Mercer Tavern

Love this place! Super cool atmosphere. Staff is super friendly and fast. We ordered a few appetizers (the short ribs, hummus plate, and cured meats) and they were killer. The ribs were a little greasy, but delicious nonetheless. Would definitely come back, and would recommend to anyone!

Mercer, I still love you but I’m afraid our love affair is starting to sizzle.
My recent visits haven’t been as good as years past and yesterday was a downright bummer.
We popped in for a quick drink and small bite before heading to the movies.
We arrived at 7pm on a Wednesday and the place only had a few tables. After ordering our drinks we waited 10 minutes for them and another 5 minutes for water. We were only grabbing a small bite and opted for the burger special and soup.
Now the seafood chowder was excellent but WHY did it take 40 minutes for the soup and single burger to come out? Then to boot, the burger was made wrong so we needed it to be remade. The burger, as ordered, was served to us at 756pm and it was good but 56 minutes to get the burger done correctly in a bar with maybe 6 tables?
Ugh… Not good Mercer, not good.
I’ll still give you 4 stars for all the years of love previously but our recent visits don’t make me crave you anymore. The ambience is still rad — love the history of the warehouse and I’m sure you’ll do great right next door to the new hockey arena.

Great place. As always my favorite spot for a beverage and bite when I’m in Edmonton. The Glenmorangie flite is the best scotch sampler in Alberta.

Great location right in the Ice District, right across the street from the new arena. Lots of TV’s for watching sports but the noise level from the crowd drowns out the sound from the games. It’s very nice inside though, they did a great job renovating this old building.

Not sure why so many people hate the lighting, it was perfect. I loved everything about that place, to me it’s not dark at all, I can read my menu no problem, totally my taste. I used to live downtown and walk by that empty building everyday, I said to myself someone gotta do something about this brick building, it just can not be abandoned like this, years and years later Mercer opened, and I managed to go there last night with my husband, soon as I walked in, I fell in love. We shared turkey BLT, tavern burger, Vietnamese duck soup… it was awesome. Menu is simple, one page, keep it classy. Will definitely go back. Whoever designed that place I love you lol

Great ambiance, friendly staff and the food is wonderful! I had the Arctic char and it was perfectly cooked with a lot of flavor. I would highly recommend this dish to anyone. The MFC (fried chicken) is exceptional. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. You really can’t go wrong with anything you order! Their new wine list is excellent. I was excited to see such high end wines on their new menu as they never offered this caliber of wines before nor does any pub in Edmonton!

Good food, not the style you’d expect from a «pub». The interior design is great, there are HUGE wooden beams, the like you’ve never seen! You can’t get that size or solid wood beam anymore!
The place was pretty dark so it might be a better lunch spot. The food was great. That pork shank was GIANT! Like, Fred Flintstone big! They have a grilled caesar salad that was pretty nice as well. The coconut curry carrot soup was nice, thick and rich in flavour! The skirt steak was had at my table and it looked amazing (I’ll have that next time)!

I really like Mercers. The vibe is especially cool what with the history of the place. The original brick and the restored door by the bathrooms add to the historical feel. The service has always been right on point. I’ve had the charcuterie board which I recommend, the macNcheese which has a bit of a kick but not too bad. I don’t like too much spice and I could handle it. Had the hummus and I’ve had better. Always a great place to meet up with friends and have a few snacks.

Wings are super yummy. Quick service even when busy. Basic bar/​beer menu but a really cool enviroment. My friends had the mac and cheese and thought it was a bit spicy but I love spiciness! I would go back.

