage that is spiced to perfection and cooked to perfection. The staff at Merchants are a look away and seem to always know when you need a drink refill, an extra order of fries, or the check. They walk the fine line between being overbearing and asking how your meal is too many times and spending too much time away from the table. Even if the restaurant is busy, you are seated quickly and served even quicker. Not the fault of Merchants or the servers is the anticipation that builds as you anxiously wait for your food to be delivered to you, not lasting long on your plate before it has been completely devoured. Once you have tried Merchants, there will be no more stopping at chain restaurants located at the beginning of Mass street when hunger calls. You can take the scenic route all the way to the end where Merchants sits with the expectation of fast service, new items on the menu, and always leaving with a full and happy stomach.

  July 19, 2017, 11:42 pm

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• JoEsther

  Ugh!

  October 25, 2014, 10:04 pm

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• Tara Kat

  Delicious and creative food, nice atmosphere and a killer beer selection. While maybe a bit sophisticated for the college crowd of Lawrence, Merchants offers seasonal menus, locally sourced ingredients and really innovative dishes. The sweet corn arranchini are little bites of heaven and the mac and cheese will be the best thing you’ve ever eaten. Lots of options for a vegetarian like me and their double-up lunch special and small plates are a great alternative if you’re looking to spend less. Easily one of my favorite places in Lawrence.

  July 10, 2014, 9:15 pm

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• Amanda

  Pricey but Yummy. The food is definitely priced on the higher side (although a large range of sandwiches and burgers are reasonably priced around the $10 mark). The specialty mac & cheese they serve is probably the best mac & cheese I’ve ever eaten – but small in portion for the price. I had a rabbit special that was AMAZING. I highly recommend ordering seasonal specials. And of course the drink selection is fantastic.

  March 12, 2014, 12:47 am

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