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Bar Mercurio
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Italian Coffee & Tea, Italian [Edit]
270 Bloor St WToronto, ON M5S 1V8
Neighbourhoods: The Annex, University of Toronto, Downtown Core
(416) 960-3877
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Bar Mercurio
16 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew W.
Toronto, ON
5/17/2012
Pretty good wine and food, but overpriced. Comparing to real italian restaurants in Italy - nothing to compare, because Mercurio is typical "american style".
Might be ok to drink a wine and talk, but that's it. -
Review from Jorge L.
10/21/2011
There's something literally dark about this place... LITERALLY. I get it that it's trying to achieve a cozy atmosphere but I was seated by the corner fearing for my friend's life... checking fish bones in dim lighting. The place is small and intimate but not exactly cozy.
Their tilapia was delicious and BIG. Tried the pizza too and it was deliciously topped with fresh pears - our server requested for the pear to be added. The servers know how to work their customers (those who tip well).
A three course meal may cost you as low as $ 50 which I think it's cheap for this type of place. Me and my friend's bill was $ 200 but we ordered plenty.
My first experience was not good - my seat was lame.
But if I'm going to judge this place just for food... I would have given it four star.Listed in: My 30-day challenge, Eat Here, Not There!
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Review from bree k.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
Awful. Awful. Awful. My boyfriend and I walked in and we were greeted by the host. It was early (about 5pm) and it was empty. We were told we would have to be out soon as there was reservations coming in, but he said we should still have time. So right off the bat, we felt rushed, and he was pretty rude.
We sat down, and the waiter came over to take our drink orders. He was friendly enough, and we told him we just wanted to start with water while we looked at the menu. Next thing you know, we were brought a bottle of water. We ultimately decided that we weren't going to eat here because they made us feel rushed. We were there for maybe 5 minutes total, and had to pay $8 for a bottle of water we didn't even get to drink. Or order. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
7/3/2011
Food is good, but a bit over priced. The atmosphere is intimate and quaint and a great romantic place near the annex, but without going to Yorkville.
I went there with my mom on a Friday night for a late dinner. No reservation was required. however, since it was so late, the bread we got, clearly was a little stale.
We got the grilled octopus with chickpeas and pancetta. It was yummy but for $19, it's an indulgence.
My mom got the Capon with frites. Capon is a type of male chicken. I hate chicken breast, but this half chicken was amazing. Soft and tender and juicy, and crispy on the outside. Served with frites, it's $29.
I had the Fettucine with truffle and mushrooms and parmesean. I found that it wasn't cheesy enough, and it was good, but a bit salty. For $20+ however, it was good portions that make you full up, I even took some home.
The servers here are really friendly. And we heard them telling the chef the feedback that the brussel sprouts were undercooked.
Wines are available by the glass, and they have an extensive list including Prosseco. They are a bit pricy at at least $9 a glass.
Total bill with appetizer, 2 glasses of Prosseco and 2 mains was $91. Too much for a casual dinner.
Although good food, I can suggest a better Italian restaurant to go to. -
Review from rose s.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2011
Love this place! It is totally wheelchair accessible which is great for everyone - no high stepping as an obstable. Lots of very attentive servers, they made a fuss of us. Loved the attention. Food was fine.
The only complaint was that there were no umbrellas in their outside seating area. Other than that - a first class, respectful place to enjoy. -
Review from Eva T.
Toronto, ON
5/30/2011
BM is our new fav Italian restaurant! Although we haven been that often, the staff always recognizes us with a friendly nod, or a greeting by name!
I simply cannot help myself and usually order the oven dried tomato caprese salad; it is just so darn good. The Bufalo Mozarrela is soft and flavourful, the tomatoes sweet (and always tasty whether in season or not); they rest on peppery arugula with a drizzle of evoo and balsamic - the best in the city!
The calamari is also wonderful - perfectly grilled, served with a Mediterranean salsa on arugula. Very tasty!
Service is usually good, with Paulo the maitre-d helping out. The only thing I'm not so thrilled about is that they hide your bottle of wine, which wouldn't be bad if they were able to serve it, but they are usually really busy! We went on a Saturday night - dinner at 8 with friends. It usually has a healthy bustling vibe but after 9 the crowd died down and after 10, we were the only ones left! I was rather surprised that we closed the place down at 11. But I like a quieter dinner, and we didn't have to yell to have a conversation! -
Review from Jewel Y.
8/27/2011
I stumbled across this Italian restaurant on the way back to my hotel and decided to give it a try. Luckily the food exceeded my expectations, everything was so darn tasty and fresh!! I found out that the owner is a real Italian and so were the waiter and the manager. The service was great and all the food the waiter recommended me were spot on! Sono tutti buonissimi! Even the simple insalata caprese was amazing, the mozzarella was sooo soft and delicious, it was the best!!! And their pasta is all homemade and perfectly cooked!! I loved their orecchiette, one of the best orecchiette I've had! I must warn people that this place is not cheap..... it's rather pricey and I must admit I felt it was a bit overpriced.....but I'd probably go back!!! Yes it was that good..... I'll give them 5 stars next time if they prove to be excellent again.