I’ve been here a few times over the years, but this latest time last week was the first with their (seemingly) new menu.
In terms of the bar itself, my biggest problems are the lighting (I kept having to move my menu around to different angles to be able to see and read it… and I have ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision) and the temperature. I think it’s because of the giant (gorgeous!) windows, but this place is freakin’ cold. Make sure you bring a sweater.
The food is pretty good but not great; I’ve never have anything particularly memorable here. Last week I tried their Turkey BLT and it was… really dry. I ordered mayo to dip my fries in and ended up needing to spread some on the sandwich to give it some moisture. So. Dry. Also the mayo was $ 1 (I get a little fussy about mayo charges at various restaurants. I mean, it’s not an expensive product. If McDonald’s can give me free mayo, why can’t a restaurant?) The fries were mostly pretty good but about ¹⁄₅ of them were rotten or stale or something. I’m not sure but every few fries I would get one with just a TERRIBLE taste. Luckily it didn’t last long.
The server was friendly enough when she came around but she was pretty absent. It took her a good 10 minutes to come back and see how the food was (and I did have some things to ask for.)
Overall, an average bar with okay food. Definitely not in the category of delicious bar foods that I’ll crave and go back to again and again. It’s really too bad; it’s a terrific location and the all brick interior/​large windows are gorgeous. I want to love it but just can’t. :(

Reserved the private room (which I didn’t even know there was one, it’s hidden to the left side, when you first walk in), which seats 20 people easily and lots of room to stand around in, for a birthday dinner. Bonus that we could reserve it on a weekend, as lots of places won’t allow reservations (from past experiences) on Saturday nights. Though you would probably require a minimum amount of people to. There is also a TV in there, so nice to be able to watch the hockey game too.
Unlike some earlier reviews, we had awesome service, especially considering there was about 15 or so of us there. I will mention though, that it wasn’t very busy though, more likely it being a Thanksgiving long weekend. Our server even was able to break everyone’s order separately onto their own tab (love when a place can do this, as it makes paying so much easier in big groups). Orders were taken swiftly, brought out timely and she checked up on us very frequently. Also want to mention, it was not as loud as some said it was. We were able to talk easily to each other when the DJ was spinning. Maybe it’s a different thing if you’re sitting closer by the speakers.
I had the lamb burger (didn’t get a pic, but someone else posted one on here), which looks small but is very filling. What I would love to try next time is the fried chicken, as my friends who ordered it loved it, and it looked really good.
This was only my second time here, but I love the atmosphere, very laid back and nice choices of beers. And it being located right across from the new hockey arena, I can see being a hangout for some drinks after games.

I came here on a Tuesday evening for a friend’s casual birthday gathering. The place was pretty empty. It was my first time here and although I love the location and the aesthetic appeal of the place, the food and service a LOT to be desired.
Our server wasn’t friendly — didn’t see her smile once. Although she checked on us and our food, I felt there were long periods of time when we didn’t see her.
For food, I ordered the fish and chips to share with my man (as we had already had a substantial salad before going). It was nice that they split the portion into separate platters, but the fish was way overcooked to the point of dry, the fries were maybe lukewarm at best and the coleslaw was just okay.
I hear their lamb burgers are good but I’m not a fan of anything lamb.
Overall, nothing I’d return for and nothing missed.

Hmmm mixed feelings about this place. We were here for a friend’s birthday on a Tuesday night and it really wasn’t overly busy. Our server seemed to be less than enthusiastic or friendly about being there and was not that all attentive. Maybe a bad day? Who knows?
I had the Gypsy Eyes for my drink of choice and it actually hit the spot so much so that I ordered another. It was not overly sweet and I enjoyed the hint of grapefruit juice.
The lamb burger was tasty but could have used a little less sprigs of dill if you ask me. Branding the bun was a nice touch as seen in the picture. My friends were not impressed with their Caesar salad or beet salad I must say (overpriced for what you get).

Mercer is usually «hit» but can be an occasional «miss». When they have they’re 90’s nights it can be epic! The music is so awesome and the crowd always responds well to songs they can sing along to. The staff is always good and try their best to keep up with the ever demanding bar. Truthfully a lot just rides on the music. The occasional time the music has been off I’ve ducked out early as the vibe just isn’t the same. Definitely give (especially on 90’s nights) it a try though if you’re looking for a pub that’s a little more upscale.

