The Merchant Kitchen & Drinks

We came here on a Thursday evening before heading to a show. We tried to the do the parking deal that they have on their website but we couldn't get it to work so we parked a garage a little ways away. It was easy to get to. We made a reservation but it wasn't that busy when we got there. My boyfriend ordered a beer on tap. We decided to start with 3 small plates: cauliflower, gnocchi, and arancini. They were all very good, but the cauliflower was very spicy. We decided we were still hungry so we ordered the pan seared cod. Unfortunately, the fire alarm sounded and we had to clear the restaurant. By the time we were allowed back in, we had to leave to get to our show. Our table had also been cleared so my boyfriend did not get to finish his beer. The server offered to box up the cod but we wouldn't have a place to keep it so we had to decline. Otherwise, it was very good.

We came in pretty late, so it was quiet. The atmosphere was really chill. Our server, Eric, was so charming and friendly. I had a mocktail called The Oasis. It was absolutely divine.

Small-medium sized, but fresh oysters for only $1 Mon-Fri during happy hour (4pm-7pm). Fries well salted as well.

Need a wider variety of food for folks with varied food tastes. Kept having to ask server for refills despite being one of the few guests there. What I did eat was delicious. Thai curry with chicken. Large portions came out fast.

We enjoyed dinner on a Tuesday evening. We started with the Bomb boom cauliflower. It was delicious, a very good blend of flavors. There was spice but I could still discern the flavor of the cauliflower. The cauliflower was also still firm, but tender if that makes sense - not mushy. We shared a roasted beet salad and an Inca bowl for dinner. Both were delicious, tantalizing to the taste buds. My husband enjoyed the Jolly woodsman stout and I had the sepia cocktail. We both enjoyed our drinks!

Popped in here with friends while looking for a place to eat. Was pleasantly surprised! Good choice of drinks, delicious oysters, and a burger that was absolutely delicious. And they had a suprising choice of classic Mexican dishes. Will definitely be coming back, likely for the $1 oyster special

We had a group dinner at The Merchant, and while the food was pretty good, the service really missed the mark. Even though the place was only about a third full, our drinks took forever to come out, so much so that we were almost done with our appetizers by the time the first round finally arrived. It was a bit frustrating that we weren't checked in on often, so we ended up not ordering much more. The food did make up for it to some extent—it was definitely tasty—but the slow service put a damper on the experience. I’d say it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area, but just be prepared for a potentially slower pace.

Great lunch and dinner spot near all the shops. Service was great, food was delicious. Definitely would return.

Was in town for business and we came here for lunch- was packed mid day . Service was great, food was good. Strangest part was the bathroom was downstairs and couldn't find it lol

This was a decent restaurant. The prices were surprisingly fair based on location. it does extend quite a bit indoors so that was a bit surprising. The food was ok, just your typical American fare. Nothing to complain about. I can see this being a great place to unwind ater work or just to sit and get drinks. There is ample space for large parties and work groups

It's been a while since I've been here (May 2024) but this place holds a soft spot in my heart. The dollar payers are a fantastic deal and they are cleaned BEAUTIFULLY. Without this deal and the level of care and attention to detail that they put into the quality of these oysters makes it so that for times my party and I make it a weekly ritual to come. The togarashi fries are fantastic and the perfect side to the perfect dollar oysters. The entrees beyond these is good but nothing to write home about, a great start to the evening. Clean inside

Great place to go to on a Friday night without a reservation. I liked that it felt spacious and not too noisy. Our server was also attentive and nice. The food was yummy, and I plan on coming back to try the dollar oysters + the new items on their menu.

Fantastic spot to satisfy oyster and shrimp cocktail craving on Monday and Friday happy hour from 5-9. Came here right at 5 on a Monday, the place was pretty empty, very nice vibe inside with an extra long full bar. Our server was very friendly and attentive through the meal. Oysters and shrimp were very fresh, such a steal at $1 each! Cocktails were of standard price, but very yummy and went well with the seafood. Will definitely come back here again on the next visit in Boston!

