The Mercantile

211 Mercer St. Dripping Springs, Texas 78620 (512) 829-4723

Wed-Thu: 4-10pm Fri: 4-11pm Sat: 2-11pm Sun: 11am-3pm

 

The evolution of fine dining in Dripping Springs has been a slow and almost agonizing process. There had been little hope for foodies until the debut of the excellent Creek Road Café. Then Homespun Kitchen opened a year and a half ago, and turned out to be a solid and very tasty little bistro. And then finally, on 211 Mercer St., a third restaurant emerged last year called the Mercantile Wine and Tapas Bar.

Well, I guess things have finally come to fruition food-wise in Dripping! The Mercantile is a cozy and unpretentious little spot that serves some very credible small plate and tapas type dishes. It was at the Mercantile last year that I had the first Chicken Liver Pate I’d ever seen on a menu in this area. And best of all, it was as this dish should be: smooth and savory with no pungent flavors whatsoever. That alone would have brought me back.

But I was on a roll, so I tried the Pate de Cerdo. This is a very decent Berkwood Farms pork pate with bok choi kimchee (now that’s a great idea) and mustard caviar along with ajo dulce. There are a numbers of distinct flavors here that all seem to blend together into a mélange of almost perfect mouthfeel. This is a show-stopper.

And then we tried the Roasted Corn on the Cob with Shaved Parmesan. I had not had anything this good or fresh in quite some time with regard to this American favorite. The melted butter was applied in moderation, and together with the Parmesan and the roasting itself, this was a fine treat. Also a serious find was the Trinxat pan-seared house-made sausage, served with crispy cabbage and a charming little potato pancake. The flavors here are difficult to describeperhaps because they all worked so well together. Loved the originality of this one.

Finally, we split a Seared Flat Iron Steak that had been bathed in a chimichurri marinade. They recommend medium-rare on this Wagyu (Strube ranch) beauty, and I wholeheartedly agree. Anything higher on the scale would be almost criminal, as it would steal away the amazing flavors.

I think you get the idea. Small plates and tapas, made for sharing with friends, and a thoughtful little wine list. And they also have a weekend brunch that is every bit as good and thoughtful as the dinner menu. Mercantile has completed the Dripping Springs triumvirate giving local foodies, finally, some delightful options.