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Trattoria Mercatto
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
220 Yonge StEaton Ctr
Toronto, ON M5B 2H1
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(647) 352-3390
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30 am - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
33 reviews for Trattoria Mercatto
Review Highlights
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"...good dining option for the Eaton Centre and great service." In 10 reviews -
"The meat and cheese selections were quite nice (details..." In 4 reviews -
"...a beets salad with burrata cheese, arugula, almonds, and..." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from jocelyn l.
Updated - 12/10/2011
I've been back a couple of times with friends and we love the $28 bottle of prosecco (so affordable) and the menu has improved IMO.
I had the Fazoretti with lamb ragu the other day and it was fantastic.
Service was patient and efficient too1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2011
3.5*; happy to roll it up to a 4* with good, friendly, attentive service i received.
Finally, Eaton… Read more »
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Review from Mark G.
5/10/2012
Mercatto was a convenient location for lunch the other day, and since the restaurant was busy (and since I had seen a Top Chef Canada winner there on a previous visit to Trinity Square), I decided to stop to try it.
I found the menu very pricey, especially for lunch. My steak panini tasted very good, as did the side salad, but wasn't nearly enough for the cost.
Excellent food + blah service + expensive price tag = 3 stars and a likelihood of NOT returning so fast. There are many other restaurants to visit. I don't see a need to rush back here. -
Review from Teena D.
4/27/2012
I had lunch there on Tuesday with two co-workers. It was jammed by noon.
I had a pizza. I love love love pizza ... this one was okay, not great. As it was getting colder, the crust got really hard. And it wasn't very cheesy.
My co-workers ordered chicken and roasted potatoes. It looked good ... that's what I should have gotten.
Our server was friendly but because it was so busy, we didn't see a lot of her towards the end when we ordered coffee and tea. -
Review from Sunny G.
Mississauga, ON
5/10/2012
I've been here twice in the last few weeks, one tip is to make a reservation. Not that we waited long, but there was a wait.. 15-30 mins if its a busy time and I tried lunch and dinner.
Good news is that its worth the wait! The food is delicious. The service is ok. and the atmosphere is good (location) but so-so (very basic decor).
Pasta/Pizza .. really tasty. The prices are reasonable too, around $20+/person not including alcohol.
This one is located in the Eaton Centre on the street level between the Trinity Church and Zara, right outside Sears. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
11/30/2011 5 photos
Late Night Menu at Trattoria Mercatto doesn't have a lot of choices... but I am ready to eat as I just walked off my dinner at Maroli up at Korean Town.
I have to say the wait staffs here are all a little off... wackily off... just have this strange vibe of being nice but with an attitude.
We ended up ordering
Selection of local and imported artisanal meats and cheeses($16.00)
and some drinks..... with my Yelp Friend....
The meat and cheese selections were quite nice (details which I don't remember), goat cheese, mozzarella cheese and cured meat.
I hope I am not getting use to the idea of snacking on delicacy and sipping drinks every night as a midnight snack....Listed in: Yelp 30 Day Challenge November…
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Review from Natalie G.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2012
Went here with a big group and had great service. The food however was mediocre. Calamari was amazing as an appetizer but the pizza i ordered was full of grease and very salty. It is an expensive restaurant for sub-par Italian food.
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Review from Nicole A.
Etobicoke, ON
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really liked this place. I do agree with the others, my pasta Carbonera had a tone if black pepper, but overall it was really great. I am excited to try another location, the fact that this pretty great restaurant is in the Eaton Center is kinda a turn off though.
The best part about my experience at Mercatto would be our waiter. He was really entertaining, very outgoing and when he saw that I was googling Rob Rossi ( top chef canada), he called Rob right over.
Embarrased, yes, worth it, yes. I don't know what it is about meeting executive chefs, I just have so much respect for what they do I guess.
Anyways, Rob your food was amazing, the staff was amazing and I cant wait to see who wins Top Chef Canada! -
Review from Grainne M.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2011
I tried Mercatto on College before coming here so I already had positive feelings toward the chain. I'm glad to say that Trattoria Mercatto just added to the positivity!
