Mercato Reviews

What a culinary experience! Yes, it's loud and somewhat tight quarters, but the service is adequate and the food, divine! We had the pyramid pasta with crab and shrimp as well as the antipasto for two (fabulous) and the Mediterranean sea bass which was wonderful. This was a meal we will long remember. When was the last time you could say that. We'll be back.

Creative menu, mostly Italian, a good variety. A little costly for the quality. BYOB - important to us. Very small, 10-12 tables.

Very good experience and would recommend this BYOB restaurant. The food was excellent; I had short ribs which were very flavorful with a great texture and the portion was plentiful and the grilled octopus with fingerling potatoes was excellent. The waiter had recognized members of the dinner party and knew that they had favorites that were not on the menu. Both the waiter and the kitchen staff were pleased to make these favorites even though they were not on that evening's menu. The restaurant is somewhat small and compact but the lighting and atmosphere are nice.

We were staying at the Alexander Inn, wanted someplace near our hotel and spotted Mercato's lights a block away. It happened to be Restaurant Week so we had the special menu offering and it was delicious. We visited in mid-September and the weather was perfect for outdoor dining. We noticed that restaurants in the area where we stayed used their sidewalks as expandable dining rooms which was fine for us. The only downside was that this restaurant was cash-only, no credit cards.

My wife and I decided to fine a nice BYOB in Philly. We figured we were about 30 minutes away and had just purchased several cases of wine, why not put it to good use. Plus after walking around all day we were famished. She was able to get 2 seats at Mercato, provided we could get there in about 25 minutes. 24 minutes later (I may have stretched the speed limit) I dropped her at the front door and parked. Mercato is small, it is crowded and because we were sitting inches from the kitchen it can get loud. It is also fantastic - one of the best meals we have had in Philly. The food was amazing - she started with clams and mussels, then the pasta tower. I had the meatballs and short rib ragu. With the very minor exception of the pasta on the towers being a little too al dente, everything was amazing. The clams and the ragu required more bread because there was no way we were sending anything back to the kitchen uneaten - especially the broth. Deserts were good - would have been better with some coffee - but after the main courses it is a very minor point. We found the service to be very good. It was graduation weekend and the place was packed in a matter of minutes. With the place completely full and the space between tables not very generous the service was still prompt and attentive. I would absolutely recommend Mercato - bring some wine, bring your appetite, and relax. It might be hard as the kitchen noise is jarring. But it is very worth it.

Professional and friendly service. Comfortable outdoor seating. Great menu choices and excellent food. Best mussels ever. Would definitely return. Soon. BYO is a big plus.

I was looking forward to a very enjoyable time at this restaurant as I had wanted to visit it in one my theatre or orchestra experience but the restaurant was always full and could never be seated .Finally last Saturday November 7 of 2015 I was able to get there early and secure a place I ordered a the day fish dish . Price was high ($30) but I expected a great culinary experience . The preparation was interesting with pan seared brocoly and couliflowar however the portion of fish was truly microscopic ! Absolutly ridiculous ! I should have send it back but I did not and I should not complain but I think I am obliged to write this for the benefit of clients and perhaps the restaurant itself . Please expect this reaction and review if you do not respect the intelligence of your clients .

Small intimate setting. BYOB. Grilled artichoke and chicken wings apps delicious. Excellent service. Short rib Ragu with ricotta gnocchi was superb as was the pyramid pasta. Will definitely return to try additional dishes.

I wasn't impressed at all. It is very very tight in there with seating and the kitchen is right there and you feel like your clothes are going to smell from the close proximity to the grill etc.. My food was just okay. The menu was typical overpriced artsy but not alot to pick from. It is a BYOB. The staff was just okay too. I don't think I would go back.

First time visit to this Spruce Street place. Vibrant neighborhood and a small and intimate restaurant, which is great. Wait staff was attentive but not pushy, so they get a great grade. Appetizers were excellent: meatballs, antipasti and grilled artichoke were wonderful. Meals included pasta bolognese, spicy crab in squid ink pasta, risotto and fish. All excellently prepared. Desert was a pistachio ice cream, which we loved. All of that fro 4 at under $ 200. Only downside is parking, which is a nightmare. But you can pay $20 for a lot on 13th street and you're fine.

Wonderful food at this restaurant 1short block from the Alexander Inn. Be prepared for cash only and BYOB. The beef short rib ragout was so tender it was falling apart.Friends had the Parmesan crusted veal cutlet with asparagus and fingerling potatoes-5stars! Will definitely return!

I was so excited to eat here as it has a stellar reputation. We went for brunch on Mother’s Day. What a DISASTER. The menu was limited to three courses but they were all terrible. Not bad - terrible. And it was not cheap. So we left feeling disappointed having wasted a special occasion and feeling ripped off in the process. Mercato - if you can’t meet your own standard consistently why Open?

We were looking for a new BYOB dining spot in center city and we found a winner! Beautiful evening so we were able to eat outside. Loved the vibe! Knew we were in for a treat when we smelled food coming out to the table next to us! Mmmm! Presentation was beautiful! Our server Larry was attentive and had personality but was not overbearing. He was intuitive to our needs and zoned in on our personalties. He kind of reminded us of the wait staff at the old Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Ever dish was amazing! It was my birthday and I am not one for crazy displays...he brought out a desert with a candle very sweet! Can't wait to go back! Only issue is parking is a challenge so allow some extra time!

This restaurant is popular w/ theater goers and they dont take reservations. If you are lucky enough to get a seat by arriving no later than 5:30 you will still have to watch people hovering in the doorway waiting for you to finish. The seating is very tight. If you are able to extricate yourself for a trip to the restroom you can stand up against the wall outside the doorway to the kitchen waiting for the sole unisex toilet. Appetizers were nothing special and the pasta entrees were $22-24! Our bill for 4 apps, 4 entres, and 2 desserts was a whopping $200 w/ byob. I wish we had gone to monsu where the 4 of us could have had a fabulous meal for much less. There are so many great restaurants in philly that even a medocre meal is a disappointment

We were visiting the city and saw this place on another website. It is small and crowded but we made reservations and received attention as if they were having a slow night. BYOB and cash only so come prepared for both :) The food was so yummy and the little space the place offered made for an intimate/romantic night out. Wish we could remember what we ordered but they were both pasta and so good!

We went to Mercato during Restaurant Week, so it may not be a fair reflection of the restaurant. The positive...... the flavors were delicious and the food well prepared. Another view -- The portions were very small and in at least one case missing ingredients, or they were so small not to be noticed. The portion size was fine for me, but the others felt they were too small and if they were reflective of the normal portions for what was ordered then it would not be a place to go. It is a very small location and thus, can tend to be a bit noisy.

This tiny restaurant serves the most wonderful food! We loved the wahoo fish special, pyramid pasta and the short rib ragu. The market salad appetizer was amazing! The restaurant is BYO and accepts only cash, neither of which is a problem if you know ahead of time. The place is small, with tables close together, so it can be a bit loud. It was perfect, though, for our girls night out.

Ok. This is maybe the 2nd time in my life I have left a restaurant hungry. The quality and presentation of the dishes was beautiful, but if you are going to charge that much for 3 normal sized ravioli, at least serve bread and a few veggies. All 4 diners in our party loved the food, service and ambiance, but the portions were all too small.

My wife and I made reservations after a discerning friend highly recommended Mercato. He was right, the food and service was terrific. We shared the anti pasta. My wife had the grilled Caesar and I had the market salad. Both were great. Then she has the rigatoni with pork shoulder and I had the pasta paramount. They were 2 of the best pasta dishes we ever had. Fresh and flavorful. We ended with the chocolate molten cake, another winner. Service was spot on all night. They we all warm and friendly. Mercato is also BYOB which we like because we know we will like the wine we are drinking. Be aware the place is small and you will get to know your neighbors. Also, it is cash only. We will definitely return, soon.

Thank you other tripadvisor reviewers for helping me to learn about this cute little place. We went on a Friday night before a performance at the Academy of Music. They do allow reservations for pre-theater dinners. The place is small and could get noisy at it's full capacity. Both my husband and I enjoyed the low key environment. The service and food were very good. It's a BYOB is nice. Also, it's cash only. They have a really nice menu and have daily specials on top of that. If you are in the area and want a comfortable, friendly, reasonable, and tasty restaurant I would give Mercato a try, I'm glad I did.

We made a reservation for 8 people at 9 p.m. The restaurant called the day before to confirm, and indicated that at most there may be a 10 to 15 minute wait. No problem. They called again during the late afternoon on the day of our reservation to reconfirm - again saying that there may be a brief wait in the event that they had to put two tables together. No problem. We arrived at 8:50 and were told 10-15 minutes because the people at our table (one large table) were finishing their dessert and coffee and taking care of their check. Great. At 9:20, we asked for a status report since we still were not seated. We were told that the people at the table were all finished and would be leaving soon. At 9:30, we asked again. Same response. I went in to the restaurant and asked which table was ours. The people at the table were just sitting and talking, not eating or drinking, and looked like they had no intention of ever leaving. Finally, at 9:50, the restaurant offered us seating at 2 separate tables. So, we split up the group and ate dinner. The people at our original table never left until 10:30. However, we were rushed out of the restaurant around 11 since we were the last people there. Therefore, my complaint is that management (which seemed to consist solely of a very young hostess who looked scared of her shadow) should have told the people at the large table that they had another seating and they needed to clear the table, or they never should have taken a later reservation if they were not willing to move the earlier diners out. Unfortunately, inexperienced meek hosts/hostesses seem to be the rule and not the exception in Philadelphia restaurants. It's really too bad because the food and waiters at Mercato are excellent.

