I came with a large group and dined here over the weekend. Between the nine of us we managed to order most things on the menu, including four dozen oysters (two roasted, two raw). Everyone was pleased with the dishes, the meaty crab cakes and the hearty shrimp and grits especially so, but the standout dish was undeniably the "stuffin' muffin". The "muffin" is really more of a mound of stuffing you might find in a thanksgiving turkey, but "stuffed" full of oysters and doused in gravy. We gobbled down two orders in a flash and debated ordering another round but thought it unseemly to stuff ourselves like turkeys!
Review Source:Lunch at Merroir is always a great experience. Â The wait staff is superb - they really get invested in the service aspects. Â The oysters are beyond compare, and perfectly served. Â We ate outdoors in a cool humid environment today and there was actually a mist rising from the chilled oysters. Â And one of their specials, which I had, was a duck breast with a crumbled roquefort cheese garnish and garlic toast points. Â I've never been disappointed here!
Review Source:Went expecting the best crab cakes and oysters. Â Very disappointed. Â I'm sure the oysters are better raw but I can no longer eat raw seafood so asked for steamed oysters as well as clams. Â The oysters were extremely overcooked to a rubbery consistency with little taste. Â In contrast the clams were steam perfectly and were a sweet flavorful delight. So I know they can do the oysters the same justice. Â The crab cake was extremely disappointing. Â There was no visible lump back-fin crab meat as advertised. Â Instead the cake was made up of a mashed shredded substance (crab?) that was bound by a very thick mayo like substance . Â In short bad texture and no crab flavor. I rate them one star for view and one for the great clams.
Review Source:Oh wow! This place was so good. More like an appetizer place. A little pricey but well worth it. We had the lamb and clam stew. Sounds crazy but it was to die for. Also had lightly steamed Rappahannock oysters, steamed clams and also raw Rappahannock oysters. All of it was great. We sat outside & enjoyed the view of the bay. Also the service was excellent.
Review Source:Merrior has the good fortune to be surrounded by water and, often, good weather. Â The atmosphere is relaxed, service friendly and the food is absolutely gorgeous. Â We're always happy when we come here - and leave reluctantly! Â Always get a dozen oysters on the half shell and the scallops. Â Kids love sliders. Â Last time hubby got hot dog with some sort of lamb chili on top and he could not stop licking his lips! Â Great wine and beer selection. Â What more can you want? Â Never had to wait too long for a table but I'm sure that would be one downside - crowds love this place.
Review Source:It was suggested we visit this tasting bar. I would have to say the food and service was outstanding. Fresh, properly prepared seafood. I had their oyster selection (3 types) of oysters, very fresh. My sweetie had the pan seared scallops, on a bed of crap meat slaw. She loved it as well. Great brew and wine selection as well.
Review Source:Excellent view. Seating purely outside, which could be a negative depending on the weather, but perfect on a nice night. Â
I had a dozen raw oysters, which were excellent. I followed them up with angels on horseback, oysters with country ham, which were even better. Â The stuffin muffin and steamed clams were also very good.
Make sure to look into desert as well.
After having wanted to come here for some time this place did not disappoint. Â We came for lunch on a rainy sunday and sat under their covered porch. Â With my fiance and friend, we sat there for hours drinking wine and craft beer while sampling all the different oyster selections they had. Â Their Rappahannock oyster were the perfect oyster I have ever encountered having eatten oysters all up and down the east coast. Â We tried almost everything on the menu as it is tapas style. Â
The place is located on the water and has almost a chic farm lifestyle ambiance to it similar to places you'd find in Napa. Â White twinkie lights are strewn throughout the trees on the uncovered out side seating and can't wait to come back there on a warm sunny day and sit out there with the peace of the water to stare at and eat oysters again till my belly aches. Â
Well done!!!
