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The Restaurant at Merrill House, Picton, ON

The Restaurant at Merrill House

4.5
4.5
488 Reviews
CAN$51 and over
Contemporary French
Top tags:
Head Chef Michael Sullivan presents fine, French cuisine and a Wine Spectator-awarded cellar.

Our heated conservatory is open to the public from May through November and we offer a number of private dining options. Please email us directly for parties of 7+ people and for private dining or events.


Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French, Farm-to-table, Afternoon Tea
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (866) 567-5969
  • Website
    http://www.merrill-house.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Resort Casual
  • Owned/operated by
    Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Sullivan
  • Catering
    Please call for catering requests.
  • Private party facilities
    Please call for private events.
  • Private party contact
    Astrid Young: (613) 476-7451
  • Location
    343 Main St E, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
  • Neighbourhood
    Kingston
  • Cross Street
    Main Street and HWY 49, Picton Ontario
  • Parking Details
    Park in the rear of the hotel.
  • Public Transit
    n/a
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

What 488 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Kingston

    Best Overall

  • Kingston

    Best Food

  • Kingston

    Best Service

  • Kingston

    Best Ambience

  • Kingston

    Best Value

  • Kingston

    Healthy

  • Kingston

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Kingston

    Good for special occasions

  • Kingston

    Lively

  • Kingston

    Most Booked

488 Reviews

  1. Countyresident

    Tallahassee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal and service. We will be coming back. Huge wine selection.

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  2. MaxT

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Best Countylicious dinner this year. The chef never disappoints ; the food was outstanding. Great service and it is such a lively space. Cannot wait to go back.

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  3. DavidM

    Toronto

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    First visit to the Merrill House during the 'A Very Italian Countylicious' event and enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal. Seated in the Conservatory Bar, the 4-top high table combined with the robust overhead heating and an elevated noise level from the adjoining large group seated nearby was less than ideal. Food quality and service were wonderful and we look forward to returning under far more ideal circumstances.

    Is this helpful?

  4. DianeW

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service and food were outstanding. Eill definitely return.

    Is this helpful?

  5. JenniferF

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate breakfast and lunch here. Absolutely delicious food.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Anonymous

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Quality of the food was good, but not worth the price. Very small portions, my vegetables were cold. The space was beautiful and the service was lovely.

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  7. RichardC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    The food was delicious but the table in the heated, covered area was a little cramped for four and stray draughts were annoying. The time between courses was a bit longer than expected but certainly worth another visit.

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  8. HeidiD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was excellent. Wine list is amazing. Good value and great service.

    Is this helpful?

  9. DougA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Countyliscious meal was very enjoyable - well prepared and tasty! The extended dining room could benefit from a bit more ambience.

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  10. Bill

    Montreal

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Dinner for two with a friend. Awesome experienced service. I wasn’t sure I’d like the sunken garden room at night, but the ceiling was so high that it didn’t feel like dining underground. The menu was French and supported by obviously knowledgeable kitchen staff, so everything was a hit. I would have liked to see a plant based option, because in 2023 having simply a vegetarian option seems very outdated. The desserts were definitely worthwhile…

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  11. TheresaQ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved the terrine appetizer, and the tenderloin was grilled to perfection and plated so beautifully. The crème brûlée was to die for. Our compliments to the chef!

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  12. King

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best restaurants I’ve been to. Amazing food, amazing service.

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is one of our all time top restaurants. Everything was perfect . The food was outstanding and the service was very professional and personable. All 5 of our family members will remember our special time at this wonderful restaurant for many years to come

    Is this helpful?

  14. MarleneD

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    For the price point, I was not impressed with Merrill House. We were seated in the covered outdoor area and it was either freezing or sweltering depending on where you sat. The service was ok, nothing over the top. The food was good but again for the price point, there are much better restaurants in the area. Unfortunately we will not be returning.

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  15. JuJubean

    Toronto

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We enjoyed a lovely dinner here. Service food and wine were all excellent. A smaller venue with an intimate atmosphere. We dined in the inside area where the walls are lined in slick cabinetry with all their lovely wines! The other dining space is also small but more of an open feel, a glass house- especially nice in the summer and heater in the fall. Overall the Merrill house restaurant is a wonderful dining experience! Bon appetit! 👌

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  16. DubWerts

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I am part of the other couple that the reservation you are inquiring about pertained to. I agree with all of Sharon's comments but was particularly offended by the fact that after having gone online to search the menu before commiting to the reservation (as I admit to loving food but being fussy about quality) there was NO mention of a prix fixe menu and no opportunity to order a la carte once we arrived.

    The Restaurant at Merrill HouseResponded on October 13, 2023

    I am so sorry about the mixup and that you had an unpleasant experience. We strive to provide the best possible service to our guests and unfortunately, we fell short of doing so. The heating/cooling is a big problem in the shoulder season because of our central system, and I understand how that can interfere with your enjoyment! As for the prix fixe pricing, it was a grave oversight as the menu posted on Open Table had not been updated since the beginning of the summer. I thank you for bringing that to my attention, it has been addressed, as will be the service issue! I would like to speak to you directly about how we can remedy the problem and will send you a private message.

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  17. KathleenR

    Atlantic Canada

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    food was sumptuous, service excellent and not effusive, and we will certainly go back

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  18. StanleyG

    Montreal

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was excellent with an amazing list of wines to enjoy it with

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  19. JoseeC

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    It was a great culinary experience! The menu was choosen with care, the taste and the presentation were exceptionnals. The sauces were very delicate. Overall, something that we have the chance to live rarely!

