I personally loved their little plex-glass between every booth. No point waiting forever for the outside tables. The food was extremely flavorful. I began with the Barnum and the bartender packed it well. Salad was crunchy and tossed well with very thin coat of dressing. Fish in paper was prepared perfectly although they held back a tiny bit with the the flavoring. Perhaps they wanted the steelhead to come through? It was super fresh. Clams casino was delicious, as was the soup du jour (huge chunks of clams). Scallops were pricy for their grade. They were in fresh corn and fresh beans that was a surprise mix but so yummy. Medium steak came out exactly as ordered and tasted better than routine hangar steak. Their version of fries were super skinny and that might not be to everyone's taste. Almost chip like. Probably one of the better restaurants here. read more

I went here for date night recently. It's a nice restaurant and the server was very friendly and helpful. It has a nice ambiance. The issue was my food was so salty, it was extremely distracting. I don't think I'll go back because of this. For some reason, when I went to their sister restaurant Le Cafe Cent-Dix, my food was less salty. Still salty like restaurant food typically is, but not so salty that I have no desire to go back. read more

We had a lovely time while visiting ithica , Me and my husband visited the place on our date night , we ordered clam casino ... yumm and chicken piccata in main course... loved both the dishes and they were delicious . And it looked so appetizing that after eating half food I took the picture (my bad) In drinks we ordered beer and sparkling blue moon. Perfectly made cocktail. They have good dessert menu .. we ordered chocolate raspberry semifreddo .. it was delicious too , it is like frozen mousse read more

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Our entrance was the first disappointment. Granted when we were approached my first question was about a restroom, but the tone and comment we recieved along the lines of....ignoring my question and just asking if we would be dining there was uncomfortable. Our waitress on the other hand was very nice. We ordered the Chicken liver & pickled red onion crostini, roasted with onion & bay leaf, blended with dark rum. The consistency of the liver was not quite mealy or gritty but not at all smooth, not at all moist not at all the buttery consistency chicken liver can have. The taste was a bit sulphuric and metalic. Butternut squash ravioli, brown butter, sage, mascarpone, parmigiano. The ravioli was decent, they were certainly not worth the over $3 a piece that they are priced at when you do the math. They seemed to be served in more of a light broth than a rich brown butter. Caramel - espresso pot de creme, homemade graham cracker, whipped cream was the last item. It was the shining star of the evening. The texture was awesome, like a sought after pillow at the end of a hard day. The lightly salted graham put the gold star stamp on it. Unfortunately the dessert didn't save the whole experience. read more

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AVOID - this food is BLAND, has no flavor., this place only gets 2 stars because the wine was good, and the waiter was really nice and kind of knew his stuff (but a little mechanical). I had the fettuccine alle vongole (clam pasta), the pasta was so overdone, the food had absolutely not flavor and while the sauce is supposed to have a brothy element to it, they took it to the extreme. My partner had the ravioli and there was no flavor in the pouch. Just the taste of the sweet sauce outside. So disappointing especially for the reviews and price point ugh. Go somewhere else. read more

My overall experience at Mercato was positive. The food was not bad but I will say it was nothing exceptionally amazing. I got the bucatini with guanciale and the guanciale was extremely salty and had to be eaten in rapid succession with the rest of the dish for balance. The flavors were good and I have no complaints about the food other than that I do not think it was worth the price. For around $30 per dish, the experience simply wasn't enough for me. Our server was nice and catered towards our needs. read more

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We unfortunately couldn't obtain a table for our large group of six. However, Gary was extremely helpful in securing 6 portions of the butterscotch port de creme to go. It was heavenly and to die for. This is a great, intimate restaurant that serves authentic Italian cuisine. Really set up for that special dinner for two. Worth the experience by my observation while waiting for our desserts to go. read more

Stopped in here while visiting Ithica after finding it on yelp. Originally came for a meal I saw with great reviews. They changed the menu so they didn't have it anymore. I went with the Chicken Piccata, It was good but nothing super special. My husband had the sausage ravioli and they were delicious. Very limited menu. Great service. read more

This place is phenomenal. From start to finish great service, unique wine selection and the menu was terrific. Highly recommend.

