"I loved Merci. The ambience is elegant, with uncovered brick walls, lots of warm wood, and funky decor. My Madison host pointed out the folding window-wall where he sat this summer, enjoying fresh air and up-close view of the capitol. We bellied up to the bar, where we had a nice conversation with handsome young Sam, who sampled a champagne beer for us. Kat, our waitress, was a treat, too. When I complimented the decor, she insisted on showing me their private dining/ conference room, where I had to photograph the brick wall and text my friends about my first evening in Madison. I mentioned the room to my friend, who hadn't seen it himself, and was glad to know this was available, it sounded like he would be scheduling a couple meetings there. My French onion soup was delicious: a bit on the salty side, which is great for me but might be too much for some. The salad Nicoise was fresh and good; I almost hadn't ordered it because I dislike canned anchovies, but they were fresh little fillets, and the boiled eggs were done perfectly. The baguette slices really took the meal over the top, served with soft garlic butter topped with crunchy salt. My friend tried their chocolate torte after dinner, served with tiny scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream and strawberries, and the spoonful I tried nearly broke my resolve not to order dessert. It was a great place to impress a visitor to Madison, and I look forward to dining there again."
