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Mercatto
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
15 Toronto StreetToronto, ON M5C 2E3
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 366-4567
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 7 am - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 7 am - 11 pm
Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Mercatto
Review Highlights
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"...to my rave review about the mushroom pizza with truffle oil." In 5 reviews -
"Huge Italian wine list." In 4 reviews -
"...the one on our left was extremely happy about their pasta." In 13 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Kate R.
Toronto, ON
2/3/2012
I had the pleasure of visiting this Mercatto location last month for my birthday. We were a party of 7 and had the beautiful table in the open wine room.
Our server was very polite and helpful with the menu and wine list. We ordered a couple charcuterie boards for the table and they were delicious! As my main I ordered the lobster pasta which had plenty lobster meat and the pasta was cooked perfectly (not too keen on the fact they put a claw on top of the plate for decoration, It was a tease since it was empty!). Another guest ordered the prosciutto pizza, great size and flavor. The mushroom ravioli was by far my favorite (I secretly wished I had ordered it), the pasta just melted in your mouth and could taste how fresh it was.
Overall Mercatto is a true restaurant that is all about fresh and seasonal ingredients with a laid back attitude and beautiful decor.
I will defiantly be returning! -
Review from Jonathan L.
Richmond Hill, ON
1/2/2012
Really like this place. They have terrific thin crust pizza at a reasonable price and a decent portion size.
There is very limited seating in this place, which makes the wait for your order to be taken a bit longer than some of the finer restaurants in the area. -
Review from Saumaya S.
12/19/2011
Cliffs notes version: HORRIBLE service, check out TERRONI down the same block
Was greeted by the door staff well, I have no complaints with the food went for a margherita pizza, a glass of vino and some gelato after. I was in my happy place until I got so sassed by our server I am still recovering.
I wish I remembered her name but she was a brunette - shoulder length hair, about 5'4 - I feel like I am profiling a criminal but you might thank me later for the headsup. After she brought our bills - there were 3 of us and we did not look derelicte by any means nor were we greasy and ungroomed to say the least - I asked her to split our bills 3 ways to which I essentially got:
"Ummm it would have been really nice if you had told me this before you got your bill and not now and I am sorry but that's not gonna happen" - with the fakiest flakiest smile on her face. I honestly thought she was gonna end that with a JUST KIDDING but that JUST KIDDING never came. So I just put my credit card in and then literally 30 seconds letter she appeared with the bill split - we had not even asked her to do it and I guess she did it anyway and it took like what? no time at all? We are living in the 21st century guys, can do crazy things like splitting a bill 3 ways with computers and stuff.....
So she puts our separate bills down mothering us some more saying - well I did it this time but please remember NEXT time you gotta make sure you ask me before hand
Well frankly my dear - there won't be a next time.
Guys check out Terroni - on Adelaide instead - better food WAY BETTER service -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
Restaurant: Mercatto
Cuisine: Italian
Location: Downtown
Address: 15 Toronto St
Price Range: $10-15
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ambiance: 3
Overall: 2.5
Extra information:
*couple locations within downtown
*financial district lunch crowd
*specialize in pasta and pizza
This was my second time visiting Mercatto and the only reason why I am doing another review on this place- is because the first time I was there, I was meeting up with a friend I haven't seen for a very long time, which distracted me from the actual food and service at this place.
To be honest I wouldn't have gone back the second time unless my mom wanted to try this place just cause it's so conveniently located around the corner from my house. They are always busy at lunch and it's mostly financial district crowd grabbing a quick bite or having a meeting over their lunch hour wine.
When I walked in, there was no specific host at the front so I had to look for a waiter to get myself seated after standing there awkwardly for a minute or two. To make matters worse after I sat down, we were served by the most awkward waitress ever! She made me feel like I did something horrible to her family, but she was forced to 'serve' me- yes, that awkward plus she had shifty eyes and constantly looked away when I was talking to her as if she was guilty of something.
