We came in on Saturday for dinner. Surprisingly, there were not many people that night. I ordered duck ragu papardelle, it was ok. The flavor is a little bit high plain, but the noodle is interesting. It's made of buckwheat, the texture is chewy and tender. My friend's chicken Marsala was great. Tender and juicy read more

See all

Snotty service. Self-important host. High prices. These guys think they're in Soho, not in Ithaca. Save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere where they actually want your business. read more

This was a good option for a cold winter night. A little after 9:00 on a Saturday, we had a choice of just about any table. Began with the chacuterie plate. It included a hunter's sausage, prosciutto, soprasetta and copa, along with some hunks of Gorgonzola, Parmesan chunks and slices of young pecorino with peppercorns. It was fairly substantial and plenty as an appetizer for two. The oso bucco was a large shank of flavorful braised pork in a rich sauce over polenta. It worked very well. The gnocchi with an oxtail ragu was very well made - the gnocchi were light and airy and the ragu was just rich enough and the meat delicious. The five wines by the glass were all Italian. The Primitivo was our favorite and the Etna Rosso was also quite good. read more

The great: The food was outstanding. We had the chicken saltimbocca, hanger steak, and the cheese plate. Everything was cooked perfectly. It was one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. The server was extremely helpful. They didn't have Pinot Grigio on the menu, so the server made a couple of recommendations for my wife. She was pleased with the options. The okay : Bathrooms are in sort of an awkward spot and are cramped. Food took a little longer than most places. read more

A sophisticated but casual dining place. My homemade pasta was well prepared and plated beautifully. Great flavor and delicate vegetables. Nice and reasonably priced wine list. Service was excellent. Highly recommended. read more

Yum! This is definitely one of the classier joints in town, and you sort of manage to forget that you are still in Ithaca (it's like a mini two-hour vacation!). We had been meaning to come here for ages, and we finally made it in for a good ol' fashioned Friday date night. Mercato did not disappoint and now I'm hoping that we have another chance to go back before Alex graduates and we leave town (though it is a wee bit pricey for something other than a special occasion). Our waitress was very friendly without being overbearing, and she gladly gave her educated opinion between the two bottles of wine that we were debating. It ended up being a great choice. We shared the watercress salad and the soup of the day (I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but it was good) and then for dinner had the asparagus, ricotta, and goat cheese agnolotti and the pan-seared sea scallops. The agnolotti was bland, in my opinion, but my husband enjoyed it, and that's what really mattered. My sea scallops were cooked perfectly and the celeriac puree around the plate was really interesting. The flavor of celery usually isn't one of my favorite things, but this was quite unique and enjoyable, especially in contrast to the shoestring potatoes. My only complaint, and it isn't really a complaint at all, is the menu selection. I totally understand the appeal of wanting to have a smaller menu and do those things on the menu really well, but in my opinion, eight entrees--only ONE of which is meatless--is a little skimpy. Regardless, we'll hopefully be back, just without any vegetarian friends! read more

I admit it, I'm a bit of a lush. I'm a sucker for a well made cocktail. And Mercato has it in spades. The drinks are a bit expensive for Ithaca standards (it's not Dunbar's here), but everything on their cocktail list is deliciously mixed and phenomenally balanced. Best drinks in town, by far. It's just a shame they close at 10pm. I'd love for them to stay open a touch later, even if it's just the bar. Oh, and I guess they serve food? Maybe I'll give that a shot one day... read more

"Perhaps it was a Fluke." I had sworn off going here in the past because some time last year I poked my head in as I work on "restaurant row"- and wanted to say hello and/or dine- because I saw a group of people sitting together- (that I realized later were waitstaff in a meeting) and a male with curly hair said, "Obviously you can see we are closed?" The rudeness was so very problematic and unnecessary! As I excused myself and closed the door, I thought, why not say, "Oh, our door is open, but we're not yet open to the public. We open at x time please come back then?" Or why even have the door unlocked if you're not yet open? So, I swore I would never go back there until a friend treated me to a lovely meal and drinks the other night. I didn't see the rude guy but I had wonderful service and a delicious fluke baked in parchment, perfectly done fingerling potatoes and green beans and a delicious red wine by the glass called Antico Fuocco Rosso Veronese 20112 Veneto. Yum! I could have been referring people (I have a really wide circle)- for eons, save that one moment with the rude man. It really matters how you treat people- and the way I was treated the other evening makes me more likely to return again, despite that negative first impression. For any of us in business, we know that first impressions are lasting ones. read more

