Mercato

Good food. Noisy despite the attempt at adding sound dampening to the ceiling.

Restaurant Week Review: It kinda sucked and I probably won’t come back. There are so many other Italian places in Philly I’ll choose over this place.
Appetizer: Market Salad… order this if you love salads drenched in dressing. It was too much — probably a personal preference though because my friend ordered the same thing and thought it was fine.
Entrée: Rigatoni. Came served in a cool asiago «bowl» Very average with slightly too much black pepper. Still good though.
Dessert: You see my picture… my cheesecake literally came like that and the waitress apologized that my ice cream had melted off. Like what?! You don’t serve people that!!! I asked for another one and she said they were running out of the cherry ice cream –_​_​-​. way to be prepared for restaurant week!

Amazing restaurant week experience. Split all of the dishes with my friend, so we got to try double the food ;) Had the artichoke, stuffed meatballs, short rib ragu, foie gras ravioli (a special), cheesecake, and cannoli. All were amazing, though the entrees and and desserts definitely outshines the appetizers. Was the perfect meal for a cold winter night. Highly recommend, and I’ll definitely be back soon!

Perhaps because it was the Restaurant Week but the food was simply, just acceptable
No real gourmet at all
Service was friendly
Noise level terrible

I absolutely love Mercato. The service is always super professional and the food is reliably awesome. Great for a date or dinner with friends. Their pastas are all homemade and delicious– I had the pork ragout over buccatini with a spiced yogurt dollop for restaurant week and it was a religious experience. Their cheese and charcuterie board is also a VIP. You’ll have to wait to be seated, but it’s totally worth it. I’ve been here with gluten free friends and their menu is easy for them to navigate, which isn’t always the case for Italian-​esque places.

The crostinis for the bruschetta trio were brick solid/​rock hard. The flavor of the bruschetta trio was off and I hardly finished it (cheap salami with tomatoes on top, pickled radishes with smoked salmon that just wasn’t good, mushy butternut squash with some meh mustard sauce dipped on top).
The pasta dish, that is apparently a house speciality, was more of an appetizer size/​had more asparagus on the plate than actual pasta (only two stuffed pyramid pasta thingys)… And the cheesecake was not great. Never got to communicate this to the server because he hardly checked in or asked how we were enjoying everything. Was deeply disappointed after enjoying this place a long while back.

Tasty and fresh not a whole lot to choose from on the menu but all was very delicious. Tight quarters for dining but cozy, espresso machine was down but the La Colombe coffee was an excellent sub.

This restaurant is a great place for a date! The vibe was very cozy and the food was delicious. One thing to note though prior to going is that it is cash only and BYOB. There are a few ATMs around the area as well.
First course– Mussels
We first started off with some bread and olive oil and then ordered the mussels for an appetizer. I went with one other person and the portion was great for two. The dish included a mix of smoked prosciutto, garlic, capers, lemon, sage, basil, cici beans and also came with a grilled baguette. The cici beans gave it a great touch and the broth was not too salty and delicious.
Second course– Short Rib Ragu and Spicy Crab Bucatini
Side– Broccoli Rabe
For the entrees, we ordered the short rib ragu and the spicy crab bucatini. Both very rich in flavor. The short rib ragu included ricotta gnocchi, broccoli rabe, shaved locatelli, and truffle oil. The broth was light and also not too salty and complemented the gnocchi very well. Some may argue that it could use a bit more seasoning, however it was the perfect amount for me. We had some red wine which paired nicely with it. If you can handle your spice, the spicy crab bucatini is great. I love spicy dishes so this really hit the spot for me. The dish included stuffed with ricotta, lobster & shrimp, parmesan, brown butter, and pine nuts. The sauce was creamy, spicy, and full of flavor. I even asked them for extra sauce in the middle of my meal because it was that good. Great to dip your bread in as well. As a side, we got the broccoli rabe which added a good veggie dish to our meal. However, if your ordering the short rib ragu you don’t need to order this since the short rib ragu already includes it. The side was very light, simple, and was great complement to the spicy crab pasta.
Third course– Dessert Mascarpone Cheesecake
For dessert we ordered the mascarpone cheesecake– it was dynamite. It was creamy, not too sweet, and one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had. Definitely worth it.
Only reason why I take a star away is because it was inconvenient to run to the ATM before our meal to grab cash. Also, we sat next to the air vent making it really cold and we had to tell them a few times to turn it down.
Over all my experience here was great and I’m definitely going to go back again!

