Mercat Bar and Grill in East Lothian

Went here today for a birthday meal What a total and utter disappointment the quality of the food was very poor. I would have rated it no stars but had to give at least one to continue with the review. The meal I ordered was billed as a triple steak burger, OMG it was awful, when it was served to me the burger was bone dry and very small, over cooked and totally tasteless. There was no burger sauce, (what we were offered was a bottle of ketchup and seriously watered down mayo) there was no onion or cheese only a little piece of stale lettuce and one slice of very thin tomato in the very dry bun. It was listed as being served with rustic chips but I actual found they were nothing more than a handful of frozen skinny fries from a bag. I was charged almost £17 for this which is an absolute disgrace. I've had far better any tastier burgers from McDonald's for a third of the price. My partner had what was billed as peppered chicken which was very poor, served in a skillet which was no deeper than a saucer and it was served without rice which was listed on the menu. The manager came over before it was served and gave her a spoon and we were wondering why you would need a spoon to eat the meal! Then It became apparent when it was served, hardly any chicken and a few bits of pepper and onion and was swimming in some kind of peppered sauce, hence the spoon. This was also priced around £16/17, again ridiculously over priced for what was actually offered. We checked out the menu online before booking a table but when we arrived we were given a totally different menu from what was online. Then to top it all we paid cash and after some time we had to ask for our change from the bill (over £5). When the ki Manager came over he then said "folk normally say just to keep the change " we were Shocked and utterly embarrassed by this comment. What an absolute rip off this place is and we certainly won't be back .

The mercat grill is a fantastic place to eat staff so friendly and made very welcome we stayed in the RV in the carpark and loved it recommend 100%

Great place for friendliness from owner and staff as well as excellent menu and food.

Great meal and service as always.

Ate here as was close to our hotel. Eating area was crammed in so we were quite close to other tables. Food was average. Chicken fajitas were tasteless and arrived in a runny sauce as opposed to a sizzling hot plate which I expected. Ate as much as we could to justify the cost. Would I eat here again…..no.

Good size meals that where very tasty

AMAZING food and service .. staff go above and beyond and the owners mums baking is to die for!!!

Went here today for a birthday meal What a total and utter disappointment the quality of the food was very poor. I would have rated it no stars but had to give at least one to continue with the review. The meal I ordered was billed as a triple steak burger, OMG it was awful, when it was served to me the burger was bone dry and very small, over cooked and totally tasteless. There was no burger sauce, (what we were offered was a bottle of ketchup and seriously watered down mayo) there was no onion or cheese only a little piece of stale lettuce and one slice of very thin tomato in the very dry bun. It was listed as being served with rustic chips but I actual found they were nothing more than a handful of frozen skinny fries from a bag. I was charged almost £17 for this which is an absolute disgrace. I've had far better any tastier burgers from McDonald's for a third of the price. My partner had what was billed as peppered chicken which was very poor, served in a skillet which was no deeper than a saucer and it was served without rice which was listed on the menu. The manager came over before it was served and gave her a spoon and we were wondering why you would need a spoon to eat the meal! Then It became apparent when it was served, hardly any chicken and a few bits of pepper and onion and was swimming in some kind of peppered sauce, hence the spoon. This was also priced around £16/17, again ridiculously over priced for what was actually offered. We checked out the menu online before booking a table but when we arrived we were given a totally different menu from what was online. Then to top it all we paid cash and after some time we had to ask for our change from the bill (over £5). When the ki Manager came over he then said "folk normally say just to keep the change " we were Shocked and utterly embarrassed by this comment. What an absolute rip off this place is and we certainly won't be back . In our opinion avoid the Mercat. I feel I have had to add to this review further following the most un professional and insulting response below directed at me and my family from this irritating happy happy happy annoying little man . My review is an honest and true account of our visit to the Mercat Which was more like a scene from Fawlty towers.

We had a pub stop over in our vw crafter the landlord whos name is graham is a lovely friendly bloke he lets you sleep in is car park if you have a meal and drink. We had a lovely night and food was brilliant highly recommended and totally dog friendly they love the dogs all the staff was great. It has sky sports so davie got to watch the match. Thankyou everyone who made us feel welcome .

