Hostess and wait staff all very nice. They were quite busy on a Thursday evening. Simple setting nothing too fancy. I ordered vegetable soup and Margherita pizza and my spouse ordered field salad and fungi pizza. All excellent and we will definitely go again. read more

This place is open for weekend brunch, but was quiet. It is a college town and so perhaps all the students were home for the holiday when I visited. While there were some creative options available, I got classics. My salad was so large. It was difficult to keep it on the plate. The greens were delightfully fresh and thinly sliced cheese and candied pecans made for a dynamic taste experience. My margherita was sizable. The crust head just a hint of browning and it did come sliced. The ingredients here were quality. I did not like this place quite as much as the other Neapolitan place around the corner, but I don't have any complaints. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Margherita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Really good pizza highlighted by a great / welcoming staff. We tired a little bit of everything and we were satisfied with the experience. We will return and recommend. read more

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We again visited Mercato before a show at Cats Cradle. This time we tried both the arancini and the meatballs. Both were very tasty. We ended our meal with the 4 cheese pizza which was craveable with a delicious crust. We did make a reservation and they charge you money but then it goes towards your meal cost. The service is fast and efficient even on a bustling Friday. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Meatballs - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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First time back to this place in a few years. Great minimalist dark atmosphere. Super friendly and helpful staff. My server Bobby was spot on. I've been here several times before or ordered takeout and it's always good. One of the best pizza joints in the area. I ordered the Salsiccia which I've had before. The ingredients on it have changed a bit since I had it last time but nothing stays the same. Maybe some ingredients got too expensive. Now there is no mozzarella and less sausage. It has cherry tomatoes now but its still good and tasty. I'll have to come back more often to try some other menu items. read more

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I've eaten at this restaurant many times and the food is generally very good. I walked into the restaurant and noticed that there were two seats at the bar. I asked to hostess whether or not I could sit there. She said I could but first that it would have to be cleared and cleaned. I waited behind the seat. Someone started cleaning. He then interrupted the process to speak with some people seated at the bar. He was about halfway done. I decided just to sit down. I was then scolded by two staff about sitting there before it was clean. I was spoken to as if I was a child. This is the hospitality business and some graciousness, I believe, is appropriate. The area was cleaned and two place servings were put down and I was told that this area of the bar was now going to be taken by two people. I informed them that I was told something very different. When I just tried to discuss this with one of the hostesses she too, was unyielding and rude. I was informed that there were policies about this. I don't think we expect customers to read a policy manual before entering a restaurant. In the past, I'd come in and just sat at an open seat in the bar. By this time, I had lost my appetite and left. Also, the last time I ate at the restaurant, the waitress was quite rude. Within half an hour of returning home, my credit card which I had not used in about a week before going to this restaurant alerted me that there was an attempted fraud on it. The coincidence was,I believe, was not a coincidence. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Two people - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Heard great things and finally tried their pizza. Got the fungi za and it did not disappoint, best mushroom pizza I've had in a while. Ingredients were top notch, did not skimp on toppings, crust was perfection. Will def be back to try other za's. Staff was also super sweet to my two year old wild child. read more

Just had the absolutely worst restaurant experience of my life at Pizzeria Mercato. Picture this: Your sister in law makes a reservation for a small birthday celebration at a local restaurant. When making the reservation she lets them know it's for her 15 year old daughter's birthday. This is the same place they've celebrated for the past several years. Each time, they've brought out a little cookie & candle at the end of the meal so you could celebrate. After you're all seated for dinner, a grandfather and his grandson are seated next to you You overhear the man let the waiter know that it's the grandson's birthday. The waiter responds with "I've got you."You note this interaction and are reassured that this is a great place for a little birthday celebration. The meal is good. The waiter is attentive & friendly the whole time. As he starts clearing the table you discretely remind him of the birthday. Strangely he doesn't respond. When he comes with the check, your sister (who is paying) discretely reminds him about the birthday. Again, zero response. Finally when he brings back the receipt, you ask more directly - "I don't understand, it's her Birthday.. every year you bring out a candle and cookie." The waiter replies: "I can get the manager for you." You're puzzled. You didn't ask for the manager, you have simply been expecting the same thing as every previous year. At this point, the teenage birthday girl is embarrassed. The entire group decides to just leave as it's become very unpleasant. Everyone goes outside but your sister, who stays behind to talk to the manager about what has happened. The manager's response: "Not everyone gets a cookie. That's not guaranteed." "So some people get cookies and some don't?" "It's at our discretion." "And what is the reason?" "We don't have to tell you that." An apology, an acknowledgment, would have helped, but this just makes things worse. "The owner is here, would you like to talk with him?" "Sure." The owner comes over with a scowl on his face (and a chip on his shoulder.) We explain what happened. "When you give one customer something and don't give the same thing to another customer, that's discrimination." "Discrimination is a little exaggerated." "No, that's exactly what discrimination is. We don't know why you're discriminating against us but clearly you are." "This is a private business. We can do whatever we want." Birthday ruined. And for what? A $2 cookie? We would have gladly just ordered a desert if this had been handled in a kind and understanding way. But to treat customers with such disregard & contempt is truly unforgivable. Massive Fail. I don't know what kind of business Pizzeria Mercato is in but it certainly is not about taking care of their customers. read more

