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Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Clark/lake (subway) (Blue Line)
Clark/lake (elevated) (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon, Sun 11:30 am - 12 am
Tue-Thu 11:30 am - 1 am
Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat 11:30 am - 3 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
603 reviews for Mercadito
Review Highlights
"I had the Big Nose Goes to Mexico."
(in 9 reviews)
"Each of the tacos are also always consistently good."
(in 386 reviews)
"Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi."
(in 12 reviews)
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603 reviews in English
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Review from Edwin W.
Cook, IL
1/27/2012
Simply the best tacos you will find in Chicago. This place will be your typical trendy restaurant in River North, that being, loud, dark, shiny, douchy etc.. Did I say LOUD? If you're not into the whole River North scene, I'd say skip this place, as no one should endure all the aforementioned conditions just for a taco.
What we ordered:
Guacamole - it was good, but not worth mentioning again.
Salsa - Interesting twist to salsa, and definitely comes with a lot of heat.
Tacos - Roasted Shrimp, Smoked Chicken, Short Ribs, and Mahi Mahi.
All were phenomenal. The flavors were fresh and the seasoning along with the toppings that came with the tacos triggered foodgasm.
I tried the martini before ordering our food and I don't know about you, but if I'm paying $14 for a martini, it better at least give me a hint of Asian fury on my face. Nope.
Overall, good place for delicious tacos if you're hanging out in the area and would like some mind blasting flavors before hitting the bars nearby. I would definitely recommend this place for all of you suburbanites who are only fortunate enough to come down to the city once a month. -
Review from Robert F.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
Went here last Friday night fully expecting to wait an hour or so ( we called ahead ).
So we go and the hostesses are typical for Chicago, kinda rude and just really short...We give them our name and they just say ok....So my gf and I just stand there and wonder "are they going to just remember our faces and hunt us down when a table is ready?"- the place was crowded and loud as shiz! They just stand there with this look of amazement on their faces that we are surprised by that...Anyway this was about 7:15.
We go to the bar for some drinks and ask for some chips and salsa which is like $4, whatever ya know...well they give you like 20 chips and literally a tablespoon of salsa. I mean you are kidding right? We ask for more and the bartender chick tells us that will be a whole other order?! I mean come on...seriously...are you that hard up that a teaspoon of salsa is an extra $4.
So an hour goes by and I go up around 8:25-8:30 and ask if our name is about to be up, and I notice on their computer the clock is like 15 minutes slow?? So they tell me that they quoted me an hour..It HAS BEEN an hour!
We ended up just eating at Moe's Cantina and having an awesome bartender that hooked us up with shots of Patron' and had a great meal.
This place is lame and won't be around for long if they nickel and dime you for everything. That would be like Gibson's Steakhouse charging you $4 for some bread...REALLY? -
Review from Paul R.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012
Went here for dinner and it was too loud but then on the other hand I guess I'm getting too old for the hipster spots.
I wish they had some ambient music in the background to drown out our neighbors.
It was so loud we had to leave and eat next door... -
Review from Randy B.
Oak Park, IL
2/9/2012
Valets were complete @ssholes so we left
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Review from Michele H.
Oak Park, IL
2/8/2012
Great food ! Great service !
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Review from Elizabeth G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
If this place wasn't so expensive, I'd go there more often. But the drinks are pricey (though really good) and the food isn't cheap either. I always get the tacos - all of them are awesome.
There's also usually a large crowd, which makes it really hard to get a table and almost impossible to grab a spot at the bar. Downstairs was a lot less crowded but also a lot less fun. -
Review from Ariana S.
1/8/2012
Looking for a tasty meal, fun atmosphere, friendly, accommodating waitstaff and an experience worth paying for? Yes? If so, stop reading this because you won't find any of that at Mercadito.
My 3 girlfriends and I decided to stop in at Mercadito for Brunch as this is a restaurant that is generally recommended to by the hotel that she works at and she tends to send people here often. Unfortunately, I am afraid those inquiring tourists will now be sent elsewhere.
Brunch started off on a rocky foot after hearing about 5 minutes straight of the rules concerning brunch. 1.) You can order table style but ONLY if the whole table agrees to order it. 2.) You must not request any special requests without receiving an obligatory sneer from the waitress 3.) You must be punished with an extra 20 minutes of waiting time if you weren't ready the first time around.
