220 Merrill

My friend and I went here for brunch and I am so glad we did. The food was delicious. The menu had so many options to choose from we didn’t know what to order, but our waitress recommended we try 3 dishes and share. So we chose the bananas foster French toast, chicken and waffles, and blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes.
The chicken and waffles were fantastic! It was my favorite dish of the 3. Chicken was crispy on outside and juicy on the inside. The waffles were cooked perfectly and had great flavor.
The bananas foster French toast was my close 2^nd. It had great flavor, bananas foster syrup was great, but there was not a lot of it. I asked for more and they wanted to charge me $ 3 for it.
The pancakes were good, I’m not a big fan of ricotta but my friend loved them and ranked the dish her fave of the 3. I think I would have like it more if there were more lemon curd on the pancakes and if the blueberries were cooked in the batter, but overall it was good.
I do plan on going back and if the food is still good and if they don’t scrimp on the syrup I’ll change my rating.

Last minute blind date with no specific plans, we met in downtown Brirmingham on a beautiful summer Saturday evening. Walking around gossiping about the couple who set us up looking for a place not to busy for a drink. We stuck our heads into 220 around 9 pm and saw a couple of open seats at the bar.
Order a wine and beer. Place was very busy so good people watching.
When the time to order a second round came we also ordered a sweet and spicy calrimari. Came out quickly and was very tasty… A combo of a teriyaki and Thai spices.
After that we shared the short rib entrée, very tender with some excellent mashed potatoes.
A third round was our dessert .
All in all a very enjoyable dinner with Tracy behind the bar taking excellent care of us.
The blind date behaved himself and is busy plotting another adventure.

It’s not my fave for cocktails and apps in Birmingham but it was the only place we could find walk-​in for 9 people on a weekday/​bar night. There are ample high top silver tables around the bar that we pushed together. The service was really slow and in some cases, non existent, (she just forgot to order the brussel sprouts for over 30 minutes and didn’t come back in between). But we were in for a long night of talking and hanging out, so it didn’t matter much. (but they could have made more $ if she returned to take more drink and food orders)
The brussels app is better at TownHouse or Social, the tuna tartar app is better at Streetside and the cocktails are better at Hyde Park, all in the same price range, so why come here? (because there will be space for your reunion party of 9 any night of the week) It is an older crowd and we are older, (40 – 50 yrs), so that didn’t matter to us.
I wouldn’t return unless everything else in town is overfull.

nice atmosphere and serves brunch all day sunday-what’s not to like?! Their menu has a little something for everybody. Plus their outdoor patio is prime location for people watching.
You get free two hour parking (and free parking Sunday’s) in the garage next door.

I strolled in here just walking around Birmingham looking for a place to eat and the outside appealed to me, I’m sure glad I stopped in! I don’t really understand all the bad reviews… Not only was the ambience wonderful but the food and drinks were exquisite. Well worth the money in my opinion. Please keep the Walleye and mushroom risotto special, it was soooooo good!

The trek out to Birmingham for Mother’s Day brunch at 220 Merrill was a special treat. We had 10:30 am reservations. The neighboring parking garage is free for the first two hours, or you can valet your car for $ 8. Thankfully we got to town before the crowds, for the Art Fair, that had many of the downtown streets closed. I was greeted with a long stem rose and we were shown to a beautiful table at a window. The front dining room is light, airy and bright — perfect for brunch. The patio was beautiful, but a bit too cold still that early in the day. If you want to brave the chill, they do have patio heaters. The restaurant is on a nice, quiet side street in downtown. The patio is lovely.
Our waitress was impeccable — prompt greeting, and kept up with my bottomless mimosas; which is a prerequisite when choosing where to take me for brunch.
The menu is short but there is something for everyone. My taste buds were set on cold smoked salmon but quickly changed when spotted the Prawns with cheddar grits on the menu. Hubs ordered the crème brûlée pancakes. We also shared a bowl of berries. My shrimp and grits were exactly what I expected. Savor, spicy (I added the Tabasco), hot, gooey and filling. Without the hot sauce, they were nicely spiced with cheddar and pepper. Hubs had a double stack of pancakes and couldn’t finish his plate.
Now for the most important piece — Mimosas. The bottomless mimosa are $ 24 and they have a plethora of flavors to try. We will have to return to try the rest. This is my mission. This visit, I had traditional OJ, blood orange, blackberry, peach and strawberry. (Don’t judge, you would have too) The only flavor I asked about and was told no, was ginger. Ginger lime mimosa with a Brut would have been amazing. I just wanted to see how far the bar could go, really. The bar will switch the bubbles per the fruit flavor order — Cava, Prosecco, Brut, etc. The flavors were real muddled fruit, not syrups or fake, which didn’t overly sweeten the drink. The bubbles churned the fruit pieces from the bottom. Such a fun treat to have with brunch. Just watch for the pieces left in your teeth.
The Unilocal check-​in offer was for a free dessert, which we asked to get it to-​go. Cheesecake. It was the best in-​house made cheesecake I have had anywhere. Small and round, but rich and topped with fruit. I believe it was yogurt based. What a treat! Since we were leaving with the dessert, she didn’t bring the comp chocolate-​dipped strawberries, as the other tables were getting, but the cheesecake was a good trade.
I could have done without the crooner in the corner with his acoustic guitar. He was loud at times, and broke the atmosphere. I am sure the restaurant was going for special.
This really was a fantastic brunch. I will try something with smoked salmon next time.

