Restaurants near Merrifield

“My family (husband, 3 boys, and I) came here on a Wednesday morning at about 8 am. The parking lot was mostly full, but there were many tables open inside. The restaurant was decorated with vintage/antique/recycled items, and sunshine streams in through the front window making it warm and inviting. We ordered at the counter, then found a table to sit at while we waited for our food. The beverages are self-serve, but the food was brought to the table. We didn't wait too long, and we were rewarded with wonderful food and smiling service! My husband and I ordered The Whole 9 Yards (eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, and potatoes all covered in sausage gravy), my 11-year-old and 6-year-old ordered the French Toast Special, and my 9 y.o. ordered a blueberry pancake - which the waitress/hostess said was very large - and it was, about the size of 3 pancakes! The pancake tasted like a blueberry muffin and needed no syrup. The Whole 9 Yards was rich and tasty! The French toast was served with bacon and cheesy scrambled eggs and was quickly devoured. Everyone thought that everything was very good! If we are in the area again, we would definitely go back!”

“Truly fantastic! Since first trying the Minnesota scramble in 2020, it has been my go to when in the Brainard Lakes Area. The take and bake pizzas are also a great deal. Very cute inside and fast service if you choose to dine in.”

“Sunday morning bloody Mary's were a winner! We didn't eat, but a group of 12 women near us were pleased with their breakfasts. The patio out back is beautiful. Lots of cool potted plants that are for sale. There's also a fire pit with Adirondack chairs. I'll be back for breakfast!”

“Best French fries we have ever had. Corned beef sandwich was excellent.The Mac&Cheese with Burnt Ends was outstanding. Jackie is the best bartender ever!!!!! We will be back for sure.”

“Once again my chief complaint was that they are all way too nice, treat you like family, encourage you to try new awesome food, send home way to much food incase there is a ravenous teenager at home.I would love to have that type of atmosphere at more places. Keep up the fun times!”

“Super friendly and fast service serving quality Japanese food that's reasonably priced. The tonkatsu broth is amazing. I order extra to take home and sip it like bone broth.”

“I LOVE that they have gluten free options! The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was conducive to being able to relax and yet get some work done. I loved this place!!”

“Amazing food Everytime. Have been eating here for over 10 years and it's always the friendliest attentive service, and great pizza!Parking: Lots of spaces to park!Kid-friendliness: Super great with kiddos, patient and kind”

“First visit, not very busy when we went. The staff was friendly and informative. The Buffalo Chicken pizza had great flavor combinations. The option of spices and oils on the table enhanced the pizza.”

“I can't take any stars away for the atmosphere but I didn't sit down and eat but order was done before I got there for pick up. Chicken bowl and burrito was top notch, and as the rest of the reviews say better than Chipotle. Would eat there again if in town.”

“First time in Nisswa and we always ask the locals where to eat (everyone loves to talk food) :) When pizza was mentioned Rafferty's was the place to go. My other half is gluten free so it's always a struggle to find good GF crust. The young lady working the counter was great, took the time to show us which crust they use for GF pizza. Ordered a taco pizza and was nice to see chips on the pizza (a lost art).We really enjoyed the pizza. It's thinner than most so don't feel as guilty eating pizza and so stuffed once done. I'd certainly eat there again, the gluten free was spot on, wouldn't know it was GF if didn't order it ourselves. A+ coming from a couple of true foodies!!Now here's the funny part...had leftovers and once back to Grand View Lodge pizza box would not fit in little fridge, so with it being cool outside set it on the patio chair. Looked out a bit later and even squirrels can't resist Rafferty's Pizza! Let him have his fill of two full slices of taco pizza :)”

“Fabulous little coffee shop! The scones are the best I've ever had - made fresh, moist, interesting flavor selections & seasonal menu options - lavender, pumpkin, chai, banana! The peach scone is my favorite. I highly recommend for those passing through. It's very close to the cottage we are staying at & has a cozy vibe. PS - they have a drive thru & fast service.Vegetarian options: Milk options.”

“Fantastic experience at this small town coffee shop. I'm pretty picky, and downright cynical when it comes to rural coffee, but this place really delivers on a smooth cortado and espresso flavor. It's not overly acidic/sour/light, but also not intensely dark.I was pleasantly suprised that two baristas on different weekend visits immediately understood what a cortado was and everyone was friendly.Purchased a bag of the Black Tiger Espresso to use at home and it's fresh, fragrant and smooth. It would be nice to see a roasted-on date with the packaging however, as that omission gave me some heavy pause. However, the friendly staff convinced me it wasn't a month old or anything.PS. Very much appreciated the hot chocolate remake for my 2yr old who dropped hers outside!”