Anyways, just like last time, we were served complimentary 3 pieces of bread and olive oil. Their olive oil might be excellent quality but I just found it to be very raw tasting with almost a woody after taste It would have been better if there were some salt or pepper on the table but there werent any.
Ordered: CALAMARI FRITTI 3/5
*With Basil Caper Aioli and Lemon for $11
*After we ordered this, we could smell it as they were making it in the kitchen
*This is big for an appetizer dish
*Comes fresh and hot, as they were just deep fried
*Camalari batter is not seasoned so you def need a sauce
*Basil Caper Aioli was a little bland
*Couldn't really taste the caper
Ordered: SPAGHETTINI 3/5
*With Calamari, Clams, Bread Crumbs and Chili for $16.00
*Overall, small in portion
*They divided the dish in half for us because we were sharing
*3 clams in total
*Pasta was over-cooked which is surprising cause they are suppose to be Italian restaurant
*I don't know what kind of Italian restaurant would over cook their pasta. Obviously I like it more al dente
*Couldn't really understand why breadcrumbs were added since they did nothing for the dish*It was a mediocre and boring pasta overall
Summary: Just like the first time, the food was mediocre but it was the service that completely turned me off from Mercatto. The waitress spoke so quietly in this mellow tone I felt like I had to be more cheery cause she was so damn depressing. I did not enjoy my lunch there and I actually left feeling dissatisfied and irritated. Overall this place isn't very cheap for lunch and if I am willing to spend the money and craving pasta/pizza, I would much rather go to Terroni.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/22/2011
Restaurant: Mercatto
Cuisine: Italian
Location: Downtown
Address: 15 Toronto St
Price Range: $10-15
1:… Read more »
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Review from Maheen M.
11/4/2011
We went out to Mercatto for a group dinner! I made a group reservation for 6 and we had some late additions and they were able to expand our table to accommodate for 8. We got a table in a corner by the bar by ourselves.
The food at Mercatto was great. A few of my friends got pizzas and we swapped slices. I had the prosciutto, great blend of salty and bitter. The speck pizza was wonderful. The diablo (sp?) was SPICY! The last pizza was like a meat lovers, I was a fan. I would rank Mercatto's pizzas top 5 in the city. Their toppings win me over. Food gets four stars!
Service wise was meh, below average. The fact we were a group service should have been more attentive. Our server seemed like she did not want to serve us. The place was not super packed last night so one would think that service would be better, but no. Service gets two stars.
Overall, Mercatto experience gets 3 stars. I really enjoyed the intimate atmosphere.
Check out Mercatto if you are in the area. I would recommend getting a reservation! -
Review from Thuy T.
Woodbridge, ON
10/30/2011 9 photos
The price was not worth the quality of the dishes.
Restaurant Rating:
0(Too Sad), 1(Horrible), 2(Poor), 3(Ok Lah), 4(Good), 5(Excellent)
Food: 2-3
Clean: 4
Service: 2
Atmosphere: Casual
Will I Return? No
Keep in mind all food postings is according to personal preferences and taste buds. Therefore, it's best to try the places out for yourself and see if it suites your taste. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
4/12/2011
I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday with eleven of my closest girlfriends, and the restaurant we chose was Mercatto. It ended up being a perfect choice.
I chose Mercatto because it is fairly priced, has a wide range of options, including vegetarian, and an extensive wine list.
We had a table right in the front window which suited us just fine. On another birthday, we were seated in the library, which is overly charming and just off the kitchen - but this evening it had been booked.
Our server was patient, attentive and made excellent recommendations for both Cheeses and Wines. We ordered decent bottles in the $50 range. The Pizzas are fantastic and enormous, I prefer them to (gasp) Terroni. I ordered the frito misto which was tasty, and much larger in portion size to. say, Gios. The cheese platter (you choose 3 selections) was also an interesting app selection, and we enjoyed our server's suggestions. The "four seasons" pizza came covered in olives, artichokes, mushrooms and Prosciutto, each representing their own quadrant. I could only finish half. Overall, all 12 diners at our table were pleased with their meal.
