For me the cocktail program is the real draw here. The food is good, but at the price leaves me underwhelmed. Service at times can be questionable, but the bartenders and servers are fun people. I love the atmosphere and the decor. I don't go anymore expecting mind blowing food. I go to have a good time. Four drinks in it no longer bothers me that their food would taste a hell of a lot better at a 30% lower price point.
(4)
Brooke L.
Hands down this is my favorite restaurant of all time. I've been there on several occasions and have yet to be disappointed. The Dorado Ceviche and shrimp tacos are my favorite. I have to give a shout out to Wendy, Belle, and Rodrigo for their exceptional service. They are knowledgeable about the menu so if you can't decide let them decide for you. Their recommendations are sure to please. The food is amazing, the staff and atmosphere are fun, and the drinks are delicious.
(5)
Noopur L.
I'm only giving two stars rather than ONE star because they comp'd our dinner/drinks. Even then - I left vowing never to come back. My boyfriend and I made a reservation for 2 at 9:30 pm on a Friday night. We decided to get there an hour early and let the hostess know that if anything opens up, she should let us know. She said she'd likely be able to seat us by 9 pm, which we thought was great! The place was packed beyond belief with no standing room. What I didn't understand was why they weren't seating more people when there were plenty of tables open in the lounge area... like hello? You aren't that hip and trendy. Seat your customers! We checked back with the hostess and she kept pushing back the time and we certainly understood if 9:30 pm was the best she could do, since that was the original reservation time. 10:30 pm rolls around and after my last attempt to check-in she said she'd only be able to seat us in the lounge. So I put on my coat and leave. My boyfriend comes out and says they'll pay for our meal if we stay - the only ray of light for a cold, hungry brown girl. The food was good but certainly nothing spectacular. I'm pretty sure I can get ceviche and tacos anywhere else for cheaper. Hey folks - if you want good service and EXCELLENT Mexican food - go to DE CERO in the West Loop. If the restaurant area has a wait, you should head over to the bar where you can order food and get some fast service.
(2)
Megan A.
Order the pork tacos. Seriously, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Allen P.
I love their taco's!!!!!!! I just wish they weren't so expensive.
(5)
Kevin T.
Overall I had a fair dining experience. Excellent cocktails, well balanced. They have a large assortment of cerviche, guac, tacos, and other food. Very tasty. It was a busy Friday and we had the restaurant week menu. They never brought out our sides. We went through our whole meal w/o our sides. We decided to ask for them to go and they only gave us one of them. Just tired of waiting we paid and left. Granted it was a busy Friday and sometimes I understand some places get a bit overwhelmed, but that's when a place can really surpass expectations. That being said, I enjoy dining more on off nights and would give this place another go.
(3)
Jerome J.
Funky fusion tacos are tasty, although I still like DeCero's tacos better. They are also very inventive with their salsas, and the "cheesy rice" is ridiculously delicious. Service is excellent with very friendly and attentive wait staff. They also have a full bar with some Latin-inspired drink mixes. Nice place for a casual lunch, celebrate a birthday, dinner date or just to have a drink.
(4)
David C.
Went on a weekend evening...what a scene. It's a total "club" feel...in a bad way. Total hook up joint, couldn't believe it and the music is so loud forget having a conversation. If you're looking for better than average mexican food with your friends and scoping on the opposite sex then this is your place. The food wants to be more than it is but at the end of the day pretty pedestrian. Walking out of here I smelled like I was the one frying the taco chips in the back - yuck. Won't go back here. If I were in my 20's and into the sleezy girl and guido scenen then perfect spot - but I'm not. I just figured it out, this place belongs on Rush Street or Division -
(2)
R N.
I went here with a group of ladies to celebrate a birthday last weekend. I should start by saying that the food was surprisingly good, however everything else was a giant disappointment. There were about 10 different bachelorette parties there when I walked in. The decor is very loungey chic, the music blaring and the people watching was pretty entertaining. We couldn't be seated until our whole party was present and once we all arrived, with one extra person, we were told that because there were more than 6 people we would have to choose from a limited menu that started at $30 per person. The only main course for every option was tacos. I like tacos, but I felt this was super limiting for a party of 7 (how hard is it to bring out 7 different entrees??). The food was good, particularly the shrimp tacos and the portions were enough for everyone in the party, however they kept coming around and trying to take away our plates before we were finished. At one point I looked up and noticed my drink, which was probably a little less than 1/2 full had been removed from the table. I complained to our waitress, as did another friend at the table who had the same thing happen, and she apologized and brought us each HALF drinks. That was just insulting. I would not eat here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone.
(2)
Emily K.
fun atmosphere. great service. great food. great drinks! everything about mercadito was fun. from the comment card t shirts to the small shareable portions... it was a great time, though pricey, and GREAT for groups and parties. our waitress, gabby, was fun and helpful. we were in a group of 6 and had a blast. customers were young and hip and fun... it was a great atmosphere. the guacamole is outstanding so don't miss it!
(4)
Peggy G.
I would say overall I really enjoyed Mercadito. On food alone, it would get 5 stars. Their mango and toreado guacamoles are delicious. Their margaritas are strong and have a good balance of lime, tequila, and salt. The asado and the pollo tacos were AMAZING! I would go back just for those tacos. The pescado and the carnitas were solid good but didn't know my socks off because he pescao was slightly bland and the carnitas had a very strong pork taste. We did no get dessert. The reason I made it 4 stars was that it was very very cramped and extremely loud (and the place was only a little over half full). There were only 4 people in our party, and we had to almost yell to hear each other. Also the tables were so close together that the people that were sitting in the booth section of the tables couldn't fit to get out without moving the tables. Overall, I would go back happily, but not with a big group, and not on a very busy night..
(4)
Lucien H.
Tacos here are super tasty. The other reviews bitching about the price just kind of makes me laugh. You are in a modern, swanky river north restaurant/bar! What did you expect? The asada is great and so are the guacs. Great selection of tequila and cocktails. Our server was definitely high on life but who cares I suppose. Definitely a fun hangout spot when you can afford it. Mwa ha ha.
(4)
Brad F.
This place so was freakin good. The service was just ok, I know its new and they are probably gettin on their game. The food was soooo delicious!! I wish they had a 6 star option, we got flauntas, shrimp tacos, chips and salsa and guacamole, and a few other things! I don't like guac but I like it here! I'm definitely coming back for those tacos cause they were ridic, compliments to the chef!
(5)
Joan M.
Super delicious tacos (not cheap!) and plantains, and very good drinks. I would suggest offering 2 different taco varieties for each plate of 4 tacos since it's hard for a party of 2 to try too many items. I thought the menu pricing was confusing for margaritas -- I thought it would be $13 each but it turned out to be $16 -- pretty steep and unexpected. The waitstaff should be instructed not to hover at the serving station by the front windows -- four of you there makes it feel like I'm eating in the kitchen. Also, the waitstaff needs some training on table service -- they ask if they can remove a plate when it still has food on it or when you literally are raising your hand with the final bite from the plate -- very annoying. That just makes it seem like they are rushing you in order to turn the table or get you to order more plates. I want to order everything as it was all superb! But give me a chance to savour my food. Excellent food, service needs improving.
(4)
M B.
Went on a Monday night and it was packed. We didn't have reservations, so we waited 5 minutes at the bar. I wouldn't try this place on a weekend night, but it's definitely worth a visit during the week / for brunch! It's simply the most authentic higher-end Mexican place in Chicago. Yes, I've travelled all over Mexico, including small towns and big cities. I've also been to Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Adobo Grill. And this place wins over them all! Such fresh food - great flavors, proving to Chicagoans that Mexican food doesn't just mean enchiladas smothered in canned sauce and fake shredded cheese. For example: the fried sweet plantains (ok, more carribbean than Mexican...maybe they're common in the Veracruz area?) came with this incredible ginger-jalapeño salsa. So divine! The only 2 complaints were minor: first, the tortillas (though house-made) didn't come close to the tortillas in Mexico. That's true for all Mexican restaurants in the U.S. though, so not a real complaint. Second, we asked for lime and salt for our tacos, and they gave us lemon. I've never used lemon in Mexico - they should have lime! The drinks are amazing...the food fresh and authentic...the ambiance hip and loungy. The only downside is how crowded it gets, so be sure to go during an off-time.
(5)
Caren T.
We had a 7:15pm reservation which was slightly earlier than we wanted, so we took a while to drink our margaritas and eat our guacamole sampler. Even though we couldn't get a later reservation, there were a number of empty tables around us and even the bar wasn't crowded. All that seemed to change in an instant once it turned 8pm! The bar completely filled up as well as the tables and it got very loud. That didn't bother us at all, but I can see how it would some. The margaritas were really good, right up there with some of the best we've had and we have had many. We did the choose-3 guacamole appetizer (they have 6 or 7 to choose from) and they just give you a tiny bit of each along with a smallish basket of chips (not enough to ruin your appetite for dinner which is refreshing). The guacs were all very different and all very delicious! Dinner was also really tasty. My wife had the pescado tacos--very fresh and I had the carnitas taquizas (which was basically like deconstructed soft tacos, so you make them how you want). Overall, a loud, lively, great-people-watching, delicious food and margarita restaurant!
(4)
Ursula Z.
I wish I even had to give a star. The place is terrible. My friend had a birthday party there and reservation was for 5.30 pm., before even we had a sit, hostess - Gina - announced that we had to be out the door before 7.30pm, so better hurry up she added - RUDE. Next, before ordering, we asked for separate checks for each of us, waitress said no because it was party for 10 people and she can not do it separately. We never had problem with separate checks in any restaurants - only here. On the end we got this long, detailed check, it took us 30 min to figure it out, who pays for what, in the mean time waitress and hostess were hurrying us up and taking everything from the table. Food was normal - nothing special and overpriced, waitress and hostess impolite.
(1)
Lynn O.
First off, let me say that we had one of the most enthusiastic servers ever. And strangely, it was nice, not annoying. He seemed authentic and frankly happy to be there. The vibe is fun, food was good, I liked my steak tacos and had a nice margarita on the rocks. Everything is trendy and modern. The only complaint is the designers appeared to use the same wood floor material for the ceiling and despite the fact that it looks cool, it is a little loud, or I could just be getting a little old. :)
(4)
nancy b.
i went here on a friday for a friend's birthday with a group of 10. we were seated in one of the booths on the main level. we did the menu sharing where we got a 3 types of tacos, three guacamoles and two salsas. they brought one of each type of taco for every person at the table so you don't have to worry about not getting to try each. the guacs were all fantastic, a bit on the spicy side which i liked. the skirt steak was fantastic. the chicken was nothing special at all and no one at the table liked it. the meal came with two desserts but i was too stuffed by that time to even try them. overall: good. nothing mind-blowing amazing, but a good meal. the margaritas, however, were some of the best i've ever had. the service was fine - she was hard to find sometimes which was a tad annoying for a large table, but it was a friday night.
(3)
Jason M.
Most underwhelming and over-priced experience in all of Chicago. Period!
(1)
Dhruva R.
I'd been to the one in New York a couple of times and loved it. However, the decor and level of service were even better at the one in Chicago. The food at both locations is about the same (wonderful!).
(4)
Ingrid G.
The service was soooooooo slow. However, they were very apologetic about it which always counts for a lot. Sometimes the kitchen controls the serving staff and vice versa. The food was ok, not amazing. But, I was so hungry by the time we got it, I was past the point of hungry to enjoy.
(2)
Melissa Q.
I came here on a Tuesday night for a birthday celebration. My party of four had reservations and we were seated right away. Our server was friendly, attentive and personable. I think at one point she started dancing a little while taking our orders, it definitely gave us all a laugh. The food was amazing. We had 3 guacamoles, 3 tacos, quesidillias, rice and beans and another cheesy rice thing they have. The portions are small, so we were concerned we didn't have enough food. Turns out, we coudln't finish it all! Everything was absolutely delicious. Mercadito also has an interesting drink menu as well. My boyfriend got the cucumber margarita, something I have never heard of before. It was refreshing just as the waitress said. Our favorite drink was my strawberry margarita. The decor is very appealing and the tables and chairs very comfortable. There are two reasons why this review is not getting 5 stars. The first and most important, it was about 100 degrees in the restaurant. My face was flushed the entire time and my other party guests felt the same way. Second, the drinks took a long time to come out. I believe we were halfway done with our app before our first round of margaritas came. This probably would be overlooked if it wasn't for the heat.. I will be back, but probably for a special occassion since it is pretty expensive.
(4)
Chi M.
........finally, Mercadito lands in chicago!!!!! YAY. i've heard a lot of things about the san fran and nyc locations. very very positive things. i never made it a priority to visit the place if i was ever out at one of those cities. but it did kinda hover somewhere behind my mind... simmering, waiting. and just as if the forefathers of the restaurant business heard my cry, BAM! - the sandovals granted my wish and set up shop at the old la pomme rouge location. anyway, yes - this review may be premature as i was at the grand opening private press event. the decor is SPECTACULAR. lots of amber and honey hues, great artwork, comfortable seating. they served a host of free margaritas - cucumber (with a fresh long slice stuck on a stick, dancing happily in your drink), a pear margarita, and one called a "pewneww" (that's how the server pronounced it). It was very strong, with a flaming lime (yes, literally a lime on fire, in your glass). But as they served it, they had to put the fire out :(. it was all delicious, creative, and sparked a lot of good convo. they had amazing steak tacos, and a fresh fish taco (i think it was cod), pork tacos (i don't eat pork but i heard a lot of "ooohs" and "ahhhhhs" when they arrived). i will definitely make a formal dining visit here within the upcoming weeks, and give a more accurate and precise account of the menu, drinks, and staff - which by the way were very patient and warm and friendly despite the host of spoiled immature ditsy sex in the city wannabes who thought this was a grand opening about them. cheers!
(4)
Christy T.
Had a fabulous dinner with my mother here over the holidays! The guacamole and chips were delicious and the seasonal beef taco that went toward some charity that i can't remember was orgasmic. even my mother thought so which i probably would have found disturbing if not for the amazing pear margaritas that i couldn't stop ordering. the place has a great vibe with lots of energy. the only negatives are that even with a reservation i still had to wait 15-20 min for my table and the seating was extremely crammed. highly recommend!
(4)
H H.
Oh Merca, my home away from home! I think the way customers are treated somewhere is to some extent more important than the food/drinks in determining if they'll go back. Here they must know that because I've returned so many times that I feel like the adopted child of the Mercadito family. Therefore, if not for the food, the fun atmosphere and friendly staff are enough reason to come here. Additionally, it should give you some piece of mind if you care to know that you're supporting a place run by a great group of genuine people deserving of success. For food that can't be found anywhere else, always ask for the taco of the month (a.k.a. tacos for strength charity- tacos made by top chefs around the nation, amazing always), an order of green rice and some corn on the cob for the table, and the shrimp soup for brunch is delicious. If you're thirsty try some mezcal if you never have and like tequila. Also, try to attend a cooking demonstration by Patricio sometime. Yum!
(5)
Alex M.
Great spot. A little pricey for the portions but their tacos are worth the price and more!
(4)
Bianca S.
I went to Mercadito for a working lunch with my staff. We had a pre-set menu for large parties. We started off with 2 kinds of guacamole, 1 regular the second a mango guac. Fantastic. I would never have thought to combine the 2 ingredients. We also had quesidillas that I found ok, they were deep fried which through me off a little bit. We also had steak, chicken & mahi mahi tacos. All were good but I had some grisly pieces in the chicken. The sides of rice and beans were fairly authentic. It was a little over priced but since the company was paying I can't complain too much. Overall, a good restaurant for meetings or casual dining.
(3)
d b.
Slightly better than average mexican food. So, it doesn't get 4 stars since it's mostly about the food. Great drinks. Quirky fun downstairs bar. Bottom Line: One stop shopping at it's best. Go for the scene and cocktails, stay for the munchies and afterhour bar
(3)
Alanna M.
Men usually like to spend their money on tangible items like bikes and boats. Women like to spend money (be it hers or another's) on EXPERIENCES. And let me tell you, Mercadito was an experience (but not the good kind). Me and the beau walked in and I immediately felt my experience reaching its peak. And yeah...it peaked RIGHT then. Things went downhill when I received my drink. IT was not tasty and was mostly crushed pineapple, not tequila. Whatever they salted the rim with was terrible as well. I wish I could remember the name of this terrible drink. The ordering began with some Guac. Then the ordering continued with MASSIVE amounts of water. Why? Because the guacamole was so spicy that it took 3 glasses of water for me to stop tearing at the eyes. Maybe I just ate the pieces of jalapeno EACH time i dipped my chip in. But no excuses, Mercadito, NO EXCUSES. Then, we ordered steak tacos and some flautas. I cant even really tell you what was wrong with it. It just wasnt good. Maybe I went out that night with a taste for authentic Mexican food. But this was clearly Mexican food eaten by women in all white, fake hair and gold stilletos. In all, Mercadito was a let down.
(2)
Jen S.
Went here during restaurant week. They had a great tasting menu and for $40 we got a drink and a lot of food, more than we could eat. I would recommend the pomegranate guacamole and the spicy guac., I think it was called granada? I also loved the steak and carnitas tacos. I didn't try the fish tacos but some of the other people in my group loved it. They also had great margaritas. All 4 of us got different ones and they were all good and strong! The chicken tacos were not very good, nor was the mahi mahi ceviche. My only real complaint was that the tables were too close together, they had to move the table out from the wall for you to get in. They were definitely trying to maximize their seating, but I wouldn't have minded waiting 15min if I could have moved my elbows.
(4)
S. J.
This place is mediocre at best. Stage was set by the overly expensive, weak drinks we ordered at the bar (after waiting 15 minutes to be served, even though the place was empty). I found it to be completely overpriced for what we were given. We ordered "salsa" and received a tiny dollop of what could only be described as spicy Velveeta. Tasted like plastic - not good! The guacamole was below average - they have better guacamole at Chipotle. Tacos were passable, but again, I wouldn't say it blew me away. Definitely will not be going back.
(2)
Tammy S.
SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! A new favorite! Not just typical Mexican food. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ross H.
Went for restaurant week, so might not be the fairest time to judge a restaurant - but here goes. Food was overall very good. The chef took a chance on the ceviches, and missed big time. Everything else was great. Margaritas were good but pricey. The tables were so close together that we became uncomfortably well aquatinted with the groups next to us. Our waitress rushed our meal. Net - Enjoyed my experience, but you can great mexican food all over Chicago for 1/2 the price. Probably won't be back.
(3)
Ioanna Z.
I want to love this place and I keep going back in hopes of a 5 star experience but they keep missing the mark. I go back for the food and the great bar/club energy. If you love busy, loud, happy, energetic ambiance, Mercadito delivers. The food is undoubtedly great. Mexican food with a flair, excellent combination of flavors, it is simply delicious. The cheviche, all pork dishes, the mahi mahi tacos the best in the city. Although busy, everything came on time and perfectly presented. Do not expect the typical big portions of other Mexican cuisine restaurants. Which is perfect as you get to enjoy different flavors without getting full on minute 5 of dinner. However.... Ladies at the check in counter think they work at a high security establishment in GB and we are trying to break in.... Smile... be nice... be welcoming... be flexible... look like you want to be there... we are simply the clients that pay the bills... Do not have me standing there for the "rest of the party to arrive" when the rest of my party is 1 and when you have at least 20 tables open. I take more space standing in front of you... The main host saved the day when he saw me and he immediately asked me if I have been helped and gave me my table. He was excellent, polite, attentive and gave me a great table. Also, do not count you will be seated on time. My last visit I made a reservation for 7.30 pm because they did not have an 8.00 that I originally requested. We rushed out of work, arrived right at 7.30, hair still wet, laces undone, threw our keys to the valet, run in so we do not miss our table, as she warned me over the phone. Same hostess, no smile, asked us to sit at the bar because our table will not be ready until 8.00! After I strongly pointed out the details of our phone conversation, the main host came over again and sat us right away!! Wow, something just opened up? I guess we did not need to spend $100 on Margaritas before our "table is ready". Watch out when you order the carnitas. There are 2 items on the menu with the same name so there is 50/50 chance to get the wrong dish. If they send you the wrong one, they make sure you get a dirty look and a lecture from the waiter as if you are supposed to know that... I will go back, I am hoping for a great experience there because they have the great food and an even better potential.
(3)
Chris M.
Liked it, didn't love it. Drinks were great and interesting. Ambiance was terrific. Ceviche was very tasty (and I'm generally not a seafood fan). The meat in the dishes? In a word: salty. Too salty. A little like, "I don't know what I'm doing" salty versus adding it to taste. And it was consistent throughout the entire meal. Still, it was great night out, we had a fun and opinionated server. Not a bad night at all.
(3)
Carter G.
What a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad place to eat! Rude host staff, slow and incompetent bar tenders, inattentive servers, lots of drunk bachelorette party-goers and aging fratboys, and music so loud that you can't actually hear your dining companion, even if they are screaming - and I do mean screaming - directly in your ear. I get that it's supposed to be like having dinner in a very loud nightclub and it's supposed to be edgy and cool, but in reality it just showcases what a cesspool of douchebaggery "Riv-No" is becoming. The tacos, however, were really quite excellent, which is a shame because I will never, ever eat them again.
(1)
Kimberly G.
My husband and I were super excited to get a good Mexican option in this neighborhood (no offense, Rick Bayless, your restaurants are too hard to get into) and we are fans of Mercadito in NYC so we were excited to try it. The experience was interesting. The space is pretty cool, the bar is great. The drink list is very cool and they do some interesting things with margaritas (black tea infused tequila, hot chiles, tropical fruit.) We were seating promptly after our party of 6 arrived. I think that the restaurant is already very aware of reputation because we had some interesting experiences with the staff. The menu is made for sharing, I'm not generally a fan of this as I am pretty protective over my plate of food and it's a little odd in a Mexican restaurant. They have like 15 different taco options which come in sets of 4. You can add on a taco or two if you want to share with larger groups but you can't mix and match tacos. So if you just want some tacos for yourself you have to get 4 of the same instead of being able to sample different kinds. They also have a couple of yummy looking salads, 4 different ceviche options, small and large plates. I ended up getting the chile relleno (again, I've said this in other reviews, I'm obsessed with chile rellenos and cannot bring myself to order anything else.) We received our food and my platter looked great, a chile stuffed with shrimp, scallops, squid and cheese. It was roasted,which I prefer, instead of battered and fried. It was surrounded in a mild tomato sauce. It came with a small, tasty plate of rice and beans. I was half way through my chile which, 'll admit, was on the smaller side, but nothing shocking or unexpected, when the runner brought me ANOTHER chile relleno. Apparently, the chile they gave me was way too small for their standards and should've never left the kitchen. I was approached by 2 different employees and the manager apologizing for the small chile, they gave me a new one (which I shared with the table) and took it off the bill. Impressive that they noticed and did that, clearly they have certain standards, but a very odd experience all in all. And I hope that no one in the kitchen got in trouble for sending out a too small chile. Overall our party enjoyed the restaurant, the place was definitely crowded and there were a lot of fun large parties coming in. There is also a lounge downstairs (called AA lounge?) being constructed on the lower level. Considering their drink list I would definitely give ti a try when it opens.
(4)
S. L.
Some of the BEST Mex food I've ever had. This place is both classy and creative. I highly recommend the house original guac and chips and especially their chicken tacos. Ridiculously awesome!!
(5)
magic g.
at first the obsession with high end mexican kitchen in chicago confused me a bit: went to frontera grill, then here. and although the food is almost equally good at both places (better seviche & steak there), mercadito does have a much nicer ambiance (better guacamole & pork here), they are open till 1am on weekends and there's a lounge downstairs if you miss the feel of NY subway car during rush hour. but overall great, bit pricey food with great drinks (tequila with that spicy tomato sauce ... wow).
(4)
Fuudcritic C.
I just read the recent reviews in my area (as of matter of fact - from last night) and someone had given Mercadito 5 stars. I'm glad they had a great 30th birthday dinner, but it sure wasn't 5 stars last night! Prior to that (the birthday party) we were downstairs dining in their lounge and had the worst experience with a server name Jackie? Prior to her coming down to "rush" us out and being RUDE we were having a great time. Nothing like catching up with a friend and having a great meal and then having it ruined by restaurant staff. OMG the more I think about it, it makes my stomach turn. She was RUDE! The manager on duty came by our table and we told him the situatin but we didn't think he was too sincere. In any case, the food was great and is always great. Jackie (?) was not.
(2)
Mark M.
Fish tacos were excellent!
(4)
Shannon B.
I have mixed reviews of this place. I have to say the food here is awesome and the margaritas are killer! The complaint I have is the front of house. They are so rude and don't seem to be interested to be there. I have been here at least three times and will ONLY come back because of the food and margaritas. I also have to say this place is extremely loud and just can't understand why? People seem to talk over the music which is not very loud. But will put up with all of the negatives to have their tacos and margaritas!!!
(4)
R S.
Awesome food. Great place to visit before a fun night out. Pricey for mexican food, but wow, I've been twice now and had delicious experiences. The ambiance is vibrant, lively, and buzzing with energy. The drinks are delicious...I ask for a mojito - not too sweet - and that's exactly what I got. The place is quite packed and tables were close together - for our party of 5, I would have liked a bit more room. It's also quite loud, so to talk to the person across the table took some effort. I loved the guacamole, camaron tacos, the pollo a las brasas (yummy!), and hongos tacos. We all left full and incredibly happy. It's a must try restaurant.
(4)
austin m.
Terrible on top of terrible. We walked in for lunch on the Saturday of restaurant week, the music was so loud we could hardly hear eachother talk. We waited literally 20 minutes for our server. We saw our server twice, to take our order and to deliver the bill. No one asked how the meal was (it was poor). On the way out we spoke to the manager about the terrible service. He appologized, we exchanged cards, and were told he would talk to the owner and get back to us by Monday. We allowed a 3 days past Monday before we followed up, it has been nearly a month and we have not heard back from the establishment. I supposed I cannot expect much out of the servers, when the management leads by such poor example Restaurant week is the time to shine, and this place fizzled.
(1)
Deepak B.
I fell in love their tacos in the east village of NYC. Tried the Chicago location, and it still exceeded my expectations. The drinks are a work of art for me.
(4)
BIREN P.
Great drinks and good food. A little expensive for Mexican. Still would go back for the drinks.
(3)
Dora D.
This place is definitely happening, the food not so much. Went on a Friday night and it was packed the entire time we were there. Loved the vibe but not for a sit down dinner. Music was so loud it was as if our waiter was lip-singing to us when talking about the menu, and I had a sore throat from talking a.k.a yelling to my friends. Way too LOUD and seated way too close to our neighbors. I was not impressed with the food so much, but maybe because I kept comparing it to one of my favorite places on earth "De Cero." First off we got the regular guacamole which was tasty and the chips were A-OK too, then got the shrimp ceviche which was a little chewy but you can't really mess up ceviche so okay not bad, plantains had this chocolate creme on them which I just did NOT care for at all and they were COLD, the tacos that were highly recommended we try by our lip-singing waiter excited us but then quickly annoyed us when we realized we can't mix and match the 4 tacos plate. (Like we are accustomed in doing at De Cero) So the three of us opted to only try 2 different tacos. The shrimp which was very very spicy in this red sauce and a piece of avocado (okay I love love spicy, but this was just too overpowering and did nothing for me in terms of flavor) in fact our one friend who doesn't do spicy very well could not even eat it. (It would have been nice if our waiter at least mentioned that fact, but then again maybe he did and we just couldn't hear him) Then there were the steak tacos. Took one bite and was disgusted. That's all I'm going to say about that. Oh and my friends both had to send it back because they had no idea there would be onion on them..which they can't stand (yeah everything but onion was listed on menu...weird) And that took a few minutes for our waiter to comprehend and accommodate, well probably because we were lip-singing to him! Ok so the only reason for the third star was because I would go back and would recommend it for the ambiance, the drinks (mine was pretty good but my one friend loved her pineapple tequila drink) and the DESSERT!!! Yes! Since we weren't feeling satiated by our meal we decided to order this mexican pudding cake that looked like a pancake topped with caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Now that was heaven!! And something I will be craving and even dreaming about!!! It's not on the menu though.. So I believe we got lucky cause we were in between songs and actually were able to HEAR our waiter tell us about it!
(3)
Anna P.
Great food for not a lot of money. Drinks are amazing! Our service was beyond perfect!
(5)
Julie G.
One word: TACOS. The tacos here are flat out killer, especially the pork with Mexican coleslaw, the fish, and the beef (in that order). The decor is also super cool, even though it can get a bit noisy. Kind of pricey...you'll spend a lot without eating very much, but your tummy will be very satisfied. Good margaritas, too.
(4)
Robin R.
Showed up hungry at about 11PM on a Saturday night, restaurant was busy but they had no problems getting us to a table for 2. At 11PM Mercadito was very loud, but the place had completely emptied out by 11:30PM. We both had the all you can eat tacos which were very good (not quite big star good though). I'll definitely be back, it ranks somewhere a bit worse than big star and a bit better than de cero.
(3)
Fuffie G.
Liked it...didn't love it. This place is definitely the place to be. Went on a Friday night and it was PACKED & very loud! We slipped into a great table where the people watching was great. Margaritas were very good. Not too sweet, not too tart...just right and refreshing. We ordered the chipotle and verde salsas. The chipotle salsa is some of the best I have ever tasted while the verde left a lot to be desired. Chips are great. Very light and allowed you to enjoy the salsa and not have a heavy taste of chip in your mouth. We also ordered the tostadas de hongos. Flavors were good but they weren't hot. We also ordered the verde rice, shrimp tacos and carne tacos. All of that too came out rather cold. We sent the food back and when it all came back again, it was same temperature as last time. Not sure if they made fresh or just took it in back for a few minutes and brought it back out. They did comp us with a round of drinks but hmmm...not sure if I will be going back so soon for dinner. I've heard lunch is a little bit better. Maybe they just don't know how to handle the big crowds. Service was great. We had an adorable waitress. I would go back for cocktails and chipotle salsa but the rest of the meal...I'm not running back.
(3)
Eat V.
SO GOOD! 1st: I do not like fish, however the Mahi Mahi Tacos turned a new leaf! So good! 2nd: Steak tacos are FAB! 3rd: Also the Peppers Tacos were spicy in the best way possible! There was also some kind of cheese rice dish that was great as well! The service is always fast, knowledgeable and pleasant. FYI: do not go to NIAS on Randolph!
(5)
Michael M.
Both the kitchen and the drinks on a late night (after 1am) were outstanding. We had the traditional guacamole, tacos al pastor, and tacos mole. All had great hot spices, but had the flavors blended well and not just heat bombs. The standard margaritas were excellent. Our server Rodgrigo was a blast to talk with. We'll be back to explore more of the menu in the future. I think this place is better than Frontera Grill by comparison.
(5)
Amy K.
My friend and I met up here on a Thursday. Thank goodness we made reservations because this place was busy. We waited at the bar until our table was ready. My friend said that she had heard that Mercadito has "fun drinks and fresh food," but unfortunately I had trouble decoding the drink menu and don't care for tequila so I settled with a Negra Modelo. Anyway, we were finally seated. To sum up our experience, the music was loud so we had difficulty hearing one another, and the seating was cramped. The food redeemed these criticisms, but we ordered WAY too much. We couldn't even eat more than a few bites of our chicken dish. The tacos are fantastic and the traditional guac was the highlight of the meal. I think it would be a fun place to go with girlfriends for a night out!
(3)
Chris R.
I had lunch here on a Thursday afternoon. Made reservations through OpenTable. We were seated right away. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Started with a house margarita which is great. For starters we had the Dorado ceviche (mahi-mahi) along with guac and chips. Both were fresh and delicious. Main course was an amazing braised berkshire pork torta. Flavors were great. Friends had tacos. 3 tacos per serving and while the serving size was a bit small (and you can't mix and match the tacos which would be a great option like at DeCero) the flavors were fantastic. Will be trying dinner here asap.
(4)
Lisa P.
I was pretty disappointed by Mercadito's offering. In my opinion, if they want to be at their slightly higher price point, their food should be well above average. It's not, and the portions are very small, sort of mockery. The guacamole was delicious, but we were only given about 2 tablespoons of each flavor. The cocktails were excellent, especially the smokey poblano. I had ceviche as my main dish, and I must say that they have no business serving it. I sampled all three - they lacked flavor and the fish wasn't good This was the first time I've had ceviche without either red onions or cilantro in it. The citrus flavor was weak as well. My friend ordered the skirt steak and it was very boring. I expected a well flavored latin style piece of meet but was disappointed. My other friend ordered the stuffed pepper, and it was very good. The sides, rice and beans, were not well-flavored. If I was to return, I guess that I'd try the tacos. They look good but are small. In any case, the quality/price ratio is low.
(2)
Tonya R.
Ever since exploring my inner foodie, wanting to escape the commercialism of chain Mexican restaurants and needing something authentic with a bit of flare, I ended up here on a Sunday and experienced a brunch not soon forgotten. The restaurant was about half full and the hostess was prompt in seating us and our waiter was soon to follow. With his recommendation of the Maria Sangarita was spot on! Once you get past the fact you are drinking a bloody Mary sans Vodka, add tequila, its a great cure for the Saturday night lingerning in my head. We ordered the pastor and fish tacos...never have I ever...Had a better fish taco! The MahiMahi was generous in each taco and had a light breading that was well suited with the spicy slaw that topped it. The pastor was unlike anything I'd ever had before..area favorites had just been topped for my favorite sport for tacos in the city. The $18 we threw down for brunch was well worth it considering the food was amazing ($12 per plate) and the drinks (about $8 each) made all worht the hunt. This is somewhere I will definitely be becoming a repeat customer, and now looking forward to trying the late night fare. (Open till 2am Friday and 3am Saturday.)
(4)
c d.
I love the concept, Mexican food served tapas style. This is a great place for a crowd so you can share the food and get different tastes of things. The service was outstanding, our waitress took the time to sit with us and explain the menu and answer questions. She took good care of us. The home made chips are delicious, though not strong enough to stand up to the guacamole, not that that is an issue. All the guacamole are chunky and delicious with a nice spice. Only tried one of the salsa and it was delicious, cacahuate, it was like a Mexican peanut sauce. The pastor tacos were yummy! The order of 3 tacos was large, plenty to share to get the variety. Though it would be nice if you could get three different varieties in one order. The traditional margarita was perfect, not too much lime juice. The only negative was it was too small with too much ice for the price. Overall I think the only negative was the price. I will try it again, but at the price not too often.
(3)
Clint M.
Food and drinks were excellent. The steak tacos were the highlight for me. I actually found days later my tab was accidentally charged twice. The staff went above and beyond and had the incorrect charge credited back within 24 hours. Very much appreciated.
(5)
Rebecca K.
Went there twice in one day. So our first visit I meet a friend at the bar before a presentation we were going to. The Margaritas were good but way to much ice and not enough booze but tasted good anyway because thats what I needed that day. I also ordered the Mahi Mahi ceviche since I had not eaten anything for dinner and with a drink in hand that may not be such a good idea. It was out of this world! So yummy and I know the tradition is to eat it with a cracker and they had nice homemade ones but I prefer chips instead. Second visit was after the presentation with more people from the presentation and we order mango guacamole and traditional guacamole . The mango one with chili was awesome! Then we ordered the 2 different pork taco's ,chicken mole and Steak tacos. They were all so good the perfect size for sharing. I can't stop thinking of these little tacos. The con is the too much ice and margarita's and not enough booze and the bathroom doors don't lock and there was no toilet paper :P
(4)
Kaley C.
I went to this place on a Saturday with a group on girlfriends and we had a great time! I think this place is fun for a group of friends to go, not sure if it is a great spot for a date since it was rather loud and very crowded. Great selection of food and drinks. They have a regular menu and a fixed menu broken out by different prices. We did the fixed menu and you definitely get your moneys worth doing it that way! We had more food than we knew what to do with! Loved the mango guac! Also, great service. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu.
(4)
John W.
Okay this place rocks, from the hand crafted specialty house drinks to the food can't say enough good stuff about the staff and place. I had made reservations for 8:30pm and our table was ready upon us arriving there. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is for a little bit of an annoying rule we had another person joining us about 45min after our reservation and we wanted to have a seat before they got there and order the food. But the staff explained that they do not seat non full parties even though the other person was just joining us for drinks the only other way to get seated was to get a smaller table and just ignore the other person coming. Other than that it is a great place and had tons of fun. The bar staff is especially great.
(4)
Mark R.
I love coming here for lunch with a friend and splitting chips and guac and a side of rice and beans. The fish tacos are my favorite! Very enthusiastic servers and attentive wait staff.
(4)
Nicole M.
I liked my tacos con carne(the meat was delicious) and platanos machos were as sweet as I expected. The atmosphere was to trendy for me but maybe I am not the target market they are going for. Good food decent price for the location
(3)
Kristen G.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner last weekend. I had looked for a reservation online but they didn't have anything near the time we were thinking, so we decided just to walk in. When we walked in around 730, they said they were booked and the earliest they could guarantee us a table was like 1015. Yowzers! But they said we were 3rd on the waitlist and they could work us in. So we went up to the bar for drinks. Their different types of margaritas are awesome! Yeah theyre're like $12 each but hey thats Chicago. All the drinks we tried were delicious though. We ended up getting a table in about 45 minutes. The atmosphere is very lively. It is very loud, but we werent looking for a quiet romantic dinner. It's dimly lit, but it is definitely very energetic. We started off with one of their 7 guacamoles. OMG the best guacamole I have ever had in my life! So fresh tasting. It was just amazing. For dinner we both had the 4 tacos. I ordered the short rib and my bf ordered the skirt steak. We also ordered the arroz verde on the side. The only disappointment is that you couldn't mix and match the different types of tacos. You had to order 4 of the same which I do not understand. There were definitely many different ones I wanted to try so a little disappointing. Tacos are delicious! The short rib was amazing. All of the ingredients taste so fresh and the meat is seasoned and cooked perfectly. The rice was very good also-cooked with a verde sauce with different cheeses on top. I would definitely like to go back with friends! The food is outstanding! The only downfall is the seating can be a little cramped. Many of the tables have the one side common booth and then chairs for the other side. I am normally not a fan of sitting next to other people. I like a little more space between tables, but overall a good time!
(4)
Jaime W.
I had been here once before for lunch and the experience was ok (our waiter was really flaky and inattentive even though it was mostly empty) . However, I went for dinner (during restaurant week but not because of restaurant week) this week and it was amazing! The food was fresh, came out quickly but not too quickly given how much only the two of us ordered. Plenty of vegetarian options--which can be rare at a Mexican place. We had the serrano and traditional guacs (serrano being my favorite), queso fundido with mushrooms (best thing we ate all night!), corn masa quesadilas (very good), mushroom tacos (also very good but not amazing), and the carnitas (I didn't try those but they were given rave reviews!). Our waiter and the water guy were ON IT. Full house and we didn't feel neglected at all. Even though the tables are packed tightly, the restaurant has a loud enough buzz that it doesn't feel invasive (unlike, say at Mia Francesca's on Clark where I get caught up in other people's convos!). All that food plus two beers and it was only $80 (not restaurant week pricing, normal pricing). Totally legit.
(5)
Krissie L.
Insanely loud. Food way too spicy. Fish tacos way too fried, though described as lightly battered. Drinks ok. Prices reasonable. Ambience and crowd tacky. Guacamole couldn't be made less spicy, since it's premade... What?! and the taco plate- of 4- must be all one type, i.e. you can't mix and match your tacos. That sucked. Highlight- manzanilla guacamole. Overall unimpressive. Much better mexican food elsewhere (see decero, frontera, even zapa) with less cheesy while still hip locals... Oh, and the service was great, though our reservation was about 30 minutes behind schedule...
(1)
Jane N.
Server was nice but she was a little hard to understand because it was really loud and she had a thick accent. Also there guac was full of cilantro and they could not make it with out which normally would not be a problem but what that means to me is that is is all pre-made which I do not like. They should be able to accommodate some people. Maybe they make a big batch at the beginning of the night but surely they need to be able help people out and make a small batch without cilantro if need be which she said they could not do. The food comes out as it is made which is fine but more of a casual dinning but very expensive. Over priced in my opinion. There were four of us , each had a margarita which were really good but other that than we had guac and split three orders of tacos and each paid $55 which is just too much! The Tacos are really tiny, more of small finger food and small plates which is fine but they charge you as if it is a full meal which it is not. Not worth going back for.
(2)
Laz P.
We had heard so many great reviews about Mercadito and decided to give it a .try. What a waste! First they jam you in between other patrons so close that I could taste their food and know exactly what they were ordering. We went the day before Halloween and Popeye our waiter was rude and thought he was a Mexican cuisine expert. Listen Popeye, I am Mexican and have been eating excellent Mexican food basically since birth. You probably were not even a thought when I was licking my chops at Nuevo Leon on 18th street in the 70s. On to the food. Why not call it " CAGADITO" restaurant. Because they literally crap on you. Ridiculously expensive and hot food masked as good Mexican food. I had the tampiquena steak platter and the sole of my shoe had more taste. The best part of the night was the guacamole which in 2 scoops with tortilla chips was gone. Spanish fusion my ass, Mexican food is served in good size portions and is not super expensive, except for the good sea food and a good cut of meat. So we get ready to leave and my wife says look your tampiquena plate cost 24 bucks take the rest home and we can give it to someone. I say you know what "Good idea as the homemade tortillas are not bad." I tell the server, wrap it up and put in some more tortillas. He says "You will get charged for the extra tortillas." I then decided to rescind my request. Mercadito you have a good scam going. I admit that marketing to people that do not know any better is a great idea.
(1)
j m.
Great mini tacos, excellent staff.
(4)
Camilo R.
Mercadito is not the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the Chi and it's not the place for a quiet dinner. However, the food itself is actually very tasty, we tried every taco on the menu and they were delicious. Some of the portions (like the guac sampler) are small but the taste compensates for that. Mercadito is a perfect spot to go out to dinner with friends, when you are looking for a lively atmosphere. This is the type of place you go to with a group, and then head out for drinks. The ambience works if you are looking for an upbeat atmosphere, if you are looking for something quiet, do not go here. I would highly recommend this spot if you have friends in from out of town and want to show them a cool downtown spot. I deducted one star because the wine list is really subpar, and a second star because due to the atmosphere this is not a place I would always recommend or recommend to everyone. I'll be eating here again, on the right night!
(3)
Karen S.
I had been dying to try this place for quite some time. I'm not sure it completely lived up to the hype, but I will definitely go back. Despite my initial hesitation, the cucumber margarita was amazing. I had the fish tacos (the ones that weren't fried - tilapia, I think) and they were great, albeit the portion size was teeny. Perfect for lunch though, I guess? It would be nice if they would let you mix and match on your own. Not sure why they don't allow it, so just plan to share if you want to try a few different things. The chips with guac and salsa were standard, nothing special. Other than that, the place was cool - I imagine a scene at night though, so not somewhere I would go on an average night out. What can I say, I'm not trendy!
(3)
Diran H.
I went with my wife on a colleague's recommendation, and was not disappointed. The only reason Mercadito gets 4 stars this time is because it was so LOUD - we couldn't hear the server or each other across the table without yelling. Not to mention we had two extremely obnoxious "ladies" bumping elbows with us the whole time. Also, it's a little pricey for what you get. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk praise - High marks for the decor and the service we received from the minute we walked into the place. We were seated in 30 seconds, our water was constantly refilled, the server was extremely nice and came by to check on us just the right amount of times - not too often, just enough. The food and drinks were very good - being foodies, we ordered two guacs and two ceviches and two taco platters, as well as a dessert. I ordered the Smokey somethingsomething as my drink, which was riddiculous - so good! Honey and Ancho-chili in my tequila is a winner! I am craving the guacs and the tuna tacos as I type - mouthwatering. The Carne tacos were good, not exceptional - I'll try the Chorizo next time. The Ceviches were also not exceptional - too sweet. Not bad, don't get me wrong, but I think we make a meaner ceviche at home. Oh yeah, we ordered the Shrimp and Scallop ceviches. Next time, we'll hold off the ceviches and order the guac trio. I would totally recommend - it's a nice, cozy spot and the food's great. You can't always control the clientele that walks in, but c'est la vie. Looking forward to next time already.
(4)
Deven H.
this is definitely one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in chicago! i love mexican food and everything here was amazing. i was here for a birthday dinner with a few friends and we ordered a few different taco platters, guac, and a few other dishes that i don't remember. the only thing i remember is how much i loved everything i ate. try the shrimp tacos, they were my favorite!
(5)
Emily B.
I enjoyed going to Mercadito last night! The staff where very friendly! They knew the menu very well and gave some great suggestions! The margaritas were expensive but very good! The Big Nose Margarita was very creative and I loved that it was flaming when served! My group of five treated the meal like tapas and left full! The Tacos were very good and one table ordered an extra taco and they gave it to us free of charge! My favorite taco was the pork taco and the platanos were very good! I will be back for sure! A nice thing they did was even if the tacos were meant for 4, they gave us 5 since there were 5 in our party. However at the end of the night there was a charge for that which was not expected.
(4)
Tabitha G.
Okay let's get the bad news out of the way first. I made a reservation for 6:30pm and called to push it back to 7pm, but they told me that the next available reservation was at 9:45pm. Fast forward to when we're having dinner at 6:30pm and 85% of the tables around us were empty until about 7:30pm. We were a little amazed at how they told us that we absolutely couldn't push it back, but yet the place wasn't filling up til much later. Finally, the last bad thing - after an hour and a half of eating, drinking and debating if we should get dessert, some guy with an ear piece starts doing circles around our table, giving us the look of "When are you leaving?". Clearly I understand that they needed the table, after all there were a lot of people waiting at the door and we took up a table of four, but really it's not like we were just sitting there. We were ordering drink, after drink, after drink - with the potential of orderding dessert, which we didn't because the waiter was kind of enough to tell us that the dessert was just not all that. However, despite those two bad things, we had an AMAZING dinner at Mercadito. First, our waiter was great, friendly and very helpful. We started off with cervesas (naturally) and seeig how margharitas are never my first choice, I was so excited that they had two beer based mixed drinks. I tried both, one that tasted like a bloody mary and another that had beer, pineapple, tequila and "secrets". Both were really good, which was probably why I ordered at least 5 drinks that night. For appetizers we started off with traditional guacamole and two salsas, which was all amazing, but the downfall is that the salsas were blended. Don't get me wrong the taste was amazing, but with the size of the portion it was really hard to "scoop" up that salsa when there was so little to grab. Either way it was still really good. For dinner we all had different items. My friends ordered the quesadilla (which looked like an empenada), carne asada and carnitas, while I had the shrimp enchiladas....the portions were very generous and the taste was heavenly. Both my husband and I were so impressed at how good it was...not that it was a surprise, but we have been looking for a good mexican place for a while and definitely found it. The night ended with more drinks and although we weren't totally sold on getting dessert, we really appreciated the waiter's honesty in telling us that it wasn't their strong point. Overall it was a fantastic experience and would definitely go back again.
(4)
Sara G.
This is one of my favorite spots! It has a great atmosphere with dim lights and interesting artwork, amazing drinks, and I am always very happy with my food. I try to order something a little different every time I go but there are a couple items that I just can't seem to leave off the list because they are so good. The portions are tapas style so it is really great for sharing and trying a couple different things each time. The specialty drinks are amazing, I love the Misty Sleeve. It has hibiscus salt on the rim which is spicy and citrus flavored, so good. Starting out with a couple of guacamole appetizers is really fun and the portion is great for two people to share, the pineapple/ mint is my favorite. The Tacos!! I want to try more but so far the camaron, or shrimp tacos are amazing and my favorite. The Taquiza, Barbacoa. I didn't love this as much as the others. You get to choose two different salsa from a list, but the ones I chose tasted exactly the same and the whole dish was a little too salty for me. But I would try the dish again and make sure I ask the server to suggest the salsas.
(4)
Michael B.
went there for new years eve and was going to post earlier, but wanted my frustrations to simmer down first. to start our night we waited over an hour to be seated and had to stand around the overly crowded bar area for our table. we had committed to their all inclusive drink/meal package ($130/person, tax & tip already included), but since we weren't seated for an hour and a half we weren't going to not order drinks on NYE, so that added on hundreds of dollars to our group by having to elbow our way to the bar and get drinks a la carte. finally after we were seated we ordered food and drinks, which came out sluggishly. food was good once it arrived and pre-set menu was very tasty as it always is. i know it was new years eve and everywhere in chicago was slammed, but it's not like this holiday snuck up on them, they should have been better prepared for earlier reservations slow-playing their meals and hanging around forever after they were done and they clearly overbooked which is annoying to say the least. it is not uncommon for a restaurant to tell you "if you don't mind, we have a large party arriving 3 hours after your reservations so we'll need to turn over your table before then if that's ok?" near the end a manager of some sort clearly noticed part of our group was unhappy and he offered another hour of drinks for us, but after 1am many of us had other parties we were going to, so that offer was nice, but unused. anyway, i really like their food and service on normal days and i'm sure i'll go back there in the future, but if they want to be considered a venue for large holiday parties then they need to prepare like a venue that can accommodate large holiday parties.
(2)
Rachel P.
I wanted to write a review because I read the reviews here before going on my reservation for Restaurant Week. I'm really surprised on the comments about service. Not only did we love the food (and there were plenty of options for someone who doesn't eat meat), but we had a GREAT, knowledgeable, personable waiter. Shout-out to Luis! He made it a wonderful night.
(4)
Lindsay A.
It was during the dessert course that I looked at my fiance and said "this place just hit a homerun". Everything, i mean EVERYTHING, was handled perfecty. Booze, ceviche, guac, tacos, dessert. Didn't have one bad thing, and the service was out of the world. We went for restaurant week... I have a feeling you can't get anything bad at this place, but for the record, here were the things we had that were absolutely awesome: Mango guac, scallop ceviche, shrimp tacos, some sort of mushroom taco thing that had an EXCELLENT flavor. Wonderful job, Mercadito. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Lisa F.
I went here for an early dinner with 2 of my girlfriends on a Friday night and while the food was great, it's definitely not the type of place you can sit around and talk after you're done eating. It's probably because it's the new hot spot, but we felt very rushed the whole time we were there. The little tacos are great for sharing - perfect size to be able to get a few different kinds to try! The mango guacamole is to die for - has a smokey flavor to it that's amazing! We tried the pineaple and regular guacamole too, which were both tasty but the mango was the best! We also had the flautas, which were great (order of 3)! The drinks we had were fantastic too - different, but good! If you don't mind being in and out of here, I'd definitely suggest going for the food and the atmosphere - it's a great place!
(3)
Balu K.
Ok, this was my second time. I know the drinks are really good, the food is good, the ambience is great and the crowd is awesome. But this time, my experience sucked. First they lied to us about how long the wait would be. At 8:30 they said it should be less than an hour. At 9:30 they lied and said they originally told us it would be 1 hour 45 minutes. We finally got seated after an hour and a half. Four of us got seated at a table that could barely take two people. We had to hold our plates in our hands to eat. The drinks went on the floor to make room for appetizers and food. The Guacamole arrived after entree'. We spend $250 for 4 people and got this! Looks like they are full of themselves and have amateurs running the place!
(2)
Patrick G.
I really wanted to like this place more but it does have a few deficiencies that are keeping it from being a really great place. This is a place that seems to concentrate more on its image rather than the food that it is serving (aka place to be seen). The standout food was definitely their variety of guacamoles that they had , each was very unique and quite delicious. The tacos left something to be desired, I had a few of the different options they offered , each were good but had nothing that was amazing about them. I would venture to say that I would rather have a taco from a decent tacqueria. The drinks were pretty good minus the "michelada" they had on the menu. This was a very poor implementation of the drink their recipe tasted like Beer + Lime Juice + Worcestershire Sauce which was drinkable but I really expect better from a seemingly good restaurant. On top of this we were seated about 50 minutes after our reservation time. The management did make up for it by giving us some free drinks but everyone's most valuable resource is time so they should learn to manage tables a little bit better. Overall a nice place with a nice atmosphere but not the best food.
(3)
K W.
Talapia Tacos - Outstanding; Carnitas Tacos - More Outstanding; There are flavors flying all over the place at this restuarant. The tacos (our party of 4 only had tacos) are fantastic and have a wonderful texture - toasted peanuts in the Carnitas Tacos were a nice contrast to the coleslaw and flavor of the pork. I highly recommend this restaurant. I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to sample the tequilas or cocktails (business lunch) but I look forward to doing so in the future.
(5)
Chris U.
We went here on a Friday after work, and the only negative thing I could say was that it was empty. The place was fairly new when we went, so I am sure that will change. The waiter was fantastic, he got us really excited about the food we were going to eat, and the food delivered. It was fresh and delicious. We had 2 different types of guacamole, both were amazing, and 3 different types of taco's everything was so good. We also had a rice and cheese side dish that was really good. I would say that we probably had way to much food, but who cares we had a great time.
(4)
Rich P.
Wow, what a let down this place was. The only reason I gave it three stars instead of 2 was becuase the very friendly bar staff mixes up some pretty tasty and unique drinks and the place has a nice vibe and played good music as well. To start things off when we arrived on a Saturday night, they had our reservtion slightly messed up but still only had to wait about 20 minutes so we sat tat the bar and enjoyed a couple of the amazing drinks I previously mentioned. We ordered the Mango Guacamole, little or no mango in it, it pretty much just tasted like plain old guacamole. We orderd the beer battered mahi tacos and the marrinated skirt steak tacos. The mahi was very good tasting and the batter was light and flakey but they should have used about 1/3 of whatever sauce they put on it, the sauce is all you could taste, even after I scraped most of it off it was overpowering. It would have been one thing if the sauce was god, but it just tased like a mayo based cream sauce with not much flavor...just reminded me of mayo. The skirt steak tacos were no better, worse actually becuase the meat was chewy and several bites were nothing but fat, four tacos came on the platter and we only ate less than 2 of them. As I already mentioned service at the bar was great, but the service in the dining area left alot to be desired, we were rushed as soon as we were seated then we never saw our waiter again for a long time. Anyone that gave this place 5 stars needs to get out more.
(3)
Shane H.
Just went there for lunch and was impressed with the tequila selection along with the pork tacos-had a very Asian taste to it that threw me off for a second, but was very good. The tilapia tacos tasted fresh and flakey. Strong drinks and a busy lunch set the nice atmosphere.
(4)
Bill M.
I should have expected trouble after being greeted by the robot-like hostess--who had evidently had her personality removed in some strange medical procedure. Or, perhaps the tourniquet-like skirt she wore was cutting off the circulation of blood and created a passive-aggressive tone. She said we could be seated immediately at an outdoors table, but, she cautioned, "THERE IS A ONE-AND-A-HALF-HOUR TIME LIMIT!!!" OK. Chastened, and duly warned that we were on the clock like a pokey foursome at an exclusive country club, we perused the menu. Time running down, we chose a four-taco shared plate. They come as a quartet, but alas, another Mercadito rule appears. All four must be the same type--no mixing and matching. It was not immediately clear whether we were timed on consumption of the tacos, but if so, we must have consumed them in an approved time limit. So, about the nuts and bolts: In a nutshell, service was pretty good, food was just ok. That combination does not warrant a $55 check for two (with only 2 beers included). Pretty people kept flowing in, tottering shop girls in hideous orange stilleto heels. The tacos: bland and tiny. Guacamole: the high point--very well executed, and one would hope so at $9 for a miniscule lump. The chips: greasy and probably a quantity you could count on two hands, in a precious little cup. Rice and cheesy stuff in a similarly precious little cast iron skillet: good, but it's rice and cheese. Kind of hard to screw up. All in all, I cannot figure out why people stream into this mediocre taco stand.
(1)
Brian G.
A bit torn. Food is actually pretty good -though a bit pricey. What drove us up the wall, and we realize it is Restaurant Weeek, was really bad food/table service pacing - though our waitress was ok. They brought the stuff so fast we literally had plates piling up - they timed it so the food arrived far too quickly. And then when asked if we wanted him to take the Guacamole/Ceviche plates (which were still half full) we said no. And he inquired "are you sure"? What? Are you kidding me? There is often a fine line between turning tables and rushing folks. They weren't even close to the line. It was insulting and annoying. It definitely makes me hesitant to return. Now on to the food - Guacamole pretty good as were the chips though not outstanding. Ceviche solid. Tacos great - the skirt steak, carnitas and Chicken Mole were wonderful The Pastor not bad. Plantinins solid and the dip was pretty good. All in all some good food.
(2)
johnny b.
The guac and salsas really were not that good. 2star I mean they were fine. That peanut salsa that some dude raved about was about as good as peanut salsa sounds like.... yeah not so much. The ceviches were good 3 stars. But the tacos were ridiculously good. I should have just only ordered tacos. I'll definitely go back but won't order any apps just tacos. The drinks were also weak as was noted by someone else.
(4)
Britt and Justin S.
Came here on a Wednesday for a friends birthday with a group of 12 and it was packed at 7 pm. Bit of wait with a reservation, but the food was delicious! Guac was amazing, tacos were all perfectly cooked, and they seriously have the best flan I've ever eaten (especially the caramel). We did the group thing and it worked out perfectly. With 2-3 drinks and the $30pp rate, it came out to about $75 each with tax and tip. I'm from Southwest and my standards for Mexican food are fairly high. Overall a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Great date spot too!
(5)
Mike G.
Awesome experience. Service was great. Food was on par with expectation and atmosphere was great! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Phyllis R.
Food was good. Way too loud. Not worth it.
(2)
Rachel M.
Big prices on the menu, tiny food in my mouth. That being said, the food was really good! I guess I just have a hard time reconciling Mexican food with tiny portions for such high prices in my mind. The tacos were delicious and the guac was awesome with lots of garlic and citrus flavor. Service was perfectly adequate, though I could have used an extra water refill. It was busy and I drink like a camel, so I won't fault them for that!
(3)
Akilah P.
LOVE THIS PLACE!! Its become a night-out standby for me and best friend. Their drinks are AMAZING and they have such an extensive variety of mescal and tequila. The guacamole is the best I've ever had and it comes in different flavors (strawberry is the best). I haven't had a disappointing meal EVER. The staff is always very nice and give great recommendations. I always go on a Sunday when its not as busy and can really relax.
(5)
Kevin J.
A group of 4 ate here on Thursday 3/25/10. Our reservations were at 6:45pm. 2 people in the group arrived at 6:30, 1 arrived at 6:45 and I arrived at 6:52. (yeah.. I was LATE) Mercadito will not seat you if the whole party isn't there. Since the WHOLE group wasn't there at 6:45pm they gave away our reservations. I find that ridiculous. Most restaurants worth their salt will give you a 15 minute window. So be it. I was late. We were seated at 7:35 at a small table near the window. This is another story in itself. If you're tall or overweight, you won't want to sit at this table. The food was incredible. I have absolutely no complaints about the food. We had the Chef's Weekly Special. I recommend it if decide to go. The service. Our waitress was over worked. She had over six tables she was serving. The front staff is extremely unorganized. Way to many people standing around looking confused. The busboys were inefficient. We asked several busboys for water and flatware. We ended up getting it from the overworked waitress. She really tried, but she was overwhelmed. Conclusion: Go to Mercadito if you have absolutely no where else to go after eating. Also, don't be late if you have reservations and expect to pay for really bad service.
(2)
Beth J.
Went to this place for lunch with some colleagues as a last-minute choice. Wow, what a nice surprise! The restaurant is lovely inside, the service was attentive, and the food was delicious. I got the corn quesadillas (vegetarian). OMG they were sooo good! Not really a traditional quesadilla, more like an empanada -- little pouches. But they were so delicious -- stuffed with cheese and mushrooms. We were told they serve small plates for sharing. I found the portion just right for myself. I had 3 small pouches and rice and beans.The quacamole was also very good. Everyone in my party thoroughly enjoyed their lunch. The prices were very reasonable. It was perfect for lunch. I can't wait to go back to try dinner!
(4)
kit k.
It is hard to find a better taco and a better staff than this place. AA the club downstairs gets 5 stars if you ask me the staff is great. I will go out on the limb and say this is the best run club in the city. They treat you great and are wonderful people.
(5)
Thad F.
Great food. Electric ambience and vibe. Very sceney. Great guacamole, great tacos, and refreshing drinks. Though, if you are going here to have a great conversation, you may need walkie-talkies...as it gets loud in here on a busy night. I generally liked this place for the food, but it was too loud to have anything more than a piecemeal conversation with your friends.
(3)
shi d.
I went to Mercadito in NYC on vacation and was happy to see one open in Chicago. The location in Chicago is much better! Its a lot bigger and it was booming on Sat nite. We had reservations for 9:45 and were seated about 10 minutes after arrival. Our server was very attentive, even though the whole place was full. Our food and drinks were on time and we didnt have to wait much considering how full it was in there. The food was hot and super yummy! Cant wait to go back. Another bonus, the free coat check! The only issue was that it was kind of warm in there so wear layers that you can take off!
(5)
JoAnn G.
The food is excellent but every time we go we wait at least 45 min past our reservation time.
(3)
Steve L.
Great food. Great service. No, wonderful service. Be prepared to drop a few bucks, though. Minus a star and a half because I had to practically scream to hear my friend across the table and I had to practically tuck my elbows in as to not bump them with my neighbors on either side of me.
(4)
Jessica Y.
Ho hum. Went here for business. Different guacs were good ESP mango and pomegranate. Best tacos were the spicy pork, chicken mole, and mahi. Decent but not sure I'd rush back.
(3)
Jacob V.
The service was very nice, including an authentic hispanic waiter haha. The place is very small and they try and jam everyone in never turning anyone away. We felt as if we were dining with the couple seated next to us. The menu was very interesting and i liked how you order several times and relax. The tacos were interesting esp paired with a guac. All in all i would go back, but maybe with some friends as it is not an intimate spot for 2.
(3)
anthony t.
Really good. All of the tacos rock and the ambiance is very trendy. Its busy and for good reason they make excellent drink the music is good and the food is incredible. Its just hard to get in.
(4)
Kelly S.
Went on a Thursday night with a couple of girlfriends. The place in general is nice. We were seated in a back corner, which was tight, but at least we could hear eachother. I had the Flautas, which were good. My friends had the tacos which were small, but good. We started off with 3 different guacamole's which were all different but delicious. I would go back to try it again.
(3)
Missy J.
The small plates and cocktails are delicious, and the vibe is fun and fabulous. This is (almost) the perfect alternative to nightclubs (no dancing, alas--it is a restaurant first). The space is gorgeous, as are the people who give Mercadito its business. Make reservations if possible, in order to avoid a long and crowded wait.
(4)
Maria C.
Great place! Did brunch there last weekend and the food was excellent. We ordered a la carte since everyone on the table wanted tacos. We shared the mushroom, pork, and fish tacos and all of them were delicious. Also had she shrimp ceviche and the regular guac and mango guac. Beware of the mango mimosa, it is SPICY! Tapas style, so works best if everyone shares different plates. Decor is lovely! Highly recommend!!!
(4)
Nick O.
I thought the food was excellent and the margaritas are life changing but the over all experience was a bit lacking. Very noisy and very crowded. Had to wait an hour past my reservation to be seated and it was so loud and packed it took away from how great the food was. I don't think I would go back there again unless I knew it wouldn't be so crazy inside. - had the beer battered mahi mahi tacos and the pick three quac. with the tradicional, mango, and granada.
(3)
Ryan H.
I love this place. Excellent guacamole. My favorite thing, though, is the carne tacos. I recommend eating family style (which is how most of the menu is intended anyway) so you can try a lot of different things. They also have a huge selection of tequila. I think the food is somewhat similar to De Cero in the West Loop or maybe even Big Star in Wicker Park, but I have to say that I think Mercadito does it best. It can get pretty packed and pretty loud on the weekend, which doesn't really bother me, but some might find it too "high energy" for a relaxing dinner. The service experience has always been great the 4 times I have been there, even when it has been busy. Start your night with a flaming margarita and some chips and 2 or 3 types of guacamole (they have 6 to choose from). Then get your fill of tacos and taquizas before heading out on the town with friends or a date.
(4)
Kathleen O.
Very cool place and food was delicious! We got right in on a week day night and our waitress was the best. She was very attentive and recommended a lot of her favorite food and drinks. She brought us margaritas right away and then we had one of the salsas and 2 choices of guacamole. The mango one was really good and the other was a traditional guac. We also both had the tacos and they were 4 small tacos and perfect size to share. I had the steak asada ones and my friend had the seafood ones. We also tried the cucumber green drink (forgot the name) and it was good for the first couple sips, but then kind of gross. Overall, LOVED the food and will definitely be back!
(4)
Elayne S.
Really enjoyed this place! went there with 4 friends and we decided to just order a bunch of things and split them. They were able to add extras on to some plates to make it 5 so that we all got some. We started with the pick 3 guac we chose the mango, naranja, and the toreado. I love guac so i enjoyed all three very much We then had the ceviche mixto which was very good but the portion was pretty small. Our main entrees were: corn masa quesadillas pescado tacos- very good and slightly spicy tostadas de cangrejo- my favorite of the meal! the blue crab was excellent and everything stayed together really well without falling off the crispy tortilla. hongos Longosta- lobster and passion fruit it was really good Chile relleno- my second favorite of the meal. the combo of the scallops, shrimp, cheese, and salsa made it the best chile relleno i've ever had. great spin on an old (and boring) classic. to drink i had the Misty's sleeve which was a good combo of salty and sweet. great place to go with friends, nice atmosphere.
(5)
Christine D.
OMG! So many delicious margaritas so little time..... I had some food here once but the margaritas made me forget about how my food was.
(4)
Dr. Ashish S.
Amazing food, a little crowded and great drinks. try and get a reservation downstairs in the private room, cool drinks and great music.
(5)
Naomi N.
I came here in May for a business dinner with 2 others. I was a bit disappointed with the noise level. We had to talk very loud in order to hear each other. Seats are a bit tight and the bar has very little space - gets crowded quickly. On the positive side, decor is really fun and the drinks are amazing. Tried the trio guacamole - fabulous. Fish tacos - awesome. Go here, but not for business dinners.
(4)
Meagan B.
I've been here a few times and I must say it has changed over the years. I came once for lunch when it first opened and the food was good, but seemed expensive. Then I came back a year or so later to what it is now, small plates, a place to be seem, loud on the weekends, crowded, and impossible to get a reservation that is actually honored. I made a reservation for my and my best friends joint bday dinner for 6 people at 8pm. Despite asking numerous times to be seated, it wasn't until one hour later that it happened, which is not too at a small plates place because then you are literally too starving to be social or even think. But what is most important is the food. It is great the pork tacos and the fish tacos are amazing. I could probably eat 6 by myself. Also the queso fundido is worth getting. I would say that while my boyfriend loved this place, it was just not enough food for him without breaking the bank, but for a place to grab a few tacos and a marg it is fine. My advice would just to no go on a weekend, unless you were one of those who were trying to be "seen"
(3)
Randy B.
Valets were complete @ssholes so we left
(1)
Kristin K.
Meh. Overpriced, yes. Very crowded and loud, yes (though we got in just fine with our reservation). Not the best Mexican I've ever had - it seemed like it was just trying too hard and taking itself too seriously. Everything is interesting, but it's hard to overlook the $11 per margarita, $9 per guacamole, $3 for salsa, and $15 for taco price tag. It wasn't good enough for those prices. Our server was very nice and accommodated a special request. However, once it got extremely crowded, it took 15 minutes to get refills on our drinks and 50 minutes for a second order of tacos. I know it's not the server's fault, but waiting 50 minutes was unreasonable. They apologized, but I had hoped they wouldn't charge us for that second order of tacos. But alas, it was definitely there on the bill. Anyway, it was fine food, but just overpriced and not that exciting.
(3)
E S.
I've been here for lunch countless times (I work in the area). The food is definitely decent. It's not the most amazing mexican food I've ever had, but it's very decent and I will continue to go back. For some reason, the service is always a little bit off to me. Not bad enough to really complain to the manager or anything like that, but just little things here and there. Still though, a solid spot for business lunches in River North.
(3)
Kathryn S.
Went for the first time during Restaurant week and it was fabulous! Had the traditional, mango & toreado guacs--all were great! For ceviches, we had the camaron & mixto, both great again. 4 tacos selections: mole, camaron, pastor, & carne. The only one I wouldn't get again was the mole, it was okay, but paled in comparison to the pastor! My only complaint would be that we waited for an extra 30 min for our table reservation, but it was a Sunday night & restaurant week to boot, so the extra wait wasn't horrible. I will definitely be going back during times other than restaurant week!
(5)
Richard S.
Oh, this place has to have at least a 4-Star average! Mercadito looks like you'd think it would and then some--a trendy Mexican joint well done. My wife and I were fortunate enough to get a reservation on a Friday night during Restaurant Week, and neither of us was disappointed. The special Prix Fixe menu had some very unique offerings, including some interesting guac iterations I'd never think of. Must try the beef taco! Forget meaningful conversation--another interesting aspect of Mercadito that I didn't expect to notice or pay attention to was the music. Albeit just at the brink of uncomfortably loud, the mix featured blended tracks of Led Zeppelin over Black Sabbath and Bob Marley over Bob Seger just to name a few. Upon inquiry, our server wasn't able to provide much information on the music other than that the owner assembled the mix over a period of about two years. Probably worth some investigation, as I wouldn't mind having a mix like that on hand. Worth a visit for sure. Stick with parties of 4 or smaller. Hard ceilings only amplify prevailing groups of 6+ cackling girls, making it very hard to converse.
(4)
Terry L.
This place was good. No wait at 530 on Saturday (before the 4th of July) although we did have a reservation. Margaritas were good -1st one was perfect, 2nd wasn't mixed well, all Tequila on top so it was strong (not that that is a bad thing!!) Tacos were great. My wife and I split the pastor (pork) and the fish tacos. You get 4 each. Small, bites, perfect to get 2 kinds and split. The salsa was good, although pricey for the 2 tablespoons you get. Scallop ceviche was good too, very creative. The place was jumping by the time we left too, so reservations are recommended. It's a tad pricey for tacos, but the taste is something you won't find at the taqueria's.
(4)
Alison T.
Food was outstanding. Shrimp tacos were my favorite. We had 6 girls and were going to order a few plates of tacos, guacamole, and one other appetizer... but the waitress told us the tacos were only two bites each so we ordered a lot more... NOT TRUE. The tacos are much more filling then the waitress claimed. It is meant to be a "small plates" place, but a couple tacos each were definitely enough. The drinks are delicious but pricey, so the bill for the 6 of us was definitely up there. The only thing that knocked it down a star was we had made 7:45pm reservations for my friend's Birthday and a table wasn't even available until after 8:15pm. There is no good area to wait, so we were cramped into the entry way and constantly felt in the way of people coming into the restaurant, not to mention, it was 30 degrees out and we kept getting gusts of wind when the door was open. We were finally seated at a table in the very front right by the door right next to another table, I could hear their entire convo - I explained my frustration to the hostess and she did everything she could and was able to find us a much better table/booth, which we greatly appreciated! But waiting over a half hour when we have a reservation seems a bit ridiculous.
(4)
Aubrey L.
With the wealth of good to excellent Mexican food choices within walking distance of Mercadito, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to even set foot in this place. The food probably would have rated no higher than two stars, but combined with some of the worst service I have ever had, even 1 star feels too generous. There are so many things wrong here: 1) Price. Seriously, $10.50 for three tiny tacos? $8 for a tiny, too limey guacamole? Actually, the size was not so much the issue as the perception of value. You just feel ripped off. 2) Taste. The best thing was probably my brother's beer battered tilapia tacos (quite delicious, actually). Everything else was either terrificly bland or way too salty. 3) Service.........((crickets)).....That's right. They really just do not give a rat's behind about whether you have enough to drink, whether you like your food, or whether you have run out of chips for the salsa. To top off our experience, the bill came out wrong. Every single item was priced incorrectly. Now, I know I can be a cheap SOB, but as a matter of principle, if the menu says the guacamole is $8 and the tacos $10.5, I expect the bill to list my lunch at those prices. Instead of the outrageous lunch prices, we were charged the even more outrageous dinner prices ($8.50 and $14 respectively). It is important to note that we were not angry when we got the bill - just confused (at this point we did not know about the dinner prices). When we pointed out the error to our waitress, she just rolled her eyes, clucked her tongue, and marched off. 10 minutes later, she brings the new bill and.....wait for it.....there is another mistake. While the tacos were now priced correctly, the guacamole was listed at $8.25. At this point it just felt as if she was toying with my emotions. After much gesticulating and menu waiving, we finally got a correct bill. In retrospect, I should have considered that instead of trying to scam me for a quarter, perhaps the staff is just incompetent. Fair enough, I apologize Mercadito - you are not crooks, just a bad restaurant.
(1)
Michelle L.
I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and inviting. The menu is small but everything is great. I recommend the fish tacos. I also had the salsa de arbol (a bit spicy but just the right amount). I had every margarita off the drink menu and loved all of them. My favorite was the mango. Def will go back on the weekends with a group and def want to try the bottle service bloody marys on Sunday!
(4)
Rich K.
I was here last night for a birthday celebration. I don't know if it was me, but everything I ate was overly bland. I even ordered the extra spicy/smokey salsa, but even that was bland. This place is very lively, but the food is very boring. And for the portions served, the prices are too high.
(3)
LA R.
Very disappointed by our experience last night. When we first arrived, the place was empty but filled up fast. The bus boy kept trying to remove plates from our table that were filled with food. We joked about it to our waiter. But then we never saw our waiter again. We were planning to order more--food and drinks--but 30 minutes went by so we flagged down someone and got the bill and went elsewhere. They were completely understaffed.
(2)
Laura G.
One of my good friends came into town of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I only could meet up with her when she was having dinner with 3 girls that have no idea the meaning of a dollar. I really wanted to see her, so I gave in and said I'd meet them at Mercadito. So, I get to Mercadito on time, our reservation was at 8:30 and we were seating around 8:45, not too bad. I'm pretty sure our table was totally make shift . 3 of the chairs were broken and we were crammed next to the wall and the bathroom. We were actually lucky because we were far enough away from other tables that we could actually hear what people were saying. SO loud. Seriously, get some fabric in there to soak up the noise. Now, their food. The food was delicious just a tad over priced. I looked up the menu before going and thought, ok ok I can do $14 for tacos... But that was not the case when we ordered. Because we were a table of 8 we had to get their $30 tasting menu. I'm sorry, but aren't we the consumer? Don't we get a choice of what we want to order? Not here. Anyways, we got 3 different guacamole's- all were yummy. Pomegranate guac, who knew! The food was definitley good, it's just everything surrounding it just kinda sucked. The drinks were also pretty good, $10 not too bad for river north. Overall, it's a decent place, I wouldn't come back here with a group larger than 6 though. 3 stars instead of 2 because the food was good, and isn't that the most important part?
(3)
Joanna K.
Mmmm, Mmmm Good! We had reservations for 6:30pm on a busy Thursday night. You have to have your entire party present in order to be seated, but luckily, the bar had some seats available for us to relax and try out some of their delicious tequila cocktails. I started off with a Black Market which was light and refreshing and whatever that yummy little spice they dip the glass in was, well, it was delicious and I licked the entire glass clean. We started our dinner with the guac sampling and I highly suggest the mango guacamole, I thought fruit in my guacamole would be a bad idea but we loved it, it was our favorite of all of them. Tacos were great, we tried the pastor, carne, estilo baja, and camaron tacos. You must, must, must try the estilo baja and the camaron tacos, the ingredients were perfect and mouthwatering with just the right amount of kick to it. Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Merc. One complaint, please spread out the tables a bit more, I don't think the party next to me enjoyed me getting up and having my behind practically on their table as I was trying to squeeze my way through their table and ours a few times....Thanks Merc!
(5)
Melissa N.
Went to Mercadito's for the first time for brunch during restaurant week and ohmygod! The Smokey Pablo is delicious but the star of the meal was the out of this world Chilaquiles. A bit pricey. Food and drinks were fabulous!!
(5)
A. B.
Cool place, attractive crowd. Food was above average but mixed drinks were AWFUL! When I notified my server that my cocktail was too sweet, she informed me that my opinion essentially didn't matter. I always appreciate being put in my place by my server.
(3)
Jennifer C.
Note: I went here for brunch, not dinner. Pros: I thought that the pricing was fair, and their rendition of Eggs Benedict was very good - the base was corn bread! Delicious. However, everything else was pretty sub-par. The "guava cava" cocktail wasn't BAD, but it didn't taste right either - it was just very meh. Don't mess with the cava if you're not going to at least improve upon it. We ordered the mango guacamole, and there was an overpowering smoky taste - tasted more like bacon than mango!? Pretty gross. The two salsas we ordered were also unremarkable, and one of them had the same overpowering smoky flavor. Last but not least, the waiter brought us complimentary shots of their cocktail, the "Green-ga." It was foul. Tasted like beer and cucumbers. I'd both not order it, and politely ignore the complimentary shooter they bring around. I'd be willing to give it a chance for dinner, but the dishes really need more balance in flavors.
(2)
Brenda M.
Really mature of Mercadito. Right after my post I received this comment from an "employee" at mercadito: Matt O. has sent you a message on Yelp: grow up! "so this review makes me really happy, because I was there that same night sitting @ the bar. I was talking to the bartender (really cute asian girl) and we saw the whole thing! You and your trashy friends were nasty and just WAY out of your element. Grow up and admit that you are a wanna be spoiled girl and get over yourself. Don't waste people's time on yelp by posting a review that rips the server. Talk about pathetic, you are for posting this terrible review. Thanks for providing me and my friends at the bar tons of entertainment that night, we still talk about you all:) Funny How MATT O. has only reviewed Mercadito and no other establishments besides to rip on my boyfriends place of employment.?? instead of wasting your time making up profiles. WORK ON YOUR SERVICE!!
(1)
Steven B.
Try Taco Tuesday for a special deal on unusually wonderful tacos. The various guacamoles are a surprise treat. Service is good.
(5)
Molly L.
We started out with drinks. Margaritas all around, except for my one friend who ordered the Smoky Pablo. The margs were fab, and the Smoky Pablo was really fun. It was indeed smoky, but also fruity? I don't know, but I want more of it. Foodwise, we started with the traditional guacamole and the toreado. I highly recommend the toreado. Very creative and delicious. And the chips! Oh, the chips. I could've just eaten those and been happy. We had to ask for another basket because I ate so many of them without any guac on them. A+ on the chips, Mercadito. After the guac, we got the mahi mahi ceviche and the shrimp ceviche. I'm not a big ceviche person, so I would've been fine without it. The flavor was good, though. Then we shared the carne, al pastor and duck confit tacos. The carne was my favorite, but the al pastor and duck confit were also amazing. We all argued about which taco was the best. For dessert, we got the caramel and goat cheese flan and the chocolate cake. Now, I'm not usually one for flan, but I liked this because it was very un-flan-like. And the chocolate cake. Oh, man. Just get it. I was a little worried because I knew about the trendy reputation of Mercadito, but I was pleasantly surprised by the good food and good service. Sometimes, a place is popular because it's just good. This would have been a 5-star review if it weren't for the weird, Ed Hardy-looking mural on the back wall and the slightly high prices. So close to perfection, Mercadito! So close. I will definitely be back, though.
(4)
Steve T.
Alright, so, apparently they play musical dinner plates here...and musical dinner plates made me go WTF, quite literally, and I almost spilled my wine. Which would not have made me happy. I shall explain: We ordered 4 taco platters for our table to share. Each taco platter comes with 4 tacos. A "mystery" platter arrived on our table with 3. We all looked at each other thinking we were either missing a taco or this was not our food. We told the busser, he had no idea, so he got the waitress. Waitress showed up, said oh this isn't your plate. Total duration of food on table... 5ish minutes. Waitress took the mystery platter off our table and walked into the kitchen...that happened to be immediately next to us. Not even a minute later, the same dinner plate surfaced in her hand, and was placed onto a table a couple away from us. You would have thought all of us saw a ghost, we stopped talking, stopped sipping our wine, and sat there, mouths wide open as they re-served something that had been sitting on our table for at least 5 minutes. I quite audibly said, WTF. Thankfully we know nothing had happened to it since we didn't even prod it with a fork, but it concerns me that they even served the dish. Now, you might be thinking well, what if they threw ours out and brought them a fresh one from the kitchen... but there is no way she literally walked through the kitchen doors and walked back out. There was no fooling me tonight. So, we thought the oddity had ended, but then only 3 of our 4 ordered taco platters came out. We had been waiting for it since as we sat down we were told everything comes out in order when it's finished cooking. Well...we waited and waited, and finally said something. Apparently, our shrimp tacos were given to another table, and they ate them. Most likely knowingly. I'm OK with this, because I would rather have not received them back from their table which seems to happen here. To add to my displeasure, they don't let you mix and match the taco plates. I wanted to get a taco flight type deal like De Cero offers, and that's not possible here. Anywho... musical food disturbs me, so yeahhhh... unless you like knowing someone else kept your food company you might want to think about whether you are ok dining here.
(2)
Mike D.
Good service and a cool vibe. The different guacamoles were all fantastic. The one with the toasted peppers was out of this world. Now regular guac just won't be the same anymore. The tacos were all creative, well prepared, and super tasty. A group of us mixed and matched 3 kinds of tacos, and the short rib and pork were great. The Al Pastor were good, but the pineapple was slightly cloying. Do not miss the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts sides. Tequila selection and margaritas A+++. No pre-made mix and no crappy tequila here! I can't wait to go back and try the ceviche.
(5)
Sunshine A.
Definitely one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. the place is full of energy, good food, and good looking (excuse my shallow moment) people! if you ever go for brunch, make sure to try the Huevos Ahogados. I die for them. will be back asap.
(4)
Zachary B.
I went here with a couple of friends for Chicago Chef Week. We picked it because none us had been there before. We had to wait 5 to 10 minutes for our reservation. The place was full at 6:45 PM. When we did get seated it was at a pretty bad table next to the bathrooms about half way in back of the restaurant. Then we had to wait another 10 to 15 minutes for our order to be taken. We did order off of the Chef Week Dinner menu. We started with the mango, mole poblano, and camote guacamole. All were excellent. It was hard to pick a favorite. We then had a shrimp and a mahi mahi ceviche. Both were excellent. Then we had 4 types of tacos- pollo, rajas, pescado, and mole. The pollo was the clear winner at our table. The rajas seemed to be a close second. The tacos were decent. We also had an OK side of arroz verde. It wasn't bad but really forgotten about amongst our group. For dessert we had the ceviche de mango. This is where things got weird. It was brought to us in what I would describe as a cheesy, low rent Italian restaurant salad bowl. But wait, to be clear, it was just one bowl for the three of us. We thought it was kind of gross because it was very liquidy with tiny chunks of mango thrown in. It tasted great but it was a horrible presentation. We also seemed to wait a ridiculous amount of time to get our check. The service was kind of spotty from beginning to end. My group had differing experiences. We agreed the food was good. But two of us described it as a place to try once but there was not enough to entice to come back. There are better Mexican restaurants out there that exceed this place in value, quality, and price.
(2)
Mike S.
Great place, good music, happy people inside. Went in last night, a place recommended for 25 and up.
(4)
C. K.
I really enjoyed this place and will go back! I went there with my three co-workers on a Thursday evening. I totally love the interior design which is more like a lounge and I enjoyed the music that covered loungy techno but at some point switched to 90s Rock, which cracked us up. Our waiter was great! Very helpful when we were trying to decide what to get. He even hooked up one of us with a free Tequila shot. The food was tasty! The tacos are just the right tapas size. I was afraid that the sizes would be too small but it actually worked out well. Each plate had four tacos. We had the special, the "Firecracker," the Mahi Mahi, and shrimp taco. We were stuffed just from those. They were all super delicious. My three co-workers had alcoholic beverages that I jealously looked at (I'm preggers) and they all loved their drinks. I will def go back there because I really liked the food because it had intricate flavors...for a taco. They weren't your classical or traditional flavors and I appreciate that. Plus, I want to try their drinks once I am sans baby in utero :) Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Kathleen K.
I went to Mercadito for my birthday dinner this year. It was the second time I have been there. The first was with a large group of people and we ordered a tasting menu. Mercadito has great deals for groups on their menu, so it you are looking for a fun night out with a group, this is a great place to do it and to try different types of food that you might not be able to order if you just went with one other person. When I went the second time, we ordered the "guacamole tradicional." Nothing short of perfection. It is absolutely delicious. It is very "light" but quite flavorful. Served with the guac is a bowl of warm tortilla chips which were kind of salty, but I love salty chips so I loved these. When me and my BF gobbled up the first bowl of chips, a second bowl was promptly brought to us by our server. For our meal, I order the carne tacos and my BF ordered the pastor tacos. Mine were absolutely delicious. I very unhappily shared one with my BF-I did not want to give any away it was so good! The pastor tacos were pretty good but extremely spicy, so beware. When you order the tacos meal, you get four tacos. However, I was kind of bummed that you could not mix-and-match. The menu has several tacos that I was interested in trying, but the waitress informed us that we could only get 4 of the same type of taco per order. Not good. We also ordered a side of the elote, which came as two 1/4 corn cobs on sticks. I am kinda obsessed with elote, such that I make it at home frequently, and I was very disappointed with the elote here. It really lacked any sort of flavor. I would not order this again. Ambiance wise, this restaurant is LOUD. We went in the middle of the week around 6pm and were seated across the table from one another but had to yell. Not the ideal dining experience. Overall, the food is pretty good but someone pricey. There are other restaurants in the area with the same fare that I would likely go to before I went back to Mercadito, but those carne tacos and guac are sooooooo good.
(3)
Haley S.
I loved this place in NY - had lunch here on Sunday. Tacos were awesome, loved my pastor and my friend's shrimp (our other friend had to chicken which were good, but not as good). I liked my spiced cava drink, and loved the mango guac. Would definitely return!
(4)
Angelica E.
Mmmmm Mercadito!!! I don't hangout in River North very often (I'm kinda cheap and very bias the Logan Square/Whicker Park) but Mercadito was a treat! A friend and I started off with a pomegrante guac and a mango guac....both very good but I liked the mango the best because it had a surprise kick! We also shared chicken and steak tacos...also very very good! A bit on the pricy side but it is well worth the price!
(5)
Crista L.
Me: "Although you lost our reservation (that Jennifer supposedly made), we are willing to wait for a table" Mercadito: "Sure, you can wait, but we can't guarantee anything will open up soon. Plus, you've gotta wait for the 4th person in your party before we will consider seating you." Me: "Can you make that guacamole more spicy?" Mercadito: "No." The guacamole was decent, but surely not the best I've had. The customer service was mediocre at best. The reason we wanted to try Mercadito in the first place was because they use Agave Nectar in their margaritas. I was certainly not impressed with the margaritas - tasted like they used a bad mix. - definitely not fresh & crisp. I would recommend this place to my friends solely due to aesthetic. It's a cool place.
(3)
Anthony B.
Great upscale Mexican food, the best. Had their special when I was there (pulled pork tacos) that were the best tacos I've ever had. Both of us enjoyed everything we ordered and would definitely go back.
(5)
Sarah S.
My sister came into town this past Friday and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant downtown to eat at. I came across Mercadito when searching online. We thought we would give it and try and were very pleased that we did! We were able to get seated right away in the lounge, so long as we left by 8pm. That gave us 1.5 hrs...no problem! We shared an order of the tradicional guacamole-amazing!! It was perfectly spiced and the chips they serve it with were fabulous. We then shared an order of the Carne Tacos. The tacos are fairly small, but definitely filling. The steak was cooked just right. This place is not too far from my work. I look forward to going there for a margarita after work!
(4)
Rob W.
Awesome spin on Mexican Cuisine. Great Margaritas. Guacamole is a must order.
(5)
Lindsay J.
The guacamole and salsa's were awesome and a good value. My boyfriend and i got two guacamoles, two salsas and two kinds of tacos to share. We also got two sides and found the sides (chorizo and green rice casserole) to be too much food. I'll skip the sides when I go back. Besides the traditional margarita, I also ordered a green-go, beer based drink. It was tasty but not very much kick for the hefty price tag. Food was great. mahi mahi tacos were my favorite bite of food for the evening and my number one fish-taco experience.
(4)
Andrea G.
Two of my girlfriends took me to Mercadito on Friday evening for my birthday and it was like walking on to the set of Sex & The City. Pink/purple lighting, LOUD music, flowing cocktails, cramped seating, and the requisite trendy crowd. Normally, this would not be a place I would enjoy (same reason I can no longer sit on the lawn at a DMB concert...I am just too old) but the food was absolutamente deliciosa. From the salsas and ceviche to the tacos and chocolate cake, Mercadito was spot on with everything. I am a fan.
(4)
Alex B.
come back here for a good time out. Here's how it all plays out. The bar has an extensive menu of mostly tequila based cocktails. Many are yummy - I particularly enjoyed the Pepino el Pyu with Cucumber and intriguing cumin salt. The Margarita Tradicional was also good - though frankly neither were quite up to the level of Frontera. Also kind of annoying was the light hand with which the drinks were poured - my wife had three (which would usually have her under the table) and she was only moderately buzzed. Deducting one point for that for sure. One drink I really enjoyed with dinner with the Michelada - a kind of a spicy beer over ice - really terrific! The bar also has an extensive array of eye candy for everyone to enjoy. I'm adding back half a star for the tremendous display of surgical enhancements - very impressive. If you don't want a scene I'd avoid Mercadito. If you are happy with an evening of drinking and people watching then by all means this is your place. The dining room is set up for this type of evening and the restaurant isn't putting on airs that it anything other than a fun scene place (unlike the obnoxious 33 Club which thinks it is). Subtracting another half a star for the extremely lame soundtrack. I'm all for ironic, humorous, throw back soundtracks but this place had a continuous array of tired, played out music crowned by actually forcing me to listen to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes and Summer Loving from Grease. Are you serious? Guacamole was super yummy and the Toreado was particularly delicious with an interesting mix of tasty chilis. Highly recommended and not really that spicy. I also enjoyed the tacos which had a variety of interesting filings - we ordered four types for the table (we had four people) and everyone got to sample. The Camaron (Shrimp) was the best with an intriguing mixture of flavors and textures. The Chorizo was also super yummy - though a little greasy (as Chorizo tends to be). This place is a lot of fun, with interesting yummy food - though not anything that will send you over the moon. I think it is best enjoyed in a small group with lot's of sharing and staring. Our evening was capped off when Greg Olson of the Bears (my wife is a big fan) was seated near us - definitely getting half a star back for that one. If they allowed the bar tenders to pour a proper drink and got a real (non-lame) soundtrack it would be even better. In spite of these minor flaws I will be back.
(3)
Anna J.
Everything was delicious, the ambiance was super cool, and the staff were all amazing and super helpful. I HIGHLY recommend the margaritas "with smoke." Best margarita I've ever had.
(5)
Darlene L.
Returned here for lunch last week with a party of six. The place is exceedingly noisy. We could not hear each other which put a damper on my recommendation. Also, seating outside is limited to smaller parties. Once again, the food was quite good. Loved the ceviche and the chips. Tacos with mushrooms, steak, chicken-all top notch. Waiter was provoked that we did not order more; his attitude showed. As it turned out, what we selected was plenty. This is a pricey, trendy place where they expect that you will drink a lot, order many small plates, and run up a nice tab for their benefit. If you are ok with these terms, sign up and be sure you are current on your credit card bill.
(4)
Hillary L.
I came here during the super-busy $1 special days to try this place out. I arrived 40 minutes early because we didn't have a reservation, so I scouted out standing area at the bar and picked up a "shady gato" - the drink that is- while waiting for a friend. My friend tried a margarita that the bartender suggested for her, but it was too spicy for her taste, so he got her a new one instead, which was much appreciated. About an accurate 40 minutes later, we were lead to our table- if you could call it that. It was more a trendy, low table with uncomfortable chairs- which would be fine if I was just sipping on my drink and not trying to eat. We each picked out our 2 $1 specials (very small plates), and then asked our server what else we should get. He was amazing the entire night, and first said we should wait to see if we were still hungry after our small plates (we were) and then he suggested: guacamole tradicional : too much onion for my taste, overwhelmed the avocado for me, which is the highlight of guacamole for me arroz verde: something was off with the spices in this dish, I liked the melted manchego cheese on top, but the rice didn't seem right So, mainly I enjoyed my small plates and wasn't a huge fan of our other food. I liked that it was busy because I've been to too many places that are quiet on weekdays, but the food didn't do it for me here, which may be because the kitchen was slammed that night with all the specials. I wouldn't go here again to eat unless someone really, really wanted me to tag along with them.
(2)
Reynick M.
Four words: overpriced, hipster Taco Bell.
(1)
Jane Z.
Pretty. One of those trendy places I wouldn't mind going with girlfriends. Disclaimer - I may or may not have gone to a bar before this and consumed a few Very Large Beers, so maybe my enjoyment was a combination of actual appreciation and alcohol-skewed appreciation. Guacamole and ceviche, maybe two of my favorite things, ever. I also ordered the shrimp & scallop stuffed peppers. My friend ordered this as well, and we were both very pleased (yes, yum yum yum). However, my boyfriend, ordered a steak dish and they brought him....chicken. The took it back and my friend and I ate our stuffed peppers with glee while the boy waited patiently, sadly. The manager came and checked up on us later, after they had brought out the correct entree, and everything was fine. Then they gave us a round of drinks. I understand that a relatively new restaurant needs some time to adjust and get settled, and these errors are very likely in the beginning, so I wasn't upset about it. I know for a fact that I didn't not need that free margarita towards the end of our meal, but thank you, regardless. :)
(4)
Lupe T.
We went to Mercadito with a group of five. Restaurant is beautiful, but very loud! Drinks are amazing, exotic!!! Food is served tapas style style (small portions)!! It's authentic, but with a twist???? Be prepared to spend, spend, spend....quite expensive. If you have a big appetite reconsider visiting Mercadito!!!
(3)
Erin J.
My guy and I went here for a quick dinner early one Wednesday evening. We were sat relatively quickly, on the edge of a banquette, mere feet from the bar. Within about 15 minutes, the people lining up at the bar had their asses up on the edge of our table. The noise, of course, quickly became such that my guy and I couldn't talk without shouting and we were constantly eyeballing our glasses to be sure they didn't topple over every time someone bumped our table (which happened a lot). What a poor place to have a table. Put a potted plant in that space and keep the rest of the tables, but this little two-top is in a horribly inconvenient and inconsiderate place. The cramped space was the most distracting and irritating aspect of our dinner. The service was polite but pretty air-headed; what we'd ordered came all jumbled up and at the wrong times and the drinks were just...off. The "house drink" sidecar that comes with all the tequilas is disgusting. I think it was supposed to be something like Clamato and a bunch of other things that just didn't work for my taste. The one saving grace: OMG the fish tacos were amazing. Light and crispy, only very lightly dressed and simple. They were the only thing I enjoyed about our night out at Mercadito.
(2)
Alexander G.
Excellent different types of guacamole and decent tacos. Service was fine. Gets pretty loud at night if you're near the dj so not the easiest for conversation. Probably the type of place you would go to before a night out, for example in the bar downstairs.
(4)
Thetalkingdeck ..
Met up w/some friends here for a going away party. Nice location. Secluded private nook that looks like a nice club/lounge area. Crowd was cool - kinda like the wanna go out without getting too crazy crowd - only had drinks there - had a nook w/bottle service. I'd go again...a good bouncing spot (starting here to start the night off right or coming here to finish the night well).
(4)
Michael N.
Good ambiance and solid food. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Jeff W.
I almost didn't go to this place because of the previous reviews. I don't know what all the naysayers are about. My wife and I had a fantastic time here. I showed up to the bar around 6 on a Thursday. I had never been here before and frankly didn't know much about Mercadito, other than I had heard vague rumblings that it was a fun place to go and they had decent food, and it's not far from my office. So I sat down at the bar and there were only a few other folks in the restaurant. The bartender asks what I want and I said, I have no idea, what do you recommend. I told him I'm into spicy drinks (ala bloody mary) and he recommends a Misty's sleeve. The hibiscus salt is great and it has a bit of heat. I told him, if anything, make it spicier next time. A few more folks show up at the restaurant and I can feel the vibe start to pick up. It's around 6:30 at this point. Done with the Misty's Sleeve, I'm up for something else. Another bartender recommends the Big Nose Goes to Mexico (B.N.G.T.M), which they described as a sort of Mai Thai with a twist. The twist being 151 and set on fire before you drink it. It's a really fruit drink, but still delicious and the hibiscus salt on the rim of this one is a little burnt, which gives it another layer of complexity. It's around 7 and the place is really crowded. My wife arrives and we're immediately seated outside. It was a beautiful night and there's lots of folks walking around River North. I order another Misty's Sleeve and my wife has a BNGTM. She's not really a fan of the salt on the glass, but still enjoys the guava-ness of the drink. We ordered the Mango, Pina, and Mole guacamoles to start. Surprisingly the Mango and Pina are the spicier of the three. The mole has a nice smoky taste, while the other have sweeter, but spicier notes. All three are delcious. Then we had the Hongos and Pescado tacos. The Hongos tacos came out first and were absolutely delicious. Earthy mushrooms and really savory. The Pescado tacos came out next, but they weren't as flavorful as the Hongos. They need a bit more citrus or something to give them a kick, but still pretty good. Overall, we were very pleased and I would definitely go back with a smaller or larger group. Bonus for OpenTable reservations.
(5)
Jen B.
After countless lunches here over the last two years, I gotta back up off Merc's balls and say that the food is pretty great. The camarones and pork tacos are delicious. I could scarf the chips and mango guac all day. And the margies will not do you wrong. Still think it's a bit sceney and loud but I've learned that to get good food downtown, you will have to put up with some nonsense. In the grand scheme, Mercadito is well worth it.
(4)
Zac K.
Interesting to see the wide array of reviews- I'm a huge fan of Double A- the downstairs hot spot that always manages to find me ways to spend a sick amount of money on bar fun- oy! I figured since I'm normally on the way to the blackout bus when I'm typically here for an evening, it might be polite to try this place out for FOOD! SOOOOOOO- everything was great- pomegranate guacamole was great along with their house. Tacos were delish- fish and steak- yummo- drinks were good too- had no issues getting seated early, either, with a reservation. This is kind a fun place with reasonable pricing, however note the a la carte and it does add up quickly. Double A= bliss and the giant "guilded" doors to hell, as I call them- always a good time!
(4)
Andy G.
Huh?!? What?!?! What did you say?!?!? That's pretty much the extent of the conversation I had at Mercadito before my headache set in from the obnoxiously loud music this past Tuesday when I went there for my brother-in-law's birthday dinner. Fortunately enough, however, the food was so good that I can't really use the volume of the joint against it too much. Downright spectacular. From the three types of guacamole we tried (traditional, mango and toreado) to the carnitas de puerco taquiza I had, the flavors were unique and well thought out. Other dishes that were eaten and received rave reviews were the shrimp and scallop ceviches, the pork and skirt steak tacos, the chile relleno and the barbacoa chicken taquiza. In addition to the foregoing, the decor of the place was pretty cool and the people inside were attractive, young professionals. Not a great place for a romantic dinner but surely a place to give your palate a workout. So, outside of the fact that I couldn't hear myself think while eating, I will definitely be returning to try everything else on the menu. But for the music Mercadito would have gotten a full five stars - maybe they should take note of this criticism to ensure that people will not try to use it as an excuse to not experience their food. ** As an aside, I cannot comment on the price of the food because my father-in-law paid the bill. However, unless my eyes did deceive me it looked a little on the high end considering that it's ultimately Mexican fare at the end of the day.
(4)
Kashyap D.
Freakingly expensive food. Our server was very rude and so was the valet guy. Between the four of us, we ended up paying 160 bucks for that measly amount of food that was not even filling. Highly disappointed.
(1)
Lisa D.
Interestingly enough, I lived in the loft above this restaurant for a year after I graduated college. The space this restaurant is in was occupied by an animator and the basement the lounge is now in was occupied by roaches, rats and my friend Heather's 6 foot tall papier mache dinosaur. (long story) If we had this to dine in instead of the Popeye's that used to be on the corner perhaps our lives would be different now... We reminisced about the old days as we dined on lovely guacamole and ceviche. I LOVE the ambiance and the decor. The basement lounge is really interesting. You feel a bit like you're in someones really, really, really nice basement and they are making you freaking awesome tequila drinks. I really enjoyed this spot.
(4)
christina b.
Service was AWFUL. Food was OK at best. We were seated 20 minutes late even though we had a reservation, and all this on a weeknight no less. Food was OK with teeny tiny portions and definitely not worth the asking price. To add insult to injury our less than courteous waitress served everyone's entrees 15 minutes apart so all of us were eating at different times, making for an awkward dining experience. When we asked if the rest of the entrees could come out together our waitress looked at us like we were crazy and rolled her eyes at our request. I won't be going back. since I can get far better food and service somewhere else.
(1)
Fawn D.
The good: Cool decor and atmosphere. I heard the fish tacos were excellent, but didn't order them. The bad: I ordered the tacos al pastor and they were just OK, in fact they were way too salty. Too expensive for mediocre food.
(2)
Lourdes A.
OVERPRICED! Party of six with one round of shots that the waiter duped us into = $94 per person. WTF? It's Mexican food. Mexican ingredients are cheaply priced. Who are they kidding?? For that price, I'll go to Topolobampo or Frontera. The concept is a good one and the food is really good but the service left something to be desired. First, the food. Guacs come first and we chose the pomegranate, traditional, and chile serrano varieties which ended up being a lovely mix of sweet and spicy. The chipotle salsa was delish. The carnitas (pork) and carne (beef) tacos were small but very good. The ceviches were...meh. Sides of green rice with melted cheese and fried bananas were hard to share and unfortunately for my fellow diners, closer to my side of the table. However, if the six of us would have placed our portions on a normal dinner plate, we would have been howling mad when we got the bill. It just is way overpriced for what you get. Whoever says otherwise, must not be familiar with the low cost of ingredients that go into making Mexican food. It was a friend's birthday and so I had to be there but never again. For my friend's birthday, the owner who he knows, sent a free round of tequila shots before our meal began. However, at the end of our meal the server said do you guys want another round of shots and even offered to drink one with us. EVERYONE at the table thought it was a comp round because of the way he presented the option. Well, our server who I will forever brand Luis el Bandido gave us his best tequila and charged us $105 for 7 shots - including his! How nice of him to treat himself on our dime. He wasn't even that special. We all left pissed off about it. Our collective tab for Mexican bites, licks, and tastes with one round of shots was $94 per!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will never go back and will warn people about the dishonest servers and overpriced food.
(2)
Melanie R.
I love it here. The tequila drinks are delicious, the food is good (especially the variety of guacs), and I love the decor. My one complaint is that the tables are very small and close together, but other than that, this is an awesome restaurant.
(5)
Yvonne L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! The food is outstanding and drinks are flavorful. The staff has always been great at recommending items and how much to order. I've never had a bad experience.
(5)
Binoy G.
My favorite Mex joint in Chi-town. Really great food (love their gourmet taco's). Great ambience. Can get a little loud so go with ear-plugs if that bothers you but the food is definitely worth it. Also, dont miss out on trying all the different variations on the guac and the salsa's
(5)
Sarah R.
I have mixed feelings about Mercadito. Is it good? Yes. Is it fantastic? No. I did I get annoyed by the $4 1/4 a cup of salsa? Yes. The tacos are good but I'm probably more of a traditional Mexican type of girl. Oh and but it's super crowded. I wish I could give Mercadito 3.5 stars.
(3)
Am P.
Great tacos. outdoor seating a plus because the tables inside are way to close to one another. Good margaritas
(4)
ali a.
I recently celebrated my birthday at Mercadito. I had visited it before and really loved the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service! Our second time around was good, but not as good as the first. We had a group of 20 people and had planned it far in advance. For some reason, our table was not ready and we were not seated for 45 minutes. Luckily, Mercadito made up for it with the delicious drinks and food. The other nice think about Mercadito is that it is perfect for large groups. They have a tasting menu and are very accommodating if you want throw a party. Gallit was fantastic to work with. Some of my favorites there are the pomegranate guacamole (only available at certain times) and the scallop ceviche. I am also a big fan of the steak and fish tacos. Lastly, I have a slight obsession with the cheesy rice. Its a must if you go there. Overall, Mercadito is a great new hotspot with a fun atmosphere and great food.
(4)
Corinne W.
THE GOOD: We went with a big group of girls and had their "tasting menu" (which is required for groups over 7 people). This included trios of both guac and salsa, three different tacos, a taquiza to share with the table (chicken barbacoa was my favorite), and 2 sides. Tons of food for only $25 a person and we loved almost everything we tried. I was also quite impressed with the atmosphere. Everything from the decor and lighting to the wall murals. Definitely a fun place to head to dinner with friends. THE BAD: Warning, the Elote Mexicano Corn-on-the-Cob was almost inedible. Sooo spicy that half our table was in tears and I swear we're not wimps! THE UGLY: Service was horrible, except for our bus boy/man who was great. We waited over an hour even with a reservation and drinks took forever to arrive once we had a chance to order them. I seriously recommend ordering your second when your first arrives! In Summary - I with the other yelpers, I look forward to trying this place again, but only after they have had a chance to work out all the kinks.
(3)
Jacob S.
We went here for dessert after a disappointing dinner experience at Cantina Laredo. What a contrast. The service was fantastic, the staff was nice, the space much more intimate. We had Cafexata which is coffee infused Herradura reposado with horchata and nutmeg, a coffee with "piquete" (in this case gaujillo syrup & crema de mezcal), and the flan de cajeta. All were fantastic. Cannot wait to go back for a full dinner. We'll be returning soon and will update this review!
(5)
Jenn C.
Mercadito is quite the happening spot right now - went on a Tuesday and it was packed! I'm a huge fan of Mexican food, small plates and margaritas and Mercadito certainly didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend getting several of the guacamoles and salsas to share. The plantain guac was outrageously good! We also had the mahi mahi ceviche and a couple orders of tacos (al pastor and the shrimp) and they were all very good too. The only real negative about Mercadito is that it's crazy loud in there! My friend and I had to yell at each other across our 2 person table the whole time and our conversation was punctuated with quite a few "what was that?"'s
(4)
James D.
Food is great, but they really shouldn't take "reservations" unless the meaning of "reservation" has changed the meaning in the dictionary to: "get here at a pre-specified time, then go buy drinks in the bar for an hour while 'shockingly' the table we have for your is just waiting to pay the check" It's great if you are in the mood, but the bar area sucks due to a terrible setup. It's in the middle of the serving area so there's a lot of traffic walking through with appetizers or cocktails going to tables. The remedy is really simple: don't take reservations. Or do what flies in New York (where there are at three other Mercadito outposts) - text people when the table is ready and give them 5 minutes to come back. It would save everyone the frustration of not living up to expectations. If you still go knowing all this, go for the pastor tacos or the estilo baja. Best on the taco list.
(3)
Sunil D.
If you are looking for a cheap mexican place (aka a burrito as big as your head), turn away now. Mercadito first and foremost is a great scene, lively, professional crowd that always has a good buzz to it. A blend of NYC (where it has 3 other restaurants) and South Beach feel to it. The cocktails are awesome, they put a fresh and modern twist on margaritas and other tequila based drinks. The food is awesome. The tacos are well portioned (4 to an order) and a step above regular mexican fare. The el pastor and beer battered fish are two of my favorites, but I've tried most of them and you can't really go wrong. With that said, its great to go as a group and order an array of tacos so everyone can try a few of each. As a side dish, don't miss the green rice...just trust me on this, words won't do it justice. If you're feeling lucky, trek downstairs to AA lounge. It feels like a maze to get through and the bouncers are pretty strict but its worth a try. Its a very intimate (small) space, with great specialty cocktails and a hip vibe.
(4)
Debra R.
I went to Marcadito with some friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a group of 8 and were therefore suggested to utilize the group menu. Using this menu, we were allowed to select a price per person to share 4 - 5 different items. We did the guacamoles, salsa, tacos and dessert. The guacamole was great. I really loved the chips, especially! The tacos were good - everyone loved the steak taco the best. The chicken taco was sub-par. The desserts were good. We all had margaritas or drinks of some sort. They were good but definitely added a lot to the bill!! My favorite part was the ambiance here. The music selection was quite off but the lighting and set up was perfect for a fun night out and a bit of people watching. I would possibly go here again to try the non-sharing menu.
(3)
Riz A.
This place was just O.K. I went in with pretty big expectations, as I've heard a lot about their authentic cuisine, but id say i was slightly disappointed. the guacamole is very good - especially the spicy one.. The tacos on the other hand, were very very average. And the tostada was just not that good. Id say there are a hundred different mexican places all over town that have better food..if you want authentic cuisine i'd say check out pilsen. if you want to go to a cool restaurant with halfway decent drinks, check out mercadito. Also, the tres leches flan was very very good, hence 3 stars instead of 2. I might give it a second try, but not anytime soon.
So I've been all around the planet. But by far the best tequila I've had has been here, at Mercadito's. I can't even explain the processes that the waiter detailed, but whatever they were, they work. After two of whatever the waiter brought out, both my friend and I were feeling the effects of Mercadito's signature, aged spirits. The drinks were delicious, and a must have accompaniment for any tapas dish (I recommend the mushroom and chicken tacos). Inside was a tad too loud for us, but we were easily seated outside. The bill was rather expensive, as each drink put us up 15 bucks. However, it was a good experience, and definitely, if you're willing to shell out a few more dollars than usual to try something new, I say: go!
(4)
Elise C.
Mercadito is my favorite restaurant. This is a huge deal since I am very indecisive, thus nothing is my favorite anything. The first time I went was a few years ago for Cinco de Mayo. It was delectable. The menu was prix fixe and it was worth every dollar. There were about six kinds of salsa which were each tasty, many guacamoles (but I'm allergic to avocado), and the tacos were delicious as well. Since that day, I've been back about five or six times which means a LOT since there are so many restaurants in Chicago, you really never have to visit one twice. The service is good, servers are attentive and give great explanations. The margaritas and other cocktails are also great. I can't say enough about Mercadito - anytime it's an option, I'm there!
(5)
Jennifer T.
I've been to Mercadito about 6 or 7 times. I love Mexican, but particularly slightly fancy Mexican. That's exactly what Mercadito is. I always get their guacamole (recently we enjoyed a sampler of 1) pomegranate, 2) traditional, and 3) sweet potato/pumpkin seed guacs). Keep in mind, though, that if you order three, you won't receive TRIPLE the quantity--it doesn't scale like that. I often try to cut down on carbs, and therefore order a side of jicama ($3.00) with which to (somewhat awkwardly) scoop up the guacamole. I also adore their tacos. My favorite is the chicken mole/sweet potato version (which only seems to appear on the "fall/winter" menu). I've never had a problem with service (though the bus people sometimes prematurely steal the plates, depriving one of the opportunity to scoop out that last delectable bite of guacamole). The cons: 1) they change their menu somewhat frequently, so if you fall in love with an item on the menu, you might not be able to enjoy it indefinitely. 2) they serve the food as soon as it's ready (which is convenient for them, and might be beneficial to customers eager for the hottest, freshest food). I don't favor this approach, however, since sometimes my tacos have arrived long before my husband's meal. When I was last there, my tacos arrived a couple of minutes after we got the guacamole. To avoid this problem, i suggest that one wait to order the entrees until after the appetizers arrive. 3) the price is a little steep. I'm more than willing to pay for the delicious food here, but 4 somewhat small tacos cost $15.50. If you're hungry, that's not enough for one meal (though I think tacos are technically meant for sharing). The larger meals start out closer to $20. 4) It's really noisy. I'm aging before my time in terms of my sensitivity to noise/youthful stimulation, but it's definitely not a place for intimate conversations. 5) I've sometimes observed the hostesses acting a little cattily. River North has so many good Mexican/Latin places (Frontera, Xoco, Zocalo, Taco Joint) (AVOID Havana and Su Casa). Mercadito is a good choice for fun, fancy tacos and guacamole.
(4)
Annie G.
After reading several reviews here and on Metromix, and after realizing how much money (or lack thereof) I had in my checking account, I was prepared to loathe this place and give it a miserable review. But I can't. The experience from start to finish was positive. I went with the Dames who Dine, We had to push back our 6:45 reservation to 7 after a couple of us were running late, and they happily obliged. We were seated within 10 minutes of arriving. Had the guac trio: traditional, pumpkin and the chili serrano/gralic. All were good the last one was fantastic. Garlic-mama! Had the ceviche trio; can't remember which ones we got but they were all decent. A little overpriced, sure, but good. And when you're with a group, it's less of a hit on the wallet. We all ordered taco or quesadilla plates and then had a few sides to share: rice and beans, plantains and some green rice casserole. All were good. Plantains were excellent and a sweet taste that alleviated a desire for dessert - at least for me. The best part of the meal, though, was my dinner: shrimp tacos. Spicy, delicious and just the perfect amount of food (actually, I couldn't even finish them). Thanks, server Juan, for the reco! Worst part? Well, besides the awkward, hovering earpiece-wearing manager, probably was the margarita. Too sweet and couldn't lacking in tequila. And, on a final note, the crowd. Not my type of people: swanky, rich, white, scene-sters. HOWEVER, they provided some ok people watching. A table of 8 mafia-esque dudes with over-surgeried, prescription-pill-popping ladies next to us provided our table with wonderful fodder. In summary, with low expectations (almost dread, really), this place blew me away and didn't leave me feeling broke or hungry (bill only came to $43 a person). If I have to dine in river whore again, I'll definitely consider Mercadito.
(4)
Dan F.
It wasn't too busy when we showed up, around 6:15 on a Tuesday, but by 7pm it was packed. Make a reservation! A friend and I tried the tasting menu. It came with 3 types of Guacamole, 2 types of ceviche, 4 kinds of tacos, a side dish and a desert. Highlights: The traditional Guacamole. The Ceviche Camaron and Dorado were excellent. The best I've had in the United States. Mole tacos are also excellent...very chocolate-y Lowlights: Not impressed by the Estilo Baja tacos (Mahi Mahi). Do not miss: torrejas de bolillo for desert. It is similar to french toast with vanilla ice cream on top. Delicious! The prices are very fair. The tasting menu I described was $40 per person.
(4)
Sarah E.
Some friends and I went here for some after-work drinks and snacks. The daisy specials margaritas were very reasonable. The food was great, and if you get it from the happy hour menu it's very reasonable. We had one of each botana from the daisy menu, original and mango guac, and tacos (chorizo and tilapia) from the regular menu. The taco plates are great for sharing, and the tilapia is some of the best I've had. Service was a little slow, but great atmosphere and outstanding food.
(4)
F J.
Really, really, really good margarita. A little pricey and club like but did I say one of the best margaritas I've ever had?
(4)
Hooshna A.
Ah, Mercadito. I was SO looking forward to having one of my favorite NYC restaurants here in Chicago, especially in my neighborhood. Alas, you disappointed me. My friend and I ordered a salsa and a guacamole to start. The portion size was shockingly small. Is that any different than NYC? Maybe not (haven't been to Mercadito in 2.5 years), but it seemed to be a bit outrageous by Chicago standards. Our server was friendly, but overly talkative. To her defense, it was the first night they were serving to the general public. With that being said, she interrupted our conversation repeatedly to keep us ordering more food/drinks. We each had two different cocktails, one was a paloma-like cocktail and the other a beer based cocktail. Both good, but again, nothing spectacular. The table next to us seemed to be obsessed with the drink with the flaming lime and they ordered a couple. We ordered the mole tacos (chicken) and a couple of side items, as well as the halibut ceviche. All were solid (the plaintains were especially good), but nothing knocked our socks off. The major fail of the evening was the desert. Possibly the worst version of churros I have ever had in my life. We promptly let the server know and she was kind enough to remove it from our tab. The ambiance is good, but wow, really different than the NYC versions and a bit over the top. There was a huge Ed Hardy-like Aztec mural on the back wall and although I can appreciate the effort put into the work, it was all a bit much. The off putting thing about it all is that with the super polished interior, the waitstaff were wearing brown t-shirts and jeans. It didn't seem to mesh well with the upscale interior in the slightest. Overall impression? Overpriced and nothing extraordinary. With the Bayless restaurants a couple blocks away and DeCero down on Randolph, I think they're going to have to rethink their approach if they want to have repeat business. I'm going to give them a couple of months and then give them one more shot.
Dined here twice and the steak tacos was the best item on the menu that i've tried. The Guacamole was good with it being nice and chunky and without any onions that I remember needing to pick out, the chips and salsa was also good but the salsa was like a couple tablespoons worth of a puree so no bueno on the salsa portion! My bf had a spicy margarita that was way to sour/tart and just plain bad. He had to send it back for a regular margarita. I don't like flan but I tried the caramel one here it was good. It's best to order several items and share in a group. We had a table for four the second time we came a week later and we had a long wait for a table even with our reservation. We had nowhere to stand because the place only has the bar area which was also full! I would come back on the weekend but if you don't want to wait I would suggest another day. The vibe is great like LA but sometimes the fun music drowns out the conversations. The bonus is the very small lounge downstairs to chill and have a cocktail and feel like you are in NYC. We have and do recommend this new hot spot :)
(5)
caroline r.
food is delicious, great cocktails for brunch and evening, fun atmosphere & attractive surroundings, great service. portions are small so it's not a meal if you're super hungry (or order several small plates), and fairly pricey but overall a great experience.
(4)
Matthew E.
What a disappointment. The 1 star comes from the ambiance but after that it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It started off simple on an empty Monday night at the restaurant. We had reservations but restaurants downtown on a Monday all seem to be slow., so it probably wasnt necessary. The waitress told us it was a tasting menu for the most part and things were recommended to be shared. She said she'd come back in a few and go more in depth into the menu. We asked her to start with 3 different guacamole the original, pumpkin, and pomegranate ones. All were ok in their own way. After the waitress came back to get our main meals and explain the menu she seemed dumbfounded when we asked what else was good and what we should know. Instead she said um I thought I told you it was a tasting menu. Based on that we ordered tacos, I got the mole and my boyfriend got the fish ones. Mine only came with the chicken and sauce I asked the waitress if ingredients were missing she replied no. I then asked for the menu and pointed out that it said plantains and crema fresca she said they were in there I just didnt see them with the sauce. I can guarantee you they weren't in there and the tacos were just ok. At this point I just wanted to leave the service was bad the food was subpar and I just felt like the train had crashed as hard as possible. I told the waitress we were finished and asked for a bill. She left the table assumingly to go get it. Boy was I wrong. She went and talked to the hostess for another 20 minutes (I counted) and kept staring at my table. Keep in mind there was only 6 other tables at the time. She finally came around after our staring contest, I lost she is a very steady eye. I finally had to ask again to which I got an evil eye and an annoyance that she was asked. Overall a terrible dining experience and I doubt that I will ever return.
(1)
Bonnie D.
Went for dinner to celebrate our 30+ kid's birthday. Loved the drinks and food but the noise level was so loud that we could not talk to each other without struggling to hear the conversation. The tables were too close together but larger groups sitting in the booths, which is where the loud voices came from, had more comfortable seating. Maybe it's because the booths are elevated that the sound just seemed to carry to our table. Might try it again for lunch.
(3)
Judith J.
Went after work for dinner with friends and it was a good choice. The tacos come four on a platter and you can't mix and match, so we ordered several different tacos and shared. The plantains were good as were the tacos. We ordered chips and guac for appetizer. I would go again and try something different on the menu. I would definitely make reservations. Great atmosphere and good place for after work on a week night.
(4)
Christy L.
Excellent vibe, even at lunchtime. The carnes tacos were an unexpected stand-out. Service was a little slow though, so don't go if you are in a rush.
(4)
Katrena G.
I love mexican food and this place has some tasty tacos and cocktails. They lose a star for loudness and price. If you don't mind screaming at your dinner partner and $13 cocktails you will love it!
(4)
Elvin Y.
The point of having a reservation is NOT to wait 1.5 hours to get seated. I went to Mercadito last night with a group of seven friends. The place was a big zoo and the hostess was not the nicest one we encountered. When I went up there with a friend to ask when we would be seated (at the time we had been waiting for about 45 minutes past our reservation) she rudely handed me off to the General Manager. The GM wouldn't answer me on when we'd be seated, but he was nice enough to buy our entire group a round of margaritas. Yes, our souls were bought for some good ol' margs! 35 or so more minutes later, we are still waiting to be seated. When we stopped the GM to bug him again, he brought out a guac platter out for us as we waited....it was delic! But we were still SO annoyed. To make the long story short....we finally got to sit for dinner. Our waitor was SUPER nice and we really liked him. He bought us a round of another margs on the house 'cause he felt so bad for our wait. We ordered a bunch of tacos and the food was just so mediocre. We got the tilapi and shrimp tacos. I recommend skipping both. We also got the chicken mole one- and the mole tasted like Hershey syrup. BUT....the steak tacos totally rocked! We also ordered three types of ceviches. Mahi Mahi rocked. But the scallop and shrimp was oh so mediocre. Maybe this place can improve if they can figure out how to honor reservations. Also, they need to work on their food. The tacos do not even compare to the delicious tacos of Big Star in Bucktown. If you are going to make seven girls wait 1.5 hours, the least you can do is serve some delicious food. Or better yet...if you can't honor reservations ... maybe just don't take them at all ....
(2)
caroline k.
I'm usually not a fan of fancy Mexican but came for a weekday work dinner in a party of 12. The hostess wouldn't seat several of us who had arrived on time, until the "majority" had arrived, even though our large table was already set up and clearly reserved for the whole evening. That was annoying. Our large party required ordering off the set/prix-fixe menu (we chose the 3rd largest of 4) and were overwhelmed with the amount of food - 3 guacamoles, 4 tacos, 2 "apps", 2 sides, and 2 desserts were served family-style. Most were good, but I'd have to say that after a few courses they all started to taste and look the same (stand outs were the mahi tacos). We were all stuffed by the 2nd taco flight. I will say the caramel flan dessert was very good - don't get the coconut flan. Noise level is ridiculously high, even on a weekday night. I've been here for drinks on weekends, and it's even louder then.
(3)
Rebekah T.
Went there for a weekday lunch and the food was great. Since they don't let you mix and match tacos, my friend order the carnitas tacos and I got the pastor tacos. Both were excellent, the pastor are my fave. We also ordered habanero salsa and a tomatillo salsa - both also delicious, spicy, and just how the menu described. I would definitely go again around 11:30 am to beat the extensive wait they usually have.
(4)
betsy b.
The atmosphere of this place is really great. The bar could have a few more chairs to accommodate waiting 30+ minutes after your reservation but the cocktails make it tolerable. The food itself wasn't as great. The trio of quac was tasty. We did mango, traditional, and mole. I'm pretty sure the mole was just traditional with mole thrown on top though. My biggest peeve about this place is if you do the tacos all 4 have to be the same kind. So if your whole party isn't planning on dining on tacos or if they don't like the same stuff you do, you're SOL. Luckily we all wanted tacos and all agreed on 4 types. Pastor won by a long shot...they were so good. The shrimp was a disaster..slimy goopy mess, I do not recommend. The chicken mole and the skirt steak were also winners. I'm not totally writing this place off but since there's a fancy taco joint closer to home that'll let me mix and match my tacos I won't be rushing back.
(3)
Bruce B.
FCUK this place. FCUK is wanna be trendy like this restaurant - right? Fair warning, I'm not the typical person who would like this place. If you're looking for the new hot shiz - this is for you. If you're a 40 something divorced women looking for a night on the prowl - they have many tables available. If you wear F*ck me boots and have blonde highlights, you'll love this place. If you're a guy looking to impress any of the above with your neatly pressed shirt and bonobos loafers; buy many tequila shots and hit on the women above. I don't think the above women will put out unless you order many rounds of their average selections of tequila. Also, the service is pretty lousy. They rush you off the tables and away from the bar. I will not be going back to this place until it's time to find my sugar momma...roar....
(2)
Marisa F.
I'll just come right out and say that I've been to Mercadito twice...within the same week. Props to the hostess for remembering me without making me feel like a crazy. The food was so good that I just couldn't wait to go back to try something else. It probably won't be the last time I do it. If you like guacamole, select a couple and go to town. It was a great way to start the meal. We chose the traditional, mango (don't be put off by the color) and a third selection with pomegranate (my favorite). The tacos are delicious and made to share. If you're not into sharing, I suggest ordering sides to fill you up. I only wish that you could order tacos a la carte. Steak and Chicken were my favorites. We did not order order dessert but I'll be back. Preferably after work so that I can sample a drink or two.
(3)
Michelle M.
Damn, not sure what exactly it was but this place just didn't do it for me. Ordered pollo tacos and pastor tacos...have to say they were salty. The peanut salsa that our waiter said was what people rave about was just not good. Local of place is very nice and the decor was very urban modern. My overall experience was just OK. Probably won't ever go back. This place just isn't for me.
(2)
Tim Y.
Loud: it's like having dinner in the middle of an obnoxious club. Tight seating, in places: the people next-door were almost in my lap, and I didn't care to hear their entire conversation. Also the music is, well, see 'Trendy' below. Trendy: loud and obnoxious people dressed in Ed Hardy's finest and looking fresh out of a Lincoln Ave sports bar. Tasty: this is where they keep the three stars they earn. I'm not a big tequila fan, but I'm always willing to try something twice. And I certainly did. The server's recommendations seemed spot-on for drinks, and I wasn't let down at all by either something too froofy nor too straight-up-tequila. As for food, you definitely need to go with 3 of everything. The guacamoles are outstanding. While I didn't have the manzana (apple, tomatillo, almond, habanero) it sounds intriguing and is unlikely to disappoint. Salsas are quality, and the ceviche is tantalizing. Tacos are quite, quite tasty. I especially enjoyed the chorizo. Food is served at an appreciated pace by attentive and helpful staff. With the amount of food looking small but feeling gigantic, do yourself a favor and slow down. Enjoy the flavors, because there are so very many to experience.
(3)
Brad P.
Wow. Really, wow! Watched the Bears get destroyed by the Pats while consuming a few beverages on Sunday. When we got to Mercadito, let's just say we were ready for some great food. We were not disappointed. First, our waiter. He was actually the key to our whole meal. He may have had a bit of attitude, as others have denoted about their servers here, but we totally dug him. In fact, after checking with us a few times to get our order, he finally just took our menus and offered to order for us. Great decision! Every dish he brought, from the guacamole variety to start with to the fish tacos we finished with, was outstanding. I don't actually remember the name of every dish we were served, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. Excellent meats, fresh guac, warm and soft tortillas. The margaritas weren't too shabby either. This was a cool spot with a good vibe and outstanding food. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
lana v.
Been here many times for lunch, dinner and private parties and always had a great time. I love all the specialty and really like all of the food I have tried, especially the steak tacos. They change the guacamole and some of the other items seasonally, and I have always enjoyed them. My husband and I also went to the drink/food pairings cooking demo that they have every month and loved it! They change the drink/food every month and we cant wait to get a group of friends together to go back.
(5)
Zach B.
So went here last night with some friends, and fell in love with this place. Upstairs and downstairs, beautiful people and art. Everyone's very pleasant. Haven't tried the food yet just was there for drinks, and I will definitely be back with a hot date in the very near future. Popular spot so make reservations!
(4)
April Z.
came here on a Friday night with 8pm reservations with a group of 7 girlfriends. we arrived 15min early and our table was ready! the server was great only issue was we couldn't hear her it was so loud. I like loud music but it was beyond. also the choice of music wasn't great it was like B96 top 20. we had a pre-fix menu and it was perfect to try different things. all the guacs were good. the salsa was ok. the carne, pork, and veggie tacos were fantastic. the short rib was ok. the sides were disapponting, we had plaintains and rice n beans. rice n beans had zero flavor or seasoning. all of our drinks were really good and strong! dessert was ok, we had cheesecake and caramel flan. staff was constantly filling our water, our chip basket was never empty for more than a minute. courses did not drag they moved at a good pace. I read alot of people saying it was expensive, I didn't think it was that expensive. it came out to $54/person that's apps, entree, dessert, 1 alcoholic drink I'd definitely go back because the tacos, drinks and service were fantastic.
(3)
Tu'ens N.
Given the many reasons not to like this place (extreme douchebaggery, cougars, price, NY trying to do Mexican in Chicago...) it manages to be a worthwhile restaurant in many ways. The food is good (but yes way expensive for what it is, especially the guacamole and salsas). The drinks are OK. The bartenders were a bit less flexible than I would have liked - unable to make a few drinks I wanted. It is a fun environment though and usually enjoyable meals. Just remember, you are not cool just by going there. But it will stay in my longer-rolling rotation mainly due to my gf wanting to go there.
(3)
Matt M.
I had lunch here the other day after my mainstay lunch spot, Frontera, was too full :( This place is a total scene inside with a very cool chic atmosphere. The margaritas were nothing to write home about and very expensive considering how much ice was in my cup. The mahi-mahi tacos were excellent and muy-picante! Also, I don't like paying for salsa but so be it. Good food, mediocre drinks, cool atmosphere. This is definitely a date place. Will be back when Frontera is too full again.
(3)
Jo B.
Mercadito came really highly recommended from a friend but wow what a disappointment. Our server just didn't want to be there, showing no passion for the food or our experience. We started with mango guacamole which was BLAND. It needed salt and it needed lime. That might have saved it from looking like a small pile of dog vomit on a plate. The scallop ceviche wasn't bad but, again, the seasoning was off. The pork and peanut tacos were excellent...flavorful, spicy and moreish. Unfortunately, though, we chased it with a chicken and corn taco. Back to bland, mushy, boring fare. Didn't bother waiting round for dessert...it didn't seem worth the extra $15 we'd have to pay the babysitter.
(2)
Ann P.
I've been to their NYC outpost and loooooooooved the fish tacos and guacamole there so imagine how excited I was that they had a Chicago location. This location is much more "trendy" and upscale than the one in NY. The bar is great, very nicely decorated, and the booths are the low and linear type. My gf and I went here for drinks and apparently, one of the bartenders is a "mixologist" who specializes in making unique cocktails. I ordered a spicy smoked chile drink made with mango puree and it was delicious. My girlfriend had never had their fish tacos so we ordered those and they tasted exactly the same as the ones I had in NY. I think this place is great for groups, dates, meet for drinks, people watching. It's got a great vibe and although I can't vouch for the operational issues that others have encountered, I can say that the bar and lounge area is hassle free. If you go, you must try the fish tacos. Because I told you to.
(5)
Anthony I.
As far as Mexican food goes, it was decent but i generally like it to be a little fresher. However the extremely high temperature in the venue made this a very uncomfortable meal. The service was so so but the temperature made the meal too uncomfortable to enjoy.
(3)
A K.
I have been to this place before and really liked it my first time around but the second time there was ok, to average out my review I gave it four stars. I started with the Smoky Pablo cocktail and my husband had the pirata(beer & tequila), both are highly recommended for those who perfer something different to drink. We then got three guacs (traditional, mango, and toreado). I loved the guac, highly recommended. The first time I went there, I went with 5 people so we got the carne and estilo baja tacos and the tostadas de cangrejo and the camaron & dorado ceviche. I really liked all of them. This time, I stuck with the estilo baja (beer battered mahi mahi) which were very good, just like last time. My husband ordered the carnitas de puerto taquizas and that was the disappointment of the night, the meat tasted like the only spice it was marinated in was salt. I only recommend this dish to those who love salt. Overall, it's a very good trendy place to go, has a nice ambiance and the guac and tacos are great, but the prices are a little too steep for the food and drinks.
(4)
andrea r.
Big fan of this place! Lively, loud and fun! First, the ambiance is really cool. Second, the service was outstanding! Both the bartender and waitress we had were super high energy and fun. Food comes out quick and drinks even quicker! The restaurant was crowded and the wait staff were very on top of everything, very impressed. The food was very yummy! My favorite were the guac, variety of salsas, mini steak tacos and mini mahi-mahi tacos. Margs were also very, very tasty!
(4)
Monica J.
Scene is very upbeat and loud. This is where i come when the girls and I get gussied up and are in the mood for a "light" dinner. Food is slightly (but not too much) above average, mexican, modern small plates. Cocktails are fun and also somewhat gussied. Get in the mood, y'all...it's FRIDAY NIGHT!
(3)
Jo W.
This place is loud but the food is ok. I still wish ONE, just ONE Mexican place offered whole wheat tortillas. Sigh. I also thought my waiter was great but he pushed the drinks -- especially bc I was a girl and he thought I would like the fruity stuff. Wrong. Did I mention this place was loud?
(2)
Lynn R.
Mmmm mmmmMecardito! Came here for Chicago Chef's Week with a friend to dine and judge (we like to pretend we're on our own little episode of "Check, Please") . Food = amazing. I was talking to a co-worker about this place and describing what I ate and literally made myself salivate (not a good idea before lunch mind you). Here's the rundown for $30: You get to choose 3 of 6 guacs, we had: Traditional, Mango, Camote Chose 2 of 3 Ceviches: Camaron (shrimp) Dorado (mahi mahi) Chosee 4 of 11 types of taco - each person gets 1 taco of each: Pastor (pork) Carne (skirt steak) Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi) Carnitas (pork) Side: fried plantains Guac review: Chips were fantastic. Homemade, not greasy, great crunch. The taste of the chip did not overwhlem the guac with I think is important. The traditional was good - it's hard to make a bad guac. It was chunky, not super spicy, and had a good amount of salt. The Mango salsa kept me looking for the mangos - the chipotle was just really overwhleming. My favorite was the camote, which has sweet potato, jalapeno, and toasted pumpkin seeds. My friend and I were pretty much fighting chip-for-chip on this bad boys. Ceviche: maybe I'm not dignified enough for ceviche, so this didn't exactly rock my world. The mahi mahi one was good, but the shrimp one had too much acidity for me to enjoy. Tacos: When they first brough the plates out, my jaw dropped. The tacos were so tiny - like little baby tacos waiting to mature in big tacos. However, after biting in my first taco, I realize that the tortilla-to-filling ratio was superb. Rather than get a ton of extra bread (and carbs) they really packed in the meat and toppings so that was the main focus, not the tortilla. My least favorite was the beer-battered mahi mahi, and sadly, it was the one that I was most excited about. The fish itself didn't have a good crunch on it, but the Mexican coleslaw was actually quite tasty. The show-stealers for me were the Pastor and Carnitas - luckily we went with our waitresses recommendation and got both pork tacos instead of opting for a chicken or a chorizo one. The Pastor was a delightful combo of sweet then reach-for-your-water glass spicy. The pineapple on it was really a great touch and not something I had before. At first the Carnitas deceived me into thinking they weren't spicy, but after the taco had a chance to marinate on my tongue, it was back to the water glass. The combination of flavors and textures on both tacos was really great and I'd highly recommend them. The place itself was very trendy looking - not your typical Mexican place. While I went on a Monday night at 5pm, I could see how the seating arrangement would start to getting annoying. They have those tables that are right next to each other and I just hate that feeling of other people listening in on my conversation. The service was great, contrary to what some of the other reviews have said. Our waitress was attentive without being pushy and she made some great recommendations that probably saved us from ordering less than delicious dishes. The price is the reason that I'm only giving it 4 stars. Obviously we got a ton of food for $30, but I ordered a margarita and factoring in tax & tip it turned into a $50 meal. That's a little rich for my blood on a Monday night. I'm sure ordering off the regular menu would bring the price down, so believe you me, I am ready to go back!
(4)
Daniel S.
The food is superb, however the place has undeveloped potential. No I'm not damning them with faint praise. Rather, they've got some kinks to work out of the service. It's a new spot, really what do you expect. First, Mercadito in terms of quality is parallel to something like Frontera Grill- which is just around the corner btw. The menu is ample and innovative, and the cocktail menu is vast. Most selections appear to pair well with most any selection. So certainly one can tell the concept is well conceived. There is concentration on flavor, and not to the point of obscuring poor quality of ingredient. That said, the service is disjointed. Given the price point, the locale and the competition, the service should measure to what one expects from the competition (ie Frontera). That means shamelessness, and that is not how the meal progressed. Granted we ordered apps in waves- which is different than ordering a traditional entree- however it appeared they forgot to submit our order. My advice- visit Mercadito. From a culinary perspective you won't be disappointed. But maybe drop in February when they've had a chance to streamline the service. I think I'll do the same.
(3)
Alaina F.
you've finally done it, mercadito. finally pushed me to revise my original 5-star review. i gave you so many chances, excused so many sub par experiences....long waits despite reservations, weak cocktails and cold food, ridiculously loud music/people.... but last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. i called to order carry out (on a rainy tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.) and whoever answered the phone very rudely told me that i could not place an order because "we're too busy." too busy to take a carry out order? i'm sorry, but that doesn't really make any sense to me. where's the customer service i used to know and love? after several experiences, i can say with confidence that it is nowhere to be found. this place was 100 times better before the previous manager left. if it weren't for the mango guac, i'm not sure i would return
(2)
Rob J.
Let me start by saying I love the food and the margaritas, but they have to work out the kinks of opening a new restaurant. I have been here twice since they opened 3 weeks ago and it takes an inordinate amount of time to get a drink. I almost ordered two for myself because the bartender was only filling the glass half empty (I'm a pessimist ). The place was so busy that we were seated 20 minutes late and it took another 10 minutes for the waiter to finally stop by. The tilapia fish tacos are absolutly fantastic...but I'm going to wait a couple of months until they work out all their problems.
(3)
Matthew R.
Great little restaurant, upscale mexican food that is very tasty. The fish tacos were absolutelt amazing some of the best I've ever had with the salsa verde. The guac was very tasty as well but very small, I felt like I only had a few bites before it was gone. I had the brunch menu and it was very well balanced. The cucumber cocktail was pretty good but the food was the star. would have given 5 stars if the food was more reasonably priced and the serving sizes a little larger. Would def return.
(4)
Gabrielle S.
Where do I begin....? They lost our reservation and were a little shady about seating us until we spoke to a manager. So eventually we did sit... The ambiance is great- good energy, lively, noisy- LOVED that about it. The food was also mostly very good...guacamole was good not great...and they would not make it any spicier for us which was odd- they def do NOT defer from the set menu, I would not even TRY to substitute anything- because most likely they will say NO. As for the rest of the menu: LOVED: Margaritas IF you told them to HOLD the simple syrup-(otherwise way to sweet) but when only the lime, agave nectar and tequila- then they were perfect---just make sure you tell them that Mango Guac- best of the 3 we tried Tostadas de Hongos: WOW. Mushrooms, bean hash, salsa!!!!! Great appetizer and nice size Hongos Tacos: DELICIOUS 2 Diff flans for desert- one was super caramely and AMAZING...wish I could tell you which one! All in all the food was quite tasty, and jazzy and creative Mexican food. I did not leave uncomfortably stuffed- Bonus...high quality ingredients and flavors...would love to go back ....minus the few hiccups with the main service up front(not actually our direct server) ....our server Gabbi on the other hand I would like to thank because she was quite attentive and every time I needed something she appeared out of nowhere. Def loved her too.
(3)
Nick K.
Went here a couple weeks back on one of the first nights it was open to the public. I have to say that for me, it lived up to some of the hype I read about it. First off, the atmosphere was very cool and somewhat swanky. While waiting for a third member of our party, we had a drink at the bar. I had a traditional Margarite which was very good. When seated, we started with a couple of guacamoles and salsas. We had the traditional guacamole and the mango guacamole both which were excellent. I don't remember which salsas we had, but they were good as well and the crispy corn bites were an interesting addition. For our meal, we split a couple plates of tacos between us. We had the pollo and the carne. Both of these kinds of tacos were excellent. The mix of flavors was great and the meat in both was so juicy and tasteful. I will definitely be back here again and I would love one day to get some tacos from here and get some from de cero and compare becuase those were great as well.
(5)
Christina O.
Took a group of five for lunch for our first visit and it was wonderful. We had all the salsas, all ceviches and all guacamoles - with really tasty chips and really enjoyed trying them all. Followed with tacos - small but so tasty and perfect amount of food for lunchtime. Fun setting, great large banquettes for big groups - and the service was perfect - attentive, informative and paced just right. Oh, and for the five of us, the check was just $110 pre tip - no alcohol but teas, etc.
(4)
Erin G.
Love, love this place! It's little loud, but the food and drinks are amazing! I didn't even realize the lounge they had downstairs until the second time I came here. I will most definitely be coming back.
(4)
Garrett S.
best mexican in the city period!!!
(5)
mike s.
Great drinks... spicy margarita is my favorite. Good tacos and guacamole. Have made a few bad ordering decisions here, but for the most part delicious. Loud and a mixed scene.
(4)
Sheila G.
Loved this place!! We went on a Saturday night - managed to get a 9.45pm reservation on Open Table at around 7pm. Definitely make a reservation as the walk in wait is 1.5hrs. Seated a few minutes after we got there. Great vibe, ambiance and music. The tables are very close together so you can hear your neighbor say to his date "I am REALLY attracted to you tonight, I mean REALLY." Seriously - the guy next to us said that just before his friend came over to say "well done" when his date left to go to the bathroom. :-) The other reason you can hear your neighbors so well is because it is so loud you have to yell across the table. That was probably my only 'con.' The food and the service make up for the noise. We ordered several small dishes to make it tapas style: Margarita with Heat - spicy, sweet and tasty b.n.g.t.m. (big nose goes to mexico) - recommended by waiter but too strong/sweet but comes to the table with the glass on fire which is cool Guacamole (Mango and Regular) - they were ok Mahi mahi ceviche - fantastic!! right up there with Frontera Grill ceviche Shrimp tacos - delicious and flavorful Mexican style corn on the cob - different and very good (had spices and fresh cheese crumbles on the outside) Caramel flan - the best flan I have ever had. And I'm from Texas. Soooo yummy like those little rectangular caramel candies you had when you were a kid. Our waiter was great too. We originally had ordered more but he said it would be too much and he was right. The above amount was just right and probably a little too much as-is since we were stuffed when we left. One thing I noticed - they turn tables very quickly so that the food came out as fast as it would at McD's. The couple beside us was in and out in 30 mins. But we didn't feel rushed by our server. Great place with great food!
(5)
Lauren D.
I've gone to Mercadito twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner, and had great experiences both times. The food and cocktails are excellent, and the service is good as well. The "Pepino el pyu" Cocktail (or as we called it, Pepe le pew) sounds really strange, but is actually sweet and refreshing. It's a combination of tequila blanco, cucumber, lemon, hoja santa and cumin salt. It reminded me a little bit of a mojito because of the citrus, but with a more wide variety of flavor. If you're going to Mercadito you really need to indulge with the appetizers. Definitely give a few salsas a try (be sure to order the corn fritters to dip - delicious) and a few guacamoles as well. They have some interesting options, including mango and pomegranate - plus they sometimes have seasonal offerings such as pumpkin, They are all delicious and none are too spicy. If you actually make it to an entree, the tacos are great because they aren't a large portion. I had the Camaron (shrimp) and they were very good. Next time I'm going to give the Pescado (Tilapia) a try. If you have room, definitely order some plaintains as well!
(4)
Michelle S.
I started dining at Mercadito the first month they opened, several years ago. From the moment I tasted the plates delivered by one of the best servers in the industry, Rodrigo, I was sold. When I returned, recently, my though was.... Oh, how I missed their Mahi Mahi Tacos, Pomegranate Guacamole and Scallop Ceviche with a side of their perfect crackers. Their margaritas are amazing and dangerous. You will be hit from under the table as they slide down way too easy. Don't plan on having an intimate conversation, the sound echos in this upbeat, packed space.
(4)
Yaw N.
I grew up in Oklahoma where there is a lot of great Mexican cuisine (which comes to the surprise of some.. Well at least one Californian I know). I always rate the quality of food on their chips and salsa. It's a simple dish but one that most places here in Chicago butcher. Mercardito passed the salsa test with flying colors then blew the lid off the whole meal with the best guacamole I've had and incredibly delicious tacos. My girlfriend and I ordered the pollo and carne tacos which were great. We also got a couple of margarita's that were phenomenal. The cocktails here are top notch, but I will save my comments on them for my review of double door, a small lounge located below the restaurant.
(4)
Haley W.
I came here when my friends and I decided to grab some late night food and drinks. The decor was amazing and the music was good. We waited about 30 mins for a table and that was okay because we just chilled at the bar. The drinks was good. What was disappointing was the food. I think I had much better. I think I would not go back for the food but would go back to have some drink and enjoy the music.
(3)
Charlene S.
Went there on a really late night. A friend knew the manager and made a call at about 11:30p to get us a table on a random Thursday night. So 6 of us trekked there after a long day at work and at a social event. Maybe it was because I was starving... but the food was spectacular. I'm always a little skeptical with overpriced, fancy, Mexican places unless Rick Bayless has anything to do with it. I'm the connoisseur of the late night drunken taco joint places that we've nicknamed, "green sauce" or the "Taco Burrito King" on Fullerton or in Wrigley or on Wrightwood. None of them are "taco burrito king" but that's their name to me. The wait: none. Even if my friend didn't make the call, then we probably wouldn't have waited. There was no one there. The atmosphere: Chic River North neighborhood, outdoor seating, sleek booths, and an after hours lounge below. The peeps: young, late nighters, dressed to party The food: -the guacamole was spectacular. We tried the flight of 3. The traditional. One with pineapple and spicier, darker, savory one. So good. the spicy one had a kick and delicious. -Several tacos: these are served with 4, but for a bit more, we got 6 of each. They were tiny. The tortilla was maybe 3 inches across. A guy could easily finish it in 2 bites. But sooooo tasty. -We had the steak. Not like the dried out carne asada from TBK. The steak was so tender and soft. -The pastor: again not like at a taqueria, which usually has a super salty variety. You could actually see the pork, not overly shredded. Very well seasoned -The camarones: my fave. Spicy. Served with a garlicky sauce and avocado. I would be happy if this is all I had. -The battered fish with crunchy slaw. I heard this was a favorite of most people. I thought it was ok. The fish was cooked well. But the slaw was a bit too bitter. A funny sidenote. The obviously Asian waitress tried pronounce everything she served us with a traditional Spanish flair and rolling of the tongue. So my friend unknowingly drunkenly started speaking Spanish to her. Her expression changed from smug and cocky to "um... sorry no habla espanol." A little overpriced. Not something to enjoy on drunken night... because a 4 am taco joint hits the spot too.
(4)
Pam R.
I went with a group and it's family style so we started with flautas which were SO good! Very crispy and tightly wrapped (which is key when eating these because you don't want your food falling out). We tried a couple of salsa's, guacamole and chips. I highly recommend the guacamole! Our main dish was the carne asada dish which comes with enough tortillas to make about 8 tacos. The carne asada dish was to die for! SO good, well flavored and not overly cooked. Carne asada can be overly cooked & ruin the quality and taste of the meat. This carne asada dish was well cooked and well worth the price! I had a margarita during my dinner and they were good.....and strong....so if your a lightweight a margarita may not be for you.
(4)
Deborah J.
I'm writing this review after having had a tasty but basic taco at a little mom n' pop place, and I've had a revelation: there is no sense in comparing tacos to tacos if it means comparing your basic taqueria to Mercadito. Listen, one of the taquerias I used to frequent in San Francisco (I grew up here, went east, then west, then landed back in the Midwest) was first introduced to me as a place where "you find God in a burrito." I truly believe these sorts of moments exist, especially in San Francisco at 3 in the morning when you're a wee bit tipsy. But the thing is, when you find that miraculous burrito, you've got a beer or horchata in the other hand. There aren't any burritos at Mercadito, nor is there much beer, nor is the fare drunk food. It is open until 3 a.m. on Saturday night, but that's not what this place is about. While you might not find spiritual enlightenment in the $14.50 tacos, you still might swear you're in heaven. So dress for the occasion. But about my visit. I ended up here with my brother, my brother's girlfriend, and my mom on a Wednesday night. The noise level was a bit much for my mom, I think (she also hadn't seen me in awhile, so it was more of an issue), but it should be fine and festive for most of you Yelpers. We started off with drinks (I had Misty's Sleeve -- tesoro blanco, ginger, hibiscus, valencia orange, chile serrano, hibiscus salt -- and even at $12, it was revelatory) and a couple guacamoles, which were served with crispy, perfectly salted, non-greasy housemade chips. The 'classic' was refreshing, but the chile serrano and tomatillo laced 'toreado' was much more exciting. I suppose they complemented each other nicely, but I'd pick the 'toreado.' We moved on delectable watermelon and chile infused scallop ceviche, which, with its lightly spicy sweetness, was a highlight for me. The ceviche was served with a baked flatbread, also, I suspect, baked in-house. While not quite the right complement for the ceviche, the queso fundido (baked Oaxaca-manchego cheeses; we got ours with chorizo) was likewise delicious. I'm picky about melted cheese, and there's nothing worse than a grease puddle. The melting of flavors and consistencies was, in this case, splendid, and the fresh tortillas were just the right temperature and texture. After that, we moved into taco and tostada territory, electing shrimp for the former and mushroom for the later. I was honestly a little disappointed by the tacos; I seem to recall really nicely seasoned shrimp topped with a little avocado, but nothing else. The shrimp were tasty, for sure, but the avocado wasn't quite balancing the pungency of the garlic and the chipotle, and, you know, there was just something missing. The tostadas, however, were fantastic: woodsy mushrooms and earthy pinto bean mash, heightened with tomatillo salsa, finely shredded manchego, and a light crema fresca scented with epazote. All on a perfectly crisped corn tortilla, of course. I would order this again in a second. (Note: tacos come in fours, but tostadas in threes; our excellent -- a rare medley of friendly, chill, and super competent -- server noted this and we added an extra tostada to our order.) I was pretty well stuffed at this point, but we couldn't pass up dessert. Another reviewer mentioned torrejas de bolillo, and I'm sad that I didn't have the opportunity to try that. On the night that I went to Mercadito there was only flan available, and while the caramel and dulce de leche varieties we sampled were good, they were more dense than I'd expected and honestly just a bit too sweet and heavy after such a large meal. If you do order the flan, go for the caramel, split one among three or four people, and pair it with coffee to cut the sweetness. Ultimately, "Yay! I'm a fan." Four stars, and I'd definitely come back for a night out with friends. Next time, though, I'd wear heels. The place is pretty posey, and besides, this ain't a yoga retreat. Save burrito-fueled philosophizing for another day; this place is all about energy and excess.
(4)
Rachel Y.
This place was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad he did! Now granted, I went to meet a friend for happy hour and we sat at the bar and had margaritas and some samplings of guacamole. On those notes and how friendly the bartender was with a packed bar, everything was amazing. The margaritas were amazing with some really cool concoctions offered and the guac options were absolutely astounding - my favorite was the one served with plantains - I know sounds weird but don't knock it till you try it. The atmosphere was also very fun - definitely a new 'hip' place to see and be seen so keep it in mind for your next 'woo the client' happy hour spot!
(5)
Natasha L.
I heart Mercadito! Each and everytime I go, I fall in love with the variety of tacos I can select from. There are combinations I couldn't even imagine and they all taste excellent. The combinations are so simple and never overdone. It's usually 3-4 ingredients max. My favorite is the camaron taco - it's loaded with shrimp, roasted garlic, avocado and chiptole-mojo . They have some of the best guac in the city and the salsa options are top-notch as well. Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
emily b.
my office has a very casual dress code, but i think i've hit a new fashion low. after last night's "chef's week" dinner at mercadito, the only pants that i could muster the strength to put on were my yoga pants. so, i sit at my desk, slightly shamed by my over-indulgence, but also delightfully satisfied with the memories of that dinner. rezzie via opentable? check. delicious, fun, strong, cocktails? indeed. serious value w/chefs week promo? mmhmm. (family style: 3 guacs, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 1 side, and 1 dessert. $30pp. woah). funky interior styling? oh yah. attentive service? AWESOME (allison, our server gave awesome reccomendations and the rest of the serving staff was great...even sending over a second dessert with a candle in it after hearing it was my friend's bday). and the food? well it was awesome. interesting flavor combos, fresh ingredients, beautifully plated. one star off for the weirdest music ever (miley cirus, huh??), and the high-end pricing. also... yelp says the dress code is "dressy". it's not. it's pretty standard RiNo dress code so you can totally get away with "dressed up" denium.
(4)
Kate M.
A 3.5 rating would be a little more appropriate for Mercadito. Although I love the atmosphere of this place, the food doesn't blow me away. This place does have amazing chips and salsa and an incredible variety guacamole. They also have what seems like an endless menu of different taco combinations. I have yet to try the same taco twice! The drinks are good but nothing to rave about. If you want some really good cocktails pre or post dinner. I suggest trying Double A which is located downstairs (good luck finding it). They have some awesome drinks! Prices for Mercadito are pretty standard and service is good. I would suggest giving this place a try if you haven't! It's definitely a place to see and be seen
(3)
Joscelyn M.
I first have to say that 2 stars is the lowest rating I have ever given to a restaurant that had food I actually LIKED. So... First, the noise. It's not noisy restaurant loud, it's noisy club loud. Then, the service, while our waiter was very nice, it took WAY too long to order a drink and then even longer to receive it. But then, the food all came out too quickly. I felt rushed. Finally, the food and drink. Overall, I liked them, but some things annoyed me. I ordered a margarita that came with "fire". Yes, it was flaming. I'm not really down with that sort of thing, but especially when I have to put the fire out MYSELF! Um, hello- fire code anyone? And the glass was burning hot! The drink itself was tasty, but for $13, I expect less ice (more than half the glass) and more booze. I'm kind of a lightweight. One drink hits me, but two - forget it. I had two margaritas and woke up this morning as if I hadn't drank in a week. We ordered the mahi mahi ceviche which was yummy, but not out of this world. I really didn't like the cardboard-y flatbread it came with, though. The guacamoles were good - we tries 3 different kinds. I'm usually a guac-purist, but I loved these. We ended with the chicken mole tacos which were good, but I was kind of annoyed I had to order $4 salsa on the side. And it wasn't very good salsa - not the fresh, homemade kind, but really tasted like it came from a bottle. At such an expensive restaurant, you think they could give you complementary salsa - especially with an order of tacos. So, I'll be getting my Mex on elsewhere from now on.!
(2)
Nikki L.
Sexy, Fun, Vibrant, Delicious and mind blasting. These are some words that could describe my experience at Mercadito. I've been here twice in the past 4 days and already planning my next visit. I enjoyed their traditional guacamole, rock shrimp and three different tacos (Steak, Shrimp and Beer battered mahi mahi with jicama slaw). The mahi mahi taco is my absolute favorite and I will crave it till I get sick of it. For dessert I had the creme anglaise soaked mexican bread, vanilla ice cream with cajeta sauce and almost fell out of my seat. I would consider coming back just for dessert so I can eat this. Think of french toast with ice cream on top served in a cast iron skillet. Aside from the amazing food their traditional margarita (I like it with a splash of OJ) completes the meal and could have you walking out sideways. Our server AJ was awesome, super friendly, attentive and gave great recommendations. The only down side was portion size and price. This place is $$$ for tacos. I will not compare it to $1.50 tacos from Las Asadas because I know better, but $14.50 for four mini tacos? Common, I know it's delicious but that's still a little steep. We spent $100 for two people on just apps, drinks and tacos. You do the math. Other than that, I loved it and will definitely be back!
(4)
Rachel H.
there were some odd things about mercadito. first, they fancy themselves a brunch location, but don't open until 11:30am on sunday. odd...brunch starts at 10 or 1030 last i checked. second, the waiter we had was obviously insanely hung-over. he practically sat down as he explained the "brunch" menu to us. and he explained it oh-so-slowly. i wanted to buy him a coffee. third, my friend got the steak and eggs, but it only came out with 1 egg. other people we saw with the same dish had 2 eggs. she didn't complain because the steak serving was so big, but it was a little off-putting. so those things were kinda eh...but the food was really, quite delicious. i had some fish tacos that were yummers. the home-made corn tortillas were more soft than most corn tortillas. also, the salsa was very good -- sweet and peppery. our waiter brought us out a complementary habanero sauce as well, which did wonders for my sinuses. one additional bonus was that the bus boy was stupid hot. this is a trend i've noticed at chicago restaurants. (c'mon ny, time to hop on this bandwagon.) my friends and i left him some complements on the comment card. so between that amusement and the yummy food, mercadito gets a solid 3 stars for brunch.
(3)
Audre L.
Tasty food, nice ambiance. Good drinks. Cool place, good for groups
(4)
K W.
Wow, awesome place. I don't really even like margaritas but Mercadito's "Market" is fantastic, spicy and wonderful. I've been there twice and can't wait to go back- great spicy food, the Cameron tacos are fantastic, and God love the pomengranate guacamole ( how did they do that?). You will not be disappointed with Mercadito. The staff us great too!
(5)
Arun J.
Great food! Loud and tough to converse, in at least on a weekend evening, so don't expect to be able to wax eloquently about your political views, but the dining is well worth it. I recommend the toreado quac, flautas, and chile rellano.
(4)
Blair J.
I love this place. I love their tacos and mezcal margaritas. Its a joy that this place is walking distance from my apt. Also, I love their lounge downstairs. It reminds me of a speakeasy. On Wednesdays one of the best violinist in the city plays to house/ hip-hop. Great place to get food and music.
(5)
Melissa C.
Love it! Phenomenal hand-crafted top shelf margaritas for $9 in a trendy hot-spot in River North? Unbeatable! If you like them less sweet or "skinny", ask for them without the agave nectar. The bite sized plates are so delictable I wish I could eat them all in one sitting! Go for a few of the tacos and for sure try an entree and ceviche. The selection and variety are exciting! In general, the flavors are tangy/zesty/spicy/rich and well balanced. If you go on a fri/sat night, plan on waiting! My reccomendation is to try it out at lunch (or Sun brunch) to sample the deliciousness without all the hype/craziness! I will definately be back for some late-nite tacos and drinks, and maybe try to get into that ellusive "AA Lounge"! Mmmmmm
(4)
Meredith H.
top 3 dining experiences in chicago - LOVED IT! the vday tasting menu at $50pp was not cheap, but well worth it! the server was friendly and attentive for the most part. he kind of left us alone for a little while before dessert was served - not a big deal. we started with drinks and really enjoyed them. the "big nose goes to mexico" came out ON FIRE (genius use of an inside out lime and 151) and mine (little market) had fresh pineapple. delish. guacamoles - manzana, mole poblano, toreado appetizers - mahi mahi ceviche & queso fundido tacos - carne, shrimp, and carnitas (pork w/ peanuts) sides - arroz verde and rajas dessert - flan the appetizer and carne tacos stole the show. the flan was really disappointing, but by the end of a multi course meal, who has that much room for dessert anyways? i'd love to return to mercadito again and again - brunch, lunch, dinner, late night, date night, girls night, whatever. it's fantastico!
(5)
Milana L.
One of the best guacamole spots in town and their margaritas are awesome. Love the ambience and scene here; its also a great group spot. Take note: Food is a bit on the spicy side.
(4)
Tony T.
Once the toasty warm refuge from the all-nite bender, the taco has now assumed a stately place next to the burger and bbq: American quick food reinvented for a down economy. Like its counterparts, some places are doing it well but most...not so much. Mercadito brings the ruckus in a big way. The restaurant has a clubby look and very nice vibe. They had Free Bird playing in the restaurant the night we went! The tacos were superior and the presentation was top notch. I will warn you that the price meets the Kinzie Street address. Our bill was 250, which included only 4 drinks. A pretty restaurant with pretty people and solid food. I plan on returning soon.
(4)
Kevin L.
It was so loud we canceled our reservation before being sat. Seriously loud like club loud.
(1)
Jason M.
I'm not a huge Mexican food fan, but this place was great. There was a large food and drink selection, with several different guacamole and salsa dips to choose from. It got very crowded very quick, so I advise making a reservation. Food was excellent and the service was great. Great place for a HH or a group dinner.
(5)
Jaclyn C.
I am very picky when I comes to Mexican food but this place is an upscale twist on typical Mexican fare. I've actually been three times now and I love everything about it. The food, drinks, atmosphere and service are all great. Everything I have had, with the exception of the tostadas, were all amazing. The flautas are definitely the better pick between the two. Also, the carne asada tacos will blow you away. I am still thinking about them. The drinks are fun and so good. I can't wait till I go back. Definitely make reservations though or you'll be in for a wait. Great people watching to which I am always a fan of.
(5)
Christine R.
Oh. Dear. God. If you haven't been to Mercadito get there pronto. Walking in I could have eaten the air - fresh citrus and cilantro hung heavily and tantalizingly. The lunch crowd was tame, if a bit lame, but the atmosphere screamed "come back for happy hour when our cool friends are here." Large, round, pregnant ladies don't do happy hour much but I've made a mental note for late August. As is my custom lately, I ordered a virgin margarita which could have only been improved if I were outside on a sun-soaked patio. They use fresh lime juice in their margaritas which -as any self-respecting margarita lush can tell you- makes ALL the difference. My guests and I ordered the guac sampler (flight, I think they called it) but you needn't bother unless you are a guac purist. The chipotle/mango guac was abso-f***ing-lutely unbelievable. That's not just hyperbole... I would have eaten a trough of it. It must have been something about the description but all of us ordered the shrimp tacos. They serve three and they're small so don't feel wrong if you order several plates for dinner. These would be great to share if they weren't so amazingly balanced and savory. They don't look like much - corn tortilla, shrimp, sauce - but shut up and eat them. You will not be disappointed. For their simplistic appearance, their flavor is complex and interesting. Chef - well done you. We also ordered the plaintains (nice but over sweet for my taste) and green rice (cheesy and rich). Overall, amazing lunch. I could have stayed all afternoon eating mango guac, shrimp tacos and virgin margaritas. I'm glad I got out before my hormones got the better of my credit card. Mercadito, you have not seen the last of me. Until then, mmmmmwah!