Not bad - a solid, fancy-ish place in Downtown Crossing to grab a meal or drinks with coworkers. It's pretty big inside with lots of space for large 10+ groups (also, shout-out for the booth seating, wish more restaurants offered this). I'm more used to the NYC post-work social scene where you're crammed like sardines next to a bar, so I can see why this would be a popular after-work place to hang out. Ordered the chicken Caesar salad wrap, which (like the eel roll or green curry) I will order if I see it on the menu, no matter how adventurous I proclaim to be. It was a pretty generous portion for the price, though I should have gone with the fries instead of the mixed greens as a side. So much for trying to be virtuous - the vinaigrette was too tart and sour for me. In terms of structural integrity, the wrap was a little weak, with bits and pieces falling out each time I took a bite, but good enough for me to want to order it again next time. Service was a little slow, but they had a lot of big groups coming in at lunchtime. I'll have to come back for their oyster special.

No complaints here! This place is great. A dim bar setting with hints of nautical accessories throughout. I came here mostly for the dollar oysters but stayed due to the relaxed setting, cocktails, and good service. The $1 oyster special, at least on Friday, started at 4pm. A thorough search of oyster specials lead me here. A very cool restaurant provided my sister and I respite from a scorching summer day. We enjoyed a couple rounds of oysters and French fries over drinks and couldn't appreciate the relaxed setting any more. The place was very clean and the staff attentive. We came here before a dinner reservation elsewhere and I wish we had just stayed here! The food was really good!

I came here for the dollar oysters on a weeknight after work. I didn't actually order any food or drinks besides the oysters, so I'm not sure about the rest of their menu, but the oysters were pretty solid. It seemed to be fairly typical for an American spot, so probably not the type of place I would go out of my way to visit, aside from the oysters. It wasn't especially busy, so I wouldn't expect too much of a wait. In terms of the ambiance, this felt like a good after work spot. The decor was fairly upscale and I could imagine a business crowd visiting this place. The staff was attentive and came by a few times to see if we'd like to order anything else. I would happily come back to order some more dollar oysters, so I hope they continue to run that special!

$1 oysters and $1 cocktail shrimp. Do I need to say more? The $1 oyster happy hour at the Merchant was a great find and was totally worth it. The fact that they include shrimp put it over the top for me. Besides the great value, the quality was pretty good. Not perfectly shucked, but well within acceptable. Both the martini I tried as well as the togarashi fries were a great pairing for the cold seafood. Service was very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was trendy and modern. A great spot for a Boston happy hour.

We are extremely pleased . The staff was more than friendly here . Food was perfect and the ambiance was perfect and the drinks were tasty . 5 stars all day .

The $1 oysters were pretty good. The fries and fish tacos were solid too. Good selection of beers and cocktails. Service was really slow and our table was in such a dark area you couldn't read the menu. Despite this, ambiance was quite nice. Overall, would probably come back for the 1$ oysters.

Come for the dollar oysters!! They're super fresh and delicious :) Besides that, everything else was just ok. Interior is super dark, service is slow (we were there when it wasn't busy), and food was okay. All of our entree dishes were salty and a bit disappointing after having such delicious oysters to start.

Only restaurant I am aware of serving $1 Oyster on a Friday night from 4-9pm! On the day we went, we got 5 dozens of black magic oysters and they were fresh! However, some of them very extremely small with nearly no meat hence I took a star off. The burger came with fries that were thin and crispy and to my surprise, it was very good. The shrimp tacos were good but it did not stand out as much as the burger. The atmosphere was chill and classy. The restaurant has a great location and it was fairly easy to find street parking in the area. Food: 8.5/10 Service: 8/10 Experience: 8/10 Value: 8/10

Stopped by on a Friday night and surprisingly it wasn't busy. We came here just for the oysters (HH till 9pm). The oysters were pretty good and fresh. After ordering 50 oysters split between two, I now what my limit is :)

Pretty solid place over all. The restaurant is dimly lit and intimate. Wait staff was attentive and helpful. had oysters and drinks, so I can't talk to the food, but if I was in the area I'd come back.

The $1 oysters on Mondays and Fridays from 4pm-9pm is where it's at! The oysters are so fresh. Whenever I'm craving a $1 oyster deal, I make the trek to Downtown Boston just for The Merchant. I love the shishito peppers! I don't think I'd get full entrees from here (they're a bit pricey) but I've gotten their gnocchi before and it was pretty good. It was more like baked mac and cheese, which I'm not complaining about because it was delicious, but not what I usually expect to get when I order gnocchi. I've also ordered their fish and chips, but it's two small pieces of fish with some fries. I like their togarashi fries too, but they're kind of just like any other fries you'd get just with some really yummy sauce. I've gotten drinks here too which are also just sort of average. This place definitely draws in an older crowd, but I've seen families with young kids here too. Their bathroom is also worth mentioning, it's very clean and has lots of gorgeous artwork. Parking in Downtown can be a pain, but The Merchant actually validates parking at 33 Arch Street ($6 for up to 10 hours) which is such a deal!