We enjoyed every dish we ordered and shared. Sat outside and had great service. They have outdoor heaters if you are cold.

Solid Italian comfort food. Excellent cheese platter. Grilled artichoke heart was well cooked with nice sauce, but a lot of work. Short rib ragu was a large serving and tasty.

I visited Mercato with my husband and our friends during restaurant week on a Friday night. Obviously you can't really judge a restaurant at this time, but we wanted to try it since I've never been and it was BYOB..cash only also FYI. I thought the food was average.. not the best and not the worst. It's a small space and you are crammed next to other tables and we almost got hit by a champagne topper when someone opened it next to us. It's a nice airy view from the inside. There are more tables on the sidewalk than inside. We had fontina meatballs, smoked mozzarella, veal milanese, pyramid pasta, chicken marsala and short rib. It was just okay.

We went to Mercato because it was located around the corner from our hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner of salad and pasta. Portions were big, so I got the salad, my husband the pasta and we nibbled from each other's dinners. Perfect!

This is one of our favorite restaurants in the city. I have never had even a mediocre meal there. We visited Mercato on 11/25/12 for "Sunday Supper" which seemed like something different that they were trying out. It was more of a family style dining. We had to select the same thing from each of the courses because they were served in large portions. We chose the Cured Meats for the first course which consisted of spicy coppa, Finocchiona (salami), prosciutto (melted in your mouth) and pickled turnips and parsnips; all delicious. For the second course we went with the Bucatini arrabiata (italian sauage broccoli rabe and the perfect roasted plum tomato sauce. The 3rd course (we were already full by this time) was the Braised pancetta-herb crusted lamb shank. It can with roasted root vegetables and sauteed black Kale. The lamb just fell of the bone-YUM! For dessert, which we took most of it home but didn't make it to the next day was the homemade apple pie served with cinnamon gelato...everything melted in your mouth. The good and bad about Mercato? Just for this event you were able to make a reservation; they ususally do not accept reservations :(.... We would have a standing one at least twice a month and the Good....It's a BYOB!

A "by-chance encounter" turned out to be a wonderful dining experience. We were strolling the streets of Philadelphia and fell for the charming atmosphere, at a less-trafficked street, where we sat outside for dinner. On top of the cozy atmosphere, we enjoyed great food, and super friendly service, not as intrusive as found at other restaurants in the US, but genuine and welcoming. Comes with our warmest recommendations.

Our party of 5 had an early reservation at this restaurant which had been highly recommended by friends. The food and service were terrific. The Charred Caesar Salad and grilled Octopus Salad were especially tasty. Among our party, we also especially enjoyed the Cioppino and the stuffed chicken and polenta. Like other reviewers, it is worth noting that this is Cash only--we were aware but it is so unusual, you would not assume this to be the case. Also, the restaurant is small so the seating is tight. We found that since we were early and the restaurant was not yet packed, this was not a problem for us. We would return to this restaurant again, likely for another early dinner so as to avoid the noise and crowds.

Be sure to bring your wallet as this place only takes cash. Be sure to bring your wine as it is a BYOB. And be sure to bring your appetite as the food here has been consistently delicious. It has probably been a year since we last dined here, and had a great meal, but tonight our party of 3 thoroughly enjoyed our meals. We started with a kale salad and order of two large roasted artichokes, both of which were wonderfully prepared and delicious. The housemade butter with garlic and olives couldn't wait to be spread over the hard crusted french bread that was served and kudos to the staff for asking if we wanted a second piece of bread -- too many places now are waiting for the diner to make the request. One of us had the chicken entre which was very nicely prepared and served with a creamy polenta. The gnocchi with short rib was we done also with large pieces of short rib giving flavor to a very nice jus. I had a special of the evening - a rigatoni with a ground lamb and beef tomatoe sauce, all of which were very enjoyable. The other two shared a dessert which was enjoyed but not with the same wow factor as the rest of the meal. The wait staff did a very nice job jointly working all of the tables but at no point were intrusive. Make reservations if you can as the place is small and books quickly -- for a long time they didn't take them. It sometimes gets noisy inside but on nice evenings you can dine outside. This center city restaurant is a must try. COst for the 3 of us before tip was $100 for 2 appetizers, 3 entres and 1 dessert and very well worth it.

Can't beat the location, as we were staying at the Alexander Inn (12th and Spruce) so just strolled down the street. Although we had made a reservation, we had to stand around on the sidewalk for a while until a table was ready (we did choose to eat outside). Restaurant Week, so things were bustling. Everything we ate was perfectly fine but nothing was memorable. At first I didn't care for the BYOB idea, but they handled our wine very nicely and it is of course less expensive than ordering from the menu. It's cash only, too. Nothing was wrong here, just that nothing really stood out.

Mercato isn't a big restaurant by any means, especially in the winter when there isn't outdoor seating, but it's totally worth cramming in for the DELICIOUS food! Did I mention it's a BYOB? All the more reasons to dine there, right? Expect a long wait if you go during the rush hours but they will send you a text when your table is ready so you can enjoy a cocktail across the street at Valanni while you wait. I highly recommend the bruschettas trio if it's on the specials and the grilled artichoke. All pastas are made in house so you can't go wrong there!

On our family trip with 6 adults, we wanted to visit a neighborhood spot near where we stayed and discovered this gem. We liked the smaller portions and loved the great flavors we each experienced. The pyramid pasta was a hit as was the short rib ragu. Even our appetizers were great! The place is tiny, but we had plenty of room. It was strange to have to BYOB, but worked out just fine.

Quaint Italian place on a little street in downtown Philly. It is in walking distance of many of the hotels so easy to get to if you are in town for business or pleasure. The atmosphere is charming and bustling - you can easily strike up a conversation with the folks at the next table. The food is rustic and fabulous - classic Italian simplicity making for an amazing meal. Cannot recommend it enough.

I took my family who was visiting me here in February. They were open despite the snow. Small restaurant with open kitchen. Pastas were great! I highly recommend it. Reservation is recommended. It is cash only.

I've been coming to Mercato intermittently through the last 9 years, and recently ate here after about 3 years. I was pleased to see that the high quality remains. The beef cheeks, scallops and pyramid pasta are still well prepared and delicious. Our fish special had wonderful unexpected flavors. When coming to Mercato. It's important to remember that it is tiny, cash only and byob. It is also very loud inside, so not great for those hard of hearing.

We visited Mercato on Sunday, at 7 o'clock reservations, slight mix up with the reservation, reserved. table on open table, had to wait 15 minutes to be seated, just a few problems with Mercato. The problem with this restaurant, its what u call a neighborhood joint, you don't expect too many frills but at the neighborhood joint the portion should be a little larger, and the prices a little lower. After all five blocks up and 2 over, you're in the mainstream of Restaurant Row. Each time we visited this place the portions get smaller, and the prices get higher. Do yourself a favor, don't price yourself out of business. Sincerily why are we paying for this inc.

Get the top dishes on the menu, all so good. Pyramid Pasta was amazing. Short Rib Ragu, very good. I had the Crab Bucatini, so flavorful and good, not too heavy for a pasta dish. Was not that impressed with the key lime and coconut panna cotta though, thought it was a bit too heavy on the lime and not enough coconut flavor. All in, excellent restaurant.

My sisters-in-law, my mother and myself had a girls night out. We like to do BYOB for the girls night out. The restaurant was small, with tables tightly packed together. Once seated, it wasn't terrible and the atmosphere was cozy. Part way through the meal, however, others started to arrive for reservations and waited inside as it was raining out. This started to make us feel a bit closed in again as we were close to the door. The 2 appetizers we ordered were tasty but the serving size was very small, even for our meager party of 4. My meal of scallops and risotto was tasty, but the portion size was ridiculously small for the price. I think there were only 3 scallops. My sisters-in-law said each of their meals was good. My mom, however, got the gnocchi and it was not cooked properly. The gnocchi was part chewy and other parts crunchy. Overall, the meal was average, but the company and conversation, as always made the night! We will be trying a new BYOB for our next girls night.

At this first come first served farm to table restaurant, unless you are a large group you will not be able to make a reservation. Never mind, this BYOB spot is a favorite with locals and the corkage charge is minimal. Specials are excellent. We tried the short rib, pyramid and spicy sausage pastas and they were all amazing. Sit street side and people watch as the locals come home from work to their near by walk ups.

This was the third time I had been to Mercato, and I have been more than satisfied on each of my trips. It has become my favorite BYOB in the city and a place I recommend to anyone that asks for dinner recs. Called and made a reservation 3 days in advance for a party of six at 8pm on a Saturday. I was more than surprised to get a reservation at such a prime time given the lack of availability on OpenTable. The night of our reservation there was snow on the ground from a storm earlier in the day which made for a great setting in a warm, cozy restaurant. The restaurant is very small (built in what looks to be an old row home) and could definitely be considered cramped if it weren't for the warm, cozy atmosphere and friendly service. Given the size it is ideal for smaller groups (6 or less) and for people that you don't mind sharing some space with. The kitchen is smaller than my kitchen at home but they take advantage of every inch of it in making delicious food. You can just about see the whole cooking process from the table and it is truly impressive when they bring out your dishes how they accomplish so much in such a small cooking space. The menu is not overly large but the majority of the options appealed to us making it much less of a chore deciding what to gorge myself on! The menu is all traditional italian with a slightly contemporary twist that makes the food slightly more original while sticking to its Italian roots. Nightly menu additions have also never failed to impress. I recommend the fresh bruschetta sampler to start which varies depending on market availability but always gives a fresh, crisp, and unique twist on your more traditional bruschetta. I have ordered or shared the Cioppino (seafood stew) each time I have visited and will continue to do so, it has just the right amount of broth, spiciness, and fresh seafood to warm you up on a cold night. Just make sure you get some extra bread to mop up the broth! As for our service, our waitress was very attentive and more than happy to repeat the specials to us bad listeners in the group. She made recommendations and checked in on us enough to make sure that we had everything we needed and that our food was to our satisfaction. Cash only, byob. A must visit :)

Thanks for hosting our party of three for a business dinner. We greatly appreciated the kind, attentive and timely service as well as the great food. The menu combines just the right amount of interesting options - i.e. not overwhelming, but adequate variety - and the kitchen executes very nicely indeed. The atmosphere is quite nice and friendly and it's great to have the chance to BYOB, which we did. Thank you!!