(5)
Camille P.
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd post about Mercadito, a "Mexican" joint in River North. We went for lunch one afternoon a while ago and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about this place. Here's why: When we first walked in I thought to myself, "Oh! This place is kinda cool!" That reaction was based on the colorful, modern look of the entry, front room and bar, because that's all we could see from there. Then we were seated and I took a look around. The wall to my left was painted with a huge, dare I say, ugly, mural of Incan ruins and a couple of war-hyped horses. What?! Where does that fit in?! It's like there's some sort of unbreakable tradition in every Mexican restaurant that says you can't refuse Tio Pablo's offer to add his artistic touch through a wall mural. You know what I mean; every mom and pop Mexican joint in America has one. Usually they're really colorful and really bad. Well, this one wasn't colorful... Anyway, the food was pretty good! I put the word Mexican in quotation marks above because it's not traditional Mexican restaurant. It's one that uses Mexican names and ingredients but you'd probably never see any of these dishes in Mexico. The menu items were more enhanced classics and, for the most part, I enjoyed these non-traditional flavor combinations. We started with one of their signature items: guacamole. Actually, they serve multiple varieties of guacamole. They even offer smaller portions, almost flights, so that you're able to taste a more than one. We chose the traditional and the mango. I preferred the traditional; fresh and creamy avocados brightened with lime juice and flavored with cilantro and jalapeno. It was delicious. The mango, too, was good, even if the mango wasn't a dominant flavor. I'm pretty sure that the chips they were served with were made in house. They were thick and crunchy and salty. We continued on with tacos, the other signature of Mercadito. Now, this is where I got mad. The tacos come 3 to an order, but they have to be 3 of the same one. Again, what?! I hate that. Either let me buy them individually, or let me mix and match. I don't want 3 of the same taco! Bo-ring! And now our server is well aware of this fact. Sorry, hombre. I didn't mean to jump down your throat and I know you don't make the rules, but come on! The entire rest of the world sells tacos individually! Please pass along my frustration. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I would have ordered one of each, even if it was more expensive than ordering a plate of 3. Plus, then we would have ordered ceviche, too. Really, Mercadito could have made a lot more money off of me. But, nooooooo.... We finally settled on just TWO different tacos, after much debate. With the help of our rolly-polly server, we opted first for the carnitas taco. (I totally saw that one coming. A little gordito recommending lard-fried braised pork? How odd.) They were served with a colorful slaw and toasted peanuts. They were tasty in a 'fat is flavor' kind of way. My preference of the two, though, was the carne asada. The steak was marinated before it was grilled and managed to keep a tenderness and juiciness. It's not often that you get a nice piece of steak made into carne asada. Mostly you see cheap, thin cuts that end up dry and/or overcooked. Not this one. It still had a little blood. It was served with some sweet, crunchy I-don't-know-what and pureed avocado. It was very flavorful. Because I was only allowed to choose 2 items to taste from the ENTIRE menu, that's all I get to write about. I can't tell you about the duck taco, nor the fish or mushroom or shrimp or chicken. Nor can I tell you about any number of the ceviches I would have ordered, nor the salsas, or tortas or anything else. I might have also left with a different impression had we been there for dinner rather than lunch. It just felt like much more of a dinner place to me. I could imagine the place full of people joyfully drinking margs and snacking on tacos, laughing and mingling. The tequilla and margarita list were pretty impressive looking, too, with a huge variety of flavors to choose from. I'm sure that's a big draw for them. The party's sure to be rockin' at Mercadito tonight! Happy Cinco de Mayo! The short version (out of 10)... Food: 7.5 Service: 7 Ambiance: 6 Overall impression: 7 Would I go back? Well... let's just say that I'm not running back. I might give it a go for happy hour or a weekend brunch sometime.
(3)
Chris G.
We got here and had a reservation for 11 people. However, 2 did not make it due to illness. Needless to say, they would not honor our reservation because our party number has changed. Decent food, shitty ass customer service.
(2)
Tina M.
This is a definitely a fun spot for a group. I came on a Thursday night and it wasn't overly crowded and we got a table right away. I am sure that on weekends it gets packed. It was however, very loud, so it's not a great date spot. As for the food, the vegetarian tacos con rajas were decent, very spicy and at $14, waaay overpriced. The traditional guacamole with chips was fresh and delicious and the rice with cheese was very good as well. One of the highlights was their house margaritas. The glass it was served in seemed a bit small but that drink was STRONG. The rest of the night was a bit hazy but from what I remember it was a fun atmosphere and a good place to go for a special occasion.
(3)
Jessica B.
Overpriced - Terrible Service - Can NOT handle large groups (Made reservations a month in advance for a party of 14). Our table broke then the food took forever to come out and when it did it was cold. I will never return to Mercadito again.
(1)
Das T.
Wow, was this place a colossal mess. After having a weak meal in an overlit, loud and obnoxious place, we decided to check out the lounge downstairs. Before we went down there though, I looked around and was surprised that the place felt like no one was actually managing it. Tables were dirty, chairs were haplessly strewn about, etc. Then, we went downstairs where a guy made us wait to walk into the lounge. Give me a friggin break. I kind of looked at my friend and rolled my eyes. Instinct said leave immediately. But we waited for another guy who claimed he was the manager to come out and ask us our names and then showed us in. An unbelievably loud mess of people. We both looked at each other and got the hell out of there.
(1)
Jenna S.
Mercadito's food is fantastic and their drinks are spectacular. The servers are on point and very friendly. But the reason this place only gets 3 stars in my book is poor management and lack of air conditioning. We went last Saturday night and it was HOT outside. It was even hotter inside. How can a restaurant have no central air conditioning? It has a stand alone unit in the back of the restaurant that doesn't even get close to cooling the front. When we asked if they could open the windows, the management ignored us 3 times and only the bus boy and waitress cared to explain the situation. When we asked again, we saw the manger openly complain about us to another manager on site. If you are going to charge people that much for dinner, they should be able to enjoy it in a cool restaurant, not have to fan themselves with menus all night. Unacceptable.
(3)
David D.
Good margs. So loud couldn't talk to any of the people I was with. Super rushed service. Food was good but way overpriced. Overall bad experience.
(1)
Celeste E.
I still hold by my original rating... had to add a couple things. First, on my most recent visit, we tried the Ceviche. It is TO DIE FOR! Between the ceviche and guacamole, you might not have room for tacos (they're that good). Secondly, Mercadito is not the place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen. It is very loud in there. Granted, still very fun with your normal social circle.
(3)
Melissa H.
What can I say... all around horrible experience. I've given this conveniently located (within walking distance of my home) restaurant two distinct chances to wow me. In an area with so many great restaurants and options, Mercadito falls far short of expectations. The service is rude and slow: not in a 'we are really busy, I'm sorry' way, but in a 'I really can't be bothered to stop talking to my friends and come ask for your order - even though you've been sitting there for more than 20 minutes waiting to be acknowledged' kind of way. The food, once finally ordered and served, is overpriced and only "okay". In short, I would not recommend this restaurant. Period.
(1)
Dave G.
Best restaurant in Chicago. The mahi mahi tacos and steak tacos are both phenomenal. The staff is fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about this place.
(5)
Sarah M.
Loved the swank look of this place but it got loud when full to the point where it was difficult to hear the person across the table. The cocktails were interesting. I'm more of a purist in the cocktail department so all the odd flavorings and such didn't overly impress me. Some people like to taste something slightly different with each sip, but I could've done without all the salt and savory flavors. We ordered the guacs, which were good but you don't get a lot for the price and we ordered 4 types of tacos, which were good. The steak was my favorite, but I was hoping for automatic sides of beans and rice for the price. I hear the brunch is an outstanding deal but I don't know that I'd pick this place to go back to right away.
(3)
Kriss H.
Bland Mexican food that probably embarrasses the Mexican cooks preparing it. I sent one dish back because it was covered with an excessive amount of cheese. Perhaps 200% more than necessary. Service was okay, but I would never go back and would stear anyone clear of going if I was asked. Better Mexican food at Whole Foods Lincoln Park.
(1)
Ellen O.
this is a fun place to go with a bunch of people because you can share plates of tacos and everyone gets to try everything. the tacos were a little greasy, but the flavors were pretty good. they have a large menu with lots of things to try, which is nice. the highlight of the meal were the traditional and mango guacamoles and homemade chips - yum! my pear margarita was tasty but i think they went a little light on the tequila. overall a fun place to try with a group.
(3)
Shweta N.
Loved Mercadito. It was super easy to make reservations, but unfortunately we waited about 20 minutes for our table after we arrived. Luckily, we were able to enjoy a few margaritas at the bar while we waited, and we eventually returned to the bar following dinner! The highlights from dinner were the mango guacamole and the tilapia tacos, while those from the bar were the mango margaritas and the misty's sleeve.
(4)
E W.
Love love love this place!
(5)
Jafar A.
Hello Everyone; We went there for a good bye lunch of a co-worker. The place was nice. It had a good magnetosphere for a group of people. We sat in the front seating of the restaurant which can be for couple of people, small or big group. More of a public, people want to talk and maybe get a bit loud, be your self area which what we were looking for :) There was another seating section a few more steps in for (I would say) quieter, maybe a bit more fancy if you are looking for that. Either place you end up, it will serve its purpose. We had the group lunch. It was served in a timely manner. It was fresh, warm, tasteful, but it was from a limited items. So if you have a person who is vegetarian, another who does not eat pork, you will need to do some adjustment. Quantities were OK. I am a big guy though and usually eat more, but more than one person mentioned the same thing. I think we were charged extra when we asked for more guacamole for chips which was surprising because usually chips and dip are paid for once with refills but I did not check. The cost per person was about $28 (Including gratuity and non-alcoholic drinks) which is much higher than just a work lunch. All in all, for me, it is not a place for everyday lunch (or even weekly or monthly) but it is a good place for lunch/dinner with someone, special occasion, or as part of a dinner and show in town.
(4)
Melissa N.
Went here for dinner last night and really enjoyed the food and drinks, but the service was lackluster at best. (I will say that the bartending staff was AMAZING: my issues were with the hosts and server.) The problems began right when we were being seated. We had reservations for three and the hostess tried seating us at this sad excuse for a two-top table that is was barely larger than a TV tray. Fortunately my one friend had the good sense to object right away and politely request another table. He was treated to a gruff, "Well this is how we do things here" retort from the hostess. Umm. NO. We were firm, and after a few minutes another (much nicer) hostess took us to a slightly better table. So that was good. The food and drinks were awesome. I loved the Casangria cocktail and had more of those than I care to admit. For food, we started with the guacamole trio (the mango flavor was my fave, which says a lot as I'm not usually hip to mangos). We then enjoyed the delicious mixto ceviches, the flautas, and two kinds of tacos (carnitas de puerco and estilo baja). For dessert we had the torrejas de bolillo. All of the food was outstanding. Top-notch. Our server? Not so top-notch. She actually sucked big-time. Once we were seated, it took forever to get new drinks. This was a problem all night. She came to check on us pretty infrequently, and at the end of the night brought the wrong table's credit card back to our table and just left it there: major security issue. We were not pleased. Also, while the ambiance of the restaurant is very modern, it is also EXTREMELY loud in there and the tables are right on top of each other. I had people crashing into my chair literally every three minutes throughout the whole meal. And the bathrooms also bothered me. While they were clean, they were out of paper towels the first time I went in there, and when I returned 2.5 hours later, the paper towels had not yet been replenished. Not good. Overall, while the food and drinks were fabulous, I'll never want to go back here if it's even remotely crowded, and I'd be hesitant to return at all because of the poor service. It's unfortunate because I am already craving more pork tacos. :(
(3)
Mirza B.
Great ambiance and food. Went here for a work lunch and the mahi mahi tacos were pretty amazing. Loved the Guac trio. And the flan! delicious.
(4)
Stefanie B.
Another restaurant I've been dying to try...only to be left broken hearted :( All the tacos sounded amazing too! We started with guacamole with sweet potatoes and bacon with chips. The chips here are really good and addicting! It's very light and airy dipped with the guac which also was good. Also ordered the green rice which I did not like at all. But other people loved it...I'm a very picky eater. I don't like how you can't order per taco. You can only get a plate of 3 of the same taco So come with a few people and family style it. We got the garlic shrimp tacos which was extremely garlicy, I think it is too saucy. The pastor and pineapple one was the best out of the 3 we ordered, but the one at Big Star is still #1! The porkbelly one was the last of the 3 kinds of tacos we ordered and it didn't really have much flavor in it. Overall, the restaurant has a nice cool vibe to it and the service was stellar but the food was subpar...SORRY!
(3)
Cole D.
Welp, tough time here. My family (mother, younger brother, older brother) went here for my older brother's birthday. After being seated, a guy came by to ask if he could get us something to drink and I asked for some lemon slices for my water. Um...and he brings them to me on a napkin. Minus 10 points right off the bat for that. I've never even been served like that in a cheap Mexican restaurant at 2am when I'm drunk, and yet this guy thought that was appropriate at 5pm on a Sunday at a restaurant downtown Chicago. Bring lemon slices in a dish please. Next came the ordering. Our waiter was far from helpful. My mother was struggling to order and although she wasn't overtly asking for help, he definitely had an open opportunity to help a customer find a dish they would like. He honestly was rather unfriendly and off putting. He was rather forceful about his explanation that the tacos had a minimum order of 4 tacos and they all had to be the same, and then stared at us expectantly until we uttered our order... This restaurant should explain the eating style here when you sit down. The dishes are meant to be shared but he didn't explain this and we were ordering for ourselves. Then when we finished ordering, he stated "the dishes come out when ready...so you can share each dish when it comes." Wow. I was pretty peeved at this point, how could he not say this before we ordered so we could plan accordingly on what we wanted? Bad service. Ok so luckily all the dishes came out at the same time very quickly. I ordered the mushroom tacos. Decent at best, it was not a very big portion and very over priced for what it was. $17.00 for mushroom tacos? Wow. Extremely unaccomdating for people not wishing to eat meat. Lower your prices for non-meat dishes, that's ridiculous. The guacamole was not very good and even had a weird color and was room temperature and the amount of chips they gave was clearly not enough for 4 people. And honestly, I'm all about haute cuisine, but it's a Mexican restaurant, please at least provide chips and salsa. Those ingredients literally are the cheapest thing after water and it is a huge expectation for customers. I would never recommend this restaurant to a friend (maybe an enemy haha) and certainly will not be returning.
(1)
Tommy Z.
Food and drinks were great bartender awesome. HOWEVER I get hit in the leg by a couple of glass shards from the manager dropping some glasses and all I get is a few comped drinks. Highly unprofessional I should have at the very least been comped a whole meal. If I was one of those sue crazy people could have easily taken this restaurant for a lot more then a dinner and a few drinks smh. Side note: Very loud place good for a group of people but not so much an intimate date. Drinks are strong but you will not notice til you've had a couple they're made ninja like.
(2)
Alyssa J P.
Delicious but very expensive tacos. I was really looking forward to the mushroom tacos, but apparently they come pre-made with butter, so they're not vegan. The only tacos on the entire menu that can be made vegan are the pastor (with veggies instead of pork), so that was a disappointment. For such an extensive menu, you'd think they could figure out how to cook mushrooms without butter. Anyway, the tacos were really yummy and the guacamole sampler was excellent (and a really cool idea, I might add). Lots of drink options for those who are into C2H6O. I probably won't go back, just because it's so expensive and if I'm going to spend that kind of dough, I want real vegan options.
(3)
Katrice H.
I give this place 2 stars because the ambiance is soooo nice and the music was awesome. But if you're going here to eat and have drinks (like I was)...please don't waste your time. Nothing was right with this place... 1 - Our server (Manuel C.) was awful. He did not offer a friendly greeting nor did he attend to our needs in any way. He was so detached that I had to physically go and find him in order to pay my bill. His negligence had nothing to do with a crowd - I went at 1:00 on a Thursday afternoon and the place was nearly empty. 2 - The food was very underwhelming. Please don't go there planning to order tacos and leave feeling full...the tacos should actually be described as "mini-tacos" because, at best, that's what they are. The salsa that we ordered for the table was also a joke...it came in a shallow ramekin and hardly met the standard for salsa. If you intend on dining at this place...be forewarned...it's overpriced and underwhelming.
(2)
Lisa Marie M.
Unfortunately I wasn't impressed after being highly recommended by many ppl about this place. I will give it one more try considering the pepino el Pyu drinks were just amazing! I think it was a little over priced for the mediocre food I tried. I had the enchiladas and tried the carne asada. I heard the fish tacos are really good. ill be back to try those.
(3)
Nicole M.
Good food and great service. Food was expensive but it was expected the moment you walked in. The restaurant is trendy and you can tell it was occupied by locals and business men and women. I liked the different sauces they gave with the tacos. The guacamole was fantastic. You have to try more than one kind. There is a speakeasy below the restaurant but unfortunately it was closed the day we were there.
(4)
Pranitha P.
It is very busy and loud but that's the atmosphere for the place. The food was great. Our group was larger than seven so we were seated in the Tequila Lounge downstairs and ordered from the sharing menu - CANASTA: mercaditorestaurants.com… 3 types of guacamole, 2 types of salsa, 2 types of ceviche, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides & 1 dessert tasting. They were able to make a vegetarian option for everything that was ordered and all of the tacos were delicious. We had enough to eat for hours and took some leftovers because there was that much food! For my drink, I ordered a paloma and it was perfect.
(4)
Jonathan S.
On this MON night, Mercadito seem like it was the after hours place to be on a SAT night! Place was packed, noisy, all in a good way, nice buzz. The food here is modern, we only drank and ate tacos. The big issue with their cocktails and food is the smoke. Seems everything has some earthy, smoking peppers in it. The server also confirmed how many menu and drink items have this paprika/peat sort of flavor. They totally overuse it. If the food itself wasn't prepared well my rating would be lower but the food, beside the flavor of charcoal on everything, is good and hope they take my advice and limit the smoky notes. Wish the food was as good as the vibe.
(3)
Manny R.
Went here for the lady's Bday. Tacos were good with a modern twist. Drinks were tasty and the guac wasn't bad. My only complaint is that the seating isn't meant for taller folks. Modern Mexican in a nice atmosphere.
(4)
L. B.
I would like to preface by saying that I am writing this review live - be assured the incidents I will recount are fresh in my mind. I would also like to state for the record that Mercadito was once my favorite brunch place & I have been patronizing this establishment since it opened. One last thing, I have worked in the service industry for ten years of my life, the last four spent in fine dining when I was in college, so I have an intimate awareness of what acceptable service involves. Now, the review of my final brunch here - a table consisting of two people, myself included. Service was absolutely atrocious...from server to management. Absolutely a disgrace. Drinks took 10 minutes- we did not order complicated drinks. We ordered 2 guacamoles - came out pretty quick, as expected. Tasted great, as expected. We ordered our food at the same time we ordered our guacamole. My boyfriend's meal came out when we were about halfway through the guacamole...mind you, we are voracious eaters...so his food came fairly quickly. I figured mine was soon to follow. Fifteen minutes passed. My boyfriend eventually started eating as his food was getting cold. During the entire fifteen minutes of food being on the table the server didn't once come by to do the "two bite check" to check in on us. I sat foodless. About five minutes later our server popped over & we inquired about my food. He checked on it & came back slightly apologetic saying it would be out in two minutes and that he would see if a manager can do anything about the bill. Personally, I think he forgot to put my order in. I get it, mistakes happen- but management failed to make it right. My food came more than five minutes later...huevos ahogados and they were not on par with my pornographic food memory of them. We cleaned our plates over a span of ten to fifteen minutes & not once did he check in on us, nor did a manager pop over to make sure we were content. To me that is absolutely atrocious customer service. The server offered us a free desert...thanks. I will NEVER come back here. Patronizing an establishment that doesn't care about its bread & butter, its customers, is worthless to me. Server sucked, but the absence of management in this situation is unforgivable. Way to go guys.
(1)
Brooke O.
We went here for date night and I was impressed with everything. The service was quick but not rushed. We had an assortment of tacos - the shrimp ones were my favorite. And topped off the meal with a couple of coronas. We had a reservation and went a little before the rush. We were seated right away and our waiter was efficient but also had a good sense of humor. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Caroline A.
Mercadito is just lovely! We stopped in for a quick drink and snack and ended up staying longer than planned! I've never noticed several River North restaurants are closed Mondays but not Mercadito. Sitting at the bar I ordered the Pepino el pyu which is perfect if you love cucumber. The bartender was very sweet and kept letting us try sample of his new experimental cocktails. We ordered the chips and salsa pair tomatillo with chipotle which was very tastey. The bar backs were quick to keep our free chip refills coming! I know I'll be back for dinnner and definitely the brunch!
(5)
Isabel C.
Really cool vibe and quality food! I came for lunch and our group ordered an insane amount of food. I think I tried almost everything note worthy on the menu. I had 2 of the refrescos- homemade sodas. Both the mango and the blueberry pineapple were delicious! As an appetizer and for our main course we ordered a trio of Guac and salsas- mild medium and hot- I don't know the exact salsas. They were all very good and the chips are great too! Onto the main event: TACOS! We ordered estilo Baja (mahi mahi), camaron (shrimp), carne (skirt steak), & pastor (pork). All were very good but all of them had additives that I may have left out like on the carne with the potato. The tortillas were a little chewy but everything was still delicious and I will absolutely come back!
(4)
Andy D.
Favorite restaurant. Only positives. First and foremost, my waiter was excellent. Had great recommendations, was very helpful, and knew the menu like the back of his hand. Second, the atmosphere is very cool. Third, the food was amazing. Multiple guacs, salsas, tacos, desert. Fourth, the drinks were the best. This is absolutely a true gem. I look forward to going back. Definitely a great place for entertaining.
(5)
Kristina W.
Pretty good, but extremely overpriced with service issues. I would only recommend Mercadito for drinks & maybe a small snack. A few blunders: 1) Tuesday 8PM reservation - arrived early at 7:45, not seated until 8:15. 2) Ordered a pair of the dorado and camaron ceviche - somehow ended up with a single order of the lobster ceviche. It was good, but not what we ordered (not to mention, $5 more expensive), and they didn't comp us in any way for making their own mistake. 3) IT'S SO LOUD IN THERE. I had to yell at my friend across the table, and we still could barely hear each other!! As for the food/drink: - Strawberry Margarita - Delicious, very strong. $16 after tip/tax - standard drink prices for River North. - Pineapple Guacamole - Nice light flavors, but I'm not sure I can justify paying $9.50 for a tiny portion of guacamole that I could likely reproduce myself. I will say that the chips that accompany the guac are amazing though. - Lobster Ceviche - Huge chunks of lobster, which were yummy, but the rest of ingredients in the ceviche were pretty bland in comparison. - Lobster Tacos - Though pricey, this was actually extremely delicious - creamy sauce, fresh lobster, soft tortillas, etc. Overall, I would only come back to Mercadito for drinks, and maybe split a tacos order with a friend, but I don't think it's worth it for a whole dinner considering the small portions and steep prices.
(3)
Austin Y.
"Meh. I've experienced better." pretty much describes my experience in a nutshell. Came with a big group and tried a variety of tacos, the al pastor was good but the only one that stood out was the lobster. Not impressed by the fish or mushroom, especially at this price point. If I was with a smaller group, I wouldn't like having to order four of the same taco at minimum. Ceviche was unusually watery, didn't enjoy it at all, and I just remembered that I sampled a trio of guacamole that I barely remember at all (not a good thing!) Strawberry and mango margaritas were great, really the highlight of my meal. I might come back for the bar, not the tacos.
(2)
Tina M.
We did a large group dinner here. The food was fantastic and service was great. Excellent value for what you get. I would definitely return here next time I am in Chicago.
(5)
A R.
I came here for dinner tonight in a party of 3, admittedly - we came here mostly because El Hefe was closed and we wanted some good Mexican food. Credit where it's due, the ambiance is nice and our waiter was generally friendly and made suggestions on the menu. That's about where the good part ends.... The tables are crammed so closely together you feel like you're at dinner with 16 other people... I know that's something restaurants are doing now but I think it's incredibly awkward. We ordered the traditional guacamole and medium salsa to start, the price of the guacamole compared to the portion you get is absurd. However, I have to admit, it tastes great - just wish there had been more of it. The salsa was nothing to write home about, not bad but not great. The real problem came when we ordered main courses - mahi mahi tacos, 2 steak tacos and a side of Mexican corn. The fish tacos came out a full 10 minutes before the steak tacos. When we asked the waiter where the steak tacos were he said the kitchen cooked tacos at different speeds... I'm no chef but I doubt Gordon Ramsey would stand for such an excuse. The steak tacos finally showed up... But no corn. At that point we were so hungry we just started eating the tacos. I had the steak tacos and thought they were pretty good. The guy who had fish tacos was annoyed his were cold by the time ours showed up and said they were relatively bland. Finally the corn showed up half way through our tacos. Aside from being late, the corn was delicious. The worst part of the whole experience was how the bus boy started clearing our table before 2 of us were done eating... Blatantly taking all the dishes, the salsa we weren't done with, and snatching dishes as we put our forks down. What's worse, while we waited for the check he literally came back and wiped down the table with a rag and took away our place mats and napkins. I have never felt more rushed out of a restaurant in my life. And the restaurant wasn't even full! Such a shame because while overpriced, the food was pretty good. But we will never go back because the service was so poor. This would be a 1 star review of the food hadn't tasted good.
(2)
Easy D.
Fancy Mexican spot with some tasty ass tacos. Drinks and food were overpriced but they have a great assortment of sides, different types of guacamole (couldn't pick a favorite from the guacamole "flight") and their "gourmet" tacos were definitely some of the best I've ever had. The swordfish and steak tacos were cooked to perfection and so tasty! The chicken taco, usually the most boring choice on the menu, was heaven. The decor was nice and had a nightclub feel to it, the DJ spinning house music in the lounge area downstairs added to that. The music was great, the crowd was underwhelming. This was my first food outing on my culinary tour of Chicago, I wasn't disappointed.
(4)
J.M. P.
Service is good. This is my second time here....ordered something different chicken flautes. First time I orderwd steak tacos. Food is sooo bland. Even my usual glass of Malbec is bland. Everyone else is enjoying their drinks and food though. I'm just not feeling this spot. Won't be back.
(2)
Lisa H.
Come here strictly if you want to eat and/or drink, and not for additional purposes like catching up and taking your time. It's rowdy and the tables are so close together, unless you enjoy shouting and hearing every word from your neighbor, the noise level and lack of personal room will make you feel slightly uncomfortable. Food wise, almost everything is delicious. I've been here 3 times and have tried an array of dishes, but my faves are the cechiche, al pastor and lobster tacos. Mercandito offers some of the best al pastor tacos i've had in the city. It's where i go to get my Mexican fix. Chicago does a really good job at depriving this Socal girl of her Mexican food. The Mexican-style corn on the cob has robust flavors, but too much cream for my liking. Great place to eat then get the hell out, and awesome pre-party spot since they have very potent drinks. Love that they don't skimp on their alcohol, just 1 drink warms me up and i usually need at least 2. Warning: there's no personal space so you'll likely want to get out as soon as possible.
(4)
Katherine L.
Loved this restaurant in NYC and was so sad it shut down. Love that it was open late. Must get guacamole trio. Al Pastor guac was great! Also loved the fajita and queso. Can't go wrong here.
(5)
Kaley K.
Restaurant week visit, with a group of 6, on a Saturday night. Very busy and loud. Took a bit to get seated even though we had a reservation. House margarita was decent but I wouldn't pay the non-restaurant week price. It was good but not strong. Gaucamole and ceviche was fantastic! Very fresh. The tacos were decent but I've had better in chicago. We tried the shrimp, pork, and chicken tacos. The flan was easily the highlight of the meal. Everyone at our table agreed that we could have eaten 10 more.
(3)
Andre W.
A very good friend of mine was telling me this is one of her favorite happy hour spots. Since its not far from the office I had to give it a try to see if her word was legit. I came by a couple of weeks ago and found out their happy hour starts at 6 on Wed only. Of course you can have drinks at the bar and all, but they have a small downstairs area that is exclusive to a happy hour special they have on tacos and margaritas. The tacos are $6.50 (reg price is $16.50 for 4) for a set of 3 and the margaritas are $6.50 (reg price is $11-$13). We got the camaron tacos (shrimp, garlic, avocado & chipotle mojo) and the pastor (grilled pork, chile salsa and grilled pineapple). Really good as the both were awesome, but the camaron was the star here. Their traditional margarita is friggin awesome as I decided to have 3 of them. The music down there is really nice and the lighting is quite intimate to set a chill, relaxing mood. Servers took care of us and made sure we didn't want for anything. Good place for Happy Hour and I wouldn't mind making this an every other Wed outing for those of you that would be down LOL.
(4)
Camille O.
Visiting Chicago we needed a hearty Brunch. We ordered their 3 dishes to share special. No margaritas since we had one too many the previous night. We ordered the Guacamole - very good and chunky. The carnitas skillet with hash Browns was very tasty. Blackened fish taco we devoured. The enchiladas were delicious. The service was superb! Our waiter made sure we were taken cared for the whole time. Would visit again.
(4)
Kristin G.
Most of the food was good. The ceviche and the Baha tacos were very fishy. The other tacos were good with the exception of the carnitas which was great...a little dry but the flavor was wonderful. The chicken dish was my favorite...the refried beans and Roja salsa gave it a nice flavor. The three trees cocktail was delicious. I didn't love the ambiance. It was too cluttered and reeeeeally loud. I'd go back for sure.
(3)
Christine H.
The food was amazing, from the appetizers to the main course. The margarita's were also outstanding. The hostess, manager and wait staff were more then below par. I suggest the owner(s) find staff that is on the same level as their food, because they made our table of 13 very unhappy. When you make a reservation, you should not have to wait an hour, while you watch other large tables get seated that came in a half hour after you did. Probably would not go back, because service is everything!
(2)
Lisa S.
The food and service are good, but the restaurant is just way too loud. After two separate visits (one with 4 people and the other with 8 people), I probably won't be back. Part of the restaurant experience is being able to socialize with each other. Both visits, we literally had to yell across the table to be heard. In fairness, both visits were on busy Saturday nights, so it may not always be this way. Great taco and salsa selection, so you may want to give it a try mid-week.
(3)
Anushil K.
One of the best Tacos in US period ! Order the Tacos flight and complement it with their amazing margaritas and incredible customer service ! The chips and the salsas - fingerlicous !
(5)
Narasimha S.
Def. coming back for the tacos
(4)
Lita B.
I heard good things about their brunch and decided to take my grandmother out for her 86th birthday yesterday. My server genuinely seemed like a nice person but not very assertive. Our cappuccinos took about 15 minutes to come out and they were lukewarm, my grandmother sent hers back. It took another 10 minutes to get a new one. I am not sure who made them- the server or the kitchen but nothing out of the ordinary, just an average cappuccino. We did the sharing menu and ordered the eggs with tampiquena, we asked for it medium and came out medium well on the verge of well done. It was cold by the time it arrived and my mother asked for a new one. I was ok with mine as I was embarrassed but they brought a new plate after 20 minutes. We asked for regular napkins and they were never brought, my mother and grandmother waited for the new steak to come out and while they waited the waiter didn't ask to see if he could heat up the mexican bread we hadn't touched as they were waiting. This whole time the Hispanic cleaning staff was attending to us and apologizing. The manager was walking around checking on tables and not once stopped to apologize to our table OR even ask how our experience was. We were not their typical "River North" clientele and I felt slightly shunned. I wanted to really give this spot a chance and called later that day to tell Management and all they said was sorry. I was hoping they would say, let us make it up to you. I am going to stick with the no frills Mexican joints that are quick with their service, attentive and bring out hot coffee drinks, hot steak, and regular napkins. Oh yeah, I forgot as "bday" or "apology" we got a flan. Yeah, after dropping 100 bucks a flan didn't cut it.
(1)
Emma R.
This is my kind of place. Modern, unique, tapas style Mexican food. We got the three salsas (chipotle, tomatillo, and verde) and three different guacs (traditional, ramps, and poblano). They were all flavorful and delicious. Then we shared the lobster and carne tacos. The carne were to die for with the onion strings and tender meat. Our margaritas were so good too. This was our first trip here and I definitely see returning again in the future.
(4)
Leslie W.
Came here on a Friday night with a few girfriends. It was JAM packed! Had a reservation but still had to wait about 30 minutes for our table. Didn't quite understand that, but anyway. Atmosphere: Loud and tight on the weekends at least. Cocktails: smokey pablo - smokey, blueberry flavor. Different, but I liked it. Apps: Guacamole trio - poblano(my fave), mango and traditional. All pretty good. Also tried the lobster ceviche, which was pretty tasty as well. Tacos: blackened swordfish - meh. Shrimp - delish! Steak - delish! Chicken - okay. Dessert: Flan - Extremely sweet. Wouldn't try again, probably. We split everything since you aren't able to mix and match the tacos and we were all pretty full at the end. It's a great place for sharing. Besides being packed in like a sardine while waiting for our table, I enjoyed myself. I would visit again maybe on a weekday, though, to avoid the huge crowd.
(4)
rori c.
Mercadito came recommended by a local and it was the perfect suggestion. There were 6 of us total so we were able to order the family style menu. Totally worth it. I think we had the "canasta" choice, which included 3 guacs, 2 salsas, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 2 sides and dessert for $35. At first I was a little worried about not ordering enough food, but it turns out that we left a lot on the table. I had been craving ceviche, which was good, but the real stars were the torreado (spicy) guac, the shrimp tacos, the mushroom tacos and the grilled asparagus. I'd definitely come back. I will say that the decor is really overwhelming and that it's loud, but the service was pretty good.
(4)
Lindsey H.
The drinks are absolutely amazing. But the bartender was crabby. Oh well... Not everyone can be "on" everyday. Love that they have mixology classes. I would definitely take them if I lived here.
(4)
Brwn E.
This place will always get 5star review from me but that maybe because I'm here almost once a week and the staff are always so friendly and welcoming. Perfect go to for something fast to eat with my Mr!
(5)
Sergio T.
This restaurant is officially my number one favorite non Texas... Genuine Mexican restaurant. I'm Mexican with a mom that cooks like a master. And I'm very discerning in general. It Beats everything I've ever been to! Taste, originality, atmosphere, music, tequila, guac, ceviche! Oh and get this... They do not allow Patron tequila. When asking the bar tender why? She said it's crap. BOOM! Legit!
(5)
CL C.
The seating is a little tight so we chose to sit in the lounge downstairs which was really nice. The tacos were amazing...loved the herb chicken ones. Had amazing flavor
(4)
Eric R.
So the fish tacos are excellent, especially the Swordfish. Prices are about average for this part of town. Service is mediocre, leaning towards poor. The Margaritas are ok, but not great. The place is super loud and the tables are on top of each other. I have been here three times, and would not recommend for a date, just too loud. Good for an after work drink and snack, but beyond that its not worth the crowds and the noise.
(3)
Ryan M.
I would say that the cocktails are better than the food in terms of what you're getting for the cost. The tacos were not bad tasting, but were really really small--was just surprised. If I go back again, I'll know to eat somewhere else for dinner and go here for a pre-dinner appetizer or snack. It's worth trying though if you're in the area and have a hankering for a margarita or a taco.
(3)
Samir S.
Always a great visit. Seven years later, and the place delivers on the favorites. Go here for the cocktails and the tacos. The appetizers and the main dishes are average. All of the tacos we tried were great, but the shrimp tacos take the cake. What they do with their sauce something special, and I have not seen elsewhere. Great vibe, and great service. Manny, our host was a pleasure to work with. We look forward to coming back !
(4)
Cindy G.
Holy high price tacos! On a recent trip to Chi town my girls and I decided on this place since it was in our hood. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was Dayyyyyum it's loud in here! Did they want it to be loud and trendy on purpose? Not sure. But we could barely carry a conversation right next to each other. We were seated at a booth right next to the restroom which only served one patron, so we often had a line of people over top of us. The food is served is 4's, which I assume is family style? By I have no idea why. You are not allowed to mix and match so we found ourselves ordering 3 different orders steak, mahi, and al pastor and just adding a taco to make it 5 family style and we each got three. The steak was surprisingly my favorite. I loved the chargrill flavor on it. The mashed potatoes on top were also a strange but interesting touch. The Al Pastor has a great spice to it, and the pineapple was a great contrast to the heavy flavor. I wasn't a fan of the mahi. It was a bit too soggy from all of the slaw. We also ordered up a ton of their margs, all varied in flavor. I really loved the Hibiscus and red pepper one. It was super spicy, but fruity all at the same time! I also tried the mago and it was extremely fresh. I ordered the regular margarita and it was nothing special. I didn't particularly love the grand marnier in it. Overall our meal was very flavorful but I need to add that all of the food came out within 10-15 minutes some even before we got our drinks and our total dinner time was seriously close to 30 minutes. We felt like they were rushing us out, and we did not really appreciate that especially because of the amount of money we were dropping. $22 for 4 tacos? $14 for the margs? Still don't understand it. You can get delicious tacos pretty much anywhere in Chicago. And don't come here if you are looking to catch up, or have a dinner conversation. Come, sit at the bar, order a marg and enjoy the atmosphere. I probably wont be running back for dinner anytime soon.
(3)
Steven S.
This was a great combination of atmosphere, food/drink and service. I ordered a Casagria, which was their version of a sangria, and the carne and the lobster tacos. All were delicious. The tacos come in a plate of four and you can't mix and match which was disappointing. The traditional guacamole was good and freshly made; I'm curious to try their other guacs next time. I'll be sure to come here again soon.
(4)
Ryan M.
Mercadito is borrowing the airlines strategy...oversell the tables/seats on the premise that a certain percentage won't show. The only kicker is that when everyone shows they aren't providing vouchers for your next meal!! We booked a table on open table for 10:30 and arrived at 10:20. We didn't seated until almost 11:00. It appeared many people were in the same situation as the bar was over flowing with people waiting for their table. The place is trendy and loud but I guess paying 16 for tacos just isn't my thing when I know great places to get tacos all around town.
(2)
Maghana W.
My favorite!!!!!! Best place for a dinner and drinks on the weekday or weekends before a night out. They have different gaucs you can choose from which are all amazing and their tacos are soooo good regardless of which one you get. The drinks are incredible and made perfectly. The vibes are great in there too. It's dim lighting so fun with a group of friends or a date night. Highly recommend making reservations because it gets crazy busy. They have a cute lounge and bar on the bottom floor too which is fun to drink and wait for your table. Love love this place. A must try!!!!
(5)
Erica J.
Love this place! I was first introduced to it during Chicago Restaurant Week 2014. Got a chance to sample three different guacamoles, three different tacos, and three different flans. I fell in love with everything. I went back with a my boyfriend yesterday and learned that the chicken, steak, and shrimp taco toppings are changed every three months to keep things interesting. We ordered one chicken, one steak and the mango guacamole and were quite impressed. Everything was still so delicious. I recommend not making any substitutions! Lovely just the way they are.
(5)
Nic Z.
GUACAMOLE Guac and chips were great. We got traditional, toreado, bacon, and mango. Mango was the spiciest, which I love, but the rest of the flavor missed the mark. The others were yummy but not at all spicy. Chips were definitely fresh and, for that reason, delicious. SEVICHE None of the Seviche blew my socks off, but my friends enjoyed it. We got the lobster, camaron (shrimp), and dorado (mahi mahi). TACOS Pescado (tilapia) tacos looked pretty but tasted bland. Chicken taco looked like a hot mess comparatively but tasted well. I did, however, have several pieces of really gummy meat :-( WINE Rose was ok - middle of the road. I could see this as a happy hour wine (read: cheap/average). I don't think I would ever come here on my own, but I wouldn't say no if I was being treated.
(3)
Alejandra G.
I love this place. It was definitely one of my favorite places to go. I would always recommend this place to everyone I knew because I USED to have a great experience until my last visit. My roommate and I went late this past Friday, 03-06-15. We decided to sit at the bar, there was only one seat available so we asked the bartender if the last seat at the bar was being used, she answered "I don't know" and walked away. So we went and asked the gentlemen sitting next to the chair if it was taken and it wasn't. We continued our night and asked the bartender questions, he kept ignoring us and giving us really short answers. He was not attentive at all. The restaurant was almost empty so its not like he was busy tending to other customers. We had to keep getting his attention when we needed another drink or anything else. The restaurant closes at 2am. Arounds 1:45am there was a security guy that came around the entire restaurant and yelled out "Finish up your drinks and close your tab". We were finishing up our dinner and we just received our last drink so we planned on finishing the drink and leaving. 2am arrived and He yelled out once again "We are close now please finish and leave" We were half way done with our drink and we were still waiting for our tab from the bartender. The security guy then came to use not even 5 minutes later and said "ok ladies you have to leave" it was 2:05am. We told him that we were just singing the check and we literally had to chug the last half of our margarita because we were getting kicked out. My entire experience was HORRIBLE!!! Worst customer service I've EVER received in any Chicago restaurant I have been to and I have been to MANY Chicago restaurants. This experience has definitely changed my mind about this establishment for the worse. I will NEVER recommend this restaurant to anyone EVER again.
(1)
Tima D.
This place is awesome! The tacos and the margaritas are what you should come here for. If you would like to branch out and order something else I dont think it will hit the mark like the tacos. The ceviche is pretty good though too. The restarant itself is really nice. Great vide to it and the service is great too.
(4)
Shawn C.
Really great tacos. The drinks are amazing too. The only reason it gets 4 stars and not 5 is because it's pretty pricy for the portion sizes that you get. Shrimp Cameron are the way to go.
(4)
Joe S.
Excellent Tacos - I went with Steak. Great atmosphere and their service was spot on. I would recommend this spot to coworkers and friends. I would give it 5 stars if they offered flour tortillas...but they don't.
(4)
Gustavo B.
Came here for drinks and didn't stay for the food. The prix fix menu seemed uninspiring and over priced ($40 for guac, Salsa, 3 tacos and desert). Drinks were ok, not spectacular. Ambience was what made this place!
(3)
Alli S.
The margs and guac were good. The tacos sucked. The meat was rubbery, chewy, and greasy - we got the steak and chicken tacos - two meats anyone should be able to prepare - but it was essentially dog food quality. The reviews I read before going said this place was loud... but holy crap. Our reservations were at 8, it was pretty loud, but we could hear each other yelling - but the time we finished at 9 (mostly because we quit eating the crappy tacos) we couldn't even hear each other - the bar was packed and people were just standing around the tables with drinks - tons of "going-out-girls" screaming at a high pitch hyena... imagine hearing, "OHHH MYYY GODD!!! CINDY!!!! AHHH!!!!!! IM TOTES DOWN TONIGHT!!!" piercing your ears while already having crappy food.... Don't do it. There's better tacos with less terrible atmosphere everywhere else.
(2)
L-Boogie O.
Went here with my sales team for some bonding time. The restaurant, food and drinks were lovely and fresh. I'd recommend the guac, salsas, ceviche and churrasco. Unfortunately the service and ambiance weren't. The kitchen had a hard time sending out our food on a timely basis and the manager was unapologetic and arrogant. His idea of rectifying the situation was to send a round of drinks over. When the "drinks" showed up, they were nothing more than shooters of some awful fireball tasting mess. The place is also very LOUD. We could hardly hear each other and spent most of the time screaming. Overall the food and cocktails were fantastic, not sure I'd return as service is just if not even more important.
(2)
Jacqueline B.
Steak. Tacos. If you take away anything from this review, please let it be the delicious mouth watering steak tacos! Phew. Okay, just had to get throw that out there. Carrying on... I was here on a Saturday night around 8:30 for a reunion dinner with 16 of my sorority sisters. Mercadito was the perfect spot - lively, trendy (and noisy) which was great for such a large group of chatty women looking to enjoy some margaritas and catch up! For larger parties (7 or more people) they automatically give you the option for a sharing menu for your group. So for $75 a person we enjoyed 3 types of guacamole, 2 types of salsa, chips, 4 different types of tacos, rice, beans, plantains, and dessert - all of which were utterly delicious. The deal also included our drinks for 2 hours - anything on their menu $12.50 or less. This ended up being a great way to test out all the different awesome margarita concoctions they had! Fave tastings: Camaron tacos (shrimp), Carne tacos (steak), Torrejas De Bolillo (basically a Mexican french toast dessert) Liquid loves: Pepino El Payu cocktail (cucumber inspired margarita), V-9 cocktail (pineapple inspired margarita) Not a fan: Cost! Although the food was delicious, the menu is a bit steep for my liking. Granted it is River North and the food is good, dropping a hundo on a meal and drinks is just not reality for me. However, for a special occasion and with a large group - this seemed to work out for the best. $$ was really the only reason I couldn't get myself to give this spot a full 5 stars.
(4)
John S.
Food was good - had ceviche that was delicious. Waited over an hour to be seated. Originally told 30 minutes. Hosts and Hostesses seemed to have no idea what was going on. there were 4 of them and they told us they would find us when our table was ready (trouble sign), didn't take a phone or use a buzzer. They finally seated us with me in the aisle which sucked and was obvious they didn't have a real table for us coming up anytime soon. Also - all it takes is saying "we are busier than expected, can we buy you a round?" and i would be so impressed and forgiving. But instead they got more and more defensive. Wouldn't return to this place unless there was no wait.
(2)
Anne-Marie B.
2nd visit, equally as delightful as the first. I have a few regular requests when I'm in town and this one's been added to the list. Shoutout to the bartender for her extreme graciousness while one of my (mildly influenced) friends stood and creepily recorded her making our margaritas, complete with flashlight (She set the thing on fire with a blow torch. I mostly understood the enthusiasm). My party of 5 ended up splitting 4 different types of tacos. All were superb, but the lobster tacos changed my life. This is a must-do. I was a little disappointed that the pineapple guacamole dropped off the menu, but they had a sweet potato guacamole that was better than consolation. From start to finish, a wonderful experience.
(5)
Shakti B.
One of the best meals I have ever had....period!!! The server (Jesus) was extremely friendly and took the time to explain what the menu was all about since it can get confusing (if you don't understand Spanish or the culture). Got an order of 2 different guacamole and delisssh!! Ordered the Costilla de Res taquizas (braised short ribs) and OMG!!!!! You definitely gotta eat here!!!
(4)
Mark H.
What more can be said about this place that already hasn't been said. Trendy, pricey Mexican cuisine with great drinks. Finally tried this place a few months back, and the shrimp tacos were definitely memorable. The drinks were also fantastic. All is good....until you get the bill. If you ever want to know what buyers remorse feels like, try it out. All the other options were running through my mind at this price point. A great Filet Mignon on Rush St. or fresh Seafood on the Mag Mile. Bright spot was to go on a midweek lunch to avoid the large crowds and careless service multiplied. So when I think of Mercadito's, an old adage...you can put lipstick on a pig but it's....comes to mind. All in all, a touristy place but to experience fine Mexican cuisine, go to a place where they don't charge for salsa?!
(3)
Chiquita C.
Was thrown a surprise party here over Memorial Day weekend and I couldn't have been happier with this venue . We're it not for delay in being seated and the mandatory set menu for a party of 12+ I would give this place 5 stars . They give you an almost unlimited amount of 4 taco options and 3 guacamole . All of the ingredients were fresh and the flavor combinations were stellar . Our server was extremely personable and attentive . The valet parking is only $13 and the location makes that a steal ! Best part hands down was the fact that they let my fam bring a cake . A perfect night !
(4)
AJ H.
Came here for Chicago Resturant Week with two friends and we had a great time. The menu was set up for groups and you could upgrade the $33 dinner to $40 and get a cocktail added to your meal. I wanted to try the misty's sleeve (el tesoro platinum, ginger, hibiscus, orange, yucateco, hibiscus salt), but ended up with the regular margarita because the deal limited you to cocktails in a certain price range. We order traditional and toreado guac, the camaron ceviche and the camaron, pollo, estilo baja and hongos tacos with a side of arroz verde. Each one was equally delicious and completely different in taste, but extremely flavorful. No need for condiments at all. We finished it off with a round of various flan: traditional, coconut and caramel I definitely plan on returning to try the misty's sleeve. Although the prices are already solid, they have a great happy hour and after hours taco menu that I noticed on some fliers on the way out. The waiter and staff was good and you can tell they are a place that is used to serving with large group.
(5)
MeFarrahDay D.
To go orders must be different because for 16 dollars I got a mess surrounded by 4 tortillas and an order of salsa in a container that a cherry tomato wouldn't fit into.
(2)
Hahety J.
Gonna try to keep this simple. I enjoy Mercadito. I have tried every taco that doesn't feature pork, but I don't have a favorite. They're all good to me. I've also had three guacamoles - one w/ pineapple (not my thing), traditional, and the other one was garlicky AND a few salsas, roja, verde & tomatillo are my favs. YUM YUM YUM. I also enjoy the elotes & pico de gallo. I've been here for girls' nights & dates but it's not a romantic setting at all. More of a fun/social environment. I wouldn't recommend it for a first date unless you get reservations because otherwise you're likely to be seated very close to...whoever else decided to come to Mercadito. It's pretty tight where seating is concerned, which has never bothered me personally. I'm friendly & my friends are friendly. We almost always leave with a group selfie featuring people we met while dining. Now, the DRINKS. YES!!!! KEEP THEM COMING! I am a tequila FOOL. I love all things tequila and so does Mercadito. I have had: the traditional margarita with and without smoke - I prefer it without smoke. Big nose, the fire gives it a ...well...firey taste. three trees - AMAZEBALLS smokey pablo - SO GOOD. pera te - might become one of my new favs I've yet to have a bad experience here. It is pricey, but it's such a good time that we always return. If you haven't been, please go! 4 stars ONLY because I wouldn't mind having a little more space/leg room.
(4)
Ahmad E.
If money ain't a thang for you, Mercadito's overpriced tacos are amazing! I have eaten here many times and would suggest their tilapia, shrimp and mahi tacos, they are worth the trip. Adding the trio "guac" to your request will leave you shocked believing avocado could go so well with so many fruits. Can't forget about the corn on the cob! If we knew Mexican corn on the cob tasted this good, Republicans and Democrats would have agreed on an immigration policy a long time ago.
(4)
Zach G.
Some of my friends Rave about these tacos and they are just okay- good to me but they are too expensive. Guac and chips is something like $9. If I have a margarita, chips and guac and a couple tacos im paying $40 to not even be completely full. Would rather go to Chicago Cut or Sienna Tavern for that price tier. If I want tacos il drive, and wait for Big Star
(3)
Heather G.
This place has a really cool vibe, and the drinks alone make it worth the trip - that being said, I will be back but probably will not have dinner here again. We had a reservation and got there early so we had a few drinks at the bar - their margaritas are on point, throughout the night, I must have had 7-8 pepino el pyu's ... $12/each but worth every penny, they are so refreshing and delicious! Our table was ready, and we were seated. I can say my water glass was not empty once the entire time we were there, however it felt like there was always an arm in my face filling my glass - I get wanting to be on top of it but it seemed a bit excessive. In honesty, I wasn't a fan of the food. The guacamole was my favorite part of the whole dinner, but the chips were not up to par with the guac. I ordered the chicken tacos, but didn't eat them - they had an odd texture to them and I wasn't a fan of the rice/beans. I didn't personally have the Mexican corn, but others at the table did say it was okay in comparison. Had the flan for dessert, and again, it was just meh. Before we were even finished with dessert, they started clearing dishes and our place mats and I felt incredibly rushed. We still had cocktails with half of a dessert to finish, and with the amount of money we spent, you would expect them to give us time to finish. I understand there were people waiting for the table, but I still don't think our experience should be forced to end that quickly. To recap - go to the bar, you HAVE to try their cocktails, but dine at your own discretion.
(2)
Joanna T.
When my answer to dinner is tacos, it's never just tacos, it's tacos from Mercadito! More specifically, lobster tacos! These were great, and even when I think I can't eat another bite, I skip dessert just for the tacos. This is a fun lively place that offers inside and a nice patio area for seating. It's very festive and the service is friendly and accommodating. I had a chance to try the trio of guacamole, the afore mentioned delicious lobster tacos, Carne tacos and Cameron tacos, and all were flavorful but the lobster was the standout for me. They're plates are very shareable and the drinks they have are quite strong, and there are so many that sounded creative but I'll have to wait until next time to make my way down the list! Fun for a group, you get to taste an assortment of food, and just a lively spot to begin or end your night.
(4)
Sharlita W.
I absolutely love this place! The food and drinks are amazing! My absolute favorites are the shrimp tacos and the "Little Market" drink.
(5)
Kaley C.
I stopped by Mercadito on vacation and had a great experience. I typically would be more particular about the cost as it is more expensive than my day to day price range, but was a little more relaxed since I was out of town. I had no trouble getting a seat at dinner time, which was great. Service was excellent and the food was delivered quickly. I loved all of their different options for guacamole and we were very impressed with the poblano flavor. I got the pork belly tacos and loved them. The flavors were perfect and the corn tortillas were so good. I was a little disappointed that there was no option to mix and match the tacos, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The margaritas were outstanding. A little pricey, but strong. I would recommend and visit again!
(4)
Jennifer G.
This was the FIRST time in my life that I left a mexican restaurant HUNGRY. First, my party of three was seated at a two top, which was crowded and uncomfortable - I asked to be moved to a booth and was told there were none available - the restaurant was mostly empty from the time we sat down to the time we left. they charge for the salsa - 6.50 for a trio of three, which was essentially a couple of tablespoons - you couldn't even really 'dip' your chip in them. we ordered 9 tacos (three a piece) to share across the table. pork, carnitas, chicken - they tasted ok, but were small and with no sides, not very filling. i left hungry - i also ordered their diabla margarita - it was supposed to be spicy, but i don't think i could taste any spice - i drank half, it wasn't very good. not really worth it.
(2)
Lara P.
After eating some really phenomenal Mexican food at another establishment that was closed this was the closest that we can get. Good vibe and decor for a date night. Food is good for sharing plates. The shrimp taco was great but a tad bit spicy. The chicken taco was flavourful. However, the service was quite bad. The server was abrupt and while we finished our drinks he handed us our bill without asking if we wanted anything else. I can spend my good money elsewhere. If you want to have a good experience overall then this isn't the place for you.
(2)
John G.
Hadn't been here in a while but still good. Lots of bachelorette parties and big groups going on, which is good for small plates. This is NOT a place to come to have a conversation. Noise is very loud. The guacamole choices are great with outstanding chips. We enjoyed the traditional and mango. Followed with 2 ceviches, mahi mahi and shrimp. Great flavors and get spoons to finish the juice. The tacos are the right size for tasting. We had a shaved beef special, pastor(pork), and pescado(fish). There are many to try. We had side of Brussels sprouts with chorizo and plantains with a jalapeño aioli. Good food and good service.
(4)
Tiffany H.
I went on a Thursday night and the place was packed. The food was great and the drinks were excellent, however the seating was tight and the prices were expensive! I sat next to my friend and had to tell. I would like to note they have one female and one make restroom. This is totally against zoning regulations. Based on the population that you serve and in general you should offer restrooms in that amount. I don't know if I will return.....
(3)
Rafia J.
Absolutely amazing tacos, best I've had so far in the city (I'm relatively new to Chicago). But the tacos are actually delicious, they just explode with flavors with every bite! Especially, their lobster tacos! Chicken and shrimps tacos were really good as well. Other than that, thought they jipped us when it came to guac (got a small scoop for regular price???) and their drinks and other appetizers are not that great. Went with a group of friends so ordered a bunch of stuff. Wasn't not much impressed with their desserts either. Tacos, however, are worth going again for and deserve a 5 star!! Seating wise, extremely loud place, good for pre partying having drinks and leaving, not suitable for a chit chat.
I'm always happy here, the food never disappoints and I love the ambiance. It is perfect for a date night. Drinks are outstanding, the spices they put on the glass are my favorite! V-9 and Smokey Pablo are my favorite drinks but, you can't go wrong on the cocktail menu. Pastor tacos are my go to!
(4)
Amoli P.
My first experience at Mercadito was a couple of years ago during happy hour. My friend and I sat at the bar and ordered tacos off the happy hour menu and I found them downright terrible. The fish tacos and shrimp tacos tasted old and fishy and I was scarred for awhile before being willing to try it again despite my husband's insistence. I finally came back a couple weeks ago on a random Monday afternoon to try it out again. It was toward the end of the lunch hours and we snagged a patio table just barely getting our food order in before the kitchen closed for a few hours. First off, the bad. You have to order tacos in 3's and you can't mix and match. That's a star deduction right off the bat. In a town of fancy and fun taquerias like De Cero who all let you order by individual tacos, why in the world does Mercadito make you order 3 of the same kinds of tacos? In fact, I would rather pay more for each taco, if it meant I could order 3 tacos of different kinds. Actually, no I wouldn't because De Cero not only allows you to mix and match, but their price is much cheaper too. That said, the food was pretty delicious the second time around. I don't know what was going on during that initial happy hour, but everything was way more fresh this time around, more flavorful, and just all around excellent. We started with a couple of micheladas - mine with Tecate and my husband's with Matilda (who ruins Matilda by making it into a michelada? My husband.). They were delicious and very flavorful. If you've never had a michelada and you're not into full flavored things, don't get it. But if you're experimental, Mercadito makes a damn good one. Then we ordered the traditional guac with 2 salsas (roja and habanero) and all of them were excellent. Very small quantities for the price, but more than plenty for just 2 people. For our tacos, I went with the estillo baja and my husband ordered the carne. Both were excellent. The food is of great quality, and full of flavor. There's no denying it. I'm just not sure that Mercadito has anything special to make it warrant the additional price and lack of flexibility.
(3)
Michael H.
My single favorite meal in Chicago is at Mercadito. We've been maybe 10 times in the two years we've lived in Chicago. This is not for everyone, but here's my favorite order: (1) dizzy oaxacan -- just enough burn from the cayenne (2) salsa trio -- the only time in history I haven't been upset about paying for chips and salsa is at Mercadito. Haven't had a bad salsa yet, but particularly like the haberno. (3) Pastor tacos -- maybe the best tacos I've had anywhere on the planet. Lived in Houston for 20 years so have some point of reference for top-tier mexican food. Ambiance is great -- active and lively without being overwhelming. I would generally pass on the desserts here, and my wife likes the restaurant much less than I do. So, not for everybody, but a 5-star place for me.
(5)
Frank O.
I've been twice with mixed results. The first time the service was average, food was tasty but small, and the price was a bit too high. The second time today was restaurant week lunch, and everything about it was great. For 2 people you get 2 types of guac (we like traditional and blanco and don't care for mango), 2 types of tacos (2 tacos per serving, shrimp and pastor were both very flavorful), 2 lunch entrees (best huevos rancheros I have ever had and solid enchilladas), and then 2 small flan-deserts. Service was better than the first time but still a bit slow, but it was very busy since it is Restaurant week. If you have the chance I'd definitely recommend lunch here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Richard D.
Went into this great place twice during a four-day stay in Chicago. We didn't wind up ordering food except for guacamole (a mango version, it was delicious), but the drinks were hands down the best we had of all the cocktails we ordered on our trip. The Smokey Pablo was incredible - tequila, mango, chiles, and blueberry. I savored every sip, and am hard pressed to think of a drink I've ever ordered that I enjoyed more. My girlfriend loved her drinks as well, her favorite being the paloma diabla, which had even more heat (some habanero inside). Cocktails with spice probably aren't for everyone, but if the idea sounds even remotely appealing to you - try one. I empathize with the reviewers who wanted to try multiple types of tacos - doesn't sound like the restaurant allows this, which is unfortunate. But if the tacos are half as good as the drinks, I suppose that's their way of getting you to come back to try the rest.
(5)
Jon G.
I had fish tacos, my wife had a vegetarian option, and the chef fixed up a special vegan/avocado option for my daughter. We had a great guacamole side also. Noisy but full of life. Don't let them seat 4 at an end table, it's kind of tight.
(4)
Kale G.
This was my first time having tapas (yeah, I know...) and I was very impressed! The decor is beautiful, the food was great, and the server was very friendly. Also, the traditional margarita was one of the best I've ever had!
(4)
Azin J.
The shrimp tacos were AMAZING. The carne asada tacos were good as well but I would probably get it next time without the potato topping. The carne asada meal was just the right size with a potato and Brussels sprout salad underneath that really added flavor to the meal. The steak was juicy and perfect If you like all the toppings on your tacos, you probably won't like this place. The quality is in their protein. I wasn't a big fan of their guacamole, I've definitely had and made better.
(4)
Anshika A.
The place has high noise levels. The drinks are too good and the food is worth the wait.
This place is AMAZING! I came here with my boyfriend on a Thursday night and it was super crowded. We had to wait a good 30 minutes after our reserved time to get a table but as soon as we got one, the service was fast and our waiter was very attentive. The margaritas here are delicious and unique. I got something with blueberry (the sweetest one according to our waiter) and my boyfriend got one where one side of the glass was dipped in spices (sorry, I didn't pay too much attention to drinks because by that time, the only thing I could focus on was the guacamole... Speaking of which,) The guacamole here is absolutely FANTASTIC!! Where else can you find 6 different types of guacamole?! We got the trio - the traditional, mango, and the one with bacon in it - and all were orgasmically delicious. For our main courses we got the mahi mahi (Baja) and carne tacos. The tacos are pretty small but they're packed with flavor and were surprisingly filling. They don't skimp on toppings! Admittedly, the restaurant is a little bit costly but the high quality more than compensates for the steep prices. Overall a great experience. Would definitely come again with friends and family. Great for groups and dates. Very comfortable seating. Slightly noisy so don't come here if you're looking for a quiet night out. Also, the basement has a tequila bar...
(5)
Leslie S.
Absolutely delicious! The place was comfortable, and the service was helpful, friendly, and prompt (our server was Cahn (sp?)). Loved it! Among 5 people, we were sufficiently full on a round of lobster tacos, Strength tacos (seasonal special - was lamb this time), pork tacos, beans and rice, fried plantains, and a trio of guacamole. The tacos were street taco size (so small) but incredibly delicious. My favorite was the lobster tacos. Everyone split everything, and it came out to around $30pp before drinks were added. We also had margaritas and reposado tequila shots! These are pricey but good.
(5)
David G.
I thought this was a nice place to come for tacos. I did not experience bad service like some of the other reviews. From making reservations, to the service from the waiter, everyone was accommodating, friendly, and prompt service. We were a group of 4. We got the trio guacamole (2 traditional, and 1 spicy) both were excellent and flavorful. We also tried the Queso Fundido with short rib. You can find Fundido with chorizo anywhere, it was excellent with the short ribs. For the tacos we tried the Carne, chicken, and fish (Mahi Mahi). I personally did not try the fish, however the group seemed to enjoy them. I thought the chicken was the best. I could taste the bacon that was in the aioli. They had a kick to them but were delicious. The carne was tender and flavorful as well. For dessert. Tres Leches, Flan, and Mexican style bread pudding (forgot the name). My favorite was the tres Leches. It wasn't soggy like many can be. Some reviews said the flan was too sweet.. I didn't think so. I've had a lot of flan that was a lot sweeter. The Mexican bread pudding was so-so but the rest of the group thought it was the best dessert. Margaritas were good and strong. My only complaint, which many complain about, is the noise level. This restaurant is extremely loud and tables are super close.
(4)
Thu D.
I came here for a girl's night dinner on a Friday night and the place was crowded. We all got some margaritas to start and I had the Pepino el Pyu and Misty's Sleeve. I thought the Pepino El Pyu was good and refreshing, but the cucumber taste was a little too strong for me. However, I did not care for the Misty's Sleeve because the sweetness and tarteness made me feel like I was drinking syrup. Blech. As an appetizer, we all shared a trio of guacamole (tradicional, mango, and pomegranate) and a pair of salsas (roja and tomatillo). I really enjoyed all of the guacamoles and really liked the slight sweetness that the mango and pomegranate added. The salsas were also good, but nothing overly special. We also shared several orders of tacos and they were all good, but the best one was their lobster tacos which were the BOMB! I randomly think about them from time to time and wonder why I haven't been back to eat several orders to myself... Overall, I would give Mercadito 4 stars for their food; however, their service was rather rude, which is why I'm only giving them 3 stars. I understand that they are very busy on Friday nights, but I feel like it's bad service to be rushed from your table when you just ordered another round of drinks. They did give us a round of free shots to pacify us, which is nice I suppose, but doesn't completely make up for the poor service after we spent a good amount on food and drinks. I wouldn't come back if it wasn't for those darn lobster tacos, but will probably meander my way back on a day that isn't as crowded.
(3)
Jacqueline O.
The food is really delicious. I have have tried basically everything on the menu and there is not one thing that lacks flavor. Recently the fish tacos on bib lettuce were the juiciest tacos i've ever had. the tilapia was cooked just right. and the avocado was also perfect. one of my faves! all drinks are AMAZING. its a tequila bar. love the spicy drink. this is a good place to go to if your having small bites before going out dancing. they have loud dance music and the decor is pretty hip. Girls night, or first-fifth date type of place. Since it is SO busy the service isn't that quick. The staff IS very nice tho. and they try their best. but it IS very busy.
(4)
Andy S.
Fun space in River North. Don't expect to be saving any money here though. The margaritas were delicious but I think the traditional margarita was $13. For two margaritas and guacamole I believe we spent $55-$60. Just seems like a lot. Having said that, the guacamole was delicious and there are various ones to try all of which I suspect are just as delicious. And as I said the margaritas were muy delicioso. There is also an interesting downstairs bar/lounge space that makes you feel like a boss if you get to hang out down there.
(3)
Judy N.
This is one of my friend's favorite place for margaritas and I agree that it's pretty awesome. The tacos were incredibly flavorful and I love how you can substitute lettuce for the tortilla. The reason why I'm giving it 4 stars is because the service was slow and they seemed to be in a hurry to get you out.
(4)
Akhil G.
Came here with the family and it was great food and phenomenal service. I recommend the mushroom or fish tacos. Come here :)
(5)
Ali W.
Absolutely delectable!!! We had two regular margaritas which were to die for! Fresh and the perfect flavor!!! We also got some mango Guac - couldnt Decide between that and regular but ended up with the mango because it was different and fun and turned out to be just that! We also got queso fundida, which was so good!! We added chorizo, which came with 4 corn tortillas and was delicious :) the cheese was perfectly cooked and the chorizo was great. After that, we got 4 carne tacos and 4 lobster tacos. The carne tacos were good - not great. They had potatoes on the top, but it was too much and overtook the flavor a bit. I'd try a different one next time. The lobster tacos were outstanding!! Best lobster taco I've ever had! I'm gluten Free and this was a great place to eat gluten free, delicious. The server was outstanding and friendly. One of my favorite mexican restaurants in Chicago!!
(5)
Allison R.
I came here with some girlfriends while in Chicago for the weekend. We had a reservation but had to wait maybe 10-15 minutes to be seated. We got a drink at the bar while waiting which was loud and crowded but fine. I started with a smokey pablo (marg w mango, chile, and blueberry). Yum!! After we were seated, our waiter immediately greeted us! He continued to be friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We started out with the guac trio (traditional, toreado, mango). The mango was my favorite, but all were good. We then shared two taco platters - estilo baja (mahi mahi, Mexican slaw, and chipolte aoili) and camaron (shrimp, garlic, and avocado) - and plantanas machos (fried plantains and ginger-jalapeno sauce). Both tacos were amazing as were the plantains. I had a second margarita - this time the Pera Te, which had black tea-infused tequila, more tequila, pear, lime, and agave nectar. Really good but not as good as the first one. It was one of our friend's birthdays so we shared a tiny caramel flan. The flavor and consistency was incredible! I usually don't like the texture of flan, but this one was so delicious! Definitely a really tasty and fun restaurant.
(4)
Komal P.
Went with a friend on a Friday night while in Chicago. This place was POPPING! Very loud and crowded. My friend had made a reservation for 8pm but we had to wait about a half hour for our table. When finally seated, we were between two large (and loud) parties. A bit annoying, but nothing to fuss over. We both ordered the traditional margaritas - good but nothing special. My friend ordered the corn quesadillas and I ordered the squash tacos (not on menu, but waitress suggested it). Our entrees came out really quick! Like within 15-20 mins of ordering. Both were delicious!!! Very unique dishes. At first I was skeptical because the portions were so tiny, but I got full. The quesadillas were deep fried I believe and filled with different veggies. The squash tacos had a tangy taste from the sauce they put inside - so good!! Highly recommend!! I give this place 4 stars instead of 5 because the prices are a bit steep for the amount of food you get.
(4)
Katie P.
came here sunday night after work looking for some drinks, apps and relaxation. we sat down and were ignored for 10 minutes. finally a server stopped by, took a drink order and said he would find "our server". Our server never appeared so the guy just took our table. Kinda awkward start. On the plus side, after that he was friendly and checked in regularly. The drinks were okay, too sweet for my taste. Every round took 10ish minutes to get served. We ordered guac, it was tasty but wow! the price for the portion you get is absurd. Next time I'll just head back to my hood and stop by el toro.
(2)
Kristin C.
The staff is extremely rude. From making the reservation to paying our bill, they were extremely upset that some of our party only ordered appetizers. We informed them that we had a show to catch, and once they found out, the service got even worse. A few of us got one last drink, and expected to sit and enjoy them; however, when they brought our drinks, they brought the checks and sent the busboys to literally take our placemats from under our arms. When making a reservation, not one person was actually friendly and neglected to even say "bye" on the phone. The food and drinks were acceptable, but the service was just so disappointing and awful.
(1)
Malleana R.
Too expensive for the food to be a bit subpar. Server was nice. Drinks were good. Love the location.
(3)
Kate W.
Went back for dinner when we couldn't get a reservation for a larger group (6 people) on a Saturday night. Pros: - their margarita is AWESOME. real good. recommended. - the pork cheek taco we had was outstanding Cons: - it is loud as eff in there! 2 bachelorette parties in the place and your conversation is out the window. bummer. - they seated 6 of us at a booth placed precariously on a raised platform. we had plenty of room but my fiance and i (not in the booth) couldn't get close enough to the table because of the platform. WEIRD. don't go if you want to have a cozy conversation (unless you can make it so you only sit next to the people you like and the weirdos are far enough away that you don't need to talk to them--pro tip.)
(4)
Laila C.
Still am not a fan of fancy Mexican restaurants, this place couldn't converted me. It's better than most...but still not worth the extra money. Good tacquerias are just always better, the food is more delicious and 1/4 of the price. I came with a group of 8 at 8ish on a Tuesday and didn't have a reservation. The place was packed and they were nice enough to push a few tables together to accommodate us. Only half the group was eating, the other half just drank so we didn't get to order too much. Got a guac trio and the salsa trio, both were super Meh. I hate fruits in my apps and entrees. The sweetness of the pineapple overwhelmed the entire rest of the guac. The salsas were fine...but I think Frontera's out of a jar taste basically just as good. I did enjoy my entree, I got the tampiqueña. The steak had a nice flavor and the brussels and pork belly didn't hurt the cause either. I'd get that again if I were roped into coming back here. For drinks, I got the V9 and three trees, both were good but I've never been a huge tequila fan so that's that. Bottom line, all the yuppies love it...but that's cuz they've never been to a real tacqueria. Oh well, first world foodie problems I guess.
(3)
Holly W.
What can I say? I have loved this place for years. I will admit that back in 2009 I was in attendance as one of THOSE bachelorettes with a hot pink feather boa, a tiara, penis straws, and a group of drunk girlfriends taking up a large portion of the dining room. We loved the food then and we love the food now. The place is trendy, loud, and often overcrowded but that is kind of what I love about it when I am in the mood. The food is usually on point and I particularly enjoy the rotation of guacamole and the pork tacos. The other thing I love is that it is perfectly acceptable to be obnoxious and order a skinny margarita AND the bartenders actually know how to make them right!
(5)
Heath S.
Merca-disaster! We had a reservation with another couple, they cancelled last minute so it was just 2 of us. The little tarts at the host stand were so unfriendly it was disgusting...plus I have a reso, seat me! No, waited almost 20 minutes before the two of us were seated. This place is so freakin' loud, I could barely have a conversation with my wife seated across from me (I'm 43 and have been in bars and restaurants since I was 14, I can handle noise, but this is ridiculous). We waited for a server to greet us, longer than it should have been, and since my wife was seated in the booth, and the waiter has to stand off to my side and slightly behind me to wait on us...I could hear him, if I uncomfortably turned to face him. we ordered drinks, took a while to get them. We weren't ready to order right away, because we didn't know what to get. I've been to Mercadito Counter many times for lunch, since it's blocks from my office, and really liked it. Small tacos, but I can get a few different ones and be satisfied for lunch (as long as I get some chips and guac. Anyway, I order tacos al pastor...$16.50 for 4 little ass tacos, that were 2 bites each, with about an ounce of meat on them, a little sauce and that is it...are you freakin' kidding me. My wife ordered (what I was originally going to get) Brochetas ($23.50), which were skewers of beef, chicken and shrimp (about 2oz each) w/ an accompanying sauce and a little side of pickled onion, radish and cilantro, and some tortillas so you can make tacos. So not worth it, service sucked...bussers continually trying to clear the table throughout the meal so they can kick you out as fast as they can. So not enjoyable, $70 wasted (with tip), let alone what I had to pay for valet and the fact we have to pay a babysitter so we could enjoy a night in the city...was not happy.
(1)
Herb V.
Could go to 5 but just too noisy and cramped. And was not crazy about sitting in the front room at the small tables. If you are going to seat me at a short table and have me sit in short chairs, give me a little advanced notice. I may wait for the next adult size table. And I am not that tall.... So other than that, what could be better than shrimp tacos with a spicy mole? Swordfish tacos! Now I love a good fish taco. And also swordfish. Put 'em together - heaven on Kinzie. And starting with the queso fundido made for a delightful meal. Just would have liked to get my legs into a more comfortable position.
(4)
Pash K.
The food was good and not really Awsum! We were really upset when the receptionist told us that we are giving you a table but we need this table back for our next guest at 830! We have been to 100s of restaurant and no one ever greet you this way. This she told us while she was getting us seated. It's an expensive restaurant and she needs to be either disciplined or fired for talking to guest this way. She also said its their policy when it's a busy evening. Whoa whoa REALLY? !!!
(1)
jim s.
we were here late night and sat in the basement and even though there was kind of a dank sewerish smell the flight of six bowls of differently seasoned quacamole was very good and the drinks were cool and exciting and the service was good so i would say give this place a shot it has something going on and has energy and exciting dishes
(4)
Saba A.
Restaurant Week 2013. Made a 7 person reservation and dined here for lunch with a prix fixe menu 22 per person without a cocktail, 28 with a cocktail. Mercadito is my favorite restaurant for tacos. With a wide variety, all of them are delicious. Surprisingly PACKED at 1:30 P.M. for a cold winter Saturday afternoon. So happy I made reservations ahead of time. Everything was delicious. We ordered the Mango and Granada guacamole. We also ordered the carne tacos and hongos with mushrooms. They can make 80% of the tacos vegetarian friendly. Tacos are on the brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. On the brunch menu we got the chilaquiles and you can add a fried egg as an option, we also got the sopa de tortilla. Never had soup at a mexican restaurant, but was happy to have done something different. Flan was perfect. Served in a small petri style dish and we tried coconut, raspberry, and caramel. For drinks we got Bloody Mary's, Mango Mimosita, and other speciality cocktails, all great. Service is always wonderful at Mercadito, even though they stay very busy, they are all friendly and seem like they enjoy working there. I have never felt that "rush" feeling while dining there or getting a drink. Will be going back many more times.
(5)
Denise W.
I absolutely loved the steak tacos and the flaming drink I had. The elotes were also delicious. I took a star off however because, like in other reviews, I had to scream at club level to be heard across the table! Boy, is it loud! Fun atmosphere though. I also disliked the disparity in price between the lunch and dinner menu and I thought at least chips and salsa were complimentary, like another review suggested. I will be back however because the food speaks for itself. I will make sure it's During LUNCH though lbvs
(4)
Gaby C.
**Based on Drinks and Ambience only** We came here for a quick drink before our dinner reservations at another restaurant, but I'm glad we stopped on in! The interior of the restaurant is far bigger than how it looks from the outside. The restaurant looks super cool and I imagine it is probably filled with people during at night. The drink menu was so cool and creative. The drinks looked beautiful as they were being served. Great presentation. The bartenders were also very friendly and knowledgable. After we ordered our drinks, we went to their downstairs area which is like a small lounge. There's another bar downstairs as well. Very cool place to hang out and enjoy a beverage. I'd definitely like to come back here and have a full meal sometime!
(4)
Stacie P.
This was a delightful surprise. I came here on a whim with out of town guests, and was so pleased with the flavor profiles of the food. We had a poblano guacamole, a chipotle salsa, and four tacos (pollo, carne, de puerco and one other I can't remember). The unique margaritas were outstanding as well. The service was prompt and friendly, and the environment was trendy and fun.
(5)
Ashley D.
I really wasn't expecting to be impressed... I mean a taco is a taco, right?! Wrong! The tacos at Mercadito were amazing and delicious! Celebrating with a bachelorette party, the waiter was was both friendly and patient. Very good customer service skills and made some great recommendations! We tried the steak, shrimp, fish, and chicken tacos and were really impressed with all of them! And, most importantly, the guacamole was fantastic!! Thanks, also, for the free dessert at the end for the Bride-to-be! I'll definitely recommend this place to others in the future!
(5)
Monlay H.
I apologize in advance for my long review, but I want you to understand my experience here and why I only gave this establishment one star. So my friend, who has been here twice, and was raving about the tacos here, heard through a coworker that they were offering a cinco de mayo special where the menu would be 50%. Sounds too good to be true? Well guess what, it was. Reservations were originally made for May 5th, but was changed to May 4th, bc my friend called to confirm May 5th reservations and was told that the special was actually tonight and not the evening of May 5th. Once arriving, we were promptly seated and served water. My friend once asks about this 50% off special, and waiter is confused as to what this was. He explains there is no such thing. He rambles on and mentions that the deal was only for ppl in the industry. Then he offers to discuss with manager. After disappearing for like 10 minutes, he comes back, and says the same thing, that there is no such special, that it doesn't exist. This whole ordeal goes on for like 30 minutes when finally some "manager" comes and talks to us. He and the waiter disappears for like another 5 minutes, and the waiter comes back and says he'll offer only a 50% discount off guacamole and some other apps. Regardless, it was late, and we were hungry. So we went ahead and ordered the trio of guac, trio of ceviche, and two orders of lobster and fish tacos. No alcohol, bc we were not in any mood for it. Just wanted to satisfy our hunger and leave. The food definitely did not live up to the hype my friend had hyped it up to be. She raved about the lobster tacos, which in my opinion was mediocre at best. Lacked flavor, and my taco had only a small sliver of lobster meat (which was gone in one bite). Fish tacos was flavorful, but definitely inconsistent, bc my sister got a burnt fish in her taco. My friend was also definitely disappointed this time around. Ceviche: meh. They tried to be fancy with it by using passion fruit juice in place of lime (I assume bc there was absolutely no lime flavor like in traditional ceviche). Seafood definitely lacked flavor. All I could taste was passion fruit. Guac trio: just okay. I can make guac that tastes more flavorful than what we were served. Service itself was completely horrible! No apology for the miscommunication about this supposed 50% off special. Why would my friend make this up when she made the reservations and even called to double check. Regardless, if this special didn't exist, there should have been, at the very least, an apology for any miscommunication. I definitely feel that the attitude of the waiter changed for the worse bc we didn't order any alcohol. I also felt that we were discriminated against bc we weren't dressed up like we were out on a night in town (social status), like the majority of the other patrons were. They probably felt we weren't going to give a great tip, so they decided they weren't going to treat us like great customers. (Mind you, I always give at least an 15-18% tip, even for average service. But having this kind of service, coupled with mediocre, expensive, small portioned, trying to be fancy with Mexican food...what kind of tip do you think they deserve?) I will not be returning to this restaurant. There are many better restaurants out there that offer much more tasty Mexican food for a much more reasonable price. End of rant.
(1)
Kishia B.
This review is for the bar only. The Husband and I wanted to pop in for cocktails around 9pm on a weeknight (hey! We're on vacation!) I think it was a Monday. The beauty of the inside is what got our attention. The decor is beautiful and the lighting is low and warm, gives off a nice glow. Girls, you know what I'm talkin about! :) The kind of glow that makes our skin look all pretty a flawless :) Anyhow, back to the bar...I ordered one of their signature cocktails that had cucumber flavored vodka in it. Came garnished with a slice of cucumber and cumin salt on the glass...Boy was it tasty! after I finished my cocktail I licked the cumin salt off the glass, it. was. that. good...My Hubby got their signature margarita. Their playlist is like a early 2000s soundtrack, which was cool and we were vibin. I liked this place! Wasn't crowded and the drinks were awesome. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Francesca V.
Drink: I ordered the misty's sleeve. It was a little spicy but nice. I just wish the bartender didn't cover an entire side of the glass with hibiscus salt. Eat: The ceviche is tiny! The tacos are overrated, but order the Tocino guacamole...bacon, corn, hominy, yum! Service: could have been more attentive. And they won't seat you until your entire party has arrived. Overall: overpriced and underwhelming.
(3)
Samantha E.
Taco Tuesday is my jam!!! Such an awesome deal and soooo many tacos to choose from. We came around 9pm and found the place still packed with people. Started off with some heavenly traditional guac and follwed it with shrimp, steak, and fish tacos. While I loved the spicy kick of the shrimp, the steak really won my stomach over. Such amazing seasonings, fried onions, and potatoes came together to form sheer perfection. Our drinks were tasty and strong. I also suggest asking if they have any specials. We tried the V9 and it was positively refreshing.
(5)
Abbey A.
Great spot to go in a small group. The drinks are unique, reasonably priced, and delicious. Tacos are small and come in 4s so perfect for sharing. I'm not a huge fan of their sides and think they could add other vegetarian options. Overall always leave happy and full :)
(4)
Neil R.
This is a pricey place but I would say its worth it as long as you go in with that mentality. I really like the downstairs area - its "lounge-like" but is a little small (be mindful of this if you come with a lot of people). There is plenty of room upstairs. They have a great tequila selection and very helpful in the decision making process. I had a few of their appetizers which were very good - again a bit pricey. Overall - I find this an excellent date place and good place to drop by for a few drinks, especially if you are into higher end tequilas.
(4)
Sam E.
How do you mess up elotes? I went there for a friends birthday and we ordered almost every taco they had. The only taco that was worth coming back for was the lobster taco and it wasn't great by any means. They do have good bartenders, but the food is forgettable. Oh and after spending over $400 between 4 people, they were asking us to leave after an hour. What place puts a time limit on a reservation?
(1)
Tiffany C.
Went here for lunch with several coworkers a couple weeks ago. Even though it was pretty busy, we were seated right away. The booths are pretty large and cozy. The server was friendly and attentive. We ordered drinks, and chips/guac for an appetizer. The chips/guac came pretty quickly, while the drinks took a little longer. (No big deal, we were busy catching up anyways). I can't exactly remember what my coworkers ordered, but I do remember they ordered tacos and quesadillas. I ordered the shrimp torta and it was awesome. Just super delicious. A little messy, but I'm a grown woman and can handle that. I am still day dreaming about that torta. Will 100% be back soon.
(4)
Morgen K.
Never disappoints. Great tacos and drink selection. Three Trees is my new fav
(5)
Neha M.
We went here late Saturday night. We were in luck as the kitchen was open. We ordered two different guacamoles : toreado and traditional which came with fresh chips. We ordered Queso Fundido and Hongos tacos. Although the portion sizes were really small for the prices, the food was delicious.
(4)
Hilary K.
Great flights of tacos. Been here a few times. Drinks and food are really fun- great for a girls night.
(5)
Patrick Z.
I was just here last night celebrating a birthday dinner with 13 friends. The night started off great with strong drinks and an excellent sharing menu. However, when it came time to pay for the bill, the waitress lost complete control of the evening. She told our group that she could easily swipe 13 credit cards individually, and include a 20% gratuity. We signed our checks and thought we were on our merry way for the night. However, the restaurant manager overrode this transaction behind the scenes, and the waitress came back to the table (20 minutes later!) and asked if she could re-swipe 5 cards to undo her error. This made zero sense since our cards had already been swiped and charged. The waitress and manager then proceeded to give us some line of BS (after another 15 minutes of waiting!) about how "it would all even out", and that we had "nothing to worry about." Not once did they offer an apology for the inconvenience or offer to pick up a round of drinks for the confusion they caused. I would NEVER return here with a group EVER again. The only reason I would go back is because the fish tacos are the tits.
(1)
Christine S.
Came to Mercadito for lunch last week on a Tuesday at 1:15pm and the place was dead. I expected it to be packed. Hmmm. For starters, the Granada Guac, whoa, mind blown! Who knew that avocados and pomegranates pair together so well. Seriously, amazing stuff. For my entree, Carne Tacos. The meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked. There are 3 to an entree and they are smaller than normal tacos. For a side, we got rice and beans...meh...I'd skip this if I was here again. For sure not blown away. Quick and friendly service. It's a bit pricy for small tacos...Not sure I'd be back.
(3)
Shrinath P.
This place was the greatest for Mexican small plate food! The food was so good that I went back two days in a row. The atmosphere is fantastic as well. It doesn't matter if you are in a big group or looking for a date night.
(5)
Mary Pam P.
Rude hostess both when making our reservation ( " just know if you are late we will give your table away") and when we arrived ( didn't greet us or make eye contact just abruptly said " tell me when you are all here") Seated at a 4 top practically on top of the people next to us. Thank goodness they were lovely. So loud we could barely converse. Our waiter was fabulous. Food was hit or miss. Drinks good but ridiculously priced. I don't think I would go back.
(2)
Shaun S.
Having been here several times before, can't believe I haven't reviewed it before. Let's just say my latest experience couldn't have been any more different. While the food was still the good quality we'd expected. The service however has shifted for the worse. As a table of four who weren't drinking much, perhaps our waiter was less interested as his tip wasn't going to be as grand, or, he just wasn't into us catching up in our conversation. Usually when you order here, things come in cycles... not this time, all at one time, which wasn't as easy to navigate as we were stuffed onto what seemed more like a two person table. Then suddenly without notification, our table was cleared by busing help (gee... lookin' to flip the table??) When we told him we weren't sure we were done with dinner... he simply offered desert... wow! Let's just say it was a sub-15% tip. Before posting this here, even took the time to write the restaurant... no reply. In the meantime, my wife had shared the experience with her co-workers who also had recently had poor service there. Real disappointing to see what was a good place go bad, but looking forward to what goes into this space next!
(2)
Megan C.
Delicious. Mexican. Food. First, we went in on a Saturday night and only waited about 15 minutes for a table The place was PACKED. People all dressed up, drinking like there's no tomorrow, apparently there's a club downstairs. The place is LOUD. I'm talking. Couldn't even hear the waiter. Nor my husband who sat across from me. Which was the only downside and if you come as two people, you'll likely get squeezed where we were. It was so tight you literally had to pull the table in and out to get out of where you are sitting so as not to have yourself all over the people next to your table. It's a bumpin place if you're here to let loose with your girls or guys. But def not for a relaxing meal or first date or even family place-unless you don't mind sharing food and Loud LOUD environment. Though maybe it's more chill Sunday-Wed? This is the Only downside. Otherwise. The food is absolutely delicious! Service is impeccable For being so packed, the food came out quick Try the mango chipotle guac. Guacamole will never be the same. And I love the way the food is displayed for you. It's nice. Meals are meant to share. Which is fantastic for us. We always share with each other. It's a bumpin little tiny place. We had the shrimp and carne tacos. The Shrimp was so good but so spicy. And the carne. Man, that was the best carne I've ever had. And did I mention the guac? Please try the mango guac.
(4)
Adam K.
Lighting is really cool in here. Awesome lounge kinda vibe, but overall it seems like it has all be done to death before. I will come back in and re-evaluate as I just ended up in this place for a few drinks while my friend followed this girl he was trying to woo from bar to bar to bar. We did end up at a few places worth mentioning though, this is one of them. Worth a stop in to check out the scene. Bartenders seemed nice enough.
(3)
Charlie C.
LUNCH REVIEW: I went to Mercadito with some of the brass from my company, thus the experience was bound to be interesting. We ordered the trio of Guac, a trio of Ceviche, and enough tacos to feel a starving army. I would say- maybe one of each kind (for the 5 of us). Our service was incredibly prompt, my water glass was never more than half empty... the food was tasty- but. I felt that the tiny tacos would have been better served in 4's than 3's, or the prices could have been maybe a $1 less per order. Luckily we ordered the whole menu, but had I been incredibly hungry... I would have been very sad with one tiny order of these tasty treats. I wish I had tried the drinks- I envied the table next to mine as they looked good. I will go back, nice atmosphere.
(4)
Mariam K.
Been wanting to come here because I heard good things about it... and sadly.. I wasn't too impressed. Came at 9:30 on Saturday.. so of course it was already really loud and I couldn't hear a word anyone was saying... and the seats are all so close to one another so I could clearly hear what the person next to me was saying.. not a fan of the seating. We ordered the original guac, the pomegranate guac and the mango guac... all were pretty good. As for the salsas.. we tried 3... don't remember which ones... but they were ok.. Would've been fine without them. For our meal, we ordered the flautas, carne tacos and pollo tacos... my favorite from the three was the carne tacos, didn't care too much for the other two. I don't like the fact that we can't mix and match different tacos... I prefer not to eat 4 of the exact same tacos! The best part of the restaurant was the dessert - the bread pudding. Amazing! I think next time i'm gonna come just for the chips, guac and dessert.
(3)
Saahithi G.
Super crowded even on a weeknight. That itself tells me the food shall be amazing. The waiter was helping us out to choose the sharing menu instead as the food would be out soon and would be perfect for a party of 7. And we picked his suggestion and ordered for the Canastas sharing order. Within no time, food started pouring startng with 3 types of gauc, all great tasting. Then, came the ceviche, we picked shrimp and octopus. It was not bad for as never had one before. And then arrived the best dish of the evening, tacos, tacos and tacos. Chicken, steak, fish and veggie. All were great and the chicken was an all star. Desert was not a choice and we were served a caramelized flan, it was a huge sugar rush and I dint enjoy that. The quantity of the sharing option was surprisingly more than adequate. Almost forgot, the tequila cocktails are a must to try, really unique presentation with a variety of options. Perhaps, the place was very pricey. Not a regular one but for those special days.
(4)
Joe D.
Food was great...service was even better. We had pork, beef, and fish tacos. As well as all the guacs (fantastic). The flan was not something to be desired. Best work dinner in a long time.
(4)
E H.
Been here for Cinco de Mayonaise. Get the Casa Dragones. Word.
(5)
Julia Marie H.
WAY overpriced! (They didn't even give you free chips and salsa like most restaurants do). But, I loved the beer battered halibut tacos! I had them on bib lettuce instead of corn tortillas. It was amazing! We went Friday night at 5:45pm. It was not toooo busy yet. Then about 45 minutes later we were sitting beside a bunch of people with 2 inches of space between the tables. The noise (and music volume) was ridiculous. There were groups of girls around my age of 26 coming in at tables with obnoxious fake personalities and loud mouths. I am not a River North type of person, I felt a bit out of place. But that didn't bother me too much because we got out before 7:00. We got a margarita which was $11.50 and that was too much for our wallets so only ordered one to share. You can only get 4 tacos for $16.50 and you can't miss and match! So freakin lame! We got dessert, too. Flan. Super yummy! Moral of the story: ridiculously overpriced for the amount of food you get on your plate, however quality of tacos was excellent. And no free chips and salsa appetizer like all the other places normal people eat. The quality doesn't make up for the terrible prices. I don't care how rich you are or what city you're in, TOO EXPENSIVE.
(2)
Robin S.
Amazing different types of guacamole. The chips are homemade and so addicting. The margaritas are so so good. They have a very large line of tequilas. Kind of a small quaint atmosphere with great service. Even brought my vegetarian 12 year old and she loved it too! We ordered many small plates and shared.
(5)
A L.
Went back to mercadito and sat in a open covered area by their patio and had a great view and didn't get wet from the rain. The food was amazing ! Their guacamole is the best. We just had their plain one and its delicious but you can do pairings of different types. We had their fajitas which are not your typical fajita chicken, shrimp and steak with onions, radish and cilantro delicious. We also ordered their chicken tacos and they were spicy with chopped onions with corn tortillas. Their tacos are small and perfect. Great service and atmosphere !
(5)
Chelsea K.
best tacos in the city. lots of different varieties and the servers really help accommodate your needs. there were 5 of us the last time i went here, and even though there are 4 tacos with each variation, our server asked if we wanted to add 1 to each kind to make it an even 5 for each of us. that way we each got to try the different kinds. go here. you will not regret it.
(5)
Janay G.
Went there early for Cinco De Mayo (3:30pm) the place was 2/3 emty yet the hostess told us "we need to be done by 5 when they switch over for dinner and have reservations"....I'm ok... The Strawberry Margarita at $13 was small and overly flavored--too sweet The Queso Fundito was fantastic (finally something good. Service- horrible! They had a staff meeting at the hostess podium in the middle of our service so we had no drinks for almost 20 min. They didn't even care! $100 with tip for 2 appetizers and 4 drinks with tip. Save your time and money and go elsewhere!!!!
(2)
Jaime G.
Another great gourmet taco place in river north. Mercadito offers a good selection of tacos and tortas with fresh guac. Try the shrimp tacos or the fresh guac with habanero and pomegranate seeds. They also have ceviche but wasn't too impressed. Drinks are good at least the margaritas. Ambiance is also cool and sheik but not sure it makes up for the cost of the food. Really pricey for what you get. Liked the flavors but would go to Moe's down the street instead.
(3)
Julie S.
HOLY SHIT - This place was amazing. I am a huge fan of Mexican food and Mexican style street tacos but this place takes it to a whole new level. They have about a dozen different tacos to pick from. Everyone in our group ordered a different kind of tacos ( a plate of five) and we all shared with the group of a perfect sampling. We found the crazier sounding the meat or filling, the better it was. Also, if you like hot salsa, they have a super tasty habanero salsa that'll leave you PRETTY thirsty. Also try one of their margaritas. They salt the rim with cayenne pepper for a little sweet, peppery kick. I am definitely going back again.
(5)
GL A.
Killer tacos and the best margaritas ever!!! Is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. Food is always fantastic and the drinks as well. Prices are great! I've eaten in other so called "mexican and good" restaurants and believe me, you get what you pay for.
(5)
Emily S.
I'm just not a fan of this place's food. It might just be because I'm picky about my Mexican/Tex Mex food after living in Texas my whole life, but it wasn't great (food or drink wise) and it was too expensive for what it was worth.
(3)
Sean H.
Went in early nov 2013, around 6:30 on a sunday, party of 3, sat immediately. didn't seem to get too crowded throughout the meal. friendly service. ordered guacamole (don't get the normal one - we had that and a bacon variant, and i'm sure the other variants are better than the normal, esp. since you'll be paying a lot for this), and we get 12 tacos (You have to order tacos in sets of 4, one type per set). we had pork, steak and lobster. the pork was sort of bland and uninteresting and dry, but the steak and lobster were great. tacos will set you back about $14-16 a set. margaritas were nice ($11 I think). also ordered rice and beans, and fried plantains . they were both good, the plantains seemed more suited as a dessert (they were sweet and fried, which was nice). would come back again. if you plan to drink maybe just get drunk beforehand so you can order more tacos. minus the drinks this was about $30-35 a person. we were really full though, so you could probably get away with a little less depending on how much you ea.tt
(5)
Ruma T.
Ok. I'm a little in love with this place. Disturbing because this love is mostly drink based. I've had some food, mostly appetizers like chips and salsa/guac and tacos and they're pretty good. But the soul of the rating is based on their drinks. See below for what I've tried so far... Big nose goes to Mexico - There's a fire! (When they first present it so its safe). What more do you need to know. Misty's sleeve - One of my friends faves and pretty damn tasty. Three trees - Light and delicious. Para te - Refreshing. I would be happy to have all those again. And again.
(4)
Achilles21 O.
The restaurant is small, but very nice and cosy... we made reservation for the 14 of February for 14 people and Maria the event manager was very helpful and accommodating. She responded to every email in a timely fashion and answer all of our questions. The drinks and food at mercadito get 5stars, but the portions of the meals for a group this large were more like appetizers, the men in our group were still hungry... The Valentines day special was $55.00 per person, but the alcohol beverages were a little pricey considering the size as well... The staff very efficient and friendly, the restaurant very clean from top to bottom. Yes i would recommend this restaurant to those looking to eat Mexican infused food with a twist in flavor con mucho Sabor....
(4)
Shereene M.
So I wasn't expecting much. My friends said the drinks are good but the food is overpriced and eh. I couldn't disagree more! We came in late during the week after a show (11:30 PM) and it was nice that they were still open. The tacos are phenomenal and I actually wasn't that impressed with the drinks. The elotes were pretty good but I would skip it next time. I wasn't super impressed with the dessert but I'd be back to try the real food.
(4)
Esmeralda B.
Love this place, have been here several time, have tried many things on the menu and never been disappointed. Yummy! Cucumber drink is great!
had a late lunch there last week and while the food was ok (tacos had too much onions) and the margaritas were sickingly sweet. the service was semi-good. the place simply didn't look very clean.. and i saw a fruitfly or two. and that is troubling. also, the service felt rushed with the busboys. (busboys literally wait for you to take half a sip before they lunge at you to fill your glass with water. this is a nasty habit that the entire city is guilty of. someone needs to stop doing this. water should be filled when it goes below half) but what troubled me, is as i left there and started heading north, i passed by they alley to see staff from that kitchen dumping buckets of sewage into the alley. eew! disgusting. i think seeing the sewage and the condition of the alley made me feel sick enough as i had to throw up shortly after. too bad mercadito!
(1)
Thomas B.
A surprise disappointment. We were really looking forward to this place but found it to be a loud, overpriced, scene with very little substance. The drinks were way too sweet and the food (guacamole, ceviche, fish tacos) just average. At least our server was nice and did a good job. Can't think of a reason to go back.
(2)
Dylan K.
This place is weird. Don't get me wrong the food and service (I think the guys name was manny) were fantastic. But the music is so loud its hard to have a conversation and its a bit pricey for the portion size. Which price-wise is actually pretty normal in Chicago so it wasn't a big deal. I will be trying this place again..just maybe adjust the atmosphere a tad bit.
(4)
Tina D.
My favorite place to go with the girls!!! Been here a few times. Service could be better, waiter the last I went was rude and slow with service. I also felt like we were being rushed otherwise, I would've gave it 5 stars.
(4)
Jenny T.
File this under: Establishments That Can't Decide Whether It's a Restaurant or a Nightclub Took my man here for his birthday since he loves Mexican food, but we barely got a word in with each other because both the music and clientele were so loud. Our server had to yell at us since the tables were placed so close to each other and he couldn't squeeze in between to talk to us at a normal decibel level. HOWEVER! The food was delicious, which almost makes up for the noise (I rounded up from 3.5 stars). I had been here once before for tacos and they were really well balanced. This time, the entrees were great too. I had the tampiquena, and he had the brochetas. Both are definitely worth getting. Super swanky River North ambiance, and apparently there's a dance place down the stairs. Come here for the food and people watching, but definitely not if you're looking to make conversation.
(4)
Jennifer P.
I was not here to eat. I was here for an album release party, held downstairs in the lounge called Naught. Lost, but not ruined, Naught is small and cozy. If you're looking to hide from the world, this place is excellent. The atmosphere is modern, masculine, and low-lit moody, with rich wooden floors and walls. I'd strongly encourage you to visit on an off night. With limited space, the sound system almost shifts the air without causing you audible pain. There is nowhere to dance. The music on this evening had disco elements and I found it discouraging that I was all buzzed up with nowhere to strut my stuff! The upside would be that this is a great venue for listening to indie-electro music while entertaining a date. Especially considering that he or she will more than likely have to end up sitting very close to you. To be here is to feel like you're stuck inside a visible representation of a secret. It's not mysterious to me. The drinks are pricey but well made. If you're a guy, you should know that the ladies you bring here will be impressed with the fruity mixed drinks they have to offer. What I like about this place is that there is no age discrimination; other than being old enough to drink. If you are female and enjoy older men, this could be the place that makes the both of you happy.
(3)
Mary M.
Excellent food, wonderful flavors. Smaller portions but what else do you expect. Tacos are awesome, and so is the mango margarita (suggested by our super personable, attentive waitress named Aga) very modern so be aware you have to sit hip to hip to some extent with people and be close to others conversations but that's the thing these days. Great flavors, atmosphere and drinks! Would recommend!
(5)
Reggie R.
Mercadito was good, but didn't live up to the hype, in my opinion. First, we made a reservation for four at 8PM. I realize that managing the constant flow of guests is a difficult process, during which things happen that throw off the plan at times. Totally get it. When I have to wait for close to 45 minutes to sit down is when I begin to be somewhat less understanding. And I don't even think we got the worst of it! The remarkably small "waiting area" appeared to get fuller and fuller as we ate our meal. Onto the food. My roommates and I ordered three guacamole to start. My favorite was definitely the Tocino (with bacon!). For the main course we ordered four different tacos to share. The waiter was kind enough to inform us that when sharing taco platters here, the kitchen ensures that there is one for each member at the table...nice to know! Because this place is known for it's tacos, we figured this was the way to go. All were good, the only one that really blew my socks off was the Camaron, made with shrimp, garlic, and avocado. We also enjoyed a variety of cocktails that were maybe better than the food in my eyes. I also was not the biggest fan of the restaurant set up. We lucked out and were seated at a table that was a little more segregated, but some tables appeared to be so close that you were nearly brushing elbows with your stranger neighbor, not fun. I would go back to Mercadito, just would hope for less waiting and more delicious cocktails!
(3)
Romana Y.
The tacos here are great, especially the fish tacos! The vibe is perfect; the crowd is stunning; the drinks are incessantly pouring; the food is gorgeous. This is a fun, trendy spot to dine and lounge.
(4)
Tiffany W.
I had an early dinner at Mercadito, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and the food was delish, as always. Drinks were flowing, service was attentive and my out-of-town guests were introduced to something new! I gave 4 stars for a few reasons. It got incredibly LOUD after about 45 minutes...so much, that we were yelling across the table. I thought it wouldn't happen with an early reservation, but oh well. Additionally, I thought it was a little strange that they removed our placemats while we were still enjoying cocktails. Maybe that's their standard to keep you moving so they can turn the tables? However, we continued drinking for another 45 minutes thereafter...what if we wanted more food? I wasn't as bothered by it as my guests were, but it was an odd interruption of service. Those nuances won't stop me from going back, but felt they were noteworthy for this review. Cheers to your next margarita! tw
(4)
Carolyn O.
The food here is very good but the noise is ridiculous. Four of us could not hear each other talk and I had to get out of there as soon as we ate. Too many tables with people packed in. The noise made this an unpleasant evening.
(1)
Erica P.
Don't waste your time! I'm new to the neighborhood and was exited to try this place (I love Mexican food!) but I was extremely disappointed. The service was extremely slow and waitress wasn't very friendly. They brought dinner to my boyfriend and sister but didn't bring my my meal until 10 mins later and didn't even apologize for the delay! They were out of Merlot (how do you run out if Merlot?!) and they charge for chips and salsa! I've never been to a Mexican restaurant that charges for chips and salsa! Do make it all worse they're overpriced! Don't waste your time... You're better off at Cantina Laredo or Blue Agave! We will not be back!
(2)
Laur G.
Such a fun place! Went with a group of 7 and had the sharing menu. The tacos were great as well as the guacamole. It is loud and there is a lot of energy. I had the cucumber margarita and it was fantastic. I would definitely return with a group of friends.
(5)
Alex D.
Mercadito was super crowded on a Tuesday night, so much so that we couldn't be seated straight away despite having made a reservation. However, the staff quickly cleared a space for us, so no biggie. The atmosphere here is pretty exciting: loud, bustling, fun. The tables get pushed really close together (I had to move our table aside to make space for my date to squeeze out), so obviously this isn't the place to have a quiet conversation over dinner. That said, the service was good for how busy it was. Everything we tried was fantastic. We had guac, margaritas, and pollo and carne tacos. I was skeptical that four little tacos would be worth $16, but they were so delicious, among the best I've ever had. There was so much else on the menu that also sounded great, so I will definitely be back here.
(4)
R C.
Above average food and service but nothing made this place stand out from the crowd that well. My party (15+) purchased probably every tequila and mezcal speciality drink on the menu and all were at least decent, most were pretty good. We were disappointed with the fact that there were zero draft beers on tap, but that's not what we originally came there for anyway. The food itself seemed to be either a home run or just average. For example the Mahi Mahi taco was one of the best I have ever had but the Pescado taco was something you could find at any local bar in River North. Multiple tacos had an overpowering of one specific ingredient (i.e. peanuts on the carnitas taco); the taste was so overpowering that I forgot the type of meat on the taco. The service was definitely above average but again nothing spectacular or amazing. I was hoping that this would have been the one thing that pushed this place over to a 5-star rating, but in reality it was almost the one thing that kept it from the 5-stars. My party found that the front desk was a bit rude as they would not allow us to sit with over 75% of our party there. I understand policies but sometimes when you have a large party of over 15, you need to make an exception versus jamming 12 people into a small front doorway. In the end, I wish I could give this place 5-stars but not this time.
(4)
Kylie J.
This is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at - our table of four ordered a lot of plates from across the menu, but what sticks out in my memory were the guacamoles. They ranged from sweet to slightly salty and a bit tangy, depending on which of the six you choose. If you enjoy guac, this is the place to try out a couple new concoctions - just remember to ask your waiter for extra chips, because they did skimp on that.
(5)
Beth K.
Came here for a nice little neighbor dinner on Saturday night. We had an 8:15 reservation, but had to wait for about 20-30 min at the bar. No biggie, was just a little crowded....ok a lot crowded. Could not wait to be seated and get out of that mess. Once we got seated it was smooth sailing. Our waiter was awesome and we had new drinks on the table immediately. The ladies and I decided to go with the restaurant week menu, for $40 you get a TON of food plus a bevie. We started with 2 different guacamole's, one regular and one mango. Both were very good, the mango one was a little spicy which I enjoyed. Then we had the mixto ceviche, which was also great! For the tacos (4 orders per table) we got, the carne asada, a shrimp taco, a mahi-mahi and a carnitas. My favorites were the mahi-mahi and the carnitas. I was so full that I never even tasted the shrimp taco, but from what I heard it was good. For the side we got the cheesy rice and plaintains. Rice was good, I mean anything with cheese is good. Never tasted the plaintains....too many tacos. There was lots of different flan for dessert, which I passed on as well. Something about the texture of it is not appealing to me. Overall, the food was great, atmosphere was great (after the bar chaos) and I will def be back. If you haven't been and want to try, restaurant week is a great time to check it out!
(4)
Hina Q.
My wife planned a birthday dinner with friends at this restaurant so I had no idea what to expect. We drove to this restaurant, gave my car to the valet and walked in. This place was packed! People were waiting for tables, waiting for drinks at the bar, and any place they could stand and wait. We had reservations so we checked in and stood by the bar for about 20 minutes until our table was ready. We were seated in front of the bar. I didn't like the seats because of all the people behind me at the bar standing and the table seemed a bit small for 4 people. I asked the server and 3 minutes later a manager came out. He apologized and asked me to wait a few minutes to see what he could do. He showed me another table that was in the back corner that was available but wasn't any better. The fact is that it showed me customer service. The manager comes out to speak with me and he apologized over and over and explained to me how their table system worked. That for 4 people all the tables were taken so he could not seat us anywhere else. We decided to stay to our table. We ordered food and it was delicious! It's not the whole plate system but rather the small portions so you could try different things and share...basically Tapas. The food was very delicious with the taste, the presentation, and the portions. We all got to try the food and share. The restaurant was so lively with music, all the people, and the atmosphere in general. The service was also great with friendly and helpful servers who really knew their stuff. A bit pricey but that we already knew. It was a great experience!! Definitely a place to take your loved one for a special night out on the town...or go out with your crew and enjoy a night out on the town.
(5)
Greg H.
I came here for a Tuesday work dinner. We ordered a few appetizers and ALL tacos on the menu. Our menu favorites were the brussels sprouts w/ pork belly and the pork tacos - pastor (w/ pineapple!) and pancita (pork belly). I highly recommend the margaritas here - they were delicious and muy fuerte. Make sure to ask for the $5 taco tuesday deal; our waiter conveniently *forgot* to mention it... Since work picked up the tab, cost wasn't as big of a factor but I see how prices are high relative to what you receive. Come to Mercadito for tasty high end Mexican fare in an upscale environment.
(3)
Nailah W.
Loud. Very loud. Did I mention it was VERY LOUD in here? Before I walked in, I could hear how loud it was. And it was a Thursday night. I wonder if it gets even louder on the weekend. I made reservations, and still had to wait about 10 minutes, just standing in the crowded entry way. There was only me and my hubby, and we were seated at a very tight table were I could literally read the menu of the ladies sitting right next to us. But as close as we were sitting, I had to literally shout to talk to my hubby, who was just 3 feet away from me across the table. When the waitress came to take our orders, I had no idea what she was saying. She had to get uncomfortably close for me to hear her. She was able to hear me just fine. I guess you get used to it after a while. I ordered the regular and pineapple guacamole. For the price, I expected the portion to be a little larger, but it was tasty, nonetheless. For entrees, I got the shrimp enchiladas (they were ok, needed more filling inside) and the hubby got the steak tacos. He said they were good. Not the best he's even had, but good. They were kind of small. Overall, Mercadito was just ok to me. I can see it being fun for a night out with a group of friends, but for a two person dining experience, I say no. It was too loud. Food, just average.
(3)
Diona K.
Great tapas spot. The food was great as was the service. They even sent out a couple of new tacos they were trying out, to get feedback. The feedback was very positive. The ceveche was delicious, as were the tacos. We got the skirt steak to share near the end of the meal. The steak sat on top of a potato-like mixture. I can't recall what it was but I remember it had pork belly mixed into it. It was fantastic! Get the skirt steak. It's loud but we could still have conversations. That's saying a lot because I'm soft spoken and it's hard for me to yell to have a conversation in a loud restaurant.
(4)
Nikki K.
Fun (but loud) atmosphere, but the food and drink is delicious so it makes up for having to yell across the table. Great place for a large party because they do a set menu that makes ordering easy and you get to try a lot of the tacos, salsas and guacamole. However, I went separate from a large group my second time there and had a delicious Chile Relleno!
(4)
Priya S.
My friend and I came here for restaurant week lunch. It was my first time here but my friend had been here various times at night and she was surprised at how quiet Mercadito was at lunch time. I love the place - the decor is fun and colorful without looking tacky, it's well lit and it's small enough to be an intimate place but not too small to make it feel cramped. The restaurant week menu was wonderful as we got to pick 2 guacs, 2 ceviches, and 3 types of tacos. We absolutely loved the Mahi Mahi ceviche (spicy and tangy) and the Mango guac (it had a nice crunch) and the shrimp taco was absolutely amazing, the sauce as well as the quality of the shrimp. Dessert was good too, I had the goat's milk flan. The portion sizes of the meal were just perfect. My only negative point would be that we asked for hot sauce and got charged 2.50$ for that small bowl of hot sauce!
(4)
Kristin M.
Went for an after work bite to eat and a drink. Overall, overpriced for what it is, in my opinion. The food is better at other Mexican restaurants in the area, especially given the price. Ordered two of the salsas--roja and tomatillo. Just as an FYI, there's like 2.5-3 ounces max of salsa, so if you have a large group may want to order several. The chips are good, though. Also ordered the carne tacos and the hongos lettuce wraps. The bib lettuce was not large enough/strong enough to hold all the filling, so it was pretty messy, though tasted fine. As far as drinks, ordered the traditional margarita and then the big nose goes to mexico, which came on fire when it arrived at the table, so that was cool. Also--and I'm guessing they do this to condense servers' seating zones/areas?--we were seated at a table right next to another couple (noticed the same thing w/ other parties that were seated after us), and you could barely get in and out without bumping the other table, and I always feel like people overhear conversations. Also, I could barely hear the person across from me--music wasn't overly loud so must've been something w/ the acoustics of the place. Finally, as we were sort of close to finishing our meal, but not quite totally done, one of the table busers came over and cleared all of our stuff, along with our place mats--and then he wiped the table. I'm guessing he was doing his job? But it made us feel like we needed to leave asap and was just not an enjoyable experience. Might come here again for a drink, but would rather go to Xoco, Frontera, or Topolobampo for a better dining experience.
(2)
Natasha S.
Mercadito is a great tapas spot! We came here for Valentine's day so it was very crowded. There was a prix fixe menu but it was perfect. We were able to try a variety of the menu items in small portions (i.e. Guacamole, different types of tacos, desserts, etc.). Everything was very good and tasted great! Our server was very attentive as well. The only issue is that the tables are close together so the dining is not so private...this may have been due to maybe more seating for Valentine's day...not sure. I would recommend Mercadito and plan to return here in the future.
(4)
Kelly P.
I really enjoyed the experience at Mercadito! I thought the location and ambiance was terrific and the food was enjoyable. I had a smoky margarita and I loved it, but I enjoy Mezcal and the smokiness of it. My husband had them make him a Michelada Cubana and it tasted just like he had in Mexico!! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)
Mathew N.
We weren't super hungry so between three of us we shared the quesadilla and tacos. It was perfect because each dish came in threes. Each plate was absolutely delicious. The salsa, beans, and flavoring were top notch. Prices were fair. The food may not live up to authentic Mexican but it certainly lives up to the high caliber of Chicago food in sheer tastiness. Be warned that this place is extremely loud so much so that my voice felt like I'd just been to a baseball game. However, if you want to have great food with someone you don't care that much to talk to, this is the place for you.
(4)
Lauren G.
Mercadito was good fun and good food, but it was also crazy-crowded, loud and obnoxious on a recent Friday night. I went with two girlfriends and we were late, so had to wait about 30 minutes past our reservation time, totally understandable, but the attitude from the hostess was not. I get it, we're late, we wait. The waiter was VERY smiley (pull back on the monkey bathroom business bro) and managed to completely miss an order for a round of drinks even though he nodded like he understood. I myself was confused when he came back five minutes later and asked if we wanted another round. I thought. thats. what. just. happened. The food did NOT come out all together (3 of us mind you) which made for some awkward waiting. The last plate delivered was completely wrong (chicken for the vegetarian) and so we waited some more... Traditional and mango guacamole and chips was good - 4 out of 5. Blackened Cobia Tacos - 5 out of 5. Music was fun, but tables are packed close together and there is a fair amount of shouting going on... I would come here again with pretty people I didn't really want to hear :)
(3)
Vaidehi T.
Had a good time at Mercadito this fri eve for dinner. We had dinner reservations for 6:45 pm, but we did not get seated until 7:05. It is a very popular place and one of the happening places. We were presented the Chef's week menu along with the regular and we decided to opt for the chef's week one. It is quite a lot of food for two, but it is also steeply priced at $44 per person. The drinks there are delicious and strong. The food was good. Some of them were hits, some of them not so much. We had a choice of two gaucs, 1 ceviche, 4 kinds of tacos and a dessert. The guacs were not great, they were not bad but nothing too memorable. The shrimp ceviche was to die for - loved it. The tacos were good, the mushroom ones were phenomenal, but the rest were just ok. My main complaint is their seating - so they have an area off to the right with tables and chairs fit for kindergarteners. How could anyone think that it is a good idea to have such seating at a busy, high end restaurant is beyond me. The food might have been awesome, but if you are so uncomfortable where you are seated, what is the point?
(4)
Dora C.
My best friend picked Mercadito to celebrate her bday couple months ago. I enjoyed our time there, the food was good and so were the drinks. The drinks were a quite pricey and only a couple were really good. Overall, we had an enjoyable experience but...the one thing that stood out that I didn't like was that we wouldn't be seated because ONE person from our party wasn't present. I can understand if it was more, but it was only 1. We were told she had 15 mins to get there or we would lose our reservation. Come on, it's downtown Chicago on a Friday night....
(3)
Lindsay A.
Loved everything about this place! I had the Paloma Diabla cocktail which was a sweet & spicy tequila concoction- delicious! I was part of a party of 5 and we were seated in a comfy semi-circular booth where we could see all the action- it was busy for a Monday night. The food was spectacular!! Highlights were the guacamole, various salsas, mahi mahi tacos and chili relleno. Our server, Luis, was awesome too!
(5)
Heath S.
see my review under the name Heath S. on yelp. Was not a fan, wasted my money.
(1)
Margreth C.
Made reservations for a Friday night for a party of 8. When I came in, they could not find my name or number after they were the ones to call me and confirm. We ended up waiting 45 minutes longer than our original reservation which isn't too bad seeing how busy it was. The lady called us over to our table and half of the chairs were missing and we awkwardly had to stand by our table until they brought our chairs. Despite all that confusion, we did the shareables which was actually really delicious! We got 3 types of guac and 2 salsas! My favorite was the roja salsa!! The chips were so addicting, we continued eating chips from beginning to end! For our four tacos, we got chicken, pork, steak and carnitas! My favorite was the steak. We then got some flan for dessert, which I could've done without. Overall, the food was delicious. Definitely a great place for dinner with friends just make sure you get a reservation confirmation!
(4)
Rachael D.
Unique, appropriately liquored, and delicious margaritas? Check. Good vibe & atmosphere? Check. Delicious food? Check. Plus, BACON GUACAMOLE! BACON! Come with friends or a date (but expect the next table to hear your conversation). I came here for the first time with my friend and we were able to take advantage of the restaurant week menu. We were in love. My friend said "I think this might be the best meal I've ever had." I wouldn't go that far but I was obsessed with the guac and fish taco. The reason I give Mercadito 4 stars instead of 5 is because when I came here with my husband, our carne tacos were a bit on the fatty side.
(4)
Meghan T.
Can't say enough about my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. I've made a habit of coming here at least twice a month. Tuesdays are the best night to go b/c you can get 2 tacos for $5.50. They also just changed their menu for the season and have an awesome pork belly taco-pancita. The service is always friendly and quick...Ann, Daniel and Rodrigo are my top 3 favorites! When I'm seated in their section, I know I'm in good hands. It's pricey for the smaller portions, but this is Chicago and I'm not above paying a little more for well prepared tacos that pack a punch of flavor. We usually do 1 guacamole, 2 salsas, 2 orders of tacos and our bill does not exceed $55. Drinks are definitely worth splurging but I always stick to the traditional marg... You can't go wrong. When I have a sweet tooth, I opt in for the Mexican Coca-Cola, the bottled version with real sugar. And they have great goats milk flan or this other warm bread dessert that is so good. Be fair warned, they are really crowded on the weekends, so it's best to go later on a weeknight to fully enjoy your dining experience.
(5)
Johanna F.
First of all - very friendly staff. From the hostess, the bartenders and the servers. Very trendy kinda place. Loved their cocktails. My favorite, especially for those hot-humid days after work, is the Pepino El Pyo. VERY REFRESHING! As for the tacos - they're good...BUT definitely a bit overpriced for what you get. The place gets really LOUD and very crowded. We sat at the second two-top table toward the back of the restaurant. The table next to us, also a two top, was the "corner" table which, for how big it is and how it is situated, should fit two people at most. Not this night - it sat three. And they looked very uncomfortable... We'd definitely go back but only for drinks before going out for dinner...
(3)
J. C.
The margaritas here make me see double - they are strong but good. Food is always great.
(4)
Alexandra D.
Good food. Really horrid customer service. I had to come here for a work dinner this past week (not my choice). This experience, coupled with a really bad one I had here awhile back have sealed this place's fate for me. Last night, we had a group of 4. We had a reservation but still had to wait 10 minutes for a table. Once we were seated, we sat without water or anyone to greet our table for several more minutes. When we finally got a server, she seemed to be put out that she had to wait on us. Service was slow and some our food came out lukewarm. During my last bad customer service experience here, I had also made a reservation (weeks in advance). When we arrived, of course there was no table for us and we were sent to the bar. It was a weekend night and this would have been tolerable for a few minutes, however this was not the case. I was also with someone who has multiple sclerosis and deals with ongoing health issues, including not being able to stand for long periods of time. I explained this to the hostess and they said they would "do their best" to seat us (again, we had a reservation). We went to the bar to wait, and 10 or so minutes go by. Still no table. It was very crowded at the bar and quite hot in the restaurant, which is not good for someone with balance and weakness issues. Fortunately I found a stool for my friend and went to check on the table again with the hostess, again reminding her about the disability issue. She promised only a few more minutes. At that point it was at least 20 minutes after our reservation. My friend started to not feel well, and was getting to the point where she felt she might pass out (due to the crowd, heat and having been on her feet so long). We had to leave the restaurant, and as I was trying to help my friend outside, no one would clear out of the way for us (not the restaurant's fault I understand, but it didn't help things). Before we could get out my friend fainted in the restaurant. Only then did we get the attention of the staff. Pretty much all they were able to do for us was bring a glass of water as I sat with my friend until she came to. They did offer to call an ambulance. The entire situation would have been avoided had we just been seated at the time we made the reservation! I was appalled at how they treated us and that they didn't have any regard for my friend's disability. If it had been up to me, I would have never come back, but my recent trip was a required work obligation. After seeing that nothing has changed to improve their customer service or the snotty attitudes I previously encountered, I will NEVER come back here again. I decided to give them one more chance after the horrible way the treated my friend and her health issues. And after experiencing it themselves and hearing my story, none of my recent dinner companions will return either. How is it so difficult to manage capacity so that they seat people within a few minutes of the reservation they made? I'd like to give one more than one star because the food is good, but I just can't knowing the way they treated someone with a disability.
(1)
Erin H.
Whatever you do don't order food for delivery!! A third party company handles their deliveries and places any and all blame on them. Third party or not this company still represents the level of service Mercadito finds acceptable. My delivery was 45 minutes late, Mercadito directed me to call said third party and couldn't confirm any information for me. I'm very disappointed in the lack of customer service and their blame game attitude.
(1)
Lucas W.
The bottom line is this, I have never been so unwanted at a restaurant. From the beginning, my girlfriend and I arrived and met some friends to have a few drinks and appetizers on a Friday after work. Mercadito seemed like a good place. Our friends were already seated. Shortly after we sat down we were informed that the tables were only for people who ordered food and the hostess threw menus at us insisting she was doing us a huge favor by letting us continue to sit there. The restaurant was essentially empty. We're ordering drinks sitting and talking in a near-empty restaurant and you throw menus at us insisting we order food? Well we did order food since we wanted to continue sitting there. Thankfully the food was very good. We had three types of guacamole. They also had a fried plantain appetizer which looked fantastic but we filled up on guac. The guacamole was great and each flavor was quite distinctive. It was overpriced, but good. Still, when our waitress (different individual from before) returned to check on us, she asked if we wanted more drinks, I said not yet and she then tried to force more drinks on us and turned away in a fuss when I said I didn't want more. She then went to the manager to complain about us IN PLAIN VIEW! Are you kidding me? you're complaining to your manager about customers doing exactly what every other customer in a restaurant is doing! And you do so in view of the customer?! The next time she came she gave us the bill and told us to pay. She didn't ask us for the bill or ask if we wanted more. She gave us bill and TOLD us to pay. The food was good, but the service was terrible. and this wasn't just one individual, it was the hostess, the manager, waitress, and the other wait staff that she was clearly gossipping with.
(2)
Ashik P.
Being a Los Angelino, we take our Spanish quisine VERY seriously! We are surrounded by the best and most authentic! Mercadito was amazing. The guacamole... The ceviche...the tacos. Perfectly made and suited to one if the best, freshly made to order salsa! The atmosphere is vibrant and the energy from the staff makes you feel right at home. Be sure to have a cocktail at the bar!
(5)
Melissa C.
Loved all the vegetarian options! The tacos were great, even the ones that they made veggie for us. Fresh and great flavor combos. The array of margaritas were impressive too!
(4)
Steve E.
Had dinner at Mercadito a few days ago with a group of 10. I'm vegan, so I'd been looking at the menu for options and planned to go with the Hongos tacos and ask the waiter if there was cheese or other animal-based ingredients that could be left out. But, it turned out our host ordered for the entire party. When I told the waiter what I had planned to order to try to get something vegan, he said he'd just have the chef make me vegan options of the various types of tacos they were preparing for the rest of our group. It was great! They made me several different types of vegan tacos, and all were fantastic! Guac was excellent. Great margaritas. Excellent food and excellent service! Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that it's very loud. The place would be well served to work on sound dampening the dining room. It's difficult to hold a conversation over the noise.
(4)
Jeff P.
Recently spent a few nights in Chicago and went here on a friend's recommendation for dinner with him, his gf, me, and my wife. Had some great cocktails to begin with, I had essentially a Mexican mai tai, that was unique and exceeded expectation, my wife had a cucumber cocktail that tasted like a fresh juiced cucumber, but with booze, both were excellent. We had a guacamole sampler, the traditional and spicy were great, the mango guac was only so-so. We also had their chipotle salsa which came out with an unexpected smooth texture but with great flavor. Finally we had three different taco plates, each comes with four to an order, perfect for a table of four. The unanimous favorite were the pork belly tacos, which were nothing short of fantastic, I really enjoyed the chicken tacos with brussel sprouts, but everyone else liked the carne asada best after the pork belly. Overall they were the best takes on modern versions of fancy tacos I've ever had. Our service was very friendly and prompt. The next time I'm in Chicago this will be one of my first stops for sure.
(5)
Tom W.
We arrived early (5:30) on a Friday evening and there were plenty of open tables -- but it filled up quickly. This is a small plate/Mexican tapas place, with plates intended to share. We started with the traditional Margarita -- very good. We shared a pair of guacamole's and pair of salsas -- all delicious. The pancita and pastor tacos were very good Overall, the food and ambiance were great though definitely pricey.
(4)
Gemma K.
Sometimes the best way to alleviate stress is to leave your significant other at home, place yourself in the hands of others (and the wallets of others), and truly enjoy a much needed GNO. Their selection for my rejuvenation was Mercadito. Si. Okay. Let's get going! I get a kick out of this spot; it has that "I have entered a Mayan ruin with a DJ" type experience going on. And even though I may not have felt like an Aztec princess, on the night we went out, Mercadito put on their A game for us. But it was definitely time: time for Tequila! And yes, there was a collective sigh of relief that I was imbibing. Three got the Auntie Ox green tea (with appropriate octane additives) but I grabbed Misty's Sleeve (literally). This was the aroma and taste of the tropics, with awesome Serrano heat, and a healthy dose of El Tesoro. Yes please! I think everyone who stops here does two things: one - comments on the inability to be heard and two - orders the guacamole sampler, which I think works really well for a group of nibblers. Their standard guacamole was good, but I enjoyed the pomegranate. The taco sampler also works; there are plenty of options. We had the lettuce tacos and it has to be said that Mercadito has a ton of veggie options and can easily make things even more vegetarian for you, without complaining. We split a couple of dishes: the tilapia and the crusted chicken, which had wonderful flavors. These came with black beans and the chicken was accompanied by plantain rice. Most of this part of the meal we brought home. It was tasty. Our server was fine; but seemed to be spread a little thin. I do agree with my Yelp friends on the cost. Even though I didn't foot the bill, I put the tip down and we chalked up quite a dollar amount. Still, if you put the location, the decor, the drinks, the starters, and the main course down and add it all up, it all balances out. We had a great evening, and hopefully our hearing will return.
(4)
Elina S.
Latest update: I was contacted by Mercadito and they apologized for our experience which I do appreciate and were able to rectify the situation. No matter the service, the superb food will always keep us coming back! --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------ Okay, so everyone in this city knows how much I LOVE Mercadito and I always recommend it to all my friends, I've done a plethora of birthday parties here with friends as well as quite a few date nights, however this last weekend the birthday party I helped organize for my friend was a little disastrous. The party planner at Mercadito and Tavernita, Wendy is just fantastic, she handled the actual reservation for me which was perfect and helped with organizing the menu, so no complaints on her. But here is what happened at the actual night of the party on Saturday. We came in at 8:30pm with our party of 13 and our table wasn't ready, so in 10 minutes they wanted to seat us in an area where the table was super small and half the people would have to sit on these mini booth seats. With the amount of food we ordered, we could not possibly sit there. I asked the hostess if we could have another table and she said we would have to wait another 15 minutes for another table. Fine, no problem. Finally, we got sat at the main dining area which is really loud, but that's just part of the atmosphere here, also not a problem. What was a problem is that all our food was brought out super fast, faster than anytime. Taco after taco, two sides at once (since when does this happen). I asked both the guys bringing out the food AND our server to please slow it down as the birthday girl was getting quite upset. Well they didn't and we got the feeling that they wanted us out in an hour's time. For a large party who is paying a lot of money on a package with tax and tip plus drinks, we shouldn't be made to feel like we have to get out of here asap. So that was a disappointing experience. Now onto the food, I love it, always have, always will. The new Pancito, pork belly tacos are just the bomb .com! They are amazing, with orange and pickled and truly a sensation in your mouth. All the other tacos, the shrimp, carnitas, the fried plantains, the corn, all amazing, and let's not forget the best flan on the planet made with dolce de leche. SOO good. Knowing how good the food is, it is so sad that we had such a horrible experience with service. My friends and I have given this restaurant a lot of business and they really need to work on their service experience here. That is important for a restaurant's overall success.
(4)
Ernie D.
Great place. The manager was super. Came to table to let me know the friars cooked shell fish and did not want me to get sick so he made a special appetizer. Cool! Food was great. Get the pork and pineapple taco. A little noisy but great energy.
(5)
Gabrielle A.
One of my favorite little trendy Mexican joints in the city. AMAZING food. I was originally turned off because it was $$ pricey, but after I tried the food I was completely satisfied. It is a little loud, however, I'm young and enjoy that atmosphere. I've gone back several times since and it's always a great time. They have great drinks and the service is attentive.
(5)
Brittany H.
If my review was based on the food alone, it would definitely be five stars. I'm a huge fan of modern mexican restaurants that have small plates & fresh ingredients, so mercadito seemed right up my alley. I've tried the lobster, mahi, and pork belly tacos, which were all amazing. We also tried two of the guacs- the traditional and the mango. Despite the raves about the mango guac, I wasn't too impressed. But the traditional was delish. There's tons of options of tequila drinks, and between the traditional marg & the cucumber marg that I tried, I definitely prefer the traditional. There's an option to order it with 'smoke', which is made with a tequila that is smoked to produce a smokey flavor. Our waiter informed us that it was mostly guys that liked it- which was true to our experience. It was definitely not my fav. The place has a trendy atmosphere with modern mexican decor, but is a bit smushed. They really pile the people in there for the size of the place, so much so that you almost have to yell to hear the people at your table. Also, I'm not crazy about places that make you wait for your entire party to arrive before being seated. I will most likely go back, but definitely not on their busy nights.
(4)
Tejas B.
Definitely not a place for a date night. Wife and I made reservations and got seated in the middle with a table of 8 people less than 2 feet away. It was extremely loud and could not have a conversation. We ordered some guacamole and entrees and all the food came in at the same time. Food was pretty good but is priced on the higher side. I would not be going back.
(2)
Grace P.
Really yummy food....5 stars! The 3 stars is for the ridiculous noise level?!?! I went there on Sat night....with 5 of my friends. We were screaming at each other. Can't they try and address this?? look into some noise cancelling methods??
(3)
Zorin D.
Lowering my rating to two stars until they learn how to play their music at a respectable level. The food here is great the dinks are great, it's just only so much top 40 music I can stand being blasted into my ears. On a Sunday night no less. They have lots of choices on their menu and their drinks are very good. It's just that they need to learn to be a restaurant and not a nightclub. I'm fine with music, but I should still be able to talk to people at my table at normal volume.... ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE WITHOUT A DANCE FLOOR. But hey, if you want Brittney and Gaga blasting in your ear while eating good Mexican food, this may be the place for you.
(2)
Megan F.
When I moved to chicago with my husband in July, I looked forward to finding a "go-to" restaurant in the city to take friends and family when they came to visit from my teeny tiny home town in Indiana. Alas, I have found it. Mercadito is AMAZING. Seriously. The food. Oh lord, the food. Blackened swordfish tacos.. Take me now. Beer battered mahi-mahi? I'm yours. My mother enjoyed her tacos so much that she ordered a second plate of tacos just to take back to her hotel room. Admittedly, she was a little drunk. Which brings me to the drinks! A traditional margarita was around $13, which is a very good price for a drink in the heart of the city. And I'm telling you, I only need to drink one. They're strong! But pleasantly so. My husbands favorite drink is the Little Market. Yum! My dad got something that they lit on fire which was pretty cool. This place gets 5 stars, for the food, drinks, and atmosphere. Now I'm hungry, great.
(5)
Kristen W.
You need to know what to expect when you come here: upscale modern mexican tapas (small plates). If thats what you expect, you will LOVE Mercadito All of their gauc is fresh and tasty. And holy moly all of the tacos we tried have been AMAZING. Pork belly and shrimp tacos are stand outs and so are the steak and calamari (I know, calamari on a taco seems weird... but trust me on this one). The margaritas pack a punch! Come here on Tuesdays between 5-7 for $5.50 for two tacos, a great way to try a bunch at once for a lower price. I love Mercadito, I would recommend coming here on a Tuesday or on the weekends to celebrate with friends!
(4)
Liz K.
Came again for Dinner after being here before for Brunch...Dinner is much much much better. Appetizers: Guac (very limey....I loved it!) Quesadillas & Flautas (very good!) The best part is that most of the tacos can be made into a vegetarian style taco...so I was able to try all the sauces and goodies of each different taco. We ordered al pastor, steak, chicken, fish and zucchini tacos. Each were amazingly delicious in their own way. Of course they are no where near authentic tacos...but they were MUCH MUCH better. We couldn't really pick our favorite because they were all so good!! We also ordered coffee (best plain coffee ever!) and dessert. We all left extremely full & happy. Perfect experience!
(5)
Leah W.
What can I say, this is my very favorite upscale Mexican place. The food is fantastic. I've tried just about everything on the menu and have no complaints. The tacos are great, the varieties of guacamole are diverse and delicious, and the margaritas are delightful. The crowd is always trendy and attractive. The prices are pretty good too - very affordable for this quality of food. If you're not into tequila it can be a bit difficult to order a cocktail, but they do serve rum and I think vodka. It can get a little crowded but they serve pretty late. I like to go a little toward the end of service so I can have a little more elbow room. Highly recommended!
(5)
Kristin G.
Had an 8:30 pm reservation. Arrived at 8:25. Was told it would be a few minutes and to get a drink. After checking in twice, 35 minutes and two drinks later we were still not seated. No apologies. No acknowledgement. Will not be returning.
(1)
Barbara B.
Mercadito is an excellent lunch place and probably is great for dinner, too. The guacamole options are great but don't get full on this before the main course arrives. The taco selection is impressive and the tortas also are very good. This is an ideal restaurant for groups or a birthday dinner because it is fun and the decor adds to the experience.
(4)
Sandra C.
Love love this place. The service is outstanding reservations are punctual so don't be late. Food is fast delicious and drinks are swanky. The atmosphere very urban and artsy. Oh the $ is very affordable. Great bang for your buck.
(5)
Deepak P.
Great ceviche and guacamole. We had the trio of both ceviche and guacamole. I think it is a great place for drinks but too loud for dinner.
(3)
Mary P.
The steak tacos were ridiculously good and so were the drinks. It's a little pricey, but I am also a broke college student.
(4)
Beth P.
What can I say? I LOVE tacos - so Marcadito is my kind of place. I came here with two of my friends one night after work and split a few rounds of delicious tacos. We tried the carnitas de puerco, the pollo, and the carne tacos - each one had great flavor and interesting ingredients. Before the tacos, we had some tasty guacamole and some amazing margaritas! They have a solid list of margaritas I had the Misty's Sleeve which had hibiscus, ginger, and chile serrano - so good! My friends had pepino el pyu and the margarita tradicional. They were both very pleased with their choices as well.
(4)
Andrew N.
Ya know, I've been here a few times, and probably would have given it 4 stars if they didn't exceed my expectations each time. The tacos were outstanding, and my friend had a steak (or braissed beef, dont remember) that was also amazing. I highly recommend the chips and salsa. You can pick 1, 2 or 3 different kinds of salsa from a list of about 8. Everything was very reasonably priced, although the margaritas add up fast!
(5)
Tonya L.
Excellent food and great margaritas! Unique flavors and choices. A little pricey but worth it for special occasions or a nice night out with friends or a date.
(5)
Stephanie A.
This place is Great!! Their tacos are SO good! The shrimp tacos were my favorite until I tried the lobster tacos. HOLY COW! They knocked my freakin socks off. I could go back everyday for those. Also, I'm not sure what the margarita was called, but it had like a spicy pepper around the rim. It was awesome. I am a margarita snob too. I don't like mine very sweet, I don't want a lot of mixer in it. This was perfect. The decor and ambiance is very Miami. I loved it! It can get a little pricey, but its so worth it.
(5)
Lisa B.
If you like a spicy margarita (like I do) than this is your spot. There is too much pork on the menu here. I ate in their downstairs VIP lounge and it was a bit too loud to hold a decent conversation. Great, sexy music by the DJ, however.
(4)
Benjamin D.
4.5 I don't even know where to start. The atmosphere, the food, the service is all great and worth the extra that you're going to pay versus the various other trendy taco restaurants around the city. First thing that ones to mind is that they have five or six choices of different kinds of guac and about eight choices of salsa. I forget the exact name but the guac with the smoked bacon and toasted Serrano chills was insane. How did I nor anyone else seem to think of bacon-gauc before?! Next the taco varieties are amazing and come in sets of four. This is what loses the half point though because if you don't come with a group, you're most likely not going to get to try more than two types. However, because I'm a fatty and wanted to try everything I can safetly ay the the Camrones (shrimp) and Carne (steak bits) tacos were exceptional. So next time you want upscale Mexican/texmex with a downtown environment, make Mercadito your destination. It's perfect for dates and groups equally!
(4)
Andy D.
Wonderful Tacos, always a good vibe. Wish you could split up the types of tacos you get in your four pack. A little expensive ($15 for tacos???) but a great treat every so often
(4)
Kimi Y.
I love here! I think here's Mexico foods it the best in Chicago! The mango soda tasty very fresh and funny!
(4)
EDILSA E.
Saturday nights here are crazy busy. The young lady at the front desk took our names and asked us to wait at the bar. I ordered a pepino el pyu. It's rimmed with a salty spicy powder that tastes similar to tajin. About 15 minutes later a hostess approached us and walked us to our table. Let me just say this place isn't small but it isn't large either. The tables toward the back are extremely close together to each other. So close you might as well be having a double date with the table next to you. Our server, Kike, came to us for our order. He welcomed us and explained the tacos come in 4. My husband ordered a michelada, tampiquena, guacamole tradicional, and elotes estilo Mexicano. I ordered the Baja tacos and the mariscos mixtos. The michelada was delicious. He paired it with Dos equis beer. After finishing my pepino el pyu I ordered myself a michelada also. Everything was delicious. The service was excellent, the music was great, the food was delicious. Our tab was $100.46. It wasn't bad for 3 micheladas, tampiquena, guacamole tradicional, mariscos mixtos, the elotes Estilo Mexico, and the tacos. The only draw back is the tables being so close together. I gave it 4 stars bc of the table proximity. Other than that it would definitely be a 5! We will be returning with friends soon. Remember to make a reservations. They do hold your table for 15 minutes if you're running late.
(4)
Adam M.
This place was sooooo good. Yes the tacos were a bit small but they are Large on Flavor! The tacos de huevo are really good. They are tacos with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, black bean hash, chile de árbol salsa, avocado, queso fresco. I also really liked the chilaquiles which is corn tortilla chips, chihuahua & oaxaca cheeses, crema fresca, choice of creamy tomatillo sauce or chile-guajillo sauce. My Favorite were the Tacos Carne; Sooooo Goooood! Tacos with rosemary-marinated skirt steak, potato-poblano rajas, avocado-tomatillo crema, crispy manchego. Highly recommend this place and looking forward to going back.
(5)
Bianca C.
Very noisy late at night and the ultra-modern feel of the place made sitting with my boyfriend a little odd, he was in a super small chair, it was actually really amusing. The margaritas were terrific and the food was great too. The only reason I didn't give this place a full 5 star rating was because of how noisy the place was and that when you are waiting for your seat, they have you and the other people herded together by the bar like a bunch of cattle.
(4)
Taina M.
Pancita tacos and the margaritas. Both phenomenal.
(4)
Jess F.
This place was SO disgustingly crowded and loud. We were put at a table where we were shoulder to shoulder with other people and couldn't hear each other talking. We were literally so close to the other tables that they had to physically move our table outward for us to get in. It was that crowded everywhere too, it wasn't just us. We left within moments. No food is worth that.
(1)
Christine S.
I want to say amaze-balls but not sure you would understand!! :) Such amazing food and a great atmosphere! Highly recommend! By the way, if you go early you should sit downstairs- I don't think many people know about it...
(5)
Mary I.
Best drinks in town. Amazing food...have to try their different guacs!
(5)
Hanh S.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday day and was pretty crowded. They do take reservations and I highly recommend you do so. My experience was okay, not fantastic. While we waited for our table we ordered from the bar- the bar really could get its own review and undoubtedly have 5 stars. The bartenders were knowledgable, quick, attentive and their drinks were amazing and strong. My favorite was the little market. When we were seated, I really noticed how cramped and poor the seating layout is; I felt super packed in and was constantly having to scoot my chair in to let others squeeze through. I did like the atmosphere, it was loungy and trendy. It gets LOUD, and the music doesn't help. It was difficult to really carry conversations without trouble. it took us a while to finally get the waitress's attention- granted it was very busy, but I would still rate her as average. In regards to the food- the guacamole and cerviche were DELICIOUS and they have so many different varieties of them to choose from. It was really the selling point of the place. The cerviche really isn't enough to share on its own, but the guacamole is.The tacos are pretty much bite size, and for 4 for 15 dollars, I didn't think it was worth it. Essentially, the entire menu is mostly made of appetizer portion sizes; though the food was all delicious, I've been to other places where the quality of food is just as good , prices are cheaper, and the portions are much bigger. For example, the elote corn is 6.00, but is actually only 1/3-1/2 the size of corn on the cob. The dessert was actually largely portioned than any of the other food we ordered- I got torrejas de bolillo and it was delicious, could have even asked for another scoop of ice cream with it. Overall, I would hesitate going back and if so, maybe for some drinks and chips to share late afternoon, but definitely not for dinner.
(3)
Valerie M.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I really liked the tacos. It's kind of expensive for tacos but to be expected for the area. I had chicken tacos and my sister had steak tacos. We also had guacolmole and that was really good. I had a margarita. It was very strong to me but I just drink wine so it may not be strong for your average drinker. We went on a friday night so it was very busy. I am going to come back for taco tuesday.
(4)
Kristen D.
Margaritas: strong, tasty, served in cool glasses. Guac: fresh, delicious, flavorful. I h ave an avocado allergy (I know, it sucks a lot) and I wolfed this down without a second thought. Mango salsa: a perfect blend of sweet and spice, and tasted phenominal with the guac and shrimp ceviche. Shrimp ceviche: YES. We came with a large group of girls for a bachelorette party and had a prix fixe menu for all of us. Pork, chicken, fish tacos, guac, salsa, chips, etc etc etc. The margaritas hit me hard and fast, so everything tasted like it was to die for. I'm not usually a huge taco consumer, but these were out of this world. Atmosphere is cool, but the seat I sat on might have been made for a child. Our table did not accommodate us all very comfortably, and I was annoyed that we had to wait as long as we did for our reserved table for about 15. (Note: this is also me being a diva. We were there on a Saturday night, so I guess it wasn't that bad. But still.) Not a place I'd come to all the time, but certainly a great place to have a fun get-together with a group of friends before a fun night out!
(4)
Rebecca S.
The tacos here deserve five stars!!! I had the carne tacos which were mouth watering, the chicken tacos, the bacon and hominy, and the pork belly tacos. Oh, did I mention the fish tacos??? Amazing! I enjoyed my meal so much that I thought about the food the next morning when I was getting dressed for work. Delicious!!! The restaurant itself is too loud! It was very difficult to hear..... We ended the night with a cocktail downstairs where it was freezing....great service though!!
(4)
Kristen R.
The food and drinks were pretty good, and the service was great.
(5)
Pamela G.
Margaritas, steak tacos, guac. That is all. Trust me.
(5)
Wayne H.
Is this place made for little people? I went here for lunch today and we were seated near the front of the restaurant by the window, which I like. However, the chairs were about 1 foot off the ground. I felt like I was sitting at a kiddie table. My legs/knees were as high or higher than the table and made it impossible to get situated. Next the salsa came out and it was in this tiny bowl that probably had two tablespoons of salsa in it with this super tiny serving spoon. I was like WTF? Then after we finished the salsa our tacos came out. Another WTF moment. You call these tacos? These things looked like what a regular taco would shit out if a taco could shit. I ordered the carne tacos and my girlfriend ordered the mahi tacos. Both tasted really good, but I left the place hungrier than I came in. I understand they might be smaller, because they are meant to be shared, like tapas style. And it's not that I don't enjoy tapas, because I do, but I guess I just don't agree that Mexican food should be served tapas style or this place is really made for little people.
(2)
chris t.
One of my fav Mexican places. Fresh lime juice margaritas and amazing mango guacamole! It's a vibrant crowd so be ready for energy. Amazing fish tacos and I love the plantains at breakfast! I have probably eaten here 10 times and every time and everyone I bring enjoys this place immensely!
Yes I did! I was that person who brought their 4 month old baby to Mercadito on a Saturday night! And it was well worth it! 6pm reservations during restaurant week...and the service and food were excellent! Loved the unique guacamole, ceviche combos, and tacos! I thought I would feel out of place with a baby, but it really was not bad at all. I saw other kids there too when we walked in. They even have high chairs! Music is just loud enough to drown them out. My baby didn't seem to mind the noise. I loved it!
(5)
Grasan K.
I frequent this place as much as possible! The drinks here are creative, crafted, delicious, and sometimes on fire (literally). Great spot for a group as their dishes are perfect for sharing. Their assortment of guacamole, fish tacos, queso fundido with chorizo are some of my absolute favorites. Service is always great, and did i mention industry folk get 50%!! Can't beat that with a stick! Love this place!
(5)
Joanne M.
I come from land of taco trucks so its hard to wow me with a taco. This place deserves props for the langosta and the pescado tacos. But, the things that take this place to WOW level are the spicy, amazing drinks like the Smokey Pablo and the Para Te, the hot secret bar downstairs, and the guac trios. The hot churros were not bad but needed a rev up. In LA, place like this would be booked for the night but I was able to get a rezzie an hour before I wanted to come in. I did have to wait for a bit but was totally entertained at the bar the whole time.
(4)
Leanne A.
This is certainly the place to come out for a celebration or bday with friends. It's got that Hub 51 seen-be-seen, bachelorette party cocktail vibe going on. It's actually way cooler than Hub 51...but anyway. The prices are outrageous. You're paying for atmosphere and cool factor. Yes, the food is good, and I loved the guacamole and the tacos I tried. But the guacamole was barely enough for two people, and the prices are silly. The bill just doesn't quite fit the food. But I recommend Mercadito to the after-work-celebration crowd, a predinner drink, or a special celebration.
(3)
Kris Z.
Guacamole and flautas were great. Steak tacos with potatoes were not. Fun vibe but the unusually loud music got old when trying to have dinner conversation.
(3)
Dougie M.
Amazing food only problem being it's served with a distasteful side of pretentious up-snouted service. Enjoy the tacos and the delicious cocktails but brace yourself for bring considered unimportant. Both the seating hostesses and our server were very rude and clearly thought highly of themselves. Pity as I'd love to go back.
(3)
Kelly N.
Excellent authentic Mexican in the heart of Chicago! Party of four and we ate family style so we could sample more. All of the dishes were excellent. Mango guac was excellent, traditional was good as well, but if you are going with one, go with the mango! Little Market margarita was delish! Ordered a basic rum and coke, seemed to be missing the rum! Pastor and lobster tacos were also very good. 4 thumbs up on the brussel sprouts. The cauliflower dish was good but was lacking a little texture, not sure if I got in late on that dish or if it was just mushy but would try it one more time. They're a little greedy with the chips, they only bring one small portion out at a time and don't refill it often enough. We also ordered two salsas the tomatillo was very good. Queso with chorizo was not hot enough, came out more solid than gooey, which is how I like my queso but the flavor was on point. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, the restaurant was a little cold.,
(4)
Kris W.
I won't be back. Sorry. You charge $2.50 for a tbsp of salsa? And a snotty bartender and service. The $2.50 wouldn't have been so painful if the bartender wasn't so rude. Pass
(1)
Kacee H.
Based on service and ambiance, this place only deserves 2 stars. Friday night this place is lively so come ready to shout at your dinner guests. But making reservations are a necessary evil. Ours were at 9:45 pm and we were seated 30 minutes later!
(2)
Leslie B.
Restaurant Week value is a GREAT deal at Mercadito! However, I literally cannot imagine going there and paying regular prices. Came in on the first Friday of Restaurant Week and it was packed...so packed that we were seated 35 minutes after the time of our reservation. I can't technically take away stars for the noise level inside the restaurant, it's a bustling place and that's just the atmosphere. However, it's definitely a spot for larger groups, not really for an intimate date when you're literally yelling the whole time just to have a normal conversation . Chose the three guacs that were not traditional: mango, pomegranate, and chile serrano. They were all tasty, but we liked the chile serrano the best because of the heat. We tried two of the ceviches and I was pretty disappointed by both. Their menu descriptions sounded so great, but I felt there weren't strong flavors in either. Kind of like you knew it was being mass-produced and dished out all evening. Our waiter was friendly and energetic, but obviously incredibly busy. He actually had forgotten he already took our ceviche order and got our taco order wrong, not a huge deal. The tacos were hit or miss for us. I really enjoyed the pastor and carnitas de puerco, while the carne and pollo didn't "wow" me at all. I'm still wishing we had gotten the camaron (botched order prevented us from this) because I've heard it's great. For our side, we got the brussel sprouts and they were fantastic! Drinks are delicious, tres viejos was definitely my favorite. I also had a sip of the boyfriend's Misty Sleeve which he really enjoyed. Overall, glad I came by for Restaurant Week, but I believe there is better Mexican cuisine to be had in the city.
(3)
Tiffany G.
Absolutely incredible food!! I eat here almost every time I'm in chicago, the staff is always super friendly and even though the plates look tiny it ends up being extremely filling. The flaming cocktails are also super fun and their drinks menu is amazing!
(5)
Avery S.
I have been going here since they opened and the food is still amazing and the environment fun. I always get the talapia tacos, elote and then a flan. The guacamole is also not to be missed. This is one of those rare places that still have a good "scene" as well as terrific food.
(5)
Dan B.
Excelled food and drinks. A bit pricey, but it's a nice place to go out on a date or a more formal dinner with friends. The only downside to this place is the seating can sometimes be a little uncomfortable. They definitely try to fit everyone tightly in their table.
(4)
Shruta S.
Best. Place. Ever. The margaritas are to die for - as fancy as they are tasty. The food is phenomenal. The ambience is suited for everything from a romantic date to a group hangout. This is by far one of my favorite places in Chicago. Truly our go-to place for any occasion.
(5)
Amy R.
I can only review the atmosphere as we did not stay for dinner. My husband and I had a 6:30 pm reservation on a Friday night. Seated immediately but please - the majority of all tables are right on top of each other. You shouldn't have to squeeze between your table and the table next to you in order to sit down. Once seated, the couple next to us was so close I felt the need to introduce myself. We decided instead to leave.
(2)
Kasey T.
great for groups! great music, fun atmosphere, delicious guac and yummy margaritas!
(5)
Peter H.
Our Concierge at the Kimpton recommended this place to us and it was a short walk from our hotel. At first we were worried about the noise, that concern passed when we received our first course - the guacamole - it was awesome and that was just the start. We dined like kings and queens, the food and service were great!
(4)
Jim F.
the food was great. we had a selection of tacos, which come 4 to a plate so our party of 4 was the perfect size. The guacamole was fresh and tasty as were the chips. The mac & cheese was delicious but runny. This is the new, fresh version of Mexican so don't expect the flavors or textures of the California or Texas traditionals. Service and bar were excellent and they seated us right on time. It was very tightly packed, with no privacy, and very loud.
(4)
Devin S.
Starting off the food and drinks were good not much to complain about very pricy for such little amounts of food but it was worth it the drinks were ok and very pricy had the house drink it was ok but full of ice in a small glass as usual like most places to eat But other than the food the wait staff was rude we got seated 15 min after our reservations although the place was not packed the wait staff did not attend to us at a timely manor.... Asked for water didn't get it got got my food fast and quick but when we called waiter for straws and napkins he never came I had to literally get up myself get napkins and straws but over all it's a good spot to eat only if your treated good
(3)
Samantha J.
Good food & drinks, popular and hip ambiance, decent service. According to the waiter, most of their tequila beverages are sweet except one, which is what he ordered for me. It was good, although I think I might like the margarita at Aviary better.... We ordered the mango guac (good) carne tacos (super delish) and mole tacos (good). Their bread pudding dessert was wonderful if you have a sweet tooth. Overall, I would come back. It's a bit pricey but a nice fancy alternative to Antique Taco and Big Star (I would still go with Antique Taco over Mercadito any day). Be advised that the tacos come in sets of 4, so a group of 3-4 would be perfect if you want to try a bunch of different things. Also, whatever spices they put around their margaritas, you may look funny licking it off but it's well worth the strange looks!
(4)
Jennifer H.
The drinks are BOMB. Spicy with just the right amount of kick. I believe I finally achieved enlightenment through the lobster tacos. Like literally my third eye opened as I took the first bite. Be prepared to wait though, and possibly feel like a sardine at the bar. But it's okay, everyone there is sexy so rubbing up against strangers shouldn't be too much of a downer.
(4)
Lauren L.
I visited Mercadito on a Saturday night during Restaurant Week in a group of 6, and we were pleased and surprised we were able to get a reservation at a decent time. Logistical word to the wise; even if you have a reservation, you won't be seated until your entire group is present. The bar was too crowded to grab a drink while we waited for the rest of our party, so that was a pain. The ceviche portions were too small to share amongst our group, but tacos were the perfect size. The pastor and the carne tacos were incredible. The flans were the only items on the RW menu, and I'd skip them in the future. I'd come here for drinks (highly recommend the mezcal cocktails--very smoky and delicious) and taco hors d'ouvres again, but probably not for dinner outside of restaurant week. There is one astoundingly attractive waiter. We swooned.
(4)
Kelly M.
I have heard so many different reviews on this place, and I love mexican so I was anxious to try it out. I thought it was really good, I loved that they do small plates. I was there with 5 other girls, so we ordered quite a variety on the menu. The guac is delcious and I recommend it, as well as the chipolte taco (so spicy) love it! I did not have a margarita, but they looked really good. I would recommend it to anyone. Very good!
(4)
James W.
I did not want to like this place. It's the kind of place I like to avoid (big, clubby, loud, and touristy looking. I was plesantly suprised once I got there The space is kind of sexy if your're with the right person and the food was good. Sure its not the authentic fare that you will fine in Pilsen or Little Village or some of the other fabulous Mexican restaurants found throughout the Chi but, the food was tasty and creative. Mexican food is not my favorite but, I will definitely go back to this joint. The mahi maihi tacos and pork tacos were great. The guacamole was divine and my wife's margherita was great. I like this place.
(4)
Emily L.
It was Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago and we were starved!!! We stayed at the Hotel Felix based off Hotel Tonight app (very neat little app that gives you hotel accomodations for that night only - most well-known hotels and their rates are VERY awesome!!!) - Hotel located 111 W Huron St., Chicago - we were looking for a nice Mexican restaurant nearby. Mercadito ended up being .5 miles away from hotel with the best Yelp reviews! The restaurant was very neat - the low lighting, and red walls gave a great dinner ambience! Big fan of EDM - which their music selection was turned to, and with the volume low, it wasn't too much "Untz" for diners favoring a different genre. :) Concept was tapas, which I loves! I always want to try what others order, so this alleviates the funny looks because sharing is EXPECTED :) DRINKS 1ST!!! :) I ordered-Margarita Tradicional - I am not a big fan of Margaritas, yet when a restaurant specializes in them, I want to try! Ingredients included- el jimador blanco, grand marnier, fresh lime juice, organic agave nectar *Just saying, you MUST order this drink should you check this place out - Not even exagerrating this is the BEST margarita I've ever had! Selection#2- Queso dip w/ chorizo on side Comes with mini flour tortillas and salso verde and was perfect starter! Selection#3-Pollos Tacos-Pollo- These 4 mini tacos were great for our party of 3 because we ordered additional selections. If you have more than 3 in party, would go for 2 orders (and pick a different taco selection) muy delicioso Selection#4-Dangit! I really can't remember... But, I know we finished all, so it must have been fabulous! :) I can't wait to go back and check out more of their selections!!!
(5)
LaurenVanDerBooben V.
Ok, get ready for story time, folks. First of all, let me clarify by saying that the food here is easily 3 to 4 stars. And the drinks?? Oh, the drinks!! Also, easily 4 stars. But apparently, Mercadito is great for takeout and horrible for dine-in. What demotes Mercadito to a 2-star Yelp rating is the service. I've been quite a few times, but my last visit was-tautologically, my last. I'll save you my life story and keep this short: went on a Friday evening with a friend. The second we walked in, we could already tell by the way we were being treated that they were busy and wanted us out ASAP so as to accommodate other people. We were hurriedly and brashly sat in a very jam-packed section-the conversations of the tables on either side of us were way too audible, no matter how softly they spoke. We were constantly being circled like sharks do fish, by servers and busboys alike. Pour quoi, Mercadito? Moving on, we were so put off by the service that we decided to engage in some good ol' culinarus-interruptus and GTF outta there. We asked for our check and they were only too happy to oblige. Before we could say anything else, a BUSBOY with a dirty table rag and everything- not even a SERVER- carted out food away from our table at the speed of light and ran into the kitchen. In his haste, he left half of our other food items on the table e.g. tortillas, my green rice, etc. I told the server "please take these to him and make sure he puts this with the rest of the food". Fast forward to us getting home and what beautiful surprise do we find waiting for us in our go-bags? The answer is 'NOT our leftovers!' Apparently, they had left out half of our leftovers. I was so angry, I couldn't speak. We barely touched our food so we had basically just thrown away a bunch of money. This is sad on so many levels because I used to be Mercadito's #1 unofficial PR person because I used to, and still think, their food is amazing. But after that stunt, phooey on them. Won't be seeing me in there no' mo'. Rant over.
(2)
Maria G. R.
The DRINKS! The FOOD! The FLAN DE CAJETA!!! WOW.... love the ambience! My husband and I had a splendid time. We will definitely be going back.
(5)
Evan S.
NYE dinner was off the charts. The assortment of guacs makes for a nice tour for the tongue. The tacos were where the action was at though. The carne and camaron are TO DIE FOR. The drinks were hitting nice and hard, and our server Julio took great care of us. My second time there and I'll definitely be back!
(4)
M W.
I think people might want to do a little research before they go to a restaurant like Mercadito. This isn't your sit-and-chat-for-2-hours kind of place. The energy is high, it can be pretty noisy during peak busy times, and the meal pace is pretty quick. Yes, they want to turn tables--it's a business and I'm sure their success would be diminished if they catered more to the lingerers. I've dined at Mercadito about 5 times over the past 3 years, and I've never been disappointed in the service or the food. The atmosphere is fine, because I know it's busy and loud and I'm willing to deal with that so I can eat their fabulous morsels. :) Favorites: pastor tacos (spicy pork with pineapple), skirt steak, mahi tacos and any of the salsas with chips. I haven't personally tried their alcoholic drinks, but I understand they had a mixologist create many signature drinks specifically for the restaurant. From what I have heard, they are quite good, although pricey. So as long as you're not expecting a quiet, drawn-out or particularly cheap meal, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy the flavors Mercadito offers. NOTE: Mercadito also offers cooking demos once a month for about $55/person and it includes food and drink pairings.Check their website for dates. I will be attending next month's. :)
(4)
Tony M.
Very busy and crowded place but for good reason. Had to wait 30 minutes for table so went to the bar and had the absolute best mechilada ever!! Bartenders are very friendly and take care of you quickly. Had the tacos de al pastor, steak tacos and they were very good. Plan on going back to try some other things.
(4)
Aditi G.
Oh. My. God. Never again will I eat mexican food anywhere in the city after eating here! Ridiculously good food, ambiance, service, and music. The music in this restaurant is basically club music, but I didn't really mind at all. It is loud but not so loud that you can't talk to your friends across the table. Loved the decor as it was super modern - funky long mirrors line the walls, high ceilings, and low lighting all make me want to go clubbing after eating here. My friends and I ordered both the traditional guacamole and the granada guacamole with pomegranate. Both were sooooooo good! We also ordered the dorado ceviche - soooo good and fresh! We got the pastor and hongos tacos - pork and mushroom tacos - soooooo delicious. The mushroom tacos were my favorite and the seasoning was out of this world. I am in love with Mercadito
(5)
Monica P.
A fun place to check out- food was good and cool atmosphere. Definitely a trendy place to eat. I did enjoy but did have a few annoyances- first was that they have so many staff members walking around monitoring the status of everyone's meal. I understand when it's crammed inside and you want to get as many people in as you can, but I don't like feeling rushed. Just because our food is finished there isn't a need to remove our placemats- made us feel like they wanted us to leave, despite having beverage left in our glasses. The food comes fast. The traditional guac is good and would recommend sharing some options of tacos. Foodies will enjoy the flavor of the meat for sure. Good place, just felt a little rushed.