Not much to say because I came here with a friend after work just for $1 oysters. It was okay but small, can't complain since just $1. Also order their drinks but not good, too much ice, can't taste the alcohol at all. The ribs are okay, soft and juicy but dried on the side.

The service and the food were Phenomenal! The steak was perfectly cooked, very tender with crispy hot thin friesbeautiful long bar, great lighting and cozy private seating!

I had a business dinner with my coworkers. It's located in the downtown Boston area and was within walking distance from the office. However, I arrived here straight from the airport. The dining area is spacious with a nice modern look. The restaurant do not offer a loge number of menu items, but most of the dishes on the menu sound delicious. For dinner, I ordered the Grilled Arctic Char. The ski was crispy on the outside and the fish was cooked nicely. A few folks at the table ordered cocktails and we all enjoyed our drinks. The service was excellent, and the entire dining experience was excellent.

Came here for the pre-frix Thanksgiving dinner. The menu had a nice variety and was well developed. Upon walking in, they seated us immediately and it was very very lowly lit. We had to use our cellphone lights to read the menus. I started off with the pear salad which was absolutely delicious. It was with arugula, roasted pears, whipped goat cheese, candied pecans and shaved fennel. I would have been happy with a larger salad for my whole meal. My dining companions both started with the butternut squash soup. It tasted heavily of chicken broth and they were both given different spoons. A bit of a pet peeve of mine, as there should certainly be consistency within one table. Next up, steak frites. The seasoning on the steak was perfection, and cooked exactly how I wanted. However, the frites were a bit cold and some almost seemed freezer burnt. They also chose to lay the steak over some fries for a fancier plating but it left some frites soggy. Then the mound of undressed watercress was a bit out of place. Lastly, I got the apple tart and almonds for dessert. I needed a knife to cut the tart and the server gave me a giant steak knife. The caramel was supposed to be bourbon, but it seemed like that's all it was. Overall, a thanksgiving meal is tough to pull off but I thought it could have been better.

I visited The Merchant in Boston- Good food and service. It was a bit too dark for me. The lights were very dim. I was a bit confused with menu. Appetizers are larger then the small plates (I guess similar to tapas). The tuna tartare was amazing. Menu selection is perfect not too big or too small, which works for me.

I am not a local, here for a conference so my commentary is based strictly on my experience- no recommendations to check out or anything. This place was walking distance from my hotel and it was already almost 9p so we decided to grab a late dinner here. We wanted to sit outside because it felt really nice out but the host discouraged and said wouldn't be allowed to be our past 930 so grabbed a seat inside near window. Inside is really beautiful and dark. After checking out the menu we attempted to order oysters from the appetizer menu but the waitress said they don't serve them past 9p. Odd. But I guess they thought we wanted the $1 deal on oysters so just said they don't serve at all past a certain time? We both got the No Friend of Mine tequila drink and it was not good - very strong and didn't taste half of the ingredients I expected. The waitress was polite enough to offer me a different drink (my usual Moscow mule) and that drink sat on the counter diluting for almost 10min before she brought it over. By that time I had already finished my food and the drink again didn't taste good. The food - the fried shishido peppers were soooo good. Best thing we had. My friend got the shrimp tacos , these could have been better seasoned as they were a little plain and definitely needed a better more authentic tortilla. I got the crispy organic chicken Milanese and i am torn because it wasn't bad- the chicken was pretty good, the salad was too but I was very disappointed that the sauce tasted like it was from a jar at the store. Overall the service and food was ok and with some adjustments they could be much better.

This place is tucked away between downtown and the financial district. It can be a bit more dressed up than a typical casual spot since it seems like most people would be coming from work. This can also make for a cute date spot since the presentation of the food and drinks are spot on. Highly recommend coming here for the $1 oysters! Fries were really good as a appetizer, the calamari was ok since the sauces made it kinda soggy. Not sure about their other food on the menu. It's definitely on the more pricey side but that's typical of the Boston area.

Carolina was our amazing bartender when we visited last March. Stayed at a cute lil shoebox to be near Amtrak's Acela South Bay Station. The Merchant was recommended by our hotel's manager. So glad we walked right around the corner & landed in heaven! Oysters, salad, martinis & margaritas to die for! Oh, no need to tell Carolina to make a top shelf margarita without roses lime or triple sec she almost spit out her words explaining there's *no* such thing behind her bar.

