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I have been wanting to try this little place for SO long and decided, after watching an episode of Stanley Tucci in Italy, that I needed a fresh pasta fix! This place did not disappoint. It's so cute and quaint, fits maybe 8-10 people, so perfect for a little lunch date or girlfriend chat fest. We ordered lattes ($5), which were delicious, not too milky, definitely good strong espresso. We shared the daily special which was cream asparagus pasta and a mortadella sandwich. Perfect amount for two people. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and tasted so fresh, it had plenty of fresh cheese on top. I found it was a little salty, and a bit dry, but it was still delicious ($21). I will try another pasta next time. The mortadella sandwich ($13) we asked for grilled and it was sooo good. The fresh made foccacia was amazing. It had plenty of mayo and arugula which paired perfectly with the creamy mortadella. They sell plenty of fresh pasta sauces like bolognese, cacio Pepe, truffle cream sauce, along with fresh pasta including gluten free fresh pasta We loved our time here and we will be back!
I've only had the coffee and focaccia at Mercato Di Luigi, but I have gone back many times. I really enjoy their flat white and the little cookie it comes with. The pasta smelled delicious while I was drinking my coffee. I like this spot for a sunny day where you can sit outside at the picnic tables. The indoor seating is limited, so it can get busy on rainy days.
Cute neighborhood cafe with pasta specials from 1130-230 on weekdays. I tried the ragu bolognese ($23). The meat sauce was tasty but I thought the pasta to be more on the al denté side. Service was great.
We came on a rainy day and was pleasantly surprised with how amazing the food tasted. The carb pasta was to die for and the breakfast sandwich was tasty and flavorful! Love this local cafe spot that serves hand made pasta.
I ordered a latte and a plain croissant. I received my latte in the first 5 mins, which was great. The croissant took about 15 minutes, by the time I was done with my coffee, so I wasnt pleased. They had it ready made and all they needed to do was to heat it up. Luckily, both their coffee and croissant was great so I wasn't upset for more than a few minutes I'd still go next time! Only a few tables so no guarantee you'll get one. Not a great place for large crowds. Plain and simple decor which I liked.
Such a cute little shop in the neighbourhood. I came here with a friend to have some lunch and I love that they have daily pasta specials. With it being such a lovely day - we sat outside on the picnic benches and there was lots of room for babies and pets. I got the Agio e Olio and the texture was just right. I also got a cappucino and thought it was okay. The pasta is defintiely what they are known for though. Can't wait to come back to check out more of their daily pasta specials!
We had a lovely Sunday morning with last summer weather sitting on the patio enjoying our americano, espresso, and cornetti sandwiches We drove by the bistro many times and decided to check it out on our morning walk from downtown today. Although it is located right on 12th, its corner location by Carolina provides a nice recess for its patio seating on the side street away from the traffic. There are a handful of tables inside the bistro but there is ample seating outside both on 12th and Carolina. Our coffees were fresh, rich and strong and our cornetti breakfast sandwiches were filled with a thick layer of ham and fluffy scrambled easy eggs. We spent the morning watching neighbours coming in and out of the bistro with their coffees and pastries. It was a nice way to begin our day slowly with many out of town for the long weekend.
This was quite a surprise find in the neighborhood. You have to live in this area to know it. It looks like a house or private dwelling with no big signage. There is a sandwich board right outside the door to inform customers of the daily special. Parking can be tricky though it can be found. The place is quite small with a few tables. I managed to get a table when some customers left. It was already packed in the mid morning on a weekday. I think most people will get food to go during the lunch rush. I came here for the hot chocolate festival and had the tiramisu hot chocolate. It was simple with whipped cream and served with a lady finger. It was also one of the best hot chocolate I ever had. Description from website: #119 - TOASTY TIRAMISU Available January 13 - February 14, 2024 A warm version of the classic Italian Tiramisu that you know and love. It's rich, it's creamy and tangy, and filled with chocolate flavour. Served with a lady finger. This cafe and market sells mainly hot beverages with baked goods. It has breakfast sandwich and the pasta for lunch. Very simple. You can also get Italian specialties goods and sundries items here. Nice little Italian shop nestled in this neighborhood.
