Review Trattoria Mercatto - Toronto

Very nice and comfy place with very friendly staff. Loved the place and the food. Their lasagna is the best I've had. The pasta is so fresh and the lasagna is so natural tasteful. The other options are great too, even the salad! And they have an interesting variety of beers.

This place is amazing with great staff and service and the food is utterly mouth watering. They have two floors of beautiful interior and a patio. This is a great place to eat and even more so it’s romantic. A perfect place to celebrate a loved one

A fabulous second experience at this restaurant post lockdown! We ordered Arancini and Pizza al Prosciutto. I can't remember the last time I had such an authentic pizza! If you're visiting for the first time - I definitely recommend a glass of Nero D'Avola (sicilian red). Definitely going back soon! My only rue is it is a bit expensive for the regular night out - but definitely worth every once in a while! Cin Cin!

Food was a 2/5. Flavours weren’t that great; the calamari wasn’t crispy and it tasted like a fish cake instead of actual squid. I’m giving an extra star because our server was great. My friend and I had somewhere to be after and he took our order fast and was super attentive.

Quick stop at the mall, ordered a locally brewed beer. The server is awesome, offered water at seating. Cozy and comfy atmosphere. The Italian food menu looks good. Pizza smells even better. Still gotta try the Food here.

Pretty good experience overall! I came here with my mom after doing some shopping at Eaton. We both can't eat much, so we ordered a pesto bread appetizer and wanted to share a carbonara. Our waiter asked if we wanted to get 2 bowls of the carbonara so since we were sharing. Such a nice thing to ask! We ended up getting the 1 carbonara but in 2 bowls, which made it easy to share. Yummy and a great experience overall!

Fine Italian Dining, must try their pizzas and pasta. Also try their trimasu cake which is Damm good. The location is at the heart of downtown Toronto inside Eaton Centre.

Great atmosphere, fast & friendly service with a humongous patio. Calamari was amazing! Cooked to perfection and seasoned nicely. Steak Frites unfortunately the star of the dish was the fries. Steak was cooked properly but lacking in taste.

I wanted to eat something light, so I had hoped to have a salad. The menu had only three varieties, and those were not even the conventional kinds. Apart from this, the atmosphere was excellent, and I enjoyed my meal.

All the finger food are deliciously prepared, meals are on time and drinks are reasonable prices. Location is central to lots of major attractions in downtown Toronto

Very modern and clean restaurant. Plenty of seating and friendly staff. Ordered the margherita pizza, gnocchi and linguine. The pizza crust was light and fluffy and wasn’t soggy. The seafood linguine was great, plenty of seafood and a light sauce that did not overpower of the dish. The only thing missing from that dish was a sprinkle of grated cheese on top. The gnocchi was by far the best, and I would definitely order it again. Soft pillowy pieces of gnocchi and mushrooms and a wonderful sauce. It got really busy in there so service didn’t come by often unfortunately, but still had a wonderful meal.

If I could give more stars I would. Love the people, love the food, love the ambiance. It's a must go. Took my mother that was visiting from Saskatchewan and she was in love from the first moment the server said hello.

Awesome Italian cuisine . Must visit place if u are in Toronto. Courteous staff and healthy food . Way too tasty . Will visit once again . Great pastas and spaghetti and meatballs .

One of the best Italian restaurants. Great location. Fast service. Very attentive staff. Summer patio is beautiful. I always have the best experience here. My favs are the seafood pasta and margarita pizza cooked in the most authentic way. Highly recommended.

My husband, daughter and l went for dinner last night. I really enjoyed the Pappardelle, red wine braised duck ragu with grana padano. Super yummy. The thin crust pizze that they both had was good , minus the fact that the inner part was a tad bit soggy. Lovely place with great staff with a joyful spirit. I enjoy going there when ever l can.

Came here for dessert and coffee. The place is really to take some cool IG pics. Their chocolate banana bread pudding tasted like regular chocolate pudding.<br/><br/>The latte was a little too milky for me But my cousin enjoyed their tiramisu.<br/><br/>Prices we're ok but I have to try the regular food the next time I visit.

