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My husband and I have been many times and the menu changes seasonally. Tomato soup in the winter is my favorite. Every time we go one of us gets the special and it never disappoints. Staff is nice and accomodating. We have eaten there with ten people and everyones meals was great. This restaurant is so good it gets really busy so you should plan to wait on a saturday night. But it's well worth it!

mercato is one of my favorite byob's in town. always great food. the short rib ragu with gnocci is out of this world!! only downside is they do not accept reservations after 6:30 which is pretty early to me. if you go on a fri or sat night after 6:30, expect to wait 2 hours. i think it's totally worth it though!

After hearing lots of positive remarks about the restaurant I was excited to take my daughter and her boyfriend to Mercato. Upon arriving our waiter told us about the daily specials and we decided to order the delicious sounding heirloom tomato salad with fresh mozzarella, corn and avocado. We also ordered the diver scallops and veal cutlet. The tomato salad was a great dissapointment, the salad was tasty with the glaring exeption of the "fresh mozzarella" which was actually rock hard cubes of something closely resembling polly-o cheese. The entrees were another dissapointment. The veal cutlet was ok but nothing special but the scallops were not good. We had specifically asked the waiter if the scallops were wet or dry, and were told they were dry. The scallops were wet and we got into an argument with the waiter about them and sent them back. The scallops were replaced by a homemade fettucine with shrimp in cream sauce which was mediocre at best. This meal cost $120 for three people and was absolutely overpriced for food that was mediocre at best.

Cute atmosphere and dinner was tasty. Quality was high, though value was low. Still hungry after dinner. The wait staff was very interactive and helpful when available, though we found it difficult to get their attention. I had expected a little substance for this BYOB's price points. Would recommend to a friend if you have money to burn!

Mercato's interior is pleasant enough. But that's the best thing about it. The food is just about average for an Italian-ish restaurant in Philadelphia. For example, in our party of four, one person got a well-prepared steak. But another got a sour, truly lousy "pyramid" ravioli stuffed with seafood. I had the short-rib pasta, which was nicely cooked and tasty, but also basically just barbecue ribs dumped on top of some macaroni. Uninspiring, in a word. Another diner was pretty pleased with her cheese platter and puff pastry. But averaging everyone's experience out, you get, well, an average experience. The prices were none too kind, but about what you'd expect from a middlebrow joint like Mercato. (Incidentally, the service was just a little less attentive than I would've liked--and the bread took a long time to come out in the beginning.)

the food was incredible. i absolutly loved the scallops and my boyfriend loved the short ribs. it was definatly the best restaurant we have been to in a long time, maybe ever, it's a fairly small place, but it had a nice atmosphere. the servers were very attentive everyone wanted to help you. I'm not even sure if really just had one. It is definitly a place to bring a nice bottle of wine to. And don't skip dessert. The marscapone cheesecake was incredible. Next, we are going to try their sister restaurant Vallani.

I've attempted to eat here 5 times and was respectfully seated twice. The food is never a problem and the experience is great...once you're seated. My gripes come with the host/hostess attempting to seat the crowd of folks waiting at the door. On several occassions I've waited patiently, only to be looked right over while the party standing behind me is addressed and seated. I guess you have to wear a blazer and slacks. On another occassion my phone number was taken in order to let me know when seating was available...no call, of course.