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Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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The perfect neighborhood BYO, cash only. They do accept reservations Monday through Friday up until 6:30pm. After that, be prepared to give your cell number to the hostess and wait it out at Tria just across the street. Learn to zone out the conversations of those around you as real estate is quite tight in here. But somehow the wait staff seem to maneuver through with ease and I think it keeps the energy buzzing.
Bread is fresh and served with an olive butter. We used to order a flight of the olive oils but have skipped that the last couple of times so not sure if they still offer it or not. Just a few changes come with the season -- glad to see the pumpkin fettuccine back on the menu. I am always amazed at what wonderful food they are able to produce in that kitchen that seems smaller than my bathroom. The petit filet and the crispy skinned bass are always consistently prepared and pastas are fresh.
We used to order the mascarpone cheesecake on every visit but the last 3 times, it came out sans the walnut shortbread at the bottom. If I write my congressman, do you think I could get it added back on to the dessert? Oh well, it just gives me a reason to walk up to Capo Giro for gelato after dinner -- the extra blocks qualify as exercise, right?
Let me start by saying the lobster and shrimp pyramid pasta is the best dish I have had in recent memory. Seriously outstanding.
If you go, be prepared to wait. Reservations are only accepted before 6:30. They'll take your cell phone and call you when your table is ready, so plan on a pre-dinner drink at Valanni across the street, or Tria down the block. Also, parties of more than four are kind of obnoxious because the place is so small. BYO and cash-only. Service was cordial but not overly friendly.
The tasting menu ($45 for four courses), which I've had before and comes with almost too much food, is only available to you if the whole table is also ordering it.
We shared the antipasti app, which was big and full of portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, marinated mozzarella balls, salami, olives and roasted tomatoes. For my entree, I had the arctic char special, served with parmesan new potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a micro greens salad with lump crab meat. It was excellent, though the fish could have been cooked a tad longer. I tried all the other dishes too, and everything was great, with portions that were much bigger than expected. The four of us shared the tiramisu, which was moist, flavorful and gone in 60 seconds.
I'm pretty close to claiming Mercato as my favorite restaurant in Philly, but there are still a few more to try.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
I love it here. I love the location, the bustling energy, the noise, the menu, the tables crammed in the small space, I love it all - especially when the large windows are open and the restaurant opens up to the corner of Camac and Spruce on an Indian summer evening. Mercato is a Philadelphia BYOB personified.
Service can be a bit hurried (they tend to rotate through servers, don't be alarmed), considering the size and the turnovers, but they are polite and thorough.
Menu is always executed consistently and is excellent; in all the years I've come here (three or four times a year) the food has been top-notch and delicious. If in a group, try their antipasti, enough to feed four. Pasta faves include the Short rib ragu, Lobster and shrimp pyramid pasta, and the delicious, seasonally-appropriate Pumpkin fettuccine. For their culminare, their diver scallops and cioppino is always succulent. Never hesitate to try their daily special. Lastly, leave room for their mascarpone cheesecake... deadly.
Mercato is best experienced in a group no bigger than four (six at the most, but conversation will be difficult and seating will be tight) - it is no place for a first date (as you know, first come- first served reservations, they only take them for pre-theater seatings) If you come on a weekend, arrive by 7:30 pm at the latest to put your name in - they'll most likely send you to their sister restaurant down the street, Valanni for a cocktail and then call you when your table is ready.
As always, and unfortunately still, cash only.
I sort of hate loud places. I avoid bars 95% of my life... or any public place that will leave me with a headache and a general dislike for all people within 30 minutes.
Mercato is full of boisterous, tipsy people and busy kitchen staff packed into a small area (re: loud). Yet it somehow didn't faze me one bit. My boyfriend and I chose a table in a corner and were able to converse with no trouble. Something about the atmosphere of the restaurant made all of the hubbub enjoyable.
We did the prix fixe and I ordered: portabella mushroom wrapped in some flaky pastry with arugula , risotto... with more mushrooms (I never tire of mushrooms) and other veggies, a filet mignon with roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts. And (finally) tiramisu. Upon reading this description you may come to the conclusion that I am not a foodie, will never be a professional writer and should probably stick to playing Settlers of Catan online rather than contributing to Yelp. Hear me out, though! This meal was the best I've had in this city. You can't go wrong with mushroom wrapped in greasy pastry, creamy pasta, melt-in-your-mouth steak (AND melt-in-your-mouth brussels!).
The only disappointment I experienced was with the tiramisu. It probably didn't mesh well with the wine I was trying to down before leaving the restaurant.
O Mercato, if only I could afford to eat within your walls on a weekly basis.