(3)
Patricia P.
Great Mexican food, and also overpriced. Wold still go back for the Maragaritas, best I ever had!
(4)
Steve M.
Had lunch the tacos were off the charts,food was great service was excellent.My family loved the restaurants ,great drinks will be back
(5)
Jacob A.
Great food. The shrimp tacos are my favorite! I have been coming here for a number of years and the food has consistently been good! The atmosphere and vibe in this place is usually full of energy! I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 due to the service that we occasionally get that is less than stellar. The food more than makes up for it!
(4)
Sameer G.
Food was average. The waiter messed up our bill 4 times and acted like it was our fault. I was there with a co-worker for lunch and we split the bill. Next day (today) we realized that they charged us both the full amount. Ridiculous, after 4 attempts he still managed to mess things up, probably intentionally. I apologize for wanting the correct bill.
(1)
Rachel B.
Have been coming here since they opened. Solid choice! Shrimp tacos are a complete and absolute necessity. I mean, there really is no choice. It must be done. So simple yet so amazing. On the spicier side but not at all intolerable. Also the guacamole trifecta is always a crowd pleaser. I do not at all recommend Double A downstairs. It's a mini-club with a super weak crowd...no-go in my opinion. Used to be awesome when this place first opened and no one knew about it. But today....played out.
(4)
Hardeek P.
Came here with colleagues from work. Heard great things about this place so figured we'd give it a shot. As a vegetarian, this is definitely not a place I'd be coming back to. Choices are very limited unless you eat seafood. Best part was the gaucamole trio. Portions are tapas sized, still on the pricey side. My non-vegetarian colleagues for the most part thought it was good, some said the lobster taco was really the only one worth getting, the rest were edible but nothing great. Service was ok, slow for a random weeknight. My colleagues were done with their meal before mine even came out, and when it came out it was luke warm. The waitress kept trying to sell me on various items off the menu every time she came by, since my order took over 40 minutes to make. One would think it'd takes longer to cook meat vs a vegetable. Apparently not.
(1)
Sonja T.
Since they cater to a younger crowd the service is not very good. It is so loud and the tables are too close. The food is amazing. Probably better to go for lunch.
(3)
Fei W.
Went to Mercadito for lunch with a coworker. One of my friends is obsessed with the fish tacos here and says they are the best ever. I tried them (the mahi mahi ones) and my coworker got the pork tortas. We split the 3 guacs and some fried plantains. The tacos were good, but I'm not sure about best ever. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe living in Southern California spoiled me, but I thought they were just good. The fried plantains were great though. The torta I was ambivalent on, but my coworker loved it. The assortment of guacs was also pretty good. Overall, a solid lunch spot. I would like to come back for dinner to try some margs and the ceviche.
(4)
Ramiro G.
Love this place! Best drinks in Chicago, the tacos are spectacular & the ceviche is delicious. Modern, inventive yet authentic mexican food..
(5)
Al C.
Ambience: 2 stars Food: 4 stars 1. hope u like Being packed in like sardines, literally inches from your neighbor. 2. Minuscule portions and they nickel and dime you for everything...(salsa and chips?? That's tantamount to charging you for rice in a Chinese restaurant.) not cool. 3. The tacos, drinks, and other stuff was actually really good. Just hated every other thing about this place.
(3)
Fallon R.
Ok, so I have a small gripe with Mercadito. I still love the food but the service I received on Tuesday was less than desirable. I love to go Taco Tuesday because it's a great excuse to meet with friends and enjoy a discounted meal. But this Tuesday was different. I was shocked when I didn't see the lobster tacos on the menu. My waiter did inform me that they did still have them. Great what a relief, right?! Then I was informed it was no longer part of the special. What a huge let down! What happened?! No explanation just deal with it. I always look forward to coming on Tuesday but no special no Tuesday. Not saying I'm not going back, but that was my great "excuse" for going at least every other week or every week. See ya when I see ya. So disappointed!
(2)
Steph S.
I hosted a private party here for 20 people on a Sunday night. It was truly wonderful. The drinks were amazing and the food was spectacular. It was expensive but not outrageous! There was a clear disconnect between the management and servers, but the servers were so good that it didn't affect our experience. They had great gluten free options and were very helpful. I will absolutely go back here!
(4)
Julie L.
I went there for brunch, and ordered a dish with poached eggs (can't remember the name, but was a riff on eggs Benedict, with cornmeal patties and a chipotle hollandaise sauce). They came out with underdone whites, so I sent it back. They acted as if I didn't know what poached eggs were, and I insisted that I DID want the dish as described on the menu, just done properly. Unfortunately, they next brought it out overdone entirely, and the server never asked me if it was ok. It WAS tasty, but would have been so much better with runny yolks. My friends were all happy with their meals, and the atmosphere was great decor-wise, but there was a slightly foul and musty scent in the restaurant. Overall, I'm ambivalent! Maybe I'd try it again if I lived in Chicago, but it's unlikely.
(3)
Libby Q.
Me and my girlfriend have been there a few times, and we always have fun! Their margaritas are delicious and so is their food. It's a little pricey for pretty simple food. I'd avoid the guacamole. It's way overpriced ($10), and as a California native, I'm not a huge fan of 10 different ingredients in my avocado. Other than that, great atmosphere, great drinks!
(4)
Jennifer H.
We came to Mercadito after walking by at night and liking the looks of it. Service was friendly but very slow. Salsa: one of two was Bright Orange- literally the weirdest salsa I've ever seen- like spicy ketchup. Enchiladas were good not great. Hubs tacos same. May try dinner menu, but overall there are better places around.
(3)
Mike K.
I've been to this place a couple times and I have to say the food here is really really good but the atmosphere isn't all that great. The food I would give a 5 star all day. The combinations are very clever and the taste that hits your mouth lets you know its put together with care. The issue is the place is way too loud like uncomfortably loud. The service is relatively slow and the decor for a place located in this part of the city is really nothing special. If there carry out ends up being just as good I could see myself coming here more often because I would rather take it home then have to yell at the top of my lungs while eating dinner. But regardless hands down to the Chef, great combinations, amazing flavor. With a couple changes this place could compete with a place like Takito Kitchen.
(4)
W W.
Food - excellent! Tacos and guacamole were spectacular. A lot of variety - all amazing. Ambiance - lively and fun Service - friendly and efficient. They successfully served and satisfied a 13 person party without issue.
(5)
Regina D.
Try the "Torrejas De Bolillo" in their dessert menu... It's delicious. It's a great place to hangout drink and eat. The vibe here is simply delightful. I'm a very light drinker so I won't bother commenting on the alcohol (unless I've fallen in love). The food is good. My opinion, the two best things about Mercadito is the ambiance and the Torrejas De Bolillo dessert :-).
(5)
Terry S.
Always great experience. Nice environment and great food, never had a bad bite in 10+ visits. Good for drinks and small groups/couples. Reasonably priced and always recommend to friends coming to the city.
(5)
Grennan K.
Great portions, sophisticated tacos, and tequila galore. This spot gets busy so definitely book resos. The ambiance during dinner time is very loud so that's something to consider.
(4)
Jina h.
Sensational food and drinks, but the service is highly inconsistent. I would give this place 5 stars, but took away 2 for each of the times I had an awful experience with the service. I still like the place so much I keep coming back. One time, my mom and I arrived on time for our reservation for 2, but they did not have a table ready for us until 90 minutes later. In the interim, we waited in the jam-packed bar and I felt very bad that my mom had to stand during that time. More recently, the hostess was very rude and threatened to give away our table because only 5 of 6 people in the party had arrived (this is an understandable rule, but still felt unfair after waiting so long). Why I keep coming back: 1. The Guacamole trio appetizer. I've tried mango, jalepeno, cactus, tradicional - All sublime. 2. The taco menu: Mahi Mahi tacos are my fav (the steak and lobster taco options are also very good) 3. The summer cocktails: Pepino el Pyu is cucumber, lime, salt-rimmed perfection) In sum, being a patron of this restaurant is like having battered spouse syndrome. They treat you so badly but you can't stop yourself coming back for more.
(3)
Lauren S.
- Kept us waiting 20 minutes after our reservation - Sat us by the kitchen, where the door/foot traffic was distracting - Drinks were very watered down - Food was good, but not worth the bad service we received
(2)
Molly L.
The food was amazing and the atmosphere was pretty cool. Would be a really nice place lunch spot in the summer. The reason for the 3 star was the poor service. Our server was less than friendly and that's an understatement. I would return for the food, but the service was an embarrassment to the restaurant.
(3)
Jackie Z.
Loved this place - best Mexican food in Chicago and the margaritas are fantastic. Food was great, service was great - it's a little loud and cramped but on Friday night is super fun! Definitely going back!
(4)
Kristy D.
If you're going to come I recommend making reservation. We tried 2 different types of tacos and skirt steak. All of the food was awesome. Biggest complaint are the small tables considering the size of the plates.
(4)
Allen B.
taco. tuesdays. enough said.
(5)
Erin R.
I'm torn about writing this review because I really want to love Mercadito and it's so close to perfect but it falls short for a few reasons. First, while the decor and feel of the interior are great, it's way too loud inside. I had to yell to barely be able to have a conversation and even then I couldn't really hear. I walked out feeling like I'd been at a concert. Second, everything is so spicy. I get it, it should have flavor and heat, but when I can't eat my meal and there was no warning on the menu or from the waiter, there's an issue. Everyone in my group (many who like spicy) struggled to eat there meals. Maybe it was just bad luck or the chef that day, I'll definitely give it another shot, but I suggest asking the waiter about the spice level in advance because nothing was marked on the menu. Everything was fresh and otherwise great but difficult to overcome the spice level and noise level. Maybe the patio is the best bet!
(3)
Eve P.
If you don't want to read everything below... you have to try the mango guacamole!! Someone told me I HAD to try their mango guacamole and at first I just thought "who the heck wants to eat guacamole w/mango?!" but it was the BEST guacamole I ever tasted in my life!! They give you very small portions but it is filling. I had chicken tacos with mole and my friend had the fish tacos and I wish wish wish I would have ordered the fish, my friend shared and it was great! (I also never thought that I'd ever like fish in my tacos) I also had a strawberry mojito but I'm not too sure what I thought about it. I'll have to order one again when I go back and pay attention to it since I was distracted by the mango guacamole the whole time. As far as ambiance, it is a bit loud and busy, so if you want to go somewhere where it's not so upbeat then this is not the place for you.
(5)
Aine Z.
Delicious delicious margarita's! And the taco's are so mouthwatering. The guacamole wasn't really to my taste, but everything else was so good that I can forgive that. The atmosphere is nice and dark, and downstairs they have a small lounge, so it's very similar to gilt. I would recommend this place to any of my friends!
(4)
Anando S.
The low rating is not for the food but the outdated prices online. Prices are more than 150% of what was stated on their website. The food was pretty good and authentic. Liked the wide range of tacos. Nice ambiance. However the first point was a major dampner. P.S. Be careful when getting directions from yelp on google maps. Took us to a wrong place and we ended up walking a lot.
(2)
C. E.
Great place for Mexican food in Chicago. Very loud inside and the tables are right on top of each other, but it's only a minor qualm. The spicy guacamole w/ corn and bacon in it was incredible, as well as the pollo and carne tacos. We ordered a spicy salsa as well, but it wasn't anything special. All in all, good place. Will be back.
(4)
Jessica J.
This place is amazing!! My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary this past Saturday and I must say it is one of the best places we have ever eaten. Our waiter, Enrique, was on point. He was extremely attentive and explained the menu very thoroughly. The drinks were awesome and the food was even better! We had the fried plantains, shrimp ceviche, traditional guac, lobster tacos, shrimp enchiladas and mexican corn. Omg. Everything was soooo good!! I highly recommend the fried plantains and lobster tacos. Delish!
(5)
Lore S.
Came here for lunch with a friend. The drinks were great - I got the three trees cocktail and my friend got the Paloma Diabla. The food was ok - we shared the traditional and pineapple guacamole, as well as the shrimp ceviche and ceviche mixto. The only thing I didn't really care for was the shrimp ceviche. The guacamoles and the ceviche mixto were very tasty. The portions are tiny. I know it's supposed to be small plates that are meant to be shared, but I'm not really sure if it's worth it. I will give it 3 stars for now, but I'd like to come back and try the tacos, and change my review accordingly.
(3)
Jim K.
So, the beer was good, which was about the highest point (outside of the company I had dinner with) of the night. Modelo on tap? Yes please. The ambiance was nice, although extremely dark. This typically doesn't bother me, but here it drove me a bit insane. Food wise, the 3 flight of Guacamole was tasty, but way over priced. I also felt the tacos were below average, as far as "fancy tacos" are concerned. Also, the rigidness of their ordering rules (4 tacos for 15.50, must all be the same taco) is frustrating, considering every other place I've been to with similar fare allows you to mix and match to at lease some degree. Here, you resort to doing some "taco negotiation," which sounds a lot more fun than it really is. The place is also SUPER loud... nearly every surface of the place seems to be waxed, lacquered, or otherwise designed to bounce sound. Difficult to have a conversation (or said taco negotiation) like this. The service was average for most restaurants, below average of a restaurant of this caliber. I doubt I'll be back.
(2)
Tracy G.
Must try the the tasting menu. So good that I came twice in one week. Best meal I had in 2013. Also must try the house-made sangrita (not to be confused with sangria).
(5)
Nikki S.
Loved it--cool ambiance, delicious foods, margs, and they take reservations! I would definitely definitely recommend Carnitas de Puerco Tacos (roasted peanuts in the tacos!)
(5)
Manny A.
It lives up to the rep of excellent Margaritas. Unique styles and strong flavor. Tacos are very very good however at $4 each and about half the size of a standard taco I will not fill up here. I may get 1 or 2 for taste however only drinks here for me. While casual attire the people tend to be on the dressy side. Be ready to wait for a table and be crammed in once seated. Business is good. And it can get very loud.
(4)
Eileen B.
We went here on Cinco de Mayo, so it was crowded, but the Mercadito staff did a great job keeping things moving. We were seated quickly, the server was attentive, and the food was tasty. The margaritas were among the best I've had! I would definitely go there again.
(5)
Carmen G.
I will never get over the ridiculous prices or disturbingly small portions, BUT that cucumber drink suckers me in every single time. Keep them coming all night long. The mango guacamole was surprisingly delicious and i do love the fish tacos. The ambience and location are great (thats what you're paying for). The service has always been on point, but again, don't miss out on that cucumber drinks. The decor is also really cooooooooool. Do not order the michelada unless your name is Tiffany or Bill.
(4)
Shawna B.
So I would have added a star potentially had we not been rushed out of our table. The server had the audacity to hand us our check when we weren't even halfway through dessert. Seriously, some manners please. That's like talking with your mouth full. Anyway, we had the Elote guac...a little bland but still good. The roja salsa could have been more spicy and was overly creamy. We had the Mixto and Pescado ceviche...both were the strong points of the night. The Estilo Baja tacos were also good but would rather have had the option of a 2 and 2 split rather than 4 of the same taco. We ended with the flan which was really heavy and dense. Flavor was very carmel-forward. Ok at best. The traditional margarita was very good. No complaints. All in, the bill was about $100 with tip. Ok, but won't be on my list of revisits.
(3)
Jackie S.
Finally had the chance to dine here the other night with my dad. Food was AMAZING. My dad mentioned his carnitas were the best he had ever had. The chips were delicious. Tilapia tacos were also very good. Everything was very flavorful, my margarita was great and our waitress was very nice. Definitely will go back here.
(5)
Rodriguez G.
Meet friends for a post-work dinner it was great. Service was on point. Since we were in a large group we ordered from the group menu. Consistently the staff brought our items to the table in an efficient and timely manner. I would definitely recommend this spot for groups. However please be warned that a reservation is best. It's a popular place.
(4)
Meaghan L.
I came here for brunch with my boyfriend on a Sunday afternoon. The experience we had was wonderful. It was a slow time for brunch so we had great service. We decided to go with the ultimate hangover cure. We started with some pineapple guac...best I have ever had. Blanca's punch was very refreshing and my boyfriend loved the bloody mary. The three dishes we choose were steak tacos=amazing, enchiladas= also amazing and lastly the chorizo omlette= this was not my favorite but it is the only thing I can complain about with this place. It was just too plain and more eggy than meaty. Definitely a recommendation for brunch- prices are a little high but that's what you expect from a place like this.
(4)
Katie S.
Good food, but very LOUD [ie club music] on at 7 on a Saturday night. Also, they pack you in as we had a reservation for 8 but they placed us at a table obviously made for 6! So it really just depends on what your looking for.
(3)
Bobuzzi C.
Margaritas are STRONG!!! Beware! Be the guac. was amazing and the tacos were wonderful. Definitely get a variety so you can try as many different kinds as you can.
(5)
Carol G.
Cool place, good food, horrible hostesses. They have the worst attitudes ever, they are in the wrong business
(3)
Gordie L.
Not the best customer service. Actually pretty bad. 2 hour wait when we were promised a 30 minute wait and angry hostess.
(1)
Jean M.
I love this place!! I originally stopped because a friend recommended it as being a good option near my hotel. I had no idea what to expect but was definitely impressed. I had a octopus stuffed relleno and fried plantains. The food was great and as was the service. I heard the tacos we're excellent so last night I made a point to come back. I got the traditional and mango guacamole as well as the cameron tacos. They were outstanding with a perfect combination of flavors. Some might say it's pricey for tacos but in this case - WORTH IT!
(5)
Holly S.
This place was super yummy! Great service too! It was a bit loud for a romantic dinner but we had fun people watching! Great guacamole! Loved the mango! The carnitas tacos were also amazing! We will absolutely be back but probably on a weeknight rather than a Saturday night. :) Would be a great place for happy hour for sure!
(4)
Jim V.
This is a place to go if you want to try great tasting baby tacos and spoon fulls of different flavored guacamoles. If you come hungry, you can spend a lot of money quicklly. I like Mercaditio best for a small bite and a couple of drinks. Good atmosphere, and centrally located in river north
(3)
Jamie B.
Better tacos at Las Asadas in Bucktown. The food here was extremely overpriced and overly salty. Margaritas were $13 each. A friend and I came here and had the $9.00 guacamole and chips, one margarita each, barbacoa tacos, and shrimp enchiladas. With tip the bill was $97.00. The table we had was horrible- a two top sandwiched in between a three top and another two top-- so tight that the 50lb. quartz table literally had to be pulled out so that my friend could get in and out of her seat. The service was great, however I'll never be back because paying this much for Mexican street food IMO is ridiculous. Frontera? Sure. Mercadito? No way Jose!
(2)
Bruce E.
Ate at Mercadito on a Saturday night. Tables are very close together and the atmosphere is lively. Food and service was very good. The mediocre rating is solely related to the noise level. You cannot carry on a conversation even at a small table. Try eating during a slow time.
(3)
AJ M.
Final stop for restaurant week and wanted to come here. This place is really popular and I now know why. Itis really nice,trendy upbeat, llively just like the people who come here. It took a long time to get our table because this place gets packed on a Friday night! But no worries me and some friends just went downstairs to their mini lounge for cocktails as the main bar was too packed. Although the downstairs lounge is small it was great for our small group. Now the food ,all the guacamoles are really good, elotes de Mexicana was standard, tacos were good not great,my fav was the shrimp one. Ceviche was real fresh, and for dessert we had 3 different flans the caramel was the best. Overall the food was above average but it is not what makes this place popular. I'm not that big on the small portions and large prices of tapas but this place works. It's great for a date or groups of friends to enjoy a night out. The cocktails to me taste all the same but as long as you keep drinking you'll forget about that. 3 star food 4 star service 5 star atmosphere and fun!!
(4)
Danny D.
Welcome to the Applebee's of Mexican! I will say the food had good presentation and the drinks were good, but that is where it ends. The atmosphere was that loud 90s over the top gaudy style. Our waitress was wearing what looked like a jumpsuit top and it seemed all the staff was able to pick whatever they wanted to wear for a top as long as it had the restaurants name on it somewhere. The food was OK at best. It was really salty which to me screams poor quality. We ordered 4 of the taco plates and 2 sides - one of which never arrived at our table. At $16 per plate (4 small soft shell tacos on each plate) it wasn't worth it. Aside from the saltiness of the food all if this would be fine but only if the prices were 30% less than what they were. It's just not worth the price especially when you have so many other great restaurants within a minute walk that will give you a much, much better experience.
(2)
Rach S.
I love me some Mercadito. This is one of my favorite pre-night on the town spots. Try: Margaritas - let's get this party started! They are not shy with the booze and I appreciate this. Tacos - the best ones are: pancita, carne and pastor. Guac - get wild and try the fruit flavors - you won't regret it. My only negative about this restaurant is that it is LOUD and CROWDED. Like, crowded to the point that if you need to get out of your booth area because you've had too many margaritas and need to break the seal, your butt will touch the other person's table. Awkward. This place is always packed and busy, so please Mercadito, just make a little more room for us! That said, is this a great place to go with friends before you go out. The music is loud and the crowd is young and fun. It is not the place for a quiet dinner or a place to bring boring people. Also, if you're coming with a group, they will do a prix fixe menu for you. It's easy and they give you plenty of food.
(4)
Emily D.
I went to Mercadito Friday night with a group of friends for what was my first and last visit. When we arrived, we were waiting on one person so we headed to the bar to grab a drink. The traditional margaritas were tasty and reasonably priced for a trendy restaurant. When the last of our party arrived, we were directed to our "lounge" seating. We all stopped and looked at eachother for a second when the hostess led us over to the booth and chairs table that was reserved for us. Uncomfortably low, we sat there with our knees in our faces as no one's legs really fit under the table. Picture the chairs in preschool classrooms and four full-sized adults huddled around a small table. we watched many other parties around awkward/disappointed as they were led to their tables as well. We ordered chips and guac which were a bit overpriced, but good. We then ordered som salsa. The salsa was only three dollars, but I figure if the cheapest establishment can give me free chips and salsa, so can this one. While it was good, I expect more than a flat plate with a little puddle of salsa on it if I'm paying for it. We ordered five sets of tacos for the four of us, tilapia, mahi mahi, shrimp, carne asada and chicken. We all agreed the chicken was by far the best. The fried mahi mahi was our least favorite (too much batter, barely any fish). If our experience ended there, I would say while $140 is a lot of money for four people to get a round of drinks and some tacos, we had a good time, but would probably not return. However, we were all sick the rest of the night/the next morning so that makes the price tag hurt a little more. I will definitely not return.
(1)
Alicia M.
We ordered the $45 tasting menu. There were high notes and low notes. The guacamole options were great; traditional and some of the more adventurous options. The salsa was a bit disappointing, quite average. The ceviche was overpowered by the citrus. The tacos were great, especially he steak and duck options. Overall, I wouldn't do that large of a testing menu. It was too much food.
(3)
Michael C.
I was in Chicago with another former co-worker for a Labor Day weekend wedding at the University Club, and we diverged from the party heading to the Cubs game after the Sunday brunch. We rented DIVVY bikes, rode up the river, failed at finding deep-dish pizza without a wait riding back to the hotel, and took advantage of the gym while alerted to the hot, humid, and heavy, hops-fueled antics of the wedding party via social media. We plotted a a more genteel, civilized evening to celebrate our last in this fair city. Downtown Chicago, as my cohort accurately noted, is a cultural desert comparable to New York's Herald Square, at least on a Sunday. And food was no exception. As she is primarily vegan, with compromises to pescatarian, Mexican seemed most probable. But nothing on any scale was open nearby within walking distance, including a highly rated Rick Bayless establishment. A Yelp search returned Mercadito... And this Los Angeles to New York transplant leapt immediately. It was a most pleasant multi-city transcendence. I have frequented the New York locations on many occasions, and this Chicago visit proved to be quite the exceptional competition. A short cab ride had us there in mere minutes, and at prime time to immediately catch a quiet outside table. And the experience just escalated from there. Every aspect of the evening was absolutely perfect, beginning with the service from start to end. Both the specialty and house margaritas were appropriately strong and distinctive. The guacamole and salsas delivered as well... And both the fish and shrimp tacos really excelled... I hate to prattle about taste and texture, but I can't help myself here. This was the kind of mouth-feel that fast food in all of its endeavors will never achieve. Forget the deep dish pizza... Mercadito has transcended the elusive divide of great contemporary Mexican fare beyond Los Angeles. I'll definitely be returning for this unique Chicago cum New York dining experience.
(5)
Brian K.
Great vibe with decorations and music. Excellent drinks and creative small plate across.
(4)
Brooke M.
I've been to Mercadito several times before. A convenient location and the food is OK. Many items marked "V" on the menu for vegetarian. I had lunch there today and ordered a mushroom torta with no cheese after telling the waitress I was vegan and asking if the torta could be made vegan or if the mushroom tacos were my better choice. After being told the torta could be made vegan I ordered it making sure there was no cheese, the black beans did not have animal products and reiterating I was vegan. So I ate my lunch and my stomach started to hurt by the time I left and an hour later it's worse. I called the restaurant and long story short they butter the torta and explained to me they aren't sure if it was the waitress or the kitchen that messed it up (and newsflash-I don't care which one dropped the ball). So still an OK place but I won't be back and for anyone who has an allergy or food restriction do not count on Mercadito staff or kitchen to get your order right.
(2)
Rachel V.
Totally disappointed in mostly everything about this place. Was seated in a great spot, but our waiter did not come over for a good 15-20 minutes. By that time he asked what we wanted as if it was a bother to him. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and our meal all in one! I mean we had been waiting for so long. There was no connection or interest from our waiter, like how is your evening, or Is your Food good. Instead it was do you guys have everything you want now?? The food wasn't all that great, way too salty!! The only good thing that I liked about the place was the decor and lighting. Although they did try too hard to be a club with loud music. Won't return here that's for sure, very disappointed.
(1)
Mandi P.
Quite disappointing. We were here this past weekend for an early dinner with some friends...none of us were impressed. We all started at the bar while waiting for our last friend to arrive. The bar had no seats. I have only ever seen that in night clubs...not at restaurants, but whatevs. Our last friend was running about 20 minutes late. The hostess came to us 3 times in that 20 minutes to ask if we were ready and finally told us we had to be seated as the seats had a time limit on them. Eh? I can see a statement like that if we were like an hour or two late, but 20 friggin' minutes. Really? We were seated at the best table in the house. Right in front of the bathrooms and next to the entrance to the kitchen. Freaking lovely. I made note of 2 empty tables right behind us when we sat down, but figured they would soon be full since we were being rushed to our table. We dealt with it. We were there for about 1.5 hours. Those tables were never seated. Why were we given the crap table and the speech about the time limits on the tables??? I had the pleasure of having the pull out chair that was apparently directly in the path of the workers on the way to the kitchen and the diners on the way to the bathroom. I say that because EVERYONE who walked by ran into my chair. Not bumped into, but full on ran into. I mean, my arse is not tiny, but it's not that friggin' big. COME ON!!! The food was very average. The tacos came out kinda cold...maybe that's how they were supposed to be. The sauces were very mild...even their hottest habanero sauce. My husband is a very picky eater and they basically told him they couldn't really accomodate his requests as they couldn't delete or add things to the menu items. I have no desire to return and wold not recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Domi H.
Mercadito does cater and they are amazing!!!! Check them out at: mh-catering.com
(5)
Daniella F.
The atmosphere is fun and cute. Most of the tables were full of what seemed to be a girl's night out. We went on a Saturday night around 10:00 and waited about 20min for our table. The tables are extremely small and close to eachother. The waiters move the tables over in order for someone to be able to seat on the other side of the table. Awkward sitting lap to lap with the stranger next to you. The mango guac was amazing. Swordfish tacos were also amazing. Drinks are horrible. Only one I liked was the pepino drink. The fire one was gross and from there we just stopped ordering. Don't think ill go back.
(2)
Scott F.
The "lounge" downstairs was the most awkward and creepy thing I've seen in a while. I don't go to a nice restaurant to eat in the basement. The hostess staff asked me multiple times if I wanted to sit down there. Am I not worthy to sit with the other adults upstairs? I said my guest and I would wait for a proper table but then left after the third time I was told about the basement seating. On the positive side the bar staff was great and the margarita was on point.
(2)
Jeremy B.
Great atmosphere and attentive staff. Be aware that they play somewhat loud music and seat you very close to your neighbors, so if a quiet/romantic evening is what you're looking for this might not be the place to go. But for a fun evening out with good food and a high energy vibe atmosphere, Mercadito rocks. The food is great, and the margaritas are really tasty and potent (which is how I truely rate a Mexican joint). When it comes to the food the place is all about variety - from the guacs to salsas to entrees, the best way to experience Mercadito is order a little of everything and share it among the table.
(4)
Brad M.
Coming from SF where we've got some of the best mexican food you can find, Mercadito really blew me away. It's a little pricey but if you let that go, it's a real treat. Let's see if I can remember, we ordered the Carne, Pollo, Pescado, and my personal favorite the Estilo Baja tacos. The plates come in 4 tacos, so for a group of 5 like us they'll add an extra taco (not for free). They also serve each table chips and guac which I could made my whole meal it was so good. This place had a very posh atmosphere and also seemed to have attractive girls everywhere. The basement is quaint and classy, a private bar perfect for groups. This is the ultimate place to go before hitting bars after, we went straight to Untitled across the street, so a perfect dinner spot before a night of bar hopping.
(5)
Lochin S.
business lunch. nice atmosphere, tad loud. cool bar maybe come back for drink? but lunch was ok. the tiny tacos were ok. not great. I probably will not order that again.
(2)
Alexis I.
Headed here for Brunch on Saturday. Lovely (modern and chic) atmosphere. Tasty breakfast tacos. A bit pricey (but expected). Impressed by the quick and attentive service. Our food was delivered within 5 minutes! Great space for groups.
(4)
Laura P.
The food is really good, I recommend getting a guacamole trio. The lobster tacos are amazing too! The only bad thing here is that even if you have a reservation you usually still have to wait for your table. The ambiance is nice, but the tables are really literally right next to one another so you better like your neighbor. Not a good place to go for a first date or anything intimate.
(4)
Justin G.
We visited Mercadito a few years back when it first opened. We had a reservation for around 7:00 PM and arrived on time. The hostess kept pushing our reservation back and telling us "just a couple more minutes" every fifteen minutes or so. After an hour, the manager gave us complimentary margaritas and we waited another hour to be seated; two hours past our reservation time. The meal was OK but the restaurant clearly had some kinks to work out with the reservation system. We heard stories from other friends who visited the restaurant they had overbooked and taken on too many reservations. So, last night (12/29/13) we decided to give Mercadito another whirl. It had been a few years since we had first dined there and we thought we would give it a try with an open mind and very much looked forward to the food. Upon entering we could barely get in the door and find a place to stand. We, once again, arrived on time for our reservation and were told "just a couple minutes." The place was packed and we could not find a place to stand, let alone order a drink at the bar. This time, we only had to wait 30 minutes before a table was offered up to us. We were a party of four and we were told to squeeze into a cramped table for three. Frustrated, we left and went across the street (literally) to another restaurant who was happy to seat us right away, and moreover, give us a table that would comfortably fit four. (PS - I was so impressed with this other restaurant that I am going to write a glowing review for them) My advice for anyone looking to go to Mercadito is: (1) do not go during prime time - the restaurant is loud, cramped and all around frustrating during prime dinner hours. (2) reservations seem to mean nothing - just because you have a reservation does not mean you will be seated near your reservation time. (3) make alternate reservations - if they offer you a cramped table or can't accommodate you for your reservation time, at least you have a back-up plan. Perhaps we will give Mercadito a third try in another couple years...if they are around.
(1)
Michael H.
Update: The tacos have actually gotten smaller? Literally TWO BITES!! As far as flavor, they are still right at the top!! Do not miss the "Carnitas" taco.. or the two bites of it. Unfortunately, this place is really trying to skimp the customer.. Salsas are $2.50 for literally a 1/4 cup? Guac is great but at $11 a scoop they are just trying to build up a huge check... Great food/ Great Flavor/ could you imagine those tacos if they were "almost" regular size? GTFJD
(3)
Taylor P.
Best pastor taco I've had in Chicago hands down. Atmosphere was great - perfect for a date or for dinner with friends. Will be back.
(4)
Stephanie W.
If you have the opportunity to try three different kinds of guacamole, you try three different kinds of guacamole. Spoiler alert: the traditional was still my favorite.
(3)
Jelena Z.
You can tell that Mercadito was born in The City That Never Sleeps by the energy alone - no matter how late in the evening, you really feel the buzz in this restaurant. And, the lighting contributes to this as well! I recently dined here with three adventurous colleagues hell-bent on trying just about the entire menu. Why not? I'm currently stretching my stomach in anticipation of eating my way through San Francisco. First up - one of Mercadito's signature Mezcal drinks. I had the Shady Gato (herradura blanco, averna, mezcal, fresh strawberry, lemon, and fantasia de naranja). I'll be honest, I don't know what half of those ingredients are but the fresh strawberry got me. It turned out to be an exquisite cocktail and very pretty, too. Definitely worth the $10! For appetizers, we went with the cheesy rice (it may not be on the menu, but just ask for this buttery goodness and you shall receive) and the trio of guacamole. We chose the tradicional, the mango and the toreado. All were really well done, though the coloring of the mango version isn't that appetizing. Just an observation we all made! We ordered four different tacos for the table so we could share. The server let us know that they come out as they're ready, tapas-style. Our selections included the carne (rosemary-marinated skirt steak with avocado), the camaron (shrimp with roasted garlic, chipotle mojo and avocado), the mole (sauteed chicken, sweet plantain, mole poblano and crema fresca) and the hongos (huitlacoche, wild mushrooms, manchego cheese and salsa verde). All were well-portioned and literally, every bite exploded with messy, unbridled flavor. My favorites were the shrimp and the mole, though I enjoyed them all (and by all, I mean four tacos total!) very much! We tried to avoid dessert, but our omniscient server knew we wouldn't be able to turn down the lure of torrejas de bolillo (creme anglaise, soaked Mexican bread, vanilla ice cream and cajeta sauce). Basically, it's a richer version of French toast and worth every sinful calorie. Can't wait to return! Dress to impress as this is River North after all. Oh, and I was able to snag street parking less than a block away so it's not impossible. Enjoy!
(4)
Rhonda P.
Ambiance = 2, Food = 4, Price = WTF $15.50 for 4 tacos??? Ceviche was 3 small portions for $28??. The waiter explained the concept was small plates to be shared hmm, whatever. I didn't choose this place and i probably wouldn't ever choose a place like this. It was pretty good don't get me wrong i was just left hungry and broke by the end of my meal. Plus it was super loud my ears were rinning after. Also tables are too close together. I swear my ass literally touched someones plate while attempting to sit down.
(3)
Julie L.
Was there for restaurant week. Had to call a couple of times to reschedule and the staff was very helpful. So, already I had a good experience with them. We loved everything we tried and the service was excellent. My favorite of the whole meal, were the margaritas. I'm not usually a margarita fan, but I couldn't stop drinking them!
(4)
Jessica N.
I had to update my review to 5-stars after coming here for restaurant week again. I cannot believe this is sub 4-stars people!! This restaurant GETS what restaurant week is about - which is trying FOOD! Nothing pisses me off than making a restaurant week reso only to see 2-3 options and a restaurant that is clearly reluctant to let people get their full restaurant experience. Mercadito lets you try it ALL and I've fallen in love all over again. Guacs - tasty as always Ceviches - better than I remember! Not fishy at all this time. Tried the shrimp and mahi-mahi Tacos - Each one was better than the next and you get to try FOUR different ones (brilliant!). Pescado still my fav but the Pollo was INTENSE. Really rich flavors highlighted by the squash and apple. Carnitas and Carne? can't go wrong. And we had wonderfully mixed cocktails - sweet, smokey, complex - which they give you one half off (also brilliant!) and a fabulous server to boot! I came on a Tuesday so noise level not bad but I know it's crazier on the weekend. Hats off here. I rarely give out fives but my experience tonight was outstanding.
(5)
Shekhar P.
One of the best hi-end mexican fusion restaurants in the country. They have done a great job catering to all "taste" buds...If you like a spicy fresh salsa, just ask, and you will never be the same again. Again, like all great restaurants and lounges, the customer service and management staff is top notch. Kudos to Ivan and his team across the city. If you haven't tried the lounge, AA, downstairs, please do so...one of the best crowds in the city.
(4)
Morgan N.
I checked this place out with some coworkers for their happy hour taco special. First of all, they make you sit in a dark, dingy area of the restaurant if you're there for the happy hour specials. What the hell? I'm being relegated to the corner because of the special your restaurant decided to create? That's total sh*t. So already I'm pissed off. Then we order tacos and they're good, but so small. I ask for some hot sauce and they bring me some sort of salsa and charge me $5 for it? For sauce? Are you insane or just a jerk? Never coming here again. Absolutely not worth it.
(2)
C W.
Vegetarian Review**** Fantastic vegetarian tacos. The seating was so strange and cramped. To make matters worse/better/hilarious, the couple at the table next to us were sitting side by side on the bench (halfway in my lap) and making out like a couple of school kids.
(4)
Lindsay Y.
I absolutely love Mercadito! The drinks are fantastic and strong. the ceviche trio is to die for as well as guacamole. But.. my favorite thing on the menu would have to be the brussel sprouts that are cooked in tomatoes and chorizo. The only issue I have with the place is that the music is way too loud. I know, I sould like an old fart..but, seriously..it's too noisy to even have a conversation.
(3)
Claudia M.
Although I was a bit disappointed when I called on a Tuesday that Mercadito was already heavily booked for Saturday, I was still curious. I'd seen Mercadito on Check, Please and I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I kept hearing how trendy it was and how it's the place to "see and be seen". It is pretty trendy. Deceptive from the outside, once you walk in it's got a clubby, loungy feel. I can appreciate that, especially if I'm out with friends I haven't seen in a while. They gave us a cool, raised booth where we had a good view of the clientele. There were 8 of us, so we had to order from the "Sharing Menu". We ordered the canasta , which for 35$ per person you get 2 types of guacamole's, 3 salsas, 2 types of ceviches, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides and 2 desserts. Salsas were all delicious. I don't know which one I loved more. For the guacamoles, we had tradicional and toreado. Toreado was spicy. Portions were quite small for a group of 8 but I stayed cool, didn't say anything. Now, I LOVE ceviche and ceviche had been on my mind all week. When the waiter brought out the ceviche (we ordered camaron and mixto) I could not believe what I saw. It was a tiny, square dish of camaron ceviche and a tiny, square dish of ceviche mixto. I could no longer keep my mouth shut. I asked our waiter where the rest of the ceviche was. He laughed and assured me that the tacos and sides they were about to bring out would make us quite full. That didn't make me feel better about this tiny ceviche dish. I wanted more ceviche. We ordered tacos de camaron, pescado (mahi-mahi), hongo (mushrooms) and al pastor. We devoured the shrimp, fish and mushroom tacos and there were 2 al pastor tacos left over which I took home to my BF. The sides we ordered were rajas con papa and arroz verde. I LOVED the arroz verde and have to learn to make it since I already make pasta verde with poblano chiles. For drinks most of us had margaritas, I had the pina margarita con chile. Amazing. I'm not a margarita fan because they are always so sour but this was damn good. The chile took the drink to another level. For dessert they brought out a flan (yes, that is one flan) and hmmm, I can't even remember what the other dessert but it was a tiny one serving as well to share with 7 other people. Come on..we're Mexican, we eat a little more than this. Quiero mas! Anyway, good food, fun music but I know places where I can BYOB, get a HUGE plate of ceviche and listen to nortenas for 20$. Mercadito is fun and trendy, somewhere you might want to try for a special occasion with your girlfriends. I probably won't be making this place a habit of mine but for special occasions , why not?
(4)
Lisa S.
I came here for a private work event so we were in the downstairs bar area, so I can't comment on the individual table service, but the passed try service we received downstairs was great! And the bartenders did a fantastic job of keeping up with our high-demand of cocktails. I had one cocktail called the mexican kitten I think..super spicy and super good! I loved their traditional guacamole. The other two we received were ok...one had bacon in it which I thought detracted from the guacamole as a whole and the other seemed like it had eggplant either. None of them were any better than the traditional. And the selection of salsas were also all great! I also really liked the empanadas, beef taquitos and mini chicken tostadas. The fish and shrimp tacos weren't anything to write home about, but the mini steak tacos were awesome! I'd love to come back here for a regular meal to see how it compares, but the group definitely had a great time and a huge amount of food and drink!
(5)
Trixy D.
This restaurant was recommended to us three times in one week by our dry cleaner, by a stranger on a plane, and from the hairdresser. Three totally unrelated people, so we had to try it! You will definitely want to make a reservation, lunch or dinner, because it gets VERY crowded and they will, at times, have many tables empty and not seat you, because of the reservations. Not sure why it works out that way, but who am I to question their "system". I just want their food! The guacamoli sampler has three unique guac's and OMG the Pomegranet is my very favorite but they said the season is almost over and it won't be available anymore! SAD!! Mango was not bad either, but the traditional is wonderful. I'm a fan. They don't do a big bowl of chips like most Mexican food joints...but this is not a joint...it has an upscale nightclub atmosphere with fairly loud music, and cool modern decor with chains around the poles and glass tiles and stone, so a big bowl of chips would seem out of place anyways. :-) Food is served on flat little square white plates, and presentation is really top notch. When you order tacos, you get three little palm sized tacos with the most deliciously marinated contents ever. The pork is our favorite and I'm not even a pork fan, but the shrimp, chicken and beef is wonderful too. (we have tried them all.) They have a fantastic variety of margaritas and a full bar, but the Margaritas have an interesting spicy twist added to them with the unusual peppery-salty dip they take with the glass. They have a lot (LOT) of bus-staff to keep the tables clear and pick up glasses. The hostesses seem confused about seating because of their "reservations -vs- present-at-the-moment paying patrons" needs, but I know it is really confusing and difficult when things get busy, and they usually are. Luckily for them, the food and drinks are so good, and the atmosphere is so fun and party-like, that the long waits probably won't lose them any business. We have eaten here numerous times, and brought out of town guests, and we are never disappointed (unless we try to go without a reservation and they can't fit us in).
(4)
Kathy S.
I really wasn't sure how I would like this place as I'm a believer that Mexican food should not be expensive. I went with a bunch of my gfs to celebrate a couple of their birthdays and the combination of the food, service and ambience makes it a 3.5 to a 4 for me. Food: They still had their restaurant week menu so we got to try a lot of stuff. I was a big fan of the camaron ceviche/tacos and the toreado guac (Johnny T. was right that the mango guac does look like baby poop btw!). The others were good to just okay. Service: Our waitress was super friendly and engaging. Our water glasses never passed the half way mark which is big for me because I drink a lot of water when I eat. Ambience: Mercadito is trendy but in my opinion, not overly so. Although towards the end of the night, it started getting more of a night club vibe as the club music started getting louder. They could use more bathrooms though instead of just one per gender. Girls with small bladders do not appreciate waiting long. Verdict: I'll be back if someone wants to go but I probably wouldn't choose it on my own just because I'm biased towards my Mexican hole in the walls over spending almost $4 for a mini taco.
(3)
Simon R.
We have been at the place 4-5 times and last night was our last. First, The food and drinks are really good. I don't think we have ever tried anything that was not good. However, The place is trying to bank on every square inch they have. In order to sit at a table they have to pull it out of the row for you to squeeze in. You will be literary bumping elbows with the person next to you. Service is 1/2 and 1/2. We have had really bad experiences with waiters and good ones. Their brunch menu used to be very misleading (been there once from brunch, I would guess it still is) and the waiter did not explain to us until they brought the food out how the menu works. We order tacos - it clearly said 4 tacos, however they brought out two. I asked they how come its only 2 - because there is two of us on the table. We still paid the same price. We were told that because is a combination with other items this is how it works. Would have been nice to know ahead of time so I know what I was ordering. Also, They seem to be loosing reservations - only once they were able to find our reservation - all other times they could not. If you are going with a group forget ordering different items on the menu - you have to order from a group menu. You want to try different tacos - you must order 4 of each - no combination plate or mixing of the different tacos. Not going anytime soon or ever.
(1)
Melissa P.
Cool decor. Great Guac. It's a sharing place (aka mini portions) but they usually give you enough food for your table when you do the set menu. Weird thing is they give you really really small plates- which seems odd when you are grabbing a little of this and a little of that.. Very tasty, kinda pricey.
(3)
Rebecca S.
Margarita and mango guacamole were both fantastic: a perfect pair. Nice space, not too crowded. Clean. But as far as mex food goes, there is better. It's not bad. It's just nothing to write home about.
(3)
Divya V.
The service was good: the waiter checked on us periodically and we didnt feel rushed. The drinks: I started with a mojito which was kind of disappointing but got a margarita after that which was pretty good (when it comes to drink's i would suggest you stick to the menu) The food: Good guacamole, awesome taco's The ambience: Meh! its like eating in a night club, knocked off one star for the incredibly loud music... they also sit people RIGHT next to each other so if you want to have a private conversation this is NOT the place! I would definitely go back for the margarita's and taco's!
(4)
Kelly C.
I've been back to Mercadito a few times recently as it's close to my office both for lunch and dinner. Every time I go, I really enjoy the tacos and all of the unique flavors it is really what makes this place popular time and again. I still find that at dinner time the restaurant is really loud (even mid-week), so I tend to prefer it for lunch or dinner when the weather is nice and you can sit outside.
(4)
Xants M.
Ok. Let's talk tacos. The shrimp taco here is probably the best shrimp taco I've had. The levels of flavor that greet your taste buds are pure awesomeness. The pork belly taco is neck in neck with the shrimp taco as it too, has undeniably killer flavor!! The steak taco is pretty fabulous as well... I would say that for me, the only taco that was just alright was the chicken taco. I wasn't too sold on this taco...flavor was just meh. I mean, it's chicken. And then there's the whole comparison game that occurs once you've sampled other 3 great tacos. ...I'm terms of the guacamole, it is super fresh and really delicious. Thumbs up for sure. I've tried three of their guacamole but unfortunately can not recall which three. Boo on my part. The major con to this place is that it is way over priced. At the end of the day, let us remember that they are just tacos. No need to get crazy with prices for a corn tortilla with a little bit of protein in it. Also, it is outrageously loud. Do not come here if you plan on engaging in intimate conversation or legitimately catching up with someone. No good here. The vibe is fun, modern and for a 20s, 30s and young 40s demo. Even though I was grumpy with the bill, I'll be back. The things I did have (with the exception of the chicken taco) are worth having again!
(4)
Erica D.
As hard as it is to believe, It is difficult to find a Mexican restaurant in the Loop; Our streets are filled with the tastes of Chipotle & Qdoba to satisfy our 'Feisty taste buds'. Sad...but true... Mercadito is a quaint joint located right across from an amazing club, "Untitled" (just throwing that out). Outside overhang doesn't foreshadow the design of the restaurant. Stepping inside, an elegant glare from candles and lights illuminate all around, the tables are neatly set with white napkins on hard wood tables. Rope hangs from the ceiling in a modern style behind the hostess, breaking the room up. High Top leather booths line the wall, revealing cozy coves of dining space for the larger parties. My Boyfriend and I went for a later brunch around 1230 (serves till 200) hungering for Bloody Mary's and a kick to the palate. Our server, Daniel, approached us with an adorable smile. He was so friendly and knowledgeable, making us feel right at home. About 25% of the restaurant was occupied, allowing room for conversation among friends. We ordered a Bloody Mary & Margarita. Both delicious. Bloody Mary: Stiff. Spicy. Unique garnishes. Smooth finish. BUT NO OLIVES!! shame. (thank god for full bar!) Margarita: Stiff. Right balance of Spirit to Margarita House Mix. Strawberry Margarita... AMAZING!!!!!! So Good, can't taste the tequila, but damn can you feel it! Options for guacamole are great, we stepped out of the box and chose Mango Guacamole... Holy MOLYYYY.. Delicious, I could've eaten it with a spoon! Don't worry, I didn't. Enchiladas were Fantastic!!! 3 Large Corn Tortillas covered my plate drenched in a Semi-spicy Red Sauce, drizzled with what seemed to be a Mexican cheese sauce garnished with fresh avocado. The chicken was stuffed inside with melted cheeses pouring over the enchiladas. I wasn't even that hungry and I ate it all! Daniel made sure our food was tasting amazing and never allowed our cocktails to empty before asking if we would like another. His attention to detail was impeccable. The Food was amazing, ambiance was relaxing for a Saturday Morning.. Wow Wow Wow. New favorite spot, Great Service from Daniel. Give this man a raise!
(5)
Bri A.
My girlfriends and I decided to try Mercadito for brunch after one of them saw it on Check Please. We came on a Sunday around noon and were seated right away. We started off with some cocktails and an order of the tradicional guacamole. My bloody mary was good, but on the small side for the price. The guac was tasty and came with fresh, hot chips. The food was delicious but the tortillas were the smallest ones I've ever seen! We had: tacos de huevo a la mexicana: these were pretty good. I would get them with braised short rib if I order them again pollo tacos: these were great although a little salty chilaquiles: I love chilaquiles and these had a nice flavor but no eggs! The service was great and we loved the ambiance. I really want to come back for dinner!
(4)
Lady L.
This is my go to recommendation when people are looking for a great group dining experience with a scene. They have a great family style dinner menu that's perfect for birthdays, bachelorette parties, etc. Oh, and if your friends from the 'burbs and IN want to feel cool, tell them to go to Mercadito. The speakeasy style bar downstairs will melt their faces off.
(4)
Ted T.
This review is based on lunch... and take out lunch to boot so it is really based solely on the food. We order lunch here quite often and it is great for larger groups. We order pretty much every kind of taco they have (they come in groups of three tacos each) and then serve them buffet style for groups of 6-10. People love it, it travels well, is very easy to share and has a great variety ranging from several fish based tacos to duck, pork, steak and a couple veggie options. I'm knocking a star off because they ALWAYS mess up ANY order that involves anything other than tacos. They also sell tortas but literally EVERY time we have tried to order one they forget the torta and only give us the tacos. Now they do not charge us for them but it is VERY annoying to always have a portion of the order missing. However the tacos are great for lunch... if only they could get their act together I'd add another star.
(4)
Mike C.
Say What? 5 stars for food but only 2 for the ambiance. We went on a Saturday night which, of course, was crowded. But we didn't wait long for our table and got a drink right away at the bar. The tables are so close together (inches from your neighbor) and the noise level is so high that we were literally yelling at each other across the table. I would definitely not go back on a weekend. The food was excellent, especially the octopus tacos, and the drinks are delicious. Everything is reasonably priced.
(3)
M K.
Mercadito was fantastic! The food and service was exceptional! We dined there during restaurant week and we couldn't have asked for a better menu. It allowed us to taste most of what Mercadito had to offer. The drink menu was also fantastic. I recommend their regular margarita it was very different, but pricey. Their guacamole and the baja fish tacos were out of this world! Overall I would visit Mercadito again and I think it's nice for a date and/or a girl's night out!
Best mexican food I ever had, you need to visit this place while in Chicago...
(5)
Greg G.
Food was good. Service was weird. The waiter was kooky and didn't really give a damn. They bus our entire table when we were done with the meal and took a half full margarita and our chips and guac away. Managers were none exsistant enjoying their sweet old time in the corner. Won't go back and wouldn't recommend to anyone
(2)
Matthew L.
Classy, feisty, hip spot. Service great (ONLY downside was that they actually CLEANED our table before we had left - in which bizarro-world service manual does it say to do that?), drinks strong, food very good, if slightly too heavy on the garlic for my taste...
(4)
Ahmad N.
The White fish taco and shrimp tacos are delicious. Best if you go with a group of people and order a wide variety of tacos so you can try them all.
(4)
Nik B.
Mercadito is one of those places that's all price and no quality, and there's really no reason for you to blow you money that way. I'm pretty sure that ever server, waiter and waitress hit me as they were passing by without apologizing. And the server who refilled our water spilled two ice cubes in front of me on the table and left them there for them to melt, without saying sorry. The quality is low. Nothing will taste spectacular, nothing is unique. I had the guacamole with potato which was extremely flavorless and bland. The vegetarian tacos were also pretty standard, and extremely small, for $15.50. I'm all about small plates and I've even paid more for small plates. But if I'm not getting something special, you can't charge me that much, that's robbery. The atmosphere is good, but it's all hype. I'm not sure why everyone is paying hte prices that they are for such low-quality food. The drinks are sub par and over-priced. So basically, what I'm saying is, don't go to Mercadito. There are much better options in Chicago.
(2)
David C.
food was good, not great. service was absolutely horrible, forgot part of our order. only came around ever 20 mins and ignored us the rest of the time. the valet was just as slow, it as raining outside and there is no covered shelter except the entrance doorway. ourselves and about six others sat out in the pouring rain for at least fifteen minutes waiting for the valet whom must have been on break. he was also in no hurry as he walked, slowly, to get the cars despite the pouring rain. I would have rather gone to taco bell, at least you get prompt service there.
(1)
Stephen M.
Been here twice--both positive but a very important difference. Evening versus mid-day. The food is great. The plates are well conceived. Last time, we had a group of five and, based upon a wide variety of items--you can't go wrong. Order so you can share. Some of the tacos are very sumptuous--you'll probably enjoy one, but find more a bit rich. The differences between night and day? Conversation level. At night time, they have a heavy beat of music which can be good or bad--night time conversation with a group is difficult. Oh, and anyone who says the wait staff is super, is 100% right.
(4)
Kimberly H.
Great place to eat. A little busy on the weekends.
(3)
Meredith K.
We came here for Chef's Week and now we're kicking ourselves for not going here sooner! I knew I was going to love it when I walked through the door. The hostess was great. I waited at the bar which has purse hooks (BRAVO!) and the 2 bartenders were fantastic. I had a delicious cocktail and then we stuffed ourselves with amazing tacos, unique guacamoles and a delicious dessert at the end. I cannot wait to get back to try more food and have those shrimp tacos again!! Here's my brunch review: We came her for brunch because we loved our Chef's Week experience. The brunch was every bit as good! I will admit I wanted more tacos but it was great to try their breakfast cocktails and eggs. The only miss was that we ordered pancakes and they brought us french toast. Both dishes take an unusually long time. They more than corrected the mistake. I'm glad I didn't pay for the french toast though. It was really mushy. Not good. The pancakes were ok but if I were to go back I'd skip them.
(4)
Inna B.
Meh. This place was pretty much a let down. My biggest complaint is with the food. I came here with a group and we sampled a large variety of guacs, ceviches, and tacos. None of the flavors really stood out, and the food was way overpriced ($10 for a tiny scoop of guac.) There are waaaay too many better Mexican restaurants (both high end and hole in the wall) for me to ever come back to Mercadito. I think once the hype dies down over the next months, people will move onto the next generic "trendy" restaurant.
(2)
Amanda A.
I'm really on the fence about Mercadito. I went here for lunch yesterday to take advantage of their Restaurant Week offerings, and the food was FANTASTIC. Just delicious from start to finish. Scallop/apple ceviche so fresh I searched for the shells, perfectly-seasoned mango guacamole---and not too sweet at all, thank you! The mole (chicken in black mole with plaintain) and beer-battered mahi mahi tacos were superb. And the server wasn't kidding about the flan de coco (serenely accompanied by mangos in a lick-your-lips sauce). However. The service. Sucked. I arrived at 11:20 for my 11:30 reservation, and I was the ONLY patron in the restaurant for a full ten minutes---at least---after being seated. It still took about fifteen minutes for the server to take my order. I had to place everything at once since I utilized the prix fixe menu, but that didn't ward off the ridiculous lag time between courses. What should have been at most a forty-five minute lunch didn't have me out the door until 1:15! And to top it off, they were out of first-choice for desert. How can you be out of a prix-fixe (Restaurant Week no less) item on a Monday, at lunch, for the first reservation...and not tell me until halfway through the meal? I think I saw my server twice more after he took my order---once to explain the desert mishap, and again as I was putting on my coat to leave. I finally left my credit card on the table so that I could run to the restroom, and the bill had been settled upon my arrival. No server in site. I'd really like to take some friends back to lap up the Mexican goodness, but...only if I have all of Friday or Saturday night to kill. I can only imagine what it's like when they're really busy.
(3)
Gary R.
This place was pretty good. It did not suck like the Justin Bieber phenomenon. Not at all. I had some kind of sandwich- maybe it was called a Tortata or Tornado or something. It was really a tornado of flavor in my mouth. It was good. Chicken, beans, and an encased shell. There was green rice with cheese too. I think it was not green from fungus, but rather it was green from pretentiousness. It did taste really good, however. We also had a number of pureed salsas that were tasty. They weren't really like pace picante sauce (which is made in San Antonio by folks who know what salsa should taste like). The salsas were good, however. I also had some plant tains. These were fried bananas for lack of a better term. The bathroom was nice, although there was a dude in there who assaulted the joint before I went in. Yikes. I guess there is no avoiding that, but maybe I'll invent some kind of stinkometer that restaurants can use to alert customers about what they're in for. Good idea, no?
(3)
Rachel G.
I am really disappointed to be giving only 3 stars to Mercadito the 2nd time around. Here's why: - Tried the Elote Mexicano as a side and was not thrilled. Two little half corn on the cobs (no wait...make that quarter corn of the cobs) with a bland taste. Eat this and you'll get lots of spice and NO taste. And for $4...a waste of money. - Ate the Pastor tacos and they were very good. I got these the last time I ate here and was glad the taste stayed the same! Only complaint...not too much meat in the tacos. For $9.50 I expected a little more in the taco. - I ordered this as a pick-up order and they told me 30 min. Got my food and it was just barley lukewarm by the time I opened it up. Hmmm...maybe they should have told me 15 min till my food was ready? End result....2 hours later after eating and I am already hungry again. I think I will stick with eating in the restaurant...much better experience. Though the take-out did give you awesome re-usable containers!
(3)
Rebecca L.
I really liked this place! My husband and I went here this past Monday 11/1 for my birthday dinner. The Pros: -It was great because it was busy, but not super swamped, and we didn't have to deal with any crazy music like people have mentioned in other reviews. -The atmosphere was cozy and warm, and the food was fantastic! -I had the 3 ceviches and loved all three of them, literally. I licked the plates! -Then we ordered carne tacos which were outstanding, and the elote corn side which was amazing but a little pricey at $5.50 for essentially one big corn broke into two pieces. -The regular margarita is very good, as is the Smokey Pablo. -The Mango dessert is good, but very strangely presented...its like a creamy yogurt dessert on a plate with something on top. It tasted amazing, but again, presentation was wierd. The Cons: -Prices are kinda out there for what you get, but in that area of the city, that is to be expected -Having to get 4 of the same types of taco's in an order, and not being able to try different kinds. Ususally at most mexican places you can try one chicken, one beef, etc etc, but not here. You have to get 4 of the same, and that sucks. That, if anything, will probably prevent us from coming back, because we like to feel like we tried a few different things and didn't feel that way with their menu restrictions. We'll probably go back, but with that taco restriction thing, it might be a hard sell. Juan Florez the manager is excellent and really made the evening great for us, so thanks Juan :) I may come back on my own just for the ceviche, because its so worth it!! And a smokey pablo!
(4)
Avi D.
The food is excellent with an amazing amount of options fo us as vegetarians. Why I will never go back: Ordered the 15.50 tacos and my wife ordered the 22.50 vegetarian enchilada. We felt like we needed a lil bit of heat so asked the server if they have anykind of hot sauce. He ordered a $6 chipotle salsa instead which would have been ok but it wasnt hot at all. We asked him if he can just bring us some jalapenos since he had no other option. He brought that out after 20 minutes and then chaged us $1.50 for it. Here's my point. This purports to be a fine dining establishment with prices more than enough to match. Why the hell would you then try to nickel and dime customers and fleece them? Don't treat customers as if they are stupid!
(2)
Samantha H.
Let me say this first: the food was fantastic and the drinks were great. The homemade guac and salsa (especially the chips) were the only highlights of this experience. We were seated across from an overcrowded bar that kept pushing into our meal and crowded our already squished table. We ordered appetizers to share and after waiting for them for 40 minutes (tables around us were receiving their food in a timely manner) we questioned the waiter. While he apologized profusely we still waited another ten minutes for him to come back and tell us the kitchen screwed up. When we told the manager about this he seemed to run away from our complaint by backing away toward the kitchen. Finally after waiting for more than an hour for our food our main courses arrived. By that point I was too angry to enjoy the food. At the end of the meal we had to wait another 10 minutes for our waiter to come back and offer us the check. At this point the manager decided to bring us complimentary flan to try and make up for the horrible service. When the check arrived we found that they took off the appetizers off the bill (as well as some of our main courses) but charged us for the complimentary flan. I doubt I'll ever return.
(1)
Leslee C.
The food was great, but the service was terrible. It was 7:00 on a Wednesday, we didn't get our last round of food, our waiter didn't really come by our table to check on us very much. To top it off, one person in our party got her jacket stolen from the coat check. Won't go back.
(2)
Craig R.
I went to Mercadito's the other night and was pleasantly surprised. The food was good and the service was excellent. We had the shrimp tacos and the tilapia tacos. We split an order of the fried plantains and the rice. To start we had some tasty guac. Dessert was a bread drenched in caramel with vanilla ice cream. It was yummy! Overall it was a great meal. It is a tad pricey but it is good!
(4)
Karen T.
Went for brunch and it was super slow...maybe five tables of people in the whole place yet the service was still slow. The brunch options are ok but everything is over salted or just a pile of salsa to increase flavor. The portions are tiny for the prices but the staff was friendly and professional (just slow).
(3)
Joe R.
The food was great but the service was terrible. Our waiter disappeared along with our food. When he finally showed up he asked us if we had received our food yet and I said no, what happened to it? Ten minutes later we finally got our food, and it was a warm temperature, not very hot, as if it had been sitting for a while... Needless to say it really ruined our experience. For the price, the service should never be like that. Unfortunately I don't think we will be returning.
(2)
KM I.
NO NO AND NO. Went with a reservation and it took over an hour to get seated...up to the minute of our reservation they waited despite others being taken before it when they walked in without reservation much later. Spent $50 on 3 drinks beforehand at the bar.....they were nothing special margaritas. Another $55 on dinner, plain bland, tacos, steak and chicken......I would have rather lit my money on fire than sit crammed next to some drunk loud groups. BONUS: This place turns into a ridiculously obnoxious "Jersey shore night club" after 10pm....what an atmosphere to dine in. Gross. Our server however, very nice young asian woman was outstanding.
(2)
Padraic S.
Learning we were going to River North and not the West Loop - as for some reason I thought that's where Mercadito called home - for tacos on a warm Sunday night, I was excited to try a new spot. A refreshing margarita helped us really enjoy ourselves. We started with two different salsas, the roja and the verde, and both provided the perfect amount of heat and unique flavors. Although I generally enjoy a chunkier salsa, and these were more of a smooth blend, they hit the spot perfectly with perfectly salty and crispy tortilla chips. For our entree, we decided to order two different plates of tacos - each order provides four tacos of the same ingredient, no mix-and-match option here. While we debated for a few minutes what to order, there are about a dozen different choices, we found ourselves with carnitas and tilapia. Both had rich flavors on top of fresh corn tortillas. With the warmth of the day, I'd probably pick the tilapia with avocado as the winner, although the slaw and toasted peanuts on the carnitas did provide a unique texture. As for the restaurant itself, our waitress was friendly and helpful and our food was served promptly. I appreciate a "family-style" restaurant that cooks your food to order, and brings it out when its ready. For us, it worked out perfectly, especially on a lazy Sunday evening. Although the interior is more "trendy club" than "Mexican cantina," the Talking Heads and Wilco pumping through the speakers was a welcome surprise. In the future, I'd love to venture to an entree and the endless tequila list.
(4)
Michael O.
For Tex-Mex type of food, this is as good as it gets. Beautiful space, (the old 'Sugar' space has been completely renovated) fantastic service, and unique takes on food and margaritas all executed to perfection. To call the food 'Tex-Mex' may not be fair...after all this is much, much, more than a high-end Chipotle-type place. We were able to get seated easily in the bar area without reservation on a Friday night around 7pm. But after that things picked up, so plan accordingly while this place is considered a hot spot. The food comes out in fairly small portions (think tapas) and meant to be shared (family style). So it's fun in a group to have tastes of a bunch of different small, but super-tasty, samplings. While waiting, we were brought chips and 3 fantastic guacamoles that I have never had. Yummy. I am definitely going back soon, and often.
(5)
April W.
Waited 2 hours after being told it was an hour and a half, never got in to eat, my fault, no reservations, totally annoyed but the drinks we had while waiting were so amazing I will try again. YUM YUM YUM and go ahead and complain about the price of them, but they actually have alcohol in them unlike other places.
(3)
Shannon D.
I have mixed feelings about this place. I enjoyed the drinks I had, and the food was definitely tasty. Loved the salsas, and the guacamoles went over great with my friends. However the portion sizes are incredibly small by most standards and aren't exactly cheap for what you get. Most of drinks seemed to be in the 12-15 range, which is a bit steep even for this area. The service alternated between very slow and overly attentive over the course of our 3 hour visit. Our waitress was very friendly, but would disappear for long periods of time (failing to bring our drink orders in a timely fashion). It was opening week, so I'm willing to cut them some slack. I plan to visit again in hopes that they've improved certain aspects (portion size and speed of service in particular).
(3)
Nancy Z.
This place is very pleased with itself, and its entire attitude will assure you that it does not need your business, since Rick Bayless' win for his own restaurant apparently implies that all Mexican establishments now mean awesome if they hang some paintings and attach large light fixtures to their ceilings. Food: I had the chicken taco, braised pork taco, steak taco, and battered mahi mahi taco. Chicken came out as the unanimous winner from our table. The moral of the story for the rest of the tacos is that they are dry and lacked enough of that punch you're looking for when you're paying 14 bucks for 4 small tacos. The solution is to buy the special salsas they sell, which you then lather all over the taco and pretend it was naturally that flavorful by itself. The point of the matter is that getting any small thing from this restaurant is like pulling teeth. Each order of salsa, which was about 3 bucks for a single order of salsa, is approximately 4 tablespoons of salsa. Do not go with people who do not understand the art of sharing. Guacamole, which was about 8 bucks for a single serving, was envisioned to be served to perhaps a small pet: about 1/2 cup of guac per order. Long story short, the chef had great ideas about sharable foods, but either failed to deliver on the great part or failed to deliver on the sharable part. Service: I can only say that the service was a little hilarious. You see, Mercadito is a place of rules. - No you may not sit at the table for more than 1 hour... you must move in an hour if someone had that table reserved. So shove that overpriced food, unworthy one. - No you many not order different kinds of tacos on one dish. To try the steak tacos, you must order at least four. To mix and match different tacos in an order is apparently physically impossible and the restaurant might explode. - At the Double A bar downstairs, which I will call the Butt Bar, because their emblem looks like a set of buttcheeks, is apparently "much more sophisticated than the upstairs," said the waitress there. As a result, we are not allowed to order such lowbrow drinks offered by the upstairs, when we are sitting in the downstairs area. Instead, what we are allowed to do is tell them that we would like a drink that has exactly the same ingredients as a drink from upstairs, and would they please use the exact same ingredients in the same proportions? This inquiry is ok. Just don't try to ask for the same drink by name, as it would show yourself as too uncultured to be served at the Butt Bar. - We were reminded continuously that "we are a different place," by the staff of Butt Bar, even though they served the exact same food menu, and was connected to it by a staircase that the bar staff pretended not to exist. Miscellaneous: - The drinks were interesting, and I would go there for the drinks alone. Nothing compared to the Drawing Room, but nice twists and flavors of cayenne, fire, and secrets, according to their menu. - The lighting in the bathrooms downstairs are appropriate if you possess infrared vision. Otherwise, bring a flametorch.
(3)
Carolyn M.
A meal at Mercadito is always a treat. Their margaritas are some of the best in the city, the guacamole is perfect and the tacos are excellent. I was really impressed with their take on restaurant week where they didn't skimp on portions or quality. The RW menu allowed me to try the plantains which were great and I'll definitely order again in the future. I wasn't crazy about the ceviche, but as mentioned above, you can have a great meal with a guacamole trio and some great tacos. Service is friendly- I love going here with friends.
(4)
Kamal P.
wine is cheap and food was great!!
(5)
Allison H.
Definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. The margaritas are delicious and not made with tons of syrupy mix that makes you feel sick after just one - meaning you can drink lots of them - yay! Though they are pretty strong and I was feeling it after 2, so I had one more. My husband ordered the b.n.g.t.m. drink which was some mix of tequila and rum. It was a bit too strong for me but he seemed to enjoy it. The first time I came here was for a restaurant week special so we got to try 3 types of guacamoles, 2 ceviches, 4 types of tacos, 1 side, and dessert. This was sooo much food but I ate almost all of it because it was too good to waste! We tried the tradicional, strawberry, and toreado guacamoles. The strawberry was kind of different, I'm not sure how I feel about fruit in my guacamole but the tradicional (just traditional guac for those of you who know as little spanish as I do) was very good and the toreado, which had serrano chiles was also good. We tried the camaron and dorado ceviches. Both were very good though if there's any course I could have done without and not feel like I gained 10 lbs in one sitting it would have been this one. The tacos were really what made the meal. My husband and I kept trying each one saying "oh my god, you have to try this"and "no try this!!". Definitely weren't authentic Mexican (not that I really know what that is but I can tell you it wasn't this) but that's what made them so good. We tried the camaron (shrimp), estilo baja (battered mahi mahi), pollo (even I know this means chicken though I've been pronouncing it poh-low for years...whoops), and carne (skirt steak). All were amazing and had delicious sauces and marinades. All mexican I have now compares to these amazing little tacos. I can't remember what we had for dessert but I'm pretty sure I only had a bite of it because I was so full. I can't wait to go back here - such a great combo and amazing food and delicious drinks!
(5)
Katie U.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city! Best cocktails ever, especially the Pepino El Pyu, it has cucumbers in it and is very refreshing. The must try's on the menu are the shrimp tacos (especially if you like spicy food), mahi mahi tacos and pork and pineapple tacos. All of the guacs are good too.
(5)
Jacqueline M.
Cool Latin dining spot. Really tasty corn bites (appetizers) and excellent tacos (especially halibut tacos with homemade slaw). The al pastor tacos were succelent as well but not exactly the same flavor as you'd find at the authentic taco stands dotting most Mexican villages. Music selection was really schizo.. Way too eclectic for a non-eclectic restaurant. Song sequence went from Credence Clearwater Revival to Milli Vanilli to Beyonce. What the...? Would have totally made sense if the menu was varied like that but it was all Latin based. Also, the salsas were a bit of a joke in that the portions were about 1 tablespoon per. I can understand caviar but salsa? It's one of the cheapest things to make! Service was impeccable.
(4)
Andrew T.
Only been to Mercadito one time and I would surely go back again! I was there with a great group; we had drinks flowing and more importantly, we had an array of tacos, salsaa and ceviche to choose from. The food can provide a rush of flavor - savory, creamy and great use of spice. I enjoyed my drinks as well and enjoyed plenty of margaritas and a few caipirinhas. On a side note, I enjoyed the decor and the excitement going through the place. Made for a good time. No complaints for my first time!
(4)
Scott N.
I went there with a couple buddies and planned on spending a while there and it was a blast. We had several drinks at the bar, all of which were well made, so we didn't mind waiting 45 minutes for our table despite having a reservation. We ordered family style so everyone got a taste of everyone and that was definitely the way to go. The mahi and white fish tacos were outstanding, as were the flautas. I was not as fond of the shrimp taco but I would still give them a 7 out of 10. Great atmosphere- the place was packed. Music selection was also good although slightly random and eclectic- maybe no a bad thing either. Overall this spot has great food and is definitely worth the wait. Pay attention to the address though because it's very easy to drive right past this place.
(4)
Cecilia L.
I went there for lunch on a chilly, rainy day and walked in to a almost-completely restaurant. My biggest gripe about the place? The restaurant was freezing!! I'm not sure if they were cutting down on the heat or something to save costs (since there were more employees than customers that day), but I had to keep my coat on the whole time. The portions are also pretty small. I guess my expectations were off after looking at the prices for lunch, but it seemed like the portions were tiny!! For appetizers, we ordered a salsa a guac. For the lunch entree, I ordered the carne asada tacos and my friend got the chicken mole tacos. It definitely was *just* the right amount of food, which is unusual since 2 apps and 2 entrees is normally too much food for my friend and I. The food itself gets a 4 star, since the mole sauce on the chicken was great and the steak was great. Okay, I'm gonna downgrade it to 3.5 stars because we're not allowed to mix and match tacos. It would have been nice to get 3 different tacos with 1 order. Also, the guac wasn't something to rave about (definitely didn't taste fresh). I LOVE LOVE LOVE guac and make a lot of it at home myself, and the guac at Mercadito's seemed like it had been sitting in some super cool fridge for 5 hours. Overall 3 stars - 3.5 for the food, and 3 for the frigid temperatures.
(3)
Yayo T.
NOT BAD. That's about as good as it gets. The margaritas (original margarita only) rock. I couldn't tell you about the rest of the drink menu.I asked for 3 different drinks from their menu, but they were out of the ingredients (hell, even out of mint leaves for a Mojito... that was my last resort when they couldn't make any of the other drinks I found interesting on their menu). Nothing on the menu stood out. We wasted our money on the 'tasting menu" since someone in our group was adamant on ordering it. Word of advise... don't waste your money on the tasting menu. Their portions are small to tiny. They don't offer enough for everyone to enjoy. Pop in for drinks, maybe an appetizer, but move on for dinner somewhere else.
(2)
Chaz A.
Clashing atmosphere, tiny (bland) salsa, and mediocre guacamole make this place dull. Great drinks. The music was weird as hell too, like Weezer playing after Tiesto, after some drum and bass ambient electro.
(2)
Mindy S.
I had no expectations going in, but when I called last minute on a Saturday and heard that there was a good wait, I had to try it out and see why everybody was there. The bar was fantastic - unique drinks made w/the care that you only see at a few places in the city. The atmosphere was trendy, but not pretentious, the music was a good volume, and it would even be a great place to hang out for drinks only. The food - extremely flavorful and unique. 5 kinds of guac - the original, Mango, and Mole were all fantastic. The ceviche was amazing as well. The tacos - wow. Quality ingredients and unique, bold flavors. 2 of us shared 2 orders of tacos, 4 tacos each, which was plenty (after the apps). I compare these tacos to De Cero (West Loop). Similar concept, only at Mercadito, the tacos aren't ale carte, so you have to choose 4 of the same kind of taco, but both the Carne and Chorizo tacos were really great. If you want Mexican food, in this part of town, you know you already had the best choices in the city, and now Mercadito is on that list.
(5)
Len K.
Pros: -A unique take on Mexican food which is served up in a Tapas format -Extremely unique drinks -Very pretty decor -Staff appears to be very professional and friends -Is trendy, but not pretentious -Very unique taco combinations and flavors Cons: -Much more expensive than typical for Mexican food. The food was very good, but I don't think the price reflects the gap in better taste -Drinks are in a similar boat. They were very unique and nice to look at, but the choices of flavors were a bit odd to everyone in our party -Feels crammed. I think if there were about 10 less tables in the restaurant it would be fine, but we felt like we were sitting right in the middle of someone else's dinner. It's not meant to be an intimate setting of course, but the layout could be a bit more conducive to providing people with some more breathing room.
(4)
Stephanie M.
This place is definitely over rated - hubby and I had reservations for a Saturday night during Restaurant Week - when I make reservations for a certain time, I expect to be seated at that time - I was on time, so they should be too - pushing us off to the bar to purchase over-priced, weak cocktails is very unprofessional - and they have lost a customer because of it....once we were finally seated - 25 mins after our reservation time, service started a little slow....we order from the RW menu which gave us an option of ordering any cocktail $11.50 or under for an a additional $7 - I wanted a drink that was $12 dollars and asked the server if I could pay the additional .50 and she told me no - that I would probably order more than one drink anyway....really - come on!! More drink pushing - anyway we each ordered one $11.50 drink and then our shared dinner - everything was OK - too crowded and loud - will we be back...uncertain - probably not and I will make sure our friends and family of the BAD experience we had here.
(2)
Raytus C.
Mercadito is a trendy restaurant - it is very loud - even with a few tables seated. I went at lunch and it was acceptable, but by the end when it was full -- it was too loud to enjoy company - and that's why I don't give Mercadito a four star rating. The food was good. Had the two guac starter - both were very fresh and tasty. I had the fish taco and my friend had the shrimp. The shrimp were great, the fish tacos were a little heavy on a coleslaw taste. They don't let you mix and match, which is weak. The drinks were good - a little on the weak side - but very original. Mercadito is very hard to find. It has a dark metal sign about the size of a cumputer screen at the side of the door and nothing else, so keep an eye out.
(3)
Tim S.
Had a couple appetizers that were very tasty, my tacos were good and the server was very attentive. .
(4)
Jennifer R.
I had been looking forward to trying Mercadito and recommended this restaurant for a work dinner...even though I had yet to actually try it or any of it's other locations. Overall, the food was really good, but the service was SOOOOOO slow. I think it's because they were still trying to understand the flow of the restaurant (being new and all). Well, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that. I really don't enjoy sitting at dinner for 2.5 hours with only 5 people. It's somewhat odd. Unless I'm in Europe. We tried a number of items on the menu: Pepino el pyu: This was a great drink! Very refreshing. I don't like cumin and should have ordered without the cumin salt. Note to self. Tradicional and Mango Guacamole: I enjoyed both of these, but the servings were so small. I just don't love to get a tiny spoonful of guacamole especially when sharing. Ugh. It means I can only put a dab on my chip. It makes no sense. Chiptole and Verde Salsa with Corn Bites: Salsa was great - the corn bites were unique...I prefer the chips though and they need to give way more chips. Tacos: Estilo Baja (mahi mahi) - TO DIE FOR! My mouth is watering as I write this! Camaron (shrimp) - could have gone without....after the mahi mahi the shrimp was a waste of time Pollo (chicken) - I didn't try Rajas (black bean hash) - the server actually forgot to put in the order for the vegetarian taco....it was the one thing I was eager to try since I'm a veg who eats fish. We ended up getting it after everyone was stuffed. It was amazing!!!!!!!!! So good I took the rest home because no else could eat it. Yeah for me! Carne (skirt steak) - I didn't try Elote Mexicano (corn on the cob) - No good. I think it has mayo on it. My apologies for not knowing the mexican corn on the cob, but NO NO. I took one bite and put it down. Arroz Verde (green rice casserole) - Freaking incredible! What a treat! Plantanos Machos (fried plantains) - Good. I'm glad I tried these, but I probably wouldn't order them on my 2nd trip. They were greasy. I'll def be going back here......looking forward to it! Just hope the service is up to speed!
(4)
Candice R.
I loved my dinner at Mercadito. Rachel G. and I went out to dinner here about a week after it opened and I'm a fan. We had three gaucs (normal, pomegranate and mango) and the verde salsa. The salsa and the mango gauc were my favorite. Savory like whoa. Then we shared three tacos, the tacos al pastor (to die for), the chicken mole tacos (good), and the huranages (spelling's so off). The tacos al pastor totally took the cake. And the icing, and the tablecloth. They were tasty. Even though we were stuffed, we managed to split a flan for dessert. My first time having flan, and let me say I was impressed. We also had a couple of drinks. Takes way too long to get the drinks in this joint, but look at everything they have to do to make one. Skipping over that, the service was excellent. Total tab: 3 gaucs, 1 salsa, three tacos, a flan, and three drinks: $90 and we were stuffed.
(4)
Erin R.
What a great find! During the holidays my girlfriends and I wanted somewhere to celebrate with some cocktails and good food. One of my friends had been here before and loved it so we all decided to give it a shot. So glad I did. We were seated right away (was around 6pm on a Wednesday). it was already pretty crowded even then. The space is really well designed. love the lighting. I have never had flavored guacamole until I came to Mercadito.....Seriously such a great idea! We got the trio and tried a few different flavors, I forget offhand what we got but they were all equally good. I am also a huge sucker for tacos and we all ordered a different flavor, they are filling though so we couldn't finish them all. I need to eat soft chicken/fish/pork tacos more often, damn they are good here.
(4)
Steve N.
A loud fun place with really good food and service. It's all tapas all the time so the tab runs up fast but the food is great. Our server was excellent and there was sufficient "server support" to keep the table clean and pick up the "dead plates." I strongly suggest pacing yourself. Order only one or two tapas at a time. They come out fast and come out when ready. This is not food in courses. This can also prevent over ordering. When I was there (early on a Saturday night) we got in and seated pretty easily. As the evening progressed so did the crowd. Lots of 20 somethings in the bar area dressed for the clubs. Aothough I did not get to check it out, I understand that there is a lower level with DJ's etc. Great place, great service and great food. Bring plenty of $ or have plenty in your account.
(4)
Tracey C.
We had a good experience at Mercadito. Modern, chic, upscale, small plate Mexican. We went between Christmas and New Years on a Tues night so it was quieter than normal which was great. Went with husband and 2 sons. Loved the trio of Quac(camote and grenada were particularly memorable) and the chips are terrific too. Also loved the Queso Fundidto...try it with the short ribs, recommended by our server, great flavor!. We also sampled 4 different taco plates, each was VERY flavorful and that's what we love. One thing to be careful of is which Margarita you order...I was looking for their basic and was coaxed into the don julio version at $15! The basic at $10.50 was expensive enough! My bad, I did not know the prices.. Overall a very good experience, none the less.
(4)
Mary M.
over-rated! Food is sub-par and wayyyy over priced. Drinks are quite good, though $12 a piece. Desert was good also. We wont be back.
(2)
Jennifer B.
I'm having self fight trying to decide what I liked better about Mercadito....their amazing food or the high possibility of sitting next to a celebrity.... This place is like high-rent Mexican food. If you've ever been to Dos Caminos in NYC this is much the same....smaller plates (NOT tapas, just smaller portions), inventive menus, beautiful decor, and gorgeous people. These people certainly aren't the people that are plowing through baskets and baskets of chips and salsa. Good thing too, because Mercadito doesn't give free chips and salsa! It's too classy. My favorite part of Mercadito's menu is the option to choose the salsas and guacamoles. You can customize based upon your preference! Yay! Also loved the plaintains...it's so hard to find a restaurant do right by way of plaintains, and Mercadito delivers! The tacos are also wonderful. Yes they are small, but if you want to be one of said gorgeous Mercadito patrons then you must exercise portion control! If this place is busy now, I can't imagine what it'll be like in the summer, when they have outdoor seating. Sitting alfresco, maxing/relaxing with a lime margarita while enjoying the sun...yeah that sound like a plan.
(5)
J M.
Went during restaurant week. Probably not the type of place I would want to frequent (is it a restaurant or a club?) but I got to admit, the food was amazing. ALL OF IT. From the guacamole to the desert. Highlights: The al pastor tacos and the shrimp ceviche. Also, the customer service was five star. Prices were not over the top but it's not a cheap taco joint. Overall, great experience.
(5)
Jackie L.
Ate brunch here today thanks to my friend's recommendation and was floored by how delicious my carne tacos were. Absolutely scrumptious. The skirt steak was so tender and juicy and the cactus/potato cheese sauce was amazing. Just enough spice to keep me wanting more. Very reasonably priced for the ambiance and deliciously prepared tacos.
(4)
Erin C.
Underwhelmed. Not sure if it's the new/haven't gotten the kinks out yet, but my experience at Mercadito was unimpressive. First, it smelled like they had just waxed the floors when we walked in. Headache-inducing smell. Not quite appetizing. The menu was simple and there were a lot of good-looking items to be had. We decided to start with some guac - Mercadito has a few different varieties of guac available - but they all tasted about the same. And they were really little for our group to share. Would have been nice if the server had let us know. When it came to ordering entrees, the menu was slightly confusing. There were a bunch of taco options and it seemed as though you could mix & match (like at DeCero), but alas you could only choose one type of taco for your platter. Disappointing. I wound up ordering the torta (the vegetarian option) and it was delish. But I barely touched my rice and beans because they were just off for some reason. Service was slow and sort of awkward. Again, the restaurant had only been open for a few weeks when we dined there, so I'd be willing to give it another chance. That said, there are a lot of other great Mexican options in Chicago so I don't know how soon it is that I will return.
(2)
Jennifer L.
Okay, I enjoyed my girls night out at Mercadito. I tried it because it was on Metromix as a new hot spot (who wouldn't want to try it?). Well, after we all arrived, we were never rushed, but still had great service. The food was good. For starters, we had to try a couple of different guacamoles and salsas with our chips. I think that was the best part of the meal. Aside from the margaritas, which were pretty good. My friends and I all agreed that the chips and guacamoles/salsas were very tasty. After awhile, we were told that our meals would probably arrive at different times (whenever they were ready). Well, in a nice restaurant, one would hope to be served whenever all of the dishes are ready. I was literally sitting there for about 15-20 minutes (sipping my margarita-so who really knows) before my meal finally arrived. My friends were almost finished eating their entrees. My meal was HOT (SPICY hot). I had no clue it was even supposed to be hot. It was a fish entree, almost like a burrito. I could barely eat it because I'm not one who loves hot entrees. I got through all of it with a little help from my margarita. I can't say the food was bad. I can say that the restaurant is SMALL. My friend was literally on top of the crowd hanging out at the bar. Not cool. Not many tables are away from the crowd because it tends to be a fairly crowded place. Good service, good chips/guacamole/salsa, decent meals....just a few flaws. Not sure what ALL the hype is about/not sure I would recommend it, but I had to try it to find out for myself!
(3)
eileen b.
Great potential but a logistical nightmare. First, the good news: the food was delicious. We started off with their trio of guacamoles -- a traditional one, a smokey one and then a pomegranate one. Fresh and reflecting a variety of flavors, the guacs were a great start. Their margaritas, while slow to prepare, were equally delightful, especially the one with cucumber. And the tacos -- camarones, mole and pescado, were flavorful with just enough heat. I would avoid the quesadilla since it was pretty dry and the corn pico de gallo since they overdosed on the garlic, but nevertheless, the food part of our meal was worth a solid 3 stars. Now, the bad news: We had to wait 40 minutes to be seated, even though we had a reservation. Once we were being seated, they attempted to fit 5 of us at a table clearly made for 4. We talked a kind busboy into letting us expand our table by adding another 2-top. Halfway through our meal, we saw them doing the same thing to a party of 6 next to us. We offered to move over so they could expand to another table, but seriously -- Is it OUR job to figure out their seating situation? And then on our way out, they wouldn't even take our constructive criticism into account. If they plan to get any better, they ought to listen to their patrons.
(2)
Marla R.
This place is really good if you know what to order. The drinks are great, but be careful that you order something you like (they are all very bold tasting, I've loved 50% and hated 50%). I feel the same way about the guacamole, there are a few I love and a few I can't handle, wish they had a good standard. The reason to come here is the great tacos. I love all of the tacos I have ever had here, and wish I could eat them every day. Skip the seafood apps and head to the tacos, all are great! Fun place to come for large groups, you can do a set price meal and all you can drink if you set it up in advance. Great service (very helpful with questions) and trendy/fun atmosphere.
(4)
Swati B.
Went here for Brunch on a Sunday...wow this place was packed 1pm! We did a tasting menu for brunch (during the extended restaurant week menu). I LOVED their Pomegranate Guac..it was just the right mix of savory and sweet...their traditional guac was amazing as well..the Mango Guac was tasty but of the 3 my least favorite...but still very good. The Tacos I had were great..they were able to make the Mahi Mahi tacos without the fish and put fried zucchini which was really good...the Hongos were delicious but my favorite were the brunch Tacos with the scrambled eggs..WOW!!! The manchego cheese pancakes were OUTSTANDING!! I almost wish this was what I ended the meal with...the cheesecake tasted so blah compared to the pancakes! And I am not a big sweet tooth person at breakfast... The drink I had was the Auntie Ox...so flavorful! Service was fast..friendly and knowledgeable...overall a great experience. Still has quite the trendy/posh looking crowd here...and street parking was easy on a Sunday, but they do have valet for $12...I'll be going back here for brunch again soon!
(5)
Uma I.
Mercadito is a Spanish/Mexican restaurant where you can get tapas like small dishes to share. They also have full dinner though we kept with the small dishes. Has great ambiance and friendly service. Our choices included fish taco, quesadillas, roasted cauliflower, flautas, and a variety of salsas among other things. It was a nice experience and I would highly recommend Mercadito for a fun outing.
(4)
Jessica L.
Went here last week for the Restaurant Week menu with Dana G. & Candice G. and let me tell you - What a pleasant surprise! Good Drinks? YES Spicy Food? YES Ambiance? YES We arrived right on time for our 8:30 reservation and the place was hopping - every table full and a crowd around the bar (but enough room to stand/order drinks at the bar - not to worry). We were greeted by the lovely hostess and asked to wait a few moments at the bar until our table was available - we were quite OK with this. We each ordered one of the specialty tequila drinks to start and the best part may have been watching the bartender kick-ass making 5 different drinks at one time! AH-MAZE-ING. She lined up five different shakers right up on the bar and her arms were flying left and right pouring different tequilas & mixers into each. Then it was shaking time - I have no idea how she did it - and each of our 3 drinks tasted delicious. I had the smokey pablo which was unique in its smokiness, but I could only have a sip of it as it was not to my taste, but definitely worth a try. Right as our drinks were being handed to us we were seated at our table which although small, was big enough for the 3 of us and most of the food we ended up ordering. Since it was restaurant week, we were able to choose 3 gaucs, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 1 side and 2 desserts for the table as well as 1 cocktail apiece - all for only $40 per person (I tried to add it all up if it weren't restaurant week and I think before tax our total would have been about $140, so we saved about $20 - I'm down with that). OK, now for the important stuff - how was the food? Well let me tell you, it was tasty! We started with the tradicional (so refreshing, so flavorful - perfect texture), toreado (not the best looking - kind of a muddy green color, but had a bit of a kick) & granada (pomegranate was out of season so they substituted strawberries - I just wasn't impressed with the texture or the flavor of this one) guacamoles - favorite listed fist. Next came the ceviche (quick note, the bread served with the ceviche was quite delicious, almost like a cracker that doesn't make crumbs everywhere - don't know what it was but the texture complimented the ceviche perfectly). We had the dorado & callo ceviche - the dorado was so refreshing and light tasting with just enough citrus - yum. The Callo was alright, but I didn't love the grapes with it - it made it a little too sweet for my taste. (By now we are already starting to get full - no worries about there being enough food at this restaurant during restaurant week) Taco Time! We had Carnitas de puerco, rajas, hongos & camaron (I was with a vegetarian friend, so we opted to try only 1 with meat, 2 with veggies & 1 shrimp). I love meat, so my favorite by far was with carnitas - it was so perfectly shredded, *Spicy*, juicy, delicious - more please! The other 3 were just OK for me - the shrimp was a bit too smoky flavored for me and way too much sauce, the rajas was tasty but I really wanted a protein with those beans and the hongos was unique, but nothing I felt I needed to eat more of. For a side we ordered the arroz verde which I found to be underwhelming due to the mushy texture of the rice, but I couldn't pass up the chance to eat something topped with melted, gooey chihuahua cheese! (We took a breather here and ordered a round of drinks - so much food and it kept coming out one dish after another - it was almost overwhelming) Round 2 of drinks - I played it safe and ordered a margarita tradicional - you can't go wrong with this if you like margaritas. Dana G. ordered pepino el pyu which was by far the best tasting beverage of the night - so refreshing - if you like cucumber at all you must try this! Candice G. ordered a shady gato which was a little on the sweet side, but also refreshing - all of these drinks were better than the smokey pablo. So dessert, really? We don't have room for this, but since it was included, we forced ourselves to order the chocolate cake with chiles and a raspberry cheesecake and boy were we ever glad we made room. The cheesecake was light, airy, fluffy and not at all dense as some cheese cakes can be. The chocolate cake had a perfect harmony of spice/sweet/chocolate but was very rich - a couple of bites were more than enough. Overall our server was attentive but not in our way, the atmosphere did not feel like a typical Chicago restaurant - the vibe is much more energetic and fun, the food was good and the drinks were great. This is a place I can see myself at again.
(4)
M O.
If you're thinking about trying Mercadito, I would implore you to seek out an alternative. Read my story below of how Mercadito's owner singlehandedly crushed an expensive brunch First, our waitress was telling us about the menu when the music was suddenly ratcheted up to way-too-loud. When she noticed the alarmed look on our faces, she explained that she saw the owner had just arrived, and apparently he likes his Top 40 bumpin. Funnily enough, when someone in control of the music realized how absurd the noise level was, and turned it down, the half-full restaurant broke into applause. I've never seen such a thing at an upscale, sit-down restaurant. Then, we never saw our waitress again. Another girl came by the table 20 minutes later and took our food order. She turned our to be the manager on duty that morning, and explained in hushed tones and uncomfortable smiles (as if to communicate "i know this is gonna sound bad, but tee-hee, such is life") that our server was first "dealing with some things" and then "was pulled onto the owners table" to "meet his every need". She finally tilted her head back indicating toward one large table of attractive people surrounding one fat ass in an ill-fitting button down, suggesting said fat ass was the owner, who clearly prioritizes his own fat ass getting fed before his patrons. Jerk. Finally, as nearby tables' frustrations grew, patrons began to complain amongst ourselves, and no one had ever witnessed such a drastic change in service; from good/decent to begin with, to non-existent. One couple who arrived a little later got wind of the abhorrent service and quickly asked for their order to-go. We dropped $100 on a meal that absolutely sucked - because the loser owner had to entertain (read: buy) his friends.
(1)
Toby B.
This is a spectacular Mexican restaurant with refined ingredients and flavor. The ceviche (all 3 of them) not only had great flavor, but the seafood was beyond delicious, . We had the mole tacos and the mole had an adventurous taste with it's mild spicy kick (in my opinion) with a nice hint of sweetness. Of course, first look at the price and you might be concerned, but Mercadito is one of those places you can bring your friends and family, especially if they are out-of-town. Not only do they get a unique and memorable dining experience, but I believe it leaves a positive impression on high end Mexican food. It's definitely a place we have visited multiple times and would return back even for a quick snack! Ceviche and mole tacos would be a nice midnight snack for anyone!!!
(5)
Chris W.
The food was very good. The atmosphere on Saturday night was crowded and loud. The service was attentive but the cadence of food delivery was horrible. My wife was finished with her fish tacos long before my enchiladas were served. This seems like a good gathering place where you can casually graze on small plates with friends. Not a good place to take a date as you'll be eating at different times and unable to maintain a convo. Unusual quirks included no dessert(!) and the fact you are unable to mix your tacos in an order (they come in fours)
(3)
Kathy L.
All I can say is two words since we left this establishment.... wrong move! I'm so disappointed in myself for choosing this place for a romantic evening trying to "spice up" things between my fiance and I. Wrong move! The hostess was on face book on her i phone or whatever and that was top priority over seating us! We finally sat down to a noisy party of 8 after requesting a private table. Wrong Move! Ordered our entrees and requested a split plate and when the food was finally delivered.... it was on one plate and cold.... Again wrong move! The drinks were totally over priced for the pour! Just put it this way........ It was a quiet ride home but made the most of a bad situation! Thank god for Godiva chocolates and absolute vodka! Right Move! Never again will We make that wrong move!
(1)
Valentina V.
If I'm being honest with myself this place isn't the greatest. It's very trendy and has more of a lounge vibe than a restaurant. There is always music playing and it can get really loud, we were basically shouting the entire meal. The tacos are just ok, skip the ceviche and try the gaucamole. There was one thing I loved and would go back for, the rest of my party was jealous they didn't order it, and that was the tampiqueña (skirt steak). It had great favor and was very juicy.
(2)
Anna C.
Mercadito had quick awesome service. My boyfriend and I were in a rush coming in. We thought it would take awhile, it being a more upscale Mexican restaurant. Boy was I wrong! Our food came out fast! We ordered chips and salsa before our tacos; only one suggestion.... Don't be so stingy with the sauce! The sauce is awesome but it was sooooo little. Other than that the tacos were alright. Nothing beats the little hole in the wall Mexican joints but this was still pretty good.
(3)
Jai S.
Great place to find vegetarian food.. Loved the tortillas with different Guacamoles and salsas. Do try out the mango salsa.. tastes amazing! There are some good entrees.. From tapas style dishes to crunchy entrees, this place has a lot of offer. The ambience is very hip..always buzzing whenever I have visited for dinner. Now for the best dish I have had here- Caramel custard!! Have never been able to stop with just one portion. It is sinfully tasty!! Mercadito - a must!
(5)
Rosa C.
Really nice restaurant, delicious fusion Mexican cuisine, nice environment, good cocktails and music. If you want a private environment to talk and later party hardy ask for downstairs tables. All dishes are delicious, I recommend to try the top sellers tacos: Pancita, ESPADA, pastor, carnitas. Also Elote. If you are Peruvian, you will be surprised with the Peruvian drink: Chilcano or Pisco Sour. The bartender: Luis Barrios learned to prepare those drinks in Peru and he is really friendly and can give great recommendations in dishes too. I also got impress with the decoration: monarchs butterflies in the restroom
(5)
Su C.
Mercadito!! First off, murals, murals, contemporary rustic murals. The ambiance was decorated with a rope candelabra which added a nice granja (ranch) feel, not to mention the exposed faded painted brick walls... Space is a bit tight...but the intimacy is part of the tre chic crowd. Jeff bartender was very informative, also spoke the necessary Spanish to breakdown the ingredients perfectly!He rec the pastor guac, roasted pineapple and a crunchy chicarron added texture. Followed by a shrimp watermelon ceviche which was dead on amazing, perfectly balanced; could hardly taste the fishiness of shrimp. The last true defining appetizer was the corn on the cob which was charred roasted underneath the classic elote on the cob street carrito toppings. Earplugs at bar a must, if you're near by margarita station, since the constant tapping of steel cocktail shakers are a bit of a shell shock ( quite getting used to after a while). But very worth standing there since you can get a good feel for the entire place standing up. Chips were ok, could have a bit more oil to them. Tostadas however were like communion wafers, so delectable and the right amount of a soft crunch. Finished with the lobster tacos to go because I was too full to eat anymore. Overall, the staff were very affable. The house manager Rafa couldn't have been more welcoming. At the end, I was asked to create a quote to be entered into a twitter quote contest which I said, "beautiful food for beautiful people." My hats off to them! I'm sure that when I return, I will be able to add another star when I can actually sit down to be served and can actually experience the hospitality portion of the establishment. Salud amigos... Ervin Martinez Marketing department Su Casa Restaurant Since 1963 on an 1867 converted carriage house. This review was brought to you in part by a business partnership with the surround River North restaurants of Chicago.
So, I thought it was just a bad server the first time I attended that made the experience bad. I was wrong. I accidentally came here with my boyfriend to celebrate my birthday (I confused it with another restaurant so I agreed to come). He made reservations the day before and informed them it was my birthday as well. When we arrive, they guide us to a table between two other tables while there were numerous other tables available. I ask them for another table, they oblige. The table next to us obviously have a birthday girl at the table as well and they bring out a dessert to celebrate her. Let's just say that they never got around to doing the same for me. In addition, we were rushed out yet again. Even the bus boy tried to take the mat from underneath the plates while we're still sitting there! Overall, just a horrible experience. The food is decent, but the service (which I think is equally as important) was just horrible.
(2)
Alyssa P.
3.5ish Mercadito - a trendy restaurant with a surprisingly simple natural decor, super friendly staff and several yummy menu items. Here's a quick breakdown of some items we tried: House-made lemonade - fantastically refreshing with the option to add fruit juices*. I added passion fruit to mine - so delicious. Other flavors included strawberry, cucumber, mango, pineapple and watermelon. Guacamole - we ordered two for $12.50 - the traditional (pico, jalapeno, garlic and cilantro) and mango (jicama, chipotle and pico). The first was a-ok, very typical. The mango on the other hand had a nice kick to it. Chunky avocado + bits of mango + chipotle = creamy sweet spicy deliciousness. Chips that were served with were nice and crunchy but for the price I was expecting a little more guac. The portion was about the same you get at Chipotle for $3. Tacos! (four tacos for $11.50) All tacos served in a corn tortilla. I've never been a fan of corn, I usually find them heavy. Mercadito's were nice and light. Pork - aka Pastor (chile ancho rubbed pork, chile de árbol salsa, grilled pineapple). Great flavor in these tacos but hard to eat. The pork isn't shredded, its cut into cubes...and kept falling out of the tortillas. Fish - aka Espada (blackened swordfish, spicy aioli, cabbage-jalapeño slaw) was really nice - nice flaky fish, good flavor, I wish the portion of the filet was bigger but what can ya do? Mac & Cheese - Ahhh super creamy elbow mac with poblano, manchego cheese, corn, cilantro. Oh my gosh. I would never have thought to put corn in my mac but this was amazing. Creamy, spicy, al dente pasta. For some crazy reason my table mates didn't love this one, but they are crazy. Order the mac and cheese, at $6 for a nice portion I'd order another two. Queso Fundido - probably my least favorite of lunch. One of my table mates said 'it's like making your own quesadilla'. Meh, I didn't like this one at all... gooey cheese was hard to scoop out of its dish and even more difficult to spread on the corn tortilla. Even the chorizo didn't help. Wouldn't order again. So, Mercadito is a worthy spot for lunch depending on what you're looking for - try the lemonade, the mac & cheese, and the swordfish tacos.
(3)
Effie D.
Went for lunch with work friends and service was beyond horrible. It wasn't even too busy as there were still plenty of open tables. Our waitress would go MIA for long periods of time and we would need to ask the bus boys to grab her each time we needed her. We ordered our entrees after sitting for 30 mins. The food came out fast, but we were there from start to finish for close to 2 hrs just b/c we kept waiting for her to come back. Despite the horrible service, the food was delicious. Ordered swordfish tacos and Pastor (pork) tacos which were very tasty. The swordfish was soft and the cole slaw on top was a perfect compliment. The sauce on the pastor had just a hint of spice and the pieces of pineapple added a great sweet touch. The flan is the best I've ever had. Not to sweet and not to watery. I'm willing to go back to try more dishes but I do hope they hire more workers so we don't have the same beyond horrible experience.
(3)
Harris I.
A friend and I were at the rooftop at the Wit talking to strangers and they mentioned "best tacos in Chicago" referring to Marcaditos and we had to try. We walked in around 6pm, and the place was jammed packed. An hour and a half wait time was given to us but the hostess mentioned that there may be seating downstairs. We went down and found open seating very quickly. I ordered the Carne tacos. It was love at first bite...the flour tortilla was the softest, and the steak was done just right. It had an amazing kick to it... Perfect place to take a date, or go as a group. You want to make reservations before. A trendy place to go! Im already making plans to go back soon!
(5)
Dalia M.
I was between 3 and 4 stars but given how Edith treated us well my first time here, I decided to go with four. I have been here twice in the last month or so. Came in with a girlfriend once on a weekday and we sat quickly but then waited 20 minutes to place an order. The second it was three of us on Saturday - again sat quickly and then waited a bit for the one drink we ordered to be made and brought over - our app came out first actually. The cocktails are fun and tasty, the ceviche was good but nothing crazy, the tacos were very delicious - we had the al pastor and the steak ones. Second time did fish, steak and then the short rib DIY taco. I wish they served the tacos a la carte or perhaps two per order. Four seems pretty aggressive and I like trying different kinds! It's pricey, upscale Mexican food in a fun, trendy spot that's pretty entertaining. Service has been slow both times but I was won over by food, cocktails and my surroundings. Would come back for a fun night out!
(4)
Jeana C.
Mercadito is a great place to go to with friends or with a date. Dark, trendy, loungy but can be really loud. They have an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs is more for actual dining while downstairs is more like a bar. The times I have been there have been great. The shrimp tacos and The big nose goes to Mexico (cocktail that is on fire-literally) are my go-tos!
(4)
Brad W.
One of my favourite stops for Mexican food in Chicago. I love the guacamole choices. The spicy salsa is a must try. Tacos come in 4's so easy to share. Famous for margaritas.. Outstanding service! Only negative is tables very close so hard to have privacy if that's what you there for.. Never disappoints.
(5)
Mahina W.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night. Wow it was packed and really loud! The atmosphere is very hip and the crowd is mostly in their late 20s/30s. Lots of large parties..we got seated next to what seemed like a bachelorette party because one of the girls was wearing a tiara with questionable shapes attached. We ordered: Appetizer: **lobster ceviche Entree: **Espada tacos (4 blackened swordfish tacos with spicy aoili and cabbage-jalapeno slaw) **Pancita tacos (herb-marinated pork belly, roasted orange hash, spring greens slaw, cilantro, chicharron, chipotle-piloncillo vinaigrette) Drinks: **Big Nose goes to mexico - cool flaming drink! **Little Market - loved the pineapple flavor It was pretty hard to hear the server because the restaurant was SO loud but the food was delicious! There are lots of options for tacos. My favorite food item was the pancita tacos. The drinks were also both great. The tacos can come with tortillas or lettuce wraps. My friend has a gluten allergy and we were able to get 2 of each type of taco with lettuce instead! Great place for a fun dinner with drinks, especially if you want a late dinner or like Mexican with a twist.
(5)
Mallory Z.
I can't decide if this is an objective 2 stars or subjective. Maybe it's just me because the place was packed but I can't be the only one with these opinions. My sister, mom, and I picked this place for our monthly dinner. My sister called early in the day asking for a 7pm reservation (on a Thursday). She was told they had no reservations available at 7 but they had a 6:45. Haha seriously? So we took it. They showed up around 6:50. I rolled in around 7. The place was pretty crowded and the entire place reeked of BO. I sat down and told my sister. She laughed because she smelled it too and thought it was the guy next to her. I disagreed because it wafted throughout the entire restaurant. I still don't know what the smell was, but please someone find the source. We started with the chips and toeado guac. This guac was amazing. A star just for that. Chips were underseasoned and underwhelming. My mom thought they were stale. I just thought they were bad. We came for the fish tacos but would have liked to try something else too. I still don't understand why you need to order 4 of the same taco. In fact, we asked the waiter and he said "that's just how the chef does it." Being out with my mom, it reminded me of all those times she said "because I said so." We decided to just order for the table. We got the mahi mahi tacos and the pork belly. We also ordered the cauliflower and green rice. Nothing really stood out. I want my tacos dripping in grease and regret. That's where all the flavor is. Like I said, maybe it's just me because the rest of my party liked them. The cauliflower I thought was the stand out, although it was more onions than cauliflower. The rice was average rice, like you can get out of a box, but drier. All in all the prices are way too high for the taste. Although I much prefer hole in the wall Mexican, I have nothing against fine dinning Mexican if it can stand out. This place didn't.
(2)
Lorenzo P.
Came at Mercatido with a very big group of people and that's already a problem because normally the food cannot be ordered as one wishes and you have to resort to group meals and menus. The staff did a very good job and the food all in all was good, but I'd love to come back by myself or with a smaller group to really appreciate how the restaurant is. What we had for dinner was ok, nothing special but neither bad! Nice atmosphere, good service, and nice drinks!
(3)
Catherine P.
It pains me to give this place such a mediocre review because I was looking forward to trying it out... But that's what our experience was there. Totally mediocre. We had reservations for a large group on a Saturday night. Arrived and waited an additional 20 minutes, only to be crammed into a booth meant for 6. Food, cocktails, the bill, Etc all took a little longer than usual to come out. I found the food to be decent... Nothing particularly noteworthy besides the guacamoles. The saving grace in my opinion were the delicious margaritas. The drinks and the presentation were great. I would consider coming back another time for drinks and guacamole, but considering the bounty of great places with amazing decor/ambiance, I won't be recommending this to folks anytime soon.
(3)
Kavita S.
In the past, I was a huge fan of Mercadito, and I would've given it a solid 4.5 stars. Over the past 4 years, I've dined at Mercadito for lunch and dinner at least 5 or 6 times, but have to say that I was extremely disappointed with service on Friday. This is a very generous 3 star rating. As many reviewers have mentioned already, don't expect to have a well-paced meal here. They have difficulty getting you a table on time, even with reservations. Once you do get seated, the tables and seats are jam-packed and so close to one another. It's difficult to sit down and move around. The table surface is very small, and if you order an app, a few tacos and a side dish, they're all magically going to appear at once and you will have no place for your food to fit on the table. The servers will move things around as they see fit, even your glass of water or cocktail will be moved across the table where you can't reach it during your meal. The restaurant also tends to get really noisy, but not in an energetic way. Just a tip: do not go on a first date here...you'll miss the entire conversation and lose your voice in the process. What added to this poor experience was being rushed by the servers throughout the meal. The food was not brought out in increments, but all at once, with a minute or two between the different dishes. This cluttered the table and made the dining experience every uncomfortable. We weren't finished with many of the dishes, but the staff was in a hurry to clean up the table. The servers lifted our unfinished cocktail glasses without asking and removed and shook out the placemats in front of us, while our party was still eating. This was the oddest experience I've had at Mercadito, but maybe that's how it is on Friday nights around 7pm? The only good thing is that the food and drinks do not typically disappoint. Mercadito doesn't have the best tacos or margaritas in the world, but they are definitely tasty and worth trying at least once. For what you're paying, you're better off exploring some other eateries in the area. If you don't mind being rushed, then by all means visit at your convenience. Lunch is less rushed in my opinion, so that may lead to a more pleasant dining experience.
(3)
Danielle C.
Outstanding food and service!!! We decided to try two different types of tacos, the carne & pork belly. They come 4 tacos per order, so our plan from the beginning was to share our dinners. The way they serve is as the food is ready, so it's meant to share anyways. The pork belly came out first, and was delicious! When the carne came out, I told my husband that they were even better! The wait staff was amazing! I don't think my water glass was ever less than half full the entire meal. Efficient was the word my husband used to describe the staff. Go with a small group and be prepared to share!!
(5)
Kimberly S.
For whatever reason whether it's guests in town, a girls night out or a date night I always end up at Mercadito. It's good food with great drinks. During peak hours this place does get loud and sometimes it can be hard to hear the people you're with. You are also sitting pretty close to your neighbors, but this isn't that uncommon in Chicago. Don't let these things deter you though! I love the selection of margaritas and have always found the servers helpful when I can't decide. There are plenty of tacos and side dishes to choose from for even the picky eater.
(4)
Minh C.
Best items on the menu: their guacamoles This is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at - our table of four ordered a lot of plates from across the menu, but what sticks out in my memory were the guacamoles. They ranged from sweet to slightly salty and a bit tangy, depending on which of the six you choose. If you enjoy guac, this is the place to try out a couple new concoctions - just remember to ask your waiter for extra chips, because they did skimp on that.
(4)
Michelle S.
Whether this place is completely empty or jam packed the vibe in this restaurant is always perfect. I went here again last night for our biweekly ladies night out and we had a blast. Rodrigo was our server (same as the last time we were there) and he is absolutely amazing! Next time we go I will request him only, his personality, humor, and knowledge of the food is phenomenal-- on top of that, he remembered us from the last time we were there! The menu is mostly finger foods but of the best kind-- we ordered toreado guacamole, tomatillo salsa, Elote mexicano, and pollo & pastor tacos. All were delicious and nothing was left behind. You can't go wrong at this place, from the drinks (strawberry or mango margarita) to the dessert (torrejas de bolillo) we loved every bite. We will be going back soon!
(5)
Marie C.
Amazing steak tacos. I had a birthday here and the menu was great. I tried to throw another party here and they gave me a really hard time. I made reservations and they lost them twice. The food is exceptional. The service from the hostesses could be improved.
(4)
Melissa B.
My sister and I loved this place! We were going to a party that evening and we were searching for a restaurant near the location, and we happened upon Mercadito basically by accident. We were not disappointed! We both absolutely loved the margaritas and the food. I am a vegetarian and I appreciated that many of the tacos could be made veggie-friendly. My sister and I split a couple different types of tacos and also a zucchini empanada type of thing. Absolutely EVERYTHING was delicious. We really were pleasantly surprised that this place we picked randomly was so yummy! As other people have mentioned, the restaurant was pretty loud. That didn't bother me too much though, it was a fun atmosphere. I also really liked our waiter. One weird thing was that we were seated at a table that is a booth on one side, and they pack in the tables so tightly they literally have to move the table in order to seat people at the booth. That was a little strange but the food and drinks more than made up for it! I would absolutely go back!
(4)
AJ T.
The quick & dirty review: This place sucks; it's over priced, service is hit or miss, and the food is mediocre & salty. I'd say skip Mercadito unless you've got money to burn. Ordered: - camaron and dorado ceviches (2.5/5 stars for both - not bad, just not very good) - three types of guacamole (1 star - all very odd tasting; one was flavored with way too much cinnamon or and another way too much soy sauce) - arroz verde (2 stars - literally tastes like cheese melted over rice; no depth of flavor whatsoever) - 4 types of taco: carnitas de puerco (weirdly thai inspired, and I was not a fan), camaron (way too salty, but good otherwise), pastor (this was actually pretty good, and the pineapple added just the right hint of sweetness), and the carne taco (also quite good; don't see potatoes on tacos too often, so I enjoyed this one) - 3 types of flan (3 stars - good as far as flan goes) - the coconut one was best, followed by the caramel, then the dulce de leche was just okay Came here with a group of 10 for Restaurant Week; not only was the hostess unbelievably rude, but then she messed up by seating us at a table for 8; obviously it wasn't the most comfortable of settings for our group. When the adjacent table opened up, she refused to let us use that extra space. That being said, our server and other support staff were nice enough.
(2)
Tal C.
Eh- overpriced, food was just okay, very uncomfortable seating, and weird service. The food: If you order tacos, you have to get tacos in orders of 4 (of the same taco), no mix and match, which kind of sucks if you like trying a lot of different things and aren't in a big group you can share with. I'd rather go to Big Star where you can order 1 taco, or De Cero where you can order them in pairs. I ended up ordering 8 tacos just because I wanted to try two different kinds. The beer battered mahi mahi was good, but not great. I don't even remember what the other one was exactly, but something with Chicken that was just meh. My friend also ordered 8 tacos and was underwhelmed. Decor: Very pretentious place. We got seated in the cocktail lounge, even though we had a reservation in the dining area, and we were seated at a small table with a chair on one end and a couch on the other. I sat on the couch and was TOWERING over my friend to the point that we were both very awkward and uncomfortable and kept trying to adjust ourselves. I guess the couch thing is really "in" right now, but they should at least make sure the couches and the chairs are the same height. Service: Our waiter was attentive, but not very informative and pretty confusing/awkward when we asked him questions about the menu. Don't get me wrong, the food is okay, and I've definitely had worse, but for that price, there are countless places in Chicago I'd rather eat.
(2)
Ashley R.
Food is good! It has a beautiful presentation but don't go there hungry unless you are planning on spending $200. Wonderful for a night out. The atmosphere is well worth it with a seductive vibe. I have been here twice and have not been disappointed by the food. The ONLY thing I would change is faster service. We where sitting there for a good five minutes or more each visit. I was hoping the second visit would provide better service but it did not. Server was nice and well educated of the menu doing his best to up sell. I can appreciate that. Just faster service is needed.
(3)
Alle K.
Possibly the best tacos I've ever had. Go on a Tuesday for taco Tuesday! Good service and cool atmosphere
(5)
Vincent C.
Mercadito was good, but absurdly overpriced. I'm actually jealous of how much money they take in on the weekends. I'm not one to usually complain about the cost of going out, but this was just ridiculous. For $9.50 you can get a modest ice cream scoop worth of guacamole, that doesn't get refilled. For $3 you can get 2 ounces of salsa. I think you can buy a 16 oz jar of the Frontera salsas for less than twice as much and those are just as good coming out of the jar. I don't know if I had to pay for the tortilla chips, but forget about getting refills. And while I'm in the complaining mood, let's talk about how loud and crowded this place gets. I had to yell just to talk to the other end of my table of 6 and I had to push people out of the way to get up and leave. I mean the tacos and chile relleno were good, but not that good. I think everyone waiting to get seated would do much better getting out of their comfort zone, taking the 30 minute cab ride north to Clark and Touhy, the tacos/salsa/guacamole up there are better and cheaper. But I guess you can't stand around with a fancy tequila cocktail in your hand.
(2)
Heidi J.
I love this place. Fun atmosphere, great service and drinks (those margaritas get you though - you don't feel anything till you stand up!), and great food! I love the tacos and the pomegranate guacamole. The only qualm I have with this place is the super RUDE HOSTESS!! Get it together up front and stop with the horrible 'tude!
(4)
Shawn M.
Having visited the Miami and NYC locations I can say with confidence this is my favorite. I met a friend here for brunch and ordered what seemed to be the only thing that made sense at the time considering the previous night... The perfect hangover cure .... 1 alcoholic drink 3 a la carte items from the brunch menu Game on! I had the octopus taco. Oh-em-effing-gee. Perfect. Seriously. Better than any fish beef or chicken taco on the market. Don't agree? You may be crazy. Next the pork hash. Sounds just like the name. Pork hash browns. Pleased again. I highly recco. Next I took a sip of my drink, the Blanca something. Lets just call it the Blanca delicioso. Perfect mix of wine and fruit to dull my headache. Finally the reason I'm not giving 5 stars. I ordered something that resembled soggy nachos with a fried egg on top. Not a fan. I chose....poorly. It's a solid recco for brunch. Enough food to soak up what's left of the night before that's lingering in your stomach.
(4)
FoodLover Z.
Upscale, slightly expensive Mexican dining. Not the best Mexican food in town, but worth a visit. Highly recommend the camarones and carne tacos, and the pepino el pyu and tres viejo for drinks.
(4)
Jaime M.
When I ordered a chile relleno that costs $22 I was expecting a superior and/or huge dish. What I got was one regular poblano pepper with some filling and a sauce that tasted sort of ok, but that's it. A bit of black beans on the side that were seasoned a bit and not much more. Not even tortillas, which is common to have with chiles rellenos. And that small simple dish cost me $22. I know that the rent is high here, but this is not fair. I want to see their cost structure for that dish. Typically restaurants aim for 30% food cost, 30% labor and 30% profit margin. I'd bet this is more like 5% food cost, 10% labor (didn't take brain surgery to assemble the simple dish) and 85% profit. The ambiance is hip and really loud, almost like a club. The tables are so closely packed together that they had to move the table next to ours so that we could squeeze and sit. Bizarre. As long as people keep paying those prices, why would they change? But I feel taken advantage of.
(2)
Tzofit M.
Honestly, I think this place is way too overpriced and is definitely nothing to write home about. Mojitos were tasty but a bit weak. The decor is nice and I liked the atmosphere inside. Guacamole was really nothing special... I've had much better and the other dishes we ordered were below average and way more expensive compared to most Mexican restaurants. Overall, the only reason I'd come back here is because the vibe is chill and they are open late.
(2)
Irene G.
I may have to come here one more time to give it a 5 star rating, but I have to say I was impressed with this place. The decor is trendy with a classy atmosphere. My friends and I came here for lunch and everything we ordered were delicious. My pollo tacos were beyond flavorful, I'm guessing the roasted garlic sprinkled at the top had something to do with it . :) The guac was pretty good and the tortilla chips were warm and crunchy. The menu prices vary depending on the time of day you dine in. Of course, lunch is slightly cheaper than dinner. They also deliver! I can't review any of their drinks, but I know that the next time I dine in I'll be sure to order a margarita and try their shrimp tacos. Excellent all-around-can't wait to try this place again!
(4)
Jean-Paul M.
Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. My mouth is watering thinking about the lobster tacos. Awesome margarita...Tres Viejos. It's spicy (and how a margarita should be!).
(5)
Jeffrey W.
Best brunch deal in town... $12.95 per person family style... You can pick 3 items for the table.
(3)
Simone C.
My girlfriend and I went their for restaurant week. The food was really good and I liked the concept of modern Mexican food. The apple guacamole had a nice smoky flavor; the mahi-mahi ceviche was delicious and so were the tacos we ordered (with a special mention of carnitas de puerco, camaron, and mole). The desserts were just fine (I liked the delicate taste of the flan tres leches more than the intense flan de cajet). The big downside of this place though is the noise. This place has to choose if it wants to be a restaurant or a club, because the volume of the music in the restaurant area is unbearable. I just enjoy having dinner while having a conversation, which is impossible at Mercadito, unless you scream at each other.
(3)
M G.
I love this place. It has a great atmosphere with a dj at night and the decor is pretty cool. Great food and drinks and it's also a good place to go with friends. Try the baja tacos and the cucumber margarita. Down stairs has a super small lounge too called Double A. That I dont care for since it is literally the size of a shoe box.
(5)
JL S.
Hmm pricey for tacos but you go for the ambiance and drinks. The food I must admit is quite good. Pretty people in a fun atmosphere with good food..what's not to like..it is a bit loud but it's a bar kind of.. The specialty drinks are excellent.
(4)
Hilary S.
Creative margaritas, amazing guacamole (get a flight, you won't be sorry), but the tacos were pretty underwhelming overall considering what great reviews this place has for the food. I was brought here on a first date and it was way too loud to have any kind of normal conversation, but the ambiance was trendy, fun and relaxed. We had a reservation but still ended up waiting a half hour to sit down, and service was less than impressive. Also, we were squished in so tightly with other tables that I was practically sitting in my neighbor's lap. This would be a fun place for a larger group of people because everything is tapas-style and easy to share.
(3)
Katie H.
Went here with 7 others for a holiday meal. I'm a fan of Mexican food, so I was excited to try this after hearing about it from others. Since our group was so large we went with the group offerings, which was great since it gave us all a smattering of everything. We tried the steak, chicken, shrimp and pulled pork tacos. I thought the pulled pork was the best with the chicken coming in a close second! The guac was amazing. We tried three different types - classic, pomegranate and mango. All of them were excellent. The mango was my favorite of that. For dessert we had flan and cheescake. I thought this was the weakest part of the whole meal, but they weren't horrible, just not as good as the rest of it. Tequila and maragritas were also excellent. They have an after-dinner maragarita that tastes a little like a mocha - it was a HUGE hit with our group. My only complaint about the place was the fact that they squished the 8 of us adults in a booth. It was large but not really ideal for 8 people, 8 waters, 8 drinks, and all that food. There wasn't much room to move.
(4)
Jill W.
I've been to this restaurant quite a few times most recently on Saturday. We love it every time! It is really loud but the atmosphere is fun and lively. The guacamole and salsa are amazing and it's always fun to try new combinations. We've eaten quite a bit on the menu and been happy with everything. The only downside is when you order tacos, you get four but they all have to be the same. It would be nice to mix and match. The drinks are really good too! This is a great restaurant for a fun night out!
(5)
Carmen B.
Another stop on St Patrick's Day - but I've been here before and had the same experience. LOVE IT! The hosts are very nice, the drinks have interesting taste profiles and are very good, and so is the food. We were initially seated in an undesirable area (perfect view of the urinal on the main floor), talked with the hosts, and we were reseated in 20+ minutes. During that respite, we ventured downstairs - I'd never been down there before and it's a totally different casual cool vibe, with a different drink menu. We had three taco varieties, an awesome guacamole, and several very tasty drinks - consider the blueberry/smoky chipotle drink (don't recall the name but the staff will know this one) - I may return this weekend just for this purpose! Really enjoyed everything about this dinner. Go!
(5)
Kate P.
Came here at recommendation of a local. So glad she did! Great atmosphere, delicious margaritas, and good food. Get the guacamole. You won't be disappointed. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)
Bobby F.
The service / our server was great. The appetizer portions were small for what you paid. Like $10 for a spoonful of guacamole. The drinks were fantastic although pricey as well. We did have an issue with the valet getting our car a ticket for parking illegally and not telling us. Not the restaurants fault but the manager said he will help us and make it right. I would go back, just in a cab.
(3)
Anna W.
ughhhhhh I hate mexican restaurants that don't offer free chips and salsa. Okay, so the food here is pricey. $13 for the smallest tacos you will ever eat? blah. I got the shrimp tacos, which were good, but there was WAY too much sauce on them. They were not $13 good. My mom got soup that came with desconstructed tacos. eh. The salsa looked like baby food (got the verde and habanero). Just not a fan of finely pureed salsa. Ordered beans and rice. not Mexican style. boo. oh I don't know. I just have a problem with Mexican that tries to be fancy.
(3)
Mary M.
All of the cocktails were delicious and aesthetically pleasing. I ordered the Mahi Mahi tacos. They were delicious! I'm craving one just thinking about it right now! All of the tacos that we ordered, carnitas and something pork, were good but they were extremely small. This place is a pricy, especially if you want to order an actual entree. The decor is wild and entertaining to just look at. I did not like how I had a reservation and part of my group had not arrived but they made us stand and wait. It's not like someone could sit in our reserved table for the 5 minutes we waited for our friends.
(4)
Giang-Thu N.
I made reservations for 5. One person was running late by 15 mins and they wouldn't seat us. When all of us got there we had to wait another 30 mins for a table. I really just don't see why we couldn't get seated and start with a few drinks. But maybe I'm the only one who thinks like that? Our waiter was nice and drinks were good, pricey but nothing shocking-- it goes with the territory. Nice ambience.
(4)
Patrick M.
The atmosphere is what makes this place. Great lighting, unique designs on the walls and a great location. The beer and tequila list is also quite amazing. We went in a group of four and shared everything. My favorite were the shrimp and chicken tacos. The guacamole is hit or miss depending on which kind you get. The traditional and mango guac is amaze-balls and the spicy is just so-so. Overall, great experience and would come here again.
(4)
Christopher M.
Reasons it deserves 5 stars: - Queso Fundido is beyond amazing. Such cheesy goodness. - Multiple choices for damn good guac. - Great Carne tacos. Reasons it deserves 2 stars: - Poor shrimp tacos. - Weak margarittas with too much damn ice. I want a drink with ice, not ice with a drink. - I know this makes me sound like an old man, but it's damn loud in there. Head to Mercadito if you're down in River North and need a good Mexican fix. That being said, there's better to be had throughout the city.
(3)
Esperanza K.
Delicious! Lived everything we ate - guacamole, Mexican corn & salad. Lots of flavor!
(4)
Peter V.
I think the key to places like this is proper expectations. I went into my dinner here knowing that it would be a bit overpriced, given the location and general feel of the restaurant. However, I accepted that and marched into Mercadito ready to try some tacos and enjoy some margaritas in good company. It was sort of similar to Dos Caminos in New York - genericized, scene-y, overpriced Mexican, but in a fun atmosphere that works, if you know what to expect. I especially enjoyed the Toreado guacamole - I loved the kick. We sampled a bunch of the tacos - I especially enjoyed the shrimp, the beer battered mahi mahi, the tilapia, and two types veggie tacos: one is mushroom-heavy, and the other is more of a black bean taco.Those latter two actually really beat my expectations - especially for veggie tacos. The drinks were strong and fun. I went to Mercadito on a quiet Monday night, and so the crowds were pretty thin and we didn't have any service problems as some of the other reviews mention.
(3)
Holly H.
As a girl from the Southwest I feel that I have high expectation for my Mexican food. Mercadito strikes a great balance creating Fresh Latin dishes that do not lack any flavor. The Mixology is also really impressive so if you normally get wine, take a chance on a couple of their specialty cocktails. The Pepino was my favorite. Only downside is that it is very crowded, so be sure to grab a reservation.
(4)
dina d.
Great drinks.
(5)
Sabrina C.
I think this is about the best high end Mexican that I've had in Chicago. Although it was very loud, crowded, and pricey the food was worth it. The ambiance is very chic upscale and the place is very clean. The food is amazing. We had two types of guac... the one with the bacon and the one with pomegranate. Very unique in flavors and so delicious. Everything that we had was good. I have zero complaint about the food. I would come here again.
(5)
Andrea B.
When you are exhausted from walking all over downtown Chicago this is the place to go for a nice pick me up cocktail. They do fabulous drinks with tequila that will make you forget what a margarita is! I've tried a few choices here and can say I haven't hit a loser in the bunch, but the Smokey Pablo is my favorite. Spicy, fruity and boozy, this one hits all the right angles. The food falls behind the drinks here. The Mexican style corn on the cob was cold and didn't seem as though it was on the grill long enough. The tacos were hit and miss, with the steak being one of the better ones. I would not have expected this, but my fave thing on the menu was the brussel sprouts. These are certainly not healthy with the rich sauce, but they were freaking delicious. Would it be weird to just go to mercadito to eat a bowl full of brussel sprouts washed down with Smokey Pablo?
(3)
Aadil R.
love this place.
(5)
Brandon B.
Bouncing from a wedding reception (i.e. already full of cake, sandwiches, and champagne) to a huge taco buffet is a little bit of an exercise in masochism....while I did pack away several of the delicious tacos, I was able to avoid dousing myself in more tequila. Late afternoon the place was totally dead but our party, which was nice for the moment because we could actually talk and think and celebrate. Someone in our party ordered the small trays of tacos which were unique and suprising combinations of simple ingredients, and this was just a fragment of the menu. Love to come back on a hopping night, sounds like it would be a fun social scene.
(4)
Laura G.
A fun and trendy spot for better than average food. The shrimp tacos are tasty, and I like how they have a few different types of guacamole to try. I also really liked their corn with manchego cheese and chili. It is pretty expensive for what it is, but worth trying at least once. Service is decent, but warning: it is SO loud it's hard to hear the person next to you!
(3)
Phillip C.
Cool feel to the room, good food & drinks. A bit loud & expensive, but neither prohibits a good time. I came for a weeknight dinner with one other person and was initially thinking I'd have to yell over the music, but we had no problem conversing. Fish & pork tacos were each tasty, as were our drinks (can't recall specifics). The side of rice was worth adding too. I could see this being too busy to really enjoy a weekend 2 top, but would be great for a group anytime.
(3)
Abel V.
First time here....last time too. If you're looking for bland, unseasoned food, this is the place to be. First, making reservations for a certain time didn't help as we got seated forty-five minutes after our allotted time. Upon entering the place, I envisioned a Latin fusion, trendy type of place with Latin rhythms and sounds playing in the background. What we saw and heard was a club type of atmosphere, people yelling across their tables trying to carry on a conversation because the music was thumping so loud like we were in a the hippest place of a hip hop scene. Now I might be a little old school, or hallucinating but every time I've visited a Latin joint, I hear the sounds and rhythms of the country or countries it's food is trying to replicate or take to a new level. Trying to carry on a conversation with my wife and friends over a hip hop music, eating bland, tasteless guacomeles, salsas & ceviches was not the experience I was hoping for. If you want some Latin fusion or close to authentic, without the club atmosphere, Don Julio's or other similar places are a safer bet. Now I have to say the drinks were not bad, however the beer selection was limited and as I scanned the bar, so were the choices or liquor. Mostly Latin infused drinks, only "cervezas" as I was told from the bartender. She should've said "only Mexican cervezas" because that's all they had. Anyway, our waiter seemed to forget about our small table once a group of twenty or so were seated next to us. When I asked for extra chips for our table, it took them fifteen minutes to bring them out. Decor was nice but I toned it out after our experience. Safe to say my wife and I along with our friends are not coming back to this place.
(1)
Carly O.
I want to give Mercadito 3 stars, because honestly, their food was pretty great. I went for Restaurant Week and thought their Prix Fixe menu was a good deal and offered a nice variety of options and was more than enough food. I have zero complaints about any of it: guacamole, ceviche, tacos (al pastor was fabulous), arroz verde and tres leches flan. My drink (called LIttle Market, I believe) was fantastic. Our server was friendly and pleasant enough, though he disappeared for a long period of time after we got most of our food right away. It took forever to get the check. I never know if they're trying to create the impression that they don't mind us lingering to chat, or if they truly have forgotten about us. (Servers in general, that is.) Also, the restaurant isn't responsible for the types of patrons that end up dining there. But honestly, this was NOT my crowd. Is this place always such a "need to be seen" type establishment on a Tuesday night? But the absolute most annoying thing, the one that will probably keep me from ever going back, was the intolerable volume of the music. My girl friends and I spent the entire night screaming at one another across the table. It almost sounded like it got louder as the night wore on, if that was even possible. If I want to listen to pulsating techno music at eardrum destroying levels, I'll head to the club. I do NOT want to deal with that when I'm trying to enjoy a nice meal with friends.
(2)
Karl F.
I really liked the food, drink, service and character of this place. My waiter Carlos was very attentive. The house margarita was awesome. The tacos were just the right size so you didn't get over stuffed. I would call them tapas size. Next time I am in Chicago I will go there. I wish there were one near where I live.
(4)
Vivian Y.
Oooh..I know, only three stars! I do hope to upgrade it in the future. I was invited to the Grand Opening last night and was very excited to check out this new place that is so popular in NYC. The people at the door checking off the guest list were very nice. Not snooty at all and certainly alot more efficient than other Openings that I have been to in the past. Mercadito knows how to throw an opening. Free drinks (and they were all excellent, from the true margaritas made with grand marnier, to the flaming drink and the cucumber one as well!). Not to mention the free appetizers and a tasty selection of their tacos. Even better, we were able to sit in a booth rather than have to stand in the bar area all night. They had a nice selection of ceviches from mahi mahi, shrimp, scallops and grapes (my favorite!) to the various styles of guacaomole (with mole or pomegranate). I enjoyed the mole-style guac immensely. Everything was nicely seasoned but none of the ceviches packed any punch! So why the three stars? I think it must have been the tacos. The fish taco was not very good. It was fried in beer batter then wrapped up in a taco with a cabbage slaw. The fish was tasteless as was the batter. The other taco's offered were chorizo which was good, not greats; then the beef(?) taco with salsa verde which was pretty good, but not great again. My friend told me that their regular menu offers 4 of their tacos for around $18 which I found astonishing as I would not pay that kind of money for the taco's that they were serving last night. Then there is the decor in the back of the room. The paintings on the back wall reminded me of a tacky mural on the streets of Cabo. I'm not sure what happened here in the back room because the front of the house is quite trendy and hip. I'd definitely come back again, especially for the drinks as they were all really good. Service was extraordinaire! They definitely beat my expectations for an opening night!
(3)
Jacob W.
I came here on Cinco de Mayo, and the place was insanely popping. Actually, I think it was really the dimness of the interior and the volume level of the music that made the place feel almost like a club, when the clientele wasn't actually acting all that crazy. Anyway, this place is cool if you dig the Miami scene and if you want to spend a lot of money. The drinks are good and boozy. I had one that was lit on fire before being served to me. I was worried this would burn off some of the alcohol but it had PLENTY left. The food -- we got this special for 4 people, $35 each, that included different types of guac, ceviche, tacos and then one dessert. We had a spicy and smoky guac but I preferred the original at the end of the day. The ceviche was my least favorite. We got the mahi mahi ceviche and the shrimp ceviche, and both were mushy and not particularly flavorful or fresh. But OK. The tacos were very good, and very tiny. One order (~$15) comes with 4 and I had 4 altogether, and even those tacos with all the other things didn't fill me up sufficiently. So the bill adds up. The pork belly tacos were phenomenal -- a must. Dessert, caramel flan, was also a must. Best flan I've ever had, and I don't usually like it, because it's usually so flavorless. This was life-changing flan, like really good, rich bread pudding meats creme brulee.
(3)
Erika K.
Check out my ful review here: thebuckwheater.com/merca… Food: both interesting and delicious Space: Miami nighclub meets Chipotle Service: good Value: on the higher-end Must Eats: pancita taco, chipotle salsa, flan de cajeta
(4)
Christina M.
I still rave about the food and drinks I enjoyed here a few weeks ago. Great for the price, as well.
(5)
Roxy H.
Okay, my experience here was right after I had my daughter. So, I was already feeling like a fat pig because I still had my baby fat on. We walk into Mercadito with all the beautiful people! LOL. This place was bumping. Nice attractive, mixed crowd. I was told that reservations here take forever so we were just going to enjoy the bar and order food there. It was soooooo crowded. We ate a few items on the menu. Small portions. Nothing too memorable besides the drinks and steak tacos. Downstairs, there is a cool "room" with limited seating and waitress service. Very swanky, very masculine and dark. It was a very sexy, less crowded area to have a drink with my man. LOL. I don't think I will ever return, even with the baby fat gone, once was enough for me and the experience. Check it out. It's worth it.
(3)
Mehul P.
Guacamole was good but the chicken tacos were excellent. They marinate the chicken very well. Oh and my traditional margarita was nice and strong.
(4)
Marla D.
Checked Mercadito out for date night. Loved the creative and delicious drinks, the vibe was sexy but I suppose i can attribute that to my date. The tacos were interesting but served cold and charging for salsa is tacky. I think that was salsa. It was bland and watery. Service was good and speedy. I don't mind dining somewhere that plays loud music and guests are buzzing with excitement. There was an older woman yelling at the hostess about the noise and demanding a quiet table. I thought she was insane and should've ordered delivery. I would go back for drinks.
(3)
Lindsay D.
Food is good, but considering the awesome taco and Mexican options for the same price or less, it is hard to justified. Main reason I am giving an average rating is because the service is snooty.
(3)
Stephanie B.
I'm sorry, but this was uber disappointing. I hoped to have a stellar experience given my yelp buds rated it 4 stars. The fiance and I were NOT pleased whatsoever. The fact that the music was so loud that I could even order without shouting was disturbing. Was I at Spy Bar or Mercadito? We honestly couldn't fathom stepping foot in that spot ever again. The overpriced guac was a lime juice overload. And the 2 or 3 tablespoons for $10 a pop was absolutely rediculous. The carne tacos were good. I loved the purple potatoes on them. The steak was flavorful and tender, but for $15.50 I would hope that the ability to mix and match from the 9 options would be nice. The tables were so cramped we had to pull it out for me to get into the booth. We had literally three inches separating us from the other patrons. Not only was that stuffy but I could hear every word of both convos on either side of me from the real estate talk to the "I hate all men" girls next to us. I left there not only feeling disappointed but also with a headache.
(1)
Brian O.
Delicious. Great atmosphere. Strong/good drinks. Only thing keeping it from a 5 was it didn't fill me up, which I would have expected with the price. But still a four due to the amazing flavor. I got the pork tacos. Good chips and guac too!
(4)
K A.
I was very disappointed when I made a return visit to Mercadito. The first time we went with group of friends enjoyed the food and staff. The following week we decided to take my mom out since we enjoyed the place so much. Our reservation was at 745. Arrived on time and literally had to wait 40mins to be seated. What's the point of making a reservation of you have to wait so long for a table.. I am not sure if I would ever go back or recommend this place to anyone due the rudeness we received from the front. We had to keep going up front to ask how much longer and they would say soon, we r looking for a table of three. All the while we r seeing everyone else be seated but us.. Highly disappointed!!!
(1)
Max T.
The first thing I thought when they opened up Mercadito in Chicago was, "why on earth would we want Mexican food exported from New York City?" Seriously, my old hometown has terrible Mexican food, and that's something even New Yorkers will admit to. Of course, Mercadito isn't *terrible* Mexican food, and it shouldn't be, at the prices it charges. And it's got a great atmosphere and great drinks. But the food itself is the very definition of "meh." Fine execution, difficult-to-justify prices. Go for the scene, not the food. And by scene I mean, loud-as-hell, long-ass-waits, your-entire-party-must-be-here, everyone-is-dressed-nicely, there-must-be-an-extra-zero-in-the-bill scene (just like home). Chicago is full of amazing, homegrown Mexican joints.
(2)
Angela S.
The food here is decent, it's a loud scene.
(3)
Stephanie N.
Great unique Mexican cuisine. They have a great party space in the basement. This is truly a must try for those who like higher end Mexican. The wait staff can be a little slow, but other than that it is truly a great place to try.
(4)
MaryAnne M.
I have now had both brunch and dinner at Mercadito. Brunch was a few months back, so that will be brief. I do recall it being delicious and full of choices. We did sweet: Pancakes, manchego cheese, strawberries, cinnamon butter, maple syrup. And savory: Estrellados y tampiqueña -eggs sunny side up, chile guajillo marinated skirt steak, purple potatoes, poblanos, chive aioli, grilled spring onions, avocado Bloodies are spicy. Like I like 'em. On to dinner: A few comments on the other reviews: If you want to eat in silence A) Eat at home B) Find a library that serves food Moving on. Dinner. Saturday night. 8pm. Restaurant is packed. Jam-packed. Party of 6. Took awhile for them to seat us, but again, it was Saturday night. Some of the highlights: Chicken Mole - Braised shredded chicken, mole, and plantains, served with choice of two salsas, onion, cilantro & tortillas. Chile Relleno - Stuffed poblano, scallops, shrimp, oaxaca-manchego cheeses, roasted tomato-árbol salsa. (My choice) The pepper was so tender, and scallops so delicious. Table ordered a few taco platters. Most outstanding was: Camarón shrimp, roasted garlic, chipotle mojo, avocado. Had some heat to it, but not overwhelming. The mango martini was a huge hit with everyone. Someone, I can't say who, said should like to bath in the mixture. Again, can't say who. We were celebrating a birthday and they were kind enough to store the Sprinkles cupcakes for us until dessert time Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. And, upon inspection of their website it has been brought to my attention that they deliver. Deliver.
(5)
Matt W.
Love Love the Tapas concept, and Chicago does it as good as anywhere in the world. $15 margaritas hit the spot along with al pastor and fish tacos. Environment is definitely loud and some place where you can take clients to impress and enjoy a good meal. Expect about $100 per person if you go with the full slate of drinks, appetizers, tacos, and dessert. Wouldn't recommend it as a first date type of deal as it gets LOUD and the tables are so closely seated next to each other. Service was impressive, laid back, friendly. The tacos are small, i would say two bites and you are done - that only left me with the feeling that, " I want more, damn it!" A definite must add to your Chicago repertoire of restaurants.
(5)
Jonathan W.
I'm not into the whole River North clubby factory-restaurant thing much like many of the other reviewers here. I'm biased about them and that's just the way it is. If you're looking for a crowd pleaser however, and it is a special occasion where you can afford to spend some extra cash, this place is an ok call. The food is meant for sharing which was the first downfall of the group I was with...I don't think anyone was feeling that due to dietary fussiness, experience, etc. Everyone needs to share. Food is three stars at best however. Al Pastor tacos were a shell of what they could be, guacamole preparations seemed interesting but essentially was just guacamole with some pomegranate seeds. Bottom line is what's fanciful on paper doesn't translate onto the plate - intriguingly described food was bland and lackluster. Very nice, albeit overpriced selection of tequilas and mezcals. I will not be back by myself, and with a group reluctanty.
(2)
Emma Z.
Went for lunch, what a great place for a quick lunch downtown! The staff were all so friendly and attentive -- best service I've had in a while. The tortas were amazing. I had the mushroom one, and I highly recommend it. The guacamoles are ridiculously good. The atmosphere was fancy, yet casual. A++
(5)
Susan F.
I've been to Mercadito once for drinks, but have had carryout lunch from there once as well. I remember the tacos being very good, but small, and very expensive. Minus 1 The drinks at Mercadito make up for everything, honestly. Everything else is subpar at best. The guacmole is fantastic, but you barely get half a cup of it. I would suggest the Rita Tradicional, for sure. The mango salsa didn't do much for me but the regular guac was pretty good and chunky. The atmopshere, I dig man, but the service, not so much. The hostess was incredibly rude and clearly was not familiar with pleasing her customers. The details of the story are a bit long, but my co-workers and I were not impressed with how anything was handled. Like I said, the ritas are fantastic, though overpriced. They could have gone down a dollar, to be fair. I respect and enjoy fine restaurants, perhaps more than some 20 somethings my age, but I'm no fool. The food is a bit overpriced, enough said. I will have to check out this taco lunch they speak of, and see if it can sway my review enough to put another half or full star up here. However, heaven forbid if I don't dress up swanky for lunch for fear of not being served... I'm a mexican and rita fanatic, and Dito only gets 3 staros.
(3)
Kristi T.
This is not a good place to take your parents, your boss, your hipster low key friends, or anyone hard of hearing. Its loud, its crowded, and people here are here to be seen. If you're not up for dressing up, being hit on by Scott Dissick impersonators, having your husband hit on by slutty cougars, and having your food come out of order as it is done, pick somewhere else. If you're out for a girls night, a fun dinner before going out, bachelorette party, etc - this place is perfect! Even just a double date with another couple that enjoys being "in the scene" is great. My only excuse for not writing a review on Mercadito until now (since I have been there at least 20 times) is because inevitably I have one or four too many delicious margaritas. They make them "skinny" if you request which I am pretty sure just means all tequila plus a lime. Hence the buzz. This food is tapas style, which is a really fun and non traditional way to eat mexican! My personal recommendations: Tradicional and Toreado Guacamole Flautas - like a mini, fried, rolled up quesadilla with manchego cheese Estio Baja Tacos - battered mahi and chipotle coleslaw Pastor Tacos - chili rubbed pork and grilled pineapple Ensalada - one of my favorite salads in the city, mixed greens, queso fresco, jicama, and mexican balsamic - yummy! Arroz Verde - green rice served in a scalding hot pot covered in oaxaca cheese As you can see, I spare no expense on my food items, hence the need for "skinny margaritas" . Definitely a favorite spot in River North, and def my favorite Mexican food!
(5)
Chirag P.
I'm definitely a fan of upscale mexican food done "tapas style" We actually had a group of 14 that went here for dinner on NYE and everyone was stuffed by the end. Since it was a party of more than 7 we had to do the "tasting menu" and let me tell you it was well worth it. Half of us did a meat menu ($40 pp) while the other half of the group was veggie ($35 pp). Everyone gets a portion of whatever you choose tacos, guac, salsas, desserts, etc. And there is so much food for the price, that even I (a notorious glutton) was full. The place was packed and it seemed hip/trendy, perfect to get us into the NYE party mood. The drinks were great but pricey, try the 'Old Market.' I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good Mexican food.
(4)
TN T.
Hello! Not sure how dinner is but I came here for brunch and got the family style brunch but it was really more like appetizers! Pretty good food! but small portion sizes! exclamation point!
(3)
Eric M.
If I could rate their food alone it would be 4 stars. However, taking in the whole experience Mercadito has a lot to fix. First off the sound. It's crazy loud. Like I thought I was in the middle of Public House on a Saturday night, and I went on a Wednesday! The decor is nice - modern with cool glass. I really like the menu. It's broken down easy to understand and there's a good amount of drink concoctions to pick from. What I don't like is the price. My wife and I came and each ordered one drink, shared a ceviche, and ordered a flight of tacos each. After tax and tip we were at $90. That's pretty pricy. I love how the food tastes though.
(2)
Kelly D.
Been several times and I'd like to like this place more.... It's kind of loungey, but tables are packed in - kinda like your in the cheap seats at a basketball game - no elbow room. The food is good, but might take a backseat to the drink menu. The rosemary marinated skirt stake is available in taco form or as a main dish and is pretty good. The chipotle beer battered shrimp (botana) is alot of fun, too. Drink concoctions are quite good (as long as you like tequila/mezcal) - try the Shady Gato - my fave. Now the real reason I do like this place, pastel de chocolate - chile spiced chocolate cake....... I still have mixed feelings about this place - I think the lighting is off or something - but go for the chocolate cake & drinks!
(4)
Sylvia T.
We went here for a friend's birthday. The "club" downstairs felt a little claustrophobic, the ceiling is a bit low. The tacos were absolutely amazing though. I thought we were going to order individual entrees, but it was served more appetizer style with small plates on the side. It actually turned out to be better that was as everyone got to sample a wide variety of different tacos. The pulled pork were my favorite. The assortment of guacamole was really great as well. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Ali B.
I couldn't wait to try Mercadito! When I finally did I went with a group of girls from work (4 total), one of us had a Groupon. After making reservations we ended up going on a Wednesday around 6:30 PM. Tapas style sharing was best for our group and most people/groups that go in. Here is what we got.. Guacamole (3): Tradicional, Mango, Toreado (spicy/favorite) *don't waste your time with the tradicional. Ceviches (2): Dorado & (no longer available) *The other one we got is not listed on the current menu, but is similar to the callo (it was scallops, red grapes and a few other ingredients) very sweet..was not much of a fan. ...on to the TACOS! Pastor * Camaron Pescado* Chorizo (I did not try this, not a fan of chorizo..it was not the favorite of the group) *Asterisk mark my favorites MARGARITAS-VERY GOOD I think i had 3 :) Portions over all are small, but that is to be expected. Mercadito is Fancy Mexican. Go for the experience and the atmosphere, but not if you are looking for traditional Mexican food. This would be good place to take a first date, just don't booze to hard drinks are pricy.
(3)
Allie P.
I ADORE Mercadito and am especially thrilled that their kitchen is open late. I'm in the service industry and work evenings, and the options for late-night dining (aside from your typical, greasy bar fare) in River North are pretty limited, so this place has been a fantastic addition to my repertoire. It's pretty quiet later in the evenings, so it's a great place to unwind after work and grab a bite. On top of that, the food is LEGIT amazing. I'm well on my way to being able to say that I've tried everything on the menu, and I have yet to find something here that I dislike. Among my favorites: the dorado ceviche, carnitas de puerco taquizas, and for dessert, the torrejas de bolillo.
(5)
Lauren B.
I would have given Mercadito 4 stars if it weren't for the noise level. This place is exceptionally loud, so dont plan on catching up over dinner here without yelling at your dinner companion. That being said, the food is lovely. We had the guac with pomegrante seeds which was delicious treat for your mouth.......the cool seeds with the slightly spicy guac was a great balance. For dinner we shared the mahi mahi and tilapia tacos. Both were delectable but the winner is the tilapia taco with the delicate fish, spicy sauce, and cool avocado....a must try!
(3)
Ryan T.
Yeah this place gets 5 stars. Mercadito has a great energy and atmosphere! I came here last Saturday for my birthday dinner and it was an awesome experience. Margheritas were fantastic (i had the standard) and my girlfriend had a bunch of fruity stuff in hers. They were strong and perfect. Food and service were quick and polite. To start we had guacomole Elotes style which was refreshing and good to warm the stomach up. For dinner I had the Langosta or Lobster Tacos which were a dream come true. They packed a lot of lobster into those tacos and they were the perfect texture and taste. I tried some of my friends Flautas with Chicken and they were also excellent. If you are in chicago and want to try a great place come here!
(5)
Cory A.
We could talk about the vibe, the super loud music, or the unique art hanging on the walls, or from the ceiling for that matter, but that's not really why I eat here, so that's not really what concerns me. We all wanna eat at a place that is hip and trendy, then go out and tell our friends to go, and believe me, Mercadito definately lays it on thick, but sometimes, beyond the expensive and urban appeal a restaurant tries to sell you, the food is that good, it's hard to notice what's even going on around you. I have eaten at Mercadito probably 5 times in the last year or so and always look forward to my return. It's not the 14 dollar tacos, or even the house salad with queso fresco that pulls at me. It's simply a package that isn't really sold anywhere else in this city, or at least any place I've been too. Individual plates are well thought out, and executed quite nicely, and even though there are some things that aren't amazing, like the prices that are hard to believe, the fact that you can wait 30 mintues past your reservation, or that an order of salsa clearly only serves one person, have a glass of their house margarita, and those things get a lot easier to swallow. Mercadito blends flavor and some authenticity of the regionous cuisine of Mexico with a modern American approach. It's not that they do this, that you should flock to this restaurant, because a lot of places with try. It's that they do it well.
(4)
Heather S.
I dined at Mercadito for the first time this week. I love Mexican food and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Going during lunch hour, my husband and I were easily seated. The crowd was all young people - I don't think anyone was over 50. We ordered 2 of their salsas - the traditional and the pineapple. Both were very good and creamy. The flavors mixed well, but there wasn't much spice. Since my friend requires a gluten-free diet, we found out he cannot eat the chips because they are fried in the same fryer as the beer battered fish. However, there were only 2 dishes he couldn't eat (and anything with mole) and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable. The tacos are small - about a 4 inch diameter. You also cannot mix tacos - all 3 must be the same type. Luckily, I ordered the pescado and my friend ordered the carne asada so I was able to try both. The fish was excellent and the combination of flavors unique. I actually think the carne asada was better, though. The mix of spicy, savory and tangy was great. We also each ordered one drink - both were very tasty. I loved the chile powder on the glass, too. Overall, the food was good. The flavor combinations were upscale and appropriate for foodies. However, $82 for lunch for 2 was a bit steep. I also don't like when you must pay for chips and salsa. I would go back for special occasions, as I did enjoy it. However, at this price, I wouldn't frequent Mercadito.
(3)
Brian D.
Went for lunch during restaurant week. I think I would have given more stars if I hadn't been during restaurant week because the menu was limited and I was forced to eat guacamole and civeche. I started with the Smoky Pablo. It was tasty with the bluberry foam on the top. Not very strong, but tasty none the less. I wouldn't have chosen those items if I were able to pick my own items from the full menu. Not a fan of guacamole but I can't say they were bad (maybe my palate is changing). The ceviche with the hicima and shrimp were very good, but the scallop ceviche was a bit tangy for my taste. With that being said, the tacos were off the chain!!! The chicken tacos with the shaved brussel sprouts on top were oh so good. The meat on the carne tacos were seasoned well and melted in your mouth. The shrimp tacos had the best sauce on them. I had tres leches for dessert and It was also very good. I think I will give this place a try after restaurant week. That was I can try more tacos and get more to eat. The portions were kind of small (tapas size) so I wasn't really full after lunch and I think I was just trying to be a fat a$$. :-)
(4)
Dzifaa L.
Just checked this place out since my friend recommended it as it was previously listed on restaurant week. Went there for lunch and ordered the chips and guacomole for appetizers. Got the shrimp tacos which were pretty good but extremely SMALL.. they give you three kid size tacos for about 10 dollars. Extremely over-priced for Mexican food. Good service and basic menü. Probably would not go again as you can get better bang for your buck elsewhere in my opinion.
(3)
Donisha L.
Went here for my birthday back in June since I've heard about this place so frequently during our daily "where should we go for dinner" conversations at the office. Since I am a lover of all things Latin (particularly my men and my food) thought I would give this place a try! One word: ehhhhh This place was a little crowded for a Monday so a great place for the average Monday through Sunday socialite. They have a nice little patio, so perhaps the warm weather that day had something to do with the mass exodus of chicagoans indulging in outdoor eating. I just didn't think the food was too die for, I'm not craving it, and after we got our bill I spent more time trying to figure out what the hell we actually ordered that made it so pricey! Drinks perhaps? I guess at $16 a pop it can certainly add up. Although the margaritas that came to our table lit on fire were certainly cool to look at! We ordered a few taco dishes (carne, camaron, and pescado) along with the enchilada plate. I think we all agreed the enchilada plate was the best but again nothing spectacular. I could have gone to any taco stand on the westside and it would taste the same, only it would have saved us the hundred plus bucks we spent at mercadito. Overall, cool for the scene, not in my fab five.
(3)
Christina C.
Tacos are flavorful, robust, and memorable. Guacs have a kick that turns your tongue on. Margaritas stand out because they're not served weak. I love it here.
(5)
Alana B.
Amazing place. Went there on a Saturday night, music was great, food was awesome. Guacamole choices are perfect, margaritas even better. Definitely a fun place to go on the weekend before you go out, also tried the shrimp & fish tacos - incredibile.
(5)
Mandi G.
I went here for restaurant week and liked the food so much that I came back again last week. Highlights for me were the ceviche, the traditional guacamole and the tacos al pastor. They also have a brussel sprouts with chorizo side dish that is really good. And their Mexican spin on bread pudding dessert was outstanding. I really only wrote this review to address two major problems that so many other reviews mention. The tables are WAY too close together. It is beyond ridiculous. The entire restaurant is pretty much communal seating. This wouldn't be so bad if the people sitting next to you weren't suburban Euro-trash on date night or wasted older dudes on the prowl. Second, they play the WORST music I have ever heard in a restaurant. Think "Spring Break in Cancun". I get that they are going for a club vibe. Play some loungey house music. Do not play "How Low" by Ludacris. Don't play anything by Ludacris for that matter. This place has the potential to be so much better than it is. But, the food is good and that's what really matters, I guess.
(3)
Aliyah R.
We had made reservations for 8:45, and the whole party arrived before 8:45 and we were not seated till 9:30! We kept asking the hostess and she kept saying "It'll be 2 more minutes,"The manager is setting up the table,", "I promise another 10 minutes." Really, you're going to make a party that has a reservation wait 45 minutes without offering drinks or appetizers? Rude. The food was alright. The guacamole was not that great, and neither was the ceviche. The best thing were the tacos and dessert was alright as well. Not super impressed with the front of the house or the mediocrity of the food.
(2)
WindyCityGrl T.
Why didn't I dine here sooner! I loved everything about this restaurant. The ambiance, service, delicious guac/margaritas/tacos!!! I enjoyed the pork tacos the most. I'm now a fan and can't wait to return!
(5)
Katie D.
I've been to Mercadito twice... the first time for a bachlorette party with about 10 girls and the second for date night with the hubby. The food was excellent both visits and it proved to be a great place for any occasion. By far the best tacos I've had in Chicago. The drinks weren't too bad either!
(5)
Carl G.
Really enjoyed the food. I ate dinner with a friend of mine that is a Chef at an Atlanta italian restaurant. he is very hard to please and he was impressed. Enough said. It is pricey but this is Chicago so most of the better establishments are. We had a great time, go check it out.
(4)
Dana G.
Restaurant Week Girls night out!! Hollerrrr. If I had to choose one word to describe this place it would be.... onomatopoeia... Let me explain. The buzz of the atmosphere, the crack and splash of the ice in the mixer during the creation of a signature cocktail, the sizzle and crunch of the food. This place is literally alive with these sense explosions. If you are down for a quiet night out this isn't your place. Luckily for us girls, we like it loud-ah! It was Restaurant Week so we had a tasting menu. Boy did we get our moneys worth. By the end of it we all had food babies. We got to sample 3 guacs, 4 tacos, 2 ceviches, 1 side and 2 deserts. The guac was very flavorful but I will have to say the more original one didn't really hit the mark with us. I would say to stick with the traditional. All the tacos were good. Perfect blend of flavors in each. We got 2 veggie, one carnitas and one shrimp. The mushroom one was my favorite. The dish that stood out in my mind would have to be the dorado ceviche. The wafer-like crackers that came with it were a bit too soft for me as I'm used to a traditional chip crunch. There was plenty on the table though so I just used the leftover from the guac. We also ordered a variety of cocktails. They all had a smokey flavor. The consensus was the pepino el pyu was the best. Made with cucumbers it is amazingly refreshing and dangerous as you can't taste the booze. The shady gato is a must as well, if not solely on the name alone. I definitely recommend this place for a fun and exciting night out and escape from your average Chicago restaurant.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Very cool space in a cool neighborhood! Good service, unique decor and vibe and delicious and flavorful tacos!
(4)
Jen A.
Ok Mercadito, I'll be back for another girls night out. All the food was delicious and the people-watching was fantastic. If I did a shot for every jumpsuit and sparkly dress in this place, I'd out-drink Marian in the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Loved the unique cocktails-- we tried the cucumber margarita with a spicy salted rim and thought it was great. I did not enjoy waiting shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of loud bachelorette parties for 60 minutes even though we had reservations. I also did not enjoy shouting my conversation across the table to my girlfriends. On the plus side, we were able to ridicule a lot of outfits regarding the people standing right next to our table without any fear that we were heard.
(3)
Joy W.
I had a great time here! I went with a large group, and we got the $35 tasting menu. That was a great choice because we got to try their absolutely delicious guacs (the toreado w/pico de gallo was my fave) and salsa (the chipotle one was great). Let's see, then we had a selection of their tacos, which were very tasty and filling. The pastor taco (rubbed pork and pineapple) was the winner of that race (if I go back I want to try the hongos taco, which has wild mushrooms). Their fried plantains were very juicy and delicious. The green salad side was fine but nothing special, so I wouldn't order that. For the dessert, we tried the bread pudding, chocolate something and the flan- hands down, the flan was the best because it came drizzled in caramel sauce and was lighter than the others, which was good after a fairly rich meal. A few caveats. The drinks were incredibly underwhelming. For starters, they served the margaritas in tumblers with tons of ice, so I felt like I wasn't even getting much. More than that, they just didn't taste that good-- all sweet and no liquor (and then diluted because of the ice). I suppose I'm spoiled in that I judge cocktails off what I can get at Violet Hour or Whistler...but seriously, if you charge as much (or more!) that's kind of what I expect! In short, if you order a drink here, I'd stay with something simple like a plain martini or wine. Perhaps this is just my taste since so many others loved the margaritas, though...still, I maintain that if I can't taste the liquor at all, something has likely gone wrong. On a final point, I really liked the interior. Very classy, intimate feeling (wear something nice- it's more fun that way!). Still, it's quite loud upstairs so I'm not sure whether it would be a good place for a date, but going with a group was really fun and I'd definitely do it again!
(4)
Sara H.
Mercadito = Merca-NoNo!! Did you know Mercadito has a "your entire party must be present before they can be seated or you lose your reservation" rule? Neither did we. And, they did not mention it when we called to make our reservation for a party of 12!! When we arrived they told us to hang out and we would get seated when everyone arrived. When most of the party was present we tried to get seated but were told that our reservation had been given away and we were now on the wait list--which would be long due to the size of our party! The drinks we had while waiting for our non-existent table were good but the service was so bad I will never go back!
(1)
Char Y.