I do love coming to 220 because its such a beautiful restaurant and the atmosphere is lively. I have come here a few times with friends for drinks and appetizers and we have never had a bad experience. I always get the Sesame Ahi Tuna Tartare and love it. A great spot to hang out and socialize. Also they have valet parking whick is a huge perk for dining in Birmingham.

Décor is great, food was bland, service was ok.
It gets loud in there. We got the calamari as an appetizer. It came out with a heap of julienned vegetables on top of a handful of calamari. Didn’t pair well. It looked as if they were just adding some filler to the dish. The calamari was just okay.
I got the Ribeye, the most expensive steak on the menu. I asked for medium rare. It was bland, to say the least: dry, under-​seasoned, and way overcooked on the edges. Someone else got the filet mignon, which was also dry and tasteless. Two others got the salmon and I wasn’t impressed – I’ve had better at a much cheaper price tag.
Skip the roasted seasonal vegetable plate. Portion is quite pathetic for price and to top that, vegetables weren’t really roasted. Lightly baked and really dry would be a better description.
I will not be coming back here, unfortunately. Too bad.

I have only drank here a few times, but never eaten here.
The service is good, both at the bar or sitting at a table. This place definitely attracts the older crowd. You won’t find many 21-​year-​olds hanging around here, probably because of the prices and just the general environment — which I must say is sleek and has a «clean» vibe to it. I like all the white walls and tables and bar top, etc. It fits the mood of the city and the establishment itself. Above average décor for sure.
It’s relaxing in here. There is background music and while it gets loud here and there (especially on weekends), it’s not a bad place to sit at the bar and have a beer on a Tuesday night.

Came here on Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend. I loved the décor as soon as I walked in. Sophisticated/​cozy look. We sat in the dining room. All of the tables were set so beautifully with red roses. The featured cocktails were delicious. I wanted to try them all! We had the artichoke dip with crab, wow, probably one of the best I have ever had and to top it with crab just put it over the edge!
I had the perch with a side of Mac & Cheese. Everything was fantastic.
Great for anniversary, birthdays, and just a night with the girls.
I will absolutely be coming back soon.

Went here for Valentine’s Day and I have to say I dissapointed. The ambiance was great and the drinks (after a 15 minute wait) were very good.
The service was slow despite the fact they didn’t appear busy. They use a multiple server format which I’m guessing created confusion about who was supposed to the initial introduction.
After reading the reviews I was excited to try the halibut. It came out over cooked and dry. Not nearly worth the price tag it came with. The scallops were cooked well but lacked seasoning. The saffron risotto was the best part of either meal.
Overall I’d come back for drinks but that’s about it.

Loved the service and the food was excellent. The spinach appetizer dip was fantastic, flatbreads are all great, but most of all — the apple crisp dessert!!! Heaven! Definitely coming back!

Very good! Interesting menu. Well put together and expertly prepared. Expensive and worth it. Shana Simpson was incredible!

I’m only giving 2 stars because of the ambiance which was so beautiful and because it was the Holiday season. First off, we had a group reservation for 12 people which was already put on a credit card to hold our spot. When we got to the restaurant, the table was only set for 8. We waited for them to make the adjustments which wasn’t a big deal, but they seemed pretty confused. The food was mediocre. Nothing to rave about. There wasn’t much flavor to anything and the pork was pretty dry. Our bill was over $ 700 and not one dish satisfied our cravings.
Now to the part that really peeved me off… Valet when driving in was no where to be found. Finally, a young man came around the corner stating he was valet. ONE SINGLE GUY. He was clearly running around with his head cut off with multiple people needing to park in the middle of WINTER. After dinner, he did a great job at getting all of our cars pulled up. HERE COMES THE KICKER… The next day my cousin texts me to inform me that the valet guy handed her a parking ticket that did not belong to her cause of the listed License plate. WELL LUCKY ME, it was MINE! HOW DO I END UP WITH A PARKING TICKET USING YOUR VALET SERVICE!!! I called the restaurant and it didn’t seem like it was anything new to them. They said send the ticket in and put attention to the manager «MR. BARTON.» After a month, I just received a notice from the City of Birmingham stating this ticket has not yet been paid. Called the restaurant back asking for the manager, the guy on the phone says he was the manager and the batch of tickets they received were just given to the person who handles them and will make sure to get it taken care of. SERIOUSLY?
HASSLE MUCH? DEFINITELY WON’T BE BACK.