Ate at Mercato this past mother's day and definitely would have gone to Valanni again if I had a do over. The server we had was a smug 30 year old something that seemed to have a problem with my family's choice in vegetarianism. He didn't flat out say it, but he really seemed to think something was funny during each ordering process. Almost mocking us on our decision. The food and everything was OK but not as good as Valanni. As far as the service went, please realize that you have a job as a server to make the customer feel as comfortable as possible, and when your making weird expressions and body gestures when you come to the table that you can really make someone uncomfortable. To top all of that off we saw the Chef come out of the Kitchen to say hello to a few tables and she never had the courtesy to say anything to our table just a blank stair and turned and walked away.
A whatever experience, still wanna try varga bar, hoping the wait staff is lil less pretentious
I'm not sure what Brian R. is talking about in his review, because I went to Mercato for restaurant week and it was perfect. I had been wanting to go here for a while since I feel like it's a notorious Philly establishment, so my girlfriends and I bought 2 bottles of wine (BYOB!) and headed over.
At first I thought it would be really stuffy, as they take your credit card over the phone to save the reservation and... well it just seemed like a place that could afford to be stuffy. But the service was great. We got there and were given a choice to sit inside or outside (out), and they let us sit for a long time before getting a little antsy that we were holding up other guests. To be fair, we had been there for around 3 hours and there were people waiting, so I don't think it was rude.
For restaurant week, we had our pick of the whole menu, save 2 things that were more expensive, so the selection was awesome unlike some other places that only put certain items on the RW menu. I had the short rib ragu, which was deliciously savory and tender, with gnocchi and vegetables. Then the bread pudding desert was so good I scraped it all off my plate. I really want to go back and try even more, as I tasted a bit of my friends' plates and they were great, too!
All in all this was a really good experience, especially because we paid restaurant week prices. But I would definitely go back when it wasn't restaurant week, i'd just make sure to get reservations as it gets crowded!
Be forewarned - it's cash only.
LOVE this restaurant. Best BYO we have ever found. This is our go-to restaurant for a consistently perfect meal.
We love the pumpkin ravioli and the short rib ragu. Incredible cheese plate for an appetizer. Also, the brussel sprouts (what? brussel sprouts?) are so incredible as a side dish. So great that we are now believers in brussel sprouts.
Dessert is good too...if you have the room.
You can feel the energy of the kitchen since the restaurant is so small. Definitely expect a wait on the weekend, but they will take your cell phone number and allow you to have a drink across the street at Valanni.
Restaurant Week Rules - not that type of rule, If one person wants to participate in RW everyone had to participate at our table. I checked the menu, compared the prices and scanned the other patrons meals. Okay looks good to me.
Unfortunately the other patrons did not appear to have order RW, their meals were so much larger than mine. I suggest against RW for this particular place.
My trout was delicious, though its portions were small. The grilled artichoke was interesting, tasty and slightly messy - a finger food. What I like about this place is the authentic appetizers, soups and desserts: squash soup & cantaloupe sorbet are quite original.
Came here for a fancier night out than usual and was pleasantly surprised.
Loved the atmosphere inside the place, bustling but not so much that you can't have a conversation at your own table. You can see the stainless steel adorned kitchen from any seat inside, which is even nicer.
BYOB which is always a + in my book.
We got a antipasta app to share with some really delicious meats, cheeses, and artichoke on it along with the calamari app(not fried). It was probably the best part of the meal for me. so many amazing flavors!
I got the scallops and risotto dish for my dinner, very good but definitely super rich. liked the crunchy parmesean crostini thing that comes with it for a texture balance.
All in all we had a great time, some table even bought us dessert cause we had to do a slight rearrangement for their large party. I would highly recommend the cheesecake, but the tiramisu not so much (very underwhelming)
I would come back to get the antipasta again and a pasta dish next time!
I had been dying to try Mercato forever but since they never took reservations it never seemed to work out. But finally this year I once again wishfully looked at their menu for Restaurant Week and - lo and behold - they now accept reservations! So I booked us a table for Restaurant Week and could not have been more excited!
And I was definitely not disappointed. Loved the atmosphere. Even with as cramped as the quarters are, it's cozy and intimate. We were there on a gorgeous evening and sat in one of the tables right in the windows, which were wide open to the street.
We brought a bottle of our home-made wine with us (BYOB is even better when the wine is free!). I could not wait to dive into that menu. We split the antipasta (which counted as 2 appetizers). I got the special of the day, which was this delicious pasta dish with butternut squash and porcini mushrooms...ugh, it was amazing. I don't even remember what my boyfriend got because I was so enthralled with my dish, but I do remember that he loved it. For dessert I got the tiramisu and he got the molten chocolate cake.
All in all, this was a fantastic evening. I am so thrilled that Mercato now takes reservations. This is hands-down my new favorite restaurant this side of the Atlantic.
I've been anxious to try Mercato ever since a colleague said it was her favorite restaurant. And now I echo her opinion.
SETTING: Table for five outside under the canopy. Pleasant summer evening temperature wise. Restaurant was busy but not packed.