I've been twice now-once with friends and 2 babies, and once for a girlie lunch with a friend of mine. Both experiences were really good. It's busy there-especially the downstairs section. I don't think I'd wanted to be seated downstairs if I wanted a quiet lunch. It's fun to people watch though and they have TVs over the bar if you want to catch up on a sporting event. The staff are friendly and smiled even when the 1 year old decided that she really really wanted to try to dance on the table. I had a bean soup the first time I went which was very tasty and came with some foccacia. The girls were extremely happy with their calamari (and their wine).
For my second visit, we were upstairs which was much quieter. I tried butternut squash soup which was just OK. I found it a bit bland. I had to ask for bread to go with it but our friendly (and attractive) waiter provided me with a plate of fresh, crusty bread in a snap. My friend had a panini which came with a big bowl of fries. She found her panini tasty. I thought the fries could have been tastier but still managed to deplete her serving so they obviously weren't that bad! We deliberated over dessert and luckily the waiter wasn't annoyed-he just offered suggestions. We decided to try the doughnuts some other time and shared the caramel copetta instead. I think my friend described it best as "like a fancy Snickers ice-cream". It was a great sweet and salty mix and there was enough to share if you just want something a little sweet after a meal.
It's by far the nicest place to eat in the Eaton Centre and you kind of forget where you are in there. Service was great both times I've been and I've seen both the buzzing side and the quieter dining room. I liked both. Must go back to try those doughnuts... -
Review from Char C.
Toronto, ON
6/10/2011
I'm leaving... Hungry..going to burger king
Had a pasta dish and my boyfriend had the chicken diablo. The food is good but there isn;t a lot of it! AND its expensive!! -
Review from Devan R.
3/14/2011 2 photos
Absolutely love this spot.
I have long been a fan of the Mercatto locations in Toronto, and this one is now my favourite.
I have been living near the Eaton Centre for nearly 4 years now and believe me when I tell you, I have completely exhausted the venues in my immediate surroundings for meals and drinks. Not to mention, the options at my disposal were nothing to write home about (Home = Yelp).
This location has two floors; a bar and semi-private dining room on the main floor, and a mezzanine on the second floor. The decor is rustic and welcoming, high ceilings and simple yet comfortable seating and tables.
One thing I could not help but notice is how personable and warm all the staff were, I was extremely impressed even before the food hit the table.
Along with another guest I shared a pizza and a pasta. The pizza - Pancetta e Caprino (Italian bacon, goat cheese, roasted tomato and caramelized onions) was a delicious choice. Aside from the seemingly heavy toppings, the pizza sat lightly in my pork belly. The crust was blistered just perfectly and the pizza was thin and crunchy. I loved it, with the addition of the pepperoncini, I could not ask for more.
The pasta we ordered was the Chittara (alla carbonara, guanciale, black pepper, egg, pecorino) and it to was on point. The chittara pasta closely resembles a spaghetti but is a touch flatter. However, what truly caught my eye about this dish was the guanciale which is cured pig's cheek. I'm an absolute charcuterie slut and I love guanciale. If you've never had it before I would compare it to a pancetta, it is very very salty. It is also traditionally included with spaghetti alla carbonara.
What I most admired about this dish was that I could taste every ingredient that was listed for it. I could taste the fresh black pepper popping throughout, it definitely had a warm eggy taste to it, the sharpness of the pecorino was noticeable, and the cream sauce with explosions of salty guanciale brought it all together for me.
For dessert we had the much anticipated Ciambelle pronounced chee-am-bell-ay, Italian doughnuts filled with vanilla pastry cream. They were very good but I have had better Italian doughnuts so my expectations were not met. My guest was losing their mind with each and every bite and even used his last doughnut to sweep up all the excess sugar and icing sugar that was left on the plate. I found them to be a tad dry, but it is their go to dessert and they are hella popular.
To wash all this down we had a gorgeous pint of Birra Dolimitti. It's brewed in a small town in Italy name Pedavena located at the base of the Dolomites. The reason why I decided to write this fact is because I wanted to make it clear that Mercatto takes very little shortcuts if any at all with their selection. What items and ingredients should be local, are, and what should be imported from Italy, are. The beer was light, refreshing and aromatic, I loved every sip of it and they even had Dolomitti pint glasses which again is them going that extra mile for authenticity. Speaking of their alcohol they boast several 100% italian beers on tap and their wine selection is staggering. They also have an enomatic wine dispenser and a preservation system in place which ensures you receive a glass of wine as perfect as it can be, or should be.