Decent meal in a spectacular outdoor setting. Very much off the beaten path, but clearly a staple of the area because this place gets packed with people dressed in their Martha's Vineyard best. Just follow the dirt road to the end. As for drinks, get something in a bottle (wine or beer) because they offer ice buckets, and tap beer is served too warm for my taste. If you're into stouts, you have to try their oyster stout, brewed in conjunction with flying dog. They say food is served in smaller portions, but that depends on what your order. Grilled shrimp were fresh and well seasoned, and raw oysters were delicious. The roasted oysters were terrible (think warm raw oysters with mayo for dipping). Crab cake was above average considering its not jumbo lump. Had a fish special, which was the hit of the meal. Service was friendly, but it became hard to track down our waitress as the place got packed. If you're in the area, absolutely worth a stop.
Review Source:I recently dined at Rappahonnock Restaurant in Richmond and the bar tender mentinoed that I should really try Merroir. We live in Newport News so it was about an hour drive and while we were out that way we also visited three Virginia wineries.
We arrived at 3pm on a Saturday, nice sunny afternoon, and most of the tables were full however we we sat a a table right away. This is a dog friendly place and they also will bring out a water bowl for your dog which we thought was great. There is some seating inside at the bar, a couple of tables on the covered porch and many small tables/picnic tables outside which is the primary dining area. Great beer and wine selection, we were happy with what was offered and the prices were fair. 6-10 dollars for a glass of wine depending on your like...and around 4-7 for a pint of beer.
We started with some raw oysters, they were great at the restaurant and even better here. They are about as fresh as you can get, we had a sampling of regional types and they were $1.50 each. Second was the steamed old salt clams....very good, I liked the version at Rappahonnock better, mainly due to the liquid, but the clams themselves were equal in taste.
For our meal we had the roasted oysters and seared scallops. They were hand's down the best I have had with both oysters and scallops. Scallops were seared just right, nice and large, great flavor.
Dessert was a pound cake with fresh black and blue berries with fresh cream. It was icing on the cake to a great meal. Our server was very friendly, made great suggestions on both wine and food. It was busy, but she managed all of her tables like a pro.
Will definately return soon, well worth the drive.....there are many B&B's in the area also if you want more than just a day trip.
Had a great time sitting outside enjoying the scenery (river and boats going by) and eating delicious food and good drinks. Â Nice options and pours for the beer and wine. Â We tried raw and roasted oysters and our favorite were the raw stingrays and the raw in general. Â Ordered several dishes and all were tasty. Â Our ranking: Â scallops (large diver like with a smoky coleslaw), rockfish with mango salsa (two good size pieces cooked perfectly) special of the day and the crab cake. Â We also had a tomato salad. Â Probably because we have a lot of good crab cakes in VA it fell to the bottom of the ranking. Â Good, friendly service and staff. Â This was enough food for the three of us. Â The tapas everyone refers to is because you do not get any carb with your food but we didn't miss it since the entire concentration is on the seafood.
Review Source:Delightful location right on the water. Â Excellent food, with a decent wine and beer selection. Â Steamed shrimp are awesome.
Service is slow, so don't come if you are a in hurry (which is fine by me, since it is such a great location to just sit back) and you might want to avoid the place if its raining. Â Also you might want to look its location on a map before you go. Â GPS took us down this terrible bumpy road, which I guess is the most direct route, instead of the paved road that basically runs alongside it a couple hundred yards away.
My only gripe is that I wish this place were just a little bit bigger! The RAP boys did well here, a shacky-type spot on the water with enough class for my grandmother. Â We enjoyed the raw oysters and the crab-cake is highly recommended. I was here in January, and though it was chilly, the sunset, service, and heat leaps made it feel like spring. Â Excellent view, and absolutely delicious.