Absolutely fantastic Very Dog friendly We went for a meal out with 2 dogs and they were settled (which speeks volume to the staff giving off good vibes) food was incredible perfect amount for a very good price.

Really nice, well decorated wee pub with a nice atmosphere. The food wasn't worth the visit or the price though. I chose beef dirty fries which was almost £17... It had 10 cubes of beef stew, gravy and skinny fries, came in a cold plate which meant it was stone cold before I'd finished. It was quite tasty but not £17 tasty.

Beautiful meal and thanks to claire for all the advice on allergies 😁

The biggest selection of single malt Scotch whiskies I have see outside of Edinburgh with an owner who REALLY knows his stuff and is generous too. Oh, and the food was good as well. Nice to see dogs in the pub

Visiting for one night, and happened upon this lovely place, very welcoming and food was beautiful. Host also knowledgeable about the whisky. Definitely come back if in the area again.

Amazing food. Had lunch here highly recommend to anyone.

Went for a family meal it was fantastic The staff were so helpful and the food was amazing.plenty of choice and good size portions. Will definitely be back a hidden gem in Eastlothian A must try

I had the most beautiful meal, here today, Steak Pie was amazing, and Meringue and fruit..my eyes were on stalks. Very reasonable priced, Staff were lovely 😍

Our second time eating there! Again, Graham the owner was very welcoming as were the staff. They made a big fuss of Bonnie my puppy who enjoyed some delicious treats! I ordered fish and chips! The fish was so fresh and the chips well cooked. My mum enjoyed her Scampi! We also had a pudding! The meringue was superb and mum's sticky toffee pudding looked delicious too! Thank you again and we will return!

I visited Mercat Bar and Grill for dinner last night and it was excellent. The food and drink were superb and what really stood out for me was the service. I was made very welcome by Graham and the table service by both Graham and Amy was of a very high standard. I would definitely go back there if I'm in the area again

Great food and atmosphere. First experience of this restaurant. One of menu items not available. Tap water was warm and ice supplied when asked. Were there on a very hot day. We were seated in conservatory which was too hot. They did have windows open and a fan on but not sure if other seats may have been more comfortable.

Unfortunatelty for this restaurant the food is great but the service is shocking. Angry staff who refuse point blank to listen to complaints and are more than happy to rip you off. Money paid for delivery. No food arrived. Sorry, not my ptoblem was the response. Staff member was extremly argumentative and aggresive on the phone and actually hung up on me. Terrible attitude. I do understand they use just eat as a delivery service but to just say "we have covered ourselves" and "its not my problem" is a shocking way to deal with regular customers. Very poor experience.

Food is amaizing. Customer service is horrible. Phoned to tell them or order had not arrived and had to endure a very angry, rude woman who's answer was " not our problem" and "we have covered ourselfs" then hung up on us. Will not be back to sit in or order delivery.

Food was exceptional big portions for the price. Even a small vegan menu. Friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone. Also very good choice for kids menu. Dessert menu very good.

Service was amazing, food great, nothing was a bother, great afternoon.

Fajitas are not great. Fairly bland flavours. Service was fine but the food was pretty average.

Great food especially Ann's meringue, it was excellent.

A little old fashioned facilities but food is excellent in choice and taste. All puddings are generous and home made.

Good place to eat but not special

Owner graham made me a lovely coffee whilst sheltering from the rain

Drove past looking for some lunch and called it for some food and drinks. Very friendly staff sorted a table quickly. Drinks arrived quickly and the menu has a good range of food. Had the Haggis cigars which were apparently created there in 2016 and they were great ( even bought a pack to take away! We had a selection of other dishes from the mains which were pretty good as well . To be fair we actively wanted bistro style food - steak pie, fish and chips, burgers and lasagne all there. There was also a grill with a range of steaks but I wont comment because we didn’t order any. If you are in the area and want decent food then don’t hesitate - its pretty good

Lovely place for lunch and dinner staff very attentive

What an absolute treat! We found this place on Park4TheNight, as we were staying in the car park in our camper. The food was great, everyone was friendly, and they took such good care of our dog Zoe. Highly recommend! Would go back 👍

Food was excellent, with perfect service. £2.50 for a kids icepole is a disgrace

Excellent food and service, steak pie and chicken skillet were both amazing, staff very friendly and welcoming, reasonable prices too. Thoroughly recommend the Mercat.

