Recommended by Louisa at Kennedy Vineyards, I was eager to dine at The Merchant House in nearby Greenville, Ohio. There was hardly a seat in the house, so I took a place at the bar, which was just as busy. The bartender, Joanne, recommended a great wine and took my order for Pig Candy as a starter. Enjoying my glass of bold red, I took my time admiring the rustic, contemporary architecture and looked over the menu. The exposed brick and hardwood beams added to the charm of this popular new restaurant.
As my appetizer arrived, I could smell the smokiness of the spices along with the sweetness of the brown sugar. My first bite was the perfect blend of nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon and I could have honestly placed another order, it was that extraordinary.
The Merchant House has a gift for taking ordinary food items and turning them into delectable gourmet dishes, The combinations are unique such as fried chicken & mac n’ cheese waffles.
Butter burgers, seafood jambalaya and BBQ are some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, but I had my eye on the Monte Cristo sandwich. All I could think about was a crispy, deep fried sandwich to dip into homemade strawberry preserves. This “thick cut ham, turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich between two pieces of Texas toast” is “dipped in egg batter, breaded, then deep fried golden brown.” The sweet potatoes fries were billowy with a lovely light texture and seasoned perfectly.
The Head Chef of the restaurant, Eric, was taking a break and took a seat next to me at the bar. Joanne, who is married to Eric, explained that they had recently moved to the area from Detroit to help start the restaurant. Since the age of fifteen, they have both been working in restaurants which is where they met Chris and Cassie Campbell, co-owners of The Merchant House. Joanne is also a talented baker opening up her own business, the Delightfully Decadent Bakery while Eric enjoys creating new recipes exploring unique flavor combinations. Many of his creations are listed on the menu.
I had the opportunity to take some photographs of the restaurant, pay my bill and exchanged contact information with Eric and Joanne. Eric was kind enough to introduce me to Cassie and her family and I thanked them for their hospitality, wishing them great success. I know that I will be making a return visit and can’t wait to try the restaurant’s Chicago-style pizza, which will be added to the menu next month.
Have you had the opportunity to visit The Merchant House in Greenville? What menu item did you choose? I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave your comments below. Many thanks for reading about my delightful dining experience at The Merchant House and wishing you many Happy Travels!
I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Eric and Joanne for their generous hospitality and time during my visit at the Merchant House. Please note that all comments and opinions are my own.
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Where to Eat:
The Merchant House
406 South Broadway
Greenville, OH 45331
Telephone: 937 459 4405
Where to Drink:
Kennedy Vineyard
3911 State Route 722
New Madison, OH 45346
Telephone: 937 273 8381
Where to Stay:
The Inn at Versailles
21 West Main Street
Versailles, OH 45380
Telephone: 937 526 3020
A list of Bada Bing!’s beers on tap are posted on the chalk board to the right of the checkout station. There is also a generous number of wines and a cooler filled with bottled beers as well.