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Mercat
Categories: Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Spanish Tapas Bars, Spanish [Edit]
45 Bond St(between 2nd St & Bowery)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: NoHo
(212) 529-8600
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bleecker St (4, 6, 6X)
Broadway - Lafayette St (B, D, F, M)
2 Av (F)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 6 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Lee G. said: "Its the little things that make the difference; that separate the best from the good. Jamie and Will at The Pan American focus on the little things. A theme of both north and south American foods is not that original but the care and…" read more »
223 reviews for Mercat
Review Highlights
"Some of the best patatas bravas I've had."
(in 34 reviews)
"Braised Berkshire pork belly - who doesn't love pig."
(in 22 reviews)
"Fideua negra - Fideua made with black squid ink."
(in 15 reviews)
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223 reviews in English
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Review from Jen W.
2/7/2012
I have always been a tapas lover since I traveled thru Spain, and from that I have a somewhat lofty goal of trying every (good) tapas restaurant in NYC. This list includes spots serving up traditional tapas like Sala 19 and Flor de Sol, to the fusion-y inventive "modern" tapas you would find at Alta and Casa Mono. Mercat skews towards the latter, serving up some authentic Catalonian dishes but with a scattering of those Spanish-"inspired" dishes. However, the pork belly watermelon salad I tried there might deviate a bit further (anyone know the origins?). I came here for dinner a few months ago with a large group of friends and enjoyed a fantastic meal. We probably sampled a good third of the menu and found everything exquisite and beautifully presented. Must try's: Bombes (fried chicken, beef, pork meatballs topped with aioli), Coliflor (fried cauliflower with a hazelnut aioli), Tuna tartare with pork rinds with avocado, Arros D'anec (bomba rice with duck and orange zest), Fig and Fennel salad, Grilled Cod, and some churros with chocolate dipping sauce for dessert! I didn't get to try the Fideua Negra, short noodles with sepia in its ink and topped with aioli, but apparently this Catalan comfort dish is a must try by other reviewers. http://foodcomas.com/2...
The food was fantastic, the ambiance was lively (read loud), and the service was satisfactory. The only con was the aforementioned noise level; to speak to anyone on the other end of the table required shouting, which only added to the incredible din. However, I would definitely return but might just try to go on an off night where it might be a little quieter to enjoy a calmer meal. -
Review from Claudine S.
Charlotte, NC
1/15/2012
What can I say about this establishment that hasn't already be stated! My sister, who lives blocks away, frequents Mercat for the soccer -- she is fanatical about her team. So what a better place to spend NYE at.
Benjamin took care of us with great recommendations and lively talk. He truly made our evening complete. The food and drink was too die for. The entire staff was open and friendly. The wine was AMAZING as was our martini.
After dinner we realized we were too late to rush over to the Italia Disco party for the countdown, so we decided to move to the bar -- Benjamin offered up some Cava and we drank graciously...
The countdown begin and kisses floated around the room. Truly a New Years Eve I will never forget. what a perfect dining experience. I look forward to my return!
Thank You Mercat. -
Review from Julia L.
Manhattan, NY
1/10/2012
Really liked the cod and cauliflower. Yummy
Anchovies was what-ever (on bread...like bruschetta style)
Skirt steak was good, but I'm not that into red meat -
Review from Peter D.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Big birthday dinners are always a pain in the ass.* First of all, it's hard to find a place that:
1. is convenient enough for everyone to get to (read: not in Brooklyn**)
2. will accommodate a large reservation on a weekend evening.
3. takes all types of plastic for the inevitable disaster that is paying the check.
4. is affordable enough that your friends that [make more than you but spend it all on shoes/drugs and as a result] are perpetually broke won't have to go that much further into debt to cover their share.
Mercat is one of the few restaurants that hits all of the above items to a satisfactory degree, and also provides the added bonus of serving delicious food. I was so pleasantly surprised by the excellence of everything I tried. (But let's face it, I order like a champ.)
The patatas bravas are as good a variation as I've ever had; perfectly crispy and completely addictive. Get a couple orders for the table. The tuna tartar served on a bed of avocado is fresh and light, and topped with thankfully ungreasy pork rinds that hit all the right salty, textural notes. The stuffed peppers (pebrots, on the menu) are very nice, although the shortribs were a bit dry. The brussel sprouts with chorizo, golden raisins and almonds are slow-cooked in a stock, and are as good as this vegetable gets.
My favorite dish, however, was the Coca D'anec, a coca bread topped with sliced duck, pears, spinach and hazelnut. It arrived after everyone else had already tapped out, and I had no qualms about taking it on myself. The startlingly addictive sauce had a vaguely Asian flavor, and I wouldn't be surprised if was made with hoisin.
We did have a few service hiccups throughout the evening, but our waitress did stoically take seven or eight different credit cards, and brought out churros for the birthday girl.
I'll happily return for future group outings, and perhaps I'll even spring for the "cocktail" they offer that is literally just two shots of Jack and a bottle of Rose ($48).
____________
*Except for yours. You're special.
**Even if it's a shorter ride with less walking, some of you Manhattanites just refuse to cross bridges. You've got nothing to worry about. You're not good-looking enough for us to want to kidnap you. -
Review from Dave F.
