Merchants Row — Restaurant in Concord

I’ve been making my annual pilgrimage to Concord every April since 2013, and this year, being the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Concord, the visit felt even more important. Somehow, in all those years, I’d never eaten at the Colonial Inn, which houses both Merchants Row and Liberty Row. After a 2.5-hour drive from Vermont, I decided it was time to change that.

The layout inside is a bit of a maze, and though I initially followed signs to Liberty Row, a large event had the space fully booked. A kind gentleman working there directed me to Merchants Row, where I found a seat at the bar, ordered a Guinness, and went with their Yankee Pot Roast.

Let me be absolutely clear: this is the best-looking and best-tasting pot roast I’ve ever had in a restaurant. What arrived was a tender, generous cut of roast beef, glistening under a rich, dark gravy, garnished with fresh herbs and set atop a bed of smooth mashed potatoes and vibrant mashed carrots. The presentation alone stopped me mid-thought. The flavor? Even better. It was hearty, comforting, and exactly what I needed to fuel my 8-mile walk around town—to the North Bridge, various Revolutionary War markers, and stretches of the Battle Road Trail.

There are plenty of great dining spots in Concord, but Merchants Row just climbed the ranks for me. It’s not just about the food—it’s the setting, the history, and the feeling that you’re in a place that still carries the pulse of the past. I’ll definitely be back—and I might just order the same...

Food 3/4, service 5, atmosphere 5 Butternut squash soup tasted off; sour maybe or needed sage or something.

New England fish and chips. I ordered it bcse of a good review and I like the dish. The breading was ok but not crunchy like battered. It fell off the fish. The fish was a good solid chunk and delicious on its own. The tartar sauce was sharp with dill. The French fries were not the sweet potatoes but very tasty. Coleslaw had a very sharp taste. Only ate a bite. Dessert was warmed bread pudding with eggnog, whipped cream a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with maple syrup. Delicious but the bread was hard like chewing rubber. Service was excellent - fast and mannerly and the meal was served in good time. From convos around me, the chicken pot pie is a winner.

Merchant's Row had beautiful old world decor and big band/ crooners piped into the room. Perhaps the best part of the experience and I lingered after the meal to enjoy it. Formal dining room (and several private dining rooms) with handsome solid wood tables and chairs and elegant wallpaper, curtains, plus holiday...

Went on our anniversary. Made a 5:00 pm reservation so as to have a quiet time . They lost the reservation. This did not bode well for a good experience. However, from this point on everything was terrific. The hostess brought us to the dining room and let us pick the table we wanted. We were seated and promptly brought water, menus, and bread bucket. We ordered drinks and after those arrived, we had plenty of time to relax before ordering. Though the menu is listed there was plenty to choose from. A mix of old time and more modern food choices made it easy to find something you would like. The steak fries were amazing. Steak cooked to perfection and the fries covered with just the right amount of truffle mayo. The scampi pasta with shrimp was also super, with just the right amount of tomatoes and spinach. Dri nks were delicious though a bit below average in volume. The best I can say about Merchants Row is that I will be happy to return and bring friends to also enjoy the food...