Super Savings: Daily Specials at The MerK

Last winter, the chic Pininfarina-designed Keating Hotel unveiled its signature Italian restaurant, The MerK.

Capturing the essence and ambiance of fine dining while sustaining a warm, welcoming and affordable allure, The Merk adds a much-appreciated sultry Italian flair to the already abundant Gaslamp dining options. A ruby-red backdrop and charcoal accents set the scene for this revered downtown Italian restaurant.

On the menu, you will find a selection of rustic dishes that are guaranteed to delight your tastebuds, and an eye-catching glass-encased wine room provides dozens of options to wash it all down with. And now you can enjoy all that The MerK has to offer seven days of the week at incredibly discounted prices. Discover new daily specials at The MerK and call 866.649.6149 for reservations.

Wine Mondays: Calling all wine-o’s! Head into The MerK on Monday nights to enjoy a selection of luscious wines all for 20% off! Created by the designer of Ferrari and Maserati cars and The Keating Hotel, we suggest you choose a bottle of Pininfarina's Vino Rosso - Cabernet packed with structure, viscosity and weight with aromas of cedar, cigar tobacco and vanilla.  With just a little air in the glass, the aromas of black plums, currants and spicy white pepper lift the wine to a savory silk finish – we guarantee you’ll want to try this one out for yourself! Experience why Cakebread Cellars is one of the number one selling wines in California and purchase a bottle of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet, or Zinfandel.

The Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno is a blockbuster wine of sorts with finely tuned renderings of coffee, tobacco, spice and leather. Pair it with a rare-cooked steak on a mesquite grill or The MerK’s Filet Gorgonzola dish. Served well with a variety of appetizers and soft cheeses, La Spinetta Ca di Pian Barbera uses the least possible amount of chemicals and has a rich ruby red hue with a generous amount of alcohol and mild tannins. And the well-known Gaja Barbaresco has a long, complex finish with fine, silk-like tannins and a dense structure, full of ripe fruit. Try all of these MerK-favorite wine varieties and many more for 20% off every single Monday night!

Pizza Tuesdays: Let’s be honest, how many of us can really turn down a cheesy, thin-crust pizza? On Tuesdays, you’d be crazy to turn down one of the MerK’s signature pies baked to perfection and served on a personal pizza board tableside. Try a delightful pizza such as the Pesto Gorgonzola, BBQ Chicken, or the unorthodox Veggie Supreme alongside a happy hour cocktail available at the bar for $5 throughout the course of the night.

Walkout Wednesdays: It’s halfway through the work week and let’s face it, nothing sounds better than setting up shop on the couch with a little TiVo and takeout. Call in and take your food to go for 15% off! And hey, don’t forget to add a bottle of wine (or two) to that bill for the discounted price too!

Thursday-Saturday: Don’t think you can make it on one of the week days? Not to worry because the MerK continues to serve up Happy Hour specials throughout the weekend! From Thursday through Saturday, enjoy the delicious Osso Buco made of cross-cut veal shank braised with tomatoes and white wine and served with a side of zesty lemon Risotto. This supremely tender meat falls off the shank bone and is served with a small spoon as an Italian tradition of the “Osso buco”, which means, bone with a hole.

Pasta Sundays: You better have saved some room for Sunday because the MerK is finishing off the weekend with all-you-can-eat pasta for only 15 bucks! Get you sweat on at the gym and then head in for a carbo-load of Penne Ala Vodka, Spaghetti Classico, Fettuccini Alfredo, and many, many more.

Insider Tip: It's always an Industry Party at The MerK, so make sure to show your pay stub or business card to your server and receive Industry discounts on your entire meal, every single day of the week.

The MerK is open for dinner Sunday through Wednesday from 5 to 10 pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 11 pm. For more information or to make reservations, please call 866.649.6149, or visit The MerK in San Diego. 

Discover more of the best San Diego restaurants in our San Diego dining blog.