Not good ....as many have said the food is bland and the portion of toppings on the pizza are a joke ( 1 slice of prosciutto ripped up ) for a 20 dollars . However the charuitre boards are good . Sorry to say my wife's pasta was as bad as the pizza . Great free bread sticks (feel the sarcasm ? )

We were looking for a nice Italian restaurant for lunch as we were visiting Toronto, while shopping in the Eaton's center we came across Trattoria Mercatto, which looked like a wonderful place. Well being a retired chef  looks can be a killer. My wife ordered the I will call it seafood and noodle what the hell is that. Looked like the cook through everything including the un-cooked noodles in to the pan cooked it all together threw some red sauce in garnished it with something green? My wife asked me to taste it "absolutely over seasoned"  is the chef tasting the product on the way out the door? I had the rigatoni a simple dish to make with meat sauce well we went to the other side of the scale to absolute BLAND no flavour tasted like canned sauce heated up mixed with some cooked meat NO SEASONING a nice piece of Basil for garnishing. Never again if their chef was on site on duty why was she/he not tasting finished product before leaving the kitchen?  We had a late dinner at Yorkdale mall so we used the food court and who could refuse Jimmy the Greeks. We both had different meals my wife had the grilled lamb chops and I had the  souvlaki great flavour lots of food. Jimmy the Greek 5 stars.

Very nice service, food is just perfectly good for after a long day shopping, and very cozy and elegant ambiance with the decorations of bottles of wine around you.

I was looking forward to visit here for a while. Ordered the sticky beef short rib and the risotto al fungi. The short rib was not flavourful enough. I even wonder if the chef forgot to put enough seasoning and salt in it. But the risotto was a great deal! For a fungi lover, it's a very nice choice.

Terrible and slow service. Under seasoned food. Had the tomato tagliatelle. My glass of rose was warm. Looks inviting. Skip it. Better places around.

Service poor, food great,.....................................................................................................................

The service was horrible, our waiter didn't acknowledge us for almost 20 minutes after we sat down. When I finally got my food, the mushroom risotto, it was bland and the rice was still hard. Would not return or recommend.

My review is purely based on late evening drinks and cheese. So the first time I came here I had an extremely great time. Wine and cheese was awesome. The second time I came here the cheese was all super hard that I couldn't even cut through it. Service is definitely neither here nor there. I will not be returning here. There are so many other places in the heart of down town I would much rather spend my money.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for so long but never got a chance until recently.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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!

Really enjoy dining here and the staff is attentive and professional. Very nice patio in the summer to enjoy some wine. The food here is great.

Waiter very rude to me today. I asked to use their washroom and they made a huge deal out of it. I am a regular at this restaurant and will never go again.

all'interno del centro commerciale Eaton center ottima alternativa ai fast food cibo "quasi" italiano, pizza deisamente buona per gli standard nordamericani. Molto buon il "grande antipasto" da dividere (noi eravamo 4 e ne abbiamo preso uno). Locale davvero bello e personale molto gentile e cortese,servizio attento e veloce. Sicuramente da provare!

Its an Italian restaurant with a nice decoration. The food is Ok. Tried the pasta with pork and beef. Lovely patio and nice to have a drink in the summer.

Lovely seating area outside. Complimentary bread was very tasty. Service was attentive but the hostess could be friendlier. We all enjoyed our meals and I will definitely return!

Save your money for a better restaurant.. I visited Trattoria Mercatto in October 7th, 2014. We were a group of 5. We are tourists visiting Toronto. The only good dish we ordered was tuna dish. Spicy chicken was very dry. Pizza was not like you would expect in an Italian restaurant, more like fast food, like baked from frozen. The salad!!!! greens were dirty enough that I could not eat my salad. When I mentioned this to the waitress, he did nothing just took my plate, no apology, not bringing a new one, nor saying anything like he would take it off from the bill. The bill paid by my friend, with credit card. He paid cash for the service. He receives SMS for every transaction he makes instantly. In the SMS it said he was charged 43 dollar more than the bill. He asked the reason of overcharge, the answer was quite shocking. Overcharge was for in case of we did not pay anything for the service! They said they would refund it. They do similar insalts to tourists in New York, too. I cannot believe what type of robber they are! Good luck to everyone who wants to eat at Trattoria Mercatto.

