My husband and I stumbled on Mercato, while looking for lunch. Each course was better than the next. We started off with a superb buffalo mozzarella with plum tomatoes, prosciutto and basil. The appetizer literally knocked our socks off as it was mouthwatering. Then I had the spaghetti and my husband had the rigatoni and ricotta salata. We finished off our meal with a dessert special; ricotta covered in dark chocolate. Everything was absolutely amazing! read more

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Love this place!! I tried so many different things I couldn't pick a favorite. I was in town visiting and it was a fantastic dinner spot!!

Not accommodating to vegans - very disappointing. Was told all pasta has eggs. Had to get a salad

Very authentic Italian food with a lot of flavor. It seems like a more intimate space with dim lighting and candles, good for a date or smaller groups of 2-4. I came here with a friend on a weekday night at 8pm. We had a reservation, but it wasn't too busy for a later dinner. We had the Frittura de Pesce appetizer (fried calamari, shrimp, cod fish) and we both got the Trenette Al Pesto Trapanese. Everything tasted very fresh and very good. The fried seafood platter was very big, a lot bigger than our actual pasta entrees. The pasta dish was a perfect size for one, I was very full afterwards! The service was good and friendly. read more

Just a terrible experience. So many tables available when we got there and they sat us at the back of the restaurant - the hostess insisted we'd be bothered by the front door opening?? And gave us the choice of the two most awkward tables even with plenty of other tables open. So strange. What made this so bad was half way into the dinner we smelled strong cleaning odors. So terrible I could barely breathe. Couldn't even finish my meal. So sad. The restaurant is open until midnight. They were cleaning with strong cleansers at 10 pm. Of course had we sat in the front of the restaurant (where we could see there were plenty of tables when we left) this wouldn't have been an issue. Again, very sad. read more

I was visiting NY for Christmas and made reservations for Christmas dinner a few days before arrival. I am so glad we were able to get reservations at Mercato. The restaurant is away from all the tourists. The place was cozy and charming. The service was great; but most importantly, the food was delicious...the ravioli!! I would definitely come back to Mercato on my next visit. read more