The food was very good. We got the 4 course meal which was A LOT of food. Very, very tiny place so make sure you make a reservation. Also it is a BYOB. I had the shrimp scampi and I think there was 1 shrimp cut up in there but the pasta was great.

We have enjoyed many meals at Mercato for several years but, after eating there tonight , we are disappointed. Artichoke was exceedingly salty and aeoli ( which is normally superb) was so intensely spicy , we couldn't eat it. The salad we order was very tasty and perfect. Lamb meatballs were over spiced and after eating two , we couldn't eat the others. Our butternut squash soup had a heavy layer of oil on top . We sent this back and weren't charged for it. Our bill was $54.00 for an artichoke , two salads , 5 meatballs , and a few glasses of water. Not sure if we will return to Mercato again.

I've been to Mercato a few times now and honestly, I have good experiences and bad experiences with the food. The drinks and the service are always good, but the food varies a great deal.

Lovely atmosphere and food. I think the general trendiness of the restaurant affected service slightly, but it was a great experience overall. The spicy crab bucatini was out of this world – I would return here for that alone.

Mercato was very accommodating in accepting our group of 8 on a Sunday evening (even agreeing to multiple bills for the table, as some needed detailed receipts). Our table was ready when we arrived and friendly service started out sharply (wines opened - including providing flutes for the champagne; water glasses filled) and our waiter well-explained the evening's offerings. The excellent bread was accompanied by a hazelnut, olive whipped butter that was delicious. Between us we probably had some of everything on the menu, including the kitchen's creation of a made-to-measure pasta dish for our 6 year old guest who only wanted pasta with butter - and this on an evening when all tables were taken - so kudo's for being so understanding and accommodating in ensuring our young gentleman was served first! Service broke down when the main courses started coming out of the kitchen. The first four plates arrived together, then the wait started until all except one person were sitting waiting for the final plate to arrive as everything was getting cold. While kitchen scheduling glitches can happen, it was the waiters' lack of attention that was most disconcerting (ignoring us as we politely reminded them of the situation). When the last plate finally did arrive, no apology or explanation was provided for the delay. Most people enjoyed their food, however some dishes were more successful than others in both presentation and taste. The chef obviously has a lot of talent with flavorful creations, but more consistency would make this kitchen shine. Would we return is the difficult question - maybe? The location is good as only a short walk from the Convention Center, BYOB is well handled, menu is varied and promising - much to work with, so perhaps our experience was just bad luck or fatigue after a busy week-end.

I have been here a few times, each time it's knocked out of the park. Staff is super pleasant. The wide smiles from walking in the door, to the knowledgeable server staff and support staff, to talking with the one of the chefs outside. The food is phenomenal! They put their own touch on some staples. You're obligation is the wine, then leave the rest in their hands...and that's when they'll blow your hair back. The dining room is tight and intimate, but like being in line with other lotto winners, everyone is in a great mood. Cheers!

Wow, stumbled across this on our walk in the neighborhood. Definitely worth a visit -- but cash only and BYOB.

My friends and I had dinner here for the first time during Restaurant Week. Our dinners were delicious especially the spare rib appetizer, scallop entree and pumpkin dessert. It's a very small restaurant and a BYOB but they do have outdoor seating. The service was good but at times we felt rushed even though the restaurant wasn't full. We barely had the last bite in our mouths and our plates were taken away and the next course was served. The portions were small but everything was excellent.

Always a first pick when it comes to dining out in Philadelphia - sadly this most recent visit was not what we expected. Artichokes were burned not charred and grilled, smoked flavor was missing. Salad (house) was delicious! Loved the Parmesan bowl it was served in! Partners veal dish WS over cooked and tasteless! My fish special was good but not memorable. Will probably pick another restaurant next time.

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful this meal was. We were totally surprised at the quality of this restaurant. I ordered grilled octopus bas a starter-wonderful! My main entrée was Pyramid Pasta-unbelievable pasta pockets filled with Fontana cheese and others including seafood embellished with savory fresh veggies in a heavenly sauce. My wife had the special Coho Salmon-she loved it Our Service person was Amanda and she did a fabulous job in getting us quick and efficient service. We will definitely return

A friend of mine recommended this place and I am very glad he did. I had the Italian Meatballs as an appetizer and the Pyramid Pasta for my entrée. Both were outstanding. As I am not from the area, I was unfamiliar with BYOB establishments and the cash only policy of the restaurant. Other than that, the experience was great.

What a phenomenal meal, enhanced by the special price tag of $35 for 3 courses during restaurant week, and more savings by being a BYOB. I would definitely come back and pay full price, though. The bruschetta trio appetizer was divine, especially the one with truffled mushrooms, and my husband's octopus salad was to "live" for - with simply the most tender and delicious octopus I've ever tasted. And our pasta dinners were out of this world: lamb with mint ragu pappardelle with fresh lemon ricotta, and savory and tender spare rib ragu over homemade gnocchi. The apple cobbler dessert with cinnamon gelato was a perfect ending. We'll be back!

My family had a stunningly classic meal with a modern twist at Meecato. The ambience powerfully sets you center stage with open views to the street. The food is elegantly prepared and the staff are professionally at ease

Have been here a few times, and this visit was magnificent. I know many complain about the service, but I have never had a bad visit. The food was excellent!!! Everyone's meal was memorable, and the service was excellent. This place is definitely worth the trip. Don't miss out.

Mercato's is worth a look if you're searching for innovative food and an excellent presentation, then Mercato is the place. Couple these two things with excellent service and it makes it a venue worth trying. Flank steak and swordfish were our shared entrees, and the portions were substantial and tasty. It is a BYOB and payment is with cash only.

My husband and I were in Philly for the evening visiting family, and they took us to try Mercato with them. We sat on the patio, which was fantastic for people watching and enjoying the gentle summer breeze. Our table decided to get the 4-course meal, which must be purchased by every member of the table. We got started with an antipasto platter. The roasted tomatoes were the clear winner of this course. The other vegetables were a bit bland but otherwise well-prepared. The second course was an individual appetizer. We all got different plates and shared. The artichokes were good but a fair amount of work. The clear winner of that course was the meatballs. They were perfectly prepared and savory. For dinner, I got the short rib ragu with gnocchi. I have had this dish before, done exceptionally well, and this compared! It was an enormous serving, and I couldn't even come close to finishing it, but every bite I had was amazing! For dessert, the servers brought out two options to share: a key lime tart and a slice of cheesecake. I don't care for either dessert, so I didn't try either one, but the rest of the table seemed to enjoy them. The wait staff was mostly attentive, and after an initial impression that was less than favorable -- our server came off as having a bit of an attitude at first, which we found off-putting -- the rest of the dinner went smoothly. I would absolutely go back!

Having just moved to Philadelphia, Mercato was atop everyone's list of recommended restaurants. I was able to go on a rainy Tuesday night. AMBIANCE: Located on the corner of Spruce and 13, the outdoor seating and window seats would be great on a nice day. However, the rest of the space is small, cramped and noisy. Very dim lighting makes the menu hard to read. 3 STARS SERVICE: Service was very slow, which in its own right is not a bad thing, but they were also in inattentive. Also, cash-only for a restaurant with prices like this is an annoyance. 2 STARS FOOD: We started with appetizers of bruschetta and meat balls. Both were very good and sizable portions, but were very burnt in places. I had the chicken cacciatore, which was average. My fiancé had the pyramid pasta which she liked a lot. For dessert we had the tiramisu, which had good flavor but was much heavier than usual. 3 STARS PRESENTATION: Nothing special here. 3 STARS PRICE: Some portions were larger than others, and being BYO leads to a lot less scary bill at the end of the night. Overall, prices seemed to be appropriate, if not just a little higher than they should be. 3 STARS OVERALL: Well worth the visit given how much I had heard about it, but not going to add it to the weekend rotation. 3 STARS

Service was horrendous. A smile at least is easy to do! Everything was an effort. It was a slow rainy night so no one was overwhelmed. Food was generally okay But used to be special. Terse adequate attention is not a low bar.

Went with a group to Mercato, and managed to get a table, which was a success on its own. It is a BYO and cash only, so be prepared. The food is exceptional. Folks at the table tried the entire spectrum of the menu, and no one was disappointed.

Went here for restaurant week and was disappointed. The food was good but the waitress was very rude and kind of put me off. She was slow to get to our table and made us feel like she was doing us a favor by coming over to us. She didn't introduce herself and I wasn't entirely sure if she even worked there. So I do not think I would go back.

Great food at a reasonable price. Went here for date night and we really enjoyed ourselves. The tables are very close together and it can be somewhat noisy so if that isn't your thing you might want to head elsewhere. The restaurant doesn't take reservations on the weekends besides pre-theatre dining. My advice is to put your name in before you park the car because there is typically a 1 hour+ wait. Once your name is in, they take you cell phone number and call or text you when the table is ready. I always park the car and then head to their sister restaurant Valanni for a drink while I wait for my table!