He also was kind enough to split the bill into 9 or so bills. Note that gratuity of 18% is included on large parties.
The bar also sent us a round of shots, and my girlfriends brought me in a cake - which the server happily brought to us without cake cutting fee.
Wonderful location, comfortable atmosphere, really noticeably and consistently excellent service plus they really made me feel special on my birthday. Will definitely return. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2010
It seems a trend with all the Mercatto locations, the food is awesome, the service could be better.
The place has a great trendy but non-pretentious atmosphere in the downtown core, with an average ($15-19) price point.
We came in, and the candle on the table had dripped it's wax all over the table in a big pile. I was surprised it was allowed to be there.
We got out menus, which we found out later doubled as placemats. A little strange for dinner. But it took at least 10 mins before the waitress came to ask us for our drinks.
I found it strange that all the servers were dress in their regular clothes, and you have to second guess whether they are working there or not. If they at least wore an apron, it would have been helpful.
The food here is always quite good. The orrichette is my favourite, a good combo of meats and veggies. I also had a very good carbonara, although it was a bit salty, the pasta slightly undercooked, and it got cold pretty quickly.
We had the Almond Torte for dessert, and it was very good.
I was disappointed that a restaurant of this calibre also did not serve gluten free pasta. You'd think they would have at least one type on the menu.
Food 4stars
Service 3 could be better. -
Review from Min Min T.
Scarborough, ON
10/6/2010
An actual conversation that took place inside Mercatto:
Boyfriend: Do you want to try the mushroom papperadelle?
Me: Sure, let's switch plates. [Eating quietly] It tastes ... familiar. I can't quite place it.
Boyfriend: What? What does it taste like?
Me: [Silence. Deep in thought.] Holy shit! It takes like, like ... [Whispering] Hamburger Helper!
Boyfriend: What? Let me try that. [Munching quietly, a pause] Huh, it does. Wait, let me try it again. [Takes another bite]
Waitress: [Suddenly approaches] How's everything tonight?
Boyfriend: [Awkwardly] Fantastic!
Me: [Fake smile] Oh yeah, great!
Note: This version of papperadelle is no longer available! -
Review from Velshin C.
1/7/2011
Delicious Italian food! Most dishes are authentic. Prices on par with Terroni's, i.e. a bit pricey ($15 - $30 / person) but worth it.
I've been to Mercatto a few times now, on my own for lunch and with large groups for dinner. The flavour never disappoints. Some of the dishes are hard to find elsewhere and a delight to try. Roasted fennel appetizer anyone? Pasta with guanciale ragu? Oh yes. Orecchiette with fennel sausage, peperoncini, and rapini? Wa what? Mmmm little ears of yumminess.
Great selection of wines too.
Don't let that lunch crowd waiting in the queue fool you; take a seat, enjoy some wine, and order from the regularly changing menu.
If you have to choose between Terroni's and Mercatto, pick Mercatto, it's better.
Service is usually excellent, but time between seating and receiving food can be long. Again, relax, enjoy the wait with some wine.
When you're short on garlic and butter at home, or just crave that beautifully crisp Neapolitan pizza at nearly 700F that you'll never match with your own oven, head over to Mercatto on Toronto St. That sounds like an advert. It's not. Mercatto is good. Eat it. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
12/26/2009
DISCRIMINATORY MANAGING/SERVICE WARNING-OPEN LETTER
I came here for lunch on Wed., December 16th with no reservation. The restaurant was very busy and it took approximately 15 minutes to get the host's attention to put us on the list. The host told us it would be "at least a 10 minute wait" and I said that was fine.
Our party of three proceeded to wait while several other parties came in, also without reservations, who were also placed on the list.
It took much longer than 20 minutes to seat us. There were at least four other parties, also without reservation, that were seated before mine. In fact, my party was the LAST party to be seated.
