Merlins Rest Pub Menu

  • Late Night At Merlins - Basket Of
  • Late Night At Merlins - Or
  • Breakfast
  • Sides
  • Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Merlins Rest Pub

  • Late Night At Merlins - Basket Of
  • Late Night At Merlins - Or
  • Breakfast
  • Sides
  • Dessert

Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.

  • sarah s.

    Like. Trivia Sundays are fun. Seems laid back, typical Irish bar food. I'll go back

    (4)
  • Krista H.

    1/4 Irish, 1/4 Welsh, 1/4 Scottish, 1/4 British-- if you like authentic pubs with great food; this is it. It's a hole in the wall I stopped by just looking for a good guiness-- what a find! It larger that I thought, live music, support local community groups, variety of beers--imported and local, (if scotch is your thing... woah-- you have to see their selection) and overall a friendly place to be. While we were there-- my friend and I didn't even feel like we were in the cities anymore. (I've already been back!)

    (4)
  • Kent W.

    Tagged along with some locals tonight to enjoy the monthly whiskey tasting. Tonight was a selection of aged Irish whiskey. Fun and informative, complete with a piper. Nice lively and friendly atmosphere. Great food too; certainly above average for British Pub fare. I had the Highland Steak Pie. Tasty and good sized portions.

    (4)
  • Yosh S.

    I've only been at Merlin's on Friday nights when they have "kilt night" and a good Irish music session so I can't comment on the atmosphere at other times, but if you want some semblance of an authentic Irish pub experience, you can't beat Merlin's. It's a friendly, eclectic crowd with good beer and better music. EDIT: Merlin's became Irish music session unfriendly about a year ago and the sessions have been sporadic. I no longer bother going there.

    (3)
  • Ryan B.

    This is an excellent British pub, very good food. You should go here. Order food. Order beer. You will be happy.

    (5)
  • Leinad N.

    I joined a friend and his daughter, his mom and my two teenagers. We really had a good time. It being a Monday and the lunch hour, it wasn't overly busy so our conversation wasn't hard to hear. We all ordered the Rueben with on ordering the fish and chips. I wish that persons was me. The fish and chips were delicious but the Rueben was dry in my opinion. Just the meat though. Everything about it otherwise was outstanding. The kraut, sauce, and the marbled rye. They have some top notch bread and their tater tots resembled Tetris pieces but I never played a game on my plate because I kept stuffing them in my mouth. Great experience and I will be back. I see a lot of scotch that needs some help getting out of the bottle.

    (4)
  • Denise H.

    This place has changed a lot in recent years (and for the better). I remember when they first opened - I felt like the food portions were too small and the prices were too high (and everything was just kind of okay). Maybe they have acculturated to my American desires, but now the portions are generous and the prices are better and they are BUSY. The Macalester Pipe Band also plays here semi-regularly - as a Mac grad this is pretty fun. They have "Irish eggs" (basically Scotch eggs with corned beef) that are awesome. A good whiskey selection too which my mister appreciates.

    (4)
  • Mark S.

    Awesome British pub and neighborhood bar! Excellent selection of whiskey from all over the world. The food is real deal English and Irish pub style. The pies and fish & chips are a can't miss. Don't let the outside decor fool you - the inside has a great vibe. Large booths, tables, and a long bar. Eclectic crowd. FYI there are some events here that can be loud / take over the bar like music, trivia, and group vocal nights. Check the website if you don't wanna run into this business.

    (4)
  • Leah A.

    Great service !! Alyssa the bartender will take care of you!! Great recommendations !!! I was very impressed by the scotch... Scotchy scotch

    (5)
  • Cindy D.

    This pub is very busy. It is a great location for many of the Longfellow residents to come and enjoy a great time with friends and family. it is one of my favorites in the Twin Cities. Their food menu is interesting. Their mussels has great flavors. We sat at the bar and was treated nicely by the bartenders. They are very knowleagdable about the drinks. Sometimes they have live music on the other side of the room. Nothing could go wrong here, well maybe the bathroom since it is tiny, lol. Street parking.

    (4)
  • Rex R.

    Dropping off middle daughter at U of M. Pulled these guys up on Yelp and it sounded good. We were not disappointed. I had the Steak Proper, my wife had the Mediterranean Platter and daughter had Cobb Salad with Chicken. No egg for Cobb Salad but everything else was excellent. Cucumber Martini was OK. Blacksmith was excellent. Lots of atmosphere. We will come again!

    (5)
  • Hazen M.

    Nice British- Irish atmosphere with solid pub fare. I had the Steak and mushroom pie which was very tasty. They also serve a decent fish and chips as well as other varieties of dishes. Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy solid pub food with a congenial atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Erik T.

    Dope. Super dope! Welcoming and knowledgeable staff. Whiskeys and Scotch abound.. In a good way. Super great Happy Hour. Wish they were located Downtown. Would put all the pretentious hippy dippy wackadoodle places in their place! Not trying to be cool. Be cool.

    (5)
  • Risha L.

    I'll be coming back here. An incomparable whiskey selection, delivered in a binder that is larger than the song list in most Karaoke bars, good drunk person food, and smarmy waitresses serving with a smile. I also really dug the live music, mostly catchy jazz, which got many people out of their seats to dance (more sophisticated couple dancing)! I was struck by the age blend here, and loved how the young and old came out to party together.

    (3)
  • Thomas R.

    Maybe my last review was a little harsh. I had some snacks and a few beers with some friends the other day. Everything was just fine. I would come back!

    (3)
  • Ben K.

    Amazing food and great whiskey selection. They have live music many nights that is good and not too loud. Great place to grab causal drinks with friends. This fish and chips are amazing! A wonderful neighborhood pub.

    (5)
  • Cory T.

    Typical UK pub style. Lots of UK beer and scotch / whiskey. Plenty of pub food for people with the munchies. I've read a couple reviews on here that claimed they have the best fish and chips in Minnesota... No. While I appreciate that their kitchen is open until 1am, I wouldn't put the fish and chips in the top 3 for Minneapolis. Batter was too thick, a lot of the fish was grey, and the "house sauce" was a weird take on tartar sauce. The Cornish Pasty was decent. tl;dr, fine for drinks. If you want drinks and food, head to Morrissey's down the road. If you want good fish and chips go to Anchor in Northeast.

    (3)
  • Brittanie M.

    A giant selection of whiskey (mostly Scotch but a good size Irish collection as well) isn't the only reason to come to Merlin's Rest. The food and service and atmosphere were all awesome as well. I got The Duke, a stacked sandwich with thick-cut ham and turkey with bacon, sprouts, Swiss and a tangy mustard-mayonnaise mix (also comes with tomatoes but I took mine without). Paired with a cider and it was a perfect, filling meal that I still think about. I hope to come back soon for some live music, trivia, or one of the Scotch tasting events. Update: The Duke is no longer on the menu and my waitress had never heard of it so that's disappointing. Go for the Earl of Sandwich instead, with a side of tots.

    (5)
  • H W.

    This place has some of the best bar food in town. Taking into account the quality of their ingredients, it may be the best. I've only had take out but I've loved everything I've had.

    (5)
  • Wakako N.

    I honestly wished I could have experienced the type of service and food that the other Yelpers have posted about. I came here for a birthday party a few days ago with a group of about 20+ so understandably, the service was going to be a bit slow. Let's start off with the good stuff: 1. LOTS of Scotch options. Like, a binder's worth. 2. Fun atmosphere. 3. Great drinks in general (Crabbie's ginger beer which was awesome!) Now onto the negative... 1. Throughout the 2.5 hours I was there, I didn't get one water/drink refill. Had to flag the waiter down just to order my drinks. 2. My drink was accidentally given to someone else on the other side of the table; no apologies given after they realized the mistake and also forgot to give me the other half of my drink which was in the bottle and was unfortunately finished off by someone else by the time I realized. 3. I asked how big the portion size for the large fish and chips was (I eat on average 2-3x the amount of a normal person unfortunately); they said it was a very big portion. So me and several others order the large fish and chips. After waiting for almost an hour to get it, I look at my order and I can't tell if the portion is a small or large. My three pieces of fish equated to the size of one fish on my friend's plate. So the portions were inconsistent. 4. The fish batter on mine was uncooked; like still runny and raw batter. I had it sent back. Got it back and it was still uncooked. Didn't feel like asking for a third. 5. My fries were stale. Like not 1-2 hour old stale fries. Like 2 day old stale fries. I thought it was just mine so I tried my friends; also hard and stale. I rarely leave my fries, but I couldn't finish it as it was starting to hurt my teeth. 6. My friend and I ordered dessert. Never got it. Found out another friend of mine from that night also ordered dessert and also never got it. Luckily, it wasn't on my bill. 7. I think I saw my waiter a total of two times that entire night and both times, I had to flag him down to ask for my food and drinks.