Listed in: Toronto
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
7/7/2009
The pricier cousin of l'espresso, this place is a dine in place. Kind of looks like an italian estate inside as it is designed with marble and statues. I'm fairly impressed with the quality at this place but the service i received was just so uninspired I don't think I could do it again.
I hate snoot from my server, and I truly think I received that here. poor poor innattentive service. NOT something I'd come back for and I would certainly not PAY a pretty penny to be treated this poorly. -
Review from Grad S.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011
This is my favorite hangout on campus. Be sure to try their hazelnut biscotti and macchiato. Service is always great as is the ambiance.
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Review from Tony S.
Toronto, ON
12/5/2009
We spent $800 for a group of 9. We ordered every appetizer and several bottles of their shiraz. We all mixed it up with our entrees, most going for their acclaimed pizza. I on the other hand went for their "special" which was gnocchi with Gorgonzola cheese and some other kind of goodness......
The place found us getting wait staff asses in our back or our chairs knocked constantly. Our waiter made us aware of the fact that he just "had to finish up with another table" then we're all his. Ummmmm we rarely saw him and in a pricey place like this with my buddy who was willing to just spend anything on his company's dime you wouldn't expect horrible wait staff to disappear for 30mins at a time or longer. We found ourselves wondering where he was OFTEN. What happened to us being his main concern? Obviously, that never happened. Horrible service. We got there at 7pm and left at 9:30 which isn't a very long time by any means, but we literally waited about an hour or more for our entrees to come and than if you didn't have the pizza your portion was the size of an appetizer, which - ok, I get it, it's about presentation and quality - would be ok, but I could actually count on one hand how many gnocchi I had in my plate and it was $20??? That's just ridiculous I don't care how pretentious you want to be, make it an f'ing solid plate of pasta!
I'll never go back here unless he wants to drop his own dime here again. Unless you're walking around with too much money in your pocket or trying to impress that special someone you won't see after 2 dates because she was just dating your restaurant choices and as soon as you choose something else she becomes busy - I wouldn't go back. -
Review from Aaron B.
11/30/2009
This place is a date restaurant for sure, but actually it's too noisy for normal conversations. Like trying to have a nuanced discussion in a bar. Of course lots of people try that too so maybe you wouldn't mind. I didn't come here on a date but being dark and fancy (full of ritualized fanciness rather than simple high quality) that is clearly the point. The food was above average, but not great, especially considering the price. Since I'll be living and working around the corner I'm sure I'll come here again, but I wouldn't walk an extra block just to come here.
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Review from Mae S.
3/19/2010
Lunch just ok -- and pretty expensive. Service not TOO bad, but a bit slow. Foccacia bread a bit dry & stale. Arugula salad good except for the cherry tomatoes that were a little off -- beet salad quite good. A couple of years ago we had a good dinner there, but wasn't that pleased this time. I wasn't impressed enough to order coffee & dessert.
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Review from Jessica H.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2009
Walking through the polished wood doors at Bar Mercurio, transports the bloor street pedestrian into Europe. Or a bougie facismile thereof.
Either way, the long narrow room, beautiful bar, royal blue accents, little round tables and open kitchen make for a pleasing space, while the simple Italian menu (salad, pizza and pasta) and good Italian wine list pleasure the mouth.
I'm addicted to the calabrese pizza with a douse of chili oil for good measure; but regularly wish I could also order an omelette (comes topped with sour cream and caviar). The pastas are well done, though the gnocchi is often heavy in texture. Of the salads, I've only tried the tuscan bean, which has been different each time, and never really on the mark (too much bean; too much chicken; too much onion; not enough of anything etc.).
All in all, its my favourite place on this part of Bloor West, and a lovely spot to enjoy a glass of wine and some well done thin crust za. -
Review from Leatherhead F.
4/10/2010
Dropped by for lunch. Great menu with very attractive wait staff. Venison rigatoni had good flavor but the $20.00 price only buys a very meager portion. Bottled sparkling water bottle $7.00. be prepared to pay neighborhood prices
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Review from Anita C.
Toronto, ON
10/28/2011
Three of us girlfriends were looking for a place to grab some good eats and catch up - one of my friends suggested this place. While the food was tremendous, I have to agree with the others on their reviews about the poor service. It was atrocious. After having made a reservation, we were made to wait for over a half hour sans explanation. Once we were finally seated, instead of being offered an explanation, or offered a glass of wine, we had to literally beg someone to take our order. And to top all of that off, I swear that the back of my chair must have been bumped by servers passing by once every five minutes. It starts to get old after the first couple of times, and no one bothers to even excuse themselves, never mind apologize. While I was initially tempted to go back with my husband due to the enticing smells and lovely ambiance, I really don't think I have it in me to sit through an experience like that again. And it's not exactly like you're getting a good deal either, so the least you could expect is good service.
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Review from Marek W.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008
This is truly a great place. Wait staff par excellence. Head chef is terrific and always has truly fresh, perfectly prepared dishes. Their pizzas are by far THE BEST IN THE CITY, their Caesar as well. Daily specials by the chef never disappoint. Good wine selection, good martinis.
