This is a must try off of lake in Pasadena. Reliably good food every time I have been here. Chips and salsa with WARM chips. A to die for pork tomahawk. Amazing happy hour and I highly recommend the dos gringos. Every detail of that dish is made with thought and precision down to the proportions given and the wonderful crisp on the tortilla. Amazing deal! Be careful when ordering sparkling water because they'll bring you an overpriced bottle of sparkling water instead of just their fountain soda water without asking for clarification. I've made that mistake a couple times. Otherwise, I highly recommend Mercado; you can't really go wrong. read more

A little pricey, but it's well worth it! Came here with baby and my parents on a saturday and was surprising to find that they weren't all that busy. Their patio is nestled in a small little mall complex, and therefore is a bit more quiet and relaxing than the bustling Lake Ave in Pasadena. We went on a perfect weather day, and most people opted to sit outside instead of inside the store. We sat inside since we had a sleeping baby in a stroller, and was surprised to find there are a few others doing the same with a stroller also! Plenty of space for all of us too. Between the 3 adults, we had ordered 2 main dishes and 1 ceviche to share. It was the perfect amount of food and I'm glad we weren't overzealous and ordered 3 mains as it would've been too much. We got a mole enchilada, ceviche tropical, and the carnitas chilaquiles. everything tasted amazing and it was the perfect dish to introduce my parents to the unique mole flavor. staff members were very friendly and super accommodating, glad we ventured out to Mercado! read more

My friend and I came here to have dinner. We got the guac, tacos, and carnitas plate. The guac was great and the chips were freshly made! However, the carnitas were overly salty luckily the cauliflower , salsa, and guac helped lessen the salty taste. The food overall was ok. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Always a Five Star experience here. You have to love how they consistently offer creative specials. Of course the food is always fresh and great tasting. Today our server suggested a beef rib special (bar b cued). Wow. So amazing a tasty. I do hope that this becomes a staple! To me Mercado is such a Pasadena treasure and a fantastic place to get " upscale " Mexican dishes and smooth cocktails. read more

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I loved Mercado! We had a group of 20 last minute for a lunch meeting, and they were not only able to accommodate, but also provided the best service! We had a fixed menu (because of our party size) that included appetizer, entree, and dessert. The guac, chips, and salsa was great, but the fish tacos I had were amazing!! A little spicy, a ton of flavor. We had flan and tres leche for dessert. Absolutely delicious and I look forward to trying more menu items on another trip. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We had an amazing dinner with our daughter. Melissa was our waitress and she was very nice and efficient and professional. Location is great and we love sitting outside in the patio. Food was absolutely delicious & fresh my had the filet mignon taco omg it melts in your mouth and I had swordfish tacos and my husband had shrimp tacos read more

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I was in Pasadena for an event and was looking for something to eat close to my hotel and I stumbled upon this restaurant. We sat at the bar, the restaurant wasn't busy at the time we went in. So it was nice and quiet and we had good service. The bar is small and cute, they do have seating outside and inside. It's not a super big place. I liked how attentive the bartender was. The food was delicious, my mom cleaned her whole plate and said it was the best chile relleno she's ever had. I enjoyed my enchiladas and my margaritas. It is a more high end place with some traditional Mexican cuisine and style. I loved the flavors, I loved how they press fresh fruits to make their cocktails. The bartender did say they have happy hour Friday evening if we wanted to come back. I would've loved to, maybe next time we come into town we'll stop in. Thank you for having great food, and service. read more

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This place has good food and great drinks. We've been here before as we waited for our sugar fish table and their bar service was great. This time we decided to eat a full meal here, and we were pleasantly surprised with their options. They offered a pre fix menu with chips and guac, tacos and dessert, so one of us ordered the filet mignon and the other ordered from their main menu a Chile relleno. The guac appetizer was very small and you can't customize it, the taco meat was tasty and well seasoned. The chile relleno sat in a bed of green salsa with corn an other vegetables which was different and it gave this dish a different taste. Will definitely come back and try other options from their main menu. read more