Mark your calendars for next August. The seasonal roasted sweet corn and pepper pizza is a MUST. Lucky to have the last for summer 2025. Olive oil cake! My favorite local pizzeria that transports me to Italy. read more

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Cool space, attentive wait staff, and great food. The pizza crust is so thin but handles the toppings without getting soggy and floppy. The simple Rosso was fantastic, and our seasonal pizza was also delicious. Highly recommend. read more

One of the BEST pizza dives in Carrboro! Mercato is a cozy spot that still delivers on a regal fine dining atmosphere. The service is warm, attentive and very on top of things. The food itself was delicious! I enjoyed the texture of their dough- not too thick of thin, crispy on the outside but still gives a little bit of chew. The calzones we got were a special menu item, so make sure to ask your waiter/waitress about the daily specials! read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Calzone Margherita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

10/10!! I was in town for work and stopped by with some family who suggested this place. This is some of the best pizza I've had in awhile, the crust was perfect. We also shared a salad and an order of the green beans and you can really taste the freshness. It's evident they use high quality ingredients I really enjoyed my lunch here! read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Pizzeria Mercato served perhaps *the* best pizza we've had not only in the Triangle, but in the entire state of North Carolina. This was one of the first restaurants that a friend had recommended to us in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. We were impressed. Carrboro is lucky to have this place. The business opened in 2016 in a freestanding building downtown. There's dedicated parking on two sides of the building, but it's limited to only about 20 spots. You can't park next door at Country Junction. We parked for free on Elm St, the adjacent residential side street. This place is popular. If you're visiting for dinner, you'll want to make a reservation: https://pizzeriamercatonc.com/reservations/ Lunch is first come, first served (no reservations). My wife and I didn't have a reservation. We showed up at 6:30pm on a Thursday. We got lucky and were seated almost immediately. Others weren't so lucky and had to wait by/at the bar or outside. That said, when I checked their website, Pizzeria Mercato said, "We do always have tables open for walk-in availability!" The space isn't huge, but it's not tiny either. They don't have outdoor seating. Inside, the tables were placed closely together and it was loud. The proximity of the tables means you and your neighbors will hear each other's conversations. The interior was industrial-like with an open kitchen, exposed ceiling and ductwork, wooden tables, and a painting of Michael Jordan pulling up for a jump shot in a Carolina jersey. We were seated at a two-top. As soon as we sat down, I knew the table wasn't going to be big enough for what we'd eventually order. After placing our order, our server realized that too. She told us that she would have to pace our order so that everything would fit on our table. That ended up being fine, but in general can be problematic if you want to order and sample a bunch of food. Pacing dishes means you might get full before the final dishes hit the table. This isn't prix fixe. It's pizza. Anyway, I get it - First World problem (and Pizzeria Mercato understandably is trying to maximize their profits), but as diners who like to try a bunch of different things, we regularly run into this issue. During our visit, the menu was fairly straightforward with about a dozen appetizer and salad options ($7.00-$16.60 each) and nine pizza options ($13.00-$19.50 each). They have a small yet decent selection of wine and beer. No cocktails that I saw. The pizzas aren't very big. One hungry person can finish one pizza, easy. The pizzas are Neapolitan style. Don't sleep on the salads and apps. This place serves excellent food all around -- pizza isn't the only thing they're great at. This is a locally-owned, single-location restaurant and they get many of their ingredients at the Carrboro Farmers' Market. The high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients make a difference. Days after we ate here, when I told my wife that Pizzeria Mercato gets their ingredients from the local farmers' market, it made sense to her (she loves farmers' markets). She said to me, "Remember the texture of the tomatoes? It was amazing." Here's what we ordered: Verdure * Anson Mills Farro Piccolo Salad ($13) - red onion vinaigrette, sweet corn, Provolone, cherry tomatoes Piatti * Neapolitan Meatballs ($14) - pork, beef, tomato, focaccia crostino Pizza * Margherita ($14) - tomato, fior di latte, basil, EVOO * Funghi pizza ($18.50) - panna, Fontina, oregano * Salsiccia pizza ($19.50) - vodka sauce, Pecorino, fennel sausage, scallion Dolce * Cannoli (2 for $7.50) - filled with candied orange, chocolate, and pistachios The Farro Piccolo Salad was great. It was really fresh and flavorful and had great texture all around. The farro piccolo, a.k.a. einkorn, was appetizingly bouncy and chewy. The red onion vinaigrette was delectable. Just a really wonderful salad. The Neapolitan Meatballs were served in a hot mini cast iron skillet. We got three big, savory, and tender meatballs. My wife thought the tomato sauce was a little salty. The meatballs are a safe choice. My favorite pizza was the Funghi. My wife's favorite was the Margherita. You can't go wrong with either. I love mushrooms and the Funghi had plenty of them. The pizza was packed with umami flavor. I also loved the rich and creamy Fontina cheese. The Margherita was well balanced and each of the ingredients shined. The crust was thin, crispy, chewy, and flavorful. The fior di latte was creamy and yummy. The tomato sauce was sweet and robust, and the basil was herby and aromatic. This was in contrast to the Salsiccia where, while not bad, the flavors kind of muddled together. The Salsiccia was good, but not great. The cannoli were tasty. If you're a fan of cannoli, I recommend them. Pizzeria Mercato's version had scrumptious, light, flaky shells that weren't too greasy or doughy. The fillings were terrific, fluffy and gratifying. Service from our server Eva was fantastic. read more

