- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Il Mercato
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
5650 Spring Garden RdHalifax, NS B3J 1H4
(902) 422-2866
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Il Mercato
Review Highlights
-
"Risotto croquettes were great as a starter." In 5 reviews -
"Il Mercato has gluten free pastas." In 4 reviews -
"The pork tenderloin is A1." In 4 reviews
Loading...
22 reviews in English
-
Review from Personalo X.
South End, NS
Updated - 3/2/2012
An update. Went there for Valentine's day. I would suspect that this would be the test of any upscale restaurant. They passed with flying colours. This is a can't go wrong menu. I am a picky person and haven't had a mis-bite yet.
Oh and having a first come first serve on V-day; very cool.
Thank you1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/16/2009
I like this place. They seem to have more staff than any other 9 restaurants. The food is above… Read more »
-
-
Review from Todd B.
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went here after the Yelp event around the corner on a recommendation. The food was delicious. The bread to start was delicious, I am a bread fiend though. We had the lasagna and Spaghettini alla Carbonara. Both were good but I preferred the carbonara.
Then dessert time came, oh my. The desserts were unbelieveable. We ordered the Pumpkin Caramel praline cheesecake and Kahlua spiked layered sponge cake, mocha butter cream iced, cappuccino gelato. Both were great choices but I love cheesecake more than bread.
A draw back to all the great food is you are packed in to the restaurant tight, no intimate dining here -
Review from Doug W.
11/21/2011
Here we were in Halifax and after taking the on and off tour, including visiting the Citadel.
We were tired, cold and wet and desirous of anything but ships galley food opted for this establishment and ordered the Thin crust pizza with house-made Italian Salsiccia, caramelized onions, tomatoes and mozzarella.
The service was great even with the place full of what appeared to be business people.
This was so good we finished off! Too bad we'll never be this way again as I would love to experience some of the many other items on the menu.
Back to the "Jewel" and a full day steaming to Boston. -
Review from Leslie F.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The worst thing about Il Mercato is that it's so fail-proof, you can guarantee a bit of a wait if you want to go for dinner there on a Friday night.
But as they say, good things come to those who wait, and that adage holds true for Il Mercato. Every meal I've ever had there has been delicious (if not entirely nutritious... zuccotto, anyone?). Even though the word 'cabbage' is usually a word I try to avoid when making my dinner selection, their shredded cabbage salad is actually flavourful, bacony, garlicky, goodness masquerading as a salad. The pizzas are tasty (and huge), the pastas are reliably delicious (and available in gluten-free option), and the dessert menu is packed with more sugar than a school-kid the day after Halloween.
The prices are reasonable, and the service is good. You really can't go wrong here.Listed in: Along the Garden Route
-
Review from Becky F.
Halifax, NS
11/23/2011
I remember the first time I ate at Il Mercato. This was back when it was further down from its current location on Spring Garden Rd (maybe 1998). I was in junior high and I ordered the mushroom ravioli stuffed with roasted chicken and cheese, bathed in a sherry cream sauce; not knowing the taste explosion to come. I have yet to look back.
Il Mercato has an amazing menu that is always consistent. They serve their delicious entrees, appetizers and desserts with a generous side of great service. I have been to Il Mercato over 30 times and not once have I had a bad experience. They are always busy (do not take reservations) but never fail to be prompt and friendly. The atmosphere is casual, perfect for a date, a birthday meal or even if you're just in the mood for great Italian fare. A great meal at Il Mercato is a sure thing. I recommend it to tourists, friends visiting the city and friends new to the city. It's always a win.
*Recently, I've developed an intolerance to gluten. Il Mercato has gluten free pastas. It makes me love them even more.
Here are my personal recommendations for what to order:
Mushroom Ravioli (you'll have an a-ha moment)
Risotto Croquettes (They sit in a life-changing tomato sauce. Trust me.)
Flash Fried Roman Style Artichokes
Warm Red Cabbage Salad (balsamic, parm. and bacon...need I say more)
Zucatto
Kahlua Crunch Cake (moist chocolate cake, espresso-skor whip cream, love)
Gelato
All I can say is: You're welcome.
Enjoy! -
Review from Ben B.
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Il Mercato was one of the first favourite restaurants of my adult years, dating back to when it was in its old Spring Garden location down toward Queen Street and I was still in high school.
It was exquisite then, it's delicious now, and I'm sure I'll still be coming here in another eight years.
The one very large sheet menu has a solid selection of creative starters (the seared polenta topped with gorgonzola and wild mushroom cream sauce and truffle drizzle will make you believe that ooh heaven is a place on earth), fresh salads (the roasted veggies and goats cheese is wonderful), sandwiches, pastas, and pizzas (all of which are fantastic) - and that's without even getting into the main courses.