SERVICE: Solid. Responsive, knowledgeable and forgettable. She was there but we didn't really notice, which is the way it should be.
FOOD: Excellent.
Started with a plate of two cheeses and two meats. The finocciona - fennel-flavored salami - was fantastic as was the beemster cheese served with caramel and chocolate sauce. The table also shared the calamari and an heirloom tomato salad. Both were very nice.
As for the entrees... 3 of 5 folks at our table (cioppino, beef bolognese, lobster/shrimp pyramid pasta) said their meal was outstanding. The veal and scallops graded out at B+, meaning very good but not mind blowing.
Dessert was gelato and sorbet for the table. Nice way to end the meal.
PRICE: Worth it. Add in that Mercato is a BYOB and you walk away on top.
OVERALL: Mercato lived up to the hype and deserves repeated visits.
I had a couple of bottles of great wine and a request from my dad for good Italian, so I finally took some friends' advice and tried Mercato. The experience was very satisfying. The whole artichoke was a perfect vessel for sea salt and aioli. The calamari was perfectly cooked and served with a fresh salad of hot peppers, greens and parmesan cheese. My mahi was topped with crab meat and served over mashed potatoes, asparagus and an amazing grapefruit, vanilla broth. It was a surprisingly great combination.
My dad was in a bad mood and kept complaining, cranky old man style about the kitchen noise. "Why do they have to throw those pots around so loudly?! It's an open kitchen, they should be more mindful!" I suppose he had a point, but I really didn't mind. I think he just disliked his Lobster and Shrimp pasta, which I thought was incredible. They were perfect wanton-esque raviolis stuffed with the seafood, and I think he wanted spaghetti.
I will go back again with friends instead.
After another long 80 hour work week, one of my favorite co-residents wanted to get out of her scrubs and into hot pink heels and hit a nice restaurant for dinner. I suggested Mercato since my first experience there was enjoyable, and four of us spent our Saturday night on the sidewalk in front of this little, awesome restaurant.
The evening did start off on the wrong foot with a salty hostess and the service remained poor throughout the evening. Luckily the delicious wine we brought distracted all of us from that grim fact and we were able to enjoy the delectable feast Mercato provided.
We started with a few salads: the market salad was overdressed but in a delicious vinaigrette so I let it slide. The crab and grapefruit salad was a favorite by all. I ordered the fish special, corvina on a bed of truffled mashed potatoes with a grapefruit buerre blanc. It was absolutely amazing but way overpriced at $34.00. That sort of price tag is a little rough to stomach at a CASH ONLY restaurant. My co-residents enjoyed their veal cutlets and beef shortribs (much better than the hospital food we suffer with on a daily basis), and my lady friend loved her chicken dinner.
It all ended sweetly with a few affogatos (overpriced too at 8 bucks), a strawberry shortcake (not the best thing of the night), and the delicious ricotta cheesecake.
I'll go back but I hope the service is better on a slower night.
The wifey and I came here for an early-evening dinner on a Tuesday, so it wasn't crowded at all. We were seated immediately - let me finish - between two cramped-ass tables, so it actually felt like a bustling Friday night.
Service was very good, and the food was incredible, with one exception - there was a hair in their (otherwise pretty delicious) olive butter. Wifey was rightfully alarmed, but decided to keep it to herself. It was clear they noticed, because new butter was brought out and dessert was on the house, without any awkward "uh, there's a dead guy in my soup" conversation.
For the meal: artichoke appetizer was great, and the orecchiette with spicy sausage and broccoli rabe was really well done. The scallops were also perfectly cooked and super tasty. Unless you have a bigger group, I'd recommend passing on the assorted meats and cheeses (but definitely get one or more of their pretty excellent olive oils).
Minus one star for the hair. I mean, it's a hair.
This truly is as good as it gets! A quaint little place in a cute ares of town, the food here is amazing. Granted we did get the chef's choice menu, which includes a salad, appetizer, pasta, and meat entree, the balance with which it was presented cannot be beat. It was $40 per person but well worth every penny. The selections change from time to time but will surely delight.
You have to be present to put your name in since they don't take reservations, and on a weekend night, can be a long wait.
I was excited to try this place and it was a huge letdown. The food was average save for the amazing artichoke appetizer. We got served by 3 different people who provided terribly aloof service. We were read the specials by two different people before having our orders taken, it took forever just to get water on the table (maybe 20 minutes?) and we were only the 2nd table seated outside so it's not as if they were incredibly busy. It was a Tuesday evening for crying out loud!
We were basically forgotten. Maybe all three of our servers thought someone else was taking care of us?
The last table to be seated outside was sat next to us about 30 minutes after we were seated. Not only did they get their food first but. they were offered desert while we were waiting forever for our plates to be cleared. They were brought their desert while we were still waiting for our plates to be cleared. I wanted desert but none of or three servers offered up a desert menu or even told us that desert was an option. Again, we were ignored.