Hoboken, NJ
1/23/2012
Best authentic Catalan tapas. The food was exactly the same as what I had in Barcelona. Shrimp with the head on... shrimpy, briny, brainy deliciousness. The fideuos negros... only place in NYC I have ever seen it, complete with the aiolo. So, so good. The bombes were good, and the tomato bread and spicy potatoes are total catalan staples. It used to be on savored, so when I went here it was cheaper, but still not bad at all at full price.
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Review from p p.
Manhattan, NY
1/28/2012
I really wanted to love this place, as the menu looked great. I'd say the drawbacks were -
1. food was not evenly salted - half of the plate was too salty and the other half not enough salt (this happened with 2 of our plates)
2. the churros was SO greasy I could only eat one (and that too I needed to force myself to finish it). The chocolate sauce it came with was more like drinking milk syrup than good quality chocolate
3. it's cash only -
Review from Neline S.
12/11/2011
I made reservations for this place same day on Friday at 7pm and was surprised they had seating for two. This place is more for a later dining crowd.
I was also 15 minutes late and when I came rushing in, the place was still relatively quiet and the maitre d' said my party was waiting at the table.
I was catching up with a friend who I haven't seen in a long time so we started catching up immediately and our waiter was pretty patient since it took us 10 minutes to look over the menu to decide.
I let my friend pick the plates and opted to stick to three since I read the portions are huge for tapas style.
My friend picked the Bombes for Appetizers which were chicken, beef and pork meatball topped with aioli sauce and I absolutely adore aioli sauce.
Then we picked a three cheese plate and my friend didn't care as she likes all type of cheese. I knew I wanted manchengo but also had a hard time picking two others so I asked for my waiter's recommendations and he picked a goat cheese but I don't remember what region and another one.
We also ordered the pork belly dish which made me excited. At first my friend and I looked at the liquor menu debating between vodka and whisky. I actually asked for whiskey and pickle juice but our waiter unfortunately said they don't serve pickle juice and it's more of a Brooklyn drink which I thought was funny.
Eventually, I opted for red wine but again didn't know what I want so I deferred to his recommendation and my friend ended up with a Belgian winter beer.
The cheese plate came first with bread and I really liked the goat cheese, which was soft but had a subtle flavor to it. Not a lot of people like goat cheese since it has such a distinct taste but I liked the balance.
Next came the bombes which I wasn't too impressed with however, the pork belly was satisfying but you can never go wrong with pork fat. I asked for a different glass of red wine and unfortunately, I have to pay more attention since he picked out a more robust wine. It wasn't too heavy or rich which didn't over power the pork fat but I do like distinct, robust reds.
A meal is never complete without dessert so I ended up ordering a souffle de xocolata which was a warm, chocolate souffle with a side order of ice cream.
It took awhile for the dessert to come out and it wasn't too sweet since this whole experience was about moderation.
I really liked how our waitstaff paid attention, making sure our waters were filled and explaining the cheeses to us. I was also impressed with their wall of wine which is actually on the second tier so it's pretty cool to watch the servers pick out bottles.
I like this place - the crowd is civilized and not too noisy, the service is attentive, and of course - the immaculate rows of wine to gaze at while waiting for your meal! -
Review from s k.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
Ok - so it's not all about mood lighting, but it can't hurt ;o)
The restaurant is nice and cozy and the staff is uber nice. One negative thing though, you can't really ask for a cocktail that is off the menu. I think the bartender is either new or not too good at what he does because a simple sidecar threw him for a loop.
Other than the stunted cocktail menu I would say everything else was pretty good.
We ordered a bunch of apps: cheese plate, shrimp croquets, Fried Cauliflour (so simple and amazing!), white anchovies (awesome!)
...and some larger dishes: Bomba Rice with seafood (ok), Coca bread with duck (i'm not a duck lover and i enjoyed this), Grilled steak (well seasoned) Arugula salad and Brussel sprouts (which i could not stop eating!)
All in all a great meal, fun times and for the many hours that we were there the wasn't anyone pushing us to finish quick and turn over the table (although it was a tuesday night so take that with a grain of salt). -
Review from Ishmal R.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
OK, so I cant really remember the names of all the Tapas we had here, but there were three of us and we ordered a bunch of things.
Everything we ordered was delicious.
Our waitress who has worked here for quite a while was great, she was well informed about the menu, made great suggestions and was super efficient and friendly.
This restaurant also has great ambiance, perfect for a date or get together with friends. -
Review from Vinny P.
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Every November, I whisk away to NYC for at least two weekends. The reason for this scheduled travel are the birthdays of my two oldest friends. I must say that my buddy Ron's selection of restaurants is improving with his age.
I arrived at Mercat and sat at the bar for a drink while waiting for everyone to show up. I ended up starting with one of their gin based cocktails and it was pleasant though not earth shattering.
When everyone finally arrived, we were seated at a large communal table right next to the bar. What followed was an onslaught of food. There were too many different dishes to mention without making this review read like a Dickens novel. I was highly impressed with both the service and the quality of all the dishes. The shrimp croquettes, blood sausage and the pork belly that we had were definitely standouts on the menu to me.
