Mercantile Steak — Restaurant in Kalispell

I’m working my way through the menu. I’ve been 5 times now and have yet to have anything but an absolute superlative experience. Service is exceptional. Food is outstanding from every perspective: concept, execution and flavor. The ambience is classic, old school and I love it.

You’re always going to start with these amazing popovers. If you’ve never had a popover or Yorkshire pudding, trust me, your mind will be blown by the crusty outside an light, chewy center. Popovers are an art to make - not easy - and executed perfectly at Mercantile.

The rack of lamb is exceptional. I’ve had the New York steak twice with different accompaniments and it was excellent both times - cooked perfectly like the lamb. It’s definitely prime beef with terrific flavor. The maitre’d butter is a plus. I’ve had the pork chop and it will likely be one of the best bone-in, grilled chops you’ve ever tasted. Brined, moist, cooked perfectly. Great flavor. I had the bone-in Bison ribeye on another occasion. They boast this as one of the fan/favorites and I get it. Amazing. Exceptional as leftover with onions and potatoes the next morning topped with over easy eggs. My latest adventure included the wagyu zabaton steak. Delicious. Affordable … too affordable to be wagyu. I honestly questioned that as it was delicious as heck but not rich and marbled like typical wagyu. Nonetheless, I’d recommend it highly as it isn’t priced like wagyu either.

Side dishes and appetizers are always fun to explore. Mercantile has some of the best smoked trout I’ve ever eaten. The tuna draped over foie gras is just insanely good. The French fries cooked in duck fat are not to be missed. Also the onion rings are cooked to order and are some of the best you’ll ever eat. The creamed spinach is heroin in a bowl unless you’re lactose intolerant. Stay WAY away from it if you are. The rest of us should be running to it. Unreal.

I still have more to order but so far, absolutely no duds on this menu. If you haven’t been…it’s a highlight not to be missed. Pat Carloss and his team over-achieve at all of their places.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention something I witnessed tonight. Chris is one of the capable bartenders. There was a lady dining at the bar tonight who had a leg injury and using a crutch. When she was finished, Chris left his station, came around the bar, picked up her ‘yo-go’ bag and accompanied her to her car out in the falling snow. After helping her get into her car with the bag of leftovers, he scraped her windshield and hid her a safe journey. That is above and beyond service and a testament to Pat and the rest...

The food was pretty good, I got the bison ribeye and there was way too much fat in it I’d say 1/3 was fat should typically be 1/4 and the only thing I could taste was the burnt over powering char all around it. Also asked for medium and it came out medium rare and rare got the truffle fries has to send back because no truffle on them. The Mac and cheese was killer like always. The wife wanted prime rib but they were out at 0700 pm on a Wednesday that’s the reason we chose a Wednesday and a 7:00 pm so definitely disappointed. But she really liked her New York and the sauce she got with it. But I tasted hers and the flavor was great and did not need a sauce mine on the other hand did and I should have been offered one when ordering. Like she was. Hers she ordered medium rare and it came out medium well “ I’m a firm believer that a GREAT steak even a $50-$60+ dollar steak should not require steak sauce, especially from a STEAK house” but that’s just me.

Our server Mel was especially friendly and nice and recommended some good things on the Menü. We did not try them because we have had them before. But my wife really like the tequila drink.

For the most part it was nice, my complaints are the burnt and extremely under cooked steak. The fact I kept getting bumped when servers would shoot by my table. The lack of truffle on the truffle fries, and the fact they put a service charge on the bill when it was just the two of us and when asked about it it could not be explained. I could understand if had a big party but it was just the wife and I.

SO…. You may have a couple questions… 1. You may be asking yourself why was he sitting on the end of the booth. Where he could be bumped? Or why had arm hanging out? Well it is because I am partially def due to combat and had to sit next to wife to hear and because she is amazing! Obviously!! You might be asking why I sent the fries back but not the steak. That answer is simple really it’s because the fries were a separate side and if someone spit in them no big deal I didn’t eat anymore after they came back. But my steak was my main part of my meal and I was very hungry waiting over a week for my reservation and spending 200 on a meal for 2 I didn’t want an issue. The restaurant has my info if they want to reach out by text or email for more information.

I’d still go back. Just with lower standards. It sucks because we got engaged outside of this place in 22 after eating here and this place was my wife and my first date. So it used...

Before even entering the restaurant you will need to make sure whoever is driving can parallel park as we couldn't find anywhere to park other than the street. The outside of the building stated they opened in 2021 (three years from posting). I had high hopes walking in here knowing it was a high-end establishment. As you walk in, you are greeted with a live band to your left, which at first seems nice, but after you get seated it looses it's appeal when trying to have a simple conversation with the person next to you(on the opposite side of restaurant). Menu was slightly different than what we looked at online which left us a little disappointed and frantically trying to find something else to order before they closed the kitchen at 9 as the only available reservation they had earlier in the day was 8:45pm. We had a miscommunication with our drink order which was just another bump in the road. When asked if we could have a booth on both sides, we were told the two available were already taken, we were told to request about it when making reservation. Service was really slow, as if the server had something against us from the time we got seated. Had to wait about 15 minutes to get a sprite and probably at least 5 minutes just for a side of ranch. THE RESTAURANT WAS HALF EMPTY! The bread and butter was unique but good. The house salad was your typical greens and skimpy on the dressing(which is already on your salad). You'll most likely have to (and better off) getting it on the side as you'll get more that way. My bison steak was cooked perfectly and tasty along with my twice baked potato. However my wife's steak went from under cooked to over cooked. When the manager and head chef had to get involved, they stated that they don't typically get people ordering their steak that way and so the chefs aren't used to cooking it that way. As well as being told that they were trying a new crew in the kitchen which is the reason not only us, but at least one other table had issues. (I overheard another table having issues as we were leaving). Unfortunately our bad experience didn't stop at the door. My wife and I became sick that night and into the next day.

P.S. the water...