Worst dining experience, left me in emotional shock for 24 hours and might give me a drinking problem. So my experience begins here. My friend and I arrived here on a Friday evening for an anticipated dinner. We walked in and the hostess greeted us (not very warm or friendly) and asked us how many were in our party. Hostess: Hello. How many are in your party? Friend #1: There will be three of us, but one will be arriving a little later. Hostess: Okay, where would you like to be seated? The bar or a table? Friend #1: Where ever is more convenient for you. The bar is fine, but you'd like to sit us at a table that is okay also. (Hostess walks us to a table) The table she gave us was in an alcove, but was right next to a water faucet. I felt like I was taking a cold shower every time the waiter filled the pitcher with water, but I didn't complain. We order our drinks and we order an appetizer while we wait for our friend. While we were chatting away, enjoying whatever that was in front of us, the Hostess interrupted us and asked us when our friend was arriving rather rudely (but again, we ignored her aggressiveness). Hostess: When is your friend arriving? We can not leave this table open as the restaurant is getting busy. Friend #1: I don't know, but she is coming. Do you want to move us to the bar? Hostess just walks away completely ignoring our question. My friend was being very accommodating as the restaurant was getting busy and we felt it was fair to move to give up our table even though we did order food. So we continue to chat and be happy. The hostess interrupts us again with her rude attitude again. Hostess: When is your friend arriving? Friend#1: We can call and we'll let you know as soon as we know. Hostess walks away and we call our friend. I go find the hostess to tell her my friend will be arriving in 10 minutes. The hostess said "Okay". By this time, my appetite is completely gone. The table over were seated an older couple. The woman said to us, "That was VERY rude of her". We just shrugged, eh. No biggie right? 5 minutes in from the 10 minutes I told her, the hostess interrupts us AGAIN and say, "We have to move you, this table has been reserved. You can sit at the bar." My friend kindly told her that our friend is down the block and will be here any second. The hostess said, "Yea, but you have had this table for a long time now and you have to get up because these tables have been reserved". My friend is trying to explain to her, but the hostess begins to roll her eyes and just walks away as my friend is still speaking. Friend#1: I'm speaking to you and you are walking away from me. You are being very rude. Hostess: I am not being rude. Friend #1: Yes you are. You are rolling your eyes at me and you were walking away while I was still speaking and your attitude is ridiculous. I have been very flexible in saying you can seat us where ever you were most comfortable, and you seated us at a table where we proceeded to order. If you had reservations, you should not have seated us. Hostess: Well, you will have to move. (walks away) My second friend arrives and sits down, the second her butt touches the seat the hostess asked us to get up. All the tables next to us had already asked for the check and were in the process of leaving. The other patrons were saying to us how disgusting the hostess was being. Hostess: You will have to get up. Friend #1: What do you want me to do? Will you give us another table? Sit us at the bar? What do you want? Hostess: You will have to wait for another table, 30 minutes. Friend #1: I want to speak to your manager. Hostess walks away, but does not go to get the manager. So my friend went in search of him and asked the hostess where was the manager. She pointed at a random waiter and said he was the manager. My friend asked him if he was the manager. He said, "No, but I can get him for you." The manager arrives and this is where it becomes a complete sh*t show. Manager: How can I help you? Friend#1 tries to explain the situation in a very nice and calm way but begins to lose it when the Manager starts to defend the incompetent hostess and literally begins to get in her face in a hostile manner. Mind you, my friend is a petite girl 5'0 not even 100lbs. This guy was over 6ft of absolute pure idiocy. Manager: You created a problem for us. What if your friend arrives in the morning? Friend#1: Obviously we're not going to sit here in until the morning eating f**king pasta. My friend was not even able to fully explain what happened because the manager wouldn't let her get past the first interruption and started to scream at her. The other patrons just told us to leave and not pay because the service was so mindblowingly bad and they were as disgusted as we were and said they will never return. It's an experience no one should EVER have to go through. These people are clueless at running a business, BELIEVE the one star reviews. read more

A small gem on 39th street between 8th and 9th Ave. I had the lasagna the pasta was so fresh and the sauce very tasty. My sister had the seafood pasta she said it was very delicious. I would recommend this restaurant for people who enjoy Italian food. read more

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Mercato is a beautiful and charming place. Really great and nice service, and the food was amazing! Really appreciate places like this one in the neighborhood. read more

The setting is lovely, a quaint little spot in Hell's Kitchen but that's about where it stops. Our waiter took our order and that was it. When meals were delivered he never came back to see did we need anything else, I was not offered pepper or parmesan cheese (at an Italian place) my friend and I planned to split/share our meals and we did not have to opportunity to ask for an extra plate let alone a glass of water... the main dishes were tasty but not life changing. We won't be back... in a world where customer service drives a business... Mercato please do better. read more

Overall good experience. The place is pretty cramped. We asked to switch tables, and the waiter seemed kind of annoyed, but we made reservations and we were uncomfortably squished at the table they put us at (also I totally get being annoyed but don't let the customer see that!). I would go back, but with a smaller party. The food was pretty good! Timely service, decent prices, etc. read more

Rudest waiter imaginable. Italian man that seemed bothered and irritated by everything. I was so pissed didn't even want to stay and eat. HUGE disappointment based solely on our rude constipated faced waiter. He ruined our entire dinner. Also, our food was mediocre to say the least. The appetizers were good, but the main course wasn't special at all, the pasta over cooked. read more

