Merchant Oyster Co.

My mom, my son and I came to Merchant on Friday (2/16) night. Merchant Oyster is pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty...pretty good. We sat upstairs and our waiter was great! Really friendly and welcoming. He had a lot of patience chatting with my son and that means a lot because my son is very talkative. 😊 The vibe at Merchant is great. It's eclectic and warm and welcoming. The food was awesome. The warm lobster roll with butter was heavenly. And the crab cake sandwich was so fresh and flavorful. The plain mac and cheese was good. It's definitely a nice option for kids. I recommend trying the potato salad. It was crisp and refreshing making it a nice accompaniment to the seafood. We'll definitely be back.

One of my favorite spots in Lawerenceville! The staff is so friendly and helpful explaining the menu to us since it was our first time at a seafood restaurant. The food was so good, we were about to order it again to take home. Highly recommend!

Merchant Oyster Co. reminds me why we moved to Lawrenceville. There is just something about sitting out on the sidewalk, enjoying good food and drink, and watching the world turn on Butler that hits all the feels. In the last few months we have been several times and always enjoy it. The oysters are fresh and flown in from the Northeast and Canada. Staff is well versed in the different flavor notes if you play a high level oyster game. If the only the pre-pandemic happy hour oyster specials would come back! Sadly, oysters in Pittsburgh will always be a bit pricey (that pesky flying in thing). The cocktails are complex and tasty, featuring some local liquors. They have a good smattering of beer and wine, including bubbles to go with your seafood. The mussels have a good, basic white wine broth and are served with the most perfect crunchy toasty bread. The shrimp reminds me of what we enjoy in the South Carolina low country. The spinach and artichoke dip is honestly the best I've ever had (see about the toasty bread above). It has so much more flavor than what you normally find. The lobster roll is also a 🤌. Again with the toasty roll, tasty lobster, hints of dill, celery crunch...uh I'm hungry again. Go and enjoy!

The food was a bit too salty, but the service was good. If you’re looking for drinks and seafood in Pittsburgh, you can still go there. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh doesn’t have many good seafood options.

Truly fantastic oysters, lobster rolls, lobster melts, and beer of course! Great people. Awesome vibe. Huge fan of this place. Maine Dinner making a very special appearance was just ridiculous icing on the cake. Try your luck grabbing a seat at the lively bar when there's a long wait.

I stop by here and always have great experience. Great atmosphere, friendly service with excellent food and beer. They have tables outside where your fluffy friends 🐕 will be welcomed. Their Clam Boil is my favorite besides fresh oysters and chowders. The burger is also great. It's simple but comes with fabulous buns.

Excellent food, atmosphere and service! Best oyster place we have found. New England clam chowder was amazing. Fantastic experience and we will be back. Delicious! One side note, beautiful and clean washrooms! Always a bonus.

Super awesome service from the bartender. The oysters and peel-n-eat shrimp were amazing. Nice atmosphere. Now for the not so positive. The seating at the bar was sort of uncomfortable. The lobster roll was not so good. The bread was over saturated with butter and old bay. The lobster was also very dry. The roll was also extremely small for the cost.

Trendy seafood pub with rustic ship aesthetic. Pretty much whole menu is seafood except one or two plates. Seating is available inside and outside (weather permitting). I surprisingly decided to get the foot long hotdog because the table next to us got it and it looked so good. It was amazing. The bun was toasted perfectly. The toppings were fresh and added good flavor. The house chips were good but a little to much seasoning for my liking. I would rate 8/10 My mom got the lobster cuban. Lobster and corn beef was an odd combo, in my opinion, but she liked it. She said the cheese, pickles and sauce blended everything together to be surprisingly good. The lobster meat was also real, not imitation. She said she wishes it was thicker though. Her overall rating of the dish was 7/10. I'm excited to come back to try their oysters, which we skipped this time :)

Great selection of oysters from east to west coast. The peel n eat shrimp are so good. It's hard to find them in Pittsburgh.