So after we had copious notes of the rules and regulations, we ordered our food...if that's what you call it. 2 of us ordered the Chilaquiles and I was not prepared to be served an oily plate of grease-soaked tortilla chips. Fine- I know that this is the premise of the dish but this was literally the only ingredient on my plate. The egss we were promised to be included? Nope. Tomatillo sauce? Is that the same thing as oil? Black beans? oh that's what that black smear was! When we asked the waitress for some salsa or some kind of sauce to salvage any chance of us eating our brunch, we were met with yet another one of those famous sneers and (BAM!) a $5 ramekin of sauce that really couldn't live up to its weighted value.
Other weird things were the busboys who were creeping on our table and literally lifting my plate mid-bite to clear a stray side plate. What?!
I had come in another time for drinks and was generally pleased but, I'm sorry guys, this place lost some serious respect today. -
Review from Hector R.
Chicago, IL
12/24/2011
I made a reservation a week prior to December 23rd for a party of 11 and left my Credit Card number with them because it was a Big Party. It was my 21st Birthday and I wanted to take my family out for a different experience from our normal dinning places....
Instead We got the most Horrible Experience with their Customer Service.
When we arrived at Mercaditos, The tall Caucasian woman host (I didn't get her name because she left) told me we had to be done at 8 O'clock and our reservation was at 6:30 because she had another party to sit at our Reserved Table in the up most rude way. I was shocked because I thought that's why you make a reservation in the first place.
So from the start they were rushing us to finishing eating without us even being seated yet.
We sat and our food was Spectacular. Everything we ate we loved. It was so tasteful. that's the only good part.
But wait it continues....
My Aunt ordered two Orders of Elotes (corn on the cob). They were side dishes for the 2 toddlers to eat. on the Menu it clearly said they were $1 for each person and they ended up charging us $6 each plate. in the end they ended up giving her back $9.
Then as we were eating, the bus boys came and took our place mats, plates, cups, knives, and forks and started to clean and we were not finished, we still had more food on the way. I was baffled- not only that the servers around us were looking at my family and I as if we were a nuisance to them,
as we ended our meal, they practically started cleaning and placing for the "OTHER PARTY" as our butts were leaving the seats...
I am confused as to why the service was so bad when we are clearly going to pay a generous amount of Gratuity fee. Meaning they are going to have a Guaranteed Tip, we mad a reservation and we were clearly going to spend a good amount of money there.
Over all the food was awesome but the service and people were bad and snooty
Thanks for the 21st Birthday Experience -
Review from Liz L.
Evanston, IL
2/1/2012
I had never really wanted to try this place because the reviews aren't too great on Yelp, but had to go for a client dinner.
I was pleasantly surprised and my clients walked out of the place very happy.
The place is trendy and modern but not douchy at all, but that may be because we went on a Monday night.
We all ordered margaritas, which were good but you know plain margaritas. The food was spectacular though.
We ordered the traditional guac, callo and camaron ceviches, the corn masa quesadillas, estilo baja tacos, pollo tacos, pastor tacos and the costillitas tacos.
Seriously, all the tacos were fabulous. I liked the pastor (chile rubbed pork) and costillitas (bbq short ribs) the best but it just was a matter of personal preference. Everything inside the tacos were prepared perfectly size-wise, not too big of chunks that things were falling out but not too small that you felt like you were eating some ground taco mix. Our waiter even adjusted the orders so that instead of 4 tacos each per their menu, we got 6 each so that everyone in the party could try everything.
The ceviches were really good too, super fresh. The only thing is that the raw onion taste was strong and I felt self-conscious about speaking into my client's face (this was necesary because it was pretty loud in there) with onion breath. They should soak the onions in ice water to take away some of that strong raw taste.
The guac was okay, I've had better though. I think Rick Bayless's guac is much better.
Overall, really good experience. The food, atmosphere, service were all top-notch. Definitely will go again with friends. -
Review from Rick T.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
A good modern Mexican option, if you don't mind the driving club music.
I highly recommend the flight of guacamoles to start your meal.
Ample portions and several helpful recommendations from our server rounded out a good evening. -
Review from Jami S.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2012
I would have only given Mercadito 1 star, maybe not even, if it wasn't for the fact that we went on NYE with a large group. But even still they should have been 100% more organized then they were. We went with a group of 10 people for the 10:15 seating on NYE. It was a 5 course tasting menu and all you could drink for $100 a person. Honestly, that was the deciding factor in location for us b/c that is a good deal.
