Merge

We came here as a pitstop for dinner and boy, was it a mistake. Let me first preface this by saying I am definitely not a ramen snob. I will eat any ramen as long as it is somewhat decent. What we had at Merge was barely edible due to the ridiculous amount of sodium that assaulted our taste buds. We ended up eating just the noodles and pork belly, trying as much as possible not to consume the overly salty broth. I drank 3 glasses of water after the meal and my lips still feel parched.
They get two stars for having clean facilities and the waitstaff was nice enough.

A solid dining experience on every level…
I had lunch here this week with my good friend, Michelle. We (rather, she) decided to dine on the patio underneath one of their umbrella-​topped tables since it was such a gorgeous day, even though we are likely the two palest people on Earth. It was lovely, though, and our table was enclosed in adequate shade, so I didn’t regret the decision to dine al fresco.
Our friendly (and knowledgeable) server brought us a huge carafe of water and menus as soon as we were seated. She recommended one of the appetizers to us, but since I’m allergic to shellfish and it contained shrimp, she immediately pointed out the Scallion Pancakes as an alternative. Truthfully, after glancing at Merge’s menu online the day before, I already had them in mind.
They arrived about 20 minutes later and were so good, I wished there was a second helping. Were they «authentic,» and by whose standards? I don’t know and I don’t care. The food is marketed as «Asian fusion street food.» All I really cared about was the taste and it hit a home run in that department. They were delicious. The texture was perfect, just flaky enough, with every bite a savory morsel.
Between the two of us, we left no trace of those scallion pancakes behind. A word of warning: the chili powder sauce served on the side was delicious, but incredibly spicy. I liked it, but my friend thought it could have used a bit of sweetness to tone down the heat. The modified soy sauce, also served on the side, was very pleasant and packed power as well. For palettes that can’t handle too much spice, the latter would be the better option.
I have to say, those scallion pancakes were beyond reproach. Truthfully, I didn’t want to share them, but share them I did. What can I say? I’m a pal. I’ll probably just get a solo order of them for myself next time with a cocktail if I don’t have a huge appetite. An order of six scallion pancakes with dipping sauce for just one person could be pretty filling.
The main course arrived about 15 minutes after the appetizer. I had the Dashi Ramen Bowl, while my friend had the Bibimbap, sans duck. The kitchen seemed to have no issue with accommodating my friend’s request to alter the recipe of the Bibimbap, which was a relief.
My dish was solid. The presentation was flawless, with both dishes served in black bowls (complete with wide black spoons designed for eating noodles) each accompanied by traditional flatware and chop sticks served on tiny trays on the side.
The Dashi Ramen was well-​seasoned, with a nice broth, hearty noodles, spinach, and fresh shittake mushrooms. The egg on top could have been cooked just a wee bit more, but the dish as a whole was was pretty close to perfection.
Michelle seemed quite pleased with her dish as well, saying it had just the right amount of zest to suit her. That was high praise coming from her because she considers herself quite the connoisseur of Asian food.
Portion sizes were fairly large for the price. We both took leftovers to go.
The service was great. Our server was incredibly attentive to our table, letting us know when our food would be ready, asking if we needed anything, etc (she even split the cost of the appetizer between two checks without our asking) and the price was right on the money. My dish was only $ 8– pretty affordable, considering I had leftovers. Scallion pancakes were only $ 6, so for six decent-​sized pancakes, plus dipping sauces, I’d consider that to be fairly inexpensive. Michelle’s dish still cost $ 12, despite her ordering it without the duck, but she didn’t mind.
As for the interior of Merge, it was stunning. Dark walls, mood lighting, clocks featuring different time zones in Asia off to one side, top shelf liquor lining the shelves above the bar, with sleek tables and chairs throughout all made for a really nice ambiance. I can’t wait to take my husband here for a quiet date night.
I will definitely be back.

I got the chicken curry bowl, but mostly I had a bowl of rice with less than half a finger chicken. It was tasty but quality no.

Great atmosphere and very delicious food. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This was our first time here. We will be back again.

I recently went here with my girlfriend. It was our first time here. We both ordered the Cucumber Gin gin drink. The drink was superb. I wish i had a jug of it. She ordered the salmon protein bowl. I ordered the free range chicken protein bowl. We sat at the bar and service was prompt and courteous! My Chicken tasted great. She loved her salmon. I tasted hers. I wasnt a huge fan of how strong the salmon tasted by I am not a huge fish fan. For all I know this might be how its supposed to taste. Both protein bowls had excellent ramen in a rich broth. Prices were nice on drinks and food. I would recommend this place to others!

Tried out the restaurant with a friend and we both loved the quality of food. Personally I wish my dish was seasoned a bit more but I could have easily asked the waiter to do that for me. The staff was friendly and cordial in all aspects and the food came out pretty quickly.
They have a large liquor collection so the concept of a hangout bar isn’t farfetched. However their menu is quite small so don’t expect a ton of choices. They plan to cycle through food items as the restaurant picks up.
Definitely worth a try!

The atmosphere is nice, the huge mural on the wall adds a nice touch to this new spot. They have a pretty nice liquor selection and have a good amount of Asian spirits too. I ordered the broth bowl with pork. I enjoyed it, fresh veggies, fairly decent pork, a good broth, although a little bit on the sweet side. This place is new and I see them experimenting with the menu and the ingredients they utilize, so I expect it to get better and better as time goes. I’ll be visiting again and I recommend it. My only pet peeve is the seating and tables. Besides the bar, their seating is a bit cheap looking a flimsy. I would love to bring my mother here, but the table seats aren’t that sturdy nor do they look friendly to those on the bigger size. I recommend you all invest in better setting.

Merge is a new restaurant in downtown Flint, located next to Table and Tap. A friend and I tried it out a few days after it opened. We each had the stir fry with chicken. It was well worth the $ 10 we paid. Nice flavor and very filling. We each had a gin gin cocktail. Typically made with mint, this version used cucumber, which paired nicely with the Liberator gin. The only downside is the tables which are a bit wobbly and the tops spin a bit. Not a showstopper but it could lead to an interesting experience. That said, I highly recommend Merge.