The Mercantile - Sterling, Illinois

Aaliyah C.

I had high expectations for this place after seeing how adorable it looked in photos, & it did not disappoint! The atmosphere was even better in person, & the food + cocktails took the experience to the next level. I’m still thinking about the poke nachos—they were absolutely delicious! The drinks were not only tasty but also beautifully presented & picture-worthy. I loved the disco ball, & even the bathrooms were cute! To top it off, the churro was incredible. You can truly feel the love & effort the owners put into this place. A perfect 10/10 experience— we will definitely be back!

Marshall D.

This is my favorite restaurant in Sterling. I mean that honestly. I watched this place get built from the ground up. I mean bare floors, studs, and brick walls transformed into the incredible vibe they have today.

Ashley and Ryan put the extra effort into the 'WOW' factors into the whole package that others just don't follow through with. The atmosphere is so fun and different for the area, you wouldn't even think you were in Sterling. The servers are so friendly. The food is so fresh, delicious, and packed with flavor, a nod to the real chef in the back who makes it happen. Same for both the full time and seasonal drink menus, all of which are perfectly poured, expertly displayed, and are perfectly balanced.

Instead of a frozen chicken tender basket with a side of frozen mac and cheese, check out the Mercantile and give the Yakisoba Noodles a try, or the Ramen. Order the soup dumplings or the crab rangoon, you'll never go wrong there. Instead of a 'river water' blue curacao and pineapple juice with whatever flavored vodka, let them mix a quality cocktail for you or your date thats sure to impress with some that light up, others that have the perfect tuft of sweet cotton candy garnishing the top, and other presentations that are so fun and memorable. Of course they have top shelf bourbons to match. If you're partial to a Modelo, they have a beer selection too, but I would urge you, take a moment to spend the extra dollar and enjoy the finer things in life.

Treat yourself at The Mercantile.

Jay K.

I wasn't sure what to expect when we decided to go to Mercantile Ballroom. Our party of eight walked in and was seated quickly, and I thought, Asian infusion in a small midwest town? How weird is this going to be? It wasn't bad, and it wasn't too weird. There was a little awkwardness with the service in general, though. We were seated and told by our server she would be back with some water, then the server brought water and said I'll be back to get your drink order, then came back for our drink order and said I'll be back for your appetizer order, she brought the drinks then took the appetizer order and said I'll be back to take your entrée order, she then came back a few minutes later and took our entrée order. It all seemed a little clunky and choppy. She was kind and polite and very helpful with suggestions and preferences throughout the ordering process, though. My order, a Jack and Coke, came in a short glass, full of ice ($8 each), and was made how you would expect, with a single shot and topped off with Coke. My wife ordered a THC infused drink, Blitzens Blitzed, ($16) that showed up in what looked like a Christmas ornament that you poured into a wine glass with some ice, cranberries, and some sort of green garnish that she said was very tasty. Our appetizer came out pretty quickly. The egg rolls come on a platter 3 at a time with a sweet and spicy Thai sauce for dipping. They are deep fried to a medium crisp and packed full of veggies and meat that go well with the sauce. It is sweet and salty and spicy and crispy all at the same time. Just as we finished our egg rolls, the main dish showed up in a larger portion than I expected. I ordered the Dan Dan, a noodle dish with pork. The udon noodles were cooked perfectly. The pork was seasoned well, although I thought it was a little heavy on the ginger, along with the other flavors from the peanuts and the sweet chili it all mixed very well. While I enjoyed everything about the dinner and the restaurant in general, my feeling was that they were trying a little too hard to make this restaurant more than what it is. The over complicated ordering ritual could be made shorter, and some of the prices, for example the biria Ramen is $20, are a little out of line for noodles that arent made in house and in Sterling, Illinois. Noodles are a cheap, simple meal, keep it that way. My wife ordered kimchi fried rice and wanted chicken and shrimp and could only get 1 meat. It is ok, just a little weird. This isn't a Michelin starred restaurant. Just add the other meat and charge accordingly. I will definitely go back to try other things on the menu and I would suggest anyone reading this should stop in and check it out too. The staff is friendly and the food is good.

Kayla O.

From the moment of entering this establishment, I could tell just how much time and attention to detail the owners put into the cocktail lounge. The service was absolutely excellent, as my cup was never dry and everything was served with a smile. My favorite part of the night was the absolutely amazing food; favorites were the wonton salad and birria ramen. I’d recommend the mercantile to anyone looking to spend an evening at an upscaled restaurant with a variety of Asian cuisine.

Taylor S.

Korean BBQ Ramen was delicious. 100% recommend. Appetizers were also spot on. Staff were kind and attentive. Music and patrons never got too loud, so we didn’t have to shout over each other when talking. Decor was minimal, that’s my only critique, but all in all a great place to get dinner in Sterling. 10/10 would recommend.

A. P.

I’ve been to The Mercantile a couple of times now, and both visits were fantastic!

The first time, I tried the deep-fried cheesecake wrapped in a tortilla and it was absolutely addicting! I think it was called a Xango. There was a delicious sauce to dip it in. I also had the traditional ramen with chicken breast, which came in a very generous portion. I even had enough to enjoy it for lunch the next day. I don’t drink alcohol, but I noticed the bartenders crafting some really unique-looking drinks. I just recently found out they also make mocktails, so I’ll definitely be trying one on my next visit!

The second time, I brought my 11-year-old daughter on a weekday. We had the Birria ramen and the poke nachos and both were amazing! I’m still dreaming about the fresh tuna and that incredible spicy sauce drizzled on top.

The atmosphere was inviting and comfortable, and our server was super polite and attentive during both visits. The decor is super cute and the women’s bathroom is a selfie heaven! lol
I highly recommend checking it out! You won’t be disappointed!

Carlos R.

The Merc is our new favorite place! The service was super fast and friendly and the portions were very filling. 10/10 highly recommend. Drink of choice would have to be the Cerebro Rojo.

Darla W.

Everything was absolutely amazing from start to finish! Our server Abby, was the sweetest and very attentive! The drinks were so fun and amazing! The food was to die for! The atmosphere is freaking awesome! If you want a unique fun experience you have to check out this place! It’s one of a kind and you won’t be disappointed.