Trattoria Mercatto

Food tasted blend. Not even some real parmigianno on top of the pasta. The olive oil is DISGUSTING. Please, don’t pretend you are an italian restaurant if you don’t use italian products. I give it two stars for the waiter who was very nice.

Entrance is quiet busy two hosts guiding for a table and seating, rustic with high stools and lower chair dinning
With reservation you will be seated much better less bar noise, servers are attentive as its narrow aisles to each table. Menu is written in Italian, but ingredients in English. Atmosphere fun, 4 tv screens in bar section
Windows allows outdoor views and mall entrance.
Food pictures are in included–
Pricey for a spot inside mall with outdoor exit and entrance,
pasta
Pizza
Dessert if your dissatisfied with certain food or ingredient their very attentive to switch, recommended for those craving authentic Italian with Canadian flare. I get asked why do I place photos with eaten portion, because I really do eat it, and want audience to realize it’s not imported photo, that I was actually there.

Pricey food. not worth the money. Like the ambience. They did well with our party of 30 people. Their service was a Lil slow to be honest and it wasn’t even rush hour. Their pasta dishes are good however the pizza is not worth the $ you pay for it. Overall a place to visit once or twice.

After having finished some Christmas shopping, my boyfriend and I figured we’d try this Mercatto given we both had a craving for pasta and we knew other Mercatto locations were always a sure bet for a good meal.
This location is very disappointing. I first noticed that when we sat down it was very dirty under our table, left over food from the people before and a lime wedge to top it off (yuk). If I noticed it, when approaching the table, how could the servers or hostess not see it?
CLEANLINESS = 4 out of 10.
I love beets so I ordered the BARBABIETOLE ARROSTO (beet salad). The flavour wasn’t bad but the beets were a huge let down as they were NOT roasted but straight from a can. Not my idea of a nice salad for the price. My boyfriend ordered the MISTICANZA (mixed lettuce with radishes and celery hearts) which he says was good.
INSALATE = 5 out of 10
I was looking forward to the main course as I love any pasta with bolognese sauce so I ordered the RIGATONI ALLA BOLOGNESE. When it first came out, I thought it was either a lunch portion or a kids portion, presented in the same size of bowl that my salad came in for $ 16.50 (the restaurant may want to consider changing up the dishes to pretend they’ve put some sort of effort into the presentation). In addition to the baby portion, there was ZERO flavour. There were no tomatoes or basil and you could tell that the kitchen did not salt the water for the pasta as I had to ask for salt (which I NEVER do) to give it SOME taste. It would have been nice to see some chunks of tomato or even fresh basil to top it off (again, just a bit of effort on presentation would have gone a long way). My boyfriend ordered the PAPPARDELLE which he says was lacking flavour more than mine. I didn’t believe him because of the red wine braised duck ragu (how could anything with red wine lack flavour??). Sure enough, it was tasteless and again, a small portion in the same baby bowl as mine for $ 17.95.
PASTE = 4 out of 10
In addition to the food being mediocre at best, the service was the same. Prior to ordering, my boyfriend asked our server for some suggestions (3 most popular dishes on the menu). It took the server so long to say something other than ‘UHHHH’, that my boyfriend just said, ‘don’t worry, I’ll just have the PAPPARDELLE’. The one positive thing about the service was that the food came out quickly, and thankfully because we noticed at the end of our meal that we weren’t offered any packaged bread sticks until we were done (which we ate because we were still a bit snacky after the baby portions of food).
SERVICE = 5 out of 10
We skipped dessert because we were too afraid we would be let down even more than we already were.
To sum this all up, I would never go back unless the restaurant made some vast improvements on quality for the price. Unlike the other Mercatto locations, you can tell that this location is there to serve the shopping crowd who cares more about shopping than the quality of the food they are eating. I would have had a better meal at the Thai Express in the food court :(I’m glad my shopping trip was a success!
Restaurants I would choose over Mercatto Eaton Centre for the same price:
1. Café Nervosa
2. Grazie
2. Terroni
3. Citta