One of the best seafood joints in town. The atmosphere is fantastic and its not terribly hard to get a table. I love the variation of lobster and crab sandwiches, but my favorite has got to be the Lobster cuban. The lobster is succulent and they don't skimp out on the portions or try to cram in crawfish as a filler, which I can appreciate. The oysters depending on the day can also be pretty good. The drinks here have been phenomenal, the quality you get could be confused with a full blown cocktail bar. Higgins hawaiian shirt was a favorite of mine, and I really wish they would bring back drunk at the kids table. My wife swears by their lobster roll, so we have been and will continue to return here for what i figure will be an eternity.

Had a great experience. Sat outside, greeted right away. They had a great variety of drinks, and a few good options for people who can't eat seafood (me). I took photos for reference, but my husband said that everything was DELICIOUS! I had a really good, simple grilled cheese sammy, and a nice dry peach cider. I couldn't recommend this place enough, especially for a Sunday funday or summer night out! Perfect vibes!

I really wanted to like this spot given all the good reviews I've seen, but I don't think the food is very good. Their drinks were decent though, we really liked the gin drink on their menu. The oysters were fresh. Their clam chowder is not very creamy or rich and didn't do it for me though it's cute that they serve it in a metal mug. Their mussels didn't taste very fresh and had some sand in them; the white wine sauce it was in was not very flavorful. The mussels came with bread to dip in the sauce but the bread was over toasted and didn't take well to the sauce. The crab cake sandwich was not memorable and way too bready and dry. The roll they used was not good and didn't seem buttered and toasted. Friends liked their very long hot dog and the cold lobster roll. Personally, I like my lobster rolls Maine-style and hot so it would be awesome if they had both options on the menu. The service was also not great and slow. We waited outside for almost an hour when there was only one table sitting outside. They then came out to ask if we wanted an outside table.

It's always fun to go out and try different types of oysters. They have a nice variety right now to choose from and the one I tried were all delicious. The service is good and so is the atmosphere. It's a fun place to eat!

Another fantastic visit to Merchant Oyster Co! I LOVE a good lobster roll & the ones here do not disappoint. They offer both a cold version (my fave) or a warm one if you're ready for some buttery goodness. We also tried the crab spinach artichoke dip, highly recommend! The cocktails are not to be missed! Tried the "Funky Duck" featuring @maggiesfarmrum Hidden Harbor Rum, Tawny Port, Lemon, & Ango served up with a smile by Kirk! This is the perfect spot in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh for some delicious seafood, stiff cocktails, fun atmosphere, & friendly service. Love it! The photos are all from a previous visit that was just as nice!

Nothing better than a seafood feast on Friday night!! We went early as 5 pm so the place felt quiet and spacey, love it. They had 9 types of oysters that day and we just randomly picked some. All of the ones we ordered were super fresh and had their own 'flavor'. You can also ask them to pick some for you, or give you an introduction, if you are not familiar with the tastes and their origins. For cooked items, we had 1/2 peel and eat shrimp, mussels and soft shell clams, highly recommend the shrimp and clam, mussel was an okay.

Service was great. Love the location right in the middle of lawrenceville. Outdoor seating is always a plus. Got a nice description of the available oysters. Our the crab grilled cheese with old bay chips. Very good. Would have like if there were more chucks of crab and it wasn't so shredded but all in all, a good sandwich. Old bay chips are delish.

Came here simply for a set of oysters. They have quite a wide variety of oysters, that also means the prices vary too. (Some are quite pricey.) We got a couple oysters in addition to a shooter. They shuck them right there for you. The shooter was delicious! Don't remember the names of the oysters we had but they were delicious and tasted fresh. If you're an oyster fan, this is the spot for you! Everyone here was nice and friendly too.

Go here for the oysters & cocktails; do dinner elsewhere. The front room is small but laid out well for space between tables. There is also an upstairs portion that I assume they seat when they are busy. That area was closed off the evening I was there since they weren't busy. I recently visited with a group of 5 total for a friend's birthday. The oyster selection is great! Many to choose from ranging from $3-5 per oyster. I had the crab mac and cheese which was underwhelming. There was hardly any crab in the dish and the pasta tasted and felt of low quality. The only thing you could really taste was all the old bay they "dusted" on top. The service was under par. I think our waitress really hated her life that night. Every time she came to the table I got the understanding that she was ready for us to leave. Other staff even chipped in helping her serve our table. Like I mentioned above, I would return for cocktails and oysters but skip dinner or do dinner elsewhere.