I definitely think this establishment knows what they are doing and it shows in all aspects. It's definitely a wonderful spot to host a group and the food is diverse enough to please a wide range of people. -
Review from Kate H.
Manhattan, NY
11/22/2011
We selected this restaurant for my boyfriend's group birthday dinner last weekend. I wanted everything to be perfect and for the most part I was beyond satisfied with our experience all around. I was in touch with Carl through email back and forth to plan the dinner for 14 people and he was very informative and attentive.
When we got there the night of we were running late and by the time the whole group was there it was nearly an hour past the reservation time. Still they accommodated us and sat us at a table up front near the bar. The atmosphere was dimly lit and quaint, and it looked perfect for groups or dates. The service was fabulous and while I didn't get everyone's names Eva, our server, was phenomenal. She was always checking in with me to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed.
The food was delicious and the many foodies in my group were impressed which made me happy. We had pre-selected several options for the appetizers and entrees and they were passed around the table in generous portions following the first course of assorted meats, cheeses, and olives which alone were delectable. The group particularly enjoyed the pork belly, the cod dish, shrimp fritters, the patatas bravas, the skirt steak, and the brussels sprouts. I won't go into detail describing in food item but just trust me that these were all worth trying!
Drinks were decent and most of us opted for wine although they had a reasonable selection of cocktails at the bar. I went for the Meow Meow, a refreshing but somewhat weak ginger mixture on the rocks. For dessert we brought our own cake but they brought it out with candles and several members of the staff got involved. Overall we were all very happy with the experience and I would highly recommend this for anyone planning a group dinner on a special occasion! -
Review from Gloria F.
New York, NY
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here with a few friends last night. We were able to take a corner of the bar and hang out for the whole night.
The bar is lively but you can definitely get a seat and people are very friendly and chatty.
They had a great list of Spanish wines and a nice selection of wines by the glass. My friend who rarely drinks much even had 4 beers. We had a selection of tapas and potatoes (papas bravas) were to die for. I also loved the rice dish which was like mini paella. What keeps me from five stars was the somewhat spacey service from our bartender. I think we probably would have had 2x more drinks otherwise. -
Review from Helen B.
10/29/2011
Mercat is a cool, casual, hip downtown dinner on a cold winter day... The vibe is relaxed, the drinks and wine list are spot on and the food is as cozy as you can get..throw in some awesome company and this place will remind you why you live in NYC and why it rocks! :)
They have the best Brussels spruta here..hehe.. But get e tuna tartar and the eggplant. The baccala and duck rice dish are tasty as well. End with the chocolate souffle with almond ice cream :)
Bond St is also one of my favorite streets in NY so that doesn't hurt either! Don't forget to admire the amazing building at 40 Bond when you are down there... -
Review from Shar K.
New York, NY
12/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Nice atmosphere. Had a really good goat cheese, a salad with pear, and an assortment of the small entrees including the duck. Everything was decent.
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Review from Laura W.
Astoria, NY
Updated - 9/26/2011
We have been going to Mercat for a few years and have always loved it-- my mother's family came from Spain and I have visited Spain several times (the last time we planned the trip specifically around food), so I know about Spanish food (although am not an expert) and Mercat does it very well in my opinion.
This weekend we had a private party there for our wedding. I cannot express enough how awesome it was. Everyone at Mercat was super helpful while I was planning the evening-- they were both laid-back and very attentive, which is an amazing combination. We chose our menu from their current offerings, and because we had a lot of vegetarians on our guest list they really tailored the menu to our needs, even adding a vegetarian paella at the last minute. I was nervous that it would be difficult for the food to be as good for a large group as it normally is, but the food was of the same quality as every other time we'd been there and the presentation was beautiful. The staff was so nice the entire evening-- they were really friendly and seemed happy to have us there, and they were helpful and attentive without being obtrusive. They even happily helped with a wedding cake we brought in.
I would definitely recommend Mercat for a night out, whether it is a whole meal or just a drink and snack at the bar, but I also wholeheartedly recommend it for a private party if you are even looking for a place to throw one.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2011
Well, having eaten all over northern Spain and having a grandmother and mother who cook Spanish… Read more »
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Review from Naz N.
New Hyde Park, NY
12/28/2011
Came here to watch a Barça champions league game, so the menu was a bit different. The food didn't seem to suffer because of that, however.
I ordered croquetas de gamba, which were awesome (but to be fair, it's pretty difficult to mess up croquetes). The pan amb tomate was heavenly, on a nice, thick slice of bread. Another highlight was definitely the coliflor, which was very lightly fried accompanied with a hazelnut aioli that was absolutely spectacular. The salsa on the patatas bravas made up for the somewhat bland potatoes, and the truitas de patatas was very good as well. I'd love to come back here for dinner. The prices seem well worth it. -
Review from Melissa T.
Manhattan, NY
10/16/2011
4.5 stars! I came here with a few girl friends for a night out and this restaurant was great! The ambience was chic and noise level was ok enough to have lots of girl talk, even though the place was busy.