There's a solid representation of vegetarian dishes across all menu options (not so much in the official main courses) and special requests can be made to suit your dietary needs. For example, gluten-free pasta is made in-house so just about everyone can get their carb on!
With a great wine list and skilled bartenders, this is a great spot to come in to grab a drink in a hustling and bustling atmosphere too. Bonus points for anyone smart enough to do so with a slice of cheesecake.
All that said, there's a couple reasons why my beloved Il Mercato doesn't get the final star and it basically boils down to them being the popular girl at school:
1) They don't take reservations which means that to dine here, you have to line up in the cattle call for anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes and there isn't a great location inside to do so. Basically you spend most of that time trying not to make eye contact with the diners eating within arm's reach (or leering at them as I've seen from particularly lurky people) while jumping out of the way from busy servers.
2) With a big line, comes a big pressure to get people in and out quickly, making Il Mercato not a great place to go to take your time and spend an entire evening eating and drinking. While I've rarely had serious pressure from staff, you can always feel they're trying to be efficient and keep you moving rather than relaxed.
On the plus side, going in for lunch, grabbing dinner on a night other than Thursday-Saturday, or visiting the Bedford location tends to strip all that away. Just something to keep in mind! -
Review from John P.
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
In town for a couple of days from New York, I decided to take a break from the pub scene.
My first impression wasn't great. It was crowded and the staff seemed to be tripping over each other a bit (two waitresses and the hostess were trying to get me a table, independently of each other as it turned out.) It was also a little on the loud side.
Once I was seated, my impressions soared. The waiter was smart, efficient and pleasant. Not only was he attentive, he had some great and thoughtful insights concerning the wine list. (The list is just about the right size and has some nice choices.)
Risotto croquettes were great as a starter. Fettuccine and lamb were great. The lamb was just a little tougher than I would have liked, but all-in-all not bad.
My only gripe is that the restaurant hasn't quite decided whether it wants to be a nice Northern Italian gourmet restaurant or a busy family-style place. It has some nice features of both, but they really need to make a plan one way or the other.
Definitely on my list of places to return to next time I'm in Halifax. -
Review from Nick B.
Halifax, NS
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love Italian food. It really isn't hard for a good Italian restaurant to impress me, so maybe I'm a little biased. But I've been to Il Mercado a few times and never has it let me down at all. The menu has a ton of options (but I'm paralyzed by my love of one dish in particular), they have a great selection of wines, and their staff obviously know what they're talking about. They're able to answer questions and display a knowledge that suggests some attention to detail in their training.
Il Mercado's the kind of place you can sit down for a meal and conversation and not feel hurried - you've got the time to enjoy some of their really great bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar while you choose your meals, but it doesn't feel too slow. You'll sit and be unable to avoid noticing their desserts, and following the meal with an espresso and some sort of sweet is just inevitable.
A couple of recommendations: try their risotto croquettes as a starter - a sort of rice ball served with a nice tomato sauce, a great little appetizer. Their carbonara is phenomenal, as is the rigatoni with sundried tomato and goat cheese (my favourite). They have a signature dessert, a chocolate mousse type cake that I can't remember the name of. Tried it last time we were there, and it was brilliant. -
Review from Jill M.
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
If I ever end up on death row, I want my last meal catered by Il Mercato. It is by far my favorite place to eat in Halifax. The prices are excellent, especially considering how delicious the food is. My biggest problem with eating at Il Mercato is that there are so many items on the menu I love, I find choosing just a few to be agonizing.
I'd recommend the risotto croquettes, the wild mushroom soup or the panko crusted artichokes to start. For the mains, the chicken ravioli and the gorgonzola and pistachio pasta are delicious, as are any of the thin crust pizzas. And I can't even begin to tell you how delicious their desserts are.
For the best experience, I prefer to go on weeknights and in groups of four or smaller. They don't take reservations and if you show up on a Friday or Saturday night between 6 and 9, you'll probably have to wait. It will be worth it, but you'll have a better time when it's not so busy. -
Review from Maureen J.
Halifax, NS
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite Italian restaurant in the city! The quality of food and service you receive and the reasonable prices make this place a must try!
The toughest thing you will have to do when you get there is decide what to eat. They have a large selection of appetizers and mains that range from pastas, pizzas, grilled sandwiches, and main entrees.
Although the food is amazing, it's the desserts that keep me coming back time and time again. I love going for a glass of wine and a big piece of their Kahlua-Coffee-Toffee-Crunch after a movie!
Did you know they made their own gelato? Enough said!!Listed in: My Favorite Baked Goods
-
Review from Kimberley M.
Halifax, NS
5/29/2011
I can't ever say enough good things about Il Mercato. I've eaten many times at both the Spring Garden and Bedford locations, but since this is the place that I'm most familiar with, I'm going to put my five stars here.
Why five stars?