Wow after that alcohol spiel I feel like I should be working there. But seriously, all liquor aside this is a cozy resto with delicious edibles and fantastic fluids. They also have flat screens above the bar constantly playing sports and the Food Network. Speaking of the Food Network Mercatto's Executive/Head Chef will be competing on the next Top Chef and that is big things.
Come summer time their patio can hold up to 150 patrons...I know where I'll be having my patio treats.
Great for coffee, lunch, dinner, dessert, drinks, groups, kids, take-out and even catering, They got it all.
I highly recco this resto.
Do it. -
Review from Alice H.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2011
I really like the Mercatto on Bay St. and used to frequent it often for lunch when I worked downtown. I friend mentioned they opened one in the Eaton Centre and we decided to meet here instead as it was a move convenient location for us.
We were seated on the patio which was remarkably pleasant. I had a view of the church and my friend overlooked a grassy park. The patio alone would get 4.5 stars. It was quite, pedestrian friendly, and really enjoyable.
The decor was also really nice, as other have mentioned they obviously gave a lot of thought to the atmosphere.
As for the food - it was meh. We both ordered pizza. Mine had olives, artichokes, prosciutto and mushrooms, however instead of being distributed evenly all over the pizza each quarter was allocated it's own topping. I know this was intentional but I like having all the flavours on each piece. I spent so much time re-arranging my toppings that by the time i got around to finishing the pizza (and yes I ate the whole thing), it was cold. Also - i found the crust too thin in places (the tomato sauce was seeping through) and both of our pizzas were quite oily.
As others have commented we had the pre-packaged breadsticks - now I was prepared for this thanks to other reviews, and agree that it's a bit odd. However on the flip side I have no self control when it comes to fresh bread served at restaurants and tend to eat so much bread that I'm lucky to get half way through my dinner. But in this case I was able to nibble a bit before my meal on aforementioned breadsticks, and then for a change eat my entire entree!
Our service was fine, they were great about keeping our water glasses full, and we didn't have to wait long to order, or for our food to arrive.
All in all it was an ok experience, I would go back for the patio but wouldn't recommend it based solely on the food. -
Review from Lisa C.
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came here on a Friday for lunch to get away from work (hoping for patio but ending up being inside because the patio was packed) sat down and our waiter dropped by and offered drinks. We decided and he came back, took our order and left some pre-packaged breadsticks on the table. That was the last time we saw our waiter at our table. And, quite frankly, the last time we saw him doing anything other than running up and down the stairs and glossing over us when checking the status of the tables on the upper level.
First off, this is supposed to be a really great Italian style place and you're giving each person pre-packaged breadsticks? Wasn't terribly impressed with that, its just plain lazy. That and the fact that right behind one of my coworkers was a wood slab with beautiful fresh bread on it (which we weren't served until we asked for it) was annoying. After waiting about 20 minutes, during which time the upper level became much busier and fuller, one of my coworkers asked the bus boy for some of the bread on the aforementioned wood slab and he brought over 4 slices (one for each of us) and some olive oil and balsamic. Gotta say, that bus boy? FANTASTIC. Seriously, he was great. Refilling water, brought us bread, did his best to make us happy.
I think it had been about 40 minutes from the time we ordered that we got our food delivered to the table, and none of us were pleased at this point. I ordered one of the panini sandwiches, and while the portion size was good, I was not pleased to see other people around me ordering the same thing and being given an option of a side. The menu doesn't specify whether there are sides so we assumed not and my waiter asked nothing about it (i.e. do you want salad/fries/whatever) so I took that as no sides. I got a salad, which was yummy regardless, as the side but other people had these wicked looking fries that I would have chosen over a salad HAD I BEEN OFFERED THE CHOICE. My coworkers got 2 pasta dishes and a pizza; the pizza was a great size but the pasta dishes were small. Overall, at this point, we all felt as though what we got was not worth what we paid for.
