Mercantile — Restaurant in Houston

Mercantile, opened in 2014, is a modern coffee shop in the Montrose area. Inside is a wide array of seating arrangements including a bar, couches and a picnic table, able to accommodate groups from just two or up to eight. The large windows provide a view of the outside, as well as the little assortment of outdoor seating. The inside had a variety of magazines, for people to read decorating the entryway, although cannot decide what it wants to be, or at least not successfully display this. On one side there is a lit up sign like you might see at a diner, while on the other there is a picnic table on fake grass, there is also a swing which is an enjoyable little feature, but does not make a whole lot of sense. Behind the bar is a design of trees which doesn’t seem to fit with anything else in the restaurant. This and the way the inside was set up with a large space with no tables, were confusing to me. The music was another part that did not match the rest, none of it seemed to have a theme to fit into. Inside, the ordering process went smoothly considering we had a group of eleven and we found tables and waited the short time before our food was ready. I first got chamomile tea which is served steaming with the tea bag. It tasted like just about any chamomile tea with a flowery flavor that was warm in contrast to the cold inside of the shop. Shortly after, my croissant arrived. I had asked for it warmed up when I ordered, so I was disappointed when the outside was just barely warm and the inside was almost cold. Other than it being cold the croissant is crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside with a buttery flavor. It did not stand out against any other croissant I have had, especially considering it was cold, but other than that is wasn’t bad. We had the same experience with the chocolate croissant and blueberry muffin we ordered. The chocolate croissant is flakey with hard chocolate chips and the muffin is moist but room temperature with an overdose of blueberries. Although the food was not exactly what we had hoped for the staff were amiable. They served us quickly and happily and this made the experience more pleasant. They got our order down easily and there were no problems with anything having to do with the service. Although the food was up to standards have a friendly staff made for a decent experience at Mercantile. This is a place I would recommend to study or get some work done in the peaceful atmosphere that is not too crowded. They have a peaceful atmosphere with lots of space where you could study or just relax...

The coffee: I just didn't like my drink. It was creamy, which was nice, but it had a sharp and bitter taste, and just tasted very beany. A packet of brown sugar mellowed it out, but it still wasn't the best. Maybe if there wasn't such amazing competition, I would feel differently, but the problem is there are just places that have coffee that better fits my tastes.

The shop: It seems a bit confused. There's no real central theme. One corner is set up for like a backyard picnic, complete with fake grass. Another like a waiting room. None of the tables or chairs match in any way really. I do like some aspects of it like the neon sign and the art and the hanging swing, but it just feels all over the place. There's also a lot of empty space in the middle. Some if the couches and tables are just kind of old and dirty.There powerstrips along the walls if you feel like doing work, so points there. I also like how they accept NFC payments and have a rewards system.

The service: Friendly. They were pretty nice, and cleaned up the table we sat at when they saw how messy it was from previous customers.

Overall: Though I didn't really like my coffee that much, there's nothing really bad about this place. It just doesn't...

Nice coffee shop in the Montrose area that has a similar look and feel as Black Hole located several blocks away. Plenty of tables and chairs for seating (though I do wonder who ever uses the indoor swing). Standard coffee and tea menu on offer with a selection of various pastries as well. The space has an artsy feel to it, and I appreciated the style of the barista who was wearing a "Montrose" cap but in the colors, lettering, and style of Marlboro cigarettes. Additionally, I enjoyed the huge world map on the wall of the bathroom (what better place to contemplate one's next international trip than while on the john?). Service was quick, coffee was good, and the place proved to be a quiet place to get some work done.

My only hangups with Mercantile are that it was actually a bit too quiet for my liking. I like there to be a bit of background music and a light din of conversation, but things were almost completely silent here like a library. Along with that, the space felt a bit cold and warehouse-like without the cozy vibe that I prefer when at a coffee shop to get some work or studying done.

Regardless, I still enjoyed the spot overall and will add it to my list of coffee shops...