I had one of the best meals in recent memory at Mercat this past weekend. Everything was spot on.

OLIVES ARBEQUINA, VERDIAL , CUQUILLO & GORDAL

I hate olives and yet, I was popping these over and over.

PAN CON TOMATE


CHARCUTERIE PLATE


At this point, Dana ordered an
ALCOHOL FREE MOJITO


I ordered their SPANISH FLY BELVEDERE VODKA, STRAWBERRIES, TORRES ORANGE BRANDY, BASIL, LEMON JUICE
consisting of chunks of strawberry, this tasted tangy and juicy. I loved it. At 13 dollars a pop, I only ordered the 1 but I could have easily ordered 2 more.

DÁTILES CON ALMENDRAS BACON-WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH ALMONDS


COSTILLAS DE TERNERA BEEF SHORTRIBS, HORSERADISH, PARMESAN & BACON


PELOTAS DE CALABAZA Y CORDERO BUTTERNUT SQUASH DUMPLINGS, LAMB RAGOUT, BEECH MUSHROOM ESCABECHE, BLACK TRUFFLE


GAMBAS AL AJILLO GARLIC SHRIMP


PATATAS BRAVAS SPICY POTATOES WITH SPICY PAPRIKA AIOLI

Good but not enough of a spice kick.

GAMBAS JUMBO PRAWNS


EMPANADA CON ESPINACAS SPINACH AND MANCHEGO EMPANADA WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER AND ARTICHOKE ESCABECHE

I did not find this appetizing in the least. I'm not sure if it was because this was just not good or if it was served warm or...what. This just did not appeal to me.

BLACK ANGUS RIB EYE MEYER NATURAL ANGUS BEEF, USA

I was food drunk at this point - starting to see (food) double. I had a single bite of this and could not help myself. Though I blacked out, Fiancee told me I ate the whole thing.

For dessert, I had a glass of their
SEASONAL SANGRÍA STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, AND BLUEBERRIES

To my surprise this was actually quite bland.

CROQUETAS DE XOCOLATA MILK CHOCOLATE CROQUETTTES, BANANA MARSHMALLOW, ROSEMARY CARAMEL, ARBEQUINA OLIVE OIL
Nothing to add here. Same dessert we've all had in the past and it's always been delicious.

Mercat a la Planxa - absolutely perfect.

incite wrote:I had one of the best meals in recent memory at Mercat this past weekend. Everything was spot on.

Similar experience to report this week - small-plate food is rarely more colorful and appealing (even geometric) than at Mercat, and the flavors generally rise to the visual promise. Highlights for us were the pa amb tomaquet, fried peppers, pork belly with truffled apple slaw, and a special of citrusy goat cheese ravioli on a bed of roasted vegetables and nuts. I will echo that the seasonal fruit sangria was a weak link, something they've done better in the past. The paella offerings have stabilized, and the grill section of the menu offers significant portions of simple and savory meats if you'd like to offset the consistently rich desserts. They did forget a fig and prosciutto salad we ordered, but took it off the bill smoothly when we were sated anyway. I think we did better with portion balance and price than the $65ish dinner tasting menu, but am certainly curious what that looks like currently under Garces when he's in-house, as he was for this meal.

Mercat seems to fly under the radar, but consistently has some amazing food. It's become a go-to when needing a good meal close to downtown. They are traditional tapas restaurant, so it's fun to go with a group and sample a wide selection of menu options.

We had dinner there last night and had another fabulous meal. The pork belly with white beans, potato espuma and serrano jus was a particular highlight, along with their special suckling pig flat-bread. But honestly of the twelve plates we split between our group of four, nothing was a miss.

I also thorough enjoyed a "La Mora" cocktail, Mercat's spin on a mint julep (Bourbon, blackberries, mint). Others had wines by the glass and were impressed as well.

Only downside to the meal was that we didn't leave any room for dessert!

Good to hear. Used to love this place but my last meal there was so comically bad (mind you, this was an over the top business dinner with a huge tab, too) in terms of service but also food, that I about gave up on it. Highlights included the server pouring hot oil from some gambas or pulpo or whatever on my suit as a result of insisting on clearing and serving from across a bannister, chairs and guests rather than walk around, then shrugging it off. Later the same delighful lady had no idea what the sherry selection was because, in her words, it all tastes like shit. I think she was an outlier. The kitchen was also off, but not by as far a margin as the service. I'm a pushover and will be back based on this.

JeffB wrote:Used to love this place but my last meal there was so comically bad (mind you, this was an over the top business dinner with a huge tab, too) in terms of service but also food, that I about gave up on it . . .