Having lived in Italy for over 2 years, I was searching the real thing near my house and Mercato is it! It's like Nonna is in the kitchen slaving away for hours to prepare the sauces and pastas that the waitress is delivering to my table. If you're looking for anything that resembles a plate from the Olive Garden, you should probably just head two blocks east to Times Square. In all fairness, I have to say that this place is so authentic that the service is much like you'll receive in Italy as well. They are not going to be as warm or work for your tips in the same way. I don't mind though b/c the food is worth it! read more

And back again for a 4th of July dinner in NY. We were not disappointed, we ate an amazing octopus appetizer, had a value priced Amarone with our meals, had home-made pasta, and just ate like kings in general. I got to dine with my normal companion at Mercato: Chuck- plus we had two bonus guests, my husband and daughter- they both agreed it was the best meal of our three day weekend in NY. I will continue to come back here again and again for a great meal in Hell's Kitchen. Thanks Mercato, Love you! read more

Excellent food and service. I made reservations for two and we were seated next to the front door. It was cold and cramped. I thought making the reservation would have got us a nicer table. The food was 5 stars. read more

Had lunch alone here, they placed me in the bar where I was served by a friendly bar tender, I had the octopus and potato as a starter, it was melt in your mouth texture. I than has the malloredus with braised boar, was a Sardinian dish, that really boasted a lot of flavors read more

Boyfriend and I went for the first time last night. I'm a former restaurant manager so I can't help but notice every service detail. The staff at Mercato is top notch. From the fast, welcome greeting at the door to the atmosphere (lighting, music and decor are great) to the service at the table, we couldn't have asked for better. We shared the Carpaccio di Manzo. He got the Orecchiette Cime di Rapa e Acciughe and I had the Spezzatino di Manzo al Primitivo. All the food was excellent. I also noticed that when one table got up to leave, the table was cleaned and reset within one minute. Thank you for giving us an amazing date night. We will definitely be back. read more

YES- come in!! Order delivery... DONT THINK TWICE- Hands down one of the best Italian pasta dishes that I have ever had! I got the trenette pasta.. The pesto sauce was with tomatoes as well and was so fresh and light ... And enlightening!!! I had a side of broccoli rab which was. Great accompaniment to the pasta. It wasn't HUGE but it was large enough to keep me 75% full without feeling bloated like most Italian food makes me feel- plus, I was able to save me some for a nice midday lunch the following day and still tasted delicious. It was 23 bucks for the pasta, broccoli side, bread, delivery and 15% tip ... You can be the judge as to whether it's expensive or cheap. I thought it was reasonable to on the border of becoming a semi-splurge office dinner. But I will definitely order from here again and take my husband next time we go into midtown since it looks like a very nice romantic spot and service is supposed to be good here (or so my trusted yelpers tell me). One side comment is that while my delivery was SO fast, on my comments bar via seamless I requested Parmesan cheese (dried) and red chili flakes since I was at work late and wouldn't be able to get it... But it didn't come. But, the food was totally fine without it so I got over it pretty fast. Anyways- enjoy!!! You will absolutely be impressed! read more

Great food ! Awesome service. We went by what our server recommended and hands down one of the best meals we have had.

we came here after a long walk just in the thought that we should always try something new. We ordered the mushroom and seafood Linguine. These are the most common pastas i order whenever i went to an Italian restaurant which i like, so that I can have a chart to compare. I have to say both of them are mediocre. The mushroom pasta is not thick enough and has a taste that is not fresh. The garlic sauce tried hard to cover it but you can still tell. So for this dish it is pretty disappointing. The seafood Linguine is pretty good, in terms of the tomato sauce, and the mussels. For the tiramisu, it's very small for the price, and a little bit too wet. The overall atmosphere is quite nice, feels like Europe. But overall, it is a place that doesn't give too much surprise or special experience. read more