I thought the food was delicious..the cheeses, tuna tartare, cauliflower (really yummy), arroz de mar (can use a little more salt though). these get 5 stars. the sausage dish was a lil weird for my taste...oddly sweet..and not my fav..it came with an odd pile of mushy cabbage. i wouldn't recommend this dish. Also, the portions are not that big..but they are tapas. Overall, great place for tapas! -
Review from Peter C.
8/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Is this a secret? I'm I allowed to Yelp it?
I was surprised to arrive at Mercat on a friday night to find the place only half-full. I had made a reservation, and had been expecting a crowd for this well-reviewed, trendy-looking and well-located spot.
Oh well, your loss. This place is good.
Unique ingredients, good flavor combinations. This place knows how to put together some tapas. We got the potatas bravas, something with mushroom, the pork belly and an octopus specials - all were very good, and the two of us had plenty. The one mis-step, if you can call it that, would be the heavy hand they used in dousing the mushroom dish with a lot of truffle oil. Then again, truffle oil is delicious, so...
Cool vibe, friendly service, great good and location. I'll be back. -
Review from Lindsay H.
New York, NY
9/20/2011
This place is amazing! Located on a really cute street, the restaurant has a great, stylish look. The upstairs is really chic and vibrant, but my boyfriend and I were seated downstairs in what smelled a bit like a damp basement. Luckily, we got used to it and it didn't bother us during the meal, but I do wish we could have sat upstairs. I have a feeling they try to seat couples downstairs where it's a bit more quiet and larger groups upstairs by the bar.
Now, on to the food...wow! There were about a million things on the menu that we could have ordered, but we got the tuna tartar, flatiron steak with crispy mashed potatoes, and the duck on this delicious bread. The portions are bigger here than at most tapas restaurants, so we were very satisfied with these dishes. You have to get each and every one if you go. You will not be disappointed! We also got creme brûlée for dessert, which was the perfect end to the meal.
This place is great for anything, date night, girls night, family in town, etc. Definitely check it out! -
Review from Ben P.
9/19/2011
Hurrrm. This one was tough. There is a lot to be said about this place both good and bad. Unfortunately, the bad far out-weighed the good. In short, they have pretty solid food served by really poorly trained people.
The cuisine is traditional-ish Spanish tappas. The menu is laid out well, but is in very much Spanish-Spanish and as most Americans are used to a more South American or Mexican Spanish, this can be confusing. Fortunately, two of us speak enough Spanish to navigate fairly well, but I was surprised that our waiter offered absolutely no assistance. In fact, he didn't seem too intent on doing more than standing there writing down an order. So in short, if you are a tappas rookie, this isn't the place to learn, unfortunately.
Other service failings included the fact that we had to ask three different people for a few more slices of bread for our cheese course, not a single offer of a clean plate after a couple of courses, finished entree plates sitting idly on the side for ages before they were picked up, oh, and a manager telling one of his staff that he was going to 'pee his pants' as he stood right next to our table. Aw, wasn't that nice?
The food was solid. For tappas, I found everything to be portioned very well. Great presentation, inventive ingredients, But it was salty. Everything was very, very salty. In fact a steak dish we ordered wasn't salty and it was tasteless. The chimichurri on it added nothing. Also, it came out luke warm, at best.
Atmosphere is very cool. I might come back here to sit at the bar and order a couple of things, just to give them another shot, but I'm definitely not returning for a full meal. -
Review from Sean S.
7/14/2011
Bond Street is so fkn sexy. Why is bond street so hot? I don't know if it's the extra wide cobble stone street that goes to nowhere, or that exclusive address that no one seems to know how to find, or it's proximity to Collonade Row. Whatever it is, I've always thought it was a special street and judging from the real estate prices, a lot of other people do too!
At any rate, it's not everyday that I'm over here, but on a good Wednesday night, after finishing off dinner at Pulinos, I decided to head over here for a second round and wait for a third friend to join. I ordered a Dilford which was some very fine cocktail, brown liquor (don't ask) and bitters. This got the evening going, and soon we were ordering spanish tapas, and tasting a little bit Mezcal $18 tequilla shots. Yum. We had some Cauliflower with hazelnut aioli, pumpkin seeds and fried leeks. That was damn good with a touch of mayo.
This place is sexy. Date friendly, definitely! -
Review from sandy c.
New York, NY
Located on the prestigious, Bond street in NOHO, this is one of those places you won't find unless you're looking for it. Unsuspecting from the outside, but dark, mysterious and sexy on the inside, with a iron spiral staircase leading upstairs where they store the wine tucked behind glass and warm back lit lights.
Mercat has an inventive selection of tapas with an amazing list of reasonably priced wines from Spain. I love Spanish wines, I took a picture of the label of the wine that we ordered. It had a beautiful label (Check my pics)
I love that they have things on the menu that I don't see anywhere else. This is what we should expect from restaurants in NYC; interesting combinations of food, reinvented to surprise your taste buds and dining experience.
Two tapas you MUST TRY from their menu:
TRENCAT D"OUS
Mushrooms, Fried Egg, Truffle Vinaigrette and Fried shoestring Potatoes
FIDEUA NEGRA
Short Noodles with Sepia in 'its' Ink and topped with Aioli
Ask your server for their recommendations. The staff is casual, but well versed on the menu and their own favorites. I want to try to the soft shell crab.Listed in: NYC "Eat, Pray, Love", NYC Noho
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Review from Christina F.