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Everytime I come we at least get the pulpo dish & mushroom choruses! Definitely my favorite menu items. On this occcasion we got the plater and added the pulpo and this can definitely feed at least 4 -5people. The menu states it's for 2-3 but honestly it can feed much more. Totally worth it! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - platter - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Nice date night spot! We came here to use our credit card dining credit and were pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. The restaurant offers a cozy mix of indoor booth seating and an outdoor patio, complete with overhead heat lamps that kept it cozy on the rainy evening that we went. We ordered the following: - Guacamole & Chips - 5/5 - Dos Gringas Tacos (al pastor, oaxaca cheese, red onions, cilantro, salsa) - 4.5/5 - Pescado Tacos (white fish, mexican slaw, pico, lime crema) - 4/5 - Calabacitas (zucchini, onions, tomatoes, grilled sweet corn) - 3.5/5 - Enchiladas de Pollo en Mole Oaxaqueño - 3/5 The guacamole was really well done - it was fresh and thoughtfully prepared with cilantro, red onion, tomatoes, and pine nuts. We enjoyed the tacos as well. The zucchini was decent but wasn't anything special. I wasn't really a fan of the mole enchiladas. The shredded chicken was a bit dry and the mole lacked the deep, complex, nutty richness that I am used to. Though if I didn't just go to Oaxaca last year, I probably wouldn't know the difference. Overall, charming spot. As it's a bit pricey, I would probably only come back for their happy hour next time which runs Mon-Thur 4-6:30pm and Fri-Sun 4-6pm. read more

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I ordered the enchiladas and elote. The enchiladas and corn were ok, not anything mind blowing. The flavors were a bit light and could've used a bit more seasoning. The corn was a bit overcooked as the kernels were a bit difficult to chew and weren't juicy. They are a bit overpriced and if you're looking to splurge on mediocre food, I would say this is the place to. Service on the other hand, was excellent. The servers were kind and attentive. The restaurant had a lounge/night bar vibe to it. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You can find paid street parking, park in a paid lot for $5, or if you drive a little further up you can find free street parking. I don't think I would come back here for overpriced Mexican food. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Elote - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time eating here and wow! The food was great! I order Dos Gringas, the tacos had great taste. The food presentation was great and the ambient was also good, very clean. The service was great too, no complain. Edit: What the heck! 3 percent surcharge? I don't support locations like this. read more

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Delicious Mexican restaurant in Pasadena! We went here aiming for a quick light lunch, eyeing the lunch prie fixe menu 3 courses at a good price of $24. You may wonder why such a low rating? Unwritten enforcement of minimum spend. We got the lunch prie fixe with the chips with salsa and guacamole, carnitas sandwich, and churros ice cream and a side of calabacitas (zucchini, grilled vegetables). The chips is double baked / fried and incredibly crispy, with good guacamole and decent salsa. The carnitas sandwich is okay - the carnitas is on the sweeter side and a little dry but the overall ingredients combined made the sandwich satisfying. The churros ice cream is mostly the flavor and is quite true to the real deal. The grilled vegetables were good. It was too much food for what we aim when we have dinner in 3 hours for the sake of trying as many places as we can and support as many local businesses while at it. I took 3 stars off because we placed the prie fixe order telling the server we will share the 3 course which he went ahead to put the order to the kitchen. 10 minutes later maybe the manager came to the table and said we can't do that and we were forced to order an additional item to serve us. He made wild claims saying California burrito or a bowl is pretty small - no, one of these is like a meal for most people. I have a feeling he'd rather sacrifice a good tip to extract and pinch out as much money from customers by enforcing a minimum order requirement? Additional time and unnecessary money and food wasted for something that was not written. I understand if the prie fixe or menu mention this rule, but it felt out of the blue. read more

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Horrible service and literally the to go container for the ice cream. Looks like a sample not what I should have gotten since I paid for it read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Horrible Service . Went for lunch had the prefix lunch special. The to go ice cream It literally looks like a sample - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

By far, this is our favorite Mexican restaurant. Lovely atmosphere, friendly, helpful, attentive staff, and delicious food. My favorites are the house margaritas and the carnitas. Best I've ever had. read more

Great bar to hang out while waiting for a table at Uovo. Bartender was friendly. Chips & Salsa guac yum! Drinks were good. Great atmosphere. Chill vibes. read more

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The service and servers were top tier. Our server was friendly and checked up on us frequently. The food was brought out timely. No complaints on the service. The ambiance was cozy and modern. We really appreciated the art work. It made of ammunition shells. Definitely, go take a look on your way to the bathroom. The bathroom wallpaper is gorgeous. Then, we get to the food/drinks. This is where I would say the 3 stars comes from. We went for happy hour and ordered the carnitas tacos, green ceviche, and the gueritas, we had the pomegranate margaritas. The carnitas tacos had a thicker tortilla and were a bit salty. I asked for something spicy, and received the Brava salsa. It is not spicy. I would say it's a sweeter Chipotle flavor. Then, they brought a hanero salsa, but it has a very noticeable dairy flavor that was not to my liking. The green ceviche is not ceviche. It is agauchiles. The gueritas were really good, so if I were to return I would have those again. Drinks were decent. Flan was very sweet and it's paired with a sauce that reminds me of rompope. read more