So my feelings about the food: I didn't try anyone else's dishes but the general response was that they were good but not great. I could have gotten a similar sandwich to the one I received at another place nearby for half the price (and probably with a side as well). It wasn't anything special, nothing to write home about and I wouldn't order it again. It wasn't terribly offensive, it just didnt knock my socks off. If you're only going to offer 4 sandwiches, they should be original, fantastic creations. Not something I could order at subway for half the price.
We sat for at least 15 minutes after finishing our meals and NO ONE came to take our plates. One of my biggest pet peeves. You see a bunch of patrons sitting at a table with empty plates and you walk away? They had enough bus boy staffers that our table should have been emptied immediately, or at least within 5. We had to call over another waitress to get our bills, who then cleared our table and we paid her.
Now it wasn't until we were paying for our boring meal and terrible experience that the waitress told us that our original 'waiter' was actually the manager and the section was short staffed and technically all the tables were hers and he was helping her out. As a former server I get that.
However, also as a former server a few tips to management:
if you're short staffed, don't seat the bloody section! If you don't have the staff to give good or at least decent service to all your patrons, section off a portion of your restaurant and do NOT seat it. I am certain that we were not the only patrons who were disappointed with their service today. For a server, over-seating a section is a disaster and quite frankly, you get less tips because you have less time to care for each table.
If you're short staffed, TELL YOUR TABLES. We were coming from/going back to work and if we had known that we were going to spend an hour and a half here for lunch, we would have gone somewhere else or we would have been more patient. If you don't tell the customers that things are running behind, you have no one to blame but yourself for poor management.
I was SO excited that I was finally getting to try this place out because I've always wanted to go to the Mercatto location on Bay but never had the chance. I was looking forward to some great food and I was incredibly disappointed. I will not return and neither will my coworkers. We all agreed that the quality of food was lacking for the price, the amount of food was lacking for the price and the service was ABYSMAL. -
Review from Joanne W.
7/20/2011
Another addition to the Mercatto family now located at Eaton Centre! My friend and I came here on a Monday evening. Service was fairly fast. Nothing too different from the other Mercattos. However, I was a little bit confused by the pre-packaged breadsticks that were offered.
I ordered myself the bucatini. It was good - had a little kick to it the spices, but it was a bit salty as well. My friend and I ordered ourselves the affogato on the menu. Espresso was a bit too strong, and the gelato provided was a chocolate one (I would've preferred something else - like vanilla). I found the one at Terroni much better.
Overall, nice place to go to in the Eaton Centre area versus Mr. GreenJeans or whatever. -
Review from Christine R.
Scarborough, ON
5/25/2011 3 photos
Came here on Saturday for Dinner after a day of shopping and craving some pizza.
Our waitress was very friendly and took our drink orders and gave us time to review the menu,
Sooo many good options I couldn't settle on one appetizer. I always like to try the rice balls and meat balls at as many italian restos as possible so I had to order both and for main we decided to split a Margarita pizza. The waitress asked if we wanted apps first or everything at the same time. We decided to get everything at the same time and she then
brought us prepackaged thin breadsticks to nibble on as we waited for our meal. I didn't particularly care for these as I would have preferred real bread.
The Arancini or Deep fried risotto balls were delicious, very crispy on the outside and nice and cheesey inside with peas.
The meatballs were hugeee, topped with cheese and tomato sauce also very good not dry cooked perfectly.
The Margarita pizza was great very flavourful. The crust was thin but soft not overly crispy.
Our waitress then offered to bring us the dessert menu but we were sooo stuffed we couldn't handle another morsel.
Overall really good dining option for the Eaton Centre and great service. I would definately return and save room to try the dessert menu.Listed in: Pizza Time!
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Review from Jason C.
Toronto, ON
3/25/2011
COOL looking place, decent service, good food.
I can't say the food was amazing but for the price I'll go back. And finally the Eaton Centre has a proper place to eat!
One thing though, Mercatto please bring back your nice fresh bread. I pencil tasting breadsticks yesterday! Wtf is that?? -
Review from pat a.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2011
Was there on a Tuesday at about 4pm; place was about half busy; service was indifferent.
