Merchant Roots

Wow I smell Michelin stars!!!!
We heard amazing things about their pasta experience in the old location and was sad to miss it.
But they just opened their new location in SOMA and wow what a beautiful space!
We did the color experience where the each dish represents a color from the rainbow.
The service was flawless. Glass was always full. Staff were super friendly and excited about the grand opening! Each person presented a dish with so much passion!
Each dish was super creative and almost looks like artwork. I felt bad eating it cause it was plated so pretty!
My favorite from the experience was orange and blue.
Definitely do the wine pairing!

What a fantastic food experience. Go in with an open mind and empty belly.

Very small space in the Fillmore but it's filled with so much heart and soul. Chef run, historical and personal flourishes - like photos of their Nonna's on the wall.

Wasn't sure about the theme Pasta and Stories mid-summer, but with the temperature drop yesterday it was welcome.

Enjoyed every morsel. So many techniques, fresh herbs, fermented foods, lesser used proteins like oxtail and squab. Twists on classics which brought a smile to our palates. Natural wines are abundant and available by the glass.

The parting gift is so well thought out just like the rest of the meal.

Not sure how many services they have until they move to their new location in SOMA, but I will be back, still thinking about the whole evening. Truly a special dining experience.

Came for Pasta and Stories -- what a stunning experience. Easily one of my top fine dining experiences. Detailed breakdown below:

**Service, 5/5** There are as many staff as there are patrons! With only 8 guests at a time (although they're moving locations and will do 12-person seatings soon), you're really well taken care of. Everyone puts so much care and effort into making it a memorable and interactive experience; truly makes for a special evening.

**Decor & cleanliness, 5/5** Decor changes each season along with the menu and dinnerware, which adds to the intimacy and interactiveness of the meal.

**Price & portion, 5/5** After tax and service charge, you'll be paying over $200/person. But this is seriously a one of one experience; highly recommend trying at least once!

**Presentation of the food, 5/5** Mind. Blowing. From items you assemble yourself, to things set on fire, ingredients prepared in front of you, and a true homage to the theme, the care, thought, and effort put into each dish seriously shows.

**Taste of the food, 5/5** Each of the 13 courses was fantastic in its own right, but some of the stand outs for me were the black cod, "twisted towels" with orange and fennel mousse, snake in the grass, and the angels & devils dish. So many pasta varieties I'd never had before, flavor combinations I wouldn't have even thought of preparing together, and takes on classics (snake in the grass as a twist on spaghetti and meatballs) made this one of the best dinner experiences I've had, and easily the most interactive. Can't wait to try their other seasonal themes!

We were in awe through the entire dinner. 15 course dinner and every dish is so elegantly presented. Can't wait for the next theme!! We will be back. Chef Ryan and his team take a lot of pride in what they do and it shows. Thank you for an amazing experience!!

Man this definitely took me into a wild mushroom fantasy I never thought of experiencing. From the whole forest-y vibe to the well-decked-out forest table, Merchant Roots definitely executed the vibe check.

With my group, we were so stoked about trying an immersive experience and mushrooms definitely stood out. Disclaimer we love mushrooms too. What's cool about this place is that they rotate their menu seasonally. So this theme, they did mushrooms titled, "Into the Forest." After another couple months, it'll be another set menu.

I really thought I was gonna leave this place starving since I thought this was just a mushroom-themed restaurant, but to my surprise I left feeling satiated and surprisingly pretty satisfied overall. Shoutout to Chef Ryan! You did a great job alongside your sous chefs to concoct this menu while explaining each dish with such a whimsical approach. They give you a few bites/appetizers before seating you!

With a rustic approach, the menu is set like a trail, where you are "trailing" into each dish with a 17-course dinner. We started with the King Trumpet Chips and Dip, Hamachi Crudo and Porcini Aminos, Venison Tartare with Charred Cordyceps and Cranberry Juniper, Red Cap Mushroom Muffin, Morels in XO, Shiitake Mushrooms Perfect with Savory Caramel, Winter Salad of Twigs and Mushrooms, Hen of the Woods Soup, Smoked Oyster Mushroom Braised Kabocha, Yellowfeet with Porchetta, Apricot, 65° Quail Egg with Black Trumpet Puree, Tempura Enoki Agedashi Abalone, Fairy Ring Gnudi w/ Sage and Duck Sausage, Truffle with Lobster Bisque Celeriac, Chocolate Pot de Creme, Buche Root Eclair, and Candy Cap Ice Cream with Winter Fruit.

The menu isn't just mushrooms! There are also meat dishes incorporated into this theme, while keeping the mushroom essence justice. While not every single dish was a hit for me, I will say a lot of the dishes stood out. I loved the Hen of the Woods soup, Tempura with Agedashi Abalone, this Mushroom Consomme with this Truffle Oil Crumpet, and the Maple Candy Cap Ice Cream. The soups that they offered definitely stood out and it captured the defined flavor of the fungi. I also really liked the Egg with Black Trumpet Puree. The quail eggs were cooked to perfection and that rustic taste from the puree was a nice warm compliment.

Definitely make your reservations before coming at least a month in advance so you can snag a table of your liking. This was a great experience overall.