    (2)
  • James P.

    I was here last week with a large party and had a really positive experience overall. I would definitely consider coming here again with my wife and sister. I ordered the British fish'n'chips. There was a slight mix up and I ended up getting a chicken'n'fish'n'chips dinner, but I blame that on them dealing with our party of 30+. The food was delicious and I cleaned my plate bare. They have a good beer selection as well; I had a hefeweizen that was quite delicious. The service seemed to be very good, although that is again hard to judge with such a large party. Overall, this seems like a very good British-style pub and I look forward to coming back and trying it again!

    (4)
  • Omnivore E.

    The service was good. Nice beer menu. Fish and chips were disappointing. The chips were great but the fish tasted fishy in a not fresh kind of way. The portion was a good size, except I did not want to eat all my fish because of the quality. I'll have to try a few other things and maybe the same dish again. Could have been an off day or maybe it really is just another overrated MN eatery.

    (3)
  • Annie S.

    I moved into the neighborhood about a month ago, and I am stuck on stupid for this place. This is a proper public house. Solid all the way round. Good food, good ale, good scotch, and good people. The fish and chips are outstanding, best I've had since in the UK many moons ago. I really love the "pub sauce" that comes with them - I add chips and pub sauce to almost everything I order now. I also love the sausage rolls and the pot of gold (both served with HP - it's like steak sauce only slightly different). The service is quite good. Sometimes "the boys" (all male bartenders) get a bit busy but the minute they're not doing anything else, they're rounding and refilling empty glasses. If they're actually "caught up", they wipe down all the glassware till it's sparkling. They have won many the accolade for all I've spoken of and more - and I see why plainly. It's so lovely here, even with many other nearby options, this is my new home for a pint and a bite. Thanks for making me feel right at home. Cheers!

    (5)
  • Mike S.

    Stopped in for a quick drink while walking down Lake to check the score of Wild game and was a little surprised they didn't have any TVs. British Pub, with varied beer selection, no TVs. Didn't get a chance to try any food, but hear the fish and chips are supposed to be pretty good. Great service from the bar tender and will probably be back for their annual block party in June.

    (3)
  • Tom N.

    Note: This review only pertains to the scotch selection, however good was consumed by our group and was well received. I went to Merlin's Rest with some college buddies on the suggestion of another friend who frequents. When we arrived and were presented with the 'Scotch Bible' our mouths all fell agape. The selection in this thing is astounding! The offer two sizes on the menu, a dram and a full pour. We all ordered dreams do we could try a couple kinds. I sampled three, including one modeled after the Shackleton Antarctica scotch brought back after being frozen in ice! We will definitely be making Merlin's Rest a stop on our guys' night gatherings rotation. Next time we will bring even more buddies to experience true scotch bliss.

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    Not so secretly, I want to pretend, most of the time, that I am living in England or Ireland and I create that illusion by coming to Merlins. I like Merlins because it seems like how I would imagine a legit English pub to be. It feels like community here. The beer is decently priced, the fish and chips is delicious. Don't get the pastie, very bland. They do have a happy hour and its very disappointing. Like 50 cents off disappointing. Oh well. This place has a nice feel to it, fun weekly events, and that's why I come back to it.

    (4)
  • Ashley V.

    Love this neighborhood pub. It's a gem on Lake street. Great food, grassfed beef burgers and yummy fish and chips. Huge selection of scotch. Wednesday night trivia is a packed house so get there early if you want a spot. Occasionally a band of bagpipers will stroll through. Always a great stop.

    (5)
  • JetSetFiend S.

    My husband and I just stopped in for a drink before our dinner reservation at another establishment. It was quite busy, so we had to wait a few minutes for table, but the wait was worth it. We learned that it is a "Merlin's" thing to share tables. We told the host that we were open to sharing and were seated much quicker. It was kind of fun to share a larger table with another group. Great way to meet new people. We will definitely be back again. Try the Merlin's Kool-Aid, you won't regret it!

    (4)
  • kyle g.

    Great bar. Definitely lives up to the Irish bar designation. Good irish decor, often men in kilts enjoying a pint, and good live irish music. Server was incredibly friendly even on a busy night. Decent beer selection. Great whiskey selection. Food is not cheap but it is very good and the servings are large.

    (5)
  • Kelly M.

    So, apparently on certain nights of the week they have an "Open Jam" where neighborhood dudes show up with instruments. Ok, I know what you are thinking; but it was really, really awesome. There is one guy who was even plays a saw! Mostly they stick to folk tunes, but it made me love this neighborhood bar even more. Oh yeah, they have drinks too. My Scotch loving boy tries a different variety each time we go. But I stick with the standard Guinness ... because it's good for me.

    (4)
  • Joel L.

    Trivia night is a blast for hanging out with friends and grabbing a couple of pints. I haven't been impressed with the food that I've had, but the decor and scotch selection is the real selling point.

    (3)
  • Chris W.

    Good place for live music, kilt night, quiz night, etc. The food was not great the burgers are not so good. If your into Irish/etc food they have some pretty good selections. Great UK beer selection on-tap, reasonably priced, good free entertainment many evenings.

    (3)
  • Leslie M.

    I live in the neighborhood and so have been to the Pub many times since it became Merlins'. I love the atmosphere and how people will (seemingly unexpectedly) show up with instruments, sit at a table and play. Last night was sea shanty singing, which was really fun. And who doesn't love a man in a kilt on Friday kilt night? The liquor selection is top notch. The food, which had been spotty for awhile last year, has improved and is now consistently good - esp the fish n chips and the onion rings. The service can be quite slow. Bring friends and plan to have a nice chat. This isn't fast food. Don't go on pub quiz night unless you want to do the quiz - it's packed. A great place for a relaxing evening with friends.

    (4)
  • Brian L.

    I went to Merlin's with a group of friends. It happened to be Trivia night and all the tables where occupied. The friendly staff accommodated us with a folding table and chairs set up in the darts area. They have a good selection of imported British and Irish beers, including one of my favorites during my 3 years living in England, Fullers ESB. I returned to this pub later by myself and had the guinness stew. It was mostly overcooked potatoes and carrots, not much beef, but came with a nice crusty roll and a pat of butter. Overall It was disappointing, especially for $10. I would have tried the British style fish and chips but the fish was listed as pollock. I buy pollock at the store when I'm feeling broke but want to eat fish anyway. When I go out to eat, I am splurging and would pay an extra buck or two for a little more special kind of fish. I am thinking cod. Sorry if I seem too harsh, but I do love a good British style pub and only hope that Merlin's will improve their food offerings.

    (3)
  • Dan S.

    This is a fun little pub on Lake St. The food is pretty good and the homemade chips are worth it with any sandwich. Has a nice selection of beers for the beer snobs. Despite other reviews, I have not had a bad service experience here.

    (4)
  • Spike N.

    Not so much an authentic pub, as an old dive bar decorated up with pub accoutremon. That doesn't mean its not an enjoyable place, it very much is. Prices are good, staff is friendly and take their jobs seriously. All in all, good craic.

    (4)
  • Annie N.

    Worst. Food. Ever. Perhaps I'd go for the music. But with the food as bad as it is and the beer prices nothing to crow about, I'm not likely to return. Maybe it was just an off night in the kitchen, but my friend's vegetarian 'bangers and mash' consisted of what tasted like Morningstar Farms veggie sausage links with some dried-out lumpy mashed potatoes and peas, and this awful, insipid stuff that they tried to pass off as gravy. Which I needed on my shepherd's pie, which was the worst I've ever had in my life, so bad that I sent it back (and I'm loath to do that, but this was awful. Awful!). It was dry and crumbly, and the lumpy potatoes just sort of fell apart. Do you detect a theme here? I realize that Ireland isn't famous for its gourmet cuisine, but please. Don't offend me with this awfulness. Nine months later I still have nightmares. Others who've eaten here, is it still this bad? Did I indeed just stumble upon a bad night? I want to like this place! It's close to my house!!

    (1)
  • Mary G.

    After driving 70 miles to enjoy the music they advertise for the 1st Monday of the month, found out they don't think its worthwhile to have music during the summer but can't be bothered to update their website. WTF? We won't be back. I recommend people disregard whatever is on their website, it can't be trusted.

    (1)
  • p a.

    Just returned from a pint with friends at this neighborhood bar- great place! I didn't catch his name but the male bartender was outstanding- friendly and efficient. Although the place was pretty full, there was a definite mellow vibe, and conversation was possible, even with the band playing. I love bars like this!

    (4)
  • Patrick C.

