rev:text
| - Mercatto has been on my bookmark list for quite some time and, since I don't know how much longer I'll be in Toronto, I'm starting to cross off the places I have on my "must eat" list. Needless to say, I was psyched to try it. Sadly, it didn't live up to the hype.
First, let me say that the staff was excellent, providing the perfect level of attention and very accommodating overall. The décor is contemporary without making you feel like you'll cut yourself if you run into a table corner.
I started with the zuppa of the day which was a very delicious White Bean and Kale. It was fantastic and chock full o'beans (not unlike some people I know. Anyway). I ordered the short ribs for dinner and had very high hopes after the delishness that was the soup. Sadly, it was a giant heap of fatty beef; pretty much two bars of soap-sized pieces of gristly meat. The potatoes (I think that's what they were), were lumpy and without flavour. At $19 for the plate, I should have had some higher grade meat and better sides, that's for sure.
My last issue was with the quantity of the beverages. I don't know what it is with Toronto restaurants, but I just don't get why they insist on serving Dixie cup-sized drinks, without free refills, and then charging $5 for them. I had a Diet Coke (natch) and it might have been half a can with no refills. It just infuriates me. I know I'm from the land of the Extra Large Big Gulp, but come on, people -- stop making me leave your restaurant with a $35 tab and a parched mouth.
Bottom line: I might try Mercatto again if someone else was paying. Any takers?! ;-)
|