But that is not what happened. They sat our group an hour late, even after almost all of us went up to the host stand to complain. They kept saying there was nothing they could do, they can't make their guests leave. That is terrible management in my opinion when you have fixed times to sit down you can just explain that to the customers. On top of that we had to pay for our drinks until we got seated which was terrible customer service. They wouldn't even extend our drink deal another hour to make up for the hour we missed. All in all terrible customer service and orginazation skills on the part of the restaurant. I know you are a very busy, popular restaurant but you need to get your act together. I know we weren't the only disappointed party there since the host stand was SWARMED with complaining customers.
Definitely sad to say that I used to like Mercadito but after that poor display I would be hard pressed to return with a large group on a big night out. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2012
I'm not into the whole River North clubby factory-restaurant thing much like many of the other reviewers here. I'm biased about them and that's just the way it is. If you're looking for a crowd pleaser however, and it is a special occasion where you can afford to spend some extra cash, this place is an ok call.
The food is meant for sharing which was the first downfall of the group I was with...I don't think anyone was feeling that due to dietary fussiness, experience, etc. Everyone needs to share. Food is three stars at best however. Al Pastor tacos were a shell of what they could be, guacamole preparations seemed interesting but essentially was just guacamole with some pomegranate seeds. Bottom line is what's fanciful on paper doesn't translate onto the plate - intriguingly described food was bland and lackluster.
Very nice, albeit overpriced selection of tequilas and mezcals.
I will not be back by myself, and with a group reluctanty. -
Review from Jeremy C.
Beverly Hills, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ohh... Ohhh... The food was that good here. The guac..... all 3 I tried were delicious!!!
I was with a big group and I tried about one of every taco...
Here is the TIP!! Get any taco that has pork in it!!!! You can't go wrong but those are the best!!!!
This place was packed when I went.. Make a reservation or you will end up like the DBags eating entrees at the bar... Trust me, you don't want to be one of them!!!
She's a beauty!!! If you haven't been here.. Go here... -
Review from Randy E.
Franklin, WI
12/18/2011
Just had our Holiday lunch at Mercadito - they have a great tasting menu for groups. Just the right amount of food and you get to taste several dishes. You can't go wrong with any of the Guacamoles - they have 3 to choose from. The MUST ORDER on the menu is the coles de Brussels - roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy pork belly Yummm!
The place has contemporary hip vibe. Our server was great! She was very helpful with ordering giving good recommendations, quick with the drinks :) and upbeat. I think her name was Belle.
Check it out - you will enjoy! -
Review from Marc R.
12/23/2011
This place is busy. Very busy. At least on the weekends. We had a large group and made it to our reservation a little late so they turfed us to the bar. The place was standing room only and a buzz of very loud music and people moving about. There were a lot of women here on girls night out dressed very well. We were a table of men and laughed about about the fact that the place was wall to wall women - from two suburban moms "doing the town" to Indiana tourists getting dressed up, to a family of tourists just taking in the madness.
We ordered a mix of the tacos and some guacamole and a pile of margaritas.
First let me talk about the tacos. These were good and very flavorful. They were very small on tiny little tortillas. Now, I have had these sorts of tiny tacos - in fact on my first trip to Mexico when a kid I was blown away by how little a tortilla can be. As I remember it the server in Piedras Negras said "they are not as big here in Mexico"...and he could have worked at Mercadito since these were not as big as those at taquerias or even Big Star in Wicker Park.
Second, they were good. Yes, they were very good. We ordered chicken, pork, fish, and beef and were very happy with the way they all tasted and the way they were prepared. So, while these were expensive tacos they were very good tacos. We also had an order of guacamole and some quesidillas and these were both good even if the guacamole was small.
Overall it was a great dinner in a fun dynamic place that was just a buzz with a trendy girlfull feel. There is a nightclub or a bar in the basement, but a friend (not me) checked it out and we decided to pass.
I did see that they have a Taco Tuesday like many other places in town, so perhaps this is worth checking out.
One big problem on the night we were there: The music was TOO LOUD. It was annoyingly loud on the night we were there. We could barely hear the server describe the menu items. If you want even a moderate sound level, this might not be the place for you. Feel the bass. No, really, feel the base because you might not be able to hear your friends. -
Review from Anthony B.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012
Great upscale Mexican food, the best. Had their special when I was there (pulled pork tacos) that were the best tacos I've ever had.
