220 Merrill — Restaurant in Birmingham

If you’re looking for atmosphere, 220 Merrill delivers in spades. This is Birmingham’s elite scene—exotic cars lined up out front, designer outfits, and a dining room that oozes upscale glamor. It’s the perfect backdrop for a date night, people-watching, or impressing out-of-town guests visually. But if you’re going for the food, manage your expectations—or better yet, manage your reservation elsewhere.

Let’s start with the vibe: top-tier. The crowd is vibrant. The ambiance is high-end. It’s the type of place where you’ll see half the dealership showroom parked out front on any given night. That part’s unbeatable.

Unfortunately, once the menu hits the table, things start falling apart—fast.

We dropped $240 for two people, and walked away more annoyed than full. I ordered a New York strip, medium well. What came out was an overcooked, dry well-done cut with absolutely no seasoning. The kind of steak that makes you genuinely confused: how do you mess this up? The NY strip is one of the most forgiving cuts—its marbling is supposed to melt into the meat, infusing it with flavor. But this steak? It was a tough, bland piece of leather. I left it on the plate. Paid for it and left it. That’s how bad it was. I have the receipt to prove it.

My wife ordered the short rib orzo, and to be fair—that dish was phenomenal. Rich, tender, perfectly cooked. It’s clear someone in the kitchen knows what they’re doing… sometimes. And for dessert, the tres leches cake? Without exaggeration, the best I’ve had in all 48 states I’ve lived and worked in. Light, balanced, with a perfect sponge. Easily the highlight of the night.

The drinks were solid too. Well-mixed cocktails and a good selection. But if you’re a purist, like me, you’ll notice the old fashioned came with cube ice instead of a large clear rock. That’s a small but telling detail—like ordering a Ferrari and getting cloth seats.

Now let’s talk about service and safety. The reservations system is chaotic at best, and good luck getting a seat without one—it’s always packed. But what’s inexcusable is being served a cracked glass that literally cut my lip. Yep—asked for water, took a sip, and felt the sharp edge slice my mouth. That alone should’ve warranted a comp or at least a real apology. Instead, we paid top dollar for the injury and were sent on our way.

Summary: • Ambience: 10/10 • Drinks: 8/10 • Food: 4/10 • Steak: 1/10 • Dessert: 10/10 • Service Safety: 0/10

Would I go back? Maybe—for the tres leches, a drink, and the car scene. But if I’m craving a good steak, I’d rather take my chances at LongHorn or even Texas Roadhouse, where at least I know the kitchen seasons the meat.

Final Verdict: Go for the scene, not the steak. And if you’re spending $240, you deserve a lot more than fancy lighting and a...

My husband and I went here Saturday night and were terribly disappointed. It was probably the worst service and food we've received in a long time. First of all when we got there it was pretty the awkward. The waiter didn't welcome us or talk about the menu at all so we just ordered an app and drinks proactively. We ordered our meals shortly after. and I am vegan and saw there was a tofu meal on the menu before we made a reservation (General Tso's something for $34). I assumed due to the price it would be really good. Please....No one get this item ever.... When it came out, I saw a pile of fried rice and half a head of barely cooked broccoli on my plate. Surprised I put my fork in my fried rice and there were literally two very small soggy pieces of tofu in the rice. I could not find more than that. When the waiter came over and asked how it looked, I asked him if it was for sure tofu since it looked like mush and he said it should be but asked my dietarian restrictions (which he should've done in the beginning). When he found out I was vegan, he said the meal wasn't vegan and he could have them remake it. To be fair. my husband really liked his meal which was the short rib. Anyway my second attempt of the meal came out and this time, we couldn't find any tofu at all....AND there was a small piece of meat in it....like what in the world??!!?? Again this was the SECOND attempt at the meal. When that happened my husband asked to see the manager. She came over and was kinda apologetic but when he mentioned how there was literally no tofu in their advertised tofu dish her response was, "Well I know they don't put much in there..." Really??!! So she already knew their $34 tofu meal was basically just fried brown rice with a half a head of broccoli. My husband said we could get better getting take out (he did so very respectfully because I was already embarrassed since I normally don't send anything back and didn't want to make a scene). She offered to ask them to make me something else like a side or drink and obviously comp it for us but at that point I was in shock and had lost my appetite and just said no.

Thankfully they did end up up giving my husband a free meal as well so we were only charged for drinks and our app, but dang so disappointing since we drove 45 mins to get there for a celebratory night and...

Last week, I had the pleasure of celebrating my 3-year anniversary with my girlfriend at 220 Merrill, and I can honestly say the night was nothing short of amazing.

The ambiance was elegant and inviting—ideal for a romantic evening. The menu offered an impressive variety, featuring everything from high-quality steaks to fresh seafood and artisanal pizzas. I went with the New York Strip, cooked to perfection, while my girlfriend ordered the Chicken Parmigiana, which was just as flavorful and satisfying. Safe to say, we both left with clean plates and full stomachs. The drink menu was just as exciting, with a wide selection of creative cocktails and classic options. Whether you're into something fruity, bold, or refreshing, there's definitely something for everyone. What truly made our night stand out, though, was our incredible server, Jermaine. His level of professionalism, attentiveness, and genuine warmth elevated the entire experience. Jermaine made us feel cared for from start to finish—checking in at the right moments, offering thoughtful suggestions, and making sure our night was as special as we hoped it would be. It’s rare to come across such exceptional service, and we’re genuinely grateful for how he helped make the evening memorable. This was my first time dining at 220 Merrill, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. I highly recommend this spot for a romantic date night or any occasion worth celebrating. 10/10 experience. Ask for Jermaine—you won’t be...