Well that was weird. We discovered this place last month and had a good meal. It is near work and the eye candy waitress was rocking it so we thought we have discovered a new place for lunch different from the usual. Based on last experience we returned yesterday. No waitress, some man not even in a uniform and friendly but certainly not eye candy just friendly and kinda unkempt. Strange. Should have gone to Duke or Joey again

Came here for my birthday with a few friends. Our appetizer (calamari fritti) was over salted, and our 3 pizzas (Margherita, Salsiccia, and Bresaola e Funghi) arrived with soggy bottoms. On a positive note, the calamari was still pleasant IF dipped in the accompanying sauce, the pizzas are tolerable, and the wine list is delightful. Overall, I definitely will not be back and I am sticking to my usual Italian restaurant Terroni.

We came here tonight at mercatto we where shopping and were hungry so we thought we give it a try since the menu looked good the portion are small but it was good and for dessert we had coppa was yummy.we will be back

I had dined in here today and i was very disappointing. EVERYTHING was overly salty. The waitress didnt notify of any extra charges for substitutions. As a first timer, i wouldnt go back

Eaton Center. Came here for Valentine's Day so it was packed but thank god I made reservations. It was a little tight but it didn't bother me. The waiter was really nice and explained some of the things on the menu. I had the diavola pizza which was really good. Also tried the pappardelle pasta which was good. But the best part was the Coppetta (dessert) it was to die for. Also tried the cioccolate (dessert) I didn't really like the cake part but the gelato was good. I would defiantly come back.

Lovely Surprise. Stopped by for a quick bite with my family and it tuned into a wonderful culinary explosion of delisioso and amazing wine!!!! Loved the pork belly starter, should have had 4 of those. Ending in a mind blowing salted caramel ice-cream concoction in a jar. We all loved it. Would come again and again and again. PS the bathrooms are awesome.

Crammed in like a can of sardines.. Trattoria Mercatto is a tourist trap in the Eaton Centre. Exorbitant prices. Food is okay but small portions. Noisy. Crowded. The tables are positioned too closely together giving it a cafeteria, food court feel. Concrete floors. Rustic wooden tables. No linen. Loft style decor. Servers are immature, poorly dressed, slightly attitudinal, but friendly enough. Initially, the hostess seated me at the bar because I was dining solo. This is typical discrimination against people who dine alone. I don't eat at the bar, I drink at the bar. To the hostess' credit though, I was seated at a table upon my request, just like normal people. The wine selection list by the glass was obscure. It cost $10 for a 5 oz glass of Chianti, it didn't look like 5 ounces to me. I don't even think there was enough wine to drown a fruit fly. The bottom line is, I will not be returning to Trattoria Mercatto at The Eaton Centre.

I went mercatto at toronto and bay street several times. last friday i went to mercatto at eaton. hostess was very unfriendly. she was very rude. food was good. even the waiter was very helpful. overall it was a mixed experience.

Gets very busy at lunch but the food is great. Staff is usually good loooking and fast. Good price point as well.

The food is fantastic I prefer the bar experience as the staff is incredibly friendly. The open kitchen demonstrates amount of passion going into every plate. To the person complaining about an 18 percent auto gratuity for a table of eleven people: this ensures that the server will make any money considering all attention will likely need to be focused on that table. Try the fried cauliflower it is highly addictive!

Good stuff. $20 bottle of Italian wine? You will find it here. It's great with pizZa. Try the deep fried and spiced cauliflower. It's awesome. Great place after shopping at the E Centre.

Charge 18% tip for a group of 11 people! Who does that? Last time I checked tip was given for good service and wasn't mandatory. And 18% is way to high.

Went for Saturday dinner with my wife. Pasta portion was way too small for the price. Sauce was watery and lacked flavor. Calamari was tender and starter salad was passable. The service was friendly but otherwise forgettable. Staff (both in house and kitchen) seemed more focused on cleaning up and going home than serving people. I ended up leaving feeling cheated and hungry. As I left, all I kept thinking was "I wonder if there's a nearby hotdog stand that is still open."

Really noisy with mediocre food. Second visit. First time, sat upstairs in the mezzanine which is a little quieter. Had the pasta fazzoletti, which tasted good, but was very greasy. About 20 minutes after eating I felt sick.<br/>On this most recent visit, went for a work lunch with head office people, didn't really have a choice. Sat downstairs, it was so loud, we practically had to shout at each other to be heard. Started with calamari, which was well cooked and tender but lacked flavour. Needs a lot more seasoning. The mayonnaise dip also was bland. Followed with the margherita pizza, which was good. The plates are so big, and the tables are too small, you don't even have space to put your cutlery down.<br/>The food is average, the place is loud and very tight. Service was fast. Not a relaxing environment to dine in.