“I didn't eat, but met some friends here! Bar was very clean and gives the small town bar feel. There was not a lott of clutter, which was nice! Staff was friendly! Outside isn't much to look at, but when you walk in, its like walking into an updated, old-school bar! Very neat environment! They also have a nice outside patio area, which is private! I Will check them out again! 5 Stars.”

“Usually this place is great, I've had a couple of instances of forgetting food items and having to remind them then it taking longer than expected, but generally I really enjoy it.”

“This place isn't just for kids. Fun selection of candy, toys, gifts, and other sweet treats. The cheesecake in a jar is very tasty. The popcorn looks great.”

“My husband and I stopped here for a coffee and breakfast sandwich. Everything was great! There are so many different drinks to choose from and their cinnamon rolls looked amazing. Next time!”

“Soo my husband and I are new to Brainerd and wanted to go somewhere fun on Valentine's Day. We decided on a Big Jay's Pizza Arcade since bith of us havent been to an arcade in YEARS!We walked in and were welcomed warmly by Haley. She was kind, super helpful and friendly! She helped us with our order and told us how to load credits onto the prepaid card system and overall was super wonderful! I found myself going back to her specificly when I had questions because of how efficient and kind she was!It was decently busy there tonight but every staff member we encountered was helpful, positive and efficient! The taco pizza I had was delish and exactly what I wanted!Overall, our experience was so great! Lol we ended up buying a Big Jay's t-shirt and decided that we will definitely be back mostly in part to the wonderful service we recived!Thank you BIG Jay's staff for making our Valentine's Day special! ❤️”

“Went to a grooms dinner here in July. It was absolutely a blast! The owners were wonderful. The team workers were all awesome! For those who love Breweries, this is a must stop! It was great for all ages…. Lots of games to play! Highly recommend!”

“We stopped here for a quick dinner and had gotten a couple pizzas to take 'n bake. We all got subs for dinner and they were amazing. Bigger than expected and fresh ingredients made these so delicious. I can't wait to go back and try more sub options. The pizzas we got were also amazing! Easy to follow baking instructions. I think the supreme needed 5-7 minutes longer due to the fresh veggies. Overall, I'd recommend checking out Mickey's and don't hesitate to get both subs and pizzas!”

“I'm a biscuits and gravy fiend, and this place helps me get my fix. Any time I get the hankering for breakfast while I'm working in Baxter/Brainerd, The Skillet is at the top of my list. It's family run and the waitresses are always very friendly. Typical diner is on the menu but is done well. There is limited seating and sometimes can be very crowded, but service is quick. Plenty of parking can be found behind the building.”

“Great place for a tasty breakfast or a quick lunch. They always have great daily specials and a different burger flight on Saturday evenings. Who doesn't love seeing the planes land and takeoff while having an hearty and affordable meal.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options”

“Not only is the vibe and atmosphere amazing but the food is wonderful! The service is also great even when they are busy! In my opinion this is best restaurant in the brainerd lakes area and only one my husband and I will go to for date night! 10/10 recommends!”

“Don’t sleep on these POKE BOWLS, they are so good!!! This is the Spicy Crab Avocado bowl! The poke bowls are my new favorite thing. All the food and sushi at Sakura is wonderful. They never disappoint!”

“Been coming here since I was a youngin’ love the staff they are so personable and adorable! Food is great. And the atmosphere is so down to earth and welcoming. The broasted chicken is fantastic!”

“Loved the calm and friendly astromshere, also loved the accessories(keychains, pins, etc....) and the tea was amazing too. Will definitely go there again, my new favorite boba place!!!!”

“We can't speak more highly of luckys! The menu is huge, everything delicious and large portions! BEST bar chairs you will ever sit on in your life! The staff is always on top of your every need. There is a reason this place is always busy. Have been here 100+ times and never leave disappointed!”

“The barn is a staple of the Brainerd lakes area. The food is amazing + affordable and the service has always been good. It truly is a unique place to stop for locals and visitors alike.Also, you have to save room for homemade pie!”

“Great pizza (and wine, of course)!My husband and I were visiting the Brainerd area during the non-peak season (November). This was one of the few wineries/breweries/restaurants we found open on a Monday.The wine was good, but we were even more impressed with the delicious pizza! It wasn't busy, so the owner, Dennis, was able to give us a tour of the place. It made the experience that much more special!”

“Loved this place! Good and authentic Mexican food. Varied menu. Reasonable prices. Free chips and salsa. Good service. Clean restaurant and bathrooms. Convenient location and parking. Will go there again when I pass through Brainerd.”