MercatoMercato Martini new summer drink!Girls weekend away, had a recent recommendation from a young(er) friend, so I made a reservation online. Came a little early to have a cocktail and being from Boston, we wanted to try a "Southern" drink. Our server recommended the Mercato Martini: Firefly Sweet Tea vodka and their homemade Limoncello, oh my! It is delicious and will be our new summer cocktail once we figure out how to get the Firefly, locally made, sweet tea vodka to our homes! Dinner was fabulous as well! With the live Jazz, it was a wonderful dining experience!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGraduation dinnerour family fell in love with Mercato's 4 years ago when our daughter first started at College of Charleston. We've eaten here for birthdays, meals at the end of 'moving day' and now, graduation. The food is simple, fresh and always excellent and the wait staff friendly. This will continue to be a favorite for us in the years ahead when we venture back to Charleston.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMwe really enjoyed our 1st visit!Everything was excellent! The jazz band did a fantastic job and really needs to be commended.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food- better than HuskNice Italian restaurant with good live music. Chefs are very talented and accommodating. Service was top notch.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ambiance, excellent jazzThe feel of the place is very inviting. The staff is very friendly and professional. If you can go when they have live jazz, please do. I had the veal picatta. It was cooked correctly, the sauce was a bit bland though. My date got the radiatore. Everything was prepared correctly but the sauce was just missing out. It didn't pull the dishes together. I am being critical. In my opinion it is above average for restaurants in Charleston. Al Di La and The Wild Olive rank higher for me. But Mercato is a good choice.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMromantic eveningWe had a wonderful evening at Mercato. The staff was very polite and engaging and our waiter was extremely experienced as well as friendly. The food was delicious and not overpriced. The atmosphere was enchanting with a romantic feel. We would definatly recommend this restraunt to anyone looking for a romantic evening out.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant provided aThis restaurant provided a great dining experience from the live jazz music to delicious food. There was a lot of great energy, but yet still quaint and relaxing. The food presentation was very good and our server was knowledgeable and extremely helpful.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMthe best Italian food in charlestonThe food was better than I expected. The price is very reasonable and the wine list is awesome.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMMercato in a minute.One of our favorite Charleston restaurants! Once again, we were not disappointed. Prompt , courteous service topped off with a delicious meal. The mussels were an especially outstanding appetizer. Even my wife, who generally does not eat mussels, thoroughly enjoyed these. We look forward to our next visit.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent meal and the serviceExcellent meal and the service was the best we experienced in Charleston.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom the moment we enteredFrom the moment we entered we were treated with special attention and we gave no proir indication that we were celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary. The light jazz was a perfect compliment to the evening. Our waiter helped guide us through the menu and offered suggestions without being a snob. We always start with calamari which is our prime indicator. It was perfect! Really like the lengthwise cut. Chicken marsala and roasted brussel sprouts were over the top! 5 Stars!!!!!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMDo not miss Mercator.OutstandingDo not miss Mercator.Outstanding meal,with fantastic music trio.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, great food,Great service, great food, live jazz trio... great experience!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSat at the bar, which wasSat at the bar, which was empty at 6:30 on a Monday. Service was excellent and the bolognese was very good! Live jazz music was too loud for my taste.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have had appetizers andWe have had appetizers and wine at the bar on several occasions, but this was our first dining experience. It was surprisingly pleasant. The food was excellent both that evening and when we had it for breakfast (cold) on our drive home the next day. The wine was very good and affordable. The keyboard and drum music made for an enjoyable dinner. Our waiter was knowledgeable helpful with the food and wine selection.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food & service.Excellent food & service. Would definitely go again.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely evening withWe had a lovely evening with another couple at Mercato on a busy Friday night in the spring. When searching for a restaurant to fit our time frame, this was one of the few available and we decided to give it a try. I am so glad we did because it was just perfect. There was a jazz combo playing beautiful music at just the right volume and we sat at the handsome bar for a drink before being seated. We all ordered different items and everything got 5 stars, and the service was impeccable. We would all recommend it and go back again.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLiked the live jazz. AfterLiked the live jazz. After noise from the city and the crowded streets, Mercato was a nice respite from the crowds. Unhurried and quiet ambiance as opposed to other restaurants.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMHave dined many times at Mercato'sHave dined many times at Mercato's in the past. Menu changes, but items are still limited. Our entre's were good except for the kale that was on the Veal Picatta. Not a good choice as it was quite tough and tasteless and inedible. Service was good, but undeterred by our complaints on the kale. Otherwise we had a nice time.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food - the chilledDelicious food - the chilled asparagus soup is definitely in my all-time top 3 dishes from a restaurant. Very good service - personable, knowledgeable, and unpretentious.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was outstanding. Pasta'sFood was outstanding. Pasta's were light, artisan, and sauces were delicious. Great break from southern cooking.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful restaurant withWonderful restaurant with delicious food. They were very accommodating to my gluten free diet with alternatives to many of the dishes on the menu. We brought our three year old daughter with us, which worked out because she's well behaved however I don't think that we would have stayed if she were tired and unruly. They did not offer us a kid's menu however we ordered our dishes with foods we could share with her. It was not a problem at all. I highly recommend this restaurant to locals and tourists.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Meatballs!We were in the mood for some good, Italian food. The restaurant was recommended by a local and so we made reservations. While the entire restaurant seemed full, we were promptly seated at our designated time. The staff were prompt and friendly. The variety of entrees should meet most individuals desires and the portions were generous. The meatballs were very good and will not disappoint. I love Caesar salads and this was one of the best! Very good and would highly recommend.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I had an enjoyable,My wife and I had an enjoyable, romantic evening at Mercato. The server was friendly and efficient and the food was excellent. I would recommend Mercato to any of my friends visiting the Charleston area.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service were excellent.Food and service were excellent. Very comfortable atmosphere.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed the background jazzEnjoyed the background jazz music as we were seated on the upper floor.
