Merchants Cafe - North Branch

My husband and I visited Merchant's for breakfast for the first time, hoping for a nice experience since we are new to the area. Unfortunately, after waiting nearly 45 minutes, my French toast was still liquid, and my husband's omelette was cold and tasted stale. The service was lackluster, and the restaurant was not clean. We will definitely not be returning.

This was our first and likely last visit to this restaurant, and we were very disappointed. I ordered the corned beef hash while my husband chose the ultimate omelette, but our meals arrived barely warm. We left feeling underwhelmed and struggled to come up with anything positive to say. We couldn't even remark that the waitress was particularly pleasant—there was just nothing that would encourage us to give it another chance.

The restaurant is exceptional. Everything is homemade, unlike the bland options you find at most places. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. I enjoy admiring the historic architecture when I visit; the old bank vault doors add a unique charm. I love coming to the Merchants Café, but I wish they were open later than 2:00 PM—I would love to have dinner here. I recently tried their rubies, which were the best I've ever had, and I'm eager to return for more. While I'd prefer to enjoy them for dinner, their limited hours mean I'll have to settle for breakfast or lunch. It's definitely worth a visit, with great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and very friendly staff.

I absolutely love this restaurant! From the moment I walked in, it felt like part of a family. The servers were quick and truly personal in their service. The food was outstanding, and the atmosphere was lovely! I will definitely be back!

We stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, eggs, and a side of hash browns, while my wife chose the #2 breakfast: 2 eggs, sausage, home fries, and toast. Both meals were quite good. Our total came to around $30, including drinks and tips. The restaurant had a steady stream of customers the entire time we were there. I should have mentioned it earlier, but they now offer Country Fried Steak as well, which comes with home fries, biscuits, Country Fried Steak, eggs, and sausage gravy. Always a solid choice. An update as of June 5, 2022: the food and service remain just as good.