Perfect after shopping dining!. Too lazy/tired to go far for a restaurant after some shopping? Go to Mercatto! I was pleasantly surprised with the decor, how huge the place is and how nice the staff were. Great patio and second floor seating. The washroom are pretty cool too. The food was really good as well. Loved this place. Will definitely eat here after every time I shop :)

I was pleasantly surprised while approaching the Mercatto, as I remembered I had been here once before. Previously, I had tried their simple, yet classic ‘Margherita Pizze,’ however this time around we opted for an array of antipasti dishes to try a series of Italian favourites. Here’s a just a hint of a few of the dishes we tried!

Trattoria Mercatto is even worth a trip in itself for some wholesome Italian eats: we got to sample some of the current Antipasti menu on a lazy Sunday afternoon in August, sipping on some delicious cocktails and tasting brilliantly crafted starters like Frutti Di Mare and Beef Carpaccio. We met up with some of our fellow food blogger friends like  Fat Girl Food Squad ,  Abbey’s Kitchen ,  Fashion Food Flair ,  Foodaholic ,  The Roaming Life ,  Mary’s Happy Belly ,  and more for an exciting foodie experience in an amazing atmosphere. Photo by Mauricio Jose Calero , Photography courtesy of

Trattoria Mercatto had recently taken centre stage for the owners and brothers Jack and Domenic Scarangella with the restaurant located inside the Toronto Eaton Centre (@toeatoncentre), the shopping hub of Toronto. Given the high traffic of the prime location, the restaurant’s menu was designed to satisfy the mass market. The menu at Trattoria Mercatto differs from the other Mercatto locations, with both focusing on seasonal ingredients and delicious Italian cuisine. The owners’ rise to their restaurant success relates to their delectable food, outstanding wine program and prime locations.<br/><br/>The restaurant is right by the long running Mr. Greenjeans with a gorgeous Mercatto’s sign out front which makes the restaurant hard to miss. When I stepped into the restaurant, I was impressed with the high ceilings, spacious seating and huge bar. The restaurant had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while showcasing casual elegance.

Trattoria Mercatto is an Italian restaurant located within the Toronto Eaton Centre. Walking into this restaurant is an escape from the hecticness of the mall. And I quite like its patio in the summer time, as it faces Trinity Square and Church of the Holy Trinity. You forget that you are right outside the largest shopping mall in downtown Toronto. Trattoria Mercatto patio Although I have been here countless times over the past couple of years, I have sampled a surprisingly small portion of their menu. I h

While “Trattoria” in Italian means a restaurant serving simple food, Mercatto serves so much more than just basic Italian fare. Each dish is made with the top farm fresh seasonal ingredients and more love as your Nonna could muster, resulting in the ultimate comfort food experience. Executive Chef Istvan was a fantastic host for the day, making sure that the plates kept coming, and that he had a colourful narrative to accompany each one. - See more at: http://www.abbeyskitchen.com/blog/experience-mercatto-trattoria-toronto-eatons-centre-invites/#sthash.jFfiRAT7.dpuf

Trattoria Mercatto is a casual-fare Italian restaurant located inside of the Eaton's Centre. The restaurant's contemporary decor with its high ceiling, large bar, and spacious seating provided a very welcoming atmosphere.

I have tried this restaurant at the financial district before and the pasta was really yummy. The executive chef there was the runner up on Top Chef Canada (yeah, I've been addicted in watching these food reality shows). Once I set down, they provided some bread sticks (not bread) for starters. I was debating between getting the pasta or pizza as they both sound good. I ended up getting the "tagliatelle - almond pesto, dried tomatoes and arugula". They made it pretty fast. You can tell they are made up of fresh ingredients. The pasta was made fresh as well. The pesto sauce was not too heavy and was just enough to get the pasta with the flavours without making it too soggy. The dried tomatoes gives to pasta a little more salty taste. And the arugula was fresh and was a good combination. Overall, satisfied with the pasta and I finished it all. They also have a nice patio outside to enjoy in the summer time. Trattoria Mercatto

The Ciambella were warm and prepared with fresh ingredients in-house, and cream-filled with a hint of lemon. Wow… A seriously fabulous way to finalize a flavorful evening!