Gave this place a 2nd chance and it failed. I ordered the ham & brie sandwich, mostly bread and pimentos. So I asked her for aioli hoping that would cut the pimento taste that is saturated in the sandwich that I scraped off but I'm not sure what it was but it wasn't definitely aïoli but I got charged .50 cents for it. It was bad and the salad was limp and soaked. Service good, management doesn't care. Ambiance very dark, maybe hoping you don't notice what you're eating. Too bad. Fresh fish shouldn't smell and place really is smelling of fish. We ate here last week and our appetizer and main meal came all at the same time. Ordered extra bread so we could finish the hummus and got charged six dollars for the bread. No more. No thank you.

The food didn't quite live up to expectations. Cocktails were good. Not much of a non-alcoholic beverage selection. Shrimp tacos were salty.

This was a bad experience. Nothing big nothing small. Food is just adequate. Greasy fish. Noisy. If you have another alternative seek that out. I'd even say Shake Shack is better than this place. Server LUISA was horrible. Asked for more tartar sauce. Four minutes. Asked for another cuppa coffee after my entire meal is over. She grabbed my cup, went back. Six minutes. when she returned that was cream in my coffee and I never asked her for any. I did not trust her so I did not drink it. Close this place down!

Went here for dinner and drinks with 4 friends. I got the gnocchi as my dinner and it was incredible. My cocktails were also delicious. We didn't have a reservation but they were still able to squeeze us in on a Thursday evening. Overall great time

Food was overly salty. Drinks were flavorless, all bread (cheese board and burger) had distinctive charred taste, like being in an oven that had something burning.

I came here specifically for oyster HH. As of this month (October 2023), they offer it on Mondays and Fridays, from 4-9pm. When we checked in with the hostess, it was unclear if HH is only in the bar area or for the whole restaurant. We were seated at a high top table within the bar area though. The waiter (guy) we had was a bit slow. It took forever to get our drinks. I know he put in our order because the oysters arrived within 2 minutes of ordering. I ate a couple and then proceeded to wait till we got our drinks to eat more. Luckily it wasn't hot food and they were on ice, so waiting was fine, But I feel like we waited like 10-15 minutes for our beers. A couple sat down at the table next to us - they gone a glass of wine and a soft drink, I think. And they got their drinks before us. I started giving dirty looks at our waiter and he came over and did say the beers were coming. Still it was like 5 minutes after that. I know the bar is busy but pouring beers seems like it would be quicker than making a cocktail. A little frustrating. But after we received everything, we enjoyed our drinks and oysters. Oysters were very tasty and served with lemons, cocktail sauce and mignonette. It's pretty loud in there so you have to get close to talk - typical for a bar though. They have TVs showing sports above the bar. Ambiance was dark and "romantic. " I would come back for oysters really only.

The food here is mediocre. I stopped here for lunch and when I got my food it was just ok. The chicken sandwich was extremely messy to eat and it wasn't great. The burger was super soggy with the overkill of slaw and pickles. The chicken wings were basically sauce and wings wasn't crispy as the name said it was. And the other dishes like the fish and chips and caesar salad you can get anywhere and probably better then the versions here at the merchant.

Pre planned group dinner. Greeted and seated in private room. Staff friendly and professional. Food was well prepared and tasty.

I ordered the gnocchi. The food came out relatively quickly and the service was ok. The interior decor was gorgeous. The bar looks amazing. (I don't drink so I can't really asses anything else about it aside from its appearance). I like the food but there wasn't really anything special to it. I mean, it was good but just not great which is why I rated it 3 out of 5 stars. The location is really convenient, its super near downtown crossing so its very easy to get there by public transit. The atmosphere and space itself is very nice but the food is just ok.

Dark, cozy-glow pub/restaurant/brasserie vibe. Lots of high tops and bar seating. Lively atmosphere. Food is good, we just had appetizer bar fare and it hit the spot! Great place to gather

Only stopped by for a drink but it's a nice place. Tim was my server he was nice, I ordered some fries and had some wine. It was good service and not to badly priced.

Terrible experience and poor management. Went for a company event and was given the run around about ordering from the bar and having a reservation/dedicated server. The service was average, drinks/appetizers below average and overall will never return.