We have read so much about this restaurant and were thrilled to find out that they extended restaurant week menu for March. We came on a week day for lunch and were promptly seated. We informed our waiter, Renee, that we had to be out in 1 hour, and he promised to help us out. We were quite confused by the menu initially. It's $22 per person for pick 2 guacamole, pick 2 ceviche and pick 3 types of tacos. We ordered tradicional guacamole - good, just like the one in mexico mango - very good, sweet but salty at the same time callo ceviche - very good, the scallops are surprisingly tasty combined with red grapes. camaron ceviche - good, wish there was more shrimp. pastor - very good, loved the pineapple combined with pork pato - good, loved the mole & pumpkin puree on top. estilo baja - good, amazingly crispy yet juicy on the inside mahi mahi. capirotada - the bread pudding was very disappointing, hard on the inside and took a long time to arrive. The food was good, but WAY too expensive for mexican food. The tacos are amazing, but also amazingly small. I loved the fact that the tortillas were house made and extremely soft. However, I think i can get much better value for lunch for $44.
(3)
Jeff R.
It seems like every other post of mine is for Mercadito. Not entirely true but this will be my fourth time going in a year. The most recent visit (if you can call it that) was last December for a company holiday dinner. It was my suggestion because it was close by, good food, great drinks and a lively atmosphere. As an added bonus it doesn't break the bank, something of high importance in this climate. We followed the advise of our server, and kept the game plan simple - keep the tacos and margaritas coming until we say stop. Since it's been a while it might be hard for me to recall all the different tacos. I know we loved the carne, and I liked the mahi mahi. The others were good on a varying degree. If you've been to Mercadito before you know they love their drinks - and so do we. My favorite is the pepino el pyu (tres generaciones blanco, cucumber, lemon, hoja santa, cumin salt). The cucumber is a fun and refreshing twist to a margarita. We also really ate a lot of the chips, salsas and guacamole. The spicy salsa was my favorite (I think the one with peanuts), and the gaucs were also very tasty. I almost forgot, we also started with a few ceviche dishes the cleanse the palate between spicy salsa, gaucamole and our trays of tacos (not to mention it goes great with the drinks). There was ONE non taco dish ordered - the carne asada. Darn it was good: deliciously seasoned and cooked to order. Next time I go I think I might try a non taco dish. It was a successful evening in all regards - good food, good drinks, good value and a good crowd. It may not be the best Mexican food in town, and it may have a "lively" (i.e. loud), but that's the point. You go to Mercadito to have a fun night with some good food on the side. They know their strength and execute well. If history is any guide I'll be back soon.
(4)
Paul R.
Went here for dinner and it was too loud but then on the other hand I guess I'm getting too old for the hipster spots. I wish they had some ambient music in the background to drown out our neighbors. It was so loud we had to leave and eat next door...
(2)
Scott F.
Cool ambiance and great food but a restaurant experience for me relies on service. The hostess snapped at us and had major attitude. the waiter seemed bothered that he was a waiter and had to be serving tables. It seemed as though we were asking too much when simply asking for menu recommendations. Not one thank you or good night from one staff member on the way out. Probably would not recommend it to friends. Better places where they enjoy and respect their guests.
(2)
Meredith G.
I took a friend/client here for lunch yesterday after reading good reviews on yelp via my phone and was able to make a reservation too. Convenience won me over. The staff here are so friendly from the server to buss boys. We followed our servers suggestion with ordering 3 items to share. We started with the ceviche callo which was bay scallops, strawberry, key lime-habanero broth, & mint. It was a generous bowl with flat chips. We also enjoyed their guacamole tradicional style served with fresh chips and lastly a plate of 3 carne tacos. The tacos were small, but packed with flavor in each bite. I could've eaten 3 more easily, but we left perfectly stuffed. Check this place out.
(4)
kaveh a.
I used to be a Chicago resident and for the past 5 years Manhattanite but upon my return to the windy city for a visit i was taken to this spot and shown the velvet rope. Well sort of. It was at least a rope. The downstairs where all the sound system is and the action happens has some major major potential. However the DJ who seemed to be in his 40's was probably missing his gig at the Smith wedding in the burbs. As any NYC establishment will tell you, music is a integral part of any nightlife. Formula for success small and intimate. check Top notch DJ Fail Great crowd if its the best you can do, its the best you can do Over all i am being very generous by giving this place A-OK lets just say its worth a shot
(3)
Sarah A.
I've been here a couple times for drinks and appetizers. The BNGTM (Big Nose Goes to Mexico) is definitely the drink to get (they light it on fire). A little flashy for a margarita, but it's delicious. I think it might be a little pricey, but it's got a great atmosphere and nice staff.
(4)
Marcy T.
The food at Mercadito is absolutely top notch. Every taco, every guac, every ceviche. It all deserves five stars. There isn't a bite I didn't love! We've been there twice and both times have been absolutely blown away by the food - absolutely in the "OMG, that is amazing" category. The pulled pork taco is to DIE for. On top of the amazing food, I can say without a doubt that the service here is some of the best in Chicago. AJ, specifically, is one of the overall best servers I've ever dined with. Attentive, funny, easy going and knows a foodie when he sees one, he was delightful to deal with. He even refilled my iced tea when it was only half gone because he noticed my ice had melted and wanted me to have "fresh" drink. Thank you! I agree with other posters that this can definitely have a young, hip and sometimes "meat market-y" feel. But we've had great luck with going early on Saturdays and Sundays and getting seated right away with less of "da club" feel. Much more relaxing than at 7 or 8 o'clock. But even with that sometimes too young feel, it's worth the time and the money because this place is phenomenal across the board.
(4)
Roberto M.
2 stars for the food. 4 stars for the cocktails. This is not Mexican food. Mercadito does not crack the top 25 for Mexican food in the city of Chicago. The food is overpriced, (16 bucks for 4 tacos?) and the flavors are unimpressive. The food is geared towards its clientel---after work loop socialites. The salsa has no kick. The flavors are not authentic and the menu is easy to read for the "we like tacos and guacamole crowd." The drinks are good and warrant their 10-14 dollar price tags. The margartias are creative and delicious. Go for drinks to start your night. Go to Zocalo for dinner.
(2)
Deana L.
*Disclaimer: Due to the weather, the writing in this review is uninspired. Mercadito is a very nice, trendy spot. The food was fairly tasty; we had the fish tacos and the chicken tacos. We also got the chips and salsa. I thought that the multiple types of salsas were a great idea. On Sunday afternoons, it seems pretty laidback although busy, but not as loud as some people have said. Or, maybe I am losing my hearing... I do have an objection to the prices. I understand the food is good, but I just can't pay $14 for 4 small tacos when I can just go to Pilsen and pay $6 for a plato.
(3)
Jason N.
The 3-star rating might throw you off, but allow me to explain. Made a reservation for 7 and considering the fact we were late, the staff seated us quite quickly on a crowded night. We did the tasting menu which I believe was $30 a person, some of the food did wow however the portions did not. They start you out with a sample of 4 different guacamole's. The classic was just guac, there was a smoky one where I tasted maybe a hint of cumin?, that was the winner to me. The other two weren't my thing, sorry it's just mango guac doesn't do it for me. They then bring you four different tacos one at a time. The lamb taco was meh, off to a bad start. Then came the steak taco, very tasty and charred to perfection. After that one was the Tilapia taco, hands down my favorite. The fish was cooked perfectly and it was dressed with a tasty sauce that was simply delicious. And then came the carnitas taco, which was also very good. The carnitas were cooked nice and tasty, and it had a hell of a kick to it. I'm talking to where my nose was running. The main issue I had was the portions. The tacos were tiny, I mean it made Mexican street tacos look like the Super King Burrito at TBK. And for 7 people, they only brought out 2 small plates of pico de gallo and other garnishments. It was good overall, but with the struggle of downtown traffic, the crowds, the high prices, and the small portions, I can't see myself putting Mercadito in the "must" pile.
(3)
Laura H.
I hate to disagree with some of my favorite Yelpers here, but seriously? How did you get past the table situation? The tables are LITERALLY one inch apart. When I say literally, I mean it. That's no exaggeration. (a) We asked to move to another table and were given two other options that were just as bad. We were told a corner table wasn't possible even though several were never used the entire night. (b) They seated us on an end and then seated four large men next to us. One guy actually said, "are you serious?" to the waitress when she showed him the table. (c) We could hear our neighbor's conversation the entire night. (d) I had to get up to let the guy at the table next to me out. Repeat, I had to get up because he couldn't get up if I didn't move! The food and margaritas were good, but there are several great Mexican restaurants in Chicago that do not require you to sit so closely to the other diners. Plus, the service was awful! We were lucky enough to get a polite waitress, but before we got to her we dealt with three rude hosts (why are there three anyway?), a bartender who had to be flagged down after 5 minutes, and our original waiter who didn't understand why we didn't like sitting one inch from other guests. Seriously?
(2)
Elizabeth R.
If this place wasn't so expensive, I'd go there more often. But the drinks are pricey (though really good) and the food isn't cheap either. I always get the tacos - all of them are awesome. There's also usually a large crowd, which makes it really hard to get a table and almost impossible to grab a spot at the bar. Downstairs was a lot less crowded but also a lot less fun.
(4)
Keith C.
Still 5 stars. The all you can eat taco special is unbelievably awesome. Big nose goes to mexico is one of my more favorite drinks here because of the effects of the fire. Anyways, three of us got an order of the pescado, carne, mushrooms, pork and the deep fried mahi mahi. This probably would have filled us up except that we then went and ordered another round of the pescado because it is so good.
(5)
Kyle B.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "Man, I could go really go for some breakfast right now, but I would also like to have a dance party with music that is entirely too loud for any sort of conducive conversation." No? Me either. But that's what was going down at Mercadito (whether I liked it or not.) I went here with some friends a couple of weekends ago not knowing about the trendy breakfast food rave I was in for. However, I did very much enjoy the company so I thought, regardless of the fact that they might serve me up some glowsticks and a hit of "X" as an appetizer, I'd still give it a try. I will say they do have a pretty sweet "Hangover Brunch" special where you can get a couple of items on their brunch menu along with a signature drink for $18. Not a bad deal considering the food is pretty high quality and the drinks are very unique. However, since it was restaurant week and we wanted the full experience, we opted for the RW menu which added a few more items for $28. Head-pounding atmosphere aside, the food was tremendously good and the drinks were definitely unique. I can't say that it was entirely worth the price tag, but I left happy with our selections. It's just enough food to keep you satisfied, but not overly stuffed like a greasy spoon brunch diner. Now I know some of you Mercadito regulars are going to say, "That's what it's supposed to be like on Saturdays! It's what they're known for!" I get it. I get that they want to be trendy and "hip". But to some extent, it just gets annoying. I mean when you're seated right in front of the DJ and his speakers, the subwoofer is enough to scramble your eggs. All in all, the food was tremendously good, but if that's all you're in it for, save the trip for another day. If you do in fact want to be involuntarily booty scrumpin' to the beat while enjoying your Huevos Rancheros, by all means head here on a Saturday.
(3)
Gwynne R.
This restaurant is DELICIOUS! A friend of mine is a hostess here, so she invited us in on a Saturday night towards the end of her shift. Mercadito is very upscale and trendy. Very cool looking modern bar and interior in general. We skipped on the specialty drinks and just got some cocktails - the vodka tonic was pretty strong, but who knows how much it cost me! We tried the guacamole sampler, which comes w/ three different kinds of guacamole, all very good. The chips that they serve the guacamole with are also amazing, they seemed fresh out of the fryer/oven and I would have eaten as basketful of them on their own! For dinner I had the chicken taquitos which were great! My other friend had a cheese dip w/ meat, which was very good. Best of all were the steak tacos which had something on top of the meat that made them a little but crunchy. TO DIE FOR!!! All of the food was very precisely seasoned and flavored. Definitely a lot of garlic, which I looooove, but beware and bring some mints or gum for after your meal! This place is definitely pricey, but we got a discount on our bill since my friend works there. However, I would definitely come back for more, despite the high prices - this food was AMAZING!
(4)
Vincent A.
I am unabashedly addicted to the tilapia tacos. Seriously, I've had them 15+ times and I could eat them right now. Most of the other tacos are very good, especially the carne and the mahi mahi. It doesn't look like much but you must also try the green rice (arroz verde). There is something in there, either creme frache or crack, that makes it hard to put down the spoon. Most of the food is very good and, considering I've been there about 20 times, impressively consistent. Plus, the prices are very fair. The atmosphere can best be described as urban opulence. With graffiti-like art, well-placed mirrors, and other shiny items, Mercadito screams hip and the crowd reinforces that. double a is a very tiny club downstairs and the doorstaff is imposing but, if you're patient and polite (and have a party of equal guys and girls), you'll get in. The walls in double a are distressed wood with a tequila shelf that give the room a warm, sexy vibe. This is a great spot for a mellow, albeit loud, after dinner drink.
(5)
Jeff G.
My fiance and I went here for my birthday dinner. She made reservations. I'm glad she did. The place was packed on a Tuesday night. The waitress was very helpful. She gave a brief explanation of the menu (food is meant to be shared) and how to order the tacos (order of 4). We ordered toreado guac, barbacoa chicken taquizas and an order of the special tacos of the month (braised pork). Everything was fantastic. Portions are on the smaller side (for the price), which is good for sharing and ordering more things. But compared to the order of tacos you can get at de cero, they are smaller. I got a traditional margarita. It was good, but I'm easy to please when it comes to fresh margs. Mercadito is not an everyday place to eat (for our budget) but was a nice date night.
(4)
Nona Gayle D.
Went here a couple night ago with a very good friend.... and there were a couple cons and pros about the place... Pros... The food is tasty The service is prompt and polite The food came out quickly Cons The food was a bit overpriced The seating was all bunched together The restaurant was so loud that I practically had to yell to my friend who was only about 2 feet away from me. Parking was difficult to come by. The orders are meant to be shared by the party which is good and bad.... but thankfully my friend and I ordered the perfect portion and were stuffed! It's a good place, but I really wouldn't suggest it as a date spot... unless you wanted to yell at each other the whole time.
(3)
Charles W.
The atmosphere: fantastic, boisterous and energetic but not overbearing, and conversation suppressing. The tacos, salsa and guac: tasty and the margaritas are deftly mixed. The price is perfect for what you're getting. Mercadito will make you muy contento.
(5)
Chi G.
I really enjoyed this place! After 10pm, they give a 50% industry discount which I took advantage of. Bring your industry card or a recent pay stub. The music is loud and the crowd is sexy. Great place for a girls night out or a late night bite. The food is fresh and coctails are tasty. We enjoyed the guacamole and steak tacos. The mixto ceviche and fish tacos were a miss for us, but I would still recommend this place.
(4)
Jim W.
Fun, a little bit pricy, but yum! We went on Mother's Day on a Sunday night (no drinking Sundays here), so the ambiance/crowd was probably not representative, and I never made it to the downstairs bar, but I liked what I saw and ate. The decor was colorful and had lots of flair, I liked the couch/tables in the front room, and the place just generally gave off a lot of energy, though I could see it being deafening loud on a weekend night. Food What looks to be little portions is way more than meets the eye! Probably what disappointed me most was that the taco orders couldn't be mixed/matched despite all costing the same thing. Since they come in orders of 4, if you want a lot of different ones... take more people with you! Absolutely loved the toreado guacamole...dunno how they got it so spicy! (though they could have mashed the avocado so I could avoid the huge chunks I got that evening). The scallop cerviche was also great, sweet and sour at the same time, very fresh and refreshing, served with these large sugary crackers. The sauce that came with the tilapia and steak tacos were amazing...easily trumped Big Star (though a future visit will determine if the al pastor). Our bill for tacos and guacamole and cerviche starters, whoops almost forgot the corn on the cob, ended up being over $60 after tax with no drinks...which costs the same as sushi. Admittedly we were stuffed, but part of that was due to excessive chip munching for slow food turnaround time. Definitely a little pricy. But would I do it again? You betcha! I'm already strategizing how to make it for all-you-can-eat tacos after 11p on a Fri without either starving first or showing up completely wasted...
(4)
Niti B.
Only one thing to say amazing shrimp and mahi mahi tacos!! Can't beat the creation of guacamole with fresh pomegranite, a burst of refreshing flavor in your mouth. The margaritas are interesting and creative if you are looking for something a bit on the edge.
(5)
Jit S.
Food is ok, small portions. Like the drinks though!
(3)
Gigi R.
Not impressed. Waited for 45 mins to be seated for our reservations (res at 9:45, didn't sit down until 10:30), and also arrived 1 hour early. No apologies from the hostess. Half of us were served our entrees while the rest of our party waited 30 mins for their meal. To make matters worse, they did not warn us that the kitchen was not going to serve us all at the same time so we sat there watching our food get cold whilst we waited and waited for them to be served. The food was sub-par and way overpriced for what it was. The guacamole was pre-made and therefore was somewhat brown from the oxidation and it was very onion-y, almost to the point where it was overbearing. Very unappealing and not good. The crowd there was no older than 25 years old, we felt like we were at a club, not a restaurant.....music was so loud that we could not hear anyone speak. All in all it was not up to standards. Have no desire to go again unless I feel like club-hopping with jersey shore.
I went here this past weekend with a friend for Chef Week--only to find out that they didn't participate in the Chef Week lunch on weekends because they had brunch. It wasn't too much of a difference--the server told us that the special menus just had more options. My friend had the Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi, mexican style coleslaw, chipotle aioli), which was good. The portion was pretty big (4 tacos) but it was a bit spicy for me, so I had some milk (the server paused for a bit at the request, then said "makes sense"). The fish practically melts in your mouth. I had the pancakes (manchego cheese, strawberries, cinnamon butter, maple syrup). The cheese was really subtle, but the combination of flavors was perfect. They skimped a little on the strawberries though =[ We also had the mango and tradicional guacamoles. Good, but spicy! (yay, milk) The atmosphere was very hip and the server was really nice! Will definitely come again.
(4)
Christel D.
I really wanted to LOVE this place. I went with a few friends for lunch. It was a first for us all. We decided to all order our own meals but shared a bite or two with each other. Think it is better to do as intended, tapas style so order lots & share. Pros: -Beautiful space. Clean. Great decor. -Carne Torta was heavenly! I did not order this but sampled from a friend. - Super friendly staff & we had a beautiful, cheery, helpful server. Cons: - I know everyone raves about the tacos but I just really did not dig the braised pork or steak tacos. The tortillas were yummy though. Next time might try the chicken or mushroom tacos -Bland rice & beans. Kinda odd. How is this possible? -Friend ordered a Long Island Iced tea & said it was the worst one he's ever had. There are so many options on the menu. So although I did not like the steak or braised pork tacos I will likely go back to try out some other items.
(3)
Jim F.
One of the best dinners I've had in a while. Portions were just right, was able to taste several of their tacos, sides, etc. Great atmosphere. Drinks were excellent. Highly recommended
(5)
Katie G.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD Made a reservation for a Tuesday night for my boyfriend's birthday. Extremely rude and bitchy hostess. Did not greet us when we walked in, smile or say anything. I said that my name was Katie and that we had a reservation for 2 at 7:30. She snickered and said "your last name is Katie?" Umm. Really sweetheart? Are you dumb or just a bitch? Pretty sure it's both. Another hostess led us to the worst table in the restaurant. Crammed between 2 large loud parties. I declined. It's his birthday, is there anyway we can get another table? I pointed to one empty table, and then another. The answer was no to both. It was a Tuesday night- the restaurant had plenty of open tables that they could have offered up. I was extremely frustrated and disappointed, since I had made this reservation two weeks prior and had even indicated on the reservation that it was a special occasion. The only answer resolution that they had for us is that we could sit in the bar. They took us downstairs to take a look. The bartender down there was the only friendly person on the whole staff. We declined and decided to leave. Was fuming- I asked the hostess's name on the way out. She told me Bliss or Bless or it might have been Bitch. I almost responded-"first name or last?" But just left. I have no idea how that woman was hired into a service industry job. As a hostess you basically have three job responsibilities: 1) Smile 2) Be friendly and welcoming to your guests 3) Seat people Pretty straight forward, right? She failed miserably at all three. We walked down the street to Gilt. Explained our situation and how terrible the service was at Mercadito. They were happy to take care of us. Amazing food and service. Was happy to spend my money there. I am a young professional who dines out quite frequently and I have never, ever had such a terrible experience in my life with a restaurant. I will not be back. Go to Gilt instead. Much, much better.
(1)
Tatyana L.
Kicked off Restaurant Week with a visit to Mercadito. I absolutely loved the food on the prix fixe menu and was so full at the end of the meal that is was difficult to breath! It's hard to say which taco was my favorite because they were all delicious. We had the carnita, pollo, pescado, and pastor tacos. Yum! As other reviews have mentioned, street parking was difficult to find so we wound up paying the $12 for valet. I loved the decor; however, they have the tables set up extremely close together. It was almost impossible for me to get out from my seat with out knocking something over on the table next to us. I will definitely be back for the food; however, will probably try to come on a week night when I hope it won't be as crowded and loud.
(4)
Mally S.
The reviews are all wildly different, so I will add my two cents. For $30, I got a Victoria beer and four of the tiniest tacos known to man. Yeah, they were good, really good. For that price, I was hoping to not leave hungry. No such luck. After spending my lunch money, I was still starving. Yeah Mercadito, you are good, but not worth that much money.
(4)
Samuel M.
I came here with two friends on an evening in which waits at many other Chicago restaurants exceeded 2 hours. I can't say I was disappointed, but all in all the experience at Mercadito resulted in mixed feelings. I must give them points for the low-set tables; it made me feel like a sultan (provided that sultans eat Mexican food) and added to the overall hedonism of the experience. The first thing I noticed about the menu was the pricing, which was wayyy expensive, even for this notoriously pricey pocket of restaurants. I had a bit of a hard time believing that someone expects me to shell out $15 for four miniscule tacos. They also had a margarita on special that was (wait for it) $17. When I finally swallowed the reality of how much I was going to pay for it, the food was of very high quality, and miraculously I did not feel fleeced when leaving. We started with two guacamoles; the restaurant offers six flavors, which I found a little gimmicky. However, the chile de árbol guacamole was pleasantly spicy and a nice change of pace; the pepita, served with pumpkin seeds, was also very unique, but was awkwardly spiced with excessive cinammon. Of note, the sampler was $12.50 for two lilliputian scoops. All of our entrees were fantastic; our table shared a roast chicken, which I usually don't order out; this one,however, was flavored assertively enough that it was definitely worth ordering. Delicious, and also easily the best value on this particular menu at $18.50, complete with delicious black beans and rice - if I return, this is what I will order. We also shared two "taquizas" (small ramekins of meat served with salsas for make your own tacos), one carne asada and another carnitas. The meats were perfectly cooked (carne asada perfect medium rare, carnitas tender and melting off the bone) and all four of our salsas (habañero, chile de árbol, verde, and chipotle) were distinctly flavorful. These were a little steep for their size at $23 (Note: I actually like not being served a trough of food, I just prefer to pay a reasonable amount for it). The service, like the food, had its ups and downs. Our server and host were both very informative and attentive. However, we had to wait around 40 minutes for our food; the table next to us was seated after we had already ordered, and got their food before us. At several times throughout the meal, we had another server come to our table and attempt to give us food/drinks that we did not order, which was at least a minor nuisance. All in all, my three star review of Mercadito should not be interpreted as "meh", but that eating at Mercadito is like riding a roller coaster. The food was awesome enough to outweigh the exorbitant pricing and awkward service. I will likely return, although there are many other fantastic Latin restaurants in this city which outshine this mixed bag of an experience.
(3)
Dyan F.
Food is very good. Would appreciate the opportunity to mix and match types of tacos, but perhaps with time that wil become an option. The drinks are even better. Such inventive drinks that really incorporate Latin flavors and ingredients in truly innovative ways. The servers are a handsome bunch too. My only complaint is with the placement of the tables. A little too close for comfort. My heart goes out to you if you're on an awkward first date, but Mercadiot, please don't make my co-worker and I play third and fourth-wheel to this.
(4)
Brianna M.
Let me start off by saying: I LOVE GUAC. So to come to this fancy Mexican lounge with a trendy ambiance and find a whole assortment of different kinds of guacamole had me beyond stoked! My date and I ordered the flight of 3 different guacs and chips including pomegranate, traditional, and sweet potato guac. It was seriously heaven in my mouth, with the classic guac being outstanding, the pomegranate having a fruity twist and the sweet potato one having a sweet kick. Also ordered a mango and cucumber margarita which kept us super happy. Lastly, the two trays of steak and chicken tacos were simply delish and were jam-packed with flavor. This visit totally changed my view of the standard of a taco and fine Mexican dining. Definitely coming back the next chance I get; Muy sabrosa!
(5)
Allison S.
Loud, crowded place, but I like that kind of atmosphere. I love coming here whenever. Brunch is great and they have live violin sometimes. Their brunch cocktails are great, and its fun to come with friends for their brunch bottle service. you can get vodka with multiple bloody mary mixers and garnishes or champagne with fruit purees and fruit garnishes. They are all really good and fun to make! My favorite cocktail here though is the pepino el pyu which is cucumber and tequila and spices. You can't even taste the tequila and its the perfect mixture! I tried another drink recently that was kind of spicy and sweet, which had a really good balance, but the cucumber one is definitely the best! The service is usually pretty decent, not super friendly, but always prompt. I almost always get tacos and split them with people. I like how they change the menu seasonally also. I like how you can get lettuce instead of the tortilla (if i try tobe healthy) but the corn tortillas are so good its hard to resist. My favorite tacos are the estilo baja with battered fish and spicy slaw. The chicken, and chicken mole are both good, and also the shrimp and pescado. Ive had the pastor ones also, which are a little spicy for my taste but the mango really helps to balance. The guacamoles are pretty good, I like their spicy one the best, just because I am not the biggest fan of fruit in guacamole. My favorite foods I've probably had here are the sides, the brussel sprouts and cauliflower are delicious! a great accompanimient to split with people! Definitely a fun place to come with friends and to grab a drink before a night out! I just do not like that you cant sit down unless your full party is there.
(5)
Elana L.
I like Mercadito but honestly I have Gd better tacos for less money. I would probably skip this place and go somewhere else.
(3)
Giuseppe D.
I was originally lured into Mercadito by word of their excellent drink list, and was BLESSED to find out that the food is even better. They have a very extensive list of tequilas that are used to create their custom house--made drinks. Some of them feature a chile powder or even whole cucumber slices. Though I can rave about the drinks I can see hundreds have already beat me to it, so I'll briefly talk about the food. More specifically, the tacos are incredible. They make their tortillas in house, along with their sauces. I've tried the steak, mushroom, and mole tacos so far and every single one of them have been phenomenal; my favorite being the mole tacos. They also have 6 (maybe 8?) different guacamoles, from regular, to jabanero, to mango guacamoles that are all made in-house. With great custom drinks, amazing food, and friendly/knowledgeable service, I will most definitely be frequenting Mercadito.
(4)
Chaim L.
On a sultry Tuesday night, the place was hot. The energy was spilling out the door as we arrived and continued throughout the evening. The hostesses are professional and lovely - the bar tenders know how to keep the crowd happy with fun, creative drinks and solid standards - the traditional margarita was unusally sophisticated (not too sweet). Once seated - on time - the wait team took over and were relentlessly delightful and on top of everything. And the food can hang with the setting and the staff, it's creative, well-balanced yet some strong flavors - fun and very satisfying. You could pick at a dish here or there if your a heartless foodie - but overall the great selection (great for sharing) can't disappoint.
(4)
Missy M.
I was really hyped to come to this River North hot-spot and it did not disappoint! Started with a glass of Rose Cava. Crisp, light and pretty- gotta love a pink drink! We had reservations at 8PM and waited about 10-15 mins to be seated, which wasn't bad considering it was the Saturday of Vday weekend. The bar was fun to sit at and people watch. Some of the tables looked tight for the seating, but luckily we were on the end and had no issues with the space. Started with the Manzana guac (apples, almonds, etc) and it was very good, however the star was the Mango guacamole!! Best guac ever!!! Wow Wow! We could not stop talking about it. Also had the cacauate (sp?) salsa (like a mexican style thai peanut sauce). I was really impressed by the selection of crazy flavors of guacs and salsas. Next, we had the quesadillas, which were more like empanadas...SO delicious!! One was filled with wild mushroom and the other with shrimp. They came on a bed of black beans. Amazing! Lastly, we had an order of the el pastor tacos (comes with four 3-bite tacos) and an order of the mole (chicken with plantain and mole sauce). Both were so delicious!! Great to share. We were stuffed after that. Probably could have skipped a plate of tacos or the dillas, but it was worth it for the variety. One of my favorite parts of the night was my drink that literally came on FIRE!!! So cool. It had the wow effect AND it was potent and delicious. Tequila, rum, fruity but not too sweet. It had a great seasoning on one side of the rim with salt and other spices. My only complaint was that the food came out a little too quickly... they could have spaced the courses out a bit more, but at least they were too fast instead of too slow! All in all Mercadito was very trendy and had the delicious food to back it up. I would highly recommend it for a really fun night out!
(4)
Holly S.
I have been to Mercadito several times and have been pleased with the food every time. The maji maji tacos are a must order. The guac is fantastic. Margaritas are always great. Now this is definetly a "trendy" restaurant and can get crowded but Saturday night was exceptional because of our FANTASTIC waiter Daniel. Daniel was super energetic, very attentive to our table, knowledgable about the food, etc. He really made this most recent visit to Mercadito my best visit. If you can request Daniel to be your waiter do so, you will NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Helen M.
I made reservations for a party of eight for 8:00 on a Saturday. From the time we walked in, from the time we left, all I can say is I was extremely happy with my experience at Mercadito and so was the entire party. When we arrived, we were seated immediately, keeping in mind the entire party has to be present before they will seat you. Our waiter was great, he was very attentive but not overbearing. I loved that he kept an eye on us, refilling our chips and water without us asking. I also loved how every time a staff person saw us taking pictures, they offered to take a picture of the whole table. We had 3 different staff take pictures of us during our dinner. The food was wonderful - we had the Tradicional,Granada, and Camote Guacamoles and the Chipotle and Verde salsas. Out of these, we LOVED the Granada Guacamole and Chipotle salsa. The Granada was made with strawberries, since pomegranates were out of season, and was delicious. Who would have thought strawberries in guacamole would taste so good. For our tacos, we ordered the Pollo, Carnitas de Puerco, Pescado, and Calabacitas. They were all really good, noting that the Carnitas de Puerco were pretty spicy, so I probably wouldn't order that again only because they were too spicy for me. Overall, the food and the service were wonderful. Everyone in my party was asking me how I found the place and what a great choice I made. In fact, most everyone said that they would definitely return. As far as the negatives of Mercadito, like other reviewers, I would agree that the place is very loud, so be prepared for that.
(5)
Katy O.
I went here with a girlfriend who lives in the area last weekend and we had a great experience from start to finish. We found street parking less than a block away, score! Then we started off at the bar with delicious margaritas with unique flavors. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying and kept the food flowing, answered our questions about the different menu items, etc. We started with the "original" or "standard" guacamole, which was fresh and delicious. We tried the salsa with peanuts in it- a little strange but also delicious. The chips served with both are fantastic. After we started on the salsa and guac they brought out the elotes we had ordered. These were, hands down, THE BEST ELOTES EVER. If you go to Mercadito, you must order the elotes. Perfection. We finished up with the carnitas tacos, which were to die for. They are also perfectly sized tacos. All of the items on the menu are meant to be shared so portions are a little smaller, but as a tapas fan, I really enjoyed this. The prices are reasonable given the quality of the food. The atmosphere is loungey, so it would be a fun place to start off a Friday or Saturday night. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Jenn R.
Will SO be back!! We tried to go during restaurant week, but missed it, but they have a weekend brunch deal that includes an entree & a drink for $18... the perfect hangover cure... I'm sold! We started with the tradicional guac, which had huge chunks of avacado, which we love. I had the carne tacos which were delicious. Hubs had the huevos rancheros and he loved that as well. For drinks, I had the auntie ox and Hubs and the maria sangrita, which were both awesome, although the auntie ox was a little sweet. No biggie, I just added some water to it and it was perfect. They ran out of sangita mix, so he then tried the green-go... I could and would drink those all day!! I love that their drink names are ones I can remember. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
K B.
Mediocre at best. This place is loud and the food is bland. I doubt that the food is authentic. The margaritas were great and the waitress was friendly and did her best to appease me and my party. We thought that our food was void of flavor and the waitress recommended the habanero sauce. It helped a bit, but there was nothing she could do about the black beans/rice... tasted like it was from a can. I was also disappointed that I made reservations and was seated 40 min later than scheduled. We were seated near the door at a lounge table and I was sooo cold. I inquired about being moved to a standard sized table away from the door and was told it would be an additional 45 min. Definitely would not patronize this place again. Next time I'll stick with a place that never disappoints like Carnivale, Mi Tierra, or Raymonds.
(2)
Julie W.
The restaurant week menu was amazing!!
(5)
Leang E.
I met a friend up at this place, and she had reservations downstairs. It was nice because the upstairs was louder and seemed a little more formal. The downstairs area is more lounge-like and laid back. I appreciate the music a little more as well. There was a dj and a violinist mix, and it was such a pleasant and unique combination and I truly loved it! The energy and flow was amazing, and I even stayed after my meal to dance and hang out. I know breaking the weekday rules... Anyways, we ordered the pomegranate guacamole and they must of ran out of pomegranate because there were slices of strawberries in it instead. I have to say that I was surprised that they didn't ask us if it was okay, and if we still wanted it but they just served it. I am not sure if it would have made it any better if it was pomegranate. I guess the intent would be to give it more of a tangy flavor like a lemon or lime would add to it. I was disappointed with the carne asada taco really. It was kind of bland, but the tilapia fish taco was delicious. The prices are really what surprised me. I know what is typical for Mexican fare can not be compared here, but I felt like twice as much or more is too pricey. There are some really good spots that I love much if not more, although the spicy sauce on the fish taco is enticing it's just not enough. The service was pretty good. I would recommend it for a 2nd or a 3rd date spot, but it's too loud for a 1st date. It's also a good spot for a group. We did see Robin Robinson did make an appearance here for a short moment to meet up with some people.
(3)
Justin M.
I read about all you can eat tacos in another review and HAD to go that route; after a night of drinking is was purely necessity. Started off with chicken and carne asada; both very good. Waitress suggested trying fish tacos so we tried calamari (amazing with some kind of spicy mustard sauce), shrimp with avacado (delish). We came here during restaurant week. Prices are high, but the service and experience were top notch. Margaritas are VERY strong.
(4)
Dan G.
Ok I went today since I wanted to try this place since the longest, the atmosphere is great, the decoration, the service, the food. When I talk about the food the steak tacos were delicious, however the only think that disappointed me was the fact that I couldn't mix my tacos, I consider that mercadito should let people mix their tacos since we are paying high prices for the food, also the smokey pablo (my margarita) was great, the guacamole was awesome along with the chips, I really recommend this place ... PS. you should have horchata that is the thing that makes a good mexican restaurant.
(4)
Rebecca W.
Hubby and I went to Mercadito Saturday night after I kept hearing rave reviews from a co-worker, but we were significantly underwhelmed. Got there at 6:30pm to an hour and a half wait which was fine -- drinks for us! Started with a couple of traditional margarita's, which were just meh. Seriously, at $9.50 a pop I was expecting a little more than two-thirds ice, with the other third being sour-mix. Our second round was much better -- I had the Little Market, he had the Smokey Pablo, both were a little spicy and not as blah as the margaritas. Onto dinner...started with the toreado guac, which was awesome (but not as spicy as our server made it sound). Followed up with the ensalada verde which was also fantastic -- greens with queso fresco, jicama, corn and a spicy chipotle-balsamic vinaigrette. Mmmm...delicious! We should have ended our meal there, because our mains (both ordered tacos) were seriously mediocre. I got the mole, he got the chorizo. Mine was sweet and pretty ok, but nothing extraordinary. His was SALTY! Holy moley it was salty. And had no real texture -- some crunchy slaw might have helped it significantly. Perhaps we should have stuck with the traditional (read: boring) carne, or camaron, or pollo. Oh well. As if to add insult to our sub-par meal, our service was SO slow! We ordered at the same time as two other tables next to us, and they were both finished with their meals before we had even received our tacos. Seriously? What gives? At $120 for two, I was expecting a little more, Mercadito. Not much, but stepping it up just a little would have made our night so much better. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon...
(2)
jules l.
My friends took me here for my birthday, and we started at the bar with cocktails, chips and guacamole. We could have stayed there all night - the tortilla chips are the best I have ever had, and the 6 different kinds of guac blew me away - each one was amazing in its own way, and I couldn't get enough. The cocktails were fantastic - very delicious and worth trying some of the different specialty drinks. The only reason I am not giving this rockin' place 5 stars is because they didn't have enough options for vegetarians or pescaterians like me.
(4)
Jedd J.
Really good mini tacos
(4)
Steven W.
OVERALL Baffled how this place is in business. Must be the prime location? PLUSES 1. The pork tacos were really good. NEGATIVES 1. Portion sizes were possibly filling for 7th Century Mayans who averaged 4 feet 4 inches. 2. You and your clothes will reek of this place by the time you leave. 3. The ambient environmental noise of 95 dB may cause ringing in your ears. 4. The place was empty at 6pm, but we were not seated until our entire party arrived. Yes, we stood there waiting next to the hostess for 20 minutes in an empty restaurant. 5. The margaritas had the alcohol content of an O'Doul's. 6. Our friend's credit card was over charged by a large amount. 7. Our waiter disappeared for more than 30 minutes at one point. After dessert, employees kept leaning over our table to take away plates, clean off the table, and lean into us making it clear they wanted us to leave for the next party. When my wife asked for a water refill after the check was brought, they only refilled her water glass 1/3 of the way. 8. Early in the night, one of the managers yelled at a group of employees hanging out in a circle talking since there were no customers yet and nothing for them to do. He made a really big unpleasant scene out of it. One of the employees immediately wandered off, but then the manager joined the employee chat session and it continued on for at least another 5 minutes.
(1)
Aman G.
Outstanding. I went earlier this week with a group of colleagues. Four of us shared 8 dishes, plus some guacamole, and we were stuffed. First off, the things I didn't like - my gin and tonic was actually a gin and soda... the waitress seemed confused that I wasn't ordering a margarita (I can't stand tequila of any quality in any form after a bad experience a few years back) and screwed up the drink order. The chicken taquitos were also pretty lackluster. Not bad, but nothing special. Fortunately, the rest of the food was so fantastic that it made up for these minor gripes, to the point where I'm happy to give the restaurant 5 stars. Food was distinctive and delicious - all the tacos we tried (pork, mahi mahi, chorizo, steak) were simply fantastic. We got a sampler of three different types of guacamole - we did traditional, mango, and the spicy chili one. The traditional was only meh (kind of a waste of a choice in the sampler), but the other two were terrific - incredibly unique and flavorful. Even the tortilla chips were fantastic. Highly recommended - may be the tastiest Mexican meal I've had.
(5)
Kelly K.
While it's pretty close to authentic, it's still high brow for Mexican food and they don't include beans and rice with the entrees. Seriously, who doesn't include beans and rice in a mexican entree!? Also, the last time I was here for lunch, the service was awful. We had a table of 5 and the rest of the restaurant cleared out before the waitress even asked if we wanted our check.
(3)
Aubrey R.
I hate to write bad reviews but... We came here on their one year anniversary as there was supposedly some dinner specials for $1, after confirming this on the phone with (I think her name was madison) we arrived. On arrival we said we were there for the anniversary and they sat us... we said this again to someone else who came to our table. After about 10 minutes our waiter came and after us asking a third time he told us that all the specials for the night were in fact sold-out. This should have been said sooner. We ordered drinks, chips and salsa and some tacos to share. The fish tacos were very good, and it came with the world's smallest salsa, but its a classy joint so I understand maybe its just for a tasting. The waiter forgot to put our drink order in which took another 20 minutes at least. All in all, a disappointing experience. As I live in logan square, I would rather have paid $10 for a quality mexican meal and a margarita than $20 for a taco and a drink.
(2)
Nhu N.
I initially gave this place 4 stars but after reviewing my review (ha!) I'm forced to subtract a star. I'm a fan of this place. I love the borderline swanky decor that had a little twist of Mexican. I came here for Valentines day dinner that only offered a prix fixe menu. $60 a head. The food was overwhelming. I'm ta;king about your choice of 3guacs, 2salsas, 2 sides,2 appetitizers (yes it's different from sides) 4 (x2) choices of tacos. I mean wholy shnitzelwheicher. What am I a beastly mammoth whale? They could've done a better job at constructing that menu. I also ordered a Smokey Pablo - baaaad mistake it was disgusting. Why was my drink spicey? Anyways... I give it 3 stars because I dig the music that was playing and the food was amaze-balls. I enjoyed the exciting decor but I really wish the tables were a little further apart. I hate eating elbow-to-elbow with a stranger. I can definitely see myself revisiting with a group of girlfriends, bobbing heads, and ordering a different drink!
(3)
Richa G.
Great drinks, very friendly servers and flavorful food. Try the mango chipotle drink and the mole guac.
(5)
Dan S.
This places tacos are amazing, cool decor as well. Try the pork tacos and you will crave this place regularly. Half price after 10 pm on Fridays too and the crowd late on Fridays makes this the place to be as well. It turns into a lounge and the party heads to cuvee afterwards.
(5)
Tammy M.
Atmosphere is "trendy". Tables are close together and music is loud. However...food is good. Very fresh ceviche. delicious tacos. and the most out of this world dessert (we ordered something described as "mexican french toast". portions are small however.
(4)
L C.
I would rate this 3.5 stars. It's definitely on the pricey side for tapas. Went here in April and remembered having pastor tacos, fried plantains, mango guacamole, and a couple other dishes. We ordered a lot for the two of us. Everything was fairly tasty and there was an extensive list of drinks. This place's atmosphere is well suited for a party group. Service was a bit slow though.
(3)
Billie O.
We arrived on Saturday night and the place is jammed with young, trendy people and the place is LOUD. On the nights I have been there when the promoters Lonnie and Vince throw parties, it's fun. These guys throw great events. The drinks are good and some are quite unique. The food, however, is just awful. Our group ordered a price fixed menu and the portions were huge. Our fish tacos, however, tasted terrible and smelled fishy, the guac was interesting but just ok, and the remainder of what we ordered left little to be desired. The service was atrocious, our waitress would just look over our heads when passing by. The waiters need serious training. This is a good place to go when there is a Lonnie/ Vince party and grab a drink, or for a young crowd who wants to do some people watching. This is NOT a good place to go when you are looking for good food, good service or to actually hear a conversation.
(2)
Lindsay D.
When all is said and done, the food, margaritas, and vibe were smashing; totally exceeded my expectations actually. It had been pretty hyped up by friends, so I decided to give it a try for a birthday dinner. I was SO impressed by the unique margarita flavors, finally choosing the cucumber one---with a cumin sea salt rim and the refreshing cucumber tequila mix, it was lovely. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu and really was not disappointed by anything. Some tacos were better than others, but they all ahd their own spin and flavors. I highly recommend the pork and pineapple tacos and the Chorizo queso dip as an appetizer. Every gucamole order was incredible, with my favorite being the Pumpkin seed, cinnamon one. The crowd had an edgy vibe, especially the later and later it got ( with some creepy older guys thrown in). I couldnt sometimes hear my friends talk, because of how loud it was, but that wouldnt deter me from going back. Our waitress was also excellent complimenting the whole experience. Try this place out, you definitely wont regret it!
(4)
Kyle J.
I love this place. The music and service were excellent. Great vibe and excellent food.
(5)
Pretty K.
I've been here a few times with a large and small groups and every time its been a pleasurable experience. The food is great and perfect portion sizes, although a little prices but the atmosphere and the service is great. I LOVE their tacos, I've honestly tried them all but my favorites are, pastor and pescado. Its also a great place to go grab some drinks after work or before a night on the town.
(4)
Tazeen K.
I went for dinner her on 6/21/11, the night of the storms. We had reservations for 6 people at 8:15 pm. When we arrived at 8:10, we were informed it would be another 20 mins before we would be seated. My first thought, 'What's the point of a reservation?' Then we were presented with two options - wait the 20 mins or eat in the lounge, from where we would be moved to another table at 9:30 due to a large party coming in. Neither were optimal options since we were hungry and on a schedule with it being a Tuesday night. We chose to sit in the lounge. We chose to sit in the lounge. In addition to the seating drama, we learned the AC in the place is broken. It was a hot, humid night and the large AC they placed in the back of the restaurant was not making it to the front. Next we have a waitress who clearly did not care about providing proper service since her tip was already included in the bill. After our drinks arrived, she asked if we were ready to order. Mind you, she had not told us about any specials, nor asked if we had any questions about the menu. I asked about specials and recommendations. She told us there were no specials and everything on the menu is good. That basically tells me that either she's never eaten at the restaurant or doesn't like anything on the menu. Through the course of our meal, she never once returned to check on how our food was or if we needed anything else. And at the end of the meal, we weren't even asked about wanting dessert. Plus, when we called to make reservations, we had asked about a gluten-free menu. The restaurant confirmed there was one available. However, when we asked our waitress about it, she had no clue what we were talking about. She recommended the jicama sticks to my friend w/the restricted diet. Really? Jicama sticks for dinner? She did not even offer to ask if the chef can make something for her. So, based on the treatment from the hostesses and the waitress, I would NOT go back here. However, the food was something else! They have at least three types of guacamole. We got the mango and another one and they were both so delicious!! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food. But was the good food enough to surpass the terrible, terrible service? I'm not sure I'll return...
(2)
Angela A.
Last night I went to Mercadito with 5 girlfriends late night for dinner. It was a very cute atmosphere and had a DJ playing great music but it was so loud we had to shout across the table. The service was OK. We did not like that we ordered all of our food at once and 1-2 plates were coming out every 10 minutes so the others had to just sit and wait. Like the rest of the reviews said it is over priced Mexican food. Yes they tried to put a twist on it by adding mango and mushrooms in some of their dishes but it was still over priced. I do not mind spending money on good food but it was almost not worth it. We were glad it was Taco Tuesdays so you got to try a variety for less price. Not sure if I will be back. Glad I tried it tho.
(3)
Kathy M.
Had the pleasure of going to Mercadito for Mother's Day and it was definitely a treat! They had a special menu that day that included a drink and family style options which gave everyone at the table the chance to sample a bunch of different things. The drinks were outstanding concoctions of deliciousness - I highly recommend them! Standouts foodwise were the guacamoles to start, the shrimp soup, and the steak and baja fish tacos. Our service was quite good - when our food was taking longer than usual to come out, both our server and a manager were on top of it. This is a restaurant that has tip-top servers and bussers who are attentive and pleasant. The only disappointment was a very underseasoned posole. However, there were so many other positives that I'll definitely be giving them another try!
(4)
Cris C.
I was excited to try this place. We arrived at 5 p.m. to find the place empty on a Saturday evening... tumbleweed rolling through would not have surprised me. There were only some casually dressed tourist types seated at the bar. The hostess coldly stated that she had nothing available until 6:45. Literally, no one was seated anywhere. I will never return to this restaurant. Tacos should never come with this kind of attitude.
(1)
Nancy S.
Went for dinner last night with a groug of about 8 people. We ordered Family Style. It was delicious & fun. Our Server, while a little rough around the edges, was very helpful & knowledgable. I will definitely return.
(4)
Call Me A.
I can't say enough good things about Mercadito. I hosted a surprise 30th birthday party for my fiance there last night and it was so seamless and easy. We had around 25 people attend and we had 3 tables reserved for our group in the basement bar area. We had to get the price fix meal for a party of our size, and all of the food was amazing. We had so much food people were stuffed, and it just kept coming. The price fix meal was $35 dollars a person and totally worth it. Their drinks are also amazing, but not cheap. All in all it was an easy and awesome night. Highly recommend for parties!
(5)
Andrew S.
We waited an hour past our reservation time to be seated. Food was average. I guess I am not a fan of super trendy places where you can't hear the person across from you because the music is so loud. Any place that makes me wait an hour with a reservation will get one star from me.
(1)
Levar W.
I ate here New Year's Eve and enjoyed every single bite of my tacos. The menu was overwhelming with so many food and drink options, but the waitress took her time to carefully explain the menu and gave great drink recommendations. I would definitely revisit again.
(5)
Julie M.
I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 here because some of the menu items were misses, but, considering the number of times I came here for dinner, I'll give it a 4. All the tacos are really good. I especially like the mushroom tacos. The regular guac is the best. The others sort of tasted weird. Really, I just came for the tacos. And the flan was pretty good, too. I was usually here on a weekday for dinner with my coworker straight from a workout at East Bank Club. No one seemed to mind the way I was dressed. No crazy scene during those times and worked well for me since I was only here for work during the week and just needed an easy-going dinner.
(4)
Annie T.
dis. a. ppointing. i had heard SO much about Mercadito and made a late reservation on Friday at 10:30pm since my friend was flying in late. we got there right on time and weren't seated for a good 45 minutes. it was a bad start to the night, but we would've gotten over it if it weren't for a couple (or more like a whole lotta) other gripes: (-) -waiting 45 minutes to be seated (when we had a resv) -sitting for a good 10 minutes before our server even came to our table -ordering a bottle of pinot noir. 5 minutes later, our server told us that they were out but they had a bottle that was twice the price available (a good restaurant would offer us the nicer bottle for the price of the original) -we ordered the camaroncitos al chipotle and boy were they a disappointment. upon presentation, we were so excited to chow down. only to find that it was merely batter and barely any shrimp contributing to not much flavor/substance in each bite. blech. we didn't even finish it. -we ran out of chips and i had to remind our server twice to bring us some more -our guacamole was delicious but the last bit was just a big chunk of avocado. how wasteful! why wasn't it made in such a rush? also, it was served in a plate that made scooping with a chip difficult. guac would fall onto the table and go to waste. use a BOWL, people. -the music was playing at 140 decibels and left my ear crying on our way out. we also couldn't hold converation across the table without YELLING. come on. sure it was later at night but we were there to dine. we weren't in the bar/lounge area. the music was waaaay too loud. i'll stop being a debbie downer and outline the few things that DID make us happy... (+) -the tacos. all hail to THE TACOS. if there's one thing that saved Mercadito, that's it. we ordered the pork belly and also the carne (steak). both delicious... pork belly a smidge better because of the flavors -the guacamole is also deeeelicious. my only gripes are above in the neg column -good atmosphere (sans loud, loud gut wrenching music) and great people watching well, that's that. my tips to you: -go to one of the Rick Bayless restaurants a couple blocks away -order only tacos and guac -make an EARLY reservation -wear earplugs
(2)
Anj S.
Waited 1 hour with reservations very rude hostesses. The food was just okay tonight, has been better in the past. More of a club now than a restaurant on the weekends.
(3)
Tony G.
Best steak tacos in the city! The food here is great, a little overpriced but still and awesome night out. If I'm in the mood for upscale Mexican this would easily be my first choice. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends so sometimes its better to go at off hours or during the week.
(4)
David J.
I don't understand the appeal of this place. My wife and I went there for the first (and only) time last night. The service was decent, though the bar was backed up and it took us awhile to get our drinks. However, the food was awful, with the exception of the guacamole. The habanero salsa was bland, the shrimp tacos looked like diarrhea (though didn't taste quite as bad), and the carne tacos were ok. But for the prices they charged, there is no way I would come back again. De Cero is a much, much better alternative -- much better food and better atmosphere.
(1)
Ela G.
The host staff seemed unapologetic and didn't seem to care that our 8:15pm reservation was not honored until 9:30! Thankfully the general manager was somewhat more responsive and placated us with margaritas and guacamole. Needless to say when we finally sat down, we were hoping the food would be amazing to make it worth the wait....sadly it wasn't. The ceviche was "strange", the mahi mahi was great but the shrimp and scallops were average or weird...weird is not a good quality for raw seafood, lemme leave it at that. The tacos were ok, food came out surprisingly fast, which was nice. The carne was the only taco that was good...the tilapia and chicken mole were not great. All in all, I won't be going back. I appreciate the GM's attempt to make things right with the drinks, but they need to better train their reservation staff. The entire restaurant was packed and backed up with people who were waiting for their reservations...it's not brain surgery...don't take as many reservations if you can't handle or turn the tables when you promised you would, plain and simple.
(2)
Monica S.
I've been here several times and while the food is good, the service is horrible. Each time I've gone, I made a reservation ahead of time and still I was not seated for 20 minutes or more. Last time I went with my family and we were a group of 4. I am 8 months pregnant (and quite large in teh belly!) and they tried to squeeze us into a table that was way too small. It could probably only hold 3 petite females comfortably. I was with two guys and another female. There was no way we could sit there. I asked to be seated at the many other empty tables and they said this is the only one that was available for us. We decided to eat somewhere else after that. Another time, my husband specifically told the waiter about his dairy allergies. They brought out his meal and he started having a reaction as he ate it. We called the waiter and we asked him if he had removed the allergies (butter and cheese) from the entree. It seemed like he barely remembered and checked with the kitchen. They had not remembered and the waiter didn't even apologize. The manager finally came and apologzied after we asked to speak to him. While the food and drinks are tasty, the service is rude and horrible so go there with caution!
(2)
Penny S.
Great service, food was okay, fun room, nice ambiance. Way too loud! Overpriced. Would likely not return.
(3)
Ryan P.
meh sums up the whole experience. i wouldn't return.
(2)
michael r.
So I took my fiance here for her birthday. We had a reservation for 8pm and arrived promptly. Maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine but I don't like sitting in the bar for 40 minutes after my reservation time before being seated. That being said, we tried the trio of guacamole which we really enjoyed. I sampled a number of different tacos which were all very good and I would really recommend the fish tacos. they were delicious. They served up some very interesting but overpriced drinks. The margarita's were good but that's pretty hard to screw up in my opinion. One other thing I'll say is that the restaurant is excessively loud. The couple next to us also made a remark to the same effect. People seemed to be yelling across the tables and it echoed throughout the restaurant. Maybe it's quieter on a weeknight. We also went downstairs afterward to meet friends for a few drinks and the lounge is small but cozy and a fun place for after-dinner drinks.
(3)
nicole j.
went here for my birthday dinner it was a sat night very packed. the chairs felt like they were going to break very wobbly and i am 105lbs lol my friends chair was too...i ordered a mojito it was pretty tasty the food was pretty good besides the fact that my friend had a long hair in her taco. they brought her a new plate but still charged her full price for her dish which i thought was a bit odd...then we went downstairs to the lounge area. we got a table with a bottle the waitress was terrible our table was a mess and we had to get our own juices cuz she didn't keep them full! one of the worst bottle service i have ever experience in chicago..would maybe come here for dinner again but def not for a night out...
(2)
C C.
Way overpriced but mighty tasty food. Fun. New. Hip. Trendy. But, I paid 83 bucks for just some tacos, guac, and wine for two. You wouldn't know there's a recession going on while dining and drinking at this place.
(4)
Gretchen H.
I thought this place might be overrated, but it wasn't...not even close. The service was great...they were very willing to help and made great recommendations. I've been a couple times...once for a chef's tasting menu which was really amazing. Everything from start to finish was really yummy...the guac, the ceviche, the tacos of course. Some of my favs were the carnitas and the steak. AMAZING! I highly recommend this for a girls night or a group dinner. It is a little loud, so if you're on a date it may not be the best venue....but then again, maybe it is!
(4)
K G.
The food here is awesome. Every time I've gone, I've tried different items off of the tasting menu and loved every single one. The drinks are outstanding too, their cucumber margarita is to die for. You definitely need reservations, and will probably end up waiting even with them.
(4)
Brandon B.
Listen, the tacos (and mostly everything else) here are pretty good, and I understand we are in River North. I have no problem paying a lot of money for food, but at the end of the day, these are taco's. I am still giving it 4 stars because of quality, it is just tough to continually come here after being here a few times to pay $15 for a few tacos that you can make at home. I think it is definitely better than a place like De Cero which is around the same price, Mercadito was better though. Weekends are tough to get in, but a good time with good atmosphere
(4)
Sean D.
Brunch steak from family tasting menu - outstanding. Ceviche - so, so - not lemon marinated shrimp but rather cooked. Tacos you can get them way better at a simpler mexican join. Will def come back though for the steak and try something else on the menu, the place is great inside, so it's a 3+
(3)
Joe K.
very rude staff. will not be going back too bad because food was good
(1)
T Q.
For all the hype, the food at this place was just meh. We ordered the guac which wasn't bad, but nothing special. We had 2 types of tacos as our entree and although they were decent- I think de cero's options for a la carte tacos are way more interesting. If you are taking a date here, rethink it- it's a little too happening and loud to hear the person across from you. I'd probably hit up adobo or de cero instead of this spot.
(3)
Nick C.
After hearing all of the mixed reviews on Mercadito, I was a little concerned with what the meal might entail. Some Yelpers have gone as far as saying this place trumps any Bayless spot. Yet others have compared it to Taco Bell! Anyway, I tried to consider those outliers and give the restaurant a fair shot. We arrived, maybe 5 minutes, but had to wait a little for our table to be prepared... no problem, straight to the bar. We ordered two classic margaritas, and they were very good (on the same level as those at Frontera). Our table was ready before the bartender could ever finish our cocktails. Once seated, I noticed how incredibly packed the place was. It was a Saturday night, and it was 7pm, but the increasingly large crowd reminded me off a hot spot in NYC. Now, onto the meal itself, from the appetizers to the dessert, I was shocked by Mercadito. I will also be so bold and claim it to AT LEAST as good as Frontera! We ordered a couple of the salsas and a classic guacamole. Both were very good, but one of the salsas, I believe the medium, was outstanding. We also ordered the elote and ceviche. The elote was out of this world, and a dish I will forever crave! The ceviche was also good and was made with the freshest of fish, but I would recommend less lime and apples in the scallop ceviche. Between my girlfriend and I we had the mole taco, carne taco, and mahi taco, and they were all very good. I loved the mole sauce and the perfectly fried mahi. I usually am not a dessert person, but our waiter must have heard my girlfriend talking about my birthday, so he brought us out a complimentary flan with a candle for dessert... very nice touch. Overall, Mercadito is a must for anyone who loves the upscale Mexican food idea. SIDE NOTE: I thought this was more reasonably priced than Frontera. I would highly recommend a reservation though, by the time we left I had hear the hostess tell a group there was at least a two hour wait!
(4)
Sandra A.
Three to four stars for their drinks. Big Nose Margarita, fabulous! Would never go back for their food. It's extremely over priced and the food was blah. For a girls night out or having a drink, I'll would consider this place otherwise, nah, ill pass.
(2)
kb j.
We went early on a weekend evening. When we arrived, the restaurant was not very busy. By the time we left, the restaurant had transformed into a crowded, energetic scene. We had reservations and were promptly seated. Tables are crowded together. The noise level is high with the positive result that our neighbors' tables' conversation was drowned out by the din and the negative result that we had to lean in, in order to make ourselves heard. The room is well-lit and has a modern sleek look. There is a bar area, but, it seemed as if there weren't any bar stools (perhaps we missed finding them?). The wine list is small, but there is an extensive tequila list. The food consists of smallish bites and servings and presentations seemed well suited for sharing. Recommended are the Estillo Baja tacos (the restaurant's take on fish tacos) and the ceviches. Great tortilla chips are served with the guacamole selections. Service was attentive. We will return.
(4)
Kate M.
Delicious food but indifferent service.
(3)
John W.
I am a Chicago resident and frequently dine at the city's restaurants with my friends and business relationships. Since Mercadito's opening last fall I have been able to get to know some of the staff quite well. A few weeks ago I contacted one of the managers about a very high profile client of mine who was in need of last minute birthday dinner reservations. Although it was his wedding weekend (read he would not be working the night they'd be in) this manager did not miss a step and arranged for me to be in contact with two servers at Double A lounge (which is below the restaurant). This seems peculiar on it's face but was part of a larger plan to ensure my guests were able to experience all that Mercadito had to offer. They were seated for dinner upstairs and afterward followed up eating with excellent cocktails downstairs. Clear communication between the two spaces allowed for a smooth transition between each of the restaurants levels. All in all my client was thrilled with the way he was treated and can't stop talking about Mercadito/Double A Lounge! The entire family loved the restaurant and said that the overall experience was one of the best they have ever had in Chicago. That statement says a ton about the staff given how affluent and influential this particular client is within the City of Chicago. I'm sure they've been to hundreds if not thousands of restaurants over the years and they liked this one the best. In fact they enjoyed the time so much, Mercadito was added to a "safe list" for business functions at the fortune 500 company this individual works for. I know this decision is largely a result of the outstanding service provided throughout the evening. The food is incredible, but without amazing service this man would not have been impressed. Mercadito/Double A is a great spot for eating out or being entertained. I would highly recommend it and as represented above trust them to take care of my most important clients. You'd be wise to go see what all the hype is about and find out for yourself how wonderful this location actually is.
(5)
m. P.
Was there for a quick lunch-unfortunately nothing quick about the service. The food was greasy and overpriced-I felt like I needed a shower after the chips and the fish tacos-gross! The steak tacos were decent, but with all of the good mexican places around, I say, "skip it!!".
(2)
Sara W.
My new favorite place in chicago! The best shrimp tacos & queso fundido I have ever had. Margarita was pretty good, but not the best one I've had. Lobster tacos also fantastic. Good service & very cool atmosphere
(5)
Hector M.
Best Mexican fusion I've had. Love the fresh panucho taco. I gave it 5 stars, Reason: It was just amazing different flavors for what you'll ever eat in a tortilla. And they are small ones called panuchos as they are called in Mayan Cuisine. Gotta have it. Can't wait to go back, Best Stick to your Ribs ever. Fun place.Great for groups of people. Loud? Drinks were great
(5)
Joe P.
Poor acoustics and loud music make for a down-rent atmosphere. Food and service are uninspiring and the space too big. Was served a beer with no glass; the entire experience was forgettable. Not recommended unless you just don't know any better.
(2)
Priyanka P.
Amazing mexican food, incredible drinks and a great ambience, though it is really loud.
(4)
Yini G.
We were lured in by Chicago Chef Week and the promise of tasty food for a reasonable price. Well, this place is popular! Making a reservation a week in advance, we could only get a 5 pm opening on Saturday. We showed up on time and waited in the lounge area until the staff finished up their meeting. Once the meeting was over, our party of 2 and others were seated promptly. Minutes ticked by. Sure, it's nice given plenty of time to look over the menu, but it would better if a waiter/waitress came by to ask for drinks and explain the menu. The other parties' servers came by within minutes. Where was ours?? With each passing minute, my annoyance was growing. While I was left there in my annoyance, we quickly learned the busboys' spot was near our table. I lasted 15-20 minutes before I turned my head to these gossiping busboys and asked if a server was going to come by. They all looked surprised and scrambled away to find one. If I was going to be subjected to waiting another 5 minutes for a server, I would have left Mercadito. Lucky for them, a waiter came by. He was apologetic, but not overly sincere. Not sure where our original waiter was, but this guy was distracted by his other tables. The food itself was quite good - original flavors for Mexican food. Sampled three guacs: traditional, mango and mole (least favorite). Sampled two ceviches: scallops and mahi mahi. Sampled four tacos: carne (yummy!), pollo (ditto), carnitas and camaron. Can't miss with any of these. The tacos are deceptive - they're small, but have a great deal of filling. You'll leave satisfied. Sampled two desserts: flan and de luce (besides texture and sauce, I couldn't tell the difference between the two). Like others, thought presentation of the dessert was strange. The wooden bowls seemed like an afterthought, they ran out of budget, or they were left over from another restaurant. Would I recommend it? On the fence. Food was fantastic. Our service was terrible, but others definitely had better servers. Looking at some of the other reviews, it looks like a hit-or-miss experience. I want to be optimistic - if you go, hope you have a better experience. You'll definitely enjoy the food.
(3)
Alyssa O.
Only giving it 3 stars and not less because my experience may have been due to some poor choices. Also, my expectations were pretty high. Basically it was just too bad to be true, so I might give it another shot. The best part of the meal was the apple guac, although the portion was tiny. The steak tacos were pretty good too. But the bad far outweighed the good. We also ordered pork tacos (way too peanutty, almost overwhelming, and the meat was not what I expected), mushroom tacos (plain gross, and I love mushrooms. they put this disgusting black fungus on top), and shrimp tacos (the glaze should be good in theory - something like an orange chicken sauce with a mild garlic flavor - but in reality my mouth was confused and unpleased). The drink I ordered also sounded great on paper, but in reality I could not take more than a couple of sips. It was like a bloody mary, but with pineapple juice instead of tomato. I love spicy, but this was uncalled for. And lastly, this place is ridiculously overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Carla S.
I have some good and some bad things to say about this place, but overall liked it and want to go back. Starting with the bad, we had a late reservation to begin and then ended up waiting at the bar for 30-45 minutes past our reservation time. While this was somewhat annoying, the drinks are delicious, and the bar area is pretty busy, so it was kind of fun. But to make up for it, they gave our group a round of margaritas and an appetizer on the house, which was really nice. The food was great. We got the queso fundido (so good), carne asada tacos, raja tacos and one other, sharing style. They were all so good except raja was very spicy, too much for me. Overall, the food and drinks were good, the atmosphere was fun, and the staff was nice despite the wait.
(4)
Mark P.
Food was pretty good - particularly for the price. Yes, the entrees come "tapas style," but they are large by tapas standards. On a Saturday night, it was very crowded, full of 30-somethings. Staff was friendly, but service a bit slow. I will go back.
(4)
a h.
Blah. Expensive tacos, and super-spicy, not necessarily tasty. I like tasty. I was just not impressed with the food. At all. Great atmosphere though. I would go back for some drinky drinks. But, I probably won't ever go back. I would much rather go to Adobo Grill or Eivissa.
(2)
Cheryl W.
I love this place! The mango gauc is so delicous; The bite size shrimp tacos are the best I've had in the city; and the tangerine/ shrimp civiche is fantastic! Great prices, great food, strong margaritas!
(5)
N W.
In short.. Great bartender.. Great first drink from bar... Crowded and fun.. Waitress nice.. seating too crowded... food o.k. at best.... and felt rushed the entire time after being seated well after our reservation they need to change focus from just trying to turn tables to making guest have a positive UNrushed experience
(3)
hyo l.
today i was gonna try xoco, but they were closed because they were on vacation. so my friend and i were trying to find a mexican restaurant near by there and ended up trying this place. we ordered tilapia taco and carne tortas. omg... taco dish was so tiny, came with 3 small tiny tacos and it was $10.50. it was tasty but come on... i thought tortas was better than taco. tortas was pretty big and came out with fries (which was little too salty for me). I dont think ill go back to this place.
(3)
L F.
The food was fabulous! Our waiter was rude, tried to rush us out the door. I did not realize it was a fast food restaurant. Our waiter did not offer us dessert - dessert menu is limited that could be improved. Don't order the coffee - not very good. The fish tacos were my favorite but it was all very tasty. Kuddos to the chef!!!! Not so much to our waiter. We did tell the Manager when leaving and it appeared they addressed it with him.
Chicago-native and Mexican descendant here. Thought the ambience was decent, enjoyed the unique Pepito margarita but thought the food was barely average and totally OVER-PRICED. Shrimp Ceviche appetizer lacked flavor and seasoning. The different salsas offered are sub-par and very disappointing along with their fried flour tortilla chips - YUCK!. 4 mini tacos for $15! Really?! And I don't care for how the entrees are (over) organized. If you want to try different types of tacos you're forced to order multiple platters (4 tacos on each). This may work for groups of 3 or more but not a group of picky girls or two or less people. Oh, wait... they have prix fixe menus for groups of 6 or more that "forces" you to order specific entrees and salsas. I'd eat at a dive, mom-n-pop Mexican place over Mercadito ANYDAY! I think the crowds this place draws is solely for the margaritas, which are on the pricier side too - skip the food altogether.
(1)
kellie f.
mercadito use to be one of my favorite places to go! the carne tacos were unbelievable, until they changed the recipe with the change of the season.. the service is always great and they have always been accomodating, but who changes something that is so amazing?? the chorizo tacos are always great and so are the guacamoles' but stop changing your food recipes! leave well enough alone!
(3)
Nick B.
Mercadito was an amazing dinner. The atmosphere was trendy and hip. Very nice lighting to make it feel intimate and personal with whomever you are with. The food was amazing. I was with 2 other people and we split the small plates to get a tasting of everything. The tacos were yummy. All the dishes were excellent with some being better then others I would recommend and get again the following: tocino guacamole, langosta tacos,pescado tacos. Overall a fantastic time and a nice spot to take a companion or date. Would love to go back again soon. Its a bit pricey but it is worth it. Its trendy, hip, and fun place to be.
(5)
H F.
This place is extremely unorganized and the staff is incompetent. First, we waited 20 minutes for the waitress to take our drink orders even though it was a weekend afternoon and not extremely busy. We ordered guacamole and salsas as appetizers which arrived AFTER the entrees came out. The waitress merely said that normally the kitchen is not that on top of things. The entrees themselves came out about 10 minutes apart from each other. My sister asked for tacos which weren't spicy and she recommended the pork tacos which ended up being very spicy! She said the shrimp tacos were the spiciest on the menu and they were not spicy at all . It was a bit odd that she had said that because I've had them before even and they are not spicy at all. Our plates were cleared before we were even done and the waitress just completely forgot to bring coffee when we asked and simply said -- you don't want it still do you?? The service is bad. If it wasn't a few blocks away I would never go again.
(2)
Ben B.
this place was terrible! way over priced! bad service! and very hot inside! some blond heir guy was a complete ass to our group of 20 at the end of the night. he took my drink from me while i was drinking it. like he took it out of my hand when i was trying to drink it! i will never go there again!
(1)
Blackie L.
Mercadito is just ok. It's a nice room with a good vibe. The drinks were good and interesting, but a lot of them had a very similar flavor. The food was just ok. I had concerns about a Mexican place that started in NYC coming to Chicago. With 1 million Mexicans and our own Chicago-Mexican food and culture, do we really need some glammed up NYC import? I say no. As far as the food goes, the guac options were interesting, but at the end of the day, it's guacamole. The tacos seem to be what they're famous for, but I'm not sure why. I've had way better carne asada tacos at taco joints all over the city, for why less trouble (and, granted, much less to look at.) I've never understood taking time-tested street food and trying to jazz it up. I'd take a nice greasy Mexican chorizo taco with fresh cilantro and onion on a locally made corn tortilla from some dive taco and burrito spot any day.
(2)
Anna M.
great appetizers, especially their different guacamole (pumpkin and pomegranate). shrimp tacos were fantastic.
(4)
Disha M.
FLAMING MARGARITAS!!!!! Alright, this is probably one of my favorite spots in the city. For the atmosphere, the drinks (FLAMING MARGARITAS!!!!!), and decent food. I shaved off one star only because I am not the biggest fan of their tortilla chips. I mean, how do you screw up a tortilla chip?? They can do better, i know they can! But they won't :( Try their shrimp tacos... spicy and delish!! Add the habanero salsa to it ha. Also, you can't go wrong with any of their fancy shmancy margaritas here. Sure, they're kinda expensive, but I appreciate the creativity involved in each drink. Lastly, if you love tequila as much as I do, you will NOT be disappointed in their tequila list. Perfect!
(4)
Amy M.
This place is amazing. You will never see guacamole the same again. I recommend trying the sampler of guacamole. So good! Tacos are amazing. Love this place
(5)
L B.
All the food I had was really good and I actually thought more than fairly priced for what I was served. The drinks were also tasty BUT my $12.00 marg (yes I expect that price for the area but seriously . . . the skimpiness of the drink???) was in a rocks glass (only option there as far as I know) which was FULL of ice so if I were to pour my drink out into a regular martini/marg glass it probably was about 1/3 of a true drink. It was definatly not a full shot of tequila in my drink - had three margs which would have put me on the floor most places but really didn't even feel it here. Despite the fact that the food was good I still can only give this three stars -based more on the overall experience. This place is just too packed in for such a small space. You are truly sitting ON TOP of someone else unless you have a booth. It is also very loud and hard to speak with your table - we had 6 people and the people on the ends by the other table really could not even participate in our conversation bc the restaurant is so loud and everyone at the table next to us was yelling over the noise also. You can make a reservation but every time I have waited AT LEAST a half hour after my reservation to be seated despite the fact that my party has always checked in on time. I think this serves as a scenester spot more than anything and although I am young and enjoy the scene, one scene of Mercadito was enough for me. Too loud, too crowded, too long of a wait. Too bad the food is so good? Maybe it would be better to try this place at lunch or at the least request a booth so maybe you and your friends/date can talk instead of trying to read lips across the table.
(3)
BR S.
this place was amazing. food = incredible. service = incredible. definitely check it out. great crowd.
(5)
john w.
great tapas restaurant with extensive bar menu. busy, busy spot, even on a late sunday night. friendly wait staff and excellent ceviche. fresh ingredients and fun atmosphere. very LOUD and not the place for quiet conversation, but a fun place to hang out with friends for a drink and some people watching.
(3)
Britt C.
Underrated!! Little hidden gem. I was so shocked that no one was in this place when we were there! Great ambiance. We were just searching around for somewhere nearby to grab a drink and something to snack on. Good cocktails, good tacos, and plenty of guacamole options. Definitely worth checking it out. Hopefully they will have the bacon guac when you're there! Yummm!
(4)
Christopher V.
Tacos can only be ordered in sets of 4. No mixing and matching. Service was attentive, food was just ok.
(3)
Andrew B.
Though my entree was above average, my overall experience was not. The appetizers that I ordered were both overpriced and unappetizing. I left Mercadito feeling sick and I have no intentions to ever go back. On the other hand, the hostess was very clear that she would only hold our table for 10 minutes despite the restaurant being nearly empty. Although the tortillas for the queso fundido were very fresh and tasty, the cheese was chewy and the appetizer came out after my meal. Lastly, I would not recommend eating at Mercadito.
(2)
Srishti K.
If you're looking for a trendy place and delicious food/drinks, this is a great choice. I have been here twice - once for lunch and once for drinks and I can't wait till I have a chance to go back. FOOD For the appetizer, we got the guacamole trio. Usually, I am perfectly happy with regular guacamole but their mango and pina styles are AMAZING. If you like a spicier guac, I would go with the pina. The mango is my favorite because it's sweet and spicy all at the same time. The only reason this place is a 4 and not a 5 (other than their prices) is for the tacos. For about $16, you get 3 tacos which admittedly is pretty filling. I got the chicken tacos. The meat was great, and I like that they have pieces of sweet potato. Other than that though, the tacos are definitely a little bit on the bland side. They also overstuff the tacos, which makes for some super messy eating. The tacos are good, but probably not worth the price. DRINKS My absolute favorite thing about Mercadito is their pineapple margarita. If you like spicy food, get the red chili powder on the rim. It adds an extra kick that is way better than just salt. The margaritas somehow manage to be delicious and super strong at the same time - perfect for happy hour! AMBIENCE & SERVICE This place looks super cute. A lot of reviews have commented that this place is super loud. I think it gets louder around dinner, but it is pretty reasonable during lunchtime. I went in at about 12 and didn't even need a reservation. I didn't make much note of the service but that's probably a good thing -- it's perfectly adequate.
(4)
Jake L.
This place is legit! Awesome atmosphere, tacos are great, margaritas are better, cool little downstairs hang out. Afterwards check out going to Untitled across the street for post drinks. great one two punch and a great friday night all together. Def recommend.
(4)
Lydia J.
Always awesome! Make sure you have a reservation though because it's always packed. Great drinks great food and great service. It's pretty loud so if you're looking for something more intimate choose a different setting but if you like a high energy environment this is a perfect choice.
(5)
Patrick M.
Had an order of the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Shrimp tacos. Both were delicious. Also got an order of queso. Was a bit surprised that it was served with flour tortillas used for tacos instead of traditional corn chips but still pretty good nonetheless. Mahi Mahi tacos were the highlight of the dinner.
(4)
Taylor D.
Went here with girlfriends and now I crave those mushroom tacos every day! Love this place! Great drinks and great food! We also had some of the best service! Make it a point to stop here after work sometime soon!
(5)
Shan D.
Great food and even better scene. The shrimp tacos are my favorite. Come here for brunch when your group can share several items and you each get a drink. It's definitely a good value. This place is also great to grab a quick drink at the bar. Several great cocktails, and the bartenders are super friendly and attentive Dinner does get pricy, especially if you have a couple of their specialty cocktails
(4)
Annalise V.
All around experience: "meh it was alright" We arrived with a reservation but when being seated they rudely let us know what time we "needed to be out by" Our server was friendly but was not very interested in giving actual service. We got the salsa trio, which was definitely not worth the money we paid for it. When our meals came, all of them were so spicy that a few people could not finish. The margaritas were not anything special, and the "michelada" was basically Tabasco sauce and beer. It is obvious that the ingredients are fresh and of good quality, but they are masked by too much spice. For someone who enjoys spicy food, the food was nothing special. Not one person in our party of 6 said we would be returning. Too expensive for the quality of service, drinks, and food.
(2)
Miranda N.
I honestly just love this place I dnt know Anything negative to say about this place. I've only been on weekends and ALWAYS make a reservation. Once you get there u maybe wait 10 mins while they clean off your table not bad for a place that is packed. Music is loud when I'm there so it is really not a place to have a heart to heart conversation. The food is amazing whenever i go I'm usually with a group so and we order off the sharing me it is actually cheaper that way unless u just r with a ton of picky eaters this is the best route. Shrimp tacos r amazing so r the mahi mahi tacos I recommend the traditional guac and pomegranate guac and also the mango hell just try them all I haven't had anything on the menu I wasn't a fan of
(5)
Dave S.
Came here on a Friday night during Restaurant Week. Sat down around 6 and it was pretty empty, but started by 7 it was packed. Ended up getting the special: Blanco and Mango Guac - These were amazing! Bacon really does make everything taste better! Callo Cevechi - The shallots themselves were tasty and I was intrigued by the pumpkin seeds, but I am not a cilantro fan and it was too powerful in this dish (the cilantro had no effect in the other dishes) Tacos - These were amazing, definitely Big Star comparable. Had the choice of 4: carnitas de puerca - the toasted peanuts were a delicious compliment to the braised pork Hongos - My friend who is tragically allergic to shriimp said he wanted the vegetarian taco, though he had no problem with the pork, or bacon. mushrooms and cheese is usually a winning combination Langosta - How can you go wrong with lobster? Graham Elliot Special - Smoked Salmon with pickled shallots, fried capers and a dill crème fraiche Plátanos Machos - Fried plantains are great with or without the ginger-jalapeño sauce f Flan de coco y cajeta - If you're a fan of coconut, caramel or anything sweet, you'll love these. The portion sizes are not huge, but this was a lot of food! We also opted for the $7 drink discount off their $11.50 cocktails, which ended up being a great financial decision.
(4)
Lola D.
I remember this place as my favorite Mexican when I lived in Chicago. Everything was very creative, well thought out. The atmosphere is unique within itself. I always tried a couple of different tacos with a few delicious cocktails. Beautiful presentation, delicious food, and a one of a kind experience. I also remember the queso fundido disappearing after only a few minutes, soooo yummy. Can't wait to come back one day
(5)
Brittany S.
Some friends and I went here for brunch during Chicago restaurant week and I definitely will be back! We shared the 4 course meal. We had regular and mango guacamole and chips both were tasty and fresh. We had steak and black fin fish tacos. Both were flavored and cooked to perfection. The main course was enchiladas and pancakes I didn't eat the pancakes but my friends loved them. The enchiladas were ok but could have used a tad more flavor. We each had a dessert which we all shared. I really enjoyed the coconut and Carmel gelatin type desserts. Wasn't a fan of the milk flan. I had a white wine cocktail that was very good it was a mix of fruity but somehow classic and masculine too. It was packed for brunch and tables were a bit close together but our waitress was friendly and attentive. So over all satisfied customer
total home run...food is tasty and perfect. our server was jade, she's great also. managers are on top of it too.. great great place...
(5)
Kelsey K.
This place was seriously amazing. Some of the best and strongest margaritas I have ever had. I particularly loved the queso fundido. Living in San Francisco you would think you could find this delicious appetizer at any Mexican restaurant, but sadly you cannot. My husband and I devoured the first order, that we ended up ordering a second round of queso fundido. The tacos were very tasty as well and there really was an option for anyone. From chicken to fish to spare rib to beef, you name it. Although I have no idea when I will be back in Chicago, I do know that when I return, I will be enjoying at least one meal at Mercadito!
(5)
Vivian T.
Good guacamole and ceviche. However, was very unimpressed with the tacos/main dishes available. I'm not sure why everyone seems to like the lobster/mahi mahi tacos so much, I personally found them to be a little on the less-than-fresh side. The drinks are well made though. Good G&Ts and margaritas.
(3)
Cristina P.
I came here for an after work event. They were able to accommodate 15 of us, but they made us order from the share-able menu which is about 30 per person. We ate soooo much that night. My absolute favorites were the steak with pineapple, chicken with peanuts, and fish taco. The shining star was the corn on the cob which came out with cheese and pepper and was roasted on a stick. The mini quesedillas which were more like empanadas were delicious too. I ate at this place a week ago and have been dreaming about it since. I was majorly impressed. The decor is beautiful so bring your friends. It may be a little too loud for a first date, but I would definitely recommend for a group or corporate outing.
(4)
Ashli H.
Update: Taking away two stars for poor customer service. I arrived at 7:30 with an initial reservation for a party of two. Even though I offered to order right away, they gave away our table and I'm still waiting 30 minutes later. Absolutely ridiculous. Next time, I'll be going to Frontera. Original review: If you are looking for somewhere to go with a vibrant atmosphere, cool decor, and killer margs, then this is your place. I agree with the comments about the noise level, but you know what you're getting into before you come here; just be ready to make friends at adjacent tables. The vegetarian options here are great. They are also willing to modify non-vegetarian items on the menu that interest you. My boyfriend and I celebrated an anniversary here last Friday and they even brought us out a dessert to celebrate. Sweet gesture.
(2)
Morgan S.
I have had great experiences here but my last visit wasn't the best... I love their chicken tacos with corn and avocado and the pomegranate guacamole in the fall, but not a huge fan of the seasonal menu change of the chicken tacos with I think bacon on them... Also was VERY loud the last time I was in there.
(4)
Nancy H.
For such a highly hyped restaurant, it sure is small! Would've been a great experience if we weren't so uncomfortably cramped or a little deaf by the end of dinner. My girlfriends and I came here for happy hour / early dinner on a Friday evening and had a lot of fun yelling at each from across the table (mild sarcasm). All sarcasm aside, though, it was a very tight squeeze everywhere... standing by the bar, our tiny square table at the end of a booth where we had to sit in a C formation in order to fit around, and even the bathrooms! My god! First of all, they're downstairs (pretty sure there's no elevator), and secondly, the stalls were horribly designed. If you can get inside without brushing up against something dirty, I applaud you; you must be a contortionist. Avoid if you are claustrophobic or a germaphobe! The food, drinks, and service were great, though. The staff came around offering complimentary coat check, dropped off our ticket stub, and retrieved our jackets too. We shared 2 different guacamoles (unlimited refills on chips), shrimp tacos (small shrimps, not breaded, divine sauce!), pastor tacos, alambre de pollo (kind of like fajitas with melted cheese and served in a little cast iron skillet; comes with small tortillas, refried beans, and sauce), brussels sprouts with pork belly & chicharrones (so good but a little over sauced), fried plantains, and churros (not good). Two things to note about the tacos: all 4 have to be the same (no substitutions), and you can request to have them served on bibb lettuce instead of tortillas. Excluding drinks, we paid $28/pp after tax & tip.
(4)
Norm J.
I must say that food wise this is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to. We had the Enchiladas and Tampiqueña which were both amazing. The drinks (margarita tradicional with mango & pepino el pyu) were strong and tasty, just the way I like them. The only negative about Mercadito is that they pack you in there like sardines. I swear the people on either side of me could hear every last word of my conversation with my date. If you don't mind strangers knowing all of your business I definitely recommend Mercadito.
We went there for a going away party late last night. It was set up through the events coordinator Wendy who was absolutely Wonderful and accommodating. Beautiful set up, Courteous staff, just amazing people. The food was amazing. Had a huge array of tacos, Salsas, guacamole and appetizers. Amazing cocktails, A few nice wines. Rafa our server was above and beyond. Accommodating, patient, he couldn't have been more spot on he was amazing. We can be a handful, especially myself with questions and dietary restrictions.he was stellar, thank you. I would recommend this place for anything and will be back soon For sure.
(5)
Raquel G.
I would give this place no stars if I could. I had walked by this place many times and thought it looked interesting so I recommended to my family that we go there for dinner when they came in town. It was shockingly bad from start to finish and I felt embarrassed that I recommended the place! Yes it's very loud, but I don't fault them for that. . it was the food and service that shocked me. We got ceviche and guacamole to start. . both were bland and way overpriced. I ordered the fish tacos and was disgusted when I saw the food. It looked so unappetizing I was nervous to eat it. I took one bite and couldn't continue. It just looked old, unappealing and tasted terrible. I'm a longtime server and I usually never send things back, but I literally couldn't take another bite. My whole family's foods looked and tasted bad as well. I felt so embarrassed that nobody wanted to eat! A young male manager came by but seemed annoyed to talk to us. Then while my mom was still eating the busser came by and literally cleared everything away down to the place mats! The place was busy and they clearly they wanted us to get up and leave. It was insulting. Then to top it all off they gave us another tables leftover bag. I don't get why this place is even popular, it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a decade. Maybe it was an off night, but I would never ever return.
(1)
Food C.
Food is great. I would recommend the lobster tacos- BUT the glasses are always dirty! Always. Every time I order water there is food floating in it. The bartender explained to me that it's due to them washing their glasses in the same dish washer as the food, but this really needs to change. The drinks are awesome too, but the left over food in them deter me from ordering them. Other than that - the food is good, service is good, food comes quickly and it's a great place to go before hitting the clubs or bars!
(4)
Cassandra A.
This is second only to RPM in the city for me. Their baja fish tacos with lettuce shells are AMAZING. I also love the different types of guac. All the drinks are good -- I think I've tried 80% of them! Some of the servers are hot too so that doesn't hurt. I love when it's nice out and you can sit outside eating a couple tacos with a margarita. Just a great spot, and a great price.
(4)
Marcos B.
Great ambience. Great service. Okay food. Okay drinks. My friend and I got reservations for Friday night at 9 pm; got seated right away although we were running a late and the restaurant was packed. The guacamole was delicious; many options to satisfy various tastes. The tacos were also very good, but the portions were quite small for the price. I will definitely go back to this location when I am back in Chicago, and this time I will know what to expect.
(4)
Jeremy C.
Ohh... Ohhh... The food was that good here. The guac..... all 3 I tried were delicious!!! I was with a big group and I tried about one of every taco... Here is the TIP!! Get any taco that has pork in it!!!! You can't go wrong but those are the best!!!! This place was packed when I went.. Make a reservation or you will end up like the DBags eating entrees at the bar... Trust me, you don't want to be one of them!!! She's a beauty!!! If you haven't been here.. Go here...
(5)
Michael W.
While in Chicago for business, I was kind of craving some Mexican food. Low and behold, Yelp has come to my rescue once again, and I ended up at Mercadito. A quick cab ride, and 10 minutes later, we were all here ready to eat. Mercadito isn't your typical Mexican restaurant. This place is moreso on the swanky side, and the prices definitely reflect that. Mercadito also has a full bar which is stacked with tequila for days. Go with their margarita or any other tequila based cocktail and you won't be disappointed. As a party of 6, we decided to order the following: - Guacamole trio (traditional, mango, pina) - Al pastor tacos - Carne tacos I was a little more on the hungry side so I ordered the pollo a la brasas (adobo marinated chicken, three corn pico de gallo, chile de árbol salsa) for myself. For starters, the guacamole was pretty solid. Each had it's own distinct flavor and tasted incredibly fresh. The only downside was that each was an incredibly small portion, and when split among 6 people, didn't give too much for each person. At $14.50 for 4 normal sized tacos, these bad boys were pretty pricey, but to give Mercadito some credit, they were also pretty amazing. The al pastor didn't taste overly oily and was incredibly juicy. Same deal with the carne asada tacos. My polo a la brasas ran $17.25. Pretty much, I was given a plate of chicken, some tortillas, and salsa for me to create my own tacos. I actually really liked this dish, and after I finished that, 2 tacos, and some guacamole, was pretty stuffed. Mercadito does serve up some solid food. Things are prepared with care, the restaurant itself is definitely a post-work gathering spot. The only downside is that it just breaks my heart that 4 tacos cost $14.50. In total, our dinner came out to be about $60 a person, which if I were back in California, could get me 8 super burritos. Definitely a nice spot for a Friday outing, but probably not for a casual Tuesday dinner.
(4)
Cornelia A.
This place is still a favorite of mine!!! Food and drinks are delicious... Industry nights are the best!!!
(5)
Bobbie Z.
I would have to say that Mercadito has the best tacos in town. They are perfectly sized, well-seasoned and flavorful. Order the traditional guac as a starter. Also can't go wrong with their mango margaritas (but w/o the paprika!).
(5)
Elizabeth A.
I came to Chicago with three fellow Floridians and we stumbled upon this gem. Our server was Joseph and he bit only gave us great suggestions but also great service. We tried the mahi mahi tacos, pastor tacos, carne tacos, carnitas de puercos tacos, they ere phenomenal. The drinks ere a little over priced but my bloody Mary was very good. Over all the prices were a bit expensive for the portions but the quality and the atmosphere were both top notch.
(4)
Ortiz N.
ceviche was great, my friend had the lobster ceviche & i had the mixture ! the home made habanero salsa was spicy but good, drinks were great ! i suggest you make reservations it gets busy very fast
(4)
Shradha A.
here's an updated review for a more recent dining experience at double a downstairs: yelp.com/biz/double-a-ch…
(4)
Chris T.
I almost gave this place 3 stars, but the entrees and drinks pushed it over to 4! Let me go over what I didn't like first: I'm not a fan of places that pack you in TIGHT. We were put in a middle 2 person table with so little room on either side that the table had to be slid all the way out for me to get seated. It felt like we were pretty much having dinner with the two other couples on either side of us. So coming here for a date might be awkward. Also, the salsa and guacamole - they were both fresh and decent, but the salsa should have been free. You also get so little salsa it's kind of silly. The guac didn't stand out in my mind, I felt like I could have gotten the same at Chilis. What was good: The drinks! Were all tasty and strong. I had the pepino el pyu, the margarita and the misty's sleeve. I still can't decide which I liked best, but my friend loved the Pepino the most, and I liked the spicy kick of the Misty. My entree was delicious: I had the Tampiqueno. It was cooked perfectly and I loved every bite. The presentation was unique too. My friend had the Enchiladas and enjoyed it. Tasted good to me too! So I would come back, but next time I'd rather eat outside or at the bar.
(4)
Rylee S.
Jesus was our waiter and he made recommendations that were on point! Lobster tacos. V-9 cocktail. Alambre de pollo. Mac n cheese. Torrejas bollilo (dessert). You won't be disappointed! They lose one star because I'm a petite girl and the tables were so tightly packed together we actually had to physically move our table so I could get into my seat without sticking my booty in someone else's plate of food- when you're spending on average $60-$100 a person I would expect better.
(4)
Dax R.
This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. They have some of the best and creative tacos as well as a good selection of guacamole. We always come here with groups. The drinks are good as well.
(4)
Amy K.
This place is average. If you want an upbeat atmosphere with some excellent drinks, then this is the spot. What makes it average is its food. The tacos were way too salty. The guacamole was came in such a small portion I thought it was a joke. The Mac and cheese was watery and tasteless. I'd only go back for the excellent drinks and cool ambiance.
(3)
Adele n.
This is a good place to do restaurant week. Some restaurants give you puny portions of their worst food during restaurant week. Not so at Mercadito. Their $33 per person menu lets you choose for the table: two types of guacamole, one type of ceviche, a side, four tacos, and a dessert. Tons of excellent food for the money. Add a drink (a delicious margarita perhaps?) for $7. Stand out items for me were the spicy mango guacamole, the shrimp taco, and the goat cheese carmel flan. The environment and decor is lounge-ish -- busy, crowded, upscale. There's a really swanky little bar on the lower level.
(4)
Alma V.
Fun atmosphere and great drinks but loud and super expensive for really tiny portions. So...meh.
(3)
Sofiya C.
I've been here several times, but in the past 2 months twice. Once for a birthday and last night I hosted my friends bachelorette here. Food is excellent. If you have a large party do the sharing menu, you won't go wrong, you will get plenty of food! Unfortunately the way we ended up here last night is because tavernita closed Thur and last minute we got switched to the AA tequila lounge (downstairs part) of mercadito. The booth was ok, just wish the tables were high enough where we didn't have to hold our plates on our lap. The service was good, the general manager stopped by to make sure all was well. The drinks are strong but delicious! The gals had a blast and continued talking about how much they loved dinner for the next day!
(5)
Monica J.
DELICIOUS! I got here at 7:45 for my res but my friend was running a bit late due to the horrible weather. Anyway, they told me once my friend arrived, we would be seated. By the time my friend came, it was 15 minutes passed our res. but they told us we would be seated. After another 15 minutes, we were still waiting, so one of the hostesses said that we would be comped for our first round of drinks because of our long wait, which was so awesome! ...especially because their drinks are amazing and we were already looking forward to ordering them My friend got the Big Nose Goes to Mexico drink and I got the Misty's Sleeve. AMAZING! We split the tore ado and then my friend got the flautas and I got the hongos tacos. Everything was delicious. My only issue is that I would love to mix and match the tacos and not get four of the same kid (four come with every order). If you are in a bigger group, it is great to come there, order many tacos and then share amongst each other. Overall, it was a great dinner and I was once again NOT disappointed.
(5)
Andrew F.
My go to place for delicious tacos and guacamole. And drinks. Pepino El Pyu is amazing. I wish I could finish this review but now I'm hungry for tacos.
(5)
Ana M.
Made a reservation, they lost it. Took 25 min to get chips - no salsa included. Chips were stale. Guac was very good. Salsa verde was bland. Got their most popular tacos were beer battered mahi mahi. They were bland. Flavorless. I didnt even know mexican food can bland and flavorless prior to eating here. Beautiful venue but bad food for high price. Ive had better food truck tacos.
(2)
Blair W.
5 Stars - Food 2 Stars - Service (specifically the hostesses) 4 Stars - Ambiance (updated but quite noisy) 3 Stars - Beverages (all sweet) My favorite taco is the estilo baja with corn tortilla. AMAZING. The guacamole is also very good. The drinks used to be great, but they changed the menu and neglected to keep any spicy drinks (Tres Viejos was our crowd favorite). Our group used to consistenly eat/drink here before going out, but with the drink changes and the production it is to get in I'll stick to takeout.
(4)
Justin B.
Let me start by saying that when we were being seated for our RESERVATION the host had the nerve to ask us to finish in an hour because they had another reservation coming. I've never in my life had someone tell us we had a limited time to eat at a restaurant when we had a RESERVATION. Guess what? It's YOUR job to figure out your reservations and capacity, not mine. Don't accept our reservation if you need us to eat on your schedule. So that was not a good start. This was a shame because the food was actually good. That's about the only good thing I can say about this place, however, and the only reason I gave Mercadito two stars vs. one. The music in the restaurant was so loud one might think they were conducting an experiment to see how loud a place can get and still have people sit and eat. The weather was muggy and humid outside and somehow it managed to be even muggier and more humid inside. I'm fairly certain air conditioning has been invented, so I'm confused as to why the restaurant would refuse to use it when it's 85 and gross outside. Really they need to transplant the chef to a place where the food is highlighted, because the rest of this place is what I imagine people who watch Entourage feel like a restaurant should be like... loud, chaotic, humid and "hip". If you're in your 20's and an insufferable person, I think you'll probably find this place more tolerable than I did, since it seems to cater to that kind of low-standard crowd. All-in-all if they actually kept the restaurant under 80-degrees and the music under 5,000 decibels I could consider dining here again due to the food being solid, but considering we were asked to not take more than an hour to dine when we had a reservation... that sealed my decision not to ever come back to this place before the noise and temperature even factored in.
(2)
Mark C.
I'm sorry... But there's no excuse to make us waiting for a reservation on a Tuesday night. We just left. The food is good (not great) ... I've eaten here before. 1 star purely for not respecting my time.
(1)
Dina E.
Love the shrimp tacos, guacamole trio and ceviche. They have awesome cocktails, try the "Little Market", nice and spicy! Great service, but we felt a little rushed between entrees and they seemed to rush us at the end. Desserts are ok, but the tacos are the star of this show!
(4)
Lisa S.
You get what you pay for....sort of? This is a pretty tasty Mexican spot in River North. The food is good, not great. But, it has a really fun atmosphere. I think my favorite part is the "unique" guacamoles....my favorite one has pomegranate seeds! My biggest complaint is that you have to order four of the same tacos, which is fine if you're in a big group and want to share. But, for a small party, it's frustrating that you can't mix it up. I'd definitely recommend De Cero in the West Loop over this place: it's more flexible and delicious!
(3)
lori c.
thought this place would be great to take my boyfriend who LOVES mexican food. I am glad I didn't take him here for his birthday. Tacos were delicious BUT I would recommended dining here if you have a party of 4 or more. the tables are literally 2 inches away from one other which causes you to ask the person next to you (strangers next to you) to get up out of their seat so that you can squeeze through. the tacos come in 4s (I don't care for lamb & thought the lamb tacos were delightful; the swordfish tacos were too salty) but are a little more expensive than other locations (and is about the same quantity and taste). I do not care to return to this restaurant - which I think is ok because the servers don't seem to care if they see you again.
(3)
Julia S.
Tacos, guacamole, and margaritas are amazing! We got the trio of guacamoles (tradicional, mango, and tocino) and they were all incredible! Our table was a little crammed beside the couple next to us, but overall we really enjoyed the ambiance.
(4)
Abha S.
Loved the guac varieties, fresh tortilla chips and the food there! They have a wide selection of margarita's to choose from as well. We had reservations for the evening and so there wasn't a wait which was great :) Will definitely return!
(4)
Teresa H.
LOVE this place! There are two things I could eat every day for the rest of my life: pizza and mexican food. With that being said I would consider myself a mexican-food connoisseur of sorts. With several different options for margaritas, guacamoles, salsas, tacos, and more this place is like heaven to me! Everything is delicious. I had about 4 of the spicy margarita -- can't remember the name but it was amazing.
(5)
Tynee C.
I didn't have an opportunity to dine here but based on the comments about service, I can contribute. I called last Thursday about reservations for a large group and was told that someone from events would contact me when she returned from vacation. I don't have a degree in Business, but I don't think business should stop because someone is on vacation. Any who.... I have yet to receive a response. Oh wait ... I got an email from Mercadito telling me that I'm on their mailing list to receive junk emails at my job. No worries. We have a reservation at another restaurant on Monday and I will Yelp about it.
(1)
Ritika K.
Mercadito is amazing. I loved the food, drinks, ambience and service. All the guacamole flavors and tacos were delicious. I really liked the mushroom taco and chicken taco. I like that they can substitute the tortilla with lettuce. A lot of items on their menu can be made vegetarian. However, they charge the same price for the vegetarian version. I tried the caramel custard and chocolate cake for dessert. Caramel custard was yummy but the chocolate cake not so much. Chocolate cake was served with bananas, which is not my favorite. I will definitely go again.
(4)
Shaun C.
The greatest restaurant in Chicago. If you like tacos, you have to stop here.
(5)
Miss O.
Meh.
(1)
Jack W.
Ok
(4)
Kendrick W.
So let's start with the obvious. Great looking place and vibe when you walk in the door. Pretty much what you expect at a location in River North. Having said that, let's hit the other obvious point, pricey for mexican food. $22.50 for an enchilada? Do i get to pick out the shrimp myself? No I don't. Having said that, I didn't have the enchilada so maybe it's worth every bite. I had the chips and guacamole and they were quality and priced in the range that you typically expect at a good location. I also had the pescado tacos. Absolutely fabulous. If you're a fan of the fish tacos at Taco Joint (L.P. location) then you'll love these. Going to go out on a limb and say they were even tastier... Finally the moment of truth. When you stumble into a place after a hard day of work and need a drink the only thing you want is quality. First and foremost they were quick. I barely got seated before a drink menu was in my face and even though I wasn't ready it was like they read my mind and were back within 60 seconds which is about all it usually takes me. I ordered a margarita, the misty's sleeve. (in fact I ordered two) There was a hint of something spicy in it without it being overpowering and it was fabulous. So if you're ready to drop a little coin this place is worth it. On a side note, I was actually able to hear my friend across the table, so that's a bonus.
Where to start. I never had shrimp tacos until I went to mercadito and I wasn't expecting to like them but they were amazing!! I don't generally eat much meat so this is a great place for fish tacos and their margaritas are very unique. The pepino el pyu is my favorite. A must try. Service was good and the atmosphere is nice for dates or going out with friends.
(4)
Masumi T.
I came here for a light bite. I was craving ceviche. We went with the shrimp. The shrimps were good but there was too much other stuff - pineapple, jicama, mango. The brussel sprouts had TOO much aioli, but the pork was good. The espada taco was good but again too much aioli!
(2)
Rich B.
Went here to eat while on a work trip to Chicago. This place is in a great location and easy to find. We had reservations and only had to wait a few minutes. Pretty impressive considering it was jammed pack. Some co-workers set up the reservation so I wasn't sure what to expect as tacos are their main dish there. We ordered pretty much every kind and they were all delicious. My favorite was the Mahi taco. I devoured several of those for sure. One thing I heard was a must have while there is the margaritas. We ordered a few pitchers and it didn't disappoint or fail to get us liquored up fairly quick. I originally started this review back in March when I first went and have been back twice already since then, basically stopping in everytime I go to Chicago. If you're in that area, I highly recommend giving it a try. I'm very picky so any place I go back to, I feel is really good. =) Don't forget the margaritas!
(4)
Scott M.
Everything has a smokey flavor. If that's you thing then this place is worth a try. My personal favorite were the tacos camarones and the smokey Pablo to drink. We got the tasting menu which is a great deal. Got to try 4 different tacos, 3 different gaucs, fish and shrimp ceviche and a dessert.
(4)
Dan S.
So you find yourself in Chicago's River North Neighborhood and you feel like some damn good tacos and some quality Mexican-ish drinks. Your first choice of course is Frontera Grill, but it's a two hour wait. And you may ask yourself should I just catch a cab down to 18th street to get the good stuff. But you're in a slacker mood because you really don't feel like making the trek to neighborhoods beyond the River North bubble, you look at your options. A few blocks is your plan b. Enter Mercadito...the good news is even on a Friday you just maybe able to get a table and when you walk in - the place is vibey, dark. The outdoor seating is def worth it weather permitting...so what about menu. The small Cerviche plates - ok, average. The Guac - it's ok. The salsa - not ok, it's a weird looking puree thing that tasted like diluted hot sauce. Fine. missed with the salsa - the tacos? They are decent - the steak is flavorful, the fish is crispy but..that taco plate is pricey. Look, I get it - you're in River North, rent is expensive but can't we get a nice presentation going? They bring you (4) small tacos that have too much food on them...it's just a little off kilter. How about a separate plate of fish, steak, etc and then bring me some condiments and a stack of tortillas? Make me feel good about spending $20 for this! Ok, I maybe overly critical as Frontera sets the bar rather high and frankly, I don't mind dropping the cash if you can deliver a similar experience. So yes - in many US cities Mercadito is a yelp 3 star place but alas with so many innovative places opening up in Chi-town, they are due for a tune up. If they do, i will come back and spend more money.
(2)
Aditi M.
Fantastic !! This place just makes you happy ! The ambience is so chic !! With So many different seating choices. I had the guacamole trio (traditional, mango and pineapple) and kept trying each of it trying to find out my fav and the tray was empty before I could decide, lol .. So, I would say, every flavor was a winner .. I ordered the vegetarian (hongos) tacos and I wish I and a picture of it .. The tacos were the best I ever had - soft melting in your mouth, perfect blend of flavors and spice (I loooove Mexican food and I keep trying different Mexican restaurants) .. It qualifies for a Chicago attraction in my books !
(5)
James Z.
Mercadito, to this day, is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I've visited a million times over the years and each visit is always fun, delicious, and enjoyable. I come in sometimes just for their cocktails. I especially love the Pera Te, Tres Viejos, Little Market, and Smokey Pablo cocktails. For brunch, I love the Guava Cava, Mango Mimosita, and Auntie Ox cocktails. I personally like sweeter concoctions and occasionally, some spicy ones. Luckily, Mercadito often melds sweet, savory, and spicy. My mouth and tummy thank you, Mercadito mixologists! Of course, one of their signature foods is the guacamole. The mango guacamole is my personal favorite. The granada is also fabulous; the pomegranate adds a lovely color and a nice bite! In terms of tacos, the camaron is my ultimate weakness! Spicy, saucy, and the shrimp is juicy. I'm not the biggest fan of seafood, but I can eat a million of these... and over the years, I probably am near the one million mark! The carne and pastor tacos are also winners. For brunch, their version of chilaquiles is yummy as are their enchiladas. I like their flan selection, and for me, the coconut is always a crowd pleaser. I often visit Mercadito with friends (for "'girls'' nights" usually! haha) and each time, the coconut bests the tres leches or goat's milk versions. I love this place so much I went twice recently for Restaurant Week. I personally feel they always have the best bargain for RW. Hence, why I frequent this River North gem. (The one flaw... those really low seats and tables at the front of the restaurant. If possible, avoid those chairs/tables if you have a hard time eating that low... or if you have back problems. Eeek!) Overall, Mercadito is a good time!
(5)
Ashley M.
Plain and simple the food is very good. Very tasty and reasonably priced. My problem was not the food if not the service. It was an early weekday afternoon, and not busy at all and when we walked inside we reached two female hostesses. Mind you they are behind a small desk and we were the only couple to walk in. They never stopped to look up from their computers and acknowledge us. We were inches from them so it was very obvious we were standing there. We gave it a minute and nothing so we had to excuse whatever they were doing to get their attention. I thought that was very rude. We had a tall, slim bald man as our server but he also was pretty rude. He kept making remarks about our choice of food and clearly we are Hispanic and was questioning how "Mexican" we were. Any who, he kept mixing up our order. I would go again and give it another chance, but I'd hope for friendlier people to serve us and get our order correct the first time. We only ordered two types of tacos and guacamole.
(3)
Todd H.
The food is the best Mexican I've had in a long time. The place is clean and "hip". I thought the price was a tad high, but it's worth it.
(5)
Danielle K.
Drinks A+, Food A++! This place is absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is fantastic. You will leave all giddy, and you won't even mind that you're $75 poorer.
(5)
#NAME?
Came back on a Friday night, big difference... First you are like sardines with your food neighbors-You are no more than a foot away from the person next to you, or even less than that-They kept packing people in and actually bringing in more tables for people to sit at- I got the chicken tacos the first time there and had been craving them since, reordered but this time they were so dry, no juice like I had the first time with them- They had so many "managers" with ear pieces walking around scoping the place out, couldn't they see to stop smashing people together? The real fun was trying to get out once done, honestly it was a wall of people-If a fire were to break out on a busy night you are screwed! I would not want to go again on a busy night, it's not fun to have someone right next to you or having people knocking your bag off the chair and bumping into you- Also, the waiters need to chill on removing plates/drinks for the table-
(3)
Zach M.
I made a reservation for 8 people at Mercadito upon a recommendation from a co-worker. We were looking for a fun atmosphere with plates to share and good after work drinks flowing. Mercadito made that expectation happen. The service, food and drinks were great and made the evening a win. The food was fantastic. It was nice to be able to choose "sharing" options that allowed for us to choose from several different types of salsas, guacamole, tacos and much more. There were options fort those looking for traditional eats to unusually delicious finds as well. Along with the food, the margaritas were also exceptional. The only problem was that there must have been a hole in the bottom of everyone's glasses... One con with the evening was how the noise level. It was often times difficult hear from across the table. However, this type of atmosphere somewhat calls for this noise level, so I will not bring down my overall review on that basis. Overall, I truly enjoyed Mercadito and would recommend it for a good night out with friends and great food and drinks to go around as well.
(4)
Gilles D.
Nice restaurant. Good ambiance. Great margaritas. Service was efficient. The food was excellent. The only problem is that for large groups (we were 8) you have no choice but to order from the family style menu. It's kind of like Tapas. You get to choose 2 of something 3 of something else etc. it's a fix price depending on the combination you choose (4 levels from $30/person to $45/person -pricey!). For 8 people, you would therefore order for 8. The problem is this is way too much food!!! And it comes sequentially so for us, the best tacos came at the end and everyone was so stuff that we could barely touch it. For 8 regular people (not big eaters) we should have ordered order 6 people. I would give it 3 1/2
(4)
P D.
This place is trendy and tasty. Great for groups, can be loud. drinks and food amazing. Vegetarian options. Staff was helpful and nice. Downstairs is more of a mixology bar / lounge feel. Make reservations first
(4)
Amalita A.
Came here once when they first opened and I haven't came back since. I was pleasantly surprised as to why I haven't. On both occasions we've dined with a large group. They're very helpful and service was great they have it done to a T. Loved the atmosphere downstairs as well. There tacos and appetizers are so delicious. I also had a cucumber cocktail that was amazing. Will come back again with friends!
(5)
Jasmine J.
The tacos at Mercadito are REALLY good. Actually, just about everything I've had here has been really good (I wasn't crazy about the Misty's Sleeve cocktail). The servers are friendly and attentive. I've been twice in the past six weeks and will definitely be returning. I first went on a Saturday night as part of a group of six. We made reservations through Open Table a few days ahead of time. The second time I went late on a Thursday with one other person. We didn't have a reservation and waited for 15 minutes or so at the pretty crowded bar before being seated The tacos come pretty quickly, but I like to start with chips and salsa anyway (try the tomatillo). The tacos are small, but if you start with chips and salsa/guac and get a side dish you should be full. Definitely share with someone so you can try a variety. Double A lounge is downstairs and they serve tacos as well, but it's a small space. Wednesdays & Thursdays they have "Double Hour" where $5 can get you 2 tacos or a margarita. I plan on checking this out next. Oh, and it IS loud here.
(4)
Jami S.
I would have only given Mercadito 1 star, maybe not even, if it wasn't for the fact that we went on NYE with a large group. But even still they should have been 100% more organized then they were. We went with a group of 10 people for the 10:15 seating on NYE. It was a 5 course tasting menu and all you could drink for $100 a person. Honestly, that was the deciding factor in location for us b/c that is a good deal. But that is not what happened. They sat our group an hour late, even after almost all of us went up to the host stand to complain. They kept saying there was nothing they could do, they can't make their guests leave. That is terrible management in my opinion when you have fixed times to sit down you can just explain that to the customers. On top of that we had to pay for our drinks until we got seated which was terrible customer service. They wouldn't even extend our drink deal another hour to make up for the hour we missed. All in all terrible customer service and orginazation skills on the part of the restaurant. I know you are a very busy, popular restaurant but you need to get your act together. I know we weren't the only disappointed party there since the host stand was SWARMED with complaining customers. Definitely sad to say that I used to like Mercadito but after that poor display I would be hard pressed to return with a large group on a big night out.
(2)
Bob P.
Had the baja tacos (battered mahi mahi). The fish was flavorful, the aioli and slaw paired great with it as well, some of the better fish tacos I've had. But they were very small; could eat each taco in 2 bites. Also got chips and chipotle salsa. Again, the salsa was tasty, but there wasn't nearly enough of it. Food was great, prices were pretty standard for River North. Slightly bigger portion sizes would go a long way
(3)
Rajiv S.
I was here for Restaurant week. The guac was awesome, cocktails were refreshing! Ceviche was real good, the tacos blew us away.. camarón (shrimp), estilo baja (mahi-mahi) & vegetarian zucchini tacos were amazing! I didn't like the dessert too much, we got the tres leches flan.. Finally the tacos from deCeros might have some competition!
(5)
Melanie H.
Definitely yummy and I see why people enjoy it! I went during restaurant week and the trio of guacs were okay. Not blown out of the water. I have really high standards when it comes to ceviche and I was just not impressed. Everything was a bit overpriced in my opinion, but still some great food. Tacos were wonderful and I hate flan, but theres was really good. On another note: I have been here for the night scene with a table downstairs and I loved it. Great service and great drinks!
(3)
Jen D.
Yes, Mercadito can be a scene. Yes, sometimes you have to wait for reservations once it gets bumping. Yes, the guacamole portions are hilariously small. Yes, I love Mercadito anyway - because those faults for me are avoidable or small enough to be overlooked so I can enjoy some of their oh so magically delicious tacos. If you want to avoid a potential wait for your table and a scene, go early. And I don't mean senior citizen early. I mean 7:30pm. I went on 7:30 on a Wed night and the restaurant was relatively quiet, but sometime over the next hour it became bumping and loud. And if you think the guac is overpriced, then don't order it. I on the other hand will always, gladly order it! On my most recent trip... my group of 3 people ordered the 2 taste guac - we had the pomegranate and the sweet potato. The pom. is my favorite, the sweet potato is pretty good but it is definitely subtle - as in you don't notice there is sweet potato. But it's delicious and so I'll order it again and again. I will agree with everyone who says they don't give enough chips, but I think they'll bring you more if you ask. Over different visits I think I've tried 75% of the taco options and I've not been disappointed yet. This time we ordered the braised pork, mole chicken and shrimp. My favorite was surprisingly the chicken, but I loved all 3. We shared the cauliflower side, which was good - not amazing, but good. I love the cucumber margarita... (pepino on the drink menu). Refreshing and not too sweet. I wish I worked in the neighborhood so it was easier to come by!
(4)
Sonya M.
Not really my cup of tea. Gave me horrible case of diarrhea too. (TMI, I know but it's true) Give me traditional Mexican any day but you can keep the "creative interpretations." I went for Valentine's and have to say I might have enjoyed the experience much more had the regular dinner menu been an available option. The Valentine's menu was a 5 course meal that consisted of an appetizer, main course and desert. We were allowed to pick up to 2 items for each course and while the food was interesting I can't say I was thrilled about it. I skipped the guacamole but my date said it wasn't anything special. The camaron ceviche (shrimp, pico de gallo,jicama,pineapple, lemon-guajillo broth with tortilla chips) wasn't bad but not anything I was crazy about. The Arroz y Frijoles were very good but the various tacos were hit or miss. Loved the pollo (chicken) tacos but the Carnitas De Puerco (pork) tacos were WAY too sweet. Can't say I was crazy about the Taco de Carne (steak) tacos either. I only had a bite of the botanas and skipped the flan altogether. The desert shot of tequila was a nice touch and needed after such a disappointing meal. Waitress (named Rachel) was a bit aloof but she did her job so I have no complaints. The atmosphere is fantastic and I loved the interior but as they say style over substance. Good delivery doesn't always equal good content.
(2)
Stephanie L.
Ahhh, I was really torn on this review. Had a reservo for 815 on a Friday night. Walked in and the place is bumping. It was quite an interesting crowd. I felt there were a lot of ladies in this place (****HINT to all you single men....go to Mercadito on a Friday night**). And I still really dont understand why women have to be b*tches to other women....I am just trying to get a drink, please put your elbows down so I can get into the bar. Yes, I did just say excuse me...please dont be rude and pretend like you didnt hear me. So we started off with some beverages. We got a skinny girl marg, a couple of beers and tres viejos. The drink was fantastic. It was spicy and citrus-y. I really enjoyed it! Cheers to the bartender for suggesting it. We then were standing for about 15 mins before brought to our table (which was about 30 mins after reservations). Server was pretty good about explaining everything on the menu. We decided on two different guacs (traditional and toreado) and the roja for salsa. I started laughing when they brought it out. It was literally a tablespoon of each of them and like 12 chips. Mind you, we had 4 people at our table and we were hungry. The guac was $12.5 and salsa was $3. This was the most ridiculous portion I have ever seen for that price. INSANE! The toreado was really good guac. Everything else was just ok. We then ordered the carne, rajas, and estilo baja tacos. They come in sets of 4. They were all really good and very different. We also got a side of rice and beans. The rajas were really spicy, which I liked, but other people werent expecting it. For my bday celebration, they brought out a caramel flan or something like that. It was also very good. The service was so-so. The portion sizes are RIDICULOUSLY small. The food itself was pretty good. The atmosphere is definitely club/restaurant/loungey. Drinks pretty good and the actual crowd was pretty good, minus crabby ladies. Its definitely trendy Mexican. Dont come here expecting Chi-Chi's style :)
(3)
Edwin W.
Simply the best tacos you will find in Chicago. This place will be your typical trendy restaurant in River North, that being, loud, dark, shiny, douchy etc.. Did I say LOUD? If you're not into the whole River North scene, I'd say skip this place, as no one should endure all the aforementioned conditions just for a taco. What we ordered: Guacamole - it was good, but not worth mentioning again. Salsa - Interesting twist to salsa, and definitely comes with a lot of heat. Tacos - Roasted Shrimp, Smoked Chicken, Short Ribs, and Mahi Mahi. All were phenomenal. The flavors were fresh and the seasoning along with the toppings that came with the tacos triggered foodgasm. I tried the martini before ordering our food and I don't know about you, but if I'm paying $14 for a martini, it better at least give me a hint of Asian fury on my face. Nope. Overall, good place for delicious tacos if you're hanging out in the area and would like some mind blasting flavors before hitting the bars nearby. I would definitely recommend this place for all of you suburbanites who are only fortunate enough to come down to the city once a month.
(4)
Katie P.
First things first -- AMAZING, fresh mango margaritas! I came with a party of four and the waitstaff was nice enough to let us order off the tasting menu. Definitely ask to try this menu if you want to sample a bit of everything! The chips were a little cold/stale, but other that that - everything I tried was outstanding. My favorite dish was the cheese appetizer. Some of the best Mexican food I've had in Chicago for sure.
(5)
Marc R.
This place is busy. Very busy. At least on the weekends. We had a large group and made it to our reservation a little late so they turfed us to the bar. The place was standing room only and a buzz of very loud music and people moving about. There were a lot of women here on girls night out dressed very well. We were a table of men and laughed about about the fact that the place was wall to wall women - from two suburban moms "doing the town" to Indiana tourists getting dressed up, to a family of tourists just taking in the madness. We ordered a mix of the tacos and some guacamole and a pile of margaritas. First let me talk about the tacos. These were good and very flavorful. They were very small on tiny little tortillas. Now, I have had these sorts of tiny tacos - in fact on my first trip to Mexico when a kid I was blown away by how little a tortilla can be. As I remember it the server in Piedras Negras said "they are not as big here in Mexico"...and he could have worked at Mercadito since these were not as big as those at taquerias or even Big Star in Wicker Park. Second, they were good. Yes, they were very good. We ordered chicken, pork, fish, and beef and were very happy with the way they all tasted and the way they were prepared. So, while these were expensive tacos they were very good tacos. We also had an order of guacamole and some quesidillas and these were both good even if the guacamole was small. Overall it was a great dinner in a fun dynamic place that was just a buzz with a trendy girlfull feel. There is a nightclub or a bar in the basement, but a friend (not me) checked it out and we decided to pass. I did see that they have a Taco Tuesday like many other places in town, so perhaps this is worth checking out. One big problem on the night we were there: The music was TOO LOUD. It was annoyingly loud on the night we were there. We could barely hear the server describe the menu items. If you want even a moderate sound level, this might not be the place for you. Feel the bass. No, really, feel the base because you might not be able to hear your friends.
(3)
Patty M.
The energy in this place was amazing...I met my friend and her husband for dinner and dancing it was her birthday and she'd been ranting about this place for a couple weeks. The food and drinks delicious. The server and server assistant very nice! The music was so good I was excited to get downstairs to the lounge only to get stopped by a Terry Crews look alike asking were we on the list (A LIST)...sadly we were not and were sent our merry way. =/ On the fence about returning. Ps.... I'm a waitress I remove empty plates, glasses and silverware but to lift up someones glass and remove the table mat like the place was closing I was shocked and so were the other people they did it to.
(2)
Stephanie Y.
Had a reservation on Saturday night, but still had to wait an hour and fifteen minutes to get seated! They comped us some drinks but we had to fight for it and they weren't real apologetic about the situation. Food is good though!
(3)
Neha M.
I have no clue why this place doesn't have a better rating based on the experience I had here. I went with my boyfriend and two of our friends and we had a great time and had zero complaints. The ambiance and vibe of this place is really nice and the service was no different. The drink selection was also superb and all of us loved the drinks that we ordered. They have a bunch of different kinds of guacamole with literally something for everyone! I am vegetarian and really loved the food here as did my non-vegetarian company. Forget all the bad reviews and try it out once! Definitely will be going back :)
(5)
Brett F.
¡Mucho gusto, Mercadito! If we're grading on a scale of best upscale, trendy, pseudo-pricey Mexican joints, this place is tops. And no, that's not at all heavy handed sarcasm. No really, scouts honor or whatever. Mercadito successfully scratches the itch for those evenings when you want to get at a bit of the social scene yet are still craving good 'ol carne tacos and glorious guacamole. Who says you can't mix Chanel and Ceviche? Not this girl. Expect stylish surrounds packed with the typical River North/Downtown types all downing fire breathing tequila cocktails and langosta taquiza platters by the fistful. Lots of bustling action and a slightly noisy atmosphere make this popular locale far better suited to groups or casual encounters over romantic rendezvous' and intimate dining. Having hosted a client outing at Mercadito as well as graciously being treated to a fabulous - and raucous - birthday dinner here, I can say with assurance, both resulted in a tremendous amount of entertaining fun. Now, with all this hustle and bustle can the food actually be any good? Indeed, it can and is. Was especially impressed by the intense, unabashed spiciness of their habanero salsa, the flavorsome carnitas, camarónes and pastor tacos (WAY delish!), and, of course, their salute to the authentic with a bona fide elotes appetizer which dependably validated there's really nothing better than sweet corn married to mayonnaise. So don't go discounting Mercadito solely based on its outwardly chic clique façade, you hear? It may look all Paris and Lindsay on the outside, but it's Paloma and Luis getting down in the kitchen.
(4)
Lisa Z.
Mercadito is a great spot. I like it. But, it's kind of the same concept as De Cero, and I might like that better. A few thoughts -- - orders of guac are not very big. Maybe this is good, as I don't need to fill up on that crap. - Tortas not as good as Bayless (but can we hold it against them? not sure.) - booth seating in front not ideal (I had to bend over to reach the table!) Still over all this is good. Plus, it's in a fun location and it's a fun crowd. If you are doing a girls night or fun night out with friends, this is a great spot for it because you can try lots of food and they even serve drinks that they light on fire. Who doesn't like flaming drinks!?
(4)
Phil O.
I've been here 3 times, and each time the tacos, guacamole, and margaritas have been impressive. I've experimented with the carnitas, lobster, carne, and shrimp tacos. My favorite are the carne and one of the lobster varieties. My favorite guacamole is the regular.
(5)
Michael W.
Mercadito was a wonderful experience. We were seated promptly (had a 6:30 reservation on a Friday). We ordered some guacamole (delicious) and two varieties of salsa. The salsa was fantastic - it was more like a sauce but had SO much flavor. Then for dinner we ordered the Carne Tacos and a mixed skewer platter. Both were outstanding. The service was also quite good. Our only complaint (if you call it that) was the volume level in the restaurant was very loud. The entire restaurant is along the bar scene and it was loud enough that it was difficult to have a conversation at our table. On the flip side, we come to Chicago for this kind of scene so why complain? I guess on the positive side the volume was proof that this place was popular - guess I prefer that to an empty restaurant!
(4)
Ryan L.
If Mercadito was muy bueno enough for Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari, it's good enough for this guy (I stil have hope for those two). This place is like a soon-to-be Bravo reality series. Serious scenesters with their pressed shirts and hair product are prevalent here. Weird Kristin-stalking aside, the food here is delicious and has never disappointed on my excursions to Mercadito. The tacos are on the smallish side, but that's easily overlooked. They were the best part of the meal. The big winner in the taco derby were the camarones tacos, spicy and bursting with flavor. The al pastor were right behind, complete with the classic pineapple topping. The traditional guacamole, a simple dish, was very tasty. Drinks are ok. The Shady Gato was fine, but nothing noteworthy. Try the Missionary (re)Position. The music is interesting. The mix goes from electronic, cheesy hip-hop, and top 40. Then out of nowhere they throw in a Bag Raiders remix. I was quite pleased with that. This joint is good for large groups and is quite shot-friendly.
(4)
AJ S.
I absolutely LOVED the world's most expensive TACO Palace. I summoned the inner fatman within me and tried almost every taco they had! We ordered Steak Tacos, Pork Tacos, Mahi Mahi Tacos, Short Rib Tacos. The Steak and Pork Tacos were my favorite. They also have several different kinds of gaucamole. All Very Good. After Everything, I walked out of a Mexican restaurant spending almost $80 just on myself. Perhaps the more impressive thing was that I was happy doing it because the food was that good. Try it out!
(5)
Alexandra G.
Yum! Loved everything we ordered from the triple guac sampler to the 5 different types of tacos, and of course the margs! Didn't give 5 stars, primarily because of the super cramped seating and the very high noise level. It was extremely hard to hear people in our party, even when seated so closely. It was PACKED on a Saturday night, bar area nearly impossible to get a drink, but the food was excellent and if you like to "see and be seen" you'll enjoy this spot for great people watching, if nothing else.
(4)
Jocelyn S.
Appetizerz were weak in flavor, and could use more presentation when served. drinks were all well made. layout is tight.
(3)
Sarah M.
Mercadito is sooo yummy! The little tacos they give you are really good. So much flavor is packed into each bite! And the tequila cocktails they serve, are very well done. Not too sweet or strong. The traditional margarita is great, and I also enjoy the spicy cocktails. I would love to be able to give this spot 5 stars, but the prices are too high. I can't get over the idea that Mexican food is supposed to be cheap. Maybe I spend too much time in late-night or carry-out Mexican taco joints, but paying more than $15 for 4 mini tacos is rough. Maybe if they let you mix and match, or create a sampler platter for $30, I would feel better. Also, the amount of guacamole for the price is pretty silly. That said, the food and cocktails are excellent! I'll keep coming back - as long as I have $100 to burn for Mexican food.
(4)
Palak Q.
I would have given it five starts, but just because of their customer service, I have taken a star away. Excellent food! The best are the mahimahi and the mushroom tacos. Try the former on lettuce leaves and you won't be disappointed. I took my best friend there on a Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. when there were just a couple more people waiting to be seated. Before we were even seated, the hostess informed us that we will have to leave before 6:30 because they're pretty busy for the evening. Wow! I have NEVER had anybody say that to a paying customer. Overall, a good experience. I have been there almost three times. This incident happened the third time I was there and never went back. I will perhaps go to another location in Chicago.
(4)
Raph V.
nice place, but $10.50 for Chips and Guac c'mon! I would only recommend the Fish Taco's.
(3)
Rick T.
A good modern Mexican option, if you don't mind the driving club music. I highly recommend the flight of guacamoles to start your meal. Ample portions and several helpful recommendations from our server rounded out a good evening.
(4)
Joel N.
Took us in exactly at our reservation time. Very trendy and EXTREMELY noisy. Food was good with some great vegetarian options. Food comes out as made but very awkward when 3/4 people have their meal and one has to wait. Staff very anxious to remove plates even when not finished.
(4)
Kyle M.
This place has slowly gone down hill. The food is average and the service is poor. I would recommend double a downstairs.
(2)
Eileen Z.
Oh, caramel flan. You are married to my sweet tooth. As for tacos, the carnitas de puerco is probably my favorite. Out of their ceviches I'd say the dorado ceviche (mahi mahi) is the tastiest and most balanced in taste. Their cocktail menu though, superb.
(4)
Khadijah L.
This is a review for a trendy River North mexican restaurant. For homestyle/traditional mexican, please check out my other reviews. I concur with most reviewers here that the food and cocktails are excellent. A lot of attention to detail. The portions are smaller, and a little pricier (but typical of River North), but I think Mercadito provides more than just trendy ambience, it actually delivers really good food to the table, which is what counts. First of all they have a wide variety of everything you want, and they are all excellent. They have like 6 different kinds of salsa, guacamole, different tacos. Each has unique flavors, very detailed. I love their chipotle on anything. They were very accommodating, giving recommendations, giving us extra chopped habanerofor the picante addicts at our table. The guacamole trio was great (the mango guac was the best), the salsa was spicy as hell, the tacos were awesome (try the mahi mahi or camarones), plantains came with jalapeno-ginger sauce. All delicious. Their cocktails are so creative and had flavored spice salt on the rims like cilantro salt on their watermelon cocktail. Amazing. I'm not usually a fan of trendified foods, but they are made so well here, I'm impressed and will return definitely. Word of caution, this place gets PACKED and is LOUD as hell. We did not mind. Fun Friday evening spot. We loved it. Just keep that in mind.
(4)
Nina K.
I really wanted to like this place after all the hype it got. I came here on a Saturday night for drinks ONLY. I was greeted with a stale, stink-eye face. The hosts here are SO rude and they were giving me such a hard time because I didn't have a reservation. I was there with my boyfriend and we just happened to be in the area and just wanted a few drinks before meeting up with friends at a club. Eventually they seated us, we ordered one drink each, and ten minutes later the manager comes to our table and said "we have a party waiting after you so here is the bill." He was so rude and obnoxious about it. I definitely will not be coming here ever again after that incident. Who kicks their customers out? That's white people for ya.
(1)
Bethany M.
This place is excellent. Every time I am there the food is always high quality and intriguing ingredient pairings. I suggest the guacamole dip with bacon and the shrimp tacos. The margaritas are also excellent and they are deceptively strong.
(5)
Fredrick B.
OK I said I would be back, and I dined there over the holiday weekend since my daughter was in town, loves Mexican food, and had never dined here before. Better than my luncheon experience revealed! This is a tapas style Mexican restaurant. We ordered the chicken and steak tacos--four small tacos per platter, the trio of guacamole--traditional, mango and pineapple, the ceviche camaron (shrimp), the queso fundido, and a myriad of other appetizers. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD! The drinks were a bit over-priced, but adventurous and in many respects unusually refreshing. I stand by my rating--outstanding! One drawback: Don't sit next to the windows in the winter--it was cold!
(5)
Sarah S.
I have been here 5+ times now. For both lunch and dinner. Although the food is good and the entres have unique flavors I cannot get over how SALTY everything here is. From the guac to the tacos, everything has 10 lbs of salt dumped in it. I first thought it was just a fluke, you know sometimes you have a bad meal due to the chef, etc, but now everytime I eat here of recently the food is over the top salty. It still gets 3 stars b/c the mixed drinks are so good, the service is good, the ambiance is good and honestly I think the tacos are to die for delicious if they weren't so salty. The last thing I want to do is leave a restaurant bloated, not from being stuffed, but from the salt.
(3)
Suzanne B.
Can't believe I did not know of this place in NYC! Hands down the BEST carne/steak tacos I have ever had, absolutely delectable! Rosemary marinated skirt steak with tiny potatoes and avocado salsa, mm mm mm. Tacos come in 4s, so an order per person was perfect, with an order of guacamole and ceviche to share as starters, it was the perfect amount of food (both apps were delicious, especially those chips!) Margaritas were great. The atmosphere is lively and fun, can't wait to return.
(5)
Jackie F.
Best meal we have ever had!
(5)
Charla W.
So I had reviewed this restaurant for the first time back in 2010 and said I would be going back here. Well, bad idea as the second time around was terrible. I definitely will never go back here again. My most recent experience at this restaurant was not so great. My husband and I went here to celebrate a special occasion...bad idea. This is definitely not a restaurant for couples. It is loud, crowded, and not intimate at all. When we got to the restaurant we didn't have to wait too long for a table as we had a reservation. We were a bit late for our reservation, but they were still able to seat us. We were sat at a tiny two top table and told what time we would have to be done with our dinner by so they could seat another party. Is this a new trend now where restaurants tell you what time you have to get up from your table?? I worked at a restaurant for years and have never heard this before. Well after being seated, the service was poor. I think our server came to our table maybe two times the whole night. It probably took him about 10 minutes to even greet us initially. It was even harder to tolerate as I watched him go to his other tables constantly throughout the night. Our food was good, but extremely overpriced. I am talking about $15 tiny tacos and like $10 guacamole! The drinks are good, and if I ever came back it would just be for drinks. The drinks also were pricey. The restaurant is extremely, and I mean extremely loud. My husband and I could barely have a conversation throughout dinner. If you plan on talking to the person you are having dinner with, do not go here. So sadly, Mercadito did not live up to my previous experience and expectations. I will not be back.
(2)
Laura K.
Well someone else planned a group dinner to Mercadito, so I went back and I am SO glad I did! What a difference this experience was than last time - a whole star better! :) We went with a group of 8 this time so we got to try all kinds of different dishes which was fun. The tacos that we tried were amazing and the margaritas were going down way too easily. They have group menus which is cool and super easy to split at the end which was nice. All in all, I was thrilled with my experience here. We went earlier in the evening because it was pre-event which was great because it wasn't too loud yet which allowed for some great conversation that everyone was able to hear and participate in. I now can say I will definitely be back here - and it will be my choice!
(4)
Meg S.
Love love LOVE the drinks here, and you can and should order any of them spicy. If you're looking for trouble order the floater as well and say goodnight. The guacamole are all really good but the spicy one toreados is the best. I've tried several times to replicate it and have gotten close, but just not the same. Variety of really tasty and interesting tacos too!
(4)
Rachel W.
Mercadito has been on my list to try, so went w/my girlfriends for a birthday dinner on friday. It is loud and clubby/lounge feeling, w/tons of energy. I'm pretty sure half of the diners were headed to underground after tacos, so that always makes for some entertaining people watching. I'm not typically a fan of margaritas because they're too sweet, but these ones weren't as brutal as most, and were actually pretty tasty. I love Guacamole so the fact that they have guac flights was a real seller for me. We just shared a bunch of tacos, and I thought all were delicious. It's definitely a place for groups, so that you can order as many kinds of tacos as you please.
(4)
Jessica V.
I came to Mercadito last week for a co-worker's faux baby shower. We came with a group of nine girls during our lunch break. I had heard great things and as Mexican is my favorite cuisine, I was VERY excited to try the food. We started with two appetizers of the guacamole trio, which I thought tasted great. After that, our entire experience was on the decline. We all ordered tortas for the most part. My friend's carnitas torta was brought out by itself. Another 5-10 minutes elapsed, and nobody else had yet been served their meals. After that, food slowly trickled out of the kitchen over a span of 20 minutes or more, until the only two people that had yet to be served were me and my friend next to me. At this point, we told the other girls to go ahead and start eating, and I walked up and made mention to the manager that our food had not yet come. After this, I would say 10 more minutes passed before we even got our food, at which point almost everyone else was done with theirs. After only a few bites, it was time to go. Welp, so much for that torta I was so pumped about. I would say over 30 minutes elapsed before the first and last person was served. Totally unacceptable. But the thing that I find most upsetting that I feel like it warrants a negative Yelp review is that I had the overwhelming feeling that we were just being overlooked. Our server, noticing that we still had not gotten our meals, pointedly ignored our table and avoided us altogether. When he finally came back, it took about 100 hours for him to bring us change. I mean, get it together guys!! I would love to say that I'd go back at another time to try to garner a better experience, especially because I know Mercadito is known for its night life, but I really just don't think that I would. As someone in the service industry, my experience was far too upsetting for me. Where I work, if someone had an experience like like that, we would have handled it very differently, and my boss WOULD NOT be happy about it.
(2)
Maggie R.
Highly recommend this place! It's a fantastic spot for a date or low key dinner with friends! Great upbeat atmosphere, delish tacos, and the best part: downstairs - double a - mixology bar open on Fridays and Saturdays :) don't wait - go check it out!!!
(5)
Manas P.
A bit on the pricey side, but very well worth it. They have an extensive selection of the finest of tequilas and signature margaritas. If you find yourself here for dinner, you must try the tacos - they are simply amazing. While the tacos are not served in high volume, just remember that your are paying for quality, not quantity. We were fortunate enough to visit Mercadito in January since chicken tikka tacos were on the menu for the month as part of the "Tacos for Strength" campaign, which you can read more about at bit.ly/1205r4S . As someone who grew up eating Indian food, Chef Andrew Zimmerman did a fantastic job capturing the essence of the Indian dining experience and successfully fusing it with fine Mexican cuisine. With the great food, unique margaritas and extremely friendly staff, I definitely plan on making a return visit.
(4)
Yolanda S.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! Amazing food and Amazing tacos! I've tried a few of the margaritas the Best one is the Misty Sleeve so good! The shrimp and carnita tacos are Great they truly are the tacos that have changed my life! The salsas and ceviches are great too and the Granada guacamole is good. I've been there on a Sunday twice it was low key, we got a table right away. Then we went on a Saturday it was packed great atmosphere we had to wait about an hour for a table. It wasn't that bad we just went to the bar and had some Amazing Drinks! The service has been Great as well. This last time we had Kike he was helpful and attentive, if he wasn't available our bus boys were on top of it. Our water never got low Awesome Service!! You've gotta try it!
(5)
Renee R.
Absolutely delicious! I had some of the best taco's at Mercadito that I have ever had in my life, and to top it off, my waiter was amazing. I wish I could remember his name because I would like to credit his wonderful suggestions and fabulous service for the great experience I had at this restaurant! Also, amazing cocktails and so very unique.
(5)
Bobby B.
Great food, great drinks great atmosphere. Drinks are a little pricey but they are very strong which I prefer so you get what you pay for. We usually try to go with a good size group so we can order a wide assortment of tacos.
(4)
Stephanie H.
I just went here for the first time with my co-workers. We ordered the chips and guac, which was a tad spicy but tasty. I ordered the camaron (shrimp) tacos. The entree came with 3 tacos, which were the traditional small tacos. They were spicy and yummy, but lacked pizazz. What I mean by that was that it was literally shrimp with a spicy sauce poured on top with a sliver of avocado. I was expecting more for $10.50. The serving size was perfect for me, but I don't think a guy would feel full afterwards. The service was good, and our glasses were always filled with water, but I'm not dying to go back any time soon.
(3)
Jay X.
Went here with a friend who seemed to like it last time. However, it took forever to get a waiter. We had to ask two different times to get someone. We ordered the tacos and carnitas hash. He made note how uncomfortably oily his tacos were and my dish was covered in grease. Kind of gross. Thankfully there was bread there to soak up the grease in my stomach :P.
(2)
David B.
I have been to Mercadito a few times and I have found it to be okay for food. If I were to eat the same food at an elementary school cafeteria in Boise, Idaho, I would love to come to school for Mercadito taco day. Unfortunately, that is not the case. You sit in a super loud, dark restaurant where the service is terrible and the policies are even worse! Do you know that if you want to sit in the dining area at Mercadito, the policy is that you have to order a FULL MEAL?!? I tried to make reservations so I can take a girl on a date to have drink and apts. I figure, I can be classy and make reservations. I call to make the reservations for 8:30, first question the "manager" asks me, " are you eating dinner", I then say, "no im having drinks and apts". He then proceeds to tell me that its restaurant policy to order a full meal in the dining hall because of blah blah blah and then I hang up. Margaritas are good and the valet guys are pricks. FIN
(1)
Amy K.
Went with my cousin for late dinner, was one of a few Mexican places that were still open, and I was not expecting it to be a lounge after hours, but whoops! Regardless, the food was fantastic and I'd been meaning to come here for a meal, but very pleasantly surprised! We were seated in the front portion of the restaurant considering it did become a swanky hot spot for partiers further back by the bar, and it was relatively loud, but expected because again it turned into a lounge by this time (11pm). The server discussed that they bring out the plates as they are made and it is small plates for people to share, which we did. We had ordered several small plates, flautas, tacos and an entree to share. I will only eat their guacamole!! I don't know what they put in it, but I'm not a fan of it anywhere else and had I known this before ordering, I would have been content just eating that with chips. Just enough heat with not the usual mushy texture, I wish I could eat it every day!! The tacos were yummy and the flautas were okay, but the shrimp enchiladas with the variety of sauces was just like something I've never had before and it left quite an impression on me! I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but I will gladly return and highly recommend Mercadito's! The one star left off is just because of the clubby atmosphere it turned into so late which is probably my fault for not researching it, but I thought it was a restaurant, sheesh! Next time, I'll be the loud one rolling in heading to the back jamming out to retro tunes! :)
(4)
K T.
Good food, good drinks. A bit overpriced for what it is perhaps, but on par with the style of restaurant - you pay for the vibe.
(4)
Sao-Mai N.
A fun twist on Mexican food, Mercadito serves up a platter of small bites that fills you up. Forget the large platter occupied with three enchiladas with a side of refried beans and rice. Imagine beautifully plated tacos that contain more filling than the shell because let's get real the filler is the more important part. Along with guacamole and ceviche, I left satisfied with flavors from all spectrums. Also, don't forget to wash down your meal with well mixed margaritas! Just a note: the atmosphere is lounge loud and the tables are set close together so expect some yelling and unintentional eavesdropping on your neighbors.
(4)
Cali G.
The food here is outstanding. Visited Mercadito several times and their shrimp, tilapia, and lobster tacos are crazy good. Top if off with a margarita and you are so set. Fun atmosphere and good vibe. It's a very alive and loud place. The decor is really cool and colorful. Must try it at least once.
(5)
Coleen K.
I've been to Mercadito many times over the past 5 years and it still stands as a solid choice for delicious drinks, albeit prettty expensive, and fun Mexican food. I love sitting on their outdoor patio in the summers. This place usually has a nice crowd on weekends, which makes it a nice spot for pre-going out drinks/apps. Location in River North can't be beat. My go-to item is always a variation of their fish tacos. Always fresh and nicely seasoned. I've had a lot of different drinks and they're always awesome-- very fruity and refreshing, which is fun with mexican food. Do yourself a favor and make sure to get a CHILI RIM on any drink-- perfect kick to any of their cocktails!
(4)
Parisa S.
I hosted a bachelorette dinner here and can't say enough good things. First, the food is actually very good. And I'm from California, so I should know. Extra stars for the guac and tacos, particularly the steak and pastor varieties. Great drinks menu with lots of festive margarita options. Second, the ambiance here is just so fun. Perfect for a party or celebratory occasion. Just be forewarned that you will need to scream to hear your neighbors. Small price to pay. But what really gives this place 5 stars is the service. From the moment I contacted the restaurant until the check came, the service was nothing short of fantastic. For a party of our size, I was given a few pre-set menu options with tons of flexibility on foods I wanted served. It was so easy and a huge hit with the guests. Susan, my contact there, was so responsive and even offered her suggestions on menu choices. Though my reservation was booked for 12, the restaurant never made a fuss over the fact that we were a) 15 minutes late and b) showed up with 10 people. We were seated, never charged for the 2 no-shows, despite me having to secure the reservation with a credit card, and our waitress was fab. Food came out quick but not too quick and we were never rushed out of there, despite it being a busy Saturday night. Overall, I couldn't have been happier. Thanks, Mercadito! I'll be sure to return.
(5)
Caroline A.
Confession: I've never really been a fan of Mexican food. Between 3am burritos and a super fun dinner at Mercadito, I think I've become a convert! Mercadito is a loud and crowded hybrid of a restaurant and bar. Filled with pretty people of all ages, it definitely has a meat market feel. Here you will see boys with pressed shirts and designer jeans. Nice man candy to look at while stuffing myself with chips and guacamole. A group of 10 girls got together here to celebrate my Mija's birthday, and we thoroughly enjoyed the crowd, cocktails and menu. My favorites were the empanadas, shredded pork tacos and melted cheese dish! It would be a good idea not to wear anything very restricting around the waist as it's easy to keep eating even though you're full. Cocktails were strong and went down a little too fast! We did not make it downstairs to the lounge, but I hear it's quite the scene. For another night. We will be back!
(4)
Kate C.
Great food and drinks! I definitely recommend the ceviche and cucumber margaritas. The tacos were also great.
(5)
Amy S.
This place is always a good time! The music is loud, so it is hard to talk to people in the group except for the people sitting directly next to you. But it is a perfect spot for dinner before going out and partying. Their beer-battered mahi mahi tacos are my favorite! The drinks are nice and strong. I have been here for brunch a few times, and they usually have a live instrumentals, along with a DJ, and the option for bottle service, which is pretty amazing. This place has the same owner as Tavernita, but Mercadito is significantly better!
(4)
Angie M.
Yelpers be talkin' some smack about Mercadito. "It's too loud!" "The tables are too close together!" "It's too crowded!" I answer with this: Yes, it's too loud. Yes, it's too crowded. Yes, the tables are probably too close together. But isn't that why you're heading out to Mercadito? To take advantage of a loud, crazy, bustling, hip and trendy restaurant with pretty decent food and amazing people watching? Duh. A quiet romantic spot, Mercadito is not. Get over it. My posse of 10 well-heeled ladies chose Mercadito as the location to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of our nearest and dearest friends. Our b-day gal definitely enjoys a 'scene' and relishes the opportunity to get decked out in full hair, makeup and wardrobe. Mercadito seemed like the perfect place to take her. It was. I walked in to Mercadito at 8:30 on a Friday night to an absolutely BUMPING restaurant. Bumping meaning packed to the gills, loud as hell, cheesy hip-hop music blasting kind of bumping. Whoa. It was kind of a sensory overload. The crowd was everything from Eurotrash to scenesters to cougars to well-heeled urbanites to new money flashers to desperate wannabes and everything in between. You like people watching? Get to Mercadito. Like, now. With a party of 7 or more, you are required to participate in the pre-ordered sharing menu. My gals picked the Canastota choice, which, at $40/guest secures your pick of 3 types of guac, 2 salsas, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides, 2 bontanas and a dessert tasting. Yes, it's a lot of food. Especially for girls. The winners, at least for me on the front end were the smoky roasted tomato roja salsa and the spicy kick of the toreado guac filled with hot Serrano chiles. I couldn't keep my hands off the elote (Mexican corn on the cob) with its rich mayo topping and generous splash of grated Mexican cheese. I was gaga for the simple ensalada comprised of mixed greens, corn, jicama, queso fresco and chipotle-balsamic vinaigrette. But the best part of the meal was definitely the tacos. I was down with the pollo and pescado tacos, which are my usual go-tos in the taco arena, but I surprised myself by devouring the succulent carne asada taco and the best one of the night, the carnitas de puerco. Whoever thought to put peanuts in a pork taco is a genius. The only mis-step of the evening was the service. Our food came out lightening fast. Like, waaaaay too fast. Our appetizers had barely been set down on the table when the food runners tried to deliver the tacos. I had to have a chat with the waitress to tell her to slow things down a bit. We wanted to enjoy our food and not be rushed through the meal. Her response was that once the kitchen gets started, they just pump out the food. I have to question this method. Main courses should not be delivered 3 minutes after the appetizers. That ain't right. Once we sorted things out with the food delivery, things got back to normal and my gals and I had a blast chair dancing to the music, scanning the crowd (note to the woman with the bad extensions and skin-tight minidress: No.), flirting with cute guys and sipping our cocktails. Mercadito is definitely a FUN spot. Rumor has it the downstairs portion of the restaurant is pretty hoppin' on the weekends...
(4)
T B.
Great dinner last night. Was our anniversary and the staff took care of us to make sure we had a great night. Food was outstanding. Not sure about all the negative reviews about the noise as we thought it was fine. Will return
(5)
Lisette C.
In LA, you know that the less you pay for Mexican food, the better it is. This rule of thumb doesn't seem to translate in Chicago, at least not at this restaurant. This place is sceney, loud and serves "Bougie" Mexican food. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know how I feel about bougie Mexican food, if you haven't, I don't like it. I won't bore you with the details, but our group of 7 was forced into a tasting menu. These menus start at $30 and go up to $50 (?). Our assertive server decided that we needed to go with the $40 menu, without really consulting with us. But this was a business dinner, so noone seemed too upset, but it was still strange. We were served a myriad of savory bites that included ceviche, a guacamole flight, roasted pork tacos, chicken tacos, etc. We all had margaritas, but most of us only had 1 because the one that waiter selected for us was not to our liking (he inisisted it was a best seller). 2 or 3 of us ventured for a second classic margarita and that seemed to be a hit. We opted to skip dessert because we filled up on chips and guac, so I can't comment on that. But what I can comment on is that fact that we spent about $80 each at dinner....yes.....for Mexican food! WAY TOO MUCH for what we ate. At Mercadito, you get what you pay for....which sort of seems like bottle service at a club that happens to serve overpriced Mexican food. Bottom line: Come here with a healthy credit limit and with a date you don't really want to listen to.
(3)
Ben T.
I usually don't like margaritas but Mercadito makes them the way they're supposed to be - on the rocks and not too sweet. Grab a margarita with some mezcal and the shrimp tacos. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Sara K.
Mercaditos is near my office and the food and drinks are always fantastic. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is there have been a couple of times when the food took awhile -- not good when you're stopping in for lunch. But that aside, it's a great place -- with some awesome guacamole!
(4)
Abby M.
I have to agree that everything we ordered was good - but definitely overpriced for the portions. I didn't think the drinks were very strong for the $13 price-tag. Get the mango guac, mahi mahi ceviche and carne tacos - skip the pescado. We had a concert to go to, so we went early on Sunday (6:30) and there were people in there, but we didn't get to experience the vibe and scene that others rave about. We did get to see a proposal, which was cute. I can't say I'll be back.
(3)
Laura H.
Really liked the atmosphere here....very trendy and upbeat. Food was excellent. Small portions and slightly pricey, but to be expected for the location. Bonus: Double A is below the restaurant so if you want to continue late night, you have the option to go downstairs and keep the tequila flowing.
(4)
Matt M.
This place has a great vibe. While there are a lot of people around and cozy atmosphere where you can speak to the table next to you, the food is amazing. This is a see and be seen type of restaurant with a relaxed but high fashion type of decor. The salsas & guac are a must and the enchiladas and mole plantains are great. While it is a bit loud, the friendly staff and waiters helped us navigate the menu and give us suggestions that made the meal excellent. Worth the trip and a kitchen open till midnight during the week.
(5)
Francis C.
After watching Modern Family (back-to-back) the other day, with a full hour of Sofia Vergara, I had a desperate craving for a nice taco. I wound up at Mercadito, mainly because I heard they had the hottest tacos in town. When I arrived I was amazed..... It was a taco fiesta... It seemed every table had a nice taco, and I'm not even going to mention all the action at the bar. Mercadito.... You filled me in Soo many ways... I had the Guacamole to start, then a Tequila, Don Julio, thank you whoever you are. I followed with more tequila and Pancita tacos, on a recommendation of my waitress. Next came Langosta Ceviches, Pollo tacos, Enchiladas, Arros Verde, and Habanero Salsa. Not to forget my friend Don Julio, who had decided to join me at the table. Everything was Soo delicious. I may have begun to slur my speech towards the end of the meal, but Senior Julio didn't really notice. The food really impressed me and I was Soo excited I apparently offended the table of tacos next to me. The women at the table next to us were REALLY hot but not very friendly, in fact they insulted Don Julio and myself by saying we had a staring problem and it made them feel awkward. After a brief consultation with "The Don" we explained if the woman would just put her nipple away, we could focus on more important things........ When we got home I put "Donny" to bed, and threw Sofia's face on top of that ladys body..... Thank you Mercadito....
(5)
A. M.
LOVE this place! I had the carne asada tacos and a mango margarita--both were great. The atmosphere was my absolute favorite! I want the number for their interior decorator so they can come decorate my house :)! Not a place I would recommend for a quiet date night, but rather if you're going out with friends for a night out this is the place to go for dinner. The music is a little too loud for me and the seats much too close together, but all around, great experience!
(4)
Cody W.
Margaritas (even house) that are delicious. Service is always outstanding. Don't get much other than tacos and quacamole or other appetizers. Steak tacos are amazing. It is pricey even from a date perspective but I've never once regretted it.
(5)
Jonathan E.
My girlfriend and I made a wise choice to visit this little gem during restaurant week. We absolutely loved all four of the tacos we tried, but our favorites were definitely the Mahi Mahi and the shrimp tacos. We also absolutely loved the Brussels sprouts. We would of never of ordered the sprouts, but the waitress suggested them and we are glad we listened! The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was great and not too bad being restaurant week. This is definitely a 5 star review for the service and the food we ate. Some things we didn't think we're anything to write home about were the three flavors of guacamole they offered as well as the ceviche and flan were nothing special. The cocktails were tried were also meh. I'd stick to a tasty beer to accompany my tacos on my next visit there.
(5)
Joe L.
great demonstration class! great food!
(5)
Mel L.
Mercadito is great for groups because it's small plates. I came here with some friends, and my only complaint is that the tables are super low, which is not ideal for those who wear short skirts/dresses and wish not to flash the entire restaurant...but anyway... We got the chips and guac duo - mango guac was delicious and normal guac was, well, normal, prob wouldn't order that again since there's other good looking options. We also got the queso fundito with chorizo which came with tortillas. It should have come with a few more tortillas, but our waitress had no problem grabbing us more when we ran out. We split 2 taco plates, each of which came with 4 tacos and both were really good. Margaritas were tasty!
(4)
Roman L.
The food and drinks here are well made here. We went on a Monday around 6:00 and it got busy fast. You'll most likely run into a wait once in awhile at a good restaurant in River North, it's going to happen so hard to see people giving any establishment 1-2 stars less because of that. There are some unique flavors and amazing twists on some classic Mexican eats. I've tried the traditional guac and chipotle and roja salsas with the house made chips and all superb. The guac isn't too thick and onions don't overpower. The chipotle has a little heat with a some sweetness to it while the roja isn't completely overpowered by the tomato and is complimented by the other ingredients. The albondigas (meatballs) were made to perfection and again complimented well. I've also had the carne and camaron tacos with the carne being just a touch dry on the meat and camaron tacos having a great sauce. The brochetas dish is good for sharing, but definitely tasty to the point that I could see wanting to keep it all to yourself. I've tried the mojitos, margarita, V-9, and smokey Pablo. I would order all again. Our server, Jesus, was exactly what you'd want in a waiter at a higher priced establishment and although busy he checked in on us several times without being annoying and accommodated any requests we made. Knowledgeable and great customer service. As others have noted it is a little higher priced. Compared to other tapa style places there is definitely a premium but pretty in line with other River North places. The seating in spots is extremely close to next table, like if you got up for any reason your butt may possibly be in the food of the next table. The only other item is that we've been here 4 times and the hostesses are a little inconsistent. Overall all good, but on our most recent visit the hostess didn't say much and although she was prepared to seat us, due to her lack of communication she ended up walking to our table all by herself and then came back and said oh I thought you were following me. Got a chuckle out of me but the wife was a little perplexed on the events as they unfolded.
(4)
Helen L.
They got some awesome tacos. You can mix and match and try different meat. My favorite is probably the steak.
(4)
Kelly W.
I 've eaten here before and loved it. But this review is for the hostess staff, specifically Emily. My best friend was having her bachelorette dinner here last Saturday and I couldn't make it because I was in Boston training for a new job. I had completely forgotten to check with the MOH about what the plans were so that I could contribute in some way so when I remembered that the party was that night, I had to scramble in the two short hours before I had to go to work to get a couple bottles of champagne secured for the dinner. I called and Emily was wonderful. Very helpful, super accommodating, especially when I couldn't get them some of the paperwork they needed the preferred way, she still accepted everything and got the bottles of champagne secured for the dinner. The bride to be had a fantastic time, the champagne showed up right at the beginning of the meal for them, and everything worked out. I'd like to thank Emily and the rest of the staff for taking care of this for me and my friend, it was really important!!
(5)
Corey H.
Oye! I was here only for booze, and booze I got! I love Midwest pours... me thinks two ounces in Chicago is way different than in San Diego.
(4)
Sitar M.
Delicious! The menu for parties of 7+ is limited.
(4)
Kyle M.
I have been here three times now and it is awesome every time. First off, the atmosphere is modern and cool. Feels like you are in Vegas. The people are pretty, and the food is outstanding. We started with margaritas which were perfect in every way and the guacamole is a must order!!! I ordered the tampiquena which ended up coming out first with only 20 minutes to cook. After the first bite of the steak, potatoes, and brussel sprouts I realized that was eating that entire steak, it didn't matter how full I was already. The price is reasonable and it is a great place to take guests from out of town. My parents loved it as well as friends I had in from DC and NYC. You can't go wrong here.
(4)
Jennifer C.
This restaurant is such an anomaly to me. Sometimes you go and get great service and great food, other times your server is completely MIA and the food is mediocre. Anyways my husband and I went in on Wednesday around 11 pm. It seemed like one waiter was serving the whole restaurant, and while this isn't inherently bad it doesn't make for the best customer service . To drink I had the pineapple margarita which was amazing. I will probably come back just to have this. My hubby had the strawberry margarita which was also very good. To eat we had the chipotle salsa and chips. This was pretty decent as well. We also had the carne tacos which were just ok. Lastly we had the tres leches which was very disappointing. The cake was not at all milky and it tasted like something that was purchased at a chain grocery store. Overall, I will be back for a margarita and maybe some chips and guacamole, but no food other than that.
(2)
Alicia V.
This is a very loud, very cramped, small restaurant. The food portions are small with large prices! The drinks are good and strong. It's not your typical Mexican fare with rice and beans. The brunch is very disappointing. The service is very slow. The staff tries to rush you out. Never again! If you want real Mexican food with big portions and small prices, try Nuevo León!
(2)
Laura F.
Mercadito is an AMAZING, hip, lively restaurant with deliciously unforgettable food. Even more impressive is the restaurant's attention to detail when it comes to accommodating large groups. I have now hosted 2 large parties at Mercadito, and the staff have blown me away with their service. The prix fixe menu is perfectly priced and you get SO MUCH FOOD! The best part of all is that you get to enjoy your company without having to worry about what to order, how to split the bill, or any of the mumbo jumbo that often accompanies large group dining. The event staff, Sharon in particular, is so easy to work with. If you're in need of a place to host a large group (even just a party of 10 or 12), then look no further. You will not be disappointed in the experience. 5 stars for Mercadito!
(5)
Jessie M.
Such a good pick for restaurant week! * Great service * The rose malbec was delicious, and only $8 * Highlights were the carne tacos and the brussels sprouts. Don't be fooled by the vegetarian designation on the sprouts--they had more chunks of pork belly than actual vegetables. I am not complaining. * Courses were served small plates style, not rushed, but paced perfectly.
(5)
Jesse P.
This place is fantastic! The bacon guacamole was to die for. We got pastora and pascato tacos and they pretty much melted in your mouth. There maybe a little bit of a wait but you'll never leave disappointed! Soooo gooooddddd!!
(5)
Scott H.
Mercadito is a nice contemporary experience. The food is very good and the atmosphere is a lot of fun, especially during happy hour. The good: - Food and salsas - Great feel and prompt service The bad: - approaching expensive for tacos - cramped tables unless you get a booth Overall, I would recommend the restaurant without question. A great place for lunch or dinner. Maybe not for families, but a couple or younger crowd.
(4)
Sarah H.
This is a fantastic place to bring your friends and colleagues for a dinner and drinks. The food price is over priced for my taste of tacos but the drinks were delicious. I ordered the mole tacos in which you get a four small tacos for a hefty price. As for drinks, I recommend the smokey pablo. It gives kind of a kick to it. The overall atmosphere was great and our waitress gave us the best recommendations. I would come back just for the drinks and chips and guacamole only.
(3)
Samantha J.
I've been to Mercadito several times for lunch, never for dinner though. Mercadito is near my office so it's one of the favorite sit down lunch spots. The place is trendy, but can be a nice oasis from corporate America for lunch. Pros: - The guacs and salsas are all amazing! - I'm addicted to the Verde Salad with spicy shrimp....it's a must try! Large portion with a ton of shrimp, so you really do get your money's worth - Trendy space - Good service, but this is a place that it takes a full hour for lunch - Great prices Cons: - For lunch they are on the slower side for service - It can get loud in there, there is nothing to absorb the noise so if it's crowded it can be noisey It's a great lunch spot, I'll have to try dinner sometime soon!
(4)
Anuj S.
Great experience at Mercadito. Given it was a Saturday night and we went in without a reservation, I'm going to excuse the excessive wait time - over 1 hour, when they initially told us 30 - 45 minutes on the phone and when we arrived. That part of it was seriously the only thing that I can complain about. Next time, definitely do the reservation thing. But the place is awesome... great decor. The food was delicious and I loved that I have finally been able to find an upscale Mexican place that actually caters to vegetarians. They actually mark their menu items with a v for veggie, which was much much appreciated. Oh.. and the tacos were SO flavorful. Really good. Really, nothing like what you might expect. The tid-bits of crispy potatoes on these mushroom tacos that I got were SO good. We also tried the enchiladas which were also different yet really good. How many times have I said good? This place can be pricey, but to me it was worth it. Can't wait to be back and introduce more people to my new favorite upscale Mexican place in Chicago.
(5)
Mike W.
I've been 6+ times and every time it's awesome. I recommend Mercadito to all friends coming to town. Great food, good service and awesome drinks. You can't go wrong.
(4)
Bryce B.
New to yelp. Came to Chicago here on business and was impressed with the decor, however compared to other experiences in Chicago the service could be faster. Food was great, but Im living in NY where tacos are the next step ahead of Chicago, however the guac and langoustines were delicious!!!! WAY TO LOUD though
(3)
Janene M.
My sis and I came for the start of a birthday We had the traditional guacamole. Very good! Just enough heat. The drinks are no joke!! They do not skimp on the tequila. We both had strawberry margaritas. For dinner, I had the shrimp tacos, and my sister had the chicken tacos. Small, but tasty. For dessert, we had the churros. Overall, I was very pleased. The ambiance and decoration is very cute. It is very loud. This is River North, so it is pricey. This is "fine dining Mexican." If you want something traditional, you may want to check out Lalo's. I would return again.
