If you’re looking for a Michelin type experience, this isn’t it. Very nice staff but slightly spotty service and super kitschy atmosphere. The space feels like a hastily slapped together pop up in an old bar / office building. The food was creative with a few standout great courses but most were average.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Teresa Denver
We had high expectations for Merchant Roots in San Francisco, but unfortunately, it missed the mark. The restaurant seemed to be aiming for an Alinea-level experience with its creative presentation and tasting menu, but it fell flat. The food was decent but didn’t quite live up to the hype, and the service was genuinely disappointing. Several courses were served with awkward backhanding, making the experience feel unrefined and distracting. Additionally, the owner-chef confidently claimed there was “no sugar added” to a particular sparkling wine, which isn’t accurate—sugar is always introduced during production, perhaps he meant no sugar at dosage. Either way, he knew nothing about wine making. We ordered a bottle of Chablis, which came to our table already opened. Poor service again. To top it off, there was a press event happening, and we were photographed without permission both outside (yes we were asked to wait outside at the beginning of the evening) and while eating. We came expecting an intimate, elevated experience but left feeling annoyed & frustrated. This experience felt like "kids playing restaurant" rather than a fine dining restaurant. There are probably another 10+ items I could add to this review, the list of disappointment goes on and on.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
C Radin
Whatever this style of dining is called - that’s my favorite genre of restaurant experience.
We attended a color theory presentation and wow, just wow. Everything was beautifully prepared and plated. The service was 10/10 - we loved the thoughtful explanations of every dish and beverage. The seating in the space was one of my favorite touches - everyone was facing the kitchen. We both had the n/a pairing and it really made the meal - all different types of drinks, different temperatures and colors. Amazing.
My only complaint was that I was too full to walk to the waymo (jk!). Everything about our time at MR was perfect and we can’t wait to visit again with a different menu. Calling it now - they’ll have a * soon enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Liberty Avila
Quite an experience, more than the presentation and flavor. Perhaps this is my favorite degustation restaurant in SF.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katarina Makmuri
This place is so fun, so delicious.
Amie Goodrich
A fabulous fun and delicious dining experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lainaboo
My coworker had booked this amazing food experience a couple months in advance. The reviews were so positive I couldn't wait to try what was on the menu. I love a good 12 course/bougie meal so I definitely couldn't pass this up! From the second we all walked in,the service and attention to detail was immaculate. One of my coworkers had a tomato allergy and I am so grateful that they accomodated her esp for the theme of pasta&stories. I don't like to drink so I had the 12 course meal with non alcoholic pairing and each dish& drink was so thoughtful and carefully curated. I don't want to spoil it but I am not a pasta person but after the dinner,I am sold. Pasta all day!!!? I can't wait to attend again!
Parking: I parked in the Safeway parking lot across the street. VERRRRRY sketch area but very well lit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jodie steinberg
Wow what an amazing experience. I went for the pasta and stories theme night. Please go. They put so much thought and preparation into everything. You will have such a good time. Loved it. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chauncey Quam
Can’t get enough of these rad chefs. Grateful to have had their mushroom tasting. It was incredible, highly recommended their non-alcoholic pairing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lessy Vita
I must express my disappointment with my recent dining experience at Merchant Roots on April 24, 2024. Unfortunately, it seems there were some discrepancies in the billing process. First, I found that a twice more expensive wine was added to my bill instead of the one I ordered. Moreover, my credit card was charged three times for the drinks we ordered, which is unacceptable. I contacted the restaurant via email, and the two extra charges were removed from my CC the following day. I trust that both was an oversight rather than intentional malpractice. However, such errors significantly detract from the overall dining experience. I hope the management takes steps to rectify these issues to ensure future patrons do not encounter similar inconveniences.
Vegetarian options: There is a choice to select a vegetarian menu option.
When my wife told me that she'd booked Merchant Roots due to themed dining experiences she'd seen on Instagram, I assumed it was a gimmick and steeled myself for mediocre food disguised by glitzy presentation.Boy was I wrong! The food was indeed immaculately presented. However, it was also incredibly imaginative and some of the amongst the most delicious I've enjoyed from a tasting menu, and I've experienced them all over the world. Not only was the food delightful, they absolutely knocked it out of the park with the non-alcoholic drink pairing. Plus, the service was a delight.Seriously, I can't fault Merchant Roots at all (perhaps the wine pairing, although interesting, could have complimented the dishes even better? Hard when they were so varied, however). It is certainly a contender for the best dining experience I've ever had. I enjoyed it so much, that I considered not leaving a review to sightly increase my chances of ever getting a booking there again. But they honestly do deserve the praise!
Dietary restrictions: They were very accommodating for my nut allergy, going as far as to make a fresh batch of nut-free presto just for me. It was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giovanni Fnu (Vanni)
Thank you, chefs! You’ve succeeded in turning my husband into a mushroom lover!! the experience you’ve laid out for us tonight was very inspiring and special; the dishes you’ve served were all honest to goodness delicious. Thank you for taking us on an intimate dining experience - into the forest - with grace! Preservation, service, taste, and wine pairing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ looking forward to joining you on your next gastronomical adventure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elyse Ruan
Really great experience with their into the forest dining!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anwaya Aras
Prolly the best food I've had in SF! So artistic and creative. We tried their time traveler menu and couldn't be more impressed. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Wall
A unique experiencia each quarter. Creative fine dining aligned to a theme with pageantry.
