The Merchant

4.6

1078 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

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2 people

Mar 5, 2025

7:00 PM

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Booked 31 times today

Good for business meals
Good for groups
Great for creative cocktails

The Merchant is a big space that served for more than a century as a leather store. We've brought in high-top tables near the windows ... a 40-foot bar on one side of the room … and more formal dining spots on the opposite side. We have a private dining room in back, and another private dining room downstairs. For our menu, we make almost all of our fare from scratch. Executive chef Ignacio Lopez previously worked at both Beat Hotel in Cambridge and Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington. Chef Lopez cures and smokes all the meat in house. Our burger is top-notch, as are other dishes like house-made Gnochhi, Organic Chicken Milanaise and Steak Frites. The Merchant serves salads, sandwiches ($15-$21), and more for the lunch rush. And for dinner, we are a full-service brasserie (with most entrees ranging from $25-$30). The bar has 30+ rotating beers on tap, many of them locally brewed, plus a full selection of craft cocktails to serve our patrons, including the after-work crowd.

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
60 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110
Phone number
(617) 482-6060
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 11:30 am–10:15 pm Sat 12:00 pm–10:45 pm Bar Mon–Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Validated parking available at 33 Arch Street parking garage. Entrance to garage on Hawley St
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ignacio Lopez
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Popular dishes

What 1,078 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Merchant offers "great food and service" in a "lovely ambiance," with highlights like "delicious oysters and burgers" and an "excellent" staff. While the menu might be limited, the "intimate, upscale" setting is perfect for meetups, though some diners find it "very dark" inside. A Boston favorite for foodies.

1,078 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Montreal
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 13, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Good food but plate size and quantity were really small for the price asked, overall disappointing diner experience and had to stop somewhere else to else after leaving the restaurant.
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P
Paul
Greater Boston
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great burger. Half the calamari app was just fried peppers.
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J
Julie
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The ambiance was lovely. We were seated on time per our reservation. The service was excellent! In our party of four, one had fish and chips and thought it was great; one had skirt steak and also loved it; two of us had the organic free range chicken and the chicken was small but very good; the couscous and vegetable side was lacking. So I would call it a mixed response on the food - 2 greats and 2 okays. The menu was pretty small; not too many options. I thought there would be more, but I mistook the luncheon menu for being party of the dinner menu.
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J
John
New York City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service. Had the oysters and burgers. Solid 10/10 across the board.
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A
Andrew
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 15, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
It’s good…one of my go-to lunch places In the financial district. No additional comments
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C
Clair
VIP
Charleston
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on January 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
delicious salad and friendly staff, will return again
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P
Paul
Greater Boston
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Food was very good. It is very dark at table, hard to read menu. We had to request another table. There is no lighting over or on some tables
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M
Michael
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We went on New Year's Eve around 2 pm to avoid the crowds for a late lunch. As one would expect, it was mostly empty people-wise which was what we were looking for. The ambiance was nice, it was easily quiet enough to have a casual conversation, and our server was charming and attentive. Tuna sandwich and Ham & Cheese - both were filling and we could have half salad and half fries for no additional cost. Overall a nice lunch to ring in the new year without dealing with any of the crowds.
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J
Janna
Greater Boston
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on December 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We got there just after it opened, so the restaurant was not yet busy. The service was great. Very attentive, professional & polite. The food was good and typical prices. I wish there was a kid's menu. Maybe there is one, but we were never made aware. I should have asked. Everything was delicious.
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V
Valerie
Greater Boston
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 21, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
I am such a foodie. I cannot believe everyone does not recommend The Merchant all the time. The food and drinks were delicious - up to date, perfectly prepared, and interesting. I'll be coming back. I am baffled why this isn't a Boston staple. We loved it.
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FAQs

The Merchant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 482-6060.

The Merchant is rated 4.6 stars by 1078 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 5, 2025

7:00 PM

Select a time

Booked 31 times today

60 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110

Dining areas

Additional information

Phone number
(617) 482-6060
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 11:30 am–10:15 pm Sat 12:00 pm–10:45 pm Bar Mon–Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Validated parking available at 33 Arch Street parking garage. Entrance to garage on Hawley St
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ignacio Lopez
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

The Merchant

Make a reservation

Select a time

Dining areas

Additional information

Popular dishes

Oysters of the Day

Steak Frites

Ricotta Gnocchi

Menu

What 1,078 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Merchant offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Merchant restaurant rated?

Is The Merchant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Select a time

Dining areas

Additional information