The Merchants Palma - Steak & Grill — Restaurant in Palma

Had the worst experience in this restaurant tonight with my partner ! The waitress appeared very condescending as soon as we sat down. We always try to go above and beyond to be friendly in restaurants to the staff, however it was in no way reciprocated. Our drinks with our meal were forgotten. We said how nice the outside looked and if there was anyway of sitting outside, but absolutely fine if not. Our waitress said she would hostess. We watched her walk to the bar and back and then say “sorry it’s a no”, perhaps she didn’t know we could see her do everything but ask, but we said that’s absolutely fine no issue. However, the main issue was my partners steak was inedible. He had 2 bites and then the rest of the steak was revolting and compiled of uncuttable fat. My partner was very embarrassed so I took his plate in front of me as I wasn’t embarrassed to mention it given the price we are paying. I didn’t think this would matter as whilst I ate my mediocre steak my partner was unable to eat his.

When the waitress returned I apologised and said how the steak was 90% inedible due to fat. No apology and a smirk was given back to me along with “is it a ribeye steak”? The cut is irrelevant to inedible food but no, it was in-fact a sirloin. I didn’t ask for the full price removed from the bill, I said it’s no issue but maybe we could just get a slight discount on the bill. She said nothing and took our plates.

A full bill was bought with 0 money taken off. I again very politely asked if there was anyway of getting a slight discount. She spoke to a manager who came over. He actually said to us “I’ve heard a different story, I’ve heard you ate the steak”. I was shocked at how accusatory this was and how embarrassing we felt as customers. I purposely left the steak on the plate after 2 bites to show the waitress that you simply couldn’t cut into any of it. I even used my cutlery to show the waitress the large fat content that was impossible to cut. I explained this to him. He simply said sorry there’s nothing I can do, you ate the food. I had two bites of a €40+ steak, which was overpriced to begin with but then to be inedible is outrageous. Similar to the other negative reviews I’ve posted here (see images). Our food came out maybe 5-10 mins after ordering ? Felt very rushed and poorly cooked.

Never have I had such bad service, attitude and dining experience. I will be spreading the word wherever I can on their socials as it seems others on google have also been ripped off and received bad food and service.

But hey Merchants, I’m here till Saturday if you feel like doing the right thing for your customers and offering us some money back from the horrible...

WHAT A TOURIST TRAP! Super overrated place. Expensive, gives you high expectations. But it was totally disappointing. When we arrived, they insisted on telling us the first thing that we have to pay 5 EUR per person for being seated in the garden, which was half empty at that point. Also we were told: "Don't forget we need the table free at 9". Which means our reservation was valid for a maximum of 90 minutes.

Then, food was served. We ordered lobster tacos, "surf&turf" mini burgers, fish "catch of the day" and pistachio tiramisu.

All the food was mediocre. Not impossible to eat, but not telling any story, almost tasteless. Similar to eating a salad with tomatoes from Turkey. The tacos were full of salad, very little lobster meat of course. For 26 Euro. The mini-burgers were just terrible. The beef meat was way overcooked and also tasteless. You'd expect something different from a stake house. The shrimps were tempura and with some spicy sauce like the cheap sweet and sour from supermarket. The fish was fresh, you could feel that. But just simply cooked on the grill with a very small salad. No sauce, no effort, but 36 EUR. The pistachio tiramisu was good. Different from the classic Italian one, but can't say anything bad about it. Maybe they should consider selling only deserts. The waiter was a nice guy. He seems like he was used to bad feedback. He just said sorry 3-4 times and explained us that the meat there is usually cooked "well done". In a steak house 😄

Of course at the end they didn't make any discount. But instead charged 10% service automatically on the bill. Without asking if you want or not. I would have left something anyway for the waiter. It's not his fault.

Overall, a very disappointing experience. For 2 people spending 145 EUR for all this feels like a rip-off. Definitely don't recommend anybody to go there.

On top of everything, my wife left with stomach pain and had a bad evening in the toilet. I didn't. I don't know if it was the food, we shared everything. But most likely it was. No proof though.

Finally, the garden is not soooo impressive. Especially if you are seated in the back with a view to a back door like I was. But we were lucky to be outside (for 10 EUR). Inside it looked like a dungeon and it was extremely noisy when we left. If I was there, my head would explode after 15...

In this place that I already knew, I experienced the most humiliating moment ever in a restaurant.

The food is correct and not too expensive.

However I experienced an extreme moment of humiliation. The reservation was planned for two hours as indicated in the confirmation email. We arrived on time (20:30).

Our table was managed by a particularly aggressive waitress who made us feel every 5 minutes that we were not welcome.

I must say that the other waiters were very professional.

The plates were cleared very quickly, one of the guests finished the second glass of wine that she ordered with regret because the waitress turned around the table looking at us and coming to clear each small element remaining (even a paper napkin) so that we want to leave. Known and classic technique.

I should mention that the tables around were empty and no one was waiting to enter the restaurant. The other tables where there were people and who stayed much longer than us did not have to live this horrible experience.

But it wasn't over.

After about 1:20 of presence, the waitress comes and says to us in front of all the customers in a very aggressive and haughty way "I need the table back". Without explaining anything to us, we were thrown out in front of the customers who were looking at the scene in a dumbfounded way.

This was a particularly difficult moment to live through.

I hope that this person does not represent the policy of the restaurant, from the beginning she decided that we were not the type of customers that were worthy to frequent this establishment and the whole dinner was a nightmare.

I wonder what motivated her attitude? Was it because of our age (not that young, 30)? Because we didn't wear our Armani suits that day (although we had a more than correct outfit)? Because we spoke French?

It is perhaps also our ethnic origin which was incompatible with the customers wished by this waitress ?

I would not go back there. And I don't recommend going there to avoid taking the risk of living a...