I wish I could give 3.5 stars, because that’s more accurate. I used to live right down the street and have been here at least a dozen times. The food is pretty consistently delicious, which is what has kept me coming back over the years. The pyramid pasta, short rib ragu, and grilled artichoke appetizer have yet to disappoint me. The delicious bread and briney butter are on point.
Here’s what you should know beyond the food: 1. the tables are comically close together. Comically. Yes, this place is very small, but they cram every possible seat into the room that they can. Prepare to hear your neighbors’ entire conversation without breaking a sweat.
2. Related to this, it’s very loud in there. Usually this is fine, it adds to the sort of intimate, merry ambiance of the place, but a few times it’s been more of a shout fest than we’d liked. 3. the service is hit or miss. I’ve had absolutely lovely. accommodating servers, and I’ve had servers who were downright rude. Which leads me to my main gripe…
My table is always, always rushed out the door at the end of our meal. Years ago when Mercato didn’t take reservations, I was much more understanding of this, because obviously the servers had no control over who was coming in looking for a table at any given moment. The wait times on a Friday night could be a couple of hours, so we always tried to finish our meal and be on our way. HOWEVER, Mercato started taking reservations (thank God), so there’s no reason whatsoever that I should be handed the check and told by the server, «we have a party waiting for this table, so we’d appreciate it if you could finish up.» Um, no. Nope. We hadn’t been sitting there for an hour hogging an empty table; we’d been served our coffee and dessert maybe 10 minutes beforehand and were all still eating and drinking. Also, it’s a BYO so people like to finish their bottle of wine.
Again, I’m a considerate diner within reason. I don’t sit at a table and shoot the shit long after the silverware has been cleared when I know someone else is waiting to be seated. But both of the last times this happened, that was far from the case. Mercato, you take reservations now, so YOU control the schedule, and if you don’t leave enough time between tables, that’s not my fault. It just screams ‘greedy’ to me – you cram customers on top of each other, STILL only accept cash (which is a huge pain), and then rush people out the door clearly before they’re done their meal. It’s ruined our evening twice in a row. Please, someone address this policy because it’s beyond obnoxious.
Also, bring back the molten chocolate cake, please. Why you would take that masterpiece off your menu is beyond me!

I cannot believe it took me living 7 years in Philly before I tried Mercato! It was absolutely delicious and it’s a BYOB!
We shared everything and we started with the stuffed meatballs (A-​M-​A-​Z-​I-​N-​G), then we ordered the squid ink pasta with crab and the short rib ragu gnocchi. I loved both dishes, but I thought the gnocchi dish was heavier than the squid ink pasta, so I’ll probably opt for the latter next time.
It’s a tiny spot, and it is pretty tight in there, but it’s cozy and cute!