we were on our way to the ACC for the raptors game and decided to stop in here for a bite to eat.
my first time here, and i was pleasantly happy with the service, the food and the price of our meal.
the server was very patient with us as we changed our mind many times on what we wanted, and didn’t make a single mistake.
we had pasta, with the mozzarella balls and the tiramisu.
the pasta was really fresh, i was very happy with the portion, it wasn’t ‘american size’ and i didn’t leave there feeling stuffed and actually had room for the tiramisu!
the mozzarella balls were good, but too oily and i couldn’t finish the portion because it actually started to hurt my stomach after a while.
the tiramisu was flavourful and rich, but not the best that i’ve had in Toronto!

I’ve been wanting to try this restaurant for so long but never got a chance until recently.
My friend and I ordered the arancini (chive risotto, provolone, spicy tomato sauce) for $ 10.95. It came out so quickly and it was extremely delicious because it was so cheesy! There were 3 nice pieces for the price.
I got the ravioli (lemon ricotta stuffed, lamb sausage, golden beets, brown butter) for $ 20.50. I thought that this dish was slightly expensive. I wouldn’t say this is the best ravioli I’ve ever had. However, it wasn’t bad. My favourite part of the dish had to be the golden beets, it gave a nice crunch to the dish.
My friend got the rigatoni alla bolognese and I had some to try. I thought that it was very flavourful and set at a good price.
Lastly, I ended off my meal with a tiramisu. It came in a small ish bowl which was fine because I found it a bit too sweet. Keep in mind that I have a major sweet tooth and even I found it too sweet!
I think the only part I didn’t enjoy from this meal was the complimentary bread sticks. It’s just odd that it’s in a package and not made in house. The service was decent on a non busy Thursday night. I would definitely come back here after a day of shopping!

Came in for dinner around 6pm on a Saturday. There wasn’t any wait, we were seated right away although the place was almost full.
Ordered the following:
Zuppa di Stagione — soup with mussels (very good and mussel tasted fresh)
Calamari fritti — with garlic crema (kinda too salty for my taste)
Linguini di Mare — with bay scallops, mussels & calamari (hubby ordered this, a little spicy but still tasted good)
Maiale — 10oz bone in pork scaloppine, chickpeas, caper vinaigrette, baby kale and fennel salad (just so-​so for me. Tasted kinda «soury», and there’s a portion near the bone that’s still rare).
The interior décor is trendy and hip. I love the bathrooms with its own white sink, big mirrors & dryer.
For the food, I’d rate this 3 star for the décor, 4 star. I wouldn’t come back here for the food if I’m in the Toronto area.

I’m pleased to say that I am upping my review to five stars. I come in here often for a drink after work and sit at the bar. The bartenders are always friendly and funny. last night I had dinner on the patio with my best friend and her little 3 year old daughter. Not having children myself and working in the service industry, dining with a kid is something new for me. Thankfully, the child is question is super duper cute and well behaved.
We ate on the patio and it was a great atmosphere. Tables aren’t crammed in and the shrubbery and landscaping were lovely.
Our server was great with everything including bringing out a new pasta without cheese for the little lass. We had a bottle of wine and some olives, arancini, fried cauliflower, then a burrata salad and the mushroom truffle pizza. The crust was absolutely perfect– crispy and light and the toppings were delicious.
What a show with the birds in neighbouring trees when the sun went down! They all began calling to one another and chirping wildly until it got dark and they were settled in the branches.
I’m satisfied that this location does a solid job of everything. I usually shy away from chain restaurants– especially ones in the mall, but I’m consistently surprised by the level of service, quality of food and overall positive vibe of this restaurant.
Well done and Thanks!

I have been to Mercatto many times, but this is my first review… the food, atmosphere and drinks are wonderful… highly recommend the antipasti grande which comes with a variety of salumi and cheeses… also the fried cauliflower is a must try… the mains are wonderfully seasoned and so delicious… highly recommended is the Orecchiette Pugliese.
My review specifically is about the management and staff… the management was able to accommodate us for my birthday dinner with 20 people and my mother who is not able to walk up many stairs… the management of Mercatto was very willing to change our seating from upstairs to the main level so that my mother would not walk upstairs… the wait staff, in particular our server, Ryan, were very pleasant and attentive… this customer service made our dinner such a extraordinary night… fun was had by everyone… the Eaton Centre location was great and easy to get to for everyone.