Visited yesterday for the first time. The food was excellent . The ambience is lovely and the icing on the cake is the menu being sung to us by mine host. Absolutely charming with his babies Barclay and Brooke. (Little westies😁) Missed out on Mum's dessert but next time. Mags and Ally Scott

Good was actually good and well priced. The actual internal building could do with an overhaul, but otherwise it was good.

Had a lovely meal tge haggis cigars are so tasty thought there might have been 2 though as 1 wasn't very much for the price. The macaroni was very tasty and mammy Anne's meringues absolutely delicious. Staff very friendly and helpful

My wife and I stayed over night at the Premier Inn in Musselburgh, to get away from the run of mill menu I researched the local area for alternatives. I found the MerCat which was a 5 minute walk, the excellent reviews published on Tripadvisor confirmed this venue was a great place to visit. The food was top notch and all the staff were excellent and extremely customer focused. We chatted with the owner, who in my opinion ran a tight ship, he was friendly and his customer focus skills definitely rubbed off on his staff. I would definitely recommend the MerCat, and next time we in the area we will definitely repay a visit. Thank you to all at MerCat.

Great food and great service. Really great experience for our family from Portsmouth. They were very impressed with the whole experience.

Very warm welcome and staff are really lovely and friendly. We had tomato soup which was delicious and then scampi which was great - plenty pieces and the chips were amazing! Will definitely be back.

Perfect choice for us. We had not been here in years, and glad we went. The totally warm welcome from beginning to end. Gorgeous food at a reasonable price, in a lovely environment.

Great service from staff made to feel very welcome,great varied choice on the menu and reasonably priced.1st class.

First visited 3 years ago when in Scotland on holiday had to visit again worth the trip. One of the best places to eat that I been to. Called again 2024 for lunch always have to visit when we are nearby on holiday. Very friendly staff always make a fuss of the dog and food as good as ever. My wife said she just wanted a salad and I ended up with half due to the size of it.

Very nice place for something to eat and drink. I got the cajun chicken burger and my Mrs and her son got the fajitas. We really enjoyed it along with a beer blaikies best which was a substitute for belhaven best. The staff are extremely friendly and allow kids as my daughter is only 2 it's ideal. Another bonus is they also allow dogs in which is great if we're passing taking her for a walk. Recommended as it's a very quiet and relaxing atmosphere 👍

Not sure who he is but the man waiter kept repeating things like happy happy happy , every 2 mins at tables I get being nice but it was just too much all the time and then going over to other tables saying the same just let people eat. Other than that lovely meal and friendly

We wanted to try a local business, upon entering , the decor and set up was lovely. however extremely disappointed, we ordered two , 2 stack burgers ??? , no cheese, not even butter! Very small to be exact Upon asking for sauce we were handed tomato ketchup and other condiments, nothing related to a burger sauce(it’s the little things that make the difference) basically a greasy cafe burger with a huge slice of tomato! When highlighted this to the manager, he couldn’t have cared less ! McDonald burgers are way better! And too 3rds of the price Avoid at all cost it’s an absolute rip off we will not be returning ! Not even a pickle, for 15 quid per burger absolutely disgusting prices !

Found this little gem by being close on a googlemap search for restaurant. Very attentive staff, we had Cow Pie each which was excellent and a nice pint. We'll be back

Fish and scampi average. More batter than fish unfortunately. Extra for peas or beans, really? Small lasagne consisted mainly of cheese with barely any mince or sauce. As far as value goes - poor. 2 mains, 2 small mains, 2 desserts and 4 drinks £90, you’re having a laugh! I wouldn’t mind so much if it was quality food but I’m afraid it was only basic.

We came for a small get together, my husband, son and myself. The staff couldn't have been more cheerful and helpful. We were rather slow ordering due to a lot of family chat but they couldn't have been more efficient and happy to wait. There was no rushing at all during the whole meal. We all enjoyed the starters and mains - the chicken and leek pie that I ordered was delicious as was the scampi and Desperate Dan Pie ordered by my family. My husband drooled over the Sticky Toffee Pudding - his favourite! Will definitely be visiting again. Well done to Graham and all the staff.