Both of us enjoyed everything we ordered and would definitely go back. -
Review from Laura L.
Updated - 12/15/2011
Well someone else planned a group dinner to Mercadito, so I went back and I am SO glad I did! What a difference this experience was than last time - a whole star better! :)
We went with a group of 8 this time so we got to try all kinds of different dishes which was fun. The tacos that we tried were amazing and the margaritas were going down way too easily.
They have group menus which is cool and super easy to split at the end which was nice. All in all, I was thrilled with my experience here. We went earlier in the evening because it was pre-event which was great because it wasn't too loud yet which allowed for some great conversation that everyone was able to hear and participate in.
I now can say I will definitely be back here - and it will be my choice!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/28/2010
This is definitely a "scene" place. Lots of people, cool atmosphere, unique mexican menu.
Upsides:
… Read more »
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Review from Lindsey W.
Chicago, IL
12/19/2011
I've eaten here a few times, but my trip this weekend was the tipping point for writing the review. I understand this is a popular place, but it's been open for awhile and there are some major issues I have with the service that need to be worked out.
For starters, I had friends (six) coming in town so I made reservations in Oct. for 12/16. On 12/14 I received an email saying that my reservations had been canceled by the restaurant. So when I called, they said a male had just called in and canceled them- which is entirely not possible, there wasn't even a male in my group. But the were able to reschedule them, for 15 min later. As they said, lucky for me... even though I didn't do anything.
Then arriving at the restaurant an hour early to start having drinks, we told them we were there but would wait for our 8:15 reso. 8:15 rolls around and they said they were waiting for our table to leave but they had the check. 8:30, still waiting. 8:45, apologized but nothing they could do. Note: there were probably three empty tables that would have fit us at this point, not sure why there was just one we were waiting on. Finally sat us at 9pm and the hostesses were not nice about.
When the waitress approached we apologized for being in a bad mood, but skipped the apps (I've had the guac before and it is pretty good, small portions thou) and went for the tacos. She did her best to help our moods with a few free drinks (half the party had stopped drinking bc their moods were no longer festive) and got our food.
Our tacos were delicious, but after being starved we would have eaten anything at that point. Previous trips have left me content, but I'd rather skip this place in the future and opt for better service with a more friendly atmosphere. -
Review from Chris G.
Glendale Heights, IL
2/3/2012
We got here and had a reservation for 11 people. However, 2 did not make it due to illness. Needless to say, they would not honor our reservation because our party number has changed. Decent food, shitty ass customer service.
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Review from Kate D.
12/1/2011
Solid Mexican weeknight date with my ladyfriend. I had only heard good things from friends and coworkers, but doubts were raised by yelpers. Overall, I get where everyone is coming from on the rants and raves. Me? I emerged with "yay! I'm a fan" on my lips.
We secured a reservation for Tuesday dinner without problems. Our table was inches from the one next to it, and the ambience can only be described as BUMPIN', but I kinda expected that and didn't really mind. I wasn't trying to romance Eva, just catch up over tacos and margs.
Our server Chelsea was friendly and knowledgeable. I wanted to ask her to join us. The service was speedy and my water was always full. Bravo, Dito.
I enjoyed my margarita, although it was a bit overpriced and a bit small. I went with tequila reposado con don julio ($14). It was good but didn't blow me out of the water like a recent marg I'm still dreaming about. We each ordered tacos (4 for $15.50) and traded 2 for 2. Eva chose mole, I went with pescado. I'm a HUGE baby about spice and, lamely, the pescado option was a bit spicy for me but I'm sure the rest of the population would think they're bland. Both were delicious and we were glad we mixed it up by trading. Again, a teensy bit pricy for 4 smallish tacos.
Dessert. Yum. We shared the torrejas de bolillo and fought over who got to lick the plate. So good. Just do it.
That's all she wrote. I'd go back. -
Review from Eileen Z.
12/4/2011 10 photos
Caramel flan! It's oddly plated but it's so damn delicious. It's married to my sweet tooth.
If you strip the noisy scene, the cramped spaces, and the stupid "four taco" order rule away, the tacos are great. Gourmet and EXPENSIVE, but great. The carnitas de puerco is probably my favorite. Out of their ceviches I'd say the dorado ceviche (mahi mahi) is the tastiest and most balanced in taste. The tangerines in the camarón ceviche overpower everything it's paired with and I wouldn't order it again.