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Great salad and pizza, quality wines at reasonable price (Nebbiolo $50). Focused menu. Food had an intangible quality shared with owner's father's historic restaurant Magnolia Grill. Excellent service. Minimalistic decor. A line of people was waiting at 5 pm opening on a Sunday! read more

The food from this place was out of this world. The focaccia and meatballs were so great, the pizza amazing, and the dessert was fantastic! Want to come back to try their other gelato flavors! read more

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Food was wonderful, service is great and the inside is cozy. I would highly recommend.

Atmosphere: Pizzeria Mercato has a rustic interior with several tables and a bar. Service: We ordered takeout over the phone with a group, but there ended up being a mixup where one of the pizzas didn't make it onto the order. It was a mild inconvenience and should've been fairly straightforward to resolve, but we felt that the hostess was rather passive aggressive about handling it. Food: We ordered the Pancetta e Gorgonzola Pizza. For the price, the toppings were quite sparse on our pizza, with maybe 2 pieces of pancetta on each slice. Their thin crust was decent but nothing to write home about. Otherwise, we found the pizza to be pretty bland. Overall: Unfortunately, we didn't think that Pizzeria Mercato lived up to the hype. Between the mediocre service and pricey pizza, we'll likely find ourselves heading elsewhere for pizza in the Triangle. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Pancetta e Gorgonzola Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I like this place and have been coming for years. However, I'm finding it irksome when not one but two wait people ask my party, "What are WE having" or "How are WE doing? Well, I'm doing ok..Are WE splitting the bill? Plus, less nuts in the salad. More problems with pronouns than I want to admit read more

Make a reservation if you can - it will be worth it! Not much else to say other than the obvious, service was great, food was tasty, and service was quick/friendly. Salsiccia pizza was the favorite of the night but the marinated beet salad is also work mentioning! read more

