B • Merri Gastro Pub -
Imagine a culinary creation of caramelized onion, bacon & spinach, in a rich fennel cream sauce with garlic toast ciabatta bread. Its title: Chicken Sausage Penne.
B-Merri is a local restaurant and event center nestled among the landscape of the up-north woods in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The new yet (old style) log structure, blends that original “settler style” atmosphere with a food menu that can only be sought by the taste buds of modern, big city food connoisseurs. With just a few minutes of drive time from Brainerd, its beauty and location in Merrifield almost demands that they call it The Woods. The menu to atmosphere ratio, guarantees you never saw this coming!
It has the subtitle “Gastro Pub” because it delivers a menu of elegant foods and sophisticated wines; the term "gastropub" is actually a combination of the words pub (short for "public house") and gastronomy (the study of the relationship between culture and food). You won’t find the flavors here playing second fiddle to our area eateries or relegated to being a boring sidekick to a plate of pasta, that’s for sure.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff who seemed truly eager to make sure we really enjoyed our experience. Our server went out of her way to make us feel welcome, taking our drink orders and recommending a variety of dishes. We just sat down and they already had us feeling important, with that realm of status around our table.
Inside, the vibe is laid-back and casual. A cozy room with soft dim lights is not too dim for the menu, but dim in a romantic way. It is a level of light that invites you to honor the time the person you are with has given you. The only acceptable reason for picking up your phone in this setting, should be for taking a selfie to capture the moment, but for now you are still settling in for your experience.
B-Merri features a well-rounded menu of starters, salads, hand-helds, pub grub and large plates, along with a respectable selection of draft and bottled beers, wine and signature cocktails with a twist. It also offers daily specials and a Monday-Thursday 3pm to 5pm happy hour! This establishment has borderline achieved the impossible. Being able to cater to everyone from those of affluent fashions, to the gathering of family and friends or the weekend bikers looking for a stop. They bring together all who seek a dining experience, making everyone feel welcome.
But there is more they have to offer! Live Music on their outdoor patio and a location to host an indoor/outdoor event such as a wedding or company party. They hold the option to offer you two different atmospheres for events, designed with Photography in mind. The landscape and that of the old style log lodge or the event center with its internal look of modernity, all are available in a single location. The only thing that separates the two different worlds is a doorway. Either way, your tastebuds and dining experience alone will leave you finding excuses to come back.
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