Really disappointed with The Mercat as have dined here before and food has been ok. Had a lasagne ( small £12.95) and I can hands down say it was probably the worst Lasagne I’ve ever had. The cheese sauce was really tasteless and really runny and there was barely any mince or pasta sheets. My friend ordered a chicken dish with rice and it took them 25 minutes to let her know there was no rice available, pretty poor show if you ask me. My food came 5 minutes before my friends, no explanation as to why theirs not out the same time etc I recently went to the restaurant along the road and the lasagne there was beautiful and bursting with flavour plus there was plenty of it.

The batter on my fish was burnt. The service was hurried. The host was too loud. I wouldn't recommend this place to anybody.

A s very decent lunch with friends. Not too busy so no pressure on leaving our table. Service good, we all enjoyed our food and it was a good atmosphere. A little out the way perhaps but definitely worth a visit

Visited this wee spot whilst spending the week in musselburgh. Amazing food, beef stew loaded fries were incredible. Owner very nice guy and place is extra dog friendly. Would highly recommend and definitly come back.

Had a great time. Excellent food and service . The Westies were a huge bonus...

Excellent staff, lovely atmosphere, excellent selection of Whisky and top notch food

Excellent food, really good staff but our food was slow to be served. Well worth waiting for, but still a touch too long a wait

Excellent food and really nice service. Highly recommend.

Local to us, never had a bad experience here, with the food or service.

Went down for a couple of pints with the famalam and the dug. Couldn’t have had a better welcome. This will be my new ‘Saturday habit’. Enjoyed it very much.

Really good meals and portion size brilliant. I couldn't eat a dessert so got biscuits and cheese to take away. OMG this was fab

We were in a big party of 30+ Drinks and food were served promptly and with a smile, even when someone forgot what they had ordered. (me)

Fabulous place to have a meal. Menu to suit all tastes, staff very cheery and helpful.

March 2024 Visitor for many years On this occasion Food went downhill big time Soup starters and main poor Strong smell of animals when walk in No atmosphere Very dissapointed Wont be back

Walked and was greeted by the lovely waitress, great welcome and her service was fantastic. She helped us with our choices. Had the Sunday roast which was superb and my wife had the steak pie which was also great. Will be back. I think the girl was called Rowan. Great service 👏

Avoid Went down hill Used to like this place To day soon as you go in smell of dogs Food terrible today fish bad wings tough went down hill no atmosphere seen better days Sauce brown in a hp bottle disguisting Portions small Wot a down fall for a good restaurant

Such a lovely friendly place. They made my dog most welcome and the food was excellent. Chatted with some 'regulars' who were most welcoming. I'm very happy to recommend.

We were a group of four people who did not enjoy our dining experience mistake with the drinks others said starters were basic i had fish and chips overcooked peas extra but not on the plate but on the bill only one enjoyed the mains staff were very nice but over stretched afraid we will give it a miss

Great food, good service and the atmosphere was fab

Late lunch so was a little quieter than it would normally be.

Adults' food was great but unfortunately my granddaughter was very disappointed with her food. She is 7, but the Mercat kids menu is not suitable for her age group. One very small piece of garlic bread with very crusty edges. A few chicken nuggets were very dry and chips. Think maybe they could introduce a kids menu up to 6 years and another for older kids.

Visited for lunch with family - Food good with one exception - cheese cake... cheese cake base with dollop of cream!!!!!, White wine delivered to table and left with no chiller, warm wine by the end of the meal. Ladies toilet awful, sign does say they are being updated but the sign is looking its age and the walls are back to the brick and pipework. Staff do make up for it. Very pleasant and chatty

Myself , husband and son visited this restaurant on Saturday the 27 th of January . The food and service were amazing ! Best chicken wings we have ever had ! Great environment, very cosy . Highly recommend and we would definitely return.

We attended last night after hearing great things about the place. Unfortunately we won't be attending again. Customer service is poor waited 25min to be asked if we wanted a drink. The food as average at best. No one came round and asked If everything was okay or if other drinks were required. Sadly for a local business it's letting the locals down.

Partner and I came here for food, we were fairly close to the closing time (our fault) but staff were very accommodating and seated us. Our receipt says our server was Bailey and she was fantastic. Food was amazing and I couldn’t fault any part of it even if I wanted to. Will definitely come back here.