Finally, I flagged someone down so we could pay and get the hell out of there. It's a wonder how they could treat their neighborhood patrons like their business doesn't matter at all. I'd rather brave the obnoxious Mixto crowd to be provided with some actual service than come back to this place and be ignored.
This was definitely one of the best meals I've had in a while. I went with my friend for his birthday and we had great service, great food, and a food coma to prove it later. Just wow. And to realize that Mercato is so close to where I live. Awesome. It's also a pretty casual atmosphere in Mercato. And it's BYOB. Very nice.
We started with the roasted portabella and arugula puff pastry appetizer. Great to share (figure out how to cut it appropriately though) because it in itself can be close to a meal. I had the lobster and shrimp pasta as my main dish. So filling and tasty. I really liked the whole pyramid pasta idea; it made for a unique presentation. Mercato definitely puts in effort for presentation and style of its cuisine. Maybe go a little more easy on the salt, but overall a great culinary experience. Already on my list to frequent again.
My one and only gripe...
So cramped. There, I said it. Minus one star for you, Mercato. I thought Beau Monde was bad, but this takes it to a whole 'nother level. I mean, yea the food made up for it, but I'm not really comfortable sitting two feet from another customer (ok, exaggeration). I like intimate, but not THAT intimate, ya know? Thankfully we went right when it opened during the week, so we weren't too cramped. I can only imagine full capacity.
Food: Average/Above-Average. My friend ordered this lobster "ravioli" type dish I ordered one of their fish dishes. I'd say the food was pretty good. Very-well prepared. I was satisfied (by the taste - not necessarily by the portion).
Everything else: BYOB (always a foreign concept for this West Coaster, but definitely don't object). Cash only. Our server was nice and attentive
Return visit: meh... maybe. Overall, I'd say it was a pleasant experience.
When I first entered Mercato, I thought I had walked into a high school cafeteria full of cackling hens. The volume was deafening and the open kitchen, which is a concept I love, didn't help. But that's where my complaints end. Both the food and service were excellent at this tiny BYOB, and this was during Restaurant Week.
I started with the portabello and spinach puff pastry which came with a side salad of arugula, pine nuts and shaved romano. Excellent. For the entrée I had the short rib ragu over homemade gnocchi and broccoli rabe. The meat was so tender, no chewing was required. The gnocchis were light and delicious and had a touch of nutmeg, which added another layer of flavor to an already amazing dish. For dessert, the chocolate molten cake. I don't think I need to say whether or not this was good! Can chocolate be bad?
Others at my table had the brushetta, antipasti and market salad for appetizers, and tilapia, scallops, and filet for dinner. The only complaint was the portion was small for the scallop dish. Otherwise, everyone raved.
Overall, the portions were generous and the service was very attentive, even though the room was packed. Food and service are 5 star, but I need to dock them one for the noise volume. They need to do something about that. Regardless, I will be back.
A good friend of mine made Restaurant Week reservations for the two of us at Mercato, as she had been meaning to get there quite some time. My first thought upon walking in was with regards to the size of the restaurant. It's tiny, really, really tiny. And like La Viola, the tables are set practically on top of each other, so you pretty much either make friends with your neighbors, or at the very least overhear some private dinner conversations (which can be fun, don't get me wrong!). Anyway, because we were a few minutes early, our table wasn't ready. The hostess kindly offered to send us over to Valanni for a drink, saying that she could call our cell when our table was ready. Having already committed to a bottle of wine (which we brought with us- have I mentioned how much I love BYO's?), we opted to wait in the little vestibule instead.
I loved the fact that the restaurant week menu was actually their normal menu, and that all the dishes sounded amazing. I ordered the market salad (I rarely order salads as appetizers because they are boring, but this one sounded really yummy) and it didn't disappoint. For an entree, I ordered the scallop dish, which was also yummy. Dessert was quite possibly the best molten chocolate cake I have ever had. Oh, and the service was great!
I thought that the entree sizes were a little small. Don't get me wrong, I was stuffed when I left the restaurant, but I generally have some leftover food to take home, and here I didn't. But really, 3 scallops is a little stingy... Also, while I was super happy with my entree, I wasn't blown away like I have been at places like Matyson or Lolita.
I'll definitely return again, especially for Restaurant week!
I had an awesome meal here last night. I decided to go for the 4 course tasting menu because Brooke L. had recommended it. It definitely saves you a few bucks and who doesn't like 4 courses?
I started with the Mussels & Clams. They were amazing and the grilled bread with them was the perfect accompaniment. Next I tried the orecchiette with sweet sausage. It was also very good. The Lobster and Crab Pasta was also good. For my entree I had the Duck breast special with creamy sage polenta and braised greens. If only the chef had used a little more salt, it would have been insanely good.
