MERLINS REST PUB LLC

What MERLINS REST PUB LLC does

Merlins Rest Pub LLC operates a single Irish/British-style neighborhood pub at 3601 E Lake St. in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has done so for over 15 years under private, independent ownership. The pub serves traditional pub fare (Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, Steak & Mushroom Pie, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a children's menu) alongside a drinks program centered on what it describes as the largest selection of single malt scotches and Irish whiskeys in Minnesota, supplemented by import and craft draft beer, specialty cocktails, wine, and mead. Menu items are priced from $5 to $29 with a children's menu uniformly at $7.75 and happy-hour pricing ($1 off select items from 4–6pm), and gift cards are sold via ToastTab.

Beyond dining, the pub runs a recurring programming calendar: weekly live music (open jams, Irish, jazz, blues, folk), a Wednesday virtual pub quiz, monthly first-Thursday scotch tastings October through June, and themed national food/drink holiday events. Distribution is through in-person dining, table reservations and private party bookings (via SpotApps), online ordering for pickup and delivery (via ToastTab), and off-premise catering for corporate events, birthdays, holidays, and weddings. Marketing is executed through the SpotHopper-managed website, an email newsletter, and organic social channels (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Yelp).

Operationally, the business runs on standard restaurant SaaS — ToastTab for ordering, payments, and gift cards; SpotHopper/SpotApps for the website, email, social, reservations, and private-party workflow — with no proprietary technology, no disclosed data assets, and no AI/ML capability. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, parent, subsidiaries, or M&A history, and reports a headcount of 8.

Name

MERLINS REST PUB LLC

Legal name

Merlins Rest Pub LLC

Website

https://merlinsrest.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Merlins Rest Pub LLC is a privately held Irish/British neighborhood pub in Minneapolis's Longfellow neighborhood, serving traditional pub fare, craft beer, and what it claims is Minnesota's largest single malt scotch and Irish whiskey selection, alongside live music, trivia, scotch tastings, and catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Pub

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Pubs & Gastropubs (CRANACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neighborhood Bars & Taverns (CRANACAA), Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD)

Keywords

• Pub restaurant services
• Craft beer selection
• Scotch whiskey tastings
• Live music venue
• Catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Core revenue from selling food and drinks including pub classics, burgers, craft beers, single malt scotches, and Irish whiskeys. Operating hours Monday-Friday 11:30am, Saturday 9am, Sunday 10am.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Merlins Rest Pub is a single-location Irish/British pub and restaurant in Minneapolis that sells traditional pub fare (Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, burgers, sandwiches, salads, children's menu) alongside an extensive beverage program centered on the largest selection of single malt scotches and Irish whiskeys in Minnesota, plus draft beers, cocktails, wine, meads, and non-alcoholic options. The venue also offers live entertainment, weekly pub trivia, monthly scotch tastings, off-site catering, table reservations, online ordering, and gift cards.