Review Source:Service was S-L-O-W. Â The grilled oysters were a bit salty and not my favorite. Â The raw oysters were better. Â I was surprised when I ordered the $14 scallops and only 3 came on the plate. Â I would expect this serving size to be closer to $10. Â They were large and cooked well, but SUPER SALTY. Â The amount of salt absolutely ruined them in my opinion. Â It's advertised as served with a slaw, but it's really just small bite under each scallop. Â Overall, I was disappointed and I honestly can't believe there are so many excellent reviews for this place. Â I guess if you really love raw oysters then you'll really love this place. But I didn't think my "tasting" was a good value or good experience. Â I have no plans to go back.
Review Source:Very delicious and enjoyable food experience. Similar to a "tapas" place with small plates of high quality foods. Limited choice of high quality beers and wines. I had the flight of beers for $8.50, well worth it. I am not an oyster person but my buddies were and they said the raw oysters were excellent. I had the beef sliders which were delicious. Then I had the beautiful scallops; I was able to sub for the grits (which were cheesy and good).
I have a theory about the name. "Terroir" is a wine term referring to how the local earth imparts its taste to the grapes and hence to the final product, the wine. "Merroir" is absolutely not a word in French, but by extension it could mean how the local sea ("mer") imparts its salty flavors to the oysters that are consumed. Have to check that with the owners, but if that is correct it is a very clever word play on the wine terminology. Â
I definitely do recommend this spot. Â Very good food and service. Choices are limited but everything appears to be high quality, making it heaven and a haven for lovers of tasty morcels and flavorful drinks. A good destination and well worth the slight detour you'll take to get to its quiet marina setting.
One of the finest dining experiences I have ever had. Â If you live anywhere near this place count yourself lucky and get in your car right now - you will not be disappointed.
Everyone mentions the seating - there are about 20 seats inside as well as another 20 or so outside in a heated deck space which in the summer I imagine is amazing looking out at the water.
I think between me and my husband we tried one of everything on the menu. Â My favorites were the crab cake, the scallops and the stuffin' muffin. Â But everything we ate and drank was delicious! Â Bravo!!!
I was torn about writing this review. It's one of those places you want to tell everyone about, but then are afraid to because it might lose it's charm by becoming too crowded. I'm going to take that risk, though.
Not what I was expecting, but so worth it! it's a bit off the path so you have to purposely come down here. Small but intimate. Views of the water and delicious seafood. My friend and I had some wine, oysters, crab cake, scallops, and clam/lamb stew. All were delicious. Great for a leisurely dinner; there's no rush to move on. Stay, drink, eat, enjoy. Would definitely return.
Gotta love this place -- small plates of honest to goodness delicious grilled specialties. Â Oysters, crab cakes, scallops, shrimp all prepared on a grill and combined with delicious sauces and seasonings. Â Wonderful wines and specialty beers make the meal complete. Â The oysteristas (servers) will offer guidance if you need advice. Mostly outdoor seating with a view.
Review Source:First, let me tell you what this is not. Â It isn't about a plush atmosphere. Â It isn't about artistic interpretations of micro-gastronomy. Â It isn't about a lavish seating area.
In simple terms, it is all about fantastic and delicious food, left pretty much alone, by the kitchen staff. Â Where and when they meddle, it is only to enhance some incredibly good food. Â Who would have ever thought to mix ground lamb, in a spiced tomato broth with clams? Â Not I, but it was damn delicious.
The oysters are wonderful, whether we were slurping down any of the three varieties they offered. Â All were fresh and incredibly reminiscent of their being form the nearby waters. Â The crab cake (which we also sampled at their place at the Union Market in Washington, DC) was probably the best I have ever tasted. Â Light, rich and sweet with the taste of crab, and not of filler or binder.
We got there at the right time because every table (on the side porch and the outside picnic tables) was full as we were leaving. Â I think it is the case all the time, but on the day when we were there, all the grilling was being done outside, on gas-fired burners or flat-tops. Â My only regret is that we might have to wait to get in next time we visit.
This is how seafood ought to be served. Â Simple. Â Letting the food speak for itself. Â Clearly, these folks appreciate what nature has given us and they seem to thoroughly enjoy serving it up.
