Located on Vancouver's historic Commercial drive, Merchants is already gaining a reputation for serving some of Vancouvers freshest osyters. A 30 seat Patio provides a great opportunity to watch the action of The Drive any day. The warm and airy interior is anchored by the oyster bar on one side and the daily boards on the other. Alongside the oysters is a wonderful selection of small plates for any and all tastes.
"I love going to a place where you can feel that the staff LOVE where they are working and they believe in their product and services. What a great experience. Ambience music was awesome too."
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"oyster happy hour was great. most of the other menu was fair at best. fish and soup were too salty. steak had confusing condiments. the only high note was the panzellena salad. price did not match the food portion."
Dined on 5/09/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Excellent food and service. Menu has improved with more choices and a great prix fixe. Will definitely return. Staff very friendly and accommodating with requests."
Dined on 5/03/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, late-night find, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"excellent food, well presented by a cheerful staff. music a little too loud for a dining area that is all hard surface - echo. Will definitely return."
Dined on 5/06/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This was our 2nd time at Merchant. The 1st time was awesome & my first oyster experience was great. The 2nd time however was a let down. The food was great, as was the service & cocktails. Our table of 5 ordered oysters to start, & added on the prix fixed menu. The majority of the food ordered didn't require cooking so we were surprised that nothing had come out in over an hour of ordering. We'd had our oysters (which we waited a long time for as well) & inquired about the rest of the meal. We ended up asking 4 more times just to bring out items as they were ready, and finally food came out. The food was great, but not worth the wait, especially when it wasn't exactly busy on a Tuesday night. Go if you have time to spare."
Dined on 4/30/2013
Special Features: romantic, late-night find, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The food was good, but you could get better for its price. The majority of my party had to stop somewhere after to order more food after dinner. The music was way too loud for such a small space. They charge a cake cutting fee because they make their own desserts in house - this makes sense and is reasonable. Most places will waive the fee if you order dessert, they don't. Presentation of the food wasn't very appealing either."
Dined on 5/01/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Tasty oysters. Buck-a-shuck special is the best on the menu, available all day Sunday and Tuesday and before 6pm or after 9pm the rest of the week. I enjoyed all of what we ate--a cheese and charcuterie platter, dessert.
I really enjoyed our meal, but I was separated from a substantial amount of money for very good but not world-beating food. I'd go again, but I think I'd skip the expensive wine and cheese. Those are things I can probably do myself at the store and be just as satisfied."
Dined on 07/04/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Had brunch there for the buck a shuck oysters, which is a great deal. Portions of the other food are on the small side, though tasty. Restaurant had one highchair only."
Dined on 07/04/2013
2004
Special Features: great for brunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Second time visit. Was craving for oyster and this place popped up in my mind as they have $1 oyster! Yum. Had 36 between me and my fd. The hot plates r good too. Chorizo curled scallop, the corn is yummy."
Dined on 24/03/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
Share:
+1point
1of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Tried the oyster special on a Tuesday. It was just okay. Also, food took a bit long to come out. Our server didn't seem experienced as she forgot to give us cutlery when food came. She didn't even apologize for forgetting."
Dined on 19/03/2013
2010
Share:
-1point
0of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Our first time trying out the Merchant's Oyster Bar. The restaurant is intimate; great for date night. We all had the WINTER PRIX FIXE 3 COURSE dinner; which is a great value! We're lovers of raw oysters so we started with a dozen; came with variety of different sizes. Second course I had the ALBACORE TUNA POKE, absolutely delightful. For my main I chose the FLAT IRON STEAK, perfectly cooked and well balanced accompanied with the pickled mushroom salad. Each portion sizes were perfect, great flavours in just the right doses. We even had room for dessert. Vanilla gelato w/EVOO is to die for!!! Can't wait to go back and try more dishes on the menu :)"
Dined on 02/03/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
Share:
+1point
1of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Service was fantastic. Staff very knowledgeable about oysters, other menu items were equally tasty and very enjoyable. Great place for a date, will definitely be going back. Prices were reasonable as well."
Dined on 28/02/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"So glad I found this gem of a place! Went there for buck-a-shuck oysters and let me tell you it did not disappoint! Stellar service from the very personable Doug. Will def come back again and again :)"
Dined on 26/02/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Finally, a place on the Drive to get really excited about. From the super friendly and casual yet professional service to the delectable food (in this case a classic half dozen really, really fresh oysters and an addictive lobster benedict) Sunday brunch was just about perfect. Throw in nice big windows made for people watching while relaxing over a glass or two of wine and I think I have new favourite in the neighbourhood. Can't wait to come back for dinner."
Dined on 17/02/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Went for happy hour oysters which was great. Food was small portioned but tasted great and wonderfully displayed. Great place for a casual/quiet meal."
Dined on 18/02/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"A romantic Valentine's day dinner that didn't go so well thanks to average food (soup not hot enough, meat over cooked and too salty, ...), to an expensive and too limited menu, and to the staff constantly disturbing us. A romantic dinner is not the appropriate time for chatting casually with strangers."