I've been here a few times for work events. Today I decided to do lunch here. I sat at the bar and ordered an espresso martini as well as a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. The service was okay, nothing to write home about. The lettuce was wet and soggy. The dressing was super salty. I ordered from the lunch menu. The salad was $15 and extra $3 to add grilled chicken which in my option is reasonably priced, if it was eatable. When the bill came I realized there was a "premium alcohol" up charge. I'm not sure why as I only ordered an espresso martini, didn't make any special requests. Update* called for clarification on the up charge. It was explained to me that they have their own espresso martini on draft, I requested it to be made with baileys which is an up charge. The woman who answered was pleasant, she advised me to come back and try the martini without the baileys.

Walked by there couple days ago and saw their $1 oyster board, so decided to give it a try. Everything is just average. OK service, OK atmosphere, good deal on $1 oysters, a little more expensive beer (others are selling the same draft for $9.50-10 and it is $11 here), above average priced foods but quality is just about average. Not sure if we will go back.

Had an amazing dinner! The service was awesome and the food was great. I had the fish and chips, which came with amazing shoestring fries. My friend had the chicken and she cleaned her plate. We had a short window for dinner and they made sure we were out in time to make it to the theater. Would recommend The Merchant. Atmosphere, food, service. You cannot go wrong.

The Merchant is a hidden gem in the heart of Boston, with its high ceilings and classy ambience. My friend and I make it a weekly tradition to catch up over their ultra fresh dollar oysters, which are hard to come by in the city. The rest of the menu is standard fare, but everything is executed to perfection. The space is ample, making it a great option for larger groups or just a cozy date night. The service is attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere is lively without being too loud. I highly recommend The Merchant for anyone looking for a solid dining experience in downtown Boston.

Really cannot comprehend the low rating! $1 oyster on every Monday and Friday before 9pm is a great steal! Love the shishito pepper, tuna tartare, great portion with reasonable price! Main courses were also reasonably priced. The only downside is when there are lot of people, they might be a short of hand. I have been here for 3 times in the past 10 days as an oyster fan!

Came in again on a windy Tuesday and everything was as great as remembered. The staff remembered me, and our server was very friendly and helpful. I ordered the Red Curry again and it was just as creamy and delicious as remembered-- perfect for a cold fall day. It was hard to split the Togarashi Fries because they were SO GOOD. Seriously could eat those again...and again. For dessert I had the cheesecake again (not a cheesecake person but this one is so good, and I could appreciate it more this time because I wasn't as full). We ordered a shot of bourbon and a scoop of vanilla to pour the bourbon on the ice cream for dessert...so if you see this on the menu any time soon, you heard it here first. :)

Nice restaurant, lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. The neighborhood is beautiful and classy but a little bit uncomfortable to walk! Many homeless at 9pm!! Food is very good. I recommend this place.

The burger and the bar staff made the 15-20 minute walk worth it. I ate there several months ago and had to revisit due to the experience from previous visits.

Came here on my trip to Boston because it was near by my hotel, it was a pretty good restaurant. When sitting down, no server came to our table for a while, not even to ask for drinks. We had to ask the server for another table if he was a server and he said yes and then we ordered. He didn't come up to us to take our order we had to ask him which was unprofessional in my opinion. The server was nice afterwards and the food was good but very over salted. The mashed potatoes and the gnocchi were both very over salted but perhaps some people like very salty foods. I think it's better to have less salt because then you can add more if you like but you can't take any away. We ended up telling the server about the overly salted food and the manager came to see us shortly after and told us he would comp the gnocchi so we did not have to pay for that and he also gave a complimentary dessert due to the circumstances. I was glad the manager cared about us and made it right in the end but I give it a 3 due to the poor service by the server and overly salted food. The inside of the restaurant was nicely decorated and dim lights. Espresso Martinis were amazing although!

I would give a 3.7. The miso ramen had a strong eggy flavor. The ricotta gnocchi was good -- a little salty but still a delicious dish. The chicken Milanese was absolutely delicious; the Caesar salad completed the chicken. The Japanese fries were good, but not great, I've had better fries. The orange creamsicle mocktail was not my favorite. It would have been better if it were made with orange soda instead of juice. The staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere for date night or to catch up with friends. The bathroom is nice -- good opportunity to take photos. Overall, I would recommend trying for the first time. It was convenient for a Saturday night for a party of 8.