Product overview

Merlins Rest Pub is a traditional Irish/British pub restaurant offering a comprehensive food and beverage experience. The core offerings include a full pub classics menu featuring British and Irish comfort food (Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, pies, burgers, sandwiches, and salads), an extensive drinks program with the largest selection of single malt scotches and Irish whiskeys in Minnesota, draft and bottled beers, cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Entertainment offerings include live music, pub trivia, and scotch tastings. Additional services include catering, online ordering via ToastTab, and reservations for dining and private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pub Classics Menu Traditional British and Irish pub fare including Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, Steak & Mushroom Pie, Cornish Pasty, and Cottage Pie, priced $15-$29 per entree; targets dine-in pub guests seeking authentic British/Irish comfort food.
• Burgers Handcrafted burgers ranging $9-$29 including The Burger, Excaliburger, Irish Burger, Highlander Burger, Smash Brgr (single/double), and a Spicy Bean Burger vegetarian option; targets casual pub diners.
• Sandwiches and Wraps Pub-style sandwiches and wraps including Reuben, The Rebecca, Turkey Bacon Avocado, The Beekeeper, and The Ultimate Steak; targets lunch and casual dinner guests.
• Salads Fresh salads including Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, Steak & Bleu Salad, Strawberry Fields, and Ploughmans; targets lighter-eating pub guests.
• Children's Menu Kid-friendly meals at $7.75 each, including Mini Burger, Grilled Cheese, Fish, Chicken Nuggies, and Mac & Cheese served with fries or applesauce; targets families dining at the pub.
• Draft Beer and Cider Selection of import and domestic draught beers and ciders including Guinness Stout, Harp, Smithwicks Ale, Fullers ESB, and Minnesota craft brewery selections; targets beer drinkers in the pub setting.
• Single Malt Scotch and Irish Whiskey The largest selection of single malt scotches and Irish whiskeys in Minnesota, showcased during monthly tastings October through June; targets spirits enthusiasts and whiskey collectors.
• Specialty Cocktails House-made cocktails including House Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Merlins Ginger, and Espresso Martini; targets cocktail drinkers in the pub setting.
• Wine and Mead Wine selection including prosecco, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, and chardonnay, plus meads such as Odin Skull Mead and Vikings Blood Mead; targets wine and mead drinkers at the pub.
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages Soft drinks, zero-proof cocktails, and specialty drinks including Butter Beer and craft refreshers; targets designated drivers, families, and non-drinking guests.
• Live Music and Entertainment Weekly live entertainment featuring open jams, live Irish music, jazz, blues, and folk performances by Twin Cities musicians, primarily on weekend evenings with no cover charge; targets music-loving pub guests.
• Pub Trivia Weekly virtual pub quiz held every Wednesday at 7:30pm; targets trivia teams and regulars seeking recurring entertainment.
• Scotch Tastings Monthly scotch tasting events on the first Thursday, showcasing the pub's extensive single malt scotch and Irish whiskey collection; targets spirits enthusiasts and whiskey aficionados.
• Catering Services Off-site catering with custom menu options for birthday parties, holiday parties, corporate events, and wedding festivities of any size; targets event hosts and corporate clients.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable at the pub, sold through the ToastTab platform; targets gift purchasers and regular customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest whiskey selection in Minnesota
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ToasttabcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline ordering and fulfillment platform integration allowing customers to order food for pickup and delivery directly from the pub's website. Provides payment processing and order management.
• SpotHoppercoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite design, social media marketing, email marketing, and reservation/private party management platform. Powers the pub's digital presence including table reservations and private event booking.
• Minneapolis/St. Paul MusiciansminorOthersLocal musicians from the Twin Cities perform regularly at the pub, featuring open jams, live Irish music, jazz, blues, and folk performances almost every night of the week.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Lowry: Long-running Minneapolis neighborhood bar with a large spirits selection and pub-style food menu. Comparable to Merlins Rest on neighborhood-bar positioning, broad whiskey offering, and casual dining format in the Twin Cities.
• The Local: Irish pub in the Minneapolis West Bank neighborhood serving traditional Irish fare, draft Guinness, and a broad whiskey list. Closely comparable operating model — neighborhood Irish pub with food, drink, and live music — competing for the same Twin Cities casual-pub occasion.
• Kieran's Kitchen & Pub: Twin Cities Irish gastropub with a substantial whiskey and scotch menu and elevated pub fare. Comparable to Merlins Rest on Irish pub positioning, food-plus-whiskey offering, and Twin Cities neighborhood-bar customer base.
• The Black Sheep: Minneapolis neighborhood bar and pizza kitchen with a curated craft beer and spirits list. Comparable as a Minneapolis neighborhood-pub concept focused on food, drink, and casual community atmosphere.
• The Dubliner Pub: Irish pub in St. Paul with a traditional pub menu, Irish whiskeys, and live music. Comparable as a directly competing Irish pub in the same Twin Cities metro with overlapping food, drink, and live-entertainment programming.
• Brit's Pub: British-themed pub in downtown Minneapolis offering traditional pub fare, Scotch/whiskey selection, and outdoor lawn bowling. Directly comparable to Merlins Rest as a British Isles–inspired neighborhood pub with a strong whiskey program in the Twin Cities.

Broad incumbents

• Yard House: National gastropub chain with an unusually large draft beer selection and full bar program. Comparable as a broader-incumbent pub concept, but at significantly larger scale and with a more standardized menu than Merlins Rest's neighborhood-pub positioning.
• TGI Fridays: Large casual-dining and bar chain offering burgers, sandwiches, and a full bar. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the casual bar-and-grill space but with a much more standardized, mass-market concept versus Merlins Rest's British-pub niche.
• Applebee's: National casual-dining chain combining bar service with burgers, sandwiches, and pub-style appetizers. Relevant as a broad incumbent competing for the same neighborhood casual-bar-and-grill occasion, though it lacks Merlins Rest's British/Irish and whiskey specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Eaganarmsph
• Facebookfacebook.com/43488676171
• Instagraminstagram.com/merlinsrest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merlins-rest-pub-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MERLINS REST PUB LLC