Everyone must try the chocolate pecan tart. It's basically some pecan pie with melted toffee and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Even though I was absolutely stuffed I couldnt help finishing the whole thing.
I will definitely return here sometime soon
My first experience at Mercato was amazing! This little (yes, little - don't go with a big group unless you've planned far in advance!) Italian BYOB serves up great food with lots of creativity. The prices will creep up on you however, as entrees tend to be a bit pricey.
The next experience was for a private event and the food didn't quite hit the mark in the same way. Understandably, serving a handful of hungry customers at the same time means dishes aren't executed as well as the could be otherwise.
Enjoy the tables outside on a sunny day!
LOVE mercato... it's the epitome of the great BYOBs that Philly has to offer! It's definitely one of the things I miss most about my former home.
Visiting friends this past weekend, we needed a place to eat and have some wine. Mercato was my first choice. The four of us all got the tasting menu which consists of your choice of appetizer, half a pasta, entree, and dessert, all for $48. Every time I come back, I'm reminded of what good deals Philly offers compared to NYC. This is on top of being able to bring your own wine on the cheap! We got a few bottles from the PA Wine and Spirits shop on 13th & Chestnut, and proceeded with the gluttony. This made for the perfect beginning for a night out.
Here were some of our favorites of the evening:
Antipasti platter- what a great selection of antipasti, not the usual stuff that you get at other inferior italian places.
Mussels and Clams- juicy, garlicky, with sauce perfect for dipping with toast.
Orichiette w/ sausage- one of my favs from Mercato, the sauce is amazing!
House Pasta of the day- Fettucine- this pasta dish was perfection.
Veal- Sooo much flavor, and so tender, I can't stop thinking about it.
Cioppino- such a great medley of seafood, very fresh and rich tasting.
Mercato, will you ever consider opening an outpost in NYC?
Once again, my BYO girls and I were out to dinner. This time, we chose Mercato at the recommendation of a friend who had been there twice in one month and loved it. Based on her raves, plus all the positive reviews on yelp, I knew we were destined for a solid dining experience.
First, we were presented with some really dense bread and a garlicky spread. Yummm. I've probably made it pretty clear by now that I am bread's number one fan, and this little plate-o-carbs did not disappoint!
We shared the roasted portabella and arugula puff pastry, the market salad and the roasted artichoke. I wasn't particularly excited about either of the first two selections, but I was blown away by both of them. The flavors were incredible. The market salad had a fantastic dressing and candied pecans, plus slivers of pear and a parmesan-type cheese that gave it a sweet-but-bitey contrast. Hands down, this is absolutely what I would recommend if I could only pick one starter from the three we tried. The puff pastry came with a little salad that had a slightly salty vibe, which went really well with everything in the pastry.
Now, we ordered the grilled artichoke based on the things I had read on yelp. It became clear when it was dropped at our table, that no one had the slightest idea what to do with the thing. I grabbed a leaf, dipped it in the creamy aioli (which was amazing, by the way), and popped it in my mouth. It was really tasty... until I realized something wasn't breaking down and had taken on the texture of tree bark. So, for any artichoke novices out there reading this, let me save you from looking like a cave person and fill you in on a little secret: you don't eat the whole leaf! Simply dip, and then use your teeth to tear the small amount of flesh from the piece. You're welcome.
For dinner, one friend had the roasted chicken, another had the short rib ragu over gnocchi and I had the fish special which was tilapia in a basil lemon butter sauce with spinach and a pan seared polenta cake. Wow. Each dish was phenomenal. Portions were on the large side, but we put a hurtin' on every one of them. I'm not sure I can pick one that I liked most, because they were all equally delicious in their own way.
Always saving a corner in our stomachs for dessert, we had the tiramisu and the warm pecan caramel tart. Now, the tiramisu was good, but it didn't stand a chance next to the tart. Let me put it like this: that thing gave great sex a run for its money.
Mercato exceeded our expectations and we were all in agreement that it has become our favorite BYO to-date. My girlfriends downright demanded that I give 5 stars in my review (one also wanted me to give a special shout out to the cute bathroom), and I'm happy to oblige. From what I hear, the weekends get a little crazy and the tables are very close together. Check it out during the week to avoid the madness and enjoy your experience to the fullest.
AMAZING!!!!!! loved this place!!! went with a group of friends and we all loved everything we had for dinner!!!! i had the risotto with scallops and it was fantastic!!!
only thing was it was a little loud (actually there was one particularly loud table)
the fact that you can bring your own wine is really great!!!! leaves you with more money to spend on the fabulous food!!!!!
Summary - Amazing food...if you can deal with conditions similar those you'd expect in a Bolivian prison
Pros - Reliable Italian flavors, perfect preparation
Cons - Check your claustrophobia at the door
Details - Mercato had been on my list to try forever. I'm embarrassed to say it took Restaurant Week to prompt me to experience it for the first time. But what an experience it was! By the end of the night I was kicking myself for not making it there years ago.