Disclaimer: I have family connections to Merroir/RRO. But I'd still like to think that I can be objective about food...... especially when it's so good. As many others have mentioned, Merroir is a "tasting room," not a full-fledged restaurant. It's casual with outdoor seating on picnic tables and the chef cooking under a tent outside right near you. If you're expecting a traditional, sit-down dinner with reservations and your appetizer coming out xx minutes before your entree, try some place else. If you're trying to enjoy your food and your evening, go to Merroir!
We loved everything we tried. The menu choices of artisan plates changes frequently, but you can always get the oysters (duh). My favorite oysters were the Stingrays, while my friend liked the Rapphannocks and Olde Salts. The roasted oysters were good, but paled in comparison to the raw ones! The 'Stuffin Muffin,' is one of the artisan plates that seems to frequent the menu and it's great! Basically Thanksgiving stuffing with oysters that you just gobble down. We loved the crab cake too, which has gotten a lot of rave reviews.
Can't wait to go back and have some more!
My husband and I had dinner here. Â Great family owned little place, very accommodating and very friendly service. Â The roasted oysters were great, even for someone like me who does not like raw oysters. Â I had the rockfish which was meaty and good, husband had the seasoned shrimp, also good. Â
I can see this place being packed during peak season, we were there on off peak, had the place to ourselves.
Really cannot say enough nice things about this place. Â Went for dinner one night while staying at the Tides Inn and came back for lunch the next day on our way out of town. Â The oysters (raw and grilled) and the steamed clams are terrific, as would be expected when they are pulled out of the river just hours before you eat them. Â They also clearly show the impact that an oyster's environment has on its taste: the three types on offer range from milder to salty as you move from the Rappahonnocks (fresh water) to the Olde Salts (salt water), with the Stingrays in the middle.
Tip - I would use the tomatillo sauce they provide with the Olde Salts. Â I think the tomatillo sauce is wonderful, but it's a little undersalted on its own (or with the Rappahonnocks), but with the Olde Salts it is perfect.
The real surprise was how impressive every small plate dish was. Â Having gone twice (in two days) we were able to work through a good portion of the menu and nothing disappointed. Â I think they change their menu quite frequently (and tap list), so I won't go through everything we had, but if they offer something over their cheddar grits - order it. Â Same with the Angels on Horseback (grilled oysters with prosciutto).
If I had to pick one word to describe this place, it would be "perfect."  An affordable  and carefully chosen wine list (the Dog and Oyster Chardonnay pairs really well with oysters and is produced about 15 minutes away), a few great beers on tap, attentive staff who seem happy to be there, and some of the best seafood I've had anywhere at really, really reasonable prices.  It is also right on the water, and even though they are small (and can run waits - apparently they served about 580 people on a Saturday a week or two ago), you'll never feel rushed. Â
Somehow, they seem to still draw a mostly local crowd (although we ended up chatting with other DC folks at an adjacent table who live just a block from us here). Â While this place has been covered by the Washington Post and some local press, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it starts getting some more national attention. Â They certainly deserve it.
My family has a house on the Northern Neck of VA and a visit there this weekend coincided nicely with my husband's new interest in broadening his oyster palate. We went raw and had the Rappahannocks, Stingrays, and Olde Salts, along with clams on the half shell. As a small plate we ordered a DELICIOUS BBQ Shrimp on Southern Cheddar Grits - it was a amazing. As were the oysters! My fave was the Stingray. Our waitress was great and when we began inquiring about the oyster farming process she got us an insiders view into how it all begins. So nice! We had the Flying Dog beer made with Rappahannock River Oysters which was a wonderful compliment to the meal. And, the view was also lovely.