Dined here with my family. We all had a delicious meal. Food was fresh and cocktails were very good. Staff was both knowledgeable and friendly. It was a warm and welcoming atmosphere. read more

If I could give this 6 stars, I would! One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Each time I come here, i am blown away. The cocktails and foods are top-notch and it is clear they craft their menu and prepare the food with immaculate attention. While the food was out of this world (I cannot recommend the duck pappardelle enough), our service was the best I have ever experienced. Heather was a phenomenal waitress and went above and beyond to make sure our experience was unmatched. She was passionate, knowledgeable, and overall took our dinner to the next level. Give her a raise!! read more

Thursday night we passed by close to 9pm and got a table for 3 right away. Place was quite busy and very loud, great ambition. Service is friendly but very slow. The food is good but very overpriced - if you are really hungry you have to order at least 4 courses. But I like the smaller portions and better quality, nice preparation and presentation. Wine selection by glas (for a bar) is very limited but ok. I had the crostini (with eggplant) first and than the scallops, both was good, solid nothing extraordinary. The ginger panna cotta to close with was really good. Typical hipster place in a university city over all ok but I ate and was serviced better in the past. read more

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Male waitstaff is very rude. Not a place to come if you want to feel welcome. Food was cold and over salted.

Excellent! Little brother made reservations for the family for graduation dinner. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation and were seated almost immediately which was great. Menus were brought out with the quickness and we settled in. Bread with some olives infused and butter was served with waters while we skimmed out menus. Off to a great start. And the great start would continue. We ordered our wines and drinks and they came out almost immediately. Server was very accommodating to my mom's request for more grapefruit juice with her mimosa. Here we were happy to discover my husband's new favorite IPA on tap: Ithaca flower power. Really good. Ordered myself a glass of the vignalta merlot/cab sauv blend which was also pleasant. My brother ordered a siren song (if my memory serves me right) which was gin with cucumber and something else. It was pretty good! Had 3 appetizers to start, all three of which were incredible. We ordered a charcuterie plate, the chicken liver and pickled onion app, and clams casino. Recommend all the. The charcuterie plate came with 2 different kids of prosciutto, pork shoulder and salami along with a cup of deliciously marinated olives and 3 kinds of cheese - a goat cheese, Gorgonzola and Parmesan. This went really well with my wine. Chicken liver pate on sourdough bread with red pickled onions was amazing. Clams casino delicious with peppers on top of each open clam. Entrees: Scallops - perfectly cooked on a bed of yummy greens. Came with half a dozen. Veal chop - first time it came more medium than desired. Waiter took it back without hesitation. The medium rare re-fire was well worth the 20 min wait. My brother literally picked up the t-bone and ate it clean. He substituted the fingerling potatoes for the shoestring fries. Seasonal veggie that day was asparagus cooked with balsamic topped with Parmesan which was also delicious. Paccheri with sausage - this pasta dish was cooked in a white cream Parmesan sauce with ground sausage. So incredibly flavorful and pasta was the perfect al dente. Husband mopped up the remainder sauce with some bread. My hangar steak - perfect perfect red of medium rare sliced into nice bite size squares. Paired with a handful of shoestring fries and asparagus. Very pleased. Not to be biased or anything but yeah, my dish was the best. Dessert - affogato : a cup of hot espresso poured onto generous scoops of vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect ending to a very delicious dinner for an even happier occasion. The likelihood of my returning to Ithaca is slim to none but if I ever do go back, mercado will be a dining stop for sure. read more

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Best meal I've had in Ithaca. Great service, amazing food and the bartender made the best sazerac I've ever had. read more

Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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We came for our anniversary. We asked for a booth so we could have a nice dinner to celebrate. We were told we could not have a booth they seat everyone in the front first. So I guess go later if you'd like a booth instead of getting there early. The tables are about 10 inches apart so if you enjoy dining with strangers go for it. Food was mediocr at best. Nothing to rave about. read more

My husband and I were taken to dinner here by colleagues; it was fantastic! The sever had a great personality and engaged is some great small talk with us, while getting all of our orders to us promptly. I had scallops and the cheesecake for dessert and I wiped both dishes clean! I also had a small bite of my husband's piccata and really enjoyed it also. The cocktails were also great! Will definitely be back! read more

It's a little pricy here but the food is really fresh and tasty. The menu option is limited but the restaurant will occasionally changed the menu so you have more choices. Will come back again. read more

The three star rating is in proportion to expectation given the hype and long wait required to eat here. The food was perfectly fresh and tasty but as others have mentioned, the menu is extremely limited. I found the portion size a bit skimpy (especially the crostini for sharing) too. Not a lot of creativity at work here either. The service and ambiance were fine but don't feel bad if you miss eating here - lots of other great choices in Ithaca that are certainly no worse. read more

Came into town for the weekend and i stumbled upon Mercato for dinner. I ordered their soup of the day which was the mixed bean with prosciutto and the chicken piccata entree. Both were delicious! I definitely recommend this place to eat! I would post a picture but i devoured the meals before i realized . read more