Every time I come here I always get the same thing and they prepare it wonderfully to my adjustments, with a smile and with friendliness. I always have great service here and enjoy my stay with my guest (s).
The food is always great in my opinion as the people I take here normally state their dishes are delicious and are impressed by how underrated this restaurant truly is. I find when people go to Eaton’s they hit up the food court or venture outside of the vicinity to find food (hotdogs, streetfood, etc.) and don’t realize this hidden gem is tucked right behind Zara.
I usually order the «orecchiette pugliese» which is a pasta dish that contains: fennel sausage, rapini, peperoncini for $ 16.95. It comes with jalapenos so I usually ask them to omit that. Anyway, each time I’ve been here I’ve been a fan and enjoyed every minute of it, therefore I will come back =D plus I like their desserts and complimentary bread sticks

Had a slice of the agnello pizza (lamb sausage, calabrese olives, charred onions, fior, oregano, san marzano). My brother did the ordering and the bringing home, so I had no idea what I was eating, other than «pizza». Guessing before looking up what I was eating on their menu was fun. I definitely tasted the lamb sausage, the olives, and the oregano. The oregano, when I bit into it, was quite overwhelming. I would prefer it in slightly smaller pieces. Fresh oregano though. The olives were nothing to write home about (wow. Unilocal has influenced my writing style.) The lamb sausage was pretty fantastic. I thought it was ground beef, upon first glance. Chunky ground beef. Decent amount of it. Then I tasted it and I knew it wasn’t ground beef, but I couldn’t immediately place what it was. Then it hit me that it tasted slightly of lamb, but not strongly of it. I wasn’t sure until I looked at the menu. It’s brilliant though. It’s subtle but distinct. Sounds like an oxymoron, but that’s the definition that fits. The pizza itself is thin crust and all in all quite tasty.
What I’m giving it four stars for though, is the sausage.

After having tried 7 different neapolitan pizza places lately, I was shocked to find that one of my favourite pizzas was from a place in the Eaton Centre that doesn’t even have a wood fired oven. But there’s no getting around the empirical truth. This place has the best pizza crust I’ve found so far. While it’s as thin as you’d expect in a neapolitan pizza, it’s crispier than most. Every bite has a satisfying crunch to it while still having a nice doughy chew.
I have tried the pizza here on a few different occasions — just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Nope, this place consistently delivers and exceptional pizza. Highly recommended (despite the location.)

Okay so, first of all, I got to say that I have no clue how this place is rated the same as «Trattoria Nervosa», Yorkville on Unilocal.My experience at Trattoria Mercatto was close to terrible.
To start with:
The staff was friendly overall but they were VERY slow in taking orders and giving me and my friend a seat. Although there were only a few customers in the restaurant, I can honestly say it took them 10– 15 minutes to take our orders.
Around 5 minutes after our orders were taken, our appetizer arrived quick, too quick, which was great! UNTIL, we tasted it. The appetizer was «Calamari Fritti» meaning fried calamaris, I understand that they were fried but all I could taste was the grease. There was only a little bit of sauce and it didn’t help outweigh the flavor of grease all over the calamari.
Additionally, in an Italian restaurant, you’d expect there to be served olive oil and some fresh bread from the house as an appetizer. There were packaged crunchy bread sticks. I mean, it didn’t look appetizing and it did not taste any better.
Considering the main course: aaahhh… Where should I start… We had Risotto Di Gamberetti and Risotto Al Fungi. The taste of Risotto Al Funghi was OK! Our issue was with the Gamberetti. The Gamberetti was one of the worst risottos I’ve ever eaten. It had no seasoning (Definitely NO SALT), the sauce had no taste (we did not even taste the cheese on the food.) We were not served complimentary parmesan with our risotto which is another thing you’d also expect from an Italian restaurant that serves overpriced food.
Conclusion: The décor and overall ambiance raises expectations but, the standards will definitely go down once you taste their food. Here’s the worst part: We had 1 appetizer, 2 risottos, and 2 glasses of wine = $ 99.5 before tip. How terrible?!
Will not come back again.