March 2023 experience: I visited a little, newly opened, hidden café in East Van on the weekend called Mercato Di Luigi, which is an offshoot of the Ask For Luigi pasta restaurant down in East Hastings. It's a small establishment with outdoor seating that I'm sure will be a nice spot to hang out during the summer months. For purchase inside, they have ready-made pasta both in dry and wet form, pizza dough, and an assortment of unique dipping oils and Italian snacks. They must've put out the pasta board to tempt me, because I tried to order one at 10:30am and they told me that it's a 12pm onwards thing. So if that's what you're craving, you should go during that time and it looks quite delicious and substantial. They day I went, they had two offerings: a carbonara offering and a pesto offering. The menu itself isn't complicated with just the coffees, breakfast sandwich and the pasta on there. But the counter has an interesting selection of sweet options if that's more your cup of tea, such as biscotti, pistachio tart, Nutella/apricot/custard cornetto (the Italian croissant). I ended up deciding on the breakfast sandwich, as well as their custard cornetto. The breakfast sandwich was only $10 but included all the essentials like scrambled eggs, prosciutto, arugula, pesto mayo, and cacciocavallo cheese, so I was very happy that both were very satisfying and the coffee was also fantastic.
The breakfast sandwich and carbonara pasta are to die for. It's a simple small place but they really pack a punch in the fresh pastas. You need to come and try the latte as they are super tasty. A real whole in the wall place.
What used to be Oh Carolina is now Mercato di Luigi. It's got the same cafe/grocery hybrid vibe, except that now they serve a couple of Italian pasta dishes! What's great about Mercato di Luigi is that they have a few feature dishes for each day, meaning you can try new things from week to week. I really enjoyed the radiatore pasta; it was a funky shape that caught the sauce really well. The mushroom and emulsified sauce were excellent. The carbonara fell a little flat for me; the noodles were a touch overcooked and bland. The banana bread with caramel butter was pretty good as well, though maybe a bit one-note. You can expect to pay ~$20 per pasta dish and $5-6 for baked goods. They also have a good selection of Italian groceries, including pizza dough, frozen ragu sauces, and a small selection of gelatos from Motoretta downtown. I think it's a decent spot to pick up a few Italian grocery items, but the pasta can be hit or miss. I'd come by if I was in the neighborhood again, but I'm in no rush to make it happen.
Pasta for breakfast!? Yes please!! Absolutely in love with the food and dining experience at Mercato di Luigi! The have number of tables outside around the restaurant that is dog friendly and have a super chill vibe! Pastas of the day is served daily from 10:30am -2:30pm. The The Carbonara alla Luigi was soo flavourful. And the poached egg perfectly tops it off with the beautiful silky yolk oozing and coating each strand of taglioni. And if you are up for something lighter there is a delicious breakfast sandwich served till 12pm daily too! I was so happily satisfied with both! No better way to enjoy a carb loving breakfast!
Great Americano and breakfast sandwich! Perfect for a post-walk indulgence. Service was fast and friendly. Lots of outdoor seating. Quaint interior with some basic Italian dry goods and a few refrigerated items for grab and go.