Review Source:When visiting my relatives in my native NNK last month (and staying in my aunt's lovely condo in Urbanna), our first stop was to meet my parents at nearby Merroir. To be fair, I should disclose that my family has been in the seafood business for over 25 years, primarily in oysters. One of their clients is Rappahannock River Oysters, the owners of Merroir, and some of their product may be used in the restaurant. While my review is as impartial as possible, some of the excellent service we received may have been due to my family's business relationship with owners.
To call the atmosphere casual is a gross understatement ... this is an oyster house converted into a resta ... tasting room. (Unable to obtain certain site permits, Merroir is legally-obligated to call themselves a tasting room). Most of the seating is picnic tables outside, with limited bar seating inside. My in-laws and I arrived about 15 minutes before my parents, and sat outside. We were quickly greeted by an enthusiastic server who was happy to explain aspects of the food menu and provide some insight and suggestions from the beer menu, and took our order using their iPhone-based ordering system.
Unfortunately, the "Hell or High Watermelon" on tap that was recommended was universally panned by the group, but they do have a nice beer selection. There are only 4 craft brews on tap, however, and none of them really struck my fancy, but their limited but strong craft beer selection in bottles made up for it. The Flying Dog IPA was enjoyed by my father-in-law, and the Allagash White was enjoyed by my dad. I wish they had New Belgium's Fat Tire on tap rather than 1554. (Please note that I do not mention wine only because I have no interest or knowledge of wines. It seems like a good selection, but I really know almost NOTHING about wine.)
My family arrived and we moved to the interior. Despite the wonderful view of the Rappahannock, the heat and the stiff breeze can make eating and drinking outside a challenge. Interior seating is first come first serve bar seating, and no reservations are taken ... but because of our relationship with the owners, we had a few seats inside held for us.
Once inside, we started to order food. Since this is a tasting room and not a restaurants, all dishes are served in small "tasting" portions with no sides. Food is ordered casually, as you want it, and is brought out as it is ready. This is how a tasting room operates ... if you are looking for a traditional sit-down restaurant experience, this is not your place to go. I found all of the portion sizes to be rather generous ... in most cases you're paying a little more than you would for an appetizer, and getting an entree-sized portion with no sides. A steak was their most expensive item at $18 (with no sides).
The food was, overall, excellent. We started with steamed oysters and mussels. Both were high quality, and the butter-based dipping sauce that came with the oysters was an unique treat. My wife and mother both ordered scallops with cheese grits - the scallops were big and flavorful and perfectly cooked. The cheese grits were good, but a little clumpy. My mother-in-law and I ordered a stew with lamb, sausage, and clams. It was more of a cioppino than a traditional stew, with clams still in the shell. Very good, but my largest complaint of the meal was here - the lamb seemed almost non-existent. My father-in-law ordered a crab cake, and as many have stated, it was excellent. One of the best I have ever had, a sentiment echoed by many who go there. But the signature item IMO is their "Stuffin Muffin" - which is an oyster stuffing covered in a delectable creamy bacon scallion sauce. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint.
Despite a few minor imperfections, the food and beverage would qualify this as 5 stars. But I can only rate 4 stars for a few reasons. First, while the atmosphere is quaint and intended, at the end of the day it's a few picnic tables at an old oyster house. And while the servers and staff. were all nice and eager to help, it did seem that they got overwhelmed when really busy. I believe much of this also has to do with their structure - because of limited space and using grills as the primary cooking device, the kitchen simply cannot run like a normal kitchen would. And that causes slow service times, orders arriving in a staggered manner, and some general confusion. Plus I think their i-Phone based ordering system is a bit too ambitious for the location. It's a great concept, but twice (once on a beer order, once on a food order) our order did not go through to the bartender or kitchen from the server. Sometimes it's a chore just to get a dial tone on the NNK, so I'm not so sure that having a iPhone-based POS system is such a good idea.
Overall, Merroir is an excellent place for a causal experience featuring superbly-cooked high quality seafood and a great beverage selection. They're worth a visit.