Haven’t been since the remodel. It’s very nice with warm ambience.
We sat in the bar area, where was great so we could watch some of the football game. First good warm bread (always a good sign:) All 6 of us really liked our dinners. We had Salmon, whitefish, salads, soups… And a lot of wine.
It’s not an inexpensive dinner, by any means, but with good service and food, it was worth it. *Would like to see more moderately priced items on the menu so we could go more often but I realize it’s Birmingham, which unfortunately lends itself to more «fine dining».

This review is for the delicious seafood chowder and tuna tartar. Both are delish! Nice space, big square bar area and beautiful table space. This was my first time there but I’ll be back!

The décor of the restaurant is very nice and pretty. I love set up. The cocktails are very good. They allow you to take home your bottle of wine if it’s not finished at the restaurant. 220 needs to work on there service. –All the details they put into the place they could’ve spent a little more time with staff training.

I was glad of the short distance between the parking structure and the restaurant for the weather had turned bitingly cold this week.
Inside, the restaurant was warm and inviting. A massive bar sits near the entrance with ample and comfortable seating. Surrounding it, high tops were placed in close proximity to one other to allow for interaction and conversation. There was such a crush that as the evening progressed, one of the large windows was opened to keep the room from overheating.
On the other side of the bar was an equally large dining area with significant banquette seating. I have to say, there was not a bad table in the restaurant. And, the hostess did a nice job spacing guests so that there was sufficient privacy for all. I liked the light and inviting space, elegant décor, and various industrial lighting.
We shared the creamy spinach and pungent crab dip with warm, toasted baguette. For the entrée, the server recommended the short ribs, an amazingly tender dish served with flavorful mashed potatoes, braised red cabbage, and caramelized Cipollini onions. The large portion size meant leftovers, which incidentally held up and tasted delicious. Unfortunately, the side of Brussels sprouts was just average.
Service was quite good. The server was personable and answered our numerous questions, providing thoughtful recommendations.

We’ve been coming here for awhile and my wife and I absolutely love this place. The ambiance is great, the service is even better and the food is fantastic. The appetizers are very creative and Delicious. The entrees are very filling and good as well. The desserts are creative as well and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Marcus and Randy are the best servers and you won’t be disappointed with the octopus app.

We love this place! Our first experience wasn’t that great but each time it gets better and better! Love the apps and drinks!

Rent the champagne room. We had a party of 25 from out of town and 23 of them were 1.5 hour late. I was so embarrassed, but the staff were very accommodating. They have a Veuve champagne bar that is right next to the entrance. It is not a room, but the entrance to their restaurant. However, it is a great place to have a party since your backdrop is a champagne bar. The staff is extremely accommodating and the food is solid. We had the pizza and tartare. Both were delicious — not the best ever, but good. I would recommend getting a bottle Moët — it is affordable $ 60 compared Veuve.

I love B’hams ambience. Restaurant is nice. Food is delicious. We ordered Woodward Club and Ham, Egg, Cheese sandwich. Pancakes for little mama.
Unfortunately, our server was overwhelmed by a large party she was attending to and so we were treated like we were at kiddie table!

We were jazzed to have a girls brunch! The host did not acknowledge us for a full 60 seconds until my sister said, «you guys want to go somewhere else?» That spoiled the moment and we couldn’t bounce back… now at Toast down the street having a blast. So it all worked out.

The last two times I’ve been there it was a total disappointment. The service was terrible, they brought my food out five minutes after every one else was served. The Salmon was dry and the vegetables were raw. The first time I was there was during their anniversary party and the food was spot on, not anymore totally inconsistent. will not go back l

One of the worst meals I’ve ever had. I had the perch and it was incredibly dry and had a bunch of bones in it. I miss the old 220.

Popped in to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the new and improved 220 Merrill. Very impressed.
This Birmingham mainstay was completely redone with a more modern and open look, and is my favorite place downtown for food, service, and ambiance.
I love that they more than doubled the outdoor patio. It’s really the place to see and be seen when weather permits.
Menu has been tested and approved by culinary experts and I order the same meal because it is spot on. Grilled halibut is what I recommend, and if you’re looking for a little added flavor, a nice pepperoni flat bread to start never hurt nobody.
I’m impressed with the staff and their commitment to first class customer service. They aim to please and that’s an important component to a quality dining experience.
As far as their cocktails go, enjoy them early and often. Bartenders and wait staff are not skimpy on the pours.
One of my favorite places in Birmingham, and happy they updated this gem.