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I take my daughter here yearly( was 5th time this year) to celebrate her birthday . She has had two large parties here as well. This year it was just family. I made the reservation and made sure they knew it was her birthday by phone and it was noted on the reservation. They have always brought a little candle and small treat out . This year my request was ignored by the server who was extremely petty . I quietly said something twice about it being her birthday wondering why he couldn't take a hint and also wondering why the hostess didn't remind him . This is a teen btw. He ignored and then after I was visibly upset he said he would get the manager, by this time the meal had been paid for and it was actually sort of sad and my daughter was embarrassed. This is my child's birthday and his petty and hideous behaviour ruined the evening . Obviously I didn't want to speak to the manager about a cookie and candle ! I wanted to leave. The hostess was extremely rude and condescending. My sister was told celebrating a birthday was at the discretion of staff and not everyone is accommodated... this is obnoxious and discriminatory. It's a symbol and one that was a tiny tradition for me the mom. My child didn't care but I know a younger more childlike part of her did have hurt feelings. Thanks for choosing to make my daughters birthday not so special. Thanks for not giving a damn about honoring was was noted on the reservation. It would have been very simple for the server to say I don't want to help you celebrate but you can buy a slice of cake etc or whatever. He didn't even have the decency to do this bc he is not suited for customer service in any capacity. I will also say that the owner Gabe was extremely rude to my brother in law and sister . I have been a customer since opening( and neighbor ) and this is not how you run a business! Also pizza was fine , but the sides were terrible . Salad fine . We were kind and polite to server during service. It only escalated after his rude and nasty attitude. It was so humiliating and you can't get back a birthday celebration for your child, especially when they only have so many years left of being a teen. No excuse for the complete and total disregard for us and especially for a child. I also called later and Gabe refused to speak and left it up to the hostess who scolded me for using language which was completely warranted. Don't have your staff cover for your discriminatory and hateful behaviour. read more

Pleasant atmosphere, very friendly staff, and ample parking. The Cecina starter was a welcome surprise, the pickled cauliflower was a revelation. The Formaggi Misti pizza was well baked, thin crispy crust and flavorful sauce & toppings. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Cecina - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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The Margherita Pizza is anything but a simple pizza. Delicate balancing of the cheese and sauce is carefully done, leaving neither feeling stronger, but instead complimenting each other. The thin crust and char was done very well, and the crust was soft and fluffy. The Salsiccia E Soppressata Pizza was reminiscent of a meat lover pizza, but without the overbearing taste and grease that is usually associated with it. The Fritti was crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside. Tasted great with the garlic aioli. Notes: Get the Margherita Pizza, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Ordered pickup on Friday night - They let me know right away that it was going to take some time (about 1.5 hrs) and I appreciated it. After getting it, I can see why! Margherita pizza had delicious buttery crust, good chew, and fresh ingredients. But the real star was the arancini - herby, crispy, cheesy... probably some of the best I've had. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Arancini - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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I hope M doesn't kill me for the 4/5 stars. I promise I loved going to Pizzeria Mercato for early Valentine's Day and genuinely enjoyed the thin crust and upscale yet casual ambience. However, I admit I'm ashamed that I forgot to take a picture of the Funghi pizza... The grilled octopus was fresh and nicely charred, but I was a little disappointed by how little octopus was included given the much higher proportion of octopus-adjuncts. I did really enjoy the Piccolo salad, which was a unique combination of chicories, winter vegetables, and my favorite: the SOFT (not chunky or crumbly) feta. I thought I would compromise on Valentine's Day to get the anchovy pizza, but maybe I should have listened to the tiny voice in the back of my head telling me that I have never liked anchovies... These were chopped finely and very well incorporated into the sauce. I can appreciate how any anchovy lover would enjoy this pizza. Just not for me. Sigh. I guess it's not a moral failing to have likes and dislikes :P I think M probably echoes my above sentiment with respect to the Funghi pizza, lol. But I chose this one based on other Yelpers who raved about it. It was decent and certainly highlighted the mushroom. Longer drive out from Durham for a nice weekend evening, and I would definitely recommend making reservations! read more

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Always fabulous! Thanks to Gabe and his team! We will see you again, SOON! Best pizza this side of Italy!