Their cocktail menu though, superb. -
Review from Allie P.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
I ADORE Mercadito and am especially thrilled that their kitchen is open late. I'm in the service industry and work evenings, and the options for late-night dining (aside from your typical, greasy bar fare) in River North are pretty limited, so this place has been a fantastic addition to my repertoire. It's pretty quiet later in the evenings, so it's a great place to unwind after work and grab a bite.
On top of that, the food is LEGIT amazing. I'm well on my way to being able to say that I've tried everything on the menu, and I have yet to find something here that I dislike. Among my favorites: the dorado ceviche, carnitas de puerco taquizas, and for dessert, the torrejas de bolillo. -
Review from Brianna M.
Morton Grove, IL
1/18/2012
Let me start off by saying: I LOVE GUAC. So to come to this fancy Mexican lounge with a trendy ambiance and find a whole assortment of different kinds of guacamole had me beyond stoked! My date and I ordered the flight of 3 different guacs and chips including pomegranate, traditional, and sweet potato guac. It was seriously heaven in my mouth, with the classic guac being outstanding, the pomegranate having a fruity twist and the sweet potato one having a sweet kick. Also ordered a mango and cucumber margarita which kept us super happy. Lastly, the two trays of steak and chicken tacos were simply delish and were jam-packed with flavor. This visit totally changed my view of the standard of a taco and fine Mexican dining. Definitely coming back the next chance I get; Muy sabrosa!
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Review from Jen D.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2011
Yes, Mercadito can be a scene. Yes, sometimes you have to wait for reservations once it gets bumping. Yes, the guacamole portions are hilariously small. Yes, I love Mercadito anyway - because those faults for me are avoidable or small enough to be overlooked so I can enjoy some of their oh so magically delicious tacos.
If you want to avoid a potential wait for your table and a scene, go early. And I don't mean senior citizen early. I mean 7:30pm. I went on 7:30 on a Wed night and the restaurant was relatively quiet, but sometime over the next hour it became bumping and loud. And if you think the guac is overpriced, then don't order it.
I on the other hand will always, gladly order it! On my most recent trip... my group of 3 people ordered the 2 taste guac - we had the pomegranate and the sweet potato. The pom. is my favorite, the sweet potato is pretty good but it is definitely subtle - as in you don't notice there is sweet potato. But it's delicious and so I'll order it again and again. I will agree with everyone who says they don't give enough chips, but I think they'll bring you more if you ask.
Over different visits I think I've tried 75% of the taco options and I've not been disappointed yet. This time we ordered the braised pork, mole chicken and shrimp. My favorite was surprisingly the chicken, but I loved all 3.
We shared the cauliflower side, which was good - not amazing, but good.
I love the cucumber margarita... (pepino on the drink menu). Refreshing and not too sweet.
I wish I worked in the neighborhood so it was easier to come by! -
Review from Missy J.
New York, NY
1/3/2012
The small plates and cocktails are delicious, and the vibe is fun and fabulous. This is (almost) the perfect alternative to nightclubs (no dancing, alas--it is a restaurant first). The space is gorgeous, as are the people who give Mercadito its business. Make reservations if possible, in order to avoid a long and crowded wait.
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Review from Lauren B.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
I would have given Mercadito 4 stars if it weren't for the noise level. This place is exceptionally loud, so dont plan on catching up over dinner here without yelling at your dinner companion.
That being said, the food is lovely. We had the guac with pomegrante seeds which was delicious treat for your mouth.......the cool seeds with the slightly spicy guac was a great balance. For dinner we shared the mahi mahi and tilapia tacos. Both were delectable but the winner is the tilapia taco with the delicate fish, spicy sauce, and cool avocado....a must try! -
Review from holly h.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
As a girl from the Southwest I feel that I have high expectation for my Mexican food. Mercadito strikes a great balance creating Fresh Latin dishes that do not lack any flavor.
The Mixology is also really impressive so if you normally get wine, take a chance on a couple of their specialty cocktails. The Pepino was my favorite.
Only downside is that it is very crowded, so be sure to grab a reservation. -
Review from Lana Z.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2011
I really struggled with how many stars to give this place. On the one hand, we really enjoyed our food, on the other hand, we had terrible service...so I settled on three.
Had a dinner reservation for four, at 6:30 on a Thursday night. I arrived a little early and grabbed a margarita at the bar while waiting for my girlfriends to arrive. The bartenders were friendly and the margarita was delish (albeit, a bit small for the hefty price tag).