Service - Yes, the place it crowded and noisy. But, take that as it is, and you've got a cozy restaurant that is always bubbling with activity. All staff members do a great job at making sure your experience is consistently top notch.
Gluten-free - This doesn't affect everyone, but having homemade gluten-free pasta available really rocks my world. I get to have my favourite dish, prepared just how I like it, every single time. And, their's is the best pasta I've ever tasted that was wheat-free. I hear there is takeout available, so I might need to investigate this option...
Food education - I'll be the first to admit that I love food, but I don't always recognize every ingredient that's listed on the menu. Some places feel so pretentious that you'd just point and pretend you know what it is you're about to consume, but at Il Mercato, you can get a great explanation of anything and everything from the servers, who are interested in telling you just what "prosciutto" or "gorgonzola" is (two words that recently stumped my mom).
Bottom line: I've never been disappointed, and I don't expect that I will ever be. It's also my go-to restaurant when showing new friends around the city!Listed in: Date Night!, It's a Party!, Gluten-Free Fare, Ethnic Eats
-
Review from Rhonda D.
Halifax, NS
11/30/2010
THANK YOU IL MERCATO!
Thank you for making me delicious (DELICIOUS) food but being reasonable, not like other Italian restaurants who charge you out the wazoo for a meal.
You can tell they use fresh ingredients and really know what they're doing. (I'm sure that's why their owners have a ton of restaurants and are richer than rich) but whatever, the food is to die for!
Especially the pasta dishes (they are my fave - so far)
The pork tenderloin was good, however when I tried my Husband's mediteranean pasta I was jealous I have to admit ;P I really wished I had've orderd it :( Next time!
Also, don't order an appetizer - every single time we do we are disappointed. Sure, they usually taste great (except the brushetta - and how can you 'mess up' brushetta? It's like 3, maybe 4 ingredients!) The app's are over-priced and SMALLLLLLL ...the risotto balls are *tiny* and you get 3 (Biggest pet peeve - and I know why restaurants do this, but seriously, there's 2 of us - are you really going to make us cut one in half? urgh)
If you go, get a pasta dish, you won't be dissappointed. And the desserts look so friggin good... except usually you're too full to get one :(
Also, place gets insanely busy - we always ask to sit on the outside of the room, because honestly I think I'd have an anxiety-attack if I was in the middle of the restaurant - it is SO BUSY at times. -
Review from Troy M.
Dartmouth, NS
3/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
For starters, the service was amazing! Our server was fun, experienced, knew his stuff and deserved his tip!
I had the pasta (fettuccine w/ chicken), she had a main (chicken). We both had a great $9.00 dessert each. Hers was some chocolate thingy, mine was butterscotch pie... it was sensational! And.... Total bill was only $61+ tip. No drinks though, we had those before arriving, we skipped the wine... had to drive.
I want to return but mostly for the pie! :-) -
Review from David H.
Halifax, NS
5/27/2011
I find Il Mercato a bit too streamlined. The dishes are not at all inventive, everything is perfectly targeted at a mainstream crowd. (Which is why it is always extremely well attended.)
It feels a bit like an assembly line restaurant to me, with assembly line "hospitality" and assembly line food. Of course the food is good, but at those kind of prices I'd expect more than just that.
A big no-no the last time I went: no more tiramisù left!
I prefer da Maurizio - not much more expensive and it provides a much more personal experience, with better and more original food. -
Review from Scott R.
Halifax, NS
12/13/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I have been going to Il Mercato for years and love the food. I've tried most things over the years but my current favourities are the grilled vegetable salad, risotto croquettes and pizza with sausage. It can get pretty loud at times, but a little known fact is that they do take out, which is great for a quiet night.
Great staff - I've taken a number of friends to Il Mercato over the years and everyone loves it.
The desserts are worth trying - they are all great. -
Review from Kent P.
6/9/2010
If you live in Halifax and eat food then you know il mercato. It's been a mainstay in both Halifax + Bedford for a long time. It's italian, very reasonably priced, loud, busy, and fun.
Went with a group of 7 on a Saturday night- although it took a while for a table and I was getting all pissed off by the pisshead wiener of a bartender who seemed to ignore us because we were under the age of 35, once we got sat the party started.
Wine will really bring the price of the meal up- not too many cheaper options there. Pizzas are tasty, but nothing special- best choice is to go with a pasta- the simpler the better.
I had the sausage/carmelized onion/cherry tomato pie and some sort of spanish red that was more than drinkable after a few peronis.
Good spot.
Patpatpatpat
Four out of five pats.Listed in: Halifax
-
Review from Ruth D.
Halifax, NS
12/17/2009
How good is this place, you ask...Suffice to say, it's one of the places I take my Toronto foodie visitors, so they change their minds about eating out Halifax. It's not all just fish and chips, my friend!