    Generally speaking, this place isn't all that good. But, with that said, they have some really high points, as well. The Wednesday night trivia with Wild Bill and Katie is really something special. It's always a blast, and Bill and Katie make it all happen. Now, I would give this place five stars based on this, but then there's the food and service. Both are sometimes a little lacking. The service, well, can be annoying. Sometimes, I think they have better service on an oil rig. Last week, for instance, I waited well over twenty minutes to get a refill on my drink. I finally got fed up and went to the bar myself to get a refill. This week, on the other hand, offered much better service despite it being busier than last Wednesday. Go figure? Also, the food, frankly, can be pretty bad. I mean terrible, in fact. And, coupled with the relatively high prices, it can make me cringe. I sometimes will go over to White Castle for a cheap snack before the quiz, and I know WC is hardly great. With that said, tonight, for instance, I had really good food. The beer cheese croquettes were awesome; I could have eaten a mountain of them. Finally, I do want to say that the bartenders do a great job. The liquor is cheap, and they mix it strong. Also, look for the scotch bible; it has a list of all the scotches and whiskeys available, and the prices are more than fair if you want a good scotch.

    (4)
  • Brian L.

    This was my most recent stop on a tour of Full Breakfasts in town. My wife and I stopped in this morning, and I had the Full English, and she had the Fry Up. Gotta say, the atmosphere is great. Great beer selection (though no dedicated Guinness taps), comfortable booths, not very noisy. The Full English was a bit of a disappointment. It was tasty, to be sure, but not very authentic. The bangers tasted a little more like Jimmy Dean than a proper English banger. The fried toast was pretty good, and preferable to the chips served at Morrissey's. The black pudding wasn't really authentic British Isles. I suspect they pick up some eastern-european blood sausage at Kramarczuk's and call it a day. Very smoky, hints of juniper berries - a single link, sliced in half and grilled. Chewy. They did get the beans right - Heinz regular beans in tomato sauce. My wife was more enthusiastic about her fry-up. For some reason I can't quite put my finger on, their eggs are really good. We both ordered over-medium instead of runny, and the yolks were still runny and delicious, but the whites were solid. My wife almost immediately said "this is a better breakfast than Morrissey's", but she'd only had simple two eggs, toast & bacon there. This is only one tasting of the menu, so it's not yet a definitive review. But Morrissey's is still the Full Breakfast champ. Now to try this place in Northeast that our god-daughter has been telling us about.

    (3)
  • Marcus G.

    I debated between the fish and chips and Reuben sandwich. I ended up going with the Reuben. It was so good I had to Yelp about it. They make the corned beef brisket from scratch and you can tell. I was also impressed by their Scotch Whiskey choices. I was also highly impressed I took home leftovers in a recyclable paper container. I really wish more restaurant would move a way from styrofoam. Anyway I plan to return and try the fish and chips, more adult beverages and maybe checkout the live music.

    (5)
  • Meggan E.

    Let's get the negative out of the way because this place is A-OK for a local watering hole. The service is just slow. Very friendly but slow. I'd say their food is probably on par authentic feeling than Brit's. The vibe feels more like a local you'd find in the UK. Our crew had fish and chips, burgers and some Shephard's Pie like dish. My burger was good and cooked medium how I like. But too much bun and sauce; I'll just know to order a burger with sauce on the side. The fish and chips looked crispy and greasy, just how they're supposed to. It's a big portion so you could share this pub classic. All portions were big but my partner and I are back in marathon training and hungry so we ate. He would recommend his Reuben. This will not be your lightest meal but for good comfort food with the upcoming winter days, you'd do well to stop in here.

    (3)
  • Alex B.

    da fish and chips doe. Soooooo good made my friend happy. And me too. Cool place. If I had a girlfriend, I would bring her here.

    (5)
  • Drea C.

    I HIGHLY recommend going to Merlins Rest on your birthday. A guy walks around the pub, playing the bag pipes (of which he is very skilled) And everyone claps! Its so incredibly loud, its basically like being apart of your own concert... :-) what a joyous concept! The atmosphere is American-Irish, huge booths, private tables and a bar that wraps around half of the pub. It can be noisy on the weekends, however week days is more family oriented. The bartenders know what they're doing! I always get the Snickerdoodle Cocktail, which is cinnamonDIVINE! They even rim the glass in graham cracker crumbs. The food! Aaaaaaaaaaah the food is delicious! A lot of home-style Irish recipes, mixed with burgers and things for picky eaters. *Note* I ordered food, very close to kitchen close...and it still came out wonderful! GO!

    (5)
  • Abigail C.

    Wonderful attentive staff. But the manager needs to relax - she berated a few employees in my presence for minor details. I felt uncomfortable sticking around... Too bad since this would be a great place to spend a relaxing Saturday.

    (4)
  • Richard N.

    I have always had a friendly and welcoming experience at Merlin's! Excellent food, libations,service and music! Long live the Hot Club of East Lake! As a long time neighborhood resident I highly recommend you take a rest at Merlin's Rest!

    (5)
  • Adam I.

    This pub is what Cheers wishes it could be. Great neighborhood vibe with friendly staff. Superb whisky selection, best in the metro area hands down. If you want a selection of Scotch that you can't find anywhere else, come here. Even better than the selection is the fact that you can get half shots, or drams, at half the price of a full shot (that way you can try more whiskies without the money or sobriety fleeing too quickly). Their food is well made and the proportions are realistic, along with having items familiar and adventurous depending on your mood. Consequently, nothing is really that expensive. There's a lot going on too, with trivia nights, sea shanty sings, Scotch tastings and more. No TV's, thank goodness, so you can actually talk to the people you're with. It's not a place for everyone, but of you like what they're going for (good cheap pub food with awesome beer/whisky options), then you'll love it.

    (5)
  • Susannah H.

    I've only been here once, but I'm already a superfan. First, absolutely love the decor! The wood counter and booths, the detailing...everything. It doesn't have any sort of cheesy pub feel, nor does it feel super yeah-college douchebag-ish. It feels authentic, warm, and welcoming. The scotch menu is HUGE and very impressive. I've heard the meat pies and fish & chips are delicious. I could EASILY see myself hanging out there again in the future. I also want to add that I think Merlin's prices are COMPLETELY fair, especially for non-rail liquor beverages. To anyone who pays less than $5 for a non-rail drink during non-happy hour times at a non-dive bar in Minneapolis, please give me the name of those bars...I've been kinda broke lately and could definitely use the discount. And calling the area "sketchy"?? It's Longfellow/Cooper! If you want to call old hippies working on their gardens "sketchy", be my guest. Unless you're referring to the neighborhood's ethnic diversity...then that's your problem.

    (4)
  • Chris C.

    friday evening ar merlins rest. started with the scotch egg. Flavor was good. mustard sauce however was a bit sharp. fish and chips were a huge disappointment. For a place that advertises 'world famous' and 'award winning' its sad that they serve frozen cod and frozen fries. Well at least i was able to put heinz malt vinegar on it.

    (2)
  • Isobel L.

    Delicious English Cheddar and Onion pie with a pint of Scottish ale, yummy fish and chips, fries with curry gravy, and a great Scottish pie. Dessert? Yes, please: coconut almond lemon curd tart was divine! English toffee cake also delicious. Great atmosphere and live music. What's not to love?

    (4)
  • Sara G.

    I love this place. Super chill atmosphere, great bartenders and good food. Scotch eggs with mustard that clears your sinuses, BEST fish n' chips (malt vinegar galore!) and one hell of a turkey sandwich. Trivia there is pretty great too.

    (5)
  • Sam M.

    What a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. We came for Irish singing and found a fantastic gem on E Lake st. The best whiskey selection I have seen in Minneapolis. My wife and I have a long story with German Chocolate cake, and much to our surprise there it was on the dessert board. Without hesitation she ordered it and I was oh so glad she did. Outstanding and apparently made by their staff pastry chef. What a surprise !

    (5)
  • Lindsay S.

    Wonderful service, impressive beer selection, fun for all ages, and best fish and chips in Minnesota! Bring babies! Bring grandma...seriously bring anybody here and they will have a great time. One of my favorite places to eat!

    (5)
  • Shawn S.

    I like Merlins because it has an authentic feel of the Isles, isn't a mini chain like the Cara pubs, and they have a lot of fun events throughout the week like singalongs, scotch tastings, etc. We went on St Patrick's Day, got a table, enjoyed a fantastic reuben, great selection of beer, and friendly service. We really felt like they tried to accomodate us with seating even though they were busy. The only downside is that the bathroom is teeny and full of awkward moments. But we will be back. If you friend them on facebook, be prepared to have your timeline overwhelmed with their postings.

    (4)
  • Jason W.