Fungi ‍ Fan

Merchant Roots in San Francisco is a one of a kind thematic and immersive dining experience

Their dinner series rotate seasonally and I was fortunate to attend one of the last seatings for their mushroom-centric dinner, 'Into The Forest'

Being a dedicated carnivore, I had my doubts about the evening's vegetarian menu (6-7 dinners in the series are typically vegetarian-only, while most cater to omnivores), but I approached it with an open mind

The intimate space and whimsical decor had me smiling while the array of dishes and their preparation made me truly appreciate the diversity of a vegetarian meal

Chef Ryan Shelton has crafted something truly unique and the experience is enhanced while meeting some of the friendliest and creative fellow diners I've shared a meal in a long time

Thank you Merchant Roots for taking me into the forest and expanding my horizons

King Trumpet Chips and Dip / Tofu Crudo & Porcini / Corycep Salad / Red Cap Mushroom Stuffing / Morels in XO / Shiitake Mushroom Parfait with Savory Caramel / Winter salad of Twigs & Mushrooms / Hen of the Woods Soup / Smoked Oyster Mushroom Braised Kabocha / Yellowfeer with Eggplant / 65° Quail Egg with Black Trumpet Puree / Tempura Enoki Agadashi / Fairy Ring Gnudi / Truffle with Oyster Mushroom Sausage / Chocolate Pot de Crème / Buche eclair / Candy Cap Ice Cream

Merchant Roots (San Francisco, CA)

Reservations are required on Tock and dining is indoor only. All credit cards including AmEx are accepted.

I love Merchant Roots immersive experience. Not only are you eating delicious dishes, but a story is told behind each dish. The theme of the night was mushroom foraging and I loved how the restaurant was decorated to give a forest-like vibe. Service was impeccable and I loved how the staff explained the story behind each dish.

Highlights
Black trumpet mushroom with poached quail egg and black trumpet puree- the presentation of the mushroom in the shape of a nest was beautifully plated. The quail egg was perfectly poached with a lovely runny yolk. The black trumpet's earthiness was lightened up by the creamy puree.

Tempura enoki- Enoki was not drenched in oil but was crisp. The dashi was packing lots of umami flavor and made a great combo.

Porchetta with chanterelles- the Chanterelles pepper like flavor profile really elevated the porchetta. The only thing I would've liked more is if the skin of the porchetta was a tad bit crispier.

Overall great experience and definitely will be back to try their other menus.

I found them on Instagram and instantly booked a reservation. I was drawn to their fun themes. I have to admit I'm not a huge pasta person like I used to be bc it's usually on the heavier side. However I still booked pasta story bc I was dying to try this place. The restaurant is on the smaller on the side, but still cozy and well decorated. I was surprised by how light and well put together each dish was. It wasn't heavy at all to my surprise, and I found myself wanting more. I didn't like my tomato slushie, but I truly enjoyed the rest. It was whimsical and delicious. They did the pho so well also! I booked color story after eating 3 dishes haha. I also felt like a judge from Chopped because each chef comes out to talk about their dish. I can't wait for more themes.

This place is amazing. A quiet, small, intimate setting (only 8 people) where each chef crafts their own dish and is then perfected by the whole team. All dishes are also accompanied with associated fascinating history. Almost every dish made me want a whole bowl of it but alas all I got was a taste. My favorites were the arancine, strozzapreti, and conchigle. They change the menu every 3 months so highly recommend getting into this pasta and stories round before they put it on the shelf for about 4-5 years.

Merchant Root is a charming and intimate restaurant that seats only eight people, creating an exclusive dining experience that sells out months in advance. After securing a reservation a few months ago, we eagerly anticipated the evening's theme, "Pasta & Stories." Each chef crafted a unique pasta dish and shared an associated story, adding a personal touch to the meal. The cozy ambience was enhanced by pasta-making tools hanging from the ceiling and pictures of each chef's nonna adorning the walls.

The meal began with Foglia Caprese, a basil-shaped pasta served with basil leaf and mozzarella, accompanied by a shot of tomato drink. It was a pleasant start, though not particularly remarkable. The Arancine followed but was my least favorite; it lacked flavor and was a bit tough. However, the Lithuanian Burokeliu with beet soup was a standout, offering a delicious and memorable taste.

The Spaghetti and squab meatballs were outstanding--I could have easily enjoyed a dozen more of those savory meatballs. The Three Priests and Stroncatura pasta dishes were average, but the Conchiglie Misti elevated the experience. I could have indulged in ten more portions, as the black cod was simply delectable. The Tortellini, served with an exquisite lamb broth, was another highlight, with perfectly cooked pasta.

The final pasta course, Angels and Devils, was good, though the pasta seemed slightly overcooked. It might be a matter of personal preference or the intended style of the dish. The desserts concluded the meal on a high note. The Acini De Pepe was one of the best desserts I've had at a restaurant, with every element harmoniously working together. The Gelato Torchiato was also very delicious.

Overall, the service was good, though it could have been slightly more attentive to match the experience. The cozy ambience and unique "Pasta & Stories" theme made for a memorable evening at Merchant Root.