We popped in for the oysters and fell in love with the rest! Such a cute atmosphere in Lawrenceville. Since it was just the two of us, we opted for seats at the diner style bar. We started with a half dozen of oysters which our server was extremely knowledgeable about what was offered. Second course went to the crab grilled cheese with old bay chips and a lobster Cuban. Omg I don't think either of us left a bite on the plate. Everything was absolutely delicious! I washed it all down with a craft cocktail with smoked sage!!! So yummy!!! We will for sure stop back in and try some of the other hits that were on the menu.

Lovely spot on a late summer/early fall afternoon, especially at the front table with the windows open. Fantastic shrimp, salad, and chowder. I think the sides could be a little more generous. Service was fine.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The seafood is fresh and delicious and the vibe makes you feel like you are at an oceanfront beach bar and grill and not in the middle of Butler Street. This is a great place to hang out for a drink, snack, or a full meal on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. You really can't go wrong with any of their menu choices, but I personally recommend the lobster roll, crab grilled cheese, lobster Cuban, and linguini and clams. They have some picnic tables setup outside and the windows open so it's a breezy (and well ventilated) space.

Came during happy hour and service was quick and wonderful. Got a half dozen oysters from their happy hour menu, about $2-4 each depending on type of oyster you choose. We weren't super impressed with the quality of oyster for the price point but maybe it was the type we chose. We think one of them had gone bad so we let the waiter know and kindly offered another oyster to replace it. The lobster roll was delicious and packed to the brim with buttery meat. My only issue was the amount of butter/oil pooling on the bottom of the plate causing the bread to become too soggy. The bread was heavily seasoned and more on the saltier side. The salad and chowder were okay sides. The chowder wasn't as thick or creamy as I was hoping for and the salad was not as exciting as it was described. I think overall the place has a lot of potential and maybe it was just the choices we chose this day that wasn't the best for me, but the staff was great the whole time. Also, the interior is so warm and cozy with the pretty nautical theme.

One of my favorite Lawrenceville spots! So unique, feels like you're not in Pittsburgh while also being filled with some really cool Pittsburgh history. Their oysters are so good and fresh. I love a good, quality oyster spot. And the lobster rolls were loaded . Always a good time when we visit.

How come I have not reviewed this place before? I can't here with 2 friends today and it's just as good as the last couple of times that I was here. I got the cold lobster roll, and a Bloody Mary, and both were fantastic. It's a casual spot, and great food. What else is there ?

I have been wanting to try this place out for a while and finally had the chance a few weeks ago. I highly recommend Merchant Oyster Company. We had a great meal there. Definitely will be back.

Visited Merchant Oyster Co last week with my fiancé and we had a wonderful time. We sat outside. The food and drinks were delicious, and our waiter was fantastic.

Very good but small portions. We had the baked oyster app ( I'm not a fan of raw) and salads with shrimp on them. The drinks were a generous size.

Please update your info before I walk over. Apple Maps says open and your sign says closed. Annoyed as I was looking forward to your cider.

Love this place a ton I've been looking for good oysters in the area and I will definitely be back. Waitress was super helpful because I didn't know what kind of oysters I do like so she kinda gave me a quick lesson her opinions and I got what she recommended and I wasn't disappointed. I also got a Caesar salad there which was really good tasted super fresh and I also got the crab mac & cheese. The mac & cheese could've been creamer it seemed like all the sauce and at the bottom so I mixed it really well kind of wish there was a crust on it to but the crab taste was phenomenal. My friend got the crab BLT and she really liked it but her tomato was frozen salad but it didn't deter her from eating the whole thing. I will definitely be back this is a great spot for family friends or date night, super cute, staff was wonderful

Cute nautical theme and the service was very quick and friendly! I opted for some of the oysters and a lobster roll. The oysters were good, especially on HH special (except the shucking job wasn't great since there was a lot of shell fragments). The lobster rolls was okay, but found the lobster a bit overcooked. It's also pricey for $28. I might wander back for happy hour oysters in the future but would probably skip the other food just because it's very expensive for the portion and wasn't as tasty as I hoped for.

DELICIOUS First experience was great! Service was great and the food was delicious. Loved it!!