Not enough New York restaurants take advantage of their unusual spaces. Mercato is crammed into a long, narrow space, nearly bifurcated by a bathroom and kitchen in the middle of the restaurant. Moving into and out of tables takes effort. Mercato has used its strange layout to create several semi-private dining spaces, from large booths to the tiny bar up front. The high walls are lined with bric-a-bric, as if this is sheltering the collection of a long-dead Italian uncle. The service comes the same comfortable space. A staff member sits next to me at the bar, while someone else takes turns refilling my water glass and delivering the meal. My plate of potato gnocchi arrives just a few minutes after being ordered, with large chunks of pasta and a tangy ragu. I sop up the few bits of sauce with the free slices of bread, alternating that with provided oil dip. Just a couple blocks from Times Square and its boring boxes, this place is pleasantly unconventional. read more

I just had dinner here and it was the best Italian meal I've ever had! I ordered the Spaghetti Fatti in Casa Al Pomodoro Fresco and it had a good, strong garlic flavor. My boyfriend ordered the Lasagna Tradizionale and it was also fantastic, very cheesy and creamy (also very rich and heavy, so if you're looking for a lighter dish, the lasagna probably isn't it). We went at around 7pm on a Friday and didn't even have to wait for our table. Service was fast and friendly. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

This came recommended by strangers sitting next to me at Rosemary's NYC: "If you want casual Italian with good sauces, go to Mercato." It's extremely affordable, very relative to NJ restaurant pricing. Aside from not being able to see the menu because it is quite dark in the back room, all four of us enjoyed our dishes immensely. I test my Italian restaurants by their pasta and seafood first, so I went with the linguini al frutti de mare. The pasta was al dente, as should be, and the calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams were all tender and sweet. The sauce is what sold me. I don't eat overly spicy food because I can't take it, but this red sauce had a nice little kick to enhance the flavor. It was most enjoyable. read more

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Words can't describe how much I enjoyed my dinner last night. Although it's pretty much located in an area where no one will walk to in 10 degrees, the food is totally worth it. My friends and I decided to make reservation (recommended) for 4 people at 7pm. I was the first to arrive and found people waiting outside the door. Apparently the wait time without reservation is 1 1/2 hours. The inside is tiny. I was stepping on people's coats cause the chairs were too short and it looked like they stuffed random tables because they were completely booked for the night, nonetheless it was cozy. The staff is extremely friendly and they will check up on you without being overbearing. Definitely recommend the special for the night and for dessert, must have, the Tiramisu!!! I took out a star cause they only accept up to 3 credit cards.. None of us had cash on us, but then again who carries cash nowadays? lol read more

Ate here after seeing Evita ... we skipped apps and dessert but got the gnocchi and cavatelli (both homemade pastas). My wife loved her wild boar ragu on it. I have a place back home which I swear has the best gnocchi but after tasting Mercato's gnocchi I need to reevaluate. Nice little atmosphere, although tables close together. Bread nothing special and single glass of wine I had nothing like a melbec which I requested ... but that's how good the gnocchi was, nothing else mattered. read more

Beautiful pasta, warm wait staff and wine. May I just add, LOVE IT. read more

Soooooo yummy!!! Pros: - Excellent service. Quick and Friendly. - Very accommodating to vegans and food allergies. - VEGAN & VEGETARIAN friendly - Food tastes amazing! - Everyone that served us was Italian and had an Italian accent. - Loved the Family Style. - Caters to large groups with reservation. Cons: - Eggplant Ratatouille appetizer would taste better warm rather than cold. My table hardly ate it for that reason. ******************************************** My experience: Came here last night with a group of 25 from Enzo Milano. As soon as we walked in waiters stood alongside almost in a row just greeting us with a smile and saying hello in their Italian accent. Right away it felt like you were in Italy. Very friendly. We had the Family Style that consisted of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 1 dessert (tiramisu was sooooooooooooo good! Yum, I can still taste it). We had a vegetarian at our table so he had plenty of options to choose from and the waiters were very helpful about serving him with no hassle at all. We also had one person who is allergic to seafood so every time a dish would come out the waiters would make sure to tell her what to eat and what not to eat. All and all..I really enjoyed my time here. I would definitely come back again and even take my out of town visitng friends here. read more