    The place has got some character and looks like it belongs. The service was right on the night I went as we were there for a Birthday Celebration and we had a group of 9. We were taken care of all night and there was no problem at the end of the night paying up individually. Great job. The food is decent "bar food". I had the Lamb Sandwich and while it was tasty and served hot I wish the lamb wasn't cut up in strips as it ruins the texture and mouth feel. The French Fries were nice and crispy. No complaints here.

    (3)
  • L S.

    Most of the food is good, but occasionally it's a bit.... odd. We really didn't care for the bangers and mash. It was a couple skimpy sausage things in a sea of what seemed to be packaged gravy. With boxed mashed potatoes. On a huge plate. But the fish and chips are excellent, the onion rings are good, and the burgers are up to snuff. Allowing smoking outside is a bit of a problem as the smoke just wafts in.

    (4)
  • jenny A.

    Not the best pub food in the world, but it's decent. The service is friendly and prompt, the vibe is neighborhood bar meets your mom's idea of what a pub should be like (lots of postcards and knicknacks from the British Isles) and they pour a good pint of Guinness. Their scotch selection appears to be excellent and even though they don't seem to understand that authentic fish and chips should not only be wrapped in paper, but should also have soggy chips and super crisp, crack into shards fish crust, I love this place. We've come here as a family a couple times on Sunday afternoons which is perhaps the only authentically pub like thing about this place--a kid can come here on the week-end and it's not going to scar him for life.

    (4)
  • Jennifer S.

    Later on a Friday evening, the place was packed with people. A nice and friendly atmosphere. We found an opening to stand at the bar and order a beer and then wait for a table to open up. Yes, they card everyone - the sign posted on the wall right when you walk in says so. We got a table at the very back of the front bar - where the back door and restrooms are. Not the best place to sit and have a meal. It's hard not to look whenever the door opens up... kind of awkward. The Brit-style fish-n-chips were decent. However, their fish was not even close to the excellent fried fish I had in December at the Walker Art Center's restaurant. A while after eating the 3 pieces of fish and most of the chips, I felt like I had consumed a "gut bomb". A bit uncomfortable. Later on, chatting with Bill Watkins, an Irish gent sporting a kilt, was amusing.

    (4)
  • Joel B.

    So I was looking forward to visiting Merlins primarily because of everything I'd heard about the "Bible" they give you to peruse the multitudes of Scotch, Irish, and other whiskies. The hype was dead on regarding the Bible. There were easily 200+ Scotches, each broken down by the area of Scotland from which they originate. I prefer peatier Scotches from Islay and the Islands and there were probably 30 or more just from those two areas. Very impressive. We were not prepared for the massive sing-along that occurred on the side of the bar we were in so we quickly finished our food and made our way to the other side where it was quieter and we could finish our conversation. I sampled several Scotches I've never had and enjoyed them immensely and would go back for more. The burgers we had were huge and excellent.

    (4)
  • Ford P.

    There are no televisions so you get to talk to people at the bar. Merlin's is known for a huge scotch selection, but they also have English beers on tap. The stilton burger is my favorite burger in the city. The atmosphere is cozy with lots of interesting English stuff on the walls. Some nights have live music and/or bag pipers. They also have special events like St. George's day.

    (5)
  • Rhonda G.

    The fact that I have never been here is just wrong. I want to correct that. I was here for their first ever readings of Noir at the Bar. It was very successful. It was also funny that another event of female Morris dancers was going on outside simultaneously. I had an absolutely delicious cottage pie. I sampled the highland steak pie. It's soaked in some kind of very strong booze. The service was great. The bathroom is funny in an almost tag team type way. I love the menu and even want to try the vegetarian items too. They even have the loud broad at the bar, that reminded me a little of the Dirty Harry film Sudden Impact. Definitely a local pub vibe. Will definitely make up for lost time.

    (5)
  • Crysta M.

    I've hesitated to review this place, because I wasn't sure how to rate it. So lets just list out the pros and cons on this one: Pros: Awesome (comfortable) booths, free wifi, Belhaven Ale, some of the best fish and chips this side of the ocean, if you get in a loud Stargate vs Doctor Who argument the bartender will join in, and I love the music corner, even though I don't understand it all. Last night there were people there singing while holding/banging sticks. Most nights it's people with guitars and harmonicas and stuff. Cons: Service is slow. Like really, really slow. It's not uncommon to wait 5-10 minutes just to order my beer and another 10 minutes to get it. We've waited 40 minutes just to see our server anywhere in the bar so we can get our check, took another 10-15 to actually process the payment once we finally found our sever. So order refills when you still have about half your beer left, and know in advance when it'll be your last one so you can get your tab with your last beer. Also, can't play darts on the weekend nights, despite the existence of a dart board, because they use that space for seating. Even if no one is sitting there and there's plenty of other open space to sit. If its Friday or Saturday night, no darts. Overall I do like place, hence the conclusion to give it 4 stars, despite the extremely slow service.

    (4)
  • Whitney G.

    I will have to try the actual pub fare to give this another go around. I loved the ambiance with the decoration from the British Isles, but I must say that the service could have been better. I ordered something very un-British, which could have been my first mistake. I ordered the Spicy Griller. Dont' get me wrong, I've had plenty of locally grown food from restaurants, but the veggies had a distinctive taste as if they've just been plucked from the earth from which they came. Waiting for the food to come and the waitress not being very friendly makes me think if I do go back, to order from the bar. And to order regular grease-injected pub fare.

    (2)
  • Rachel C.

    I've had nothing but good times here. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. I've pretty much only had their small hummus appetizer, and that was delicious. Strong-ish vodka drinks. Not like, NE-dive-strong, but decent.

    (4)
  • Kirk J.

    Good representation of British Public House foods (Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash & Shepherds Pie were all up to snuff). Extensive selection of regional and seasonal beers on tap. We went early evening on a Saturday and had a very attentive, efficient and friendly server.

    (4)
  • Alexandra H.

    As Tori M. said "If this was closer to my house, I would totally become a regular." Actually, scratch that. It's nowhere near my place and I'm still a regular. Merlin's has such a wonderful "neighborhood" vibe to it, while still attracting natives of the British Isles. The owner has a charming accent and can be seen swooping around the bar to converse with patrons in a kilt. They have an extensive whiskey selection (ask for the book) and I love that different relics and flags from the British Isles adorn the walls. Come here to relax, play a game of cricket, browse the book share shelf & eat a grilled cheese. You might even catch a bagpipe concert. It's the best.

    (5)
  • Johanna G.

    Authentic pub here, with the food and drink to prove it. Try a dessert if you have a sweet tooth. One of the servers makes them- and they are delicious and authentic! The prices are in line with other establishments, and we've only had substandard service once. My father, husband and I went here once. They decided to card my husband (who looks his years, btw) and refused to serve him when he didn't have photo identification. (At the time we were more regularly here, and I recognized several of the staff, and they us.) The server snidely pointed at their sign reading "We Card Everyone- Regardless of Age" or something to that direct meaning, then read the sign to us. Well- no one at the bar at that moment had been carded, and they chimed in to tell us so. That apparently pissed off the barkeep, and my husband was refused alcohol service. I get it, I do. Having run a bar, having dealt with licensing, etc, I have some experience in this. The trick here would to have been more apologetic, and to actually have carded everyone, if you're going to read it aloud to your paying customers as if they are children to be scolded. It is unnecessary to humiliate polite, and well behaved customers. Four stars for authentic food, drink and decent parking options. Minus one star for the carding debacle.

    (4)
  • Lorraine N.

    great little bar if you want to see some men in kilts.....you will-----the beer selection is above average with a lot of my favorites. They advertise that they have the best fish and chips. So we ordered---they are served on newspaper and the first batch we got were not done so they quickly took care of that and we waited and waited and finally we got a hot batch and yes they were done and they were good but not the best in the area by any means....they were a tad on the greasy side....I would try them again though because it just seemed they were having a bad night in the kitchen....laid back older crowd

    (4)
  • Missy S.

    Reserved a private single malt tasting - 18+ year old. Received VIP treatment by the proprietor, whiskey expert and our server. Dennis was extremely knowledgable about the distilling process and specific distilleries. The whiskey selection was well thought out and a great variety from the different regions. Dinner before-hand was great classic pub food. Great band on Saturday night with a very lively atmosphere!

    (5)
  • Kali B.