We're in just about the same boat, Jeff. It's been about a 1.5 years since my last visit. At that meal, the service was perfunctory (though, not as incompetent as it was at yours) but the food was positively awful. I vowed I'd never return, and still haven't.

=R=

JeffB wrote:Good to hear. Used to love this place but my last meal there was so comically bad (mind you, this was an over the top business dinner with a huge tab, too) in terms of service but also food, that I about gave up on it. Highlights included the server pouring hot oil from some gambas or pulpo or whatever on my suit as a result of insisting on clearing and serving from across a bannister, chairs and guests rather than walk around, then shrugging it off. Later the same delighful lady had no idea what the sherry selection was because, in her words, it all tastes like shit. I think she was an outlier. The kitchen was also off, but not by as far a margin as the service. I'm a pushover and will be back based on this.

Really odd. We went not that long ago with a good-sized group and the service was great (reflected in the tip). It's a place we visit 2-3 times a year and have not yet been disappointed.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

JeffB wrote:Used to love this place but my last meal there was so comically bad (mind you, this was an over the top business dinner with a huge tab, too) in terms of service but also food, that I about gave up on it . . .

We're in just about the same boat, Jeff. It's been about a 1.5 years since my last visit. At that meal, the service was perfunctory (though, not as incompetent as it was at yours) but the food was positively awful. I vowed I'd never return, and still haven't.

=R=

This is very surprising, particularly after seeing some of Chicago's truly bad restaurants recommended on this board. Can't speak to your experiences, but my most recent visit was on a Saturday, two weeks ago. Service was attentive, informed and fairly well executed. The food was off the charts good. Strongly recommend you give this place another try and (hopefully) report back on your positive experience.

Pursuit wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

JeffB wrote:Used to love this place but my last meal there was so comically bad (mind you, this was an over the top business dinner with a huge tab, too) in terms of service but also food, that I about gave up on it . . .

We're in just about the same boat, Jeff. It's been about a 1.5 years since my last visit. At that meal, the service was perfunctory (though, not as incompetent as it was at yours) but the food was positively awful. I vowed I'd never return, and still haven't.

=R=

This is very surprising, particularly after seeing some of Chicago's truly bad restaurants recommended on this board. Can't speak to your experiences, but my most recent visit was on a Saturday, two weeks ago. Service was attentive, informed and fairly well executed. The food was off the charts good. Strongly recommend you give this place another try and (hopefully) report back on your positive experience.

This meal was shortly after I spent 10 days in Spain and quite honestly, it was a disaster. I'm not planning a return any time soon.

=R=

From my perspective, both food and service are rarely something that can be standardized like an assembly-line. And that goes for the entire spectrum. Even places I adore and eat at regularly enough to be acquainted with staff/owners, sometimes miss badly. When humans are pretty much solely responsible for production, it's bound to happen occasionally.

Having said that, I've been to Mercat 3 times (2x I went voluntarily, once it was selected by another) and I just wasn't a fan. Nothing awful--just not my style of food or service. Food was overdone--too many ingredients, unbalanced flavors--the antithesis of what good Spanish food is to me. And service was hard core upselling or inattentive to the point of annoyance. But my opinion, particularly about something as subjective as food, isn't "fact"--it's my opinion. We all have them and they will vary. Never sure why people get bent about it.

I've always really enjoyed it there...very positive experiences,

DutchMuse wrote:I've always really enjoyed it there...very positive experiences,

My early meals there were phenomenal and it was one of my favorite places for quite some time. I wish I'd enjoyed my past couple of visits even a little bit.

=R=

Well I don't know about anyone else, but Ronnie, I'm beginning to get the impression the bloom is off the rose for you at Mercat!

I'm headed back for Valentines Day weekend - yes it is a weekend long extravaganza - as we're fans and its walking distance from Casa Pursuit, so, perhaps, I'll report back. Um, about Mercat that is.

Pursuit wrote:Um, about Mercat that is.

LMAO! Your discretion is very much appreciated!

=R=

Returned to Mercat recently for the first time in a couple years and regret not going more often. Had an excellent meal from start to finish. Highlights included an excellent cheese plate and these meaty gems:



I know people have had service issues in the past. Ours was fine, if a bit slow. The restaurant was packed and appeared to be down one server.

We were there a couple of weeks ago after a long absence and had a great meal. Service was within normal parameters - could have been a little more attentive but not to the point where I'd reconsider a return visit. The quality of the food is still there.

Mercat a la Planxa closing for renovation
http://trib.in/2h0O0iD

Good news. Frankly, I've always found the food to be terrific, but don't go because I seem to get a lot of wobbly table and chairs, very annoying. Spending a couple bucks on seating will go a long way for this place