Merriment Social — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Came here for "dinner" — but we pretty much had drinks. We had lovely seating by the open doors. The riverside breeze blew away that sweet MKE smell, and the drinks were great (pricey, but delicious). Our server was a delight and very responsive to refills. This place would be a successful wine or sports bar.

As for the food... Well, if the price of their food items alone don't deter you from eating here, I will elaborate on my experience.

We started with apps: I liked the artichoke dip, but I wish they served it with pita points or something else. The "tortilla chips" that supposedly came with it were more like tasteless, old, crouton points. I didn't have a second.

The fried brussel sprouts were served quite charred that they didn't look appetizing, but if you got a thick piece, I was told it didn't taste too ashy. I didn't have a thick piece and I didn't have second bite.

I attempted to order the baked cheese curds, but informed they were all out. That may have been the only item I might have enjoyed.

Monte Cristo Egg Rolls? Eh. Not any better than the $8 package you can get from the store.

There was a wonderful wedding rehearsal reception, so even though we had our order in around 7pm, we didn't get our meal till 9pm. Honestly, if I knew what I was getting, I would have rather opt. out.

I ordered the "Award-Winning Mac N' Cheese" — topped with $8 add-on of smoked salmon.

Unfortunately, I was the only one at my table who actually had legit "smoked salmon" before and was also the only one who was not expecting the sad, grotesque "pickled" smoked salmon that one would put on bagel.

That's on me — I didn't know restaurants would have the audacity of serving this — let a lone with an up-charge of $8. But I would have loved to have been fore-warned, so that my order could have been arranged to something else. Luckily, someone at my table indulged in such. I took a few bits of the "award-winning" mac, but appetite was long gone. It was mostly shell noodles and some melted applewood smoked cheddar. There was barely any cheese to really confirm if there was the fontina — and since they were out of the cheese curd bake — I doubt it had the clock shadow cheese curds. The only award this mac is winning is a blue ribbon of disappointment. They should have just 86'd this too — considering it was $18.

I traded my smoked salmon with another's K-Town Quesadilla. I liked it till I bit into the stiff pickled carrot — this one is a personal preference — I'm sure many others would have loved biting into a large slice of a pickled carrot.

The french fries I ate off my gf's plate with chicken Caesar wrap were good, but that was pretty much the only thing she ate off her plate as well.

A couple ordered the braised short rib french dip — who also offered me a bite — but his best selling point on it was that "It's good if we ordered it off a food truck for $15". (It is not $15 on the menu).

The good news is that someone in our group ordered one of the wagyu smash burgers — and his plate was the only one completely cleared. He confirmed that he ate it — because he actually liked it — not because he was hungry from waiting two hours.

In summary, if you have $$$ to enjoy a meal here — the consensus of my group is that only the burgers and fries are worth the...

I would start out with some positive, first. My girlfriend and I came in on 4/21/24 for a lunch meal. The food was of decent quality and appeared freshly made. The menu was also not bad.

However, every single aforementioned positive aspect was GREATLY overshadowed by abysmally disgusting service. Our server (a younger gentleman with blonde hair) took an exceptionally long time to even acknowledge us. He then took even longer to take our order, after which he magically sank into pure oblivion to never been seen again. I think he must have taken some courses in magic disappearances from world famous magicians of Vienna and such. He did not even brought beverages, until we asked one of his co-workers to do so. Overall, we maybe saw him once for a rather brief period of time. His co-workers did all the work, and even a hostess ended up bringing our food and some refills. She ended up being a person bringing us a check, as well. What's the point of even having servers when they refuse to do their job or lack cognitive abilities to do it?

I would never come back to this terrible, poorly run place, as it is a classic textbook definition of words "hot mess" and "unfriendly environment". Here are my asks of your management team, which may or may not exist (I'm inclined for the latter to be the case):

Hire decent servers and manage them efficiently. Don't make your decent performers like your hostess (who was great, by the way) do all the work for lazy and disorganized people like our server. Do not be afraid to go on the floor and see how your customers are served. Quit being nonchalantly distanced from your customer base. Perhaps, it is time to stop vacationing on your posh villas in Aruba and Curacao with your exotic girlfriends and time to actually work? Provide better value. Considering the fact that your prices are not exactly low, you must provide...

If you’re searching for a Sunday brunch in Milwaukee that feels relaxed, flavorful, and refreshingly unpretentious, Merriment should be on your radar. While we didn’t sample their lunch or dinner offerings, our brunch experience was more than enough to make an impression.

Atmosphere & Vibe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the main reasons we ended up at Merriment was because nearby Toast (a fantastic brunch spot in its own right) was absolutely slammed. Merriment, by contrast, offered a bright, airy dining space with tons of natural light. The open layout and welcoming vibe made it the perfect place to slow down and actually enjoy a Sunday morning. It’s the kind of space that makes you want to linger a little longer over coffee.

Brunch Menu ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

What stood out immediately was that the menu wasn’t overwhelming. Instead of dozens of choices, Merriment keeps it focused — which honestly helped reduce the dreaded “decision fatigue” that often comes with brunch menus.

Sausage Potstickers – Simple, hearty, and exactly what you want in a comfort brunch dish.

Breakfast Pastrami Bagel – Juicy, flavorful, and the star of the meal. Definitely a must-try if it’s available.

Why Choose Merriment? For us, it was the combination of food and atmosphere. Every dish we tried was solid in taste and portioned well. While it may not be reinventing brunch, Merriment nails the balance between simplicity and satisfaction. Toast is still great, but Merriment offered plenty of seating, faster service, and an environment that felt open and unrushed — a huge plus when you’re trying to enjoy brunch with friends.

If you want Milwaukee brunch without the crowd stress, Merriment delivers with good food, an approachable menu, and one of the most inviting, naturally lit spaces in town. While the menu is smaller, it works in their favor, letting each dish stand out without...