Okay so I've grown fond of the shoestring fries after all! Once again Mercato delivers an amazing all around dining experience from the lighting and seating to the service and of course the food. Mercato is absolutely my favorite "upscaley" restaurant in Ithaca where the food and atmosphere is worth every penny you spend. Seriously! This time around, I had the cream of asparagus soup which was super tasty. The asparagus wasn't overpowered by tons of heavy cream. In fact the soup was surprisingly light. For an entree, I had the pan seared scallops with leeks in some kind of buttery sauce with shoestring fries. In this case, the fries worked really well with the delicate texture of the scallops which won me over! For dessert, I had the caramel espresso pot de creme which was incredibly good but my friend opted for the coconut panna cotta topped with caramelized pineapple which was amazing!! The folks at Mercato are serious about good food and have created what I consider to be the perfect eating establishment. read more

This is definitely one of the classier, more upscale restaurants in Ithaca. We came here on a Friday night around 6:30pm and were seated immediately. We started off with the cured meats/olives/cheese plate which was with a good combination of cheeses and meats (manchego, gorgonzola, parmigiano reggiano with sopresata, prosciutto, etc). For our cocktails I ordered the Ithaca 37 (gin + lemon + prosecco) and my boyfriend ordered the Lion's Tail (bourbon + allspice dram + bitters + lime juice + agave). Both were delicious and well made. Our entrees were fresh sole in parchment and buckwheat papardelle (homemade) with duck ragu. The quality of the food was excellent and so was the service. My sole was tender and juicy and the pasta was as fresh as can be. Our desserts were the lemon panna cotta and the chocolate pots de creme with homemade graham crackers. Both were absolutely heavenly; you can tell that Mercato takes a great deal of care into preparing their foods well. Although the food quality was good, I personally think that the price is a little too high for the portions that they serve. The tables were also located a little too close together. Whenever we (or the people at the tables next to us) had to get up and leave, our asses brushed against the tables. I'd probably come here again, but only for special occasions. read more

Mercato might be my favorite classy restaurant in a town with no shortage of tasty places to eat. My wife and I come here once every month or two and have found it to be consistently good. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgable. The same can be said for the owner, who is often there to greet patrons as they arrive. The bar has an excellent wine list and varied (and REALLY GOOD) cocktail menu. The bread is fresh and served with soft butter, and is always a real highlight of the meal. While the menu rotates seasonally to some extent, the types of dishes served is pretty consistent overall. Mercato does an excellent preparation of fresh fish in parchment, there is usually some type of house made pasta dish, a braised meat offering, scallops, grilled hangar steak....we've had a little bit of everything on the menu and have honestly never had a bad experience. There's a reason this is our favorite restaurant in Ithaca. The dessert menu is equally good, with the seasonal crostata my personal favorite among an otherwise delicious array of pastries and desserts. On a final note, I should mention that a fire did significant damage to the restaurant about a year ago, but Mercato reopened early last summer. Although at first there was a lingering smoky smell, which I think I saw referenced in some of the other reviews - they had some ventilation work done and the smell is no longer noticeable. read more

My new favorite Ithaca restaurant, hands-down. Amazing bread, yummy cocktails (the Communist!), a killer meat plate... Last night I ate their cioppino special and it was absolutely perfect. Great desserts, too - love the cheesecake squares and the chocolate custard thing. Everything is a winner. Service is great and personable, atmosphere nice & with good lighting. Love the booths - feels nice and private - great date night place. I've also just sat at the bar and that was great too. read more

On a recent trip back to Ithaca, Mercato's served up the best food of our stay. We started with a round of cocktails, and of those, I enjoyed the basil-inflected Crespo the best. So flavorful, and so well-balanced! Complex, crisp and refreshing, with just enough basil for you to know that it was there without dominating the flavor profile. Actually, all the cocktails we tried were good, creative and original, and all featured local and seasonal ingredients. On to the main course, which for me was hanger steak with a side of shoestring potatoes. The steak was seasoned simply with salt and pepper, which is the way to go with a cut like hanger, as it lets the full, natural flavor of the cut shine. It was cooked perfectly, and was insanely juicy and tender! The fries were cut a bit thin for my taste (although, to be fair, they were accurately advertised as shoestring on the menu), but were cooked perfectly and seasoned with a yummy blend of salt and rosemary. Dessert - carmel and espresso pot de creme - was also delicious. Our server was definitely knowledgeable about the menu, polite and attentive, and we enjoyed the early-summer outdoor seating. Would definitely come back again next time I'm in town. read more