Amazing food. Totally authentic. Good service. I recommend making reservations if you have a party larger than two, however we had a party of four without reservations on a busy night and they still squeezed us in but we did have to wait. This is the second time I've been here and both experiences were wonderful. The seating is crowded and tight however. But once you get your food all discomforts drift away. The pastas melt in your mouth and worth every penny. Wine selection is good as well. Service is fast and friendly. If you're in the neighborhood you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is a hidden gem on a pretty uneventful street in Manhattan. The food is delicious and even though the venue is small, it has that authentic Italian feel to it that enhances your experience. I've had the lasagna tradizionale and the gnocchi al ragu di manzo e maiale, but my favorite dish from here was the rigatoni norma con ricotta salata. talk about delicious, this pasta was out of this world. Perfectly al dente, perfectly seasoned, and the eggplant was notably fresh. I'm slightly bummed I no longer work around the corner from Mercato, but lucky for me it's close enough to Penn Station to make a stop in every now and again. read more

I had an excellent lunch experience here. The room is small but comfortable, the service was excellent, and the food was tasty. There are a surprisingly large number of tall, young Italian waiters for such a small restaurant. Seemed like almost 1 per table. Perhaps they are all family members. I had the beet salad, spinach and cheese ravioli, pannacotta, 2 glasses of chianti, and a coffee. This being New York, it was not cheap. The total including tip was $78.00. read more

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We came here on the recommendation of our bartender at The Skylark. The place is cute and tucked away. This is the type of place that you would walk right by without even noticing it. The first table offered to us was right in the middle of 2 other tables for two that already were seated and there was about a 1/4" between tables. We said no thank you and they gave us a table in the back which was a more acceptable 6" apart from our "unknown dinner guests." The room was small but lively yet not too loud for us to talk. We were immediately given water, a delicious homemade bread, and a side dish of a lentil mixture. The lentils were excellent! I just wanted swab the entire bowl with the bread! The server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list. He recommended a great wine that was on special that week. We ordered the meatball appetizer and it was excellent. A delicious tasty sauce with moist full flavored meatballs. There must have been some nutmeg in the meat mixture and it was a nice touch. We then both ordered the lasagna. This is where the restaurant failed. The fresh pasta sheets were really overcooked which made the entire dish mushy. I so wanted to like this plate of food because it looked great and it was hot and it smelled sooo good! I continued eating and it just was ok. There was too much nutmeg which was probably in the meat sauce as well as the bechamel and it was overpowering. I would come back here again and give it another shot. If the pasta were to be overcooked the next time, I would just send it back. read more

We found Mercato on Yelp when we knew we were heading to the neighborhood for a comedy show. (Benji Lovitt - seriously funny!) It sounded interesting and it was that and more. When I made the reservation they let me know they would need the table back by a certain time - I love that! So much better than when they come up to your table while you are talking and let you know they expect you to pack up right away! The food was fabulous! We love Turkish food and this was terrific. So good we went back six months later with our son. (Forgot to finish the original post. Just as good the second time around! And friends of ours, who live on the upper EAST side, came across the park for this place and we bumped into them. There is no shortage of good food in their neighborhood, so coming here is a real testament! read more

Bad - wouldn't come back. My pasta with mushrooms was disgusting. It had no flavor so bad I had to send it back. The pasta with wild boar sauce was dry and obviously previously frozen not fresh. Don't come here sorry! read more

A bit dark and old, but delicious and cozy. We had salad, pasta and octopus; everything was tasty. Friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere.