Turns out one of our friends was running way behind coming back from a business trip so we told the hostess we would be three with a possible fourth joining later. Very accommodating, they placed us at a table for three where a fourth could squeeze in (good thing our fourth is teeny or I'm not sure the squeezing would have worked but I digress).
The three of us were promptly seated and this is where it pretty much went downhill. Our waitress, who, according to our receipt, was "Lov C", was anything but full of love for our table. She pretty much badgered us into ordering despite the fact that we weren't ready (and when we apologized and told her we hadn't seen each other in almost a year so we had been too busy talking to look at the menu, she rolled her eyes and walked away!) SERIOUSLY!?!? We made a quick decision and ordered. Despite "C"s best efforts, she did not ruin our evening as we were all just so happy to be together. Many tacos, ceviche, and guacamoles later (and margaritas and dessert), we were stuffed and happy, no thanks to the Loveless "C".
In addition to the waitress, we also had several bus boys crowding around our table frequently asking if we were done with this, or finished with that. (After the third time, we told them they could take the guac, DESPITE the fact that we still had chips and guac remaining).
Overall, I would give the food four stars, maybe even almost five, but the service was really pretty terrible. I get it, it's Thursday night, the place is hopping, and they want to turn tables around, but we had a $200 tab, it's not like we were just hanging around taking up space!
I'll PROBABLY go back, because the fried plantains were THAT good... -
Review from Jennifer T.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2011
Mercadito is my favorite restaurant. I've eaten here about 6 or 7 times.
I love Mexican, but particularly slightly fancy Mexican. That's exactly what Mercadito is. I always get their guacamole (recently we enjoyed a sampler of 1) pomegranate, 2) traditional, and 3) sweet potato/pumpkin seed guacs). I often try to cut down on carbs, and therefore order a side of jicama ($3.00) with which to (somewhat awkwardly) scoop up the guacamole. I also adore their tacos. My favorite is the chicken mole/sweet potato version (which just reappeared on the menu after a several-month hiatus). I've never had a problem with service (though the bus people sometimes prematurely steal the plates, depriving one of the opportunity to scoop out that last delectable bite of guacamole).
The cons:
1) they change their menu somewhat frequently, so if you fall in love with an item on the menu, you might not be able to enjoy it indefinitely.
2) they serve the food as soon as it's ready (which is convenient for them, and might be beneficial to customers eager for the hottest, freshest food). I don't favor this approach, however, since sometimes my tacos have arrived long before my husband's meal. When I was last there, my tacos arrived a couple of minutes after we got the guacamole. To avoid this problem, i suggest that one wait to order the entrees until after the appetizers arrive.
3) the price is a little steep. I'm more than willing to pay for the delicious food here, but 4 somewhat small tacos cost $15.50. If you're hungry, that's not enough for one meal (though I think tacos are technically meant for sharing). The larger meals start out closer to $20.
4) It's really noisy. I'm aging before my time in terms of my sensitivity to noise/youthful stimulation, but it's definitely not a place for intimate conversations.
River North has so many good Mexican/Latin places (Frontera, Xoco, Zocalo, Cantina 46) (AVOID Havana and Su Casa), but Mercadito is the best for fun, fancy tacos and guacamole. -
Review from CHIYOKO H.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2011
We were a little cramped with 8 ppl to a half circle booth..but it was ok-.
The food was delicious, I recommend the guacamole
we tried the mango and the original.
Steak tacos, Shrimp tacos (a bit spicy), Mahi Mahi tacos were def my favorite.
I also tried the strawberry margaritas-yum. -
Review from Cathleen M.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2011
This place seemed more like a club than a restaurant, complete with young ladies in short skirts, bachelorettes in pink boas and over-the-top expensive drinks. And the music was LOUD. I don't mean just a little loud, but walk-out-with-a-headache loud. Maybe I'm getting too old (I'm only 32) or I've had my share of "the scene" in my 20's to appreciate a place like Mercadito. Whatever the case, I was really unimpressed.
There were 8 in our party. We weren't sat until everyone arrived, which I can understand on a Saturday night at 8 pm. One of us had the mind to pre-order our guac selections (maybe when she made reservations?), so once we were seated, things happened quickly. In no time we were munching on guac and chips with drinks in front of us and a very helpful, sweet server explained the menu. The service was outstanding, and I never felt that we were being rushed.