(4)
Trasee H.
The atmosphere reminds me of a swanky lounge with delicious drinks with booming music and mood lighting. But you're quickly reminded that you came here for the food! We came on "Taco Tuesday" which offered two tacos for $5.50. It was a great deal and allowed us to sample a lot of the menu for a relatively low cost. The margaritas are good, though small. But the food is the main draw. Delicious, almost mini, tacos (the carne, minus the avocado was my favorite), yummy verde rice with cheese on top, and a slew of salsa and guac options. The service was pretty good too. Definitely recommend for a Tuesday night. And there's specials on Wednesdays and Thursdays too. I'll be back!
(4)
Neeru J.
I'm giving it 3 stars for the service, but the food was average at best. We went there for my B'day, so maybe that's why I'm being a bit harsh, but for the money, you can get better Mexican food at pretty much any other joint in Chicago. The Guac was average and salsa below par, but the Tacos saved the night for us. Their tacos were decent. I recommend it if you are looking to get drunk and have a good time as the place has a decent vibe (although its a bit loud), but not if you are looking for good Mexican food..
(3)
Tiffany L.
It's pretty good, but not amazing. We came here for restaurant week brunch, and you get to try a variety of their foods -- 3 guacs, 2 types of tacos, and 2 choices of entrees (brunch options though). The guac is pretty good, not the best I've had. My fave out of the three was the one with the strawberries. For tacos we got pastor and the battered mahi-mahi. I'm not of fan of their tortillas -- they need to sear 'em a bit or something. I don't know why some places serve their tacos in these kind of tortillas. The pastor was the better of the two as far as flavor. For entrees, we chose the steak and eggs dish, and the scrambled eggs w/ carnitas and pico de gallo, I have no idea what they were really called. The steak and eggs was SUPER rich, if you like that sort of thing. I did not enjoy that white sauce or cheesy junk they drizzled on top of the eggs. Though I bet some people would call that dish really good drunk food. We also added 2 cocktails -- again, I cannot remember the names, but one was basically a mango chile mimosa, the other was a vodka/passion fruit sort of concoction. I much preferred the first -- especially if you enjoy those chile covered mango candies they sell in mexican stores. This place seems like a good place for happy hour or a late night place to grab drinks and a bite to eat. The acoustic are terrible so good luck having a conversation in this place.
(3)
James Michael S.
I was very impressed with the overall dining experience at Mercadito. We had a large group of 8 guys and we were very well taken care of from the moment we arrived. Here's what you need to know...Mercadito has a super trendy loungey feeling. It's somewhat loud but still easy to have a conversation. There was a constant house music being played which kind of gives it a Vegas feel. For large groups you have to do the tasting menu. It works out well because there's a constant flow of food. I'm a big fan of this place and I'll certainly go back soon.
(5)
Neisha G.
Disclaimer: If you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner this may not be the place for you. That being said this place is AWESOME. The layout of the restaurant is modern and cool. There was a great DJ and they servers were attentive yet relaxed. The drinks are strong and the the food is excellent. I will be back ....tomorrow :) You must try the shrimp tacos and the guacamole flight ...YUM!
(5)
Christina P.
Mmmmmmmmercadito. I can't stop thinking about you - nor do I want to. I'm digging this spot in a major way. It's the hottest spot on the block - so expect a wait and definitely make reservations. Sexy crowd with some amazing people watching. And don't even get me started on the food. Taste explosion. I'm obsessed with the shrimp and steak taco's. Either of the fish taco's is a gamechanger as well. And the guacamole ... TDF (to die for). The drinks are strong and tasty and the service is TOP NOTCH. Rodrigo made our night out such a fun one and was super attentive and gave fabulous recommendations. I can't wait to get back - and soon!
(5)
Mary B.
We made a reservation for 4 people and when we showed up we still had to wait around 30mins to be seated, which was not a good first impression. The dining area was only half full, so I'm not sure what the holdup was. While waiting, we ordered a round at the bar, where we were greeted by a very rude bartender, who acted as if he could not be bothered. This was the theme for the rest of the night, as the service was very poor. We ordered 2 orders of guacamole and 1 order of ceviche to start and when the waiter returned to take our order again, and we weren't ready, we were told that they make reservations very close together and that he would need to inform the hostess station that we were going to take longer. Again the dining area was half empty and we had only been seated for 20mins! When my friend complained to the manager about the comment and that we would appreciate not being rushed, he told her to calm down. I was ready at this point to settle the bill and finish the meal at another restaurant, but I was out voted. We ordered another round of drinks and 4 plates of 4 tacos to share. When the drinks were brought out, the waiter spilled an entire drink on my friend's lap. He felt very bad, but the manager never came over, my friend was not offered a complementary drink, nor did the restaurant offer to pick up the dry cleaning bill. Overall, I will not return to the restaurant due to the horrible service, nor will I ever recommend it to anyone. The food was good, but overpriced for the experience offered. There are much better tapas options available throughout the city for me to waste my time and money here again.
(1)
Linda SingaSong S.
All the buzz 'bout this place finally got to me. Had some friends visiting in the summer time from New York and Wisconsin and they wanted to try out new restaurants in the city. Patio and indoor dining area was bumping at 7pm. Even though we made reservations, we ended up waiting another half hour. So we docked it by the bar & kicked back with some signature drinks. My guests had mojitos, little market, dizzy oaxacan, and I stuck to the margarita tradicional. The drinks were great, quite creative, unique contrast of different flavors; sweet & sour, sweet & spicy (dizzy oaxacan- had a bit of cayenne pepper). Our party of 6 got seated on the patio. Our server was awesome! She was sweet, explained and answered every question we had, and offered us some of her fav items on the menu. Appetizer: Trio of Guacamole Yumm-o! They all tasted sublime and the chips are addictive as hell! Meals: We had a multitude of tacos * Pastor * Carne * Carnitas de puerco * Pescado * Pollo There is 4 tacos to an order. Size isn't too big or small, Perfect to share with the group. We noticed later on that we didn't get one of our taco dishes, so the chef gave us 2 complimentary taco dishes. Man..we were so stuffed by then!! The ambiance is great. Trendy, good looking crowd. Esp during the summer time, this place gives such a great view of the city. Taco flavored kisses!!
(4)
Tiffany N.
Mercadito makes fancy Mexican and they make it well. A group of 8 of us had the tasting menu here and I have to say it is such a great value for groups. We had an assortment of salsas, guacamole, ceviche, tacos, and sides for just $35 each. Everything I ate was delicious, but my favorites were the al pastor tacos and the spicy jalapeno guacamole. I dream about eating them sometimes. The atmosphere is sexy - great for dates or even just ladies night out. The drinks are divine. The service was stupendous. And they practically had to roll me out of there because the food was so plentiful and I just couldn't stop eating. All in all it was a delicious meal.
(4)
Stephanie R.
An amazing selection for restaurant week 2013. Made a reservation for three people at 6pm on a Monday. We were seated upon entering and the waiter was very attentive. We were a bit early; the place started filling up with the dinner crowd around 7, it was PACKED by 7:30. As part of the restaurant week deal ( 3 guacamoles, 2 ceviches, 4 different types of tacos, 2 sides, three deserts and one drink per pax) we were able to try most of the menu. I would highly advise the margaritas, the pomegranate guacamole, and the Zucchini tacos. Being a vegetarian, I was delighted at all of the options I had. Dishes came at a great pace; when you were done enjoying one delicacy, the next was on its way. My only complaint (such a minor one) was that the tables were very close together. The waiter had to keep moving the chair next to me so he could reach the next table. Overall an amazing experience.
(4)
David Z.
We went to Mercadito for a birthday dinner. Unfortunately, I wish we had dined somewhere else. Mercadito does have a few things going for it. We were very happy to be seated at the exact time of our reservation. There is also a complimentary coat check, which is nice. The decor of the place is also very hip - they have just the right balance between light and dark. Very cool. And finally, the tequila selection seems to be pretty good. That's about where the good stuff ends. Our waitress was rude. I was practically yelled at for not wanting to order a drink right away. Sorry, I had not decided yet. I am not "sick" or "crazy," I was just trying to figure out what I wanted. Then, when I tried to order my steak, I got yelled at again because I wanted it well done. Do you know why I always ask for it well done, waitress? Because I do not want there to be pink in the steak and bloodiness on my plate. And still, even when I order a steak well done it's still very pink about 80% of the time. After the waitress told me I should order it medium-rare, I insisted on well done. It still came out very pink. Awesome. We waited for-ev-er to get our check as well. Every time the waitress came to our table she was intimidating and acting like a jerk. Some tables might think that's cute and/or funny, but not us. Although I like the decor, I don't like sitting 2 feet from the table next to us. The music is too loud and some of the tables are too close to the bar. Speaking of the bar, there are no chairs at the bar, so if you are at one of the tables near the bar there will be people standing about 4 feet from you. So much for privacy. The bathrooms are single bathrooms so you may have to wait in a line that is close to the kitchen in a high-traffic area as well. And the food? Well, honestly, it sucked. My $25 pink steak was still flavorless - it certainly wasn't overcooked though! The guacamole appetizer was decent, but we only got enough chips to eat about half of it, and they didn't offer additional chips. And wait, no dessert menu? Oh well, I didn't want to give this place any more of my money anyway. All in all, we were VERY disappointed with Mercadito. I can think of at least 5 better Latin places right off the top of my head, and they're cheaper too. Sorry, we won't be back.
(2)
Emily F.
Love, love, love Mercadito! I may be a little bias because I am a total sucker for good Mexican food, but I promise, Mercadito does not disappoint! The main reasons they get five stars: The food! I have now been four times and have tried something new every time. I have loved every taco I have eaten and every bite of guacamole consumed. I am very particular about what guacamole is good... I have had four of their options, all delicious! I will never be able to go to Mercadito and not order some kind of gauc! The drinks! Amazing margarita, so yummy! That is all :-) The atmosphere! Laid back but high end atmosphere. You may sit a little too close to the table next to you but that is what it's all about - family! It really helps in the whole experience and plus.... they're trying to fit as many people in there as possible because the place its pretty tiny for how popular they are. The staff. In addition to how much I love the food... the staff has completely wowed me as well. The first few visits were great, but nothing compares to the amazing service we received this past Saturday evening. My server, Stephanie, was sweet, quick, helpful, and just all around a fantastic server that helped make our experience a great one. In addition, there was this one manager that stood out as absolutely incredible. I noticed him a few minutes in as he was helping the servers, bussing tables (in his very nice suit), folding napkins when people got up to go to the restroom, and more. He was going out of his way to help his staff while also making sure all the guests were comfortable and having fun. It was really refreshing to see one manager really go above and beyond! I will probably visit Mercadito on a biweekly basis :-)
(5)
Ryan K.
The wait: When we first came on a Tuesday evening, the host us that the wait for three was officially 20 mins, but she suspected that it would be a lot shorter and encouraged us to wait in the bar area until they came to get us. We ordered a drink and waited and waited. After about 45 mins, they tried to seat us at a tiny table that was a two-top that they just stuck a chair on the end. The chair on the end was touching the other two chairs, so there would have been no room for anyone's legs. We asked to speak to the manager who didn't really offer any help, but said we could have the next available table. We did wait. The food: we had the pick two salsas and pick two guacamoles, and both were good, but definitely not worth the premium price. They charged $3 for about an ounce of salsa. The best thing I had was the mahi mahi ceviche. I had the masa quesadillas, which were actually much more similar to empanadas, and they were average. Drinks: I had a tasty mezcal margarita. It was very good, but for some reason carried a $17 price tag. Ultimately, I would not recommend Mercadito.
(2)
Britney M.
I went to Mercadito for brunch this weekend and definitely enjoyed my time there. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive, and our food came out quickly. They had a great brunch and drink selection to choose from as well. My favorite thing was the chilaquiles and guacamole , but I wasn't really a fan of the shrimp or pork tacos (the only reason for the 3 stars instead of 4). Overall, I had a pretty good experience and will check this place out again.
(3)
Kristina B.
We had a birthday dinner here on a Saturday night with 6 couples, and had a 9:15 reservation. Well, they're lucky that the margaritas are good and that the music was super fun, because even with a reservation, we didn't get seated until almost 10:30. Total bummer, but whatever. I was all set with what I wanted to order - carne asada - until our waiter came and informed us that we absolutely had to do the sharing menu - um, what? Really? That's kind of annoying. Again, they're lucky that the tacos were damn good because I was slightly less annoyed after my first bite of the steak taco. The chicken was just ok, but the short rib taco was AMAZING! Everyone at the table was raving about it. I also loved the small, crunchy pieces of potato in the steak taco - unexpected, but delicious. I only remember two of the varieties in our guacamole trio - traditional, and mango. The mango had a really gross looking color to it and was really unappetizing - the taste was allright, but not my favorite. The traditional guac however was amazing - great texture and really good flavor - I for sure had way more than I should have! Don't come here expecting a romantic date night - it's way too loud for that. But come and enjoy the delicious original margarita, they're fantastic!
(4)
Mike S.
Had a late lunch with another couple. We started with the guacamole sampler, very good!! My favorite was the Pomergranet, such a unique flavor! We each ordered tacos and got something different, chicken,Mahi,steak and Pastor. The tacos come in fours and are on the small side but filled with a generous amount so it works. My favorite was the Mahi, but all were very good. We really enjoyed the decor, seemed very upscale but had a really laid back attitude. Would defiantly go back
(4)
Jen H.
Four girls on a night out, celebrating everything from a belated bday to a Euro visitor to a recent wedding to one of us OTP... plus just any ol' weeknight, and boy, did we have a great time here! Service = 5. I absolutely love it when I ask a server her opinion and she gives it up with confidence and passion. TY for great food & drink suggestions and always keeping our drinks and plates full of goodness. Atmosphere = 4. Pretty typical Chi nice joint. Could do w/o the droves of financial-type post-happy-hour imbibed suits, but my girl did find the view of them quite pleasant. Whatever. Food = 4. The pollo a las brasas (whole chicken in adobo) yelp.com/biz_photos/Sfx5… was fabulous, just perf for us to share! Guac, tacos and ceviche were all also very good. I usually don't care for corn tortillas, but these were seriously little hand-made pillows of awesome. Tequila selection was incredible! Sometimes you just experience a place where you imagine bringing a specific friend back to b/c you know they'd really love it... this was easily one of those places!
(4)
Ray C.
Went here with a friend following an after work event to get some dinner, and we were not disappointed. Nothing we were served was less than delicious. My friend had the shrimp tacos, which I tried, and I had the fish tacos, both of which were extremely tasty. It kind of reminded me of the food that was at Cantina 46. Also, the Brussels Sprouts were a fine side dish. The server was friendly and knowledgeable but seemed a little rushed at times for a Tuesday night. Regardless, I would go back for sure.
Went on a Sat night around 6pm and got a seat right away. I don't usually order margaritas in restaurants any more because they are all too sweet, but, Julio, our waiter recommended it. It was one of the best I've ever had. We ordered mango guacole, braised pork tacos, ceviche and shrimp tacos. All were excellent except the shrimp, it was just good. All portions are tapas portions, but still got filled up on the 4 that we ordered. Our waiter Julio was great. All of his suggestion for what to eat were spot on and his service and attitude was first class. The only problem I had was that we got a littled crowded by the people around us as the place got busier, but other than that the atmosphere was fine. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more food and another marg.
(5)
Erin M.
Good tacos but not great. Super small and super overpriced. Good if your on a diet??! ;) Our table got several different kinds and shared. My fav was the Shrimp one ( camaron) the chipotle mojo sauce is killer!.... but beware it's really spicy! Same goes for the Gauc.....We got the traditional and the mango both good but you are getting like a tablespoon of each for 13 bucks! The only one real negative was the hostess ... super rude to our party and told us we would only have an hour and a half for our table ( even though we had reservations) who says that?! I would probably go again the ambience was fun and drinks were good!
(3)
Christina L.
I come from California, land of mucho Mexicans. So, I'll admit I was already a little jaded before I arrived. I have a hard time rationalizing paying mucho dollars for "fancy" Mexican food, especially if I can get the same food for 1/3 of the price at a "not fancy" Mexican joint. Well, the $62/person bill after I had 2 drinks, a bunch of chips and guacamole, and 3 tacos (yes, 3 teeny tiny tacos) did not make me change my mind about the value of "fancy" Mexican food. Loved our bubbly and attentive waitress that handled a large, rowdy group efficiently. But any bump in the rating that would have come from that was killed by the fact that I had to SCREAM to be heard by people sitting next to me. Those who know me, know I'm already loud, so the fact that I have to scream should be a good indication that it's WAY too noisy there!
(2)
Julien D.
Cool place for Mexican food. The decor is quite pleasant and somehow makes me travel. I find it easy and convenient however I have never been there for diner. Only went there for lunch, and yet found it quite relaxing and different. I will go back.
(3)
Ali A.
Late night BRUNCH! This place is like a mexican tapas restaurant. It is a little pricey and you have to buy the chips and salsa, this always bothers me in any mexican restaurant because this is how I evaluate how great a mexican restaurant is. Tacos, guac, lots of different salsas (to buy), bloody mary's. The service was excellent as well. If you're in a group don't expect to split checks, apparently their system doesn't allow it. Caused some delayed time on paying for our checks. I heard the had a tequileria downstairs... I was too tired to check it out.
(4)
Cally B.
I wasn't impressed with the service. The food was tasty but really annoying you can't mix and match tacos. I worked for a restaurant through out college and the meat is already marinated and sitting in the back at a prep station. It's not like they are making the tacos fresh from scratch at the moment you order them. Also a table got up and left because they put 3 people at a 2 person table and the guy on the end kept getting bumped by the 3 strange hipsters walking around in their tight jeans and sport coats with there goofy ear pieces in (your not James Bond). Do not go here on a first date, anniversary (unless you are a polygamist) or any time you want to talk to the person sitting next to you. This place would be good for a bachlorette party, birthday party or and other large group outing.
(2)
Rachael P.
Four of us went to Mercadito this evening on the recommendation of a friend. The waitress was lovely, the drinks and food quite good (though very expensive and very small portions)however, the music was incredibly loud....but the real reason for my one star review is that we were treated rudely by the assistant manager. We were seated in a booth in the basement...and although the room was completely empty, except for us....he asked us to move our coats...so that he could seat another couple in our booth. They supposedly had reservations coming in 30 minutes later and were trying to prepare. However, shoving another couple next to us...and handling the situation so poorly....caused us to leave well before we were done. After spending two hundred dollars...in one hour of appetizers a couple of drinks...we felt unwelcome and went to finish our evening elsewhere.
(1)
Ronald P.
Had brunch here on 'Black Friday' It was my 1st time dining at Mercadito and I'd have to say it was somewhat of a mixed bag. The layout is neat and the restaurant has a nice open and modern vibe. In terms of ambience, they have a similar feel to other upscale Mexican restaurants in River North like Zocolo's and Cantina Laredo. My date and I had the guacamole flight and habanero salsa to start. The salsa was the only real miss for me. It was just too small of a serving. We ordered a couple of different tacos and their version of French Toast. The mushroom tacos were very good and the French Toast was spectacular but also too rich for me to eat more than a slice. No complaints however as I'm not normally a big French Toast fan. I could argue that the place is better than my own rating so I wish Yelp allowed 3.5 stars as a score. The guacamole was good but not as good as Cantina Laredo's table-made version and the tacos were good but not as good as Zocolo's. I'll go again but Mercadito's would have to knock me over with a dish before I rated it as higher than my 3rd favorite upscale Mexican restaurant in my hood.
(3)
Veronica S.
Love The Guacamole And Margaritas At This Place!! Fish Tacos Were Delicious And Perfectly Street Size Small :)
(5)
Veronica H.
My sister, a friend, and I went in for an early dinner on a Saturday. My sister brought my niece and they were super cool about it. They brought her a high-chair and sat us in the front room closer to the window, which was perfect for her. We really enjoyed our meal from start to finish. After, we realized we had ate a little of every animal we normally eat within a month, in one sitting! We shared everything, appetizers and tacos. The flautas with goat were really flavorful, but the fish tacos were my favorite! The salsas are perfectly spicy and tangy. The hibiscus margaritas are also a must have! I normally don't like margaritas, but these were so good! The tab was about $50 per person, but we were in downtown so we expected that!
(5)
Nicole C.
I had a couple of friends coming in from out of town who were dying to go to a Rick Bayless restaurant, but that plan fell through when I realized that all of the Bayless restaurants are closed on Monday. :( Plan B: Mercadito The four of us shared the following small plates: - Tradicional Guacamole (tomatillo pico de gallo, jalapeño, garlic, key lime, cilantro) - Mango Guacamole (jÃcama, chipotle, pico de gallo) - Piña Guacamole (pineapple, tomatillo, habanero, mint) - Camarón Ceviche (shrimp, tangerine, roasted jalapeños, citrus-guajillo broth) - Chorizo Tacos (home made chorizo of the day, manchego cheese, roasted tomato-árbol salsa) - Rajas Tacos (black bean hash, chile poblano rajas, crema fresca, crispy potatoes) - Corn Masa Quesadillas (oaxaca-manchego cheeses, wild mushrooms, salsa verde, crema fresca) We enjoyed everything and literally licked our plates clean. It turned out to be a great place to take out-of-town guests -- the atmosphere and the vibe is very cool, fun and urban. Although they missed out on Chicago's very own Rick Bayless, Mercadito was a great alternative. I'd love to go back for brunch. And, I just realized they deliver - bonus!
(4)
Kellye W.
I wish I could give this place NO stars!! While the food is reasonable the service is horrendous! I appreciate a manager getting behind the collar but refusing reservations because I went out with a bartender with bad breath two years ago and the bartender is still salty about it is ABSURD!! If this were the case no one would EVER go out anywhere in the world!! Unacceptable. No worries, this place stinks of Proof-ish servers anyway. huffingtonpost.com/2012/…
(1)
Celia B.
So the yelp-ers said this place would be loud and it was...really annoying actually. Nevertheless, we tried a number of platters and everything was tasty but perhaps not as exciting as one would expect for the high prices. The highlight for me personally was the "green" margarita- that was unique,delicious and worth getting another :)
(4)
Jair J.
I will absolutely never go back. The server was completely rude. Didnt care for the menu and the server said, if you so much as eat a chip i will automatically charge you thirty five dollars for the entree. It was the most unpleasant experience aside from being so over priced. I also experienced racism, it was very shocking considering its a Mexican restaurant and I'm Mexican. Beyond horrible, never going back. However I did consume five beers to forget what happened until my friends finished their dinner.
(1)
Andrew T.
This has been on my list for a long long time, and I finally made it, even if visiting another upscale Mexican place made me feel like I was cheating on Chef Paco and New Rebozo. There were three of us, but we ordered a ton of stuff so we could try various items. We started with guacamole (with queso fresco and pomegranate seeds), the shrimp and tangerine ceviche, and the queso fundido. The guac was pretty good, not heavy on the onion, and I liked the pomegranate flavor. Ceviche was promising, but was almost too sweet - I have have liked more of an acidy bite with it, but then, I think I prefer almost everything to be too sour. And the queso fundido was good - came out sizzling in a little cast iron skillet, with nice mild chorizo and a good salsa verde. The strike comes when you get the tortillas - they're small, thick, and supposedly house made, but I didn't think they were all that great. They're a bit doughy, and they don't have much corn flavor, to my taste. So they could definitely be better. Our tacos included the skirt steak, chorizo, and estillo baja. All were good, and with nice toppings. The skirt especially was perfectly marinated, great flavor and very tender. The slaw served with the estillo baja was nice and tangy with good dressing, and not too much raw onion, and the fish was nice and mild. In fact, I think there's a theme here - not too much raw onion. They don't seem to be cutting their dishes with it. It was in moderation sprinkled on tacos, in moderation in the slaw, and in moderation in the guac. Good for Mercadito. They do, by the way, have delicious fried plantains with a smoky sweet sauce. Good caramelized coating on the plantains, just excellent. Plus some interesting non-alocholic beverages - nice fuit juice and club soda mixes with a little lime. We had a mango and a pineapple, both were tasty. A nice change from the standard Jarritos. Service was very prompt - our dinner came out about 3 minutes after we ordered. And our waiter was very helpful in explaining things on the menu. They really do pack people in to the place, but we went on a Sunday night, so there wasn't a whole lot of traffic. And I should be careful to mention some exclectic tunes - at one point (to our delight) "Regulators" was playing. Mount up. As for the rating? Well, it's pricey, for what it is. I think of Mexican places I really love in Chicago, and if I wanted fancy tacos - as in, not the standard cheap (but usually still delicious) taqueria type tacos, but a little better class of ingredients, and with a little flair type tacos - I would go to Bien Trucha and pay far less for about the same, if not a smaller menu. And if I wanted more of a dinner? I would go to New Rebozo and pay less for better food. So I'm not sure I would go back. It would be fun go to with a group, but I can think of better destinations. Nothing really the matter here, just an issue of cost effectiveness.
(3)
Kay R.
Good ambiance, Great drinks, nice location. Food was shrug. Pricey for the portions. Food was meh - Guacs (tradicional and the queso fundido) were tasty. Tacos (4 to an order) were flavorful (chicken and jamaican jerk flank steak). Ceviches weren't good (too sweet, scallops and shrimp seemed a lot more chewy than they needed to be). Portions were small, especially for the high prices for every dish. Can't say i'll be back.
(3)
Nicki W.
Mercadito, I'm in love and I want the world to know! My socks were rocked off last night in a major way, mainly due to my company but Mercadito didn't disappoint. Few restaurants have given me the chills of utter elation, so congrats to you! We had a 9pm reservation on a Saturday night for 2 and waited for 20 minutes. That's not bad and we didn't mind because we just grabbed some drinks at the bar in the meantime. Note to self, if you don't like super crowded restaurants more resembling a lounge, with music blaring then this may not be the place for you. If you enjoy amazing margaritas, top notch tacos and other Mexican fare, nice tunes, and choice people watching then this is a restaurant you shouldn't miss out on! There's one bar located to the back on the right and it's tiny. I wish it were 3 times the size that it is because about 1/3 of that is taken up by the service well. Packed. Packed. Packed. It took us about 5 minutes to even flag a bartender. For some reason, it didn't even bother me. Just watching the bartenders work their magic with the wide variety of fabulous and colorful margaritas and all the mixings included, I was happily amused. Every drink being made behind that bar looked delectable. With an insane selection of tequilas, one should be quite happy as a clam. The decor was enough to keep me amused. Very chic, very sexy. Wild murals covered the walls and crazy light fixtures hung from all over. The location of our table certainly wouldn't have been my first choice. We were sat at a table about 15 feet in front of the bar. It's squished among 4 other tables and there are crowds of people standing behind you waiting to grab a drink. If you want to have a first date, hearing the other person talk about themselves most likely wont be possible. You also have to be as slim as gumby to fit between the tables. Next time I'll make sure I don't sit there! Our waitress was friendly and fun. It was hard to make much conversation with her other then asking her what she likes and having her order it. That's how I roll, especially in a restaurant where I can't hear anything but blaring music. We tried a variety of drinks but here are some favorites: * Smokey Pablo-cien años reposado, mango, chile morita, blueberry float (once you mix up the blueberry float, it becomes a delicious, sugary berry beverage) So don't order this if you don't like sweet! * Misty's Sleeve- el tesoro blanco, ginger, hibiscus, valencia orange, chile serrano, hibiscus salt (this one was more on the bitter side, and the hibiscus salt was very interesting) * Tres Coops- single village mezcal, st. germain elderflower, domaine de canton ginger, averna, lime, egg white (very refreshing!) * Dizzy Oaxacan- mezcal, grapefruit, lemon, ginger beer, bitters, cayenne Onto the food. Seriously by the time I had consumed about 4 margaritas I was starting to get full but I made room. Try the Guacamole. The portions are suited more for smaller groups. I felt the 3 guac choice would be fine for 3 people and under. We tried the Traditional, Mango and Granada. AMAZING. The Mango had chipotle in it and the two flavors together created harmony. Granada was bliss, mixed with Pomegranate seeds. How interesting! Loved it. The bottomless pit known as my stomach was at about 90% capacity and we hadn't even gotten the tacos and sides yet. The Mahi Mahi Tacos (Estilo Baja) were dropped on the table. Succulent beer battered fish with mexican cole slaw and chipotle aioli makes this taco a "must order". Great combination of flavor. Duck Confit (Pato) was the other choice. Pumpkin Puree with prune mole slathered on top. The duck was juicy and flavorful. Although there were many others I wanted to order, I felt our choices were pretty solid. 4 tacos come per order and it's $14.50, unless you order duck and that's an extra $2. If you're one who's prone to putting up a stink about expensive tacos, then save your breath and just dine elsewhere. I thought the prices were fine when stacked up to the quality I was receiving. For our sides we tried the Elote Mexicano, which was mexican style corn on the cob. Basically amazingness on a stick. It was sweet, covered in what seemed like sugar and cheese. Order it. No questions asked. We also ordered Coles de Bruselas, brussels sprouts with chorizo. It had great flavor, (and I'm not normally one to order brussels sprouts). Full wouldn't even describe my situation at this point but we needed desert to top it off. We tried Torrejas de Bolillo, creme anglaise soaked mexican bread, vanilla ice cream, cajeta sauce. Our waitress told us this was her favorite and boy was she right! I could eat this every single day. Overall, I'm very impressed. Service was great and our girl was always on top of everything without being annoying, the atmosphere was enjoyable, food was lovely and I'll be back. This might have to be the local for my birthday dinner. Check it out if you haven't!
(5)
Kori E.
A friend and I came back here not too long ago and we definitely enjoyed our experience. The cocktails are so inventive and tasty here, we kept them coming all night! We ordered a few things to nimble on throughout the night. We had the Ceviche, which was my favorite dish of the night. We also had the guacamole, which if you ask me is just like any other guacamole and we shared shared the shrimp tacos. The sauce was a little over powering on the taco and my mouth and lips were on fire!! I definitely love coming to this here! It is super hip and there is an energy that flows through the place. Compared to the last time, our waitress was phenomenal! She was always checking in and we never sat without a fresh cocktail for long. My only complaint was the music was a bit TOO loud that night. We kept having to say "What?!" to each other throughout the night. Overall, a great spot to hit up on a Friday or Saturday night!! I've yet to stop by during the week...
(4)
jennifer j.
I LOVED the atmosphere, the energy and the upscale and fun menu. I was looking forward to the ceviche the most, but it was the tacos that ended up being the standout. In fact, I wish we had not ordered the ceviche at all, which lacked flavor, heat and citrus. The guacamole trio also seemed to lack a real flavor punch. the must have saved all the seasoning for the pork taco's...which i wished we had ordered first, times three. Margarita's were amazing and like a truly good margarita, it packed a punch that was delivered in a slow and subtle way. The waiter was great even though it was impossible to hear anything and he was stepping over the four person deep crowd at the bar. I like this place, but it is a matter of knowing what is a hit and and what is a miss. Great place to celebrate or get yourself in a festive mood.
(4)
Maria S.
It really pains me to give a restaurant a bad review, but this place just is not worth it. I am a little baffled as to how it stays so busy... Must be the tourists or there are a LOT of people in this city that like to celebrate mediocre, over-priced food. On a Friday night, we could not get a reservation for a table for 4 ppl until 915pm, and we were not actually seated until 945pm. This is not THAT big of a deal to me since we had cocktails at the bar while we waited, but if I wait for a place I believe it should be worth waiting for. We ordered three different tacos, two kinds of guacamole, empanadas, a cheese dip and a few side dishes. Unfortunately, nothing that we ordered fell into the "delicious" category; everything was just "meh". I will say that I did really enjoy my cocktails here, the Tres Viejos is especially yummy, but even good alcoholic concoctions are not enough for me to ever want to return. Sorry, Mercadito, I did not love you:(
(2)
Gabriela R.
I Love Mercadito! great "mini" tacos ! a bit expensive for only three per plate but worth it. Appetizers are amazing! and you should try the Smokey Pablo for a drink. If you come here on Fridays is a great hit!
(4)
Edward W.
Been there many times now. Great lively atmosphere. The strawberry margaritas were incredible. Must try the different salsas. I thought they all were great. Fish tacos were delicious. Definitely try the chicken. They tell you up front that it will take a while, but it is worth it.
(5)
Mark A.
So this is another New York and Miami institution that is wanting to conquer Chicago. (No, I'm not talking about Sushi Samba Rio.) I cannot decide if I like this place or hate it, and "hate" is the right word here: there's no "it's okay" or "it's not my favorite place in the world." It's like or hate, period. (For me.) The space is inviting; yes it's noisy, but we have plenty of subdued, more romantic spots around the city so that doesn't bother me. That said, in no way did our group need to "shout" to one another as another Yelper mentioned; the acoustics certainly accommodate table conversation just fine. Even though several of the large booths along the west wall were open, we were given a table in the back, and boy do they pack 'em in. Between our table and the one directly to the south, there was maybe 3" in between, and that's after we pushed it to the north a bit. That part sucked, because we were essentially eating with another random party, and they didn't pick up our tab. The food was "good," although with Rick Bayless just down the street, I don't know what these clowns were thinking when they selected the location. Chicago is chock-full of upscale Mexican joints, and this is just another one on the list. The food is good, but I had some gripes: the pastor tacos were salty, the tacos estilo baja were strange and the fish quality was poor, and the caldo de camaron had a tasty broth but the tiny frozen shrimp out the Trader Joe's bag were tough and overcooked. For me, the key to a good restaurant is doing the not-so-little things right (not oversalting/overcooking basic foods). Also, this spot should be in the Randolph row of restaurants, or even the South Loop; it has no business being Rick's neighbor. I did enjoy the chipotle (brown) guac and the "Auntie Ox" drink. Now, let's talk about the service. The waitress was a little flaky and was nowhere to be seen after we placed our order. The plates kept spitting out of the kitchen, which were spaced nicely, but we had this industrious waterboy who probably visited our table a good 20 times during the meal. If anybody's glass would so much as drop to 3/4 full, he'd be on it like white on rice, and his approach lacked finesse so our table had water drops scattered everywhere by the time we were done. I know the opposite is much worse, an empty water glass, so it wasn't really a problem per se, rather something to give us a laugh. I think what I'm going to do with this place is use it as cocktails/guacamole stop. They have some nice outdoor seating which will be great in the summer. Perhaps if I had an office nearby, it would be a decent spot to take people to lunch. When I need some haute comida mexicana, though, I will be calling up Rick or going to Mexique or Salpicon. Mercadito might think its legacy in NYC and Miami is enough to win over the Chicago market, but we've kept Rick to ourselves around these parts for ten years, and we're not looking for a Team 6 anytime soon. We know how fancy shmancy Mexican should taste, and Mercadito isn't fooling us.
(3)
Ellen D.
The tacos at Mercadito are to die for. Granted, I've only tried one of them (the same one all three times I've been there), but I don't even care. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the service is friendly and on-point. It is a little pricey, but definitely worth it. I'll be back here again soon for sure... Keep it up!
(4)
Jordan R.
Why won't you let me love you, Mercadito? ROUND 1: Once again, I was here with a large group of people on a Monday night - with reservations. My gripes are not so much with the food but rather the mismanagement of the situation. Our waiter was upset that we wouldn't go off the prix fixe menu because of the number of people... but only because we wanted to order MORE! It's not like we were trying to be cheap with him. We just didn't want to be limited to what we could and could not have. SO then he brings the manager in to the situation... we are now "allowed" to order what we want, this is still America right? But then were informed that he has to talk to the kitchen b/c he concerned about the "demand" -- mind you the restaurant is about 25% full!!!! What a joke! After this our water is giving us the big pissy attitude. Which is hilarious, considering our group is also industry and he's about to make a boatload of money off of us. The food was okay, I liked about half of what I ordered. They almost killed our friend with the pepper allergy, even though she brought it up several times throughout the meal. They made no effort to accommodate...come to think of it they omitted the truth regarding the preparation of her food and left it up to god and Benadryl to save her life. PRO: The tequila was good, and plentiful, but not enough to make me forget... ROUND 2: Swung by here with a friend b/c we couldn't get into our #1 pick. The restaurant was no where near full but yet waited 15min to sit at one of their many tables to have an app and a bottle of wine. The waitress then informs us we have to leave by 7! LOL, what?!? What if we didn't want to? I mean it worked out b/c we had theater tickets, but really? She said it was reserved and they were trying to do us a favor by seating us. BS Flag is raised. I'm done here, I think.
(2)
Patricia J.
Ok seriously 195!! Save your money ok! 60 for street tacos !Never again!!
(1)
Jason W.
A little loud and cramped but the service is great and the food was delicious.
(4)
Marisol D.
Im a native Angelino (Los Angeles resident) so im a bit picky with my Mexican food, however for the mid-west, Mercadito does a pretty good job. For a light heavy option with tons of flavor go with the Grilled Red Snapper (pescado a la talla). For the meat-and-potato types, my hubby loves the pollo a las brasas. The drinks and chips/salsa are also great for a happy hour.
(3)
Kaitlin M.
Great bold mexican food and drinks in a classy Mexican atmosphere. Try a couple of the guacamoles because each has their own unique well paired flavor. Each of the tacos are also always consistently good. A must is at least one of their specialty cocktails. My staple is the Pepino el Pyu. It has a smokey peppery taste that is great with one of sweeter guacamoles to start. Prices are comparable to the quality and quantity of food. If you go during the winter stay clear of the front windows because you will feel a breeze. Now... go enjoy my friends!
(5)
Lisa H.
Went with friends on their suggestion. Definitely quality, delish food to my amateur foodie palate. Love the varieties of salsas to choose from. The habanero had a nice slow heat and the fresh guac was lovely. The classic margarita actually has tequila in it-not a watered-down version popular at standard Mex fare joints. The 4 of us shared a variety of tacos. They are small and come in plates of 4-you are supposed to share tapas-style. My personal favorite was the shrimp tacos-they were slightly smoky and creamy. We later placed a second order for more. A close second was the pork belly. The absence of the 5th star is due to the environment. The noise level in this place is ridic-it was difficult just to hear our server. It wasn't just busy-noisy, it is structural; the restaurant has poor acoustics that magnifies sound to the point that it is distracting to the experience. I don't mind being in close proximity with other tables, but our tables were mega-small, and on one side we had strange low seats that made me feel like I was sitting at a child's play table. In summary, it was worth visiting, and I'd go back on occasion-however it does not compare to my favorite Carnivale.
(4)
An P.
Taco + brunch + tweetup = Taco Twunch!, YEAH! Sunday brunch is best served with friends, good food, and some tasty libations. Parking downtown can sometimes be a hot mess but we used valet parking and marched on in. Seated in the back it was a bit empty when we arrived and started to fill in quite nicely during the afternoon. We opened up with three types of guac, each with fresh ingredients and delightful fresh taste with freshly made chips, better than getting some out of the green bag at the local bodega! I enjoyed the tradicional guacamole and out came some salsa which really exceeded my expectations. Do yourself a favor and get yourself the chile de arbol, in fact do yourself a favor and load all of your salsa with chile de arbol! Another note on the salsa: the chile de arbol was very delicious and it's so good I'd want to have it as some soup. In fact, if I had my way I probably would have put it on every single thing I ordered minus my blanca's punch! Someone get me this recipe - STAT! The one thing that disappointed us surely was that we couldn't mix and match all of our tacos! We decided to get some mushroom taco, shrimp taco, mahi mahi, tilapia, and some steak. The tacos came out very quickly and we started mixing and matching all of our baby tacos. Had I not had some chips, guac, and salsa, I would have probably engulfed my tacos in all of two bites. Gradually getting fuller I also ordered some Victoria beer on draft. The tacos were fantastic and every bite was delightful. Don't underestimate the mushroom taco because frankly it's got the maximum taste of all of the tacos, which is not to say any of them are bad, but that the mushroom taco is a cut above the rest. For Sunday brunch, a great place to pass by the afternoon. Kudos to Mercadito and their fine work.
(4)
Dan M.
The tacos are pretty good but can be replicated at home with a little effort. The margaritas are very good and the menu of mezcal margaritas and cocktails is great. It's a smallish place with low ceilings, so unless you are on the patio, it's impossible to keep your ears from bleeding a midst the onslaught of screaming bachelorette parties. Great place to go if you're a girl or trying to pick up girls. In no way is the a good spot for a date. Better off taking your chances waiting for a table at Big Star.
(3)
Selena L.
Awesome ambience, great food, late night hours, great for people watching.
(4)
Christina M.
I was pleased that I made a reservation via yelp and it was there when I arrived. The girls at the front desk are a bit stoic and not so warm. But I figured I'm way to hungry to care. We waited about fifteen minutes for a table. Which was quite annoying seeing that there were plenty of free tables in the room. And I called out to my date which table was probably ours. ( and it was) We finally sit and check the menu. I was disappointed; that we could not mix the tacos....$14.50 for four mini tacos.....all the same.....I'm puerto rican I know better than that....I went with the steak and my date went with the pulled pork. I was disappointed with the steak the seasoning was off and the meat almost had that refrigerated taste to it. Ek not to mention the fat on the steak. The pulled pork was actually really delicious. Oh wait...I have a curve ball, I did order the fish tacos....and ended up with steak. Our waiter mixed up the order....so when he placed the steak tacos down (because everything comes as it's made) I didn't have the chance to say it was the wrong order until about 10 minutes later and and that point i was so hungry I just face dived in. The guacamole was really good. Not the best I ever had but good. We had the mango margarita and Cucumber. Those were also good. Not amazing. My side order of the platanos were my favorite, I wasn't impressed with the rice and beans. All and All. I believe the people who created the Mercadito restaurants did something amazing....they brought Mexican Street food and elevated it a notch. But I know where I can get amazing Mexican that won't be $80's a pop and delicious... sorry Mercadito it was good but I wasn't impressed.
(3)
Carter G.
Always a great date place as I was here last Friday. We started out w some guac/chips and of course throw in a few margaritas. Moved on to a plate of shrimp tacos and carne asada tacos which were good.The tacos come in plates of three, but are very light which is nice for a weekend dinner. Mercadito is a bit pricey, but we're downtown Chicago and again its a great date place. After a few more cocktails we headed to their downstairs bar/lounge. Ended up being a great night. #recommended
(4)
Timothy G.
I like the comment about there being no Nachos, umm, thats an American thing, not really a Mexican cuisine staple... The food here is excellent, and the atmosphere is electric. I have ben here twice, and everything is always devoured too fast at the table, the drinks are darn good too...
(5)
Kate J.
Went here to celebrate my 21st birthday with my two sisters and my cousin. What started off our evening to a great start was a drink from the bar. I had the b.n.g.t.m. which was so delicious I think I drank it in one sip (btw it comes on fire so the glass gets hot on the rim). When we were seated, our server (I think her name was Joann) was so friendly and helpful when giving us suggestions on what to order. We ordered the chicken tacos (grilled chicken, cactus salad, tomatillo salsa, avocado) and fish tacos (beer battered mahi mahi, mexican style coleslaw, chipotle aioli), and devoured the chips and salsa. The mixologists at Mercadito know how to do their job. They asked me what I like to drink and I said grey goose and grapefruit juice. Since we had been drinking tequila we didn't want to switch to vodka so they whipped up a shooter that had tequila and it tasted like grapefruit juice and it was delicious. After many drinks and amazing food we went downstairs to double a for more drinks and a good time. Mercadito does it right.
(5)
Meera T.
I can't tell you how the food was. Why? Because I never ate here. We came here on a Saturday night after finding out Frontera Grill had a 2.5 hour wait. Mercadito was close, and when I called, the guy on the phone said "there was no wait". It seemed to perfect to be true, having a nice restaurant have space on a Saturday. It was. We arrive and are told it would be an hour wait. That's fine, I get it. It was kind of annoying that I was told there was no wait literally 3 minutes before I arrived, and the hostess brushed it off as "we fill up in minutes". We were told to wait at the bar. Even though the bar was full service, there are no chairs so you would have to eat standing up. No thanks. We watched people who even had reservations get pushed to the bar/waiting area for 10-20 minutes at a time. That's when I had a feeling we weren't going to get seated. I asked the hostess after 40 minutes if she knew when we would get a table, and she told me that it would still be an hour from now. I told her that it should only be 20 minutes, and she said that they couldn't seat us until a reservation cancelled. Okay, I get that. What I don't get is why you told us it would be a definite hour long wait, when in reality, there was a chance we wouldn't get seated for the rest of the night. After finishing weeks of exams and wanting a nice night out, Mercadito completely ruined it for me by being this evasive. Oh, let's not forget to mention there was a row of TEN TABLES that were empty the whole time we were there. We could have eaten and left before anyone with a reservation showed up there. When we left, no one was even being seated there and it was untouched. I will never return here, even with a reservation. You lost a customer, Mercadito. And by the looks of it, you're overpriced anyway.
(1)
Gaby M.
We only stopped for drinks this time, but the food looked absolutely delicious. THE DRINKS ARE STRONG, DELICIOUS, FLAVORFUL, AND WONDERFUL! Bartenders and staff were very friendly even on a Friday night when it was packed and busy.
(4)
Lauren R.
Great tacos! I had the duck confit tacos with prune mole and pumpkin puree, then had the pastor tacos with pineapple. DELICIOUS. But the service here is the worst service I've experienced at a restaurant that doesn't mind charging me $15 for 4 small tacos. If I'm paying that kind of money, I'd like a little common courtesy, and not being rushed through my meal with rude comments about how much or how little I am ordering. Not worth it. I will not return here, and go spend my money at an equally tasty restaurant with lower prices and way more appreciation for their guests.
(2)
Keith C.
If you are going for "high end" Mexican and don't want to put in a reservation months in advance like the Bayless joints, then Mercadito is your spot. The margaritas are strong and full of agave power. Recommend the pescado (tilapia) tacos - they are not fried and delish. I wish you could mix and match the tacos, at least on the weekends where the economies of scale reason wouldn't matter. Fun environment. Pricey - but not somehwere you are going to go every weekend for your cheap Mex fix.
(4)
Sarah V.
If you want to lure me to any restaurant, show me the cocktail list. And what a cocktail list Mercadito lured me with! Considering I worry about getting a little blood mixed in with the tequila running through my veins, this list was positively euphoric to me. So a balmy Friday night, I make reservations for the boy's birthday. It was a surprise to him that I made the reservations, no less at 5:30 so we could go out for drinks and dancing afterward. The place was less that crowded, no reservation needed for the octogenarian's midnight hour, apparently. We're seated and our fabulously educated waiter talks us through the menu. I throw up the diva hand and tell him no explanation necessary for cocktails, but he recommended house favorite salsas and guacs and dinner ideas. Callo Ceviche: Tender scallops with small chunks of watermelon and serrano peppers in a pico de gallo relish. Perfection! I was spooning it into my mouth, sans tortilla, with no shame. Cacahuate Salsa & Chips: Grilled tomato, toasted peanuts, chile de árbol. Delish! A house favorite and recommended by our waiter. Pollo Tacos for me: Herb marinated chicken, chipotle pickled sweet potato, chipotle salsa, crispy manchego. Seriously?! Has anything ever sounded tastier in your life? Not in mine, and it was magnificent. Carnitas Taquizas for him: Michoacán style braised berkshire pork with three different salsas that are DIY. He was in love, good for him. I was entirely too busy inhaling my tacos to even notice anyone else sitting at the table. Cocktails: Big Nose Goes to Mexico: el mayor blanco & reposado, dark rum, guava, orgeat, fire. If you need to ask me how it was then slap yourself. It was heaven. Margarita Tradicional: tequila blanco, grand marnier, fresh lime juice, organic agave nectar, with added smoke. Really refreshing, but I would have been happier to taste more of the tequila. We also tried various glasses of tequila, sans training wheels yo, and were happier than clams. More than two and I would have needed to have been peeled from my seat. And our very funny waiter was kind enough to bring out a birthday flan for my birthday boy. And it was the best flan I've ever tasted. Candle on top of course. What would have taken this magical evening to Disney magic status- our appetizers and entrees coming out at a non-lightning speed. We felt incredibly rushed through our dinner, as if they had parties lining the block trying to get in. Did I mention we had reservations for 5:30? Service was fantastic, food was fantastic, but I would have preferred to slow down and enjoy the meal. Who am I kidding, at the rate we were gobbling everything down they were probably worried we'd chew through the table cloth if we weren't served fast enough.
Tried this restaurant based on concierge suggestion. Overall, it was good. Our biggest complaint is that the waiter did not inform us that certain drinks and dishes were spicy, nor was it indicated on the menu. Not a big deal, unless you don't do spicy like one of my friends. We ordered the pollo, carnitas de puerco, and pescado tacos. We shared the different tacos. The carnitas were tasty and my fave but quite spicy. My friend, who isn't into spicy food, wasn't very happy and ended up having to eat just the meat. So, if you aren't into spicy food make sure you ask about a dish before ordering. For drinks I tried the Big Nose Goes to Mexico. Cool presentation! But it was spicy! While I like my food spicy, not a fan of spicy drinks. So I was a bit disappointed. Especially when I asked the waiter to describe the drink to me before I ordered. The ambiance is a loungy/hip trendy vibe. We went on a weekday evening and it was pretty busy. Lots of people dressed in cute attire and great dance pop music coming through the speakers. It wasn't too loud to where you can't hear the other person talk. Just loud enough that you can make out the melody of what's playing. Dim lighting with candles at the tables. The waiters are very attentive. Overal, a good experience. We probably would not go back, especially with so many other restaurants in the area.
(3)
Jen N.
After looking into several different options for a fun restaurant that's nice but not pretentious, and that could accommodate a large party, I finally settled on Mercadito for my work dinner. I could not have been more pleased with my decision. Since we had a party of 35, I had the daunting task of choosing a menu beforehand that would satisfy and impress everyone. Mission accomplished. Everyone - even the pickiest of eaters - raved about the food! Drinks were flowing, and service was outstanding. Highly recommend.
(5)
Caroline M.
Crazy delicious tacos, cocktails, and guacamole. Literally everything I have had here has been great. Wednesday nights they have a great deal on house margaritas and tacos -- highly recommend to try it out with a friend. Mahi mahi and crispy pork belly were my two favorite tacos.
(5)
Raj B.
I like the different types of guacamole, salsa and tacos they have on their menu. Although i didn't try all of them, the ones i tried were great and authentic. Good for dinner and late night bite. Although i wish they had different Beers on the menu than the typical mexican beers like corona,dosEquis etc, i think their tequila selection is great(but a lil bit on the pricey side). Pros - Interior decor, Sharing Food menu, Guacamole, Tacosservice, tequila options. Cons - Too loud for a date/romantic dinner, The drinks are overly priced, the quantity of the food is very less for the price you pay.
(4)
Heather S.
This place is just fun! Look, I can go on and on about how tasty the food is (it is!), how the cocktail program can compete with any other lounge in the city (it can--I highly recommend the Red Riding!), or all the other positives that add up to a 5 star review. But mostly, i love Mercadito because it's the best place to shake off a long day at the office. It's impossible not to have fun here! Also, our waiter last night, Rodrigo, *may* have been superman. I'm pretty sure he had ALL the tables, and we never felt overlooked!
(5)
Katie O.
A Restaurant Week visit- but why only 3 stars? The front of house. We were initially seated at a "table" a foot or so off the ground. My beau and I are both quite tall- 5'11 and 6' so the little tykes table was not going to work. When we informed the desk wenches for another table we were informed we could go "downstairs but it's NOT the same" *cue eye roll*. I nearly went out the door, but the narrow entry way packed with people prevented our escape. What is the deal with that? Are you a nightclub? Why constantly have a line 10 deep at all times?! In our defense, it was 6pm, and half empty on wednesday, but yes, vilaness hostess, we will go to the dungeon. After crossing the moat (kidding) we reached the beautiful underground of mercadito- Double A . The woods are dark, rich leather seating, cozy booths designed for adults, not small children. The bar is perfectly centered, giving guests the opportunity to watch the drinks being made from anywhere. Very cool! We were pleased to eat from the restaurant week menu. Bravo to mercadito's menu! Did not leave hungry. Im a guac whore, and the granada was def in my top 3 of all time. The other 2 guacs were stellar as well. Ceviche (2 kinds) and tacos (4 kinds) followed. But the ceviche and tacos came at the same time. It was a bit odd, certainly created a crowded table, but everything was fresh and tacos hot. Get the camaron tacos. Chipotle mojo!!! Nom, nom, nom!!! Flan- amazing. We got flan de coco and flan de cajeta. I'm still craving flan! Our service was certainly spotty, maybe she checked on us once while making a drink at the bar? If she was talking to us, and not herself. Hard to tell without eye contact. Or actually stopping at the table. I guess I expect more than taking the order and bringing the check. The food saved this restaurant (nightclub? I simply can't tell from the loud thumping music upstairs, constant line at the door, yet still quite a few empty tables at 7:30 when we left ) from being a complete fail. I wouldn't go back because if I want bad service, that's what drive thrus are for. .
(3)
Adam B.
This review is based on my NYE experience. The only good thing about this was the guacamole and the ceviche. I enjoyed both of those as part of the 5 course NYE dinner option but that was it. Well can't complain about the drinks either even though I have no idea how much the cost of each drink was. We ordered a variety (steak, chicken, pork, fish) of tacos to please the group of 10 we had . I wish we never ordered the tacos and stuck to all Apps and Sides. The flavors of the tacos were salty, very salty and extremely salty. These might have been the saltiest tacos I have ever eaten. The first tacos that came out was edible, 2nd were borderline edible if you want your blood pressure to increase drastically, and next were not edible. At this point most in our group were a little tipsy, it was NYE and didn't want to make a big deal of it. One of the guys mentioned something to the waiter and all he did was apologize. He might have offered to bring out new tacos but at this point it was 11:30 pm and everyone was on sodium overload. Overall this was not worth the $55 a person before tip/tax/drinks, I understand its NYE and you can over price your food but not worth it at all. Now its about midnight, they hand out NYE hats, noise makers, etc. The clock strikes 12 and we have made it into 2013. People are having a good time, cheering, blowing the noise makers etc. I am one of those. I am blowing the noise maker and can make it extremely loud. We are all having a good time. Another customer comes up to me shortly after 12 and asks if i can stop blowing the noise maker, don't get me wrong, I am not blowing it constantly, its a bit annoying but its NYE and you are allowed to be a little loud and obnoxious, as the rest of the restaurant is doing the same and having a good time. We agree i'll blow it a few more times and she walks away. A few min later her friend comes back up to me after I hadn't even blown the loud noise maker again and gets all up in my face. I call her a f*cking bi*ch and tell her to go back to her table and security and manager comes over. Of course its my fault, not her's as she came over to my table to get in my face, but because she is a "hot" female according to management, her word is better than mine and I need to leave. Somehow I talked my way out of not leaving and everyone went about their business. After a few min, we were talking with the table next to us (another table of 10 of our friends) and I told them what had happened. At that point I was pissed, I went and blew the noise maker as loud as I could, still it wasn't that loud and it was 12:15 on NYE, at that point the manager and bouncer came up and kicked me out. I tried to talk to the manager and did not put up a fight to leave and even said I would like to talk to him outside about what happened and the over salty food. He was unresponsive and would not take me up on that offer. He insisted the bouncer make sure I leave right away, they almost didn't let me leave money with the rest of my group to pay the bill. I was not wasted or incoherent and not being an annoying drunk customer. I left and was very disappointed in the food and the way management handled this situation. They would not listen to my side of the story or even ask me to stop making noise with the noise maker that they gave to their customers, they respect the "hot" female customers over any male customer they have. TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT - will not be visiting Mercasalty again.
(1)
Masha K.
The margaritas here are really good.
(4)
Melanie S.
I met a gf for lunch here today. She's been trying to get me to come here since it opened and I always resisted. Today, she wore down my resolve. I got there before her as usual (I really need to stop being so punctual; it always bites me in the ass) and got a table in front. Immediately "All You Need is Love" started playing. Kind of an odd choice in a place like this. And why does Beatles music ALWAYS seem to follow me wherever I go? Anyway, my friend arrived and we studied the menu. Margaritas were the order of the day. That much we knew. The waitress, a dead-ringer for Snooki, came over and explained their different specialty margaritas. We settled on a pineapple one and a cucumber one and would share. Snooki then explained that the menu was small plates. I just wish this trend would die a slow death. All that means to me is that I have to order a bunch of stuff to be satisfied and my wallet will suffer exponentially. The cucumber margarita was unlike anything I've tasted before. I'm a huge fan of cucumbers, especially in cocktails. I love their clean, refreshing flavor. This margarita elevated the humble cucumber to a new level. The pineapple one was good too, but I didn't really taste too much of the fruit in it. We ordered a small guacamole to start. It was plenty good, but for $8.00, it was a criminally small portion. The chips were good, if a tad greasy. For our next course we ordered two kinds of tacos: pastor (pork) and carne (skirt steak), as well as a side of rice and beans. As expected, everything is a la carte which is how they nail you. I really wanted to order the elote mexicana ( Mexican style corn on the cob) that everyone raves about, but I didn't really want to gnaw like a beaver in the middle of a bustling restaurant. I save that for the privacy of my own home. The tacos were good, not the best ever, but certainly flavorful. I think the pork ones were tastier than the steak ones, but the garnishes may have been a contributing factor. The garnish on the pork one complemented the meat better. I did not care for the rice and beans. I thought the beans, which were black, were entirely too soupy, and the rice was simply white rice with a couple of carrots thrown in. It had no flavor whatsoever. I expect better for $4.50. I'll come back to Mercadito. The service was fine and the food was good. I do wonder if this place will be able to endure at this location. It's been a doomed spot for other places in the past. 3.5 stars.
(4)
Angela P.
We went here with my sister and brother-in-law during restaurant week and I have to say, we were not impressed. We had to wait close to an hour after our reservation time which was a little annoying but since it was restaurant week, I cut them some slack. Once we were seated at our TINY table our waiter came right over to see what we wanted to drink, at least I think that's what he asked, but it was so hard to hear him because they had a DJ spinning like we were at a dance club. Again, I LOVE me some dance music, but if there is no dance floor and it's not a bar I don't think it has to be that loud. Honestly. We then placed our order which came with quite a few items, actually. We tried the guacamole trio (pomegranate, charred? and original), the shrimp and mixed ceviche the cheesy rice, fried fish tacos, mushroom tacos, carne asada tacos and shrimp tacos. And it ended with flan. Everything was just...okay. The best thing of the whole meal was the pomegranate and the original guacamole. They taste SO fresh and just had an overall good flavor. The next best thing was the mixto (mixed) ceviche, it was sweet and salty and was just very balanced. And the cheese type crackers they served with the ceviche was pretty good too, very different than what one is used to eating with ceviche, but good none the less. Overall, I would definitely not go back here. I would much rather go to my staple out in Geneva that is a very similar concept but is executed much better. The front customer service here was horrible and needs a makeover which is an immediate turnoff for me! The one hostess, when telling the other which group was next, looked up at me and mouthed "the bitch over there" to the girl who was going to be seating us...yeah...that bad! I honestly wouldn't waste your money or time coming here, there are much better places to try!
(2)
Angel S.
Spanish fusion at it's finest. I have now been to this place 4 times in the last month because I just can't seem to get enough. The menu is very simple, but the flavors are complex and each bite is better than the one before. Usually I choose foods that are savory over sweet, so I was hesitant to try the pineapple guacamole, but the balance of the sweet with the habanero finishes with just enough spice to remind you that it's a guacamole. There are a variety of tacos to choose from and I haven't had all of them yet, but I definitely recommend the carnitas and the carne. The Camaron shrimp tacos had a little too much sauce for my liking, but I'd be willing to try them again with the sauce on the side. My favorite thing on the menu? Mexican style corn on the cob, which is covered in Parmesan cheese and paprika, it's worth getting corn in your teeth for!
(4)
Claudia B.
I was there last night for the first time, with couple friends of mine for a late bite and a drink after work. I really enjoyed it, yes is loud, and yes is tide, but everything was good and the service was well paced. i love their tacos, and their margaritas are to die for.
(5)
Nika H.
Great Food! Great Service.....Seating is too close for comfort.
(4)
Thomas F.
This was a great place to enjoy some bacon guacamole and a delish Mescal cocktail.
(5)
Medea O.
I don't even know where to begin to say how much I love this place. It's by far one of my favorite restaurants to go to in the city. Drinks I absolutely love this one cucumber drink its just so refreshing. I also get the mango margarita. You must make a reservation because if you don't you will be waiting for at least an hour. Which I've waited for an hour or more with a smile because I think the food and drinks are worth waiting for. It's not your average taco that's for sure. Everything is made with the freshest ingredients and is just so incredibly delicious. I usually get the shrimp taco I literally will drool at the mouth while they're placing it on the table lol. Can't forget about the guacamole. I have tried all the different types and can't say one thing bad about any of them. I especially love the spicy guacamole and I believe its the mango guacamole is my absolute favorite. Don't forget to save room for dessert either. The chocolate cake just melts in your mouth. I came with a group of people and we all ordered a dessert and had the waiter place it in the middle and we just went to town. You most definitely don't leave hungry that's for sure. I didn't think I would be able to eat for days I was so full. The staff is very friendly and I love ambiance of the place. It does get crowded and that comes with a lot of noise so if you're looking for a quiet place to have dinner this is not the place. I have recommended this place to so many friends and every single one has gotten addicted to the food as much as I have. This review just made me hungry and now wanting Mercadito lol
(5)
Kammie G.
Two friends and I went over there for brunch yesterday. We wanted to check the place out because my friends have been telling me to have my birthday dinner here next weekend sunday before we head over to UG for late night. I had to check the place out and the food. Also my friend's friend is a full fusion band which was playing there that day. Beating the drums, saxophones, violins, the DJ... I have to say I am a complete and total fan of full fusion bands from now on. So much energy and it's so uplifting. Really wakes you up and makes you ready to take on the day! The decor of the restaurant is really nice. It's large and has many tables. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. I am a big fan of the set up they have there and the people that were there. Our waters were being constantly refilled and we were given proper attending to by the waiter. The staff overall looked like they were enjoying themselves and they were friendly. The food is very yummy. We had the chilaquiles with a fried egg on top. It was simply delicious! I've never had anything like it before and it was amazing. Really filling too. We also had the mahi mahi tacos which were pretty darn spicy but really good as well. I've never had fish tacos before so it was quite the experience. Also had the mango pork tacos which I didn't try because I don't eat such meats. The mango guacamole was pretty good also although it didn't have as much of a flavor and/or kick as I would like it to. Excited to come back for my birthday dinner here on sunday. Plus I'll get half off food for being industry :) Good thing too cause the prices are pretty high. Oh, the perks!
(4)
Wendy H.
I loved this place the guacamole and salsa was fantastic. The chicken tacos were superb. I will definitely go back
(4)
Colleen F.
I arranged a birthday celebration for my sister at Mercadito last weekend. While the food was wonderful, the restaurant appears to be engaging in shady business practices. Because we had a group of 7, we opted for the sharing menu which cost $35 each. When we received our bill, however, one of my friends realized we had been charged over $20 for food we did not order. The waiter muttered something about forgetting to take the extra food off the bill and about twenty minutes later, came back with the correct bill. On top of this, one of the girls did not partake in the sharing menu because of dietary restrictions so her share, including tip was $25. She looked at her bank account the next day and noticed that she was charged $34. I can understand one mistake, but the combination of these suggests intentional dishonesty. I hope this was a fluke and that deception is not a common occurrence here, however, I fear we are not the first victims. Before dining at Mercadito, I suggest you think twice and if you decide to proceed, please be vigilant about checking your bill and credit card statements.
(1)
Bron M.
I tried this place at the recommendation of a friend who used to live in Chicago. I'm glad I asked. The entire staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent. The only complaint I had was the noise. It extremely loud but if you can get past that it's worth the visit. There were two in our party. We shared two tocino guacamole (there's bacon in it -- how can you not love that) and the traditional guacamole. Both were excellent but the bacon flavored version was our favorite. For dinner we shared the lobster and tilapia tacos. There are four small tacos each so it's enough food, especially when paired with all that guacamole. Drinks were good albeit a bit expensive. I would definitely visit Mercadito again when in Chicago.
(4)
Barri S.
I recently ate at Mercadito for the second time. My first experience was great. However, this last visit will be my absolute last. Dined with a large party and did the pre fixe menu. Definitely not worth it! We left super hungry and upset. We were over charged and the staff would not further explain the bill. What we ate did not justify the bill.
(1)
F W.
Great assortment of Mexican plates, creatively & deliciously done. The variety of salsas, guacamole, tacos & other small bites is outstanding & really comes together. The menu promotes sharing by offering 4-5 tacos per order, allowing combinations of guacamole, etc. Traditional ingredients / choices (chicken, beef, tomatiillos, queso fundido) as well as more innovative approaches (shrimp lobster, aioli, wild mushrooms, etc.) are well prepared & can be part of a great meal for your group to share. Service, presenetation & food have been consistently good over several visits with small & large groups. Check out the menu - If you don't appreciate the prep, ingredients & options you may not enjoy it as much & find it a little expensive. If you're into cocktailing, the mixed drinks are excellent but at $10-$15 will set you back. Beers appeared reasonably priced. Really enjoy Mercadito- it all works for me.
(4)
Brian G.
Management has some issues. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. The service was prompt. And the food was good, though not the best Modern Mexican. My friends enjoyed their soft taco plates (about $15 for 4, stuffed with meat and tender carne asada). However I ordered the brochetas ("skewers") from the Main Courses section of the menu (marked $34, but I was later told "It is actually $27) - so I expected a feast. It was very low amount of meat (less than the taco plates). I told the waiter of my disappointment and though he was friendly he only profusely offered an explanation of how the price was actually $27 and they were really kind of starters to share anyway. Since he wasn't on the ball, I told the manager of my issue and he(!) went off into a discussion about how things were actually meant to share and so forth. Management needs to understand that (in the United States), customers have really high expectations, and while I don't mind hearing the management's viewpoint about a problem, I clearly expect them to do something for me. And it wouldn't hurt if they could maybe, possibly, acknowledge that my concern is reasonable (i.e. that item does not belong on a "main courses" part of the menu). The man was friendly enough and offered me his card "to make sure everything goes well next time", but I was a little surprised in an upscale, trendy place not to have received some sort of financial accommodation - I still wound up paying $27 (and tax and tip) for something that was much less than their (good) $15 taco plates. And it's all a matter of management really being clued into expectations. So what would otherwise have been a pretty fantastic experience left me with a really bad impression. What a waste.
(2)
Hector R.
I made a reservation a week prior to December 23rd for a party of 11 and left my Credit Card number with them because it was a Big Party. It was my 21st Birthday and I wanted to take my family out for a different experience from our normal dinning places.... Instead We got the most Horrible Experience with their Customer Service. When we arrived at Mercaditos, The tall Caucasian woman host (I didn't get her name because she left) told me we had to be done at 8 O'clock and our reservation was at 6:30 because she had another party to sit at our Reserved Table in the up most rude way. I was shocked because I thought that's why you make a reservation in the first place. So from the start they were rushing us to finishing eating without us even being seated yet. We sat and our food was Spectacular. Everything we ate we loved. It was so tasteful. that's the only good part. But wait it continues.... My Aunt ordered two Orders of Elotes (corn on the cob). They were side dishes for the 2 toddlers to eat. on the Menu it clearly said they were $1 for each person and they ended up charging us $6 each plate. in the end they ended up giving her back $9. Then as we were eating, the bus boys came and took our place mats, plates, cups, knives, and forks and started to clean and we were not finished, we still had more food on the way. I was baffled- not only that the servers around us were looking at my family and I as if we were a nuisance to them, as we ended our meal, they practically started cleaning and placing for the "OTHER PARTY" as our butts were leaving the seats... I am confused as to why the service was so bad when we are clearly going to pay a generous amount of Gratuity fee. Meaning they are going to have a Guaranteed Tip, we mad a reservation and we were clearly going to spend a good amount of money there. Over all the food was awesome but the service and people were bad and snooty Thanks for the 21st Birthday Experience
(2)
Travis J.
Stopped by Sunday after the Bears game, we sat at the bar waiting for the dining room to be ready to serve, and the experience at the bar was a great start. 2 attractive bartenders, that could not have been friendlier, and made drinks with ease that looked so good, I didn't want to drink them, and they tasted even better. To top of the bar experience, I believe her name was Connie, made two ceviches that I could have eaten for every meal for the rest of my life and would have died happy. The guacs were just as good, and when you sprinkle in bacon, you have found happiness on a plate. The great experience continued at the table, where our waiters killed it with service, and the 5 tacos we sampled from the menu, kept getting better. Overall, a great place to grab a spicy margarita and some tacos that will make you want to go back for more.
(5)
Luke L.
WOW, the tacos here are amazing. Seriously, they explode with flavor and the place has a great ambiance and attractive crowd. The only reason it doesn't get 4 stars is because the way the pricing and portions work out, it's hard to leave this place feeling truly satisfied. I like restaurants that make you feel like you're really getting a lot for what you pay for and while the food is top notch, that feeling of satisfaction was just lacking for me. That said, I would definitely go back...maybe I'm just a fatass
(4)
Sandra M.
Food was really good. The margaritas were great but a bit pricey when you start to special order with the different tequilas, skinny, etc. Ate here for dinner and brunch..both were outstanding.
(4)
Tony P.
Mixed review for me. We walked in on Saturday night as were seated promptly. Unfortunately, the sound was outrageous. If I've learned anything from Gordon Ramsey, its don't put up with crap! So we asked for another location. They took us even further to the back which was even louder. Sorry. I do not want to shout over dinner. We did end up with a table outside which was fine. The server was Stefanie and she was super attentive. Kudo's to her. The drinks were excellent. 5 stars on that. They even have a spicy Margarita. Don't know whats in it, but its yummy. Guac is also excellent. The dinners were "ok." Had better. Have had worse. Nothing overly creative or unusual, but still enjoyed them. So overall, if you can sit outside and its nearby, then go for it. Don't think I'd make a special trip.
(3)
Molly A.
the margaritas are absolutely amazing. the rest of the menu (that we experienced) is thoughtful and combines some truly interesting flavors. i love the combinations of meat and fruit so often found in the taco section! the amount of spice was just right. i highly recommend the peach guacamole and the fish tacos. i will be doing my best to replicate both of them at home after tasting them here.
(4)
Amanda F.
My party of 8 had the three course Canastita menu and a booth in the basement. All three of the guacamoles were fantastic, especially the fruit one. I just wish there was more of it! The best of the tacos were the beer-battered mahi mahi and the steak. The vegetable taco and the chipotle shrimp we both very tasty, but the corn tortillas overwhelmed the skimpy filling. Our sides were the Ensalada and the rice and black bean dip. I didn't think that I could love a salad, but the chipotle dressing is amazing. It was my favorite dish of the night. The black bean dip is smooth and flavorful; its definitely not from a plastic tub. All my cocktails were so superb (and should be for $13-$14 each) that I can't remember any of their names (just the garnishes: a cucumber, a lemon slice, and a pink drink with an orange slice.) The lemon drink was my favorite. I've had better tacos in Chicago and for a lot cheaper. At Mercadito, you're paying for the super trendy and hip scene. I even found myself trying to shazaam their playlist. I would come back to this place for the drinks and perhaps happy hour pricing, but the food alone isn't creative or substantial enough to merit the price premium.
(3)
Bradley R.
Let me start by saying that I don't like to discount what others write in their reviews. But I must say that if you think these are the best tacos in the city you don't get out much. Granted they were tasty and the service was pretty good here. The noise level of this restaurant was so loud that my date and I could not hear each other. We were actually texting each other from across the table at one point. Maybe if they turn off the trance music people would be able to have a conversation. The tables were way to close and I understand that you are paying for the river north ambiance but I just wasn't feeling this place it didn't work for me.
(2)
Sunny J.
Perfect, awesome, amazing. Great food, hot people, beautiful restaurant. On Sat nights you can even get a deal on the tacos. Have been there about a dozen times and never been disappointed!
(5)
Fabiola C.
Best margaritas in the world. The service is always outstanding. People complains about how loud this place is but it fits perfect for the kind of river north crowd and style. Perfect for a girls night out. I'm from Mexico and definitely can tell that the tacos here are amazing and affordable. Try the pepino al piu margarita which is the best. The hostess are nice and friendly except when the restaurant is packed, however they always try to find the way to accommodate you. They have an amazing dessert named torrejas the best dessert you have tried in your life.
(5)
Lindsey F.
Overpriced. We were here for restaurant week on a Sunday with a large group. We enjoyed all the food and the service was good as well. The only things that were a draw back were the price and offerings. We had a member of our party that is vegetarian and for the restaurant week menu we were all forced to get the 4 course option. One of them was ceviche, which inherently doesn't offer a veggie option. With all the other reasonably priced restaurants in Chicago (with great food also!) I wouldn't go back here unless there was a discount on Restaurant.com or Groupon.
(3)
Jason L.
I've eaten at Mercadito for years, ever since it opened. Their food is generally very good and if that's all you look for in a restaurant then I highly recommend it. After my last experience there during restaurant week last Friday, I doubt that I will ever go back. We had an 8:30 reservation and were not seated until 9:15 or 9:30. There was no remorse or apology on behalf of the restaurant staff. No acknowledgement of any sort that they may have underperformed or not lived up to expectations. Please know that I eat out 6 nights a week and understand that things happen. Waiting 10-20 minutes for a reserved table is perfectly understandable on a Friday or Saturday night. Waiting 1.5 hours is not. When things of this nature have happened to me before, and they have, management and host staff have been verbally apologetic, even occasionally bought us dessert or an appetizer. NEVER in almost 3 decades of eating out with frequency have I felt so mistreated and unappreciated. It was obvious that the staff could care less that we had waited 1.5 hours for our reservation. Once we were finally seated, there were 2-3 waitresses working in the entire restaurant. It took forever to get our order taken and forever to get food. In between each course a bus boy would stop by the table obviously trying to clear it and get us out of the restaurant to turn the table; unacceptable when we had been seated there for only the appetizer course. I'm sure Mercadito does not care (as proven by my experience last week), but they have most certainly lost a customer.
(1)
Bri B.
Yumm!! The food was delicious. I loved the concept of tapas plates. I took my best friends and my partner for a birthday celebration and it was pretty good. It was more than enough to sustain us and the margaritas were delicious!!! Our waitress, Rachel, was also really wonderful! She was very kind and super attentive! My only complaint and why they didn't receive 5 stars were the chips! I asked the wait staff if they had fresher chips or were they just that hard, and she apologized profusely and just that's just how they are. Those things are so hard, you have to sort of grind them with your teeth instead of chew them! Good luck if you have fillings!!! But other than that, the guacamole is amazing! We also ordered the queso fundido, along with the carne, pollo, and camaron tacos. It was all very good, especially with the small corn tortillas. Instead of eating those jaw breaking chips, I just put everything into the tortilla and it was perfecto! My least favorite taco was the skirt steak (carne). I think it was something about the flavoring, and I'm just not a fan of skirt steak. Also, for my friend's birthday, we brought along small cupcakes to celebrate and it was great that the wait staff immediately came with a lighter and plates so we could celebrate! I LOVED THAT! Super attentive and friendly! I would definitely go back and I would bring friends!! I really want to try the pork belly tacos next time!!!
(4)
Antaash U.
Not to miss: trio of guacamole, ceviche and the salsa!!! The small plates style of dining makes it so easy to try everything you want on the menu. The ambiance is perfect whether you're on a romantic date or girls night out. Mercadito also has wonderful service because servers are so knowledgeable about the menu and willing to answer all your questions so you know exactly what to order. It takes the stress out of dining! This is hands down one of my favorite places to dine in the city.
(4)
D J.
A little mid week tequila is a good cure for the winter blues...a couple of amazing margharitas to go with some great Mexican food served with a good accent...not a shabby work week after all! Clearly others think so too...Mercadito was pretty packed with the post work crowd when about half a dozen of us trooped in for some sensible and stylish downtown dining. The restaurant offers up a sharing menu which is clearly the better choice for groups, and with an extended restaurant week pricing, it turned out to be a good deal pricewise too. The trio of guacs was a terrific teaser to the taco and ceviche main courses, in my case this ended up being the calabacitas and hongos(mushroom based) - both incredibly fresh and yummy. The dessert sampler was good not great. The best selection of the night ..a double dose of the little market margharitas - with a little hint of chile to balance the fruit flavors this drink hit the spot for sure! The morning after guilt for having dropped a boatload of cash for tacos and tequila apart(!), loved my first trip to mercadito and would love to go back here.
(3)
Cerene P.
This place was hard to find. After going around in circles we called and asked them what was the easiest way to get there. The host gave us some jacked up directions which took us even further out the way. With that said.....this spot is very contemporary and trendy. It was my birthday weekend and we wanted to find a spot that was open late, we did stay here until 3am and had a blast!! After midnight they have a limited menu but we weren't looking to pig out so this wasn't a problem. We all ordered different types of tacos and then shared. Definitely not your typical taco but it as good. Down stairs they have a little club/bar only big enough for about 30 ppl but it was so cool, there was a dj and bar. This would be a great spot for a small private party.
(3)
Ariana S.
Looking for a tasty meal, fun atmosphere, friendly, accommodating waitstaff and an experience worth paying for? Yes? If so, stop reading this because you won't find any of that at Mercadito. My 3 girlfriends and I decided to stop in at Mercadito for Brunch as this is a restaurant that is generally recommended to by the hotel that she works at and she tends to send people here often. Unfortunately, I am afraid those inquiring tourists will now be sent elsewhere. Brunch started off on a rocky foot after hearing about 5 minutes straight of the rules concerning brunch. 1.) You can order table style but ONLY if the whole table agrees to order it. 2.) You must not request any special requests without receiving an obligatory sneer from the waitress 3.) You must be punished with an extra 20 minutes of waiting time if you weren't ready the first time around. So after we had copious notes of the rules and regulations, we ordered our food...if that's what you call it. 2 of us ordered the Chilaquiles and I was not prepared to be served an oily plate of grease-soaked tortilla chips. Fine- I know that this is the premise of the dish but this was literally the only ingredient on my plate. The egss we were promised to be included? Nope. Tomatillo sauce? Is that the same thing as oil? Black beans? oh that's what that black smear was! When we asked the waitress for some salsa or some kind of sauce to salvage any chance of us eating our brunch, we were met with yet another one of those famous sneers and (BAM!) a $5 ramekin of sauce that really couldn't live up to its weighted value. Other weird things were the busboys who were creeping on our table and literally lifting my plate mid-bite to clear a stray side plate. What?! I had come in another time for drinks and was generally pleased but, I'm sorry guys, this place lost some serious respect today.
(1)
Lola K P.
Drinks review only. Girlfriends meeting for happy hour, so I was obliged to return. Not hopping with happiness from my last encounter with the party night crowd, but the earlier time meant more after-work people, which made for a much better experience. Got to enjoy some primo drinks which I can't remember now, but you can't go wrong with their list. Would return.
(4)
Caroline M.
Move over Xoco. It's Mercadito's turn to impress. My meal here was about eighteen billion times better than at all of Rick's restaurants combined. Food: My friend and I indulged in the following: Mango guacamole Manzana guacamole---our fave of the two... I know, apples sounded gross to us too, but it was really good. Promise. Chicken flautas--spicy and lotsa flavor. Elote----My friend claimed it to be better than sex. I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but it was the best corn I've had, dare I say ever? Do NOT pass up the elote. Carne tacos---absolutely divine. Don't share, get your own to devour. Horchata flan--a sweet way to end the meal. Drinks: Oh.My.God. The traditional margarita was perfect. Our fabulously sexy bartender, Justin, whipped up a few things for us including the smokey pablo and some drink with egg white. Drinks were strong and had me asking my friend, Um....what's 2+1? when adding up the bill at the end of the night. Service: Considering it was Saturday during the dinner rush, we were very taken care of seated up at the bar. My only gripe is being constantly reached over and having "I WANT A RIESLING" yelled in my ear. WTF, who orders a German wine in a Mexican restaurant?! (Fyi, they don't serve riesling). The food rocks, the drinks were flawless and service was nearly perfect. I highly recommend for a sexy night on the town.
(5)
Meagan H.
This place was just as expected. It's loud, it's busy, it's everything you should expect at such a place. We made reservations for 8 PM on a Thursday evening. The waitress took us to our mini-table. She pulled the table away from the booth to allow me to get in. I looked at her like she was kind of crazy thinking I was going to squeeze my 5'10, curvy self through this tiny space to sit down. I looked at my date like "do you wanna try that challenge?" The waitress told me the women usually squeeze through to the seating. So I gave it a go and I made it! Once I sat down I took everything in. It was loud with hip hop, dance and pop music booming. Everyone you're sitting next to becomes your best friend because guess what, their butt is probably touching yours. The place is dimly lit with the obvious Latin inspired paintings on the wall, high-class tequilas sheltered away behind crystal clear glass, and the aroma of freshly cooked mahi mahi lingers at the tip of your nose. Mmmmmmm. I like this place. The drink menu is substantial and unique. They make every drink feel like it was made just for you. My Misty's Sleeve was somewhat spicy with a little punch. Not overwhelming. The waitress told us the Platos Fuertes took up to 40 minutes to cook, so I ordered mine right then and there, the Tampiquena. We ordered some Camote, or sweet potato guacamole, that made the little hairs on my skin stand up. You'd probably think it's an odd combination but really it's the perfect combination. We thought our Platos Fuertes were going to take too long so we ordered the Estilo Bajas Tacos. My Tampiquena ended up coming out first with only 20 minutes to cook. After the first bite of the steak, potatos, and brussel sprouts I realized that it didn't matter how full I was going to get but I was eating that entire steak. Then our Estilo Bajas came out. Boy oh boy. With every plate it just gets better. Unfortunately we didn't have enough space left over for dessert so we decided to call it night. I squeezed my way out of my table, walked through the busy bar and off to our car. At the end of it all I thought "wow, I can't wait to go back"
(5)
Daniel S.
'The tacos are making me thirsty...' I believe Cosmo Kramer was referring to pretzels but at mercadito- it's the tacos. Some apps were good as was the bite of taco- but overall, it was quite oversalted.
(2)
Manuel G.
Things where great here. Went for drinks and appitizers. Great Tequila menu. One of the best I've experienced. Night atmopsphere was very club like. Dark lighting and the private room downstairs was much more intimate.
(4)
Abe Z.
This place has an amazing choice of tacos and they're worth every dollar!! Try their Cucumber drink as well..best I've had in Chicago
(5)
Fideo T.
I love the atmosphere!! Been Mexican Im really picky with places that say they have "mexican food" but the flavor at Mercadito is awesome!! Its a fusion but still really close to the real deal. They don't ruin the main flavor of the dish. I love it!!!
(4)
Lindsey W.
I've eaten here a few times, but my trip this weekend was the tipping point for writing the review. I understand this is a popular place, but it's been open for awhile and there are some major issues I have with the service that need to be worked out. For starters, I had friends (six) coming in town so I made reservations in Oct. for 12/16. On 12/14 I received an email saying that my reservations had been canceled by the restaurant. So when I called, they said a male had just called in and canceled them- which is entirely not possible, there wasn't even a male in my group. But the were able to reschedule them, for 15 min later. As they said, lucky for me... even though I didn't do anything. Then arriving at the restaurant an hour early to start having drinks, we told them we were there but would wait for our 8:15 reso. 8:15 rolls around and they said they were waiting for our table to leave but they had the check. 8:30, still waiting. 8:45, apologized but nothing they could do. Note: there were probably three empty tables that would have fit us at this point, not sure why there was just one we were waiting on. Finally sat us at 9pm and the hostesses were not nice about. When the waitress approached we apologized for being in a bad mood, but skipped the apps (I've had the guac before and it is pretty good, small portions thou) and went for the tacos. She did her best to help our moods with a few free drinks (half the party had stopped drinking bc their moods were no longer festive) and got our food. Our tacos were delicious, but after being starved we would have eaten anything at that point. Previous trips have left me content, but I'd rather skip this place in the future and opt for better service with a more friendly atmosphere.
(3)
M J.
Yes - expensive for most of us 99%, luckily went there for a working lunch (12pm - 1:30pm Friday) and colleague picked up the check. Chips and salsa not free. My 4 star review is simply for the food. Small scoop of guac and salsa (1st one listed) was ok. Had better fresh guac at other places. I had the Steak salad - Excellent! Steak pieces spread along corners of square plate, not blended in the salad - maybe to show there were many pieces cuz the veggie mound was huge. As a side, had green rice - Excellent also! Colleagues ordered tacos which yes were really small in size, but the 2 refills of chips helped stuff us. Food was great - our waitress was super kind. The only thing i didn't like was after colleague paid, waiter came by and started taking away our platemaps, felt rushed and there were at least 5 empty tables around us. Weird..
(4)
John T.
Came here for a get together with a bunch of people and we had a good sized booth facing the entire restaurant. Excellent decor and an awesome place to take a date. It is eye candy looking around with a good attention to detail. The food was great, the drinks were made well and our server was friendly. I had the taco's and although simple, had a great taste. I would highly recommend this place!
(4)
James C.
Came in after a show. It was raining outside, so we were happy to be indoors. When we approached the host stand, no one was around. A waiter finally approached and said they were closing two hours early for a special event. There were no warnings on the website, which I checked before traveling all the way to the restaurant. As we tried to figure out an alternative place, a manager just stared at us from the front. It would have been nice for management to apologize or suggest other places. It was frustrating because there were about five tables still eating when we left. I will not come back.
(1)
Kristin C.
Definitely in our top 5 Chicago restaurants. Being vegetarian we're always a little worried walking into a new restaurant, not knowing how accommodating they will be with our "can you take that off or add this" requests. Let me tell you that we have yet to find a more accommodating place. Not only is the menu clearly labeled with their vegetarian options, but they are way more than willing to create vegetarian versions of non-vegetarian menu items. For my parents 30th wedding anniversary we covered an all expenses paid weekend in the city which included dinner here. We gave them a pre-paid gift card and when they sat down all they did is tell the waiter that they had never been there before, that they were vegetarians and the waiter said, "no problem - I've got it" and he just kept bringing them vegetarian dishes until they couldn't eat anymore. My parents were so thrilled by the experience, my father walked out with a "the taco that changed my life" t-shirt. We recently brought my brother and sister-in-law here for dinner and they had the same amazing experience we've had every time. Did I mention they have the best margarita in the city? They do. They also have amazingly creative and delicious variations that change from time to time. I've also attending a cooking class here as part of a corporate event. The cooking classes are WELL worth the money. Their head chef cooks in front of you, explaining how he makes some of your favorite dishes. I think they're around $75 per person (don't quote me, because I didn't have to pay for myself when I went to it) but this is what we got with it... A 5 course meal, one full size drink came with each course, in between courses they handed out shot glasses filled with different types of tequila (three total), plus they raffled off prizes including full bottles of tequila, t-shirts, and day of the dead sugar skulls and you leave with all the recipes. The class pays for itself in the liquor alone. It was a fun evening and I cannot wait to do it again.
(5)
Helen H.
ambiance- very cool! service- not so great.... the guy was just not knoweldable about the menu and the level of spice the food was at. it didn't start the night off well. price- not too bad.. a little pricey i thought $15 for 4 tinyyy tacos. even i could finish all of them and that's sad b/c i dont eat that much. i was hoping for leftovers food- excellent! the carnitas were def. my favorite- somehow all the flavors just worked SO well together. the shrimp was good too, but a little too saucey. the mahi mahi was somewhat bland. but overall the food was really good.
(4)
Marisol D.
Food was good but way over priced and small portions
(3)
Laura H.
Fancy mexican food just never does anything for me. That said, the ambiance and cocktails were delicious. The restaurant is a bit swank, young and fun atmosphere. The drinks, I got something on fire which was really cool and the margarita (smoky and spicy) was BOMB.com . That said, the food itself was pretty blah, portions small and priced on higher side. Good lounge like place for drinks and small bites, but don't go here hungry.
(2)
Lana Z.
I really struggled with how many stars to give this place. On the one hand, we really enjoyed our food, on the other hand, we had terrible service...so I settled on three. Had a dinner reservation for four, at 6:30 on a Thursday night. I arrived a little early and grabbed a margarita at the bar while waiting for my girlfriends to arrive. The bartenders were friendly and the margarita was delish (albeit, a bit small for the hefty price tag). Turns out one of our friends was running way behind coming back from a business trip so we told the hostess we would be three with a possible fourth joining later. Very accommodating, they placed us at a table for three where a fourth could squeeze in (good thing our fourth is teeny or I'm not sure the squeezing would have worked but I digress). The three of us were promptly seated and this is where it pretty much went downhill. Our waitress, who, according to our receipt, was "Lov C", was anything but full of love for our table. She pretty much badgered us into ordering despite the fact that we weren't ready (and when we apologized and told her we hadn't seen each other in almost a year so we had been too busy talking to look at the menu, she rolled her eyes and walked away!) SERIOUSLY!?!? We made a quick decision and ordered. Despite "C"s best efforts, she did not ruin our evening as we were all just so happy to be together. Many tacos, ceviche, and guacamoles later (and margaritas and dessert), we were stuffed and happy, no thanks to the Loveless "C". In addition to the waitress, we also had several bus boys crowding around our table frequently asking if we were done with this, or finished with that. (After the third time, we told them they could take the guac, DESPITE the fact that we still had chips and guac remaining). Overall, I would give the food four stars, maybe even almost five, but the service was really pretty terrible. I get it, it's Thursday night, the place is hopping, and they want to turn tables around, but we had a $200 tab, it's not like we were just hanging around taking up space! I'll PROBABLY go back, because the fried plantains were THAT good...
(3)
Engy A.
I went to Cabo for my honeymoon and had the BEST FISH TACOS OF MY LIFE. Then a few weeks later, I come to Mercardito for lunch and have the SECOND BEST FISH TACOS OF MY LIFE. I got the beer-battered mahi mahi tacos and OH MY GOD SO YUMMY. I can't stop thinking about them. I can't stop telling all my friends about them. Anytime someone remotely mentions Mexican food, I perk up and suggest "Mercadito?" Acutally, no. I usually scream and demand "MERCADITO!!!!!!!" Seriously, it's so good. I've also had the ceviche (so yum), the cheesy rice thing (can't remember what it was and too lazy to look it up) which was also yum. And the guac was yum as well. I could do without the pretentious atmosphere, for which I'm yanking one star away. Otherwise, YUM YUM YUM!
(4)
DONNA M.
Muy Caliente! Hello Gorgeous! Tasty margaritas made smokey & spicey if you please. The guac & cerviche was wonderful expecially since we are in Chicago where the fish is not so fresh; the right amount of citrus & spices. Not a very carnivourous person, but the carnita tacos were hard to resist - mouthwatering! .....I was also impressed w/ the spicey chocolate cake. I am always looking for tasty Mexican food in Chicago & found it at Mercadito :)
(4)
Danielle S.
Restaurant Week 2012. We chose Mercadito over several other options because the menu would allow us to try a wide selection of different dishes. Our choices were the tradicional, mango, and toreado guacamoles; mixto and camaron ceviches; mahi mahi, shrimp, hongas, and fish tacos; arroz verde side dish; and tres leches as well as the caramel goat cheese flan. The Pepino El Pyu cocktail was amazing - I'd rank it as one of the best I've had right up there near Aviary's cocktails. Found the recipe online and tried it a few days ago. Yum. Service was impeccable, though they brought us some of the shrimp tacos before we'd even ordered the shrimp tacos. So we got 2 round of 2 shrimp tacos. A bit later we were served a pair of the zucchini tacos, which we hadn't ordered and we got to keep all of them free of charge. So yeah, instead of 4 tacos per person we ended up with 6 on top of all the other food. We were stuffed. Though we hadn't ordered the zucchini tacos, they ended up being our favorite. The bf rates our dinner here as the best meal he's ever had. Though it wasn't the same for me, it earns a spot in my top 5.
(4)
Jenn G.
Mercadito has great restaurant ambiance in a great location in River North. Definitely a good option for a group dinner or date before heading out in the area. As far as the food goes, it's definitely overpriced for what it is, but that's to be expected in the area. It's not going to win any awards for culinary genius or taking Mexican food to new levels, but it's enjoyable. As with many similar places, Mercadito requires you to order your tacos in sets of 3, which is pretty annoying when you want to sample multiple types of tacos, but don't want an order of 12! I sampled the veggie (mushroom and squash), fish and shrimp tacos, and they were all quite tastey. I'm a huge fan of seafood tacos, so next time I'd skip the veggie ones and just get more fish and shrimp. All of them had a little "kick" which I also enjoyed. We also got the fried plantains and trio of guac as a starter - all delicious, but none stood out in particular. I think the margaritas were good... but we were there St. Paddy's Day night and frankly my drinking tastebuds had been shot from consuming copious amounts of beer all day. Other things to note: it was very noisy, service was particularly slow (not sure if that was a St. Paddy's Day staffing issue or normal), and I'm pretty sure they charge $1 per person just for tap water. Overall, a decent place. Doubt I'll be back though as it didn't leave enough of an impression for repeat dining.
(3)
Roosevelt H.
It was a good dinner. the chicken tacos were great. Kinda pricey though
(3)
Cara T.
I went to Mercadito for Sunday brunch with the hubby and some friends. We started with the camarón ceviche. It was solid. We also had a guacamole that was very tasty. I sampled several tacos. My favorite taco was the beer battered fish. The fish had great flavor and the crunch of the slaw was a perfect combo. The camarón taco was super spicy...a little too spicy for my taste. I also had two of the drink specials, both were very yummy. The atmosphere was amazing. They had an open air patio dining area. Everything about this place was perfect for a Sunday brunch with friends. Great sharing menu with awesome food and drinks.
(3)
Kate D.
Solid Mexican weeknight date with my ladyfriend. I had only heard good things from friends and coworkers, but doubts were raised by yelpers. Overall, I get where everyone is coming from on the rants and raves. Me? I emerged with "yay! I'm a fan" on my lips. We secured a reservation for Tuesday dinner without problems. Our table was inches from the one next to it, and the ambience can only be described as BUMPIN', but I kinda expected that and didn't really mind. I wasn't trying to romance Eva, just catch up over tacos and margs. Our server Chelsea was friendly and knowledgeable. I wanted to ask her to join us. The service was speedy and my water was always full. Bravo, Dito. I enjoyed my margarita, although it was a bit overpriced and a bit small. I went with tequila reposado con don julio ($14). It was good but didn't blow me out of the water like a recent marg I'm still dreaming about. We each ordered tacos (4 for $15.50) and traded 2 for 2. Eva chose mole, I went with pescado. I'm a HUGE baby about spice and, lamely, the pescado option was a bit spicy for me but I'm sure the rest of the population would think they're bland. Both were delicious and we were glad we mixed it up by trading. Again, a teensy bit pricy for 4 smallish tacos. Dessert. Yum. We shared the torrejas de bolillo and fought over who got to lick the plate. So good. Just do it. That's all she wrote. I'd go back.
(4)
A H.
I have been to Mercadito twice now. I went for dinner the first time and LOVED the tacos I ordered (I recall them being some sort of fish taco). The flavors were great but people are right that portions are fairly small. The other day, I went for brunch. Their "family style" option is a great idea because it allows you to try a variety of options. The huevos rancheros, tacos de huevo a la mexicana and mexican french toast were all very very tasty. I enjoyed my bloody mary a lot too - perfectly spicy. However, like dinner, portions were not huge. It was perfect for me, but I could see someone needing more. FYI, brunch was not crowded at all on a Saturday at noon.
(4)
Liz L.
I had never really wanted to try this place because the reviews aren't too great on Yelp, but had to go for a client dinner. I was pleasantly surprised and my clients walked out of the place very happy. The place is trendy and modern but not douchy at all, but that may be because we went on a Monday night. We all ordered margaritas, which were good but you know plain margaritas. The food was spectacular though. We ordered the traditional guac, callo and camaron ceviches, the corn masa quesadillas, estilo baja tacos, pollo tacos, pastor tacos and the costillitas tacos. Seriously, all the tacos were fabulous. I liked the pastor (chile rubbed pork) and costillitas (bbq short ribs) the best but it just was a matter of personal preference. Everything inside the tacos were prepared perfectly size-wise, not too big of chunks that things were falling out but not too small that you felt like you were eating some ground taco mix. Our waiter even adjusted the orders so that instead of 4 tacos each per their menu, we got 6 each so that everyone in the party could try everything. The ceviches were really good too, super fresh. The only thing is that the raw onion taste was strong and I felt self-conscious about speaking into my client's face (this was necesary because it was pretty loud in there) with onion breath. They should soak the onions in ice water to take away some of that strong raw taste. The guac was okay, I've had better though. I think Rick Bayless's guac is much better. Overall, really good experience. The food, atmosphere, service were all top-notch. Definitely will go again with friends.
(4)
Andrew V.
Mercadito has excellent food. The Carnitas are some of the best that I've had. The chicken mole tacos? Very tasty. The guacamole: I've had 4 different ones there and they've all been great. The margaritas, given what you pay for them (10 dollars+) are really expensive and barely have any liquor in them. Compare that to an equivalently priced Blue Agave margarita at Frontera Grill a block away, which packs a significant punch. The last time we were there, we were all very annoyed with the service. They clearly get very busy around the time we were finishing up (around 7pm on a Thursday), so they started clearing the table while we were still finishing our drinks (our $10+ drinks) and talking. I'm not talking about just removing some of our plates, they removed all the place mats and started wiping down the table with a wet rag. When we called them out on this they said that was their policy and they pointed two tables over where there was another group sitting at a virgin table to prove their point. Its not like we were squatting, we'd been there for less than an hour and the three of us put down 140 bucks. I'm giving Mercadito 3 stars. If I was judging on the food alone I would give it 4 stars, but part of a restaurant experience is the service you get and the people you interact with. I was just so cheesed off by that experience I may never go back...especially since I can go to Xoco a block away and get a Puerco Pibil torta and a Bohemia beer and spend a whole lot less money.
(3)
Rachel Y.
Very good standard margarita with fresh lime juice. Also love their ceviche. This place has a friendly and energetic vibe. Downside is that this place is very loud, and the place is usually packed. The seating is very close together, as is typical of most places in the River North neighborhood.
(3)
matty z.
Extremely impressed with the fantastic flavors employed. Overpriced, yes, but fantastic food. And the size of the dishes really does belie how stuffed you'll be following. This guy had three "mini" tacos and some chips and salsa... I was definitely full. We were conservative in our first visit, but I truly did enjoy the flavor of each taco-- the mahi mahi, the steak, and the mole chicken. Mole sauce was beautiful, and the mahi mahi was great (though i prefer non-fried fish tacos), but the steak was DELICIOUS. The salsa, once again, looked reeeeeeeeally small when it arrived, but it was an exercise in not-putting-globs-on-each-chip. And it worked! It turns out when you have really good salsa with tons of flavor, it goes far!
(4)
Ivy D.
The place is VERY expensive and that is JUST FINE but the portions you get are superbly small. I don't mind a restaurant calling themseves "tapas", but it's not OK when the tapas size dishes are the price of a full dinner entree anywhere else. The guacamole came in what looked like an ashtray and there was probably three spoons of it. I have no idea if that was the small or large but I think it was in upwards of $10. We also ordered salsa and it came in an even smaller ashtray, no more than 2 tablespoons of it. I thought I was getting salsa, but all I got was 2 tablespoons of this liquidy paste. My friend ordered civiche and it also came in an ashtray, all 3 spoons of it. The chips were outstanding but (as you may have guessed) they serve it in a very small dish. I don't mind AT ALL paying for quality food, and this stuff was pretty good, but $65 later + tip (for 3 people) we walked out of there hungry at 2AM. I had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp tasted great, but they didn't come with any kind of trimmings you'd normally expect (i.e. some rice or anything green on the side). All you get for about $15 are 4 TINY tacos on a yet another tiny plate with nothing else on the plate. I'd at least expect some tomatoes and lettuce on top of the taco, but there was only a TINY slice of avocado on it, and that's the only green you get. Some cilantro rice on the side would have been a nice and inexpensive touch for the restaurant to add to their taco dishes (it would have set them back $.25/plate to go this "extra mile"). I also think that for the amount they are charging they should have chips and salsa on the table which is what you come to expect at most Mexican restaurants. Oh...and YOU CANNOT HEAR A THING IN THERE!!! The music is SO LOUD it's almost nerve wrecking to eat a meal. We came out of a bar to find a spot to chill out and eat, but instead, we were very annoyed with the loud music. There was nothing enjoyable about having dinner having to scream across the table for your friends to hear you.
(2)
Seema A.
Too hyped up and foo foo mexican food. Go across the street to Moe's Cantina for better food and a fun vibe.
(1)
Kathryn S.
I cannot stop going to Mercadito. Seriously I go about twice a week and that's not just because it's across from my office. The food is fresh and flavorful, they are accommodating for vegetarians and the atmosphere is great. Try to the estijo baja with zucchini instead! From my sister, to my family, to my colleagues, I have gotten a great reaction from everyone I have brought with me. My office recently had a fifteen person event here and we had great service, tons of food, and an overall good time. I am definitely looking forward to hosting a birthday or bachelorette party there myself.
(5)
jenny m.
This was really a mixed bag experience for me. On the one hand, I thought the food & the service were really great. On the other hand, the closeness of the seating, the loud & cavernous space, and the quickness of the arrival of our app's & entrees making the meal feel very rushed, were not so great. Let's start with the positives. The food was really delicious. My dining companion and I did the restaurant week menu which consisted of 3 guacamoles, two ceviches, 4 tacos, and a dessert. Of the 3 guacamoles (traditional, mango, and a mole poblano), only the mango left something to be desired. The other two were really good - especially the traditional, they nailed it for me. The two ceviches we ordered were the shrimp and mahi mahi and they were both on point. And I love me some ceviche - anywhere I can get it I order it. And these were a couple of the better ones I've had in Chicago. For the tacos we went with the pastor, mahi mahi, shrimp, and mushrooms. THe mahi mahi was the star - the fish was crispy and the sauce complimented it perfectly. The shrimp was also tasty but oddly spicy (it had good flavor, but was just a little to spicy for this girls weak palette). I was not a fan of the mushroom taco though. I love mushrooms, they would be a part of my last meal in some capacity, but the taco was just mushrooms and very little other flavor. I thought this was going to be the stand out and was disappointed that it was just....boring. I did not try the pastor as I don't eat pork but my friend gobbled it up without complaint, so I'll assume it was good! Our server was also fantastic. She was quick with our drink order, which BTW the margaritas are fantastic, and she let us take our time in ordering. Now the negatives. The biggest issue was that the tables are so close together they might as well have just made the seating communal. The tables are literally about 6 inches apart. In order to seat people, the diners at the next table would have to stand up and move so they could pull the tables apart to get others in/out. And I wasn't the only one that thought this - the parties on either side of us remarked at how close the tables were. In fact the 3 girls sitting next to us said something to the affect of 'I guess were going to become good friends tonight since we are practically dining together'. It just felt very awkward to be trying to have a conversation with your dining companion while having to tune out the folks around you because they were so close you could hear every word of their conversation. The other issue for me is the noise level. It was just very loud and you felt like you had to talk in an outside voice to be heard, which was also awkward because then you felt like you were disturbing the diners next to you in talking loudly. My last complaint, and this might just have to do with it being restaurant week and them having the restaurant week menu items pre-prepared, but everything came out so quickly. Within 5-10 minutes of ordering we had the guac's, the ceviches, and the first of our tacos. It felt very rushed and we didn't even have time to enjoy the appetizers before getting the entrees. THe rest of the tacos came out within about 5 minutes and we finally had to ask them to bring the last one back a bit later because our table was so full, there was no room for it. I like to enjoy a meal and not get there, sit down, order, and be done eating in 30 minutes and that's about what we could have done. It was just not relaxing at all. Now the million dollar question - is would I go back? Yes, but probably only for lunch when they might not be so busy. Which would bring the noise level down and hopefully afford you a table without folks sandwiched next to you. Because I really enjoyed the food - just not the experience as a whole.
(3)
Jean C.
I'm in a food coma as I write this. Dinner #4 of restaurant week led us to Mercadito. Hubs is a big fan of Mexican food and even though I made all the reservations, I kept him in mind. I know, I'm sweet and thoughtful. But, honestly, when I was looking at the menu online, I couldn't pass this up. We were 20 minutes early for our 7pm reservation and got seated immediately. The place was jam packed and lively. Our little two top was perfect although close to tables on the left and right side of us. Service was attentive and friendly. He explained the restaurant week menu as well as the regular menu. Obviously we opted for the special $33 menu which included: selecting 3 guacamole, 2 ceviches, 4 types of tacos, one side and one dessert for the table. If you order a drink then the prix fixe price is $40. Great deal still when margaritas are $10+. The hubs ordered the big nose and that baby came to the table on fire. So cool and so strong. The way this place works is that when the kitchen is done preparing dishes, it comes out. So things may get out of order. The three guacamole we picked were traditional, mole poblano and toreado. Of the three my favorite was the traditional. Why mess with a good thing? We opted for the shrimp and scallops ceviche. The scallops had mint which made for an interesting flavor. The shrimp was divine. The four tacos were as follows: pastor, carne, estilo baja and camaron. My favorite was the camaron. It was garnished with a slice of avocado and rounded off with nicely with heat. The estilo baja (beer battered mahi mahi) was my least favorite. Too much batter, not enough mahi mahi. The pastor and carne were delicious. The tacos are "small" but when you have to eat four, they are perfectly sized. For our side, we picked the brussel sprouts with chorizo. Amazing. I love brussel sprouts. Dessert was bunuelos which were ok. We thought they would be like doughnuts with the chocolate sauce but they were flat and didn't have a lot of flavor even with the cinnamon sugar. Dinner took about an hour and fifteen minutes but it wasn't rushed. Service was good and empty plates were cleared quickly to make room for the new plates. This was such a fun place but it was loud! The music was loud to be heard over the voices but then you feel like you are screaming at each other. As I was observing the clientele, this is definitely a place to be seen. Lots of pretty faces grace this restaurant.
(4)
Jay S.
Granted came here today for restaurant week and got stuck with the pre fix menu but very average food. We liked the mahi taco and juevos carnitas, but again just average stuff. Id come here after work for a drink and nachos.
(3)
Sonal R.
They have a good brunch if you are looking for something new. Portions a little small for my liking. Cocktails are good. Ambience is great.
(3)
Angela R.
Brunch was great! We did the choose 3 options, which was well portioned for the 2 of us. The specialty drinks were fun, we had a green tea infused vodka and a white wine punch. For the mimosa you have to buy the.whole bottle of champagne which would have been to much to drink for us, which was a disappointment as we were looking forward to a mimosa. The music was a little loud for a brunch atmosphere, but the live saxophone player was a nice touch. Our waitress served us well, and offered good suggestions. The only food complaint was that the poached eggs were not cooked all the way through as requested.
(4)
Debbie H.
Mercadito has the potential to reach 5-star status, but they have a ways to go in the service and organization department. It's loud and crowded, with a good crowd, but it seems like management wasn't ready to be catapulted into popularity given the lack of ability to deliver food - or drinks - in a reasonable amount of time. The margaritas are delicious - strong without knocking you on the floor, and you should definitely try the version they light on fire, even if just for the experience! The salsas are generally good, although the one with peanut sauce wound up tasting more like creamy peanut butter than a salsa. The tacos are really good, but make sure you order enough apps because you will be waiting for some time for your entrees! However, the staff is really very nice and the manager gave us a complimentary shot of tequila after dinner (presumably to make up for the wait...unless everyone gets that!). I'd go back again, but will likely wait until it's open for a few months and they've worked out the kinks.
(3)
Meghan B.
I loved this place. I went twice and both times I loved our meal. The cucumber margarita was so refreshing and different. And the fire salt drink was awesome too! The mushroom tacos and the carnitas tacos were amazing. And if you're with a group get the poblano fundito. It's so sinfully delicious. Oh and I have to mention the salsa de arbol (I think that's the spelling). It was so so good. And of the gauc we tried the mango won hands down - it was not sweet so it hit the spot. All in all a great experience. My only complaint is the noise - it gets pretty loud later...they should fabric up that room a bit - the place echos like a cave.
(4)
Stefanie G.
Let's break this review down. The food was great and the original margarita was awesome. I have to recommend the plantain guacamole and the carne tacos. The marinated skirt steak in there was awesome. That's where the good stuff ends. It's a bummer they don't let you mix and match the tacos. Service = terrible. I had read reviews before so I wasn't expecting the speediest service and it lived up to the reviews. I don't know why they wouldn't want to turn tables faster considering how small it is and how many people are trying to get a table. Once we actually put our orders in everything came out fast. Tracking the server down was the hard part. Not sure what they are doing since they don't even run their own food. Ambiance was not great. It was SO LOUD. I'm not an old fart but having dinner with three friends and literally shouting across the table to even have a conversation is not ideal to me. Not to mention we were so on top of the table next to us that you couldn't even get out to get to the bathroom. The only reason it gets three stars is because of the food.
(3)
Adam K.
Had the Carnitas Tacos and they were probably the best morsels of Mexican food I've ever had. HUGE flavor. My wife got an enchilada and it was VERY bland - avoid it, unless you like bland food. A friend of ours got the shrimp tacos...again, HUGE flavor...very good. This place has awesome margaritas and an enormous tequila list. We'll continue to visit when we're back in town again.
(5)
Julie L.
As a generally lazy individual, it takes me a lot of effort to get on Yelp unless I am truly compelled, either by annoyance or excellence. Sadly for you Mercadito, I have been compelled by annoyance x1000. I will preface this. I am not the easiest restaurant patron. I have food allergies. Like, ridiculous food allergies where I have to be very picky. I hate being a pain in the tush, but I almost NEVER run into problems. Apparently the waitstaff at Mercadito has never heard of such a thing as a dairy allergy. And another thing they have not heard of? The word Accomodating. Dictonary.com , friends, it will help you greatly in the future. A friend had a birthday dinner here last week, and I was excited. Mexican restaurants are generally pretty gluten free, and it's pretty easy to just ask for no cheese and avoid mole. However, once seated, we were informed that we had to order from one of the prix fixe options, as there were more than 7 of us. This is a pain in the ass for those of us with food allergies, because everyone at the table has to agree, and did the 12 people I was with want to dine on gluten free, dairy free fare? I think not. I politely pulled the server aside and explained that I have food allergies, and could I order seperately from everyone? No. This is not an option. I explained that there were not four different kinds of tacos on the menu I could eat and it would be fairly ridiculous of me to spend the $30 per person on one taco. She finally, begrudgingly said she'd check with the kitchen staff to see if I could just have four of the same kind of taco. I was still displeased with this, because I was also paying for three different kinds of guacamole, two salsas, two sides, and dessert. Server came back and so nicely announced that they could make me four of the same taco. The "I hope you're not hungry, because you're SOL on the sides" was implied. Fast forward an HOUR after all four taco varieties had been served to the table. My individual plate of four tacos came out. As I had been snacking on chips for this time, and everyone else was done, I wasn't in a huge rush to sit there and enjoy all four of them while my dining companions watched. So I ate two and figured I'd save the other two for lunch. Nope. Not an option. Thank you so much for throwing those away, server lady. I was still cursing you at lunch the next day when I could have been enjoying leftovers. At the end of the night, you can imagine how pleased I was to be paying the 20% added gratuity (what happened to 18%?). I paid a grand total of $54 for two tacos, some chips, and a margarita. On the bright side, the two tacos I had were delicious. But ruined by my annoyance at this place. If I wanted to be treated like an annoyance and eat chips for dinner, I could have sat on my couch and yelled at myself. I shall not be patronizing this place ever again.
(1)
Lori F.
Was in Chicago for a conference, wanted to go to Frontera Grill but they're closed on Sundays. Went to Mercadito and had a wonderful experience. We split huevos rancheros and carne tacos. Adam, the manager was awesome. Will go back. Wish they would open a Mercadito in Denver.
(5)
Nirmal G.
I've now been here twice. The first time I came here was on a Saturday night at 10:30pm. I didn't eat anything since I showed up late to a dinner, but it seemed like a cool place so when a friend was visiting Chicago, I suggested we go here. I figured since it was a Tuesday night, it would be a little more chill than it was on a Saturday night. I was totally wrong. The restaurant was crazy packed and full of loud, drunk people. Made no sense to me. It's definitely very loud so we were definitely shouting at each other and I was shouting at the waiter. The restaurant is very nice inside and regardless of where you are sitting, you have a decent idea of what's going on around you so I really liked that. The food is really fantastic. The flavors are interesting and more complex than traditional Mexican food. I was a little concerned about the peanut allergy since the waiter seemed to brush it off (or maybe he just couldn't hear me because it was so loud!). Since my friend and I are both vegetarian, we ordered plates to share. I really really like that they denote on their menu what the vegetarian options are and they definitely have a lot of options. We ordered the corn masa quesadillas, the hongos tacos, the rajas tacos, the platanos machos and two salsas. My friend wasn't sure that that would be enough food, but it definitely was. I thought the best dish were the rajas tacos and my friend thought the quesadillas were the best. We both agreed that the platanos were a great mix of sweet and savory and I don't even like platanos! The plates have tiny portions (especially when you think about what you get with traditional Mexican cuisine) but I think that because there's so much oil/cheese that you really do become full. All of the dishes came out kinda at the same time and our table became pretty crowded, which I didn't like. I don't think that there's any way around that. Overall, although the food is interesting and tasty, I'm not sure that I would come back. For a Mexican food fix, I would choose a more hole in the wall place and considering how loud it is in the restaurant, it's not the best place to catch up with friends or for that matter, talk at all. I would come back to attend a dinner but wouldn't suggest it to anyone. There's so may other still trendy but less loud restaurants in the area that I would definitely choose something else!
(3)
Rochelle R.
This place is amazing! I wish we had one in LA. Great food (esp the tacos...this isn't your average taco.), cocktails are unique and delicious, and the environment is fun and exciting yet romantic and perfect for a date night.
(5)
Veronika O.
By far the most gourmet and delicious tacos out side of mexico. Had the fish taco, and the Huitlacoche mushroom taco, to die for! The margaritas are exceptionally crafted. The variety of fresh guacamole flavors just amazing. All in all extremely delicious food, but pricey, got the habanero hot sauce it was about 2 table spoons for $8.
(5)
Amanda Z.
You craving tacos? Go to Mercadito! They look small, but their taste is mighty and they pack them full of meat and flavor so you are too full to finish the plate of four (what seem to be miniature) tacos! I tried the mahi mahi, pastor and carne asada tacos, and each was magnifico! I think the carne was my fave, but just because I am a very carnivorous lover of all things beefy. The trio of guacamole that we got was all perfection as well...the mango, tradicionale and the last one on the list that is spicy (I forget the name cuz it was difficult to pronounce) were all super tasty and they make their own tortilla chips so they aren't greasy at all. I nearly filled up on chips and guac before the tacos even came out...no wonder I had to pause between taco #3 and taco #4 and really consider how gluttenous I wanted to be on a Friday night. The fat girl inside me won that debate though because after a lengthy 10-15 min pause, I STILL polished off that last taco! Atta girl... The margaritas I'm hesitating on a bit...it's weird because they TASTE like they are strong, but they really aren't. So they are tasty and very sippable, but after you finish your cocktail it's like you never had one in the first place (this coming from a girl who usually feels it after one). I was a little disappointed in that because the drink menu is lengthy and the presentation beautiful. So stop being so stingy w/the tequila and then you will earn your 5 stars! Only other thing is that the tables are so close together it's like you're having dinner w/the couple next to you, so that's a bit uncomfortable, especially if they get their food first and you just stare at it the whole time...but that's neither here nor there. The whole place is REALLY loud, more loud than "energetic" as OpenTable would suggest...sitting right next to my friend in a booth, we were shouting at each other. Good thing I coated my throat with guac or else it would have been sore the next morning. In conclusion, I would suggest dining at Mercadito only with a group of friends, not with a date or anybody that you want to conversate with. It's definitely a scene, so look hot or they may not give you a table!
(4)
Terris A.
This is a review on Mercadito's BRUNCH which I tried for the first time today. I have been to Mercadito so many times for dinner that I thought I would try it on a Sunday morning. First, the word must not be out for this amazing brunch because there wasn't that many people there. We decided on their family style where you get to choose 3 items and a drink for only $19.50/per person. We ordered the tacos huevos- amazing, steak and eggs dish (don't remember the name, probably because I am a vegetarian and didn't eat it!) and huevos ahogados which I have to say could be my favorite dish at Mercadito. The bloody mary's were good, strong enough and tasty. Definitely make it in for this brunch!
(5)
eden s.
Two words: Shrimp Tacos!! OMG - they were amazing. Fantastic flavors on delicious corn tortillas. The guacamole samplings were also delicious and I felt like licking the Ancho salsa bowl clean!! MMM MMM... Margaritas were also delightful. I will be back very soon bc I am dreaming of those shrimp tacos. Loved this place! Only downside - it is super loud.
(5)
Mark S.
Great food, service and margarita's - terrific brunch on Sunday's too!
(5)
Amanda M.
I have been here a few times and I love it! Cucumber Margarita (Pepino el pue I believe it is called?) is to die for... best marg I have ever had! Also, had my favorite guac here (and I have had ALOT of guac in my time) The Naranja one is WOW Chicken mole tacos are too delicious as well. Also went for a cooking demo here- SO WORTH IT! 5 tastings and 5 cocktails and 3 shots of tequila... beyond worth the 55$ Portions are small and a bit pricey... but I love this spot
(5)
Tuya S.
Not a romantic date night restaurant. No, no, no. But absolutely recommend for group parties and just chilling at the bar. After all it's a restaurant AND a lounge. Think Japonais... The atmosphere is very festive. Very loud music (I mean very) and non-stop buzzing mix of people both from the city and suburbs. Though I wanted to scream once at a gentleman who was trying to outshout his dining companions, I gave in totally when the food arrived. Interesting mix of guacs and salsas. Our order of guacs and ceviches were enough to fill us up, that, when our entrees arrived we felt little overwhelmed. However, my whole fish, the red snapper was absolutely majestic! I must say, the fish was an epitome of a Mexican cuisine that night. It was delicately marinated in advance and steamed with well balanced mix of spices. Loved it! The venue carries good selection of tequilas but I was not really impressed with their margarita. We finished up our night at a bar located downstairs, the "Double A" with bigger party at VIP table. Advanced reservations needed for dining unless you are planning to hang out at the bar.
(5)
Elizabeth N.
After the rude hosts - I won't be back. One of the worst displays of hospitality
(1)
Christina G.
I like the vibe of this place--yes it's really loud, but you feel like you're eating dinner in a club which I personally like. The drinks are great; I liked the cucumber drink but asked for it without the simple syrup which makes it a lot better if you don't like sweet drinks. The food is also admittedly good, but it comes out faster than an order at Taco Bell, which procures visions of a little factory in the kitchen cranking out tacos. Us to the waiter--"what's good on the menu besides the tacos?" Waiter: "We're a taqueria, so...the tacos." Perhaps pushing the tacos because they're cranking them out? Also there is a "VIP" tequila lounge downstairs and I love anything where you have to be VIP!. We ventured down there after dinner, danced the dance with the security guy who initially wouldn't let us in, then finally dropped our waiter's name, and went right in. Of course we left after a quick walk through, but it looked kind of cool. Just wanted to see what it was all about.
(3)
Amar P.
One of my favourite cuisines is Mexican food, so group of friends and I went to Mercadito to get some grub before a concert. Speaking of concert, this place loves its 80s/90s music, which is a bit odd but I'll take it. This was my third time at this establishment, and it did a good job filling up my tummy. We were seated promptly and ordered drinks. Previously, I had gotten the bngtm (big nose goes to mexico), which is a margarita that is lit on fire by the bartender. I do recommend it not for its taste, but because its fun :). The drink my friend got a Misty's Sleeve, and I highly recommend that one. I ended up getting a Modelo because I like beer. We initially got the guacamole. The mango guac is unique and quite good, but it seems as if it isn't as fresh as it could be. The best part of the meal are the tacos. They are pretty small and we had a few rounds of these. The tilapia tacos were delicious, and we were tempted to order them again, but decided against it and try other things on the extensive menu. The carnitas tacos were also very good, and the peanuts in the tacos WOWed us (I'm a big nut guy). The carne tacos was okay: the potatoes threw the taste off. I have also gotten the chorizo tacos, and those are excellent as well. We also tried some ceviche. The camaron ceviche was not that good and do not recommend it. The mahi mahi ceviche, on the other hand, was delicious and we wished we had more. The check came, and as usual, and were ready to fork over whatever we had in our wallets. This place is a tad overpriced but you do get great service. Our waiter knew the drink menu well and help us get good drinks. I would come back again, but not until I get my next paycheck.
(4)
Andrea R.
Mercadito take 2! This time with a party of 22... My friend had booked her bday reservation a month ago, but they still made us wait 45 minutes for our table. That may be OK in NY, but not so much here in Chicago. Fortunately, they made up for the long wait with delicious food. We started with a trio of guacs that rivaled some of the best I've had in the city. Their tacos were unbelievable once again (this time I tried the beef and mushroom) and the corn was a bit hit among the table (too messy for me to eat). And I can't forget to give kudos to the cheesy rice- my own personal heaven! As promised in my last review, I ordered their fire margarita this time. It looks very exciting, although I think I prefer the taste of their regular margaritas. Based on the crowds last night I would say this is definitely the place to be seen these days. You should have plenty of time for people watching at the bar since you'll most likely be waiting a very looong time for your table...even with a reservation.
(4)
Anne B.
I had some friends who had never been to chi come in town for the weekend, so i decided to bring them here for a reunion dinner. the food was awesome- the pork tacos and pineapple/chili guac were awesome. the ambiance was good- hip and trendy. However, I am giving this place 3 stars mostly because of the music and the clientele. Firstly, the music was WAY too loud. I felt like i was in a club. it was hard to conversate. More importantly- there was a large table behind us that was supposedly a going away party- and one of the women in the party was so absurdly drunk that she began screaming and having a full-on psychotic attack in the restaurant. she was screaming- running around the table- it was literally a scene out of jersey shore to the point that the entire side of the restaurant was staring at her. it was impossible to focus on our conversations/food. This went on for literally 25 minutes. not joking. although the host came over and asked her to quiet down maybe once or twice before finally stepping in after 25 minutes, that behavior is completely unacceptable for a dinner scene and she should have been kicked out after 10 minutes. if i go back, it won't be for a long time.
(3)
Kimberlie T.
Highly recommend their cucumber drink from the bar. Has a little spice and it's delicious, I could drink them all day - insert alcoholic here. But seriously it's a great place for a drink, food, etc. Good for groups a hip spot in river north you are by everything if you decide to leave after. It is a little pricy but the food is good. I suggest getting the prefix menu for groups, everyone pays one amount for a certain amount of food depending how hungry you are. Good ambience and atmosphere, you'll have a good time.
Going to this place is like going to a lounge..The music is bumping and it is busy! Good looking crowd... Pros: Food is above average Drinks are strong and highly recommended Cons: crowded, the tables seem like there on top of each other. I have been there twice and the first time I went I had a great experience but the second time I went, one of my friends did not like his dish and it took a really long time to get the food. However, I would definitely go back here the 3rd time
(4)
Sandra G.
After reading countless reviews my friend and I decided that the only real way to find out if we like it was to try it. So I will make this short and sweet. We went about 4:30 on a Sunday. Not to many people and the hostess informed us that the kitchen doesn't open up for "warm" food until 5 but we could get some guacamole/ceviche. It was no issue we just had some yummy drinks at the bar. Misty's Sleeve & Margarita and some mango guacamole that was delicious! Then we got seated. Tacos, beans and rice & corn guacamole were good. Not a fan of the ceviche it was too sweet for my liking I'm used to really limey ceviche. Anyways, Service was good, most of the food was good, and drinks were good. I will be back.... minus the ceviche. & I love the atmosphere!
(4)
Tracey K.
Would it be reasonable to move to a city for a restaurant? If so, this place would be reason enough. Randomly came by late one evening looking for decent Mexican food in the area. The bf and I decided to take a chance on Mercadito and we're better people for it! Ok, maybe not but the food and service were excellent. Our knowledgeable waiter helped us decide from the countless options of salsa and specially crafted margarita concoctions to start off our meal. He then guided us through the various flavor fusion tacos they had to offer. We ended up trying the shrimp, steak, tilapia and chicken tacos, each masterfully paired with complimentary sauces. If you are I'm Chicago, make certain you experience these tacos. Mercadito, you have raised the bar. Well done!
(5)
Loreal U.
Yum! Short rib tacos!!!
(4)
John L.
Sort of looks like that Aztec themed Mexican restaurant at Epcot Center. Fantastic tacos! Wow! This place was great. Had a decent crowd for a Monday evening. Good ambiance. Not too loud to talk or anything. At first I was thinking that it was a bit too pricey but when I realized just how amazing the food was I was OK with it. I switched from margaritas to beer to ease up on the bill a bit. Try the Habanero salsa. It goes well on everything and has a good kick to it. It's blended to a smooth consistency more like a sauce than a salsa and aside from using it for the chips you can spoon it over every bite of your tacos and it'll leave you with a pleasant burn to chase with a cold Modelo. I'm a fan. It's downtown and you'll pay a little more but I gotta say, I think I had a 5 star experience there.
(5)
Susan P.
Have been about 8 times now. Really enjoy the food, however have only had acceptable service on 1 of those visits. Not sure why after several months they still haven't worked these issues out. Nice for large groups. Get the carnitas and fried fish tacos. Spicy peanut salsa is yummy too. Nice selection of tequilas, also interesting mixed drinks.
(3)
Meredith J.
Mercadito is a new addition to the vast amounts of Mexican restaurants in Chicago. It's loud, entertaining, delicious, and muy caliente! I've been twice and I can't wait for my third visit, it just keeps getting better and better here! Love the ambiance and how the chef makes sure all of the food is true to its origin- spicy. Its refreshing to go to a Mexican restaurant and leave with your mouth all fired up- not like conventional Mexican restaurants which lack flavor & heat. Mercadito isn't afraid of being authentic and original. ORDER THE ORIGINAL GUACAMOLE- IT'S UNREAL!
(5)
Carol K.
I tried it once. No go. I tried it twice. A little better. But overall Mercadito is just okay in my book. The first time I visited- it was a total meltdown. We had a reservation for 9:30 on a Friday night and got there around 9:20. We were told we "were early- go and take a seat at the bar". Okay- stand around the crowded bar was more like it but it gave me a minute to look around and see that no one had their food in the restaurant. Oh-oh, I thought. This place has a service/kitchen timing issue. By 10:15 we still had not been seated and when we spoke to the hostess. she once again told me that we had come early. "yes", I said- but now you are late". We ended up leaving with no food after waiting an hour for our reservation. Fast forward to last night. Our table was ready this time and since we were a group of 10 we were seated at a large communal table in the front. Lots of rules at this place and on this visit- for groups 10 or larger we were told we had to do one of the tasting menus (these start at $30 a person and go up to $45) Our server was steering us toward the higher end- but we persevered and ended up at the low end. Trust me- this is more food than you will ever be able to eat- and in our case we left much of it on the table untouched. You get a choice of 3 guacamole's, 4 tacos, 2 botanas and a couple of sides. The food was quite good. The spicy beef taco and the mahi taco were my favorites. Service was slow. Getting a drink was an art and this place was not even that busy. Plenty of bussers kept the table cleared but that may have been because things were not coming out on a timely basis. The space is modern and open (the old Sugar space). The kind of place that I Iike to eat in. The bartenders are quite good at mixing up a variety of tasty drinks that you may not find in other places. And there is valet parking available out front. Mercadito at 3 stars is generous. And I doubt I will be giving them another chance to pull that up. Go when you have time to wait- or if you just want to "see or be seen" in one of the new spots in town. While the food is good- the service, price and attitude of the staff just don't encourage me to come back. See what you think.
(3)
Yvonne O.
I was excited to try Mercadito, having read great things about it from other people on Yelp. So, I made a reservation way in advance, for an early dinner on a Friday and was set to enjoy. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing spectacular. We ordered a sweet potato guacamole and a mahi mahi ceviche, the tilapia (4) and beer-battered fish tacos (4) and sides of elote and black beans and rice. (Yes, it was a Friday in Lent, so very fish-based). My husband was not able to eat a lot of the food because of how spicy things were, and I did not see that coming given the listing of ingeredients on the items - who knew? Even I thought the slaw on the battered tacos was a bit too much heat. I was not a fan of the flatbread that came with the ceviche and used the chips that went with the guacamole instead. Wine was good, but they were out of port and didn't have a listing of other available alcohol that they could pass out. We asked what kind of whiskey they had and it was like pulling teeth. For what it was, a bit over-priced. the atmosphere is certainly young and fun, but they are also clearly trying to rush people through the meal (grabbing plates when you have just taken the last item off it, not asking if you want another drink, etc.) which does not make for a relaxing experience.
(2)
Matt S.
Since it was a Wednesday night, and my girlfriend and I are used to eating late in NYC, we were shocked that we couldn't find a place in Chicago to eat around 10 p.m. Luckily, we came across a bunch of people hanging outside of Mercadito's, and decided it was our best option for a sit down dinner. Once we got inside, we realized we were in the Mexican lounge of Chicago. Everyone is wearing faded jeans, button-ups, slicked back hair, tight dresses, and heels. Its a lounge. Its filled with older guys and younger girls. Its 'hip'. We sat down immediately and ordered a traditional guacamole with chips, fish tacos, and something else that had some tuna in it, can't remember what it was, but since I can't remember, then I'm pretty sure it wasn't the greatest in the world. The guacamole was delicious and was the highlight of the dinner. Looking back on the night, I wish I tried one of the other types of guacamoles that they had which had mango and other stuff within it. However, the traditional was one of the best I have ever had, and I have had a lot of places guac's. The fish taco's were not what I expected though. It comes on a long plate with three taco's placed. The taco's are basically these tiny little things with a piece of fish drowned in sauce with a slice of avocado on top. The tacos were ridiculously spicy, to the point where I would have a bite, then take a drink of my beer. I love Mexican food so much, by far my favorite food in the world, and I wasn't able to finish these bite size tacos, because they just weren't good. They actually tasted kinda meaty to me. All in all. Mercadito can be a great place if they would fix some things. I also plan on visiting the one in NYC to see if it is any different, because the concept is great and the guac was awesome, so I'm hoping I could order something a bit better with the tacos.
(3)
Ayame L. O.
I am always satisfied and leaving the place spending more than intended lol. I love tacos and yes this is like a fusion taco place but it is amazing. The atmosphere is always calm or it's probably because I go during slow hours. I always get the carne asada tacos and like 10 drinks I swear. The cucumber drink is to die for. I always come back for more even though my lunch would cost me a fortune there haha.
(5)
Lindsay R.
Margarita + Guacamole Flight + Estilo Baja Tacos = Heaven
(4)
Mahsa T.
I think the atmosphere here really bumped my experience up a notch. I'd give the food itself a 3, but add in the pretty people, the good service, the funny friends and some margaritas, and you've got yourself 4 stars! We had a party of 7 at 8:30 on a Wednesday night and had no problems getting our table, it did take a few minutes for us to get seated once everyone had arrived, but we did not have any issues like other reviewers had. We were seated in a nice large booth overlooking the whole restaurant. Our server Juan was friendly and great with recommendations and steered us towards the better items on the menu. We had two vegetarians in the group and he was very accommodating with their requests and brought out vegetarian tacos for them. Loved the bus boy who kept coming around every 5 minutes to refill my water (as I was parched and dying from dehydration)--so I REALLY appreciated the water refills---that right there is good service in my book. My only complaint about Mercadito is that because we were a party of 7, we had to order from the tasting menu, which includes 4 kinds of soft tacos, 3 kinds of guacamole, two salsas, and 2 sides. The cheapest of the tasting menu options is $30 per person, which is the one we picked. It's a bit too much food but at least it gives you an opportunity to taste a bit of everything. It is on the pricey side for Mexican food but whatever. So we ordered: Tilapia tacos--excellent, my favorite on the menu Carne (steak) tacos--good Pollo (chicken) tacos--decent Mole tacos--decent Traditional guacomole--pretty good Granada guac (with pomegranate)--pretty good Mole guac--not that great Salsas were nothing special Favorite drink: pepino el pyu--a cucumber concoction Make sure you don't fill yourself up with the chips and guac like we did because then you'll be stuffed by the time the rest of the food comes out. All in all, there was more than plenty to feed all of us and we had food left over on the table. Now the fun part--the crowd. Definitely interesting...to my left, a large party of some pretty good looking guys, in front of me, two girls who had spent all day picking out their outfits just to be noticed, to my right, some trendsetters. New place in town to be seen but didn't feel stuffy, very relaxed atmosphere, definitely gets loud in there so be prepared to shout all night, but have fun doing it!
(4)
J K.
First fancy place in River North, lo those many years ago and it is still amazing and still packs in the crowds. The spicy margarita is the BEST!
(4)
mei s.
we had lunch here a couple of days ago. this was not my first time here. I've been at least three times and i keep forgetting to write a review. i've never been disappointed here. i've only been here for lunch, i imagine the evening crowd to be more chic. lunch is still cool but more business-like. we ordered the estilo baja beer battered mahi mahi, arroz verde green rice casserole, plátanos machos fried, and flautas crispy rolled tortillas. i've had their guac, ceviche and other things in the past. i've enjoyed them all. i highly recommend this place to anyone with a sense of taste. i noticed that they're located in nyc too in my old hood. i will have to check it out the next time i am there.
(4)
Dotty K.
Definite repeat value. My favorites were Camaron tacos, Santa Lucia Pinot noir, big nose goes to Mexico (cocktail) and pastel de chocolate for dessert. The Camaron tacos were the best tacos ice had.
(5)
Cathy B.
I left here with mixed feelings, but as I am trying to write this review, am having difficulty explaining why. We went for Restaurant Week, but wound up ordering off the main menu. We looked at the prices on the main menu and realized we could get more variety for about the same price if we just did that. Unlike some other reviewers, we were in and out in exactly one hour, which was perfect for lunch on a workday. THe service wasn't TERRIBLE, but it also wasn't great. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees and were served our entrees first. Never a fantastic sign that things are running smoothly in the kitchen. All that said, the portions were small -- I had the taco plate, and it featured tapa-sized tacos; also, the $2.50 (or whatever price it was) for salsa was kind of ridiculous, since you were presented with less than 1/4 c of salsa -- enough for the chips, but not enough if you wanted to add it to your food. But, the food was delicious. The small size encouraged you to really savor, versus gorging. And, that's not a bad thing.
(3)
Randy E.
Just had our Holiday lunch at Mercadito - they have a great tasting menu for groups. Just the right amount of food and you get to taste several dishes. You can't go wrong with any of the Guacamoles - they have 3 to choose from. The MUST ORDER on the menu is the coles de Brussels - roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy pork belly Yummm! The place has contemporary hip vibe. Our server was great! She was very helpful with ordering giving good recommendations, quick with the drinks :) and upbeat. I think her name was Belle. Check it out - you will enjoy!
(4)
Jourdan M.
I love this place and will continue to come back. Everything from the drinks, to the food, to the atmosphere is pleasing. One of my favs in Chicago!
(5)
Crystal X.
Shrimp TACOS! I know I know 4 tiny tacos for $15 but the sauce served with the shrimp is worth it! I never share this dish!
(4)
Jake P.
I had a reservation for 8:30 and we were running late so we called ahead to let them know so they didn't give our table away. However, when we finally had our whole group there they told us they could only hold a table for 15min so we had to wait for he next one to open up. An hour later, we finally got a table. But because we waited patiently the manager comped us a round of drinks. In the end, the food was pretty good (just remember its all tapas and meant for sharing) but slightly pricy. Our group of 5 ordered 2 aps for the table, 1 drink each (not including the comped), a bottle of wine for the table, and an order of tacos each and our bill was ~$150. I would highly recommend the corn as an appetizer. The drinks were great, but again you're in River North so expect to pay a premium. And, besides our initial wait, the service was excellent. Oh and one last thing, don't expect to have much intimate conversation here because the music is pretty loud.
(4)
Morris D.
Hi kids, how's it goin? Well this is my 4th time at this restaurant. I've been there 3 times and loved it so much that i figured I'd go back another time, which brings us to 4 times. Me and my racquetball coach were sat across from a few Bears players, so that was pretty coo. I always get the Carne tacos. You get 4 tacos topped with a few different fixins, couldn't tell you what the fixins are though. I do know they were from Chicken Fixins. There is 20 locations of Chicken Fixins and they have netted 5 million in profit, should be obvious. My racquetball coach ordered some sort of Pork Tacos. For a second i thought I was with Andy Mullady at The Stretch on a Sunday afternoon. What else folks, we copped some pineapple guac and ordered some sorta of Pineapple potion for our drinks. Afterwards we went to a jewel and bought a bunch of pineapples and went home to continue the pineapple theme of the night.
(5)
Kate T.
Last night was my first time at Mercadito and I am in love! Every single thing I had was absolutely delicious, and I already can't wait to go back. Starting off, I ordered the Smokey Pablo to drink. It was sweet without being overly so, and the chile wasn't overpowering but gave a subtle kick at the end. We ordered the camaron ceviche, which was fresh and fruity. They served it with an almost buttery cracker which complimented the ceviche well, a nice change from traditional chips or saltines. We also had a tomatillo salsa and habanero salsa, served with chips. The habanero definitely was spicy but still good, and the tomatillo was wonderful as well. Don't expect large bowls of salsa though, everything is definitely served for tasting, not gorging. We also ordered a couple of the tacos. The carne tacos were delicious, the skirt steak was well marinated and the small bits of potato added a nice texture and taste. We tried the special taco of the month, which was a smokey pork taco, extremely delicious as well! The tacos come in servings of four, so I recommend each person ordering a different type and then sharing so you can experience the different tastes. Finally, for dessert, you MUST order the torrejas de bolillo!! It may be the best dessert I've ever had in my life! The taste and texture were rich, sweet, and smooth, not to be missed. I'll be back to Mercadito even if just for this dessert! Our server was wonderful, very helpful with suggestions for each course and attentive without hovering. The only reason Mercadito doesn't get 5 stars from me is because it is a little too loud (don't come here for an intimate evening) and they cram people in like sardines.
(4)
Sam M.
Great atmosphere on a Monday night. A bit pricey, but not too bad. So much great stuff on the menu, looking forward to going back and more of the taco combinations.
(4)
Diana C.
Mercadito, Mercadito, Mercadito! That's the chant in my head whenever anyone suggest Margaritas... Seriously, their drinks are tops. Their food is tops. I have never had a bad anything there. And, get this: *they have turned me into a fish taco person*. The fish is cooked perfectly; the slaw is out of this world. Don't even get me started on the goat's milk caramel flan...I would move mountains to get to that thing! Highly recommend.
(5)
Jeff S.
OK...I didn't get a chance to eat here, but it scored major points based on first impression. First off when we got there we went to the bar for some margaritas...HUGE tequila menu, but no Cabo Wabo (my favorite), but definitely not a deal breaker. Settled on a Tres Generaciones margarita which was pretty damn good. A little on the pricey side, but consider the location. Looking around it seemed like a pretty trendy place. mid 20s to early 30s crowd for the most part. Had a DJ spinning house throughout the place. It may not be like that all the time, but this was on a Friday night at about 10:30-11 and it definitely made for a good atmosphere IMO. Basically this is probably the go-to place for a late dinner or drinks before heading over to Hubbard St. or wherever else in the area you're headed. On a side note I can't wait to try one of their guacamoles and tacos. From what I hear they are a couple of the must-get menu items.
(4)
Anne S.
As much as I love the cucumber margarita I think $13 for that experience is over the top, especially because the food is just mediocre. I have given this place 3 chances to impress at 3 different times and I just have to say "nunca mas!" If you want a hot spot with a lively vibe, good DJ, lots of groups of gals and guys, etc. then you would be happy with Mercadito...as long as you expect to shell out at least $40 an hour. Don't try: Ceviche (so bland a newborn could eat it) Tacos Pastor (not enough cilantro) Guacamole (so many places do better) Do try: Duck (Pato) Tacos Carnita Tacos (these are by far the best thing on the menu and would be a delight if only $2 a piece) Cucumber Margarita Es todo, Anna
(2)
Kimberly T.
Mercadito is all that you will read here on yelp. Here's our experience on the weekend, I strongly suggest you RSVP. The host informed us that she didn't have a table for two but if we hurry and eat and be done by 7:15p.m., which gave us an hour and 45 minutes, then she can sit us, so we agreed. We sat for almost eight minutes before our waiter came over, please remember we have to be done and out by 7:15p.m. So finally here comes our waiter, not understanding a word he was saying... his English was not that great, I ordered a margarita that was not that tasty, they use fresh lime juice which took over the cocktail and canceled out of the other flavors. The food was good, yes. It is over priced but, it's worth it. I was still hungry when I left. We ordered shrimp tacos wrapped in bib lettuce, chicken tacos in corn tortillas and Mexican style corn on the cob. The apple/mango salsa was a bit hard in the chicken tacos but, corn on the cod on the other hand was really good. Over all the food was excellent, our service was mediocre. I felt that two gentleman that were walking around with the headsets on should've been more attentive to why our server hadn't come over. After dinner we realized that they knew that we only had to 7:15p.m. to be done because when we got up to leave he informed the host that we where leaving, REALLY! The managers made no effort to get our server( our server wasn't on the floor at all he came running out the back), knowing we a time frame to be out but you made an announcement to the hostess letting her know that we are leaving. I will be back for sure. Managers should be more attentive and aware to what is present and not what's coming. If the waiter would've come in a timely manner we would've ordered more food, therefore we would have spent more than $55.00 on two small plates, one ear of corn, one margarita and a diet coke $65.00 with tip.
(4)
Vishesh N.
I won't be going to Mercadito ever again. The portions were tiny, food was meh, and service was crappy. To start, the $12 double-guacamole appetizer, while good, was barely enough for one person. My mahi mahi tacos were tiny small and smelled a little bit like horse manure. Not cool. Finally, the service was bad. Our waitress didn't offer any suggestions, or do any of the things wait staff typically do (like be polite). When we indicated that a dessert might be in the offing, she dropped one (ONE!) dessert menu on the table and walked away. I was considering getting the "pastel de chocolate," which the menu describes as "chile ancho spiced chocolate cake." Wanting to know what this cake would taste like, I asked the waitress: Me: This chocolate cake--what kind of spice is it? How does it taste? Her: It's spiced with chile ancho. I can read the menu, thanks. Then, after ordering dessert but before it was served, we were all but shooed out of the restaurant by the (I'm sure well-intentioned) busboy who cleared everything off the table, including our placemats. Seriously, what the hell? All in all, not impressed. P.S., The chocolate cake tasted like a a mix of dark chocolate with lots of cinnamon and chile spices -- a bit like they ground up Hot Tamale candies and mixed it in the batter. Not a fan.
(1)
Kelley H.
We made reservations and when we arrived, asked to sit on the patio. The hostess said she could accommodate us but we could not use the table for more than 90 minutes. You know, I didn't really want to sit on their sidewalk for hours on end, but really, giving me a time limit? The rest of the service was good. Our server was very knowledgeable (everything on the menu was her favorite) and all the helpers were efficient and funny. The food is mostly small plates and came out very quickly- very. We got two guacamoles (they have six flavors) and waited a little while and then asked for an order of tacos carne. The food was fine but super spicy. The margaritas were expensive but good. We had been there almost an hour by then and I couldn't stop looking at my watch, so we asked for the bill and left. 72 minutes.
(2)
Eric G.
GREAT place. So happy that I finally made it over here. Thanks to Restaurant Week and thanks to my friend that orchestrated an entire week of lunches every day including Mercadito. Our server was very personable... I can't remember his name though! He helped us pick out the items from the menu to feed our table of 10. The food was all very fresh tasting. I loved the gaucamole with the pomegranate in it. The tacos were nice and light but packed with flavor. The cocktails I tried were so tasty (Little Market and Pepito... or something like that). I almost felt like I was sitting outside on a patio in the summer. The place gets packed for lunch (at 12pm), so make sure you snag a reservation ahead of time. I really like the ambiance. I'm glad to hear they're open late so I can stop by after long nights at work!
(4)
Jackie P.
I'm torn between three and four stars. I think the kicker here for me is that the staff was rather inefficient and that really bothers me. Let me back up first. Every year I'm charged with creating a fantastic, holiday lunch excursion for my department. This year we total 13 people and I was actually given a budget. In years past I could do whatever my heart desires. This year they gave my heart a limit. From what I could tell from their website, Mercadito had a tasting menu that would fit the bill. They also had several bar packages that would work for me to. At $33 a per person we had more than enough food to share....4 kinds of tacos, three kinds of guac, two kinds of salsa, chips, queso fun dido, etc. and then I just choice the drinks by person instead of a bar package because we only had 2 hours and most of us had to go back to work. The food was amazing, divine even and I'm sure I had a food-gasm. However, it was only a little "o." It took me almost a week, 3 phone calls and 4 emails to get anyone to help me set things up. Since my party was so large I couldn't just make an appointment. Fine. But help me. Then when we got there we were seated immediately and waited forever for our waitress to bring drinks. I also had to tell her we had a menu prepared for us. She had no idea. So why did I have to go through all the trouble in advance? I also had a cake brought in to celebrate a new baby in the group and Mercadito had no problem serving that up. They even cut it up for us and repackaged the leftovers. I really wish the service had been on par. If so they would have surely earned that fourth star. At least the service at the restaurant could have made up for the service beforehand but that didn't happen. Everyone in my party went back to work tipsy and quite happy, however, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. First impressions are so hard to move past.
(3)
Princess D.
Cute place that offers very good food. I had their shrimp tacos which were delicious. The chipotle mojo sauce that was served in the tacos made them even tastier. The guac is excellent. The server will make it to your liking. My overall experience was wonderful. The only complaint is that it gets too loud so you really can't hear yourself speak or hear what others are saying.
(4)
Candace W.
First let me say that I loved the ambiance. I will also note that I actually thought the guacamole trio was decent, which is a feat because I don't care for guacamole at all. That's the good. The bad was that the service was a little slow for lunchtime. One person in our party had to wait almost 10 minutes to receive her food after everyone else was served. Finally, and most important in my eyes, the tacos were tiny! I once thought no tacos could get smaller or more expensive than Big Star until I had lunch here. I have never been anywhere were the reaction to my plate of food was, "I'm going to be hungry before I leave the restaurant!" The three tacos plate is an appetizer at best and it comes with nothing. No rice...no beans...no plantains... I certainly don't mind paying for good food, but eating for me is functional and should satisfy and satiate me. I don't need to go somewhere and buy overpriced food and drinks to be seen in a trendy spot. Theres nothing wrong with this, but can't I have the best of both? I guess if I ever returned I'd make sure to eat beforehand.
(2)
Abby T.
YUM!!!! I really liked their Smokey Pablo cocktail. It comes w/ a blueberry floater and once you stir it, the whole drink is dark in color. Refreshing drink and not too strong, which I love. I hate cringing everytime I take a sip of a cocktail. The pomegranate guacamole was very good too....lots of onions so don't plan on having a make out session later. :) I ordered the flautas as my entree. Those were pretty good; your standard flautas -- nothing too impressive about those. I also got the elotes...it's nice to be able to order that at a sit-down restaurant as opposed to a street vendor. I asked for more chili powder and then I couldn't feel my lips. HAHAHA! My friend ordered the steak tacos which were a very generous helping of tacos. The meat was very flavorful. I liked the ambience of the restaurant. It had an authentic feel with just enough added to make it a trendy dining spot. The waiter was just ok...did not go above and beyond by any means. The bartender was super friendly. The shot glasses are HUGE. :) I will definitely be coming back to Mercadito!
(4)
Joel M.
I came here with a big group and really enjoyed the food. I was the DD so I tasted a few margaritas (which were great) but did not get to truly indulge as I would have liked. Started with the chips, salsa, and guacamole. Chips were warm and fresh, guacamole was amazing since there were about five different varieties (e.g. mango), and the salsa was tasty but more of a puree then a chunky pico-de-gallo style. . Next were the flautas and tacos which were amazing. Small corn tortillas with big chunks of meat (we tried chicken, steak, and chorizo) and some fresh cheese and sauces to finish them off. Small and simple but very well executed. The only reason I didn't give this place more stars is because I think I am extremely biased with Mexican food and think Taco Bell is heavenly. Also, it is very clubby and not a great place to sit down and eat unless your starting out a long night of drinking with some pre-game margaritas and tacos.
(3)
K R.
I loved it ! First time eating here ,recommended by one of my co workers and it was great! My husband and I came in on a Wednesday night ( not a busy night) hostess was on the phone with someone trying to make a RSVP so we didn't get greeted right away and waited for her to finish 3min agh, but as soon as we got seated our waiter came to the table , he was friendly , informative, explain to us the menu since it was the first we dine here, and told us what he recommended (great service I think he's name was Jesus not entirety sure ) we got the toreado guacamole delicious !!!! You need to try it , and the poblano guacamole that one was ok too salty for me. Then we got the callo ceviche which my husband liked but I didn't too sweet for my taste. Dinner : husband ordered la tampiqueña which is like a skirt steak great seasoning, the sauce is delicious, and it was serve in a bed of Brussel sprouts and potatoes super good , I got the mole tacos , they were little tacos but the most flavorful tacos ever! sooooo good !!!! DRINKS!!!!!!this is when I was sold had the best margarita ever and to make it more exciting it was on flames hahahaha its called big nose goes to Mexico , it had two or three different types of tequila , it was fruity but not too sweet and it was serve with a flame on top Yuuummmssss!!!!!!!! Iam coming back with my friends next time to check out the lounge that is located right downstairs !!
(5)
Amanda Z.
Another birthday dinner for meeeee. What can I say, I have the best friends in this world. This time, we were doing it sexy taco style at Mercadito, another place I've been meaning to hit up for some time. The chips and respective salsas were very good. The tacos were even better. I sampled the steak (yummy) and the camarones (that's shrimp for you non-Spanish speakers) which were amazing. SPICY. But amazing. I'd eat them again and endure the subsequent heartburn in a second. The guacamole was done very well. We were boring and stuck to the traditional green and limey version, but it was quite swell. We ate it all. My traditional margarita was refreshing and delicious...my gal pal's Little Market drink was spicy and sweet with big chunks of pineapple and even better than mine. I'd skip the Shady Gato. It was good, but nothing that blew my mind. But otherwise, plan to drink. The cocktails are fabulous. Service was a bit of a misstep with our server returning to the table to verify our drink order (incorrectly) mere moments before our correct drinks appeared and plain forgetting to take my friend's order. He wasn't rude by any means, but he just seemed plain scatterbrained. When we are paying for fancy tacos, get that shit together, man. All in all, I liked it. A lot. I'll return for the drinks, the spicy tacos and likely to venture into the fancy kinds of gauc. Vamos!
(4)
Candy A.
I didn't find anything amazing or out of the ordinary here. Guacamole wasn't new, inventive our unbelievable. Tacos' were good - but not on par with the flavor of Big Star. The staff wasn't very helpful and seem more concerned with acting/looking cool - than giving us suggestions or accurately explaining the menu. We shared the Chile Relleno as recommended. Although fresh - it simply wasn't memorable. Can't say I'll be going back....
(2)
Sherill M.
Unimpressed. This is definitely a date or after work grab a drink and appetizer type of place. Portions are extremely small and overpriced. Menu is limited. Staff is very particular about what you order. Don't try to mix and match, pair, substitute or anything else. If it's not partnered on the menu, you're not getting it (I hate places like this). Very small trendy and pretentious. If you want a real fulfilling latin american meal.......go elsewhere.
(2)
Rapeepat C.
We went there on a whim. Atmosphere was nice but the table layout is very awkward...it's very crammed and you don't get any personal space unless you came with a big crowd and sit at the booth. We were lucky and get a 2 people corner table but it's still sort of awkward because I'd be staring down the rows of table, so as my boyfriend. We ordered an appetizer, camaroncitos al chipotle (rock shrimp sort of salad) and 2 tacos: a pastor and a carne. The rock shrimp was a good start. However, it wasn't enough heat for me. But I liked the idea of eating it with lettuce. The idea of ordering 4 little tacos with no variation is retarded to me, but whatever. For the pastor, I don't eat pineapple but the grilled pineapple was fantastic. Unfortunately, for both of the tacos, I find the seasoning of the meat was too mild. I relate tacos with bold flavor meat countered by some salsa and sour cream. So, the tacos to me are overrated. They were innovative no doubt but lacking on the flavor front. Want to try new style taco that packs the punch? Try Del Seoul. All in all, will never return again unless someone pay for my meal. Way too expensive for average new style mexican food.
(2)
Lauren D.
Where to begin... I guess I'll start with our reservation. It was at 9pm. We arrived at 8:45pm and were told to wait in the bar area. The bar area was packed, 3-4 people deep so it took a while to get a drink and standing comfortably was out of the question. We were finally seated at... wait for it... just after 10pm. Seriously. No apologies from the host staff whatsoever. I guess they're too cool to be apologetic to their guests. I do not recommend this place if you want to actually talk to whomever it is you're eating with. I could not hear a word - they play this very loud DJ-type music and the acoustics are terrible. We were also basically sitting on top of the people next to us. Lots of the menu items seemed good, but I usually settle on quesadillas, so when our server came by to take our order, I ordered them but asked if they could do chicken instead of mushrooms. This apparently was a ridiculous request and not possible. I explained to him I just wanted quesadillas and no mushrooms, and so he said something to me (I have no idea what) and then I just nodded and said I'll have that to whatever he said. I ended up with a small skillet full of melted cheese, tortillas, and a salsa. It was quite fun getting the melted cheese onto the quesadilla, let me tell you. Not that I would ever complain about a skillet full of melted cheese, but come on. I also tried the tacos with peanuts and pork. They were nothing remarkable. The guacamole, spicy salsa and chips were probably the highlight of the evening. I have no desire to go back. I will probably attempt to order the skillet full of melted cheese to go at least once though.
(2)
Johnny T.
I didn't know how this was going to end. I'd read the reviews. I knew of the complaints. I wasn't in the mood for foolishness. Luckily for all involved (myself included), there was no tomfoolery. There was only good food and good company. Yes, people walk around here thinking they're on camera. They'll preen and pose and purse lips and try to see who else is doing that. Do yourself a favor: take a shower and comb your hair and you'll be fine. Mercadito may have roots in NYC and Miami, but this ain't NYC or Miami. It's Chicago. Men and women sport muffin tops. Guys will wear untucked shirts to cover big bums (dress or no) and women will make unfortunate decisions below the waist. Who cares. It's cold here for the majority of the year. Function over form. Who goes to a restaurant to look cute? I go to eat and eat I did without wondering about how I looked or who was looking at me.* Tequila and I have long been enemies -- even before it lent its surname to an alien being from the west coast. I had no time to dabble with its tricks. I settled upon a dry rose and hit the menu hard. Cheesy rice? BAM! Trio of guac? Holla (stick with the toreado and traditional; mango looks too much like baby poo to be enjoyed)! Four types of tacos (don't get to the top of the hill if you can't roll)? You know we killT it. We ordered the beef, shrimp, chicken, and mushroom tacos. I am not one for beef, so I can't speak to it. The mushroom tacos were a surprising choice. The mushrooms were substantial and, when combined with the cheese, had an enjoyable texture. The chicken tacos were brilliantly paired a delicious mole. It kept it simple but didn't sacrifice taste. The star of the show, however, were those camerones? Can I get a witness? Shrimp, avocado, garlic, and chipotle mojo? What? What? Too good. I could have eaten those all night. As much as I enjoy variety, I think I might just order these on my next visit. Dessert was forgettable and unnecessary. Do what you do well and just do that, Mercadito. Desserts aren't for everyone. They aren't for you. It's okay. *But you know I was the fiercest b!tch in that spot. Reck-a-nize.
(4)
Amanda T.
Holy whoa Batman! This place is a nice little gem. I recently (and finally!) dined here after scoring last minute reservations. We came fairly early-ish and the place was already packed, especially by the bar. It is definitely the place be seen and apparently where all the beautiful people congregate. It's really trendy and fits River North standards. I ordered a margarita with heat. It was different and a little strange, but very good nonetheless. The ceviche was refreshing; I loved it. But the best part of the whole meal were the tacos. At first glance they look like they would be perfect sized (they give you four). I don't know if it's just me or if I was too busy stuffing my face with ceviche and salsa pre-taco time, but after the third taco, I was tapping out. I had the shrimp tacos, which were a little messy, but to die for. So good. I was also able to try a pastor (pork) taco and I think I actually liked it better than the shrimp. The pineapple added a nice touch to it. Even though the place was packed, the staff definitely brought their A-game. Our waiter was super helpful and made some great suggestions. The entire staff was ridiculously attentive. I take one sip of water and it seemed as someone was already waiting to fill up my glass. Now I know what it feels like to have my very own water wench...I like. Mercadito has some great stuff in their arsenal and I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Jill S.
If you are all about being seen, ambiance, and eating late this is the place to go. It was rather loud, not as in club/music loud, but loud as in everyone was screaming. The front of the restaurant is more like a lounge, good for larger groups. We sat in the back where the tables are on top of each other... it was actually quite a challenge to squeeze into my seat. The closeness of the tables made it difficult to hear what my boyfriend was saying. I wish that I could have sat beside him to hear better. Still, I am glad we tried this place. The food was great and so were the drinks. Loved my cucumber margarita and even the tradicional margarita. Guac - fantastic. Cevice - a little flavorless, but the whole shrimp made me happy. The Main Events were great. Tried the Pastor tacos, and Carne Taquizas. Taquizas are basically like 'put it together on your own' tacos. It comes with a pot of meat, 2 salsas, an onion/ceviche mix, and several corn tortillas. The unfortunate part about ordering the tacos for dinner is that they have a list of about 12 different tacos, however you can only order 1 kind, and then you get 4 of that one kind. That absolutely sucks. Bad idea Mercadito. Quit being lazy in the kitchen, you know you're busy enough and are making all the kinds of tacos simultaneously anyway, how hard is it to mix it up on a plate? My advice: go with a group so you can share and try more than 1 taco variety and be ready to scream at each other.
(3)
Manish P.
came here in a group of 4. wasnt busy at all so we were seated right away. we all got tacos which were plenty tasteful. i have a thing for micheladas so i got one. it was just as good as the one i had in mexico a couple months ago. everyone enjoyed their food, the gauc was nice and spicy so that was awesome. from all the bad things ive heard about this please i actually had a great time. don't know what people are complaining about.
(5)
hanna y.
I think service has a lot to do with how well a restaurant is perceived. My friends and I choose Mercadito for our most recent dinner club destination. We went to Mercadito and it was your typical trendy eatery, which in all honesty, turned me off a bit. The place was overly crowded and they shove you next to the bar, which is practically on top of tables trying to enjoy their meal. The food was delicious and the extensive salsas and guacamoles were tempting. I must agree with the the others about not being able to mix and match the tacos offered is stupid. Before my friend and I got there, another friend showed up early and ordered a drink at the bar. While there the bartender accidentally slipped the alcohol shaker which coincidentally landed on her thumb. The bartender barely even took a second glance before saying sorry and moving on. Management came over to try to "smooth" things out. Her thumb was bruised, but nothing to go to the hospital for, which was his only solution. She ended up paying for the drink she ordered AND they didn't even comp her meal or take off a portion. The restaurant manager said he would get in contact with her the following day, but never did. I totally wasn't demanding he pay for our entire meal, but maybe do something for patron that got hurt from one of his employees. I would totally go back, but lack of customer service deters me from ever returning. The taste of food lasted a mere night, while the black and blue fingernail haunted my thoughts for weeks.
(2)
I P.
One of my favorite places in Chicago. We used to live in NYC and Mercadito there was good but Chicago is way better. Love the saucy shrimp tacos - I crave them!!
(5)
Cathleen M.
This place seemed more like a club than a restaurant, complete with young ladies in short skirts, bachelorettes in pink boas and over-the-top expensive drinks. And the music was LOUD. I don't mean just a little loud, but walk-out-with-a-headache loud. Maybe I'm getting too old (I'm only 32) or I've had my share of "the scene" in my 20's to appreciate a place like Mercadito. Whatever the case, I was really unimpressed. There were 8 in our party. We weren't sat until everyone arrived, which I can understand on a Saturday night at 8 pm. One of us had the mind to pre-order our guac selections (maybe when she made reservations?), so once we were seated, things happened quickly. In no time we were munching on guac and chips with drinks in front of us and a very helpful, sweet server explained the menu. The service was outstanding, and I never felt that we were being rushed. The food tasted pretty good, and I liked the concept of taco tapas. We paid $35 per person for three types of guac, two types of ceviche, a couple sides, four tacos and dessert. There was a lot of food! We all commented on how full we felt before the last taco plate arrived at the table. I was a bit shocked that when out bill came, 20% gratuity had been added. Isn't 18% typical? I'm happy to leave extra when the service is good, but to add it automatically seems a little grandiose. Kind of followed along with the vibe of the whole place. A little too much. Overall, it just seems like another trendy spot where people go to see and be seen. Can't say I'd see a reason to ever return.
(2)
Tripti S.
Really yummy guacamoles Drinks were good. I am vegetarian and so I ordered Rajas tacos. They were super duper hot but really yummy. All my friends enjoyed the their entrees. Dessert was a big disappointment and hence, I took 1 star away. It is definitely a very pricey place but the ambiance and crowd is upscale as well!
(4)
Monique M.