While I found the appetizer menu to be just a tad underdeveloped (some more proteins perhaps?) the options we tried were quite tasty. That being said, Mercato really brought their 'A' game with the entrees. The Pyramid Pasta Stuffed with Lobster and Shrimp was a real treat, and the Diver Scallops dish was perfect by all measures (though I must admit the real star of that dish was the accompanying Risotto - delicious). All in all, a truly great meal.
Regretfully, the conditions in the restaurant itself provided a stark contrast to the otherwise delightful dining experience that night. I've been to many BYO's in the city, so I know the deal - tight, warm, intimate. But the environment at Mercato was downright unpleasant: sweaty, loud, tightly packed - just a turn-off. The 'space' in between the tables was barely wide enough for the servers to squeeze by single file. It takes 5 minutes just to get from your seat to the restroom (20 feet away), and the temperature was easily 95 degrees in the large room. I would have gladly paid 30% more for the meal if it meant they'd ditch 30% of the tables - a more comfortable atmosphere could have made this the perfect evening.
Space issues aside, this is one great restaurant, and I highly recommend. One last note - much too soon after our appetizers were served, the waiter arrived at our table with entrees in hand. Noticing we weren't more than half finished, he realized his mistake, and took the food back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later, at a more appropriate time, our entrees arrived once again, this time delivered by the hostess, who informed us that rather than having the food sit and wait, the cook prepared us new, fresh dishes. All I can say is - VERY CLASSY. With that small gesture you may just have earned yourselves a regular customer. Well done all around!
Final Rating (Great/Average/Poor) - GREAT
A Top 5 Philly BYO, even with the "packed like sardines" seating
Date of Last Visit - January 29, 2009
BW
Rating Breakdown:
Appetizer - 8/10
Entrée - 9/10
Atmosphere - 3/10
Service - 9/10
This restaurant is terribly overrated and ridiculously expensive for what they serve. I was there on a Sunday evening with two guests. We all ordered the heirloom tomato appetizer with homemade mozzarella which cost $12 and the mozzarella was horrible. It was the equivalent to Pollo prepackaged plastic cheese and it was cut into a dice each piece of a different size......most unprofessional and unattractive. A very big disappointment.
For entrees two of my guests ordered the scallops, which were unacceptable. We sent those back to the kitchen and ordered the pasta special with shrimp in a cream sauce with portobello mushrooms. The sauce was watery with no taste and the portobello mushrooms were sliced in huge pieces and they threw whole uncooked cherry tomatoes on tops of the dish. What a culinary disaster.
I ordered the veal cutlet dish, which looked nothing like the description. It was tasty but nothing memorable and certainly not worth $24! We passed on dessert to frightened to chance another mistake. Having brought our own bottle, three appetizers and three entrees cost $124, which I would have happily paid if the food was fantastic and the service accommodating. The staff had a very unfriendly snide attitude and the restaurant was not even crowded.
Now I know why people are no longer lining up anymore to go to Mercato......DON'T GO. It's glory days are long past.
I lived only a block from here for nearly 2 years, and with a little rose coloured nostalgia, I'd like to share a few recommendations...
Always - try to get confirmed reservations, without which you may be subjected to an extremely long wait...
Never - underestimate the exquisite flavors of the daily fish special, especially if golden tile fish is the subject du jour!
Intently - listen to the recommendations of your delightful wait staff, who are to become great conductors; navigating your taste buds through the fresh spices and organically grown delicacies representative of Mercato cooking culture.
Do - enjoy great company, wonderful food, and elegantly appointed accouterments ranging from unique flatware to warm candle light reflecting off dark woods and opaque finishes!
Drink-in - the fine wines your party has brought along with the ambiance, the character, the texture, and flavor of your surroundings...
All in all Mercato is much more than just a place to eat, it's an opulent way to experience the art of eating.
Why five stars? because in four years I've not once had a bad meal here.
The staff is ALWAYS just a joy to interact with.
The olive butter is such a great way to start any meal.
The salads are ALWAYS fresh and I've never noticed them to be seasonally inappropriate.
The risotto is always spectacular (good texture, complementing flavors, and fresh enough that each bite sees the distinct flavors mixing in your mouth)
The seafood is always enjoyable to eat.
The portions range from perfect to enough for leftovers.
This is one place where I am not overly disappointed when I get an inside table on a gorgeous day because the inside space is so simple and open it almost feels like a better outside.
Oh, and the penna cotta is fantastic; great texture and not too sweet.
Please read whole review to understand my rating.
My brother and girlfriend were coming to town and since they live in NYC and are Zagat readers I did some research on Google and Yelp.