Great food. Large portions. Owner and staff very polite and friendly

Great Food, efficient and friendly staff, would highly recommend!

We did takeaways from here twice per week during lockdown but have never been since it was the Dolphin a long, long time ago. The food was really nice, very good portion sizes and the staff were lovely. We were looked after by Amy who was very friendly. Christmas dinner was really nice!

Great food and lovely dog friendly service. Great spot to have as the end of a Dalkeith park adventure!

Went for Christmas lunch and it was lovely. The food is fantastic the service and atmosphere are second to none. Lovely warm welcome couldn't do enough for us. Had the roast beef which was excellent and Christmas pudding was the same. Been here a few times and always had a great meal and welcome. Definitely would recommend The Mercat Bar and Grill.

Amazing find while browsing the area for dinner on our way back from Edinburgh. Right off the A1 so very easy to find. The food is home made and beautiful, The atmosphere warm and relaxing, the host very friendly, jolly and taking a genuine interest in your day and how you are. Very friendly and attentive staff, this is obviously a wonderful place to dine on a regular basis. Well recommend whether you're passing through or staying nearby

An excellent find fantastic food and great atmosphere

Brilliant place for food , we go there often. Owner always makes you feel very welcome. If you have not been , you must try.

Tried for first time and food was good

Great food and lovely service. Four walk ins with no booking on a Friday night. Made very welcome and had great service. Lovely tasty food with a wide variety of drinks on offer, would definitely revisit. X

I ordered the crispy chicken wings with BBQ sauce as my starter.. The texture was perfect, the wings meaty, and the BBQ sauce had me liking my fingers clean. I had the Dirty fries topped with beef stew for my main. The fries were cooked perfectly and the beef stew poured over was perfect. Decent amount of beef chunks which apart nicely and the gravy was very flavoursome. It was a slightly pricey, but I did leave feeling really full and satisfied.

I've visited the Mercat a number of times over the years and find the service to always be friendly , excellent standard of food and the venue is nice and cosy. Today I ordered the Sunday Beef Roast dinner and enjoyed every last bit. I highly recommend a visit. Its family and dog friendly aswell.

We are regular customers of the Mercat Bar and Grill and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone for a visit. A friendly, hardworking team, a varied menu of in-house cooked food (including fantastic desserts made by the owner’s Mum), and all appropriately priced. There’s a separate dog friendly section of the restaurant, regular charity events, and significant support given to local community organisations. On the rare occasion where we have encountered a small problem, it has been promptly and pleasantly addressed - a far more constructive result for everyone involved than writing an online review. Keep the great work up - you are really valued!

Husband and I had booking for 6.30pm , greeted by very cheery waitress. Great menu , we very much enjoyed our main and dessert. Found the service and food excellent and will certainly return.

Firstly this review is 100 %genuine. We dined here recently.....found the starters were nice being French onion soup ....however we had the so called triple burger as mains which quite frankly was not good. The burger wasn't very nice ...just not tasty ...very dry dish no sauce....usually these dishes are served with a coleslaw ...of course here that would be extra.Too expensive. Desserts were declined due te excessive price. Perhaps this is why the rextaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sorry if this offends but these things can be put right. Good luck.

I find that the staff are very polite and helpful,and as my wife is disabled nothing is ever too much to ask.

A very pleasant evening, the place was pretty quiet, but that could just have been the weather as it was pretty grim outside. Food was good. Their haggis cigar was a good choice as a starter.

Dog friendly, excellent food. Lovely staff. Sticky toffee pudding is to die for as well as the chicken and leek pie

Brilliant service and food, best place to eat in Dalkeith. The owner is very warm and friendly

Great service and brilliant food, well worth a visit! Owner was very warm and welcoming. Prices reasonable. Will be back!

Amazing evening . Celebrated my dads 75th here and experienced wonderful service and incredibly tasty food. Will 100% be back.

Food is excellent and the staff amazing

Staff made us feel so welcome , food was really nice ,like the fact have small portions.desserts amazing sticky toffee pudding best every tasted ,would recommend it

Great Staff very good meal.. Cheers

Had a great meal in very nice surroundings, The staff really seemed to care about the customers, And it's dog friendly.

Lovely family meal, quick and friendly service. Tasty meals and great prices