Went here for dinner on an anniversary trip. The cocktails were inventive and strong...always a bonus. The salad should be skipped...it was lettuce with 2 tomatoes and very light dressing for $6...eh. I had the gnocchi with short rib ragu which was flavorful and gnocchis were soft and delicate as they should be. My boyfriend chose the hanger steak which was cooked perfectly. Service was average although nice and welcoming. Overall a good experience the only down side was a short menu. read more

Phenomenal Italian inspired cuisine with refined service. Wine list, cocktails, and beer on tap all carefully crafted and pair well with rotating entrees. The homemade pasta and hangar steaks are our favorites. Always worth a visit when downtown. read more

Eating at Mercato is a treat for us. Each time we are pleased with our drinks, the food and the service. The waitstaff has always been extremely attentive, remembering us each time we come in, and making sure we're enjoying our meals there. My only complaint (and it's not even really one) Their menu options are pretty standard, with only a few changing specials- I'd love to see a wider or changing variety of dishes. All in all, a great date restaurant! read more

My wife and I have eaten at restaurants across the country and in dozens of countries, including many in Italy. Mercato just became one of our all-time favorites! From the wonderful Montepulciano wine that I enjoyed with the duck ragu over homemade pappardelle, to the butternut squash mellanzane and salad that my wife savored, to the amazing bread they serve (which comes from Tribeca in NYC) this entire meal was absolutely delicious. The desserts also deserved our five-star rating. Then the service we received from Heather was among the best we've experienced in all our years. I highly recommend this restaurant. We will look for excuses to travel through Ithaca again just for another amazing meal. Thank you Mercato!! read more

In house pasta was amazing as was the chicken piccata. Prohibition style drinks (heavy on gin and whiskey) were delicious and carefully made. Service was attentive and relaxed. No reservations are taken; we got there right when they opened at 5:30, landed a booth, and within 30 minutes there was an hour wait. read more

Truly exceeded expectations. Found this restaurant on yelp and based on reviews decided to give it a try. I was blown away by how delicious everything was. The lobster bisque was the soup of the day and it was incredible- best I've ever had. The fish in parchment paper was amazing and filled with flavor. Also a great atmosphere with a friendly staff. Definitely recommend read more

Update: Visited for the 2nd time on August 25th. Still fabulous. I want to live upstairs from this place. ========================================================== This is actually a 5 star restaurant, or even 6 stars, but I'm giving it 2 in order to get management's attention about just one issue: the music. We were there last night (Saturday) around 6:00 PM - a very busy time, obviously. The place is small and the tables are close together, so just the other conversations around us were noisy (which is normal). But, the music raised the noise level to the point where we had trouble conversing at times. I'm a musician. I love music. But in certain environments, it serves absolutely no purpose except to allow restaurant owners to wallow around in an unfortunate delusion. Now for the good part: Everything else about this place is fabulous. Or waiter was very professional and his timing was excellent. My companion had mint pappardelle with lamb ragu, and I had spinach & cheese ravioli with oven roasted tomato sauce. Both dishes were absolutely beautiful, and portion sizes were perfect. If we'd had more time, we would've tried one or two of the appetizers, but we were slightly rushed to get to a concert. This is the kind of place you keep coming back to because you fall in love with some of the dishes. Congratulations, owners. Just tone down the music when it's busy. read more

Wanted to go to dinner on Labor Day and this was the only place we found that was open. And wow did we get lucky finding this place. Small place with a great atmosphere and I highly recommend for a date spot. Clams casino for an app, excellent. For the entree I had the hangar steak. Cooked to perfection and the veggies were also perfect. There is only two chefs so the food comes out slow, but i would not consider the service bad. The waiter brought us bread(which was amazing) and came over multiple times to offer more bread and check up on us before the food would come. The dessert we chose was cheesecake and purity vanilla ice cream. Everything was absolutely beyond expectations. A cocktail, 2 apps, 2 dinners, and 2 desserts was around $100. I don't usually like to spend a lot on dinner but this was absolutely worth every single penny. Writing this review makes me want to go back again tonight ! read more

