The Mercantile Rooftop Bar and Restaurant
A bar under the stars.
Beautiful beverages, and down right BIG ones!
And a menu with everything from schnitzel to smashburgers.
There are so many reasons to smile, when you’re at The Mercantile.
Set in this stunning, two tiered space, The Mercantile is the latest spot taking Worcester by storm. And according to General Manager Max Rosen, the reception has been overwhelming.
“The general response has been very much Wow. Just sheer size of the restaurant itself is something that you see very often in Worcester. I haven't seen anybody not blown away, whether it be the just the grand scope of our windows, the second floor, our roof deck, our private dining area, and everything in between.”
When it comes to the food, Culinary Director Michael Morway has created an upscale menu with a little something for everyone.
“The menu is your classic all American tavern done with local ingredients. We have pizzas, we have basic appetizers like nachos and wings and then we have higher end entrees and sandwiches. We have a smashburger. We kind of cover all the bases.”
The place is almost overwhelming, with a ground level complete with a massive bar and comfortable booths, while the upstairs boasts an impressive rooftop bar where diners can nosh while they enjoy massive cocktail towers. And throughout the space, you’ll find locks purchased and signed by guests with all the money going directly to local Worcester charities.
“You purchase a lock all proceeds from that purchase goes directly to the charity that we're featuring. You have an opportunity then to sign the lock, leave a message on it and hang it anywhere in the restaurant for it to live forever.”
There are many ways to kick off your Mercantile meal, like addictive wings smothered in buffalo sauce or coated in a bloody mary flavored dry rub or nostalgic Sweet and Sour Meatballs.
“When I was growing up, every cookout I went to, there was always a crock pot with frozen meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce in it. And we basically took the idea of that when we use black cherries, tart cherries, sambal, chili sauce, sriracha, and grape jelly. It's a great bar snack and it kind of brings me back to my childhood."
Mexican inspired appetizers include shareable Street Corn Nachos topped with poblano-corn salsa, beans, chihuahua and cotija cheeses and chipotle crema or the beautiful Birria Quesadilla.
“It's a quesadilla but it's kind of like a French dip. So it comes with a dipping sauce on the side and it's braised meat and Chihuahua cheese in that quesadilla and then you dip it into the sauce. It's amazing."
Other shareables include The Mercantile’s pizzas. All made in this beautiful Alforne pizza oven.
“It's kind of like the Rolls Royce of ovens. It's a giant dome brick oven with a rotating brick bottom and theres fire on both sides. The pizzas are super consistent. It's great.”
And while the oven is traditional, the toppings are most certainly not with options like Baked Mac and Cheese.
"It's our white Bianca sauce pizza with mac and cheese literally like Kraft mac and cheese spread all over it. And then we braise confit bacon slabs, so there's like chunks of slab bacon in it with Sriracha honey, and then we get like cheese sauce. It's amazing.“
Then there’s the culinarily controversial Dixie Hawaiian Pizza topped with country ham, red onion, jalapeno, hot honey and PEACHES?
“It is such a common internet argument on whether or not fruit belongs on a pizza and I wholeheartedly think it does. The fact that we're doing. Sliced peaches brings it to another level and probably adds that argument a little bit. I personally think peaches do belong on pizza and it's wonderful.”
If you’re into a thicker pizza, try their Detroit style- made gluten free with white cheddar and charred pepperoni. And if burgers are your thing, grab some napkins for The Mercantile’s Smashburger.
“You have double patties, classic American cheese with braised onions right on the burger. Very simple, but those items combined together on a sesame bun make it just an absolute crushing burger.”
Entrees at The Mercantile run the gamut from Thai curry glazed seared salmon served over shrimp fried forbidden rice with sesame green beans to the light but satisfying Poke Bowl.
“It's just ahi tuna tossed in mirin and sweet soy. And then it's put on top of jasmine rice with Wasabi peas and dehydrated onion, garlic, and crispy wonton strips and then a spicy mayo and avocado. So you're supposed to just mix it together and make a mess with it. It’s amazing.”
Just as amazing is the 12 ounce New York Strip served with a flavorful green peppercorn sauce…
And the crispy and complex Chicken Schnitzel.
“It's crispy fried chicken a very sweet roasted butternut puree under it. And then we put a super fresh baby kale salad on top with a fresh cranberry marmalade if you eat the ingredients separately, you wouldn't be happy, but together it totally works”
For dessert, experience an amped up take on a campfire classic, and order the S’mores.
“It's like a fun play on a very classic like French fine dining dish- pot de creme. It’s a very bougie pudding then we top it with fluff and then torch it. And then we make a graham cracker streusel and top that and then we torch marshmallows. It's fun."
And with an atmosphere like this, drinks like this and a whole lot of food, it’s hard to not have fun at The Mercantile.
