Merlin's Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Whistler Resort Municipality

I injured myself on the hill while skiing and was looking for a place to keep warm, have some drinks & get food while my 2 housemates enjoyed the rest of their ski day.

I didn't research anything (first mistake), I just walked up to the first restaurant I found so I could sit for a couple of hours. Yes, I know that you should limit your time in restaurants, but I planned on spending enough to make up for staying longer and only taking my mask off to take sips or bites. I wouldn't normally sit inside anywhere in Whistler because I'm following public health orders to only day-trip to Whistler, but I figured a) I'm vaccinated and b) I have been self-isolating with my roommates for a long time and none of us go anywhere ever.

Although I have lived in BC for 2 years, I still have NB residency, as I have been a student the entire time I'm here. When I walked up & showed my license to get in, the host seemed to think it was interesting, but the manager abruptly asked about why I was in BC. I think he thought I was travelling during Covid. I felt slightly uncomfortable but brushed it off - as a future nurse I fully understand taking additional precautions in these times.

Everything was fine, I ordered my food after I had a drink since I was just winding down from the morning and was still in pain. I got two bites into my meal when the manager came over and told me I had to leave, as I had stayed past their 50 minute minimum. I had no idea there was a minimum time in place. No one had told me up until then. I was super flustered and told them I had hoped to stay since I was injured and had nowhere but my car to go until my roommates finished skiing. The manager told me that he's sorry I'm injured but I have to go now.

I don't know. I get it, Whistler. You've had outbreaks and are tight on money and it's rude to take a table for too long at a restaurant. I guess I just expected some more empathy, especially considering I was still buying drinks and food, and had only stayed for an hour and a half. The host and waitress were nice, and the 50 min minimum explains why the staff kept looking at me kind of weird.

3 stars for good beer, kind waitressing & hosting staff, but kind of judgemental and a lack of communication. I'm sorry if I was a hassle - I genuinely didn't know about the...

Ok food, ok beer. Our bill was split between three tables, and what the server didn’t tell us was that she had added a 20% service charge to each table. Being the kind of guy I am I tipped 15% despite the mediocre service. I later found out that their policy is to include an 18% service charge for groups over 6 people, so our sever was being deceitful here by firstly adding 20%, and also by not telling us, so we inadvertently doubled her tip. I always make an effort to be friendly with staff, but the service was poor and we were ripped off. You could argue that we should have checked the bill more carefully, and I would agree, but regardless I didn’t expect this kind of behaviour from the staff. Obviously I wouldn’t...

Merlin's offers truly outstanding food that exceeds expectations with every bite. Their menu delivers consistently delicious flavors that keep me coming back. The real highlight is their fantastic live music on Mondays and Fridays—these nights transform the place into an energetic hub with talented performers creating an incredible atmosphere. While the culinary experience is top-notch, the service unfortunately doesn't match the same standard, as the staff could be more welcoming and attentive. Despite this shortcoming, the exceptional food and excellent entertainment make Merlin's worth visiting, especially on music...