    Scotch drinkers, rejoice! When Merlin's Rest says they have the most comprehensive list of Irish and Scotch Whisky in all of Minnesota, well, they really mean it! And be it a tasting of said whiskys at their first Thursday of the month tastings, or a private tasting for two, they'll make sure you have a grand old time. And on a record-breakingly warm January evening, they did just that for my SO and me. Picture the scene: husband's birthday coming up, Kali has just moved to Minnesota, and has no clue what to do with the man! All she knows is that he likes Scotch, and the list better be longer than your average Macallan, Glenmorangie and Talisker. Cut to Kali typing frantically on Yelp.com . "Yelpers," she typed furiously. "I need your help! Husband needs dranky dranxxxx, give me whiskies! Give me MOAR whiskies! NOWWWW!!" Cut to many helpful suggestions and three anxious phonecalls to various owners of fine drinking establishments later, Kali calls Merlin's Rest: "I hear you guys have an incredible selection of whiskys! Can you do a private tasting?". And from that moment on, proprietor Lee Tomlin rose to the occasion magnificently. Not only did Kali feel like she was in safe, knowledgeable whiskey-knowing waters, but in between nuggets of wisdom "if you're in a relationship with a Scotch drinker, you know that there are limitations to their tolerance of smokey and peaty", a tasting of six fine single-malts, where Lee would guide us through the swirls of golden and amber armed with his tasting notes from previous tastings, and the pub's famed Whisky Bible, was organized, and the SO and Kali were all set and ready to go. Cut to Kali and the SO arriving at Merlin's Rest an hour after they said they would. Lee, greets them warmly, and presents, as a little surprise for the surprise tasting, a gentleman named Dennis. Dennis? "Dennis is one of the guys who leads our tastings every month, he just happened to be available, so I called him in to guide your tasting." Cut to Kali's jaw dropping open. A pub-owner going above and beyond? It cannot be! But Dennis it was, and a knowledgeable, entertaining, thirst-quenching evening was had by all as the SO and Dennis worked their decided way through measures of Arran Sassicaia, Scapa 16, Glenfarclas 105, Mortlach 15, Royal Lochnagar and Old Puteney 21. Arran was decided as the star of the evening with the Glenfarclas 105 and Old Puteney 21 vying for second place. Interspersed throughout this montage of swirly swirls and appreciative grunts: Lee and server James checking up on the drinkers, warmly and regularly. Climax: Kali sweating bullets as thoughts of $$$ play on her mind, until she gets the check and is very pleasantly surprised. Hearts and heads singing, Kali and SO step out into the warm January night, thoroughly impressed with Merlin's Rest.

    (5)
  • Sara W.

    Listen. I eat a lot of Reubens. If I go to a restaurant that has a reuben, I am contractually obligated to try it. I have eaten a lot of reubens. The reuben I just ate was so completely uncontested as the best reuben I've ever eaten that I was compelled to get on Yelp and tell you about it, lest I start shouting over the fun live music to the rest of the bar patrons. The bathroom is cramped but interesting, and the bar vibe and free wifi far outweigh a weird bathroom. ALSO DID I MENTION THE REUBEN.

    (5)
  • Eric U.

    I love scotch and Merlins has a huge scotch selection. The first time I went to Merlins it was because of the scotch and I was very surprised to find that they actually have a pretty good vegetarian selection. Their Chipotle Bean Burger is amazing and all of the times I have had it they even used butter lettuce which made it very good. The atmosphere is mostly pleasant but a couple of times it was too loud to have a conversation with friends. The trivia that they have is also fun, but the questions are usually pretty difficult but I enjoy it. I recommend checking it out.

    (4)
  • Joshua W.

    This place confuses me. What is it? It has Irish, Scottish, and English decor in a very old run down building. They have a long selection of scotches and craft beers but it has the feel of a dive bar with low class regulars more than a gastropub. The bartender was great when I got there to watch the soccer game a little before my date. There were a few people in there and he was handling both waiting tables and the bar fairly well by himself. Eventually comes in a waitress an hour later that mans...whoops wo-mans the tables. I was really surprised there was no happy hour pricing on any of the beers or rail drinks but oh well. Eventually my date came and we moved from the bar to a table. we got food which was really good, but took forever, and the service honestly was lousy. The waitress doesn't like her job and her attitude shows it. She only came back once to refill waters, we basically had to flag her down to pay the check and the whole time she seemed to be in a bad mood or just generally bitchy. I guess I gave it 3 stars because the food was worth the 35 min. wait, and the bartender was amazing, but the other service wasn't. I don't know...they would have to do something special for me to come back.

    (3)
  • Jessica R.

    went there the other night for the first time with some friends and will never go back. we had no idea there was going to be some sort of "show" and that we weren't going to be able to have a normal conversation over dinner. we actually got called out while one of the men was up front telling some story. it was super embarrassing and made us feel really bad. no one told us hey do you want to sit on this side there is something going on over here that people came to see. no disclaimer that talking was not allowed. food was great. server was great but will never go back there because of that situation. seriously unfortunate.

    (2)
  • Megan E.

    I was really excited to come here to try the fish n chips and then I left disappointed. The service was quick and friendly enough. Unfortunately, I found the food to be less than impressive. Go to Anchor if you want really good fish n chips.

    (3)
  • Lauren D.

    I love Merlin's Pub. The food is delicious and I love the selection of beers. My current favorite is the Belhaven. So smooth and yummy! I've visited for Wednesday and Sunday trivia nights. I get there early so I can make sure I have a booth by the time the game starts at 7:30. I'm excited to keep exploring their menu (I've had the veggie cottage pie and the fish and chips so far). Merlins is filled with friendly, kind staff that makes you feel at home.

    (4)
  • Sam M.

    I met the old speckled hen here. It was so good I had two. I found Merlin's to be a cozy spot located not far from the river on lake st. There was outdoor seating, but we chose to dine indoors. We had a some scotch eggs. This is the first time I have had these cold. It says this is traditional on the menu. I guess I'm a bit of a rebel because I prefer them warm. They were good though. Served with a spicy mustard (caution). My wife and I both had the Steak and Stilton. Its a puff pastry pie filled with ... steak and stilton cheese. The flavor is awesome, but the pie is a bit on the smallish side. The fries it comes with are nice. The gravy for dipping is delicious. The service seemed a bit chaotic, but nothing was slow, the food was good, and I always had a beer to drink. This place is worth a visit of for no other reason than the variety of british beer on tap.

    (4)
  • Sophie V.

    The only saving grace was Trivia Night! The Quiz Master is worth the visit, but I have a hard time saying I'll be back. The food was genuinely British terrible. We had the fish n'chips, the Speyside Pie, and the Ploughmans Plate. The chips with the fish tasted like frozen, hardly-fried starch lumps with no flavor. The Pie was almost inedible. I don't who would consider stale frozen pastry puff any sort of crust, but I almost sent it back... and I hate being that person... But even the filling tasted like it was from a can. Flavorless, bland gravy. The mash was cold. They bought our first round of drinks because of it, which was nice. The Ploughman's Plate was nothing special. They forgot the cheese on the first try, which was the only reason we ordered it. But it was ok, especially if you're looking for veggies. I know it was Trivia Night and it was really busy, but if the kitchen isn't built to handle a full restaurant, don't put so many seats! Everything we ordered, including drinks, took at least 15 minutes (try more like 30 for the Ploughman's) to get to our table. Our waitress was really nice, and she bought us a dessert, the English pudding or something and it was actually really good! And my Pimm's Cup was lip smacking. The atmosphere was really relaxed and welcoming, and Trivia Night was fun, but with the wait time on EVERYTHING and the lack-luster food, I probably will be headed to Anchor Fish n'Chips or Ward 6 St Paul next time I want play ex-pat.

    (2)
  • Sam H.

    I ended up here randomly after searching "fish and chips" in Yelp. I've driven by the place many times but never thought of going in, but I'm really glad I did. When we first walked in early on a Saturday night the place was silent, but packed. I looked in and saw that an entire side of the place was full of people watching Dr. Who, not a single person was talking. For the uninitiated, Dr. Who is a British sci-fi series with a cult following. This was a good sign as it showed me this wasn't your typical bar. We sat down at the really cool booths and checked out the British knick knacks on the walls - much of it is really interesting. The place is dark and very relaxed and seems to have a lot of regulars. They've got lots of good beers and booze. I ordered a Bells IPA to go with my fish and chips. The fish and chips were really good. Normally I douse mine with extra vinegar, these didn't need anything added to them. They were served with a nice tartar sauce which tasted like it had wasabi in it. I'll definitely be back. I'd recommend this place to nerds, Anglophiles, alcoholics and lovers of British comfort food.

    (5)
  • Karen S.

    went with a coupon for $25 off at least $35 worth of food, so we ordered more than we would normally. Appetizer of spicy green beans was good, but not as an app. I would have loved it on a bed of rice or with some chicken. The beans are really spicy and with nothing to eat them with, they overpowered everything we ate afterwards. BF ordered the soup of the day, baked potato&kale. Awesome! served with some fresh bread and herb butter. I had the fish & chips. The fish was outstanding - perfectly battered and really flavorful. I think I even like it better than Anchor. Chips were pretty soggy, but not bad. Would have liked fewer fries and one more piece of fish. BF had the Cornish pasty which was super hot (temperature) and served with some tasty gravy. We got dessert and that turned out to be a huge letdown (I know, an English Pub probably isn'tknown for dessert). It was an apple pasty with a whiskey caramel sauce. The pasty wasn't crispy at all, and there were hardly any apples inside. The apples were OK, but had little flavor. Wouldn't do that again. BF also had a scotch which he had a hard time really enjoying after the super spicy beans had corrupted his palate. Live music was nice and the service was really friendly. We'll be back for beers and dinner, just not for the app's and dessert!