If you’re looking for a Michelin type experience, this isn’t it. Very nice staff but slightly spotty service and super kitschy atmosphere. The space feels like a hastily slapped together pop up in an old bar / office building. The food was creative with a few standout great courses but most were average.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
We had high expectations for Merchant Roots in San Francisco, but unfortunately, it missed the mark. The restaurant seemed to be aiming for an Alinea-level experience with its creative presentation and tasting menu, but it fell flat. The food was decent but didn’t quite live up to the hype, and the service was genuinely disappointing. Several courses were served with awkward backhanding, making the experience feel unrefined and distracting. Additionally, the owner-chef confidently claimed there was “no sugar added” to a particular sparkling wine, which isn’t accurate—sugar is always introduced during production, perhaps he meant no sugar at dosage. Either way, he knew nothing about wine making. We ordered a bottle of Chablis, which came to our table already opened. Poor service again. To top it off, there was a press event happening, and we were photographed without permission both outside (yes we were asked to wait outside at the beginning of the evening) and while eating. We came expecting an intimate, elevated experience but left feeling annoyed & frustrated. This experience felt like "kids playing restaurant" rather than a fine dining restaurant. There are probably another 10+ items I could add to this review, the list of disappointment goes on and on.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Whatever this style of dining is called - that’s my favorite genre of restaurant experience.
We attended a color theory presentation and wow, just wow. Everything was beautifully prepared and plated. The service was 10/10 - we loved the thoughtful explanations of every dish and beverage. The seating in the space was one of my favorite touches - everyone was facing the kitchen. We both had the n/a pairing and it really made the meal - all different types of drinks, different temperatures and colors. Amazing.
My only complaint was that I was too full to walk to the waymo (jk!). Everything about our time at MR was perfect and we can’t wait to visit again with a different menu. Calling it now - they’ll have a * soon enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Quite an experience, more than the presentation and flavor. Perhaps this is my favorite degustation restaurant in SF.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is so fun, so delicious.
A fabulous fun and delicious dining experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My coworker had booked this amazing food experience a couple months in advance. The reviews were so positive I couldn't wait to try what was on the menu. I love a good 12 course/bougie meal so I definitely couldn't pass this up! From the second we all walked in,the service and attention to detail was immaculate. One of my coworkers had a tomato allergy and I am so grateful that they accomodated her esp for the theme of pasta&stories. I don't like to drink so I had the 12 course meal with non alcoholic pairing and each dish& drink was so thoughtful and carefully curated. I don't want to spoil it but I am not a pasta person but after the dinner,I am sold. Pasta all day!!!? I can't wait to attend again!
Parking: I parked in the Safeway parking lot across the street. VERRRRRY sketch area but very well lit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow what an amazing experience. I went for the pasta and stories theme night. Please go. They put so much thought and preparation into everything. You will have such a good time. Loved it. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can’t get enough of these rad chefs. Grateful to have had their mushroom tasting. It was incredible, highly recommended their non-alcoholic pairing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I must express my disappointment with my recent dining experience at Merchant Roots on April 24, 2024. Unfortunately, it seems there were some discrepancies in the billing process. First, I found that a twice more expensive wine was added to my bill instead of the one I ordered. Moreover, my credit card was charged three times for the drinks we ordered, which is unacceptable. I contacted the restaurant via email, and the two extra charges were removed from my CC the following day. I trust that both was an oversight rather than intentional malpractice. However, such errors significantly detract from the overall dining experience. I hope the management takes steps to rectify these issues to ensure future patrons do not encounter similar inconveniences.
Vegetarian options: There is a choice to select a vegetarian menu option.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
When my wife told me that she'd booked Merchant Roots due to themed dining experiences she'd seen on Instagram, I assumed it was a gimmick and steeled myself for mediocre food disguised by glitzy presentation.Boy was I wrong! The food was indeed immaculately presented. However, it was also incredibly imaginative and some of the amongst the most delicious I've enjoyed from a tasting menu, and I've experienced them all over the world. Not only was the food delightful, they absolutely knocked it out of the park with the non-alcoholic drink pairing. Plus, the service was a delight.Seriously, I can't fault Merchant Roots at all (perhaps the wine pairing, although interesting, could have complimented the dishes even better? Hard when they were so varied, however). It is certainly a contender for the best dining experience I've ever had. I enjoyed it so much, that I considered not leaving a review to sightly increase my chances of ever getting a booking there again. But they honestly do deserve the praise!
Dietary restrictions: They were very accommodating for my nut allergy, going as far as to make a fresh batch of nut-free presto just for me. It was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thank you, chefs! You’ve succeeded in turning my husband into a mushroom lover!! the experience you’ve laid out for us tonight was very inspiring and special; the dishes you’ve served were all honest to goodness delicious. Thank you for taking us on an intimate dining experience - into the forest - with grace! Preservation, service, taste, and wine pairing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ looking forward to joining you on your next gastronomical adventure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really great experience with their into the forest dining!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Prolly the best food I've had in SF! So artistic and creative. We tried their time traveler menu and couldn't be more impressed. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A unique experiencia each quarter. Creative fine dining aligned to a theme with pageantry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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