Mercatto

The easiest place with which to compare Mercatto has to be Terroni. They’re both little Italian restaurants serving basic Italian dishes. Of course, as follows from my gastronomical Italian favouritism, I am a frequent visitor to both.

Mercatto has a few locations downtown, but my favourite is the one in the MARS development on College. Put plainly, it just looks cool. The minimalist modern decor really gives this location an edge. I also like this particular location because even though it’s busy, the Bay street venue is even busier. The chain also has an offshoot in the Eaton Center, which I think looks beautiful. This company knows how to do interiors right.

But even though the restaurant is easy on the eyes, at the end of the day, I’m there for the food. Mercatto uses simple, fresh ingredients in interesting, tasty ways. My favourite is any pasta item with sausage in it. The menu changes frequently, so those two keywords are always a safe bet for a good meal. In general, though, they offer a good selection of soups, salads, pastas, and mains.

Another nifty feature is their huge wine selection, which allows you to order high-end bottles by the glass. It’s great if you just want a taste — and it also helps to avoid significant lightening of your wallet. Mercatto takes their wine seriously, as exemplified by their huge, high-tech computerized system that keeps all the wine fresh. It’s impressive, to say the least.

The service is fine, the food is moderately priced, and in general, Mercatto is an easygoing place for lunch and dinner. With their several locations around the city, why not hop in and check it out?

Opening hours: Mon – Wed: 7am – 10pm Thurs – Fri: 7am – 11pm Sat: 5pm – 11pm
Reservations: Not required
Meals Served: Breakfast, Dinner, Late Night Dining, Lunch
Cusine Type: Italian
Dress Code: Casual
Good For: Dates, Desserts, Late Night Dining, Quick Bites, Twentysomethings
Founded: 1998