    (3)
  • James C.

    I like this place. The fish and chips are great. I also enjoyed the great neighborhood feel that the decor and staff create. The staff seems genuinely friendly. I will be back...often.

    (5)
  • Rachel K.

    This is quickly becoming my favorite low key bar to get a few drinks. I and some friends met up here for some drinks for happy hour and it was great. Our service was quick, fun and kind of sassy which fit in with our group. I had the large fish and chip which cost only $10 which was a bargain for the amount of food given The fish was nice and flaky without being overly greasy which is a hard thing to find most times. You can get it British or Yankee style, Yankee still where the chips are a little crisper. I am of the firm opinion if you go to a British pub, you should really get the British style. I am officially in love with the Irish Storm drink which is Jameson and Ginger beer. It was so good, I just had to have two of them. The beers on tap are pretty impressive if beer is more your speed; they even have Strongbow on tap. They don't really have a huge happy which is okay since their prices are not that expensive. The happy hour special is 50 cents off a pint. My two Irish Storms, fish and chips and a friend's Strong came to a total of $29. There are some fun events on their calendar that I will have to go back to check out such Friday night being Kilt & Corset Night, Wednesday being Trivia night and I believe the last Saturday of the month is a Dr. Who meet up. Seriously, this bar is a nerd/geek nirvana.

    (5)
  • Guya I.

    Service, Whiskey, choice of vegetarian food---- awesome ownership/management always present----Merlins rest Rocks!! How lucky I am it is within walking distance of my house. Killer Whiskey --Scotch list--do people even know they have as deep of a whiskey/scotch list as they do?? and the bloody mary on weekends called A Chiswick---OMG. Food could be a tiny bit improved on weekends-- ( The Veg Biscuit and Gravy was not as good as the Veg Cottage Pie on week nights)-- the Coffee ( they need to get real coffee--Folgers makes me want to throw up) I know they give it away for free but stop that nonsense. The Bloody rocks--and service is always 5 stars.

    (5)
  • David G.

    My favorite bar in the twin cities. There i said it. Great selection of imported British Ales, hearty British food, nice staff, great ambiance, and did i mention the largest selection of Scotch whiskeys in the Twin Cities. This place has a great old-school traditional pub vibe, which as someone of British heritage I always appreciate. Be sure to grab a pint (or several) of something imported and on draft. I generally go with the Old Speckled Hen, a fantastic import from the old country, which so happens to be my English mother's favorite as well. I suppose in that regards the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Food wise they make a great Fish n Chips, second only to The Anchor Fish n Chips in Minneapolis, a good selection of meat pies, juicy burgers, and great bangers made specially for them. Its always a good sign when the proprietor of a scottish pub is, well, Scottish. Only down sides would be the imports are a tad pricey, which is to be expected, and they don't have happy hour specials. Otherwise a great place to meet up with friends and grab some food and drink. When someone wants to meet up at a bar, this is usually my suggestion.

    (5)
  • Sarah L.

    A classic neighborhood pub. Nice beer and whiskey list. The food is from the British isles as one might expect from an Irish pub, never the less the food is done well--even for vegetarians. It is very dark which can be great for a wintery afternoon-not as fun on a nice summer day but it fits the cozy mood of the place. Very friendly, smiling waitstaff and customers. Be warned you will get annoyed stares if you are not silent during pub trivia.

    (4)
  • Bryce F.

    Can't comment on the food because we went for the Scotch! And boy do they have a lot of it! Ask to see the "whisky bible". There had to be at least 150+ whisky's and scotch's to choose from. Also, nothing was over $30 a pour which is fantastic. Bartender was helpful, knowledgeable, and honest in helping us select a few to to taste. The decor was authentic and enjoyable as well. I will be going back again and again until I have sampled the entire bible!

    (4)
  • Jimmie C.

    Outstanding! Excellent selection of both libations and Irish fare. A unique atmosphere! Check this place out.

    (5)
  • Jesse W.

    This is my favorite pub ever. I love going because you never know what the hell is going to happen from one day to the next. It could a whiskey tasting, the entire pub might break out it song (sea shanties), there could be guys dancing around in kilts and then banging on each other with sticks or you may spectate upon the blind dart league (I kid you not). Oh and they have a great whiskey selection.

    (4)
  • Sarah T.

    Merlin's is one of my favorite places for a low-key night out or a greasy hangover breakfast. Their traditional Irish/Scottish/British breakfast and a Bloody Merlin will put you right back on your feet. BONUS: During the summer you can snag an outdoor table and watch the world go by on Lake st. As for nightlife...I was here again last Friday and the place was pretty packed with people from all walks of life. A lovely Irish band sat in the corner providing some great atmosphere. Merlin's is a great place to catch up on some convo, meet new friends, or just admire the music and people watch.

    (4)
  • Tegan B.

    The service here is appalling. It took 10 minutes after being seated to be given a menu. I ordered a scotch (Deerstalker 12 - light herbal flavors, a little bit of burn, just enough to make the smoke a little harsh, but it was enjoyable enough.) I ordered my vegetarian Cornish Pasty. This sounded like the perfect thing for a winter night. And I had never run across a Vegetarian Pasty. Excellent! So I waited. And an amount of time I thought was generally appropriate later, my pasty arrived with a mushroom gravy and very flaky looking pastry cover. I cut into it, and the pastry was a little bit soggy. Truly, it's the sort that seems to happen when one microwaves a pastry. I bit in, and the flavors were lovely. It was even better with the gravy, and it all balanced the scotch beautifully. It was really disappointing to have something that I knew could be spectacular, and have it just miss the mark. Then I waited. And waited. And really, a person shouldn't have to wait 30 minutes with their dishes piled up before the waitress comes back to ask if there's anything else I'll be having. That would have been a whole hour between when I got my food and when I saw a waitress again. I still would have gone for pie if it had only been a 15 minute wait. But by that time, I was irritated and just wanted to pay and go home. The food is tasty enough if sloppily executed. And the 14 pages of available scotch is a good thing. But the service is so appalling I will not return here unless given no other choice.

    (2)
  • Kae S.

    We are regulars at Merlins. While yes it can get really crowded, and they don't have any specials, you go to Merlins for the atmosphere and the amazing food as well as the extensive whiskey list and great pint options. Recommend the fish & chips, pie & a pint, all of the apps, burgers. Go here for great British Isles food and a unique experience. Different events go on every night. Also, for those with kids but want to go to a pub, Merlins is family friendly and under 21 are welcome.

    (5)
  • Meghann F.

    I like it. The booths are nice and roomy - we had 6-7 people in one since there wasn't any other place for us to sit. I think they had some sort of drum circle going on, there were people on the other side of the bar pounding on sticks and chanting - interesting . .. . I just had the pie and a pint - guiness and their shepard's pie - small version in a cup - it was delicious. I had the veggie version.

    (4)
  • Zheng W.

    Apparently Friday night is corset/kilt night. You get a free drink if you happen to be in the appropriate attires. This place was completely packed both times we were here. Drinks and food are good - nothing to really blow your socks off though. I'd say the appeal of the place is in the experience. The place is completely decked out in British/Irish/Scottish decors, and the staff here all have the lovely British/Irish/Scottish accents. We were here one Friday night, when they had live music (on top of the corset/kilt), and then late one Wednesday night, which was trivia night and we had to wait for 30+ min for a table. It was well worth the wait though. I would definitely come back again on a different night for a different cultural experience.

    (4)
  • Lindsay K.

    I love this place. A dark warm interior, book shelves lining the periphery, walls covered with old paintings/photos/paraphanelia; it has a feel that is close to obsolete in this city. I couldn't quite put my finger on it for sometime, until finally it hit me. No televisions. Ah ha! No patrons staring dumbly at whatever happens to be on. And no, I'm not an anti-television activist. I too have been guilty of losing myself in the face of TV when out with friends. Here though, that option doesn't exist. Conversations take place that otherwise probably wouldn't have, and there's a sense of old worldliness that I have yet to find at many other venues today. It's nice. As for their food, I have yet to try anything. The menu looks appetizing. You can get your fish in a newspaper, east coast style, and they have many items of the traditional Irish fare; hearty and not so healthy but oh so tasty. They have a nice beer selection, and also offer half-pints, which is great when you've reached the point of "I kinda want another beer but I kinda don't". Have half of a beer then. Beyond their beers, they have a nice selection of hot adult beverages. And what could be better than sipping on a Hot Toddy, Peppermint Paddy, Irish Coffee, or a specialty Hot Chocolate, while squished in one of their big over-sized plush leather booths with a bunch of your friends? I'm into it.