The food tasted pretty good, and I liked the concept of taco tapas. We paid $35 per person for three types of guac, two types of ceviche, a couple sides, four tacos and dessert. There was a lot of food! We all commented on how full we felt before the last taco plate arrived at the table.
I was a bit shocked that when out bill came, 20% gratuity had been added. Isn't 18% typical? I'm happy to leave extra when the service is good, but to add it automatically seems a little grandiose. Kind of followed along with the vibe of the whole place. A little too much.
Overall, it just seems like another trendy spot where people go to see and be seen. Can't say I'd see a reason to ever return. -
Review from Samuel M.
12/30/2011
I came here with two friends on an evening in which waits at many other Chicago restaurants exceeded 2 hours. I can't say I was disappointed, but all in all the experience at Mercadito resulted in mixed feelings.
I must give them points for the low-set tables; it made me feel like a sultan (provided that sultans eat Mexican food) and added to the overall hedonism of the experience. The first thing I noticed about the menu was the pricing, which was wayyy expensive, even for this notoriously pricey pocket of restaurants. I had a bit of a hard time believing that someone expects me to shell out $15 for four miniscule tacos. They also had a margarita on special that was (wait for it) $17.
When I finally swallowed the reality of how much I was going to pay for it, that the food was of very high quality, and miraculously I did not feel fleeced when leaving. We started with two guacamoles; the restaurant offers six flavors, which I found a little gimmicky. However, the chile de árbol guacamole was pleasantly spicy and a nice change of pace; the pepita, served with pumpkin seeds, was also very unique, but was awkwardly spiced with excessive cinammon. Of note, the sampler was $12.50 for two lilliputian scoops. All of our entrees were fantastic; our table shared a roast chicken, which I usually don't order out; this one,however, was flavored assertively enough that it was definitely worth ordering. Delicious, and also easily the best value on this particular menu at $18.50, complete with delicious black beans and rice - if I return, this is what I will order. We also shared two "taquizas" (small ramekins of meat served with salsas for make your own tacos), one carne asada and another carnitas. The meats were perfectly cooked (carne asada perfect medium rare, carnitas tender and melting off the bone) and all four of our salsas (habañero, chile de árbol, verde, and chipotle) were distinctly flavorful. These were a little steep for their size at $23 (Note: I actually like not being served a trough of food, I just prefer to pay a reasonable amount for it).
The service, like the food, had its ups and downs. Our server and host were both very informative and attentive. However, we had to wait around 40 minutes for our food; the table next to us was seated after we had already ordered, and got their food before us. At several times throughout the meal, we had another server come to our table and attempt to give us food/drinks that we did not order, which was at least a minor nuisance.
All in all, my three star review of Mercadito should not be interpreted as "meh", but that eating at Mercadito is like riding a roller coaster. The food was awesome enough to outweigh the exorbitant pricing and awkward service. I will likely return, although there are many other fantastic Latin restaurants in this city which outshine this mixed bag of an experience. -
Review from Sandra M.
12/15/2011
Food was really good. The margaritas were great but a bit pricey when you start to special order with the different tequilas, skinny, etc. Ate here for dinner and brunch..both were outstanding.
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Review from Jeff S.
Chicago, IL
12/5/2011
OK...I didn't get a chance to eat here, but it scored major points based on first impression. First off when we got there we went to the bar for some margaritas...HUGE tequila menu, but no Cabo Wabo (my favorite), but definitely not a deal breaker. Settled on a Tres Generaciones margarita which was pretty damn good. A little on the pricey side, but consider the location.
Looking around it seemed like a pretty trendy place. mid 20s to early 30s crowd for the most part. Had a DJ spinning house throughout the place. It may not be like that all the time, but this was on a Friday night at about 10:30-11 and it definitely made for a good atmosphere IMO.
Basically this is probably the go-to place for a late dinner or drinks before heading over to Hubbard St. or wherever else in the area you're headed.
On a side note I can't wait to try one of their guacamoles and tacos. From what I hear they are a couple of the must-get menu items. -
Review from Katie U.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
One of my favorite restaurants in the city! Best cocktails ever, especially the Pepino El Pyu, it has cucumbers in it and is very refreshing.
The must try's on the menu are the shrimp tacos (especially if you like spicy food), mahi mahi tacos and pork and pineapple tacos. All of the guacs are good too. -
Review from LK P.