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.

As soon as I enter, I fell in love with the decor with all the rustic wooden table, metal chairs and bar

Trattoria Mercatto aims to bring to the Toronto Eaton Centre – the heart of Toronto’s shopping – the same experience as one will have when wining and dining in la bella Italia...

Great lunch spot for big and small groups. The service was polite and efficient. The food is decent, although not unique. They have an extensive selection of primarily Italian apps and entrees + daily specials. I much prefer dining here than in the food court as it feels much more civilized.<br/><br/><br/>

Trattoria Mercatto is a casual-fare Italian restaurant located inside of the Eaton's Centre. I was invited to attend the "Antipasti With Us" event in late August along with several local food bloggers. This was a collaborated event between Trattoria Mercatto and Toronto Eaton Centre. We enjoyed an afternoon of delicious antipasti and cocktails at Trattoria Mercatto.<br/><br/>Trattoria Mercatto's contemporary decor with its high ceiling, large bar, and spacious seating provided a very welcoming atmosphere. The space was bright with the natural lighting shining brightly into the restaurant which was a nice change from the trend of dimly lit establishments even during lunch time hours. <br/><br/>We started the afternoon with a refreshing glass of Nonna's Little Secret - vodka, hibiscus, rosehip, house-made peace tea, lime. The sweet tasting cocktail was good to start the meal off with, and compliment both the Barbabietole Arrosto and Carpaccio Di Manzo dishes. <br/><br/>Next up was the Barbabietole Arrosto ($11.95) - beets, burrata, arugula, almonds, aged balsamic. The roasted beets were topped off with fresh burrata cheese to create a surprisingly good contrast of sweet and zesty.  <br/><br/>The Carpaccio Di Manzo ($13.50) - beef tenderloin crudo, brandy crema, pickled onions, grana padano, arugula, was a well presented dish and the thinly sliced crudo went well together with the tanginess of the pickled onions, and arugula <br/><br/>My personal favorite dish from Trattoria Mercatto was the Calamari Fritti ($12.95) - fried calamari, fennel and garlic crema. The calamari were perfectly deep fried without being overly oily, and the portion was rather large for an appetizer dish. Additionally, the garlic crema was creamy in texture and delicious with the calamari. I could actually eat the entire plate by myself; it was that good. I thought that this particular dish complimented well with the chilled Prosecco Serenissima - Italian bubbles. <br/><br/>The Frutti Di Mare ($11.50) - marinated shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, red onion, crostini, was the second seafood antipasti dish that was served. The overall presentation of the seafood in the jar served on a wooden board was seemingly creative.  <br/><br/>The dish was also served alongside with a large cup of Estrella Damm - Spanish lager. It definitely complemented the two seafood dishes that were served especially the Frutti Di Mare as the light and smoothness of the lager balanced out the dish. Trattoria Mercatto offers various kinds of alcoholic (and non-alcoholic) beverages to go with your meal, so there's something for everyone. <br/><br/>The Short Rib Crostini ($12.50) - sticky beef short ribs, fior di latte, grilled sourdough, basil, was a flavorful dish. The beef short ribs was slowed cook which made the meat very tender, and the accompanied sourdough dough was tasty. <br/><br/>The Polpette - veal and pork meatballs, roasted eggplant and tomato caponata, grana padano, was served in a small pan, and contained three large meatballs.  <br/><br/>The last dish of the day was the Diver Scallops ($13.50) - fennel, orange, pine nuts, chili, agrodolce, which was wonderfully seared and seasoned. It's always nice when the dish is also aesthetically pleasing in addition to it being tasty. <br/><br/>Overall, I had an enjoyable afternoon at Trattoria Mercatto with my fellow bloggers. This is a great place to eat when you're in the mood for some tasty Italian comfort food made with fresh ingredients. The staff and owners were all friendly, and attentive. They also have a few communal styled tables so it's very accommodating for larger parties or you could pop in after a long day of shopping. A big thanks to everyone who made the wonderful afternoon of antipasti possible.

I was surprised by the nice interior of the restaurant with a nostalgic view of the pathway behind Eaton centre. The food was pretty good and I had the Pappardelle with duck ragu. I wish they have pasta with white sauce though.