This might be one of my fav restaurants in Ithaca. I prefer it to the French place next door. Its a small joint with close "neighborly" tables. You get to know your neighbors and I have often suggested food items to them! Overall, the drinks are really good and the food specials are worth the prices. Speaking about prices, this isn't a cheap place and you can easily spend $50pp BUT I find it worth it. The crostini sampler is a must have for me (love the chicken liver crostimi) and I suggest you try any pasta special they have on the menu. If unsure, ask the server for help. I love their scallops and piccata. The papardelle is a hit as well. Generous portions and attentive service. It's a great date night spot or when you want to enjoy a nice dinner. But as others have said, it can get loud so don't expect soft musoc and roses! Enjoy. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Ithaca! The environment is great, very knowledgeable staff, and delicious food. There is also a great drink selection. I came here with my parents and we all absolutely loved it. It is a bit pricey but it is worth it! I got the seasonal ravioli, and a chocolate dessert. However, I also tried my parents' chicken dish and salad, and everything was wonderful. Highly recommend! read more

Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

The food here was good, but not great. I had a butternut squash soup, clams casino and a buckwheat pasta with pulled rabbit. They were all a bit overpriced and under-seasoned for my pallet; but still good. I did love that they had a good selection of unique food, as that is always what I prefer. However, if I go back to this area for dinner, I would choose Just a Taste over Mercato. read more

See all

Awesome place- unexpected in a college town. Surpassed expectations with incredible service on top of tastefully created dishes (we had the fish of the day and chicken piccata) and wonderful cocktails. 5-star. read more

This restaurant is a great addition to Ithaca's food scene. We went here recently on a weeknight and had a really great meal. The veal chop and the chicken piccata were prepared well and presented in an attractive way. They also had some great dessert options - the buttermilk pie was a surprise, but a good one. The crust was very well-made and the pie itself had good flavor and was not too sweet. Staff were friendly and checked in when appropriate. Service felt more casual than at some higher-end restaurants, but that could be because we went on a less busy weekday, or it could just be their style. Either way, it felt appropriate for the restaurant. Definitely recommend! read more

We are out of towners and stayed in Ithaca for our first wedding anniversary. We found Mercato on Trip Advisor, who also rated it very high. The absolute highlight of our visit was the professional, friendly (but not too friendly/chatty), and knowledgeable level of service we received, which was apparent right off the bat. They have an extensive cocktail menu and i was torn between two, and both had a few ingredients I was not sure what they were. Server broke down each cocktail, explaining the flavor each component brought to the overall flavor of the drink! I was impressed and happy with my selection. Server did the same thing with food items, and i ordered the sausage and sweet pepper ravioli with a chunky tomato sauce and little bits of crunchy fried basil and shallots. Hubby ordered pork Milanese with arugula tomato salad. Delish! I was a bit bummed when our food came out less than 10 minutes after ordering it as I would have liked more time to enjoy aforementioned cocktails. We got our servers attention for the wine list, and we had tastes of two suggested paired wines on the table in a matter of minutes, made our choice and quickly had a full glass to enjoy with our delicious dinner. Cocktails to the back burner as these wines paired beautifully with our meals! I appreciated it when our server folded my husbands nappy when he was in the bathroom...this guy hit all the steps of service you'd expect from a fine dining establishment! Lastly, we had a delicious peach galette and coffee for dessert, topped off with a complimentary glass of house limoncello. Our honeymoon was in the Almalfi Coast of Italy a year ago and we loved how restaurants would give their home made limoncello after each meal, so this was a very special touch to our first anniversary meal! read more

One of Ithaca's best for an elegant meal, a good glass of wine, a well-crafted cocktail, and tasty desserts. I have had dinner here several times, and have had an enjoyable experience each time. I usually get the fish in parchment, which is always tender and flaky, dressed simply with oil and lemon and seasonal herbs. The chicken liver pate is a good starter. I also love their chocolate pots de creme and the panna cotta for dessert. The best feature of Mercato, though, is their bar. They have developed a nice menu of cocktails, featuring bitters and liqueurs that you don't find everywhere else. They are potent but well-balanced. It's easy (too easy) to down a couple of these before you know it. read more

I was in the area for work and perusing yelp and the pics of the nice mid rare hanger steak lured me in. Didn't even need to look at a menu to order. Got the hanger steak mid rare (asked a little more towards rare) and was disappointed to get a medium chewy hanger steak. It also took a while to come out so when I told the waitress it was over done she asked if I wanted to redo it and I declined, but def disappointed in my meal there read more