Had the prix fixe dinner. The main complaint was that everything we ate (olive oil, mussels, pasta was much too spicy) The Tiramisu desert escaped that fate and actually was pretty good. The waitress was pleasant and efficient

Went to Mercato with my wife for a "date night". We were pleasantly surprised at the decor, service, and food. They pack you in a little there, but that wasn't a problem for us. The food was Italian craft and everything we had was fantastic. The fact that it is BYOB helps a little to cut the cost down. I would definitely suggest here to any couple looking for a nice Italian dinner in the city!

Mercato is a perfect example of a great Philly byob. Intimate restaurant (a dozen or so tables), mellow vibe. Really nice creative and rustic Italian with big flavors. The clam toast app is worth the trip. The sausage and rabe pasta is too. Squid ink pasta with crab was less special to us, but still quite good. The service was great - let us eat at our own slow pace while enjoying our wines. Best of all when the bill comes it’s half the price of what we’re used to with no alcohol on the bill ($70 for 2 people). For hose new to byobs, make sure you tip higher % to make up for this!

We had an excellent meal, great atmosphere and service. Highly recommend it. Had salmon special and rigatoni. Good dessert too.

My niece who lives in Philly wanted to take us here since it is her favorite! It is small so reservations are a good idea. We went with her recommendation and had the pyramid pasta. Interesting pasta pockets in a triangle shape filled with seafood. We were happy with the choice. Like many Philly places you can bring your own wine and no corkage fees. There are so many Italian restaurant choices I think I would try others before coming back. But it was very good.

I'm so glad Mercato takes reservations now, it makes it so much easier. We had a party of six and enjoyed sharing 3 appetizers, 6 dinners and 4 deserts and coffee for about $80 / couple - shockingly reasonable. And it's a BYOB. The hostess guided us in our selections and we stuck to some of the house favorites for that apps - mussels/clams, meatballs and calamari. It's tiny and a bit noisy and cramped but still tons of fun. We stopped at Valanni for a drink before which was also great

Ten for dinner, in this small restaurant walkable from the convention area. The server was great, explaining the menu and advising us to try the "tasting menu." The food came out in good intervals and water glasses were refilled w/o asking. The tasting menu was really too much food for most of us. Most took most of their entire main course home.

This was an excellent recommendation from the Alexander Inn around the corner! The food was delicious -- I really enjoyed a unique combination of ingredients in the pasta dish with roasted pumpkin. We paid ~$80 for two, including appetizers and shared dessert (tip extra). Note: it's a BYOB place, so they do not serve alcohol! The service was very pleasant and overall experience memorable.

We made a reservation for 4 at 6:00 for a Tuesday night and arrived a couple minutes early. The hostess appeared annoyed by our need to be away from the draft created by the ceiling fans. The essentially untrained staff hovered over us constantly and even removed plates on each course before all of us were done. No properly trained staff should ever do that!The server seemed imposed upon when we asked for clean glasses to start our second bottle of wine for the next course. She asked my wife several times if she was finished. I should add that Mercato was not yet busy and no one was waiting to be seated. This is all a shame because the chef prepared good food and deserves a much better staff.

This is an awesome BYOB in Phila, Make reservations, it's very small. The fresh, homemade italian food is excellent. The cheese boards with meats and oils, are great also. The tables are small and very close together. Think- excuse me- to get into a table and-excuse me- to get out. But that is the price to pay for a great unique Italian dinner. The meatball app is excellent @ $9 and the entrees, scallops with risotto and pasta with ragu @ $ 20 ish are excellent. This is a must try! Enjoy! p.s. they accommodate parties on sunday early enough to make a 6:30 show. The service is casual, but attentive. Very Good!

I thought the food was good, not great. Squid ink pasta needed more crab. Mussels were very tasty. Oddly, the $8 Aqua Panna still water had an odor of chlorine. I suspected tap but didn’t complain. Sketchy way to get $16 out of a customer.

The food iand service are always great. The grilled octopus salad is fantastic. "Market" salad made with black kale is also a winner. The Cioppino was also fantastic, with a light brown suace. The only negative: It got noisy. It's a small space, I've been there several times and either I never noticed how loud it got in the past, or the crowd this weekend was just LOUD. Get there early, because the line forms quickly. Note to the big spenders; cash only, no credit cards.

We came here for a family birthday dinner and the food was disappointing and the service was mediocre. The first meal was delivered to the table and the other 5 meals came almost 10 minutes later. The veal was so overdone, the risotto had no flavor, the mussels had no flavor. We choose this restaurant out of hundreds to dine at and it was very disappointing.

Very interesting ambiance. Great kitchen, you could see all the activity. Greatly enjoyed our personalized service and superb food.

This casual neighborhood Italian BYO is a good place if you're looking for a moderately priced venue before a show at the Kimmel or Academy of Music. Please expect tight seating and noise levels will vary according to the size and volume of the other diners in this small room. Outdoor seating is available in fine weather so consider that as an option if you'd like a less crowded feel. The food is good. They can have a very heavy hand with their spices so be forewarned. Favorites among our party was the short rib ragu and the market fish of the day. Tiramisu is a solid choice for dessert and can easily be shared by 2-3 people. Staff was accommodating and friendly.

Mercato's Italian fare is wonderful- clean, interesting and delicious food. One of our group had the Tuesday tasting menu and the rest ordered off the regular menu. The house made sausage was amazing. The atmosphere was cozy and fun. The only negative was our pretentious waiter. We didn't let his sour attitude spoil our dining experience at this gem of a restaurant though!

Mercato is hands down the best BYOB in Philly. Its a small little corner spot with outdoor seating in the nice weather. It can be noisy inside and tables are close together, but it only adds to the atmosphere. I find that most BYOs in philly are this way. If there is a wait, you can head down to Tria to pass time. The food is to die for. The grilled artichoke app is always a fav. I tend to get the scallops, cioppino, or risoto. I've never been diappointed. Ive had their cheese and meat plates as well. Always fresh and paired deliciously. Make sure to save room for dessert!

Enjoyed a terrific dinner honoring my sister for her 50th birthday. Everything was wonderful and tasty. I especially want to shout out to Dan, one of the servers who went over and above to get my daughter a ginger ale. Thank you for being so amazing, Dan!!!

We were looking to this very interesting neighborhood restaurant, which has received many good to great reviews. First, there was no warning that this was a cash only establishment - really, in this day and age? No credit cards? No checks? No one normally carries around the amount of cash needed to pay the bill. So, on the coldest night of the year, I had to find a working ATM - which was no small feat. The food is a modern take on Italian/Mediterranean cuisine. A few items worked, most did not. For example, their antipasta is a take on a Venetian presentation, with each item served in separate bowls. The presentation was clever, but the ingredients were second rate. In particular, the pickled eggplant was way too sour, the fresh mozzarella was tasteless, and the roasted peppers needed salt (badly). The fish special, tile fish, was simply grilled - but dry (overdone). The scene was very vibrant, with lots of young people enjoying themselves. I wouldn't go back, but don't let this review dissuade you from trying Mercato - it may just have been a bad night. It looks like many people enjoyed it - but remember to bring lots of cash.

Very good food in this BYO. You need to make a reservation because it is a very populair place! The portions are big but very tasteful.

We have been wanting to try Mercato's for a while and decided to try them during Restaurant Week. If you like intimate settings where even though the restaurant in full, you don't have to yell to hear the person in front of you this is a good place. On the menu for us: Fontina Stuffed Meatballs-Well seasoned and not over stuffed. The fontina cheese melted just right and the marinara sauce and was delicious! Short Rib Ragu-Deliciously tender gnocchi and the again the sauce was a great compliment. Not overpowering. We did think the amount of short ribs in the dish lacked but taste overall was delicious. Pyramid Pasta-The lobster and shrimp inside was a little overpowered by the ricotta cheese but the brown butter and pine nut sauce helps to cut the sharpness to try to balance it out. Desserts-Chocolate Souffle and Cannoli (Both were delicious!) Restaurant week is a limited menu, and we liked it enough to go back and try the full menu!

Timing is everything.....arrived on a Saturday night around 5:45 and were seated right away. There were only three empty tables and people were pouring in. Before long there was a line at the door. The space is plain, on a corner with plenty of windows and an open kitchen. The tables are very close and it was difficult to move in and out of the window seat without moving the table. It was also hard to tune out the parties on either side and not ease drop. We were excited that we got a table before they were all taken, we passed Mercato many times and were eager to try the food. The small space was lively, maybe too loud for some, we enjoyed the "buzz". The grilled octopus salad was OUTSTANDING! It was tender, juicy, moist and flavorful. There were good size chucks mixed in with arugula, onions, butterbeans, cherry tomatoes and olives in a delicious vinaigrette. If you always wanted to try octopus, this is the place. The pan roasted red snapper was a mix of wonderful tastes with artichokes, and onions in a chianti reduction. The portion was a good size, the fish was fresh, thick and divine. The pan seared diver scallops were large, cooked perfectly with a bit of a crust and served with a heavenly wild mushroom and pea risotto. Again.....just wonderful. The tiramisu was a disappointment. There was not enough ladyfinger cake to hold the creamy texture which was a bit bland lacking enough of the coffee and flavorful liqueur than tiramisu usually has. The service was outstanding. The meal was timed perfect with no long wait. Our server checked back from time to time, was very pleasant and professional. Empty dishes were cleared quickly. Love that it is a BYO and glad we checked since it was CASH only. Would recommend going early so your wait is not too long on the weekend.