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We ate with friends at Mercado in Pasadena and overall had a great experience. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, making it a nice place to catch up and enjoy a meal together. The food was flavorful, well prepared, and enjoyable for everyone at the table. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the seating. I specifically asked for a booth, and there were two empty booths available, but the hostess told us they were reserved for parties of six. A short while later, I noticed one of those booths was seated with only three people, which was a bit disappointing. I really care about where I sit when dining out, and that part of the experience mattered to me. Aside from that, everything else was solid Good food, good company, and a pleasant vibe. With a bit more consistency around seating, this could easily be a 5-star experience for me. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Catching up with friends - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great elevatated, modern mexican food that is constanty consistence and taste amazing. And all of their staffs are great! Love this place. So if you like quieter, I would recommend that you sit outside on the patio, they have cover and heating in the fall and winter months so you are not cold. Just a lovely place. read more

Mercado Pasadena can trace its direct lineage to Yxta (eesh tah) DTLA. And by extension, the original ancestors would be the owner's grandparents who established "El Arco Iris", the rainbow, in Highland Park. So three generations have been in the honorable restaurant business. Nice front, covered, outdoor dining patio. Inside is dark, intimate with options of semi enclosed booths, open tables, bar seating. Friendly service. 1) Dos Gringas: Two slow-cooked natural pork al pastor dressed with oaxaca cheese, red onions, cilantro, Yxta salsa brava which is mild, dark red chile salsa, avocado salsa, calabacitas/Mexican zucchini. Opted for tortillas de harina/flour and also an order of powdered Queso Cotija for a more funky, aged dairy flavour. Unfortunately, these tacos were not particularly full of shaved, roasted pork meat quantity. The red salsa marinade was very mild, bland tasting perhaps to cater to a mostly non-Mexican clientele. The plating was pretty perhaps to disguise the paltry amount of pork or to look chefly à la haute cuisine. I miss the street tacos' direct, bold flavours that include stronger vinegar, more piquant red chiles, garlic, maybe even a squirt of Worcestershire sauce to add a fruity, fermented sweetness. At $17, it was a stretch. 2) The much vaunted Chef José's Carnitas does live up to its name. Pork shoulder slow roasted in its own fat like the French Confit. Part of it is lush, fatty meat, other parts are firm and meaty. Only problem is that it was so over salted that I did a double take when I put some in my tortilla to take the first bite to discover its sharp, harsh salinity. I took this salt brick meat home to incorporate it into Carnitas fried rice so that the rice and fresh herbs would absorb and lessen the saltiness. At $35, the cook should more closely monitor the cooking process and taste test the final product to ensure edibility. 1-2a) Smoky Yuzu was an interesting collaboration of Mexican and Japanese ingredients. Yuzu/Japanese citrus and Mezcal from Oaxaca, México created a lime, lemon background for the mesquite-like smoke, and caramelized Agave-like sweetness of the Mezcal. May have a pinch of salt to enliven the flavours much like putting salt on watermelon. $17 was worth the price of admission. Had a roller coaster ride of too bland for the first course and too hyper salty in the second. Amiable service fortunately saved it from being a 2 star experience. 3- stars read more

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We came here many times for their happy hour. Nowadays, it's rare for places to have happy hour during the weekend. We came for happy hour. We ordered the scallop, and the nachos with carnitas. I enjoyed the skinny margaritas. While browsing the menu, the server told us the dinner menu. The steak sounds really good so we decided to have an early dinner. Wonderful place to dine for a Sunday late. afternoon. read more

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AMAZING !! My top favorite food items would have to be the dip trio!!! It's a must !!! And all the cocktails are yummy ! My favorite is the Jamaica one ! Also the ribeye is a must !!! The pasta is okie . Not amazing. The tacos are yummy. But the main star is dip trio and ribeye. !!! (: the service is super good too ! Highly recommend trying this place. My favorite guacamole in LA read more

Great clean and truly delicious food, the service was fantastic and the vibe is very nice. We love Mercado and we will be back . read more

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Pretty busy for a Tuesday night. Got seated at a "high top" along the back wall that that was very difficult to maneuver in and out of. Not a great start. And sadly, I wasn't wowed by anything here--the Fish Tacos were good but not great, the tuna ceviche was tasty but weirdly more like a poke plate than a traditional ceviche, and the al pastor tacos had mayonnaise on them. Not good, sorry. read more