While staying at the Tide's Inn for a couple days, my husband and I wanted to find a casual seafood spot for dinner. Â Per the recommendation of several locals we found our way to Merrior. We sat outside, ordered some beers and proceeded to have some of the best seafood ever! We love oysters, so have tried them many places, and the Old Salts were our all time favorites! Â We then shared shrimp & grits, a crab cake (best I've ever had) and stuffin muffin. Everything was delicious! Not only is the food outstanding, but the service and setting can't be beat. We felt right at home in the laid back atmosphere and could have spent hours just hanging out on the deck enjoying the view (and second helpings of the food)! Â We will definitely be back!
Review Source:If you want really good food served really slowly and probably the wrong order this is the place for you.
I ordered the mussels and my friend ordered the shank, the mussels arrived 10 minutes before BBQ shrimp? Oops! it'll only be another 10 minutes to get your order right. What this place needs is someone who understands food service for the 11 guests in front of them. It shouldn't be rocket science.
I gave it 3 stars but it will be a while before I go back to test their food and my patience.
Talk about a hole-in-the-wall/mom and pop establishment! Â What a fantastic little find! Â These are hands down the BEST crab cakes anywhere. Â The oyster chowder was a spicy, tomato base that was a real home run. Chef Pete grills his shellfish outdoor on a propane grill. Â This is a no-frills place with amazingly fresh LOCAL seafood (pretty sure it's pulled from the boat 50 feet from their door!). Â They offer upscale six-packs of beer and a nice little selection of wine. Â The menu is mostly seafood and does not offer many sides (which was ok by us). Â You'll be seated at the counter, the porch (has heat lamps for cooler days) or on the lawn--choice is yours. Â
This is obviously a place the locals patronize . . . not a tourist destination. Â There weren't instructions on how to order or anything, so be ready to step up to the counter, place your order, grab your brew and find a seat. Â You pay afterward and they do accept MC/VS.
My only suggestion would be to add fries to the menu--or something similar.
Expect a bill of $40-$50 for two, including beer or wine.
My husband and I planned our Thanksgiving Oyster Eating trip around going to Merroir. Â Â We had the pleasure of eating Rappahannock River Oysters at a local (Roanoke, VA) restaurant called Lucky's Gastropub and met the fine owners of RRO. We decided then and there to go to the source! Â
We couldn't have been more pleased. Â Chef Pete is a hoot! Â What a great guy. Â Our plan was to eat as many raw oysters as we could and then roll back to the hotel, but upon walking in we heard Chef Pete explaining what was on the grill "a stuffin muffin" which consists of oyster stuffing made into a cake similar to a crab cake, grilled and served with sausage gravy. Let me just say that was hand's down the best Comfort Food I'd ever had, beating out Mac & Cheese! Â Yes we had BBQ'd oysters and the BEST raw oysters ever, but seriously I'd plan another trip just for a Stuffin Muffin.
No need to dress up for this place. Â Grab a beer, a picnic table outside and be prepared to be impressed!
This place is worth the drive-from anywhere. . Absolutely AMAZING food that rivals any restaurant anywhere. We had a crab-cake, full of so much fresh crab meat and flavor  that it was to die for, and a lamb sausage patty over fried green tomatoes that was equally incredible. The portions were tapas-sized which was perfect for more sampling.
The menu changes as per Chef Pete and the freshest foods available. Of course there are always oysters and clams as the place is run by the owners of Rappahannock River Oysters.
The drinks are reasonable and the view is incredible. However, it is a completely laid back environment (which the food does not mirror, as it is  out-of-this-world).
If you are looking for a true "restaurant" to impress your friends with, this is not your place. If you want a secret hideaway with 4 star food in an unusual locale, this is your joint.
The downside would be that if you come after dark, the lighting outside is lacking in ambiance, and the interior is small, and also very brightly lit (albeit neighborly).
My suspicion from being the first reviewer, is that no one wants to share this little gem, for fear they lose a seat at the bar or a picnic table ;)
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