Via Mercanti! We trudged along the early blistering sunshine of the day (yes what a struggle...) And came into a restaurant roaring with all sorts of celebratory cheers because Roberta Vinci (she and another Italian, Flavia Pennetta, went into the first-ever, all Italian finals) had beaten Serena Williams in the U.S Open Semis. What a time to enter a proud Italian Pizzeria especially when the owner's around eh?
No discount for this momentous occasion though, I asked but failed (+10 points for attempted bravery)
Anyways, we came into Via Mercanti with big hopes because we've been hearing from fellow co-workers who said, "it's THE best Margherita pizza around" and that got us very interested to try this place out.
Vika and I shared a weekday lunch special ($10) a 4 sliced, thin crusted Margherita with perhaps the most appetite-inducing vinaigrette and olive oil salad (tasty) and were treated with the friendliest of service -- these Italians I must say -- treated us so nicely, it almost feels like we're at home and the weekday atmosphere with sunlight pouring in made it feel even more badass.
As for why it's only 4 stars, we felt that something's lacking in the dish and would've loved to have more basil in there to pump up that dish. Maybe not the best Margherita pizza around but it was a positive experience (next time round, we'll take up our server's recommendation for the Romolo's pizza -- his personal fave and maybe that'll take it up to 5 stars)