We recently had the chance to swing by Trattoria Mercatto inside the Toronto Eaton Centre, and don’t let the fact that it’s inside a mall fool you: it was some of the best Italian food we’ve ever had in the city!<br/><br/>The restaurant itself is filled with light and perfect for a satisfying lunch after some afternoon shopping. Trattoria Mercatto is even worth a trip in itself for some wholesome Italian eats: we got to sample some of the current Antipasti menu on a lazy Sunday afternoon in August, sipping on some delicious cocktails and tasting brilliantly crafted starters like Frutti Di Mare and Beef Carpaccio.<br/><br/>We met up with some of our fellow food blogger friends like Fat Girl Food Squad, Abbey’s Kitchen, Fashion Food Flair, Foodaholic, The Roaming Life, Mary’s Happy Belly, and more for an exciting foodie experience in an amazing atmosphere.<br/><br/>We started off with a sweet, fruity cocktail: Nonna’s Little Secret ($10, 2oz) was a beautiful blend of vodka, hibiscus, rose hip, house-made peach tea and lime.<br/><br/>From there, we were treated to a Barbabietole Arrosto beet salad with burrata cheese, arugla, shaved almonds and aged balsamic ($11.95), which perfectly complemented the luxurious Carpaccio Di Manzo ($13.50), a beef tenderloin crudo that came served with brandy creme, pickled onions & arugula.<br/><br/>Trattoria Mercatto is that perfect weekend place away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Brothers Jack and Domenic Sacarangella have two other Mercatto locations in the city (on Bay and Toronto Streets) and saw an opportunity in one of Toronto’s busiest spots: the Toronto Eaton Centre!<br/><br/>Serving simple and vibrant seasonal cuisine remains a specialty for the brothers, where a gorgeous indoor concept with huge windows, giant rustic tables, a glamorous marble bar and spacious outdoor patio more than satisfy the masses.<br/><br/>After the delectable carpaccio and beet salad, we had the opportunity to try a couple classic seafood dishes. Frutti Di Mare, made a blend of marinated shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, and red onion served was served alongside a delicate house made crostini ($11.50), and a Calamari Fritti plate served with a fennel & garlic crema ($12.95) was amazingly crisp and fresh. Estrella lager was served alongside these dishes and proved to be the perfect complement to these tasty, fresh seafood dishes.<br/><br/>Next up, we tried a melt-in-your-mouth Short Rib Crostini with fior di latte cheese served atop a grilled sourdough bread with fresh basil sprinkled on top ($12.50), which we considered to be the best value for your money considering the quality of the dish. It’s clear that Trattoria Mercatto prides itself on the quality and freshness of ingredients, and this was something that definitely stood out to us throughout our tasting. Everything was brilliantly seasoned, and nothing less than perfection managed to come out of the kitchen.<br/><br/>Finally, we tried the Diver Scallops ($13.95) served with fennel, orange, pine nuts, chili & agrodolce along with the Polpette Meatballs ($11.50), a blend of veal and pork paired with roasted eggplant and tomato coponata. Again, nothing short of perfection with these dishes. Don’t those scallops look gorgeous?<br/><br/>Though Trattoria Mercatto is located inside the Toronto Eaton Centre, we had such a great time enjoying some drinks and tasty food. We were treated like royal guests and experienced some of the best Italian cuisine that the city has to offer, which may not be expected considering that it’s in a shopping centre (albeit a luxe one at that!).<br/><br/>We promise that as soon as you enter the restaurant you will experience a remarkably light-filled and airy space, where the smell of fresh seafood, Italian comfort food, and pizza will welcome you with open arms.<br/><br/>What do you think of Trattoria Mercatto? Have you been? Let us know in the comments!<br/><br/>This meal was complimentary, but as always, our views reflect our true opinions.