When we were finally seated at the bench table at the front (in between two other parties that came after us but were seated before us) they proceeded to apologize profusely to the OTHER two parties and THEN serve them complimentary champagne.
Absolutely no effort was made to apologize to my party even though we were seated last.
How dare restaurant staff make such blatant discrimination towards customers. I don't know if it was one or a combination of classism, age-ism and/or racism but clearly I am upset by the way I was treated. This is absolutely inexcusable service.
It is a shame because the food is rather good. But such discrimination was incredibly insulting and I will let others know of my experience here.
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In comparison to Terroni and Libretto:
Terroni has the best food
Libretto has the best service/food combination
Mercatto has the nicest modern/lunchtime decor, food less good than Terroni but slightly better than Libretto.
But Mercatto? Blacklisted.Listed in: You are severely overrated.…
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Review from sarah l.
11/2/2009
The situation: a casual dinner before a show at EnWave. I am a picky eater, and I want beer, not wine. I also don't want to go anywhere elbow-to-elbow busy and at 6pm on a Friday this place let me have my pick of seating and I definitely didn't need that reservation.
The good:
- Good selection of salami for the create-your-own antipasti board.
- Roasted winter squash was a winner even with the 'I hate vegetables' me.
- Really liked the laid back ambiance. It's a nice place, but it's not too nice.
- Huge Italian wine list.
- Really reasonably priced.
- Good staff.
The bad:
- Only 3 beers on draught.
- I don't really like thin crust pizza. This thin crust pizza was good for thin crust pizza, but again, I don't like thin crust pizza.
The verdict:
I would definitely come here again. It's close to downtown. It's not busy on weekend nights. I bet it's rammed for lunch M-F and I wouldn't go near it during those times. -
Review from Carmen M.
2/5/2010
Mercatto has been on my bookmark list for quite some time and, since I don't know how much longer I'll be in Toronto, I'm starting to cross off the places I have on my "must eat" list. Needless to say, I was psyched to try it. Sadly, it didn't live up to the hype.
First, let me say that the staff was excellent, providing the perfect level of attention and very accommodating overall. The décor is contemporary without making you feel like you'll cut yourself if you run into a table corner.
I started with the zuppa of the day which was a very delicious White Bean and Kale. It was fantastic and chock full o'beans (not unlike some people I know. Anyway). I ordered the short ribs for dinner and had very high hopes after the delishness that was the soup. Sadly, it was a giant heap of fatty beef; pretty much two bars of soap-sized pieces of gristly meat. The potatoes (I think that's what they were), were lumpy and without flavour. At $19 for the plate, I should have had some higher grade meat and better sides, that's for sure.
My last issue was with the quantity of the beverages. I don't know what it is with Toronto restaurants, but I just don't get why they insist on serving Dixie cup-sized drinks, without free refills, and then charging $5 for them. I had a Diet Coke (natch) and it might have been half a can with no refills. It just infuriates me. I know I'm from the land of the Extra Large Big Gulp, but come on, people -- stop making me leave your restaurant with a $35 tab and a parched mouth.
Bottom line: I might try Mercatto again if someone else was paying. Any takers?! ;-) -
Review from John I.
Toronto, ON
4/25/2010
Cheers! Welcome to my review of Mercatto. You must first appreciate that this crowd, on average, is young. I would say between 18-25 years old. Its also a casual scene often consisting of young families and their children.
The restaurant tries hard, but never delivered up to its potential. Then again, at these very reasonable price points, perhaps one's expectations should be quite low.
My dinner consisted of:
Drink - Ferragamo. This $14 gin martini had infused basil. They tried hard to make something different, but it wasn't well mixed and almost swampy. They said it was new for the night and I got that sense as well from how little they knew about the nuances of the drink.
Appy - Gamberi Diavolo - This spicy shrimp, tomato and avocado dish completely failed. There was just no taste, it was mushy and had no seasoning. It read well, but please do not order this.