I picked a few places and one of them was Mercato. They do not take reservations (or credit cards) so I did not know what to expect, but we finished off the Eastern Penitentiary early and were so hungry we got there around 5PM. We were almost alone in the restaurant at that time. (Saturday)
We were seated, our coats taken, bread and herbed butter placed on the table and we poured our own wine. (BYOB)
The specials were rattled off by our waitress as the clanging could be heard of the pots and pans in the background. (OPEN Kitchen ) The waitress could not care less if we heard her on not was my impression.
We were sitting one row in from the street window and the night was warm enough to have the door open. This is a simple design place. Whoever says they have a nice ambiance does not do much decorating in my view. There are 4 walls and rows of tables. As many as can be fit in to the room to get as many diners in as they can. You ARE sitting on the next table.
As the evening progressed by half an hour the restaurant had nearly filled up with people and the clanging of pots was no longer heard because the decibel level of noise was enough to make your eardrums ring. The 4 of us proceeded to bend over so we could hear each other and resorted to reading lips and yelling into each others' ears.
As for the food-----------------------it was delicious. We had two different anti-pasta dishes and everything was fresh, beautifully displayed, topped off with shaved cheese. We dug in and were not shy about eating directly from the main plate. We finished everything off and were off to a good start.
I had the striped Bass, another Scallops w/Pea Risotto, another Gnocchi.
My fish came with a fruity sauce, a grilled artichoke hiding underneath and baby onions. I was very jealous I did not order the Scallops as they looked absolutely wonderful and delicious. I thought the Gnocchi were just okay but my husband said he enjoyed it very much. I don't recall the fourth dish.
We had sorbet and the chocolate pecan tart for dessert. The tart was very good, sweet of course.
It was a very good meal, the food was brought out in a timely fashion, the wait staff was attentive, but the whole atmosphere was totally ruined by the noise level.
By the time we left there were many people milling around in the street waiting for a table inside since it was too chilly to sit outside.
For those of you that enjoy a LOUD, noisy environment you certainly will like the food here.
Best of luck.
The restaurant itself is adorably small. It's simplistic in decor but it's also not necessary at all-- one side of the table and you get to watch the chefs, and the other side and you get to look out at the other diners and out the window.
The butter bean and radicchio salad was filling and fresh. The mushrooms were lightly marinated and cooked to perfection. The large sprigs of parsley were a nice accent to the simple flavors. The portabella puff pastry was flavorful and hearty, if a little heavy on the dough. Both starters were hearty in portion size.
I tried the fish special of the day, which was a Tilapia with microgreen and crab salad, sauteed spinach, olives, capers, and fingerling potatoes. The fish was cooked well but was lacking in flavor and interest. I was especially displeased to find that one of the ladies dining next to me ordered the veal on the menu and it was exactly the same dish as I had received, with simply a different protein.
The orecchiette arrived piping hot. The sauce was a very typical tomato sauce in a nicer restaurant, and the small, handmade meatballs were a nice touch. The broccoli rabe was definitely overcooked, and the sausage was bland and unmemorable. In a city full of Italians and fresh meats, I find it hard to believe the chef couldn't find a better sausage, or even make her own.
We also tried two of the meats-- the chorizo and the salami; both were exceptional examples.
For dessert, I tried the tiramisu. I couldn't finish even half of it, as it was too heavy on the cream and texturally uninteresting. Definitely subpar, which is a shame considering this is touted as an Italian restaurant. We also tried the prosecco sorbet, which was pleasant enough but arrived at our table at more of a water-ice texture.
I read through the reviews before coming and I was looking forward to Mercato. Perhaps this is just a case of not living up to the hype in my head, but I really found the food uninspired. Granted, it was tasty, and all had a very FRESH feel, but for a chef to serve fingerling potatoes seasoned with no herbs or spices and only with salt... on multiple dishes... screams both boring and bored to me. This is a restaurant for those who are hesitant to be adventurous with their food-- it offers a couple of twists but is mostly focused on preparing food well, NOT with wowing you. I'd suggest skipping the entrees altogether and just ordering a bunch of appetizers and cheeses/meats for the table to share, it seems this is where Mercato shines.
I came here on a Thursday night and it was still packed so it must say something about this restaurant. The menu is not very extensive but they had some pretty interesting dishes. I tried the scallop risotto while my roommate tried the lobster and crab pasta.
The risotto was pretty good with yummy pan-fried scallops. There's also peas in this dish and while I'm not a fan of peas, it actually tasted pretty good. As for the lobster and crab pasta, this was only okay. From the menu, I was expecting something more along the line of a fettucini with lobster and crab but it's actually more like a dumpling with a lobster and shrimp paste.
Overall, it seems like a fun place to go for a small party of friends. I don't recommend coming here for a date though because it is quite loud inside. My roommate and I kept asking each other to repeat what we said... Lighting was also a bit too dark. I'll come back eventually and try some other dishes.