I went to Merchant last night for dinner with a friend. I love oysters, so I was excited to try a new (to me!) spot. Although our dinner was fine, it wasn't anything special. Our service was a little slow and multiple people came to wait on us, seeming like there may have been some miscommunication. I did really enjoy my oysters and the homemade cocktail sauce. I also had a ceasar salad and my friend had the shrimp cocktail. We enjoyed our food, but I'd like to maybe try some other things on the menu!

Incredible little spot. Great fresh shucked oysters. Multiple clam chowder selections! Exquisite wines to pair with seafood. Staff so pleasant. Super recommend.

Came here so many times on various occasions. I do not recommend large parties because the area is small and quaint. They have a variety of oysters from both the east and west coast at a reasonable pricee. They also have a happy hour as well. I recommend the linguine and clams, the half size is large in my opinion and could be a meal in itself. I love the seafood flavor and the sauce they use is really delicious. I also recommend the clam boil, has so much seafood in there and deelicoous to dip with some toasted bread. The prices are reasonable as well. I really enjoyed my time and the service is great. Excited to come back here again!

One of our favorite places when we come into the city. A small neighborhood joint with amazing service, friendly staff and exceptional food. On this visit we kept it light- a couple of drinks (they were great), oysters- 2 varieties, both west coast and some soup. I had the Rhode Island Red- easily a meal on its own, and my wife the traditional chowder with an oyster stuffie. Delicious. If you're not into seafood this isn't the spot for you. But if you love shellfish, give it a try. The experience is always great.

Oysters were very good. Nice variety. Our waiter was very personable and provided great service. The ambiance was welcoming. I will go back.

The best restaurant in Pittsburgh! They are consistently delicious and have great service. The chowders and soups are amazing and they have the best oysters! My kids even love it for the foot-long hot dog!

Merchant Oyster Co. reminds me why we moved to Lawrenceville. There is just something about sitting out on the sidewalk, enjoying good food and drink, and watching the world turn on Butler that hits all the feels. In the last few months we have been several times and always enjoy it. The oysters are fresh and flown in from the Northeast and Canada. Staff is well versed in the different flavor notes if you play a high level oyster game. If the only the pre-pandemic happy hour oyster specials would come back! Sadly, oysters in Pittsburgh will always be a bit pricey (that pesky flying in thing). The cocktails are complex and tasty, featuring some local liquors. They have a good smattering of beer and wine, including bubbles to go with your seafood. The mussels have a good, basic white wine broth and are served with the most perfect crunchy toasty bread. The shrimp reminds me of what we enjoy in the South Carolina low country. The spinach and artichoke dip is honestly the best I've ever had (see about the toasty bread above). It has so much more flavor than what you normally find. The lobster roll is also a . Again with the toasty roll, tasty lobster, hints of dill, celery crunch...uh I'm hungry again. Go and enjoy!

We went here for a Friday night out. We got there earlyish, around 5pm, and were able to get a table right away. We started with oysters that were amazing and fresh and all so unique and then I had a hot lobster roll and my husband had the crab cake. It was such a treat to have in Pittsburgh. It isn't quite like what you would get on the north east coast, but for traveling a couple miles down the road in Pittsburgh, it definitely hit the spot. Our water was super nice and attentive and overall we loved the experience!

One of my favorite lunch spots in Pittsburgh. Warm comfort food on a chilly spring day. Steamed Mussels are in a butter/garlic white wine sauce.

I just love this place! Took my wife and daughter there for drinks and dinner. The drinks were delicious! Now let me say I have eaten clam chowder all over the country but the clam chowder in this place goes right to the top of the list. Without question the absolute best. My only regret is I only ordered a cup of it. I will soon be back to make up for that mistake. Do yourself a favor walk in this place and get a cut of their clam chowder. Promise you won't regret it!

Oysters were fresh, Cuban sandwich was good also. Service was not great but we weren't in any hurry. Sat at a table by a big window and it was like we were outside. House / draft wine is also tasty

Such a delicious meal! Perfectly balanced cocktails, great services and an unpretentious vibe.