When she first moved to Philly, the GF lived across the street from Varga. And while we heard great things about sister restaurant, Mercato, for some reason we never popped in, though we have been to Varga’s other sister restaurant, Valanni. But with our good friends living nearby, we decided to finally stop by to celebrate my boy J’s bday. And being that Mercato’s BYO, we brought a few wines to start the night off.
Dining inside is close quarters and homey. But we decided to gp al fresco and enjoy the late July breeze. We had plans to go out after, so apologies in advance for the camera pics (Samsung S6 Edge).
Bread Service
Dinner started off with some Italian bread, along with whipped ricotta and olive oil with pepper sprinkled on top.
Trio of Bruschetta [$ 12]
We ordered two of the bruschetta to share among two couples. The 2^nd came a bit late though because our server may not have heard or understand that we wanted two orders. That being said, the 2^nd order did come out fairly quickly thereafter. The whipped ricotta and pickled watermelon was definitely my favorite, with the acid providing some balance amidst the rich, creamy ricotta. The chicken rillette with peas was nice, though the pears and figs ate somewhat sweet for my carnivorous tastes.
Pan Seared Jersey Scallops [$ 30]
Roasted eggplant purée, golden raisins, tomato agrodolce, arugula
With the exception of the belly of this pig, the rest of the diners had the scallops. They were sweet, seared well, and nicely seasoned. The roasted eggplant purée provided some «meaty» undertones, but was balanced by the sweet and sour from the golden raisins and the agrodolce.
Short Rib Ragu [$ 23.50]
Ricotta gnocchi, broccoli rabe, shaved locatelli, truffle oil
The truffle oil was the faintest of faint and I was completely fine with that. I wasn’t fine with the fact that the short rib was incredibly chewy and lacked any salt. The bed of broccoli rabe was a nice counterpoint to the heft of the beef, but again, there was a general lack of seasoning. The ricotta gnocchi were also a bit tough. Generally a disappointing dish.
Despite the misstep with the bruschetta, service was good overall. Dinner was very relaxed and timing was great. However, I’ll admit that I went away from this cash-​only meal a bit disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were a bit high going in? I’ll need to stop by again to give Mercato a fair chance, but in a city with plenty of BYO options, consistent execution is always appreciated.

As much as I enjoyed it my first few times here, my latest visit to Mercato took it from 4 to 5 stars in my book. I’m giving credit to the four course testing menu since I got to try more this time around. The tasting menu is such a good deal. You get an appetizer, pasta, entrée, and dessert. Come hungry because it’s a lot of food. Highlights of the meal were:
— Mussels & Clams — the broth is tasty and great for dipping your bread
— Beef Carpaccio — my first time having carpaccio. I’m officially a fan.
— Short rib ragu — my usual go-​to, it never disappoints
— Spicy crab bucatini — squid ink pasta was another first for me. it had a nice kick to it and they definitely did not skimp on the crab. I loved everything about this dish!

A good Italian restaurant that is intimate but not too small. It is CASH only and a BYOB.
Nice menu with a good range of items. I went for restaurant week and they still offered specials you could substitute without any additional charge. Fantastic feature and it is not commonly done during restaurant week.
I had the grilled artichoke, shared the meatballs stuffed with mozzarella, the lamb bucatini (special), tasted the short rib ragu (yummy), and had the tiramisu (really good).

Delicious and unique Italian BYOB in the Gayborhood. My favorite was the trio of bruschettas. They change them up all the time and use local specialities– my favorite was the pickled watermelon. The stuffed meatballs are a must!

Had reservations for 8.30 pm on a Saturday night. When we walked in, there were plenty of tables open inside even though I didn’t have options for an early reservation.
We started with the mussels and clams. It was okay. We thought it was odd that the restaurant didn’t offer any complimentary bread but later realized that they had forgotten. The squid ink buccatini with spicy crab sauce didn’t disappoint however. It was really good with a good amount of crab for $ 24. They ran out of the duck ragu which we were interested in trying. The backup Lancaster chicken dish was solid but we probably won’t be wanting seconds. The pistachio and almond cake which sounded intriguing was also nothing to shout about.
I’m not sure whether it was because I’d been a little biased by previous reviews about lackluster service but we noticed the same. Our waiter was really nice but things were a little bit slow and we almost got charged for an extra entrée. We were also seated nearly elbow to elbow with another couple because of how tight the space is so don’t expect too much privacy of you’re on a date. This place is BYOB and cash only.