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The food & service are always really good! Normally I write long reviews with my experience but you know what? Just try this one for yourself! I will say most recently I had the Huevos Divorciados for brunch and they were delicious! My mom had a breakfast burrito & my brother had the pancakes. They both loved what they got & everything came out hot! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Huevos Divorciados - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great drinks great food, awesome guacamole...definitely worth a trip. Their happy hour has some great deals

Place was barely mediocre even before the health department shut it down last week. Oversalted, overpriced and under proportioned. Basically a poorly-managed trap for affluent neighborhood diners and after-work happy hour junkies who wouldn't know good Mexican food if it bit them on the ass. Go to Guisados instead. read more

Sadly i didnt take photos but i must say the food was 10/10. Drinks were excellent: Tangerine marg was incredible and quite stiff. Super refreshing 10/10 Bloody mary 10/10 Tried both types of ceviche 10/10 fresh and great flavor Chips and guac 10/10 really love their tortilla chips also had the mushroom queso it was yummy Fish tacos were fresh and delicious 10/10 Side of corn was good 7/10 Tacos al pastor 10/10 Chile relleno 8/10 Mole enchiladas 7/10 Would definitely recommend! Oh the service was very good too. read more

I do not recommend this Mercado location. Manager was a fool, we ordered over 150$ only on food and ordered 2 double shots of vodka. They cut us off from ordering alcohol after 2 double shots. read more

I always drive by Mercado on my way home and finally tried it this weekend.. I wish I tried it sooner! First, I got the Mint Lemonade and it was sooo good and refreshing! It also comes with 1 free refill which is nice cause most places would charge you for something that isn't considered a "fountain drink". My family shared some guacamole and chips - that didn't disappoint either! The guacamole had a nice flavor to it, the chips were fresh, and we enjoyed the salsa also! My husband and I shared the Camarones Al Ajillo and the Carne Asada. I really enjoyed both of the dishes. They both were cooked really well, and even the bread that came with the shrimps was really good too! The service was really fast and our waitress was really kind and attentive. The host we had was really kind as well! Will definitely be back! read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Camarones al Ajillo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First timer 100/100 Came to celebrate my anniversary. Meet a lovey waitress named Crystal who explained sweetly how everything is fresh and made daily . Lets start with the cocktails ,all the juices are made daily you can taste the freshness and smoothness of the drink ,super enjoyable I really enjoyed a Jamaica Margarita & Cadillac margarita,so glad I did, I haven't had a fresh cocktail in a while ,hard to find in your local restaurants. I had to order the Mole enchiladas 10/10 From the sauce light not heavy or over sauced chocolate or spice ,it meet the level of perfect flavor. I love me a good Flan and I have to say this definitely is what a fresh well made Flan tastes Like,the texture was just right . Service was excellent. I have to say one of my best places ,Great food ,fresh cocktails and great service with beautiful art and ambience. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu . read more

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The food quality isn't quite as consistent as it used to be, and the service feels a bit average. It seems the overall experience has declined compared to before, and the establishment could benefit from some improvements and upkeep. read more

Mercado has multiple locations across Southern California including Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, and this one in Pasadena. This location is in The Commons shopping mall with other restaurants and shops. We came here for happy hour (Monday through Thursday 4-6:30pm and Friday through Sunday 4-6pm). We ordered their mercado margarita ($9) which were decent. This location is not super big and is a little narrow. The food is on the pricier side but the happy hour is not bad. read more

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This place is happening! Heat lamps for the tables outside. Higher tables to the right of the bar inside and regular tables to the left. Reservations help. Highly recommend the jicama shrimp tacos- they're surprisingly light, healthy, tasty. Service was great, especially given how busy they were with a weekday dinner crowd. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Jicama Shrimp Tacos Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit agua fresca Elote - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