As an oyster and seafood lover, I was very excited to try this place out finally! We went for brunch and split a bunch of dishes and oysters! The oysters are tasty (on the smaller side) and fresh! We got the hot lobster roll and brunch burger for our entrees. The lobster roll had great flavor and I loved that it was warm. It was on the smaller side in regards to how much lobster was in it, but still definitely worth the try! The brunch burger was pretty large! It had big slabs of bacon and crab bits in it with the other classic burger toppings and they all meshed well together for a wonderful brunch meal! We added on the sour dough French toast as our "dessert" as if we didn't eat enough. It was good, but I would definitely get the savory options if you had to pick one entree to order since most people don't need 3 entrees like we did lol. Overall, a great restaurant with fun New England flare! I love the concept of the restaurant and the outdoor eating along Butler Street in the bustling and hip lawrenceville neighborhood. Definitely come check them out and we will be back for more!

I'm torn. I think that I really want to like it here but I don't know if I will. I hate to sound like a cheapskate but this restaurant is way too expensive for me to pop in and out of and make it a regular joint. And I just don't understand why the prices are so high. We walked in and we were able to get a seat right away. We sat near the back at the long table so we shared a table with some other people, totally fine. The other people were actually very lovely and we had a great talk during dinner. We only came in for a snack. Between the both of us we decided to share a caesar salad and a bread bowl of New England clam chowder. Now the Caesar salad was actually a half of a salad and the bread bowl was labeled as over flowing and crunchy and delicious. I will say that it was crunchy and delicious but it was definitely not enough for both of us. And because of how the bread was it's soaked in a lot of the soup so we were just left with little broth and just chunks of the soup. So my first idea of what the food could have been like or tasted like wasn't real great. Also I understand the my idea what New England clam chowder is is like a creamy delicious broth with potatoes and clams and some other meats in there. What we got in the bread bowl was kind of clear it wasn't creamy at all. When we asked about it we were sure that's what the New England clam chowder looks like but it's still through me off. I will say though that the bread, once again, was amazing. I even saved the top of the bread bowl to eat for breakfast as toast the next day. The salad was good but it had a lot of the lighter shades of Romaine that had more of a crunch to them but more of a lackluster flavor. It had tons of Parmesan and a lot of croutons. I could have gone for less of both of those things on my salad and more leafy greens. It wasn't bad but, eh. Another thing that irritated me was that I kept on having to ask for water. The water was kept in fish shaped jugs on the table and they didn't hold much water, nor were they that cold. I just kept on asking the server to refill it, but I wish that they would have asked me if I needed more. The water jugs are also blue so you can't even see inside to make sure that they are clean, something because I'm a weirdo like to see. Just incase there are any floaters. I think I want to try to go back and to really try something different in the menu. I really want to like this place because I love seafood but they need to do something about the prices. Hopefully the next time will be better. I really do have hope for this place.

The food was awesome and the service was great. Will return soon. I don't care what they say about my waiter who was over 40 and didn't want to be a manager. He was great.

This place does not skimp on the details. Even the label on their homemade hot sauce tickled me. They have vegetarian options as well, so if you somehow have the wrong opinion of not liking seafood or oysters, you will find something to your liking.

My wife and I came here on a Friday evening. The restaurant was busy, but we were still able to get a table right away. I wanted a little taste of their oysters so I got just two of them, even though they had a good half dozen kinds to choose from. They came with some dipping sauces, which was a nice twist. The oysters were nice and fresh. I followed that with an oyster shooter - the chignon. It was the first time I ever had one. Very interesting, in a good way. Then we shared a bowl of New England Clam Chowder. They have 4 kinds of chowder to choose from, but I went with what I knew. My wife absolutely loved it. I too thought the flavor was spot on, but the chowder was a little too thin for my taste. But that is just a personal preference. For main course, my wife ordered the crab cakes. They were almost all crab meat with very little filler. The way they should be. My wife was a fan. I skipped the seafood and went with a simple pork roll on cheese sandwich. It was good, but was a bit on the salty side. They needed to serve it with something to break up the rich, salty taste. I ended up using some left over dipping sauce from the oysters to dip my sandwich. It worked great! The chef should consider serving it with the sandwich. Or maybe some lettuce? Nonetheless, it was still tasty. All in all, we had a really nice evening and will come again.

the seafood was pretty average. we ordered a few oysters and the lobster roll. not really sure if it's worth the price. the place is nice and servers were great with us.