It was such a nice little restaurant! Someone told us that it was a great choice and was in walking distance from our hotel and we tried it and it was very good! The food was delicious and the service was very good as well! Would recommend! read more

Mercato sits in an area of Manhattan that feels long forgotten. It is like Alice walking in Wonderland. Luckily, it is like a beacon for all those around in the dark when it comes to food. The unassuming frontage of a townhouse. Upon stepping through the door is like Alice just went through the looking glass. The restaurant was packed with a dimly lit warm ambiance. You are immediately greeted by the host like a Chesire cat in the tree. Helloooo, Alice two for dinnnneeerrr? Why yes Mister Cat. Dinner for two. The tight table arrangements is certainly no tea time with the Mad Hatter especially if he was going to wear that tall hat of his. No room here. The bread slightly dry like a crumpet. Luckly, Wonderland is Italian this time and thankfully no bubble and squeak in sight. We started with Grilled baby octopus appetizer and I had the special, Tagliatelle with ox tail ragu and fellow companion Cavatelli with pork ragu. The appetizer was excellent. Charred perfectly and on a bed of hummus like potato pureed. It was perfect for mopping up with the bread. Both the pasta dishes were cooked nicely. The pasta still al dente and the sauce for both ragu while similar was seasoned well. I have to say the ox tail was better of the two dishes though. Alice enjoyed the tea time in a tight table with other Wonderland peeps. All laughing merrily and madly. But how do you know I'm mad? You must be or you wouldn't have come here the cat smiled. Because the best people are here dear Alice. read more

Hole in the wall with AWESOME food. The bread came with great dip. The portions were perfect size so you knew you were getting quality over quantity. Loved this place. So busy we had to sit at the bar, but so worth it. read more

Walked in no res... mon night 6ish...seated right away. Man at the door was nice enough.. waitress was nice no issues there. she did ask for drinks before i sat my butt down.. which always throws my mood off.. I like to get comfy first .. then come ask. But hey I'm not complaining.. its better than being ignored for 15 min.. Food: Bread and capers/lentils.. what capers? wish I had some.. bread tasted a tad stale? Not sure if that's the point.. the mixture was delish.. so I ate it anyway. Ricola salad nice amount we shared it very tasty and fresh. Cured meats and cheese plate was good as well but I wish there was more cheese. I'm not even sure if it was 3 of the same type cheese or not. Wish they were more different. The meat was tasty. Ravioli with Spinach and butter and sage sauce. This dish seemed small my BF ordered it but it was filling and if you like a butter sauce it wasn't too overwhelming. I found the pasta to be cooked perfectly and loved the filing. Grilled Salmone was a huge portion! I didn't expect it to be that big but for over 20 dollars I was happy. One thing it was a bit bland. Even though there was a sauce underneath it, I found myself dipping it in the butter sauce. Maybe just needed a pinch of salt.. but either way I loved it. Was happy with how fresh it was and it did not smell fishy at all. Or else I wouldn't have eaten it. For dessert we had the semifreddo which is a pistachio cake/ice cream it was something I never had before and I loved it. We shared it.. I'd say if you just want a few bites of something sweet then share.. Unless you're still hungry the def get your own. Its fairly small.. What I didn't like was the seating.. the bench with no padding.. I can't do. I sat in the chair.. which was fine. But if you stay for over an hour OUCH! I took 1 star away for flat soda... and the bland salmone even though I loved the dish minus half a star each... Loved the feel and atmosphere.. since the walk up was little to be desired in that area,, it was a pleasant surprise how cute it was.. dimly lit, warm, romantic.. little loud when people started coming in but not bad. Good date spot. read more

Casual Italian bistro, Excellent food and good service. We enjoy two salads- Buffaloes mozzarella salad & arugula. Salad. We had pasta dishes- eggplant was tasty. Finished with cappuccino. Delicious read more

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We are from Europe. I went with my wife and she speaks Italian well. The staff speaks Italian very well and make you feel welcome. The location is very good, the restaurant is clean and the food tasted great. I want to mention that I went to Italy several times and the food at Mercato is just like the one from Italy read more

Mercato - Grilled salmon. I liked it a lot. Generous portoon - Italian Near Me - New York, New York