One of my friends raves about Mercado as it's her go to spot for margaritas and cocktails so we decided to do a little girls day trip here for a mid day snack. After dining here the groups consensus is Mercado falls somewhere between 3.5-4 stars. There were some things done well and others that need a little improvement. Overall we were happy we tried it but there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in Pasadena, we have more to see. The pros: Margaritas live up to that hype! Delicious and refreshing. Perfect ratio of tequila and mix. Simple in their presentation but done well and tasty. We had a nice variety of margaritas and everyone liked theirs. I went with the classic house margarita and it hit the spot. 4.5/5 for flavor. My friends got a skinny margarita and a strawberry marg, both said their drinks were great. Food overall was pretty good, just pricey. Since we were snacking and not having full on meals per say we tried little apps or smaller plates/sides. I went with the guacamole appetizer and it hit the spot. 5/5. I know guacamole isn't that exciting but when done right with some fresh homemade tortilla strips it's a dip that always hits the spot. The guacamole was generous and the chips were super hot, fresh, and crispy. Yum. My friend got the veggie tacos and she liked them. My other friend got their elote side dish and while she liked it she did note it had a little too much spice. Overall I think the food and drinks here are solid. Room for improvement was service / pacing. First off I do want to mention our waiter was super nice and friendly! Once he began service I felt he was very nice and attentive. So no complaints once he got going and he was very personable and on top of things during/after our meal. My critiques with service were just that we had to wait while before being acknowledged or having our orders taken. In fairness it seemed a bit busy and the patio was almost full so it's not like people weren't hustling. But even the small gesture of an acknowledgment or waters helps. We waited what felt like a bit to place orders but once our waiter started he did great. Something weird with the meal/service was the pacing....our food came out before our cocktails and before our waters! Lol. So odd. That's a first. The literal order we receive everything was - Dishes/food, close behind was our margs, and a while after glasses of water. Probably this alone is what had me contemplating 3 stars BUT food and drinks were good and staff nice. Just a toss up here. Lastly this place is a little more of an elevated Mexican dining spot so prices reflect this. I'll happily pay extra $$ for amazing food and service. But in fairness, my bill came to about $35 for guacamole/chips and one house margarita. At this price point and the little quirks with our meal I do have other Mexican restaurants I'd recommend before this one but definitely glad we checked out it. Ending this review feeling torn but generous to give them 4 stars. There is potential and the food/drinks were good. Come see for yourself and enjoy their covered outdoor patio! read more

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We ordered the Carnitas plate, which was not on the lunch menu but was available. The carnitas was cooked perfectly and excellent. The cauliflower medley was very good . The plate comes with tortillas so make sure you order the homemade corn tortillas. We also had the guacamole and chips and the guacamole was very good and the chips were hot. For dessert we had churros. It came with two different sauces. Staff came to our tables several times. Excellent service and will be returning. Patio seating is available. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Carnitas plate - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Mercado remains a reliable heavy hitter for Mexican-inspired cuisine in Pasadena. The space is still as stunning as ever, providing the perfect backdrop for a meal that--for the most part--hits all the right notes. The Standouts: * The Octopus: Still the star of the show. It's as perfectly executed as I remembered. * Gringa Quesadilla & Shrimp Tacos: Both were flavor-packed and highly satisfying. * The Essentials: You can tell a lot by the basics; the guacamole was delicious and the chips were notably fresh. The Letdown: * Tuna Tacos: These were the only disappointment in an otherwise stellar lineup. They just didn't live up to the standard set by the rest of the table. The Verdict: Service was sharp and attentive, which only added to the experience. Even with the slight stumble on the tuna, Mercado is still a must-visit. read more

Came to Mercado for dinner with my team & absolutely loved it! I know they have a location in Santa Monica and one here in Pasadena (closer to me). We came on a Wednesday & it was not too busy. The food was so yummy -- a bit on the pricier end for sure. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo and shared a few appetizers with my co workers. My favorite appetizers were the guacamole + mushroom chori queso, and also the Mexican kale salad. Would I come back? Mayhaps. This is a great option for high scale Mexican food in the area :-) I will be back soon! read more

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A wonderful place to visit and enjoy the outdoor ambiance with family & friends. There's a courtyard view with heaters for the cooler evenings. Our group didn't really care for the avocado sticker spotted inside the guacamole but everything was pretty delicious. The mushroom fondu dip was so addicting our group ordered 4 as it comes in a small soup cup. Happy hour available! The chicken was perfectly cooked. The other dishes were average but loved the fresh tortillas. Drinks were great! Flan was one of the best! Service was attentive. Parking garage is about two blocks away and street parking has two hr limit. read more

Mercado - Pasadena - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I would normally give them a 4 stars but my 5 pm reservation on Sunday experience became a 3. Guacamole and chips were 5 star but the carnitas tacos were so salty I couldn't eat it them. My dinner guests were fine with the salt level however. The scallops appetizer was really good but again a little salty. PS, the happy hour menu was a good value. As for the ambience, it ended up in disappointment. We were in the big booth near the kitchen, very nice for 6 people however half-way through the meal, we had to listen to banging and chopping as they were doing prep work. The staff told me the kitchen door wouldn't close so it really interfered with our dining experience. Too bad as I brought out of town NYC folks and was hoping to enjoy the scene at Mercado... Sitting out side might have been a better option. read more