Dined on 14/02/2013
2013
Special Features: special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Service was very friendly and knowledgeable, but there was only one server for the brunch service that primarily cared for a larger party there at the time. Subsequently only they came around to our table twice and food was slow to arrive. Great food when it finally came though. I would still go again despite over an hour wait for food."
Dined on 09/02/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I went for their dine out menu for $28. First, the oysters they had were great. I paid extra to get the dozen oysters and there was 3 varieties served. I tried the bison tartare and the albacore tuna for appetizers and the portions were tiny. The tuna was good, the tartar just OK. The ingredients used overpowered the bison meat so I couldn't really taste it. Lastly, paying an extra $3 for the pork belly... It was good, but there was only 2 pieces the size of my thumbs, accompanied with slivers of green onion and apples... not impressed with the portion size at all. The food was pretty good. Bang for buck? Absolutely not, since I left still hungry."
Dined on 01/02/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This is a fantastic restaurant! It has a great ambiance and sized just right. Cool chic would describe the vibe. The service was professional but fun (not easy to find), and the food was interesting and delicious. Loved the wine parings. You'll want to make this one of your favourite fall-back places."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Food was excellent, but portions are very small. Main dish of salmon came with a tiny piece of salmon and two small potatoes. Seemed odd that no vegetables were included to add a little colour and to make the meal a little more substantial.
Wine list has nothing under $47 in the white wine section. Seems odd that they don't have some cheaper options."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Our server David took great care of us, suggested some great wines and made it a real fun girls night with a friend i hadn't seen in a while.I've had oysters a few times now and these were by far the tastiest! fresh, sweet and no shells (always a bonus). If you come here ask for David!!!"
Dined on 28/01/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
Share:
+1point
1of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Though the food and service was very good, the wines were very expensive. I don't mind paying for a nice bottle of wine but I like to have an less expensive option too. Even the half litre house wines were pricey. There are too many restaurants I can go to for comparable food that have high end as well as less expensive wines so I won't be back."
Dined on 26/01/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"It took almost three hours to finish the whole meal while the restaurant was not that busy. Even though the waiter was very friendly but we were starved and surprised the kitchen was that slow!!!"
Dined on 31/01/2013
2013
Special Features: late-night find
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I ordered the supposedly $28 Dine Out course at the Merchant Oyster Bar. Upon arriving at the restaurant and taking another look at the menu, I realized that I had failed to see additional charges for particular items on the course menu (i.e. extra $7 for Bison tartare, $3 extra for Flat Iron Steak). This was a mistake on my part. However, when the items arrived, they were in very small portions. I was barely full when I finished all the courses. Although the flavor and tenderness of my flat iron steak was juicy and well-executed, it was barely warm when it arrived. The bison tartare was also disappointingly mediocre. I expected more quality from a meal that came down to $41 before taxes and w/o alcohol and dessert."
Dined on 30/01/2013
2011
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I really like this restaurant alot, always feel very comfortable, like the decor, location etc.. we've only really had the oysters and few snack type things, good quality. we have been aproximately 5 times. I noticed the "wine" list prices have really increased. I was a little disappointed with this because we both wanted wine with our oysters, we had $50.00 worth of oysters!! I can understand if it's in the $20 or $30 dollar range but all wines were over $40.00, that was the only thing I didn't like."
Dined on 24/01/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The food was not all that special, particularly the flat iron steak being really rough and was hard to chew. That was quite a disappointment. The taste of the baked sockeye salmon had the same taste that I had for a $12 meal at another restaurant. The bison tartare on the other hand was very good. For $120 including tips, the place was a little disappointing because the portions were small and I wasn't full at the end of the meal."
Dined on 21/01/2013
2013
Special Features: romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We have already recommended Merchant's to our friends. We gave our friends the warning though that the portions are small, so they needed to have the intention of, "tasting great fresh food," as opposed to, "filling up their bellies". The food really was fantastically fresh and super tasty! Another thing we noticed was that although it had great ambiance, it was small and there was no, "best seat in the house", as every table seemed to be on a thoroughfare in the restaurant, next to a floor to ceiling window (which was quite cold the day we were there), or at the bar, none of which were ideal when we were there. Overall, great job Merchant's on creating another great destination restaurant on Commercial."
Dined on 21/01/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, late-night find, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The portions are very small and not cheap! $15 for three very small scallops is a high price, in my opinion, and $9 for a small arugula salad with a few hazelnuts sprinkled on top is also overpriced. However, my dining partner was happy with his choices - oysters, bone marrow and pork belly - which seemed more reasonable in size for the prices. The place has huge windows and on this particular evening, that made it very cold and I had to keep my jacket on the entire time even though they had the heat cranked up. It was very busy because it was Dine Out, but we didn't participate in their special menu. I don't think I would go back, unless my husband particularly wanted oysters some night and we didn't want to drive into town."
Dined on 21/01/2013
2007
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Based on the dine out menu, the food was tasty and fresh. The portions were smaller than what I imagined them to be, but it was satisfying overall. I would recommend this restaurant to others and I'm looking forward to going back for the oyster happy hours!"
Dined on 21/01/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.