Holy crap - I have to send a thankyou note to the girl who recommended this to me. We went on a weeknight, and I think that made all the difference. We walked in, got a booth and didn't leave for 4 hours. Rodrigo one of the head guys around there waited on us, sat and had shots with us, made EXCELLENT recommendations, and basically spoiled us rotten. Duck tacos: yay Misty Sleeve: YAAAAAY There wasn't really anything bad or over the top 'trying too hard'....it was delicious all around. Sophisticated mixology, which I'm now ashamed to admit, I never expect when it comes to tequila. Music being piped in from Double A bar down below was OFF THE CHAIN, if a bit loud...we had to yell to hear each other over dinner. But the DJ was so good (did I say SO GOOD), we ended up down there drinking and boogying with *surprise* a chicago Bear and his birthday entourage. Bonus!! I'll be back.
(5)
Tish N.
So this place is LIVE! From the dj, dude playing the bongos, to sparklers for bottle service at 1 pm....there is no other way to really put it. If you are timid and you like dainty, quiet brunches don't even come here. It's loud, the food is full of flavor and the drinks are creative and fantastic. My best friend and I try to do brunch at least once a month and I decided on this place because I had a gift certificate. We had the brunch special with 3 courses and a drink. I had the mango mimosa and it was INSANE. I liked that the sweet was calmed with chile and cilantro. We had the chicken tacos and they were very tasty. The chicken was tender, just how I like it. For the second course, PANCAKES! There were like nothing I've ever had, the butter was mostly cinnamon and combined with the syrup and strawberries...every bite was heaven. We also had something like an eggs benedict but with a latin twist. I'm so in love with chipotle hollandaise sauce and the cornbread base. We got dessert, the waiter offered us flan but for some reason I don't like flan anymore. We ended up with this dish that puts you in the mind of flunnel cake, topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream. I was pleased with my entire meal and we left trying to figure out when we were going to come back. Another thing: EYE CANDY, there's so much handsome and fine up in there...whew.
(4)
Nycole K.
Ok, all I can say is I wish I were in Chicago at this exact moment so I could go get a plate of tacos with a side of guacamole! Yum! We had dinner reservations at another spot and some locals we met at a bar recommended this great spot that was right around the corner. And am I glad we took the recommendation! This place was really fantastic. The decor and atmosphere was great, really cool, modern styling with interesting twists like a giant comic-like mural on the back wall and ropes between the floor and ceiling to create small spaces for cozy booths. They specialize in Tacos, and that's what we had. We ordered 3 plates of tacos - you get 4 small tacos per plate - and they were all fantastic. Everyone raved about the mahi fish tacos, but I'm just not a fish taco person so I'm not really a good judge. The chicken and pork were great though. I also thought the guacamole and salsas were awesome. They're served in small portions so you can try several, which is fun and completely worth it. Don't miss a margarita. We got top shelf, which was spendy, but soooo worth it! Yum! Absolutely perfect.
(5)
Onur U.
I've heard so much about how over-priced and obnoxious this place is, so I never planned to go. But then a friend asked me to join him for lunch there, and I figured what the heck. When I walked in the door at 12, Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer was playing, so that set the mood right off the bat, this place is aiming to be a party spot. When I went to order the three taco special, I was hoping to sample a couple different tacos, but they told me the taco special is only for one type of taco. At first I was surprised since how hard could it be to make three different tacos given that they're just pumping them out in the back, but when they came I realized the things are tiny, so they may not be able to cook 1/3 that amount of protein easily. I got an order of the fish tacos, and I have to say they were surprisingly good. Nice, light breading, crunchy without being greasy. They were topped with crunchy shredded cabbage that was drenched in too much sauce, but still maintained its texture. These were solid if not spectacular tacos. Too bad I only got about 4 bites of it. For 15 bucks including tax and tip, the price is quite steep, particularly since they gave you almost no food. So I guess if I'm in River North, not worried about value, looking for a place to get some bar snacks and margaritas while listening to music that makes you want to scream the lyrics, I guess I've found my spot. Yeah . . . I doubt I'll be back.
(3)
Margaret G.
My sister and I strolled up to the restaurant to find my mom outside, sitting on the curb just needing some "fresh air" after chugging her margarita a little too quickly because she was "im just so thirsty!." When is she going to learn she is still a lightweight compared to the last time she drank? Food was standard, delicious but not outstanding. What does come to memory is the increasingly loud music which reached night club levels as we dined. Maybe it was my long day at work, my increasing boringness (so my sister says) or my stubborn dad refusing to scream across the table to communicate but the MUSIC WAS TOO LOUD FOR DINING. Although I did relish in examining my fellow h.sapians courting each other, showing too much leg with no understanding of the word modesty or the phrase "leaving some to the imagination" with the false illusion they are being eyed by all of the opposite sex. Highlight of the night- saw a woman with the biggest honkers I have ever seen. Parting comment: Order the arroz verde. My mom (after sobering up) enjoyed it thoroughly!
(3)
Denise R.
I really enjoyed my experience at Mercadito. The service was great and the waitress provided some really good recommendations. The margaritas were absolutely delicious. Some of the best I've ever had. I went for the house margarita and my date had the pineapple one. Both were perfect but I preferred mine as it was less sweet. We ordered the tacos al pastor and they were so flavorful and spicy. Although rice and beans seems like such a simple dish, they were so good! We also had some shrimp dish which was also very flavorful. We also had the guac which was yum but a pretty small portion. For dessert, the manager suggested an off-the-menu item which was similar to a french toast a la mode. I'm so happy he recommended it! Mention it when you go. Lastly, service was good and prompt (especially the bus boys clearing the tables). I took off a star because I felt it was way overpriced. The tacos were pretty small but pricey. Also, the booth seat I was sitting in was extremely uncomfortable. I felt like I was sitting on a camel's hump no matter which side I moved to.
(4)
Greg N.
Unlike those that let price taint their review (and therefore do not give an accurate representation of the experience)....... you are about to embark on a very unbiased and accurate journey into the culinary "skeels" at Mercadito. Just a thought...if you are surprised that a drink costs $10 in River North...you may want to get out a bit more. My love for Mexican food knows no bounds. Mr. Bayless put "fine dining" and " Mexican" in the same sentence...and Chicagoans are the lucky benificiaries. I have run by Mercadito with my girlfried many times this summer...so we had it on our "must try" list for a while. The wait was worth it... First...we had some cocktails at the bar. All were nicely crafted and had some really cool flavor combinations. This seems to be all the rage (exotic ingredients)...and is one that is losing its hipness with me. I am starting to revert back to the classics...and eschewing the trends...but Mercadito is no more guilty than other restaurants in staying current in the Mixologist world. That said...they were all tasty...but when I go back...give me a Cadillac margarita (Grand Marnier and top shelf tequila) straight up with salt. Second...it was really crowded and the vibe was bursting with energy. The interior is nicely done...modern but not cold...chic but not overdone. The ambience has a nice warm glow at night (lighting is key) and the subturranean room is WAY COOL (nice music...a bit clubbier...and you can eat there). We will sit there on our next visit... Oh yeah...the food! We sampled just about everything...the guac was delectable...the tacos were brilliant (albeit a bit undersized)...and the coffee/desserts were decadent. Overall...the food was quite good...and lived up to our expectations. The overall service was good...and the bill was what I expected from an upscale restaurant in River North. It isnt Topolobampo (the benchmark)....but Mercadito is a solid choice for high end, flavorful mexican.
(4)
Rada I.
Coming from San Francisco, I was really skeptical that we would get good food here. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Not only was the food amazing, the drinks were fantastic.... Not too sweet, and perfectly tequila. LOVE LOVE LOVE it here. Can't wait to come back for more of that fancy guacamole.
(5)
Jose B.
The ambiance is perfect here. I'm a regular here and our group will typically have a dinner and then head down to double a lounge afterwards. This makes things really convenient for the group, no lines or cover! Dress here is trendy which is more my style. Food isn't inexpensive but I guess you expect that when you come to a place like this. Overall it's at least somewhere you need to try. No clue how it has a 3.5/5 stars with this many reviews.
(5)
Barbara S.
Not at all your traditional tacos you would find on the south side of Chicago or anywhere really but WOW i love their tacos. So much flavor. You can say it's quality over quantity. So if you're expecting a big meal this isn't the place for you. Even though it's a bit pricey they are hands down the best tacos i've ever had, everyone should come here at least once in their lives!
(4)
Arpana U.
I was deciding between 3 and 4, but I liked the atmosphere of this place and the service (especially those busing/filling water) was good. Yes it is a clubby feel. You come out here to dress up and put on those high heeled shoes you couldn't resist buying but had nowhere to wear them to, and have a fun night on the town. If you're expecting a nice quiet meal, or traditional mexican fare, do not come here. Mercadito does not boast itself as either of those, so you can't hold it against the place when it's not that. Guac: traditional is really good, pineapple (pina) is traditional with pineapple mixed it (so don't get both), and mango was AWESOME!! Tacos: hubby is vegetarian so we got carna tacos, but veggie. They were SO good. The mix of ingredients and sauce was awesome. Guessing it would be good with steak too (but other reviews have said steak is dry, so I can't really comment). But me being a meat eater, I thoroughly enjoyed the veggie version and would get it again. I also got the shrimp/camaron. I just wasn't a fan. I don't if it was too smoky or what, but that taste just wasn't right for me. I chose not to finish them (and instead went back to the guac). (Sidenote - didn't think they were spicy at all, as other reviews said.) Chile relleno: Also got it vegetarian, and also really enjoyed it. Great cheese, but not too much. Veggies were great, it had carrots, which I don't usually like cooked carrots, but these were great mix of raw/cooked/not overpowering taste. Also seeds of the chile made it spicy, but not so much you couldn't eat it. Dessert: decided to splurge (although price of desserts compared to everything else isn't too bad). Got the goat milk caramel flan. Really good, really sweet, really caramel-y. I couldn't taste the goat milk, hubby said he could just a bit. Overall, it was a fun night out. Pricey for sure, but knew that going in by looking at the menu online. $15.5 for four small tacos is a lot, but you're paying for the ambiance and different dining/food experience, so enjoy it. If that's not your scene, that's cool, hit up another place! Also, be sure to make reservations, unless you're cool with standing at the bar and waiting, there is no bar seating. It seemed like people were waiting on avg. 30-45 min. But their drink selection is awesome. They're opening up something called Tavernita and gave us info on it, so kind of excited to see what that place will be like.
(4)
Kris L.
Good River North spot though packed and loud we walked in on Saturday and were able to secure a very guarded spot at the bar for fantastic margaritas but more importantly tasty (though a little salty) pastor tacos and fresh ceviche. Good bar eats but too loud to propose too your girlfriend.
(3)
Ken Z.
On the good side--the food is tasty and the restaurant is lively. On the bad side--you have to order 4 of the same tacos at a time, which is completely stupid. Other similar restaurants let you order singles so you can try more of a variety. Also, Mercadito would really love to turn your table quickly, so you might feel rushed sometimes.
(3)
Emily B.
I wanted to love Mercadito, but it was just okay for me. Truth be told, I could down Chipotle tacos just as gleefully but there is something to say about the posh dining vibe you get from this joint. Then menu is impossibly authentic, to the point that I had to ask our Enrique Iglesias-esque waiter to translate some of the sections. Also, the tequila list is as big as their food menu, which just goes to show you, they mean business. If tequila and I didn't have such a hate/hate relationship, I'm sure I could have got down with one of their selections. But, we settled on food instead, ordering one of their 8 varieties of guac (mango guacamole...bomb dot com) and some pork tacos featuring cole slaw and roasted peanuts. The plus is that the tacos are perfectly sized. The minus is there is 4 in an order and no mixing and matching. They run about $14 an order. I was uncomfortably stuffed after the several rounds of chips they kept bringing to the table and had no room for dessert even though they looked pretty legit. Probably won't return, even if I get a craving for Mexican. I think it's more a place to slam some bomb maragaritas, to be honest. Side note: do you have any idea how hard it is to focus on your meal when you're playing "gay or straight?" with your waiter? Also helpful to know, you can't sit in the dining room or front area unless you order food. If you just plan to drink, you'll have to post up at the bar.
(3)
Kevin N.
If you dropped into Chicago and thought to yourself "what an ideal place to find Mexican food," you might not be surprised to consider yourself an army of one (or few). Hailing from a part of the country known for its Mexican fare, I wouldn't typically consider myself one of those folks who would find the possibility of successful south of the border eats in Illinois it impossible to consider...but the proximity of the city may encourage some curiosity therein. Enter Mercadito, where a group of us sauntered in for a recent sharable dinner. The small plates, from ceviches to creative taco options to some of the unique cocktail choices and desserts available, lent themselves to roundtable chats about the nuances of the food and our time together. Interesting sidenote that the soundtrack here seems to be Alternative Radio, circa 1994 or thereabouts, which I happen to like quite a bit, but it seemed an interesting choice, at least until you consider the physical decor - lots of carefully rusted and backlit touches throughout. In my neck of the woods they might get thumped a little for the size of some of the portions and the creative vs. traditional elements happening...but here, in a pinch, Mercadito provided a perfectly pleasant backdrop for friends and tastebuds, and not always in that order.
(4)
Chris H.
Overall very good. They were out of two tequilas that the waiter had recommended [!] which was a bit off-putting. The tacos were good; carnitas was very good. The guacamole was OK, chips were great. The best was the corn hominy/pork belly side dish--it was to die for.
(4)
Porsch K.
I came here for my birthday party a few weeks ago and had a GREAT time! The food was spectacular, the ambiance was exactly what I was looking for and the music and drinks topped it all off. To start I had a party of 17 ppl so I was initially worried about the sharing menu not being enough for my party BUT it was mos def enough. I had guys and girls there attend and I must reiterate, there was enough food. There are 2 reasons why I did not give Mercadito 5 stars and though they're slightly minor, for the price that we paid for our dinner, I expect NO INTERRUPTIONS or DISTURBANCES in service. 1. I made reservations for my party 2 weeks in advance providing them with my choosing for the sharing menu ($35 pp). When we were seated and ready to be served, surprisingly, our waiter had only received half of my sharing menu. Thank God for email, so I quickly retrieved my sent email to the party planner from a week ago, and we were back in business. -I am a FREAK when it comes to being prepared for things & as this was my Bday party I slightly began to have a mini meltdown thinking that this could only get worst 2. I had a confirmed party of 17 and as the last 3-4 ppl trickled in, we realized that there was clearly only enough seating for 13 ppl. Again, I panicked & this time the manager came over to speak with me. -Hands down, the manager (Dan-I think) handled this issue with complete respect and sincere apology about this situation...this put a smile on my face & within 5 minutes, he made room for the rest of my guests quickly resolving this issue. THANK YOU MANAGER. PARKING: Forget about it lol...or Valet, if you have a later reservation like I did (9pm) if people are driving make sure they arrive 30 minutes earlier to guarantee them a decent street park...but I recommend valet. Overall, I love this place despite the expensive as F prices! You pay for what you get and our server/service, quality of food and ambiance were ALL ON POINT....until we got out bill! lol Our bill came out to be $1100...In hindsight, I would recommend this to future party goers...MAKE SURE you're party opens a tab and/or orders their alcoholic drinks at the bar. Not only are the drinks expensive as hell (but amazing) this increased the taxes and gratuity making the rest of my party having the fork over more money. Make a long story short, I HIGHLY recommend this place for a cool date, BDay celebration or anything interactive w/ ppl. Please make sure you come prepared to fork over a hefty penny but leave feeling that the service and atmosphere was well worth it!
(4)
Bridget K.
I'm finally getting around to reviewing Mercadito and I think it's always best to highlight the positives before sharing the 'wahwahwah' bad news. Mercadito's guacamole list is as impressive as their high end tequila selection. We went with the Mango guacamole which was hands down some of the best guac i've ever dipped my chips in, and I've dipped my chips in a lot of GUAC mmmhmm. As for alcohol, unfortunately, tequila makes me want to change my name and move to another country the next day so my group and I stuck to wine. The ambiance is alright, I felt a little like I was in a dungeon because of the soft lighting and unbelievably uncomfortable chairs but overall, we enjoyed our gay/straight waiter. We ordered the pork tacos which were phenomenal. They are grouped in 4's and they won't allow you to mix n' match which limits your options quite a bit since they run about $14 bucks a plate. Oh and the restroom is located on the bottom floor of the restaurant which is so strange for a place serving 60-120 proof liquor...someone is bound to take a tumble and it ain't gunna be pretty. 'ay!'
(4)
Lala S.
i would give this place a 3.5 if halves were a possibility, but they aren't, and I usually round up, but I won't. IMO, this place is a little too modern for me without the authentic Mexican taste I normally like. It was all OK, nothing extraordinary, nothing I would ever have a craving for necessarily... Their tortilla chips and tostadas were tasty. The tortilla chips were thin, not heavy, and not greasy. I don't know how authentic their tostada chips were, but I'm not an expert in authentic tostadas. They reminded me of pie crust in tostada form. The two salsas we tried were good. Chipotle was my favorite. The Chile de Arbol was pretty good, too. I was with a mild eater so I didn't get to try the habanero. The tacos were pretty tasty. We opted for the carne asada but I'm pretty sure they rotate the fillings and condiments for those pretty regularly, so I won't bother going into detail. The elotes were ok. Nothing that you can't recreate at home. The ceviches were really sweet for my taste. I just hate seafood + sweet. It just doesn't make sense to me and none of the ceviches had any heat and could use some salt. or something. The ceviches were just really lacking. The drinks were really tasty, however, the refrescos were delish and I had some adult drink with pineapple and tequila. I would go back for drinks.
(3)
Helena G.
We were a group of 9 so I did a reservation and they lost it. We didn't have any problem getting a table because the restaurant was completly empty (Saturday 11.45 am). We had some refrescos (natural juices) of mango and strawberry. They were very good. I loved the mango and the traditional guacamole. I had the huevos revueltos. It's similar with eggs Benedict but with a Mexican touch. I liked it. We also had some single and double expressos (coffee) and they were ridiculous expensive, $4/single and $6/double. The single was super small. And the coffee quality was terrible. I loved the decor and ambience. The staff was super nice, except a guy who was very rude pushing everyone to take the glasses and plates. It was an awful attitude. I'm giving 3 star because I think that this place is pricey. We had some guacamole, a brunch dish and one drink each plus coffee and we paid almost $40 per person.
(3)
Vivien S.
Great ambiance, and excellent cocktails. This is a fun place for a birthday celebration (i.e. big groups). If you're looking for a romantic date, this place would be too noisy for this purpose. The food is decent, definitely on the high-end of Mexican food but nothing too exceptional.
(3)
Colin J.
By far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. All of the drinks, sides, and tacos are fantastic; particularly the Carne and Camaron.
(5)
Dennis C.
You have to give them A for effort -- in a town with the street market and Rick Bayless, opening a high-end taco place is quite a challenge. I think Mercadito does a fine job, as evident by the patrons at 11 PM at night ( it was restaurant week). There wasn't anything to complain about--we had the guac, shrimp, pork and steak tacos. But as mentioned before, nothing mind blowing. One of the things I love about Chicago--the people know their drinks and bars. And no wonder, with the winters there it's no surprise there's a bar at every corner. The drinks here were good -- not too strong, but not too weak. But who am I to say....
(3)
Jessie R.
We were a party of 4 and a friend wanted to treat us for dinner. He has been raving about this place. By me being half Mexican, I was not excited about eating Mexican food. Let me tell you, this place is amazing! Last Saturday was my first time here. They have their Spring menu right now. Daniel was our server. He was very helpful and made a few suggestions. The guy knows what he is talking about. We were not disappointed with any of them. The margaritas were absolutely delicious. We ordered a tier of 3 guacamoles, the traditional, elote, and poblano; all were delicious. Even the chips were yummy! We had the pescado, carne, and carnitas tacos; AMAZING! We also ordered a burger. Yes, a burger that Daniel recommended. We weren't there to eat a burger, but with the description that he gave, we just couldn't resist. Again, AMAZING! As main dishes, we ordered a tampiquena, brochetas, and my bf had another burger (he felt it was that good), lol, and I ordered another round of carne tacos (I only ate 1 1/2, I was so full because of the appetizers). We didn't want to leave without trying a dessert. We were sharing, since we were so full. We were going to go with the tres leches cake, but Daniel suggested a dessert that has a "bolillo" and ice cream on it. It was a GREAT choice. It tasted like french toast. Overall, it was a delightful experience. Mercadito knows what their doing and Daniel knows his stuff. I definitely recommend it. On our way to our car, our friend asked me what I would rate it from a 1-10, I said definitely an 11! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Diana D.
First timer at Mercadito and was not disappointed! Had my Bday dinner her with 8 friends and Sharon unhooked me up with a great table . I picked from a few menu party options, for large parties and everything was incredible. All drinks were unique and tasty. Food was outstanding. ..my personal fav was the carnita tacos and arroz Verde. I'm glad I picked this spot to celebrate my Bday. I'll be back for sure!
(4)
Betsy P.
This place is pumping right when you walk in. It's pumpin so much that's it's hard to have a conversation. Who cares, right? When the delicious signature margaritas start coming your way, you end up talking louder anyway. Mercadito gets my approval. The place is always packed, so it's recommended to make a reso. The staff are knowledgeable of both food and drinks, which is a real plus. The food is amazing. Please don't forget to order the trio of guacamole. Yummy! Also, food is served tapas style so everyone in your company can enjoy all the delicious bites. It's worth the wait. Once you tried Mercadito, you will come again.
(4)
Ashley K.
Went here on Saturday night for my bachelorette party dinner. I thought it was a perfect place for a large group, since the restaurant was fairly noisy, no one was particularly bothered by the fact that we were shouting and laughing a lot. The food was awesome. We did one of the sharing menus and it was more than enough food for everyone. We started with three guacs - the mango, traditional and I can't remember what the third one was. I don't normally like fruit guacamole but I really enjoyed this one, especially the smoky background flavor provided by the chipotle. The other guacs were delicious as well. The two ceviches - mahi mahi and shrimp were light and refreshing and tasted fresh, not fishy, just as good ceviche should. We sampled four different kinds of tacos: tilapia, pastor, rajas, and chorizo. The tilapia and pastor were my favorites. The sweetness of the pineapple in the pastor taco was perfectly balanced with the spicy chile. The tilapia was cooked just right and topped with one of the most delicious sauces I've tasted recently. The choizo and the rajas were also very good but by the time they came out, I was so full that I don't think I enjoyed them to their full potential. The chorizo wasn't heavy, like so many chorizo tacos can be, which was a definite plus. I can't really comment on the price, since I didn't pay. I do know the drinks were a little pricey but they were very good, so in my mind, that makes it worth it. The only downfalls: they wouldn't seat us until our entire party was there, even though they had a whole section reserved for us. Then when we were finishing up drinks after paying our bill, three employees hovered over our table giving us a death stare until we left. Relax buddy. I get that you're busy but I would like to enjoy the last delicious drops of my mango margarita.
(5)
julie q.
Went here for lunch - Agreed that it's pricey. And, as another yelper pointed out, I think it's absolutely retarded that you can't combine your tacos. So three steak, or three pork, or three fish, but not one steak, one fish, and one pork. Dumbest thing I've heard. Food - Steak tacos were super duper good. Pork tacos w/pineapple were a bit spicy for me, but had good flavor. Guac (regular kind) was a bit lime-y, but good overall (maybe a bit to many red onions). Margarita was eh. It had good flavor for the first drink but there was so much damn ice in it that I couldn't taste the flavor after the first swig. I guess they want you to GULP? Oh and for $10, no thank you. Torta was pretty decent and HUGE! Fries were good. Service - average Will I go back? No. Food was too overpriced for some steak and pork and corn. Marg was overpriced for a glass full of ice. Guac left me crazy onion breath for $8.
(2)
anil t.
In-line with De Cero/Big Star, a cut below Antique and Taco Joint in my opinion. Really don't like that I can't pick more than one type of taco...why can't I choose three different ones?? Can also be quite loud, but pretty cool atmosphere.
(3)
Kedar U.
Mercadito is the place for great authentic Mexican and awesome Margaritas! We had veggie tacos and enchiladas and both were delicious. The only drawback is the seating can get pretty cramped when they get packed.
(4)
Hayley P.
The Little Market margarita and Carne tacos... perfect!
(4)
EV G.
Um no - not so much. First the good parts. We went here early on a Monday so we didn't have to make a reservation or wait. Our waiter was very good, informative, prompt. Food was pretty good - guac and tacos (chicken and shrimp). Not wowza fantastic but good enough. Now the bad. Expensive - $21 for enchiladas or $12 for guacamole. I mean really? I don't think the food is worth the price. Inflexible - 4 tacos to an order. Many flavor choices but each order must consist of only one choice. So to try shrimp tacos and chicken tacos, you must get two taco orders. How about at least a couple choices per order? It all costs the same - so I really think this is an attempt to get you to order more tacos. Frankly, I've had better cheaper tacos. All the food came at once - like 6 minutes after we ordered. Well ok, I guess its preferable to waiting for too long but maybe they could bring out the guacamole and let us munch for a bit, then the tacos? LOUD. LOUD LOUD LOUD. Again, it was a Monday night and not full but jeez was it freaking loud. We were at a little two person table and I could barely hear my husband across the table. He was on the outer part of the table so the waiter was next to him explaining the menu - I literally could not hear a thing he said. I cannot imagine what this place is like on a Friday night. Won't be back - there are way too many awesome Mexican restaurant options.
(2)
Triphena W.
Had a great time here! Mercadito is definitely a place to see and be seen. Cool, energetic atmosphere. Mostly young, trendy crowd. Loud top 40s music. Choose another restaurant if you want to have a relaxed, intimate meal. The food isn't cheap, but you're paying for the quality (e.g., fresh ingredients, homemade corn tortillas, gristle free proteins, etc) and atmosphere. The traditional, mango chipotle, and chile serrano GUACAMOLE ($13.50 for choice of 3) were great. Creamy and vibrant. Fresh, nicely salted chips too. Pass on the ceviches. The bay scallop and shrimp ceviche ($19.50 for choice of 2) were fine but unremarkable. Didn't care for the flatbread that accompanied the ceviche either. The TACOS ($14.50 for 4) were the highlight of the meal. Try any of the following: tacos pastor (chile ancho pork, grilled pineapple), tacos camaron (shrimp, chipotle mojo), tacos carne (rosemary skirt steak), and tacos hongos (wild mushrooms, manchego cheese). Fantastic. Bold flavors, juicy meat, high filling to corn tortilla ratio. And finally, the LITTLE MARKET COCKTAIL ($10.50) was refreshing and went down too easily. Although completely packed on a Saturday night, service was efficient and attentive. The bussers did a phenomenal job; water glasses were continually filled and finished dishes were quickly removed from the table. Mercadito would be great for a date or a group of friends. I don't mind paying more if the food and cocktails are this good and the atmosphere is this cool.
(4)
Rosa B.
Came here for dinner before going to the Goodman to see a play. Amazing food and service. It is authentic mexican food and the staff is great and very on top of things. We tried a couple different guacs and margaritas and split the carne tacos which were to die for. our waiter was very informative on the menu after stating we had never been there. he made suggestions and was polite. even people who weren't serving us were considerate that we had everything we needed. i love this place and am going back next week. i cant wait to get some of my friends to come with me and just drink some great drinks and awesome food.
(5)
Mary T.
When I saw my meal this was the first thought that popped into my head: "What the f...are you kidding me? These are tiny; real tacos eat these things for breakfast!" I'll back up a little, I came here with my co-worker birthday club for lunch. The two birthday girls chose Mercadito and spoke quite highly of it. I'll admit, I entered skeptical seeing as the reviews for this place are very mixed, but I hoped to fall on the love side of the love-hate divide. Our server was very nice, he explained that the plates were smaller and intended for sharing. He ended up being very attentive throughout the meal. We started out with the shrimp ceviche. I'm not wild about ceviche, it always falls short with me and this was really no exception, I did like the flatbread it was served with though. We also ordered guacamole, which I don't like, but it received rave reviews from the rest of the table. I was torn between the shrimp, mahi and tilapia tacos, but settled on the tilapia ones because they were grilled, not fried. I also ordered the arroz verde - green rice with cheese. When they started delivering our food I got excited; the carnitas, carne and mahi tacos arrived and looked quite good. The tacos weren't huge, but they were generous with the proteins and toppings. Then my meal came... I had the aforementioned reaction because here is what I got for $10.50 (or $3.50 per taco) - 3 mini tortillas with a portion of tilapia on each about the size of a flash drive. Each taco was covered in sauce and had a sliver of avocado that may have been thinner than a pencil! From a taste perspective the tacos were excellent, the sauce on them was amazing. From a value perspective they failed miserably; my tacos were so skimpy I could have rolled the tortilla around the fish at least 1.5 times. I also could have eaten at least one more plate of them and I wasn't abnormally hungry; the idea that this plate was meant for sharing is a joke. If a co-worker had attempted to take a taco I would've stabbed them with my fork (does that qualify for worker's comp?). The arroz verde was disappointing too - too cheesy and bland; I was happy I ordered it, otherwise I would've needed to grab a snack to make it all the way to dinner. The dessert menu didn't strike my fancy so I passed, but my co-workers split the torrejas de bolillo. It got good reviews and did seem like a portion suited for 2 or 3 to share. You won't find me racing back here, especially on my dime. There are plenty of other great Mexican restaurants in the city, I just don't find this a good value for my money especially since everything (including chips and salsa) is a la carte. TIP: They do have all you can eat tacos after 10 or 11 (depending on the night) for $23; good idea in theory, but IMO all you can eat anything at that late an hour is a recipe for disaster. Note: You can't mix and match tacos, all three have to be the same; I find that pretty ridiculous.
(3)
Jenny L.
started with guac and lobster ceviches. its super difficult to go wrong w guac. im not sure if i would want to order lobster ceviche again next time. it was so-so. yummy tacos! we always get chicken and beef. beef can be a little heavy in my opinion. regardless, tastes great. wanted to try something new, so we ordered stuffed pepper- which was good. def expect fun atmosphere. i wish it was a bit quieter.. sound volume is waaay out of control. the tables are too close to one another; too many people talking over each other; music is blasting from speakers everywhere. by the end of dinner, i walked out with husky voice and almost deaf.
(3)
Matt L.
Orale. If you like the comida Mexican and you're pelotando, I highly recomiendo checking this place afuera. Cacahuetes in your carnitas taco? Why not. Best habanero salsa ever? Si. Guacamole? OK (Spanish for okay). Fried plantains? Pinche yes! Mahi mahi ceviche? No tanto - kind of disappointing actually. The cocktail list wasn't malo, but not quite as bueno as I'd expectar. I did have one marg that was literally en fuego. It was buena onda. You apagar the fire by pushing the floating limon filled with liquor down into the liquid beneath it. A lot of the drinks seem to have mezcal or anejo tequila in them, which I find a bit overpowering and just unnecessario. I also had a michelada, and on the menu, one of the ingredients is "secrets". Um, que? I definitivamente could not afford to comer and drink at Mercadito a menudo - I'm not Ricky Martin, but for an occasion especial, it's a fun place with accessible food. Good musica tambien, despite the fact that it was on a loop. We heard Calvin Harris - No Estoy Solo at least two veces, and I think Mika - Tranquilo, Take It Facil was on there.
(4)
Zuzzi E.
Let me preface this by saying this review is for Mercadito and not Double A Lounge (the bar downstairs). I was in town last weekend, quite excited to catch up with good friends at Mercadito (a restaurant they have been raving about). The only reservations they had left were at 9:30 PM-- really close to the tail end of when I can eat without going into a food coma and missing out on the rest of the night. Anyhow, we show up on time and are told to wait a few minutes. A few minutes turns into many minutes. And to make a long-story short, we are not seated until a bit after 10:30 (a full hour after our reservation). We assumed because they were an hour late seating us, they would comp us for the drinks we were forced to drink while waiting. Nope. Not even after my friend suggested retribution in the form of free drink or dessert. I understand being busy and running behind. But I really dislike when a restaurant doesn't take the steps to offset their inconvenience to customers.
(1)
Kathryn B.
Great recommendation! Three of us went and split chicken and pork tacos, chicken enchilada, rice, and tried 2 salsas. Being from Texas, it is rough that Mexican restaurants do not serve chips and salsa upon being seated. Also being from Texas, the salsa was much a disappointment. When our waiter told us to try the spicy salsa, it was hardly what I call spicy. Their salsas had an orange coloring to them, interesting. The place was beautifully decorated and had a great hang out vibe to them. Our waiter was nice and gave us good recommendations! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(4)
Melissa C.
Ohhhh... Nooooo.... Place is way to overprice to have drinks that are not even mixed well.... I will say that the atmosphere was awesome. It was a group of 30 girls for a bachelor party. They had reserved the downstairs lounge room for us. Loved the room and it really accommodated us perfectly. Although the food was okay, I really was not impressed with the overly priced drinks. Given the fact that we did have a large group, our server did not accurately input our drinks, she over charged us...... It sucked that I had to explain to her that our table did not have 8 mojitos, her response "Well some of the girls, were jumping from table to table" My response: &%#^#*&$(*& Won't be going there anytime soon.... There are plenty of "SCENE" places in Chicago.... NO need to spend $15 on a taco....
(2)
Silvia Z.
I've been to Mercadito on three occasions. Two just for dinner and once for restaurant week. Every experience so far has been great! I really recommend this place to everyone, just for the experience, and to try a more upscale Mexican dining. It is a bit more costly to eat here, the dishes come with about four tacos each, but don't be deceived! You will get full...and it is quality food. I've tried most of their tacos. Tacos that stand out..the pescado tacos, just the right size for the taco, most of all, it HAS flavor, with the poblano tomatillo on top, and I remember very distinctly, a sliver of fresh avocado-it makes for the perfect bite! They also had another fish taco, beer battered mahi mahi which I would recommend. Their tacos al pastor was good as well. Another item from their menu I would like to point out is their guacamole.They really try to be creative when it comes to their guacamole and I recommend trying their mango version. (Don't try the manzana guacamole, reminded me of the texture of durian...) For drinks, I would try the micheladas, rimmed with the salt/spices. YUM! Pros: good dining experience, good food, great decor and atmosphere Negatives: sometimes loud, depending on what night/time you go (later in the night)...may not be the best place for a date at that time. Also...price! Don't expect cheap! Although, they have Taco Tuesdays- $2.75 for the summer.
(5)
Connie M.
I enjoyed my food, my drink was alright, but their air conditioning is--inexcusible. They have some ridiculously pathetic ice-machine looking thing towards the back of the restaurant, by the bathrooms, that I think is supposed to function as A/C. It blows over about a 5 foot radius, leaving the remainder (like, 95%) of the restaurant HOTTER than a sauna. I found myself dripping on the food, and spice of the food, which I usually appreciate, made me sweat even more. Granted, it was 90 degrees yesterday evening, but what this effectively means is that this restaurant is intolerable for about a quarter of the year. Would I'd go back in the winter? The memory is last night is so.. traumatizing (tasting my sweat on the food?) that I doubt it. They don't have anything that unique or great enough to merit it. And a final note: why do restaurants play music at club volumes? To make the atmosphere even worse? To distract you from the heat? I just don't get it.
(2)
Gil C.
Tacos were exquisite! Try a variety, it's worth it. Guacamole is a meal of it's own =)
(5)
J P.
Oops, I waited until Friday at 5pm to try and make reservations for dinner. The hotel concierge suggested I "try to get into" Mercadito. Open Table had tables... guess this place isn't as hip as they try to hard to be. We got to Mercadito and walked into something like a club scene (think mini-skirts, platforms, and jersey shore hair), and apparently without a 6" mini on I wasn't quite "in" enough to get a table. Even with a reservation we were told to go ahead and hang out at the bar. Fifteen minutes later we finally got a table, and then waited ten minutes for a waitress to show up. No deal on a waitress ever showing up... but hey, the water guy was on it. Anyways, long story short we walked out and I feel really great about our decision. Unfortunately notoriously great food doesn't make up for shitty service guys.
(1)
Leah C.
mexican food served tapas style... my friends and i skipped over the tequilla offerings and tried out some wine - i really enjoyed my rose on a toasty summer evening. we shared the traditional and mango guacs at the bar. the bartender was nice enough to let us sample some of the guacs to make sure there wasn't too much heat for my friend's sensitive palate! the mushroom tostadas are seriously some of the most deliciously prepared mushrooms i have ever tasted! the hongas tacos were equally good. my big complaint - and it's a big one - is they highly encourage ordering a variety but yet they do not allow you to "mix and match" the taco platters. each taco platter comes with FOUR tacos. i'm not sure why you shouldn't be able to at able to choose two fillings per platter. i hear de cero allows for that...
(4)
niki q.
Great small plates and drinks! The service was really fast, the atmosphere was nice, we will be back on our next trip to Chicago!
(5)
Darrin D.
I love the food, the people and the staff. This place is great! The carne tacos are awesome as the whole adobo marinated chicken. My favorite drink would have to be the el pirata (tequila, pineapple chile, and beer). After dinner head downstairs to Double A. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
CHIYOKO H.
We were a little cramped with 8 ppl to a half circle booth..but it was ok-. The food was delicious, I recommend the guacamole we tried the mango and the original. Steak tacos, Shrimp tacos (a bit spicy), Mahi Mahi tacos were def my favorite. I also tried the strawberry margaritas-yum.
(4)
Patty T.
Mercadito is a great place to go for a light meal with friends before a night out on the town or if you're up for some active people watching...but not good if you're really hungry, want to have good conversation, or on a date. The scene is fun/loud/trendy and the food is pretty good. ...but the tables are crammed together, the portions are a bit small, the prices are a bit high (for what you're getting), and the music is cranked way up.
(3)
Adam K.
Over priced, over hyped and not very impressive. Our waiter lacked basic etiquette, continually interrupted us and was overly pushy. The tacos couldn't compare (size, flavor and price) to the taco stands and hole in the wall restaurants in and around California (avenue). My recommendation is pass, unless you're looking to "impress" by how big of a bill you can run up.
(2)
Caitlin A.
A great place to go if you like tequila. They have so many different kinds of margaritas it is always hard for me to choose. The food is pretty good as well. The only complaint I have with the food is that you cannot mix and match tacos. You have to get 3 of the same one. Still, over all this is a fun place to check out if you are in the mood for contemporary Mexican.
(4)
Jason H.
My wife and I headed down to River North this Friday and were able to walk right in and get a table with no wait. The place was packed (6:30 pm or so) but not unpleasantly so. We proceeded to have one of the most fantastic Mexican meals we've ever had (and she's from New Mexico, with a pretty critical palette for spicy cuisine). The small, tapas-style dishes were a real delight. My wife is a vegetarian, which limits my options when sharing dishes in a situation like this, but I was really pleased with each dish we had. We got the mango guacamole (spicy and delicious, with just enough mango to make it interesting--not overwhelming at all), the veggie tacos, and the veggie quesadillas. We could have happily had another two or three dishes. The service was prompt and friendly, and even though they were quite busy, we didn't feel rushed at all. My wife had a margarita with habanero pepper (just enough to add an interesting flavor). Highly recommended!
(4)
Katie P.
Went here last night with some girlfriends and was super disappointed. First off I got a cocktail called "the big nose goes to Mexico" and it was 80% ice. Ridiculous for $13.00. When I asked the waiter about it he said the liquid is measured so if I ask for less ice next time it won't make a difference. I expected a regular sized drink for $13.00 and this set the tone for the night. We ordered 2 guacamoles: traditional and mango but they only served it with maybe 3 small flat bread pieces so after we each had 3 bites we needed more bread or chips. Then we each ordered tacos and while they were good, they weren't anything special and again were super pricey ($14.50 for 4 mini tacos). Both my girl friends agreed we won't be coming back, due to it being super expensive and having stingy drinks.
(2)
Jessica P.
It was eh. The food was forgettable and in small portions; not worth the price. I've had better Mexican at a more reasonable price. We got the traditional guac and the verde salsa (bland) to start followed by pescado and carnitas de puerco. Enjoyed the traditional Margarita and the little market Margarita. Positives: We sat right away without reservations on a Tuesday night at 6PM (lucky night it looks like) Cons: Service, food, price, and noise level
(2)
Karen P.
We had a reservation for six on a very sultry Saturday evening. Our reservation was honored on time. Our waiter was personable and the serving assistants took away our empty plates, filled our water and made the service very good. The restaurant is upscale, trendy, typical River North crowds. It was quite noisy so I would not recommend this place for a romantic, relaxing meal but it is an interesting place to people watch. Our table of six shared the many selections of appetizers and tacos. Everything was prepared exquisitely and deliciously. I had the carne asada, which was a little salty, spicey but delicious. One of our guests ordered the quesadillas with shrimp which really looked good. We ordered three desserts for the table--all outstanding and simple. Who would think a fried flour tortilla with cinnamon and sugar could be so good with a side of melted chocolate, infused with orange? Even the cappuccino was delicioso. I would like to return for a late lunch and an afternoon off work with a great margarita or two! Definitely returning with a group!
(4)
Payal G.
Need to start by stating that I did not eat here but I did have one drink and that one drink was kick ass. In more ways than one. 1. The price of the drink. $14 for a drink. WOW ! A little pricy for me... 2. That one $14 drink kicked my ass for real. It was one strong ass drink. And for those that know me know I can drink. So I would totally go back for one drink to put me in the mood. 3. All their drinks were very creative and fun. My drink was on fire. Really! I was a little lost on what to do because the bartender lite the drink and walked away. I tried to blow it out and that did not work. So I wish they helped me out a little! 4. I tried my cousin and husband's drinks and their drinks are just as amazing as my drink. My cousin fell over from one drink (she's a light weight AND they're drinks are just that strong) 5. They have a lot of crazy drinks that are oh so yummy and strong. Oh - their margaritas were beyond perfect too! 6. I had to wait and fight the crowd for a good 15 minutes to get to the bar then another 15 minutes to get a drink. Thank God I forgot to wear earrings that night. So my ass was kicked but it was a fun kick ass! Anyways, I really want to go back for brunch and dinner. It is a place that you have to RSVP. Also if you don't like crowds and loud music then this place is not for you. So RSVP; highly recommended!
(4)
leyla a.
I truly love the food at Mercadito, the food gets 5 stars. The tacos are excellent so is the barbacoa (slow cooked meats stewed in juices & served with tortillas). The cocktails are also tasty, even though I am not much of a cocktail girl. I do, however, LOVE michelada (beer, lime juice & some assorted sauces) - absolutely fantastic for a hangover. Additionally, Mercadito has a great tequila list. There does tend to be a wait Thursday through Saturday nights but get over it. If you don't want to wait, I am sure there are plenty of open tables at Chilli's. I am really sick & tired of people in complaining that they had to wait. Have a cocktail. The best part about Mercadito is Sunday brunch. You should certainly give it a try if you already have not.
(4)
Mike O.
The best selection of tequilas and guacamole's that I have ever encountered! We had the street tacos which were very tasty. Overall...I would recommend when in Chicago.
(4)
Paul B.
Wow, very impressed with this chic River North establishment! Margaritas good (no Sangria, boo), spicy pineapple guacamole? Yes please! On a Saturday Mercadito was very loud due to the multiple concurrent bachelorette parties but I didn't seem to care very much. If that doesn't give you an idea of the male/female ratio that fine evening, maybe the fact that women were coming out of the men's restroom at 8pm is? Anyhow the carnitas were absolutely the best I've ever had. Hands down. No questions. I almost gave Mercadito 5 stars simply based on the carnitas... mmmmm Definitely check this place out
(4)
Tiffany K.
I came to Mercadito for dinner on a weekday evening (back in July '10). It was super packed! Figures.. because the food was really really reallllly good! We started off with 2 different types of guacamole. I think we ordered the tradicional and toreado. I remember one being spicy. Anyway, I don't think anyone can go wrong with guac. We then ordered chicken tacos and tampiquena (marinated skirt steak served with rice, beans and tortilla). The hot entree wasn't that great compared to the tacos. I remember telling my boyfriend, the next time we come back, we're just going to order tacos and guac. Oh! I also had the margarita that was served with a lit up lime right dab in the middle. Pretty neat and prettttty tasty! It's a small drink but verrrrry strong. ;) For those of you who have not been to Mercadito yet, I suggest you order tacos and guac! You won't be disappointed. :)
(5)
Phil P.
Pretty darn expensive, and not a lot of food for the price. I was looking for some authentic mexican food, but this is more like some fancy-shmancy mexican tapas. I do like that they offer a "family brunch" option on the menu, where you get to try a few different menu items for one price. I wish we knew, though, that they gave us LESS food of each menu item, because we would have not gone with it. The guac we got was pretty damn good... and there were two beef taco options. One so-so, the other top notch. Wish I remembered which was which! Bottom line: If you're hungry, go elsewhere!
(3)
Eleni D.
My BFFs and I were ready for fun on the first night of our girls weekend in Chicago - and from the moment we stepped into the lively and energetic Mercadito, we were sure it could deliver. Coming from Toronto, where most of our trendy resto-lounges serve Italian or Asian-fusion, it was refreshing to go somewhere 'hip' where authentic margaritas, flautas and several different types of guacamole are on the menu. Speaking of which - the mango guac is a MUST HAVE. Ever since I've returned home, I've been dreaming of it. Now that I think of it, Mercadito should come out with a cookbook like so many other popular restaurants do (e.g. Grazie in Toronto). The music is loud (the DJ is super, by the way), making it very difficult to talk, but we were so focused on the food at first, we barely noticed each other. We attacked the flautas and tacos when they were served, then ordered the churro dessert to cap off our dining experience. Love Mercadito. Please open a branch in Toronto.
(4)
Danny H.
Came here for a work lunch. I had a torta w/ fries and the table had this guac tray and a salsa tray with chips. Torta was decent but the GUAC/SALSA WAS AMAZING.
(4)
Martie M.
My boyfriend and I went for brunch last Sunday. For $18 pp., we had steak tampiquena with eggs and a potato/cactus dish that was out of this world. The price also includes a brunch cocktail. Beautiful atmosphere, nice group of people dining, and perfect portion for the price. Definitely going again.
(5)
Erica W.
I have to bump Mercadito up to 5 stars. The food and drinks are simply delicious, to the point where I couldn't fully concentrate on the conversation. The chips and guac are the best I've tasted. The chips are made in-house, and they are perfectly salted with just the right crunch. The guac comes in so many varieties - my favorite is the mango. The margaritas - ridiculous! I just got a classic margarita with mango - off the chain. Went great w/the mango guac. The tilapia tacos have just a little bit of crispiness on the outside that I really like. I've taken friends here from out of town, and they just love it. It's got just enough of a scene, and the food and drinks are fantastic. The only drawback is that they tend to trip when it comes to having the whole party there before you get seated, so make sure that all of your party gets there on time. Mercadito is now officially one of my top restaurant picks for Chicago.
(5)
Megan H.
Met some girlfriends for dinner here on a Saturday. We had a 9 pm reservation but didn't get seated until 10. Not too happy about that. I was told that this is the norm. Yes, they did comp our first round of drinks but really? We had to stand in the super crowded bar getting bumped into left and right by every person trying to get a drink. We were all required to be there on time before we would get seated (and we all were). I feel that the restaurant should have been held to the same standard. This is just poor management. I'm ok waiting 15 minutes for a table but an hour??? Since there were 7 of us, we had to get the "family style" menu. Personally, I was happy with this option as we all got to try a little bit of the menu. I felt the amount of food was adequate although they were VERY stingy with the salsa. The food was good. However, I don't see myself ever going back.
(2)
Anne D.
I really wanted to like this place, but alas, I was very disappointed. I came here for lunch today because they were advertising $1 tacos! What a deal, right? Well, the tacos were literally about 2 inches in diameter - even smaller than their normal (already small) tacos. They also had a limit of one per person. Lovely. So we still had to order full entrees. The tiny chicken taco was alright, but it had very little flavor. Definitely nothing to write home about. I got the corn masa "quesadillas," which actually seemed more like small empanadas. Not that I don't like empanadas, but it just seemed a little weird. There seemed to be ingredients in the quesadillas that were not listed on the menu. I absolutely cannot stand beans, and although beans were not listed as an ingredient, there they were, mixed in with everything else. Other than that, the quesadillas were fine - not horrible, but just OK. Once again, there was very little flavor or anything interesting to speak of. I was expecting it to wow me, considering the high price and small portions! They got the order wrong for one of my dining companions and graciously comped her meal, so we did appreciate that. The restaurant itself was cute inside, and the water refills were constant (the busboy deserved the tip more than the so-so waitress!) All in all, I don't know that I'd come back here, unless someone else was treating. Big prices for small portions of mediocre food. I'll stick with my neighborhood taqueria!
(2)
Chris B.
Food was great, but definitely over priced...I don't care who you are, you never pay more than $10 for tacos it's just not right. But again the food was delicious, I had the Carne Tacos. They were small and $15 but had great flavor. What I really disliked was how tiny my margarita was for $11. Again very good, but when I think Mexican food and margaritas I think $15 for 24 oz, not $12 for 8 oz. As far as the atmosphere I thought it was well decorated and they sat us right away (of course it was a Monday night). But I have to agree with the people talking about the loud music, I get that it wants to be a posh lounge where "everyone" goes but people don't go partying at 7pm on a Monday night (if you do check yourself in to AA), most people want a somewhat quiet dinner. The music choices were great though, just turn it down from 5-9 or something. All in all, I would say if you really want incredible Mexican go north (Rogers Park, Uptown, even Lakeview), and not river north, they don't know what ethnic food is, they just cater to the tourist and money grubbers of this city.
(3)
Patty S.
If you don't have a reservation at this place, don't think that you'll get a table Saturday night at 7PM. The last time we were there, we sat at the bar. It's first come, first serve and you can order off the full menu. Eating at the bar is an experience because you can talk to the bartenders and learn more about the restaurant and their favorite dishes. First off let me say that they have a very inventive drink menu. Right off the bat, I know I wanted to try b.n.g.t.m (big nose goes to mexico). They flip the lime inside out, fill it with liquor, light it on fire, and float it on top of the drink - talk about a show! And when you're ready, you just push it down (with a skewer) to put the fire out. Although it was a bit pricey (@ $13), it was worth every penny. I will most definitely go back for this drink. Now, let's talk about the food. When we were there, they have the $30 tasting menu for 2. It consisted of choice of 3 guacs, 2 ceviche, and 4 types of tacos (1 for each person), a side dish, AND a desert. I love the tasting menu, it's a great way to eat and try a variety of different dishes. My favorite guac was the mole poblano. It had a great smokey and sweet flavor to it. The ceviche was good, but it didn't blow my mind; the 2 we ordered was good and I would eat it again. The main part of the meal were the tacos. We ordered the: pastor, estilo baja, mole, and carne. My favorite 2 were the carne, and pastor. The only critique is that they were a bit salty. I think someone was a bit heavy handed with the salt when they were marinated. Besides that I loved all the favors. It was like a party in my mouth. For desert, we got the flan made with goat milk. It was very dense and sweet. Although according to our bartender, it was exactly how he remembered growing up in Mexico and that's enough of an endorsement for me! ;) I was stuffed by the end of this meal. I could barely eat the flan and only took a bit. We also barely touch the rice and beans we ordered so we took it home. What a great way to remember the delicious meal we had from the night before! Next time I will bring the girls for a fun girl's night!
(4)
Mike L.
Remember that girl in high school who was slept with every dude on the football team and thought she was hot shit for it, but really she was just a bitchy slut? That's Mercadito. Mercadito clearly loves Mercadito. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is that the sex, I mean food, was pretty good. Plenty of reviews talk about the food, so I'm just going to focus on my experience as a customer. I went there for lunch with a big group of co-workers, 11 of us in total. We showed up at noon, and the place was half full. It's a big space, but it wasn't quite the bustling scene I've seen there at night. First of all, our waitress took our drink orders - coke or iced tea? Really, those are the only 2 options we are allowed to have? Made their lives easier when they came to refill, but I really don't care. I stuck with water. Then she forced us onto the sharing menu, since we were such a big group. There were two options that were identical except that one had cevice and the other a botana option (quesadilla, etc.). Half of us wanted to do the cevice menu, half the botana, but the waitress insisted that we all have to get the same thing. When we started pushing back and even asked if we could just order off the regular menu instead, she responded by saying, with a straight face, "we're one of the busiest lunch places in the city." Half the tables were empty the entire time we were there! Our entire table was pissed at this lady, and we would have almost definitely got up and left if we weren't such a big group. The crappiest part was that served each course split on two different platters, so it would have been ridiculously easy to let us do half cevice and half botana. Summary - I don't think I saw a single Mercadito employee smile the entire time we were in there. Least accommodating place I've been to in a while. Food was pretty good but not worth $21.50 a head for a lunch of tacos and guacamole. Next time I'm going to Chipotle.
(2)
Linde P.
I had heard rave reviews of this place and it's tacos, and I just couldn't believe it! That is, until I actually tried them, and they were delicious!! We had the tacos de carne asada, mahi, and pastor. All were very uniquely prepared and appropriately flavored. We also tried the guacamole, which is pretty small but still very good! My only disappointments were the shrimp enchiladas and the michelada. The shrimp enchiladas were just too bland for me and the shrimp itself were just blanched. They could add a ton more flavor by seasoning and grilling the shrimp. The michelada just tasted too much like Worcestershire sauce, which I would never want in a michelada. Otherwise, the food was outstanding! It's definitely meant for groups though, because tacos come in a minimum order of four and you can't mix and match. So just to try three tacos my boyfriend and I would have to eat 12 tacos! It was also VERY loud!! It was fun for us, but if you want to be able to actually have a conversation during dinner be sure to plan it do you're done by 8.
(4)
Sarah Z.
A birthday party on a Saturday night for 10+ people: Seating in the front... Great, lively atmosphere! Some chips and guacamole, on the spicy side, but yummy. An excellent margarita. A bite of mahi mahi ceviche. A bite of shrimp ceviche. An excellent margarita. Some kind of salad which was good. A steak taco, very good was the consensus. An excellent margarita. A pork taco, way too spicy was the consensus. A shrimp taco, which was okay. An excellent margarita. $95 per person. In my opinion... a rip off.
(3)
Lindsay S.
My rating reflects the most unprofessional, unorganized, rudest service I have ever received in my life. I recently held a cocktail party here and began communicating with the event coordinator (EC) and owner in Oct with regards to the event potentially being held in Dec. I plan a similar event each month at a new restaurant and, to date, have worked with about 6 venues, successfully. At first everything was fine. Responses were prompt and I met the EC in person to see the space/discuss details. The space was small, however the EC assured me that we could arrange the tables in a certain way to give us more space. I decided to push back the event until Feb since I knew our Dec crowd would be too large. They were excited and followed up promptly via email with a special cocktail and appetizer menu. Early Feb I reached back out in attempt to re-confirm the details (date and specials) and it all went downhill. I received no response from the EC. After 2 days, I sent another email. No response. I then left a voice mail, which was returned via email saying they were "still working on it". After a week of no response, I sent another email (copying the owner) stating that if I didn't hear back from them soon I would have to cancel the event (it was a week and a half away at this point). I received a 1-sentence email from the EC saying "whatever we agreed on before is still fine". Having planned events before and knowing the importance of getting things documented I wrote back asking, "ok...so the specials are still xyz, correct?" Also, I was still waiting on confirmation of the end time of the event and also that the space could be arranged as we previously discussed. After a day of not hearing back, I left yet another voice mail for the EC. After a total of 3 days, I crafted an email with a few "choice" words and was about to send it when I got an email from the owner asking if I had heard back from the EC. This was about my fifth clue that there was a chink in the armor. I expressed to him my discontent with the communication and service thus far, and also tried to confirm the details (after all- that's the most important thing). He responded promptly, apologized, and said he'd take over the event. However, he basically changed everything I had already discussed with the EC- he had the event time wrong, said he couldn't do the specials that had been "confirmed", and couldn't arrange the space as it had been discussed. I explained that the space wouldn't be big enough without the changes and that I don't bring 85 people to a restaurant that's not willing to offer us a special in return. I corrected the times but also assured him we would be out of the space when needed (which in effect cut our event at least an hour short compared to past events). He was willing to accommodate our requests. But then on a *hunch* I decided to make sure we were on the same page regarding the date of the event (I only spoke with the EC regarding this) and thank God I did. I got an email back saying that he thought it was another date, and that they could no longer host the event (in 5 days). He offered up another, smaller space- I said that it wouldn't work and that he had by EOD to tell me whether or not they could host. They could. At this point I wasn't expecting much, but I definitely wasn't expecting the rude and borderline slimy service that we received at the actual event. The owner, who said he would be there for the event, wasn't. When I got there, the manager on duty tried to increase the price of the drinks yet again, and also completely switched the food specials to a much more expensive offering. I explained that that wasn't what I had spoken with the owner about (and could prove via email), and he said sorry, but you're still getting a good deal. I eventually got the drink prices switched back but he wouldn't budge on the food. I didn't feel like arguing but let him know he would have a lot of unhappy customers who expected a different price. I had multiple guests throughout the night complain to me that the wait staff was rude and unorganized- forgetting orders, general snootiness. The manager also tried to convince me that the free appetizers we had been offered had been served which they hadn't. The icing on the cake was when, at the end of the event, the staff was literally shoving people out of the space and pushing tables into guests' backs and legs (a simple 'please move to the bar area' would have sufficed). I'm legitimately shocked at the horrible business that was conducted at this venue. I'm not sure how they do things in New York, but in Chicago guests get treated with respect and business is conducted in a professional, civilized manner. That would also entail that staff members communicate to each other and try to uphold some sort of honor. It's truly a shame, as the food here is good, but I don't think I will ever be back to this venue by choice.
(1)
B R Hungry X.
I am giving them 4 stars because their food and cocktail mixology is some of the best Ive ever had. They gave me my first experience and meaning to food and drinks having different depths of flavor. we ordered chips with salsa and guacamole, where you can choose the salsa you want. We had their tacos which I crave for. at first glance, they are small, but filling. The lobster tacos are a must, same with the steak, the tortillas are soft and are made fresh and very tasty and authentic. The mixed drinks on their menu are sooooo good! Try the Michelada or something called, I think a market cocktail? so yummy. I cant wait to go back again. I wouldve given them 5 stars, but the seating is tight, you practically have to climb over eachother to get in and out of your seat, (hopefully you dont get placed into low seats, go to the front of the restaurant and youll see what I mean, it feels like you are sitting at a kiddie table, you will be very close to strangers eating by you. Its loud with the music and the chatter. For me, the great food and drinks made it worth it. :) a little pricey, but expected for the area, overall, give it a try!
(4)
Christina C.
This place.. I wasn't a fan of their drinks. But I'm positive other people would LOVE them. They are unique and fun and festive. I am just a newbie at drinking so I can't appreciate good shit yet... :) I've only had the guac, and the ceviche. but Holy smokes batman they are amazing. I will absolutely go back for the full dining experience.. Once I get my paycheck. Beautiful place, I wish I was swank and my apartment looked like this place. But I digress. If you're looking for a great time, with great food and great company, go here. You don't be sorry!
What a fun spot! I love how lively and enthusiastic the staff are at this place. I've been here once for late night bites with a group of 8 after a wine tasting event and once again for a after work dinner with an old friend. Both times I thought the service was excellent and the food was satisfying. I've had nearly all the tacos and I think my favorite is the pato - duck confit with prune mole and pumpkin puree. Very rich and sweet. The only thing I don't enjoy is that you have to get 4 of each type of taco. This works when you're with a large group, but not so great when there are just two of you. In any case, I also like the brussel sprouts with chorizo and albeit on the pricey side, I really enjoyed the langosta (lobster). The sauce was to die for. Now, I cannot say enough about the crazy drinks here. The margaritas are perfect, but the Big Nose Goes to Texas drink is on FIRE --- literally! The drinks are so tasty and addictive. Just remember, for $13/drink, after a couple, they really add up. It's not necessarily a cheap night out, but it's definitely a fun and memorable spot.
(4)
Gretchen C.
If I had to rate on the food/drinks alone, i would give this restaurant 5/5. However, the last few times I have been there, the bus service has been rushed, and I was left feeling like they needed us out of there. I was there on a Tuesday evening, allbeit, fairly crowded for a Tuesday, still, there was no reason for the bus boy to come by, pick up a drink that wasn't finished, lift it up to see whether or not it was finished, only for us to tell him to put it back down. That's just poor training if you ask me. Also, we were sitting to the right of the door, and one of the hostess' decided it would be a good idea to spray the front door with windex, only to have gotten some of the spray on my back. I would like to tell them to just tone it down a notch. You've got your food to keep you up and running, so take it easy on the other stuff. Don't rush the customers, and easy with the disinfecting. Aside from that, good stuff! If anything, hold onto your drinks if you want to savor them 'til the last drop. FOOD IS GREAT THOUGH!!!!
(4)
Robert F.
Went here last Friday night fully expecting to wait an hour or so ( we called ahead ). So we go and the hostesses are typical for Chicago, kinda rude and just really short...We give them our name and they just say ok....So my gf and I just stand there and wonder "are they going to just remember our faces and hunt us down when a table is ready?"- the place was crowded and loud as shiz! They just stand there with this look of amazement on their faces that we are surprised by that...Anyway this was about 7:15. We go to the bar for some drinks and ask for some chips and salsa which is like $4, whatever ya know...well they give you like 20 chips and literally a tablespoon of salsa. I mean you are kidding right? We ask for more and the bartender chick tells us that will be a whole other order?! I mean come on...seriously...are you that hard up that a teaspoon of salsa is an extra $4. So an hour goes by and I go up around 8:25-8:30 and ask if our name is about to be up, and I notice on their computer the clock is like 15 minutes slow?? So they tell me that they quoted me an hour..It HAS BEEN an hour! We ended up just eating at Moe's Cantina and having an awesome bartender that hooked us up with shots of Patron' and had a great meal. This place is lame and won't be around for long if they nickel and dime you for everything. That would be like Gibson's Steakhouse charging you $4 for some bread...REALLY?
(1)
Eliza Z.
I came here with a big party (about 15 people) for someone's birthday. First off, the wait. We had to wait for almost an hour on a Friday night, in a hugely crowded restaurant. There was no room to stand near the bar, there was no room to stand near the door not to mention it was freezing. So we got some drinks and all 15 of us stood awkwardly in the way of everyone. The drinks were pretty terrible. Overly sweet in most cases, and the bartender recommended to get some drinks "with smoke", which sounded really cool, but basically amounts to the bartender dropping a ton of liquid smoke into your drink. Not very appetizing at all, tastes like licking a cold bbq grill. Once we were finally seated, it took about an hour before we got any food. We had to do the tasting menu, so I tried a whole bunch of things. Guacamole - you get three with the tasting menu. Every single one of them tasted the same to me, with the exception of the pomegranate, which tasted the same but with pomegranate seeds. Salsas - not very impressive, I can't even remember which ones we ordered. But at least we could taste a difference between the 3 of them. Ceviche - shrimp and mahi-mahi. I don't know how they even call this a ceviche, because the seafood is cooked. Bland. Tacos - the only one anyone cared for were the steak ones. Every other one was pretty bland and basically was just some meat on a tortilla, no onions, tomatoes, anything. Not so great. We took desert (flan) to go. Granted I tasted it the next morning, but it wasn't the right texture at all. So after about a 4 hour ordeal of a dinner (it took forever between each course) and about $45/person, I got lesser quality Mexican food than I could have made at home. I definitely will not be returning here. If I'm going to drop this kind of money on Mexican food, it will be an excellent entree at Frontera Grill, not some tiny tasteless tacos at an overly trendy and crowded lounge.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Very Loud Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jeffrey M.
For me the cocktail program is the real draw here. The food is good, but at the price leaves me underwhelmed. Service at times can be questionable, but the bartenders and servers are fun people. I love the atmosphere and the decor. I don't go anymore expecting mind blowing food. I go to have a good time. Four drinks in it no longer bothers me that their food would taste a hell of a lot better at a 30% lower price point.
(4)Brooke L.
Hands down this is my favorite restaurant of all time. I've been there on several occasions and have yet to be disappointed. The Dorado Ceviche and shrimp tacos are my favorite. I have to give a shout out to Wendy, Belle, and Rodrigo for their exceptional service. They are knowledgeable about the menu so if you can't decide let them decide for you. Their recommendations are sure to please. The food is amazing, the staff and atmosphere are fun, and the drinks are delicious.
(5)Noopur L.
I'm only giving two stars rather than ONE star because they comp'd our dinner/drinks. Even then - I left vowing never to come back. My boyfriend and I made a reservation for 2 at 9:30 pm on a Friday night. We decided to get there an hour early and let the hostess know that if anything opens up, she should let us know. She said she'd likely be able to seat us by 9 pm, which we thought was great! The place was packed beyond belief with no standing room. What I didn't understand was why they weren't seating more people when there were plenty of tables open in the lounge area... like hello? You aren't that hip and trendy. Seat your customers! We checked back with the hostess and she kept pushing back the time and we certainly understood if 9:30 pm was the best she could do, since that was the original reservation time. 10:30 pm rolls around and after my last attempt to check-in she said she'd only be able to seat us in the lounge. So I put on my coat and leave. My boyfriend comes out and says they'll pay for our meal if we stay - the only ray of light for a cold, hungry brown girl. The food was good but certainly nothing spectacular. I'm pretty sure I can get ceviche and tacos anywhere else for cheaper. Hey folks - if you want good service and EXCELLENT Mexican food - go to DE CERO in the West Loop. If the restaurant area has a wait, you should head over to the bar where you can order food and get some fast service.
(2)Megan A.
Order the pork tacos. Seriously, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Allen P.
I love their taco's!!!!!!! I just wish they weren't so expensive.
(5)Kevin T.
Overall I had a fair dining experience. Excellent cocktails, well balanced. They have a large assortment of cerviche, guac, tacos, and other food. Very tasty. It was a busy Friday and we had the restaurant week menu. They never brought out our sides. We went through our whole meal w/o our sides. We decided to ask for them to go and they only gave us one of them. Just tired of waiting we paid and left. Granted it was a busy Friday and sometimes I understand some places get a bit overwhelmed, but that's when a place can really surpass expectations. That being said, I enjoy dining more on off nights and would give this place another go.
(3)Jerome J.
Funky fusion tacos are tasty, although I still like DeCero's tacos better. They are also very inventive with their salsas, and the "cheesy rice" is ridiculously delicious. Service is excellent with very friendly and attentive wait staff. They also have a full bar with some Latin-inspired drink mixes. Nice place for a casual lunch, celebrate a birthday, dinner date or just to have a drink.
(4)David C.
Went on a weekend evening...what a scene. It's a total "club" feel...in a bad way. Total hook up joint, couldn't believe it and the music is so loud forget having a conversation. If you're looking for better than average mexican food with your friends and scoping on the opposite sex then this is your place. The food wants to be more than it is but at the end of the day pretty pedestrian. Walking out of here I smelled like I was the one frying the taco chips in the back - yuck. Won't go back here. If I were in my 20's and into the sleezy girl and guido scenen then perfect spot - but I'm not. I just figured it out, this place belongs on Rush Street or Division -
(2)R N.
I went here with a group of ladies to celebrate a birthday last weekend. I should start by saying that the food was surprisingly good, however everything else was a giant disappointment. There were about 10 different bachelorette parties there when I walked in. The decor is very loungey chic, the music blaring and the people watching was pretty entertaining. We couldn't be seated until our whole party was present and once we all arrived, with one extra person, we were told that because there were more than 6 people we would have to choose from a limited menu that started at $30 per person. The only main course for every option was tacos. I like tacos, but I felt this was super limiting for a party of 7 (how hard is it to bring out 7 different entrees??). The food was good, particularly the shrimp tacos and the portions were enough for everyone in the party, however they kept coming around and trying to take away our plates before we were finished. At one point I looked up and noticed my drink, which was probably a little less than 1/2 full had been removed from the table. I complained to our waitress, as did another friend at the table who had the same thing happen, and she apologized and brought us each HALF drinks. That was just insulting. I would not eat here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone.
(2)Emily K.
fun atmosphere. great service. great food. great drinks! everything about mercadito was fun. from the comment card t shirts to the small shareable portions... it was a great time, though pricey, and GREAT for groups and parties. our waitress, gabby, was fun and helpful. we were in a group of 6 and had a blast. customers were young and hip and fun... it was a great atmosphere. the guacamole is outstanding so don't miss it!
(4)Peggy G.
I would say overall I really enjoyed Mercadito. On food alone, it would get 5 stars. Their mango and toreado guacamoles are delicious. Their margaritas are strong and have a good balance of lime, tequila, and salt. The asado and the pollo tacos were AMAZING! I would go back just for those tacos. The pescado and the carnitas were solid good but didn't know my socks off because he pescao was slightly bland and the carnitas had a very strong pork taste. We did no get dessert. The reason I made it 4 stars was that it was very very cramped and extremely loud (and the place was only a little over half full). There were only 4 people in our party, and we had to almost yell to hear each other. Also the tables were so close together that the people that were sitting in the booth section of the tables couldn't fit to get out without moving the tables. Overall, I would go back happily, but not with a big group, and not on a very busy night..
(4)Lucien H.
Tacos here are super tasty. The other reviews bitching about the price just kind of makes me laugh. You are in a modern, swanky river north restaurant/bar! What did you expect? The asada is great and so are the guacs. Great selection of tequila and cocktails. Our server was definitely high on life but who cares I suppose. Definitely a fun hangout spot when you can afford it. Mwa ha ha.
(4)Brad F.
This place so was freakin good. The service was just ok, I know its new and they are probably gettin on their game. The food was soooo delicious!! I wish they had a 6 star option, we got flauntas, shrimp tacos, chips and salsa and guacamole, and a few other things! I don't like guac but I like it here! I'm definitely coming back for those tacos cause they were ridic, compliments to the chef!
(5)Joan M.
Super delicious tacos (not cheap!) and plantains, and very good drinks. I would suggest offering 2 different taco varieties for each plate of 4 tacos since it's hard for a party of 2 to try too many items. I thought the menu pricing was confusing for margaritas -- I thought it would be $13 each but it turned out to be $16 -- pretty steep and unexpected. The waitstaff should be instructed not to hover at the serving station by the front windows -- four of you there makes it feel like I'm eating in the kitchen. Also, the waitstaff needs some training on table service -- they ask if they can remove a plate when it still has food on it or when you literally are raising your hand with the final bite from the plate -- very annoying. That just makes it seem like they are rushing you in order to turn the table or get you to order more plates. I want to order everything as it was all superb! But give me a chance to savour my food. Excellent food, service needs improving.
(4)M B.
Went on a Monday night and it was packed. We didn't have reservations, so we waited 5 minutes at the bar. I wouldn't try this place on a weekend night, but it's definitely worth a visit during the week / for brunch! It's simply the most authentic higher-end Mexican place in Chicago. Yes, I've travelled all over Mexico, including small towns and big cities. I've also been to Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Adobo Grill. And this place wins over them all! Such fresh food - great flavors, proving to Chicagoans that Mexican food doesn't just mean enchiladas smothered in canned sauce and fake shredded cheese. For example: the fried sweet plantains (ok, more carribbean than Mexican...maybe they're common in the Veracruz area?) came with this incredible ginger-jalapeño salsa. So divine! The only 2 complaints were minor: first, the tortillas (though house-made) didn't come close to the tortillas in Mexico. That's true for all Mexican restaurants in the U.S. though, so not a real complaint. Second, we asked for lime and salt for our tacos, and they gave us lemon. I've never used lemon in Mexico - they should have lime! The drinks are amazing...the food fresh and authentic...the ambiance hip and loungy. The only downside is how crowded it gets, so be sure to go during an off-time.
(5)Caren T.
We had a 7:15pm reservation which was slightly earlier than we wanted, so we took a while to drink our margaritas and eat our guacamole sampler. Even though we couldn't get a later reservation, there were a number of empty tables around us and even the bar wasn't crowded. All that seemed to change in an instant once it turned 8pm! The bar completely filled up as well as the tables and it got very loud. That didn't bother us at all, but I can see how it would some. The margaritas were really good, right up there with some of the best we've had and we have had many. We did the choose-3 guacamole appetizer (they have 6 or 7 to choose from) and they just give you a tiny bit of each along with a smallish basket of chips (not enough to ruin your appetite for dinner which is refreshing). The guacs were all very different and all very delicious! Dinner was also really tasty. My wife had the pescado tacos--very fresh and I had the carnitas taquizas (which was basically like deconstructed soft tacos, so you make them how you want). Overall, a loud, lively, great-people-watching, delicious food and margarita restaurant!
(4)Ursula Z.
I wish I even had to give a star. The place is terrible. My friend had a birthday party there and reservation was for 5.30 pm., before even we had a sit, hostess - Gina - announced that we had to be out the door before 7.30pm, so better hurry up she added - RUDE. Next, before ordering, we asked for separate checks for each of us, waitress said no because it was party for 10 people and she can not do it separately. We never had problem with separate checks in any restaurants - only here. On the end we got this long, detailed check, it took us 30 min to figure it out, who pays for what, in the mean time waitress and hostess were hurrying us up and taking everything from the table. Food was normal - nothing special and overpriced, waitress and hostess impolite.
(1)Lynn O.
First off, let me say that we had one of the most enthusiastic servers ever. And strangely, it was nice, not annoying. He seemed authentic and frankly happy to be there. The vibe is fun, food was good, I liked my steak tacos and had a nice margarita on the rocks. Everything is trendy and modern. The only complaint is the designers appeared to use the same wood floor material for the ceiling and despite the fact that it looks cool, it is a little loud, or I could just be getting a little old. :)
(4)nancy b.
i went here on a friday for a friend's birthday with a group of 10. we were seated in one of the booths on the main level. we did the menu sharing where we got a 3 types of tacos, three guacamoles and two salsas. they brought one of each type of taco for every person at the table so you don't have to worry about not getting to try each. the guacs were all fantastic, a bit on the spicy side which i liked. the skirt steak was fantastic. the chicken was nothing special at all and no one at the table liked it. the meal came with two desserts but i was too stuffed by that time to even try them. overall: good. nothing mind-blowing amazing, but a good meal. the margaritas, however, were some of the best i've ever had. the service was fine - she was hard to find sometimes which was a tad annoying for a large table, but it was a friday night.
(3)Jason M.
Most underwhelming and over-priced experience in all of Chicago. Period!
(1)Dhruva R.
I'd been to the one in New York a couple of times and loved it. However, the decor and level of service were even better at the one in Chicago. The food at both locations is about the same (wonderful!).
(4)Ingrid G.
The service was soooooooo slow. However, they were very apologetic about it which always counts for a lot. Sometimes the kitchen controls the serving staff and vice versa. The food was ok, not amazing. But, I was so hungry by the time we got it, I was past the point of hungry to enjoy.
(2)Melissa Q.
I came here on a Tuesday night for a birthday celebration. My party of four had reservations and we were seated right away. Our server was friendly, attentive and personable. I think at one point she started dancing a little while taking our orders, it definitely gave us all a laugh. The food was amazing. We had 3 guacamoles, 3 tacos, quesidillias, rice and beans and another cheesy rice thing they have. The portions are small, so we were concerned we didn't have enough food. Turns out, we coudln't finish it all! Everything was absolutely delicious. Mercadito also has an interesting drink menu as well. My boyfriend got the cucumber margarita, something I have never heard of before. It was refreshing just as the waitress said. Our favorite drink was my strawberry margarita. The decor is very appealing and the tables and chairs very comfortable. There are two reasons why this review is not getting 5 stars. The first and most important, it was about 100 degrees in the restaurant. My face was flushed the entire time and my other party guests felt the same way. Second, the drinks took a long time to come out. I believe we were halfway done with our app before our first round of margaritas came. This probably would be overlooked if it wasn't for the heat.. I will be back, but probably for a special occassion since it is pretty expensive.
(4)Chi M.
........finally, Mercadito lands in chicago!!!!! YAY. i've heard a lot of things about the san fran and nyc locations. very very positive things. i never made it a priority to visit the place if i was ever out at one of those cities. but it did kinda hover somewhere behind my mind... simmering, waiting. and just as if the forefathers of the restaurant business heard my cry, BAM! - the sandovals granted my wish and set up shop at the old la pomme rouge location. anyway, yes - this review may be premature as i was at the grand opening private press event. the decor is SPECTACULAR. lots of amber and honey hues, great artwork, comfortable seating. they served a host of free margaritas - cucumber (with a fresh long slice stuck on a stick, dancing happily in your drink), a pear margarita, and one called a "pewneww" (that's how the server pronounced it). It was very strong, with a flaming lime (yes, literally a lime on fire, in your glass). But as they served it, they had to put the fire out :(. it was all delicious, creative, and sparked a lot of good convo. they had amazing steak tacos, and a fresh fish taco (i think it was cod), pork tacos (i don't eat pork but i heard a lot of "ooohs" and "ahhhhhs" when they arrived). i will definitely make a formal dining visit here within the upcoming weeks, and give a more accurate and precise account of the menu, drinks, and staff - which by the way were very patient and warm and friendly despite the host of spoiled immature ditsy sex in the city wannabes who thought this was a grand opening about them. cheers!
(4)Christy T.
Had a fabulous dinner with my mother here over the holidays! The guacamole and chips were delicious and the seasonal beef taco that went toward some charity that i can't remember was orgasmic. even my mother thought so which i probably would have found disturbing if not for the amazing pear margaritas that i couldn't stop ordering. the place has a great vibe with lots of energy. the only negatives are that even with a reservation i still had to wait 15-20 min for my table and the seating was extremely crammed. highly recommend!
(4)H H.
Oh Merca, my home away from home! I think the way customers are treated somewhere is to some extent more important than the food/drinks in determining if they'll go back. Here they must know that because I've returned so many times that I feel like the adopted child of the Mercadito family. Therefore, if not for the food, the fun atmosphere and friendly staff are enough reason to come here. Additionally, it should give you some piece of mind if you care to know that you're supporting a place run by a great group of genuine people deserving of success. For food that can't be found anywhere else, always ask for the taco of the month (a.k.a. tacos for strength charity- tacos made by top chefs around the nation, amazing always), an order of green rice and some corn on the cob for the table, and the shrimp soup for brunch is delicious. If you're thirsty try some mezcal if you never have and like tequila. Also, try to attend a cooking demonstration by Patricio sometime. Yum!
(5)Alex M.
Great spot. A little pricey for the portions but their tacos are worth the price and more!
(4)Bianca S.
I went to Mercadito for a working lunch with my staff. We had a pre-set menu for large parties. We started off with 2 kinds of guacamole, 1 regular the second a mango guac. Fantastic. I would never have thought to combine the 2 ingredients. We also had quesidillas that I found ok, they were deep fried which through me off a little bit. We also had steak, chicken & mahi mahi tacos. All were good but I had some grisly pieces in the chicken. The sides of rice and beans were fairly authentic. It was a little over priced but since the company was paying I can't complain too much. Overall, a good restaurant for meetings or casual dining.
(3)d b.
Slightly better than average mexican food. So, it doesn't get 4 stars since it's mostly about the food. Great drinks. Quirky fun downstairs bar. Bottom Line: One stop shopping at it's best. Go for the scene and cocktails, stay for the munchies and afterhour bar
(3)Alanna M.
Men usually like to spend their money on tangible items like bikes and boats. Women like to spend money (be it hers or another's) on EXPERIENCES. And let me tell you, Mercadito was an experience (but not the good kind). Me and the beau walked in and I immediately felt my experience reaching its peak. And yeah...it peaked RIGHT then. Things went downhill when I received my drink. IT was not tasty and was mostly crushed pineapple, not tequila. Whatever they salted the rim with was terrible as well. I wish I could remember the name of this terrible drink. The ordering began with some Guac. Then the ordering continued with MASSIVE amounts of water. Why? Because the guacamole was so spicy that it took 3 glasses of water for me to stop tearing at the eyes. Maybe I just ate the pieces of jalapeno EACH time i dipped my chip in. But no excuses, Mercadito, NO EXCUSES. Then, we ordered steak tacos and some flautas. I cant even really tell you what was wrong with it. It just wasnt good. Maybe I went out that night with a taste for authentic Mexican food. But this was clearly Mexican food eaten by women in all white, fake hair and gold stilletos. In all, Mercadito was a let down.
(2)Jen S.
Went here during restaurant week. They had a great tasting menu and for $40 we got a drink and a lot of food, more than we could eat. I would recommend the pomegranate guacamole and the spicy guac., I think it was called granada? I also loved the steak and carnitas tacos. I didn't try the fish tacos but some of the other people in my group loved it. They also had great margaritas. All 4 of us got different ones and they were all good and strong! The chicken tacos were not very good, nor was the mahi mahi ceviche. My only real complaint was that the tables were too close together, they had to move the table out from the wall for you to get in. They were definitely trying to maximize their seating, but I wouldn't have minded waiting 15min if I could have moved my elbows.
(4)S. J.
This place is mediocre at best. Stage was set by the overly expensive, weak drinks we ordered at the bar (after waiting 15 minutes to be served, even though the place was empty). I found it to be completely overpriced for what we were given. We ordered "salsa" and received a tiny dollop of what could only be described as spicy Velveeta. Tasted like plastic - not good! The guacamole was below average - they have better guacamole at Chipotle. Tacos were passable, but again, I wouldn't say it blew me away. Definitely will not be going back.
(2)Tammy S.
SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!! A new favorite! Not just typical Mexican food. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ross H.
Went for restaurant week, so might not be the fairest time to judge a restaurant - but here goes. Food was overall very good. The chef took a chance on the ceviches, and missed big time. Everything else was great. Margaritas were good but pricey. The tables were so close together that we became uncomfortably well aquatinted with the groups next to us. Our waitress rushed our meal. Net - Enjoyed my experience, but you can great mexican food all over Chicago for 1/2 the price. Probably won't be back.
(3)Ioanna Z.
I want to love this place and I keep going back in hopes of a 5 star experience but they keep missing the mark. I go back for the food and the great bar/club energy. If you love busy, loud, happy, energetic ambiance, Mercadito delivers. The food is undoubtedly great. Mexican food with a flair, excellent combination of flavors, it is simply delicious. The cheviche, all pork dishes, the mahi mahi tacos the best in the city. Although busy, everything came on time and perfectly presented. Do not expect the typical big portions of other Mexican cuisine restaurants. Which is perfect as you get to enjoy different flavors without getting full on minute 5 of dinner. However.... Ladies at the check in counter think they work at a high security establishment in GB and we are trying to break in.... Smile... be nice... be welcoming... be flexible... look like you want to be there... we are simply the clients that pay the bills... Do not have me standing there for the "rest of the party to arrive" when the rest of my party is 1 and when you have at least 20 tables open. I take more space standing in front of you... The main host saved the day when he saw me and he immediately asked me if I have been helped and gave me my table. He was excellent, polite, attentive and gave me a great table. Also, do not count you will be seated on time. My last visit I made a reservation for 7.30 pm because they did not have an 8.00 that I originally requested. We rushed out of work, arrived right at 7.30, hair still wet, laces undone, threw our keys to the valet, run in so we do not miss our table, as she warned me over the phone. Same hostess, no smile, asked us to sit at the bar because our table will not be ready until 8.00! After I strongly pointed out the details of our phone conversation, the main host came over again and sat us right away!! Wow, something just opened up? I guess we did not need to spend $100 on Margaritas before our "table is ready". Watch out when you order the carnitas. There are 2 items on the menu with the same name so there is 50/50 chance to get the wrong dish. If they send you the wrong one, they make sure you get a dirty look and a lecture from the waiter as if you are supposed to know that... I will go back, I am hoping for a great experience there because they have the great food and an even better potential.
(3)Chris M.
Liked it, didn't love it. Drinks were great and interesting. Ambiance was terrific. Ceviche was very tasty (and I'm generally not a seafood fan). The meat in the dishes? In a word: salty. Too salty. A little like, "I don't know what I'm doing" salty versus adding it to taste. And it was consistent throughout the entire meal. Still, it was great night out, we had a fun and opinionated server. Not a bad night at all.
(3)Carter G.
What a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad place to eat! Rude host staff, slow and incompetent bar tenders, inattentive servers, lots of drunk bachelorette party-goers and aging fratboys, and music so loud that you can't actually hear your dining companion, even if they are screaming - and I do mean screaming - directly in your ear. I get that it's supposed to be like having dinner in a very loud nightclub and it's supposed to be edgy and cool, but in reality it just showcases what a cesspool of douchebaggery "Riv-No" is becoming. The tacos, however, were really quite excellent, which is a shame because I will never, ever eat them again.
(1)Kimberly G.
My husband and I were super excited to get a good Mexican option in this neighborhood (no offense, Rick Bayless, your restaurants are too hard to get into) and we are fans of Mercadito in NYC so we were excited to try it. The experience was interesting. The space is pretty cool, the bar is great. The drink list is very cool and they do some interesting things with margaritas (black tea infused tequila, hot chiles, tropical fruit.) We were seating promptly after our party of 6 arrived. I think that the restaurant is already very aware of reputation because we had some interesting experiences with the staff. The menu is made for sharing, I'm not generally a fan of this as I am pretty protective over my plate of food and it's a little odd in a Mexican restaurant. They have like 15 different taco options which come in sets of 4. You can add on a taco or two if you want to share with larger groups but you can't mix and match tacos. So if you just want some tacos for yourself you have to get 4 of the same instead of being able to sample different kinds. They also have a couple of yummy looking salads, 4 different ceviche options, small and large plates. I ended up getting the chile relleno (again, I've said this in other reviews, I'm obsessed with chile rellenos and cannot bring myself to order anything else.) We received our food and my platter looked great, a chile stuffed with shrimp, scallops, squid and cheese. It was roasted,which I prefer, instead of battered and fried. It was surrounded in a mild tomato sauce. It came with a small, tasty plate of rice and beans. I was half way through my chile which, 'll admit, was on the smaller side, but nothing shocking or unexpected, when the runner brought me ANOTHER chile relleno. Apparently, the chile they gave me was way too small for their standards and should've never left the kitchen. I was approached by 2 different employees and the manager apologizing for the small chile, they gave me a new one (which I shared with the table) and took it off the bill. Impressive that they noticed and did that, clearly they have certain standards, but a very odd experience all in all. And I hope that no one in the kitchen got in trouble for sending out a too small chile. Overall our party enjoyed the restaurant, the place was definitely crowded and there were a lot of fun large parties coming in. There is also a lounge downstairs (called AA lounge?) being constructed on the lower level. Considering their drink list I would definitely give ti a try when it opens.
(4)S. L.
Some of the BEST Mex food I've ever had. This place is both classy and creative. I highly recommend the house original guac and chips and especially their chicken tacos. Ridiculously awesome!!
(5)magic g.
at first the obsession with high end mexican kitchen in chicago confused me a bit: went to frontera grill, then here. and although the food is almost equally good at both places (better seviche & steak there), mercadito does have a much nicer ambiance (better guacamole & pork here), they are open till 1am on weekends and there's a lounge downstairs if you miss the feel of NY subway car during rush hour. but overall great, bit pricey food with great drinks (tequila with that spicy tomato sauce ... wow).
(4)Fuudcritic C.
I just read the recent reviews in my area (as of matter of fact - from last night) and someone had given Mercadito 5 stars. I'm glad they had a great 30th birthday dinner, but it sure wasn't 5 stars last night! Prior to that (the birthday party) we were downstairs dining in their lounge and had the worst experience with a server name Jackie? Prior to her coming down to "rush" us out and being RUDE we were having a great time. Nothing like catching up with a friend and having a great meal and then having it ruined by restaurant staff. OMG the more I think about it, it makes my stomach turn. She was RUDE! The manager on duty came by our table and we told him the situatin but we didn't think he was too sincere. In any case, the food was great and is always great. Jackie (?) was not.
(2)Mark M.
Fish tacos were excellent!
(4)Shannon B.
I have mixed reviews of this place. I have to say the food here is awesome and the margaritas are killer! The complaint I have is the front of house. They are so rude and don't seem to be interested to be there. I have been here at least three times and will ONLY come back because of the food and margaritas. I also have to say this place is extremely loud and just can't understand why? People seem to talk over the music which is not very loud. But will put up with all of the negatives to have their tacos and margaritas!!!
(4)R S.
Awesome food. Great place to visit before a fun night out. Pricey for mexican food, but wow, I've been twice now and had delicious experiences. The ambiance is vibrant, lively, and buzzing with energy. The drinks are delicious...I ask for a mojito - not too sweet - and that's exactly what I got. The place is quite packed and tables were close together - for our party of 5, I would have liked a bit more room. It's also quite loud, so to talk to the person across the table took some effort. I loved the guacamole, camaron tacos, the pollo a las brasas (yummy!), and hongos tacos. We all left full and incredibly happy. It's a must try restaurant.
(4)austin m.
Terrible on top of terrible. We walked in for lunch on the Saturday of restaurant week, the music was so loud we could hardly hear eachother talk. We waited literally 20 minutes for our server. We saw our server twice, to take our order and to deliver the bill. No one asked how the meal was (it was poor). On the way out we spoke to the manager about the terrible service. He appologized, we exchanged cards, and were told he would talk to the owner and get back to us by Monday. We allowed a 3 days past Monday before we followed up, it has been nearly a month and we have not heard back from the establishment. I supposed I cannot expect much out of the servers, when the management leads by such poor example Restaurant week is the time to shine, and this place fizzled.
(1)Deepak B.
I fell in love their tacos in the east village of NYC. Tried the Chicago location, and it still exceeded my expectations. The drinks are a work of art for me.
(4)BIREN P.
Great drinks and good food. A little expensive for Mexican. Still would go back for the drinks.
(3)Dora D.
This place is definitely happening, the food not so much. Went on a Friday night and it was packed the entire time we were there. Loved the vibe but not for a sit down dinner. Music was so loud it was as if our waiter was lip-singing to us when talking about the menu, and I had a sore throat from talking a.k.a yelling to my friends. Way too LOUD and seated way too close to our neighbors. I was not impressed with the food so much, but maybe because I kept comparing it to one of my favorite places on earth "De Cero." First off we got the regular guacamole which was tasty and the chips were A-OK too, then got the shrimp ceviche which was a little chewy but you can't really mess up ceviche so okay not bad, plantains had this chocolate creme on them which I just did NOT care for at all and they were COLD, the tacos that were highly recommended we try by our lip-singing waiter excited us but then quickly annoyed us when we realized we can't mix and match the 4 tacos plate. (Like we are accustomed in doing at De Cero) So the three of us opted to only try 2 different tacos. The shrimp which was very very spicy in this red sauce and a piece of avocado (okay I love love spicy, but this was just too overpowering and did nothing for me in terms of flavor) in fact our one friend who doesn't do spicy very well could not even eat it. (It would have been nice if our waiter at least mentioned that fact, but then again maybe he did and we just couldn't hear him) Then there were the steak tacos. Took one bite and was disgusted. That's all I'm going to say about that. Oh and my friends both had to send it back because they had no idea there would be onion on them..which they can't stand (yeah everything but onion was listed on menu...weird) And that took a few minutes for our waiter to comprehend and accommodate, well probably because we were lip-singing to him! Ok so the only reason for the third star was because I would go back and would recommend it for the ambiance, the drinks (mine was pretty good but my one friend loved her pineapple tequila drink) and the DESSERT!!! Yes! Since we weren't feeling satiated by our meal we decided to order this mexican pudding cake that looked like a pancake topped with caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Now that was heaven!! And something I will be craving and even dreaming about!!! It's not on the menu though.. So I believe we got lucky cause we were in between songs and actually were able to HEAR our waiter tell us about it!
(3)Anna P.
Great food for not a lot of money. Drinks are amazing! Our service was beyond perfect!
(5)Julie G.
One word: TACOS. The tacos here are flat out killer, especially the pork with Mexican coleslaw, the fish, and the beef (in that order). The decor is also super cool, even though it can get a bit noisy. Kind of pricey...you'll spend a lot without eating very much, but your tummy will be very satisfied. Good margaritas, too.
(4)Robin R.
Showed up hungry at about 11PM on a Saturday night, restaurant was busy but they had no problems getting us to a table for 2. At 11PM Mercadito was very loud, but the place had completely emptied out by 11:30PM. We both had the all you can eat tacos which were very good (not quite big star good though). I'll definitely be back, it ranks somewhere a bit worse than big star and a bit better than de cero.
(3)Fuffie G.
Liked it...didn't love it. This place is definitely the place to be. Went on a Friday night and it was PACKED & very loud! We slipped into a great table where the people watching was great. Margaritas were very good. Not too sweet, not too tart...just right and refreshing. We ordered the chipotle and verde salsas. The chipotle salsa is some of the best I have ever tasted while the verde left a lot to be desired. Chips are great. Very light and allowed you to enjoy the salsa and not have a heavy taste of chip in your mouth. We also ordered the tostadas de hongos. Flavors were good but they weren't hot. We also ordered the verde rice, shrimp tacos and carne tacos. All of that too came out rather cold. We sent the food back and when it all came back again, it was same temperature as last time. Not sure if they made fresh or just took it in back for a few minutes and brought it back out. They did comp us with a round of drinks but hmmm...not sure if I will be going back so soon for dinner. I've heard lunch is a little bit better. Maybe they just don't know how to handle the big crowds. Service was great. We had an adorable waitress. I would go back for cocktails and chipotle salsa but the rest of the meal...I'm not running back.
(3)Eat V.
SO GOOD! 1st: I do not like fish, however the Mahi Mahi Tacos turned a new leaf! So good! 2nd: Steak tacos are FAB! 3rd: Also the Peppers Tacos were spicy in the best way possible! There was also some kind of cheese rice dish that was great as well! The service is always fast, knowledgeable and pleasant. FYI: do not go to NIAS on Randolph!
(5)Michael M.
Both the kitchen and the drinks on a late night (after 1am) were outstanding. We had the traditional guacamole, tacos al pastor, and tacos mole. All had great hot spices, but had the flavors blended well and not just heat bombs. The standard margaritas were excellent. Our server Rodgrigo was a blast to talk with. We'll be back to explore more of the menu in the future. I think this place is better than Frontera Grill by comparison.
(5)Amy K.
My friend and I met up here on a Thursday. Thank goodness we made reservations because this place was busy. We waited at the bar until our table was ready. My friend said that she had heard that Mercadito has "fun drinks and fresh food," but unfortunately I had trouble decoding the drink menu and don't care for tequila so I settled with a Negra Modelo. Anyway, we were finally seated. To sum up our experience, the music was loud so we had difficulty hearing one another, and the seating was cramped. The food redeemed these criticisms, but we ordered WAY too much. We couldn't even eat more than a few bites of our chicken dish. The tacos are fantastic and the traditional guac was the highlight of the meal. I think it would be a fun place to go with girlfriends for a night out!
(3)Chris R.
I had lunch here on a Thursday afternoon. Made reservations through OpenTable. We were seated right away. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Started with a house margarita which is great. For starters we had the Dorado ceviche (mahi-mahi) along with guac and chips. Both were fresh and delicious. Main course was an amazing braised berkshire pork torta. Flavors were great. Friends had tacos. 3 tacos per serving and while the serving size was a bit small (and you can't mix and match the tacos which would be a great option like at DeCero) the flavors were fantastic. Will be trying dinner here asap.
(4)Lisa P.
I was pretty disappointed by Mercadito's offering. In my opinion, if they want to be at their slightly higher price point, their food should be well above average. It's not, and the portions are very small, sort of mockery. The guacamole was delicious, but we were only given about 2 tablespoons of each flavor. The cocktails were excellent, especially the smokey poblano. I had ceviche as my main dish, and I must say that they have no business serving it. I sampled all three - they lacked flavor and the fish wasn't good This was the first time I've had ceviche without either red onions or cilantro in it. The citrus flavor was weak as well. My friend ordered the skirt steak and it was very boring. I expected a well flavored latin style piece of meet but was disappointed. My other friend ordered the stuffed pepper, and it was very good. The sides, rice and beans, were not well-flavored. If I was to return, I guess that I'd try the tacos. They look good but are small. In any case, the quality/price ratio is low.
(2)Tonya R.
Ever since exploring my inner foodie, wanting to escape the commercialism of chain Mexican restaurants and needing something authentic with a bit of flare, I ended up here on a Sunday and experienced a brunch not soon forgotten. The restaurant was about half full and the hostess was prompt in seating us and our waiter was soon to follow. With his recommendation of the Maria Sangarita was spot on! Once you get past the fact you are drinking a bloody Mary sans Vodka, add tequila, its a great cure for the Saturday night lingerning in my head. We ordered the pastor and fish tacos...never have I ever...Had a better fish taco! The MahiMahi was generous in each taco and had a light breading that was well suited with the spicy slaw that topped it. The pastor was unlike anything I'd ever had before..area favorites had just been topped for my favorite sport for tacos in the city. The $18 we threw down for brunch was well worth it considering the food was amazing ($12 per plate) and the drinks (about $8 each) made all worht the hunt. This is somewhere I will definitely be becoming a repeat customer, and now looking forward to trying the late night fare. (Open till 2am Friday and 3am Saturday.)
(4)c d.
I love the concept, Mexican food served tapas style. This is a great place for a crowd so you can share the food and get different tastes of things. The service was outstanding, our waitress took the time to sit with us and explain the menu and answer questions. She took good care of us. The home made chips are delicious, though not strong enough to stand up to the guacamole, not that that is an issue. All the guacamole are chunky and delicious with a nice spice. Only tried one of the salsa and it was delicious, cacahuate, it was like a Mexican peanut sauce. The pastor tacos were yummy! The order of 3 tacos was large, plenty to share to get the variety. Though it would be nice if you could get three different varieties in one order. The traditional margarita was perfect, not too much lime juice. The only negative was it was too small with too much ice for the price. Overall I think the only negative was the price. I will try it again, but at the price not too often.
(3)Clint M.
Food and drinks were excellent. The steak tacos were the highlight for me. I actually found days later my tab was accidentally charged twice. The staff went above and beyond and had the incorrect charge credited back within 24 hours. Very much appreciated.
(5)Rebecca K.
Went there twice in one day. So our first visit I meet a friend at the bar before a presentation we were going to. The Margaritas were good but way to much ice and not enough booze but tasted good anyway because thats what I needed that day. I also ordered the Mahi Mahi ceviche since I had not eaten anything for dinner and with a drink in hand that may not be such a good idea. It was out of this world! So yummy and I know the tradition is to eat it with a cracker and they had nice homemade ones but I prefer chips instead. Second visit was after the presentation with more people from the presentation and we order mango guacamole and traditional guacamole . The mango one with chili was awesome! Then we ordered the 2 different pork taco's ,chicken mole and Steak tacos. They were all so good the perfect size for sharing. I can't stop thinking of these little tacos. The con is the too much ice and margarita's and not enough booze and the bathroom doors don't lock and there was no toilet paper :P
(4)Kaley C.
I went to this place on a Saturday with a group on girlfriends and we had a great time! I think this place is fun for a group of friends to go, not sure if it is a great spot for a date since it was rather loud and very crowded. Great selection of food and drinks. They have a regular menu and a fixed menu broken out by different prices. We did the fixed menu and you definitely get your moneys worth doing it that way! We had more food than we knew what to do with! Loved the mango guac! Also, great service. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu.
(4)John W.
Okay this place rocks, from the hand crafted specialty house drinks to the food can't say enough good stuff about the staff and place. I had made reservations for 8:30pm and our table was ready upon us arriving there. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is for a little bit of an annoying rule we had another person joining us about 45min after our reservation and we wanted to have a seat before they got there and order the food. But the staff explained that they do not seat non full parties even though the other person was just joining us for drinks the only other way to get seated was to get a smaller table and just ignore the other person coming. Other than that it is a great place and had tons of fun. The bar staff is especially great.
(4)Mark R.
I love coming here for lunch with a friend and splitting chips and guac and a side of rice and beans. The fish tacos are my favorite! Very enthusiastic servers and attentive wait staff.
(4)Nicole M.
I liked my tacos con carne(the meat was delicious) and platanos machos were as sweet as I expected. The atmosphere was to trendy for me but maybe I am not the target market they are going for. Good food decent price for the location
(3)Kristen G.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner last weekend. I had looked for a reservation online but they didn't have anything near the time we were thinking, so we decided just to walk in. When we walked in around 730, they said they were booked and the earliest they could guarantee us a table was like 1015. Yowzers! But they said we were 3rd on the waitlist and they could work us in. So we went up to the bar for drinks. Their different types of margaritas are awesome! Yeah theyre're like $12 each but hey thats Chicago. All the drinks we tried were delicious though. We ended up getting a table in about 45 minutes. The atmosphere is very lively. It is very loud, but we werent looking for a quiet romantic dinner. It's dimly lit, but it is definitely very energetic. We started off with one of their 7 guacamoles. OMG the best guacamole I have ever had in my life! So fresh tasting. It was just amazing. For dinner we both had the 4 tacos. I ordered the short rib and my bf ordered the skirt steak. We also ordered the arroz verde on the side. The only disappointment is that you couldn't mix and match the different types of tacos. You had to order 4 of the same which I do not understand. There were definitely many different ones I wanted to try so a little disappointing. Tacos are delicious! The short rib was amazing. All of the ingredients taste so fresh and the meat is seasoned and cooked perfectly. The rice was very good also-cooked with a verde sauce with different cheeses on top. I would definitely like to go back with friends! The food is outstanding! The only downfall is the seating can be a little cramped. Many of the tables have the one side common booth and then chairs for the other side. I am normally not a fan of sitting next to other people. I like a little more space between tables, but overall a good time!
(4)Jaime W.
I had been here once before for lunch and the experience was ok (our waiter was really flaky and inattentive even though it was mostly empty) . However, I went for dinner (during restaurant week but not because of restaurant week) this week and it was amazing! The food was fresh, came out quickly but not too quickly given how much only the two of us ordered. Plenty of vegetarian options--which can be rare at a Mexican place. We had the serrano and traditional guacs (serrano being my favorite), queso fundido with mushrooms (best thing we ate all night!), corn masa quesadilas (very good), mushroom tacos (also very good but not amazing), and the carnitas (I didn't try those but they were given rave reviews!). Our waiter and the water guy were ON IT. Full house and we didn't feel neglected at all. Even though the tables are packed tightly, the restaurant has a loud enough buzz that it doesn't feel invasive (unlike, say at Mia Francesca's on Clark where I get caught up in other people's convos!). All that food plus two beers and it was only $80 (not restaurant week pricing, normal pricing). Totally legit.
(5)Krissie L.
Insanely loud. Food way too spicy. Fish tacos way too fried, though described as lightly battered. Drinks ok. Prices reasonable. Ambience and crowd tacky. Guacamole couldn't be made less spicy, since it's premade... What?! and the taco plate- of 4- must be all one type, i.e. you can't mix and match your tacos. That sucked. Highlight- manzanilla guacamole. Overall unimpressive. Much better mexican food elsewhere (see decero, frontera, even zapa) with less cheesy while still hip locals... Oh, and the service was great, though our reservation was about 30 minutes behind schedule...
(1)Jane N.
Server was nice but she was a little hard to understand because it was really loud and she had a thick accent. Also there guac was full of cilantro and they could not make it with out which normally would not be a problem but what that means to me is that is is all pre-made which I do not like. They should be able to accommodate some people. Maybe they make a big batch at the beginning of the night but surely they need to be able help people out and make a small batch without cilantro if need be which she said they could not do. The food comes out as it is made which is fine but more of a casual dinning but very expensive. Over priced in my opinion. There were four of us , each had a margarita which were really good but other that than we had guac and split three orders of tacos and each paid $55 which is just too much! The Tacos are really tiny, more of small finger food and small plates which is fine but they charge you as if it is a full meal which it is not. Not worth going back for.
(2)Laz P.
We had heard so many great reviews about Mercadito and decided to give it a .try. What a waste! First they jam you in between other patrons so close that I could taste their food and know exactly what they were ordering. We went the day before Halloween and Popeye our waiter was rude and thought he was a Mexican cuisine expert. Listen Popeye, I am Mexican and have been eating excellent Mexican food basically since birth. You probably were not even a thought when I was licking my chops at Nuevo Leon on 18th street in the 70s. On to the food. Why not call it " CAGADITO" restaurant. Because they literally crap on you. Ridiculously expensive and hot food masked as good Mexican food. I had the tampiquena steak platter and the sole of my shoe had more taste. The best part of the night was the guacamole which in 2 scoops with tortilla chips was gone. Spanish fusion my ass, Mexican food is served in good size portions and is not super expensive, except for the good sea food and a good cut of meat. So we get ready to leave and my wife says look your tampiquena plate cost 24 bucks take the rest home and we can give it to someone. I say you know what "Good idea as the homemade tortillas are not bad." I tell the server, wrap it up and put in some more tortillas. He says "You will get charged for the extra tortillas." I then decided to rescind my request. Mercadito you have a good scam going. I admit that marketing to people that do not know any better is a great idea.
(1)j m.
Great mini tacos, excellent staff.
(4)Camilo R.
Mercadito is not the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the Chi and it's not the place for a quiet dinner. However, the food itself is actually very tasty, we tried every taco on the menu and they were delicious. Some of the portions (like the guac sampler) are small but the taste compensates for that. Mercadito is a perfect spot to go out to dinner with friends, when you are looking for a lively atmosphere. This is the type of place you go to with a group, and then head out for drinks. The ambience works if you are looking for an upbeat atmosphere, if you are looking for something quiet, do not go here. I would highly recommend this spot if you have friends in from out of town and want to show them a cool downtown spot. I deducted one star because the wine list is really subpar, and a second star because due to the atmosphere this is not a place I would always recommend or recommend to everyone. I'll be eating here again, on the right night!
(3)Karen S.
I had been dying to try this place for quite some time. I'm not sure it completely lived up to the hype, but I will definitely go back. Despite my initial hesitation, the cucumber margarita was amazing. I had the fish tacos (the ones that weren't fried - tilapia, I think) and they were great, albeit the portion size was teeny. Perfect for lunch though, I guess? It would be nice if they would let you mix and match on your own. Not sure why they don't allow it, so just plan to share if you want to try a few different things. The chips with guac and salsa were standard, nothing special. Other than that, the place was cool - I imagine a scene at night though, so not somewhere I would go on an average night out. What can I say, I'm not trendy!
(3)Diran H.
I went with my wife on a colleague's recommendation, and was not disappointed. The only reason Mercadito gets 4 stars this time is because it was so LOUD - we couldn't hear the server or each other across the table without yelling. Not to mention we had two extremely obnoxious "ladies" bumping elbows with us the whole time. Also, it's a little pricey for what you get. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk praise - High marks for the decor and the service we received from the minute we walked into the place. We were seated in 30 seconds, our water was constantly refilled, the server was extremely nice and came by to check on us just the right amount of times - not too often, just enough. The food and drinks were very good - being foodies, we ordered two guacs and two ceviches and two taco platters, as well as a dessert. I ordered the Smokey somethingsomething as my drink, which was riddiculous - so good! Honey and Ancho-chili in my tequila is a winner! I am craving the guacs and the tuna tacos as I type - mouthwatering. The Carne tacos were good, not exceptional - I'll try the Chorizo next time. The Ceviches were also not exceptional - too sweet. Not bad, don't get me wrong, but I think we make a meaner ceviche at home. Oh yeah, we ordered the Shrimp and Scallop ceviches. Next time, we'll hold off the ceviches and order the guac trio. I would totally recommend - it's a nice, cozy spot and the food's great. You can't always control the clientele that walks in, but c'est la vie. Looking forward to next time already.
(4)Deven H.
this is definitely one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in chicago! i love mexican food and everything here was amazing. i was here for a birthday dinner with a few friends and we ordered a few different taco platters, guac, and a few other dishes that i don't remember. the only thing i remember is how much i loved everything i ate. try the shrimp tacos, they were my favorite!
(5)Emily B.
I enjoyed going to Mercadito last night! The staff where very friendly! They knew the menu very well and gave some great suggestions! The margaritas were expensive but very good! The Big Nose Margarita was very creative and I loved that it was flaming when served! My group of five treated the meal like tapas and left full! The Tacos were very good and one table ordered an extra taco and they gave it to us free of charge! My favorite taco was the pork taco and the platanos were very good! I will be back for sure! A nice thing they did was even if the tacos were meant for 4, they gave us 5 since there were 5 in our party. However at the end of the night there was a charge for that which was not expected.
(4)Tabitha G.
Okay let's get the bad news out of the way first. I made a reservation for 6:30pm and called to push it back to 7pm, but they told me that the next available reservation was at 9:45pm. Fast forward to when we're having dinner at 6:30pm and 85% of the tables around us were empty until about 7:30pm. We were a little amazed at how they told us that we absolutely couldn't push it back, but yet the place wasn't filling up til much later. Finally, the last bad thing - after an hour and a half of eating, drinking and debating if we should get dessert, some guy with an ear piece starts doing circles around our table, giving us the look of "When are you leaving?". Clearly I understand that they needed the table, after all there were a lot of people waiting at the door and we took up a table of four, but really it's not like we were just sitting there. We were ordering drink, after drink, after drink - with the potential of orderding dessert, which we didn't because the waiter was kind of enough to tell us that the dessert was just not all that. However, despite those two bad things, we had an AMAZING dinner at Mercadito. First, our waiter was great, friendly and very helpful. We started off with cervesas (naturally) and seeig how margharitas are never my first choice, I was so excited that they had two beer based mixed drinks. I tried both, one that tasted like a bloody mary and another that had beer, pineapple, tequila and "secrets". Both were really good, which was probably why I ordered at least 5 drinks that night. For appetizers we started off with traditional guacamole and two salsas, which was all amazing, but the downfall is that the salsas were blended. Don't get me wrong the taste was amazing, but with the size of the portion it was really hard to "scoop" up that salsa when there was so little to grab. Either way it was still really good. For dinner we all had different items. My friends ordered the quesadilla (which looked like an empenada), carne asada and carnitas, while I had the shrimp enchiladas....the portions were very generous and the taste was heavenly. Both my husband and I were so impressed at how good it was...not that it was a surprise, but we have been looking for a good mexican place for a while and definitely found it. The night ended with more drinks and although we weren't totally sold on getting dessert, we really appreciated the waiter's honesty in telling us that it wasn't their strong point. Overall it was a fantastic experience and would definitely go back again.
(4)Sara G.
This is one of my favorite spots! It has a great atmosphere with dim lights and interesting artwork, amazing drinks, and I am always very happy with my food. I try to order something a little different every time I go but there are a couple items that I just can't seem to leave off the list because they are so good. The portions are tapas style so it is really great for sharing and trying a couple different things each time. The specialty drinks are amazing, I love the Misty Sleeve. It has hibiscus salt on the rim which is spicy and citrus flavored, so good. Starting out with a couple of guacamole appetizers is really fun and the portion is great for two people to share, the pineapple/ mint is my favorite. The Tacos!! I want to try more but so far the camaron, or shrimp tacos are amazing and my favorite. The Taquiza, Barbacoa. I didn't love this as much as the others. You get to choose two different salsa from a list, but the ones I chose tasted exactly the same and the whole dish was a little too salty for me. But I would try the dish again and make sure I ask the server to suggest the salsas.
(4)Michael B.
went there for new years eve and was going to post earlier, but wanted my frustrations to simmer down first. to start our night we waited over an hour to be seated and had to stand around the overly crowded bar area for our table. we had committed to their all inclusive drink/meal package ($130/person, tax & tip already included), but since we weren't seated for an hour and a half we weren't going to not order drinks on NYE, so that added on hundreds of dollars to our group by having to elbow our way to the bar and get drinks a la carte. finally after we were seated we ordered food and drinks, which came out sluggishly. food was good once it arrived and pre-set menu was very tasty as it always is. i know it was new years eve and everywhere in chicago was slammed, but it's not like this holiday snuck up on them, they should have been better prepared for earlier reservations slow-playing their meals and hanging around forever after they were done and they clearly overbooked which is annoying to say the least. it is not uncommon for a restaurant to tell you "if you don't mind, we have a large party arriving 3 hours after your reservations so we'll need to turn over your table before then if that's ok?" near the end a manager of some sort clearly noticed part of our group was unhappy and he offered another hour of drinks for us, but after 1am many of us had other parties we were going to, so that offer was nice, but unused. anyway, i really like their food and service on normal days and i'm sure i'll go back there in the future, but if they want to be considered a venue for large holiday parties then they need to prepare like a venue that can accommodate large holiday parties.
(2)Rachel P.
I wanted to write a review because I read the reviews here before going on my reservation for Restaurant Week. I'm really surprised on the comments about service. Not only did we love the food (and there were plenty of options for someone who doesn't eat meat), but we had a GREAT, knowledgeable, personable waiter. Shout-out to Luis! He made it a wonderful night.
(4)Lindsay A.
It was during the dessert course that I looked at my fiance and said "this place just hit a homerun". Everything, i mean EVERYTHING, was handled perfecty. Booze, ceviche, guac, tacos, dessert. Didn't have one bad thing, and the service was out of the world. We went for restaurant week... I have a feeling you can't get anything bad at this place, but for the record, here were the things we had that were absolutely awesome: Mango guac, scallop ceviche, shrimp tacos, some sort of mushroom taco thing that had an EXCELLENT flavor. Wonderful job, Mercadito. I will definitely be back!
(5)Lisa F.
I went here for an early dinner with 2 of my girlfriends on a Friday night and while the food was great, it's definitely not the type of place you can sit around and talk after you're done eating. It's probably because it's the new hot spot, but we felt very rushed the whole time we were there. The little tacos are great for sharing - perfect size to be able to get a few different kinds to try! The mango guacamole is to die for - has a smokey flavor to it that's amazing! We tried the pineaple and regular guacamole too, which were both tasty but the mango was the best! We also had the flautas, which were great (order of 3)! The drinks we had were fantastic too - different, but good! If you don't mind being in and out of here, I'd definitely suggest going for the food and the atmosphere - it's a great place!
(3)Balu K.
Ok, this was my second time. I know the drinks are really good, the food is good, the ambience is great and the crowd is awesome. But this time, my experience sucked. First they lied to us about how long the wait would be. At 8:30 they said it should be less than an hour. At 9:30 they lied and said they originally told us it would be 1 hour 45 minutes. We finally got seated after an hour and a half. Four of us got seated at a table that could barely take two people. We had to hold our plates in our hands to eat. The drinks went on the floor to make room for appetizers and food. The Guacamole arrived after entree'. We spend $250 for 4 people and got this! Looks like they are full of themselves and have amateurs running the place!
(2)Patrick G.
I really wanted to like this place more but it does have a few deficiencies that are keeping it from being a really great place. This is a place that seems to concentrate more on its image rather than the food that it is serving (aka place to be seen). The standout food was definitely their variety of guacamoles that they had , each was very unique and quite delicious. The tacos left something to be desired, I had a few of the different options they offered , each were good but had nothing that was amazing about them. I would venture to say that I would rather have a taco from a decent tacqueria. The drinks were pretty good minus the "michelada" they had on the menu. This was a very poor implementation of the drink their recipe tasted like Beer + Lime Juice + Worcestershire Sauce which was drinkable but I really expect better from a seemingly good restaurant. On top of this we were seated about 50 minutes after our reservation time. The management did make up for it by giving us some free drinks but everyone's most valuable resource is time so they should learn to manage tables a little bit better. Overall a nice place with a nice atmosphere but not the best food.
(3)K W.
Talapia Tacos - Outstanding; Carnitas Tacos - More Outstanding; There are flavors flying all over the place at this restuarant. The tacos (our party of 4 only had tacos) are fantastic and have a wonderful texture - toasted peanuts in the Carnitas Tacos were a nice contrast to the coleslaw and flavor of the pork. I highly recommend this restaurant. I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to sample the tequilas or cocktails (business lunch) but I look forward to doing so in the future.
(5)Chris U.
We went here on a Friday after work, and the only negative thing I could say was that it was empty. The place was fairly new when we went, so I am sure that will change. The waiter was fantastic, he got us really excited about the food we were going to eat, and the food delivered. It was fresh and delicious. We had 2 different types of guacamole, both were amazing, and 3 different types of taco's everything was so good. We also had a rice and cheese side dish that was really good. I would say that we probably had way to much food, but who cares we had a great time.
(4)Rich P.
Wow, what a let down this place was. The only reason I gave it three stars instead of 2 was becuase the very friendly bar staff mixes up some pretty tasty and unique drinks and the place has a nice vibe and played good music as well. To start things off when we arrived on a Saturday night, they had our reservtion slightly messed up but still only had to wait about 20 minutes so we sat tat the bar and enjoyed a couple of the amazing drinks I previously mentioned. We ordered the Mango Guacamole, little or no mango in it, it pretty much just tasted like plain old guacamole. We orderd the beer battered mahi tacos and the marrinated skirt steak tacos. The mahi was very good tasting and the batter was light and flakey but they should have used about 1/3 of whatever sauce they put on it, the sauce is all you could taste, even after I scraped most of it off it was overpowering. It would have been one thing if the sauce was god, but it just tased like a mayo based cream sauce with not much flavor...just reminded me of mayo. The skirt steak tacos were no better, worse actually becuase the meat was chewy and several bites were nothing but fat, four tacos came on the platter and we only ate less than 2 of them. As I already mentioned service at the bar was great, but the service in the dining area left alot to be desired, we were rushed as soon as we were seated then we never saw our waiter again for a long time. Anyone that gave this place 5 stars needs to get out more.
(3)Shane H.
Just went there for lunch and was impressed with the tequila selection along with the pork tacos-had a very Asian taste to it that threw me off for a second, but was very good. The tilapia tacos tasted fresh and flakey. Strong drinks and a busy lunch set the nice atmosphere.
(4)Bill M.
I should have expected trouble after being greeted by the robot-like hostess--who had evidently had her personality removed in some strange medical procedure. Or, perhaps the tourniquet-like skirt she wore was cutting off the circulation of blood and created a passive-aggressive tone. She said we could be seated immediately at an outdoors table, but, she cautioned, "THERE IS A ONE-AND-A-HALF-HOUR TIME LIMIT!!!" OK. Chastened, and duly warned that we were on the clock like a pokey foursome at an exclusive country club, we perused the menu. Time running down, we chose a four-taco shared plate. They come as a quartet, but alas, another Mercadito rule appears. All four must be the same type--no mixing and matching. It was not immediately clear whether we were timed on consumption of the tacos, but if so, we must have consumed them in an approved time limit. So, about the nuts and bolts: In a nutshell, service was pretty good, food was just ok. That combination does not warrant a $55 check for two (with only 2 beers included). Pretty people kept flowing in, tottering shop girls in hideous orange stilleto heels. The tacos: bland and tiny. Guacamole: the high point--very well executed, and one would hope so at $9 for a miniscule lump. The chips: greasy and probably a quantity you could count on two hands, in a precious little cup. Rice and cheesy stuff in a similarly precious little cast iron skillet: good, but it's rice and cheese. Kind of hard to screw up. All in all, I cannot figure out why people stream into this mediocre taco stand.
(1)Brian G.
A bit torn. Food is actually pretty good -though a bit pricey. What drove us up the wall, and we realize it is Restaurant Weeek, was really bad food/table service pacing - though our waitress was ok. They brought the stuff so fast we literally had plates piling up - they timed it so the food arrived far too quickly. And then when asked if we wanted him to take the Guacamole/Ceviche plates (which were still half full) we said no. And he inquired "are you sure"? What? Are you kidding me? There is often a fine line between turning tables and rushing folks. They weren't even close to the line. It was insulting and annoying. It definitely makes me hesitant to return. Now on to the food - Guacamole pretty good as were the chips though not outstanding. Ceviche solid. Tacos great - the skirt steak, carnitas and Chicken Mole were wonderful The Pastor not bad. Plantinins solid and the dip was pretty good. All in all some good food.
(2)johnny b.
The guac and salsas really were not that good. 2star I mean they were fine. That peanut salsa that some dude raved about was about as good as peanut salsa sounds like.... yeah not so much. The ceviches were good 3 stars. But the tacos were ridiculously good. I should have just only ordered tacos. I'll definitely go back but won't order any apps just tacos. The drinks were also weak as was noted by someone else.
(4)Britt and Justin S.
Came here on a Wednesday for a friends birthday with a group of 12 and it was packed at 7 pm. Bit of wait with a reservation, but the food was delicious! Guac was amazing, tacos were all perfectly cooked, and they seriously have the best flan I've ever eaten (especially the caramel). We did the group thing and it worked out perfectly. With 2-3 drinks and the $30pp rate, it came out to about $75 each with tax and tip. I'm from Southwest and my standards for Mexican food are fairly high. Overall a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Great date spot too!
(5)Mike G.
Awesome experience. Service was great. Food was on par with expectation and atmosphere was great! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Phyllis R.
Food was good. Way too loud. Not worth it.
(2)Rachel M.
Big prices on the menu, tiny food in my mouth. That being said, the food was really good! I guess I just have a hard time reconciling Mexican food with tiny portions for such high prices in my mind. The tacos were delicious and the guac was awesome with lots of garlic and citrus flavor. Service was perfectly adequate, though I could have used an extra water refill. It was busy and I drink like a camel, so I won't fault them for that!
(3)Akilah P.
LOVE THIS PLACE!! Its become a night-out standby for me and best friend. Their drinks are AMAZING and they have such an extensive variety of mescal and tequila. The guacamole is the best I've ever had and it comes in different flavors (strawberry is the best). I haven't had a disappointing meal EVER. The staff is always very nice and give great recommendations. I always go on a Sunday when its not as busy and can really relax.
(5)Kevin J.
A group of 4 ate here on Thursday 3/25/10. Our reservations were at 6:45pm. 2 people in the group arrived at 6:30, 1 arrived at 6:45 and I arrived at 6:52. (yeah.. I was LATE) Mercadito will not seat you if the whole party isn't there. Since the WHOLE group wasn't there at 6:45pm they gave away our reservations. I find that ridiculous. Most restaurants worth their salt will give you a 15 minute window. So be it. I was late. We were seated at 7:35 at a small table near the window. This is another story in itself. If you're tall or overweight, you won't want to sit at this table. The food was incredible. I have absolutely no complaints about the food. We had the Chef's Weekly Special. I recommend it if decide to go. The service. Our waitress was over worked. She had over six tables she was serving. The front staff is extremely unorganized. Way to many people standing around looking confused. The busboys were inefficient. We asked several busboys for water and flatware. We ended up getting it from the overworked waitress. She really tried, but she was overwhelmed. Conclusion: Go to Mercadito if you have absolutely no where else to go after eating. Also, don't be late if you have reservations and expect to pay for really bad service.
(2)Beth J.
Went to this place for lunch with some colleagues as a last-minute choice. Wow, what a nice surprise! The restaurant is lovely inside, the service was attentive, and the food was delicious. I got the corn quesadillas (vegetarian). OMG they were sooo good! Not really a traditional quesadilla, more like an empanada -- little pouches. But they were so delicious -- stuffed with cheese and mushrooms. We were told they serve small plates for sharing. I found the portion just right for myself. I had 3 small pouches and rice and beans.The quacamole was also very good. Everyone in my party thoroughly enjoyed their lunch. The prices were very reasonable. It was perfect for lunch. I can't wait to go back to try dinner!
(4)kit k.
It is hard to find a better taco and a better staff than this place. AA the club downstairs gets 5 stars if you ask me the staff is great. I will go out on the limb and say this is the best run club in the city. They treat you great and are wonderful people.
(5)Thad F.
Great food. Electric ambience and vibe. Very sceney. Great guacamole, great tacos, and refreshing drinks. Though, if you are going here to have a great conversation, you may need walkie-talkies...as it gets loud in here on a busy night. I generally liked this place for the food, but it was too loud to have anything more than a piecemeal conversation with your friends.
(3)shi d.
I went to Mercadito in NYC on vacation and was happy to see one open in Chicago. The location in Chicago is much better! Its a lot bigger and it was booming on Sat nite. We had reservations for 9:45 and were seated about 10 minutes after arrival. Our server was very attentive, even though the whole place was full. Our food and drinks were on time and we didnt have to wait much considering how full it was in there. The food was hot and super yummy! Cant wait to go back. Another bonus, the free coat check! The only issue was that it was kind of warm in there so wear layers that you can take off!
(5)JoAnn G.
The food is excellent but every time we go we wait at least 45 min past our reservation time.
(3)Steve L.
Great food. Great service. No, wonderful service. Be prepared to drop a few bucks, though. Minus a star and a half because I had to practically scream to hear my friend across the table and I had to practically tuck my elbows in as to not bump them with my neighbors on either side of me.
(4)Jessica Y.
Ho hum. Went here for business. Different guacs were good ESP mango and pomegranate. Best tacos were the spicy pork, chicken mole, and mahi. Decent but not sure I'd rush back.
(3)Jacob V.
The service was very nice, including an authentic hispanic waiter haha. The place is very small and they try and jam everyone in never turning anyone away. We felt as if we were dining with the couple seated next to us. The menu was very interesting and i liked how you order several times and relax. The tacos were interesting esp paired with a guac. All in all i would go back, but maybe with some friends as it is not an intimate spot for 2.
(3)anthony t.
Really good. All of the tacos rock and the ambiance is very trendy. Its busy and for good reason they make excellent drink the music is good and the food is incredible. Its just hard to get in.
(4)Kelly S.
Went on a Thursday night with a couple of girlfriends. The place in general is nice. We were seated in a back corner, which was tight, but at least we could hear eachother. I had the Flautas, which were good. My friends had the tacos which were small, but good. We started off with 3 different guacamole's which were all different but delicious. I would go back to try it again.
(3)Missy J.
The small plates and cocktails are delicious, and the vibe is fun and fabulous. This is (almost) the perfect alternative to nightclubs (no dancing, alas--it is a restaurant first). The space is gorgeous, as are the people who give Mercadito its business. Make reservations if possible, in order to avoid a long and crowded wait.
(4)Maria C.
Great place! Did brunch there last weekend and the food was excellent. We ordered a la carte since everyone on the table wanted tacos. We shared the mushroom, pork, and fish tacos and all of them were delicious. Also had she shrimp ceviche and the regular guac and mango guac. Beware of the mango mimosa, it is SPICY! Tapas style, so works best if everyone shares different plates. Decor is lovely! Highly recommend!!!
(4)Nick O.
I thought the food was excellent and the margaritas are life changing but the over all experience was a bit lacking. Very noisy and very crowded. Had to wait an hour past my reservation to be seated and it was so loud and packed it took away from how great the food was. I don't think I would go back there again unless I knew it wouldn't be so crazy inside. - had the beer battered mahi mahi tacos and the pick three quac. with the tradicional, mango, and granada.
(3)Ryan H.
I love this place. Excellent guacamole. My favorite thing, though, is the carne tacos. I recommend eating family style (which is how most of the menu is intended anyway) so you can try a lot of different things. They also have a huge selection of tequila. I think the food is somewhat similar to De Cero in the West Loop or maybe even Big Star in Wicker Park, but I have to say that I think Mercadito does it best. It can get pretty packed and pretty loud on the weekend, which doesn't really bother me, but some might find it too "high energy" for a relaxing dinner. The service experience has always been great the 4 times I have been there, even when it has been busy. Start your night with a flaming margarita and some chips and 2 or 3 types of guacamole (they have 6 to choose from). Then get your fill of tacos and taquizas before heading out on the town with friends or a date.
(4)Kathleen O.
Very cool place and food was delicious! We got right in on a week day night and our waitress was the best. She was very attentive and recommended a lot of her favorite food and drinks. She brought us margaritas right away and then we had one of the salsas and 2 choices of guacamole. The mango one was really good and the other was a traditional guac. We also both had the tacos and they were 4 small tacos and perfect size to share. I had the steak asada ones and my friend had the seafood ones. We also tried the cucumber green drink (forgot the name) and it was good for the first couple sips, but then kind of gross. Overall, LOVED the food and will definitely be back!
(4)Elayne S.
Really enjoyed this place! went there with 4 friends and we decided to just order a bunch of things and split them. They were able to add extras on to some plates to make it 5 so that we all got some. We started with the pick 3 guac we chose the mango, naranja, and the toreado. I love guac so i enjoyed all three very much We then had the ceviche mixto which was very good but the portion was pretty small. Our main entrees were: corn masa quesadillas pescado tacos- very good and slightly spicy tostadas de cangrejo- my favorite of the meal! the blue crab was excellent and everything stayed together really well without falling off the crispy tortilla. hongos Longosta- lobster and passion fruit it was really good Chile relleno- my second favorite of the meal. the combo of the scallops, shrimp, cheese, and salsa made it the best chile relleno i've ever had. great spin on an old (and boring) classic. to drink i had the Misty's sleeve which was a good combo of salty and sweet. great place to go with friends, nice atmosphere.
(5)Christine D.
OMG! So many delicious margaritas so little time..... I had some food here once but the margaritas made me forget about how my food was.
(4)Dr. Ashish S.
Amazing food, a little crowded and great drinks. try and get a reservation downstairs in the private room, cool drinks and great music.
(5)Naomi N.
I came here in May for a business dinner with 2 others. I was a bit disappointed with the noise level. We had to talk very loud in order to hear each other. Seats are a bit tight and the bar has very little space - gets crowded quickly. On the positive side, decor is really fun and the drinks are amazing. Tried the trio guacamole - fabulous. Fish tacos - awesome. Go here, but not for business dinners.
(4)Meagan B.
I've been here a few times and I must say it has changed over the years. I came once for lunch when it first opened and the food was good, but seemed expensive. Then I came back a year or so later to what it is now, small plates, a place to be seem, loud on the weekends, crowded, and impossible to get a reservation that is actually honored. I made a reservation for my and my best friends joint bday dinner for 6 people at 8pm. Despite asking numerous times to be seated, it wasn't until one hour later that it happened, which is not too at a small plates place because then you are literally too starving to be social or even think. But what is most important is the food. It is great the pork tacos and the fish tacos are amazing. I could probably eat 6 by myself. Also the queso fundido is worth getting. I would say that while my boyfriend loved this place, it was just not enough food for him without breaking the bank, but for a place to grab a few tacos and a marg it is fine. My advice would just to no go on a weekend, unless you were one of those who were trying to be "seen"
(3)Randy B.
Valets were complete @ssholes so we left
(1)Kristin K.
Meh. Overpriced, yes. Very crowded and loud, yes (though we got in just fine with our reservation). Not the best Mexican I've ever had - it seemed like it was just trying too hard and taking itself too seriously. Everything is interesting, but it's hard to overlook the $11 per margarita, $9 per guacamole, $3 for salsa, and $15 for taco price tag. It wasn't good enough for those prices. Our server was very nice and accommodated a special request. However, once it got extremely crowded, it took 15 minutes to get refills on our drinks and 50 minutes for a second order of tacos. I know it's not the server's fault, but waiting 50 minutes was unreasonable. They apologized, but I had hoped they wouldn't charge us for that second order of tacos. But alas, it was definitely there on the bill. Anyway, it was fine food, but just overpriced and not that exciting.
(3)E S.
I've been here for lunch countless times (I work in the area). The food is definitely decent. It's not the most amazing mexican food I've ever had, but it's very decent and I will continue to go back. For some reason, the service is always a little bit off to me. Not bad enough to really complain to the manager or anything like that, but just little things here and there. Still though, a solid spot for business lunches in River North.
(3)Kathryn S.
Went for the first time during Restaurant week and it was fabulous! Had the traditional, mango & toreado guacs--all were great! For ceviches, we had the camaron & mixto, both great again. 4 tacos selections: mole, camaron, pastor, & carne. The only one I wouldn't get again was the mole, it was okay, but paled in comparison to the pastor! My only complaint would be that we waited for an extra 30 min for our table reservation, but it was a Sunday night & restaurant week to boot, so the extra wait wasn't horrible. I will definitely be going back during times other than restaurant week!
(5)Richard S.
Oh, this place has to have at least a 4-Star average! Mercadito looks like you'd think it would and then some--a trendy Mexican joint well done. My wife and I were fortunate enough to get a reservation on a Friday night during Restaurant Week, and neither of us was disappointed. The special Prix Fixe menu had some very unique offerings, including some interesting guac iterations I'd never think of. Must try the beef taco! Forget meaningful conversation--another interesting aspect of Mercadito that I didn't expect to notice or pay attention to was the music. Albeit just at the brink of uncomfortably loud, the mix featured blended tracks of Led Zeppelin over Black Sabbath and Bob Marley over Bob Seger just to name a few. Upon inquiry, our server wasn't able to provide much information on the music other than that the owner assembled the mix over a period of about two years. Probably worth some investigation, as I wouldn't mind having a mix like that on hand. Worth a visit for sure. Stick with parties of 4 or smaller. Hard ceilings only amplify prevailing groups of 6+ cackling girls, making it very hard to converse.
(4)Terry L.
This place was good. No wait at 530 on Saturday (before the 4th of July) although we did have a reservation. Margaritas were good -1st one was perfect, 2nd wasn't mixed well, all Tequila on top so it was strong (not that that is a bad thing!!) Tacos were great. My wife and I split the pastor (pork) and the fish tacos. You get 4 each. Small, bites, perfect to get 2 kinds and split. The salsa was good, although pricey for the 2 tablespoons you get. Scallop ceviche was good too, very creative. The place was jumping by the time we left too, so reservations are recommended. It's a tad pricey for tacos, but the taste is something you won't find at the taqueria's.
(4)Alison T.
Food was outstanding. Shrimp tacos were my favorite. We had 6 girls and were going to order a few plates of tacos, guacamole, and one other appetizer... but the waitress told us the tacos were only two bites each so we ordered a lot more... NOT TRUE. The tacos are much more filling then the waitress claimed. It is meant to be a "small plates" place, but a couple tacos each were definitely enough. The drinks are delicious but pricey, so the bill for the 6 of us was definitely up there. The only thing that knocked it down a star was we had made 7:45pm reservations for my friend's Birthday and a table wasn't even available until after 8:15pm. There is no good area to wait, so we were cramped into the entry way and constantly felt in the way of people coming into the restaurant, not to mention, it was 30 degrees out and we kept getting gusts of wind when the door was open. We were finally seated at a table in the very front right by the door right next to another table, I could hear their entire convo - I explained my frustration to the hostess and she did everything she could and was able to find us a much better table/booth, which we greatly appreciated! But waiting over a half hour when we have a reservation seems a bit ridiculous.
(4)Aubrey L.
With the wealth of good to excellent Mexican food choices within walking distance of Mercadito, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to even set foot in this place. The food probably would have rated no higher than two stars, but combined with some of the worst service I have ever had, even 1 star feels too generous. There are so many things wrong here: 1) Price. Seriously, $10.50 for three tiny tacos? $8 for a tiny, too limey guacamole? Actually, the size was not so much the issue as the perception of value. You just feel ripped off. 2) Taste. The best thing was probably my brother's beer battered tilapia tacos (quite delicious, actually). Everything else was either terrificly bland or way too salty. 3) Service.........((crickets)).....That's right. They really just do not give a rat's behind about whether you have enough to drink, whether you like your food, or whether you have run out of chips for the salsa. To top off our experience, the bill came out wrong. Every single item was priced incorrectly. Now, I know I can be a cheap SOB, but as a matter of principle, if the menu says the guacamole is $8 and the tacos $10.5, I expect the bill to list my lunch at those prices. Instead of the outrageous lunch prices, we were charged the even more outrageous dinner prices ($8.50 and $14 respectively). It is important to note that we were not angry when we got the bill - just confused (at this point we did not know about the dinner prices). When we pointed out the error to our waitress, she just rolled her eyes, clucked her tongue, and marched off. 10 minutes later, she brings the new bill and.....wait for it.....there is another mistake. While the tacos were now priced correctly, the guacamole was listed at $8.25. At this point it just felt as if she was toying with my emotions. After much gesticulating and menu waiving, we finally got a correct bill. In retrospect, I should have considered that instead of trying to scam me for a quarter, perhaps the staff is just incompetent. Fair enough, I apologize Mercadito - you are not crooks, just a bad restaurant.
(1)Michelle L.
I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and inviting. The menu is small but everything is great. I recommend the fish tacos. I also had the salsa de arbol (a bit spicy but just the right amount). I had every margarita off the drink menu and loved all of them. My favorite was the mango. Def will go back on the weekends with a group and def want to try the bottle service bloody marys on Sunday!
(4)Rich K.
I was here last night for a birthday celebration. I don't know if it was me, but everything I ate was overly bland. I even ordered the extra spicy/smokey salsa, but even that was bland. This place is very lively, but the food is very boring. And for the portions served, the prices are too high.
(3)LA R.
Very disappointed by our experience last night. When we first arrived, the place was empty but filled up fast. The bus boy kept trying to remove plates from our table that were filled with food. We joked about it to our waiter. But then we never saw our waiter again. We were planning to order more--food and drinks--but 30 minutes went by so we flagged down someone and got the bill and went elsewhere. They were completely understaffed.
(2)Laura G.
One of my good friends came into town of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I only could meet up with her when she was having dinner with 3 girls that have no idea the meaning of a dollar. I really wanted to see her, so I gave in and said I'd meet them at Mercadito. So, I get to Mercadito on time, our reservation was at 8:30 and we were seating around 8:45, not too bad. I'm pretty sure our table was totally make shift . 3 of the chairs were broken and we were crammed next to the wall and the bathroom. We were actually lucky because we were far enough away from other tables that we could actually hear what people were saying. SO loud. Seriously, get some fabric in there to soak up the noise. Now, their food. The food was delicious just a tad over priced. I looked up the menu before going and thought, ok ok I can do $14 for tacos... But that was not the case when we ordered. Because we were a table of 8 we had to get their $30 tasting menu. I'm sorry, but aren't we the consumer? Don't we get a choice of what we want to order? Not here. Anyways, we got 3 different guacamole's- all were yummy. Pomegranate guac, who knew! The food was definitley good, it's just everything surrounding it just kinda sucked. The drinks were also pretty good, $10 not too bad for river north. Overall, it's a decent place, I wouldn't come back here with a group larger than 6 though. 3 stars instead of 2 because the food was good, and isn't that the most important part?
(3)Joanna K.
Mmmm, Mmmm Good! We had reservations for 6:30pm on a busy Thursday night. You have to have your entire party present in order to be seated, but luckily, the bar had some seats available for us to relax and try out some of their delicious tequila cocktails. I started off with a Black Market which was light and refreshing and whatever that yummy little spice they dip the glass in was, well, it was delicious and I licked the entire glass clean. We started our dinner with the guac sampling and I highly suggest the mango guacamole, I thought fruit in my guacamole would be a bad idea but we loved it, it was our favorite of all of them. Tacos were great, we tried the pastor, carne, estilo baja, and camaron tacos. You must, must, must try the estilo baja and the camaron tacos, the ingredients were perfect and mouthwatering with just the right amount of kick to it. Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Merc. One complaint, please spread out the tables a bit more, I don't think the party next to me enjoyed me getting up and having my behind practically on their table as I was trying to squeeze my way through their table and ours a few times....Thanks Merc!
(5)Melissa N.
Went to Mercadito's for the first time for brunch during restaurant week and ohmygod! The Smokey Pablo is delicious but the star of the meal was the out of this world Chilaquiles. A bit pricey. Food and drinks were fabulous!!
(5)A. B.
Cool place, attractive crowd. Food was above average but mixed drinks were AWFUL! When I notified my server that my cocktail was too sweet, she informed me that my opinion essentially didn't matter. I always appreciate being put in my place by my server.
(3)Jennifer C.
Note: I went here for brunch, not dinner. Pros: I thought that the pricing was fair, and their rendition of Eggs Benedict was very good - the base was corn bread! Delicious. However, everything else was pretty sub-par. The "guava cava" cocktail wasn't BAD, but it didn't taste right either - it was just very meh. Don't mess with the cava if you're not going to at least improve upon it. We ordered the mango guacamole, and there was an overpowering smoky taste - tasted more like bacon than mango!? Pretty gross. The two salsas we ordered were also unremarkable, and one of them had the same overpowering smoky flavor. Last but not least, the waiter brought us complimentary shots of their cocktail, the "Green-ga." It was foul. Tasted like beer and cucumbers. I'd both not order it, and politely ignore the complimentary shooter they bring around. I'd be willing to give it a chance for dinner, but the dishes really need more balance in flavors.
(2)Brenda M.
Really mature of Mercadito. Right after my post I received this comment from an "employee" at mercadito: Matt O. has sent you a message on Yelp: grow up! "so this review makes me really happy, because I was there that same night sitting @ the bar. I was talking to the bartender (really cute asian girl) and we saw the whole thing! You and your trashy friends were nasty and just WAY out of your element. Grow up and admit that you are a wanna be spoiled girl and get over yourself. Don't waste people's time on yelp by posting a review that rips the server. Talk about pathetic, you are for posting this terrible review. Thanks for providing me and my friends at the bar tons of entertainment that night, we still talk about you all:) Funny How MATT O. has only reviewed Mercadito and no other establishments besides to rip on my boyfriends place of employment.?? instead of wasting your time making up profiles. WORK ON YOUR SERVICE!!
(1)Steven B.
Try Taco Tuesday for a special deal on unusually wonderful tacos. The various guacamoles are a surprise treat. Service is good.
(5)Molly L.
We started out with drinks. Margaritas all around, except for my one friend who ordered the Smoky Pablo. The margs were fab, and the Smoky Pablo was really fun. It was indeed smoky, but also fruity? I don't know, but I want more of it. Foodwise, we started with the traditional guacamole and the toreado. I highly recommend the toreado. Very creative and delicious. And the chips! Oh, the chips. I could've just eaten those and been happy. We had to ask for another basket because I ate so many of them without any guac on them. A+ on the chips, Mercadito. After the guac, we got the mahi mahi ceviche and the shrimp ceviche. I'm not a big ceviche person, so I would've been fine without it. The flavor was good, though. Then we shared the carne, al pastor and duck confit tacos. The carne was my favorite, but the al pastor and duck confit were also amazing. We all argued about which taco was the best. For dessert, we got the caramel and goat cheese flan and the chocolate cake. Now, I'm not usually one for flan, but I liked this because it was very un-flan-like. And the chocolate cake. Oh, man. Just get it. I was a little worried because I knew about the trendy reputation of Mercadito, but I was pleasantly surprised by the good food and good service. Sometimes, a place is popular because it's just good. This would have been a 5-star review if it weren't for the weird, Ed Hardy-looking mural on the back wall and the slightly high prices. So close to perfection, Mercadito! So close. I will definitely be back, though.
(4)Steve T.
Alright, so, apparently they play musical dinner plates here...and musical dinner plates made me go WTF, quite literally, and I almost spilled my wine. Which would not have made me happy. I shall explain: We ordered 4 taco platters for our table to share. Each taco platter comes with 4 tacos. A "mystery" platter arrived on our table with 3. We all looked at each other thinking we were either missing a taco or this was not our food. We told the busser, he had no idea, so he got the waitress. Waitress showed up, said oh this isn't your plate. Total duration of food on table... 5ish minutes. Waitress took the mystery platter off our table and walked into the kitchen...that happened to be immediately next to us. Not even a minute later, the same dinner plate surfaced in her hand, and was placed onto a table a couple away from us. You would have thought all of us saw a ghost, we stopped talking, stopped sipping our wine, and sat there, mouths wide open as they re-served something that had been sitting on our table for at least 5 minutes. I quite audibly said, WTF. Thankfully we know nothing had happened to it since we didn't even prod it with a fork, but it concerns me that they even served the dish. Now, you might be thinking well, what if they threw ours out and brought them a fresh one from the kitchen... but there is no way she literally walked through the kitchen doors and walked back out. There was no fooling me tonight. So, we thought the oddity had ended, but then only 3 of our 4 ordered taco platters came out. We had been waiting for it since as we sat down we were told everything comes out in order when it's finished cooking. Well...we waited and waited, and finally said something. Apparently, our shrimp tacos were given to another table, and they ate them. Most likely knowingly. I'm OK with this, because I would rather have not received them back from their table which seems to happen here. To add to my displeasure, they don't let you mix and match the taco plates. I wanted to get a taco flight type deal like De Cero offers, and that's not possible here. Anywho... musical food disturbs me, so yeahhhh... unless you like knowing someone else kept your food company you might want to think about whether you are ok dining here.
(2)Mike D.
Good service and a cool vibe. The different guacamoles were all fantastic. The one with the toasted peppers was out of this world. Now regular guac just won't be the same anymore. The tacos were all creative, well prepared, and super tasty. A group of us mixed and matched 3 kinds of tacos, and the short rib and pork were great. The Al Pastor were good, but the pineapple was slightly cloying. Do not miss the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts sides. Tequila selection and margaritas A+++. No pre-made mix and no crappy tequila here! I can't wait to go back and try the ceviche.
(5)Sunshine A.
Definitely one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. the place is full of energy, good food, and good looking (excuse my shallow moment) people! if you ever go for brunch, make sure to try the Huevos Ahogados. I die for them. will be back asap.
(4)Zachary B.
I went here with a couple of friends for Chicago Chef Week. We picked it because none us had been there before. We had to wait 5 to 10 minutes for our reservation. The place was full at 6:45 PM. When we did get seated it was at a pretty bad table next to the bathrooms about half way in back of the restaurant. Then we had to wait another 10 to 15 minutes for our order to be taken. We did order off of the Chef Week Dinner menu. We started with the mango, mole poblano, and camote guacamole. All were excellent. It was hard to pick a favorite. We then had a shrimp and a mahi mahi ceviche. Both were excellent. Then we had 4 types of tacos- pollo, rajas, pescado, and mole. The pollo was the clear winner at our table. The rajas seemed to be a close second. The tacos were decent. We also had an OK side of arroz verde. It wasn't bad but really forgotten about amongst our group. For dessert we had the ceviche de mango. This is where things got weird. It was brought to us in what I would describe as a cheesy, low rent Italian restaurant salad bowl. But wait, to be clear, it was just one bowl for the three of us. We thought it was kind of gross because it was very liquidy with tiny chunks of mango thrown in. It tasted great but it was a horrible presentation. We also seemed to wait a ridiculous amount of time to get our check. The service was kind of spotty from beginning to end. My group had differing experiences. We agreed the food was good. But two of us described it as a place to try once but there was not enough to entice to come back. There are better Mexican restaurants out there that exceed this place in value, quality, and price.
(2)Mike S.
Great place, good music, happy people inside. Went in last night, a place recommended for 25 and up.
(4)C. K.
I really enjoyed this place and will go back! I went there with my three co-workers on a Thursday evening. I totally love the interior design which is more like a lounge and I enjoyed the music that covered loungy techno but at some point switched to 90s Rock, which cracked us up. Our waiter was great! Very helpful when we were trying to decide what to get. He even hooked up one of us with a free Tequila shot. The food was tasty! The tacos are just the right tapas size. I was afraid that the sizes would be too small but it actually worked out well. Each plate had four tacos. We had the special, the "Firecracker," the Mahi Mahi, and shrimp taco. We were stuffed just from those. They were all super delicious. My three co-workers had alcoholic beverages that I jealously looked at (I'm preggers) and they all loved their drinks. I will def go back there because I really liked the food because it had intricate flavors...for a taco. They weren't your classical or traditional flavors and I appreciate that. Plus, I want to try their drinks once I am sans baby in utero :) Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Kathleen K.
I went to Mercadito for my birthday dinner this year. It was the second time I have been there. The first was with a large group of people and we ordered a tasting menu. Mercadito has great deals for groups on their menu, so it you are looking for a fun night out with a group, this is a great place to do it and to try different types of food that you might not be able to order if you just went with one other person. When I went the second time, we ordered the "guacamole tradicional." Nothing short of perfection. It is absolutely delicious. It is very "light" but quite flavorful. Served with the guac is a bowl of warm tortilla chips which were kind of salty, but I love salty chips so I loved these. When me and my BF gobbled up the first bowl of chips, a second bowl was promptly brought to us by our server. For our meal, I order the carne tacos and my BF ordered the pastor tacos. Mine were absolutely delicious. I very unhappily shared one with my BF-I did not want to give any away it was so good! The pastor tacos were pretty good but extremely spicy, so beware. When you order the tacos meal, you get four tacos. However, I was kind of bummed that you could not mix-and-match. The menu has several tacos that I was interested in trying, but the waitress informed us that we could only get 4 of the same type of taco per order. Not good. We also ordered a side of the elote, which came as two 1/4 corn cobs on sticks. I am kinda obsessed with elote, such that I make it at home frequently, and I was very disappointed with the elote here. It really lacked any sort of flavor. I would not order this again. Ambiance wise, this restaurant is LOUD. We went in the middle of the week around 6pm and were seated across the table from one another but had to yell. Not the ideal dining experience. Overall, the food is pretty good but someone pricey. There are other restaurants in the area with the same fare that I would likely go to before I went back to Mercadito, but those carne tacos and guac are sooooooo good.
(3)Haley S.
I loved this place in NY - had lunch here on Sunday. Tacos were awesome, loved my pastor and my friend's shrimp (our other friend had to chicken which were good, but not as good). I liked my spiced cava drink, and loved the mango guac. Would definitely return!
(4)Angelica E.
Mmmmm Mercadito!!! I don't hangout in River North very often (I'm kinda cheap and very bias the Logan Square/Whicker Park) but Mercadito was a treat! A friend and I started off with a pomegrante guac and a mango guac....both very good but I liked the mango the best because it had a surprise kick! We also shared chicken and steak tacos...also very very good! A bit on the pricy side but it is well worth the price!
(5)Crista L.
Me: "Although you lost our reservation (that Jennifer supposedly made), we are willing to wait for a table" Mercadito: "Sure, you can wait, but we can't guarantee anything will open up soon. Plus, you've gotta wait for the 4th person in your party before we will consider seating you." Me: "Can you make that guacamole more spicy?" Mercadito: "No." The guacamole was decent, but surely not the best I've had. The customer service was mediocre at best. The reason we wanted to try Mercadito in the first place was because they use Agave Nectar in their margaritas. I was certainly not impressed with the margaritas - tasted like they used a bad mix. - definitely not fresh & crisp. I would recommend this place to my friends solely due to aesthetic. It's a cool place.
(3)Anthony B.
Great upscale Mexican food, the best. Had their special when I was there (pulled pork tacos) that were the best tacos I've ever had. Both of us enjoyed everything we ordered and would definitely go back.
(5)Sarah S.
My sister came into town this past Friday and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant downtown to eat at. I came across Mercadito when searching online. We thought we would give it and try and were very pleased that we did! We were able to get seated right away in the lounge, so long as we left by 8pm. That gave us 1.5 hrs...no problem! We shared an order of the tradicional guacamole-amazing!! It was perfectly spiced and the chips they serve it with were fabulous. We then shared an order of the Carne Tacos. The tacos are fairly small, but definitely filling. The steak was cooked just right. This place is not too far from my work. I look forward to going there for a margarita after work!
(4)Rob W.
Awesome spin on Mexican Cuisine. Great Margaritas. Guacamole is a must order.
(5)Lindsay J.
The guacamole and salsa's were awesome and a good value. My boyfriend and i got two guacamoles, two salsas and two kinds of tacos to share. We also got two sides and found the sides (chorizo and green rice casserole) to be too much food. I'll skip the sides when I go back. Besides the traditional margarita, I also ordered a green-go, beer based drink. It was tasty but not very much kick for the hefty price tag. Food was great. mahi mahi tacos were my favorite bite of food for the evening and my number one fish-taco experience.
(4)Andrea G.
Two of my girlfriends took me to Mercadito on Friday evening for my birthday and it was like walking on to the set of Sex & The City. Pink/purple lighting, LOUD music, flowing cocktails, cramped seating, and the requisite trendy crowd. Normally, this would not be a place I would enjoy (same reason I can no longer sit on the lawn at a DMB concert...I am just too old) but the food was absolutamente deliciosa. From the salsas and ceviche to the tacos and chocolate cake, Mercadito was spot on with everything. I am a fan.
(4)Alex B.
come back here for a good time out. Here's how it all plays out. The bar has an extensive menu of mostly tequila based cocktails. Many are yummy - I particularly enjoyed the Pepino el Pyu with Cucumber and intriguing cumin salt. The Margarita Tradicional was also good - though frankly neither were quite up to the level of Frontera. Also kind of annoying was the light hand with which the drinks were poured - my wife had three (which would usually have her under the table) and she was only moderately buzzed. Deducting one point for that for sure. One drink I really enjoyed with dinner with the Michelada - a kind of a spicy beer over ice - really terrific! The bar also has an extensive array of eye candy for everyone to enjoy. I'm adding back half a star for the tremendous display of surgical enhancements - very impressive. If you don't want a scene I'd avoid Mercadito. If you are happy with an evening of drinking and people watching then by all means this is your place. The dining room is set up for this type of evening and the restaurant isn't putting on airs that it anything other than a fun scene place (unlike the obnoxious 33 Club which thinks it is). Subtracting another half a star for the extremely lame soundtrack. I'm all for ironic, humorous, throw back soundtracks but this place had a continuous array of tired, played out music crowned by actually forcing me to listen to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes and Summer Loving from Grease. Are you serious? Guacamole was super yummy and the Toreado was particularly delicious with an interesting mix of tasty chilis. Highly recommended and not really that spicy. I also enjoyed the tacos which had a variety of interesting filings - we ordered four types for the table (we had four people) and everyone got to sample. The Camaron (Shrimp) was the best with an intriguing mixture of flavors and textures. The Chorizo was also super yummy - though a little greasy (as Chorizo tends to be). This place is a lot of fun, with interesting yummy food - though not anything that will send you over the moon. I think it is best enjoyed in a small group with lot's of sharing and staring. Our evening was capped off when Greg Olson of the Bears (my wife is a big fan) was seated near us - definitely getting half a star back for that one. If they allowed the bar tenders to pour a proper drink and got a real (non-lame) soundtrack it would be even better. In spite of these minor flaws I will be back.
(3)Anna J.
Everything was delicious, the ambiance was super cool, and the staff were all amazing and super helpful. I HIGHLY recommend the margaritas "with smoke." Best margarita I've ever had.
(5)Darlene L.
Returned here for lunch last week with a party of six. The place is exceedingly noisy. We could not hear each other which put a damper on my recommendation. Also, seating outside is limited to smaller parties. Once again, the food was quite good. Loved the ceviche and the chips. Tacos with mushrooms, steak, chicken-all top notch. Waiter was provoked that we did not order more; his attitude showed. As it turned out, what we selected was plenty. This is a pricey, trendy place where they expect that you will drink a lot, order many small plates, and run up a nice tab for their benefit. If you are ok with these terms, sign up and be sure you are current on your credit card bill.
(4)Hillary L.
I came here during the super-busy $1 special days to try this place out. I arrived 40 minutes early because we didn't have a reservation, so I scouted out standing area at the bar and picked up a "shady gato" - the drink that is- while waiting for a friend. My friend tried a margarita that the bartender suggested for her, but it was too spicy for her taste, so he got her a new one instead, which was much appreciated. About an accurate 40 minutes later, we were lead to our table- if you could call it that. It was more a trendy, low table with uncomfortable chairs- which would be fine if I was just sipping on my drink and not trying to eat. We each picked out our 2 $1 specials (very small plates), and then asked our server what else we should get. He was amazing the entire night, and first said we should wait to see if we were still hungry after our small plates (we were) and then he suggested: guacamole tradicional : too much onion for my taste, overwhelmed the avocado for me, which is the highlight of guacamole for me arroz verde: something was off with the spices in this dish, I liked the melted manchego cheese on top, but the rice didn't seem right So, mainly I enjoyed my small plates and wasn't a huge fan of our other food. I liked that it was busy because I've been to too many places that are quiet on weekdays, but the food didn't do it for me here, which may be because the kitchen was slammed that night with all the specials. I wouldn't go here again to eat unless someone really, really wanted me to tag along with them.
(2)Reynick M.
Four words: overpriced, hipster Taco Bell.
(1)Jane Z.
Pretty. One of those trendy places I wouldn't mind going with girlfriends. Disclaimer - I may or may not have gone to a bar before this and consumed a few Very Large Beers, so maybe my enjoyment was a combination of actual appreciation and alcohol-skewed appreciation. Guacamole and ceviche, maybe two of my favorite things, ever. I also ordered the shrimp & scallop stuffed peppers. My friend ordered this as well, and we were both very pleased (yes, yum yum yum). However, my boyfriend, ordered a steak dish and they brought him....chicken. The took it back and my friend and I ate our stuffed peppers with glee while the boy waited patiently, sadly. The manager came and checked up on us later, after they had brought out the correct entree, and everything was fine. Then they gave us a round of drinks. I understand that a relatively new restaurant needs some time to adjust and get settled, and these errors are very likely in the beginning, so I wasn't upset about it. I know for a fact that I didn't not need that free margarita towards the end of our meal, but thank you, regardless. :)
(4)Lupe T.
We went to Mercadito with a group of five. Restaurant is beautiful, but very loud! Drinks are amazing, exotic!!! Food is served tapas style style (small portions)!! It's authentic, but with a twist???? Be prepared to spend, spend, spend....quite expensive. If you have a big appetite reconsider visiting Mercadito!!!
(3)Erin J.
My guy and I went here for a quick dinner early one Wednesday evening. We were sat relatively quickly, on the edge of a banquette, mere feet from the bar. Within about 15 minutes, the people lining up at the bar had their asses up on the edge of our table. The noise, of course, quickly became such that my guy and I couldn't talk without shouting and we were constantly eyeballing our glasses to be sure they didn't topple over every time someone bumped our table (which happened a lot). What a poor place to have a table. Put a potted plant in that space and keep the rest of the tables, but this little two-top is in a horribly inconvenient and inconsiderate place. The cramped space was the most distracting and irritating aspect of our dinner. The service was polite but pretty air-headed; what we'd ordered came all jumbled up and at the wrong times and the drinks were just...off. The "house drink" sidecar that comes with all the tequilas is disgusting. I think it was supposed to be something like Clamato and a bunch of other things that just didn't work for my taste. The one saving grace: OMG the fish tacos were amazing. Light and crispy, only very lightly dressed and simple. They were the only thing I enjoyed about our night out at Mercadito.
(2)Alexander G.
Excellent different types of guacamole and decent tacos. Service was fine. Gets pretty loud at night if you're near the dj so not the easiest for conversation. Probably the type of place you would go to before a night out, for example in the bar downstairs.
(4)Thetalkingdeck ..
Met up w/some friends here for a going away party. Nice location. Secluded private nook that looks like a nice club/lounge area. Crowd was cool - kinda like the wanna go out without getting too crazy crowd - only had drinks there - had a nook w/bottle service. I'd go again...a good bouncing spot (starting here to start the night off right or coming here to finish the night well).
(4)Michael N.
Good ambiance and solid food. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jeff W.
I almost didn't go to this place because of the previous reviews. I don't know what all the naysayers are about. My wife and I had a fantastic time here. I showed up to the bar around 6 on a Thursday. I had never been here before and frankly didn't know much about Mercadito, other than I had heard vague rumblings that it was a fun place to go and they had decent food, and it's not far from my office. So I sat down at the bar and there were only a few other folks in the restaurant. The bartender asks what I want and I said, I have no idea, what do you recommend. I told him I'm into spicy drinks (ala bloody mary) and he recommends a Misty's sleeve. The hibiscus salt is great and it has a bit of heat. I told him, if anything, make it spicier next time. A few more folks show up at the restaurant and I can feel the vibe start to pick up. It's around 6:30 at this point. Done with the Misty's Sleeve, I'm up for something else. Another bartender recommends the Big Nose Goes to Mexico (B.N.G.T.M), which they described as a sort of Mai Thai with a twist. The twist being 151 and set on fire before you drink it. It's a really fruit drink, but still delicious and the hibiscus salt on the rim of this one is a little burnt, which gives it another layer of complexity. It's around 7 and the place is really crowded. My wife arrives and we're immediately seated outside. It was a beautiful night and there's lots of folks walking around River North. I order another Misty's Sleeve and my wife has a BNGTM. She's not really a fan of the salt on the glass, but still enjoys the guava-ness of the drink. We ordered the Mango, Pina, and Mole guacamoles to start. Surprisingly the Mango and Pina are the spicier of the three. The mole has a nice smoky taste, while the other have sweeter, but spicier notes. All three are delcious. Then we had the Hongos and Pescado tacos. The Hongos tacos came out first and were absolutely delicious. Earthy mushrooms and really savory. The Pescado tacos came out next, but they weren't as flavorful as the Hongos. They need a bit more citrus or something to give them a kick, but still pretty good. Overall, we were very pleased and I would definitely go back with a smaller or larger group. Bonus for OpenTable reservations.
(5)Jen B.
After countless lunches here over the last two years, I gotta back up off Merc's balls and say that the food is pretty great. The camarones and pork tacos are delicious. I could scarf the chips and mango guac all day. And the margies will not do you wrong. Still think it's a bit sceney and loud but I've learned that to get good food downtown, you will have to put up with some nonsense. In the grand scheme, Mercadito is well worth it.
(4)Zac K.
Interesting to see the wide array of reviews- I'm a huge fan of Double A- the downstairs hot spot that always manages to find me ways to spend a sick amount of money on bar fun- oy! I figured since I'm normally on the way to the blackout bus when I'm typically here for an evening, it might be polite to try this place out for FOOD! SOOOOOOO- everything was great- pomegranate guacamole was great along with their house. Tacos were delish- fish and steak- yummo- drinks were good too- had no issues getting seated early, either, with a reservation. This is kind a fun place with reasonable pricing, however note the a la carte and it does add up quickly. Double A= bliss and the giant "guilded" doors to hell, as I call them- always a good time!
(4)Andy G.