Chicagoland, IL
11/19/2011
We visited on a Friday night. I really couldn't figure out how I wanted to rate this place, so I settled for reviewing it as a restaurant, which is what it's supposed to be, theoretically.
What it really is is some steroidal pretend bar/club mega-scene with a high ratio of mega-bitchy boys and girls who've decided that this is the latest "it" place to strut their shit. It's very trendily and chicly decorated and louder than hell. On that basis, it would be a 5 star rating, and if that excites you, you should rush out right now to join them. It was fine, we had a good time, but do not come here if you're really expecting to eat instead of nibble and drink (a lot).
The front desk borders on rude and has the requisite attitude for this place. The service staff is much nicer, and we didn't have to wait too long for food when we finally got seated 1.5 hours later. It's pretty tasty for what you get. I'm a proponent of normal portion size, more so now I've seen how the Midwest eats. But even I have to admit that the portions here are ridiculously small for the steep prices. They should call them tapas - oh wait, is that outre now?
Recap: great place to hit the bar, join a scene and pretend to eat, not so great if you're really just looking for dinner. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Chicago, IL
10/19/2011
Ahhh, I was really torn on this review.
Had a reservo for 815 on a Friday night. Walked in and the place is bumping.
It was quite an interesting crowd. I felt there were a lot of ladies in this place
(****HINT to all you single men....go to Mercadito on a Friday night**). And I still really dont understand why women have to be b*tches to other women....I am just trying to get a drink, please put your elbows down so I can get into the bar. Yes, I did just say excuse me...please dont be rude and pretend like you didnt hear me.
So we started off with some beverages. We got a skinny girl marg, a couple of beers and tres viejos. The drink was fantastic. It was spicy and citrus-y. I really enjoyed it! Cheers to the bartender for suggesting it.
We then were standing for about 15 mins before brought to our table (which was about 30 mins after reservations).
Server was pretty good about explaining everything on the menu.
We decided on two different guacs (traditional and toreado) and the roja for salsa. I started laughing when they brought it out. It was literally a tablespoon of each of them and like 12 chips. Mind you, we had 4 people at our table and we were hungry. The guac was $12.5 and salsa was $3. This was the most ridiculous portion I have ever seen for that price. INSANE! The toreado was really good guac. Everything else was just ok.
We then ordered the carne, rajas, and estilo baja tacos. They come in sets of 4. They were all really good and very different. We also got a side of rice and beans. The rajas were really spicy, which I liked, but other people werent expecting it.
For my bday celebration, they brought out a caramel flan or something like that. It was also very good.
The service was so-so. The portion sizes are RIDICULOUSLY small. The food itself was pretty good. The atmosphere is definitely club/restaurant/loungey. Drinks pretty good and the actual crowd was pretty good, minus crabby ladies. Its definitely trendy Mexican. Dont come here expecting Chi-Chi's style :) -
Review from Jen A.
11/2/2011
Ok Mercadito, I'll be back for another girls night out. All the food was delicious and the people-watching was fantastic. If I did a shot for every jumpsuit and sparkly dress in this place, I'd out-drink Marian in the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Loved the unique cocktails-- we tried the cucumber margarita with a spicy salted rim and thought it was great.
I did not enjoy waiting shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of loud bachelorette parties for 60 minutes even though we had reservations. I also did not enjoy shouting my conversation across the table to my girlfriends.
On the plus side, we were able to ridicule a lot of outfits regarding the people standing right next to our table without any fear that we were heard. -
Review from Chi G.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
I really enjoyed this place! After 10pm, they give a 50% industry discount which I took advantage of. Bring your industry card or a recent pay stub. The music is loud and the crowd is sexy. Great place for a girls night out or a late night bite. The food is fresh and coctails are tasty. We enjoyed the guacamole and steak tacos. The mixto ceviche and fish tacos were a miss for us, but I would still recommend this place.
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Review from Brandon B.
Chicago, IL
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bouncing from a wedding reception (i.e. already full of cake, sandwiches, and champagne) to a huge taco buffet is a little bit of an exercise in masochism....while I did pack away several of the delicious tacos, I was able to avoid dousing myself in more tequila. Late afternoon the place was totally dead but our party, which was nice for the moment because we could actually talk and think and celebrate. Someone in our party ordered the small trays of tacos which were unique and suprising combinations of simple ingredients, and this was just a fragment of the menu. Love to come back on a hopping night, sounds like it would be a fun social scene.