Super unfriendly. Called to ask what the current wait time would be like. Person on the phone was extremely unfriendly. Refused to give any estimate and said people are walking through the door. I asked whether they are full and the person responded that they are AND people are still walking through the door. When I asked again, what they thought what the wait would be like if we got there soon and he just said people are walking through the door and they might be full. When I pointed out that he had just said that they are already full he just said that he'll give me a wait time when I get in line. Very condescending and rude. Would not eat there if the food were free. Do not support rude uncivil businesses. Very, very disappointed. They make you feel like they're doing a favor by letting you get in line. Horrible experience. I can't speak to the food but it can't be worth it. Save your time. Zero stars. read more

What a an amazing experience! We went here on a Saturday night to celebrate a birthday, they don't accept reservations which was fine, so we took the last seat at the bar and settled in. The bartender was friendly and warm. Instead of just handing me a drink menu he asked me what types of drinks I like and made a special drink for me- and it was divine!! The attention to detail and the bartender's craft into making this cocktail was superb! I was slightly saddened when our table was ready because I wouldn't get to see their drink making skills anymore! :) We sat down and had great table service, she was warm, knowledgeable and never tried to rush us. We started with their clams casino appetizer (a yelp recommendation) and they were yummy! We moved on to dinner and got the hanger steak (which was much review on yelp as well) and I the buckwheat papperdelle with duck ragu (sounds weird but it was fabulous), both were so good!! I would eat that duck pasta daily if I could. The quality of the meal was so good, and we paired it with a good bottle of red wine. Overall I'd say go! The drinks and food are good and it was just a great evening. read more

Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Our hand crafted cocktails... An old fashioned and a Cuban daiquiri, yum! - Italian Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Another fantastic meal at Mercato. I haven't been in Ithaca for a few years but came in for Dead and Company and had to get in a meal at Mercato. The fish in parchment was delicious as well as the pappardelle. Great service and the owner takes the time to make sure everything is done right. read more

Absolutely love this place! Food/service is amazing. Hands down best food in upstate NY. The owner is a culinary expert and wine connoisseur - and in general, an absolute amazing host. If you're in Ithaca or the finger lakes region, do yourself a favor and treat your senses to Mercato. You will not be disappointed. read more

Stay clear! Besides a very knowledgeable waiter, the Mercato falls flat...very flat. The fettuccine with clams was swimming in a very watery broth and the pasta tasted like over cooked noodles. The raviolis with shallots were overpowered by a very sweet Italian red sauce and far too many shallots. In fact, they were the only thing one tasted. Very disappointed. read more

As a foodie from NYC, this was one of the best places in Ithaca. The atmosphere was cozy and sophisticated. From the clams casino, seafood soup & the Parched flounder, the vegetables and seafood was very fresh and flavourful. The hanger steak on the other hand, was not a favorite. It was too chewy and rubbery. For dessert, I tried the lemon tart from all the positive reviews . Unfortunately, it fell short on expectations. Indeed it was lemony but the raw taste of egg yolk was very overpowering. I do highly recommend the bloody mary. It was by far one of the best I had. I also recommend the Rubato (gin, lemon, dewars, sienna). read more

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Our 2nd time here and just as good. Wonderful bartenders with wonderfully flavored cocktails. Clams casino, arugula salad, meat and cheese plate all great choices for apps. Then fettuccine with clams, sausage ravioli, gnocchi with eggplant, swordfish in parchment and seared scallops. Wow. All flavored to perfection. And service to match. On the pricey side but worth it. And Rolling Stones music all night. What more could I want?! read more

It took us 90 minutes to get our food. 30 minutes to get our first drinks. We had to order our next drinks the moment the waiter put the new one down. We tried to give them feedback to improve and most normal normal people with a growth mindset would have thanked us and maybe make some changes. Instead they said "we don't have to listen to this s--t". Also what "Italian" restaurant doesn't have an Alfredo sauce? That is what my son enjoys, but i get it. Not the hill i would die on, but it was the other crap we endured. I know several chefs who love going off the menu to make customers happy if they have time, but not this place. I jokingly ask if we offered to pay $1000 dollars for Chicken Alfredo would you make i? Our waiter turned to the chefs and one of them said "NO!". We sat by the open kitchen so we could see his response. We also observed the two owners/chefs argue in the kitchen. When this restaurant fails i would avoid their next debacle. They maybe good cooks but their business acumen is terrible. Just know this: I hate leaving bad reviews because I believe it cold effect people's livelihoods but these two owners were super rude to us. If you don't believe me, read some of the other 1-2 star reviews. I assume these guys don't want to make money or they would work on reducing their ticket order times so they can seat more people and don't forget the bartender is so slow (just wine and a vodka mule). I could have ordered more mules but it was beyond frustrating since it took 25 minutes between cocktail orders. I would walk the other direction if you see this place, like that annoying uncle who talks too much. Or that rude Aunt that wants to argue politics who you can never change their minds. read more