    (4)
  • Karin M.

    Stopped here for breakfast this morning. What a charming place! We were the first people in and decided to take a seat at the bar so hubbs could covet the scotch selection. The bartender/manager was extremely friendly and helpful. Hubbs enjoyed talking scotch with him. The meal: Bloody's were very different and delish - the garnish was blended into to mix so they were nice and thick. Plus you had the wonderful celery, carrot, etc taste in each sip. Not spicy but very good. Split the Toad in the hole was tasty sausage in yorkshire pudding topped with scrambled eggs - once again it was very good. We also had the crunchy french toast - french toast with a bar twist - they were delicious bit size pieces that could be eaten with your fingers. Overall a great experience and one we look forward to repeating when we can indulge in their outstanding selection of 140 scotchs.

    (4)
  • Angela L.

    Tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny!!!!! But cozy. This place is smaller than a pig's eye! It is however, a true, Hiberno-Celtic pub. Small kind of fits the bill of true "pub", in my opinion. This place has a large selection of Scoto-Irish-British booze. Fish and Chips are good to go. Get them. A strange array of regulars seem to inhabit this tiny little hole in the wall on Lake Street. People watching is at its prime here, despite the small size. I came here with some people around St. Patrick's time, I don't know if I would actually recommend coming here for St. Patrick's, it would probably be fun but good luck finding anywhere to stand... or fall over... or whatever.... When I came here these strangely costumed Rubenesque ladies were dancing to the bagpipes. Someone was wearing a camouflage kilt - someone was wearing a cargo pants kilt - and someone was wearing a normal kilt. If that's not enough to either draw you in or keep you far, far, away from this establishment then I am afraid I have no further advice for you.

    (4)
  • Allison M.

    I love this friendly little pub. Great service, wonderful Scotch selection and delicious desserts.

    (5)
  • Dave F.

    3.5 stars. Not a bad little place! Sure, it could use a face lift and the server could have been a little friendlier, but everyone in our group of eight enjoyed their food. The fish & chips received good grades, and I thoroughly enjoyed my stilton & steak pie. They had live music that Friday night, sort of a bluegrass/folk sound. They were fun, talked to us, and managed to play at a comfortable volume for how small the room was. The beer tasted fresh and as others have said, the scotch selection is huge. I wouldn't call this a destination spot, but if I lived in that 'hood I'm sure I'd go back often. TAKE NOTE: They card EVERYONE, even my 78 year old mother! They refused to serve my 54 year old sister because she forgot her ID. If you don't have your ID, move on- they absolutely will not serve you no matter how old you are. Must have had trouble in the past...

    (4)
  • Zein M.

    There are a couple different ways to be a neighborhood bar. The first is sadly the most common, and entails being rude and inefficient with people who stop in for the first time, most likely because you assume that your bar is so unique and quirky that the average person won't "get it" and will likely never return. The next involves being genuinely warm and giving the benefit of the doubt to new patrons, assuming that the live in the neighborhood and want to patronize a local bar to be inducted into the scene. I found Merlin's Rest to be an odd combination of the two. In the latter respect, I really enjoyed the vibe and ambiance of the bar. I remember thinking to myself that it was pleasantly different from the chock-full-of hipsters scene of Uptown. But note, just because there were no skinny jeans or terrible haircuts does not mean that the exclusive hipster ethos is not present -- particularly among the servers/bartenders. We had to wait a long time to get any service. Our drinks arrived fairly quickly after ordering, but I was very dissapointed that my whiskey and ginger beer seemed to be just ginger beer with not even a splash of Jameson. Thinking myself more wise, I ordered a beer for the next round and a "small" order of chicken tenders and chips because the server told me that size would feature three chicken tenders. Unforutnately there were only two, but I let it go because I didn't want to have to bother to flag down our server. In conclusion, though I liked the weekday vibe of the bar, I doubt that I will put on a list of must-returns and instead leave it in the back of my mind for a low-key beer if I feel like walking to a nearby place.

    (3)
  • Libby B.

    I've been the Sunday Night Pub Trivia at Merlins Rest for the past two weeks; it starts at 7:30, and it has a lot of devotees while still being friendly to new blood. I had a Merlins Melt while my dining companions had fish and chips -- both were very, very good. Our first trivia night was hosted by Wild Bill Watkins, who might be the greatest trivia host ever and kept things moving (the event lasted about two hours, which was perfect). The second trivia was hosted by the owner; it went on a little too long (same number of questions, but an extra hour -- maybe trying to get more people to by drinks?). Nonetheless, both evenings were lovely times. Our team will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Lily K.

    I enjoyed watching the evolution of this pub from some of their early years. It was a frequent Friday night spot to gather with friends and have some great conversations or cribbage playing. The Scotch tastings, live music, and special events made it even better. The place is small, has some great little booths where everyone is gathered around and can see each other. The food evolved from a very small offering to some excellent British Isles staples. I haven't been back in a couple years due to relocation to the west coast, but it's always a great place to go to. Seating can be hard to come by and service was slow when the place was packed full. They had a great bar selection, my scotch fanatic friends drooled over the selection, and the frequency of live celtic music was unparalleled.

    (4)
  • Wanda M.

    We started with a Black and Tan-Finnegans and Guinness + we ordered a Cornish Pasty. Then a Pie and a pint. (Pie= Grandmas cottage pie) Friday is kilt night. Fun times. The owner appears to mingle, which is fantastic. Lots of regulars. Some of my favorites along with the Black and Tan are Half and half- Guinness and Harp; Black Velvet- Guinness and cider. With all that delicious beer it is good there is all that food. Tons of tables. Several booths. Good amount of seats at the bar.

    (3)
  • Jennifer K.

    We thought It'd be fun to try the cute lil pub on Lake at 6 o clock on a Wed night for dinner...(apparently Quiz Night?). We got there and it was pleasantly occupied, but with a lot of empty "reserved" tables. After speaking with the bartender, we grabbed an empty table for dinner and ordered our drinks and food. As the place began to fill up, it got really loud in there...good energy, but loud. Our service and food were fine...not great, but just fine for a (coveted) casual night out with my man. Having our food for about 15 minutes and on our second beverage, we were TOLD by a manager(?) or host(?) that "we would now be sharing our table with other people..." Reluctantly, we said ok, although obviously having no choice in the matter. She came back with 2 people to make our 4 top full...we said "hello" and next thing we know, there are 2 more people joining them, standing over our table and looking at US like, "when are you leaving??" We hadn't received our bill, we hadn't finished our drinks and we spent $50 in the hour we had been there. And to top it off, what did this gruff woman say to us when we got up from the table because we felt SO uncomfortable...and stood by the kitchen door? "Welcome to merlin's." (AKA We got your money, now get out. We don't care.) Thanks, but no thanks. All they had to do was inform their clientele of what was going to be happening ahead of time and I would have been fine with it. The way it was handled...ridiculous and rude. This woman is the reason why I don't want to go back. What a shame.

    (1)
  • Kirsten C.

    Usually I'm okay with this bar. It's not great, but it's close to my house. Last night I split the fish and chips with my brother (no comparison to the anchor, btw) and we both got FOOD POISONING. My brother told me about some friends of ours who won't eat there any more because they got food poisoning TWICE. I tried to call to tell them but no one answered. Will never eat here again!

    (1)
  • Nazgul W.

    Cozy little neighborhood joint. I used to frequent it when I lived off Lake St. Especially good for a late lunch or early evening bite of fish and chips, pasties or cottage pie, but the burgers and other sandwiches are just so-so. The place definitely has the feel of an Irish pub but sometimes it seems as if they're pushing that vibe a little hard. It can get really loud and raucous at nights when they have activities like trivia or music, so if you're just trying to grab some food during one of those occasions, you may consider going elsewhere. But this is a cool little pub that stands out because there's not much similar in the area. The trivia czar can come off a little snooty. Good for regulars and alcoholics.

    (3)
  • Tori M.

    If this was closer to my house, I would totally become a regular. This place is cute, full of charm, and the food is not half bad at all. The fish & chips are exactly what makes fish & chips fab and the traditional British fare is also awesome. They also have a great selection of vegetarian-friendly takes on Brit classics as well, with all the flavor of the non-veg versions (hard to do, but well worth a go!). Seating is a bit commodious though, so if you're out as a duo, you may end up sharing a booth - but this is one of those places that your new booth-neighbor will probably be awesome and worth talking to! PS Friday night is kilt night. Quite hilarious!