New York, NY
11/12/2011
Everything was fabulous here. Every single tapa. From the cheese to the pork belly to the Brussels sprouts to the cod... just fantastic. Service was a bit spotty.. had to flag down the servers a couple of times. But would absolutely return for a delicious meal. They also accommodated 10 people very well.
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Review from Saara H.
7/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I have to echo what some of the other reviews said about Mercat's poor service. While we were greeted by a warm host, I couldn't believe how rude our waitress was. I asked the waitress what dishes she liked on the menu; she spoke at length about how all of the dishes were very good. Then, my brother asked which dish was the most popular-a similar question but not exactly the same. She literally waved her finger in his face as she went on an angry diatribe on how she already answered that question and how he should've listened to her. Even if he had asked the exact same question, the waitress should've understood that repeating herself in a noisy restaurant is not an absurd request. Everyone at our table was stunned by the waitress's behavior. To make matters worse, she proceeded to be short and inattentive throughout the rest of the night.
While I wish I could say the food made up for the service, unfortunately, Mercat proved to provide nothing more than tiny, overpriced, poorly prepared tapas. The shrimp was too salty to finish, the skirt steak was drenched in a seasoning that overpowered the meat, and the arros de mar seemed a bit burnt.
The crispy mashed potatoes accompanying the skirt steak and the shrimp croquetes were the only items anyone at our table liked.
We left hungry and had to pick up something else before the night was over. Such a disappointing dining experience. Try one of the many other restaurants in the area (several on the same street) before heading into Mercat. -
Review from D H.
New York, NY
12/3/2011
Couldn't have asked for a better night. My boyfriend and I were walking around NoHo in search of a cozy spot for delicious bites and wine. We stopped into a few places that just weren't right for our mood, and when we stumbled on this candle-lit restaurant on Bond, we knew this was where we wanted our night to end. We sat towards the back of the large main room (there is another smaller room below as well) and had the sweetest waiter who was extremely helpful. After placing our order for patatas bravas (a must for us when we do tapas), shrimp gamba, a pepper-embraced pebrots farcits (really just short ribs covered in peppers atop lentils), brussel sprouts, he recommended we try one more dish - the White Anchovies and Escalivada on top of toasted bread. After many years witnessing my grandfather eating anchovies out of a can, I have always shied away from these poor little fishes thinking they smelled horribly and looked even worse. Our water let us know that this would be nothing like that experience, and he was so right. The delicious vinegar sauce drizzled over the tender filets, and toasted bread with pickled veggies was absolute perfection - it actually may have been our favorite dish.
We topped off our meal with the chocolate souffle and toasted almond ice cream (more like vanilla ice cream with almond chunks, didn't get much of a 'toasted' flavor) - it was a perfect evening with delicious wine, great conversation and other happy diners beside us. The ambiance was cozy and inviting and we were definitely impressed.
The table beside us ordered the fried peppers (the waiter called these the Russian Roullette of their menu) - fried mild peppers with one out of ever few that is HOT) - they smelled divine, and I will definitely order next time I go back. -
Review from Evmorfea M.
North Brunswick Township, NJ
9/19/2011
I would love to give this place 5 Stars... !! I really would, but a couple of things just made my rating go down a little!
I came here for my birthday over the weekend. It was a surprise dinner and when we got there I was immediately excited for some yummy Spanish, Catalonian cuisine.
Our waiter was AMAZING. He was knowledgable and very helpful with the menu. We wanted to buy a bottle of wine and helped us chose one which was good, not the best wine, but very satisfying. He told us his top choices of food and was of great help.
For starts:
Patates Bravas: Yummy!! They were super crispy and aioli was perfectly spicy!!!
Tuna Tartar: Loved the cilantro and avocado. The yucca fries were SO good. We both with there were more!
Cheese & Shrimp Croquetttes: Quote of the night? "these remind me of something" "ya HEAVEN". amazing amazing app, but definitely split because they are very cheesy and can become very heavy, even for a cheese lover like myself.
Entrees:
He got the stuffed piquillo peppers stuffed with braised short rib and lentils. His food was perfect. Super soft short ribs, tasty peppers, and the lentils might have been the most amazing lentils i've ever eather. They had been smoked and cooked al dente... they were PHENOMENAL!
I got the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. This is wear my 5***** became a 4****! I love steak that's bloody and juicy. The skirt steak though, because it's so fatty, does need to be cooked atleast medium so it's not chewy. Unfortunately my steak was under coooked and i could hardly cut it with my knife. The sauce was tasty and it was a good portion size, but I couldn't enjoy it at all. The grilled veggies and potato pies were amazing though and I finished those off no problem.
For Dessert: XURROS!!!! they were so good and crispy. Loved the dipping sauce.
I will definitely come back for more food... it was yummy and delightful. The atmosphere was perfect, dimly lit, and good music. -
Review from Sanuber G.
New York, NY
11/27/2011
Food above average for tapas, which are not necessarily well known for culinary wonders at the first place. There are a few things on the menu that are surprising/interesting but overall this is not drastically a different kind of tapas place--perhaps except for the prices.
