We ate at Mercato on Sunday before we went to The Odd Couple. (I’ve now eaten at one Merkato in NYC and another Mercato in Philadelphia. Both words mean “market.”) What a great little BYOB. The food was really tasty. We had the “olive oil flight” to start. That included three oils, including one sweet balsamic. Then came the antipasti. Tasty. I asked the waiter what I should have and he recommended the duck.
Now, I normally am not crazy about duck. But the duck at Mercato was tremendous. The fat was rendered off and the duck was mixed in with spinach noodles. Wow, it was really fantastic. Sheryl had the daily special — the butterfish– while Jim had the striped bass and Kim had the braised short ribs with gnocchi. Everyone really liked their meals. A lot. We had some gelati (sea salt, kumquat, and cherry) to finish. The reason I’m telling you all this? Super tasty meal: $157 for four.
Yep, these days I expect to pay $100/person every time I eat great food. The BYOB really helps. I’m going to Mercato again. It was very, very good.
MERCATO
1216 SPRUCE STREET
PHILADELPHIA 19107
P 215.985.BYOB
Cash only.
You Knew This Had to Happen
Throwing Down Our Gang Signs
The Serious Shot
Sheryl With the Boys
The Whole Family
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good god is Mercato an incredible meal. The people behind Mercato (and Valanni across the street) really know what they’re doing.
Best of all, they’re 1/2 a block from my house and during the nice weather when I have the windows open, I can smell their kitchen.
And they’re at Spruce/Camac which is 1216 Spruce, not 216
Albert, I corrected that. Ate there, so dunno how I missed 10 blocks.
Man, it was super great. And I want to go there again. For the prices, I can afford to. Yummy, yummy place. Must be great to smell those great scents from there.
it’s great AND torturous to smell it