I have been to the Toronto Eaton Centre’s Trattoria Mercatto several times during holiday shopping season so I knew I was in for a treat. Owned by Jack and Domenic Scaragella, the Toronto Eaton Centre’s Trattoria Mercatto is the latest of their three locations and offers so much more than just a break from a weekend shopping spree. <br/>With a sprawling space, grandiose high ceilings, windows beaming with natural light, and large communal tables, Trattoria Mercatto its own kind of delicious experience. Arriving in the early afternoon on a gorgeous Sunday, the food bloggers communed around a large table like a big Italian family. Within mere seconds we were thrown into an almost celebrity-like scenario, with cocktails coming our way, and a photographer snapping pictures of every little sip and nibble we took. It’s not every day that a little antipasti luncheon turns into a full on paparazzi sesh, but I’m down for that treatment more often.<br/><br/>While “Trattoria” in Italian means a restaurant serving simple food, Mercatto serves so much more than just basic Italian fare. Each dish is made with the top farm fresh seasonal ingredients and more love as your Nonna could muster, resulting in the ultimate comfort food experience. Executive Chef Istvan was a fantastic host for the day, making sure that the plates kept coming, and that he had a colourful narrative to accompany each one. Here is a peek at some of the drinks and antipasti we got to nibble on throughout the afternoon:<br/><br/>-Nonna’s Little Secret-Vodka, Hibiscus, Rosehip, House-made Peach Tea, Lime, Trattoria <br/>-Mercatto hosted their “Antipasti<br/>-A light and refreshing summer beverage that was not overly fruity or sweet with underlying floral notes to compliment the Barbabietole and Carpaccio.<br/>-Barbabietole Arrosto-Roasted Beets, Burrata, Arugula, Almonds, Aged Balsamic : With the sweet beets, creamy burrata, and mildly spicy arugula to compliment the floral flavour of the cocktail, I totally fell in love with combo.<br/>-Carpaccio di Manzo-Beef Tenderloin Crudo, Brandy Crema, Pickled Onions, Grana Padano and Arugula : Rich meat cut perfectly by the acidity of the pickled onions, the tangy crema and the aromatic refreshing cocktail. Yum.<br/>-Prosecco Serenissima : The fine sparkle of the prosecco created an almost creamy buttery texture on the palate to compliment the refreshingly bright seafood fare.<br/>- Frutti di Mari-Marinated Scallops, Shrimp and Calamari with Red Onion and Crostini : This subtle citrus undertones of the frutti di mari marinade was complimented beautifully by the sweet lemon notes of the Prosecco.<br/>- Fried Calamari-With a Fennel & Garlic CremaIf you put fried calamari in front of me, I will finish the plate. Luckily this plate did not disappoint, as the calamari proved to be light and crispy to contrast the sweet fennel and garlic crema. I also appreciated that the bubbles in the prosecco really helped cut the fat from the deep-fried batter.<br/>-Estrella Damm Pale LagerCrisp & refreshing! Nothing like a good beer with casual Italian fare, especially with these heartier meat dishes.<br/>-Short Rib Crostini-Beef Short Ribs, Fior di Latte, Grilled Sourdough Bread & Basil : Tender beef soaked with rich jus with plenty of toasty bread to sop up all the goodness – wow, what a treat! I also loved the way the dark roasted notes of the Estrella complimented the hearty short ribs. <br/>-Polpette Veal & Pork Meatballs-With Roasted Eggplant, Tomato, Caponata and Grana Padano : After I devoured the delicate pillowy meatballs, I couldn’t let the decadent sauce go to waste- obviously, I scraped the plate clean. Again, the clean, bright and refreshing texture of the beer provided the absolute perfect foil for tempering the heartier flavour and weight of this dish.<br/>-Extra Taster: Seared Scallops-With Roasted Pistachios, Bacon, Brussels Sprouts and an Orange Citrus Sauce<br/>These were some of the best scallops I’ve ever tasted. Perfectly seared, with bursts of salt from the bacon and a refreshing crunch from the Brussels sprouts, evened out perfectly by a delicate citrus sauce.<br/><br/>Disclaimer: The preceding meal was complimentary, however, as always, all opinions are genuine.