I don't usually have strong feelings about pizza but after having dinner at Pizzeria Mercato, that's all changed. We started with the crispy pork belly. Crispy, salty slices of pork belly with fresh veggies to contrast and a creamy sauce to bring it all together. Beautifully plated and ridiculously delicious. We share a Salsiccia pizza. The most perfect pizza crust ever. Thin with the perfect level of crisp and topped with a creamy garlic sauce, pickled onions sausage and wonderful little golden roast garlic cloves. Thanks to the not too large size of the pizza, we also had room for dessert. The lemon custard cake and cannoli are also exceptional. The staff were all friendly and efficient. We asked our server for their favorites which they shared and then highlighted a few other selections providing what made them unique. Overall an excellent dining experience. read more

Always a phenomenal time. Can't go wrong with the quartino serving of wine and the field of greens salad. Then choose between a classic pizza or one of the seasonal ones and you won't be disappointed. Always a great time. Friendly staff. A little loud in the establishment. read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Asparagus and Formaggi Misti Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Workers were so nice ! I brought my baby and we got free cookies because our baby was SO CUTE!! i also love their pizza.I love this place and will forever. read more

Zero flop Neapolitan? Yes. Amazing toppings, piping hot, careful with the cheese or will melt your face. I think the giant metal gas oven brings the Neapolitan into the firm place that most others can't achieve. Amazing toppings, we had three pizzas. Formaggi Misti (4 cheese), the Puttanesca (anchovies, olives, capers, chili, garlic...plus cheese), and the special last night was a shredded brussel sprout with chunks of guanciale and pecorino. Very accommodating place for the kids, even asked about allergies at the table without us saying anything. Great staff, great food, must check it out! Setting was great, empty bottles for the water is a neat idea. Staff were super polite to the kids. read more

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Can't recommend the puttanesca pizza enough. So good and I also suggest getting paying the extra to add the mozzarella on top -- sooooo worth it. Staff is also so friendly! read more

I kept hearing incredible things about this place, so I brought my friend when she dropped into town in need of a pizza place. I'll save you a menu scan and highly recommend the mushroom pizza. It's somehow made with cream?! It's so good that I think about it once a week. The staff here is wonderful, and everything comes out quick. Can't wait to come back and try the cocktails! read more

Always delivers. We walked in on a Saturday evening and sat at the bar with Bobby, our straight-out-of-John-Oats (of Hall and Oats) at his prime, bartender. Delightful service. Started with mussels, (with heat), fresh greens, then meatballs, with a saulsichia pizza. Nero red paired. Place is consistently loud but the bar seating for two is fun, lively. Hard to have a conversation with groups when we have sat at tables but the noise brings a Brooklyn energy feel on the quiet side of Carrboro's main drag. read more

Pizza was delicious. Area near the window was a little toasty on a hot summer day, but the PBR took me back my college days. Nice, friendly service. read more

Its great to have a real pizzeria in the area. The pizza was not too greasy but hits a perfect sweet spot. The experience was positive, will recommend read more

This is the best pizza in Chapel Hill by far, but it shouldn't just be considered a pizzeria. Our appetizers were spectacular, particularly the Brussels sprouts salad, the roasted carrots and the Calabrian barbecue pork. Then, to top it off, their deserts were top shelf, especially the salted chocolate chip cookies, the Tiramisu Tres Leches cake and their gelato! All in all we had a fantastic meal!!!! read more

Amazing food and service! I went to dinner with friends and we shared the marinated olives, zuppa, summer tomato salad, spicy watermelon salad,meatballs, puttanesca pizza, funghi pizza, and grilled corn pizza. The zuppa was incredibly fresh, pizzas were delicious (perfect crust), and the salads were outstanding. Highly recommend! read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Puttanesca pizza with mozzarella - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

First I love a restaurant with parking. The space is very modern and open with industrial vibes. We loved the arancini- perfect sized bite and texture. I do wish the sauce was a little less thousand islandy and more fresh tomato. The panna pizza with arugula was hot, thin, and had the right balance of bitterness from the arugula to cut the heaviness of pizza. The meatballs were my least favorite item- just average to me with a strange texture. The cannoli are small but they're a good bite with lots of pistachio crunch to them. Nice wine list as well which I didn't try but my partner seemed to enjoy. read more

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Everything was outstanding! Great service, great mushroom pizza, great rice balls, And great panna cotta. We will be back :)

Smoked eggplant pizza or Puttanesca Pizza, where to start? Two 12" "pies" were more than enough goodness for 3 hungry travelers! read more

Pizzeria Mercato - Smoked eggplant pizza or Puttanesca Pizza, where to start? - Pizza Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

A gem in the area. Pizza is exceptional. Owner is fantastic and the wine list is super interesting. Go, you won't regret it. read more