Main - Funghi Pizza - A pizza consisting of oyster mushrooms, taleggio, mozzarella and white truffle oil was presented warm on a thin crust. It was a nice size and seemed fresh. It just lacked the zip and tastiness that is required to generate rave reviews. The blend of ingredients was bland and the white truffle oil was not well represented. I would hesitate in ordering this again.
In any event, yes it is a reasonably priced dinner although these three items totaled more than $40 before tip. I would hesitate in recommending this place for you. I am sorry.
Cheers! -
Review from Christian N.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2011
A very good Italian restaurant and they even have Paulaner beer on tap. They offer good side dishes and the pizza although not baked in a real pizza oven is quite good too.
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Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
6/10/2009
Mercatto thrives in its atmosphere. The space is large and designed in such a way that you feel like you're close to fine dining, but without the snobbery. Clean, light colours and plenty of seating; upbeat music, but lingering at the perfect din to just enhance the vibrance of the room.
Service is top-notch. Our waiter Kevin was well-versed in the menu and had the perfect wine suggestion to match my meal. Fresh bread was never empty on our table, and my water glass was seemingly bottomless.
The food was tasty but this is where Terroni comes out on top, which is hard for me to say cause the service at Mercatto is so much better! My margherita pizza was nice but not amazing, and my friend's pasta was also good but not to-die-for. BUT WAIT, the tiramisu was decadent and the espresso worth two buzzed thumbs up. And dessert is most important anyway, Y/Y? -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 6/7/2009 2 photos
Mercatto: now with more birthdays! Mercatto was bustling with birthday celebrations last night, including Jen S's 25th. I ordered the Margherita Pizza this time around, which naturally was ENORMOUS and nearly impossible to finish (split it between two people for best results). I've already gushed about Mercatto in my original review and my thoughts still stand.
Some more things to love about Mercatto:
* they take reservations, unlike some of the other modern Italian restaurants in the city, and can easily accommodate large groups (in addition to our group of 15-20 I saw three other huge groups that were in no hurry to leave)
* the atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the music is soft and unobtrusive
* pleasant service, and our waiter Kevin went to the trouble of providing separate bills (pretty amazing considering this is Toronto we're talking about, where asking to split the bill even two times can be a huge hassle) for everyone in our party without being asked. He also tidily wrapped up our leftovers without a second thought.Listed in: Toronto's Best Italian…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/6/2009
Mercatto has landed. I enjoyed a wonderfully romantic (heheh) meal at Mercatto with my pal Jen S.… Read more »
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Review from Steph W.
4/25/2010
We walked about 30 minutes to find this restaurant even though we were 15 minutes away from the restaurant. It is tucked away on a small side street. Walking up to the outside of Mercatto, you would think this is a super expensive restaurant because it has the look of an upscale restaurant. Walk in, and it still has this look, but the ambiance is warm and welcoming. Immediately, you are greeted by the hostess who offers to hang your coat. (even though my husband was wearing a hoodie). This place is popular and they asked if we had a reservation. Being from out of town, we did not have one so instead of waiting an hour and half, the four of us sat at the bar.
All I could do was stare at the wonderful decorations, black framed chalk boards with writing all over, the outline of italy, a bar that has small wine fridges that you push the button and wine automatically comes out!! Also, a stainless steel coffee machine that is spotless, the chefs in the back making the food; tables with menus and candles...
Onto the food, we all ordered something different. What caught my husband's eye was gnocchi with RABBIT! I was a little creeped out about trying this, but it was the best dish that we ordered! The gnocchi melted in your mouth and the rabbit was a creamy compliment to the pasta. I got prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula pizza, the best bang for your buck...It tasted so fresh and delicious! Other dishes ordered were pesto pasta and sausage, pepperoni pasta. The bread was fresh and soft!
The staff was extremely friendly. The bartender chatted with us and it was revealed that we were from San Francisco. The manager came up to us and introduced himeself, shook each of our hands and invited us back to the restaurant. My husband joked, "Next time, the meal is free, right?" John (the manager) joked, "We will see what we can do."