My daughter and I had mother's day dinner.We forgot about BYOB! I had Pan seared scallops and my daughter had pyramid pasta stuffed with riccota ,lobster and shrimp.Both are excellent! We would bring our wine next time we go there. We had reservation since it was Mother's day,but recommend to make a reservation always since it is popular place.

An eclectic restaurant that is chef owned. BYOB cash only personable wait staff delicious desserts that may be shared well paced--not hurried

Some good, some just so so. Sunchoke soup and chicken marsala very good. Grilled artichoke was good but very salty. The ricotta ravioli were so hard around the edges, I had to cut them off...they filling was tasty. Even though the restaurant was not busy...and thank goodness it wasn't - the seating is very tight-the service was slow.

We just stumbled upon this restaurant on our way back from Little Italy to the hotel. Decided to go for the 4 course tasting meal... it was absolutely amazing, every dish was full of flavor. I am still thinking of my fresh rigatoni... BYOB and CASH only (we had to go get both as we didn't realize this at first). Great, friendly service. The place is quite small and was extremely busy on a Saturday night, I would definitely say you need a reservation, we just got lucky and found a spot at 5:30pm. Would highly recommend and can't wait to be back with the rest of my family!

Marcato could be a better dining experience but fell short of expectations on our visit. Had dinner with my wife and daughter on a Thursday evening. The restaurant is small and felt cramped and noisy. A somewhat limited menu. We shared a few appetizers which were OK. For her entree, my wife had the pasta and shrimp special with four very small shrimp; the waiter brought a few more shrimp upon request. BYOB and cash only. We decided that there are many other fine Italian restaurants to choose from in Philly.

This is a great find right near the Forrest theater. Its a BYOB and they have a chef’s dinner for $52 which is great value. It started with a vegetarian antipasto which was delicious. We had grilled artichokes, mussels, and stuffed meatballs for appetizers and everyone was great. We had entrees consisting of the Bronzino, Short Ribs, pyramid pasta a house specialty, and bucatini with clams. All were a picture to view and tasted great! One thing to know is they are cash only!

I went to Mercato for the first time on a Saturday evening in late summer. We were seated after a minimal wait. We were seated inside the restaurant in a cramped corner and then nearly forgotten about during the evening. We were never served any bread and had to beg for beverages. I ordered a ceasar salad and ravioli with rabbit. The romaine lettuce was charred (as is the trend now) but the salad was hot and unappetizing. When the ravioli arrived, I searched and searched for any hint of rabbit or meat. All that was on my plate was a cheese-type ravioli, which tasted like frozen pasta from the supermarket. When my server arrived for her second visit to our table (in an hour), she asked us if we were interested in dessert. I tried to explain about the problems with my food and her solution was to bring the check, drop it on the table, and never approach us again! An expensive, unsatisfying, dismal meal with extremely poor service. I will never visit Mercato again and I will discourage others from dining there. They should also consider hiring more servers.

Very good food in an atmosphere similar to a European neighborhood bistro. This BYOB has an interesting and fresh menu but somehow I can’t get past the meatball appetizer and pyramid pasta entree. Yummy!!!

Eating in Mercato is like eating in Italy. Excellent cuisine and service. There are also many photos on the walls from various places in Italy, which added to the ambiance. We'll be back.

To start, this is a BYOB, which really helps to keep the prices reasonable. We ordered the antipasti appetizer, which was simply amazing. They used fresh and high quality ingredients. The menu was not extensive, but all of the options were high quality. You seriously need to get the gelato - it was the best I've had since we were in Italy.

My husband and I have been here many times. It's a tiny quaint little spot where you can see the food being made if you're facing the small open kitchen. Tables are a tad close together, but the food is good enough to make you forget about the conversation the table next to you is having. Risotto with scallops is one of my absolute fave dishes in the city. Last-meal-worthy. Go, and BYO!

Small but quality Italian restaurant in Society Hill. Since its small it was pretty loud when I was there, but we wanted to sit outside anyway where it was more peaceful. Every thing I had here was good to very good from the starter bread, to the entrees to the desert. I especially like the unique dishes, as you won't see many of them on other standard menus so they make dishes slightly differently and interesting. (for example squid ink pasta which looks like black pasta w/ crab meat, or the rigatoni I also had had a unique spicy flavor to it which was even better, and not like at most standard italian restaurants.) The Tiramisu was also exceptional. Price wise is not cheap but not super expensive around 20-25 bucks per entree and I believe it is cash only. Definitely would like to go back.

A Friday night reservation for 2 at 6:00 pm. bread, main course and dessert were outstanding for both diners. However, the hostess-head server's delivery was curt and lacking any kind of warmth. She cleared our table by taking the dishes right under our noses without even a slight" do you mind if I clear your table?" I asked for a second cup of coffee , mind you it was a cup and saucer type so not really worth the $3.00 and she filled the cup 2/3 full. Got the distinct impression she wanted us gone even though their were no customers waiting for a table.Despite great meal, I will not return. Gracious service trumps delicious food in my book.

The food is absolutely delicioius. There are very creative dishes. The market salad was a yummy assortment of interesting ingredients. The root vegetable rissoto was cheesy and tasty. The filet was small, but very tender and tasty. It came with fingerling potatoes which were delicious. The charred ceasar salad was creative-looking, but just ok in taste. The servers were attentive and friendly. The spacing is very tight, so your intimate dinner will be quite close to another intimate dinner. It feels like you all are at the same table. All-in-all, definitely still worth going.

Fresh made pasta, tasty seafood, perfect portions, creamy cheese dip, pricing is acceptable for the value you receive, & BYOB Cute little restaurant, cozy atmosphere with a hip vibe. There was only 1 person serving the entire restaurant, given the limited seatings, I guess you don’t need more than one. The server was busy and maintained attentive to all the tables, good service. High walking score, walkable to Reading Station and more. Definitely recommend by @WineDinenVacay

Very disappointing. I ordered chicken parm. Inedible. I sent it back and asked for a plate of rigatoni. Edible but overcooked. Small. But I was charged for a side dish $10. What were they thinking? Still hungry, I left because I have concert tickets Find someplace else to eat.

My husband and I meet here before we go to the Orchestra. The food is always fresh. It's small so make your reservations early.

Hand made Italian food in a neighborhood restaurant prepared and served with taste and courtesy. Fresh Suzuki fish (Japanese Sea Bass) over Cous-Cous with cucumber was a highlight. All fresh, nothing from the freezer. Tasty octopus was grilled perfectly.

Came here with a few friends last night and it was great! I got the risotto and it was prepared perfectly. As a visitor to Philly I liked the BYOB aspect, which made it feel more homey. It is a beautiful space with great ambience as well. I'll come back next time I'm in Philly!

We had an early pre-theater meal at Mercato this week. It is restaurant month in Philadelphia and so we were required to each order three courses. Food is excellent, portions substantial and ambiance of a neighborhood place warm and inviting. Artichokes, bruschetta, risotto, scallops--yum! It does get a bit noisy when the tables fill up but still able to have a good meal w/o straining to hear each other. Waitstaff attentive and accommodating. Will return.

This place is a treasure. The food is from fresh ingredients and the flavors of even familiar preparations surprise every time. I wish the tables were farther apart and the decor a bit more attractive. But we go for the food. It's wonderful!

Mediterranean / Italian BYOB. I've been too many times to count. Short menu that rotates. Good antipastos & salads to start. I always order the fish special and it never disappoints. Pastas are solid. It's very cozy - you will know the people at the next table.

We were looking forward to an early dinner and arrived on time. The hostess, who was also our server, was most unpleasant and acted as if we had no reservation and no place dining there. The food for all four of us was overly salted and unpleasant. Despite the dining room being half empty we were treated as if we were interlopers. Our plates and flatware were removed before we were fininshed and the next course was brought, despite me still attempting to finish my app. Will not return.

I believe what I had was triangle pasta. It was well balanced and delicious. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice . It is on their menu that cell phones are discouraged. It was nice to disconnect for a while. Highly recommend.

This tiny restaurant (BY0B) serves BIG tasty out of the ordinary dishes. From the olive oil for dipping to the main dishes and finally the desserts--they are prepared with the finest quality ingredients. The service was excellent and each dish was prepared with care. The only problem is trying to find parking in the vicinity.

The menu at Mercato is gourmet and delicious. The wait staff gives super service. Bring cash and your own libations, and be prepared to wait, no reservations taken. Sit outside if weather permits.

We were there for a family birthday. Food was great. Service was good. Within 5 minutes after we were served our dessert, the manager rudely came over and asked us to hurry along since others were waiting for a table.

Overpriced for what you get. My husbands skirt steak was chewy, I had the diver scallops. They give 5 little scallops and a ton of risotto and peas. Service was ok. Atmosphere was nothing fancy. Nothing on the walls but 2 mirrors. Could use some new tables. Really. Very worn and there aren't that many so it wouldn't cost much to make it more impressive. Maybe we should have ordered the pasta dishes. For a BYOB it was $90 for two including the 20% tip. Won,t go back. After all, you want good food when you go out to eat.

We have been visiting Mercato's for nearly 10 years. When we first found it, it was fantastic. I've had some of my best meals ever at Mercato's. And, back then, they did not take reservations, so an hour wait was not uncommon. Yes it can get noisy, it's a small place with not too much on the walls. Yes, they still do not take credit cards. What's wrong with cash? My one and only complaint; the espresso was poor, and I let them know AFTER I paid the bill. I'll be stopping in on my next trip to Philly.

