Very impressed....without prompting, they offered to make a vegan meal for me. Lots of places force me to settle for vegetarian. This sort of initiative from staff sets a great venue apart from a good one. The wine was sensational too.
My partner and I shared the 4 course meal. Absolutely amazing, a taste of what's on offer and really great quality food. I strongly recommend this restaurant
Everything was delicious. Service and food was 8/10. I would recommend and definitely would visit again. I would give the pasta a miss next time though, ordinary and quite plain.
Our lunch experience was enhanced by our charismatic and super friendly waiter. The bread was lovely, but the highlight was the extra virgin olive oil served with it! Arancini were delicious, albeit larger than expected. My duck tortellini was delicious. A very reliable option, even after all these years.
Had a meal here last night, service was good and waiter allowed us to taste wine prior to ordering a glass as we were unsure which to go with. Had the pumpkin ravioli which was really delicious and rich but a very small serving. My friend had the gnocchi which was quite plain
enjoyed a spur of the moment lunch here today. Had beefcheek croquette for entree and shared the fettuccine spiced ragu (although couldn't taste any spice) and grilled calamari cherry shallot (that was super tasty). Restaurant was busy and service was quick for lunch service.
Had lunch at Merchant recently and it was very good. I had a grilled snapper dish with sides of roast potato and salad and everything was yummy. Service was pretty good.
The food was mostly good, with the only disappointing dish being the beef carpaccio with horseradish and grain salad.
The pacific oysters with vinaigrette were superbly fresh, followed by a main of skirt steak with a chimmi churri like condiment which was the perfect touch of acid to the buttery fat of the steak. The sides of the green salad and grain salad were a little lack lustre, and failed to impress, although the crispy potatoes seemed to live up to expectations.
The desserts of ricotta cheesecake and tiramisu were outstanding, and the perfect way to end the meal. The cheeses seemed also to impress the wine lovers, who were getting a bit merry by this time.
I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys causal but upmarket dining in the middle of the city. It offers some respite from the hustle and bustle of the Rialto and feels like a different world.
Great food!!! We were a large group and the restaurant had organised a sharing menu.
The food was well selected and a great balance of the macro nutrients. Each course was well presented, beautifully cooked and wholesome.
For starters we had some calamari, fish, roasted peppers, buratta cheese, prosciutto and bread. All were great, especially the fish which was impeccably flavoured.
In mains, we were served a pumpkin tortellini, mushroom gnocchi with ragu, tagliatelle pomodoro & beef steak. Each dish was amazing. It was accompanied by a lightly dressed salad.
Dessert was spectacular. A hazelnut and chocolate ganache, tiramisu and fig pudding - each better than the other.
Definitely worth going to! The wine selection is also great and the staff are very friendly.
Great place for a work lunch, quality food and knowledgable wait staff without being too stuffy. Fit out looks great and the pasta dishes were all delicious. I would come back and spend my own money!
What a suave venue. The Dear Luncher managed to walk on through to this place through the Rialto at random when the faint aroma of meat was detected from Collins Street. Inside, they were preparing some lamb and chicken on a spit. It was like a siren song, echoing through the mist .... begging for attention and yearning for that Dear Luncher appetite. Does it count if you only eat from their temporary outdoor spit roast? You bet it does. This chicken from the spit was utterly divine and the relish in the panini roll complimented it wonderfully.
The food was OK. But not worth the price tag. I came for a lunch with colleagues and it took 40 minutes for our food to come out so we had to scoff our food down and get back to work which was frustrating. The portions are extremely small. The complimentary bread was delicious. Beautiful building and friendly service
Warren Tate Speaker Coach
+4
A great place for a quick bite for lunch or a catch up over coffee. Plenty of seating inside and out (great people watching). Traditional Italian dishes are all on offer from pasta to mains and quick eats such as focaccia topped like pizzas, panini and desserts. The service is friendly and helpful with the menu. Give it a try.
Cozy place for some regional Italian food. Service was great, although the food portion could be improved. The dishes weren't that spectacular as before.
Taste: ***
Environment: ****
Service: ****
Cozy Italian restaurant tucked away from the main road. The place is dimly lit and offers a great selection of Italian dishes.
Pasta is homemade. Had the black pasta with crab - the crab was too salty but the pasta was good.
Tiramisu was a huge slice - perfect for sharing.
It's always a pleasure dining at Merchant. A broad range of delicious Italian dishes complimented by great coffee and a lovely selection of wines and beers. The service is always friendly and accommodating. The decor is also quaint and makes the premises feel warm and inviting.
Came in for lunch the other day. Had the sirloin, cooked to medium rare. I was honestly impressed. Meat was succulent and delicious. Will definitely visit again. Very quirky establishment. Nice ambience.
It’s like being invited to step inside an Italian cookbook - delicious traditional Italian fare without pretentious hoo-ha. The lunch menu is full of favorites but I usually go for the specials as they’re usually what’s seasonal.
Staff are typically very helpful and happy to chat when the rush settles down.
Wine list is better than usual with a nice balance between local Victorian, European and other Australian regions. Prices are reasonable for a CBD location of this caliber.
Lovely Italian dining experience. Also a great spot for breakfast or a coffee date.
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