Huh?!? What?!?! What did you say?!?!? That's pretty much the extent of the conversation I had at Mercadito before my headache set in from the obnoxiously loud music this past Tuesday when I went there for my brother-in-law's birthday dinner. Fortunately enough, however, the food was so good that I can't really use the volume of the joint against it too much. Downright spectacular. From the three types of guacamole we tried (traditional, mango and toreado) to the carnitas de puerco taquiza I had, the flavors were unique and well thought out. Other dishes that were eaten and received rave reviews were the shrimp and scallop ceviches, the pork and skirt steak tacos, the chile relleno and the barbacoa chicken taquiza. In addition to the foregoing, the decor of the place was pretty cool and the people inside were attractive, young professionals. Not a great place for a romantic dinner but surely a place to give your palate a workout. So, outside of the fact that I couldn't hear myself think while eating, I will definitely be returning to try everything else on the menu. But for the music Mercadito would have gotten a full five stars - maybe they should take note of this criticism to ensure that people will not try to use it as an excuse to not experience their food. ** As an aside, I cannot comment on the price of the food because my father-in-law paid the bill. However, unless my eyes did deceive me it looked a little on the high end considering that it's ultimately Mexican fare at the end of the day.
(4)Kashyap D.
Freakingly expensive food. Our server was very rude and so was the valet guy. Between the four of us, we ended up paying 160 bucks for that measly amount of food that was not even filling. Highly disappointed.
(1)Lisa D.
Interestingly enough, I lived in the loft above this restaurant for a year after I graduated college. The space this restaurant is in was occupied by an animator and the basement the lounge is now in was occupied by roaches, rats and my friend Heather's 6 foot tall papier mache dinosaur. (long story) If we had this to dine in instead of the Popeye's that used to be on the corner perhaps our lives would be different now... We reminisced about the old days as we dined on lovely guacamole and ceviche. I LOVE the ambiance and the decor. The basement lounge is really interesting. You feel a bit like you're in someones really, really, really nice basement and they are making you freaking awesome tequila drinks. I really enjoyed this spot.
(4)christina b.
Service was AWFUL. Food was OK at best. We were seated 20 minutes late even though we had a reservation, and all this on a weeknight no less. Food was OK with teeny tiny portions and definitely not worth the asking price. To add insult to injury our less than courteous waitress served everyone's entrees 15 minutes apart so all of us were eating at different times, making for an awkward dining experience. When we asked if the rest of the entrees could come out together our waitress looked at us like we were crazy and rolled her eyes at our request. I won't be going back. since I can get far better food and service somewhere else.
(1)Fawn D.
The good: Cool decor and atmosphere. I heard the fish tacos were excellent, but didn't order them. The bad: I ordered the tacos al pastor and they were just OK, in fact they were way too salty. Too expensive for mediocre food.
(2)Lourdes A.
OVERPRICED! Party of six with one round of shots that the waiter duped us into = $94 per person. WTF? It's Mexican food. Mexican ingredients are cheaply priced. Who are they kidding?? For that price, I'll go to Topolobampo or Frontera. The concept is a good one and the food is really good but the service left something to be desired. First, the food. Guacs come first and we chose the pomegranate, traditional, and chile serrano varieties which ended up being a lovely mix of sweet and spicy. The chipotle salsa was delish. The carnitas (pork) and carne (beef) tacos were small but very good. The ceviches were...meh. Sides of green rice with melted cheese and fried bananas were hard to share and unfortunately for my fellow diners, closer to my side of the table. However, if the six of us would have placed our portions on a normal dinner plate, we would have been howling mad when we got the bill. It just is way overpriced for what you get. Whoever says otherwise, must not be familiar with the low cost of ingredients that go into making Mexican food. It was a friend's birthday and so I had to be there but never again. For my friend's birthday, the owner who he knows, sent a free round of tequila shots before our meal began. However, at the end of our meal the server said do you guys want another round of shots and even offered to drink one with us. EVERYONE at the table thought it was a comp round because of the way he presented the option. Well, our server who I will forever brand Luis el Bandido gave us his best tequila and charged us $105 for 7 shots - including his! How nice of him to treat himself on our dime. He wasn't even that special. We all left pissed off about it. Our collective tab for Mexican bites, licks, and tastes with one round of shots was $94 per!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will never go back and will warn people about the dishonest servers and overpriced food.
(2)Melanie R.
I love it here. The tequila drinks are delicious, the food is good (especially the variety of guacs), and I love the decor. My one complaint is that the tables are very small and close together, but other than that, this is an awesome restaurant.
(5)Yvonne L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! The food is outstanding and drinks are flavorful. The staff has always been great at recommending items and how much to order. I've never had a bad experience.
(5)Binoy G.
My favorite Mex joint in Chi-town. Really great food (love their gourmet taco's). Great ambience. Can get a little loud so go with ear-plugs if that bothers you but the food is definitely worth it. Also, dont miss out on trying all the different variations on the guac and the salsa's
(5)Sarah R.
I have mixed feelings about Mercadito. Is it good? Yes. Is it fantastic? No. I did I get annoyed by the $4 1/4 a cup of salsa? Yes. The tacos are good but I'm probably more of a traditional Mexican type of girl. Oh and but it's super crowded. I wish I could give Mercadito 3.5 stars.
(3)Am P.
Great tacos. outdoor seating a plus because the tables inside are way to close to one another. Good margaritas
(4)ali a.
I recently celebrated my birthday at Mercadito. I had visited it before and really loved the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service! Our second time around was good, but not as good as the first. We had a group of 20 people and had planned it far in advance. For some reason, our table was not ready and we were not seated for 45 minutes. Luckily, Mercadito made up for it with the delicious drinks and food. The other nice think about Mercadito is that it is perfect for large groups. They have a tasting menu and are very accommodating if you want throw a party. Gallit was fantastic to work with. Some of my favorites there are the pomegranate guacamole (only available at certain times) and the scallop ceviche. I am also a big fan of the steak and fish tacos. Lastly, I have a slight obsession with the cheesy rice. Its a must if you go there. Overall, Mercadito is a great new hotspot with a fun atmosphere and great food.
(4)Corinne W.
THE GOOD: We went with a big group of girls and had their "tasting menu" (which is required for groups over 7 people). This included trios of both guac and salsa, three different tacos, a taquiza to share with the table (chicken barbacoa was my favorite), and 2 sides. Tons of food for only $25 a person and we loved almost everything we tried. I was also quite impressed with the atmosphere. Everything from the decor and lighting to the wall murals. Definitely a fun place to head to dinner with friends. THE BAD: Warning, the Elote Mexicano Corn-on-the-Cob was almost inedible. Sooo spicy that half our table was in tears and I swear we're not wimps! THE UGLY: Service was horrible, except for our bus boy/man who was great. We waited over an hour even with a reservation and drinks took forever to arrive once we had a chance to order them. I seriously recommend ordering your second when your first arrives! In Summary - I with the other yelpers, I look forward to trying this place again, but only after they have had a chance to work out all the kinks.
(3)Jacob S.
We went here for dessert after a disappointing dinner experience at Cantina Laredo. What a contrast. The service was fantastic, the staff was nice, the space much more intimate. We had Cafexata which is coffee infused Herradura reposado with horchata and nutmeg, a coffee with "piquete" (in this case gaujillo syrup & crema de mezcal), and the flan de cajeta. All were fantastic. Cannot wait to go back for a full dinner. We'll be returning soon and will update this review!
(5)Jenn C.
Mercadito is quite the happening spot right now - went on a Tuesday and it was packed! I'm a huge fan of Mexican food, small plates and margaritas and Mercadito certainly didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend getting several of the guacamoles and salsas to share. The plantain guac was outrageously good! We also had the mahi mahi ceviche and a couple orders of tacos (al pastor and the shrimp) and they were all very good too. The only real negative about Mercadito is that it's crazy loud in there! My friend and I had to yell at each other across our 2 person table the whole time and our conversation was punctuated with quite a few "what was that?"'s
(4)James D.
Food is great, but they really shouldn't take "reservations" unless the meaning of "reservation" has changed the meaning in the dictionary to: "get here at a pre-specified time, then go buy drinks in the bar for an hour while 'shockingly' the table we have for your is just waiting to pay the check" It's great if you are in the mood, but the bar area sucks due to a terrible setup. It's in the middle of the serving area so there's a lot of traffic walking through with appetizers or cocktails going to tables. The remedy is really simple: don't take reservations. Or do what flies in New York (where there are at three other Mercadito outposts) - text people when the table is ready and give them 5 minutes to come back. It would save everyone the frustration of not living up to expectations. If you still go knowing all this, go for the pastor tacos or the estilo baja. Best on the taco list.
(3)Sunil D.
If you are looking for a cheap mexican place (aka a burrito as big as your head), turn away now. Mercadito first and foremost is a great scene, lively, professional crowd that always has a good buzz to it. A blend of NYC (where it has 3 other restaurants) and South Beach feel to it. The cocktails are awesome, they put a fresh and modern twist on margaritas and other tequila based drinks. The food is awesome. The tacos are well portioned (4 to an order) and a step above regular mexican fare. The el pastor and beer battered fish are two of my favorites, but I've tried most of them and you can't really go wrong. With that said, its great to go as a group and order an array of tacos so everyone can try a few of each. As a side dish, don't miss the green rice...just trust me on this, words won't do it justice. If you're feeling lucky, trek downstairs to AA lounge. It feels like a maze to get through and the bouncers are pretty strict but its worth a try. Its a very intimate (small) space, with great specialty cocktails and a hip vibe.
(4)Debra R.
I went to Marcadito with some friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a group of 8 and were therefore suggested to utilize the group menu. Using this menu, we were allowed to select a price per person to share 4 - 5 different items. We did the guacamoles, salsa, tacos and dessert. The guacamole was great. I really loved the chips, especially! The tacos were good - everyone loved the steak taco the best. The chicken taco was sub-par. The desserts were good. We all had margaritas or drinks of some sort. They were good but definitely added a lot to the bill!! My favorite part was the ambiance here. The music selection was quite off but the lighting and set up was perfect for a fun night out and a bit of people watching. I would possibly go here again to try the non-sharing menu.
(3)Riz A.
This place was just O.K. I went in with pretty big expectations, as I've heard a lot about their authentic cuisine, but id say i was slightly disappointed. the guacamole is very good - especially the spicy one.. The tacos on the other hand, were very very average. And the tostada was just not that good. Id say there are a hundred different mexican places all over town that have better food..if you want authentic cuisine i'd say check out pilsen. if you want to go to a cool restaurant with halfway decent drinks, check out mercadito. Also, the tres leches flan was very very good, hence 3 stars instead of 2. I might give it a second try, but not anytime soon.
(3)Albert K.
A couple of coworkers and I were looking to check out a new place for our stomachs and livers to get satiated on our boss's expense account. Glad it wasn't on my own dime. From all the hype in the Redeye and UrbanDaddy, we decided to check out this spot. One of my coworkers had come here the weekend before and had a great time, mainly due to them comping half the bill due to bad service. So we were expecting some opening month hiccups. We walked in and were greeted by 3 hostesses who asked if we wanted to sit outside. We requested outside seating, even though it looked like it was all full. Halfway back out the door, we're told that we have to sit inside. We decide to sit in the lounge, where two bodyguard-esque staff members in suits and earpiece walkie talkies are briskly walking back and forth. Our waitress was uber nice and we order a trio of salsas, a trio of guacamole, and drinks to start. We get our salsas and guac first, about 15 minutes after ordering. The portions are surprisingly small for the price. The trio of salsas is all blended, not chunky like I was expecting. The cacahuate salsa, recommended by our waitress, was my favorite. It tasted like a roasted peanut puree, which sounds awful, but was seriously crack-a-licious. The veracruzana and habanero were great as well. On the guac side, we had the calabaza, mole poblano, and another. All were good, but nothing to write/text/tweet home about. Our drinks came 30 minutes later, which was when we started to notice delays in service. All were fruitier than we expected and not as strong as I'd like, especially at $10+. The Little Market was a nice fruity drink with an interesting chili powder on the rim, but had no trace of alcohol. We decided to hold off on ordering our tacos, because the waitress told us there'd be a 15 minute delay and we were still finishing our salsa and guac on our tiny lounge table. We had to ask for more chips twice, because the baskets were small, and got annoyed looks from the staff each time. For our second round we ordered more drinks and 4 plates of tacos, per the waitress suggestion. She suggested one plate per person, since each taco is smal. Glad that we came in a group of 4, we each ordered one and shared. Tacos came out over a period of 45 minutes and the portions were indeed two-bite. We ordered the carne, estilo baja, camaron, and mariscos. My fave was the carne, which was smoky with grilled cactus and onions, cheesy with warm queso fresco, and chewy with deliciously marinated skirt steak. The camaron was my second fave, simply prepared with shrimp in a flavorful chipotle mojo, topped with an amazing avocado slice. The estillo baja came with fresh, crisp beer battered mahi mahi and the mariscos was a delicious chewy mess of octopus, shrimp, and scallops. Our waitress seemed to have forgotten our drink order, so we got our second round 30 minutes after ordering. We had ordered less-fruity drinks this time and I preferred the Smokey Pablo, which had a lot of smokey flavor, was less fruity, but still had no signs of alcohol. Others had the Pera Té, which was decent. The waitress accidentally ordered two Smokey Pablos, so I had an extra drink, hurray. Decor inside was interesting, ranging from ropes hanging from the ceiling, to beautiful oil paintings and bathroom tile. The bathrooms were single-use only, which meant for an awkward wait near the kitchen. If I would go back, I'd definitely eat in the dining area, because the lounge chairs have no support and the tiny tables could barely fit our food and drinks. The music was also very eclectic, with everything from Tear for Fears to The Bravery to a techno remix of Journey's Don't Stop Believing. Quite amusing. The crowd was a mix of yuppies and older businessmen. Overall, the food is pretty good, with the peanut salsa and the tacos being excellent. However, the portion sizes are awful for the price and service still needs some help. Our waitress explained that she was busing more tables than usual, which leads me to wonder why there are 3 hostesses in the front instead of more waitresses. To be fair, a personal measure of good service is whether my water glass was ever empty, which it never was. Props to the water guy. Really wish I could give it 4 stars, but maybe next time. But not on my dime.
(3)Kyle D.
So I've been all around the planet. But by far the best tequila I've had has been here, at Mercadito's. I can't even explain the processes that the waiter detailed, but whatever they were, they work. After two of whatever the waiter brought out, both my friend and I were feeling the effects of Mercadito's signature, aged spirits. The drinks were delicious, and a must have accompaniment for any tapas dish (I recommend the mushroom and chicken tacos). Inside was a tad too loud for us, but we were easily seated outside. The bill was rather expensive, as each drink put us up 15 bucks. However, it was a good experience, and definitely, if you're willing to shell out a few more dollars than usual to try something new, I say: go!
(4)Elise C.
Mercadito is my favorite restaurant. This is a huge deal since I am very indecisive, thus nothing is my favorite anything. The first time I went was a few years ago for Cinco de Mayo. It was delectable. The menu was prix fixe and it was worth every dollar. There were about six kinds of salsa which were each tasty, many guacamoles (but I'm allergic to avocado), and the tacos were delicious as well. Since that day, I've been back about five or six times which means a LOT since there are so many restaurants in Chicago, you really never have to visit one twice. The service is good, servers are attentive and give great explanations. The margaritas and other cocktails are also great. I can't say enough about Mercadito - anytime it's an option, I'm there!
(5)Jennifer T.
I've been to Mercadito about 6 or 7 times. I love Mexican, but particularly slightly fancy Mexican. That's exactly what Mercadito is. I always get their guacamole (recently we enjoyed a sampler of 1) pomegranate, 2) traditional, and 3) sweet potato/pumpkin seed guacs). Keep in mind, though, that if you order three, you won't receive TRIPLE the quantity--it doesn't scale like that. I often try to cut down on carbs, and therefore order a side of jicama ($3.00) with which to (somewhat awkwardly) scoop up the guacamole. I also adore their tacos. My favorite is the chicken mole/sweet potato version (which only seems to appear on the "fall/winter" menu). I've never had a problem with service (though the bus people sometimes prematurely steal the plates, depriving one of the opportunity to scoop out that last delectable bite of guacamole). The cons: 1) they change their menu somewhat frequently, so if you fall in love with an item on the menu, you might not be able to enjoy it indefinitely. 2) they serve the food as soon as it's ready (which is convenient for them, and might be beneficial to customers eager for the hottest, freshest food). I don't favor this approach, however, since sometimes my tacos have arrived long before my husband's meal. When I was last there, my tacos arrived a couple of minutes after we got the guacamole. To avoid this problem, i suggest that one wait to order the entrees until after the appetizers arrive. 3) the price is a little steep. I'm more than willing to pay for the delicious food here, but 4 somewhat small tacos cost $15.50. If you're hungry, that's not enough for one meal (though I think tacos are technically meant for sharing). The larger meals start out closer to $20. 4) It's really noisy. I'm aging before my time in terms of my sensitivity to noise/youthful stimulation, but it's definitely not a place for intimate conversations. 5) I've sometimes observed the hostesses acting a little cattily. River North has so many good Mexican/Latin places (Frontera, Xoco, Zocalo, Taco Joint) (AVOID Havana and Su Casa). Mercadito is a good choice for fun, fancy tacos and guacamole.
(4)Annie G.
After reading several reviews here and on Metromix, and after realizing how much money (or lack thereof) I had in my checking account, I was prepared to loathe this place and give it a miserable review. But I can't. The experience from start to finish was positive. I went with the Dames who Dine, We had to push back our 6:45 reservation to 7 after a couple of us were running late, and they happily obliged. We were seated within 10 minutes of arriving. Had the guac trio: traditional, pumpkin and the chili serrano/gralic. All were good the last one was fantastic. Garlic-mama! Had the ceviche trio; can't remember which ones we got but they were all decent. A little overpriced, sure, but good. And when you're with a group, it's less of a hit on the wallet. We all ordered taco or quesadilla plates and then had a few sides to share: rice and beans, plantains and some green rice casserole. All were good. Plantains were excellent and a sweet taste that alleviated a desire for dessert - at least for me. The best part of the meal, though, was my dinner: shrimp tacos. Spicy, delicious and just the perfect amount of food (actually, I couldn't even finish them). Thanks, server Juan, for the reco! Worst part? Well, besides the awkward, hovering earpiece-wearing manager, probably was the margarita. Too sweet and couldn't lacking in tequila. And, on a final note, the crowd. Not my type of people: swanky, rich, white, scene-sters. HOWEVER, they provided some ok people watching. A table of 8 mafia-esque dudes with over-surgeried, prescription-pill-popping ladies next to us provided our table with wonderful fodder. In summary, with low expectations (almost dread, really), this place blew me away and didn't leave me feeling broke or hungry (bill only came to $43 a person). If I have to dine in river whore again, I'll definitely consider Mercadito.
(4)Dan F.
It wasn't too busy when we showed up, around 6:15 on a Tuesday, but by 7pm it was packed. Make a reservation! A friend and I tried the tasting menu. It came with 3 types of Guacamole, 2 types of ceviche, 4 kinds of tacos, a side dish and a desert. Highlights: The traditional Guacamole. The Ceviche Camaron and Dorado were excellent. The best I've had in the United States. Mole tacos are also excellent...very chocolate-y Lowlights: Not impressed by the Estilo Baja tacos (Mahi Mahi). Do not miss: torrejas de bolillo for desert. It is similar to french toast with vanilla ice cream on top. Delicious! The prices are very fair. The tasting menu I described was $40 per person.
(4)Sarah E.
Some friends and I went here for some after-work drinks and snacks. The daisy specials margaritas were very reasonable. The food was great, and if you get it from the happy hour menu it's very reasonable. We had one of each botana from the daisy menu, original and mango guac, and tacos (chorizo and tilapia) from the regular menu. The taco plates are great for sharing, and the tilapia is some of the best I've had. Service was a little slow, but great atmosphere and outstanding food.
(4)F J.
Really, really, really good margarita. A little pricey and club like but did I say one of the best margaritas I've ever had?
(4)Hooshna A.
Ah, Mercadito. I was SO looking forward to having one of my favorite NYC restaurants here in Chicago, especially in my neighborhood. Alas, you disappointed me. My friend and I ordered a salsa and a guacamole to start. The portion size was shockingly small. Is that any different than NYC? Maybe not (haven't been to Mercadito in 2.5 years), but it seemed to be a bit outrageous by Chicago standards. Our server was friendly, but overly talkative. To her defense, it was the first night they were serving to the general public. With that being said, she interrupted our conversation repeatedly to keep us ordering more food/drinks. We each had two different cocktails, one was a paloma-like cocktail and the other a beer based cocktail. Both good, but again, nothing spectacular. The table next to us seemed to be obsessed with the drink with the flaming lime and they ordered a couple. We ordered the mole tacos (chicken) and a couple of side items, as well as the halibut ceviche. All were solid (the plaintains were especially good), but nothing knocked our socks off. The major fail of the evening was the desert. Possibly the worst version of churros I have ever had in my life. We promptly let the server know and she was kind enough to remove it from our tab. The ambiance is good, but wow, really different than the NYC versions and a bit over the top. There was a huge Ed Hardy-like Aztec mural on the back wall and although I can appreciate the effort put into the work, it was all a bit much. The off putting thing about it all is that with the super polished interior, the waitstaff were wearing brown t-shirts and jeans. It didn't seem to mesh well with the upscale interior in the slightest. Overall impression? Overpriced and nothing extraordinary. With the Bayless restaurants a couple blocks away and DeCero down on Randolph, I think they're going to have to rethink their approach if they want to have repeat business. I'm going to give them a couple of months and then give them one more shot.
(3)Mary M.
Good food but they ridiculously over pack the seating and it's way too loud. Could not hear my fiancé sitting directly across from me and the people next to us were about two feet away.
(3)Elizabeth P.
Dined here twice and the steak tacos was the best item on the menu that i've tried. The Guacamole was good with it being nice and chunky and without any onions that I remember needing to pick out, the chips and salsa was also good but the salsa was like a couple tablespoons worth of a puree so no bueno on the salsa portion! My bf had a spicy margarita that was way to sour/tart and just plain bad. He had to send it back for a regular margarita. I don't like flan but I tried the caramel one here it was good. It's best to order several items and share in a group. We had a table for four the second time we came a week later and we had a long wait for a table even with our reservation. We had nowhere to stand because the place only has the bar area which was also full! I would come back on the weekend but if you don't want to wait I would suggest another day. The vibe is great like LA but sometimes the fun music drowns out the conversations. The bonus is the very small lounge downstairs to chill and have a cocktail and feel like you are in NYC. We have and do recommend this new hot spot :)
(5)caroline r.
food is delicious, great cocktails for brunch and evening, fun atmosphere & attractive surroundings, great service. portions are small so it's not a meal if you're super hungry (or order several small plates), and fairly pricey but overall a great experience.
(4)Matthew E.
What a disappointment. The 1 star comes from the ambiance but after that it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It started off simple on an empty Monday night at the restaurant. We had reservations but restaurants downtown on a Monday all seem to be slow., so it probably wasnt necessary. The waitress told us it was a tasting menu for the most part and things were recommended to be shared. She said she'd come back in a few and go more in depth into the menu. We asked her to start with 3 different guacamole the original, pumpkin, and pomegranate ones. All were ok in their own way. After the waitress came back to get our main meals and explain the menu she seemed dumbfounded when we asked what else was good and what we should know. Instead she said um I thought I told you it was a tasting menu. Based on that we ordered tacos, I got the mole and my boyfriend got the fish ones. Mine only came with the chicken and sauce I asked the waitress if ingredients were missing she replied no. I then asked for the menu and pointed out that it said plantains and crema fresca she said they were in there I just didnt see them with the sauce. I can guarantee you they weren't in there and the tacos were just ok. At this point I just wanted to leave the service was bad the food was subpar and I just felt like the train had crashed as hard as possible. I told the waitress we were finished and asked for a bill. She left the table assumingly to go get it. Boy was I wrong. She went and talked to the hostess for another 20 minutes (I counted) and kept staring at my table. Keep in mind there was only 6 other tables at the time. She finally came around after our staring contest, I lost she is a very steady eye. I finally had to ask again to which I got an evil eye and an annoyance that she was asked. Overall a terrible dining experience and I doubt that I will ever return.
(1)Bonnie D.
Went for dinner to celebrate our 30+ kid's birthday. Loved the drinks and food but the noise level was so loud that we could not talk to each other without struggling to hear the conversation. The tables were too close together but larger groups sitting in the booths, which is where the loud voices came from, had more comfortable seating. Maybe it's because the booths are elevated that the sound just seemed to carry to our table. Might try it again for lunch.
(3)Judith J.
Went after work for dinner with friends and it was a good choice. The tacos come four on a platter and you can't mix and match, so we ordered several different tacos and shared. The plantains were good as were the tacos. We ordered chips and guac for appetizer. I would go again and try something different on the menu. I would definitely make reservations. Great atmosphere and good place for after work on a week night.
(4)Christy L.
Excellent vibe, even at lunchtime. The carnes tacos were an unexpected stand-out. Service was a little slow though, so don't go if you are in a rush.
(4)Katrena G.
I love mexican food and this place has some tasty tacos and cocktails. They lose a star for loudness and price. If you don't mind screaming at your dinner partner and $13 cocktails you will love it!
(4)Elvin Y.
The point of having a reservation is NOT to wait 1.5 hours to get seated. I went to Mercadito last night with a group of seven friends. The place was a big zoo and the hostess was not the nicest one we encountered. When I went up there with a friend to ask when we would be seated (at the time we had been waiting for about 45 minutes past our reservation) she rudely handed me off to the General Manager. The GM wouldn't answer me on when we'd be seated, but he was nice enough to buy our entire group a round of margaritas. Yes, our souls were bought for some good ol' margs! 35 or so more minutes later, we are still waiting to be seated. When we stopped the GM to bug him again, he brought out a guac platter out for us as we waited....it was delic! But we were still SO annoyed. To make the long story short....we finally got to sit for dinner. Our waitor was SUPER nice and we really liked him. He bought us a round of another margs on the house 'cause he felt so bad for our wait. We ordered a bunch of tacos and the food was just so mediocre. We got the tilapi and shrimp tacos. I recommend skipping both. We also got the chicken mole one- and the mole tasted like Hershey syrup. BUT....the steak tacos totally rocked! We also ordered three types of ceviches. Mahi Mahi rocked. But the scallop and shrimp was oh so mediocre. Maybe this place can improve if they can figure out how to honor reservations. Also, they need to work on their food. The tacos do not even compare to the delicious tacos of Big Star in Bucktown. If you are going to make seven girls wait 1.5 hours, the least you can do is serve some delicious food. Or better yet...if you can't honor reservations ... maybe just don't take them at all ....
(2)caroline k.
I'm usually not a fan of fancy Mexican but came for a weekday work dinner in a party of 12. The hostess wouldn't seat several of us who had arrived on time, until the "majority" had arrived, even though our large table was already set up and clearly reserved for the whole evening. That was annoying. Our large party required ordering off the set/prix-fixe menu (we chose the 3rd largest of 4) and were overwhelmed with the amount of food - 3 guacamoles, 4 tacos, 2 "apps", 2 sides, and 2 desserts were served family-style. Most were good, but I'd have to say that after a few courses they all started to taste and look the same (stand outs were the mahi tacos). We were all stuffed by the 2nd taco flight. I will say the caramel flan dessert was very good - don't get the coconut flan. Noise level is ridiculously high, even on a weekday night. I've been here for drinks on weekends, and it's even louder then.
(3)Rebekah T.
Went there for a weekday lunch and the food was great. Since they don't let you mix and match tacos, my friend order the carnitas tacos and I got the pastor tacos. Both were excellent, the pastor are my fave. We also ordered habanero salsa and a tomatillo salsa - both also delicious, spicy, and just how the menu described. I would definitely go again around 11:30 am to beat the extensive wait they usually have.
(4)betsy b.
The atmosphere of this place is really great. The bar could have a few more chairs to accommodate waiting 30+ minutes after your reservation but the cocktails make it tolerable. The food itself wasn't as great. The trio of quac was tasty. We did mango, traditional, and mole. I'm pretty sure the mole was just traditional with mole thrown on top though. My biggest peeve about this place is if you do the tacos all 4 have to be the same kind. So if your whole party isn't planning on dining on tacos or if they don't like the same stuff you do, you're SOL. Luckily we all wanted tacos and all agreed on 4 types. Pastor won by a long shot...they were so good. The shrimp was a disaster..slimy goopy mess, I do not recommend. The chicken mole and the skirt steak were also winners. I'm not totally writing this place off but since there's a fancy taco joint closer to home that'll let me mix and match my tacos I won't be rushing back.
(3)Bruce B.
FCUK this place. FCUK is wanna be trendy like this restaurant - right? Fair warning, I'm not the typical person who would like this place. If you're looking for the new hot shiz - this is for you. If you're a 40 something divorced women looking for a night on the prowl - they have many tables available. If you wear F*ck me boots and have blonde highlights, you'll love this place. If you're a guy looking to impress any of the above with your neatly pressed shirt and bonobos loafers; buy many tequila shots and hit on the women above. I don't think the above women will put out unless you order many rounds of their average selections of tequila. Also, the service is pretty lousy. They rush you off the tables and away from the bar. I will not be going back to this place until it's time to find my sugar momma...roar....
(2)Marisa F.
I'll just come right out and say that I've been to Mercadito twice...within the same week. Props to the hostess for remembering me without making me feel like a crazy. The food was so good that I just couldn't wait to go back to try something else. It probably won't be the last time I do it. If you like guacamole, select a couple and go to town. It was a great way to start the meal. We chose the traditional, mango (don't be put off by the color) and a third selection with pomegranate (my favorite). The tacos are delicious and made to share. If you're not into sharing, I suggest ordering sides to fill you up. I only wish that you could order tacos a la carte. Steak and Chicken were my favorites. We did not order order dessert but I'll be back. Preferably after work so that I can sample a drink or two.
(3)Michelle M.
Damn, not sure what exactly it was but this place just didn't do it for me. Ordered pollo tacos and pastor tacos...have to say they were salty. The peanut salsa that our waiter said was what people rave about was just not good. Local of place is very nice and the decor was very urban modern. My overall experience was just OK. Probably won't ever go back. This place just isn't for me.
(2)Tim Y.
Loud: it's like having dinner in the middle of an obnoxious club. Tight seating, in places: the people next-door were almost in my lap, and I didn't care to hear their entire conversation. Also the music is, well, see 'Trendy' below. Trendy: loud and obnoxious people dressed in Ed Hardy's finest and looking fresh out of a Lincoln Ave sports bar. Tasty: this is where they keep the three stars they earn. I'm not a big tequila fan, but I'm always willing to try something twice. And I certainly did. The server's recommendations seemed spot-on for drinks, and I wasn't let down at all by either something too froofy nor too straight-up-tequila. As for food, you definitely need to go with 3 of everything. The guacamoles are outstanding. While I didn't have the manzana (apple, tomatillo, almond, habanero) it sounds intriguing and is unlikely to disappoint. Salsas are quality, and the ceviche is tantalizing. Tacos are quite, quite tasty. I especially enjoyed the chorizo. Food is served at an appreciated pace by attentive and helpful staff. With the amount of food looking small but feeling gigantic, do yourself a favor and slow down. Enjoy the flavors, because there are so very many to experience.
(3)Brad P.
Wow. Really, wow! Watched the Bears get destroyed by the Pats while consuming a few beverages on Sunday. When we got to Mercadito, let's just say we were ready for some great food. We were not disappointed. First, our waiter. He was actually the key to our whole meal. He may have had a bit of attitude, as others have denoted about their servers here, but we totally dug him. In fact, after checking with us a few times to get our order, he finally just took our menus and offered to order for us. Great decision! Every dish he brought, from the guacamole variety to start with to the fish tacos we finished with, was outstanding. I don't actually remember the name of every dish we were served, but we really enjoyed everything we ate. Excellent meats, fresh guac, warm and soft tortillas. The margaritas weren't too shabby either. This was a cool spot with a good vibe and outstanding food. I'd definitely go back.
(5)lana v.
Been here many times for lunch, dinner and private parties and always had a great time. I love all the specialty and really like all of the food I have tried, especially the steak tacos. They change the guacamole and some of the other items seasonally, and I have always enjoyed them. My husband and I also went to the drink/food pairings cooking demo that they have every month and loved it! They change the drink/food every month and we cant wait to get a group of friends together to go back.
(5)Zach B.
So went here last night with some friends, and fell in love with this place. Upstairs and downstairs, beautiful people and art. Everyone's very pleasant. Haven't tried the food yet just was there for drinks, and I will definitely be back with a hot date in the very near future. Popular spot so make reservations!
(4)April Z.
came here on a Friday night with 8pm reservations with a group of 7 girlfriends. we arrived 15min early and our table was ready! the server was great only issue was we couldn't hear her it was so loud. I like loud music but it was beyond. also the choice of music wasn't great it was like B96 top 20. we had a pre-fix menu and it was perfect to try different things. all the guacs were good. the salsa was ok. the carne, pork, and veggie tacos were fantastic. the short rib was ok. the sides were disapponting, we had plaintains and rice n beans. rice n beans had zero flavor or seasoning. all of our drinks were really good and strong! dessert was ok, we had cheesecake and caramel flan. staff was constantly filling our water, our chip basket was never empty for more than a minute. courses did not drag they moved at a good pace. I read alot of people saying it was expensive, I didn't think it was that expensive. it came out to $54/person that's apps, entree, dessert, 1 alcoholic drink I'd definitely go back because the tacos, drinks and service were fantastic.
(3)Tu'ens N.
Given the many reasons not to like this place (extreme douchebaggery, cougars, price, NY trying to do Mexican in Chicago...) it manages to be a worthwhile restaurant in many ways. The food is good (but yes way expensive for what it is, especially the guacamole and salsas). The drinks are OK. The bartenders were a bit less flexible than I would have liked - unable to make a few drinks I wanted. It is a fun environment though and usually enjoyable meals. Just remember, you are not cool just by going there. But it will stay in my longer-rolling rotation mainly due to my gf wanting to go there.
(3)Matt M.
I had lunch here the other day after my mainstay lunch spot, Frontera, was too full :( This place is a total scene inside with a very cool chic atmosphere. The margaritas were nothing to write home about and very expensive considering how much ice was in my cup. The mahi-mahi tacos were excellent and muy-picante! Also, I don't like paying for salsa but so be it. Good food, mediocre drinks, cool atmosphere. This is definitely a date place. Will be back when Frontera is too full again.
(3)Jo B.
Mercadito came really highly recommended from a friend but wow what a disappointment. Our server just didn't want to be there, showing no passion for the food or our experience. We started with mango guacamole which was BLAND. It needed salt and it needed lime. That might have saved it from looking like a small pile of dog vomit on a plate. The scallop ceviche wasn't bad but, again, the seasoning was off. The pork and peanut tacos were excellent...flavorful, spicy and moreish. Unfortunately, though, we chased it with a chicken and corn taco. Back to bland, mushy, boring fare. Didn't bother waiting round for dessert...it didn't seem worth the extra $15 we'd have to pay the babysitter.
(2)Ann P.
I've been to their NYC outpost and loooooooooved the fish tacos and guacamole there so imagine how excited I was that they had a Chicago location. This location is much more "trendy" and upscale than the one in NY. The bar is great, very nicely decorated, and the booths are the low and linear type. My gf and I went here for drinks and apparently, one of the bartenders is a "mixologist" who specializes in making unique cocktails. I ordered a spicy smoked chile drink made with mango puree and it was delicious. My girlfriend had never had their fish tacos so we ordered those and they tasted exactly the same as the ones I had in NY. I think this place is great for groups, dates, meet for drinks, people watching. It's got a great vibe and although I can't vouch for the operational issues that others have encountered, I can say that the bar and lounge area is hassle free. If you go, you must try the fish tacos. Because I told you to.
(5)Anthony I.
As far as Mexican food goes, it was decent but i generally like it to be a little fresher. However the extremely high temperature in the venue made this a very uncomfortable meal. The service was so so but the temperature made the meal too uncomfortable to enjoy.
(3)A K.
I have been to this place before and really liked it my first time around but the second time there was ok, to average out my review I gave it four stars. I started with the Smoky Pablo cocktail and my husband had the pirata(beer & tequila), both are highly recommended for those who perfer something different to drink. We then got three guacs (traditional, mango, and toreado). I loved the guac, highly recommended. The first time I went there, I went with 5 people so we got the carne and estilo baja tacos and the tostadas de cangrejo and the camaron & dorado ceviche. I really liked all of them. This time, I stuck with the estilo baja (beer battered mahi mahi) which were very good, just like last time. My husband ordered the carnitas de puerto taquizas and that was the disappointment of the night, the meat tasted like the only spice it was marinated in was salt. I only recommend this dish to those who love salt. Overall, it's a very good trendy place to go, has a nice ambiance and the guac and tacos are great, but the prices are a little too steep for the food and drinks.
(4)andrea r.
Big fan of this place! Lively, loud and fun! First, the ambiance is really cool. Second, the service was outstanding! Both the bartender and waitress we had were super high energy and fun. Food comes out quick and drinks even quicker! The restaurant was crowded and the wait staff were very on top of everything, very impressed. The food was very yummy! My favorite were the guac, variety of salsas, mini steak tacos and mini mahi-mahi tacos. Margs were also very, very tasty!
(4)Monica J.
Scene is very upbeat and loud. This is where i come when the girls and I get gussied up and are in the mood for a "light" dinner. Food is slightly (but not too much) above average, mexican, modern small plates. Cocktails are fun and also somewhat gussied. Get in the mood, y'all...it's FRIDAY NIGHT!
(3)Jo W.
This place is loud but the food is ok. I still wish ONE, just ONE Mexican place offered whole wheat tortillas. Sigh. I also thought my waiter was great but he pushed the drinks -- especially bc I was a girl and he thought I would like the fruity stuff. Wrong. Did I mention this place was loud?
(2)Lynn R.
Mmmm mmmmMecardito! Came here for Chicago Chef's Week with a friend to dine and judge (we like to pretend we're on our own little episode of "Check, Please") . Food = amazing. I was talking to a co-worker about this place and describing what I ate and literally made myself salivate (not a good idea before lunch mind you). Here's the rundown for $30: You get to choose 3 of 6 guacs, we had: Traditional, Mango, Camote Chose 2 of 3 Ceviches: Camaron (shrimp) Dorado (mahi mahi) Chosee 4 of 11 types of taco - each person gets 1 taco of each: Pastor (pork) Carne (skirt steak) Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi) Carnitas (pork) Side: fried plantains Guac review: Chips were fantastic. Homemade, not greasy, great crunch. The taste of the chip did not overwhlem the guac with I think is important. The traditional was good - it's hard to make a bad guac. It was chunky, not super spicy, and had a good amount of salt. The Mango salsa kept me looking for the mangos - the chipotle was just really overwhleming. My favorite was the camote, which has sweet potato, jalapeno, and toasted pumpkin seeds. My friend and I were pretty much fighting chip-for-chip on this bad boys. Ceviche: maybe I'm not dignified enough for ceviche, so this didn't exactly rock my world. The mahi mahi one was good, but the shrimp one had too much acidity for me to enjoy. Tacos: When they first brough the plates out, my jaw dropped. The tacos were so tiny - like little baby tacos waiting to mature in big tacos. However, after biting in my first taco, I realize that the tortilla-to-filling ratio was superb. Rather than get a ton of extra bread (and carbs) they really packed in the meat and toppings so that was the main focus, not the tortilla. My least favorite was the beer-battered mahi mahi, and sadly, it was the one that I was most excited about. The fish itself didn't have a good crunch on it, but the Mexican coleslaw was actually quite tasty. The show-stealers for me were the Pastor and Carnitas - luckily we went with our waitresses recommendation and got both pork tacos instead of opting for a chicken or a chorizo one. The Pastor was a delightful combo of sweet then reach-for-your-water glass spicy. The pineapple on it was really a great touch and not something I had before. At first the Carnitas deceived me into thinking they weren't spicy, but after the taco had a chance to marinate on my tongue, it was back to the water glass. The combination of flavors and textures on both tacos was really great and I'd highly recommend them. The place itself was very trendy looking - not your typical Mexican place. While I went on a Monday night at 5pm, I could see how the seating arrangement would start to getting annoying. They have those tables that are right next to each other and I just hate that feeling of other people listening in on my conversation. The service was great, contrary to what some of the other reviews have said. Our waitress was attentive without being pushy and she made some great recommendations that probably saved us from ordering less than delicious dishes. The price is the reason that I'm only giving it 4 stars. Obviously we got a ton of food for $30, but I ordered a margarita and factoring in tax & tip it turned into a $50 meal. That's a little rich for my blood on a Monday night. I'm sure ordering off the regular menu would bring the price down, so believe you me, I am ready to go back!
(4)Daniel S.
The food is superb, however the place has undeveloped potential. No I'm not damning them with faint praise. Rather, they've got some kinks to work out of the service. It's a new spot, really what do you expect. First, Mercadito in terms of quality is parallel to something like Frontera Grill- which is just around the corner btw. The menu is ample and innovative, and the cocktail menu is vast. Most selections appear to pair well with most any selection. So certainly one can tell the concept is well conceived. There is concentration on flavor, and not to the point of obscuring poor quality of ingredient. That said, the service is disjointed. Given the price point, the locale and the competition, the service should measure to what one expects from the competition (ie Frontera). That means shamelessness, and that is not how the meal progressed. Granted we ordered apps in waves- which is different than ordering a traditional entree- however it appeared they forgot to submit our order. My advice- visit Mercadito. From a culinary perspective you won't be disappointed. But maybe drop in February when they've had a chance to streamline the service. I think I'll do the same.
(3)Alaina F.
you've finally done it, mercadito. finally pushed me to revise my original 5-star review. i gave you so many chances, excused so many sub par experiences....long waits despite reservations, weak cocktails and cold food, ridiculously loud music/people.... but last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. i called to order carry out (on a rainy tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.) and whoever answered the phone very rudely told me that i could not place an order because "we're too busy." too busy to take a carry out order? i'm sorry, but that doesn't really make any sense to me. where's the customer service i used to know and love? after several experiences, i can say with confidence that it is nowhere to be found. this place was 100 times better before the previous manager left. if it weren't for the mango guac, i'm not sure i would return
(2)Rob J.
Let me start by saying I love the food and the margaritas, but they have to work out the kinks of opening a new restaurant. I have been here twice since they opened 3 weeks ago and it takes an inordinate amount of time to get a drink. I almost ordered two for myself because the bartender was only filling the glass half empty (I'm a pessimist ). The place was so busy that we were seated 20 minutes late and it took another 10 minutes for the waiter to finally stop by. The tilapia fish tacos are absolutly fantastic...but I'm going to wait a couple of months until they work out all their problems.
(3)Matthew R.
Great little restaurant, upscale mexican food that is very tasty. The fish tacos were absolutelt amazing some of the best I've ever had with the salsa verde. The guac was very tasty as well but very small, I felt like I only had a few bites before it was gone. I had the brunch menu and it was very well balanced. The cucumber cocktail was pretty good but the food was the star. would have given 5 stars if the food was more reasonably priced and the serving sizes a little larger. Would def return.
(4)Gabrielle S.
Where do I begin....? They lost our reservation and were a little shady about seating us until we spoke to a manager. So eventually we did sit... The ambiance is great- good energy, lively, noisy- LOVED that about it. The food was also mostly very good...guacamole was good not great...and they would not make it any spicier for us which was odd- they def do NOT defer from the set menu, I would not even TRY to substitute anything- because most likely they will say NO. As for the rest of the menu: LOVED: Margaritas IF you told them to HOLD the simple syrup-(otherwise way to sweet) but when only the lime, agave nectar and tequila- then they were perfect---just make sure you tell them that Mango Guac- best of the 3 we tried Tostadas de Hongos: WOW. Mushrooms, bean hash, salsa!!!!! Great appetizer and nice size Hongos Tacos: DELICIOUS 2 Diff flans for desert- one was super caramely and AMAZING...wish I could tell you which one! All in all the food was quite tasty, and jazzy and creative Mexican food. I did not leave uncomfortably stuffed- Bonus...high quality ingredients and flavors...would love to go back ....minus the few hiccups with the main service up front(not actually our direct server) ....our server Gabbi on the other hand I would like to thank because she was quite attentive and every time I needed something she appeared out of nowhere. Def loved her too.
(3)Nick K.
Went here a couple weeks back on one of the first nights it was open to the public. I have to say that for me, it lived up to some of the hype I read about it. First off, the atmosphere was very cool and somewhat swanky. While waiting for a third member of our party, we had a drink at the bar. I had a traditional Margarite which was very good. When seated, we started with a couple of guacamoles and salsas. We had the traditional guacamole and the mango guacamole both which were excellent. I don't remember which salsas we had, but they were good as well and the crispy corn bites were an interesting addition. For our meal, we split a couple plates of tacos between us. We had the pollo and the carne. Both of these kinds of tacos were excellent. The mix of flavors was great and the meat in both was so juicy and tasteful. I will definitely be back here again and I would love one day to get some tacos from here and get some from de cero and compare becuase those were great as well.
(5)Christina O.
Took a group of five for lunch for our first visit and it was wonderful. We had all the salsas, all ceviches and all guacamoles - with really tasty chips and really enjoyed trying them all. Followed with tacos - small but so tasty and perfect amount of food for lunchtime. Fun setting, great large banquettes for big groups - and the service was perfect - attentive, informative and paced just right. Oh, and for the five of us, the check was just $110 pre tip - no alcohol but teas, etc.
(4)Erin G.
Love, love this place! It's little loud, but the food and drinks are amazing! I didn't even realize the lounge they had downstairs until the second time I came here. I will most definitely be coming back.
(4)Garrett S.
best mexican in the city period!!!
(5)mike s.
Great drinks... spicy margarita is my favorite. Good tacos and guacamole. Have made a few bad ordering decisions here, but for the most part delicious. Loud and a mixed scene.
(4)Sheila G.
Loved this place!! We went on a Saturday night - managed to get a 9.45pm reservation on Open Table at around 7pm. Definitely make a reservation as the walk in wait is 1.5hrs. Seated a few minutes after we got there. Great vibe, ambiance and music. The tables are very close together so you can hear your neighbor say to his date "I am REALLY attracted to you tonight, I mean REALLY." Seriously - the guy next to us said that just before his friend came over to say "well done" when his date left to go to the bathroom. :-) The other reason you can hear your neighbors so well is because it is so loud you have to yell across the table. That was probably my only 'con.' The food and the service make up for the noise. We ordered several small dishes to make it tapas style: Margarita with Heat - spicy, sweet and tasty b.n.g.t.m. (big nose goes to mexico) - recommended by waiter but too strong/sweet but comes to the table with the glass on fire which is cool Guacamole (Mango and Regular) - they were ok Mahi mahi ceviche - fantastic!! right up there with Frontera Grill ceviche Shrimp tacos - delicious and flavorful Mexican style corn on the cob - different and very good (had spices and fresh cheese crumbles on the outside) Caramel flan - the best flan I have ever had. And I'm from Texas. Soooo yummy like those little rectangular caramel candies you had when you were a kid. Our waiter was great too. We originally had ordered more but he said it would be too much and he was right. The above amount was just right and probably a little too much as-is since we were stuffed when we left. One thing I noticed - they turn tables very quickly so that the food came out as fast as it would at McD's. The couple beside us was in and out in 30 mins. But we didn't feel rushed by our server. Great place with great food!
(5)Lauren D.
I've gone to Mercadito twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner, and had great experiences both times. The food and cocktails are excellent, and the service is good as well. The "Pepino el pyu" Cocktail (or as we called it, Pepe le pew) sounds really strange, but is actually sweet and refreshing. It's a combination of tequila blanco, cucumber, lemon, hoja santa and cumin salt. It reminded me a little bit of a mojito because of the citrus, but with a more wide variety of flavor. If you're going to Mercadito you really need to indulge with the appetizers. Definitely give a few salsas a try (be sure to order the corn fritters to dip - delicious) and a few guacamoles as well. They have some interesting options, including mango and pomegranate - plus they sometimes have seasonal offerings such as pumpkin, They are all delicious and none are too spicy. If you actually make it to an entree, the tacos are great because they aren't a large portion. I had the Camaron (shrimp) and they were very good. Next time I'm going to give the Pescado (Tilapia) a try. If you have room, definitely order some plaintains as well!
(4)Michelle S.
I started dining at Mercadito the first month they opened, several years ago. From the moment I tasted the plates delivered by one of the best servers in the industry, Rodrigo, I was sold. When I returned, recently, my though was.... Oh, how I missed their Mahi Mahi Tacos, Pomegranate Guacamole and Scallop Ceviche with a side of their perfect crackers. Their margaritas are amazing and dangerous. You will be hit from under the table as they slide down way too easy. Don't plan on having an intimate conversation, the sound echos in this upbeat, packed space.
(4)Yaw N.
I grew up in Oklahoma where there is a lot of great Mexican cuisine (which comes to the surprise of some.. Well at least one Californian I know). I always rate the quality of food on their chips and salsa. It's a simple dish but one that most places here in Chicago butcher. Mercardito passed the salsa test with flying colors then blew the lid off the whole meal with the best guacamole I've had and incredibly delicious tacos. My girlfriend and I ordered the pollo and carne tacos which were great. We also got a couple of margarita's that were phenomenal. The cocktails here are top notch, but I will save my comments on them for my review of double door, a small lounge located below the restaurant.
(4)Haley W.
I came here when my friends and I decided to grab some late night food and drinks. The decor was amazing and the music was good. We waited about 30 mins for a table and that was okay because we just chilled at the bar. The drinks was good. What was disappointing was the food. I think I had much better. I think I would not go back for the food but would go back to have some drink and enjoy the music.
(3)Charlene S.
Went there on a really late night. A friend knew the manager and made a call at about 11:30p to get us a table on a random Thursday night. So 6 of us trekked there after a long day at work and at a social event. Maybe it was because I was starving... but the food was spectacular. I'm always a little skeptical with overpriced, fancy, Mexican places unless Rick Bayless has anything to do with it. I'm the connoisseur of the late night drunken taco joint places that we've nicknamed, "green sauce" or the "Taco Burrito King" on Fullerton or in Wrigley or on Wrightwood. None of them are "taco burrito king" but that's their name to me. The wait: none. Even if my friend didn't make the call, then we probably wouldn't have waited. There was no one there. The atmosphere: Chic River North neighborhood, outdoor seating, sleek booths, and an after hours lounge below. The peeps: young, late nighters, dressed to party The food: -the guacamole was spectacular. We tried the flight of 3. The traditional. One with pineapple and spicier, darker, savory one. So good. the spicy one had a kick and delicious. -Several tacos: these are served with 4, but for a bit more, we got 6 of each. They were tiny. The tortilla was maybe 3 inches across. A guy could easily finish it in 2 bites. But sooooo tasty. -We had the steak. Not like the dried out carne asada from TBK. The steak was so tender and soft. -The pastor: again not like at a taqueria, which usually has a super salty variety. You could actually see the pork, not overly shredded. Very well seasoned -The camarones: my fave. Spicy. Served with a garlicky sauce and avocado. I would be happy if this is all I had. -The battered fish with crunchy slaw. I heard this was a favorite of most people. I thought it was ok. The fish was cooked well. But the slaw was a bit too bitter. A funny sidenote. The obviously Asian waitress tried pronounce everything she served us with a traditional Spanish flair and rolling of the tongue. So my friend unknowingly drunkenly started speaking Spanish to her. Her expression changed from smug and cocky to "um... sorry no habla espanol." A little overpriced. Not something to enjoy on drunken night... because a 4 am taco joint hits the spot too.
(4)Pam R.
I went with a group and it's family style so we started with flautas which were SO good! Very crispy and tightly wrapped (which is key when eating these because you don't want your food falling out). We tried a couple of salsa's, guacamole and chips. I highly recommend the guacamole! Our main dish was the carne asada dish which comes with enough tortillas to make about 8 tacos. The carne asada dish was to die for! SO good, well flavored and not overly cooked. Carne asada can be overly cooked & ruin the quality and taste of the meat. This carne asada dish was well cooked and well worth the price! I had a margarita during my dinner and they were good.....and strong....so if your a lightweight a margarita may not be for you.
(4)Deborah J.
I'm writing this review after having had a tasty but basic taco at a little mom n' pop place, and I've had a revelation: there is no sense in comparing tacos to tacos if it means comparing your basic taqueria to Mercadito. Listen, one of the taquerias I used to frequent in San Francisco (I grew up here, went east, then west, then landed back in the Midwest) was first introduced to me as a place where "you find God in a burrito." I truly believe these sorts of moments exist, especially in San Francisco at 3 in the morning when you're a wee bit tipsy. But the thing is, when you find that miraculous burrito, you've got a beer or horchata in the other hand. There aren't any burritos at Mercadito, nor is there much beer, nor is the fare drunk food. It is open until 3 a.m. on Saturday night, but that's not what this place is about. While you might not find spiritual enlightenment in the $14.50 tacos, you still might swear you're in heaven. So dress for the occasion. But about my visit. I ended up here with my brother, my brother's girlfriend, and my mom on a Wednesday night. The noise level was a bit much for my mom, I think (she also hadn't seen me in awhile, so it was more of an issue), but it should be fine and festive for most of you Yelpers. We started off with drinks (I had Misty's Sleeve -- tesoro blanco, ginger, hibiscus, valencia orange, chile serrano, hibiscus salt -- and even at $12, it was revelatory) and a couple guacamoles, which were served with crispy, perfectly salted, non-greasy housemade chips. The 'classic' was refreshing, but the chile serrano and tomatillo laced 'toreado' was much more exciting. I suppose they complemented each other nicely, but I'd pick the 'toreado.' We moved on delectable watermelon and chile infused scallop ceviche, which, with its lightly spicy sweetness, was a highlight for me. The ceviche was served with a baked flatbread, also, I suspect, baked in-house. While not quite the right complement for the ceviche, the queso fundido (baked Oaxaca-manchego cheeses; we got ours with chorizo) was likewise delicious. I'm picky about melted cheese, and there's nothing worse than a grease puddle. The melting of flavors and consistencies was, in this case, splendid, and the fresh tortillas were just the right temperature and texture. After that, we moved into taco and tostada territory, electing shrimp for the former and mushroom for the later. I was honestly a little disappointed by the tacos; I seem to recall really nicely seasoned shrimp topped with a little avocado, but nothing else. The shrimp were tasty, for sure, but the avocado wasn't quite balancing the pungency of the garlic and the chipotle, and, you know, there was just something missing. The tostadas, however, were fantastic: woodsy mushrooms and earthy pinto bean mash, heightened with tomatillo salsa, finely shredded manchego, and a light crema fresca scented with epazote. All on a perfectly crisped corn tortilla, of course. I would order this again in a second. (Note: tacos come in fours, but tostadas in threes; our excellent -- a rare medley of friendly, chill, and super competent -- server noted this and we added an extra tostada to our order.) I was pretty well stuffed at this point, but we couldn't pass up dessert. Another reviewer mentioned torrejas de bolillo, and I'm sad that I didn't have the opportunity to try that. On the night that I went to Mercadito there was only flan available, and while the caramel and dulce de leche varieties we sampled were good, they were more dense than I'd expected and honestly just a bit too sweet and heavy after such a large meal. If you do order the flan, go for the caramel, split one among three or four people, and pair it with coffee to cut the sweetness. Ultimately, "Yay! I'm a fan." Four stars, and I'd definitely come back for a night out with friends. Next time, though, I'd wear heels. The place is pretty posey, and besides, this ain't a yoga retreat. Save burrito-fueled philosophizing for another day; this place is all about energy and excess.
(4)Rachel Y.
This place was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad he did! Now granted, I went to meet a friend for happy hour and we sat at the bar and had margaritas and some samplings of guacamole. On those notes and how friendly the bartender was with a packed bar, everything was amazing. The margaritas were amazing with some really cool concoctions offered and the guac options were absolutely astounding - my favorite was the one served with plantains - I know sounds weird but don't knock it till you try it. The atmosphere was also very fun - definitely a new 'hip' place to see and be seen so keep it in mind for your next 'woo the client' happy hour spot!
(5)Natasha L.
I heart Mercadito! Each and everytime I go, I fall in love with the variety of tacos I can select from. There are combinations I couldn't even imagine and they all taste excellent. The combinations are so simple and never overdone. It's usually 3-4 ingredients max. My favorite is the camaron taco - it's loaded with shrimp, roasted garlic, avocado and chiptole-mojo . They have some of the best guac in the city and the salsa options are top-notch as well. Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)emily b.
my office has a very casual dress code, but i think i've hit a new fashion low. after last night's "chef's week" dinner at mercadito, the only pants that i could muster the strength to put on were my yoga pants. so, i sit at my desk, slightly shamed by my over-indulgence, but also delightfully satisfied with the memories of that dinner. rezzie via opentable? check. delicious, fun, strong, cocktails? indeed. serious value w/chefs week promo? mmhmm. (family style: 3 guacs, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 1 side, and 1 dessert. $30pp. woah). funky interior styling? oh yah. attentive service? AWESOME (allison, our server gave awesome reccomendations and the rest of the serving staff was great...even sending over a second dessert with a candle in it after hearing it was my friend's bday). and the food? well it was awesome. interesting flavor combos, fresh ingredients, beautifully plated. one star off for the weirdest music ever (miley cirus, huh??), and the high-end pricing. also... yelp says the dress code is "dressy". it's not. it's pretty standard RiNo dress code so you can totally get away with "dressed up" denium.
(4)Kate M.
A 3.5 rating would be a little more appropriate for Mercadito. Although I love the atmosphere of this place, the food doesn't blow me away. This place does have amazing chips and salsa and an incredible variety guacamole. They also have what seems like an endless menu of different taco combinations. I have yet to try the same taco twice! The drinks are good but nothing to rave about. If you want some really good cocktails pre or post dinner. I suggest trying Double A which is located downstairs (good luck finding it). They have some awesome drinks! Prices for Mercadito are pretty standard and service is good. I would suggest giving this place a try if you haven't! It's definitely a place to see and be seen
(3)Joscelyn M.
I first have to say that 2 stars is the lowest rating I have ever given to a restaurant that had food I actually LIKED. So... First, the noise. It's not noisy restaurant loud, it's noisy club loud. Then, the service, while our waiter was very nice, it took WAY too long to order a drink and then even longer to receive it. But then, the food all came out too quickly. I felt rushed. Finally, the food and drink. Overall, I liked them, but some things annoyed me. I ordered a margarita that came with "fire". Yes, it was flaming. I'm not really down with that sort of thing, but especially when I have to put the fire out MYSELF! Um, hello- fire code anyone? And the glass was burning hot! The drink itself was tasty, but for $13, I expect less ice (more than half the glass) and more booze. I'm kind of a lightweight. One drink hits me, but two - forget it. I had two margaritas and woke up this morning as if I hadn't drank in a week. We ordered the mahi mahi ceviche which was yummy, but not out of this world. I really didn't like the cardboard-y flatbread it came with, though. The guacamoles were good - we tries 3 different kinds. I'm usually a guac-purist, but I loved these. We ended with the chicken mole tacos which were good, but I was kind of annoyed I had to order $4 salsa on the side. And it wasn't very good salsa - not the fresh, homemade kind, but really tasted like it came from a bottle. At such an expensive restaurant, you think they could give you complementary salsa - especially with an order of tacos. So, I'll be getting my Mex on elsewhere from now on.!
(2)Nikki L.
Sexy, Fun, Vibrant, Delicious and mind blasting. These are some words that could describe my experience at Mercadito. I've been here twice in the past 4 days and already planning my next visit. I enjoyed their traditional guacamole, rock shrimp and three different tacos (Steak, Shrimp and Beer battered mahi mahi with jicama slaw). The mahi mahi taco is my absolute favorite and I will crave it till I get sick of it. For dessert I had the creme anglaise soaked mexican bread, vanilla ice cream with cajeta sauce and almost fell out of my seat. I would consider coming back just for dessert so I can eat this. Think of french toast with ice cream on top served in a cast iron skillet. Aside from the amazing food their traditional margarita (I like it with a splash of OJ) completes the meal and could have you walking out sideways. Our server AJ was awesome, super friendly, attentive and gave great recommendations. The only down side was portion size and price. This place is $$$ for tacos. I will not compare it to $1.50 tacos from Las Asadas because I know better, but $14.50 for four mini tacos? Common, I know it's delicious but that's still a little steep. We spent $100 for two people on just apps, drinks and tacos. You do the math. Other than that, I loved it and will definitely be back!
(4)Rachel H.
there were some odd things about mercadito. first, they fancy themselves a brunch location, but don't open until 11:30am on sunday. odd...brunch starts at 10 or 1030 last i checked. second, the waiter we had was obviously insanely hung-over. he practically sat down as he explained the "brunch" menu to us. and he explained it oh-so-slowly. i wanted to buy him a coffee. third, my friend got the steak and eggs, but it only came out with 1 egg. other people we saw with the same dish had 2 eggs. she didn't complain because the steak serving was so big, but it was a little off-putting. so those things were kinda eh...but the food was really, quite delicious. i had some fish tacos that were yummers. the home-made corn tortillas were more soft than most corn tortillas. also, the salsa was very good -- sweet and peppery. our waiter brought us out a complementary habanero sauce as well, which did wonders for my sinuses. one additional bonus was that the bus boy was stupid hot. this is a trend i've noticed at chicago restaurants. (c'mon ny, time to hop on this bandwagon.) my friends and i left him some complements on the comment card. so between that amusement and the yummy food, mercadito gets a solid 3 stars for brunch.
(3)Audre L.
Tasty food, nice ambiance. Good drinks. Cool place, good for groups
(4)K W.
Wow, awesome place. I don't really even like margaritas but Mercadito's "Market" is fantastic, spicy and wonderful. I've been there twice and can't wait to go back- great spicy food, the Cameron tacos are fantastic, and God love the pomengranate guacamole ( how did they do that?). You will not be disappointed with Mercadito. The staff us great too!
(5)Arun J.
Great food! Loud and tough to converse, in at least on a weekend evening, so don't expect to be able to wax eloquently about your political views, but the dining is well worth it. I recommend the toreado quac, flautas, and chile rellano.
(4)Blair J.
I love this place. I love their tacos and mezcal margaritas. Its a joy that this place is walking distance from my apt. Also, I love their lounge downstairs. It reminds me of a speakeasy. On Wednesdays one of the best violinist in the city plays to house/ hip-hop. Great place to get food and music.
(5)Melissa C.
Love it! Phenomenal hand-crafted top shelf margaritas for $9 in a trendy hot-spot in River North? Unbeatable! If you like them less sweet or "skinny", ask for them without the agave nectar. The bite sized plates are so delictable I wish I could eat them all in one sitting! Go for a few of the tacos and for sure try an entree and ceviche. The selection and variety are exciting! In general, the flavors are tangy/zesty/spicy/rich and well balanced. If you go on a fri/sat night, plan on waiting! My reccomendation is to try it out at lunch (or Sun brunch) to sample the deliciousness without all the hype/craziness! I will definately be back for some late-nite tacos and drinks, and maybe try to get into that ellusive "AA Lounge"! Mmmmmm
(4)Meredith H.
top 3 dining experiences in chicago - LOVED IT! the vday tasting menu at $50pp was not cheap, but well worth it! the server was friendly and attentive for the most part. he kind of left us alone for a little while before dessert was served - not a big deal. we started with drinks and really enjoyed them. the "big nose goes to mexico" came out ON FIRE (genius use of an inside out lime and 151) and mine (little market) had fresh pineapple. delish. guacamoles - manzana, mole poblano, toreado appetizers - mahi mahi ceviche & queso fundido tacos - carne, shrimp, and carnitas (pork w/ peanuts) sides - arroz verde and rajas dessert - flan the appetizer and carne tacos stole the show. the flan was really disappointing, but by the end of a multi course meal, who has that much room for dessert anyways? i'd love to return to mercadito again and again - brunch, lunch, dinner, late night, date night, girls night, whatever. it's fantastico!
(5)Milana L.
One of the best guacamole spots in town and their margaritas are awesome. Love the ambience and scene here; its also a great group spot. Take note: Food is a bit on the spicy side.
(4)Tony T.
Once the toasty warm refuge from the all-nite bender, the taco has now assumed a stately place next to the burger and bbq: American quick food reinvented for a down economy. Like its counterparts, some places are doing it well but most...not so much. Mercadito brings the ruckus in a big way. The restaurant has a clubby look and very nice vibe. They had Free Bird playing in the restaurant the night we went! The tacos were superior and the presentation was top notch. I will warn you that the price meets the Kinzie Street address. Our bill was 250, which included only 4 drinks. A pretty restaurant with pretty people and solid food. I plan on returning soon.
(4)Kevin L.
It was so loud we canceled our reservation before being sat. Seriously loud like club loud.
(1)Jason M.
I'm not a huge Mexican food fan, but this place was great. There was a large food and drink selection, with several different guacamole and salsa dips to choose from. It got very crowded very quick, so I advise making a reservation. Food was excellent and the service was great. Great place for a HH or a group dinner.
(5)Jaclyn C.
I am very picky when I comes to Mexican food but this place is an upscale twist on typical Mexican fare. I've actually been three times now and I love everything about it. The food, drinks, atmosphere and service are all great. Everything I have had, with the exception of the tostadas, were all amazing. The flautas are definitely the better pick between the two. Also, the carne asada tacos will blow you away. I am still thinking about them. The drinks are fun and so good. I can't wait till I go back. Definitely make reservations though or you'll be in for a wait. Great people watching to which I am always a fan of.
(5)Christine R.
Oh. Dear. God. If you haven't been to Mercadito get there pronto. Walking in I could have eaten the air - fresh citrus and cilantro hung heavily and tantalizingly. The lunch crowd was tame, if a bit lame, but the atmosphere screamed "come back for happy hour when our cool friends are here." Large, round, pregnant ladies don't do happy hour much but I've made a mental note for late August. As is my custom lately, I ordered a virgin margarita which could have only been improved if I were outside on a sun-soaked patio. They use fresh lime juice in their margaritas which -as any self-respecting margarita lush can tell you- makes ALL the difference. My guests and I ordered the guac sampler (flight, I think they called it) but you needn't bother unless you are a guac purist. The chipotle/mango guac was abso-f***ing-lutely unbelievable. That's not just hyperbole... I would have eaten a trough of it. It must have been something about the description but all of us ordered the shrimp tacos. They serve three and they're small so don't feel wrong if you order several plates for dinner. These would be great to share if they weren't so amazingly balanced and savory. They don't look like much - corn tortilla, shrimp, sauce - but shut up and eat them. You will not be disappointed. For their simplistic appearance, their flavor is complex and interesting. Chef - well done you. We also ordered the plaintains (nice but over sweet for my taste) and green rice (cheesy and rich). Overall, amazing lunch. I could have stayed all afternoon eating mango guac, shrimp tacos and virgin margaritas. I'm glad I got out before my hormones got the better of my credit card. Mercadito, you have not seen the last of me. Until then, mmmmmwah!
(5)Camille P.
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd post about Mercadito, a "Mexican" joint in River North. We went for lunch one afternoon a while ago and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about this place. Here's why: When we first walked in I thought to myself, "Oh! This place is kinda cool!" That reaction was based on the colorful, modern look of the entry, front room and bar, because that's all we could see from there. Then we were seated and I took a look around. The wall to my left was painted with a huge, dare I say, ugly, mural of Incan ruins and a couple of war-hyped horses. What?! Where does that fit in?! It's like there's some sort of unbreakable tradition in every Mexican restaurant that says you can't refuse Tio Pablo's offer to add his artistic touch through a wall mural. You know what I mean; every mom and pop Mexican joint in America has one. Usually they're really colorful and really bad. Well, this one wasn't colorful... Anyway, the food was pretty good! I put the word Mexican in quotation marks above because it's not traditional Mexican restaurant. It's one that uses Mexican names and ingredients but you'd probably never see any of these dishes in Mexico. The menu items were more enhanced classics and, for the most part, I enjoyed these non-traditional flavor combinations. We started with one of their signature items: guacamole. Actually, they serve multiple varieties of guacamole. They even offer smaller portions, almost flights, so that you're able to taste a more than one. We chose the traditional and the mango. I preferred the traditional; fresh and creamy avocados brightened with lime juice and flavored with cilantro and jalapeno. It was delicious. The mango, too, was good, even if the mango wasn't a dominant flavor. I'm pretty sure that the chips they were served with were made in house. They were thick and crunchy and salty. We continued on with tacos, the other signature of Mercadito. Now, this is where I got mad. The tacos come 3 to an order, but they have to be 3 of the same one. Again, what?! I hate that. Either let me buy them individually, or let me mix and match. I don't want 3 of the same taco! Bo-ring! And now our server is well aware of this fact. Sorry, hombre. I didn't mean to jump down your throat and I know you don't make the rules, but come on! The entire rest of the world sells tacos individually! Please pass along my frustration. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I would have ordered one of each, even if it was more expensive than ordering a plate of 3. Plus, then we would have ordered ceviche, too. Really, Mercadito could have made a lot more money off of me. But, nooooooo.... We finally settled on just TWO different tacos, after much debate. With the help of our rolly-polly server, we opted first for the carnitas taco. (I totally saw that one coming. A little gordito recommending lard-fried braised pork? How odd.) They were served with a colorful slaw and toasted peanuts. They were tasty in a 'fat is flavor' kind of way. My preference of the two, though, was the carne asada. The steak was marinated before it was grilled and managed to keep a tenderness and juiciness. It's not often that you get a nice piece of steak made into carne asada. Mostly you see cheap, thin cuts that end up dry and/or overcooked. Not this one. It still had a little blood. It was served with some sweet, crunchy I-don't-know-what and pureed avocado. It was very flavorful. Because I was only allowed to choose 2 items to taste from the ENTIRE menu, that's all I get to write about. I can't tell you about the duck taco, nor the fish or mushroom or shrimp or chicken. Nor can I tell you about any number of the ceviches I would have ordered, nor the salsas, or tortas or anything else. I might have also left with a different impression had we been there for dinner rather than lunch. It just felt like much more of a dinner place to me. I could imagine the place full of people joyfully drinking margs and snacking on tacos, laughing and mingling. The tequilla and margarita list were pretty impressive looking, too, with a huge variety of flavors to choose from. I'm sure that's a big draw for them. The party's sure to be rockin' at Mercadito tonight! Happy Cinco de Mayo! The short version (out of 10)... Food: 7.5 Service: 7 Ambiance: 6 Overall impression: 7 Would I go back? Well... let's just say that I'm not running back. I might give it a go for happy hour or a weekend brunch sometime.
(3)Chris G.
We got here and had a reservation for 11 people. However, 2 did not make it due to illness. Needless to say, they would not honor our reservation because our party number has changed. Decent food, shitty ass customer service.
(2)Tina M.
This is a definitely a fun spot for a group. I came on a Thursday night and it wasn't overly crowded and we got a table right away. I am sure that on weekends it gets packed. It was however, very loud, so it's not a great date spot. As for the food, the vegetarian tacos con rajas were decent, very spicy and at $14, waaay overpriced. The traditional guacamole with chips was fresh and delicious and the rice with cheese was very good as well. One of the highlights was their house margaritas. The glass it was served in seemed a bit small but that drink was STRONG. The rest of the night was a bit hazy but from what I remember it was a fun atmosphere and a good place to go for a special occasion.
(3)Jessica B.
Overpriced - Terrible Service - Can NOT handle large groups (Made reservations a month in advance for a party of 14). Our table broke then the food took forever to come out and when it did it was cold. I will never return to Mercadito again.
(1)Das T.
Wow, was this place a colossal mess. After having a weak meal in an overlit, loud and obnoxious place, we decided to check out the lounge downstairs. Before we went down there though, I looked around and was surprised that the place felt like no one was actually managing it. Tables were dirty, chairs were haplessly strewn about, etc. Then, we went downstairs where a guy made us wait to walk into the lounge. Give me a friggin break. I kind of looked at my friend and rolled my eyes. Instinct said leave immediately. But we waited for another guy who claimed he was the manager to come out and ask us our names and then showed us in. An unbelievably loud mess of people. We both looked at each other and got the hell out of there.
(1)Jenna S.
Mercadito's food is fantastic and their drinks are spectacular. The servers are on point and very friendly. But the reason this place only gets 3 stars in my book is poor management and lack of air conditioning. We went last Saturday night and it was HOT outside. It was even hotter inside. How can a restaurant have no central air conditioning? It has a stand alone unit in the back of the restaurant that doesn't even get close to cooling the front. When we asked if they could open the windows, the management ignored us 3 times and only the bus boy and waitress cared to explain the situation. When we asked again, we saw the manger openly complain about us to another manager on site. If you are going to charge people that much for dinner, they should be able to enjoy it in a cool restaurant, not have to fan themselves with menus all night. Unacceptable.
(3)David D.
Good margs. So loud couldn't talk to any of the people I was with. Super rushed service. Food was good but way overpriced. Overall bad experience.
(1)Celeste E.
I still hold by my original rating... had to add a couple things. First, on my most recent visit, we tried the Ceviche. It is TO DIE FOR! Between the ceviche and guacamole, you might not have room for tacos (they're that good). Secondly, Mercadito is not the place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen. It is very loud in there. Granted, still very fun with your normal social circle.
(3)Melissa H.
What can I say... all around horrible experience. I've given this conveniently located (within walking distance of my home) restaurant two distinct chances to wow me. In an area with so many great restaurants and options, Mercadito falls far short of expectations. The service is rude and slow: not in a 'we are really busy, I'm sorry' way, but in a 'I really can't be bothered to stop talking to my friends and come ask for your order - even though you've been sitting there for more than 20 minutes waiting to be acknowledged' kind of way. The food, once finally ordered and served, is overpriced and only "okay". In short, I would not recommend this restaurant. Period.
(1)Dave G.
Best restaurant in Chicago. The mahi mahi tacos and steak tacos are both phenomenal. The staff is fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about this place.
(5)Sarah M.
Loved the swank look of this place but it got loud when full to the point where it was difficult to hear the person across the table. The cocktails were interesting. I'm more of a purist in the cocktail department so all the odd flavorings and such didn't overly impress me. Some people like to taste something slightly different with each sip, but I could've done without all the salt and savory flavors. We ordered the guacs, which were good but you don't get a lot for the price and we ordered 4 types of tacos, which were good. The steak was my favorite, but I was hoping for automatic sides of beans and rice for the price. I hear the brunch is an outstanding deal but I don't know that I'd pick this place to go back to right away.
(3)Kriss H.
Bland Mexican food that probably embarrasses the Mexican cooks preparing it. I sent one dish back because it was covered with an excessive amount of cheese. Perhaps 200% more than necessary. Service was okay, but I would never go back and would stear anyone clear of going if I was asked. Better Mexican food at Whole Foods Lincoln Park.
(1)Ellen O.
this is a fun place to go with a bunch of people because you can share plates of tacos and everyone gets to try everything. the tacos were a little greasy, but the flavors were pretty good. they have a large menu with lots of things to try, which is nice. the highlight of the meal were the traditional and mango guacamoles and homemade chips - yum! my pear margarita was tasty but i think they went a little light on the tequila. overall a fun place to try with a group.
(3)Shweta N.
Loved Mercadito. It was super easy to make reservations, but unfortunately we waited about 20 minutes for our table after we arrived. Luckily, we were able to enjoy a few margaritas at the bar while we waited, and we eventually returned to the bar following dinner! The highlights from dinner were the mango guacamole and the tilapia tacos, while those from the bar were the mango margaritas and the misty's sleeve.
(4)E W.
Love love love this place!
(5)Jafar A.
Hello Everyone; We went there for a good bye lunch of a co-worker. The place was nice. It had a good magnetosphere for a group of people. We sat in the front seating of the restaurant which can be for couple of people, small or big group. More of a public, people want to talk and maybe get a bit loud, be your self area which what we were looking for :) There was another seating section a few more steps in for (I would say) quieter, maybe a bit more fancy if you are looking for that. Either place you end up, it will serve its purpose. We had the group lunch. It was served in a timely manner. It was fresh, warm, tasteful, but it was from a limited items. So if you have a person who is vegetarian, another who does not eat pork, you will need to do some adjustment. Quantities were OK. I am a big guy though and usually eat more, but more than one person mentioned the same thing. I think we were charged extra when we asked for more guacamole for chips which was surprising because usually chips and dip are paid for once with refills but I did not check. The cost per person was about $28 (Including gratuity and non-alcoholic drinks) which is much higher than just a work lunch. All in all, for me, it is not a place for everyday lunch (or even weekly or monthly) but it is a good place for lunch/dinner with someone, special occasion, or as part of a dinner and show in town.
(4)Melissa N.
Went here for dinner last night and really enjoyed the food and drinks, but the service was lackluster at best. (I will say that the bartending staff was AMAZING: my issues were with the hosts and server.) The problems began right when we were being seated. We had reservations for three and the hostess tried seating us at this sad excuse for a two-top table that is was barely larger than a TV tray. Fortunately my one friend had the good sense to object right away and politely request another table. He was treated to a gruff, "Well this is how we do things here" retort from the hostess. Umm. NO. We were firm, and after a few minutes another (much nicer) hostess took us to a slightly better table. So that was good. The food and drinks were awesome. I loved the Casangria cocktail and had more of those than I care to admit. For food, we started with the guacamole trio (the mango flavor was my fave, which says a lot as I'm not usually hip to mangos). We then enjoyed the delicious mixto ceviches, the flautas, and two kinds of tacos (carnitas de puerco and estilo baja). For dessert we had the torrejas de bolillo. All of the food was outstanding. Top-notch. Our server? Not so top-notch. She actually sucked big-time. Once we were seated, it took forever to get new drinks. This was a problem all night. She came to check on us pretty infrequently, and at the end of the night brought the wrong table's credit card back to our table and just left it there: major security issue. We were not pleased. Also, while the ambiance of the restaurant is very modern, it is also EXTREMELY loud in there and the tables are right on top of each other. I had people crashing into my chair literally every three minutes throughout the whole meal. And the bathrooms also bothered me. While they were clean, they were out of paper towels the first time I went in there, and when I returned 2.5 hours later, the paper towels had not yet been replenished. Not good. Overall, while the food and drinks were fabulous, I'll never want to go back here if it's even remotely crowded, and I'd be hesitant to return at all because of the poor service. It's unfortunate because I am already craving more pork tacos. :(
(3)Mirza B.
Great ambiance and food. Went here for a work lunch and the mahi mahi tacos were pretty amazing. Loved the Guac trio. And the flan! delicious.
(4)Stefanie B.
Another restaurant I've been dying to try...only to be left broken hearted :( All the tacos sounded amazing too! We started with guacamole with sweet potatoes and bacon with chips. The chips here are really good and addicting! It's very light and airy dipped with the guac which also was good. Also ordered the green rice which I did not like at all. But other people loved it...I'm a very picky eater. I don't like how you can't order per taco. You can only get a plate of 3 of the same taco So come with a few people and family style it. We got the garlic shrimp tacos which was extremely garlicy, I think it is too saucy. The pastor and pineapple one was the best out of the 3 we ordered, but the one at Big Star is still #1! The porkbelly one was the last of the 3 kinds of tacos we ordered and it didn't really have much flavor in it. Overall, the restaurant has a nice cool vibe to it and the service was stellar but the food was subpar...SORRY!
(3)Cole D.
Welp, tough time here. My family (mother, younger brother, older brother) went here for my older brother's birthday. After being seated, a guy came by to ask if he could get us something to drink and I asked for some lemon slices for my water. Um...and he brings them to me on a napkin. Minus 10 points right off the bat for that. I've never even been served like that in a cheap Mexican restaurant at 2am when I'm drunk, and yet this guy thought that was appropriate at 5pm on a Sunday at a restaurant downtown Chicago. Bring lemon slices in a dish please. Next came the ordering. Our waiter was far from helpful. My mother was struggling to order and although she wasn't overtly asking for help, he definitely had an open opportunity to help a customer find a dish they would like. He honestly was rather unfriendly and off putting. He was rather forceful about his explanation that the tacos had a minimum order of 4 tacos and they all had to be the same, and then stared at us expectantly until we uttered our order... This restaurant should explain the eating style here when you sit down. The dishes are meant to be shared but he didn't explain this and we were ordering for ourselves. Then when we finished ordering, he stated "the dishes come out when ready...so you can share each dish when it comes." Wow. I was pretty peeved at this point, how could he not say this before we ordered so we could plan accordingly on what we wanted? Bad service. Ok so luckily all the dishes came out at the same time very quickly. I ordered the mushroom tacos. Decent at best, it was not a very big portion and very over priced for what it was. $17.00 for mushroom tacos? Wow. Extremely unaccomdating for people not wishing to eat meat. Lower your prices for non-meat dishes, that's ridiculous. The guacamole was not very good and even had a weird color and was room temperature and the amount of chips they gave was clearly not enough for 4 people. And honestly, I'm all about haute cuisine, but it's a Mexican restaurant, please at least provide chips and salsa. Those ingredients literally are the cheapest thing after water and it is a huge expectation for customers. I would never recommend this restaurant to a friend (maybe an enemy haha) and certainly will not be returning.
(1)Tommy Z.
Food and drinks were great bartender awesome. HOWEVER I get hit in the leg by a couple of glass shards from the manager dropping some glasses and all I get is a few comped drinks. Highly unprofessional I should have at the very least been comped a whole meal. If I was one of those sue crazy people could have easily taken this restaurant for a lot more then a dinner and a few drinks smh. Side note: Very loud place good for a group of people but not so much an intimate date. Drinks are strong but you will not notice til you've had a couple they're made ninja like.
(2)Alyssa J P.
Delicious but very expensive tacos. I was really looking forward to the mushroom tacos, but apparently they come pre-made with butter, so they're not vegan. The only tacos on the entire menu that can be made vegan are the pastor (with veggies instead of pork), so that was a disappointment. For such an extensive menu, you'd think they could figure out how to cook mushrooms without butter. Anyway, the tacos were really yummy and the guacamole sampler was excellent (and a really cool idea, I might add). Lots of drink options for those who are into C2H6O. I probably won't go back, just because it's so expensive and if I'm going to spend that kind of dough, I want real vegan options.
(3)Katrice H.
I give this place 2 stars because the ambiance is soooo nice and the music was awesome. But if you're going here to eat and have drinks (like I was)...please don't waste your time. Nothing was right with this place... 1 - Our server (Manuel C.) was awful. He did not offer a friendly greeting nor did he attend to our needs in any way. He was so detached that I had to physically go and find him in order to pay my bill. His negligence had nothing to do with a crowd - I went at 1:00 on a Thursday afternoon and the place was nearly empty. 2 - The food was very underwhelming. Please don't go there planning to order tacos and leave feeling full...the tacos should actually be described as "mini-tacos" because, at best, that's what they are. The salsa that we ordered for the table was also a joke...it came in a shallow ramekin and hardly met the standard for salsa. If you intend on dining at this place...be forewarned...it's overpriced and underwhelming.
(2)Lisa Marie M.
Unfortunately I wasn't impressed after being highly recommended by many ppl about this place. I will give it one more try considering the pepino el Pyu drinks were just amazing! I think it was a little over priced for the mediocre food I tried. I had the enchiladas and tried the carne asada. I heard the fish tacos are really good. ill be back to try those.
(3)Nicole M.
Good food and great service. Food was expensive but it was expected the moment you walked in. The restaurant is trendy and you can tell it was occupied by locals and business men and women. I liked the different sauces they gave with the tacos. The guacamole was fantastic. You have to try more than one kind. There is a speakeasy below the restaurant but unfortunately it was closed the day we were there.
(4)Pranitha P.
It is very busy and loud but that's the atmosphere for the place. The food was great. Our group was larger than seven so we were seated in the Tequila Lounge downstairs and ordered from the sharing menu - CANASTA: mercaditorestaurants.com… 3 types of guacamole, 2 types of salsa, 2 types of ceviche, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides & 1 dessert tasting. They were able to make a vegetarian option for everything that was ordered and all of the tacos were delicious. We had enough to eat for hours and took some leftovers because there was that much food! For my drink, I ordered a paloma and it was perfect.
(4)Jonathan S.
On this MON night, Mercadito seem like it was the after hours place to be on a SAT night! Place was packed, noisy, all in a good way, nice buzz. The food here is modern, we only drank and ate tacos. The big issue with their cocktails and food is the smoke. Seems everything has some earthy, smoking peppers in it. The server also confirmed how many menu and drink items have this paprika/peat sort of flavor. They totally overuse it. If the food itself wasn't prepared well my rating would be lower but the food, beside the flavor of charcoal on everything, is good and hope they take my advice and limit the smoky notes. Wish the food was as good as the vibe.
(3)Manny R.
Went here for the lady's Bday. Tacos were good with a modern twist. Drinks were tasty and the guac wasn't bad. My only complaint is that the seating isn't meant for taller folks. Modern Mexican in a nice atmosphere.
(4)L. B.
I would like to preface by saying that I am writing this review live - be assured the incidents I will recount are fresh in my mind. I would also like to state for the record that Mercadito was once my favorite brunch place & I have been patronizing this establishment since it opened. One last thing, I have worked in the service industry for ten years of my life, the last four spent in fine dining when I was in college, so I have an intimate awareness of what acceptable service involves. Now, the review of my final brunch here - a table consisting of two people, myself included. Service was absolutely atrocious...from server to management. Absolutely a disgrace. Drinks took 10 minutes- we did not order complicated drinks. We ordered 2 guacamoles - came out pretty quick, as expected. Tasted great, as expected. We ordered our food at the same time we ordered our guacamole. My boyfriend's meal came out when we were about halfway through the guacamole...mind you, we are voracious eaters...so his food came fairly quickly. I figured mine was soon to follow. Fifteen minutes passed. My boyfriend eventually started eating as his food was getting cold. During the entire fifteen minutes of food being on the table the server didn't once come by to do the "two bite check" to check in on us. I sat foodless. About five minutes later our server popped over & we inquired about my food. He checked on it & came back slightly apologetic saying it would be out in two minutes and that he would see if a manager can do anything about the bill. Personally, I think he forgot to put my order in. I get it, mistakes happen- but management failed to make it right. My food came more than five minutes later...huevos ahogados and they were not on par with my pornographic food memory of them. We cleaned our plates over a span of ten to fifteen minutes & not once did he check in on us, nor did a manager pop over to make sure we were content. To me that is absolutely atrocious customer service. The server offered us a free desert...thanks. I will NEVER come back here. Patronizing an establishment that doesn't care about its bread & butter, its customers, is worthless to me. Server sucked, but the absence of management in this situation is unforgivable. Way to go guys.
(1)Brooke O.
We went here for date night and I was impressed with everything. The service was quick but not rushed. We had an assortment of tacos - the shrimp ones were my favorite. And topped off the meal with a couple of coronas. We had a reservation and went a little before the rush. We were seated right away and our waiter was efficient but also had a good sense of humor. I will definitely go back.
(5)Caroline A.
Mercadito is just lovely! We stopped in for a quick drink and snack and ended up staying longer than planned! I've never noticed several River North restaurants are closed Mondays but not Mercadito. Sitting at the bar I ordered the Pepino el pyu which is perfect if you love cucumber. The bartender was very sweet and kept letting us try sample of his new experimental cocktails. We ordered the chips and salsa pair tomatillo with chipotle which was very tastey. The bar backs were quick to keep our free chip refills coming! I know I'll be back for dinnner and definitely the brunch!
(5)Isabel C.
Really cool vibe and quality food! I came for lunch and our group ordered an insane amount of food. I think I tried almost everything note worthy on the menu. I had 2 of the refrescos- homemade sodas. Both the mango and the blueberry pineapple were delicious! As an appetizer and for our main course we ordered a trio of Guac and salsas- mild medium and hot- I don't know the exact salsas. They were all very good and the chips are great too! Onto the main event: TACOS! We ordered estilo Baja (mahi mahi), camaron (shrimp), carne (skirt steak), & pastor (pork). All were very good but all of them had additives that I may have left out like on the carne with the potato. The tortillas were a little chewy but everything was still delicious and I will absolutely come back!
(4)Andy D.
Favorite restaurant. Only positives. First and foremost, my waiter was excellent. Had great recommendations, was very helpful, and knew the menu like the back of his hand. Second, the atmosphere is very cool. Third, the food was amazing. Multiple guacs, salsas, tacos, desert. Fourth, the drinks were the best. This is absolutely a true gem. I look forward to going back. Definitely a great place for entertaining.
(5)Kristina W.
Pretty good, but extremely overpriced with service issues. I would only recommend Mercadito for drinks & maybe a small snack. A few blunders: 1) Tuesday 8PM reservation - arrived early at 7:45, not seated until 8:15. 2) Ordered a pair of the dorado and camaron ceviche - somehow ended up with a single order of the lobster ceviche. It was good, but not what we ordered (not to mention, $5 more expensive), and they didn't comp us in any way for making their own mistake. 3) IT'S SO LOUD IN THERE. I had to yell at my friend across the table, and we still could barely hear each other!! As for the food/drink: - Strawberry Margarita - Delicious, very strong. $16 after tip/tax - standard drink prices for River North. - Pineapple Guacamole - Nice light flavors, but I'm not sure I can justify paying $9.50 for a tiny portion of guacamole that I could likely reproduce myself. I will say that the chips that accompany the guac are amazing though. - Lobster Ceviche - Huge chunks of lobster, which were yummy, but the rest of ingredients in the ceviche were pretty bland in comparison. - Lobster Tacos - Though pricey, this was actually extremely delicious - creamy sauce, fresh lobster, soft tortillas, etc. Overall, I would only come back to Mercadito for drinks, and maybe split a tacos order with a friend, but I don't think it's worth it for a whole dinner considering the small portions and steep prices.
(3)Austin Y.
"Meh. I've experienced better." pretty much describes my experience in a nutshell. Came with a big group and tried a variety of tacos, the al pastor was good but the only one that stood out was the lobster. Not impressed by the fish or mushroom, especially at this price point. If I was with a smaller group, I wouldn't like having to order four of the same taco at minimum. Ceviche was unusually watery, didn't enjoy it at all, and I just remembered that I sampled a trio of guacamole that I barely remember at all (not a good thing!) Strawberry and mango margaritas were great, really the highlight of my meal. I might come back for the bar, not the tacos.
(2)Tina M.
We did a large group dinner here. The food was fantastic and service was great. Excellent value for what you get. I would definitely return here next time I am in Chicago.
(5)A R.
I came here for dinner tonight in a party of 3, admittedly - we came here mostly because El Hefe was closed and we wanted some good Mexican food. Credit where it's due, the ambiance is nice and our waiter was generally friendly and made suggestions on the menu. That's about where the good part ends.... The tables are crammed so closely together you feel like you're at dinner with 16 other people... I know that's something restaurants are doing now but I think it's incredibly awkward. We ordered the traditional guacamole and medium salsa to start, the price of the guacamole compared to the portion you get is absurd. However, I have to admit, it tastes great - just wish there had been more of it. The salsa was nothing to write home about, not bad but not great. The real problem came when we ordered main courses - mahi mahi tacos, 2 steak tacos and a side of Mexican corn. The fish tacos came out a full 10 minutes before the steak tacos. When we asked the waiter where the steak tacos were he said the kitchen cooked tacos at different speeds... I'm no chef but I doubt Gordon Ramsey would stand for such an excuse. The steak tacos finally showed up... But no corn. At that point we were so hungry we just started eating the tacos. I had the steak tacos and thought they were pretty good. The guy who had fish tacos was annoyed his were cold by the time ours showed up and said they were relatively bland. Finally the corn showed up half way through our tacos. Aside from being late, the corn was delicious. The worst part of the whole experience was how the bus boy started clearing our table before 2 of us were done eating... Blatantly taking all the dishes, the salsa we weren't done with, and snatching dishes as we put our forks down. What's worse, while we waited for the check he literally came back and wiped down the table with a rag and took away our place mats and napkins. I have never felt more rushed out of a restaurant in my life. And the restaurant wasn't even full! Such a shame because while overpriced, the food was pretty good. But we will never go back because the service was so poor. This would be a 1 star review of the food hadn't tasted good.
(2)Easy D.
Fancy Mexican spot with some tasty ass tacos. Drinks and food were overpriced but they have a great assortment of sides, different types of guacamole (couldn't pick a favorite from the guacamole "flight") and their "gourmet" tacos were definitely some of the best I've ever had. The swordfish and steak tacos were cooked to perfection and so tasty! The chicken taco, usually the most boring choice on the menu, was heaven. The decor was nice and had a nightclub feel to it, the DJ spinning house music in the lounge area downstairs added to that. The music was great, the crowd was underwhelming. This was my first food outing on my culinary tour of Chicago, I wasn't disappointed.
(4)J.M. P.
Service is good. This is my second time here....ordered something different chicken flautes. First time I orderwd steak tacos. Food is sooo bland. Even my usual glass of Malbec is bland. Everyone else is enjoying their drinks and food though. I'm just not feeling this spot. Won't be back.
(2)Lisa H.
Come here strictly if you want to eat and/or drink, and not for additional purposes like catching up and taking your time. It's rowdy and the tables are so close together, unless you enjoy shouting and hearing every word from your neighbor, the noise level and lack of personal room will make you feel slightly uncomfortable. Food wise, almost everything is delicious. I've been here 3 times and have tried an array of dishes, but my faves are the cechiche, al pastor and lobster tacos. Mercandito offers some of the best al pastor tacos i've had in the city. It's where i go to get my Mexican fix. Chicago does a really good job at depriving this Socal girl of her Mexican food. The Mexican-style corn on the cob has robust flavors, but too much cream for my liking. Great place to eat then get the hell out, and awesome pre-party spot since they have very potent drinks. Love that they don't skimp on their alcohol, just 1 drink warms me up and i usually need at least 2. Warning: there's no personal space so you'll likely want to get out as soon as possible.
(4)Katherine L.
Loved this restaurant in NYC and was so sad it shut down. Love that it was open late. Must get guacamole trio. Al Pastor guac was great! Also loved the fajita and queso. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Kaley K.
Restaurant week visit, with a group of 6, on a Saturday night. Very busy and loud. Took a bit to get seated even though we had a reservation. House margarita was decent but I wouldn't pay the non-restaurant week price. It was good but not strong. Gaucamole and ceviche was fantastic! Very fresh. The tacos were decent but I've had better in chicago. We tried the shrimp, pork, and chicken tacos. The flan was easily the highlight of the meal. Everyone at our table agreed that we could have eaten 10 more.
(3)Andre W.
A very good friend of mine was telling me this is one of her favorite happy hour spots. Since its not far from the office I had to give it a try to see if her word was legit. I came by a couple of weeks ago and found out their happy hour starts at 6 on Wed only. Of course you can have drinks at the bar and all, but they have a small downstairs area that is exclusive to a happy hour special they have on tacos and margaritas. The tacos are $6.50 (reg price is $16.50 for 4) for a set of 3 and the margaritas are $6.50 (reg price is $11-$13). We got the camaron tacos (shrimp, garlic, avocado & chipotle mojo) and the pastor (grilled pork, chile salsa and grilled pineapple). Really good as the both were awesome, but the camaron was the star here. Their traditional margarita is friggin awesome as I decided to have 3 of them. The music down there is really nice and the lighting is quite intimate to set a chill, relaxing mood. Servers took care of us and made sure we didn't want for anything. Good place for Happy Hour and I wouldn't mind making this an every other Wed outing for those of you that would be down LOL.
(4)Camille O.
Visiting Chicago we needed a hearty Brunch. We ordered their 3 dishes to share special. No margaritas since we had one too many the previous night. We ordered the Guacamole - very good and chunky. The carnitas skillet with hash Browns was very tasty. Blackened fish taco we devoured. The enchiladas were delicious. The service was superb! Our waiter made sure we were taken cared for the whole time. Would visit again.
(4)Kristin G.
Most of the food was good. The ceviche and the Baha tacos were very fishy. The other tacos were good with the exception of the carnitas which was great...a little dry but the flavor was wonderful. The chicken dish was my favorite...the refried beans and Roja salsa gave it a nice flavor. The three trees cocktail was delicious. I didn't love the ambiance. It was too cluttered and reeeeeally loud. I'd go back for sure.
(3)Christine H.
The food was amazing, from the appetizers to the main course. The margarita's were also outstanding. The hostess, manager and wait staff were more then below par. I suggest the owner(s) find staff that is on the same level as their food, because they made our table of 13 very unhappy. When you make a reservation, you should not have to wait an hour, while you watch other large tables get seated that came in a half hour after you did. Probably would not go back, because service is everything!
(2)Lisa S.
The food and service are good, but the restaurant is just way too loud. After two separate visits (one with 4 people and the other with 8 people), I probably won't be back. Part of the restaurant experience is being able to socialize with each other. Both visits, we literally had to yell across the table to be heard. In fairness, both visits were on busy Saturday nights, so it may not always be this way. Great taco and salsa selection, so you may want to give it a try mid-week.
(3)Anushil K.
One of the best Tacos in US period ! Order the Tacos flight and complement it with their amazing margaritas and incredible customer service ! The chips and the salsas - fingerlicous !
(5)Narasimha S.
Def. coming back for the tacos
(4)Lita B.
I heard good things about their brunch and decided to take my grandmother out for her 86th birthday yesterday. My server genuinely seemed like a nice person but not very assertive. Our cappuccinos took about 15 minutes to come out and they were lukewarm, my grandmother sent hers back. It took another 10 minutes to get a new one. I am not sure who made them- the server or the kitchen but nothing out of the ordinary, just an average cappuccino. We did the sharing menu and ordered the eggs with tampiquena, we asked for it medium and came out medium well on the verge of well done. It was cold by the time it arrived and my mother asked for a new one. I was ok with mine as I was embarrassed but they brought a new plate after 20 minutes. We asked for regular napkins and they were never brought, my mother and grandmother waited for the new steak to come out and while they waited the waiter didn't ask to see if he could heat up the mexican bread we hadn't touched as they were waiting. This whole time the Hispanic cleaning staff was attending to us and apologizing. The manager was walking around checking on tables and not once stopped to apologize to our table OR even ask how our experience was. We were not their typical "River North" clientele and I felt slightly shunned. I wanted to really give this spot a chance and called later that day to tell Management and all they said was sorry. I was hoping they would say, let us make it up to you. I am going to stick with the no frills Mexican joints that are quick with their service, attentive and bring out hot coffee drinks, hot steak, and regular napkins. Oh yeah, I forgot as "bday" or "apology" we got a flan. Yeah, after dropping 100 bucks a flan didn't cut it.
(1)Emma R.
This is my kind of place. Modern, unique, tapas style Mexican food. We got the three salsas (chipotle, tomatillo, and verde) and three different guacs (traditional, ramps, and poblano). They were all flavorful and delicious. Then we shared the lobster and carne tacos. The carne were to die for with the onion strings and tender meat. Our margaritas were so good too. This was our first trip here and I definitely see returning again in the future.
(4)Leslie W.
Came here on a Friday night with a few girfriends. It was JAM packed! Had a reservation but still had to wait about 30 minutes for our table. Didn't quite understand that, but anyway. Atmosphere: Loud and tight on the weekends at least. Cocktails: smokey pablo - smokey, blueberry flavor. Different, but I liked it. Apps: Guacamole trio - poblano(my fave), mango and traditional. All pretty good. Also tried the lobster ceviche, which was pretty tasty as well. Tacos: blackened swordfish - meh. Shrimp - delish! Steak - delish! Chicken - okay. Dessert: Flan - Extremely sweet. Wouldn't try again, probably. We split everything since you aren't able to mix and match the tacos and we were all pretty full at the end. It's a great place for sharing. Besides being packed in like a sardine while waiting for our table, I enjoyed myself. I would visit again maybe on a weekday, though, to avoid the huge crowd.
(4)rori c.
Mercadito came recommended by a local and it was the perfect suggestion. There were 6 of us total so we were able to order the family style menu. Totally worth it. I think we had the "canasta" choice, which included 3 guacs, 2 salsas, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 2 sides and dessert for $35. At first I was a little worried about not ordering enough food, but it turns out that we left a lot on the table. I had been craving ceviche, which was good, but the real stars were the torreado (spicy) guac, the shrimp tacos, the mushroom tacos and the grilled asparagus. I'd definitely come back. I will say that the decor is really overwhelming and that it's loud, but the service was pretty good.
(4)Lindsey H.
The drinks are absolutely amazing. But the bartender was crabby. Oh well... Not everyone can be "on" everyday. Love that they have mixology classes. I would definitely take them if I lived here.
(4)Brwn E.
This place will always get 5star review from me but that maybe because I'm here almost once a week and the staff are always so friendly and welcoming. Perfect go to for something fast to eat with my Mr!
(5)Sergio T.
This restaurant is officially my number one favorite non Texas... Genuine Mexican restaurant. I'm Mexican with a mom that cooks like a master. And I'm very discerning in general. It Beats everything I've ever been to! Taste, originality, atmosphere, music, tequila, guac, ceviche! Oh and get this... They do not allow Patron tequila. When asking the bar tender why? She said it's crap. BOOM! Legit!
(5)CL C.
The seating is a little tight so we chose to sit in the lounge downstairs which was really nice. The tacos were amazing...loved the herb chicken ones. Had amazing flavor
(4)Eric R.
So the fish tacos are excellent, especially the Swordfish. Prices are about average for this part of town. Service is mediocre, leaning towards poor. The Margaritas are ok, but not great. The place is super loud and the tables are on top of each other. I have been here three times, and would not recommend for a date, just too loud. Good for an after work drink and snack, but beyond that its not worth the crowds and the noise.
(3)Ryan M.
I would say that the cocktails are better than the food in terms of what you're getting for the cost. The tacos were not bad tasting, but were really really small--was just surprised. If I go back again, I'll know to eat somewhere else for dinner and go here for a pre-dinner appetizer or snack. It's worth trying though if you're in the area and have a hankering for a margarita or a taco.
(3)Samir S.
Always a great visit. Seven years later, and the place delivers on the favorites. Go here for the cocktails and the tacos. The appetizers and the main dishes are average. All of the tacos we tried were great, but the shrimp tacos take the cake. What they do with their sauce something special, and I have not seen elsewhere. Great vibe, and great service. Manny, our host was a pleasure to work with. We look forward to coming back !
(4)Cindy G.
Holy high price tacos! On a recent trip to Chi town my girls and I decided on this place since it was in our hood. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was Dayyyyyum it's loud in here! Did they want it to be loud and trendy on purpose? Not sure. But we could barely carry a conversation right next to each other. We were seated at a booth right next to the restroom which only served one patron, so we often had a line of people over top of us. The food is served is 4's, which I assume is family style? By I have no idea why. You are not allowed to mix and match so we found ourselves ordering 3 different orders steak, mahi, and al pastor and just adding a taco to make it 5 family style and we each got three. The steak was surprisingly my favorite. I loved the chargrill flavor on it. The mashed potatoes on top were also a strange but interesting touch. The Al Pastor has a great spice to it, and the pineapple was a great contrast to the heavy flavor. I wasn't a fan of the mahi. It was a bit too soggy from all of the slaw. We also ordered up a ton of their margs, all varied in flavor. I really loved the Hibiscus and red pepper one. It was super spicy, but fruity all at the same time! I also tried the mago and it was extremely fresh. I ordered the regular margarita and it was nothing special. I didn't particularly love the grand marnier in it. Overall our meal was very flavorful but I need to add that all of the food came out within 10-15 minutes some even before we got our drinks and our total dinner time was seriously close to 30 minutes. We felt like they were rushing us out, and we did not really appreciate that especially because of the amount of money we were dropping. $22 for 4 tacos? $14 for the margs? Still don't understand it. You can get delicious tacos pretty much anywhere in Chicago. And don't come here if you are looking to catch up, or have a dinner conversation. Come, sit at the bar, order a marg and enjoy the atmosphere. I probably wont be running back for dinner anytime soon.
(3)Steven S.
This was a great combination of atmosphere, food/drink and service. I ordered a Casagria, which was their version of a sangria, and the carne and the lobster tacos. All were delicious. The tacos come in a plate of four and you can't mix and match which was disappointing. The traditional guacamole was good and freshly made; I'm curious to try their other guacs next time. I'll be sure to come here again soon.
(4)Ryan M.
Mercadito is borrowing the airlines strategy...oversell the tables/seats on the premise that a certain percentage won't show. The only kicker is that when everyone shows they aren't providing vouchers for your next meal!! We booked a table on open table for 10:30 and arrived at 10:20. We didn't seated until almost 11:00. It appeared many people were in the same situation as the bar was over flowing with people waiting for their table. The place is trendy and loud but I guess paying 16 for tacos just isn't my thing when I know great places to get tacos all around town.
(2)Maghana W.
My favorite!!!!!! Best place for a dinner and drinks on the weekday or weekends before a night out. They have different gaucs you can choose from which are all amazing and their tacos are soooo good regardless of which one you get. The drinks are incredible and made perfectly. The vibes are great in there too. It's dim lighting so fun with a group of friends or a date night. Highly recommend making reservations because it gets crazy busy. They have a cute lounge and bar on the bottom floor too which is fun to drink and wait for your table. Love love this place. A must try!!!!
(5)Erica J.
Love this place! I was first introduced to it during Chicago Restaurant Week 2014. Got a chance to sample three different guacamoles, three different tacos, and three different flans. I fell in love with everything. I went back with a my boyfriend yesterday and learned that the chicken, steak, and shrimp taco toppings are changed every three months to keep things interesting. We ordered one chicken, one steak and the mango guacamole and were quite impressed. Everything was still so delicious. I recommend not making any substitutions! Lovely just the way they are.
(5)Nic Z.
GUACAMOLE Guac and chips were great. We got traditional, toreado, bacon, and mango. Mango was the spiciest, which I love, but the rest of the flavor missed the mark. The others were yummy but not at all spicy. Chips were definitely fresh and, for that reason, delicious. SEVICHE None of the Seviche blew my socks off, but my friends enjoyed it. We got the lobster, camaron (shrimp), and dorado (mahi mahi). TACOS Pescado (tilapia) tacos looked pretty but tasted bland. Chicken taco looked like a hot mess comparatively but tasted well. I did, however, have several pieces of really gummy meat :-( WINE Rose was ok - middle of the road. I could see this as a happy hour wine (read: cheap/average). I don't think I would ever come here on my own, but I wouldn't say no if I was being treated.
(3)Alejandra G.
I love this place. It was definitely one of my favorite places to go. I would always recommend this place to everyone I knew because I USED to have a great experience until my last visit. My roommate and I went late this past Friday, 03-06-15. We decided to sit at the bar, there was only one seat available so we asked the bartender if the last seat at the bar was being used, she answered "I don't know" and walked away. So we went and asked the gentlemen sitting next to the chair if it was taken and it wasn't. We continued our night and asked the bartender questions, he kept ignoring us and giving us really short answers. He was not attentive at all. The restaurant was almost empty so its not like he was busy tending to other customers. We had to keep getting his attention when we needed another drink or anything else. The restaurant closes at 2am. Arounds 1:45am there was a security guy that came around the entire restaurant and yelled out "Finish up your drinks and close your tab". We were finishing up our dinner and we just received our last drink so we planned on finishing the drink and leaving. 2am arrived and He yelled out once again "We are close now please finish and leave" We were half way done with our drink and we were still waiting for our tab from the bartender. The security guy then came to use not even 5 minutes later and said "ok ladies you have to leave" it was 2:05am. We told him that we were just singing the check and we literally had to chug the last half of our margarita because we were getting kicked out. My entire experience was HORRIBLE!!! Worst customer service I've EVER received in any Chicago restaurant I have been to and I have been to MANY Chicago restaurants. This experience has definitely changed my mind about this establishment for the worse. I will NEVER recommend this restaurant to anyone EVER again.
(1)Tima D.
This place is awesome! The tacos and the margaritas are what you should come here for. If you would like to branch out and order something else I dont think it will hit the mark like the tacos. The ceviche is pretty good though too. The restarant itself is really nice. Great vide to it and the service is great too.
(4)Shawn C.
Really great tacos. The drinks are amazing too. The only reason it gets 4 stars and not 5 is because it's pretty pricy for the portion sizes that you get. Shrimp Cameron are the way to go.
(4)Joe S.
Excellent Tacos - I went with Steak. Great atmosphere and their service was spot on. I would recommend this spot to coworkers and friends. I would give it 5 stars if they offered flour tortillas...but they don't.
(4)Gustavo B.
Came here for drinks and didn't stay for the food. The prix fix menu seemed uninspiring and over priced ($40 for guac, Salsa, 3 tacos and desert). Drinks were ok, not spectacular. Ambience was what made this place!
(3)Alli S.
The margs and guac were good. The tacos sucked. The meat was rubbery, chewy, and greasy - we got the steak and chicken tacos - two meats anyone should be able to prepare - but it was essentially dog food quality. The reviews I read before going said this place was loud... but holy crap. Our reservations were at 8, it was pretty loud, but we could hear each other yelling - but the time we finished at 9 (mostly because we quit eating the crappy tacos) we couldn't even hear each other - the bar was packed and people were just standing around the tables with drinks - tons of "going-out-girls" screaming at a high pitch hyena... imagine hearing, "OHHH MYYY GODD!!! CINDY!!!! AHHH!!!!!! IM TOTES DOWN TONIGHT!!!" piercing your ears while already having crappy food.... Don't do it. There's better tacos with less terrible atmosphere everywhere else.
(2)L-Boogie O.
Went here with my sales team for some bonding time. The restaurant, food and drinks were lovely and fresh. I'd recommend the guac, salsas, ceviche and churrasco. Unfortunately the service and ambiance weren't. The kitchen had a hard time sending out our food on a timely basis and the manager was unapologetic and arrogant. His idea of rectifying the situation was to send a round of drinks over. When the "drinks" showed up, they were nothing more than shooters of some awful fireball tasting mess. The place is also very LOUD. We could hardly hear each other and spent most of the time screaming. Overall the food and cocktails were fantastic, not sure I'd return as service is just if not even more important.
(2)Jacqueline B.
Steak. Tacos. If you take away anything from this review, please let it be the delicious mouth watering steak tacos! Phew. Okay, just had to get throw that out there. Carrying on... I was here on a Saturday night around 8:30 for a reunion dinner with 16 of my sorority sisters. Mercadito was the perfect spot - lively, trendy (and noisy) which was great for such a large group of chatty women looking to enjoy some margaritas and catch up! For larger parties (7 or more people) they automatically give you the option for a sharing menu for your group. So for $75 a person we enjoyed 3 types of guacamole, 2 types of salsa, chips, 4 different types of tacos, rice, beans, plantains, and dessert - all of which were utterly delicious. The deal also included our drinks for 2 hours - anything on their menu $12.50 or less. This ended up being a great way to test out all the different awesome margarita concoctions they had! Fave tastings: Camaron tacos (shrimp), Carne tacos (steak), Torrejas De Bolillo (basically a Mexican french toast dessert) Liquid loves: Pepino El Payu cocktail (cucumber inspired margarita), V-9 cocktail (pineapple inspired margarita) Not a fan: Cost! Although the food was delicious, the menu is a bit steep for my liking. Granted it is River North and the food is good, dropping a hundo on a meal and drinks is just not reality for me. However, for a special occasion and with a large group - this seemed to work out for the best. $$ was really the only reason I couldn't get myself to give this spot a full 5 stars.
(4)John S.
Food was good - had ceviche that was delicious. Waited over an hour to be seated. Originally told 30 minutes. Hosts and Hostesses seemed to have no idea what was going on. there were 4 of them and they told us they would find us when our table was ready (trouble sign), didn't take a phone or use a buzzer. They finally seated us with me in the aisle which sucked and was obvious they didn't have a real table for us coming up anytime soon. Also - all it takes is saying "we are busier than expected, can we buy you a round?" and i would be so impressed and forgiving. But instead they got more and more defensive. Wouldn't return to this place unless there was no wait.
(2)Anne-Marie B.
2nd visit, equally as delightful as the first. I have a few regular requests when I'm in town and this one's been added to the list. Shoutout to the bartender for her extreme graciousness while one of my (mildly influenced) friends stood and creepily recorded her making our margaritas, complete with flashlight (She set the thing on fire with a blow torch. I mostly understood the enthusiasm). My party of 5 ended up splitting 4 different types of tacos. All were superb, but the lobster tacos changed my life. This is a must-do. I was a little disappointed that the pineapple guacamole dropped off the menu, but they had a sweet potato guacamole that was better than consolation. From start to finish, a wonderful experience.
(5)Shakti B.
One of the best meals I have ever had....period!!! The server (Jesus) was extremely friendly and took the time to explain what the menu was all about since it can get confusing (if you don't understand Spanish or the culture). Got an order of 2 different guacamole and delisssh!! Ordered the Costilla de Res taquizas (braised short ribs) and OMG!!!!! You definitely gotta eat here!!!
(4)Mark H.
What more can be said about this place that already hasn't been said. Trendy, pricey Mexican cuisine with great drinks. Finally tried this place a few months back, and the shrimp tacos were definitely memorable. The drinks were also fantastic. All is good....until you get the bill. If you ever want to know what buyers remorse feels like, try it out. All the other options were running through my mind at this price point. A great Filet Mignon on Rush St. or fresh Seafood on the Mag Mile. Bright spot was to go on a midweek lunch to avoid the large crowds and careless service multiplied. So when I think of Mercadito's, an old adage...you can put lipstick on a pig but it's....comes to mind. All in all, a touristy place but to experience fine Mexican cuisine, go to a place where they don't charge for salsa?!
(3)Chiquita C.
Was thrown a surprise party here over Memorial Day weekend and I couldn't have been happier with this venue . We're it not for delay in being seated and the mandatory set menu for a party of 12+ I would give this place 5 stars . They give you an almost unlimited amount of 4 taco options and 3 guacamole . All of the ingredients were fresh and the flavor combinations were stellar . Our server was extremely personable and attentive . The valet parking is only $13 and the location makes that a steal ! Best part hands down was the fact that they let my fam bring a cake . A perfect night !
(4)AJ H.
Came here for Chicago Resturant Week with two friends and we had a great time. The menu was set up for groups and you could upgrade the $33 dinner to $40 and get a cocktail added to your meal. I wanted to try the misty's sleeve (el tesoro platinum, ginger, hibiscus, orange, yucateco, hibiscus salt), but ended up with the regular margarita because the deal limited you to cocktails in a certain price range. We order traditional and toreado guac, the camaron ceviche and the camaron, pollo, estilo baja and hongos tacos with a side of arroz verde. Each one was equally delicious and completely different in taste, but extremely flavorful. No need for condiments at all. We finished it off with a round of various flan: traditional, coconut and caramel I definitely plan on returning to try the misty's sleeve. Although the prices are already solid, they have a great happy hour and after hours taco menu that I noticed on some fliers on the way out. The waiter and staff was good and you can tell they are a place that is used to serving with large group.
(5)MeFarrahDay D.
To go orders must be different because for 16 dollars I got a mess surrounded by 4 tortillas and an order of salsa in a container that a cherry tomato wouldn't fit into.
(2)Hahety J.
Gonna try to keep this simple. I enjoy Mercadito. I have tried every taco that doesn't feature pork, but I don't have a favorite. They're all good to me. I've also had three guacamoles - one w/ pineapple (not my thing), traditional, and the other one was garlicky AND a few salsas, roja, verde & tomatillo are my favs. YUM YUM YUM. I also enjoy the elotes & pico de gallo. I've been here for girls' nights & dates but it's not a romantic setting at all. More of a fun/social environment. I wouldn't recommend it for a first date unless you get reservations because otherwise you're likely to be seated very close to...whoever else decided to come to Mercadito. It's pretty tight where seating is concerned, which has never bothered me personally. I'm friendly & my friends are friendly. We almost always leave with a group selfie featuring people we met while dining. Now, the DRINKS. YES!!!! KEEP THEM COMING! I am a tequila FOOL. I love all things tequila and so does Mercadito. I have had: the traditional margarita with and without smoke - I prefer it without smoke. Big nose, the fire gives it a ...well...firey taste. three trees - AMAZEBALLS smokey pablo - SO GOOD. pera te - might become one of my new favs I've yet to have a bad experience here. It is pricey, but it's such a good time that we always return. If you haven't been, please go! 4 stars ONLY because I wouldn't mind having a little more space/leg room.
(4)Ahmad E.
If money ain't a thang for you, Mercadito's overpriced tacos are amazing! I have eaten here many times and would suggest their tilapia, shrimp and mahi tacos, they are worth the trip. Adding the trio "guac" to your request will leave you shocked believing avocado could go so well with so many fruits. Can't forget about the corn on the cob! If we knew Mexican corn on the cob tasted this good, Republicans and Democrats would have agreed on an immigration policy a long time ago.
(4)Zach G.
Some of my friends Rave about these tacos and they are just okay- good to me but they are too expensive. Guac and chips is something like $9. If I have a margarita, chips and guac and a couple tacos im paying $40 to not even be completely full. Would rather go to Chicago Cut or Sienna Tavern for that price tier. If I want tacos il drive, and wait for Big Star
(3)Heather G.
This place has a really cool vibe, and the drinks alone make it worth the trip - that being said, I will be back but probably will not have dinner here again. We had a reservation and got there early so we had a few drinks at the bar - their margaritas are on point, throughout the night, I must have had 7-8 pepino el pyu's ... $12/each but worth every penny, they are so refreshing and delicious! Our table was ready, and we were seated. I can say my water glass was not empty once the entire time we were there, however it felt like there was always an arm in my face filling my glass - I get wanting to be on top of it but it seemed a bit excessive. In honesty, I wasn't a fan of the food. The guacamole was my favorite part of the whole dinner, but the chips were not up to par with the guac. I ordered the chicken tacos, but didn't eat them - they had an odd texture to them and I wasn't a fan of the rice/beans. I didn't personally have the Mexican corn, but others at the table did say it was okay in comparison. Had the flan for dessert, and again, it was just meh. Before we were even finished with dessert, they started clearing dishes and our place mats and I felt incredibly rushed. We still had cocktails with half of a dessert to finish, and with the amount of money we spent, you would expect them to give us time to finish. I understand there were people waiting for the table, but I still don't think our experience should be forced to end that quickly. To recap - go to the bar, you HAVE to try their cocktails, but dine at your own discretion.
(2)Joanna T.
When my answer to dinner is tacos, it's never just tacos, it's tacos from Mercadito! More specifically, lobster tacos! These were great, and even when I think I can't eat another bite, I skip dessert just for the tacos. This is a fun lively place that offers inside and a nice patio area for seating. It's very festive and the service is friendly and accommodating. I had a chance to try the trio of guacamole, the afore mentioned delicious lobster tacos, Carne tacos and Cameron tacos, and all were flavorful but the lobster was the standout for me. They're plates are very shareable and the drinks they have are quite strong, and there are so many that sounded creative but I'll have to wait until next time to make my way down the list! Fun for a group, you get to taste an assortment of food, and just a lively spot to begin or end your night.
(4)Sharlita W.
I absolutely love this place! The food and drinks are amazing! My absolute favorites are the shrimp tacos and the "Little Market" drink.
(5)Kaley C.
I stopped by Mercadito on vacation and had a great experience. I typically would be more particular about the cost as it is more expensive than my day to day price range, but was a little more relaxed since I was out of town. I had no trouble getting a seat at dinner time, which was great. Service was excellent and the food was delivered quickly. I loved all of their different options for guacamole and we were very impressed with the poblano flavor. I got the pork belly tacos and loved them. The flavors were perfect and the corn tortillas were so good. I was a little disappointed that there was no option to mix and match the tacos, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The margaritas were outstanding. A little pricey, but strong. I would recommend and visit again!
(4)Jennifer G.
This was the FIRST time in my life that I left a mexican restaurant HUNGRY. First, my party of three was seated at a two top, which was crowded and uncomfortable - I asked to be moved to a booth and was told there were none available - the restaurant was mostly empty from the time we sat down to the time we left. they charge for the salsa - 6.50 for a trio of three, which was essentially a couple of tablespoons - you couldn't even really 'dip' your chip in them. we ordered 9 tacos (three a piece) to share across the table. pork, carnitas, chicken - they tasted ok, but were small and with no sides, not very filling. i left hungry - i also ordered their diabla margarita - it was supposed to be spicy, but i don't think i could taste any spice - i drank half, it wasn't very good. not really worth it.
(2)Lara P.
After eating some really phenomenal Mexican food at another establishment that was closed this was the closest that we can get. Good vibe and decor for a date night. Food is good for sharing plates. The shrimp taco was great but a tad bit spicy. The chicken taco was flavourful. However, the service was quite bad. The server was abrupt and while we finished our drinks he handed us our bill without asking if we wanted anything else. I can spend my good money elsewhere. If you want to have a good experience overall then this isn't the place for you.
(2)John G.
Hadn't been here in a while but still good. Lots of bachelorette parties and big groups going on, which is good for small plates. This is NOT a place to come to have a conversation. Noise is very loud. The guacamole choices are great with outstanding chips. We enjoyed the traditional and mango. Followed with 2 ceviches, mahi mahi and shrimp. Great flavors and get spoons to finish the juice. The tacos are the right size for tasting. We had a shaved beef special, pastor(pork), and pescado(fish). There are many to try. We had side of Brussels sprouts with chorizo and plantains with a jalapeño aioli. Good food and good service.
(4)Tiffany H.
I went on a Thursday night and the place was packed. The food was great and the drinks were excellent, however the seating was tight and the prices were expensive! I sat next to my friend and had to tell. I would like to note they have one female and one make restroom. This is totally against zoning regulations. Based on the population that you serve and in general you should offer restrooms in that amount. I don't know if I will return.....
(3)Rafia J.
Absolutely amazing tacos, best I've had so far in the city (I'm relatively new to Chicago). But the tacos are actually delicious, they just explode with flavors with every bite! Especially, their lobster tacos! Chicken and shrimps tacos were really good as well. Other than that, thought they jipped us when it came to guac (got a small scoop for regular price???) and their drinks and other appetizers are not that great. Went with a group of friends so ordered a bunch of stuff. Wasn't not much impressed with their desserts either. Tacos, however, are worth going again for and deserve a 5 star!! Seating wise, extremely loud place, good for pre partying having drinks and leaving, not suitable for a chit chat.
(4)Lisa H.
My boss couldn't stop raving about the tacos from Mercadito, so when restaurant week rolled around I made it a priority to give this place a try. The restaurant was super busy (even for a Monday night) when I arrived, but thank goodness I made reservations so my party of 5 was seated right away. The ambiance is something similar to a lounge: big cushioned booths, loud music, and dim lights. They also have pretty fun décor to match the atmosphere. Mercadito's pre-fixe menu for restaurant week had a good variety. It gives you two types of your choice of guacamole, one type of your choice of ceviche, one type of your choice of side, and four types of your choice of tacos for the table. It even offers one dessert per person. Guacamole: - Tocino: bacon, roasted and crispy sweet potato, tomatillo pico de gallo, and charred serrano. I was really intrigued with this guacamole because I never tasted one with sweet potatoes in it. I loved how spicy it was and how the bacon gave off a smoky flavor, but something about the sweet potato threw it off. This combo didn't win me over. - Mango: jicama, chipotle, and pico de gallo. Oh, what a better sweet and spicy mixture. The mango gave off the right amount of sweetness that it didn't overpower the whole dish. Ceviche: - Mixto: octopus, shrimp, mahi-mahi, pico de gallo in a passion fruit-serrano broth. A great variety of seafood with a good kick, but I wish it was a bit more tangy. Ceviche isn't ceviche without the tanginess in my book. Side: - Arroz Verde: green rice casserole topped with Chihuahua and Oaxaca cheese. All the ingredients worked perfectly with each other. It turned the casserole into a soft, gooey, and spicy goodness. Tacos: - Pastor: chile ancho rubbed pork, grilled pineapple, and chile de arbol salsa. - Carne: herb-marinated skirt steak, leek-potato fundido, habanero-avocado salsa, and crispy manchego. - Estilo Baja: beer battered mahi-mahi, Mexican-style coleslaw, and chipotle aioli. - Carnitas de Puerco: michoacan style braised pork, chili de arbol coleslaw, and toasted peanuts. All the tacos were amazing (except the skirt steak was a little overcooked so the texture was chewy.) Each bite seems like a different party in your mouth with their unique flavors and textures. Dessert: - Flan de Tres Leches: three milk custard. The flan was really tiny, but after taking a bite I was glad that it was. It was really rich and creamy, but wasn't overly sweet. Overall a great balance. I really enjoyed my experience here, but what is there not to love? Yea, there isn't ample parking available, but they offer valet for $12. Yea, there prices are at a premium compared to most other Mexican restaurants, but they take traditional Mexican dishes and make something truly amazing with them. So if you are looking for traditional Mexican food, this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for Mexican food with your not so traditional flavors and ingredients, then you have found the right place.
(4)Danielle S.
I'm always happy here, the food never disappoints and I love the ambiance. It is perfect for a date night. Drinks are outstanding, the spices they put on the glass are my favorite! V-9 and Smokey Pablo are my favorite drinks but, you can't go wrong on the cocktail menu. Pastor tacos are my go to!
(4)Amoli P.
My first experience at Mercadito was a couple of years ago during happy hour. My friend and I sat at the bar and ordered tacos off the happy hour menu and I found them downright terrible. The fish tacos and shrimp tacos tasted old and fishy and I was scarred for awhile before being willing to try it again despite my husband's insistence. I finally came back a couple weeks ago on a random Monday afternoon to try it out again. It was toward the end of the lunch hours and we snagged a patio table just barely getting our food order in before the kitchen closed for a few hours. First off, the bad. You have to order tacos in 3's and you can't mix and match. That's a star deduction right off the bat. In a town of fancy and fun taquerias like De Cero who all let you order by individual tacos, why in the world does Mercadito make you order 3 of the same kinds of tacos? In fact, I would rather pay more for each taco, if it meant I could order 3 tacos of different kinds. Actually, no I wouldn't because De Cero not only allows you to mix and match, but their price is much cheaper too. That said, the food was pretty delicious the second time around. I don't know what was going on during that initial happy hour, but everything was way more fresh this time around, more flavorful, and just all around excellent. We started with a couple of micheladas - mine with Tecate and my husband's with Matilda (who ruins Matilda by making it into a michelada? My husband.). They were delicious and very flavorful. If you've never had a michelada and you're not into full flavored things, don't get it. But if you're experimental, Mercadito makes a damn good one. Then we ordered the traditional guac with 2 salsas (roja and habanero) and all of them were excellent. Very small quantities for the price, but more than plenty for just 2 people. For our tacos, I went with the estillo baja and my husband ordered the carne. Both were excellent. The food is of great quality, and full of flavor. There's no denying it. I'm just not sure that Mercadito has anything special to make it warrant the additional price and lack of flexibility.
(3)Michael H.
My single favorite meal in Chicago is at Mercadito. We've been maybe 10 times in the two years we've lived in Chicago. This is not for everyone, but here's my favorite order: (1) dizzy oaxacan -- just enough burn from the cayenne (2) salsa trio -- the only time in history I haven't been upset about paying for chips and salsa is at Mercadito. Haven't had a bad salsa yet, but particularly like the haberno. (3) Pastor tacos -- maybe the best tacos I've had anywhere on the planet. Lived in Houston for 20 years so have some point of reference for top-tier mexican food. Ambiance is great -- active and lively without being overwhelming. I would generally pass on the desserts here, and my wife likes the restaurant much less than I do. So, not for everybody, but a 5-star place for me.
(5)Frank O.
I've been twice with mixed results. The first time the service was average, food was tasty but small, and the price was a bit too high. The second time today was restaurant week lunch, and everything about it was great. For 2 people you get 2 types of guac (we like traditional and blanco and don't care for mango), 2 types of tacos (2 tacos per serving, shrimp and pastor were both very flavorful), 2 lunch entrees (best huevos rancheros I have ever had and solid enchilladas), and then 2 small flan-deserts. Service was better than the first time but still a bit slow, but it was very busy since it is Restaurant week. If you have the chance I'd definitely recommend lunch here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Richard D.
Went into this great place twice during a four-day stay in Chicago. We didn't wind up ordering food except for guacamole (a mango version, it was delicious), but the drinks were hands down the best we had of all the cocktails we ordered on our trip. The Smokey Pablo was incredible - tequila, mango, chiles, and blueberry. I savored every sip, and am hard pressed to think of a drink I've ever ordered that I enjoyed more. My girlfriend loved her drinks as well, her favorite being the paloma diabla, which had even more heat (some habanero inside). Cocktails with spice probably aren't for everyone, but if the idea sounds even remotely appealing to you - try one. I empathize with the reviewers who wanted to try multiple types of tacos - doesn't sound like the restaurant allows this, which is unfortunate. But if the tacos are half as good as the drinks, I suppose that's their way of getting you to come back to try the rest.
(5)Jon G.
I had fish tacos, my wife had a vegetarian option, and the chef fixed up a special vegan/avocado option for my daughter. We had a great guacamole side also. Noisy but full of life. Don't let them seat 4 at an end table, it's kind of tight.
(4)Kale G.
This was my first time having tapas (yeah, I know...) and I was very impressed! The decor is beautiful, the food was great, and the server was very friendly. Also, the traditional margarita was one of the best I've ever had!
(4)Azin J.
The shrimp tacos were AMAZING. The carne asada tacos were good as well but I would probably get it next time without the potato topping. The carne asada meal was just the right size with a potato and Brussels sprout salad underneath that really added flavor to the meal. The steak was juicy and perfect If you like all the toppings on your tacos, you probably won't like this place. The quality is in their protein. I wasn't a big fan of their guacamole, I've definitely had and made better.
(4)Anshika A.
The place has high noise levels. The drinks are too good and the food is worth the wait.
(4)Ronald D.
We had dinner here early Saturday evening, 7/10/2015. There were four of us. My wife and I had never been there, our friends had. Are reservation was early as we had to be somewhere. We were sat as soon as we arrived. The place was already crowded and very loud. The server was good and answered any questions we had. We started with guacamole and chips. We got two kinds of guacamole. for the price, the portion was tiny. I know avocados are expensive but this was extreme. The entrée I had was outstanding! it was the seafood tequiza (sp?) The flavor, presentation and portion were all outstanding. Here is perhaps my biggest issue with Mercadito..........they charge for slasa. no really...they charge for salsa. the amount they provide is a joke......we ended up ordering three for the 4 of us.... btw...they charge for slasa. based on this I would probably give them 3.5 stars but my entrée was wonderful. good food...loud...guac very tiny and costly..they charge for salsa. increase the menu prices and give away the salsa....
(4)Shelley L.
This place is AMAZING! I came here with my boyfriend on a Thursday night and it was super crowded. We had to wait a good 30 minutes after our reserved time to get a table but as soon as we got one, the service was fast and our waiter was very attentive. The margaritas here are delicious and unique. I got something with blueberry (the sweetest one according to our waiter) and my boyfriend got one where one side of the glass was dipped in spices (sorry, I didn't pay too much attention to drinks because by that time, the only thing I could focus on was the guacamole... Speaking of which,) The guacamole here is absolutely FANTASTIC!! Where else can you find 6 different types of guacamole?! We got the trio - the traditional, mango, and the one with bacon in it - and all were orgasmically delicious. For our main courses we got the mahi mahi (Baja) and carne tacos. The tacos are pretty small but they're packed with flavor and were surprisingly filling. They don't skimp on toppings! Admittedly, the restaurant is a little bit costly but the high quality more than compensates for the steep prices. Overall a great experience. Would definitely come again with friends and family. Great for groups and dates. Very comfortable seating. Slightly noisy so don't come here if you're looking for a quiet night out. Also, the basement has a tequila bar...
(5)Leslie S.
Absolutely delicious! The place was comfortable, and the service was helpful, friendly, and prompt (our server was Cahn (sp?)). Loved it! Among 5 people, we were sufficiently full on a round of lobster tacos, Strength tacos (seasonal special - was lamb this time), pork tacos, beans and rice, fried plantains, and a trio of guacamole. The tacos were street taco size (so small) but incredibly delicious. My favorite was the lobster tacos. Everyone split everything, and it came out to around $30pp before drinks were added. We also had margaritas and reposado tequila shots! These are pricey but good.
(5)David G.
I thought this was a nice place to come for tacos. I did not experience bad service like some of the other reviews. From making reservations, to the service from the waiter, everyone was accommodating, friendly, and prompt service. We were a group of 4. We got the trio guacamole (2 traditional, and 1 spicy) both were excellent and flavorful. We also tried the Queso Fundido with short rib. You can find Fundido with chorizo anywhere, it was excellent with the short ribs. For the tacos we tried the Carne, chicken, and fish (Mahi Mahi). I personally did not try the fish, however the group seemed to enjoy them. I thought the chicken was the best. I could taste the bacon that was in the aioli. They had a kick to them but were delicious. The carne was tender and flavorful as well. For dessert. Tres Leches, Flan, and Mexican style bread pudding (forgot the name). My favorite was the tres Leches. It wasn't soggy like many can be. Some reviews said the flan was too sweet.. I didn't think so. I've had a lot of flan that was a lot sweeter. The Mexican bread pudding was so-so but the rest of the group thought it was the best dessert. Margaritas were good and strong. My only complaint, which many complain about, is the noise level. This restaurant is extremely loud and tables are super close.
(4)Thu D.
I came here for a girl's night dinner on a Friday night and the place was crowded. We all got some margaritas to start and I had the Pepino el Pyu and Misty's Sleeve. I thought the Pepino El Pyu was good and refreshing, but the cucumber taste was a little too strong for me. However, I did not care for the Misty's Sleeve because the sweetness and tarteness made me feel like I was drinking syrup. Blech. As an appetizer, we all shared a trio of guacamole (tradicional, mango, and pomegranate) and a pair of salsas (roja and tomatillo). I really enjoyed all of the guacamoles and really liked the slight sweetness that the mango and pomegranate added. The salsas were also good, but nothing overly special. We also shared several orders of tacos and they were all good, but the best one was their lobster tacos which were the BOMB! I randomly think about them from time to time and wonder why I haven't been back to eat several orders to myself... Overall, I would give Mercadito 4 stars for their food; however, their service was rather rude, which is why I'm only giving them 3 stars. I understand that they are very busy on Friday nights, but I feel like it's bad service to be rushed from your table when you just ordered another round of drinks. They did give us a round of free shots to pacify us, which is nice I suppose, but doesn't completely make up for the poor service after we spent a good amount on food and drinks. I wouldn't come back if it wasn't for those darn lobster tacos, but will probably meander my way back on a day that isn't as crowded.
(3)Jacqueline O.
The food is really delicious. I have have tried basically everything on the menu and there is not one thing that lacks flavor. Recently the fish tacos on bib lettuce were the juiciest tacos i've ever had. the tilapia was cooked just right. and the avocado was also perfect. one of my faves! all drinks are AMAZING. its a tequila bar. love the spicy drink. this is a good place to go to if your having small bites before going out dancing. they have loud dance music and the decor is pretty hip. Girls night, or first-fifth date type of place. Since it is SO busy the service isn't that quick. The staff IS very nice tho. and they try their best. but it IS very busy.
(4)Andy S.
Fun space in River North. Don't expect to be saving any money here though. The margaritas were delicious but I think the traditional margarita was $13. For two margaritas and guacamole I believe we spent $55-$60. Just seems like a lot. Having said that, the guacamole was delicious and there are various ones to try all of which I suspect are just as delicious. And as I said the margaritas were muy delicioso. There is also an interesting downstairs bar/lounge space that makes you feel like a boss if you get to hang out down there.
(3)Judy N.
This is one of my friend's favorite place for margaritas and I agree that it's pretty awesome. The tacos were incredibly flavorful and I love how you can substitute lettuce for the tortilla. The reason why I'm giving it 4 stars is because the service was slow and they seemed to be in a hurry to get you out.
(4)Akhil G.
Came here with the family and it was great food and phenomenal service. I recommend the mushroom or fish tacos. Come here :)
(5)Ali W.
Absolutely delectable!!! We had two regular margaritas which were to die for! Fresh and the perfect flavor!!! We also got some mango Guac - couldnt Decide between that and regular but ended up with the mango because it was different and fun and turned out to be just that! We also got queso fundida, which was so good!! We added chorizo, which came with 4 corn tortillas and was delicious :) the cheese was perfectly cooked and the chorizo was great. After that, we got 4 carne tacos and 4 lobster tacos. The carne tacos were good - not great. They had potatoes on the top, but it was too much and overtook the flavor a bit. I'd try a different one next time. The lobster tacos were outstanding!! Best lobster taco I've ever had! I'm gluten Free and this was a great place to eat gluten free, delicious. The server was outstanding and friendly. One of my favorite mexican restaurants in Chicago!!
(5)Allison R.
I came here with some girlfriends while in Chicago for the weekend. We had a reservation but had to wait maybe 10-15 minutes to be seated. We got a drink at the bar while waiting which was loud and crowded but fine. I started with a smokey pablo (marg w mango, chile, and blueberry). Yum!! After we were seated, our waiter immediately greeted us! He continued to be friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We started out with the guac trio (traditional, toreado, mango). The mango was my favorite, but all were good. We then shared two taco platters - estilo baja (mahi mahi, Mexican slaw, and chipolte aoili) and camaron (shrimp, garlic, and avocado) - and plantanas machos (fried plantains and ginger-jalapeno sauce). Both tacos were amazing as were the plantains. I had a second margarita - this time the Pera Te, which had black tea-infused tequila, more tequila, pear, lime, and agave nectar. Really good but not as good as the first one. It was one of our friend's birthdays so we shared a tiny caramel flan. The flavor and consistency was incredible! I usually don't like the texture of flan, but this one was so delicious! Definitely a really tasty and fun restaurant.
(4)Komal P.
Went with a friend on a Friday night while in Chicago. This place was POPPING! Very loud and crowded. My friend had made a reservation for 8pm but we had to wait about a half hour for our table. When finally seated, we were between two large (and loud) parties. A bit annoying, but nothing to fuss over. We both ordered the traditional margaritas - good but nothing special. My friend ordered the corn quesadillas and I ordered the squash tacos (not on menu, but waitress suggested it). Our entrees came out really quick! Like within 15-20 mins of ordering. Both were delicious!!! Very unique dishes. At first I was skeptical because the portions were so tiny, but I got full. The quesadillas were deep fried I believe and filled with different veggies. The squash tacos had a tangy taste from the sauce they put inside - so good!! Highly recommend!! I give this place 4 stars instead of 5 because the prices are a bit steep for the amount of food you get.
(4)Katie P.
came here sunday night after work looking for some drinks, apps and relaxation. we sat down and were ignored for 10 minutes. finally a server stopped by, took a drink order and said he would find "our server". Our server never appeared so the guy just took our table. Kinda awkward start. On the plus side, after that he was friendly and checked in regularly. The drinks were okay, too sweet for my taste. Every round took 10ish minutes to get served. We ordered guac, it was tasty but wow! the price for the portion you get is absurd. Next time I'll just head back to my hood and stop by el toro.
(2)Kristin C.
The staff is extremely rude. From making the reservation to paying our bill, they were extremely upset that some of our party only ordered appetizers. We informed them that we had a show to catch, and once they found out, the service got even worse. A few of us got one last drink, and expected to sit and enjoy them; however, when they brought our drinks, they brought the checks and sent the busboys to literally take our placemats from under our arms. When making a reservation, not one person was actually friendly and neglected to even say "bye" on the phone. The food and drinks were acceptable, but the service was just so disappointing and awful.
(1)Malleana R.
Too expensive for the food to be a bit subpar. Server was nice. Drinks were good. Love the location.
(3)Kate W.
Went back for dinner when we couldn't get a reservation for a larger group (6 people) on a Saturday night. Pros: - their margarita is AWESOME. real good. recommended. - the pork cheek taco we had was outstanding Cons: - it is loud as eff in there! 2 bachelorette parties in the place and your conversation is out the window. bummer. - they seated 6 of us at a booth placed precariously on a raised platform. we had plenty of room but my fiance and i (not in the booth) couldn't get close enough to the table because of the platform. WEIRD. don't go if you want to have a cozy conversation (unless you can make it so you only sit next to the people you like and the weirdos are far enough away that you don't need to talk to them--pro tip.)
(4)Laila C.
Still am not a fan of fancy Mexican restaurants, this place couldn't converted me. It's better than most...but still not worth the extra money. Good tacquerias are just always better, the food is more delicious and 1/4 of the price. I came with a group of 8 at 8ish on a Tuesday and didn't have a reservation. The place was packed and they were nice enough to push a few tables together to accommodate us. Only half the group was eating, the other half just drank so we didn't get to order too much. Got a guac trio and the salsa trio, both were super Meh. I hate fruits in my apps and entrees. The sweetness of the pineapple overwhelmed the entire rest of the guac. The salsas were fine...but I think Frontera's out of a jar taste basically just as good. I did enjoy my entree, I got the tampiqueña. The steak had a nice flavor and the brussels and pork belly didn't hurt the cause either. I'd get that again if I were roped into coming back here. For drinks, I got the V9 and three trees, both were good but I've never been a huge tequila fan so that's that. Bottom line, all the yuppies love it...but that's cuz they've never been to a real tacqueria. Oh well, first world foodie problems I guess.
(3)Holly W.
What can I say? I have loved this place for years. I will admit that back in 2009 I was in attendance as one of THOSE bachelorettes with a hot pink feather boa, a tiara, penis straws, and a group of drunk girlfriends taking up a large portion of the dining room. We loved the food then and we love the food now. The place is trendy, loud, and often overcrowded but that is kind of what I love about it when I am in the mood. The food is usually on point and I particularly enjoy the rotation of guacamole and the pork tacos. The other thing I love is that it is perfectly acceptable to be obnoxious and order a skinny margarita AND the bartenders actually know how to make them right!
(5)Heath S.
Merca-disaster! We had a reservation with another couple, they cancelled last minute so it was just 2 of us. The little tarts at the host stand were so unfriendly it was disgusting...plus I have a reso, seat me! No, waited almost 20 minutes before the two of us were seated. This place is so freakin' loud, I could barely have a conversation with my wife seated across from me (I'm 43 and have been in bars and restaurants since I was 14, I can handle noise, but this is ridiculous). We waited for a server to greet us, longer than it should have been, and since my wife was seated in the booth, and the waiter has to stand off to my side and slightly behind me to wait on us...I could hear him, if I uncomfortably turned to face him. we ordered drinks, took a while to get them. We weren't ready to order right away, because we didn't know what to get. I've been to Mercadito Counter many times for lunch, since it's blocks from my office, and really liked it. Small tacos, but I can get a few different ones and be satisfied for lunch (as long as I get some chips and guac. Anyway, I order tacos al pastor...$16.50 for 4 little ass tacos, that were 2 bites each, with about an ounce of meat on them, a little sauce and that is it...are you freakin' kidding me. My wife ordered (what I was originally going to get) Brochetas ($23.50), which were skewers of beef, chicken and shrimp (about 2oz each) w/ an accompanying sauce and a little side of pickled onion, radish and cilantro, and some tortillas so you can make tacos. So not worth it, service sucked...bussers continually trying to clear the table throughout the meal so they can kick you out as fast as they can. So not enjoyable, $70 wasted (with tip), let alone what I had to pay for valet and the fact we have to pay a babysitter so we could enjoy a night in the city...was not happy.
(1)Herb V.
Could go to 5 but just too noisy and cramped. And was not crazy about sitting in the front room at the small tables. If you are going to seat me at a short table and have me sit in short chairs, give me a little advanced notice. I may wait for the next adult size table. And I am not that tall.... So other than that, what could be better than shrimp tacos with a spicy mole? Swordfish tacos! Now I love a good fish taco. And also swordfish. Put 'em together - heaven on Kinzie. And starting with the queso fundido made for a delightful meal. Just would have liked to get my legs into a more comfortable position.
(4)Pash K.
The food was good and not really Awsum! We were really upset when the receptionist told us that we are giving you a table but we need this table back for our next guest at 830! We have been to 100s of restaurant and no one ever greet you this way. This she told us while she was getting us seated. It's an expensive restaurant and she needs to be either disciplined or fired for talking to guest this way. She also said its their policy when it's a busy evening. Whoa whoa REALLY? !!!
(1)jim s.
we were here late night and sat in the basement and even though there was kind of a dank sewerish smell the flight of six bowls of differently seasoned quacamole was very good and the drinks were cool and exciting and the service was good so i would say give this place a shot it has something going on and has energy and exciting dishes
(4)Saba A.
Restaurant Week 2013. Made a 7 person reservation and dined here for lunch with a prix fixe menu 22 per person without a cocktail, 28 with a cocktail. Mercadito is my favorite restaurant for tacos. With a wide variety, all of them are delicious. Surprisingly PACKED at 1:30 P.M. for a cold winter Saturday afternoon. So happy I made reservations ahead of time. Everything was delicious. We ordered the Mango and Granada guacamole. We also ordered the carne tacos and hongos with mushrooms. They can make 80% of the tacos vegetarian friendly. Tacos are on the brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. On the brunch menu we got the chilaquiles and you can add a fried egg as an option, we also got the sopa de tortilla. Never had soup at a mexican restaurant, but was happy to have done something different. Flan was perfect. Served in a small petri style dish and we tried coconut, raspberry, and caramel. For drinks we got Bloody Mary's, Mango Mimosita, and other speciality cocktails, all great. Service is always wonderful at Mercadito, even though they stay very busy, they are all friendly and seem like they enjoy working there. I have never felt that "rush" feeling while dining there or getting a drink. Will be going back many more times.
(5)Denise W.
I absolutely loved the steak tacos and the flaming drink I had. The elotes were also delicious. I took a star off however because, like in other reviews, I had to scream at club level to be heard across the table! Boy, is it loud! Fun atmosphere though. I also disliked the disparity in price between the lunch and dinner menu and I thought at least chips and salsa were complimentary, like another review suggested. I will be back however because the food speaks for itself. I will make sure it's During LUNCH though lbvs
(4)Gaby C.
**Based on Drinks and Ambience only** We came here for a quick drink before our dinner reservations at another restaurant, but I'm glad we stopped on in! The interior of the restaurant is far bigger than how it looks from the outside. The restaurant looks super cool and I imagine it is probably filled with people during at night. The drink menu was so cool and creative. The drinks looked beautiful as they were being served. Great presentation. The bartenders were also very friendly and knowledgable. After we ordered our drinks, we went to their downstairs area which is like a small lounge. There's another bar downstairs as well. Very cool place to hang out and enjoy a beverage. I'd definitely like to come back here and have a full meal sometime!
(4)Stacie P.
This was a delightful surprise. I came here on a whim with out of town guests, and was so pleased with the flavor profiles of the food. We had a poblano guacamole, a chipotle salsa, and four tacos (pollo, carne, de puerco and one other I can't remember). The unique margaritas were outstanding as well. The service was prompt and friendly, and the environment was trendy and fun.
(5)Ashley D.
I really wasn't expecting to be impressed... I mean a taco is a taco, right?! Wrong! The tacos at Mercadito were amazing and delicious! Celebrating with a bachelorette party, the waiter was was both friendly and patient. Very good customer service skills and made some great recommendations! We tried the steak, shrimp, fish, and chicken tacos and were really impressed with all of them! And, most importantly, the guacamole was fantastic!! Thanks, also, for the free dessert at the end for the Bride-to-be! I'll definitely recommend this place to others in the future!
(5)Monlay H.
I apologize in advance for my long review, but I want you to understand my experience here and why I only gave this establishment one star. So my friend, who has been here twice, and was raving about the tacos here, heard through a coworker that they were offering a cinco de mayo special where the menu would be 50%. Sounds too good to be true? Well guess what, it was. Reservations were originally made for May 5th, but was changed to May 4th, bc my friend called to confirm May 5th reservations and was told that the special was actually tonight and not the evening of May 5th. Once arriving, we were promptly seated and served water. My friend once asks about this 50% off special, and waiter is confused as to what this was. He explains there is no such thing. He rambles on and mentions that the deal was only for ppl in the industry. Then he offers to discuss with manager. After disappearing for like 10 minutes, he comes back, and says the same thing, that there is no such special, that it doesn't exist. This whole ordeal goes on for like 30 minutes when finally some "manager" comes and talks to us. He and the waiter disappears for like another 5 minutes, and the waiter comes back and says he'll offer only a 50% discount off guacamole and some other apps. Regardless, it was late, and we were hungry. So we went ahead and ordered the trio of guac, trio of ceviche, and two orders of lobster and fish tacos. No alcohol, bc we were not in any mood for it. Just wanted to satisfy our hunger and leave. The food definitely did not live up to the hype my friend had hyped it up to be. She raved about the lobster tacos, which in my opinion was mediocre at best. Lacked flavor, and my taco had only a small sliver of lobster meat (which was gone in one bite). Fish tacos was flavorful, but definitely inconsistent, bc my sister got a burnt fish in her taco. My friend was also definitely disappointed this time around. Ceviche: meh. They tried to be fancy with it by using passion fruit juice in place of lime (I assume bc there was absolutely no lime flavor like in traditional ceviche). Seafood definitely lacked flavor. All I could taste was passion fruit. Guac trio: just okay. I can make guac that tastes more flavorful than what we were served. Service itself was completely horrible! No apology for the miscommunication about this supposed 50% off special. Why would my friend make this up when she made the reservations and even called to double check. Regardless, if this special didn't exist, there should have been, at the very least, an apology for any miscommunication. I definitely feel that the attitude of the waiter changed for the worse bc we didn't order any alcohol. I also felt that we were discriminated against bc we weren't dressed up like we were out on a night in town (social status), like the majority of the other patrons were. They probably felt we weren't going to give a great tip, so they decided they weren't going to treat us like great customers. (Mind you, I always give at least an 15-18% tip, even for average service. But having this kind of service, coupled with mediocre, expensive, small portioned, trying to be fancy with Mexican food...what kind of tip do you think they deserve?) I will not be returning to this restaurant. There are many better restaurants out there that offer much more tasty Mexican food for a much more reasonable price. End of rant.
(1)Kishia B.
This review is for the bar only. The Husband and I wanted to pop in for cocktails around 9pm on a weeknight (hey! We're on vacation!) I think it was a Monday. The beauty of the inside is what got our attention. The decor is beautiful and the lighting is low and warm, gives off a nice glow. Girls, you know what I'm talkin about! :) The kind of glow that makes our skin look all pretty a flawless :) Anyhow, back to the bar...I ordered one of their signature cocktails that had cucumber flavored vodka in it. Came garnished with a slice of cucumber and cumin salt on the glass...Boy was it tasty! after I finished my cocktail I licked the cumin salt off the glass, it. was. that. good...My Hubby got their signature margarita. Their playlist is like a early 2000s soundtrack, which was cool and we were vibin. I liked this place! Wasn't crowded and the drinks were awesome. Will definitely go back.
(5)Francesca V.
Drink: I ordered the misty's sleeve. It was a little spicy but nice. I just wish the bartender didn't cover an entire side of the glass with hibiscus salt. Eat: The ceviche is tiny! The tacos are overrated, but order the Tocino guacamole...bacon, corn, hominy, yum! Service: could have been more attentive. And they won't seat you until your entire party has arrived. Overall: overpriced and underwhelming.
(3)Samantha E.
Taco Tuesday is my jam!!! Such an awesome deal and soooo many tacos to choose from. We came around 9pm and found the place still packed with people. Started off with some heavenly traditional guac and follwed it with shrimp, steak, and fish tacos. While I loved the spicy kick of the shrimp, the steak really won my stomach over. Such amazing seasonings, fried onions, and potatoes came together to form sheer perfection. Our drinks were tasty and strong. I also suggest asking if they have any specials. We tried the V9 and it was positively refreshing.
(5)Abbey A.
Great spot to go in a small group. The drinks are unique, reasonably priced, and delicious. Tacos are small and come in 4s so perfect for sharing. I'm not a huge fan of their sides and think they could add other vegetarian options. Overall always leave happy and full :)
(4)Neil R.
This is a pricey place but I would say its worth it as long as you go in with that mentality. I really like the downstairs area - its "lounge-like" but is a little small (be mindful of this if you come with a lot of people). There is plenty of room upstairs. They have a great tequila selection and very helpful in the decision making process. I had a few of their appetizers which were very good - again a bit pricey. Overall - I find this an excellent date place and good place to drop by for a few drinks, especially if you are into higher end tequilas.
(4)Sam E.
How do you mess up elotes? I went there for a friends birthday and we ordered almost every taco they had. The only taco that was worth coming back for was the lobster taco and it wasn't great by any means. They do have good bartenders, but the food is forgettable. Oh and after spending over $400 between 4 people, they were asking us to leave after an hour. What place puts a time limit on a reservation?
(1)Tiffany C.
Went here for lunch with several coworkers a couple weeks ago. Even though it was pretty busy, we were seated right away. The booths are pretty large and cozy. The server was friendly and attentive. We ordered drinks, and chips/guac for an appetizer. The chips/guac came pretty quickly, while the drinks took a little longer. (No big deal, we were busy catching up anyways). I can't exactly remember what my coworkers ordered, but I do remember they ordered tacos and quesadillas. I ordered the shrimp torta and it was awesome. Just super delicious. A little messy, but I'm a grown woman and can handle that. I am still day dreaming about that torta. Will 100% be back soon.
(4)Morgen K.
Never disappoints. Great tacos and drink selection. Three Trees is my new fav
(5)Neha M.
We went here late Saturday night. We were in luck as the kitchen was open. We ordered two different guacamoles : toreado and traditional which came with fresh chips. We ordered Queso Fundido and Hongos tacos. Although the portion sizes were really small for the prices, the food was delicious.
(4)Hilary K.
Great flights of tacos. Been here a few times. Drinks and food are really fun- great for a girls night.
(5)Patrick Z.
I was just here last night celebrating a birthday dinner with 13 friends. The night started off great with strong drinks and an excellent sharing menu. However, when it came time to pay for the bill, the waitress lost complete control of the evening. She told our group that she could easily swipe 13 credit cards individually, and include a 20% gratuity. We signed our checks and thought we were on our merry way for the night. However, the restaurant manager overrode this transaction behind the scenes, and the waitress came back to the table (20 minutes later!) and asked if she could re-swipe 5 cards to undo her error. This made zero sense since our cards had already been swiped and charged. The waitress and manager then proceeded to give us some line of BS (after another 15 minutes of waiting!) about how "it would all even out", and that we had "nothing to worry about." Not once did they offer an apology for the inconvenience or offer to pick up a round of drinks for the confusion they caused. I would NEVER return here with a group EVER again. The only reason I would go back is because the fish tacos are the tits.
(1)Christine S.
Came to Mercadito for lunch last week on a Tuesday at 1:15pm and the place was dead. I expected it to be packed. Hmmm. For starters, the Granada Guac, whoa, mind blown! Who knew that avocados and pomegranates pair together so well. Seriously, amazing stuff. For my entree, Carne Tacos. The meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked. There are 3 to an entree and they are smaller than normal tacos. For a side, we got rice and beans...meh...I'd skip this if I was here again. For sure not blown away. Quick and friendly service. It's a bit pricy for small tacos...Not sure I'd be back.
(3)Shrinath P.
This place was the greatest for Mexican small plate food! The food was so good that I went back two days in a row. The atmosphere is fantastic as well. It doesn't matter if you are in a big group or looking for a date night.
(5)Mary Pam P.
Rude hostess both when making our reservation ( " just know if you are late we will give your table away") and when we arrived ( didn't greet us or make eye contact just abruptly said " tell me when you are all here") Seated at a 4 top practically on top of the people next to us. Thank goodness they were lovely. So loud we could barely converse. Our waiter was fabulous. Food was hit or miss. Drinks good but ridiculously priced. I don't think I would go back.
(2)Shaun S.
Having been here several times before, can't believe I haven't reviewed it before. Let's just say my latest experience couldn't have been any more different. While the food was still the good quality we'd expected. The service however has shifted for the worse. As a table of four who weren't drinking much, perhaps our waiter was less interested as his tip wasn't going to be as grand, or, he just wasn't into us catching up in our conversation. Usually when you order here, things come in cycles... not this time, all at one time, which wasn't as easy to navigate as we were stuffed onto what seemed more like a two person table. Then suddenly without notification, our table was cleared by busing help (gee... lookin' to flip the table??) When we told him we weren't sure we were done with dinner... he simply offered desert... wow! Let's just say it was a sub-15% tip. Before posting this here, even took the time to write the restaurant... no reply. In the meantime, my wife had shared the experience with her co-workers who also had recently had poor service there. Real disappointing to see what was a good place go bad, but looking forward to what goes into this space next!
(2)Megan C.
Delicious. Mexican. Food. First, we went in on a Saturday night and only waited about 15 minutes for a table The place was PACKED. People all dressed up, drinking like there's no tomorrow, apparently there's a club downstairs. The place is LOUD. I'm talking. Couldn't even hear the waiter. Nor my husband who sat across from me. Which was the only downside and if you come as two people, you'll likely get squeezed where we were. It was so tight you literally had to pull the table in and out to get out of where you are sitting so as not to have yourself all over the people next to your table. It's a bumpin place if you're here to let loose with your girls or guys. But def not for a relaxing meal or first date or even family place-unless you don't mind sharing food and Loud LOUD environment. Though maybe it's more chill Sunday-Wed? This is the Only downside. Otherwise. The food is absolutely delicious! Service is impeccable For being so packed, the food came out quick Try the mango chipotle guac. Guacamole will never be the same. And I love the way the food is displayed for you. It's nice. Meals are meant to share. Which is fantastic for us. We always share with each other. It's a bumpin little tiny place. We had the shrimp and carne tacos. The Shrimp was so good but so spicy. And the carne. Man, that was the best carne I've ever had. And did I mention the guac? Please try the mango guac.
(4)Adam K.
Lighting is really cool in here. Awesome lounge kinda vibe, but overall it seems like it has all be done to death before. I will come back in and re-evaluate as I just ended up in this place for a few drinks while my friend followed this girl he was trying to woo from bar to bar to bar. We did end up at a few places worth mentioning though, this is one of them. Worth a stop in to check out the scene. Bartenders seemed nice enough.
(3)Charlie C.
LUNCH REVIEW: I went to Mercadito with some of the brass from my company, thus the experience was bound to be interesting. We ordered the trio of Guac, a trio of Ceviche, and enough tacos to feel a starving army. I would say- maybe one of each kind (for the 5 of us). Our service was incredibly prompt, my water glass was never more than half empty... the food was tasty- but. I felt that the tiny tacos would have been better served in 4's than 3's, or the prices could have been maybe a $1 less per order. Luckily we ordered the whole menu, but had I been incredibly hungry... I would have been very sad with one tiny order of these tasty treats. I wish I had tried the drinks- I envied the table next to mine as they looked good. I will go back, nice atmosphere.
(4)Mariam K.
Been wanting to come here because I heard good things about it... and sadly.. I wasn't too impressed. Came at 9:30 on Saturday.. so of course it was already really loud and I couldn't hear a word anyone was saying... and the seats are all so close to one another so I could clearly hear what the person next to me was saying.. not a fan of the seating. We ordered the original guac, the pomegranate guac and the mango guac... all were pretty good. As for the salsas.. we tried 3... don't remember which ones... but they were ok.. Would've been fine without them. For our meal, we ordered the flautas, carne tacos and pollo tacos... my favorite from the three was the carne tacos, didn't care too much for the other two. I don't like the fact that we can't mix and match different tacos... I prefer not to eat 4 of the exact same tacos! The best part of the restaurant was the dessert - the bread pudding. Amazing! I think next time i'm gonna come just for the chips, guac and dessert.
(3)Saahithi G.
Super crowded even on a weeknight. That itself tells me the food shall be amazing. The waiter was helping us out to choose the sharing menu instead as the food would be out soon and would be perfect for a party of 7. And we picked his suggestion and ordered for the Canastas sharing order. Within no time, food started pouring startng with 3 types of gauc, all great tasting. Then, came the ceviche, we picked shrimp and octopus. It was not bad for as never had one before. And then arrived the best dish of the evening, tacos, tacos and tacos. Chicken, steak, fish and veggie. All were great and the chicken was an all star. Desert was not a choice and we were served a caramelized flan, it was a huge sugar rush and I dint enjoy that. The quantity of the sharing option was surprisingly more than adequate. Almost forgot, the tequila cocktails are a must to try, really unique presentation with a variety of options. Perhaps, the place was very pricey. Not a regular one but for those special days.
(4)Joe D.
Food was great...service was even better. We had pork, beef, and fish tacos. As well as all the guacs (fantastic). The flan was not something to be desired. Best work dinner in a long time.
(4)E H.
Been here for Cinco de Mayonaise. Get the Casa Dragones. Word.
(5)Julia Marie H.
WAY overpriced! (They didn't even give you free chips and salsa like most restaurants do). But, I loved the beer battered halibut tacos! I had them on bib lettuce instead of corn tortillas. It was amazing! We went Friday night at 5:45pm. It was not toooo busy yet. Then about 45 minutes later we were sitting beside a bunch of people with 2 inches of space between the tables. The noise (and music volume) was ridiculous. There were groups of girls around my age of 26 coming in at tables with obnoxious fake personalities and loud mouths. I am not a River North type of person, I felt a bit out of place. But that didn't bother me too much because we got out before 7:00. We got a margarita which was $11.50 and that was too much for our wallets so only ordered one to share. You can only get 4 tacos for $16.50 and you can't miss and match! So freakin lame! We got dessert, too. Flan. Super yummy! Moral of the story: ridiculously overpriced for the amount of food you get on your plate, however quality of tacos was excellent. And no free chips and salsa appetizer like all the other places normal people eat. The quality doesn't make up for the terrible prices. I don't care how rich you are or what city you're in, TOO EXPENSIVE.
(2)Robin S.
Amazing different types of guacamole. The chips are homemade and so addicting. The margaritas are so so good. They have a very large line of tequilas. Kind of a small quaint atmosphere with great service. Even brought my vegetarian 12 year old and she loved it too! We ordered many small plates and shared.
(5)A L.