My husband and I decided to try the tasting menu here last weekend. It was amazing... We were so full by the end and the portions were very generous. The Raviolo Al Uovo was one of the best dishes I have had in my life! The meatballs were cooked perfectly and the red sauce for them was unbelievable. I would highly recommend the tasting menu and come hungry if you do! The only negative to the restaurant is that it is very small-- if you are a person who needs a lot of space, sitting outdoors is the best thing and you cannot always get a table there. We had tried to go there last summer and it was SO hot and crowded inside that we left. This past weekend it was 70 and PERFECT for outdoor dining.

This resteraunt was recommended in our Philly guide book so we decided to go here. Bearing in mind this was our first time to Philly I can only commend this restaurant to everyone. Great food, good friendly service BUT this is a BYOB ( bring your own beer/wine) and make sure you have this before you arrive. I naively thought there would be a liquor store close by. Silly me !Spoilt the evening a bit for us as I spent 20 minutes wandering around trying to find a store. In the end gave up and drank tap water with our meal.

The food was exquisite -- complex combinations, precise preparations, appropriate portions. The wine was phenomenal (it's a byo so we brought a few great bottles). Mercato is a small restaurant, so it's a little crowded and a little noisy, but that did not detract from the meal. What kept this from being totally perfect was 1) the waiter clearly could not pronounce the specials correctly and 2) when my host tried to help by pronouncing one particular word properly ("bruschetta," a very common word in any Italian restaurant) we suddenly found that we had a new waiter! Now, the second waiter was excellent, and we very much preferred him to the original temperamental one, but it would have been nice to just have a great waiter from start to finish.

We went on July 19, 2014. The waiter must have been on a smoke break or bathroom break because he took about a half hour to take our order. The food was average but good luck finding your waiter or anyone to fill your water glass. When we finally decided to pay our bill, our guy was again on a break or waiting on customers inside the restaurant. A girl was cleaning the table next to ours and we asked if we could give her the check with the cash (they only take cash). She said, "I can't take money but you can go to the side door to pay." Who says that? why wouldn't she say, "I'll get your waiter?" I would say there's enough restaurants in the area that you don't need to deal with this kind of service.

I have been to Mercato numerous times. I have always immensely enjoyed my meals. However, lately they have started to downsize their portions. The first time I went I was amazed at the amount of food. The meatball appetizer, which was great, was large enough to be an entrée. The pyramid pasta was sublime and the brown butter sauce was an excellent complement to the dish. The bouillabaisse was everything that it should have been – a rich fish stock, plenty of seafood and crostini to dip into the stock. The second time I went I tried the squid ink linguine. It was very good but the slices of jalapenos seemed out of place in the dish. I understand it’s billed as a spicy dish, but I was expecting the heat to come from something akin to cayenne or red pepper flakes. Here is where the portions stated to get downsized. The fish of the day with mashed potatoes in lemon butter sauce was great. The fish was cooked to perfection: moist and flaky. The potatoes were smooth and creamy. I noticed, though, that the portion of the fish was the smallest of any dish that I had there and that I have seen on other tables. The third time definitely was not a charm. I had a reservation and was there on time. They seated a group before me that had a reservation at a later time than I did. They need to get the hosting and seating staff together, or add an additional person. One person is not enough to handle a busy weekend crowd. I had the salmon special, again which was excellent, but was a lot smaller than I anticipated. The scallop entrée, while very good, was quite disappointing in portion size. Three scallops and a small mound of risotto for $27.50? I don’t mind paying for good food, but I do mind when you give me a child’s portion. Upon talking to another person who previously had this dish, it used to include 4 scallops and a much bigger amount of risotto, so it’s not my imagination that they are getting stingier with the portions. The chocolate molten cake was good, but it too molten – more molten than cake. It came with a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. TIPS: If going on the weekend, make sure you make a reservation. If you do not, you will be waiting a while for a table to become available. It’s B.Y.O.B and they will put your wine in a metal sleeve. If you didn’t bring wine, you can buy a bottle from Valanni, their sister restaurant across the street. However, there are no bottles under $40.00, not making them the best buy. It’s small and spacing between tables is tight. The tables themselves are small and if you order a lot of food, it’s hard to fit it all on the table. They have nightly specials in addition to the regular menu. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. They accept cash only – no credit/debit cards are accepted

Disappointing service, not sure why or what is the problem but too snobbish , too gay so much so that it is annoying ,and in fact almost taking it all for granted. The waiters (all of them) did not look at us in the eyes even once ,which is unpleasant and too bad because the food is fantastic and very creative. Worth trying and we would definitely return but the great food with the bad and arrogant service makes it difficult to come back.

Mercato has a great neighborhood feeling to it. The restaurant is small, with almost no space separating tables. On a nice day the large windows open to sidewalk seating. Someone took some trouble to install shaped foam tiles on the tin ceiling to reduce noise. It helps, but this place is noisy. The food is billed as Italian, but I found most dishes to be overly fussy. The chef is a big fan of whipped ricotta cheese. My pyramid pasts had a salsa which included surprising raw onion or scallion, and was swimming in brown butter.

Sometimes I love Mercato and sometimes I am indifferent. This was one of the times where I was left a little disappointed. Order the gnocchi which I’m pretty sure where store bought and not homemade. They were dense and left a lot to be desired. It was a shame because last time we ordered this dish they were definitely homemade and delicious. The chicken parm which was a new menu addition was no better than something you could buy at a chain Italian restaurant.

This is one of the best dining experiences I've had on my visits to Philadelphia. The grilled octopus appetizer was delicious and tender. The swordfish special that evening was extremely fresh and well-prepared. I'll certainly dine there again the next time I'm in town.

We spent three nights in Philadelphia and ate at Mercato twice - they were fully booked on the third night. Food and service was excellent. The mixed antipasti alone would have been enough for a meal. I then had the spicy crab with perfectly cooked black squid ink linguini and my wife had a zingy and very green risotto. The only downside was we had a table inside and it is a very noisy restaurant. On our second visit we sat outside. Much quieter. This time we enjoyed a plate of prosciutto crudo with a house salad followed by pyramid pasta with ricotta and pine nuts. Wonderful. Taking our own wine made it a very good value meal. High quality stuff. Recommended.

Excited at the thought of trying this adorable little Italian gem in Philly for restaurant week, my friend and I scanned the internet for a preview of the menu. Most places offer tiny special portions that leave you ready to head to the nearest fast food place to fill up. Not so with Mercado. Located in an quaint little neighborhood, with lots of places, including a lovely wine bar to walk to, we arrived early to find the place empty. (the only reservation we could get was for 5:30). It is a converted brick corner row home, with large open windows and seating on the sidewalk surrounding the restaurant. This is not the place to go for a quiet romantic dinner, tables are extremely tight and you sit elbow to elbow with your neighbor. But fagetabout that, this place is really about the food. We had meatballs stuffed with fontina cheese for an appetizer. Two large meatballs in a gravy to die for. Next I ordered a nightly special which was also included on the restaurant week menu, salmon with crispy skin and mushrooms over mashed potatoes. My friend ordered veal which came with a white wine parmesan sauce. Both were amazing. The other great thing about Mercado, is that it is a byob, so you can splurge on the food with your own choice of wine. Dessert held up to the quality of the rest of the meal, my chocolate lava cake was not original, but with hazelnut ice cream I was a happy camper. All the portions despite the restaurant week price of $35.00 were full size. Service was good, but again we were very early and the place hardly full. Bring lots of quarters to fill the parking meters, but a night at Mercado is worth every penny!

This BYOB has beautiful and very delicious dishes. This chef knows what he's doing...big time. Northern italian cuisine...too yummy for words. Our reservation was for 8 PM, ugh, way too late for me, however, seating is in such demand that you get whatever is available. If you don't mind loud crowded places, you'll love this one! Be prepared to lip read with your dinner mates...the din is that loud. On the good side, the food is exceptional, the waitstaff attentive and they know how to please. We made our reservation two months in advance, so if you plan on going to Philly, make the Mercato one of your stops for dinner and call way ahead.

I have been to Mercato several times and I have never been disappointed. On this visit we did the tasting menu and we enjoyed every bit of it. The chef chose the charcuterie and the dessert and we got to choose our pasta and meat dish. Everything was served perfectly and the service was great. Love this place!

This restaurant had come highly recommended. It is a very popular spot with inside and outside seating. Inside is small and very noisy, but cooler than the humid outside. One meal was a signature dish of short ribs and ricotta gnocchi and proved to be very good. The other was grilled scallops and risotto with peas. Both were overdone; scallops somewhat chewy and the risotto sticky. This place has a BYOB policy and is cash only.

We recently dined at Mercato as part of a pre-theater group of six. Overall it was a positive experience without being great. Here are 10 things you should know. 1. It’s a BYOB. They do a nice job of handling/cooling/serving your wine – so don’t forget to bring a bottle or two. There is a wine superstore at 1218 Chestnut I’d recommend. 2. It’s CASH only. Be prepared! 3. It’s LOUD. The restaurant is very small with poor acoustics and the tables are packed together. Not the place for an intimate meal for two. 4. Try not to get the table right next to the door when it’s cold. Even though they have a double door buffer system you still get a chilly blast of winter air. 5. I’d highly recommend the cured meat and artisan cheese plate as an appetizer. The bruschetta not so much – there wasn’t much taste to it. 6. We tried the Scallops (just OK – rather salty), the Candele Bolognese (amazing – bur salty) and the mussels/clams (Good) appetizer as our entrees. Hopefully the chef just had a liberal day with salt and that’s not the usual level. We were guzzling water for the rest of the night. 7. For dessert we opted for the Nutella gelato sundae and the chocolate filled bambolini (mini doughnuts) – both of which were very disappointing and didn’t eat the meal on a high note. 8. Overall – for a collection of appetizers, entrees for everyone and two shared desserts and a couple of coffees the bill came to about $95 per couple with tip (they don’t automatically add the tip which I approve of). 9. Mercato is open seven days a week; Monday through Thursday, from 5 to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 5 to 11p.m., and Sunday from 5 to 10pm. 10. If you book through Open Table and they call you 24 hours beforehand to confirm make sure you double check the time and size of party. Although our group was Ok, there were several other groups that seemed to have their OT res messed up that evening. Overall 3 stars - based on poor desserts and over-salted dishes.