Servers are not nice, but boyy that food is goooodd! I am not a fan of oysters but I do love their lobster and crab rolls. (Highly suggested)

Great oysters, delicious cold lobster roll - dill is a nice touch - nice service. The menu is kind of limited and my glass of wine was pretty meh but for a quick lunch on a weekend Merchant hit the spot!

Ridiculously expensive food delivered via Grubhub. $10 for a side salad...$5 for bacon...which was ONE piece. The Rhode Island clam chowder was SERIOUSLY oily and had hardly any actual clams. Not going to give them any further business. Frankly, I'd post this review on Grubhub as well but that isn't an option.

Excellent service, really good food and a relaxed, upscale vibe! Visiting theBurgh, glad we found this gem!

I popped in here on a Saturday morning by myself just to get a beer and a lobster roll. The bartender was super friendly and quick to provide service, the beer was awesome, and the lobster roll was incredible. At first I was kind of surprised by how small it seemed for the price, but once I dug into it I realized how much they really packed in to the sandwich (you get your money's worth). Manager/supervisor also stopped by to ask how I was liking the lobster roll. Coming from someone who grew up eating seafood on the East Coast, I loved it here! Will definitely be back sometime soon, probably for more raw bar items next time! Other info - multiple chairs / picnic style tables allowing for outside seating. I believe you are able to call ahead and reserve tables for Saturday or Sunday brunch. Parking is available on either side of the street (pay at meter or via phone app) and a small lot is also available just slightly past the restaurant.

I stopped by here a couple of Saturdays ago with my wife for lunch. We had been by Merchant Oyster Company a number of times before but had never gone in. However during the Joy of Cookies tour this year we ended up looking at the menu and then decided to make it a point to head there the following weekend. The inside of this place isn't very large with some bar seating, a few tables and then a couple of high top tables. They have a chalkboard menu with all of the oysters that they have that day and everything is nautical themed. That means the the foot rest at the bar is made from a chain and then the pitchers of water are actually fish shaped. For lunch on this day I decided to start off with a cup of the seafood chowder and then ordered the crab grilled cheese for lunch. Meanwhile my wife ordered the lobster scramble and since we were both happy with what the other person ordered, we decided to split our meals. In no time at all my cup of chowder was at our table. It was thick and hearty and I was super impressed with how much seafood was actually inside of it. After I had finished my soup we waited for a bit before our entrees came out to us. I wouldn't say that it was a noticeable amount of time but our waiter apologized to us as apparently he forgot to put in the rest of our order. It was nice of him but unnecessary as his service was good and we honestly didn't think that the service was slow. In any case, once the food got to our table it was easily worth any wait we had for it. My crab grilled cheese was absolutely loaded with lump crab meat and Swiss and had a nice and crispy exterior. It tasted great too and I was unable to find any fault in it whatsoever. My wife's dish ended up being just as good as there was an ample amount of lobster with her eggs and the eggs themselves were light and fluffy. The herbs that they had put on top of the eggs made the dish taste fresher too! The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Everything that we tried was fantastic and my wife and I were both impressed by the seafood portions in our meals.

A casual bar that also feels somewhat elevated, ran by millennials who like to cook and know their food. They have a great selection of east coast oysters. Market price for sure, but you can order them as singles or as a dozen. As a Texan, I was enlightened to the fact that there are more chowders than just white. Everyone at the bar specifically recommended I get the clear rhode island chowder. The best way I could describe it is a seafood broth with a ton of potatoes and seafood bits. It was quite enjoyable on a cold evening, as well as letting the ingredients shine in its simplicity. The Lobster Cuban was way better than I thought it would be. The bartender claimed it was his favorite sandwich and I can see why. This is not a traditional cuban by any means, but the spirit of the cuban is strong in this, especially with the grilled pressed bread and pulled pork. My biggest tip would be letting this sandwich cool down at least by 15 minutes. It may be best if you take this to go (or if they are available on some food delivery app). The sandwich is served piping hot. While I appreciate how fresh it is, I personally feel the sandwich doesn't bloom to its full profile until its warm and not boiling hot. The lobster is WAY more pronounced when the sandwich cools down a bit. The cheesiness of this sandwich almost has a grilled cheese feel. Its also a hefty sandwich, so with a huge appetite, it should be easy. For dainty eaters, you will easily have two portions. The chips they serve with it are pretty good, although they don't stand out much once you start eating the sandwich.