In sum, this is a must-eat! -
Review from Tony C.
Richmond Hill, ON
9/28/2009
I heard a lot of good things about this place, about 6 months ago I decided to cave in and pay this place a visit. Ever since, I've been here a total of 3 times (once at the Bay St. location). While I did have a pleasant experience at the Bay St. location I prefer the Toronto St. location because of the ambiance and the professional but super down-to-earth staff.
The food is absolutely delicious, I ordered Fusilli con Pollo(chicken, spinach and mushroom pasta) and honestly it is one of the best pasta dishes I've ever tasted in my life. It rivals those I've had in Italy. The abundance of flavours you get in that dish, each bite just makes you crave more. Their antipasto misto is worth ordering - you get a choice of 6 items, the ones I liked were the prosciutto, burrata (a soft milk cheese which was just divine!) and the artichoke. On another visit I had the Orecchiette Pugliesi(Italian sausage pasta), that was good but not on the same level as the Fusilli con Pollo, but worth trying nonetheless.
Each time I went I had an pizza as an appetizer, they are good! Thin crust and the right amount of cheese and toppings. Their pizzas are comparable to Terroni's.
Their wine menu is impressive, when I couldn't decide on one, the waitress offered me a taster before I ordered it, they truly know how to make your meal a pleasant experience. Overall a good dining experience to be had here. Don't miss out on this! -
Review from Stas Z.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2009 4 photos
This modern Italian resto is a true gem. Its decor is elegant and minimalistic, making the room feel spacious yet warm and cozy. There is an abundance of natural wood and stone, chalkboard with daily specials, part open concept kitchen - all adding to the authenticity of experience that builds, of course most importantly, on fantastic menu. The dishes I've tried here are delicious and elegantly made with freshest ingredients. They have a touch of innovation while using the best of tradition resulting in unique, genuinely good meal. All servers I encountered in my many visits here are laid back, knowledgeable and helpful. Bonus for a hard liqueur connoisseur - they have large selection of fine grappa.
I introduced many people to this place most of whom were very impressed, and it continues to be one of my favorites. Really surprised no one has reviewed it until now. The only thing I would ask of the owners is to bring back the pine seed cake they used to have and stopped making for whatever reason. -
Review from Wing H.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2010
Not sure why, but I've always viewed this establishment as the next option if Teroni's was too busy. However, having tried it for the first time last week, Mercatto's is certainly a worthy first option if your looking for casual Italian food. Service was excellent, decor was beautiful and a great selection of dishes on the menu, something for everyone.
Must try the iced cuppiccino, could be the be the best in the city. -
Review from Garrett B.
7/13/2011
One of the best Italian places I've eaten. The food was authentic and delicious. We ordered the formaggi board and every single cheese was perfect and delicious. The atmosphere is a great mix of modern and rustic. If I'm ever in Toronto again, I will definitely revisit!!
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Review from Eugene M.
Toronto, ON
3/24/2010
Although I have been to the Bay St location, I thought I knew what to expect, but this time it was with a large group, and Mercatto (Toronto St.) exceeded my expectations.
Perhaps a large group is the way to come, because you get to sample so many varieties of food. The lovely young ladies that served us were as friendly as they were lovely; any requests were provided immediately.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Kevin W.
Prospect Village, NS
4/29/2010
Overall Excellent! Food and service was outstanding. Would definitely recommend and return.
Calamari was very tasty. The halibut dish and the ravioli was outstanding! -
Review from Tiffany S.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2010
Fantastic! I attended a birthday dinner here in January with 6 friends and was very impressed. The decor is very tasteful and the atmosphere ambient. We had a gorgeous rustic wooden table surrounded by wine shelves with a very unique chandelier formed out of tree branches. The staff was attentive and very helpful in recommending dishes for the special dietary needs of one guest in our party. I ordered the gnocchi and it was delicious.