Really late lunch!
Strange to be greeted by my server with "Good evening" at 4pm -- she did the same to the table next to me, too.
I had a 5oz glass of Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (Masciarelli 09 Abruzzo).
I saw they had wifi, and asked for the password. Got it, but it didn't work (and that's when I discovered that they strangely spell mercato with two t's -- I hadn't noticed that on the outside signage or menu). She really didn't care. Said the service doesn't work that well, anyways, because the box is in the electrical room, so is iffy. Funny, when service is flaky the network name usually disappears/reappears frequently on the iPod. It stayed constant.
For an appetizer, had the Barbabietole Arrosti -- a salad of beets, slices of burrata cheese, arugula, toasted sliced almonds, and balsamic vinegar. It was good. There could have been more cheese. The beets could have been sliced thinner (the slices were about 1cm thick) -- I had to use my knife to cut them. Thinly sliced, I would have been able to use my fork. The arugula topped everything, meaning the beets and burrata were hidden and had to be uncovered. Seems upside-down to me. It was tasty: the beets were beety, the burrata was creamy, the almonds weren't over-toasted, and the arugula was fresh. It didn't make me think "Oh, I've found a new place with a salad that is a must-have!"
Pre-fab grissini in plastic wrappers. Would be nicer to have had either restaurant-made or some fresh Italian bread with olive oil.
For the main course, I had the Chitarra alla carbonara: guanciale, black pepper, egg, pecorino. A chitarra is a device with guitar strings through which thin sheets of pasta are pressed, making spaghetti-like strands, although square in profile. The pasta was nicely cooked, not overcooked at all.
The sauce? The pepper was really heavy. So heavy that when the fellow with the pepper grinder came around, I should have said no, but there had been no time between the food was put in front of me and his arrival to taste it. Since he could see what I had, it might have been a good idea if he hadn't bothered to offer.
I found the dish over-salted. Most of the saltiness came from the guanciale, although the pecorino contributed as well. I'm sure the guanciale was not rinsed. I suspect that there was some salt in the carbonara sauce, too.
When the waitress asked me how my meal was, I told her I found it over salty, and suggested they may want to rinse the guanciale. Basically, I was told that their food is high in sodium (and the subtext was, although said with a smile, that I could stuff my opinion somewhere).
So I won't be back. Because I don't need high sodium over salted food, and even if the kitchen is going to disregard my opinion, I didn't appreciate being told that the food is right, it's my tastebuds that are off.
Total bill was $37.52 before tip.
Their menu is online here: http://trattoriamercat... -
Review from Vivien L.
5/7/2011
My bf and I came here on a thursday night 2 weeks after they opened. We were greeted by 3 high school looking girls and seated immediately. The atmosphere was nice, I liked how rustic and warm the decor made the space feel and it was quite lively (since there are two giant parties there).
Our server was a little slow.. she was nice but failed to refill our water many times, we had to flag down other servers to get refills. Our food was reallllllllly yummy! We shared calamari and a pizza. Both were made well. I love how there were bread sticks for us to munch on which waiting also lol.
There is also an upstairs level which is very big and spacious. The washrooms are also upstairs and they are soooo decked out! I think i spent a good 10 mins there soaking in the decor and reading the newspaper wallpaper (ok it wasn't really 10 minutes... haha)
All the servers seemed a little lost.. and some were just standing around doing nothing but I attribute it to them just opening. I would for sure come back and see how things are going -
Review from Angie M.
Toronto, ON
12/19/2011
The Calamari was hot and fresh but a little tough - one minute less in the oil would have been perfect. Pizza with pancetta, goat cheese, caramelized onions and grape tomatoes was luscious. Service was a little uneven during the lunch rush, but I would go there again.
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Review from Denise S.
4/16/2011
(2.5 stars)
Sorry to bring the rating down, but I was pretty disappointed with my experience here. Came on a Friday night, so it was busy. My friend and I waited 15 minutes for a table, which was fine. The place was buzzing and the decor is warm and rustic. Service however, was ridiculous. It took around 15-20 minutes before *anyone* came to our table to take our order or pour us some water. We asked one guy if we could order, he said he would tell our server but even after that it was a long wait. Now, it's Friday night and they should anticipate the rush. There actually were tons of staff, but some of them seemed to just be hanging around... So, the poor service was really puzzling. When our waiter finally came, he was pretty indifferent...