We walked by this little establishment several times during our stay in Philadelphia and decided to try it out as the dishes being eaten by those dining outside looked pretty good. Only when we began to order and the waiter asked us if we brought our own bottle, did we realize there was no alcohol served at Mercato. It was a little disappointing since we do like a glass of good wine or a mixed drink with dinner. But then, when another couple sat down nearby and asked the waiter where the closest ATM was, we realized what else we had overlooked, the cash only reference. Luckily, we had just enough to cover our meal. Being from California where credit card is king and almost every restaurant except fast food joints have a wine/drink list, this was a whole new restaurant experience for us. It didn't take away from the good food. But I'm not sure as tourists, we would go back carrying a bottle of wine and enough cash to make it through dinner.

Fine 3-course Restaurant Week bargain ($35). Dined al fresco on a beautiful Sept. evening. Generous number of selections, especially for the entree. Superb and attentive server a plus. We asked for a quick dinner as we were heading to the theatre, and they did a great job of accomodating us. Next time we'll schedule a more leisurely visit. Thank you, Mercato!

Small understated restaurant with big flavor. There were four of us and everyone enjoyed the plates offered. We had salad, steak and seafood pasta. There service was good and the food was worth returning to this eatery.

Have been aware of this restaurant for some time. Finally made it there this past week. Great food, good service, for this Italian BYOB in South Philly. A must try!

We were lucky to get an outside table on a Friday night. The food and service was generally good. After seeing other couples who arrived after us receiving their orders before us, we had to ask the server whether our meals were coming. She checked and within minutes they were delivered hot. This was our first experience with a Philly BYOB restaurant. We enjoyed it, and would return.

Been coming to this center city BYOB for quite a few years. Nothing special but typically a good meal. I realized while there that the menu has been the same for years as have the waitresses. Can't really put my finger on it, but everything we ordered was just average to below average including the rigatoni and bucatini. We shared a Nocello cannoli that was tasteless, that's hard to do. Maybe if you were going here for the first time you could really enjoy it, but my feeling is they need an overhaul

This small extremely lively mid-town BYOB bistro is fun and vibrant. You are literally sitting right next to your neighboring tables and that is a little disconcerting at first. The food is clean and reasonably tasty - however its a pretty far cry from true Norther Italian cuisine. The veal Milanese was small and overly coated in breadcrumbs and fried in slightly burned butter. The Carpaccio was 4 tiny slices of beef with a salad mound on top. The dessert albeit reasonably tasty was a slither of ricotta cake. Yet the prices are pretty high.

This is a fun, crowded and noisy restaurant with an unmatched eclectic menu. Vegetarian, Fish, and Meat dishes co-exist. Each dish has unique flavors. This is a BYOB and Cash only restaurant.

Server rude beyond belief, my husband had the fish it was the smallest piece of fish ever for 32 dollars , I had the chicken the chicken it self was ok but the slop around it was not even eatable . The artichokes were the worst I ever had. The tables are so close together you are dinning with strangers would never send anyone I know here when there are much better places to eat in Phila. Sad to say this place is one of the worst byob in phil a.

Coming from a recommendation of a friend, we walked Spruce to find Mercato and saw an unmarked corner spot. After turning the corner, we saw a door with "Mercato" listed above so opened the door and unfortunately that was not the entrance (opps!). Walked in at opening and was able to get a table. Cute, quaint little BYOB spot that we will absolutely venture back to. The Market Salad (baby arugula, grapefruit, fennel, hazelnut with rosemary vinagarette) was so fresh making me feel it was summer, the Spicy Crab Bucatini (squid ink pasta, lump crab, tomato broth, cream, calabrian chillies and basil) was a perfect plate of deliciousness and the Flat Iron Steak was cooked perfectly. I asked for the spiciness to be turned down a little for the crab bucatini so that made it not spicy at all really. So good though. The host and waiter were super friendly and accommodating. Highly suggested place.

Was in Philadelphia for a conference and liked the reviews I had read on TripAdvisor for Mercato. Even the positive reviews didn't do Mercato justice. This is a very, very good restaurant. Because it is summer, everything was open to the street. I was even pleasantly surprised when we showed up with one extra diner in our group and they accommodated without blinking an eye. Thank you! It's a BYOB, so we brought our own and drank extremely well. But the food matched us each step of the way. I started with a salad that was interesting and delicious. And I went with the short ribs for dinner. incredible. As good as any I have had (in fairness, other than at Stella in Boston. But that is a praiseworthy list. Go to Mercato. And go while it is still summer. You won't be disappointed!

My family of 6 (wife, teenage daughters, mother, brother, and I) ate here on the Friday night after Thanksgiving, based on my cousin's recommendation. The restaurant was packed at 6 pm when we arrived. The place is small and the tables are grouped close together, which we thinks adds to the fun atmosphere. The food was served promptly and the presentation of the plates is excellent. Our favorite dishes were the grilled artichoke appetizer, my daughter's pasta (Pyramid, which is stuffed with shrimp and lobster - so good, one of the best pasta dishes I've had), and the chocolate cake (a warm cup of almost-fudge - too rich for some at our table, but I love chocolate!). Our waitress wasn't especially friendly, but we live in the South and it's probably more of a cultural thing. Overall, we'd definitely return.

Visiting Phillie for a few days and stopped in for dinner on recommendation from our hotel. The people were very nice and the food was good. However, no chicken on the menu. It is a BYOB and only accept cash

Hadn't been here in a while, so with some friends went to the local BYOB for dinner, Service and ambience were fine. The quality of the food we all agreed was not what we had enjoyed previously. Sadly what had been a star in the neighborhood is resting on it's reputation alone. Pasta dishes were disappointing:, the seafood pasta was missing the seafood and the gnocchi with beef ragu was poorly presented and seemed more like a casserole and mushy. The old Mercato is sorely missed.

While on business in Philadelphia, I have eaten here twice and sought it out as a rehearsal dinner site for my son's wedding since I enjoyed the food. The setting was appropriately intimate for 28 guests. The menu choices were varied and the food was excellent. The service was top notch- the staff was very responsive and friendly. The restaurant is within walking distance of the Morris House Hotel where the wedding was and most of the guests stayed. It was a very hot, muggy day and the inside was very comfortable. My initial response to the cost (we had to rent the whole restaurant for the evening) was that it was high considering it is a BYOB restaurant, but the ease of booking the venue, the quality of the food, and the excellent staff made it worthwhile. All the the guests raved about the dinner. I wish I could remember the names of the wait staff but a big thank you to them, the kitchen staff, and Jenny, who helped coordinate the event.

The place was packed when we arrived for our 8:00PM reservation Friday but we were seated within 15 minutes. We were aware of the cash only policy so no problem there, but we were disappointed with the food. The service was fine but everything that sounded so good on paper just didn't impress. All three of us had the 4 course tasting menu and we each sampled each other's plates and none of us could rave about anything. Just OK for the most part and some actual misses (notably the roasted artichoke, just a small flavorless oily artichoke, and the parmesan crusted veal scallopini- where was the crust? and the veal was not particularly tender) The homemade "gelato" was nothing like gelato- just grainy and icy dense ice cream although the cinnamon flavor was a standout.The noise level was actually oppressive and all and all we all agreed we would not return.

We had lasagne. It was pretty good but lacking on the crab. I think there were maybe 2 small pieces of crab. There were tons of layers of noodles. It was difficult to slice through because I think there was carmelized cheese on the bottom layer, which was good but disconcerting to be unable to slice through it. Could have had more sauce. A bit dry. But it filled our bellies before a show and tasted decent so really no major complaints. Service was good.

Intimate corner location takes cash only and plan ahead with a reservation (GF friendly with pasta, etc.). Such tasty food...melon salad and scallops credo are both good unique choices. The Pyramid Pasta was unbelievable. We ordered way too much thinking "we don't have to pay for our wine so let's taste an app, primo and seconding" but when the grilled hanger steak came we had to take it home. Share otherwise it gets too expensive. We spent $300 with tip for 4 people...watch what you order! Highly recommended.

Took my wife to Mercato for her birthday and it was definitely the right choice. Arrived promptly for our reservation and were immediately seated. The hostess initially was going to seat us outside but we asked if we could sit inside and she pleasantly accommodated us. The room is on the smaller side and was almost totally full, but it was a vibrant atmosphere and perfect for a birthday. Our waiter was excellent. Our bottle of champagne (BYOB) was on ice before we could even sit down. My wife was a bit particular in her ordering, swapping some sides for other sides. The waiter was more than accommodating and her order came out perfect. The portions were large (we almost over ordered) and arrived quickly. I had the short rib ragu with gnocchi which was amazing. I highly recommend Mercato!

Ok, I guess it's understandable that for a large group they wanted us to order the tasting menu. But for the price I paid, I expected so much more than I got. The best part of the meal was the cheese and olive board they started us off with. Sadly it was downhill from there. The grilled octopus was chewy and potatoes over cooked too. I got the past pyramid that was ricotta and a sliver of lobster. The sauce it was served in had no flavor what so ever. The best part? No corkage fee and we had 8 bottles of wine to wash down a mediocre meal.