I recommend Mercatto for a romantic evening for two or a nice night out with friends and will definitely return! -
Review from Andrew M.
Toronto, ON
8/27/2009
For those who have been to the Mercatto on Bay St, this one has a considerably different feel. I've been to both at lunch, and while the Bay location seems rushed, cramped, and noisy, this location on Toronto street is a bit more open, airy, and relaxed. Despite the more relaxed feel, it's still very possible to be in and out in well under an hour during the week.
The menus is similar (or the same?) between the two locations - a solid selection of largely pasta and paninis. The food has always been quite good here despite the relatively low price point. I'll usually end up with the daily panini special if I'm there for lunch, and have never been disappointed.
Service was good, but not outstanding. Servers exude a slight hipster vibe, but not nearly as much as the nearby Terroni servers who might as well be in an American Apparel ad.
Overall quite good - will definitely be a mainstay. -
Review from Noel D.
12/10/2009
Both times I've been here it was for a birthday dinner so the table was about a dozen people deep, which makes the evening a lot more fun. And the restaurant is so spacious (with very high ceilings) that they can comfortably accommodate large parties.
Anyway, the best thing about this place is the food. It's downright incredible. The last time I went they had an antipasti special where you get two verdure, two meats and two cheeses for 15 bucks! Definitely an awesome deal to split with a friend. First time I came here I ordered the ravioli and it was fantastic. This time around I ordered the tagliatelle (almond pesto) and it was delicious. My friend let me taste some of her lamb, which melted in my mouth.
Atmosphere is nice. Both times I've been there it was at night in the winter so I can only imagine who chaotic this place is on a summer afternoon. Staff was great (girl even took my coat at the door) but with it being a large group they might have been laying the service on extra thick. Great place for a romantic date! -
Review from Summer G.
Mississauga, ON
6/24/2010
It has been said several times but I must say it again - the food is EXCELLENT. I'm usually a salt and pepper, please-put-more-cheese kind of girl, but at Mercatto, I didn't even notice if there were any salt and pepper shakers around! It was gooood.
We started with antipasti misti and chose artichokes + beets, prosciutto + gentile and cheese I forgot the names of. GOOOOD. Then we had oriecchette and tagliatelle. GOOOOD. We ended with chocolate lava cake; though we've had better it was GOOD nonetheless.
Price is OK considering the cuisine and the ambience. Service is nice and accommodating, too.
I would have given the 5th star if only the place was a little bit more spacious (we went to the Toronto St location). The space between tables was so tight you can't help but overhear the people beside you. So that I knew the couple on our right was celebrating their anniversary (and was already planning what to do on the next one!) and the one on our left was extremely happy about their pasta. It's entertaining at the beginning (sorry!) but can get annoying and noisy after a while.
Anyway, definitely can't wait to go back! -
Review from Chris J.
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
My brother and I stopped in here for a Monday night when we were visiting Toronto a few weeks back. It was a very nice atmosphere (although quite drafty by the windows). They had a great selection of wines although I didn't try any. I got the gonococci in a lamb red sauce which was fantastic. Seriously, the gonococci were cooked perfectly and the lamb sauce had great flavours. One downside was the waitress seemed pretty curt and didn't come by often. Price is a little up there but given the quality of the food, not a bad deal.
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Review from N J.
7/31/2010
For our last dinner in Toronto, my husband and I wanted something close to our hotel and Italian. We found Mercatto on http://Yelp.com and were pleasantly surprised. From the outside it looks expensive and possibly stuffy. But the hostess and wait staff were all very friendly and helpful, and prices were reasonable. I got the spaghetti alla carbonara, which I loved and could have ate another serving. My husband had the gnocchi, which was very good. And we shared the gelato, which came with a scoop of white chocolate, dark chocolate and strawberry with a biscotti on top.
I would recommend Mercatto if you're looking for a quick place downtown on a off-night with friendly service and good Italian food that is simple and delish, not overly fussy. -
Review from Joanne W.