The service however was the worst part of our experience. The waitress had an undeservedly snotty, self-righteous attitude. She poured the wrong wine over my half full glass, which had a different wine, not once BUT TWICE! And she never even offered to replace my glass. The first time around I had to ask for a new glass of wine (my original choice). The second time, I thought she would automatically fix it given it was her second time doing the same mistake. NO. She just said "sorry" and moved on to pour wine for the other people in the party.
It was astonishing. For a restaurant that is charging the prices that these guys are they better train their servers on how to pour wine!!!
In an ideal world, we would have given her a bare minimum tip, but of course, we had a party of six and were automatically charged an undeserved 20% tip.
While the ambience is really nice and the food is ok, I don't know that I would go back to this place... Really! In a city where there are so many exquisite restaurants, you can't afford to alienate customers with poor service! -
Review from Todd G.
Joplin, MO
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a bad experience here. Food was soggy and waitress was impatient. I guess YMMV, because most people love it. But I and the three people I was with all were disappointed.
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Review from Frank D.
Brooklyn, NY
9/9/2011
The short answer: very good, both food and service - some small complaints. Not particularly generous on portions and can get pricey if you're very hungry when you get here.
The long story.
We came here on a Friday at 7:00. Had made reservations and requested ground floor seating (there is also a downstairs, which I would avoid as it is somewhat cramped and smelled musty - at least on the evening that I was there). The person who "greeted" us tried to put us downstairs, which I found annoying as the place was fairly empty (maybe our party - not young or "hip" looking - was lacking in desired demographic appearance). We ended up getting a nice four-top on the main level. The server was new (possibly her first night, by her own admission) - had no idea about the wine list and didn't recommend that we consult with anyone else. Not a problem for me, but could be for someone else facing an 8 page wine list. We did ask for someone else when she could not really explain the meat or cheese selections on the menu.
We ordered three appetizers ("apats"), one cheese and one meat, two of "cuina de mercat") (the menu at the restaurant differs from the online version in organization and somewhat in content; check the photos at Google for the restaurant) and two "raciones." We enjoyed everything except the meat ("embotits") sobrassada (not to be confused with soppressata) which was neutral and somewhat greasy (maybe that's the way it's supposed to be). Again, not particularly generous portions if you're looking to fill up big.
We ordered two deserts: crema catalana, which was very good, and the xurros (churros) which we sent back because they were burnt on one side - they should never have left the kitchen.
Cocktails were interesting and priced somewhat on the high side. Our wine selection - a VESPRES de Celler Dosterras 2008 MONTSANT - was very reasonably priced at $50 (again, not that we got any help from the server, who admitted to no knowledge of the "bottled wines").
Would I go there again - definitely yes. A not-your-average tapas bar/restaurant (and it is all small plates). Just don't allow yourself to be "guided" downstairs, find someone who can explain all the dishes and wines if you need some help (don't be shy) and be prepared for a little "sticker shock" if you come particularly hungry. -
Review from Vincent A.
Manhattan, NY
11/22/2011
Mercat combines the more traditional tapas items along with what I would could consider more experimental and innovative ones.
Your meal could easily consist of entirely one type or the other, but your meal should consist of a bit of each to truly make it worth the experience.
Admittedly, the one's that seem to consist of a bit more inspiration tend to fall a little flat, hence the detraction of one star.
But overall, the environment and food was fun and delicious, respectively. -
Review from Mike P.
Allentown, NJ
11/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Soooo goooood.... Went here Saturday night, had a great crowd, place was lively and good atmosphere. The food is sensational - order several things to split as the come out - all terrific !!! All small plates, but plenty for two people. The brussel sprouts with torizo was fantastic, and i typically do not like the sprouts.
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Review from Laura A.
New York, NY
The food is delightful at Mercat. That, its a fact. And gourmets should pay one visit at least. Now, this conclusion was reached while going through different ways to evaluate it, asking fundamental questions like authenticity, creativity, overall experience and the predominant flavor profile. Mercat features regional Spanish cuisine from Cataluña. That, is another fact. Actually, the menu is presented in Catalan, the language spoken over there. By the way, Barça fans may want to know that it's also the home to the FC Barcelona's Official Clubhouse and that shows all FCB games live ... Okay.
What is extremely attractive to me however, is the general look. While the long shape doesn't seems to be utilize in the best way possible, a second thought reveals how the idea is to create 2 different areas well delimited. The bar, right at the entrance, where you can have food and drinks. The hostess station is located right at the end of the bar area and creates the visual separation with the dinning room. Where small and medium tables will be able to isolate you for a truly intimate occasion. The lighting is beautiful, dark and sexy. I'm repeating others quotations because that is exactly how it is. It also have a rustic appearance with a NYC flair. You know, sophisticated at the same time. Reservations? you should. Otherwise waiting time could be over half hour. This happened last Saturday night for 4 people. In opposite to the food and the ambiance, I didn't find the service extremely welcoming and friendly. Neither too attentive. And somehow that is a discrepancy note at Mercat. Some of them were also nicer than others, so your experience may be a little bit different.