Two months ago, I dropped by this place for brunch. It was kind of quiet during the weekend compared to the lunch crowd during weekdays. I ordered the big breakfast which came with sausage, bacon, 2 eggs(I asked for scrambled), french toast, and home fries. First of, the portion was very generous. The french toast was just one crispy, thick slice with whipped cream and maple syrup. Pretty good.. The sausage had a spice to it and didn't really taste like regular pork sausage. It tasted good. I asked the waitstaff whether it was pork or lamb but I never heard back. The bacon was a bit dry however. The scrambled eggs were normal but I really liked the home fries which were crispy and sauteed with onions. Overall, it was a good brunch.

tl;dr: good drinks, good service, close to T -- a trifecta! We were looking for a convenient but out-of-the-way meeting spot after work. The Merchant is very close to the T (2 min walk from Downtown Crossing; 5 min walk from Park Street) but tucked away from the crowds. When I entered alone around 5 pm, I was surprised at how crowded it was. Two hostesses greeted me warmly. So far, so good! Bar seating is open, including, I'm pretty sure, the hightops just behind and beside the very long, dark, wood bar. The seats themselves are sturdy with backs. I was meeting a date and so needed two seats but was early and so aimed to take the only empty seat at the very busy bar, a singleton. The only problem was that the woman in the adjacent seat had shoved her seat up against the open seat where her coat and bag prevented anyone from using the seat. So I kindly asked her if she would move. She refused and turned back to talking to her date, who looked embarrassed. As I stood there in front of the only open seat in a very crowded bar, trying to decide what to do, the bartender placed a glass of water and menu at the place. So far, good marks for attentiveness and vibe. Except for the selfish bag lady, the vibe was pretty good. So while I was standing there, I said to the bartender, thanks, but I don't think I can fit into the seat. It took him about a millisecond to recognize that the woman was taking up two seats and he asked her to move, which, with great fanfare and huffs and whatnot, she finally did. (Life advice, folks. A bar is like a subway. If it's crowded, take up only your space.) And more marks to Merchant for managing the bar from the barside and corralling the unruly. Once seated, I asked for a whiskey list, which he promptly produced. I love it when a bar actually has a list of whiskeys with prices. With a range from $10 to $25 for a 2oz measured pour (also good marks -- not just a bartender's eyeball), I like to know what I'm spending. More great marks for having a good selection. I went with the Blanton's at $13 with ice on the side. Soon enough, the crazy lady left and my date arrived. The beer selection is extensive so he created a black and tan which was poured to perfection by another bartender. We later ordered the Thai curry mussel appetizer which was very very good. The toast it came with was perfectly crunchy. We both could have eaten more toast (dipped in the broth!) and when we jokingly said as much while the bartender cleared our plates, he offered to leave the broth and get us more toast. We declined (-- it would be like licking the bowl, non?-- ) but it's good to know that they're generous that way. While we were there, several bartenders attended to us so that we never wanted for anything. And a barback kept clearing dishes. Everybody was chatty and pleasant and fun and modest. No arrogance at all. I'll be back!! (This review is for the bar. I barely glanced at the dining room, which looks dark and, well, dark.)

I visited The Merchant for brunch last weekend. I went with my boyfriend and met a friend who was visiting from out of town. I made a reservation for noon, but didn't need one as the place was barely 1/4 full the entire time we were there (2 hours). I hadn't seen my friend since the fall, so we spent a good 2 hours catching up over brunch. At first, the waitress seemed a bit annoyed that we were taking our sweet time to order, but then she let us be for the most part. We got 1-2 rounds of brunch drinks each and coffees, so we weren't just sitting there with waters forever. There is an internal debate in my brain with whether to give this place 3 or 4 stars, but I went with 4 because nothing was "bad". I got the breakfast sandwich which was decent and came with home fries. I'm not a huge home fry fan, so I tried 1 and kinda left the rest. I wish they had french fries at brunch time. I woulda been all over that! I got a basic mimosa as my drink, which was fine. Nothing to write home about. The juice probably wasn't fresh squeezed, but it tasted fresh, which made me happy. I was supes hungover from my Saturday of drankin', so I didn't go for the stronger cocktail options. Next time! While the waitress was a bit surly, the live band, happily playing music in the corner lifted my spirits. By "band", I really mean 2 dudes shoved between the door and the bar. Every time I looked over and caught their eye, they smiled politely. They had a much better vibe than the waitress! Anyway - I'd come back for brunch to try some other food and drinks without the hangover. I'll stick with my 4 star rating for now! :-)