I’ve been to the Mercer Tavern twice; once at peak hours and another time before 5pm. The first time the service was very slow and we waited quite awhile to give our order and then waited for the beers for which seemed a long time.
The food was so-​so, beer was good, décor is great, noise level is horrendous!!! If you go there to socialize, you’d better be sitting on top of each other to hear! Parking is very bad now with the new arena construction.

When Mercer Tavern first opened, I have to admit I had a hate on for it. My first experience involved mediocre food, lousy service and a snobby hipster vibe that totally rubbed me the wrong way. Mercer’s has really matured since then in my opinion, and I think is well deserving of a four star rating. The last 3 times we’ve stumbled into Mercer’s, usually after having no luck at smaller local establishments, we’ve experienced good attentive service, above average food and of course the fantastic setting, which I love. My partner swears they have the best poutine in town. It’s really nice to finally feel comfortable in hitting Mercers and knowing we will feel welcome and be very satisfied with the service and the food. Outlasting trend looks good on a business.

Hello Mercer Tavern — You have gathered one more fan. From old warehouse to the best place to grab beer outside of the new Rogers Arena (which happens to be right across the street), Mercer you’ve got it all.
I have to rave a little bit about the food and beverages that I’ve tried. First off, I have to mention that I absolutely adored Taylor’s concoction called, «The Fat Lady,» in honour the opening of Lucia at the Edmonton Opera. I never fancied myself a scotch drinker, but I’ll have to make myself an exception in this case.
Recipe for the Fat Lady:
0.5 oz Dubonnet
0.5 oz Campari
0.5 oz Averna
0.5 oz Glenlivet 12 year
1 dash of lemon bitters
In amongst 2 strategically placed ice cubes with a piece of lemon rind… Magnifique! For me, it was the perfect amount of everything. The full flavours without anything being too overwhelming. It was such a treat getting to talk to Taylor Zotti, and learning how he came up with the winning combination.
On the food side, we tried the fried chicken and the mac ‘n cheese. Both are very good but the mac ‘n cheese is absolutely a MUST TRY!
I foresee many return trips to the Mercer in the future.
It’s not over until THE FAT LADY sings…

Flip flopping between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I typically end up at Mercer after an event at Startup Edmonton. It’s a reasonable place to have a late afternoon drink and a chat before everyone heads home.
First of all, I love the space they’re in, and I love the windows. They’ve preserved a lot of the warehouse feel, and on a nice day, there’s fresh air blowing through.
I find the drink prices to be a bit higher than what I’d like, but they’re not unreasonable. The special always seems to be PBR though, and meh to that. The food varies in quality. I’ve had some really tasty things (the stuffed peppers stand out, although I don’t think they’re on the menu anymore), and then a few really out there things that didn’t work.
The service is friendly, although sometimes slow. I tend to prefer a quieter pub experience, so I don’t think I’d ever come here later in the evening. Overall though, a fine place for a pint, just don’t expect any deals.

Mercers is a good crowd and a good time. The staff is very friendly and there are good beer specials on tap.
The main drawback that I am seeing is that the DJ has no skill in transitions and completely changes genres suddenly. The dancing could be a lot better if they could be a lot more consistent and read the crowd. Breaking up the dance floor rhythm is a carnal sin.

I really want to like the Mercer, but have just had too many negative experiences there to go back unless for a casual drink.
It’s a gorgeous space in a perfect location. The warehouse look is authentic and all of the heritage features of the building have been polished to a beautiful shine! Looks can be deceiving, though.
Most recently, on a not-​so-​busy Saturday afternoon, I reported the rather embarrasing situation of one of the mens’ washroom stalls being completely out of toilet paper (keep in mind, these are giant double roll dispensers). A pretty, uhm, high priority situation for staff to address, I would think.
I sheepishly let the waitress know and and an hour and a half later on my way out I checked to see — and it hadn’t been replaced. Seriously?
Combined with poor service and the place being out of two menu items that day, the current way Mercer is managed was enough to keep me away for the foreseeable future.