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  20. JenniferM

    Atlantic Canada

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful to be back at this amazing restaurant. Prefer to be in the dining room but the back area was fine. Neighbor table was loud and they got a la carte when one of our guests had been declined that option. Duck, tartar and lamb were all amazing highlights.

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptional food! We specifically recommend the lemon ricotta, but everything was delicious. Excellent cocktails as well.

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  22. AngelaE

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Enjoyed an artisan breakfast of smashed avocado on sourdough with poached egg. Freshly squeezed orange juice with small bowl of fresh fruit. 'Bodum' style coffee pot brought to the table for our own personal use. A nice change from the everyday bacon and eggs with home-fries choice. Service was friendly. A little pricey, $70 for two (not including the tip), but that is okay, since I took my daughter out for breakfast on her 25th birthday and I was looking for a place that was more unique than the norm. Probably best to enjoy the Merrill House from May through to September since outdoor patio dining is available and indoor dining space is limited.

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  23. deloresb

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitress was amazing! Far above our expectations! The food was everything the menu described it to be. Great food, great service, great atmosphere! We would come back again & recommend it to friends!

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal in a charming setting. Service was first rate.

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  25. MichaelT

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    the restaurant, the staff, the menu, the chef and kitchen staff are first class we absolutly love coming here thank you Michael and Joy

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Waitress was wonderful. Food was very good, and just presented beautifully. Unfortunately a VERY loud woman at next table who just would not stop talking made for a bit uncomfortable atmosphere. Miss the tablecloths that you used to have. Made for a really nice dinner experience. Will definitely ask for the private dining room space next time that we had on our last visit. That was absolutely lovely.

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  27. RecentDiner

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was great. Food was mediocre. Overpriced.

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  28. Bleb

    Las Vegas

    16 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice French restaurant in Picton, great cuisine and international wine list.

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  29. EstherP

    Toronto

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best restaurants in Prince Edward County. Excellent drinks, food and service. We’ve been here twice this year and the quality is spot on. The salad and beef tenderloin are favourites and the Parlour 16 cocktail is a winner. Also, friendly staff who remember you if you’re a regular. Definitely a special occasion or celebration treat. Will of course return to try other dishes on the menu.

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  30. JeffB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely atmosphere with nice food. Would definitely recommend for a special evening. A bit pricy if just for a dinner out

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  31. JenA

    Ottawa

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Given the price point the food was underwhelming. The Merrill salad was the star compared to the main snd dessert.

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  32. Emi1985

    Montreal

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely amazing Outstanding service and experience

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  33. Cassius

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful place. Great service. Food quality was excellent. We had the 4 course tasting menu (first, second, main, and dessert). Good selection of wines. Will return.

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  34. PaulH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went there for our anniversary. An amazing dinner Presentation was worth sending pictures to our kids

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  35. JoeF

    Montreal

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Starting out with the exceptional service from Mariko - she was very professional and friendly with a great character! The food from Chef Sullivan was Outstanding - from the salad all the way to the dessert!

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I really enjoyed the staff, and in particular, I would single out Laura for her excellent work pairing the wines from the county to our meals. She is a fantastic resource, and frankly one of the main reasons I would return to your restaurant.

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing! The food, the service the wine! Go here!!

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  38. StevenM

    Toronto

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    a great evening...a birthday dinner and they were very accomodating to provide corkage when we brought a special wine.

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  39. KatharineS

    NT

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was spectacular as usual! This is the restaurant we always recommend.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    The Merrill House Restaurant Beautiful wine cellar and ambiance. When we arrived we were told that we could sit anywhere we liked. We picked a table and settled in only to be told we had to move as the table we had chosen was reserved. We were then informed by our server, Sue, that there is a 3 course prefix menu and that we were not allowed to order a la carte. We were not made aware of this when we made our reservation, nor is it anywhere on their website. The waitress, Sue, was short and clearly annoyed with us when we asked to order a la cart. I did not appreciate her tone. I found her rude. We were off to a bad start, irritated and ready to leave when our wine arrived. We had ordered quite a fantastic Riesling from Lighthall Winery. We decided to stay and try to shake it off. It’s a good thing we liked the wine. Sue warmed a bit and allowed us to order a la carte. We ended up spending $255 on wine and dinner anyway. The prefix menu is $95pp. We had two courses and dessert. We both ordered the Calamari Puttanesca and the Gnocchi Lemon Sage. Though both dishes had lovely presentations, we found them both lacking in flavour. The calamari dish looked amazing but tasted disappointingly bland. The gnocchi arrived looking like a plate of sushi which was a highly creative presentation. It was more flavourful then the previous course but still left our taste buds wanting more. Both dishes tasted good, just not spectacular. The dessert however, was spectacular! Sue made us wait for what seemed to be an eternity before taking our dessert order, but it was worth the wait. We ordered the profiteroles with pistachio ice cream with chocolate sauce and it was spectacular! It was quite a large dessert, delicious and had a fabulous presentation. After initially being treated poorly, we ended up enjoying our food and particularly the wine, but overall we were disappointed. We expected more from Merrill House.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

The Restaurant at Merrill House is rated 4.5 stars by 488 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Google Map for The Restaurant at Merrill House

343 Main St E, Picton, ON K0K 2T0

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Main Street and HWY 49, Picton Ontario
  • Neighbourhood
    Kingston
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French, Farm-to-table, Afternoon Tea
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress Code
    Resort Casual
  • Parking Details
    Park in the rear of the hotel.
  • Public Transit
    n/a
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Sullivan
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.merrill-house.com/
  • Phone number
    (866) 567-5969
  • Catering
    Please call for catering requests.
  • Private party facilities
    Please call for private events.
  • Private party contact
    Astrid Young: (613) 476-7451
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