It's classy, the staff is very efficient and friendly and I love, love, love the antipasti bar. Your server takes you over, you choose which you want (a very difficult decision, so I suggest you share a few with friends) and then it's brought to the table. Same goes for desserts - that is if still have room after the antipasti and main course selections.
I love going to lunch there with my daughter who works around the corner. Time to pretend you're in Italy, chat and eat and still make it back before lunch hour is over.
The menu is extensive - sometime too extensive for me, I typically want at least half the menu, and I've yet to try a dish I didn't like. -
Review from Laura P.
7/2/2010
The Bertossi Group is the owner of an umbrella of restos around the city, including one of my favourite spots for veggie pizza, Amano. A trip to Il Mercato seemed inevitable, and as one of Halifax's more known places of fine dining, I recently took the plunge.
I knew going in that this is a place that loves their meat. And when I say "love", I mean that they are the utmost connoisseurs, and craft dishes with the knowledge and heart that can only result in outstanding.
And so with this in mind, I trickled my way into the dressed up dining room of its Spring Garden location and approached the menu outside of my own preferences. There actually are quite a few options for vegetarians and fish-only eaters here, but the emphasis is certainly on rich meats. Appetizers are decently priced between $8-13, and the mains didn't rise above $23.
It was between the salmon (sans bacon) and the halibut for me, and I went for the Halibut. Almond and gremolata crusted, the fish is seared with a brown butter and lemon white wine sauce, and the results were succulent. A reasonable $22 price-tag was well worth it. (And I had some of my dish bagged for later.)
The space is bright and airy, and the service was timely. Not the most personable of waiters, the meal and a seamless overall experience spoke for itself. This is a sure bet for some fine downtown dining. -
Review from Steve S.
6/5/2009
Very good service, lively place with a mixed crowd. Good solid menu options and range of wine and other bevs. The fettuccine with seafood in tomato cream sauce was fantastic, very tasty sauce and fresh seafood that's taste penetrates the sauce perfectly. Would have liked a larger serving and that's possibly the main reason it can't hit 5 stars. Wifey went with the salmon which was very well prepared, just go easy on the aoli as it can overpower the fish. Nice to get some good veggies after a week of NS hearty food... my aching arteries.
Very enjoyable, would be fun with groups and some nice corners for more intimate feel if you get lucky. -
Review from Courtney M.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 11/4/2009 1 photo
Il Mercato lost some of its draw for me last night.
Mark and I headed in at around 7 and realized we might be in for a bit of a wait since it was packed! -Although starting to thin out.
We were sat near the window and then promptly ignored for 15-20 minutes. Not so much as an: "I'm sorry! I'll be right with you, i'm just really slammed." By the time our waiter did come by we had decided on apps, mains and our drinks.
Now tell me if I was in the wrong here. I know that Il Mercato has both a lamb rack with whole grain mustard and demi glace sauce as well as pork tenderloin with roasted garlic sherry cream sauce. I asked our waiter if it would be possible to have the lamb rack with the roast garlic sherry cream sauce. Ie: switching the sauce on an entrée. Rather that doing what he should have done: asked the chief, he proceeded to tell me: "Uhh, yeah you can do that but if you make a modification like that and don't like it there isn't anything I can do about it." He then attempted to spout the hidden delights of whole grain mustard despite the fact that I had told him I don't happen to enjoy it. I ended up ordering something else, as it was very clear that our waiter was unwilling to accommodate me. Throughout this dialogue I had been more or less looking at the menu, and I found out afterwards that the waiter had been giving Mark the "Geez... women!" look complete with eye rolls-Unimpressive and unprofessional! I thought about this afterward too- for all our waiter knew I keep strictly kosher/ have a porcine allergy.
Our appetizer's did arrive quickly and were very good but it then took our waiter 30 mins to materialize at the end of the meal to clear our plates.
Overall, I was very unimpressed with the service at ll Mercato last night. It seemed to be a Molotov cocktail of poor management (not enough servers or bussers) as well as poor wait service. I'll give the chef/cooks their due though: The food at Il Mercato is amazing! I just hope this was an anomaly and the service isn't on permanent decline.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/20/2009
Il Mercato is that place that jumps to mind for me, when I want to take someone somewhere for a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Rob O.
Bedford, NS
1/27/2011
This is a great restaurant. Ideal for dates or dinner and drinks with friends. This is my Go to spot when I want a sure thing. The pork tenderloin is A1. Also like the risotto balls for an appetizer.
-
Review from Bessy N.
Halifax, NS
3/8/2009
I give il Mercato 4 stars not because the food it stellar (it's good - not stellar) but because the overall experience is always great. The staff is incredibly professional and friendly, it has a fun, social atmosphere - with pretension left at the door. It's a great spot to go to for a group dinner on a Friday or Saturday night before the real drinking begins :)
Listed in: Good for Groups