Lovely little pasta shop! We walked in on a stormy morning so seats were hard to find. But luckily another couple was leaving. I will say many people came in with scowls because there werent open seats. So be aware it is a very small shop. Which i love. The service was good. The staff was friendly. Some of the grumpy people wanting a seat; did complain to the staff and the staff were very patient with them. We ordered two pastas a coffee and cookies for dessert. My carbonara was sensational one of the best pastas I've had in vancouver. Very well balanced. Excellent flavour profile. My friend also loved her meal and said her coffee was also one of the best shes ever had. My small jam cookie was delicate and sweet. Very impressed. The atmosphere definitely added to the experience. Rainy day and a warm pasta shop. Tables alive with conversation. (The only downside was the washroom definitely left things to be desired. Its understand that in a small space it can be very hard to have everything be aesthetic.) The staff and atmosphere otherwise very charming. Made me homesick for Montreal. I love that smaller places like these are becoming more common place in Vancouver. I will definitely be back to try more of their pastas. And say hello to their staff again. Its a true gem! read more
Excellent fresh pasta with well balanced flavour profile. There are many local neighbors who pop in for a bite or takeout. Since they have a different pasta each day, we noticed some people calling in to ask for the pasta of the day. Will be back to taste more dishes! read more
8 months ago
I have been wanting to try this little place for SO long and decided, after watching an episode of Stanley Tucci in Italy, that I needed a fresh pasta fix! This place did not disappoint. It's so cute and quaint, fits maybe 8-10 people, so perfect for a little lunch date or girlfriend chat fest. We ordered lattes ($5), which were delicious, not too milky, definitely good strong espresso. We shared the daily special which was cream asparagus pasta and a mortadella sandwich. Perfect amount for two people. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and tasted so fresh, it had plenty of fresh cheese on top. I found it was a little salty, and a bit dry, but it was still delicious ($21). I will try another pasta next time. The mortadella sandwich ($13) we asked for grilled and it was sooo good. The fresh made foccacia was amazing. It had plenty of mayo and arugula which paired perfectly with the creamy mortadella. They sell plenty of fresh pasta sauces like bolognese, cacio Pepe, truffle cream sauce, along with fresh pasta including gluten free fresh pasta We loved our time here and we will be back! read more
1 year ago
I've only had the coffee and focaccia at Mercato Di Luigi, but I have gone back many times. I really enjoy their flat white and the little cookie it comes with. The pasta smelled delicious while I was drinking my coffee. I like this spot for a sunny day where you can sit outside at the picnic tables. The indoor seating is limited, so it can get busy on rainy days. read more
1 year ago
We came on a rainy day and was pleasantly surprised with how amazing the food tasted. The carb pasta was to die for and the breakfast sandwich was tasty and flavorful! Love this local cafe spot that serves hand made pasta. read more
I ordered a latte and a plain croissant. I received my latte in the first 5 mins, which was great. The croissant took about 15 minutes, by the time I was done with my coffee, so I wasnt pleased. They had it ready made and all they needed to do was to heat it up. Luckily, both their coffee and croissant was great so I wasn't upset for more than a few minutes I'd still go next time! Only a few tables so no guarantee you'll get one. Not a great place for large crowds. Plain and simple decor which I liked. read more
Such a cute little shop in the neighbourhood. I came here with a friend to have some lunch and I love that they have daily pasta specials. With it being such a lovely day - we sat outside on the picnic benches and there was lots of room for babies and pets. I got the Agio e Olio and the texture was just right. I also got a cappucino and thought it was okay. The pasta is defintiely what they are known for though. Can't wait to come back to check out more of their daily pasta specials! read more
We had a lovely Sunday morning with last summer weather sitting on the patio enjoying our americano, espresso, and cornetti sandwiches We drove by the bistro many times and decided to check it out on our morning walk from downtown today. Although it is located right on 12th, its corner location by Carolina provides a nice recess for its patio seating on the side street away from the traffic. There are a handful of tables inside the bistro but there is ample seating outside both on 12th and Carolina. Our coffees were fresh, rich and strong and our cornetti breakfast sandwiches were filled with a thick layer of ham and fluffy scrambled easy eggs. We spent the morning watching neighbours coming in and out of the bistro with their coffees and pastries. It was a nice way to begin our day slowly with many out of town for the long weekend. read more
3 years ago