TRY IT! One of the best Italian BYO in Philadelphia. The food was light, flavorful, delicious, and the atmosphere was pleasant. It gets busy so a little loud at times.
Menu changes every season, daily specials, and a $48 4-course meal option are available.
Cons: Cash only, no reservations. 1 hour wait for 6 people on a Saturday night with runs to the ATM.
My wife & I dropped into this Spruce St. BYOB around 8:30 on a busy Friday night...the place was packed, but we were seated quickly. It's your standard BYOB set-up, simple but appealing decor, diners packed in elbow to elbow, a bit loud but very alive.
We started with the artichoke...very smoky & spicy, drizzled with olive oil. Tearing off the leaves and working your way to the delicious heart...a fun app to start with.
The anitpasti plated was an arrangement of marinated veggies, mozzarella & crostini...nothing too interesting...one touch, the salami were rolled into little flowers with a caper in the center.
My cioppino was brimming with great hunks of fish & loads of shellfish...the warm, tomato broth was loaded with spices, salty olives and garnished with a cheesy crostini. The clam & mussel shells picked up all the little bits of fish, calamari & crab.
The short rib ragu was fall-apart tender, deep & rich in meaty flavor. Served over a bed of ricotta gnocchi & broccoli rabe, then topped with a strong cheese (they called it locatelli...I never had it before, but reminded me of grana padano...muskier, firmer & less salty than parmesan). The gnocchi were more the dente style and lacked salt, but if you got a bit of everything on one forkfull, the flavors and textures contrasted amazingly together...bitter & rich, tender & chewy.
Finished with the Affogato...a simple finish of espresso poured over ice cream and served with ladyfingers.
This is a cash-only BYOB.
One word. Excellent.
My friend and I dined here on her last night in town (my last was the following day). We just wanted Italian... we didn't realized we'd entered one of the best restaurants in the world!
We both got tasting menus. I don't exactly remember what I had... except for the risotto which was FANTASTIC! I don't even LIKE risotto but the description made it sound great and I couldn't resist. I think I also had the crispy skinned striped bass... it sounds so familiar (I'm trying to remember... this all happened like two weeks ago). I think so! It was fantastic as well!
What I ate is not important, that fact is we both ate several courses and everything was perfect. The atmosphere is nice. My only complaint is that it is cash only... this isn't really a problem except for the fact that it's a bit pricey to be cash only.
I highly recommend this restaurant and, if I ever return to Philly, I will definitely return here.
I'm all about tasting menus and prix fixe deals, and Mercato has a great one. 4 courses for $45. Again, it doesn't sound exactly cheap but it's actually a steal. You may have walked in a normal-sized person but you'll definitely feel like waddling once you get out to support your new stretched stomach. I even had some of my entree leftover to take home and that's a real rarity with me.
I was a little wary with all the hype, but Mercato lived up to it. It's definitely one of the best restaurants I've tried in the city and I'd recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. It' can be cramped and it can be pretty loud, but you'll be so busy stuffing your face with delicious food that it won't matter.
Just a warning - they only take reservations up to a certain time; after that you're on your own and can face a pretty long wait on the weekends.
The only reason this place gets any stars at all is because my meal was very good (short rib ragu with ricotta gnocchi).
But allow me to explore other reasons for why this restaurant gets a low rating.
The service was piss-poor (waitress was getting automatic 20% gratuity...do you think that had anything to do with it?).
-She failed to mention the specials of the evening, including dessert.
-We poured our own wine (which is totally cool, but then don't go to every other table and pour theirs...I demand equality!)
-One of the water glasses was chipped, and when she brought my friend a new one, she didn't refill his glass. That's just straight-up rude, dude.
-Oh, yes, and how could I forget to mention the most important thing of all?! My waterless friend GOT FOOD POISONING.
Mercato, I don't know how you keep and store your fish, but my GOD, my poor friend was very ill last night.
We will never, ever go back.
It was either Mercato or La Viola. But Mercato's rave reviews won me over.
But did they live up to their hype? Hell yea they did.
The place is really cute (but small - prob seats about 40 ppl max).
Everything we ordered was good. We had the Market Salad, Mussels & Clams , & Grilled Calamari as apps. For entrees, we ordered the Scallops w/ Pea Risotto, Pappardelle, Lobster/Shrimp Pyramids, Striped Bass, side of Broccoli Rabe/Sausage, etc.... yummmmmmm
I initially wanted to do the 4-course tasting menu but they wouldn't let me unless everyone at my table did it with me....which they didn't. Sad.
Wish they had more vegetarian/fish options. Ok, but not the best.
Really speculator Italian food. This is a great date BYOB. The pastas really stand out. While it is not cheap, it is certainly worth it.
Three Course Recession Menu
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
18" Tomato Pizza $3.99
Philadelphia, PA
Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts South
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Italian
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: American (New)
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
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