Mercato had been recommended as a great little casual italian Restaurant. When we arrived, we were a little concerned because it was small and rather plain (rustic). We are so glad we did not let our first impression keep us from this wonderful place. Food was terrific, waitstaff wonderfully friendly and helpful and to top all this off, it was very reasonably priced. Mercato does not serve any alcoholic beverages, so we brought two bottles of wine and a small bottle of hard liquor for the four of us. I was so impressed!!! We will definitely return to Mercato whenever we are in Philadelphia.

My wife and I celebrated our 44th anniversary here recently. We arrived at 6:30PM and there were only a few couples. I had mentioned the anniversary bit in my online reservation and our server brought over two non-alcaholic fruit cocktails which were excellent, to help us celebrate (in addition to the wine we brought, it's BYOB) That was most unexpected and highly appreciated. Kudos to them for actually noticing! Quite extraordinary. I had the meatball appetizer and my wife had the house salad. The meatball appetizer was very good and a HUGE serving for an appetizer; almost a meal by itself.Wife had the special which was chicken ravioli in a white sauce, while I had pasta with Bolognese sauce. Both were excellent. But the standout dish, IMHO was the Broccoli Rabe! This was fixed with garlic, spices and salumi which were just superb. Although this is a veggie side dish that is probably most often ignored on the menu I thought it was TO DIE FOR (metaphorically speaking of course). You must try this if you have the room. We both left very full. In terms of atmosphere the place is fairly noisy and the servers are trying to provide a young, hip, "edgy" attitude. I don't much care for it but it seems to be the current style. Try Brian's in Lambertville for a superb, serene meal. It's also BYOB

Cute little - holds less than 50 people - BYOB that only takes cash. After a long drive in from Virginia this was only a short work from our hotel. We had a very nice dinner. I had the 'nduja bolognese - rigatoni with a very meaty sauce with a slight kick. Pasta cooked perfectly, lots of sauce. My wife had pyramid pasta a restaurant signature. She said it was very good with actually chunks of lobster and shrimp inside. Although tasty the lemon in the sauce overpowered whatever brown butter flavor was in there. We shared an apple galette with vanilla ice cream for dessert - pastry could have been a tad flakier but the apple filling was delicious. Be warned it is very noisy inside. Staff was great and very attentive without being obtrusive. Reservations recommended. I think we got lucky because it was later on a Thursday evening.

We found Mercato on the Internet while looking for a nice place close to our airbnb townhouse. We walked over and we were seated right away on a moderately busy Sunday night. Service was efficient and friendly with Dan who made great recommendations and explained every dish. We had a great appetizer of a trio of brushetas that were very good. My husband had the pork tenderloin (tender and delicious) and I had the bolognese which turned out to be a little too spicy for me. I am not shy about spice, but this was just a little too much heat. Dan kindly removed it from our check ( we didn't ask, he just responded to my comments ) and graciously said it helped them to hear opinions. As noted in the title, this is a cash only place and you can bring wine (no corkage fee, of course). This tiny gem is worth a visit.

They charge you extra for paying by credit card. I did not realize this until after I paid, although it was on the bill that they would do so, circled in pen. If they are going to do this I think they should tell you when making the reservation, or at least call your attention to it verbally when presenting the bill. They could not refund once charged, so I had to pay by CC and pay extra. I dine out virtually every day, and have never encountered this before. I feel ripped off, and will probably not go back.

I have never had a disappointing meal at Mercato. Servers are knowledgeable and efficient. Appetizers and entrees are always excellent. I find desserts to be weaker. The space is tight, and noise levels can be high, but this can add to the conviviality. I love that it remains a BYOB, which makes for a more reasonable bill! Try the pyramid pasta...you won't be sorry.

While the food is exceptional, it's also pricey (cash only) & forget trying to hold a conversation in this cramped, incredibly noisy hole in the wall. Tired of screaming at one another across our tiny crowded table, we three ate as fast as we could & skipped tempting desserts, so that we could escape to the street for an after dinner talk.

We arrived at MERCATO mid week at the time not busy. We were greeted nicely but felt by the hostess that we needed to start ordering food immediately, no time to sit with our wine and catch up. We ordered different apps for the table and our entrees from what I thought was a pretty limited menu. The food was pretty good not excellent. The apps & entrees were a very small portion and ridiculously overpriced for the amount of food on our plates. I knew my impression was correct when most of our family usually take home half of their entrees. We all determined that we will never go back, spent a lot of money for an evening of being rushed and when we all still left hungry after eating here. When you travel far for a celebration don't go here.

We went to Mercato for a birthday celebration. We were greeted very nicely, but it went downhill after that. Limited conversation at the table since the room was super loud. Very tight quarters where people were bumping into my chair & the staff looked annoyed if you had to squeeze by to go to the bathroom. The waitress and servers looked bothered. I could hear the wait staff arguing with the chef. Dishes were pricey. The cheese board was sparse in the line of cheese. Last but not least, there was a metal wire in one of our entrees (probably a scouring tool remnant) and while the waitress offered to swap the dish (which I declined), they kept it on the bill. Needless to say, we won't be going back.

Ate at Mercato over the Labor Day weekend. Heard a lot about it before going. A date picked the place and I'm glad she did. It's not a big place but the front "wall" opens up so that you can see the street and the sidewalk tables in front of the place. Not much atmosphere. Not a place where your 65+ parents would care to go. But, it is a trendy "flavor of the month" people watching place. Most importantly, the food was pretty good. Had the rigatoni amatriciana. Not a huge portion but they did not skimp on the pancetta. That makes me happy. Had a separate order of the polpette (meatballs). Really good. Thumbs up to whomever is in the kitchen. Thumbs up to the wait staff who were very polite. If you're between 21 and 50, this place is worth a visit.

My wife and I went here for dinner on our visit to Philadelphia. We hadn't been here in several years and hoped it was as good as we remembered. It did not disappoint. My wife had pasta with saute shrimp and a pesto sauce. I had the pyramid pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese, lobster, shrimp, brown butter and pine nuts. We also split an appetizer of fontina stuffed meatballs. It was all delicious. We also love that it's a BYOB. We wish it was closer to our house.

I moved out of Philly about 1.5 yrs ago so coming back home to visit there were soooo many new restaurants in the city I didn't recognize. My friend picked out this place for dinner and it was a great decision! Mercato is a small, intimate place - perfect for a date (fyi, they take reservations so highly recommended you make one). The menu looked great and our table did the tasting menu which gives you A LOT of food for cheap -- always a plus in my books. There are 4 courses -- an app, pasta entree, meat entree, and dessert. Each course is the perfect size and delicious. I had the octopus, crab linguine, skirt steak, and tiramisu. The octopus was cooked perfectly and wasn't too chewy (I feel like a lot other places tend to overcook); crab linguine was delicious, BUT if you don't like spicy hot, then this is not the dish for you! I love spicy so it worked out well. The skirt steak was delish. By the time I finished all the entrees, I was so full (and that was after my husband helped me finish). The tiramisu for dessert was just the perfect ending to an amazing meal.

I had the prix fixe menu last night and from the panzanella salad to the pasta pyramids to the tiramisu, everything was delicious! The service was friendly and attentive. It is quite tight inside, and my only real complaint was my clothes smelling like food afterward. However, it was absolutely worth it!

Definitely make reservations as it is a small intimate setting. You have to order all of your items at once (apps and dinner) as you would if you were in Italy. The food was outstanding. Everything we tried is worth recommending. The meatballs were much larger than we anticipated which was exciting because we were starving. The 3 bruschettas were yummy. The beef carpaccio was amazing. The grilled artichoke hearts are a must. (We wished there was a little more 'meat' on the artichoke leaves but the flavor was still worth it). The short rib ragu tasted like our Italian grandmother's recipe. Lobster ravioli pyramids were great (came with 3 fairly sizeable raviolis). Slightly pricey but again really really good food. BYOB so don't forget the vino at home.

Love that this is a BYOB! The restaurant is not big and not very quiet. We were with three other couples and was very lucky to get a reservation for a Saturday night! The appetizers were so good that we could have just had them all night, but then our entrees came and each had something just as good. Servers are very knowledgeable and helpful when deciding which entree to order. Can't wait to go back!

Went for restaurant week to this tiny BYOB nestled among the brownstones on Spruce street. It is a small, warm space with an open kitchen. The tables are a bit tightly packed together, but once seated, it wasn't noticeable. Generally, I stay away from most places during restaurant week, because I feel quality suffers and I usually leave hungry and having paid close to what I would have normally spent for a typical meal. Mercato was a nice surprise though...standard three course tasting menu with wonderfully sized portions. The special soup of the day, duck and bean stew, was excellent on a cold night. The salmon special was a bit overcooked, but the spicy tomato broth it was served atop was very satisfying. I also tried the fois gras and mushroom ravioli with truffles, which were rich and delicious...definitely highly recommended! Dessert was pretty standard, as is usually the case during restaurant week, but the first two courses made up for it. Overall, the BYOB was a great value and a place to which I would happily return, whether it's restaurant week or not!

I had more expectations. Place is nice but I feel it might feel crowded when it is busier. It was just me another clients, late night. Food was good and pricy and unfortunately, service let me down. It is hard to receive nice or kind service in big cities and this one is one of them. It did not invite me to return. Not sure if it was only that day but only cash was accepted. It is a BYOB Restaurant. However, it has a good location.