Paellas, fideuas, with seafood or meat .. you heard about it right? variations around the same theme are signatures dishes at Catalan cuisine. Also fresh vegetables. Cured meats and Pan amb (with) tomaca. All this is offered at Mercat. This is Mediterranean influenced people and that is noticeable in their food. The format is tapas style mean to be shared. The portions here are bigger than regular tapas in NY and therefore one dish is ideal for 2 in the sense of more than one bite of it per person. At least the ones we tried. The food is also filling, 4 people had enough with 5 dishes. Add one glass of wine, excellent by the way, with previous tasting before ordering, and it cost $30 per person. Extremely reasonable. The Fideua Negra, short thin noodles with cuttlefish in 'its' Ink and topped with Aioli, wasn't as tasty as it should be and I'm used to crispier noodles although this is the way is made in Valencia more than in Barcelona. But, don't get me wrong, its a must try. The Tonyina (Tuna) amb (with) Escabetx (escabeche), confuse me quite a bit. Escabeche is our version of ceviche: barely cook (poached or fried) fish (or certain meats) marinated for certain time in vinegar and some vegetables (pepper and onion) Here, it refers to the vegetables not the fish and I misunderstood while ordering. Instead, it consist in Tuna Tartar with Avocado, Cucumber, Pork Rinds and fried Yuca. It may not be as traditional as I would have like, but once you accept it, along with the use of a foreign element, Yuca, and the fact that the vegetables escabeche wasn't strong on the vinegar flavor as it should be, it was very very good.
Cansalada is pork belly. Mercat made it with watermelon, caramelized onion bacon and orange marmalade. Others loved the watermelon combined with the pork. I didn't. Another external element that I personally disliked. But I'm not a fan of watermelon anyways. Besides, the pork belly was flavorful and the texture perfect. So decadent and melting in your mouth. Although it lacked the crispier skin that I have got at Degustation or Socarrat. The Pan amb tomaca, was not as good as expected. Garlic is optional and I prefer versions that use it. Mercat is not one of those. But besides this, I find it a bit soggy and the olive oil wasn't the best quality. I even question if it was extra virgin. But still, once again, it tasted good. And finally, my favorite, Arros D'anec: bomba rice with Sliced Duck and orange zest. This dish was fantastic. The most flavorful and close to the intensity taste of Spanish cuisine, something that is frequently missed at NY. It was unctuous and the orange noticeable without being overwhelming and only as an aftertaste flavor.
Mercat may not be as castizo (authentic) as you may demand. But this is a narrow assertion as Spain is clearly on the air, just a little bit evolved under expertise hands. And you know what? .. Barcelona is known for being the most eclectic and multicultural city in Spain. Therefore Mercat ended up being as castizo as is should be? ...regardless, at the end the most important question is ... did it taste good? well, no, it really doesn't. It just taste much better than that.Listed in: Spain in NY
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Review from Dana F.
3/13/2011
A Real Madrid fan walks into a Barcelona bar...
That sounds like the beginning of a horrible joke, but it was the truth [1]. Believe it or not, I was treated like a queen on my last visit to Mercat. Maybe it's because I didn't bring up CR9 [2], but I'm willing to bet it's because the management cares about their customers and Spain enthusiasts.
I found myself treated to a 2009 Black Pig Albarino, which is a juicy, slightly dry wine that paired well with many of the tapas that we ordered.
The special of the day was pimientos de padron. Mercat actually uses padron peppers; there are other places in the city where I have seen a variation on the chili used. There were quite a few "firecrackers" in our plate, but that's what makes eating these peppers so fun and keeps dinner interesting!
We were also treated to pan con tomate, bellota ham, and tuna tartar. The pan con tomate was very good - toasty bread, rubbed with tomato, drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with salt. The bellota ham just melted in my mouth. Mmm. The tuna tartar was served on avocado, which made the entire dish so smooth and slightly dense. It also paired very nicely with the wine in that the acidity was muted.
We also ordered the following:
Fideua negra - Fideua made with black squid ink. This was delicious, but the essence of seafood was not as pronounced as I imagined. (There was not much in the way of seafood included in the dish.)
Bacalla - The bacalao was prepared in a puree of fresh vegetables. The heartiness of the fish, combined with baby carrot and pea puree, was an unusual preparation (bacalao is usually prepared with tomato, chickpeas, or potato - all heavier than the vegetables used).
Berenjenas - A whole eggplant was prepared with goat cheese and honey. The eggplant and honey combination was great to begin with, and the creamy goat cheese provided just enough tanginess to balance out the sweetness.
For dessert, we ordered the chocolate souffle, which takes about 15 minutes to prepare. The wait is worth it, though! The souffle is not too dry, not too molten, and although the kitchen ran out of almond ice cream, vanilla also worked well.
We also ordered a glass of a tempranillo blend - even as the wine sat for a bit, the tannins were pretty harsh. The wine selections by the bottle seem like the way to go.
In New York, it is typically difficult to find tapas that are prepared with the same quality of ingredients, thoughtfulness, and friendliness of service that are customary in Spain. Along with establishments such as Despana, Casa Mono, and Degustation, Mercat represents a little bit of Spain in NYC for me.
[1] Full disclosure: I actually am a Valencia fan, but seeing as there is no pena in NYC, I have to default to Madrid.
