Merchant Roots is an enchanting fine dining gem in San Francisco, serving whimsical, themed tasting menus that whisk you away on a culinary journey.
"Whimsical fine dining restaurant Merchant Roots replanted itself in SoMa, opening a grand, new space in the former City Beer Store location. Here, the team will stretch its legs and utilize a full kitchen for its themed, multicourse dinners — such as the recent Color Theory dinners which feature monochromatic dishes — with a bar set to open in the next few months. Reservations are required." - Dianne de Guzman
"One of the city’s hottest new restaurants also happens to be a great splurge. Chef Ryan Shelton recently relocated to a newer, bigger space in SoMa, where he hosts a monthly themed dinner party of multiple courses. While the space is large, the dinner is kept intimate by capping attendance at 12. Until January, diners can enjoy a menu titled Color Theory for which each dish features one color only. Then it’s time for Humpty Dumpty, which explores the English nursery rhyme through 15 egg-centric courses. It’s never a dull moment, priced at roughly $180 per person." - Flora Tsapovsky, Eater Staff
"After a brief closure, Merchant Roots is back—this time in SoMa, with themed, ten-course meals ($180 per person) in the massive former City Beer Store space. The seasonal fine dining spot is starting out with a “color theory” menu with blue, pink, and yellow courses. Aside from the food, prepare for a full-on experience that includes wall projections, a tour of the restaurant, and interactive art." - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1
"Merchant Roots offers immersive tasting menus, moving to a new location in SoMa with a 'pseudo-secret bar' featuring low-proof and nonalcoholic cocktails and plant-based bar snacks." - Dianne de Guzman
"One of San Francisco’s most unique restaurants, Merchant Roots, known for its imaginative and immersive menus, will move into a new home at 1148 Mission Street this August. The restaurant, currently located at 1365 Fillmore Street, offers dinner to just a handful of customers each night with its footprint set to expand from 900 square feet to 4,500 square feet. The restaurant debuted in its current iteration in 2018, when Shelton pivoted from a market into a fine dining restaurant. With a new home designed by Jon de la Cruz of DLC-ID, the restaurant will feature a blue, white, and denim backdrop, digital projects corresponding to the menu’s theme, and a massive open kitchen. A gated courtyard for different dining settings and a future bar space with plant-based snacks and cocktails are also planned. The restaurant will debut its Color Theory menu on August 14, featuring an 11-course meal for $180, exploring the meaning and nuances of various colors." - Lauren Saria