After living in Ithaca for almost two decades, new restaurants come and go. But I had heard good things about Mercato so went with my husband around 8:00 p.m. on a Friday night. Although packed, there was one two seater left. The noise level was really loud, and I had to lean in to hear my husband but the table was too big. Small stuff. The decor and vibe = good. (Oh, and the waitress had no personality.) However, the menu is great - really varied and creative. And the food was delicious. The portions aren't that big, but we split an appetizer and left sated...and not in that gross, guilty over eating way, but truly sated. I'll definitely go back. read more

The staff was very rude to all 5 of my business associates and myself. Should've known it was going to be a bad restaurant when the majority of tables were empty. After waiting 2 hours for our food, and no compensation with appetizers let alone an apology, our pasta with "homemade" sauce came out. Chef Boyardee sold at Walmart has more authentic pasta sauce. Needless to say, my company will no longer be eating there. read more

I don't understand the high ratings. Guess my experience is not the norm. Ordered orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe and for the first time in my life received pasta and raabe with a bolognese type sauce with very sparce specks of sausage in the sauce only. Red sauce with this dish? Never saw that before. And $24 for a small dish of pasta with raabe and red sauce and no slices of sausage? I was very disappointed. The topper? A plate and butter knife was put out first thing, but never received the bread. What was that plate and butter knife for? Do you have to ask for the bread here? Damn shame read more

We arrived at 5:32pm and got the last seat before the wait list started - and it was worth it! Staff was awesome and the food was incredible! read more

I will NEVER come here. I tired to make a reservation for the weekend of my cousins commencement from Ithaca College and I was informed by the general manager that they only accepted reservations for commencement my from Cornell. Unbelievably rude and I am completely appalled. I work in the culinary industry and cannot imagine turning down customers depending on the school they attended. Unbelievably appalling. P.S. I only gave them one star because it wasn't an option to give them no stars. read more

This place has a great attention to detail, with matched superior service. Their cocktail menu is impressive, and they were willing to exchange out any that we didn't appease us. They also were willing to modify the cocktails a bit to suit each person's preference. I had the arugula salad with goat cheese, fennel, and a lemon vinaigrette. For my main course, I had the pan roasted chicken, which was one of the most tender and perfectly moistened pieces I've ever had. It was supplemented with garlic, leek, capers, and a white wine to add to the flavor, along with roasted potatoes that were perfectly finished. The service was awesome and our waitress clearly wanted to make sure we were happy with our selections. I appreciated that the bartender was willing to work his magic and modify the cocktails at the suggestion of the customers. Overall, this place certainly lives up to its reputation. read more

We had Hanger Steak. I like the fires, the steak itself is not amazingly good. It has some raw meat smell which I don't like. In general, the steak is an ok level to me. The two appetizers are pretty good. I like their service, makes me feel warm and being taken cared of. read more

Solid, well-presented, tasty dinner here. Started off a bit on the shaky side with a "sparkling blue moon" cocktail that skewed too sour, but smoother sailing after that. Crostini with roasted peppers and anchovies made for a nice starter, and my sautéed bone-in chicken (with leeks, artichokes, rosemary, white wine & fingerling potatoes) was juicy, tender and flavorful. Dining companions enjoyed their straw & hay pasta, and pork Milanese with arugula & tomatoes. Warm, golden-lit ambiance with an open kitchen, attractive bar and great service from our smiling, low-key waitress. I'd go back. read more

Great cocktails! They try to do new spins on old classics and the one I had (St. Germaine, white wine, gin, and basil) was great! Had the gnocchi which I loved. The bread is amazing! My only wish would be a better wine list. read more

Best restaurant in Ithaca? I'm not so sure. No doubt, it's an extremely pleasant night out, with attentive service, delicious wine (where in Ithaca doesn't, though?) and decent food, but all in all it doesn't feel like it quite lives up to the price. $60 for a third of a bottle of wine, a smattering of gnocchi, and a tiny cake? I think the problem here is that it may have been upstaged by the similar (but somehow more sublime) Cafe Cent-Dix next door. read more

A hotelie friend recommended me this place. The Crostini Sampler was lovely. I liked the scallops, a delicious choice for a person that is on diet XD. I recommended a friend the veal chop, which he absolutely loved! I was considering this place for a graduation dinner, but unfortunately it was too small. A nice atmosphere for a date though. read more

See all