[2] http://biboz.org/video...Listed in: España!
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Review from Nicole F.
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here on a Friday night and enjoyed the selection of their specialty cocktails. The "meow meow" was fun to say and was like a peach mojito basically. I was impressed by how authentically Barcelonian this place was, from the Catalan menu to the food selection.
I shared the espinacs (spinach) with roasted pine nuts and raisins, pa amb tomaquet (toasted bread with really high-quality olive oil, tomatoes, & garlic), patates bravas (roasted potatoes with a heavy, creamy aioli, botifarra (sausage) over butter beans, which tasted like potatoes, and the coca d'anec (duck over coca bread, which was a bland bread but the duck was fantastic.)
Even having visited Barcelona and remembering most food-related words in Catalan, I was still a little unsure what everything was on the menu, so I would research the menu ahead of time, ask the waiter, or break out a catalan-english dictionary on your phone! -
Review from Naz S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/2/2011
*Have your party here*
I'm not an expert on Tapas or wine but i have to commend the service Mercat provided early on this year. I reserved a table for 15 people for a birthday. Getting the final head count was tough and i called Mercat several times to edit. They were really patient and clearly experience with larger groups. Once we arrived they suggested that we leave the tapas menu up to them, they would bring out a selection over the course of the night and whenever we liked something in particular we could order more of the same. This worked really well and was a relief for me - no chaos caused by the indecisiveness of a large group, we got right down to enjoying the night.
At the end of the night the bill split about 14 ways was about $100 each. A bit pricey but to be expected considering that the group ordered a lot of wine. Our server then proceeded to patiently run about 12 different credit cards - So all in all, they made it a really smooth night. -
Review from Rita M.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 6/27/2011
I came here for a second time and while the food was good (although the Fideos Negros weren't as good as I remembered them to be), the service was hilariously AWFUL.
I say hilariously because I was with a good group of friends and we were able to laugh it off, but still. Our waitress was terribly rude, nowhere to be found most of the time, and pretty much the opposite of friendly and accommodating. Perhaps she was having a bad day, but man she sure couldn't help but take it out on us.
It's OK Mercat, your food is good, just maybe up the hospitality a little bit? Moltes graciés.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2010
I loved Mercat even before I got there, if and only because I lived in Barcelona for a while, and… Read more »
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Review from Marc H.
Manhattan, NY
3/15/2011
totally overrated. I was actually really disappointed with the entire experience, from food to service.
we ordered a ton of stuff off the menu and the only thing that was actually worth going back for was the assorted charcuterie platter and the cauliflower. even still, i probably won't come back here for those.
the servers made it a habit of not doing a thorough job of telling us what dishes they were bringing us unless we asked. some of the food runners did, but most of them would just set the plate down and walk away.
bonus! cool decor!
save your money, there are better places in the city -
Review from Angela L.
5/15/2011
High ceilings, dim lighting, tapas for sharing, nice wine list = perfect place for a date ;)
hanger steak - juicy and perfectly cooked with what tasted like chimichurri
seafood paella - came with one jumbo prawn on top black paella rice, very tasty
gambas - giant prawns simply grilled with garlic n oil
sauteed spinach - great compliment to your meal with crunchy pinenuts
take reservations, reasonably priced for excellent quality and service. -
Review from Angel C.
9/27/2011
Authentic, sexy, slick, and tucked away. The Bond St resto is a great date or late night bite spot. Sit at the counter if you can and watch and interact with the purveyors of plates. They are friendly and knowledgeable and having the experience makes the flavors go down even more lushly. Wine selection is great, I went for tapas and will be back before too long for other menu offerings.
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Review from Stephanie C.
5/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
My experience with Mercat is what hipsters call "amazeballs".
I hope I'm not dishonouring the restaurant by calling it that but it's still a meal that I'm remembering days after I've left the city. It was divine, it was delish, it was amazeballs! I've decided that every visit to New York City must include Mercat on the itinerary.
In town for a few days, I got together with a girlfriend of mine who brought me to her favourite restaurant. After taking the time to catch up on our news, we were finally able to order. We decided to order five dishes to share, since they were tapas and most of the time, these dishes are small. But not so, it was a lot of food, enough for second and third helpings.
Here's the run down of what we ate:
- Espinacs: sautéed spinach with raisins and pine nuts
- Fideua Negra: short noodles with squid ink (you will have black lips whether you want it or not!)
- Coca D'Anec: coca bread with sliced duck, pears, spinach and hazelnuts
- Trencat D'Ous: mushrooms, fried egg, truffle vinaigrette and fried shoestring potatoes
We also had a dish that was pork belly with a citrus-like glaze. For some reason, this dish isn't shown on the online menu and I can't remember the name but it's definitely worth getting. The belly was very succulent and not too fatty.
The meal itself with without alcohol (I had a glass of rosé I paid for it separately) and a coffee, our bill came to $70. I'm sure with alcohol or a bottle from their impressive wine cellar would have jacked up the bill higher.
I absolutely loved the atmosphere too: it was cozy, intimate and not too loud, a perfect date spot if I were on a date! I'm recommending this place to all!Listed in: NYC 2011 & Beyond, Top 5 Best Meals