Such a great dinner. We were there on an extremely busy evening. The staff were limiting the seating to not overwhelm the kitchen. Our table was comfortable and service was good. Excellent chicken piccata, we will definitely return. read more

It was very quiet on a Wednesday night, so we got right in with a party of three even though they don't take reservations, We started with a watercress salad and the crostini sampler. The crostinis were meh, the mortadella was the best one but the fig and goat cheese crostini lacked any flavor of goat cheese and ended up tasting like an elevated Fig Newton. I ordered the scallops with puréed carrots and mushrooms. The scallops were beautiful and perfectly cooked but didn't really feel like a cohesive dish. They were also served lukewarm which was unfortunate because it led to the last few scallops being cold and rubbery. I also am not a huge fan of the shoestring fries so I got green beans instead and they were quite good, but simple. It was a pleasant meal and the service was good but for $32 for five scallops, I want to be blown away and served scallops that aren't lukewarm. read more

Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Scallops with puréed carrots and mushrooms. - Italian Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Great food and excellent service. Despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19, the establishment appears to be handling the situation in a professional way to keep everyone safe. read more

Worst Osso Buco I've ever had. The meat was as tough as rubber, covered in a flavorless sauce attempting to mask the awful meat. This was the most recommended dish on the menu, per the waitress. Highly recommend avoiding this place. read more

Great service, drinks, and food! We ordered the crostini sampler to start, and were surprised that the mortadella mousse crostini was our favorite of the three options. For dinner we shared the gnocchi with short rib ragu. The gnocchi is made in-house daily, and we could tell because the quality was incredible. For drinks we ordered the bandito, which is a smoky margarita made with mezcal, and the sparkling blue moon, which is a sweet drink that tastes exactly like a Sweet Tart candy. And for dessert we shared the chocolate pot de creme, and the Purity vanilla ice cream. We highly recommend this restaurant as all three courses were incredible, and the service made the experience even better. read more

I really don't leave restaurant reviews because they're usually non-sensical literature. This place is great! Food, atmosphere, booze... they nail it. It reminds me of one of my favorite places in San Francisco. Get yourself a pork chop, enjoy the wine, & settle in. You'll be happy you did. read more

Amazing craft drinks and food! Stopped in to just grab a drink and ended up staying for dinner. Highly recommend checking this place out. One of the best in Ithaca! read more

Absolutely loved, loved, loved this restaurant! Our waitress was absolutely the best! Veal Milanese was to die for, spaghetti and clams sauce amazing, gnocchi just fabulous. Wine selection definitely delicious. Unfortunately the owner was the rudest person ever and I will never return. So, so sad! read more

We had dinner at this terrific place while visiting the Finger Lakes region. We arrived as soon as they opened, but being a Sat., the tables were filled. Opted for a couple of seats at the bar. The bar tender suggested some nice wine and gave us time to review the menu. We discovered that the chef was his Dad, the pastry maker, his Mom. He did point out that the first 3 entrees featured home made pasta. We settled on a house salad and 2 of the 3 he suggested, the gnocchi and the raviolis. We finished with a lemon blueberry cake and the chocolate mouse. This family owned place is special. Try it the next time you're in town! read more

Did a good job during covid our waitress Tuesday night was awesome. The food was original, I really liked the crostini sampler. The watercress salad was a bit steamy making it bitter than it could have been. My wife had the pasta mushroom dish and it was 5 star I had the vegetarian pasta stuffed with cheese in broth with asparagus. It had overly strong lemony type finish. But we had fun trying new things and would recommend and go back. read more

Snotty service. Self-important host. High prices. These guys think they're in Soho, not in Ithaca. Save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere where they actually want your business. read more

One of my favorite date night spots or for taking guests. Lovely lighting, artwork, and specials. The staff enjoys their jobs and you can tell -- Manny is a fantastic bartender, along with Mark! Entertaining mixology and conversation. AMAZING food, fresh, interesting, and delicious. I also like how you can watch the kitchen do their thing. Get the fish special if you're into fish, or go with a big plate - you won't be disappointed! - Hayden read more