Great food and atmosphere.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the second time IThis is the second time I have been and it is one of my favorite places for dinner. Best Italian in Charleston, SC4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMElizabeth our server was outstandinElizabeth our server was outstanding and the food was very good.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways an excellent meal.We have been to Mercato a few times now and we have always enjoyed our dining experiences. Don't be put off by the restaurant's location on market street as making this restaurant a "tourist trap", it really is quite good. It is not inexpensive, the wine list needs more depth but the food is why you go here. As I mentioned, even with all the wonderful restaurants in Charleston - and lots within walking distance of Mercato - we go back there.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWeekend live jazz adds a niceWeekend live jazz adds a nice touch to a good Italian mean. Had pasta which was cooked to perfection3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time at Mercato - andFirst time at Mercato - and we both love italian food and the food was outstanding. We will be back and this on our 'favorite' Charleston restuarant list. Great meal - great service..... I highly recommend this restaurant!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWould definitely recommendWould definitely recommend ordering one of their home-made pasta dishes. I ordered the market fish and it was just OK. Should have known better than to order tuna that is not seared or rare. Dish called for it to be cooked all the way. Two people ordered pasta dishes and they were excellant. Also, has the best ceasar salad that we have found in Charleston.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good. On theFood was very good. On the one dish we felt was not quite up to par, the waiter arranged for it to be "improved" back in the kitchen without hesitation.
The effort to please seemed quite sincere.
While not inexpensive, the menu offered many choices; and the food was fresh and tasty.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat as alwaysEverything was great as always. I had the cauliflower pancake as my app because I had to know. And it was great everyone else loved their apps and I would have had the special salad app if not intrigued by the cauliflower pancake. As my entree I had the veal picatta and it was really good for me it could have used a touch more lemon but other then that. Great job
Our server, think his name was Ben he has waited on us before and he does a great Job for you guys3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMHouse made pastas were veryHouse made pastas were very good. Overall very good italian fare yet not fantastic. Jazz music in bar was very nice creating a nice mode yet not over-powering table coversation.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!Wow! What an amazing experience! We had the Chicken Marsala...excellent! The soft jazz guitar and piano added to the experience. I highly recommend this place! Relaxing and delicious. The service was great too!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe never miss a chance toWe never miss a chance to dine at Mercato's when we're in Charleston.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the food & liveWe enjoyed the food & live music at Mercato...great place! Will definitely go back again!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWent out with some friendsWent out with some friends Saturday night. We split a few entrees. All were delicious. Our server was very nice but was slow to greet us and take our order.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food. Beet salad wasGreat food. Beet salad was outstanding! Beautiful live jazz. Seated on 2nd level 30 reservation time but sat at bar so okay with wait. Drafty upstairs but staff tried to fix situation.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe thoroughly enjoyed ourWe thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The menu was diverse but not too extensive. The quality was above average to excellent. After dinner we went downstairs for a nightcap and to listen to the jazz combo. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and music.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFive Star RatedThe service and food at Mercato were five stars. Don't be afraid to try sometning new there. The service staff is knowledgeable and can steer you to the right menu items for your taste.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMlovely setting and great foodlovely setting and great food and service would return for sure3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall,we enjoyed Mercato'sOverall,we enjoyed Mercato's very much. The food was excellent with generous portions, and the live music was very enjoyable as well. However, it was very diffult finding a place to park, and we had to walk quite a distance in heels to get there, from the spot we finally happened upon. But,even with that being the case, I would still recommend it to others, and would definitely visit again myself.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the Burschetta, CaesarLove the Burschetta, Caesar Salad, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Spaghetti Carbonara. The service is outstanding. Love the Jazz music too. One of our favorite restaurants in Charleston!! See you again soon!!2/25/2013 12:00:00 AM