I like the food here, but a dinner here does not come cheap. We easily spent $ 60 for 2 people, with appetizer, 2 mains and dessert and one drink. It’s great that there are some more decent options around the Eaton Centre area, and this is one of my first choices.
Good italian food, simple. Has the similar menu items to it’s original locations, however what’s the website doesn’t seem to reflected in reality.
I like the décor here, trendy but not pretentious. During the summer seems like they would have a nice patio on the courtyard. There are big tables so it’s nice for groups.
I would recommend it for groups, grabbing a casual meal or drink or dessert when in the area.

I just had lunch for the first time at this restaurant. I had the braised lamb shank and paired with a glass of red wine. The dish was good and I ate it all. I have no complaints about the food. Perhaps bread instead of breadsticks would be nice.
The problem was the service. It took them 10 minutes to get me water. Then it took another 5 minutes to get me my wine. Then it took 30 minutes for my dish. Not impressed. I came at 1pm past the lunch crowd. Service didn’t feel welcoming or pleasant. As a business professional, I need good service so I can get back to work as soon as possible. For that reason I will not be coming back.

I had the margherita and the pachetta pizze. Both had a good flavour. Pretty decent restaurant. Doubt I would come back though. Service was good, food was average. Maybe should have ordered something else.

Came here for a lunch meeting my first day of a new job with my new boss.
She had made a reservation prior however we inexplicably had to wait 10 minutes for a table which was a bit disappointing.
While waiting for our food, we were given little packs of italian breadsticks which were tasty and appreciated (I was STARVING).
We shared the fried cauliflower appetizer which was very tasty, complete with cheese on top and some type of aoili.
As for my main I selected the arctic char and my boss got the tuna. I enjoyed my dish however the chickory (?) purée on the bottom of the plate was actually cold, which was a bummer.
Overall the space is gorgeous and the food has potential to be great but I just wasn’t wowed by my experience here.

I had a late lunch today at Trattoria Mercatto.
I ordered a Diavola pizza (spicy sopressata, fior, basil, san marzano). It was a thin crust pizza and tasty. The sopressata had a bit of a bite but wasn’t too spicy. The tomatoes in the sauce had a lot of flavour.
Steven was my server. He was friendly and took good care of me.

Came here while away on business with some coworkers after work. Place looks great and I love the bathroom set up they have on the second floor its pretty unique. They have an amazing wine selection and also a few drinks. Had a Cesar and even if I ask for an extra spicy one I think they forgot because it was not at all spicy but still tasted good.
They served us a very good entrée of a few cheese, cold meat and crackers and everything on the plate was so good wish we had more.
I had the steak 12 oz and my coworkers all took the spicy chicken.
The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted pretty good. The rest of the plate not so great though, the mash potatoes had a lot of hard chunks but it still was tasty. It also cane with rapini and those were awful they were not seasoned and they were also very bitter.
I tried the chicken and even it looked dry it was actually very moist and well seasoned they also had some weird looking pasta as a side and that was not so great and also kale with bacon and that was amazing.
We had dessert and all 3 of then that we tried was amazing.
Service was good and very friendly.
Very happy with the whole meal and experience

Service, ambience, décor, and food here are all A-​OK, but nothing seems to surpass expectations. I came here on a Friday night and it was not very busy but it seems very loud inside. It’s not the best spot to relax and unwind in peace and quiet, but should we really expect that in The Eaton Centre? Perhaps I’m asking for too much?
I ordered the tuna and potato entrée and it was pretty tiny — they don’t serve breadsticks unless you order them from what I can tell, but I didn’t realize this until I was nearly done my meal. The fish was tasty but the serving of potatoes and greens was rather stingy — it wouldn’t hurt to fill out the plate!
The individual bathrooms are private, clean, and designed with a rustic nod to glory days of yore. Cute.