This is not my parents 220 Merrill.
When a colleague told me we were meeting a client at 220 for a drink and appetizers I was kinda surprised, not where I would expect him to entertain at. That was until I stepped into a bright, sharp looking bar and dining area. Wow, I need to get out more often.
Very classy crowd, not as casual as the style of the previous 220, in my mind a good thing, I love getting dressy and going out .
Perfect date spot or the begining or end of a girls night out.
We had a drink up front waiting for the client, quick attentive bartenders, very nicely mixed cocktails.
Seated for a early dinner in a booth in the back and our waitress was very good in answering questions and getting our app order in. Took a little longer in coming out then I thought, but the place was busy. Everything was well prepared and very good.
I love the feel of the place and will be back to explore the full dinner menu as soon as beach and bbq season is over.

Beautiful renovations, so excited and happy it’s now open. Very piece of the interior design looks as if it was picked and done. From the ceilings, walls, tables/​chairs, and the bathrooms. Every detail done to perfection. Came for the first time since it reopened for lunch, host and waitstaff were all very pleasant.
I ordered the calamari and truffle fries as appetizer, they were so delicious that I ordered a second round of the same lol. Had the chopped salad with grilled chicken and it mehh. I wasn’t a fan of the dressing and the chicken was a tad bit dry. Our lattes were delicious and my niece enjoyed her tomato mozorella flat bread. I also was given a complimentary dessert of a vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting in a small mason jar. That was the last and final great touch of class.

Love the new 220! The ambiance is great, the bar is vibrant and the wait staff is awesome and fun (Jeffrey and Lisa are great!!). They remember you every time you come back.
Sat at the bar last night and ordered appetizers– the beet salad was very refreshing– just the right amount of beets! The grilled octopus was perfectly cooked and very savory. The tuna tartare was so yummy! Make sure you get an order of the bread because it tastes like crazy bread from little Caesars, but more gourmet.
Will be back a lot this summer when the patio is open.

Interesting. Quite a mixed bag of 1 and 5 star reviews for this joint from people that have never stepped foot in the place. I did. Went for a late lunch with a large group over the weekend, and like most people found the place to be quite striking décor wise. Commend the Ilitch’s for pouring untold thousands into the physical appearance — however, probably needed to spend a bit more on staff training and quality of food.
Certainly didn’t find it as horrendous as some fake people (or as brilliant as the same), but when a late lunch for 5 people, at a time when they’re basically empty, takes over 2 hours… well, something needs to change. Ordered the tuna with the eggplant pine nut relish and the chicken Caesar salad. Tuna was pretty good, relish tasty. Whole thing just felt a bit muted on the palate however. Needed something — acid, salt, spice to wake it up. Caesar was relatively unremarkable. Radish and cucumber tried to liven it up to limited effect. Store bought grated parm. Best part was the well cooked chicken on top.
Guess I expected a little more creativity and flavor for a self-​proclaimed upscale establishment.
Certainly a nifty place to go grab a drink in the very nice bar area, but with the abundance of better places to eat in the area, probably wont be doing a sit down again any time soon.

The atmosphere is beautiful and our waiter was beyond wonderful always making sure we had everything we needed and we very attentive, especially considering we were a table of 8. Had it been based on these 2 things this would be a five star review.
I went here with some coworkers for a holiday luncheon and the food was a disappointment. We started off with the calamari and the Detroit plate. The calamari was the best thing I ate, but the wings on the Detroit plate were undercooked and tasteless, the popcorn was a cute idea, but honestly didn’t fit, the pigs in a blanket were soggy, and the fried cheesy risotto balls were flavorless and very mushy.
I had a side salad with my main dish I ordered and most of the other people got the carmelized onion or pumpkin soups. The carmelized onion was well received and apparently had a good broth made with short ribs, but the pumpkin was «ok». My coworker said that it was a bit oily. My salad was tepid when it was brought out and the dressing which was supposed to be a red wine Dijon dressing tasted very bland and oddly flavored.
For main dishes a few people got the energizer salads, I got the angel hair pasta, someone got the burger, there were a few with beet salads, and someone got the salmon. The beet salad was very very small, the burger was dry, the chicken in the energy salad was overcooked and the dressing was flavorless oil, and my pasta was overcooked, mushy, and overpowered by the lemon. The only person who enjoyed their meal was the lady that got salmon with celery root and squash.
For dessert we decided to try the French macaroons and they came in 3 different flavors. One was chocolate, one was vanilla, and one was coconut caramel. The verdict was that the chocolate and vanilla weren’t very good, but the caramel was delicious. My vanilla tasted like sugar and food coloring and my neighbors chocolate was overly sweet.
For the price of this place and all the other restaurants around it I definitely won’t be back.