Jen M.
Yelp
Dear Merroir,
Writing this review pains me because this used to be my favorite place. A place we frequented monthly and encouraged others to drive an hour to visit - "it's worth it!" I'd tell them. Unfortunately, Merroir has been slipping since some time in 2019. Since then I kept coming back, less and less frequently, in denial that my favorite spot was slipping, and making excuses for you (bad day, COVID, hard times!) But I recently paid Merroir a final visit, on a beautiful day - I came with the lowest of low expectations and yet still managed to leave extremely disappointed. Now, not only would I not recommend Merroir, but I'd go out of my way to tell you NOT to go here, because I know you will leave disappointed too.
I speak for everyone when I say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE address the following:
1. Invest in a pager or texting system for food orders. Every other small business has so no excuses. And you charge premium prices for everything double the no excuses. It's unacceptable to have an outdoor space as large as yours and require one person in each party to have to stand at the counter and wait a half hour for food while the rest of their party sits without them and has their drink and waits. I've see your post asking people to be patient because you're understaffed, but so is everyone else. Get a pager or texting system. Your employees hate hollering people's names over and over as much as your customers hate hearing it.
2. On that same note, have a separate line for drinks. The amount of money you're leaving on the table because you can't order a 2nd drink without waiting in the half-hour+ line again is wild. Also, some people like to just stop by to have a drink or two and enjoy the view, but with that long food line, that's not an option.
3. Bring back your metal oyster trays. Carrying a dozen oysters on those flimsy disposable plates across your lawn while the ice water spills into the oysters and the oyster juice spills out of the shells is unacceptable. Oysters ARE YOUR BRAND. And we know COVID doesn't spread on trays.
4. The food quality has gone down, way down. Despite everything above, Merroir could maaaaaaybe redeem itself with the view and the food. But on this most recent visit we ordered: the steamed clams in a miso mushroom broth, the fresh fish of the day which was rockfish, and a burger. The clams and broth came in a paper fry basket. The broth had zero flavor. There were a few rehydrated dried mushrooms and a couple pieces of seafood, but not even a hint of flavor of anything that resembles a broth. It was water. The local rockfish was overcooked - a true tragedy. And the burger came with no condiments on or with it - no ketchup, no mayo, no mustard, no aioli, not a sauce in sight. An dry, dry $12 burger. We even braved skipping the half hour line and heading to the counter to ask for ketchup and the worker was annoyed we asked. Shame.
5. The service has gone down, way down. Despite how awful everything was, I was shocked at how patient and polite all of the customers were waiting in line. Everyone was happy to be by the water on a beautiful day and many had high hopes for the exceptional experience they thought they were about to have (based on the high praise Merroir has received in its glory days pre-2019.) Even though the customers were kind, the cashier was not. The woman working the order line on this day was rude and was not happy to be here. The 4-person group in front of me ordered $250 worth of food and drinks. They were then handed their drinks: a couple beers, a wine, and a water bottle. The gentlemen said to the cashier very kindly "hi there, we are waiting for 1 more water bottle please. We ordered 2." The cashier looks at her order iPad and says "I only rang up one." And then proceeded to ring them up for $2 and wait for them to get out their credit card pay for the water bottle! Are you kidding me?! In ANY OTHER establishment, especially one with a long, half hour+ line waiting behind them, they would have handed them them a water bottle and sent them on their way. Keep in mind this was the CASHIER'S MISTAKE too! This was egregious. It was a water bottle that was not rung up, not a $20 glass of champagne. Unacceptable.
I have never left a public bad review of any place. I support local businesses, and I know the hard work involved in running a business. However, I've seen Merroir's postings making excuses when the issues above basically make it appear like someone at the top is lazy and/or has stopping caring about managing Merroir. The problems are are fixable. Again, I speak for everyone when I say, please please please fix them. Make Merroir a gem again.
It's not me, it's you. This is a hard break up, but until you change and better yourself, I cannot be with you.
Love,
Your used-to-be-biggest fan