    (4)
  • Alexander M.

    Before it was Merlin's Rest, it was dark, smoky dungeon called Popeye's that in its last days seemed to host an inordinate number of visits by the 3rd Precinct's finest. There was delightful anticipation when the windows were uncovered and an announcement made that a new pub was opening in its stead. Since the demise of the original Molly Quinn's, where the Craftsman now resides, East Lake had been missing an atmospherically equivalent space (Which sadly was never satisfied by the 2nd generation MQ's further west down the street). It's fortunate for the Longfellow Parish and Minneapolis that Merlin's Rest took its roost. We got a warm neighborhood pub offering plenty beyond dishing whisky and stout. There's often live entertainment. If not just a group of folk musicians playing in the corner booth, then a jazz, blues or folk assembly at the front of the dining room. Merlin's regularly hosts challenging trivia. Breakfast is offered on the weekend. They have Scotch tastings. There's a cast of regulars you'll get familiar with after enough visits. And it has a good selection of beer and whisky. Merlin's Rest bills itself as an Isles pub. They celebrate the culture of the whole of that closely related region, rather than try to strictly duplicate the authenticity of an Irish or British public house. Therein lies much of its charm. The decor appears to be pulled from the separate estates of distant uncles Nigel, Angus and Padraic. It's markedly different from the sparse novelties covering the walls of your local Choctchkie's, though. The posters and books and photos and flags have an intimate origin with the proprietors and that makes all the difference. A humanity is present that seems to fall short in so many larger, more calculated pubs. I so want to give five stars for all it has to offer, but Merlin's always seems be shy in an imporant area. I've thought and have consistently heard agreement from other patrons that the food is often lackluster. I'm aware that their kitchen is modest and they have to make do with its limitations, but there are other venues that perform miracles in smaller spaces. Bryant Lake Bowl, for instance. I believe earlier this year a new manager on staff made an effort to improve the menu, and just a few weeks ago I was told some minor menu changes were going into effect. Because of this I'll only comment on my experiences of the last few months. A reasonable place to judge quality is with a restaurant's hamburger. Let's start there. Shredded cheddar is indicated on the menu, but not once have I ever received an ordered cheddarburger. It's always been substituted with a slice of good ol' American. Why is American cheese even an option for the burgers here? Why, oh why, is a lovely Irish cheddar not standard? From a perch near the kitchen one time, I saw a young cook plop a couple pre-cooked burgers on a hot grill, cover them with a lid and squirt some water underneath to steam them back to life. I don't think this is an uncommon practice in dormitory or hospital cafeterias, but it's unacceptable for a place like Merlin's. If you're not preoccupied with quality or freshness of their "grass-fed and responsibly farmed" beef, there's a White Castle right across the street. Then there's my biggest beef. Please tell me if you or your cook don't care that I want my hamburger served at a degree less than well-done. Don't accept my order for medium-rare and then return to me with a cooked-through chunk of cow flesh. Time after time. An extraordinary veggie burger (walnut based, I believe) used to be served on the menu, but a mediocre bean burger replaced it at some point. Please bring the original veggie burger back. The last I had them the chips were fine, but the fish was too soggy with grease. The best nosh recently has been the very non-traditional hummus platter. You're given generous servings of plain and roasted red pepper hummus, as well as a spicy feta spread with a large tray of pita. The pita used to be served fried, but now comes as plain ol' bready pita. They will fry the pita if asked. I strongly recommend you request at least half your order be fried. It's takes the hummus experience to a new level. Lastly, a blunt, broad observation of the service at Merlin's Rest. Mostly competent. Sometimes short. Sometimes cold. C'mon. Please give a little effort with your service to live up to concept. Overall, one of my favorite places of respite in the Twin Cities. It's rarely too loud you can't have a conversation. It's a comfortable alternative to Blue Moon to sit and read or play a game of cribbage when you want a different kind of buzz. It's a great meeting place for friends and clubs. And even if the waitstaff isn't always warm, the other customers usually are.

    (4)
  • Mia K.

    They have a hugely impressive list of Scotch, complete with poetic descriptions and a pricing guide (number of $'s). Ask to see it, and they'll hand you a book with a nice range of tastes and prices. They've got Guiness, Harp, etc. on tap along with a few definitely Irish/Scotch beers I had not heard of. So if you're looking for something besides Grain Belt or Vodka-Crans (though they have those too), this is a great place. Nice bar to sit at, and nice comfy-looking booths.

    (4)
  • on a d.

    This review concerns not the food, drink or atmosphere. It concerns Merlin's stupid stupid stupid policy of carding everyone, every time, every age group. I'm in my mid-fifties -- it is not amusing. Use some frickin' judgement!

    (1)
  • Paul S.

    OK, I'm done with this place. Went there on the night of big storm power outages. They were open, using candles and only accepting cash. I just applied for my new license and didn't have the piece of paper to supplement my cut license. They asked for ID, as is their strange custom for everyone. They wouldn't serve me. We walked out. The icing on the cake was some ex-pat entoning from the street that they card everyone. (I'd like to see his green card...) So because they probably got in trouble for stupidly serving underage friends of the waitstaff, they now card neighborhood residents who are 49 years old who are out with their wives who are 48. Apparently they their stupid waitstaff can't tell the difference between someone who could be their parent. I will never go back to this so-called "neighborhood" bar. They are jerks. Their food and beer is over priced. Plus, I've never liked bagpipes. I'd suggest The Blue Door. Much better beer selection, an awesome happy hour, and friendly staff. And no stupid "accross the pond" crap.

    (1)
  • Alex M.

    "A reputation is like glass, once cracked it can never be replaced." Anyone catch this reference?! It's actually a Merlin quotation, straight out of the made for TV series. Yes, I looked it up on IMDB, and no, I'm not sure he has anything to do with this pub. But with this being said, who doesn't think of that wily old wizard when you hear the name! Maybe at one time our good ole' chap Merlin sat and drank sweet mead in a place like this. One can only hope! Enough of the madness, on to the review. I liked this place. It wasn't the coolest "British Isles" pub that I've been to, but it certainly is a fun place to visit. The decoration of the interior holds true to what we perceive as being British - signage includes old Guinness posters, whiskey ads, bartenders with crooked teeth (kidding) and a wood-esque presence that makes you feel at home. Like all my reviews, I place the most emphasis on the food. I recently went with friends for trivia (Sunday Night) and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I tried the fish and chips, the Reuben sandwich, Harp beer soup, and a scotch egg. The fish and chips were served up "British Style", ie wrapped in "newspaper" (printed tissue paper rather than real newspaper) and doused with malt vinegar. The fish they use is pollack which comes fried in a deep, almost Guinness colored batter. Great fish. The chip serving was slightly below average, but tasted good. The best part of the meal was the tartar sauce... dynamite! Tangy and very well balanced, I wanted to dip everything in it - truly finger lickin' good. I love Reuben's, and the sandwich they served here was fine. Not my favorite, but good quality - I especially liked the tanginess of the Russian dressing. Would have been better to see the bread grilled, but the brisket style beef was tender and flavorful. The meal was served with homemade potato chips. This is always a nice touch, but I would have liked to see a seasoning that burst when you ate the chip; these were rather bland, simple salt/pepper seasoning, but were fresh and crunchy. The other thing I tried was the scotch egg. For those of you not familiar with this traditional British pub grub, it's a sausage wrapped boiled egg, battered in bread crumbs then deep fried. They serve them with a hot English mustard that gives em' a kick. Try one, I think you'll like it. The Harp beer soup was beery... go figure. Nice and cheesy and you could really taste the beer, which is probably why it wasn't my favorite. The bread it was served with could use some work - pretty sure it was a day old french loaf from Rainbow/Cub! One of my only qualms about this place is the price of beer. I think it's completely reasonable to pay $4 bucks for a pint of domestic. Instead the price was around $5.50. For you whiskey lovers, there is a wide range of spirits to choose from. Simply ask for the whiskey menu. Prices range from 1 $ to 10 $ on their scale, so knock yourself out. Literally. Magical - maybe. A good bar - yes.

    (3)
  • Karin E.

    Food was ok, though they were out of a lot by dinner on a Sunday. Drinks were great. Service was poor. Took twenty minutes for a server to even greet us, and then she forgot everything she didn't write down (requests for water, refilled drinks).

    (3)
  • Maess N.

    Went there this past Weds. for the trivia night. Best bar trivia hands down :) They also have an impressive selection of British Isles beers as well as one hell of a whiskey list. If you can get past the fact that its a dive in a marginal, but improving neighborhood, you're golden.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Live
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sun
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Merlins Rest Pub

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