Mercato is one of my favorite BYO Italian restaurants in Center City, but I’ve had to knock off a star after my recent visits. The atmosphere is cozy, intimate, and similar to a NY style restaurant. The earthy wooden tables are close together and I wouldn’t recommend coming here with a party larger than 6. It is CASH ONLY and you can make reservations online at their website
. They have a nice selection to choose from for restaurant week and daily specials are always appetizing. The pasta is fresh and the portion size is good, but I usually don’t have leftovers. Unfortunately on my most recent visit my pasta was undercooked, the fish special was dry, and my meatballs were overcooked. I will come back, but this might not be my number one spot anymore.
You’ll start with sliced baguette and olive oil with ricotta. My favorite appetizers are the Smoked Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs and Bruschetta Trio (which changes daily). The Whole Grilled Artichoke and Beef Carpaccio also seem to be big hits. The Short Rib Ragu is my favorite pasta, but the Pyramid Pasta is a nice option if you want something cheesy and indulgent. For meat dishes I would suggest the Chicken Alla Romana and Veal Milanese. Also a four course tasting menu is available for $ 48 per person.

Why don’t BYOs like this exist in SF? If they do, someone please point the way. This was one of my favorite BYOs I have ever been to. Is it possible to have a BYO dining experience that is actually classy and not trashy, delicious, AND has vinegar/​olive oil tasting type appetizers? Apparently so.
I can’t remember exactly the food I ate (BYOs do that to you… jk it was 6+ months ago) but I do remember a few very special qualities:
+Olive oil/​vinegar appetizers. We chose a sampler of various vinegars and oil and it came with bread/​crackers. Delishhh esp if you like vinegar tasting as much as the boyfriend and I do.
+Lots of space, so getting a little tipsy and funny wasn’t the least bit embarrassing (different story if I was inches away from the next table)
+Adorable outdoor seating for a night when it’s not too cold
+Very, very reasonable prices
+Fantastic, quick service even on a busy night
+Did I mention BYO?
I will definitely be back!

Always wanted to go to this place but somehow it was difficult to get a reservation. I remember one day over the summer, there was a long line outside. However, I was able to get a table for two this past Wednesday.
Service was courteous and on top of everything. No fancy customer service that are going to explain all the details of the menu and at the end you remember, basically, nothing. Menu was really good — just that the quality of it was not the greatest. The main i chose to get was the Spanish octopus which was tasty but way to salty. I’d like to blame this on the fact that I visited during restaurants week. The restaurant got extremely busy within 15 minutes. I’m not sure if I’ll visit again. We’ll see.

Okay the Pyramid Pasta might be the best pasta dish I have ever had in my life. IN. MY. LIFE. And this girl knows her carbs on carbs on carbs. When I finished it, I felt like I won at dinner. Not that the Chicken Marsala and the Veal Saltimbocca chosen by my dining companions weren’t worthy competitors, but come on… lobster, shrimp, ricotta, pine nuts, asparagus, etc. etc. etc… they didn’t stand a chance.
Pro tip: Save some of that deeelicious bread for the leftover browned butter sauce. You’re not gonna want to let any of that go back to the kitchen. Trust me.

I came here on a friday night without reservations. We waited for about 45 minutes to an hour for the table. However, it could’ve been a shorter wait if they set people up in ways where you can move tables around. There were a lot of tables open for 2 people but most people who were there came in groups of 3 or more. You can choose to ask them for glasses to drink your BYOB wine/​liquor while you wait. This one group finished all their wine before they even got seated. The service was pretty good, nothing extraordinary.
The inside is pretty small and cozy with outside seatings available. We sat outside on a fall night. There were heat lamps above us so it wasn’t all that bad, pretty pleasant. The noise level can get pretty loud since it is a byob and when people come in groups and drink, it tends to get loud.
As far as the food goes, the appetizers were amazing. We ordered the antipasta and meatballs. The antipasti was very refreshing served with some bread. I ordered the risotto which I only took about a bite of because I was so full from the wine and appetizers. I wish I had room for dessert because I normally like to end the night with sweets.
One down side to this place is it’s CASH ONLY. It really is an inconvenience because most people don’t carry too much cash on them anymore.