Given the high traffic of the prime location, the restaurant’s menu was designed to satisfy the mass market. The menu at Trattoria Mercatto differs from the other Mercatto locations, with both focusing on seasonal ingredients and delicious Italian cuisine. The owners’ rise to their restaurant success relates to their delectable food, outstanding wine program and prime locations.<br/><br/>The restaurant is right by the long running Mr. Greenjeans with a gorgeous Mercatto’s sign out front which makes the restaurant hard to miss. When I stepped into the restaurant, I was impressed with the high ceilings, spacious seating and huge bar. The restaurant had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while showcasing casual elegance.<br/><br/>As it was a warm summer afternoon, the patio was the hot spot for customers which comfortably seats 100 people. As Mercatto’s patio closes early October, I would recommend making a trip out to the patio before our brutal winter comes around.<br/><br/>Below is what I shared with my fellow bloggers which came in three antipasti rounds. I enjoyed the offerings at the event and the best part is that all items are available on the menu.<br/><br/>Round 1 dishes: <br/><br/>1) Barbabietole arrosto’s which was a roasted beet dish with fresh burrata, arugula, almonds with aged balsamic. This was a light dish with the soft cheese not overpowering the delicate natural sweetness of the beets.<br/><br/>2) Carpaccio di manzo which is a beef tenderloin crudo, brandy crema, pickled onions, grana padano and topped with arugula. The beef shined in this dish and a great starter.<br/><br/>With my dishes, I enjoyed a special drink called Nonna’s Little Secret that had vodka, hisbiscus, rosehip, house-made peach tea and lime juice. It was refreshing and the tea flavour was the strongest element.<br/><br/>Round 2:<br/><br/>1) Calamari fritti, a dish of fried calamari with fennel and garlic crema. The dish was nicely seasoned with a light crispy batter.<br/><br/>2) Frutti di mare with marinated shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, red onion with a side of crostini. I am a lover of seafood and this dish was full of it.<br/><br/>The lightness and the carbonation in my talian prosecco Serenissima was a great accompaniment to the dishes.<br/><br/>Final round:<br/><br/>1) Short rib crostini sticky beed short ribs, fior di latte, grilled sourdough and basil. The meat had deep flavours from the slow cooking process and was a filling dish.<br/><br/>2) Polpette veal and pork meatballs, roasted eggplant and tomato caponata and grana padano. Who doesn’t love meatballs? The meatballs were ultra moist.<br/><br/>3) Pan seared scallops with pistachio, Brussels sprouts and orange puree. Mercatto’s saved the best for last with the memorable dish of perfectly seared scallops, my favourite of the afternoon.<br/><br/>The Spanish lagar Estrella Damm was the right accompaniment to accentuate the flavours of the hearty dishes.<br/><br/>Thank you to the Toronto Eaton Centre and Mercatto’s for hosting us. I had a wonderful afternoon enjoying Buskerfest at Yonge and Dundas square and enjoying a delicious meal.

In Italy, meals are treated as an event, with several courses of delicious, simple dishes and, of course, lots of good company. And Trattoria Mercatto aims to bring to the Toronto Eaton Centre – the heart of Toronto’s shopping – the same experience as one will have when wining and dining in la bella Italia, with an elegant but rustic decor, a large space and a beautiful patio overlooking Trinity Square.<br/><br/>With a menu inspired by regional Italian cooking and designed by Executive Chef Doug Neigel, Trattoria’s unpretentious menu showcases seasonal ingredients, new creations and old time favourites. Their antipasti affair is a complete hit with many gems standing from the menu. Like Frutti di Mare, a seafood concoction bathed in olive oil and spices, served with crostini. Ringing in flavours from the ocean (and OceanWise certified), this dish is not only fun to eat with the crostini but gorgeously plated.If in the mood for beef, the Carppaccio di Manzo will hit the spot. Served with brandy crema, gran padano (aka parmesan cheese), pickled onions and arugula, this beef tenderloin crudo is a terrific execution from Chef Neigel. The ensemble from the pickled onions and crema certainly raise the flavour of the meat.<br/><br/>The antipasti affair continues on with a salad composition of burrata cheese, almonds, arugula, roasted beets and aged balsamic that make up what the chef calls Barbabietole Arrosto, or simply, roasted beet salad. Beets have never tasted so good before.On a hot plate note, the Short Rib Crostini is quite likely one of the most decadent antipasti items from their menu. Sticky and caramelized short rib meat is placed on a buttery and crunchy sourdough bread and topped with basil and fior di latte (a southern Italian cow’s milk cheese).<br/><br/>Ending on the most perfect note, Mercatto’s Diver Scallops is, hands-down, the best dish from the antipasti menu. The delicate saltwater clams are flawlessly grilled and rested on an agrodocle (bitter sweet) sauce. Chaperoned by pine nuts, chili, orange and fennel, this dish has the big “3 T’s” of food – Texture, Taste and Temperature.Who would have thought Toronto’s largest shopping mall would be host to this fantastic eatery? Now we know.