Food was good though. We had the eggplant appetizer ($7) which came in a jar with some warm bread. Mmm... I had the spaghetti carbonara ($16)(they had some other name for it, but essentially it was spaghetti carbonara). It was creamy and flavourful, although they could go easy on the black pepper. My friend had the panini with lamb and banana peppers, which she enjoyed but said it was spicier than she expected (she wanted more water, but nobody came...). It came with a choice of salad/fries. She had the salad and it was a good portion with grated cheese on top.
We were too annoyed to stick around for dessert/coffee.
In summary:
- I have been to the Mercatto on Bay St., Toronto St., and in the MaRS building and felt this one did not measure up to those.
- Great to have a decent dining option in the Eaton Centre (this is a step up from City Grill which used to be in this space).
- I would maybe give this place one more shot (the pizzas and the gelato looked amazing, and a lot of people were ordering the fried calamari), but if the service doesn't improve I would take my business elsewhere.Listed in: La Dolce Vita
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Review from Craig L.
7/19/2011
Sat down on a Tuesday night so I would have expected no problems with service. Service is slow getting to the order and getting the food out of the kitchen. Had the linguine w/ clams which was an incredibly small portion and overseasoned with garlic and pepper.
Generally agree with other reviewers that this is a place you go for convenience at Eaton Centre in a place with nice amibance and where everything is sort of 'eh' but not great. -
Review from Joe L.
Richmond Hill, ON
10/25/2011
I've dined at Trattoria several times since their opening and have had nothing but pleasant experiences.
There are some menu items they do well and some they don't. I can live with that. Don't come here if you're expecting a terroni-esque pizza. Do come here for a nice panino for lunch or for their great apps (the fried cauliflower is better than my nonna's). Their pasta is also simple and well done.
Yes, I was a little--weirded out--by the fact that they didn't have bread. It's usually standard at italian places. Maybe they'll work that out, maybe it's a labor/cost thing. Big deal.
And this is probably one of the best patios in the area. As a Ryerson student, its close and has a better vibe than the Milestone's or Jack Astor's patios (the food is also better).
Keep it up guys! Hire more hipster chicks for servers too. -
Review from Kalia P.
Toronto, ON
10/27/2011
This restaurant has a great atmosphere with perfect sized portions. You'd never think it was located in the Eaton Center! We've been back a number of times for both lunch and dinner.
Loved the assorted meat and cheese starter (Affettati e Formaggi), Diavola pizza and the Braised Lamb Ragu (Fazzoletti). The wine list has great choices at a great price! Everyone we talked to was extremely friendly & knowledgeable.
We highly recommend giving it a try! -
Review from Amy L.
5/9/2011
Trattoria Mercatto is an Italian restaurant serving up great food made with local and fresh seasonal ingredients. Located right beside Zara, there are two levels to this casual, new hot spot. I loved the high ceiling and tall windows that contributed to an airy and open concept. Our group dined on the upper floor which was more quiet and comfortable. Our server was excellent and he made sure to check up on us often. Since I had a late lunch that day, I only ordered an appetizer and a dessert. I had the Barbabietole Arrosti ($10); a beets salad with burrata cheese, arugula, almonds, and aged balsamic. I simply adored this dish - everything from the combination of flavours, to the textures, to the final presentation. The beets were cooked to the right softness and the cheese was so incredibly fresh. I especially liked the nuttiness and added texture that the almonds gave. The arugula leaves were crisp and the balsamic vinegar provided a distinctive sweetness and acidity that made this salad work. This appetizer was very light and refreshing, with no one ingredient overpowering the flavours of the rest.