4/11/2010
Initially, I tried the Mercatto at the MaRS building located at College. The service was superb. My friend ordered the papadelle and I ordered the cavatelli. We weren't very impressed by the pasta. However, the dessert was to die for. if you have the chance to try their ricotta cheesecake with raspberry coulis -- it's a must have!
Today, I went to the Mercatto located at King St. The ambiance was much nicer as it wasn't filled with people rushing for lunch. My friend had the tagliatelle and I had the orecchiette. The orecchiette was very different from my usual tomato/white sauce pastas, but it was delicious. My friend's almond pesto sauce was absolutely amazing. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
4/17/2010
I'm always rolling by here and never really had a chance to walk in.
Lunch today was pretty superb. No wait which was a bonus. The crowd was mostly geek researchers looking for a great reason to expense a meal that they can tack onto the grant budget. (Dude, I know how that "research" game works).
The decor is beautiful, high ceilings, open kitchen, spacious table arrangements. The menu is a slightly pricey, everything is made well and with decent portions. The orecchiette with rapini and sausage was slightly dry but hearty. The pappardelle was al dente with a good balance of mushrooms but a little heavy on the truffle oil.
Overall, just a great "space" to catch a quick bite. The patio in the summer months would likely be even better. They have a steady business just being adjacent to the research complex and hospitals which might explain the "complex" issues in other posts.
Overall, the food is almost as good as terroni's, a nice mid-range Italian resto with the dressings to match. -
Review from T.H. J.
6/13/2011
Unpretentious, but very good. Pastas and appetizers held up better than the pizza
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Review from Boonie W.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2011
Consistently great food with mainly good service
When I say good service I should mention that I have had excellent service more often than not and the occasional bout of bad service.
Mercatto is reliable and tasty with good vegetarian options. -
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 11/21/2010 13 Check-ins Here
This is an update to my rave review about the mushroom pizza with truffle oil. Simply, it's no longer on the menu. My next fave is Quattro Stagione.
Listed in: Best Gourmet Pizzas
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/11/2010
Great place with lots of atmosphere. There are many Mercattos in Toronto but this location is very… Read more »
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Review from Augusto A.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great ambiance and Food is phenomenal.
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Review from Michelle L.
Richmond Hill, ON
3/29/2011
I was really impressed by the food, atmosphere and friendly service. I first came here for a friend's birthday, and then returned the following week.
The dish that stood out most for me was the fried risotto balls with mushrooms, truffle oil and stuffed with delicious oozing cheese. Deep-fried gooey goodness! I also quite enjoyed the Affumicato pizza topped with fennel sausage, smoked scamorza, and tomato as well as one of their rabbit pasta specials. -
Review from Alex x.
NORTH YORK, ON
7/27/2010
Food is excellent, service is great, location is convenient. Wine wall is impressive as are the dishes available on the menu--very unique Italian restaurant. A very reasonable price for excellent food. My only issue was the dead fruit fly floating in my friend's cup of water; but it happens.
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Review from sid l.
5/18/2009
Went to Toronto for a long weekend and stumbled upon Mercatto on the way to another restaurant! Good thing we stopped in as it was a great foodie find. Very attentive staff and cool vibe atmosphere. Had about a 15 minute wait which allowed us time to sit at the bar and enjoy some wine poured from what looked like a Euro Cave wine preservation system. Bartender was great as he let us sample until we found what we were looking for! Dinner was a treat as we started with Prosciutto with figs, and Barbabietole Arrostiti (roasted beets, oranges, red onions,and a balsamic dressing), Arugula insalate, and finished with a Homemade Gnudi (naked ravioli) and Pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms, parmigano & truffle. Did not try a desert as we were pressed for time. The service here was great! All in all it was an enjoyable experience and we will go back if in Toronto again!
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Review from Michelle D.
8/31/2009
Great atmosphere, wonderful service and food that won't disappoint. A great wine selection as well!
