Hot on the heels of rebooting the iconic Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, Liam Tomlin has unveiled another eye-catching new dining destination at 91 Bree Street, with the opening of Merchant Bar & Grill. Merchant is another partnership, this time a collab with chefs David Schneider and Adrian Hadlow.
‘It’s a cross-generational venture which we think is right for the times,’ says Tomlin. ‘It’s old school in that it’s an honest return to kitchen basics, provenance and the four seasons, but the menu, the relaxed format and the sexy bar are very contemporary.’
Merchant is set on the first floor of 91 Bree Street, one level above Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, and throws the spotlight firmly on producers and provenance.
That’s clear from the moment you set foot into the restaurant space, with the Larder – a temperature-controlled cornucopia of produce – taking pride of place. From house-made charcuterie to artisanal cheeses, ‘it’s like a shrine to the bon vivant, and to good down-to-earth eating!’ says Schneider. ‘We encourage guests to walk in and look at what we’re making here, as well as select which cheeses they’d like to try.’
But the produce finds its real expression on Merchant Bar & Grill’s six-course tasting menu celebrating some of South Africa’s most acclaimed producers; the likes of Bertie Coetzee (Lowerland Organic Farm), Giselle Courtney (The South African Fynbos), Andrew Nel (Frankie Fenner) and Jason Carroll (Boschendal). The 'Merchant Feast' offers Lamb (R950pp) and Beef (R1100pp) options as the centrepiece on a menu that also runs to grilled line fish with Stellenbosch saffron to start, and a passionfruit posset to finish.
Alongside the six-course dinner menu, guests can also enjoy the Larder menu served at the Bar. Here you’ll find the likes of Scotch eggs, duck confit, house-made sourdough with pork lard, pork crackling with smoked mayonnaise, and a simple bowl of sausage with gherkins and mustard.
The two spaces – restaurant and bar – work seamlessly together, separated by a soft mustard-gold curtain. In the bar choose between upholstered black ottomans to sleek leather banquettes and barstools around the bar. The restaurant is an equally elegant space, with pendant lighting and remarkable artworks including the striking Gyotaku artworks by artist Jero Revett.
And while the newly-opened Merchant Bar & Grill is a destination on its own, it also plays nicely with Chefs Warehouse downstairs.
‘This is our game plan for 91 Bree Street,’ says Tomlin. ‘You could have a cocktail at Merchant Bar & Grill, before heading down to Chefs Warehouse & Canteen; make an evening out of the six-course tasting menu at Merchant Bar & Grill, which is an opportunity to experience the best of local produce; or pick and choose from the global tapas menu at Chefs Warehouse & Canteen.’
Merchant Bar & Grill is open for dinner only, from Monday to Saturday. The bar opens at 5 pm and the restaurant at 6 pm.
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