This was quite a surprise find in the neighborhood. You have to live in this area to know it. It looks like a house or private dwelling with no big signage. There is a sandwich board right outside the door to inform customers of the daily special. Parking can be tricky though it can be found. The place is quite small with a few tables. I managed to get a table when some customers left. It was already packed in the mid morning on a weekday. I think most people will get food to go during the lunch rush. I came here for the hot chocolate festival and had the tiramisu hot chocolate. It was simple with whipped cream and served with a lady finger. It was also one of the best hot chocolate I ever had. Description from website: #119 - TOASTY TIRAMISU Available January 13 - February 14, 2024 A warm version of the classic Italian Tiramisu that you know and love. It's rich, it's creamy and tangy, and filled with chocolate flavour. Served with a lady finger. This cafe and market sells mainly hot beverages with baked goods. It has breakfast sandwich and the pasta for lunch. Very simple. You can also get Italian specialties goods and sundries items here. Nice little Italian shop nestled in this neighborhood. read more
6 months ago
March 2023 experience: I visited a little, newly opened, hidden café in East Van on the weekend called Mercato Di Luigi, which is an offshoot of the Ask For Luigi pasta restaurant down in East Hastings. It's a small establishment with outdoor seating that I'm sure will be a nice spot to hang out during the summer months. For purchase inside, they have ready-made pasta both in dry and wet form, pizza dough, and an assortment of unique dipping oils and Italian snacks. They must've put out the pasta board to tempt me, because I tried to order one at 10:30am and they told me that it's a 12pm onwards thing. So if that's what you're craving, you should go during that time and it looks quite delicious and substantial. They day I went, they had two offerings: a carbonara offering and a pesto offering. The menu itself isn't complicated with just the coffees, breakfast sandwich and the pasta on there. But the counter has an interesting selection of sweet options if that's more your cup of tea, such as biscotti, pistachio tart, Nutella/apricot/custard cornetto (the Italian croissant). I ended up deciding on the breakfast sandwich, as well as their custard cornetto. The breakfast sandwich was only $10 but included all the essentials like scrambled eggs, prosciutto, arugula, pesto mayo, and cacciocavallo cheese, so I was very happy that both were very satisfying and the coffee was also fantastic. read more
1 year ago
The breakfast sandwich and carbonara pasta are to die for. It's a simple small place but they really pack a punch in the fresh pastas. You need to come and try the latte as they are super tasty. A real whole in the wall place. read more
4 years ago
What used to be Oh Carolina is now Mercato di Luigi. It's got the same cafe/grocery hybrid vibe, except that now they serve a couple of Italian pasta dishes! What's great about Mercato di Luigi is that they have a few feature dishes for each day, meaning you can try new things from week to week. I really enjoyed the radiatore pasta; it was a funky shape that caught the sauce really well. The mushroom and emulsified sauce were excellent. The carbonara fell a little flat for me; the noodles were a touch overcooked and bland. The banana bread with caramel butter was pretty good as well, though maybe a bit one-note. You can expect to pay ~$20 per pasta dish and $5-6 for baked goods. They also have a good selection of Italian groceries, including pizza dough, frozen ragu sauces, and a small selection of gelatos from Motoretta downtown. I think it's a decent spot to pick up a few Italian grocery items, but the pasta can be hit or miss. I'd come by if I was in the neighborhood again, but I'm in no rush to make it happen. read more
Pasta for breakfast!? Yes please!! Absolutely in love with the food and dining experience at Mercato di Luigi! The have number of tables outside around the restaurant that is dog friendly and have a super chill vibe! Pastas of the day is served daily from 10:30am -2:30pm. The The Carbonara alla Luigi was soo flavourful. And the poached egg perfectly tops it off with the beautiful silky yolk oozing and coating each strand of taglioni. And if you are up for something lighter there is a delicious breakfast sandwich served till 12pm daily too! I was so happily satisfied with both! No better way to enjoy a carb loving breakfast! read more
Great Americano and breakfast sandwich! Perfect for a post-walk indulgence. Service was fast and friendly. Lots of outdoor seating. Quaint interior with some basic Italian dry goods and a few refrigerated items for grab and go. read more
2 years ago
This is a little hidden gem in Mt. Pleasant that was delightful. The coffee was smooth and strong, and the house bread was AMAZING. The service was quick and attentive. The store has a curated selection of goodies and a great little rotating menu. Seating inside and outside which makes it great for rainy or warm days! read more
3 years ago
Excellent food, excellent service. Each dish can stand on its own. You will not be disappointed. I especially love that each day is a new menus. read more
3 years ago
Mind-blowing breakfast sandwich. Like a quality pasta, your grandma's perfectly seasoned eggs, and a creamy ham and Gruyère sandwich all mixed together. Absolutely sublime meal - pastry, coffee and all. read more
3 years ago
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