For dessert, I ordered Ciambelle ($6) - cream filled cinnamon doughnuts. Okay, this might not be the healthiest choice out there, but the beet salad was nutritious so everything sort of balances out ;) Warm and made-to-order doughtnuts are the best as they are not left hanging around for hours prior. Although I'm not much of a cream person, I did think that these doughnuts could have used more cream (don't be deceived by the photo above). It's kind of funny actually because I was speaking to my friend, Joyce, after this meal and she was also there that night and ordered Ciambelle! She told me that their order had tons of cream and it literally squirted out at the people :D Strange since mine were far from being too much. Anyway, they were delicious so I was happy with my dinner at Trattoria Mercatto. Next time I visit, I'd definitely order a pizza because others at the table did and they all looked so scrumptious! I can't wait for my next visit already! :)Listed in: Italian Restos
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Review from Jamie B.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
Went to Trattoria Mercatto before going to see a show at the Canon Theatre. I agree with a bunch of the other reviewers on here when they say that the service is terrible. We had one of the worst servers that I have ever encountered at a restaurant that is supposed to be "nice". Our waitress didn't make eye contact at all, looked like she would rather be anywhere else but serving us, we had to ask for water multiple times before we ended up getting it from someone else, we actually had to grab her and say "can we order our food now" because it had been so long since we were sitting there and so on and so on.
On to the food! There were three of us that ate there that night and we all had the same complaint.... under salted. We all grabbed the boy that brought us our food for extra cheese and that still didn't help.
So, basically bland food and terrible service! -
Review from Colleen L.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
A great place to grab a glass of wine and sit out side on a nice day. The meat/cheese plate we got wasn't overwhelming, or really enough for a hearty snack, but it was just enough for some peckish shoppers looking for a tasty bite and a couple sips.
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Review from Anastasia S.
Toronto, ON
8/10/2011
Wow I am surprised by some of the harsh reviews this place is getting. I am sorry that these people got bad food and bad service. I went to Mercatto twice already and both visits were very pleasant. A lot of people are saying that they don't like the breadsticks that Mercatto serves. I actually think it's a nice touch and very original. And as for the bread, if you ask, they will be more than happy to bring some for you with olive oil and vinegar. We asked for bread on both of my visits and they brought back very fresh bread with lots of olive oil.
On my first visit, we shared a burrata salad appetizer, which was so fresh and delicious. And I loved the sweet marinated onions that they put on top. For the main we shared a scallop risotto, which was also excellent.
On my second visit, I didn't have an appetizer, but I had a lamb ragu pasta, which was really good. The only tiny little complaint I have is that I wish the pasta was a bit more al dente. Nevertheless, it tasted really good. The sauce wasn't overpowering, and the meat was tender. I don't know what people are referring to when they are saying that the portions are small, but my pasta dish was a really good portion! For dessert I shared a chocolate pistachio cake with a friend. The dark chocolate was rich, not too sweet, with a nice crust and pistachios on top added a nice crunch.
The patio at this place is beautiful and located in a nice courtyard with a fountain and a church. I really enjoyed this place and will recommend it to other people. -
Review from Colin P.
8/20/2011
Loved the ravioli...friendly staff. Great atmosphere.
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Review from S W.
Mississauga, ON
5/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Had the linguine and clams here when I really wanted the seafood spagettini (it is on menu on Toronto St location). Portion was far too small for $16 dish but good (i'll be blunt, a ripoff). I would eat here again, based on dining experience at Toronto St location, but not order the same dish. For Eatons Centre it is one of the better restos that is still within the mall. For the price it isn't worth it unless you are short of time or don't feel like walking a block.
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Review from Francois D.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2011
I've been going to the various Mercatto restaurants for years and I was excited to see them opening in the Eaton Centre as I work right upstairs, but after a few visits I'm afraid I won't be back. The reason: the noise level is extreme; everyone I have been with has commented on it. I like a relatively energetic atmosphere, but here it is downright unpleasant.
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Review from Adam S.
Toronto, ON
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Selection seems a little limited but the food was fresh and delicious. However ravioli portion was rather small.
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Review from Tom L.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2011
Went for lunch and we both had pastas. Tasty enough, but not really that much food. Busy and noisy atmosphere, and not much elbow room....not at all comfortable. However, good service and friendly staff. Might suit the "trendy" crowd, but not my cup of tea.
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Review from Terry R.
5/15/2011
Not bad if you're in a pinch.
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