Went back to mercadito and sat in a open covered area by their patio and had a great view and didn't get wet from the rain. The food was amazing ! Their guacamole is the best. We just had their plain one and its delicious but you can do pairings of different types. We had their fajitas which are not your typical fajita chicken, shrimp and steak with onions, radish and cilantro delicious. We also ordered their chicken tacos and they were spicy with chopped onions with corn tortillas. Their tacos are small and perfect. Great service and atmosphere !
(5)Chelsea K.
best tacos in the city. lots of different varieties and the servers really help accommodate your needs. there were 5 of us the last time i went here, and even though there are 4 tacos with each variation, our server asked if we wanted to add 1 to each kind to make it an even 5 for each of us. that way we each got to try the different kinds. go here. you will not regret it.
(5)Janay G.
Went there early for Cinco De Mayo (3:30pm) the place was 2/3 emty yet the hostess told us "we need to be done by 5 when they switch over for dinner and have reservations"....I'm ok... The Strawberry Margarita at $13 was small and overly flavored--too sweet The Queso Fundito was fantastic (finally something good. Service- horrible! They had a staff meeting at the hostess podium in the middle of our service so we had no drinks for almost 20 min. They didn't even care! $100 with tip for 2 appetizers and 4 drinks with tip. Save your time and money and go elsewhere!!!!
(2)Jaime G.
Another great gourmet taco place in river north. Mercadito offers a good selection of tacos and tortas with fresh guac. Try the shrimp tacos or the fresh guac with habanero and pomegranate seeds. They also have ceviche but wasn't too impressed. Drinks are good at least the margaritas. Ambiance is also cool and sheik but not sure it makes up for the cost of the food. Really pricey for what you get. Liked the flavors but would go to Moe's down the street instead.
(3)Julie S.
HOLY SHIT - This place was amazing. I am a huge fan of Mexican food and Mexican style street tacos but this place takes it to a whole new level. They have about a dozen different tacos to pick from. Everyone in our group ordered a different kind of tacos ( a plate of five) and we all shared with the group of a perfect sampling. We found the crazier sounding the meat or filling, the better it was. Also, if you like hot salsa, they have a super tasty habanero salsa that'll leave you PRETTY thirsty. Also try one of their margaritas. They salt the rim with cayenne pepper for a little sweet, peppery kick. I am definitely going back again.
(5)GL A.
Killer tacos and the best margaritas ever!!! Is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. Food is always fantastic and the drinks as well. Prices are great! I've eaten in other so called "mexican and good" restaurants and believe me, you get what you pay for.
(5)Emily S.
I'm just not a fan of this place's food. It might just be because I'm picky about my Mexican/Tex Mex food after living in Texas my whole life, but it wasn't great (food or drink wise) and it was too expensive for what it was worth.
(3)Sean H.
Went in early nov 2013, around 6:30 on a sunday, party of 3, sat immediately. didn't seem to get too crowded throughout the meal. friendly service. ordered guacamole (don't get the normal one - we had that and a bacon variant, and i'm sure the other variants are better than the normal, esp. since you'll be paying a lot for this), and we get 12 tacos (You have to order tacos in sets of 4, one type per set). we had pork, steak and lobster. the pork was sort of bland and uninteresting and dry, but the steak and lobster were great. tacos will set you back about $14-16 a set. margaritas were nice ($11 I think). also ordered rice and beans, and fried plantains . they were both good, the plantains seemed more suited as a dessert (they were sweet and fried, which was nice). would come back again. if you plan to drink maybe just get drunk beforehand so you can order more tacos. minus the drinks this was about $30-35 a person. we were really full though, so you could probably get away with a little less depending on how much you ea.tt
(5)Ruma T.
Ok. I'm a little in love with this place. Disturbing because this love is mostly drink based. I've had some food, mostly appetizers like chips and salsa/guac and tacos and they're pretty good. But the soul of the rating is based on their drinks. See below for what I've tried so far... Big nose goes to Mexico - There's a fire! (When they first present it so its safe). What more do you need to know. Misty's sleeve - One of my friends faves and pretty damn tasty. Three trees - Light and delicious. Para te - Refreshing. I would be happy to have all those again. And again.
(4)Achilles21 O.
The restaurant is small, but very nice and cosy... we made reservation for the 14 of February for 14 people and Maria the event manager was very helpful and accommodating. She responded to every email in a timely fashion and answer all of our questions. The drinks and food at mercadito get 5stars, but the portions of the meals for a group this large were more like appetizers, the men in our group were still hungry... The Valentines day special was $55.00 per person, but the alcohol beverages were a little pricey considering the size as well... The staff very efficient and friendly, the restaurant very clean from top to bottom. Yes i would recommend this restaurant to those looking to eat Mexican infused food with a twist in flavor con mucho Sabor....
(4)Shereene M.
So I wasn't expecting much. My friends said the drinks are good but the food is overpriced and eh. I couldn't disagree more! We came in late during the week after a show (11:30 PM) and it was nice that they were still open. The tacos are phenomenal and I actually wasn't that impressed with the drinks. The elotes were pretty good but I would skip it next time. I wasn't super impressed with the dessert but I'd be back to try the real food.
(4)Esmeralda B.
Love this place, have been here several time, have tried many things on the menu and never been disappointed. Yummy! Cucumber drink is great!
(5)Chrysa L.
I came here with a friend for lunch one Friday afternoon. We had the traditional guacamole as an appetizer. Ohmygosh. It was absolutely divine! I scarfed down the majority of the chips and guac because I could not get over how delicious they were. As an entrée, I had the tortas de hongos (essentially, a mushroom Panini). In any event, it was quite tasty. Admittedly, I had to take most of it home on account of being stuffed full of chips and guac. The fries had a spice on them, reminiscent of a taco seasoning. They were also pretty good. I had the house made blueberry soda and I was so pleasantly surprised! I did not expect to like it so much! I think this summer I am going to try to re-create it at home. Our server, whose name unfortunately I cannot remember, was absolutely delightful. I'm deducting one star because I do not like restaurants where the bench-style seats make you feel as if you are sharing lunch with strangers. It's not that my introverted self does not like strangers, it is just I want to be able to hold a conversation without having to listen to someone else's.
(4)Haydar M.
had a late lunch there last week and while the food was ok (tacos had too much onions) and the margaritas were sickingly sweet. the service was semi-good. the place simply didn't look very clean.. and i saw a fruitfly or two. and that is troubling. also, the service felt rushed with the busboys. (busboys literally wait for you to take half a sip before they lunge at you to fill your glass with water. this is a nasty habit that the entire city is guilty of. someone needs to stop doing this. water should be filled when it goes below half) but what troubled me, is as i left there and started heading north, i passed by they alley to see staff from that kitchen dumping buckets of sewage into the alley. eew! disgusting. i think seeing the sewage and the condition of the alley made me feel sick enough as i had to throw up shortly after. too bad mercadito!
(1)Thomas B.
A surprise disappointment. We were really looking forward to this place but found it to be a loud, overpriced, scene with very little substance. The drinks were way too sweet and the food (guacamole, ceviche, fish tacos) just average. At least our server was nice and did a good job. Can't think of a reason to go back.
(2)Dylan K.
This place is weird. Don't get me wrong the food and service (I think the guys name was manny) were fantastic. But the music is so loud its hard to have a conversation and its a bit pricey for the portion size. Which price-wise is actually pretty normal in Chicago so it wasn't a big deal. I will be trying this place again..just maybe adjust the atmosphere a tad bit.
(4)Tina D.
My favorite place to go with the girls!!! Been here a few times. Service could be better, waiter the last I went was rude and slow with service. I also felt like we were being rushed otherwise, I would've gave it 5 stars.
(4)Jenny T.
File this under: Establishments That Can't Decide Whether It's a Restaurant or a Nightclub Took my man here for his birthday since he loves Mexican food, but we barely got a word in with each other because both the music and clientele were so loud. Our server had to yell at us since the tables were placed so close to each other and he couldn't squeeze in between to talk to us at a normal decibel level. HOWEVER! The food was delicious, which almost makes up for the noise (I rounded up from 3.5 stars). I had been here once before for tacos and they were really well balanced. This time, the entrees were great too. I had the tampiquena, and he had the brochetas. Both are definitely worth getting. Super swanky River North ambiance, and apparently there's a dance place down the stairs. Come here for the food and people watching, but definitely not if you're looking to make conversation.
(4)Jennifer P.
I was not here to eat. I was here for an album release party, held downstairs in the lounge called Naught. Lost, but not ruined, Naught is small and cozy. If you're looking to hide from the world, this place is excellent. The atmosphere is modern, masculine, and low-lit moody, with rich wooden floors and walls. I'd strongly encourage you to visit on an off night. With limited space, the sound system almost shifts the air without causing you audible pain. There is nowhere to dance. The music on this evening had disco elements and I found it discouraging that I was all buzzed up with nowhere to strut my stuff! The upside would be that this is a great venue for listening to indie-electro music while entertaining a date. Especially considering that he or she will more than likely have to end up sitting very close to you. To be here is to feel like you're stuck inside a visible representation of a secret. It's not mysterious to me. The drinks are pricey but well made. If you're a guy, you should know that the ladies you bring here will be impressed with the fruity mixed drinks they have to offer. What I like about this place is that there is no age discrimination; other than being old enough to drink. If you are female and enjoy older men, this could be the place that makes the both of you happy.
(3)Mary M.
Excellent food, wonderful flavors. Smaller portions but what else do you expect. Tacos are awesome, and so is the mango margarita (suggested by our super personable, attentive waitress named Aga) very modern so be aware you have to sit hip to hip to some extent with people and be close to others conversations but that's the thing these days. Great flavors, atmosphere and drinks! Would recommend!
(5)Reggie R.
Mercadito was good, but didn't live up to the hype, in my opinion. First, we made a reservation for four at 8PM. I realize that managing the constant flow of guests is a difficult process, during which things happen that throw off the plan at times. Totally get it. When I have to wait for close to 45 minutes to sit down is when I begin to be somewhat less understanding. And I don't even think we got the worst of it! The remarkably small "waiting area" appeared to get fuller and fuller as we ate our meal. Onto the food. My roommates and I ordered three guacamole to start. My favorite was definitely the Tocino (with bacon!). For the main course we ordered four different tacos to share. The waiter was kind enough to inform us that when sharing taco platters here, the kitchen ensures that there is one for each member at the table...nice to know! Because this place is known for it's tacos, we figured this was the way to go. All were good, the only one that really blew my socks off was the Camaron, made with shrimp, garlic, and avocado. We also enjoyed a variety of cocktails that were maybe better than the food in my eyes. I also was not the biggest fan of the restaurant set up. We lucked out and were seated at a table that was a little more segregated, but some tables appeared to be so close that you were nearly brushing elbows with your stranger neighbor, not fun. I would go back to Mercadito, just would hope for less waiting and more delicious cocktails!
(3)Romana Y.
The tacos here are great, especially the fish tacos! The vibe is perfect; the crowd is stunning; the drinks are incessantly pouring; the food is gorgeous. This is a fun, trendy spot to dine and lounge.
(4)Tiffany W.
I had an early dinner at Mercadito, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and the food was delish, as always. Drinks were flowing, service was attentive and my out-of-town guests were introduced to something new! I gave 4 stars for a few reasons. It got incredibly LOUD after about 45 minutes...so much, that we were yelling across the table. I thought it wouldn't happen with an early reservation, but oh well. Additionally, I thought it was a little strange that they removed our placemats while we were still enjoying cocktails. Maybe that's their standard to keep you moving so they can turn the tables? However, we continued drinking for another 45 minutes thereafter...what if we wanted more food? I wasn't as bothered by it as my guests were, but it was an odd interruption of service. Those nuances won't stop me from going back, but felt they were noteworthy for this review. Cheers to your next margarita! tw
(4)Carolyn O.
The food here is very good but the noise is ridiculous. Four of us could not hear each other talk and I had to get out of there as soon as we ate. Too many tables with people packed in. The noise made this an unpleasant evening.
(1)Erica P.
Don't waste your time! I'm new to the neighborhood and was exited to try this place (I love Mexican food!) but I was extremely disappointed. The service was extremely slow and waitress wasn't very friendly. They brought dinner to my boyfriend and sister but didn't bring my my meal until 10 mins later and didn't even apologize for the delay! They were out of Merlot (how do you run out if Merlot?!) and they charge for chips and salsa! I've never been to a Mexican restaurant that charges for chips and salsa! Do make it all worse they're overpriced! Don't waste your time... You're better off at Cantina Laredo or Blue Agave! We will not be back!
(2)Laur G.
Such a fun place! Went with a group of 7 and had the sharing menu. The tacos were great as well as the guacamole. It is loud and there is a lot of energy. I had the cucumber margarita and it was fantastic. I would definitely return with a group of friends.
(5)Alex D.
Mercadito was super crowded on a Tuesday night, so much so that we couldn't be seated straight away despite having made a reservation. However, the staff quickly cleared a space for us, so no biggie. The atmosphere here is pretty exciting: loud, bustling, fun. The tables get pushed really close together (I had to move our table aside to make space for my date to squeeze out), so obviously this isn't the place to have a quiet conversation over dinner. That said, the service was good for how busy it was. Everything we tried was fantastic. We had guac, margaritas, and pollo and carne tacos. I was skeptical that four little tacos would be worth $16, but they were so delicious, among the best I've ever had. There was so much else on the menu that also sounded great, so I will definitely be back here.
(4)R C.
Above average food and service but nothing made this place stand out from the crowd that well. My party (15+) purchased probably every tequila and mezcal speciality drink on the menu and all were at least decent, most were pretty good. We were disappointed with the fact that there were zero draft beers on tap, but that's not what we originally came there for anyway. The food itself seemed to be either a home run or just average. For example the Mahi Mahi taco was one of the best I have ever had but the Pescado taco was something you could find at any local bar in River North. Multiple tacos had an overpowering of one specific ingredient (i.e. peanuts on the carnitas taco); the taste was so overpowering that I forgot the type of meat on the taco. The service was definitely above average but again nothing spectacular or amazing. I was hoping that this would have been the one thing that pushed this place over to a 5-star rating, but in reality it was almost the one thing that kept it from the 5-stars. My party found that the front desk was a bit rude as they would not allow us to sit with over 75% of our party there. I understand policies but sometimes when you have a large party of over 15, you need to make an exception versus jamming 12 people into a small front doorway. In the end, I wish I could give this place 5-stars but not this time.
(4)Kylie J.
This is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at - our table of four ordered a lot of plates from across the menu, but what sticks out in my memory were the guacamoles. They ranged from sweet to slightly salty and a bit tangy, depending on which of the six you choose. If you enjoy guac, this is the place to try out a couple new concoctions - just remember to ask your waiter for extra chips, because they did skimp on that.
(5)Beth K.
Came here for a nice little neighbor dinner on Saturday night. We had an 8:15 reservation, but had to wait for about 20-30 min at the bar. No biggie, was just a little crowded....ok a lot crowded. Could not wait to be seated and get out of that mess. Once we got seated it was smooth sailing. Our waiter was awesome and we had new drinks on the table immediately. The ladies and I decided to go with the restaurant week menu, for $40 you get a TON of food plus a bevie. We started with 2 different guacamole's, one regular and one mango. Both were very good, the mango one was a little spicy which I enjoyed. Then we had the mixto ceviche, which was also great! For the tacos (4 orders per table) we got, the carne asada, a shrimp taco, a mahi-mahi and a carnitas. My favorites were the mahi-mahi and the carnitas. I was so full that I never even tasted the shrimp taco, but from what I heard it was good. For the side we got the cheesy rice and plaintains. Rice was good, I mean anything with cheese is good. Never tasted the plaintains....too many tacos. There was lots of different flan for dessert, which I passed on as well. Something about the texture of it is not appealing to me. Overall, the food was great, atmosphere was great (after the bar chaos) and I will def be back. If you haven't been and want to try, restaurant week is a great time to check it out!
(4)Hina Q.
My wife planned a birthday dinner with friends at this restaurant so I had no idea what to expect. We drove to this restaurant, gave my car to the valet and walked in. This place was packed! People were waiting for tables, waiting for drinks at the bar, and any place they could stand and wait. We had reservations so we checked in and stood by the bar for about 20 minutes until our table was ready. We were seated in front of the bar. I didn't like the seats because of all the people behind me at the bar standing and the table seemed a bit small for 4 people. I asked the server and 3 minutes later a manager came out. He apologized and asked me to wait a few minutes to see what he could do. He showed me another table that was in the back corner that was available but wasn't any better. The fact is that it showed me customer service. The manager comes out to speak with me and he apologized over and over and explained to me how their table system worked. That for 4 people all the tables were taken so he could not seat us anywhere else. We decided to stay to our table. We ordered food and it was delicious! It's not the whole plate system but rather the small portions so you could try different things and share...basically Tapas. The food was very delicious with the taste, the presentation, and the portions. We all got to try the food and share. The restaurant was so lively with music, all the people, and the atmosphere in general. The service was also great with friendly and helpful servers who really knew their stuff. A bit pricey but that we already knew. It was a great experience!! Definitely a place to take your loved one for a special night out on the town...or go out with your crew and enjoy a night out on the town.
(5)Greg H.
I came here for a Tuesday work dinner. We ordered a few appetizers and ALL tacos on the menu. Our menu favorites were the brussels sprouts w/ pork belly and the pork tacos - pastor (w/ pineapple!) and pancita (pork belly). I highly recommend the margaritas here - they were delicious and muy fuerte. Make sure to ask for the $5 taco tuesday deal; our waiter conveniently *forgot* to mention it... Since work picked up the tab, cost wasn't as big of a factor but I see how prices are high relative to what you receive. Come to Mercadito for tasty high end Mexican fare in an upscale environment.
(3)Nailah W.
Loud. Very loud. Did I mention it was VERY LOUD in here? Before I walked in, I could hear how loud it was. And it was a Thursday night. I wonder if it gets even louder on the weekend. I made reservations, and still had to wait about 10 minutes, just standing in the crowded entry way. There was only me and my hubby, and we were seated at a very tight table were I could literally read the menu of the ladies sitting right next to us. But as close as we were sitting, I had to literally shout to talk to my hubby, who was just 3 feet away from me across the table. When the waitress came to take our orders, I had no idea what she was saying. She had to get uncomfortably close for me to hear her. She was able to hear me just fine. I guess you get used to it after a while. I ordered the regular and pineapple guacamole. For the price, I expected the portion to be a little larger, but it was tasty, nonetheless. For entrees, I got the shrimp enchiladas (they were ok, needed more filling inside) and the hubby got the steak tacos. He said they were good. Not the best he's even had, but good. They were kind of small. Overall, Mercadito was just ok to me. I can see it being fun for a night out with a group of friends, but for a two person dining experience, I say no. It was too loud. Food, just average.
(3)Diona K.
Great tapas spot. The food was great as was the service. They even sent out a couple of new tacos they were trying out, to get feedback. The feedback was very positive. The ceveche was delicious, as were the tacos. We got the skirt steak to share near the end of the meal. The steak sat on top of a potato-like mixture. I can't recall what it was but I remember it had pork belly mixed into it. It was fantastic! Get the skirt steak. It's loud but we could still have conversations. That's saying a lot because I'm soft spoken and it's hard for me to yell to have a conversation in a loud restaurant.
(4)Nikki K.
Fun (but loud) atmosphere, but the food and drink is delicious so it makes up for having to yell across the table. Great place for a large party because they do a set menu that makes ordering easy and you get to try a lot of the tacos, salsas and guacamole. However, I went separate from a large group my second time there and had a delicious Chile Relleno!
(4)Priya S.
My friend and I came here for restaurant week lunch. It was my first time here but my friend had been here various times at night and she was surprised at how quiet Mercadito was at lunch time. I love the place - the decor is fun and colorful without looking tacky, it's well lit and it's small enough to be an intimate place but not too small to make it feel cramped. The restaurant week menu was wonderful as we got to pick 2 guacs, 2 ceviches, and 3 types of tacos. We absolutely loved the Mahi Mahi ceviche (spicy and tangy) and the Mango guac (it had a nice crunch) and the shrimp taco was absolutely amazing, the sauce as well as the quality of the shrimp. Dessert was good too, I had the goat's milk flan. The portion sizes of the meal were just perfect. My only negative point would be that we asked for hot sauce and got charged 2.50$ for that small bowl of hot sauce!
(4)Kristin M.
Went for an after work bite to eat and a drink. Overall, overpriced for what it is, in my opinion. The food is better at other Mexican restaurants in the area, especially given the price. Ordered two of the salsas--roja and tomatillo. Just as an FYI, there's like 2.5-3 ounces max of salsa, so if you have a large group may want to order several. The chips are good, though. Also ordered the carne tacos and the hongos lettuce wraps. The bib lettuce was not large enough/strong enough to hold all the filling, so it was pretty messy, though tasted fine. As far as drinks, ordered the traditional margarita and then the big nose goes to mexico, which came on fire when it arrived at the table, so that was cool. Also--and I'm guessing they do this to condense servers' seating zones/areas?--we were seated at a table right next to another couple (noticed the same thing w/ other parties that were seated after us), and you could barely get in and out without bumping the other table, and I always feel like people overhear conversations. Also, I could barely hear the person across from me--music wasn't overly loud so must've been something w/ the acoustics of the place. Finally, as we were sort of close to finishing our meal, but not quite totally done, one of the table busers came over and cleared all of our stuff, along with our place mats--and then he wiped the table. I'm guessing he was doing his job? But it made us feel like we needed to leave asap and was just not an enjoyable experience. Might come here again for a drink, but would rather go to Xoco, Frontera, or Topolobampo for a better dining experience.
(2)Natasha S.
Mercadito is a great tapas spot! We came here for Valentine's day so it was very crowded. There was a prix fixe menu but it was perfect. We were able to try a variety of the menu items in small portions (i.e. Guacamole, different types of tacos, desserts, etc.). Everything was very good and tasted great! Our server was very attentive as well. The only issue is that the tables are close together so the dining is not so private...this may have been due to maybe more seating for Valentine's day...not sure. I would recommend Mercadito and plan to return here in the future.
(4)Kelly P.
I really enjoyed the experience at Mercadito! I thought the location and ambiance was terrific and the food was enjoyable. I had a smoky margarita and I loved it, but I enjoy Mezcal and the smokiness of it. My husband had them make him a Michelada Cubana and it tasted just like he had in Mexico!! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)Mathew N.
We weren't super hungry so between three of us we shared the quesadilla and tacos. It was perfect because each dish came in threes. Each plate was absolutely delicious. The salsa, beans, and flavoring were top notch. Prices were fair. The food may not live up to authentic Mexican but it certainly lives up to the high caliber of Chicago food in sheer tastiness. Be warned that this place is extremely loud so much so that my voice felt like I'd just been to a baseball game. However, if you want to have great food with someone you don't care that much to talk to, this is the place for you.
(4)Lauren G.
Mercadito was good fun and good food, but it was also crazy-crowded, loud and obnoxious on a recent Friday night. I went with two girlfriends and we were late, so had to wait about 30 minutes past our reservation time, totally understandable, but the attitude from the hostess was not. I get it, we're late, we wait. The waiter was VERY smiley (pull back on the monkey bathroom business bro) and managed to completely miss an order for a round of drinks even though he nodded like he understood. I myself was confused when he came back five minutes later and asked if we wanted another round. I thought. thats. what. just. happened. The food did NOT come out all together (3 of us mind you) which made for some awkward waiting. The last plate delivered was completely wrong (chicken for the vegetarian) and so we waited some more... Traditional and mango guacamole and chips was good - 4 out of 5. Blackened Cobia Tacos - 5 out of 5. Music was fun, but tables are packed close together and there is a fair amount of shouting going on... I would come here again with pretty people I didn't really want to hear :)
(3)Vaidehi T.
Had a good time at Mercadito this fri eve for dinner. We had dinner reservations for 6:45 pm, but we did not get seated until 7:05. It is a very popular place and one of the happening places. We were presented the Chef's week menu along with the regular and we decided to opt for the chef's week one. It is quite a lot of food for two, but it is also steeply priced at $44 per person. The drinks there are delicious and strong. The food was good. Some of them were hits, some of them not so much. We had a choice of two gaucs, 1 ceviche, 4 kinds of tacos and a dessert. The guacs were not great, they were not bad but nothing too memorable. The shrimp ceviche was to die for - loved it. The tacos were good, the mushroom ones were phenomenal, but the rest were just ok. My main complaint is their seating - so they have an area off to the right with tables and chairs fit for kindergarteners. How could anyone think that it is a good idea to have such seating at a busy, high end restaurant is beyond me. The food might have been awesome, but if you are so uncomfortable where you are seated, what is the point?
(4)Dora C.
My best friend picked Mercadito to celebrate her bday couple months ago. I enjoyed our time there, the food was good and so were the drinks. The drinks were a quite pricey and only a couple were really good. Overall, we had an enjoyable experience but...the one thing that stood out that I didn't like was that we wouldn't be seated because ONE person from our party wasn't present. I can understand if it was more, but it was only 1. We were told she had 15 mins to get there or we would lose our reservation. Come on, it's downtown Chicago on a Friday night....
(3)Lindsay A.
Loved everything about this place! I had the Paloma Diabla cocktail which was a sweet & spicy tequila concoction- delicious! I was part of a party of 5 and we were seated in a comfy semi-circular booth where we could see all the action- it was busy for a Monday night. The food was spectacular!! Highlights were the guacamole, various salsas, mahi mahi tacos and chili relleno. Our server, Luis, was awesome too!
(5)Heath S.
see my review under the name Heath S. on yelp. Was not a fan, wasted my money.
(1)Margreth C.
Made reservations for a Friday night for a party of 8. When I came in, they could not find my name or number after they were the ones to call me and confirm. We ended up waiting 45 minutes longer than our original reservation which isn't too bad seeing how busy it was. The lady called us over to our table and half of the chairs were missing and we awkwardly had to stand by our table until they brought our chairs. Despite all that confusion, we did the shareables which was actually really delicious! We got 3 types of guac and 2 salsas! My favorite was the roja salsa!! The chips were so addicting, we continued eating chips from beginning to end! For our four tacos, we got chicken, pork, steak and carnitas! My favorite was the steak. We then got some flan for dessert, which I could've done without. Overall, the food was delicious. Definitely a great place for dinner with friends just make sure you get a reservation confirmation!
(4)Rachael D.
Unique, appropriately liquored, and delicious margaritas? Check. Good vibe & atmosphere? Check. Delicious food? Check. Plus, BACON GUACAMOLE! BACON! Come with friends or a date (but expect the next table to hear your conversation). I came here for the first time with my friend and we were able to take advantage of the restaurant week menu. We were in love. My friend said "I think this might be the best meal I've ever had." I wouldn't go that far but I was obsessed with the guac and fish taco. The reason I give Mercadito 4 stars instead of 5 is because when I came here with my husband, our carne tacos were a bit on the fatty side.
(4)Meghan T.
Can't say enough about my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. I've made a habit of coming here at least twice a month. Tuesdays are the best night to go b/c you can get 2 tacos for $5.50. They also just changed their menu for the season and have an awesome pork belly taco-pancita. The service is always friendly and quick...Ann, Daniel and Rodrigo are my top 3 favorites! When I'm seated in their section, I know I'm in good hands. It's pricey for the smaller portions, but this is Chicago and I'm not above paying a little more for well prepared tacos that pack a punch of flavor. We usually do 1 guacamole, 2 salsas, 2 orders of tacos and our bill does not exceed $55. Drinks are definitely worth splurging but I always stick to the traditional marg... You can't go wrong. When I have a sweet tooth, I opt in for the Mexican Coca-Cola, the bottled version with real sugar. And they have great goats milk flan or this other warm bread dessert that is so good. Be fair warned, they are really crowded on the weekends, so it's best to go later on a weeknight to fully enjoy your dining experience.
(5)Johanna F.
First of all - very friendly staff. From the hostess, the bartenders and the servers. Very trendy kinda place. Loved their cocktails. My favorite, especially for those hot-humid days after work, is the Pepino El Pyo. VERY REFRESHING! As for the tacos - they're good...BUT definitely a bit overpriced for what you get. The place gets really LOUD and very crowded. We sat at the second two-top table toward the back of the restaurant. The table next to us, also a two top, was the "corner" table which, for how big it is and how it is situated, should fit two people at most. Not this night - it sat three. And they looked very uncomfortable... We'd definitely go back but only for drinks before going out for dinner...
(3)J. C.
The margaritas here make me see double - they are strong but good. Food is always great.
(4)Alexandra D.
Good food. Really horrid customer service. I had to come here for a work dinner this past week (not my choice). This experience, coupled with a really bad one I had here awhile back have sealed this place's fate for me. Last night, we had a group of 4. We had a reservation but still had to wait 10 minutes for a table. Once we were seated, we sat without water or anyone to greet our table for several more minutes. When we finally got a server, she seemed to be put out that she had to wait on us. Service was slow and some our food came out lukewarm. During my last bad customer service experience here, I had also made a reservation (weeks in advance). When we arrived, of course there was no table for us and we were sent to the bar. It was a weekend night and this would have been tolerable for a few minutes, however this was not the case. I was also with someone who has multiple sclerosis and deals with ongoing health issues, including not being able to stand for long periods of time. I explained this to the hostess and they said they would "do their best" to seat us (again, we had a reservation). We went to the bar to wait, and 10 or so minutes go by. Still no table. It was very crowded at the bar and quite hot in the restaurant, which is not good for someone with balance and weakness issues. Fortunately I found a stool for my friend and went to check on the table again with the hostess, again reminding her about the disability issue. She promised only a few more minutes. At that point it was at least 20 minutes after our reservation. My friend started to not feel well, and was getting to the point where she felt she might pass out (due to the crowd, heat and having been on her feet so long). We had to leave the restaurant, and as I was trying to help my friend outside, no one would clear out of the way for us (not the restaurant's fault I understand, but it didn't help things). Before we could get out my friend fainted in the restaurant. Only then did we get the attention of the staff. Pretty much all they were able to do for us was bring a glass of water as I sat with my friend until she came to. They did offer to call an ambulance. The entire situation would have been avoided had we just been seated at the time we made the reservation! I was appalled at how they treated us and that they didn't have any regard for my friend's disability. If it had been up to me, I would have never come back, but my recent trip was a required work obligation. After seeing that nothing has changed to improve their customer service or the snotty attitudes I previously encountered, I will NEVER come back here again. I decided to give them one more chance after the horrible way the treated my friend and her health issues. And after experiencing it themselves and hearing my story, none of my recent dinner companions will return either. How is it so difficult to manage capacity so that they seat people within a few minutes of the reservation they made? I'd like to give one more than one star because the food is good, but I just can't knowing the way they treated someone with a disability.
(1)Erin H.
Whatever you do don't order food for delivery!! A third party company handles their deliveries and places any and all blame on them. Third party or not this company still represents the level of service Mercadito finds acceptable. My delivery was 45 minutes late, Mercadito directed me to call said third party and couldn't confirm any information for me. I'm very disappointed in the lack of customer service and their blame game attitude.
(1)Lucas W.
The bottom line is this, I have never been so unwanted at a restaurant. From the beginning, my girlfriend and I arrived and met some friends to have a few drinks and appetizers on a Friday after work. Mercadito seemed like a good place. Our friends were already seated. Shortly after we sat down we were informed that the tables were only for people who ordered food and the hostess threw menus at us insisting she was doing us a huge favor by letting us continue to sit there. The restaurant was essentially empty. We're ordering drinks sitting and talking in a near-empty restaurant and you throw menus at us insisting we order food? Well we did order food since we wanted to continue sitting there. Thankfully the food was very good. We had three types of guacamole. They also had a fried plantain appetizer which looked fantastic but we filled up on guac. The guacamole was great and each flavor was quite distinctive. It was overpriced, but good. Still, when our waitress (different individual from before) returned to check on us, she asked if we wanted more drinks, I said not yet and she then tried to force more drinks on us and turned away in a fuss when I said I didn't want more. She then went to the manager to complain about us IN PLAIN VIEW! Are you kidding me? you're complaining to your manager about customers doing exactly what every other customer in a restaurant is doing! And you do so in view of the customer?! The next time she came she gave us the bill and told us to pay. She didn't ask us for the bill or ask if we wanted more. She gave us bill and TOLD us to pay. The food was good, but the service was terrible. and this wasn't just one individual, it was the hostess, the manager, waitress, and the other wait staff that she was clearly gossipping with.
(2)Ashik P.
Being a Los Angelino, we take our Spanish quisine VERY seriously! We are surrounded by the best and most authentic! Mercadito was amazing. The guacamole... The ceviche...the tacos. Perfectly made and suited to one if the best, freshly made to order salsa! The atmosphere is vibrant and the energy from the staff makes you feel right at home. Be sure to have a cocktail at the bar!
(5)Melissa C.
Loved all the vegetarian options! The tacos were great, even the ones that they made veggie for us. Fresh and great flavor combos. The array of margaritas were impressive too!
(4)Steve E.
Had dinner at Mercadito a few days ago with a group of 10. I'm vegan, so I'd been looking at the menu for options and planned to go with the Hongos tacos and ask the waiter if there was cheese or other animal-based ingredients that could be left out. But, it turned out our host ordered for the entire party. When I told the waiter what I had planned to order to try to get something vegan, he said he'd just have the chef make me vegan options of the various types of tacos they were preparing for the rest of our group. It was great! They made me several different types of vegan tacos, and all were fantastic! Guac was excellent. Great margaritas. Excellent food and excellent service! Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that it's very loud. The place would be well served to work on sound dampening the dining room. It's difficult to hold a conversation over the noise.
(4)Jeff P.
Recently spent a few nights in Chicago and went here on a friend's recommendation for dinner with him, his gf, me, and my wife. Had some great cocktails to begin with, I had essentially a Mexican mai tai, that was unique and exceeded expectation, my wife had a cucumber cocktail that tasted like a fresh juiced cucumber, but with booze, both were excellent. We had a guacamole sampler, the traditional and spicy were great, the mango guac was only so-so. We also had their chipotle salsa which came out with an unexpected smooth texture but with great flavor. Finally we had three different taco plates, each comes with four to an order, perfect for a table of four. The unanimous favorite were the pork belly tacos, which were nothing short of fantastic, I really enjoyed the chicken tacos with brussel sprouts, but everyone else liked the carne asada best after the pork belly. Overall they were the best takes on modern versions of fancy tacos I've ever had. Our service was very friendly and prompt. The next time I'm in Chicago this will be one of my first stops for sure.
(5)Tom W.
We arrived early (5:30) on a Friday evening and there were plenty of open tables -- but it filled up quickly. This is a small plate/Mexican tapas place, with plates intended to share. We started with the traditional Margarita -- very good. We shared a pair of guacamole's and pair of salsas -- all delicious. The pancita and pastor tacos were very good Overall, the food and ambiance were great though definitely pricey.
(4)Gemma K.
Sometimes the best way to alleviate stress is to leave your significant other at home, place yourself in the hands of others (and the wallets of others), and truly enjoy a much needed GNO. Their selection for my rejuvenation was Mercadito. Si. Okay. Let's get going! I get a kick out of this spot; it has that "I have entered a Mayan ruin with a DJ" type experience going on. And even though I may not have felt like an Aztec princess, on the night we went out, Mercadito put on their A game for us. But it was definitely time: time for Tequila! And yes, there was a collective sigh of relief that I was imbibing. Three got the Auntie Ox green tea (with appropriate octane additives) but I grabbed Misty's Sleeve (literally). This was the aroma and taste of the tropics, with awesome Serrano heat, and a healthy dose of El Tesoro. Yes please! I think everyone who stops here does two things: one - comments on the inability to be heard and two - orders the guacamole sampler, which I think works really well for a group of nibblers. Their standard guacamole was good, but I enjoyed the pomegranate. The taco sampler also works; there are plenty of options. We had the lettuce tacos and it has to be said that Mercadito has a ton of veggie options and can easily make things even more vegetarian for you, without complaining. We split a couple of dishes: the tilapia and the crusted chicken, which had wonderful flavors. These came with black beans and the chicken was accompanied by plantain rice. Most of this part of the meal we brought home. It was tasty. Our server was fine; but seemed to be spread a little thin. I do agree with my Yelp friends on the cost. Even though I didn't foot the bill, I put the tip down and we chalked up quite a dollar amount. Still, if you put the location, the decor, the drinks, the starters, and the main course down and add it all up, it all balances out. We had a great evening, and hopefully our hearing will return.
(4)Elina S.
Latest update: I was contacted by Mercadito and they apologized for our experience which I do appreciate and were able to rectify the situation. No matter the service, the superb food will always keep us coming back! --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------ Okay, so everyone in this city knows how much I LOVE Mercadito and I always recommend it to all my friends, I've done a plethora of birthday parties here with friends as well as quite a few date nights, however this last weekend the birthday party I helped organize for my friend was a little disastrous. The party planner at Mercadito and Tavernita, Wendy is just fantastic, she handled the actual reservation for me which was perfect and helped with organizing the menu, so no complaints on her. But here is what happened at the actual night of the party on Saturday. We came in at 8:30pm with our party of 13 and our table wasn't ready, so in 10 minutes they wanted to seat us in an area where the table was super small and half the people would have to sit on these mini booth seats. With the amount of food we ordered, we could not possibly sit there. I asked the hostess if we could have another table and she said we would have to wait another 15 minutes for another table. Fine, no problem. Finally, we got sat at the main dining area which is really loud, but that's just part of the atmosphere here, also not a problem. What was a problem is that all our food was brought out super fast, faster than anytime. Taco after taco, two sides at once (since when does this happen). I asked both the guys bringing out the food AND our server to please slow it down as the birthday girl was getting quite upset. Well they didn't and we got the feeling that they wanted us out in an hour's time. For a large party who is paying a lot of money on a package with tax and tip plus drinks, we shouldn't be made to feel like we have to get out of here asap. So that was a disappointing experience. Now onto the food, I love it, always have, always will. The new Pancito, pork belly tacos are just the bomb .com! They are amazing, with orange and pickled and truly a sensation in your mouth. All the other tacos, the shrimp, carnitas, the fried plantains, the corn, all amazing, and let's not forget the best flan on the planet made with dolce de leche. SOO good. Knowing how good the food is, it is so sad that we had such a horrible experience with service. My friends and I have given this restaurant a lot of business and they really need to work on their service experience here. That is important for a restaurant's overall success.
(4)Ernie D.
Great place. The manager was super. Came to table to let me know the friars cooked shell fish and did not want me to get sick so he made a special appetizer. Cool! Food was great. Get the pork and pineapple taco. A little noisy but great energy.
(5)Gabrielle A.
One of my favorite little trendy Mexican joints in the city. AMAZING food. I was originally turned off because it was $$ pricey, but after I tried the food I was completely satisfied. It is a little loud, however, I'm young and enjoy that atmosphere. I've gone back several times since and it's always a great time. They have great drinks and the service is attentive.
(5)Brittany H.
If my review was based on the food alone, it would definitely be five stars. I'm a huge fan of modern mexican restaurants that have small plates & fresh ingredients, so mercadito seemed right up my alley. I've tried the lobster, mahi, and pork belly tacos, which were all amazing. We also tried two of the guacs- the traditional and the mango. Despite the raves about the mango guac, I wasn't too impressed. But the traditional was delish. There's tons of options of tequila drinks, and between the traditional marg & the cucumber marg that I tried, I definitely prefer the traditional. There's an option to order it with 'smoke', which is made with a tequila that is smoked to produce a smokey flavor. Our waiter informed us that it was mostly guys that liked it- which was true to our experience. It was definitely not my fav. The place has a trendy atmosphere with modern mexican decor, but is a bit smushed. They really pile the people in there for the size of the place, so much so that you almost have to yell to hear the people at your table. Also, I'm not crazy about places that make you wait for your entire party to arrive before being seated. I will most likely go back, but definitely not on their busy nights.
(4)Tejas B.
Definitely not a place for a date night. Wife and I made reservations and got seated in the middle with a table of 8 people less than 2 feet away. It was extremely loud and could not have a conversation. We ordered some guacamole and entrees and all the food came in at the same time. Food was pretty good but is priced on the higher side. I would not be going back.
(2)Grace P.
Really yummy food....5 stars! The 3 stars is for the ridiculous noise level?!?! I went there on Sat night....with 5 of my friends. We were screaming at each other. Can't they try and address this?? look into some noise cancelling methods??
(3)Zorin D.
Lowering my rating to two stars until they learn how to play their music at a respectable level. The food here is great the dinks are great, it's just only so much top 40 music I can stand being blasted into my ears. On a Sunday night no less. They have lots of choices on their menu and their drinks are very good. It's just that they need to learn to be a restaurant and not a nightclub. I'm fine with music, but I should still be able to talk to people at my table at normal volume.... ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE WITHOUT A DANCE FLOOR. But hey, if you want Brittney and Gaga blasting in your ear while eating good Mexican food, this may be the place for you.
(2)Megan F.
When I moved to chicago with my husband in July, I looked forward to finding a "go-to" restaurant in the city to take friends and family when they came to visit from my teeny tiny home town in Indiana. Alas, I have found it. Mercadito is AMAZING. Seriously. The food. Oh lord, the food. Blackened swordfish tacos.. Take me now. Beer battered mahi-mahi? I'm yours. My mother enjoyed her tacos so much that she ordered a second plate of tacos just to take back to her hotel room. Admittedly, she was a little drunk. Which brings me to the drinks! A traditional margarita was around $13, which is a very good price for a drink in the heart of the city. And I'm telling you, I only need to drink one. They're strong! But pleasantly so. My husbands favorite drink is the Little Market. Yum! My dad got something that they lit on fire which was pretty cool. This place gets 5 stars, for the food, drinks, and atmosphere. Now I'm hungry, great.
(5)Kristen W.
You need to know what to expect when you come here: upscale modern mexican tapas (small plates). If thats what you expect, you will LOVE Mercadito All of their gauc is fresh and tasty. And holy moly all of the tacos we tried have been AMAZING. Pork belly and shrimp tacos are stand outs and so are the steak and calamari (I know, calamari on a taco seems weird... but trust me on this one). The margaritas pack a punch! Come here on Tuesdays between 5-7 for $5.50 for two tacos, a great way to try a bunch at once for a lower price. I love Mercadito, I would recommend coming here on a Tuesday or on the weekends to celebrate with friends!
(4)Liz K.
Came again for Dinner after being here before for Brunch...Dinner is much much much better. Appetizers: Guac (very limey....I loved it!) Quesadillas & Flautas (very good!) The best part is that most of the tacos can be made into a vegetarian style taco...so I was able to try all the sauces and goodies of each different taco. We ordered al pastor, steak, chicken, fish and zucchini tacos. Each were amazingly delicious in their own way. Of course they are no where near authentic tacos...but they were MUCH MUCH better. We couldn't really pick our favorite because they were all so good!! We also ordered coffee (best plain coffee ever!) and dessert. We all left extremely full & happy. Perfect experience!
(5)Leah W.
What can I say, this is my very favorite upscale Mexican place. The food is fantastic. I've tried just about everything on the menu and have no complaints. The tacos are great, the varieties of guacamole are diverse and delicious, and the margaritas are delightful. The crowd is always trendy and attractive. The prices are pretty good too - very affordable for this quality of food. If you're not into tequila it can be a bit difficult to order a cocktail, but they do serve rum and I think vodka. It can get a little crowded but they serve pretty late. I like to go a little toward the end of service so I can have a little more elbow room. Highly recommended!
(5)Kristin G.
Had an 8:30 pm reservation. Arrived at 8:25. Was told it would be a few minutes and to get a drink. After checking in twice, 35 minutes and two drinks later we were still not seated. No apologies. No acknowledgement. Will not be returning.
(1)Barbara B.
Mercadito is an excellent lunch place and probably is great for dinner, too. The guacamole options are great but don't get full on this before the main course arrives. The taco selection is impressive and the tortas also are very good. This is an ideal restaurant for groups or a birthday dinner because it is fun and the decor adds to the experience.
(4)Sandra C.
Love love this place. The service is outstanding reservations are punctual so don't be late. Food is fast delicious and drinks are swanky. The atmosphere very urban and artsy. Oh the $ is very affordable. Great bang for your buck.
(5)Deepak P.
Great ceviche and guacamole. We had the trio of both ceviche and guacamole. I think it is a great place for drinks but too loud for dinner.
(3)Mary P.
The steak tacos were ridiculously good and so were the drinks. It's a little pricey, but I am also a broke college student.
(4)Beth P.
What can I say? I LOVE tacos - so Marcadito is my kind of place. I came here with two of my friends one night after work and split a few rounds of delicious tacos. We tried the carnitas de puerco, the pollo, and the carne tacos - each one had great flavor and interesting ingredients. Before the tacos, we had some tasty guacamole and some amazing margaritas! They have a solid list of margaritas I had the Misty's Sleeve which had hibiscus, ginger, and chile serrano - so good! My friends had pepino el pyu and the margarita tradicional. They were both very pleased with their choices as well.
(4)Andrew N.
Ya know, I've been here a few times, and probably would have given it 4 stars if they didn't exceed my expectations each time. The tacos were outstanding, and my friend had a steak (or braissed beef, dont remember) that was also amazing. I highly recommend the chips and salsa. You can pick 1, 2 or 3 different kinds of salsa from a list of about 8. Everything was very reasonably priced, although the margaritas add up fast!
(5)Tonya L.
Excellent food and great margaritas! Unique flavors and choices. A little pricey but worth it for special occasions or a nice night out with friends or a date.
(5)Stephanie A.
This place is Great!! Their tacos are SO good! The shrimp tacos were my favorite until I tried the lobster tacos. HOLY COW! They knocked my freakin socks off. I could go back everyday for those. Also, I'm not sure what the margarita was called, but it had like a spicy pepper around the rim. It was awesome. I am a margarita snob too. I don't like mine very sweet, I don't want a lot of mixer in it. This was perfect. The decor and ambiance is very Miami. I loved it! It can get a little pricey, but its so worth it.
(5)Lisa B.
If you like a spicy margarita (like I do) than this is your spot. There is too much pork on the menu here. I ate in their downstairs VIP lounge and it was a bit too loud to hold a decent conversation. Great, sexy music by the DJ, however.
(4)Benjamin D.
4.5 I don't even know where to start. The atmosphere, the food, the service is all great and worth the extra that you're going to pay versus the various other trendy taco restaurants around the city. First thing that ones to mind is that they have five or six choices of different kinds of guac and about eight choices of salsa. I forget the exact name but the guac with the smoked bacon and toasted Serrano chills was insane. How did I nor anyone else seem to think of bacon-gauc before?! Next the taco varieties are amazing and come in sets of four. This is what loses the half point though because if you don't come with a group, you're most likely not going to get to try more than two types. However, because I'm a fatty and wanted to try everything I can safetly ay the the Camrones (shrimp) and Carne (steak bits) tacos were exceptional. So next time you want upscale Mexican/texmex with a downtown environment, make Mercadito your destination. It's perfect for dates and groups equally!
(4)Andy D.
Wonderful Tacos, always a good vibe. Wish you could split up the types of tacos you get in your four pack. A little expensive ($15 for tacos???) but a great treat every so often
(4)Kimi Y.
I love here! I think here's Mexico foods it the best in Chicago! The mango soda tasty very fresh and funny!
(4)EDILSA E.
Saturday nights here are crazy busy. The young lady at the front desk took our names and asked us to wait at the bar. I ordered a pepino el pyu. It's rimmed with a salty spicy powder that tastes similar to tajin. About 15 minutes later a hostess approached us and walked us to our table. Let me just say this place isn't small but it isn't large either. The tables toward the back are extremely close together to each other. So close you might as well be having a double date with the table next to you. Our server, Kike, came to us for our order. He welcomed us and explained the tacos come in 4. My husband ordered a michelada, tampiquena, guacamole tradicional, and elotes estilo Mexicano. I ordered the Baja tacos and the mariscos mixtos. The michelada was delicious. He paired it with Dos equis beer. After finishing my pepino el pyu I ordered myself a michelada also. Everything was delicious. The service was excellent, the music was great, the food was delicious. Our tab was $100.46. It wasn't bad for 3 micheladas, tampiquena, guacamole tradicional, mariscos mixtos, the elotes Estilo Mexico, and the tacos. The only draw back is the tables being so close together. I gave it 4 stars bc of the table proximity. Other than that it would definitely be a 5! We will be returning with friends soon. Remember to make a reservations. They do hold your table for 15 minutes if you're running late.
(4)Adam M.
This place was sooooo good. Yes the tacos were a bit small but they are Large on Flavor! The tacos de huevo are really good. They are tacos with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, black bean hash, chile de árbol salsa, avocado, queso fresco. I also really liked the chilaquiles which is corn tortilla chips, chihuahua & oaxaca cheeses, crema fresca, choice of creamy tomatillo sauce or chile-guajillo sauce. My Favorite were the Tacos Carne; Sooooo Goooood! Tacos with rosemary-marinated skirt steak, potato-poblano rajas, avocado-tomatillo crema, crispy manchego. Highly recommend this place and looking forward to going back.
(5)Bianca C.
Very noisy late at night and the ultra-modern feel of the place made sitting with my boyfriend a little odd, he was in a super small chair, it was actually really amusing. The margaritas were terrific and the food was great too. The only reason I didn't give this place a full 5 star rating was because of how noisy the place was and that when you are waiting for your seat, they have you and the other people herded together by the bar like a bunch of cattle.
(4)Taina M.
Pancita tacos and the margaritas. Both phenomenal.
(4)Jess F.
This place was SO disgustingly crowded and loud. We were put at a table where we were shoulder to shoulder with other people and couldn't hear each other talking. We were literally so close to the other tables that they had to physically move our table outward for us to get in. It was that crowded everywhere too, it wasn't just us. We left within moments. No food is worth that.
(1)Christine S.
I want to say amaze-balls but not sure you would understand!! :) Such amazing food and a great atmosphere! Highly recommend! By the way, if you go early you should sit downstairs- I don't think many people know about it...
(5)Mary I.
Best drinks in town. Amazing food...have to try their different guacs!
(5)Hanh S.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday day and was pretty crowded. They do take reservations and I highly recommend you do so. My experience was okay, not fantastic. While we waited for our table we ordered from the bar- the bar really could get its own review and undoubtedly have 5 stars. The bartenders were knowledgable, quick, attentive and their drinks were amazing and strong. My favorite was the little market. When we were seated, I really noticed how cramped and poor the seating layout is; I felt super packed in and was constantly having to scoot my chair in to let others squeeze through. I did like the atmosphere, it was loungy and trendy. It gets LOUD, and the music doesn't help. It was difficult to really carry conversations without trouble. it took us a while to finally get the waitress's attention- granted it was very busy, but I would still rate her as average. In regards to the food- the guacamole and cerviche were DELICIOUS and they have so many different varieties of them to choose from. It was really the selling point of the place. The cerviche really isn't enough to share on its own, but the guacamole is.The tacos are pretty much bite size, and for 4 for 15 dollars, I didn't think it was worth it. Essentially, the entire menu is mostly made of appetizer portion sizes; though the food was all delicious, I've been to other places where the quality of food is just as good , prices are cheaper, and the portions are much bigger. For example, the elote corn is 6.00, but is actually only 1/3-1/2 the size of corn on the cob. The dessert was actually largely portioned than any of the other food we ordered- I got torrejas de bolillo and it was delicious, could have even asked for another scoop of ice cream with it. Overall, I would hesitate going back and if so, maybe for some drinks and chips to share late afternoon, but definitely not for dinner.
(3)Valerie M.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I really liked the tacos. It's kind of expensive for tacos but to be expected for the area. I had chicken tacos and my sister had steak tacos. We also had guacolmole and that was really good. I had a margarita. It was very strong to me but I just drink wine so it may not be strong for your average drinker. We went on a friday night so it was very busy. I am going to come back for taco tuesday.
(4)Kristen D.
Margaritas: strong, tasty, served in cool glasses. Guac: fresh, delicious, flavorful. I h ave an avocado allergy (I know, it sucks a lot) and I wolfed this down without a second thought. Mango salsa: a perfect blend of sweet and spice, and tasted phenominal with the guac and shrimp ceviche. Shrimp ceviche: YES. We came with a large group of girls for a bachelorette party and had a prix fixe menu for all of us. Pork, chicken, fish tacos, guac, salsa, chips, etc etc etc. The margaritas hit me hard and fast, so everything tasted like it was to die for. I'm not usually a huge taco consumer, but these were out of this world. Atmosphere is cool, but the seat I sat on might have been made for a child. Our table did not accommodate us all very comfortably, and I was annoyed that we had to wait as long as we did for our reserved table for about 15. (Note: this is also me being a diva. We were there on a Saturday night, so I guess it wasn't that bad. But still.) Not a place I'd come to all the time, but certainly a great place to have a fun get-together with a group of friends before a fun night out!
(4)Rebecca S.
The tacos here deserve five stars!!! I had the carne tacos which were mouth watering, the chicken tacos, the bacon and hominy, and the pork belly tacos. Oh, did I mention the fish tacos??? Amazing! I enjoyed my meal so much that I thought about the food the next morning when I was getting dressed for work. Delicious!!! The restaurant itself is too loud! It was very difficult to hear..... We ended the night with a cocktail downstairs where it was freezing....great service though!!
(4)Kristen R.
The food and drinks were pretty good, and the service was great.
(5)Pamela G.
Margaritas, steak tacos, guac. That is all. Trust me.
(5)Wayne H.
Is this place made for little people? I went here for lunch today and we were seated near the front of the restaurant by the window, which I like. However, the chairs were about 1 foot off the ground. I felt like I was sitting at a kiddie table. My legs/knees were as high or higher than the table and made it impossible to get situated. Next the salsa came out and it was in this tiny bowl that probably had two tablespoons of salsa in it with this super tiny serving spoon. I was like WTF? Then after we finished the salsa our tacos came out. Another WTF moment. You call these tacos? These things looked like what a regular taco would shit out if a taco could shit. I ordered the carne tacos and my girlfriend ordered the mahi tacos. Both tasted really good, but I left the place hungrier than I came in. I understand they might be smaller, because they are meant to be shared, like tapas style. And it's not that I don't enjoy tapas, because I do, but I guess I just don't agree that Mexican food should be served tapas style or this place is really made for little people.
(2)chris t.
One of my fav Mexican places. Fresh lime juice margaritas and amazing mango guacamole! It's a vibrant crowd so be ready for energy. Amazing fish tacos and I love the plantains at breakfast! I have probably eaten here 10 times and every time and everyone I bring enjoys this place immensely!
(4)Danny W.
You can get a 4 pack of prostitutes, tacos, and plenty of beer in Tijuana for less than a meal cost here. I know...I was propositioned with the same bundle several times on a day trip last weekend. For Mexican, Mercadito is just way too overpriced. The food is fine and all, but $15 for 4 street tacos (which they don't let you mix and match) is just highway robbery. If you do decide to dine the ceviche mixto and pescado tacos are both tasty, but again not near worth the scratch IMO. You're paying the River North premium, which goes towards trendy décor, pretty food presentation, and shitty techno beats. Not necessarily what I look for in a Mex-perience. I'm not saying it's not good for what it is...it's just not really my style. They do serve till 1am so if you're hungry after hours it's an ok option. Just be prepared when the bill comes to ask yourself "What, no hooker?"
(3)Glenda C.
Yes I did! I was that person who brought their 4 month old baby to Mercadito on a Saturday night! And it was well worth it! 6pm reservations during restaurant week...and the service and food were excellent! Loved the unique guacamole, ceviche combos, and tacos! I thought I would feel out of place with a baby, but it really was not bad at all. I saw other kids there too when we walked in. They even have high chairs! Music is just loud enough to drown them out. My baby didn't seem to mind the noise. I loved it!
(5)Grasan K.
I frequent this place as much as possible! The drinks here are creative, crafted, delicious, and sometimes on fire (literally). Great spot for a group as their dishes are perfect for sharing. Their assortment of guacamole, fish tacos, queso fundido with chorizo are some of my absolute favorites. Service is always great, and did i mention industry folk get 50%!! Can't beat that with a stick! Love this place!
(5)Joanne M.
I come from land of taco trucks so its hard to wow me with a taco. This place deserves props for the langosta and the pescado tacos. But, the things that take this place to WOW level are the spicy, amazing drinks like the Smokey Pablo and the Para Te, the hot secret bar downstairs, and the guac trios. The hot churros were not bad but needed a rev up. In LA, place like this would be booked for the night but I was able to get a rezzie an hour before I wanted to come in. I did have to wait for a bit but was totally entertained at the bar the whole time.
(4)Leanne A.
This is certainly the place to come out for a celebration or bday with friends. It's got that Hub 51 seen-be-seen, bachelorette party cocktail vibe going on. It's actually way cooler than Hub 51...but anyway. The prices are outrageous. You're paying for atmosphere and cool factor. Yes, the food is good, and I loved the guacamole and the tacos I tried. But the guacamole was barely enough for two people, and the prices are silly. The bill just doesn't quite fit the food. But I recommend Mercadito to the after-work-celebration crowd, a predinner drink, or a special celebration.
(3)Kris Z.
Guacamole and flautas were great. Steak tacos with potatoes were not. Fun vibe but the unusually loud music got old when trying to have dinner conversation.
(3)Dougie M.
Amazing food only problem being it's served with a distasteful side of pretentious up-snouted service. Enjoy the tacos and the delicious cocktails but brace yourself for bring considered unimportant. Both the seating hostesses and our server were very rude and clearly thought highly of themselves. Pity as I'd love to go back.
(3)Kelly N.
Excellent authentic Mexican in the heart of Chicago! Party of four and we ate family style so we could sample more. All of the dishes were excellent. Mango guac was excellent, traditional was good as well, but if you are going with one, go with the mango! Little Market margarita was delish! Ordered a basic rum and coke, seemed to be missing the rum! Pastor and lobster tacos were also very good. 4 thumbs up on the brussel sprouts. The cauliflower dish was good but was lacking a little texture, not sure if I got in late on that dish or if it was just mushy but would try it one more time. They're a little greedy with the chips, they only bring one small portion out at a time and don't refill it often enough. We also ordered two salsas the tomatillo was very good. Queso with chorizo was not hot enough, came out more solid than gooey, which is how I like my queso but the flavor was on point. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, the restaurant was a little cold.,
(4)Kris W.
I won't be back. Sorry. You charge $2.50 for a tbsp of salsa? And a snotty bartender and service. The $2.50 wouldn't have been so painful if the bartender wasn't so rude. Pass
(1)Kacee H.
Based on service and ambiance, this place only deserves 2 stars. Friday night this place is lively so come ready to shout at your dinner guests. But making reservations are a necessary evil. Ours were at 9:45 pm and we were seated 30 minutes later!
(2)Leslie B.
Restaurant Week value is a GREAT deal at Mercadito! However, I literally cannot imagine going there and paying regular prices. Came in on the first Friday of Restaurant Week and it was packed...so packed that we were seated 35 minutes after the time of our reservation. I can't technically take away stars for the noise level inside the restaurant, it's a bustling place and that's just the atmosphere. However, it's definitely a spot for larger groups, not really for an intimate date when you're literally yelling the whole time just to have a normal conversation . Chose the three guacs that were not traditional: mango, pomegranate, and chile serrano. They were all tasty, but we liked the chile serrano the best because of the heat. We tried two of the ceviches and I was pretty disappointed by both. Their menu descriptions sounded so great, but I felt there weren't strong flavors in either. Kind of like you knew it was being mass-produced and dished out all evening. Our waiter was friendly and energetic, but obviously incredibly busy. He actually had forgotten he already took our ceviche order and got our taco order wrong, not a huge deal. The tacos were hit or miss for us. I really enjoyed the pastor and carnitas de puerco, while the carne and pollo didn't "wow" me at all. I'm still wishing we had gotten the camaron (botched order prevented us from this) because I've heard it's great. For our side, we got the brussel sprouts and they were fantastic! Drinks are delicious, tres viejos was definitely my favorite. I also had a sip of the boyfriend's Misty Sleeve which he really enjoyed. Overall, glad I came by for Restaurant Week, but I believe there is better Mexican cuisine to be had in the city.
(3)Tiffany G.
Absolutely incredible food!! I eat here almost every time I'm in chicago, the staff is always super friendly and even though the plates look tiny it ends up being extremely filling. The flaming cocktails are also super fun and their drinks menu is amazing!
(5)Avery S.
I have been going here since they opened and the food is still amazing and the environment fun. I always get the talapia tacos, elote and then a flan. The guacamole is also not to be missed. This is one of those rare places that still have a good "scene" as well as terrific food.
(5)Dan B.
Excelled food and drinks. A bit pricey, but it's a nice place to go out on a date or a more formal dinner with friends. The only downside to this place is the seating can sometimes be a little uncomfortable. They definitely try to fit everyone tightly in their table.
(4)Shruta S.
Best. Place. Ever. The margaritas are to die for - as fancy as they are tasty. The food is phenomenal. The ambience is suited for everything from a romantic date to a group hangout. This is by far one of my favorite places in Chicago. Truly our go-to place for any occasion.
(5)Amy R.
I can only review the atmosphere as we did not stay for dinner. My husband and I had a 6:30 pm reservation on a Friday night. Seated immediately but please - the majority of all tables are right on top of each other. You shouldn't have to squeeze between your table and the table next to you in order to sit down. Once seated, the couple next to us was so close I felt the need to introduce myself. We decided instead to leave.
(2)Kasey T.
great for groups! great music, fun atmosphere, delicious guac and yummy margaritas!
(5)Peter H.
Our Concierge at the Kimpton recommended this place to us and it was a short walk from our hotel. At first we were worried about the noise, that concern passed when we received our first course - the guacamole - it was awesome and that was just the start. We dined like kings and queens, the food and service were great!
(4)Jim F.
the food was great. we had a selection of tacos, which come 4 to a plate so our party of 4 was the perfect size. The guacamole was fresh and tasty as were the chips. The mac & cheese was delicious but runny. This is the new, fresh version of Mexican so don't expect the flavors or textures of the California or Texas traditionals. Service and bar were excellent and they seated us right on time. It was very tightly packed, with no privacy, and very loud.
(4)Devin S.
Starting off the food and drinks were good not much to complain about very pricy for such little amounts of food but it was worth it the drinks were ok and very pricy had the house drink it was ok but full of ice in a small glass as usual like most places to eat But other than the food the wait staff was rude we got seated 15 min after our reservations although the place was not packed the wait staff did not attend to us at a timely manor.... Asked for water didn't get it got got my food fast and quick but when we called waiter for straws and napkins he never came I had to literally get up myself get napkins and straws but over all it's a good spot to eat only if your treated good
(3)Samantha J.
Good food & drinks, popular and hip ambiance, decent service. According to the waiter, most of their tequila beverages are sweet except one, which is what he ordered for me. It was good, although I think I might like the margarita at Aviary better.... We ordered the mango guac (good) carne tacos (super delish) and mole tacos (good). Their bread pudding dessert was wonderful if you have a sweet tooth. Overall, I would come back. It's a bit pricey but a nice fancy alternative to Antique Taco and Big Star (I would still go with Antique Taco over Mercadito any day). Be advised that the tacos come in sets of 4, so a group of 3-4 would be perfect if you want to try a bunch of different things. Also, whatever spices they put around their margaritas, you may look funny licking it off but it's well worth the strange looks!
(4)Jennifer H.
The drinks are BOMB. Spicy with just the right amount of kick. I believe I finally achieved enlightenment through the lobster tacos. Like literally my third eye opened as I took the first bite. Be prepared to wait though, and possibly feel like a sardine at the bar. But it's okay, everyone there is sexy so rubbing up against strangers shouldn't be too much of a downer.
(4)Lauren L.
I visited Mercadito on a Saturday night during Restaurant Week in a group of 6, and we were pleased and surprised we were able to get a reservation at a decent time. Logistical word to the wise; even if you have a reservation, you won't be seated until your entire group is present. The bar was too crowded to grab a drink while we waited for the rest of our party, so that was a pain. The ceviche portions were too small to share amongst our group, but tacos were the perfect size. The pastor and the carne tacos were incredible. The flans were the only items on the RW menu, and I'd skip them in the future. I'd come here for drinks (highly recommend the mezcal cocktails--very smoky and delicious) and taco hors d'ouvres again, but probably not for dinner outside of restaurant week. There is one astoundingly attractive waiter. We swooned.
(4)Kelly M.
I have heard so many different reviews on this place, and I love mexican so I was anxious to try it out. I thought it was really good, I loved that they do small plates. I was there with 5 other girls, so we ordered quite a variety on the menu. The guac is delcious and I recommend it, as well as the chipolte taco (so spicy) love it! I did not have a margarita, but they looked really good. I would recommend it to anyone. Very good!
(4)James W.
I did not want to like this place. It's the kind of place I like to avoid (big, clubby, loud, and touristy looking. I was plesantly suprised once I got there The space is kind of sexy if your're with the right person and the food was good. Sure its not the authentic fare that you will fine in Pilsen or Little Village or some of the other fabulous Mexican restaurants found throughout the Chi but, the food was tasty and creative. Mexican food is not my favorite but, I will definitely go back to this joint. The mahi maihi tacos and pork tacos were great. The guacamole was divine and my wife's margherita was great. I like this place.
(4)Emily L.
It was Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago and we were starved!!! We stayed at the Hotel Felix based off Hotel Tonight app (very neat little app that gives you hotel accomodations for that night only - most well-known hotels and their rates are VERY awesome!!!) - Hotel located 111 W Huron St., Chicago - we were looking for a nice Mexican restaurant nearby. Mercadito ended up being .5 miles away from hotel with the best Yelp reviews! The restaurant was very neat - the low lighting, and red walls gave a great dinner ambience! Big fan of EDM - which their music selection was turned to, and with the volume low, it wasn't too much "Untz" for diners favoring a different genre. :) Concept was tapas, which I loves! I always want to try what others order, so this alleviates the funny looks because sharing is EXPECTED :) DRINKS 1ST!!! :) I ordered-Margarita Tradicional - I am not a big fan of Margaritas, yet when a restaurant specializes in them, I want to try! Ingredients included- el jimador blanco, grand marnier, fresh lime juice, organic agave nectar *Just saying, you MUST order this drink should you check this place out - Not even exagerrating this is the BEST margarita I've ever had! Selection#2- Queso dip w/ chorizo on side Comes with mini flour tortillas and salso verde and was perfect starter! Selection#3-Pollos Tacos-Pollo- These 4 mini tacos were great for our party of 3 because we ordered additional selections. If you have more than 3 in party, would go for 2 orders (and pick a different taco selection) muy delicioso Selection#4-Dangit! I really can't remember... But, I know we finished all, so it must have been fabulous! :) I can't wait to go back and check out more of their selections!!!
(5)LaurenVanDerBooben V.
Ok, get ready for story time, folks. First of all, let me clarify by saying that the food here is easily 3 to 4 stars. And the drinks?? Oh, the drinks!! Also, easily 4 stars. But apparently, Mercadito is great for takeout and horrible for dine-in. What demotes Mercadito to a 2-star Yelp rating is the service. I've been quite a few times, but my last visit was-tautologically, my last. I'll save you my life story and keep this short: went on a Friday evening with a friend. The second we walked in, we could already tell by the way we were being treated that they were busy and wanted us out ASAP so as to accommodate other people. We were hurriedly and brashly sat in a very jam-packed section-the conversations of the tables on either side of us were way too audible, no matter how softly they spoke. We were constantly being circled like sharks do fish, by servers and busboys alike. Pour quoi, Mercadito? Moving on, we were so put off by the service that we decided to engage in some good ol' culinarus-interruptus and GTF outta there. We asked for our check and they were only too happy to oblige. Before we could say anything else, a BUSBOY with a dirty table rag and everything- not even a SERVER- carted out food away from our table at the speed of light and ran into the kitchen. In his haste, he left half of our other food items on the table e.g. tortillas, my green rice, etc. I told the server "please take these to him and make sure he puts this with the rest of the food". Fast forward to us getting home and what beautiful surprise do we find waiting for us in our go-bags? The answer is 'NOT our leftovers!' Apparently, they had left out half of our leftovers. I was so angry, I couldn't speak. We barely touched our food so we had basically just thrown away a bunch of money. This is sad on so many levels because I used to be Mercadito's #1 unofficial PR person because I used to, and still think, their food is amazing. But after that stunt, phooey on them. Won't be seeing me in there no' mo'. Rant over.
(2)Maria G. R.
The DRINKS! The FOOD! The FLAN DE CAJETA!!! WOW.... love the ambience! My husband and I had a splendid time. We will definitely be going back.
(5)Evan S.
NYE dinner was off the charts. The assortment of guacs makes for a nice tour for the tongue. The tacos were where the action was at though. The carne and camaron are TO DIE FOR. The drinks were hitting nice and hard, and our server Julio took great care of us. My second time there and I'll definitely be back!
(4)M W.
I think people might want to do a little research before they go to a restaurant like Mercadito. This isn't your sit-and-chat-for-2-hours kind of place. The energy is high, it can be pretty noisy during peak busy times, and the meal pace is pretty quick. Yes, they want to turn tables--it's a business and I'm sure their success would be diminished if they catered more to the lingerers. I've dined at Mercadito about 5 times over the past 3 years, and I've never been disappointed in the service or the food. The atmosphere is fine, because I know it's busy and loud and I'm willing to deal with that so I can eat their fabulous morsels. :) Favorites: pastor tacos (spicy pork with pineapple), skirt steak, mahi tacos and any of the salsas with chips. I haven't personally tried their alcoholic drinks, but I understand they had a mixologist create many signature drinks specifically for the restaurant. From what I have heard, they are quite good, although pricey. So as long as you're not expecting a quiet, drawn-out or particularly cheap meal, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy the flavors Mercadito offers. NOTE: Mercadito also offers cooking demos once a month for about $55/person and it includes food and drink pairings.Check their website for dates. I will be attending next month's. :)
(4)Tony M.
Very busy and crowded place but for good reason. Had to wait 30 minutes for table so went to the bar and had the absolute best mechilada ever!! Bartenders are very friendly and take care of you quickly. Had the tacos de al pastor, steak tacos and they were very good. Plan on going back to try some other things.
(4)Aditi G.
Oh. My. God. Never again will I eat mexican food anywhere in the city after eating here! Ridiculously good food, ambiance, service, and music. The music in this restaurant is basically club music, but I didn't really mind at all. It is loud but not so loud that you can't talk to your friends across the table. Loved the decor as it was super modern - funky long mirrors line the walls, high ceilings, and low lighting all make me want to go clubbing after eating here. My friends and I ordered both the traditional guacamole and the granada guacamole with pomegranate. Both were sooooooo good! We also ordered the dorado ceviche - soooo good and fresh! We got the pastor and hongos tacos - pork and mushroom tacos - soooooo delicious. The mushroom tacos were my favorite and the seasoning was out of this world. I am in love with Mercadito
(5)Monica P.
A fun place to check out- food was good and cool atmosphere. Definitely a trendy place to eat. I did enjoy but did have a few annoyances- first was that they have so many staff members walking around monitoring the status of everyone's meal. I understand when it's crammed inside and you want to get as many people in as you can, but I don't like feeling rushed. Just because our food is finished there isn't a need to remove our placemats- made us feel like they wanted us to leave, despite having beverage left in our glasses. The food comes fast. The traditional guac is good and would recommend sharing some options of tacos. Foodies will enjoy the flavor of the meat for sure. Good place, just felt a little rushed.
(3)Patricia P.
Great Mexican food, and also overpriced. Wold still go back for the Maragaritas, best I ever had!
(4)Steve M.
Had lunch the tacos were off the charts,food was great service was excellent.My family loved the restaurants ,great drinks will be back
(5)Jacob A.
Great food. The shrimp tacos are my favorite! I have been coming here for a number of years and the food has consistently been good! The atmosphere and vibe in this place is usually full of energy! I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 due to the service that we occasionally get that is less than stellar. The food more than makes up for it!
(4)Sameer G.
Food was average. The waiter messed up our bill 4 times and acted like it was our fault. I was there with a co-worker for lunch and we split the bill. Next day (today) we realized that they charged us both the full amount. Ridiculous, after 4 attempts he still managed to mess things up, probably intentionally. I apologize for wanting the correct bill.
(1)Rachel B.
Have been coming here since they opened. Solid choice! Shrimp tacos are a complete and absolute necessity. I mean, there really is no choice. It must be done. So simple yet so amazing. On the spicier side but not at all intolerable. Also the guacamole trifecta is always a crowd pleaser. I do not at all recommend Double A downstairs. It's a mini-club with a super weak crowd...no-go in my opinion. Used to be awesome when this place first opened and no one knew about it. But today....played out.
(4)Hardeek P.
Came here with colleagues from work. Heard great things about this place so figured we'd give it a shot. As a vegetarian, this is definitely not a place I'd be coming back to. Choices are very limited unless you eat seafood. Best part was the gaucamole trio. Portions are tapas sized, still on the pricey side. My non-vegetarian colleagues for the most part thought it was good, some said the lobster taco was really the only one worth getting, the rest were edible but nothing great. Service was ok, slow for a random weeknight. My colleagues were done with their meal before mine even came out, and when it came out it was luke warm. The waitress kept trying to sell me on various items off the menu every time she came by, since my order took over 40 minutes to make. One would think it'd takes longer to cook meat vs a vegetable. Apparently not.
(1)Sonja T.
Since they cater to a younger crowd the service is not very good. It is so loud and the tables are too close. The food is amazing. Probably better to go for lunch.
(3)Fei W.
Went to Mercadito for lunch with a coworker. One of my friends is obsessed with the fish tacos here and says they are the best ever. I tried them (the mahi mahi ones) and my coworker got the pork tortas. We split the 3 guacs and some fried plantains. The tacos were good, but I'm not sure about best ever. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe living in Southern California spoiled me, but I thought they were just good. The fried plantains were great though. The torta I was ambivalent on, but my coworker loved it. The assortment of guacs was also pretty good. Overall, a solid lunch spot. I would like to come back for dinner to try some margs and the ceviche.
(4)Ramiro G.
Love this place! Best drinks in Chicago, the tacos are spectacular & the ceviche is delicious. Modern, inventive yet authentic mexican food..
(5)Al C.
Ambience: 2 stars Food: 4 stars 1. hope u like Being packed in like sardines, literally inches from your neighbor. 2. Minuscule portions and they nickel and dime you for everything...(salsa and chips?? That's tantamount to charging you for rice in a Chinese restaurant.) not cool. 3. The tacos, drinks, and other stuff was actually really good. Just hated every other thing about this place.
(3)Fallon R.
Ok, so I have a small gripe with Mercadito. I still love the food but the service I received on Tuesday was less than desirable. I love to go Taco Tuesday because it's a great excuse to meet with friends and enjoy a discounted meal. But this Tuesday was different. I was shocked when I didn't see the lobster tacos on the menu. My waiter did inform me that they did still have them. Great what a relief, right?! Then I was informed it was no longer part of the special. What a huge let down! What happened?! No explanation just deal with it. I always look forward to coming on Tuesday but no special no Tuesday. Not saying I'm not going back, but that was my great "excuse" for going at least every other week or every week. See ya when I see ya. So disappointed!
(2)Steph S.
I hosted a private party here for 20 people on a Sunday night. It was truly wonderful. The drinks were amazing and the food was spectacular. It was expensive but not outrageous! There was a clear disconnect between the management and servers, but the servers were so good that it didn't affect our experience. They had great gluten free options and were very helpful. I will absolutely go back here!
(4)Julie L.
I went there for brunch, and ordered a dish with poached eggs (can't remember the name, but was a riff on eggs Benedict, with cornmeal patties and a chipotle hollandaise sauce). They came out with underdone whites, so I sent it back. They acted as if I didn't know what poached eggs were, and I insisted that I DID want the dish as described on the menu, just done properly. Unfortunately, they next brought it out overdone entirely, and the server never asked me if it was ok. It WAS tasty, but would have been so much better with runny yolks. My friends were all happy with their meals, and the atmosphere was great decor-wise, but there was a slightly foul and musty scent in the restaurant. Overall, I'm ambivalent! Maybe I'd try it again if I lived in Chicago, but it's unlikely.
(3)Libby Q.
Me and my girlfriend have been there a few times, and we always have fun! Their margaritas are delicious and so is their food. It's a little pricey for pretty simple food. I'd avoid the guacamole. It's way overpriced ($10), and as a California native, I'm not a huge fan of 10 different ingredients in my avocado. Other than that, great atmosphere, great drinks!
(4)Jennifer H.
We came to Mercadito after walking by at night and liking the looks of it. Service was friendly but very slow. Salsa: one of two was Bright Orange- literally the weirdest salsa I've ever seen- like spicy ketchup. Enchiladas were good not great. Hubs tacos same. May try dinner menu, but overall there are better places around.
(3)Mike K.
I've been to this place a couple times and I have to say the food here is really really good but the atmosphere isn't all that great. The food I would give a 5 star all day. The combinations are very clever and the taste that hits your mouth lets you know its put together with care. The issue is the place is way too loud like uncomfortably loud. The service is relatively slow and the decor for a place located in this part of the city is really nothing special. If there carry out ends up being just as good I could see myself coming here more often because I would rather take it home then have to yell at the top of my lungs while eating dinner. But regardless hands down to the Chef, great combinations, amazing flavor. With a couple changes this place could compete with a place like Takito Kitchen.
(4)W W.
Food - excellent! Tacos and guacamole were spectacular. A lot of variety - all amazing. Ambiance - lively and fun Service - friendly and efficient. They successfully served and satisfied a 13 person party without issue.
(5)Regina D.
Try the "Torrejas De Bolillo" in their dessert menu... It's delicious. It's a great place to hangout drink and eat. The vibe here is simply delightful. I'm a very light drinker so I won't bother commenting on the alcohol (unless I've fallen in love). The food is good. My opinion, the two best things about Mercadito is the ambiance and the Torrejas De Bolillo dessert :-).
(5)Terry S.
Always great experience. Nice environment and great food, never had a bad bite in 10+ visits. Good for drinks and small groups/couples. Reasonably priced and always recommend to friends coming to the city.
(5)Grennan K.
Great portions, sophisticated tacos, and tequila galore. This spot gets busy so definitely book resos. The ambiance during dinner time is very loud so that's something to consider.
(4)Jina h.
Sensational food and drinks, but the service is highly inconsistent. I would give this place 5 stars, but took away 2 for each of the times I had an awful experience with the service. I still like the place so much I keep coming back. One time, my mom and I arrived on time for our reservation for 2, but they did not have a table ready for us until 90 minutes later. In the interim, we waited in the jam-packed bar and I felt very bad that my mom had to stand during that time. More recently, the hostess was very rude and threatened to give away our table because only 5 of 6 people in the party had arrived (this is an understandable rule, but still felt unfair after waiting so long). Why I keep coming back: 1. The Guacamole trio appetizer. I've tried mango, jalepeno, cactus, tradicional - All sublime. 2. The taco menu: Mahi Mahi tacos are my fav (the steak and lobster taco options are also very good) 3. The summer cocktails: Pepino el Pyu is cucumber, lime, salt-rimmed perfection) In sum, being a patron of this restaurant is like having battered spouse syndrome. They treat you so badly but you can't stop yourself coming back for more.
(3)Lauren S.
- Kept us waiting 20 minutes after our reservation - Sat us by the kitchen, where the door/foot traffic was distracting - Drinks were very watered down - Food was good, but not worth the bad service we received
(2)Molly L.
The food was amazing and the atmosphere was pretty cool. Would be a really nice place lunch spot in the summer. The reason for the 3 star was the poor service. Our server was less than friendly and that's an understatement. I would return for the food, but the service was an embarrassment to the restaurant.
(3)Jackie Z.
Loved this place - best Mexican food in Chicago and the margaritas are fantastic. Food was great, service was great - it's a little loud and cramped but on Friday night is super fun! Definitely going back!
(4)Kristy D.
If you're going to come I recommend making reservation. We tried 2 different types of tacos and skirt steak. All of the food was awesome. Biggest complaint are the small tables considering the size of the plates.
(4)Allen B.
taco. tuesdays. enough said.
(5)Erin R.
I'm torn about writing this review because I really want to love Mercadito and it's so close to perfect but it falls short for a few reasons. First, while the decor and feel of the interior are great, it's way too loud inside. I had to yell to barely be able to have a conversation and even then I couldn't really hear. I walked out feeling like I'd been at a concert. Second, everything is so spicy. I get it, it should have flavor and heat, but when I can't eat my meal and there was no warning on the menu or from the waiter, there's an issue. Everyone in my group (many who like spicy) struggled to eat there meals. Maybe it was just bad luck or the chef that day, I'll definitely give it another shot, but I suggest asking the waiter about the spice level in advance because nothing was marked on the menu. Everything was fresh and otherwise great but difficult to overcome the spice level and noise level. Maybe the patio is the best bet!
(3)Eve P.
If you don't want to read everything below... you have to try the mango guacamole!! Someone told me I HAD to try their mango guacamole and at first I just thought "who the heck wants to eat guacamole w/mango?!" but it was the BEST guacamole I ever tasted in my life!! They give you very small portions but it is filling. I had chicken tacos with mole and my friend had the fish tacos and I wish wish wish I would have ordered the fish, my friend shared and it was great! (I also never thought that I'd ever like fish in my tacos) I also had a strawberry mojito but I'm not too sure what I thought about it. I'll have to order one again when I go back and pay attention to it since I was distracted by the mango guacamole the whole time. As far as ambiance, it is a bit loud and busy, so if you want to go somewhere where it's not so upbeat then this is not the place for you.
(5)Aine Z.
Delicious delicious margarita's! And the taco's are so mouthwatering. The guacamole wasn't really to my taste, but everything else was so good that I can forgive that. The atmosphere is nice and dark, and downstairs they have a small lounge, so it's very similar to gilt. I would recommend this place to any of my friends!
(4)Anando S.
The low rating is not for the food but the outdated prices online. Prices are more than 150% of what was stated on their website. The food was pretty good and authentic. Liked the wide range of tacos. Nice ambiance. However the first point was a major dampner. P.S. Be careful when getting directions from yelp on google maps. Took us to a wrong place and we ended up walking a lot.
(2)C. E.
Great place for Mexican food in Chicago. Very loud inside and the tables are right on top of each other, but it's only a minor qualm. The spicy guacamole w/ corn and bacon in it was incredible, as well as the pollo and carne tacos. We ordered a spicy salsa as well, but it wasn't anything special. All in all, good place. Will be back.
(4)Jessica J.
This place is amazing!! My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary this past Saturday and I must say it is one of the best places we have ever eaten. Our waiter, Enrique, was on point. He was extremely attentive and explained the menu very thoroughly. The drinks were awesome and the food was even better! We had the fried plantains, shrimp ceviche, traditional guac, lobster tacos, shrimp enchiladas and mexican corn. Omg. Everything was soooo good!! I highly recommend the fried plantains and lobster tacos. Delish!
(5)Lore S.
Came here for lunch with a friend. The drinks were great - I got the three trees cocktail and my friend got the Paloma Diabla. The food was ok - we shared the traditional and pineapple guacamole, as well as the shrimp ceviche and ceviche mixto. The only thing I didn't really care for was the shrimp ceviche. The guacamoles and the ceviche mixto were very tasty. The portions are tiny. I know it's supposed to be small plates that are meant to be shared, but I'm not really sure if it's worth it. I will give it 3 stars for now, but I'd like to come back and try the tacos, and change my review accordingly.
(3)Jim K.
So, the beer was good, which was about the highest point (outside of the company I had dinner with) of the night. Modelo on tap? Yes please. The ambiance was nice, although extremely dark. This typically doesn't bother me, but here it drove me a bit insane. Food wise, the 3 flight of Guacamole was tasty, but way over priced. I also felt the tacos were below average, as far as "fancy tacos" are concerned. Also, the rigidness of their ordering rules (4 tacos for 15.50, must all be the same taco) is frustrating, considering every other place I've been to with similar fare allows you to mix and match to at lease some degree. Here, you resort to doing some "taco negotiation," which sounds a lot more fun than it really is. The place is also SUPER loud... nearly every surface of the place seems to be waxed, lacquered, or otherwise designed to bounce sound. Difficult to have a conversation (or said taco negotiation) like this. The service was average for most restaurants, below average of a restaurant of this caliber. I doubt I'll be back.
(2)Tracy G.
Must try the the tasting menu. So good that I came twice in one week. Best meal I had in 2013. Also must try the house-made sangrita (not to be confused with sangria).
(5)Nikki S.
Loved it--cool ambiance, delicious foods, margs, and they take reservations! I would definitely definitely recommend Carnitas de Puerco Tacos (roasted peanuts in the tacos!)
(5)Manny A.
It lives up to the rep of excellent Margaritas. Unique styles and strong flavor. Tacos are very very good however at $4 each and about half the size of a standard taco I will not fill up here. I may get 1 or 2 for taste however only drinks here for me. While casual attire the people tend to be on the dressy side. Be ready to wait for a table and be crammed in once seated. Business is good. And it can get very loud.
(4)Eileen B.
We went here on Cinco de Mayo, so it was crowded, but the Mercadito staff did a great job keeping things moving. We were seated quickly, the server was attentive, and the food was tasty. The margaritas were among the best I've had! I would definitely go there again.
(5)Carmen G.
I will never get over the ridiculous prices or disturbingly small portions, BUT that cucumber drink suckers me in every single time. Keep them coming all night long. The mango guacamole was surprisingly delicious and i do love the fish tacos. The ambience and location are great (thats what you're paying for). The service has always been on point, but again, don't miss out on that cucumber drinks. The decor is also really cooooooooool. Do not order the michelada unless your name is Tiffany or Bill.
(4)Shawna B.
So I would have added a star potentially had we not been rushed out of our table. The server had the audacity to hand us our check when we weren't even halfway through dessert. Seriously, some manners please. That's like talking with your mouth full. Anyway, we had the Elote guac...a little bland but still good. The roja salsa could have been more spicy and was overly creamy. We had the Mixto and Pescado ceviche...both were the strong points of the night. The Estilo Baja tacos were also good but would rather have had the option of a 2 and 2 split rather than 4 of the same taco. We ended with the flan which was really heavy and dense. Flavor was very carmel-forward. Ok at best. The traditional margarita was very good. No complaints. All in, the bill was about $100 with tip. Ok, but won't be on my list of revisits.
(3)Jackie S.
Finally had the chance to dine here the other night with my dad. Food was AMAZING. My dad mentioned his carnitas were the best he had ever had. The chips were delicious. Tilapia tacos were also very good. Everything was very flavorful, my margarita was great and our waitress was very nice. Definitely will go back here.
(5)Rodriguez G.
Meet friends for a post-work dinner it was great. Service was on point. Since we were in a large group we ordered from the group menu. Consistently the staff brought our items to the table in an efficient and timely manner. I would definitely recommend this spot for groups. However please be warned that a reservation is best. It's a popular place.
(4)Meaghan L.
I came here for brunch with my boyfriend on a Sunday afternoon. The experience we had was wonderful. It was a slow time for brunch so we had great service. We decided to go with the ultimate hangover cure. We started with some pineapple guac...best I have ever had. Blanca's punch was very refreshing and my boyfriend loved the bloody mary. The three dishes we choose were steak tacos=amazing, enchiladas= also amazing and lastly the chorizo omlette= this was not my favorite but it is the only thing I can complain about with this place. It was just too plain and more eggy than meaty. Definitely a recommendation for brunch- prices are a little high but that's what you expect from a place like this.
(4)Katie S.
Good food, but very LOUD [ie club music] on at 7 on a Saturday night. Also, they pack you in as we had a reservation for 8 but they placed us at a table obviously made for 6! So it really just depends on what your looking for.
(3)Bobuzzi C.
Margaritas are STRONG!!! Beware! Be the guac. was amazing and the tacos were wonderful. Definitely get a variety so you can try as many different kinds as you can.
(5)Carol G.
Cool place, good food, horrible hostesses. They have the worst attitudes ever, they are in the wrong business
(3)Gordie L.
Not the best customer service. Actually pretty bad. 2 hour wait when we were promised a 30 minute wait and angry hostess.
(1)Jean M.
I love this place!! I originally stopped because a friend recommended it as being a good option near my hotel. I had no idea what to expect but was definitely impressed. I had a octopus stuffed relleno and fried plantains. The food was great and as was the service. I heard the tacos we're excellent so last night I made a point to come back. I got the traditional and mango guacamole as well as the cameron tacos. They were outstanding with a perfect combination of flavors. Some might say it's pricey for tacos but in this case - WORTH IT!
(5)Holly S.
This place was super yummy! Great service too! It was a bit loud for a romantic dinner but we had fun people watching! Great guacamole! Loved the mango! The carnitas tacos were also amazing! We will absolutely be back but probably on a weeknight rather than a Saturday night. :) Would be a great place for happy hour for sure!
(4)Jim V.
This is a place to go if you want to try great tasting baby tacos and spoon fulls of different flavored guacamoles. If you come hungry, you can spend a lot of money quicklly. I like Mercaditio best for a small bite and a couple of drinks. Good atmosphere, and centrally located in river north
(3)Jamie B.
Better tacos at Las Asadas in Bucktown. The food here was extremely overpriced and overly salty. Margaritas were $13 each. A friend and I came here and had the $9.00 guacamole and chips, one margarita each, barbacoa tacos, and shrimp enchiladas. With tip the bill was $97.00. The table we had was horrible- a two top sandwiched in between a three top and another two top-- so tight that the 50lb. quartz table literally had to be pulled out so that my friend could get in and out of her seat. The service was great, however I'll never be back because paying this much for Mexican street food IMO is ridiculous. Frontera? Sure. Mercadito? No way Jose!
(2)Bruce E.
Ate at Mercadito on a Saturday night. Tables are very close together and the atmosphere is lively. Food and service was very good. The mediocre rating is solely related to the noise level. You cannot carry on a conversation even at a small table. Try eating during a slow time.
(3)AJ M.
Final stop for restaurant week and wanted to come here. This place is really popular and I now know why. Itis really nice,trendy upbeat, llively just like the people who come here. It took a long time to get our table because this place gets packed on a Friday night! But no worries me and some friends just went downstairs to their mini lounge for cocktails as the main bar was too packed. Although the downstairs lounge is small it was great for our small group. Now the food ,all the guacamoles are really good, elotes de Mexicana was standard, tacos were good not great,my fav was the shrimp one. Ceviche was real fresh, and for dessert we had 3 different flans the caramel was the best. Overall the food was above average but it is not what makes this place popular. I'm not that big on the small portions and large prices of tapas but this place works. It's great for a date or groups of friends to enjoy a night out. The cocktails to me taste all the same but as long as you keep drinking you'll forget about that. 3 star food 4 star service 5 star atmosphere and fun!!
(4)Danny D.
Welcome to the Applebee's of Mexican! I will say the food had good presentation and the drinks were good, but that is where it ends. The atmosphere was that loud 90s over the top gaudy style. Our waitress was wearing what looked like a jumpsuit top and it seemed all the staff was able to pick whatever they wanted to wear for a top as long as it had the restaurants name on it somewhere. The food was OK at best. It was really salty which to me screams poor quality. We ordered 4 of the taco plates and 2 sides - one of which never arrived at our table. At $16 per plate (4 small soft shell tacos on each plate) it wasn't worth it. Aside from the saltiness of the food all if this would be fine but only if the prices were 30% less than what they were. It's just not worth the price especially when you have so many other great restaurants within a minute walk that will give you a much, much better experience.
(2)Rach S.
I love me some Mercadito. This is one of my favorite pre-night on the town spots. Try: Margaritas - let's get this party started! They are not shy with the booze and I appreciate this. Tacos - the best ones are: pancita, carne and pastor. Guac - get wild and try the fruit flavors - you won't regret it. My only negative about this restaurant is that it is LOUD and CROWDED. Like, crowded to the point that if you need to get out of your booth area because you've had too many margaritas and need to break the seal, your butt will touch the other person's table. Awkward. This place is always packed and busy, so please Mercadito, just make a little more room for us! That said, is this a great place to go with friends before you go out. The music is loud and the crowd is young and fun. It is not the place for a quiet dinner or a place to bring boring people. Also, if you're coming with a group, they will do a prix fixe menu for you. It's easy and they give you plenty of food.
(4)Emily D.
I went to Mercadito Friday night with a group of friends for what was my first and last visit. When we arrived, we were waiting on one person so we headed to the bar to grab a drink. The traditional margaritas were tasty and reasonably priced for a trendy restaurant. When the last of our party arrived, we were directed to our "lounge" seating. We all stopped and looked at eachother for a second when the hostess led us over to the booth and chairs table that was reserved for us. Uncomfortably low, we sat there with our knees in our faces as no one's legs really fit under the table. Picture the chairs in preschool classrooms and four full-sized adults huddled around a small table. we watched many other parties around awkward/disappointed as they were led to their tables as well. We ordered chips and guac which were a bit overpriced, but good. We then ordered som salsa. The salsa was only three dollars, but I figure if the cheapest establishment can give me free chips and salsa, so can this one. While it was good, I expect more than a flat plate with a little puddle of salsa on it if I'm paying for it. We ordered five sets of tacos for the four of us, tilapia, mahi mahi, shrimp, carne asada and chicken. We all agreed the chicken was by far the best. The fried mahi mahi was our least favorite (too much batter, barely any fish). If our experience ended there, I would say while $140 is a lot of money for four people to get a round of drinks and some tacos, we had a good time, but would probably not return. However, we were all sick the rest of the night/the next morning so that makes the price tag hurt a little more. I will definitely not return.
(1)Alicia M.
We ordered the $45 tasting menu. There were high notes and low notes. The guacamole options were great; traditional and some of the more adventurous options. The salsa was a bit disappointing, quite average. The ceviche was overpowered by the citrus. The tacos were great, especially he steak and duck options. Overall, I wouldn't do that large of a testing menu. It was too much food.
(3)Michael C.
I was in Chicago with another former co-worker for a Labor Day weekend wedding at the University Club, and we diverged from the party heading to the Cubs game after the Sunday brunch. We rented DIVVY bikes, rode up the river, failed at finding deep-dish pizza without a wait riding back to the hotel, and took advantage of the gym while alerted to the hot, humid, and heavy, hops-fueled antics of the wedding party via social media. We plotted a a more genteel, civilized evening to celebrate our last in this fair city. Downtown Chicago, as my cohort accurately noted, is a cultural desert comparable to New York's Herald Square, at least on a Sunday. And food was no exception. As she is primarily vegan, with compromises to pescatarian, Mexican seemed most probable. But nothing on any scale was open nearby within walking distance, including a highly rated Rick Bayless establishment. A Yelp search returned Mercadito... And this Los Angeles to New York transplant leapt immediately. It was a most pleasant multi-city transcendence. I have frequented the New York locations on many occasions, and this Chicago visit proved to be quite the exceptional competition. A short cab ride had us there in mere minutes, and at prime time to immediately catch a quiet outside table. And the experience just escalated from there. Every aspect of the evening was absolutely perfect, beginning with the service from start to end. Both the specialty and house margaritas were appropriately strong and distinctive. The guacamole and salsas delivered as well... And both the fish and shrimp tacos really excelled... I hate to prattle about taste and texture, but I can't help myself here. This was the kind of mouth-feel that fast food in all of its endeavors will never achieve. Forget the deep dish pizza... Mercadito has transcended the elusive divide of great contemporary Mexican fare beyond Los Angeles. I'll definitely be returning for this unique Chicago cum New York dining experience.
(5)Brian K.
Great vibe with decorations and music. Excellent drinks and creative small plate across.
(4)Brooke M.
I've been to Mercadito several times before. A convenient location and the food is OK. Many items marked "V" on the menu for vegetarian. I had lunch there today and ordered a mushroom torta with no cheese after telling the waitress I was vegan and asking if the torta could be made vegan or if the mushroom tacos were my better choice. After being told the torta could be made vegan I ordered it making sure there was no cheese, the black beans did not have animal products and reiterating I was vegan. So I ate my lunch and my stomach started to hurt by the time I left and an hour later it's worse. I called the restaurant and long story short they butter the torta and explained to me they aren't sure if it was the waitress or the kitchen that messed it up (and newsflash-I don't care which one dropped the ball). So still an OK place but I won't be back and for anyone who has an allergy or food restriction do not count on Mercadito staff or kitchen to get your order right.
(2)Rachel V.
Totally disappointed in mostly everything about this place. Was seated in a great spot, but our waiter did not come over for a good 15-20 minutes. By that time he asked what we wanted as if it was a bother to him. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and our meal all in one! I mean we had been waiting for so long. There was no connection or interest from our waiter, like how is your evening, or Is your Food good. Instead it was do you guys have everything you want now?? The food wasn't all that great, way too salty!! The only good thing that I liked about the place was the decor and lighting. Although they did try too hard to be a club with loud music. Won't return here that's for sure, very disappointed.
(1)Mandi P.
Quite disappointing. We were here this past weekend for an early dinner with some friends...none of us were impressed. We all started at the bar while waiting for our last friend to arrive. The bar had no seats. I have only ever seen that in night clubs...not at restaurants, but whatevs. Our last friend was running about 20 minutes late. The hostess came to us 3 times in that 20 minutes to ask if we were ready and finally told us we had to be seated as the seats had a time limit on them. Eh? I can see a statement like that if we were like an hour or two late, but 20 friggin' minutes. Really? We were seated at the best table in the house. Right in front of the bathrooms and next to the entrance to the kitchen. Freaking lovely. I made note of 2 empty tables right behind us when we sat down, but figured they would soon be full since we were being rushed to our table. We dealt with it. We were there for about 1.5 hours. Those tables were never seated. Why were we given the crap table and the speech about the time limits on the tables??? I had the pleasure of having the pull out chair that was apparently directly in the path of the workers on the way to the kitchen and the diners on the way to the bathroom. I say that because EVERYONE who walked by ran into my chair. Not bumped into, but full on ran into. I mean, my arse is not tiny, but it's not that friggin' big. COME ON!!! The food was very average. The tacos came out kinda cold...maybe that's how they were supposed to be. The sauces were very mild...even their hottest habanero sauce. My husband is a very picky eater and they basically told him they couldn't really accomodate his requests as they couldn't delete or add things to the menu items. I have no desire to return and wold not recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Domi H.
Mercadito does cater and they are amazing!!!! Check them out at: mh-catering.com
(5)Daniella F.
The atmosphere is fun and cute. Most of the tables were full of what seemed to be a girl's night out. We went on a Saturday night around 10:00 and waited about 20min for our table. The tables are extremely small and close to eachother. The waiters move the tables over in order for someone to be able to seat on the other side of the table. Awkward sitting lap to lap with the stranger next to you. The mango guac was amazing. Swordfish tacos were also amazing. Drinks are horrible. Only one I liked was the pepino drink. The fire one was gross and from there we just stopped ordering. Don't think ill go back.
(2)Scott F.
The "lounge" downstairs was the most awkward and creepy thing I've seen in a while. I don't go to a nice restaurant to eat in the basement. The hostess staff asked me multiple times if I wanted to sit down there. Am I not worthy to sit with the other adults upstairs? I said my guest and I would wait for a proper table but then left after the third time I was told about the basement seating. On the positive side the bar staff was great and the margarita was on point.
(2)Jeremy B.
Great atmosphere and attentive staff. Be aware that they play somewhat loud music and seat you very close to your neighbors, so if a quiet/romantic evening is what you're looking for this might not be the place to go. But for a fun evening out with good food and a high energy vibe atmosphere, Mercadito rocks. The food is great, and the margaritas are really tasty and potent (which is how I truely rate a Mexican joint). When it comes to the food the place is all about variety - from the guacs to salsas to entrees, the best way to experience Mercadito is order a little of everything and share it among the table.
(4)Brad M.
Coming from SF where we've got some of the best mexican food you can find, Mercadito really blew me away. It's a little pricey but if you let that go, it's a real treat. Let's see if I can remember, we ordered the Carne, Pollo, Pescado, and my personal favorite the Estilo Baja tacos. The plates come in 4 tacos, so for a group of 5 like us they'll add an extra taco (not for free). They also serve each table chips and guac which I could made my whole meal it was so good. This place had a very posh atmosphere and also seemed to have attractive girls everywhere. The basement is quaint and classy, a private bar perfect for groups. This is the ultimate place to go before hitting bars after, we went straight to Untitled across the street, so a perfect dinner spot before a night of bar hopping.
(5)Lochin S.
business lunch. nice atmosphere, tad loud. cool bar maybe come back for drink? but lunch was ok. the tiny tacos were ok. not great. I probably will not order that again.
(2)Alexis I.
Headed here for Brunch on Saturday. Lovely (modern and chic) atmosphere. Tasty breakfast tacos. A bit pricey (but expected). Impressed by the quick and attentive service. Our food was delivered within 5 minutes! Great space for groups.
(4)Laura P.
The food is really good, I recommend getting a guacamole trio. The lobster tacos are amazing too! The only bad thing here is that even if you have a reservation you usually still have to wait for your table. The ambiance is nice, but the tables are really literally right next to one another so you better like your neighbor. Not a good place to go for a first date or anything intimate.
(4)Justin G.
We visited Mercadito a few years back when it first opened. We had a reservation for around 7:00 PM and arrived on time. The hostess kept pushing our reservation back and telling us "just a couple more minutes" every fifteen minutes or so. After an hour, the manager gave us complimentary margaritas and we waited another hour to be seated; two hours past our reservation time. The meal was OK but the restaurant clearly had some kinks to work out with the reservation system. We heard stories from other friends who visited the restaurant they had overbooked and taken on too many reservations. So, last night (12/29/13) we decided to give Mercadito another whirl. It had been a few years since we had first dined there and we thought we would give it a try with an open mind and very much looked forward to the food. Upon entering we could barely get in the door and find a place to stand. We, once again, arrived on time for our reservation and were told "just a couple minutes." The place was packed and we could not find a place to stand, let alone order a drink at the bar. This time, we only had to wait 30 minutes before a table was offered up to us. We were a party of four and we were told to squeeze into a cramped table for three. Frustrated, we left and went across the street (literally) to another restaurant who was happy to seat us right away, and moreover, give us a table that would comfortably fit four. (PS - I was so impressed with this other restaurant that I am going to write a glowing review for them) My advice for anyone looking to go to Mercadito is: (1) do not go during prime time - the restaurant is loud, cramped and all around frustrating during prime dinner hours. (2) reservations seem to mean nothing - just because you have a reservation does not mean you will be seated near your reservation time. (3) make alternate reservations - if they offer you a cramped table or can't accommodate you for your reservation time, at least you have a back-up plan. Perhaps we will give Mercadito a third try in another couple years...if they are around.
(1)Michael H.
Update: The tacos have actually gotten smaller? Literally TWO BITES!! As far as flavor, they are still right at the top!! Do not miss the "Carnitas" taco.. or the two bites of it. Unfortunately, this place is really trying to skimp the customer.. Salsas are $2.50 for literally a 1/4 cup? Guac is great but at $11 a scoop they are just trying to build up a huge check... Great food/ Great Flavor/ could you imagine those tacos if they were "almost" regular size? GTFJD
(3)Taylor P.
Best pastor taco I've had in Chicago hands down. Atmosphere was great - perfect for a date or for dinner with friends. Will be back.
(4)Stephanie W.
If you have the opportunity to try three different kinds of guacamole, you try three different kinds of guacamole. Spoiler alert: the traditional was still my favorite.
(3)Jelena Z.
You can tell that Mercadito was born in The City That Never Sleeps by the energy alone - no matter how late in the evening, you really feel the buzz in this restaurant. And, the lighting contributes to this as well! I recently dined here with three adventurous colleagues hell-bent on trying just about the entire menu. Why not? I'm currently stretching my stomach in anticipation of eating my way through San Francisco. First up - one of Mercadito's signature Mezcal drinks. I had the Shady Gato (herradura blanco, averna, mezcal, fresh strawberry, lemon, and fantasia de naranja). I'll be honest, I don't know what half of those ingredients are but the fresh strawberry got me. It turned out to be an exquisite cocktail and very pretty, too. Definitely worth the $10! For appetizers, we went with the cheesy rice (it may not be on the menu, but just ask for this buttery goodness and you shall receive) and the trio of guacamole. We chose the tradicional, the mango and the toreado. All were really well done, though the coloring of the mango version isn't that appetizing. Just an observation we all made! We ordered four different tacos for the table so we could share. The server let us know that they come out as they're ready, tapas-style. Our selections included the carne (rosemary-marinated skirt steak with avocado), the camaron (shrimp with roasted garlic, chipotle mojo and avocado), the mole (sauteed chicken, sweet plantain, mole poblano and crema fresca) and the hongos (huitlacoche, wild mushrooms, manchego cheese and salsa verde). All were well-portioned and literally, every bite exploded with messy, unbridled flavor. My favorites were the shrimp and the mole, though I enjoyed them all (and by all, I mean four tacos total!) very much! We tried to avoid dessert, but our omniscient server knew we wouldn't be able to turn down the lure of torrejas de bolillo (creme anglaise, soaked Mexican bread, vanilla ice cream and cajeta sauce). Basically, it's a richer version of French toast and worth every sinful calorie. Can't wait to return! Dress to impress as this is River North after all. Oh, and I was able to snag street parking less than a block away so it's not impossible. Enjoy!
(4)Rhonda P.
Ambiance = 2, Food = 4, Price = WTF $15.50 for 4 tacos??? Ceviche was 3 small portions for $28??. The waiter explained the concept was small plates to be shared hmm, whatever. I didn't choose this place and i probably wouldn't ever choose a place like this. It was pretty good don't get me wrong i was just left hungry and broke by the end of my meal. Plus it was super loud my ears were rinning after. Also tables are too close together. I swear my ass literally touched someones plate while attempting to sit down.
(3)Julie L.
Was there for restaurant week. Had to call a couple of times to reschedule and the staff was very helpful. So, already I had a good experience with them. We loved everything we tried and the service was excellent. My favorite of the whole meal, were the margaritas. I'm not usually a margarita fan, but I couldn't stop drinking them!
(4)Jessica N.
I had to update my review to 5-stars after coming here for restaurant week again. I cannot believe this is sub 4-stars people!! This restaurant GETS what restaurant week is about - which is trying FOOD! Nothing pisses me off than making a restaurant week reso only to see 2-3 options and a restaurant that is clearly reluctant to let people get their full restaurant experience. Mercadito lets you try it ALL and I've fallen in love all over again. Guacs - tasty as always Ceviches - better than I remember! Not fishy at all this time. Tried the shrimp and mahi-mahi Tacos - Each one was better than the next and you get to try FOUR different ones (brilliant!). Pescado still my fav but the Pollo was INTENSE. Really rich flavors highlighted by the squash and apple. Carnitas and Carne? can't go wrong. And we had wonderfully mixed cocktails - sweet, smokey, complex - which they give you one half off (also brilliant!) and a fabulous server to boot! I came on a Tuesday so noise level not bad but I know it's crazier on the weekend. Hats off here. I rarely give out fives but my experience tonight was outstanding.
(5)Shekhar P.
One of the best hi-end mexican fusion restaurants in the country. They have done a great job catering to all "taste" buds...If you like a spicy fresh salsa, just ask, and you will never be the same again. Again, like all great restaurants and lounges, the customer service and management staff is top notch. Kudos to Ivan and his team across the city. If you haven't tried the lounge, AA, downstairs, please do so...one of the best crowds in the city.
(4)Morgan N.
I checked this place out with some coworkers for their happy hour taco special. First of all, they make you sit in a dark, dingy area of the restaurant if you're there for the happy hour specials. What the hell? I'm being relegated to the corner because of the special your restaurant decided to create? That's total sh*t. So already I'm pissed off. Then we order tacos and they're good, but so small. I ask for some hot sauce and they bring me some sort of salsa and charge me $5 for it? For sauce? Are you insane or just a jerk? Never coming here again. Absolutely not worth it.
(2)C W.
Vegetarian Review**** Fantastic vegetarian tacos. The seating was so strange and cramped. To make matters worse/better/hilarious, the couple at the table next to us were sitting side by side on the bench (halfway in my lap) and making out like a couple of school kids.
(4)Lindsay Y.
I absolutely love Mercadito! The drinks are fantastic and strong. the ceviche trio is to die for as well as guacamole. But.. my favorite thing on the menu would have to be the brussel sprouts that are cooked in tomatoes and chorizo. The only issue I have with the place is that the music is way too loud. I know, I sould like an old fart..but, seriously..it's too noisy to even have a conversation.
(3)Claudia M.
Although I was a bit disappointed when I called on a Tuesday that Mercadito was already heavily booked for Saturday, I was still curious. I'd seen Mercadito on Check, Please and I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I kept hearing how trendy it was and how it's the place to "see and be seen". It is pretty trendy. Deceptive from the outside, once you walk in it's got a clubby, loungy feel. I can appreciate that, especially if I'm out with friends I haven't seen in a while. They gave us a cool, raised booth where we had a good view of the clientele. There were 8 of us, so we had to order from the "Sharing Menu". We ordered the canasta , which for 35$ per person you get 2 types of guacamole's, 3 salsas, 2 types of ceviches, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides and 2 desserts. Salsas were all delicious. I don't know which one I loved more. For the guacamoles, we had tradicional and toreado. Toreado was spicy. Portions were quite small for a group of 8 but I stayed cool, didn't say anything. Now, I LOVE ceviche and ceviche had been on my mind all week. When the waiter brought out the ceviche (we ordered camaron and mixto) I could not believe what I saw. It was a tiny, square dish of camaron ceviche and a tiny, square dish of ceviche mixto. I could no longer keep my mouth shut. I asked our waiter where the rest of the ceviche was. He laughed and assured me that the tacos and sides they were about to bring out would make us quite full. That didn't make me feel better about this tiny ceviche dish. I wanted more ceviche. We ordered tacos de camaron, pescado (mahi-mahi), hongo (mushrooms) and al pastor. We devoured the shrimp, fish and mushroom tacos and there were 2 al pastor tacos left over which I took home to my BF. The sides we ordered were rajas con papa and arroz verde. I LOVED the arroz verde and have to learn to make it since I already make pasta verde with poblano chiles. For drinks most of us had margaritas, I had the pina margarita con chile. Amazing. I'm not a margarita fan because they are always so sour but this was damn good. The chile took the drink to another level. For dessert they brought out a flan (yes, that is one flan) and hmmm, I can't even remember what the other dessert but it was a tiny one serving as well to share with 7 other people. Come on..we're Mexican, we eat a little more than this. Quiero mas! Anyway, good food, fun music but I know places where I can BYOB, get a HUGE plate of ceviche and listen to nortenas for 20$. Mercadito is fun and trendy, somewhere you might want to try for a special occasion with your girlfriends. I probably won't be making this place a habit of mine but for special occasions , why not?
(4)Lisa S.
I came here for a private work event so we were in the downstairs bar area, so I can't comment on the individual table service, but the passed try service we received downstairs was great! And the bartenders did a fantastic job of keeping up with our high-demand of cocktails. I had one cocktail called the mexican kitten I think..super spicy and super good! I loved their traditional guacamole. The other two we received were ok...one had bacon in it which I thought detracted from the guacamole as a whole and the other seemed like it had eggplant either. None of them were any better than the traditional. And the selection of salsas were also all great! I also really liked the empanadas, beef taquitos and mini chicken tostadas. The fish and shrimp tacos weren't anything to write home about, but the mini steak tacos were awesome! I'd love to come back here for a regular meal to see how it compares, but the group definitely had a great time and a huge amount of food and drink!
(5)Trixy D.
This restaurant was recommended to us three times in one week by our dry cleaner, by a stranger on a plane, and from the hairdresser. Three totally unrelated people, so we had to try it! You will definitely want to make a reservation, lunch or dinner, because it gets VERY crowded and they will, at times, have many tables empty and not seat you, because of the reservations. Not sure why it works out that way, but who am I to question their "system". I just want their food! The guacamoli sampler has three unique guac's and OMG the Pomegranet is my very favorite but they said the season is almost over and it won't be available anymore! SAD!! Mango was not bad either, but the traditional is wonderful. I'm a fan. They don't do a big bowl of chips like most Mexican food joints...but this is not a joint...it has an upscale nightclub atmosphere with fairly loud music, and cool modern decor with chains around the poles and glass tiles and stone, so a big bowl of chips would seem out of place anyways. :-) Food is served on flat little square white plates, and presentation is really top notch. When you order tacos, you get three little palm sized tacos with the most deliciously marinated contents ever. The pork is our favorite and I'm not even a pork fan, but the shrimp, chicken and beef is wonderful too. (we have tried them all.) They have a fantastic variety of margaritas and a full bar, but the Margaritas have an interesting spicy twist added to them with the unusual peppery-salty dip they take with the glass. They have a lot (LOT) of bus-staff to keep the tables clear and pick up glasses. The hostesses seem confused about seating because of their "reservations -vs- present-at-the-moment paying patrons" needs, but I know it is really confusing and difficult when things get busy, and they usually are. Luckily for them, the food and drinks are so good, and the atmosphere is so fun and party-like, that the long waits probably won't lose them any business. We have eaten here numerous times, and brought out of town guests, and we are never disappointed (unless we try to go without a reservation and they can't fit us in).
(4)Kathy S.
I really wasn't sure how I would like this place as I'm a believer that Mexican food should not be expensive. I went with a bunch of my gfs to celebrate a couple of their birthdays and the combination of the food, service and ambience makes it a 3.5 to a 4 for me. Food: They still had their restaurant week menu so we got to try a lot of stuff. I was a big fan of the camaron ceviche/tacos and the toreado guac (Johnny T. was right that the mango guac does look like baby poop btw!). The others were good to just okay. Service: Our waitress was super friendly and engaging. Our water glasses never passed the half way mark which is big for me because I drink a lot of water when I eat. Ambience: Mercadito is trendy but in my opinion, not overly so. Although towards the end of the night, it started getting more of a night club vibe as the club music started getting louder. They could use more bathrooms though instead of just one per gender. Girls with small bladders do not appreciate waiting long. Verdict: I'll be back if someone wants to go but I probably wouldn't choose it on my own just because I'm biased towards my Mexican hole in the walls over spending almost $4 for a mini taco.
(3)Simon R.
We have been at the place 4-5 times and last night was our last. First, The food and drinks are really good. I don't think we have ever tried anything that was not good. However, The place is trying to bank on every square inch they have. In order to sit at a table they have to pull it out of the row for you to squeeze in. You will be literary bumping elbows with the person next to you. Service is 1/2 and 1/2. We have had really bad experiences with waiters and good ones. Their brunch menu used to be very misleading (been there once from brunch, I would guess it still is) and the waiter did not explain to us until they brought the food out how the menu works. We order tacos - it clearly said 4 tacos, however they brought out two. I asked they how come its only 2 - because there is two of us on the table. We still paid the same price. We were told that because is a combination with other items this is how it works. Would have been nice to know ahead of time so I know what I was ordering. Also, They seem to be loosing reservations - only once they were able to find our reservation - all other times they could not. If you are going with a group forget ordering different items on the menu - you have to order from a group menu. You want to try different tacos - you must order 4 of each - no combination plate or mixing of the different tacos. Not going anytime soon or ever.
(1)Melissa P.
Cool decor. Great Guac. It's a sharing place (aka mini portions) but they usually give you enough food for your table when you do the set menu. Weird thing is they give you really really small plates- which seems odd when you are grabbing a little of this and a little of that.. Very tasty, kinda pricey.
(3)Rebecca S.
Margarita and mango guacamole were both fantastic: a perfect pair. Nice space, not too crowded. Clean. But as far as mex food goes, there is better. It's not bad. It's just nothing to write home about.
(3)Divya V.
The service was good: the waiter checked on us periodically and we didnt feel rushed. The drinks: I started with a mojito which was kind of disappointing but got a margarita after that which was pretty good (when it comes to drink's i would suggest you stick to the menu) The food: Good guacamole, awesome taco's The ambience: Meh! its like eating in a night club, knocked off one star for the incredibly loud music... they also sit people RIGHT next to each other so if you want to have a private conversation this is NOT the place! I would definitely go back for the margarita's and taco's!
(4)Kelly C.
I've been back to Mercadito a few times recently as it's close to my office both for lunch and dinner. Every time I go, I really enjoy the tacos and all of the unique flavors it is really what makes this place popular time and again. I still find that at dinner time the restaurant is really loud (even mid-week), so I tend to prefer it for lunch or dinner when the weather is nice and you can sit outside.
(4)Xants M.
Ok. Let's talk tacos. The shrimp taco here is probably the best shrimp taco I've had. The levels of flavor that greet your taste buds are pure awesomeness. The pork belly taco is neck in neck with the shrimp taco as it too, has undeniably killer flavor!! The steak taco is pretty fabulous as well... I would say that for me, the only taco that was just alright was the chicken taco. I wasn't too sold on this taco...flavor was just meh. I mean, it's chicken. And then there's the whole comparison game that occurs once you've sampled other 3 great tacos. ...I'm terms of the guacamole, it is super fresh and really delicious. Thumbs up for sure. I've tried three of their guacamole but unfortunately can not recall which three. Boo on my part. The major con to this place is that it is way over priced. At the end of the day, let us remember that they are just tacos. No need to get crazy with prices for a corn tortilla with a little bit of protein in it. Also, it is outrageously loud. Do not come here if you plan on engaging in intimate conversation or legitimately catching up with someone. No good here. The vibe is fun, modern and for a 20s, 30s and young 40s demo. Even though I was grumpy with the bill, I'll be back. The things I did have (with the exception of the chicken taco) are worth having again!
(4)Erica D.
As hard as it is to believe, It is difficult to find a Mexican restaurant in the Loop; Our streets are filled with the tastes of Chipotle & Qdoba to satisfy our 'Feisty taste buds'. Sad...but true... Mercadito is a quaint joint located right across from an amazing club, "Untitled" (just throwing that out). Outside overhang doesn't foreshadow the design of the restaurant. Stepping inside, an elegant glare from candles and lights illuminate all around, the tables are neatly set with white napkins on hard wood tables. Rope hangs from the ceiling in a modern style behind the hostess, breaking the room up. High Top leather booths line the wall, revealing cozy coves of dining space for the larger parties. My Boyfriend and I went for a later brunch around 1230 (serves till 200) hungering for Bloody Mary's and a kick to the palate. Our server, Daniel, approached us with an adorable smile. He was so friendly and knowledgeable, making us feel right at home. About 25% of the restaurant was occupied, allowing room for conversation among friends. We ordered a Bloody Mary & Margarita. Both delicious. Bloody Mary: Stiff. Spicy. Unique garnishes. Smooth finish. BUT NO OLIVES!! shame. (thank god for full bar!) Margarita: Stiff. Right balance of Spirit to Margarita House Mix. Strawberry Margarita... AMAZING!!!!!! So Good, can't taste the tequila, but damn can you feel it! Options for guacamole are great, we stepped out of the box and chose Mango Guacamole... Holy MOLYYYY.. Delicious, I could've eaten it with a spoon! Don't worry, I didn't. Enchiladas were Fantastic!!! 3 Large Corn Tortillas covered my plate drenched in a Semi-spicy Red Sauce, drizzled with what seemed to be a Mexican cheese sauce garnished with fresh avocado. The chicken was stuffed inside with melted cheeses pouring over the enchiladas. I wasn't even that hungry and I ate it all! Daniel made sure our food was tasting amazing and never allowed our cocktails to empty before asking if we would like another. His attention to detail was impeccable. The Food was amazing, ambiance was relaxing for a Saturday Morning.. Wow Wow Wow. New favorite spot, Great Service from Daniel. Give this man a raise!
(5)Bri A.
My girlfriends and I decided to try Mercadito for brunch after one of them saw it on Check Please. We came on a Sunday around noon and were seated right away. We started off with some cocktails and an order of the tradicional guacamole. My bloody mary was good, but on the small side for the price. The guac was tasty and came with fresh, hot chips. The food was delicious but the tortillas were the smallest ones I've ever seen! We had: tacos de huevo a la mexicana: these were pretty good. I would get them with braised short rib if I order them again pollo tacos: these were great although a little salty chilaquiles: I love chilaquiles and these had a nice flavor but no eggs! The service was great and we loved the ambiance. I really want to come back for dinner!
(4)Lady L.
This is my go to recommendation when people are looking for a great group dining experience with a scene. They have a great family style dinner menu that's perfect for birthdays, bachelorette parties, etc. Oh, and if your friends from the 'burbs and IN want to feel cool, tell them to go to Mercadito. The speakeasy style bar downstairs will melt their faces off.
(4)Ted T.
This review is based on lunch... and take out lunch to boot so it is really based solely on the food. We order lunch here quite often and it is great for larger groups. We order pretty much every kind of taco they have (they come in groups of three tacos each) and then serve them buffet style for groups of 6-10. People love it, it travels well, is very easy to share and has a great variety ranging from several fish based tacos to duck, pork, steak and a couple veggie options. I'm knocking a star off because they ALWAYS mess up ANY order that involves anything other than tacos. They also sell tortas but literally EVERY time we have tried to order one they forget the torta and only give us the tacos. Now they do not charge us for them but it is VERY annoying to always have a portion of the order missing. However the tacos are great for lunch... if only they could get their act together I'd add another star.
(4)Mike C.
Say What? 5 stars for food but only 2 for the ambiance. We went on a Saturday night which, of course, was crowded. But we didn't wait long for our table and got a drink right away at the bar. The tables are so close together (inches from your neighbor) and the noise level is so high that we were literally yelling at each other across the table. I would definitely not go back on a weekend. The food was excellent, especially the octopus tacos, and the drinks are delicious. Everything is reasonably priced.
(3)M K.
Mercadito was fantastic! The food and service was exceptional! We dined there during restaurant week and we couldn't have asked for a better menu. It allowed us to taste most of what Mercadito had to offer. The drink menu was also fantastic. I recommend their regular margarita it was very different, but pricey. Their guacamole and the baja fish tacos were out of this world! Overall I would visit Mercadito again and I think it's nice for a date and/or a girl's night out!
(4)Jeanne L.
Fun and friendly decor/service! It kind of is overpriced Mexican food, but the food was more 'done up' both in ingredients and presentation. Review of the dishes ordered: Dorado Ceviche (mahi mahi, avocado, tomato, orange-chile de árbol broth). Overall the flavor was pretty mild, and not as 'acidic' as I'm used to (compared to the Chicago Peruvian restaurants), but there was a faint hint of spicy to it. The mahi mahi was good, and the avocados were barely noticable in the dish. My only big complaint with this was the bread that came with this - they were these flatbread-esque crackers that I thought overwhelmed the ceviche with how buttery they were. Flautas (x3) - pretty benign and typical. Tacos de Pato (duck confit, prune mole, pumpkin purée). I love cilantro. I think every Mexican dish should have cilantro in it. This did not. Commence sad face..... :( Other than that, I thought this was pretty good, and the flavors/texture worked really well together. Drinks: - Misty's sleeve (el tesoro blanco, ginger, hibiscus, valencia orange, chile serrano, hibiscus salt) - Different but goood.
(4)Georg Roth Los Angeles R.
Best mexican food I ever had, you need to visit this place while in Chicago...
(5)Greg G.
Food was good. Service was weird. The waiter was kooky and didn't really give a damn. They bus our entire table when we were done with the meal and took a half full margarita and our chips and guac away. Managers were none exsistant enjoying their sweet old time in the corner. Won't go back and wouldn't recommend to anyone
(2)Matthew L.
Classy, feisty, hip spot. Service great (ONLY downside was that they actually CLEANED our table before we had left - in which bizarro-world service manual does it say to do that?), drinks strong, food very good, if slightly too heavy on the garlic for my taste...
(4)Ahmad N.
The White fish taco and shrimp tacos are delicious. Best if you go with a group of people and order a wide variety of tacos so you can try them all.
(4)Nik B.
Mercadito is one of those places that's all price and no quality, and there's really no reason for you to blow you money that way. I'm pretty sure that ever server, waiter and waitress hit me as they were passing by without apologizing. And the server who refilled our water spilled two ice cubes in front of me on the table and left them there for them to melt, without saying sorry. The quality is low. Nothing will taste spectacular, nothing is unique. I had the guacamole with potato which was extremely flavorless and bland. The vegetarian tacos were also pretty standard, and extremely small, for $15.50. I'm all about small plates and I've even paid more for small plates. But if I'm not getting something special, you can't charge me that much, that's robbery. The atmosphere is good, but it's all hype. I'm not sure why everyone is paying hte prices that they are for such low-quality food. The drinks are sub par and over-priced. So basically, what I'm saying is, don't go to Mercadito. There are much better options in Chicago.
(2)David C.
food was good, not great. service was absolutely horrible, forgot part of our order. only came around ever 20 mins and ignored us the rest of the time. the valet was just as slow, it as raining outside and there is no covered shelter except the entrance doorway. ourselves and about six others sat out in the pouring rain for at least fifteen minutes waiting for the valet whom must have been on break. he was also in no hurry as he walked, slowly, to get the cars despite the pouring rain. I would have rather gone to taco bell, at least you get prompt service there.
(1)Stephen M.
Been here twice--both positive but a very important difference. Evening versus mid-day. The food is great. The plates are well conceived. Last time, we had a group of five and, based upon a wide variety of items--you can't go wrong. Order so you can share. Some of the tacos are very sumptuous--you'll probably enjoy one, but find more a bit rich. The differences between night and day? Conversation level. At night time, they have a heavy beat of music which can be good or bad--night time conversation with a group is difficult. Oh, and anyone who says the wait staff is super, is 100% right.
(4)Kimberly H.
Great place to eat. A little busy on the weekends.
(3)Meredith K.
We came here for Chef's Week and now we're kicking ourselves for not going here sooner! I knew I was going to love it when I walked through the door. The hostess was great. I waited at the bar which has purse hooks (BRAVO!) and the 2 bartenders were fantastic. I had a delicious cocktail and then we stuffed ourselves with amazing tacos, unique guacamoles and a delicious dessert at the end. I cannot wait to get back to try more food and have those shrimp tacos again!! Here's my brunch review: We came her for brunch because we loved our Chef's Week experience. The brunch was every bit as good! I will admit I wanted more tacos but it was great to try their breakfast cocktails and eggs. The only miss was that we ordered pancakes and they brought us french toast. Both dishes take an unusually long time. They more than corrected the mistake. I'm glad I didn't pay for the french toast though. It was really mushy. Not good. The pancakes were ok but if I were to go back I'd skip them.
(4)Inna B.
Meh. This place was pretty much a let down. My biggest complaint is with the food. I came here with a group and we sampled a large variety of guacs, ceviches, and tacos. None of the flavors really stood out, and the food was way overpriced ($10 for a tiny scoop of guac.) There are waaaay too many better Mexican restaurants (both high end and hole in the wall) for me to ever come back to Mercadito. I think once the hype dies down over the next months, people will move onto the next generic "trendy" restaurant.
(2)Amanda A.
I'm really on the fence about Mercadito. I went here for lunch yesterday to take advantage of their Restaurant Week offerings, and the food was FANTASTIC. Just delicious from start to finish. Scallop/apple ceviche so fresh I searched for the shells, perfectly-seasoned mango guacamole---and not too sweet at all, thank you! The mole (chicken in black mole with plaintain) and beer-battered mahi mahi tacos were superb. And the server wasn't kidding about the flan de coco (serenely accompanied by mangos in a lick-your-lips sauce). However. The service. Sucked. I arrived at 11:20 for my 11:30 reservation, and I was the ONLY patron in the restaurant for a full ten minutes---at least---after being seated. It still took about fifteen minutes for the server to take my order. I had to place everything at once since I utilized the prix fixe menu, but that didn't ward off the ridiculous lag time between courses. What should have been at most a forty-five minute lunch didn't have me out the door until 1:15! And to top it off, they were out of first-choice for desert. How can you be out of a prix-fixe (Restaurant Week no less) item on a Monday, at lunch, for the first reservation...and not tell me until halfway through the meal? I think I saw my server twice more after he took my order---once to explain the desert mishap, and again as I was putting on my coat to leave. I finally left my credit card on the table so that I could run to the restroom, and the bill had been settled upon my arrival. No server in site. I'd really like to take some friends back to lap up the Mexican goodness, but...only if I have all of Friday or Saturday night to kill. I can only imagine what it's like when they're really busy.
(3)Gary R.
This place was pretty good. It did not suck like the Justin Bieber phenomenon. Not at all. I had some kind of sandwich- maybe it was called a Tortata or Tornado or something. It was really a tornado of flavor in my mouth. It was good. Chicken, beans, and an encased shell. There was green rice with cheese too. I think it was not green from fungus, but rather it was green from pretentiousness. It did taste really good, however. We also had a number of pureed salsas that were tasty. They weren't really like pace picante sauce (which is made in San Antonio by folks who know what salsa should taste like). The salsas were good, however. I also had some plant tains. These were fried bananas for lack of a better term. The bathroom was nice, although there was a dude in there who assaulted the joint before I went in. Yikes. I guess there is no avoiding that, but maybe I'll invent some kind of stinkometer that restaurants can use to alert customers about what they're in for. Good idea, no?
(3)Rachel G.
I am really disappointed to be giving only 3 stars to Mercadito the 2nd time around. Here's why: - Tried the Elote Mexicano as a side and was not thrilled. Two little half corn on the cobs (no wait...make that quarter corn of the cobs) with a bland taste. Eat this and you'll get lots of spice and NO taste. And for $4...a waste of money. - Ate the Pastor tacos and they were very good. I got these the last time I ate here and was glad the taste stayed the same! Only complaint...not too much meat in the tacos. For $9.50 I expected a little more in the taco. - I ordered this as a pick-up order and they told me 30 min. Got my food and it was just barley lukewarm by the time I opened it up. Hmmm...maybe they should have told me 15 min till my food was ready? End result....2 hours later after eating and I am already hungry again. I think I will stick with eating in the restaurant...much better experience. Though the take-out did give you awesome re-usable containers!
(3)Rebecca L.
I really liked this place! My husband and I went here this past Monday 11/1 for my birthday dinner. The Pros: -It was great because it was busy, but not super swamped, and we didn't have to deal with any crazy music like people have mentioned in other reviews. -The atmosphere was cozy and warm, and the food was fantastic! -I had the 3 ceviches and loved all three of them, literally. I licked the plates! -Then we ordered carne tacos which were outstanding, and the elote corn side which was amazing but a little pricey at $5.50 for essentially one big corn broke into two pieces. -The regular margarita is very good, as is the Smokey Pablo. -The Mango dessert is good, but very strangely presented...its like a creamy yogurt dessert on a plate with something on top. It tasted amazing, but again, presentation was wierd. The Cons: -Prices are kinda out there for what you get, but in that area of the city, that is to be expected -Having to get 4 of the same types of taco's in an order, and not being able to try different kinds. Ususally at most mexican places you can try one chicken, one beef, etc etc, but not here. You have to get 4 of the same, and that sucks. That, if anything, will probably prevent us from coming back, because we like to feel like we tried a few different things and didn't feel that way with their menu restrictions. We'll probably go back, but with that taco restriction thing, it might be a hard sell. Juan Florez the manager is excellent and really made the evening great for us, so thanks Juan :) I may come back on my own just for the ceviche, because its so worth it!! And a smokey pablo!
(4)Avi D.
The food is excellent with an amazing amount of options fo us as vegetarians. Why I will never go back: Ordered the 15.50 tacos and my wife ordered the 22.50 vegetarian enchilada. We felt like we needed a lil bit of heat so asked the server if they have anykind of hot sauce. He ordered a $6 chipotle salsa instead which would have been ok but it wasnt hot at all. We asked him if he can just bring us some jalapenos since he had no other option. He brought that out after 20 minutes and then chaged us $1.50 for it. Here's my point. This purports to be a fine dining establishment with prices more than enough to match. Why the hell would you then try to nickel and dime customers and fleece them? Don't treat customers as if they are stupid!
(2)Samantha H.
Let me say this first: the food was fantastic and the drinks were great. The homemade guac and salsa (especially the chips) were the only highlights of this experience. We were seated across from an overcrowded bar that kept pushing into our meal and crowded our already squished table. We ordered appetizers to share and after waiting for them for 40 minutes (tables around us were receiving their food in a timely manner) we questioned the waiter. While he apologized profusely we still waited another ten minutes for him to come back and tell us the kitchen screwed up. When we told the manager about this he seemed to run away from our complaint by backing away toward the kitchen. Finally after waiting for more than an hour for our food our main courses arrived. By that point I was too angry to enjoy the food. At the end of the meal we had to wait another 10 minutes for our waiter to come back and offer us the check. At this point the manager decided to bring us complimentary flan to try and make up for the horrible service. When the check arrived we found that they took off the appetizers off the bill (as well as some of our main courses) but charged us for the complimentary flan. I doubt I'll ever return.
(1)Leslee C.
The food was great, but the service was terrible. It was 7:00 on a Wednesday, we didn't get our last round of food, our waiter didn't really come by our table to check on us very much. To top it off, one person in our party got her jacket stolen from the coat check. Won't go back.
(2)Craig R.
I went to Mercadito's the other night and was pleasantly surprised. The food was good and the service was excellent. We had the shrimp tacos and the tilapia tacos. We split an order of the fried plantains and the rice. To start we had some tasty guac. Dessert was a bread drenched in caramel with vanilla ice cream. It was yummy! Overall it was a great meal. It is a tad pricey but it is good!
(4)Karen T.
Went for brunch and it was super slow...maybe five tables of people in the whole place yet the service was still slow. The brunch options are ok but everything is over salted or just a pile of salsa to increase flavor. The portions are tiny for the prices but the staff was friendly and professional (just slow).
(3)Joe R.
The food was great but the service was terrible. Our waiter disappeared along with our food. When he finally showed up he asked us if we had received our food yet and I said no, what happened to it? Ten minutes later we finally got our food, and it was a warm temperature, not very hot, as if it had been sitting for a while... Needless to say it really ruined our experience. For the price, the service should never be like that. Unfortunately I don't think we will be returning.
(2)KM I.
NO NO AND NO. Went with a reservation and it took over an hour to get seated...up to the minute of our reservation they waited despite others being taken before it when they walked in without reservation much later. Spent $50 on 3 drinks beforehand at the bar.....they were nothing special margaritas. Another $55 on dinner, plain bland, tacos, steak and chicken......I would have rather lit my money on fire than sit crammed next to some drunk loud groups. BONUS: This place turns into a ridiculously obnoxious "Jersey shore night club" after 10pm....what an atmosphere to dine in. Gross. Our server however, very nice young asian woman was outstanding.
(2)Padraic S.
Learning we were going to River North and not the West Loop - as for some reason I thought that's where Mercadito called home - for tacos on a warm Sunday night, I was excited to try a new spot. A refreshing margarita helped us really enjoy ourselves. We started with two different salsas, the roja and the verde, and both provided the perfect amount of heat and unique flavors. Although I generally enjoy a chunkier salsa, and these were more of a smooth blend, they hit the spot perfectly with perfectly salty and crispy tortilla chips. For our entree, we decided to order two different plates of tacos - each order provides four tacos of the same ingredient, no mix-and-match option here. While we debated for a few minutes what to order, there are about a dozen different choices, we found ourselves with carnitas and tilapia. Both had rich flavors on top of fresh corn tortillas. With the warmth of the day, I'd probably pick the tilapia with avocado as the winner, although the slaw and toasted peanuts on the carnitas did provide a unique texture. As for the restaurant itself, our waitress was friendly and helpful and our food was served promptly. I appreciate a "family-style" restaurant that cooks your food to order, and brings it out when its ready. For us, it worked out perfectly, especially on a lazy Sunday evening. Although the interior is more "trendy club" than "Mexican cantina," the Talking Heads and Wilco pumping through the speakers was a welcome surprise. In the future, I'd love to venture to an entree and the endless tequila list.
(4)Michael O.
For Tex-Mex type of food, this is as good as it gets. Beautiful space, (the old 'Sugar' space has been completely renovated) fantastic service, and unique takes on food and margaritas all executed to perfection. To call the food 'Tex-Mex' may not be fair...after all this is much, much, more than a high-end Chipotle-type place. We were able to get seated easily in the bar area without reservation on a Friday night around 7pm. But after that things picked up, so plan accordingly while this place is considered a hot spot. The food comes out in fairly small portions (think tapas) and meant to be shared (family style). So it's fun in a group to have tastes of a bunch of different small, but super-tasty, samplings. While waiting, we were brought chips and 3 fantastic guacamoles that I have never had. Yummy. I am definitely going back soon, and often.
(5)April W.
Waited 2 hours after being told it was an hour and a half, never got in to eat, my fault, no reservations, totally annoyed but the drinks we had while waiting were so amazing I will try again. YUM YUM YUM and go ahead and complain about the price of them, but they actually have alcohol in them unlike other places.
(3)Shannon D.
I have mixed feelings about this place. I enjoyed the drinks I had, and the food was definitely tasty. Loved the salsas, and the guacamoles went over great with my friends. However the portion sizes are incredibly small by most standards and aren't exactly cheap for what you get. Most of drinks seemed to be in the 12-15 range, which is a bit steep even for this area. The service alternated between very slow and overly attentive over the course of our 3 hour visit. Our waitress was very friendly, but would disappear for long periods of time (failing to bring our drink orders in a timely fashion). It was opening week, so I'm willing to cut them some slack. I plan to visit again in hopes that they've improved certain aspects (portion size and speed of service in particular).
(3)Nancy Z.
This place is very pleased with itself, and its entire attitude will assure you that it does not need your business, since Rick Bayless' win for his own restaurant apparently implies that all Mexican establishments now mean awesome if they hang some paintings and attach large light fixtures to their ceilings. Food: I had the chicken taco, braised pork taco, steak taco, and battered mahi mahi taco. Chicken came out as the unanimous winner from our table. The moral of the story for the rest of the tacos is that they are dry and lacked enough of that punch you're looking for when you're paying 14 bucks for 4 small tacos. The solution is to buy the special salsas they sell, which you then lather all over the taco and pretend it was naturally that flavorful by itself. The point of the matter is that getting any small thing from this restaurant is like pulling teeth. Each order of salsa, which was about 3 bucks for a single order of salsa, is approximately 4 tablespoons of salsa. Do not go with people who do not understand the art of sharing. Guacamole, which was about 8 bucks for a single serving, was envisioned to be served to perhaps a small pet: about 1/2 cup of guac per order. Long story short, the chef had great ideas about sharable foods, but either failed to deliver on the great part or failed to deliver on the sharable part. Service: I can only say that the service was a little hilarious. You see, Mercadito is a place of rules. - No you may not sit at the table for more than 1 hour... you must move in an hour if someone had that table reserved. So shove that overpriced food, unworthy one. - No you many not order different kinds of tacos on one dish. To try the steak tacos, you must order at least four. To mix and match different tacos in an order is apparently physically impossible and the restaurant might explode. - At the Double A bar downstairs, which I will call the Butt Bar, because their emblem looks like a set of buttcheeks, is apparently "much more sophisticated than the upstairs," said the waitress there. As a result, we are not allowed to order such lowbrow drinks offered by the upstairs, when we are sitting in the downstairs area. Instead, what we are allowed to do is tell them that we would like a drink that has exactly the same ingredients as a drink from upstairs, and would they please use the exact same ingredients in the same proportions? This inquiry is ok. Just don't try to ask for the same drink by name, as it would show yourself as too uncultured to be served at the Butt Bar. - We were reminded continuously that "we are a different place," by the staff of Butt Bar, even though they served the exact same food menu, and was connected to it by a staircase that the bar staff pretended not to exist. Miscellaneous: - The drinks were interesting, and I would go there for the drinks alone. Nothing compared to the Drawing Room, but nice twists and flavors of cayenne, fire, and secrets, according to their menu. - The lighting in the bathrooms downstairs are appropriate if you possess infrared vision. Otherwise, bring a flametorch.
(3)Carolyn M.
A meal at Mercadito is always a treat. Their margaritas are some of the best in the city, the guacamole is perfect and the tacos are excellent. I was really impressed with their take on restaurant week where they didn't skimp on portions or quality. The RW menu allowed me to try the plantains which were great and I'll definitely order again in the future. I wasn't crazy about the ceviche, but as mentioned above, you can have a great meal with a guacamole trio and some great tacos. Service is friendly- I love going here with friends.
(4)Kamal P.
wine is cheap and food was great!!
(5)Allison H.
Definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. The margaritas are delicious and not made with tons of syrupy mix that makes you feel sick after just one - meaning you can drink lots of them - yay! Though they are pretty strong and I was feeling it after 2, so I had one more. My husband ordered the b.n.g.t.m. drink which was some mix of tequila and rum. It was a bit too strong for me but he seemed to enjoy it. The first time I came here was for a restaurant week special so we got to try 3 types of guacamoles, 2 ceviches, 4 types of tacos, 1 side, and dessert. This was sooo much food but I ate almost all of it because it was too good to waste! We tried the tradicional, strawberry, and toreado guacamoles. The strawberry was kind of different, I'm not sure how I feel about fruit in my guacamole but the tradicional (just traditional guac for those of you who know as little spanish as I do) was very good and the toreado, which had serrano chiles was also good. We tried the camaron and dorado ceviches. Both were very good though if there's any course I could have done without and not feel like I gained 10 lbs in one sitting it would have been this one. The tacos were really what made the meal. My husband and I kept trying each one saying "oh my god, you have to try this"and "no try this!!". Definitely weren't authentic Mexican (not that I really know what that is but I can tell you it wasn't this) but that's what made them so good. We tried the camaron (shrimp), estilo baja (battered mahi mahi), pollo (even I know this means chicken though I've been pronouncing it poh-low for years...whoops), and carne (skirt steak). All were amazing and had delicious sauces and marinades. All mexican I have now compares to these amazing little tacos. I can't remember what we had for dessert but I'm pretty sure I only had a bite of it because I was so full. I can't wait to go back here - such a great combo and amazing food and delicious drinks!
(5)Katie U.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city! Best cocktails ever, especially the Pepino El Pyu, it has cucumbers in it and is very refreshing. The must try's on the menu are the shrimp tacos (especially if you like spicy food), mahi mahi tacos and pork and pineapple tacos. All of the guacs are good too.
(5)Jacqueline M.
Cool Latin dining spot. Really tasty corn bites (appetizers) and excellent tacos (especially halibut tacos with homemade slaw). The al pastor tacos were succelent as well but not exactly the same flavor as you'd find at the authentic taco stands dotting most Mexican villages. Music selection was really schizo.. Way too eclectic for a non-eclectic restaurant. Song sequence went from Credence Clearwater Revival to Milli Vanilli to Beyonce. What the...? Would have totally made sense if the menu was varied like that but it was all Latin based. Also, the salsas were a bit of a joke in that the portions were about 1 tablespoon per. I can understand caviar but salsa? It's one of the cheapest things to make! Service was impeccable.
(4)Andrew T.
Only been to Mercadito one time and I would surely go back again! I was there with a great group; we had drinks flowing and more importantly, we had an array of tacos, salsaa and ceviche to choose from. The food can provide a rush of flavor - savory, creamy and great use of spice. I enjoyed my drinks as well and enjoyed plenty of margaritas and a few caipirinhas. On a side note, I enjoyed the decor and the excitement going through the place. Made for a good time. No complaints for my first time!
(4)Scott N.
I went there with a couple buddies and planned on spending a while there and it was a blast. We had several drinks at the bar, all of which were well made, so we didn't mind waiting 45 minutes for our table despite having a reservation. We ordered family style so everyone got a taste of everyone and that was definitely the way to go. The mahi and white fish tacos were outstanding, as were the flautas. I was not as fond of the shrimp taco but I would still give them a 7 out of 10. Great atmosphere- the place was packed. Music selection was also good although slightly random and eclectic- maybe no a bad thing either. Overall this spot has great food and is definitely worth the wait. Pay attention to the address though because it's very easy to drive right past this place.
(4)Cecilia L.
I went there for lunch on a chilly, rainy day and walked in to a almost-completely restaurant. My biggest gripe about the place? The restaurant was freezing!! I'm not sure if they were cutting down on the heat or something to save costs (since there were more employees than customers that day), but I had to keep my coat on the whole time. The portions are also pretty small. I guess my expectations were off after looking at the prices for lunch, but it seemed like the portions were tiny!! For appetizers, we ordered a salsa a guac. For the lunch entree, I ordered the carne asada tacos and my friend got the chicken mole tacos. It definitely was *just* the right amount of food, which is unusual since 2 apps and 2 entrees is normally too much food for my friend and I. The food itself gets a 4 star, since the mole sauce on the chicken was great and the steak was great. Okay, I'm gonna downgrade it to 3.5 stars because we're not allowed to mix and match tacos. It would have been nice to get 3 different tacos with 1 order. Also, the guac wasn't something to rave about (definitely didn't taste fresh). I LOVE LOVE LOVE guac and make a lot of it at home myself, and the guac at Mercadito's seemed like it had been sitting in some super cool fridge for 5 hours. Overall 3 stars - 3.5 for the food, and 3 for the frigid temperatures.
(3)Yayo T.
NOT BAD. That's about as good as it gets. The margaritas (original margarita only) rock. I couldn't tell you about the rest of the drink menu.I asked for 3 different drinks from their menu, but they were out of the ingredients (hell, even out of mint leaves for a Mojito... that was my last resort when they couldn't make any of the other drinks I found interesting on their menu). Nothing on the menu stood out. We wasted our money on the 'tasting menu" since someone in our group was adamant on ordering it. Word of advise... don't waste your money on the tasting menu. Their portions are small to tiny. They don't offer enough for everyone to enjoy. Pop in for drinks, maybe an appetizer, but move on for dinner somewhere else.
(2)Chaz A.
Clashing atmosphere, tiny (bland) salsa, and mediocre guacamole make this place dull. Great drinks. The music was weird as hell too, like Weezer playing after Tiesto, after some drum and bass ambient electro.
(2)Mindy S.
I had no expectations going in, but when I called last minute on a Saturday and heard that there was a good wait, I had to try it out and see why everybody was there. The bar was fantastic - unique drinks made w/the care that you only see at a few places in the city. The atmosphere was trendy, but not pretentious, the music was a good volume, and it would even be a great place to hang out for drinks only. The food - extremely flavorful and unique. 5 kinds of guac - the original, Mango, and Mole were all fantastic. The ceviche was amazing as well. The tacos - wow. Quality ingredients and unique, bold flavors. 2 of us shared 2 orders of tacos, 4 tacos each, which was plenty (after the apps). I compare these tacos to De Cero (West Loop). Similar concept, only at Mercadito, the tacos aren't ale carte, so you have to choose 4 of the same kind of taco, but both the Carne and Chorizo tacos were really great. If you want Mexican food, in this part of town, you know you already had the best choices in the city, and now Mercadito is on that list.
(5)Len K.
Pros: -A unique take on Mexican food which is served up in a Tapas format -Extremely unique drinks -Very pretty decor -Staff appears to be very professional and friends -Is trendy, but not pretentious -Very unique taco combinations and flavors Cons: -Much more expensive than typical for Mexican food. The food was very good, but I don't think the price reflects the gap in better taste -Drinks are in a similar boat. They were very unique and nice to look at, but the choices of flavors were a bit odd to everyone in our party -Feels crammed. I think if there were about 10 less tables in the restaurant it would be fine, but we felt like we were sitting right in the middle of someone else's dinner. It's not meant to be an intimate setting of course, but the layout could be a bit more conducive to providing people with some more breathing room.
(4)Stephanie M.
This place is definitely over rated - hubby and I had reservations for a Saturday night during Restaurant Week - when I make reservations for a certain time, I expect to be seated at that time - I was on time, so they should be too - pushing us off to the bar to purchase over-priced, weak cocktails is very unprofessional - and they have lost a customer because of it....once we were finally seated - 25 mins after our reservation time, service started a little slow....we order from the RW menu which gave us an option of ordering any cocktail $11.50 or under for an a additional $7 - I wanted a drink that was $12 dollars and asked the server if I could pay the additional .50 and she told me no - that I would probably order more than one drink anyway....really - come on!! More drink pushing - anyway we each ordered one $11.50 drink and then our shared dinner - everything was OK - too crowded and loud - will we be back...uncertain - probably not and I will make sure our friends and family of the BAD experience we had here.
(2)Raytus C.
Mercadito is a trendy restaurant - it is very loud - even with a few tables seated. I went at lunch and it was acceptable, but by the end when it was full -- it was too loud to enjoy company - and that's why I don't give Mercadito a four star rating. The food was good. Had the two guac starter - both were very fresh and tasty. I had the fish taco and my friend had the shrimp. The shrimp were great, the fish tacos were a little heavy on a coleslaw taste. They don't let you mix and match, which is weak. The drinks were good - a little on the weak side - but very original. Mercadito is very hard to find. It has a dark metal sign about the size of a cumputer screen at the side of the door and nothing else, so keep an eye out.
(3)Tim S.
Had a couple appetizers that were very tasty, my tacos were good and the server was very attentive. .
(4)Jennifer R.
I had been looking forward to trying Mercadito and recommended this restaurant for a work dinner...even though I had yet to actually try it or any of it's other locations. Overall, the food was really good, but the service was SOOOOOO slow. I think it's because they were still trying to understand the flow of the restaurant (being new and all). Well, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that. I really don't enjoy sitting at dinner for 2.5 hours with only 5 people. It's somewhat odd. Unless I'm in Europe. We tried a number of items on the menu: Pepino el pyu: This was a great drink! Very refreshing. I don't like cumin and should have ordered without the cumin salt. Note to self. Tradicional and Mango Guacamole: I enjoyed both of these, but the servings were so small. I just don't love to get a tiny spoonful of guacamole especially when sharing. Ugh. It means I can only put a dab on my chip. It makes no sense. Chiptole and Verde Salsa with Corn Bites: Salsa was great - the corn bites were unique...I prefer the chips though and they need to give way more chips. Tacos: Estilo Baja (mahi mahi) - TO DIE FOR! My mouth is watering as I write this! Camaron (shrimp) - could have gone without....after the mahi mahi the shrimp was a waste of time Pollo (chicken) - I didn't try Rajas (black bean hash) - the server actually forgot to put in the order for the vegetarian taco....it was the one thing I was eager to try since I'm a veg who eats fish. We ended up getting it after everyone was stuffed. It was amazing!!!!!!!!! So good I took the rest home because no else could eat it. Yeah for me! Carne (skirt steak) - I didn't try Elote Mexicano (corn on the cob) - No good. I think it has mayo on it. My apologies for not knowing the mexican corn on the cob, but NO NO. I took one bite and put it down. Arroz Verde (green rice casserole) - Freaking incredible! What a treat! Plantanos Machos (fried plantains) - Good. I'm glad I tried these, but I probably wouldn't order them on my 2nd trip. They were greasy. I'll def be going back here......looking forward to it! Just hope the service is up to speed!
(4)Candice R.
I loved my dinner at Mercadito. Rachel G. and I went out to dinner here about a week after it opened and I'm a fan. We had three gaucs (normal, pomegranate and mango) and the verde salsa. The salsa and the mango gauc were my favorite. Savory like whoa. Then we shared three tacos, the tacos al pastor (to die for), the chicken mole tacos (good), and the huranages (spelling's so off). The tacos al pastor totally took the cake. And the icing, and the tablecloth. They were tasty. Even though we were stuffed, we managed to split a flan for dessert. My first time having flan, and let me say I was impressed. We also had a couple of drinks. Takes way too long to get the drinks in this joint, but look at everything they have to do to make one. Skipping over that, the service was excellent. Total tab: 3 gaucs, 1 salsa, three tacos, a flan, and three drinks: $90 and we were stuffed.
(4)Erin R.
What a great find! During the holidays my girlfriends and I wanted somewhere to celebrate with some cocktails and good food. One of my friends had been here before and loved it so we all decided to give it a shot. So glad I did. We were seated right away (was around 6pm on a Wednesday). it was already pretty crowded even then. The space is really well designed. love the lighting. I have never had flavored guacamole until I came to Mercadito.....Seriously such a great idea! We got the trio and tried a few different flavors, I forget offhand what we got but they were all equally good. I am also a huge sucker for tacos and we all ordered a different flavor, they are filling though so we couldn't finish them all. I need to eat soft chicken/fish/pork tacos more often, damn they are good here.
(4)Steve N.
A loud fun place with really good food and service. It's all tapas all the time so the tab runs up fast but the food is great. Our server was excellent and there was sufficient "server support" to keep the table clean and pick up the "dead plates." I strongly suggest pacing yourself. Order only one or two tapas at a time. They come out fast and come out when ready. This is not food in courses. This can also prevent over ordering. When I was there (early on a Saturday night) we got in and seated pretty easily. As the evening progressed so did the crowd. Lots of 20 somethings in the bar area dressed for the clubs. Aothough I did not get to check it out, I understand that there is a lower level with DJ's etc. Great place, great service and great food. Bring plenty of $ or have plenty in your account.
(4)Tracey C.
We had a good experience at Mercadito. Modern, chic, upscale, small plate Mexican. We went between Christmas and New Years on a Tues night so it was quieter than normal which was great. Went with husband and 2 sons. Loved the trio of Quac(camote and grenada were particularly memorable) and the chips are terrific too. Also loved the Queso Fundidto...try it with the short ribs, recommended by our server, great flavor!. We also sampled 4 different taco plates, each was VERY flavorful and that's what we love. One thing to be careful of is which Margarita you order...I was looking for their basic and was coaxed into the don julio version at $15! The basic at $10.50 was expensive enough! My bad, I did not know the prices.. Overall a very good experience, none the less.
(4)Mary M.
over-rated! Food is sub-par and wayyyy over priced. Drinks are quite good, though $12 a piece. Desert was good also. We wont be back.
(2)Jennifer B.
I'm having self fight trying to decide what I liked better about Mercadito....their amazing food or the high possibility of sitting next to a celebrity.... This place is like high-rent Mexican food. If you've ever been to Dos Caminos in NYC this is much the same....smaller plates (NOT tapas, just smaller portions), inventive menus, beautiful decor, and gorgeous people. These people certainly aren't the people that are plowing through baskets and baskets of chips and salsa. Good thing too, because Mercadito doesn't give free chips and salsa! It's too classy. My favorite part of Mercadito's menu is the option to choose the salsas and guacamoles. You can customize based upon your preference! Yay! Also loved the plaintains...it's so hard to find a restaurant do right by way of plaintains, and Mercadito delivers! The tacos are also wonderful. Yes they are small, but if you want to be one of said gorgeous Mercadito patrons then you must exercise portion control! If this place is busy now, I can't imagine what it'll be like in the summer, when they have outdoor seating. Sitting alfresco, maxing/relaxing with a lime margarita while enjoying the sun...yeah that sound like a plan.
(5)J M.
Went during restaurant week. Probably not the type of place I would want to frequent (is it a restaurant or a club?) but I got to admit, the food was amazing. ALL OF IT. From the guacamole to the desert. Highlights: The al pastor tacos and the shrimp ceviche. Also, the customer service was five star. Prices were not over the top but it's not a cheap taco joint. Overall, great experience.
(5)Jackie L.
Ate brunch here today thanks to my friend's recommendation and was floored by how delicious my carne tacos were. Absolutely scrumptious. The skirt steak was so tender and juicy and the cactus/potato cheese sauce was amazing. Just enough spice to keep me wanting more. Very reasonably priced for the ambiance and deliciously prepared tacos.
(4)Erin C.
Underwhelmed. Not sure if it's the new/haven't gotten the kinks out yet, but my experience at Mercadito was unimpressive. First, it smelled like they had just waxed the floors when we walked in. Headache-inducing smell. Not quite appetizing. The menu was simple and there were a lot of good-looking items to be had. We decided to start with some guac - Mercadito has a few different varieties of guac available - but they all tasted about the same. And they were really little for our group to share. Would have been nice if the server had let us know. When it came to ordering entrees, the menu was slightly confusing. There were a bunch of taco options and it seemed as though you could mix & match (like at DeCero), but alas you could only choose one type of taco for your platter. Disappointing. I wound up ordering the torta (the vegetarian option) and it was delish. But I barely touched my rice and beans because they were just off for some reason. Service was slow and sort of awkward. Again, the restaurant had only been open for a few weeks when we dined there, so I'd be willing to give it another chance. That said, there are a lot of other great Mexican options in Chicago so I don't know how soon it is that I will return.
(2)Jennifer L.
Okay, I enjoyed my girls night out at Mercadito. I tried it because it was on Metromix as a new hot spot (who wouldn't want to try it?). Well, after we all arrived, we were never rushed, but still had great service. The food was good. For starters, we had to try a couple of different guacamoles and salsas with our chips. I think that was the best part of the meal. Aside from the margaritas, which were pretty good. My friends and I all agreed that the chips and guacamoles/salsas were very tasty. After awhile, we were told that our meals would probably arrive at different times (whenever they were ready). Well, in a nice restaurant, one would hope to be served whenever all of the dishes are ready. I was literally sitting there for about 15-20 minutes (sipping my margarita-so who really knows) before my meal finally arrived. My friends were almost finished eating their entrees. My meal was HOT (SPICY hot). I had no clue it was even supposed to be hot. It was a fish entree, almost like a burrito. I could barely eat it because I'm not one who loves hot entrees. I got through all of it with a little help from my margarita. I can't say the food was bad. I can say that the restaurant is SMALL. My friend was literally on top of the crowd hanging out at the bar. Not cool. Not many tables are away from the crowd because it tends to be a fairly crowded place. Good service, good chips/guacamole/salsa, decent meals....just a few flaws. Not sure what ALL the hype is about/not sure I would recommend it, but I had to try it to find out for myself!
(3)eileen b.
Great potential but a logistical nightmare. First, the good news: the food was delicious. We started off with their trio of guacamoles -- a traditional one, a smokey one and then a pomegranate one. Fresh and reflecting a variety of flavors, the guacs were a great start. Their margaritas, while slow to prepare, were equally delightful, especially the one with cucumber. And the tacos -- camarones, mole and pescado, were flavorful with just enough heat. I would avoid the quesadilla since it was pretty dry and the corn pico de gallo since they overdosed on the garlic, but nevertheless, the food part of our meal was worth a solid 3 stars. Now, the bad news: We had to wait 40 minutes to be seated, even though we had a reservation. Once we were being seated, they attempted to fit 5 of us at a table clearly made for 4. We talked a kind busboy into letting us expand our table by adding another 2-top. Halfway through our meal, we saw them doing the same thing to a party of 6 next to us. We offered to move over so they could expand to another table, but seriously -- Is it OUR job to figure out their seating situation? And then on our way out, they wouldn't even take our constructive criticism into account. If they plan to get any better, they ought to listen to their patrons.
(2)Marla R.
This place is really good if you know what to order. The drinks are great, but be careful that you order something you like (they are all very bold tasting, I've loved 50% and hated 50%). I feel the same way about the guacamole, there are a few I love and a few I can't handle, wish they had a good standard. The reason to come here is the great tacos. I love all of the tacos I have ever had here, and wish I could eat them every day. Skip the seafood apps and head to the tacos, all are great! Fun place to come for large groups, you can do a set price meal and all you can drink if you set it up in advance. Great service (very helpful with questions) and trendy/fun atmosphere.
(4)Swati B.
Went here for Brunch on a Sunday...wow this place was packed 1pm! We did a tasting menu for brunch (during the extended restaurant week menu). I LOVED their Pomegranate Guac..it was just the right mix of savory and sweet...their traditional guac was amazing as well..the Mango Guac was tasty but of the 3 my least favorite...but still very good. The Tacos I had were great..they were able to make the Mahi Mahi tacos without the fish and put fried zucchini which was really good...the Hongos were delicious but my favorite were the brunch Tacos with the scrambled eggs..WOW!!! The manchego cheese pancakes were OUTSTANDING!! I almost wish this was what I ended the meal with...the cheesecake tasted so blah compared to the pancakes! And I am not a big sweet tooth person at breakfast... The drink I had was the Auntie Ox...so flavorful! Service was fast..friendly and knowledgeable...overall a great experience. Still has quite the trendy/posh looking crowd here...and street parking was easy on a Sunday, but they do have valet for $12...I'll be going back here for brunch again soon!
(5)Uma I.
Mercadito is a Spanish/Mexican restaurant where you can get tapas like small dishes to share. They also have full dinner though we kept with the small dishes. Has great ambiance and friendly service. Our choices included fish taco, quesadillas, roasted cauliflower, flautas, and a variety of salsas among other things. It was a nice experience and I would highly recommend Mercadito for a fun outing.
(4)Jessica L.
Went here last week for the Restaurant Week menu with Dana G. & Candice G. and let me tell you - What a pleasant surprise! Good Drinks? YES Spicy Food? YES Ambiance? YES We arrived right on time for our 8:30 reservation and the place was hopping - every table full and a crowd around the bar (but enough room to stand/order drinks at the bar - not to worry). We were greeted by the lovely hostess and asked to wait a few moments at the bar until our table was available - we were quite OK with this. We each ordered one of the specialty tequila drinks to start and the best part may have been watching the bartender kick-ass making 5 different drinks at one time! AH-MAZE-ING. She lined up five different shakers right up on the bar and her arms were flying left and right pouring different tequilas & mixers into each. Then it was shaking time - I have no idea how she did it - and each of our 3 drinks tasted delicious. I had the smokey pablo which was unique in its smokiness, but I could only have a sip of it as it was not to my taste, but definitely worth a try. Right as our drinks were being handed to us we were seated at our table which although small, was big enough for the 3 of us and most of the food we ended up ordering. Since it was restaurant week, we were able to choose 3 gaucs, 2 ceviches, 4 tacos, 1 side and 2 desserts for the table as well as 1 cocktail apiece - all for only $40 per person (I tried to add it all up if it weren't restaurant week and I think before tax our total would have been about $140, so we saved about $20 - I'm down with that). OK, now for the important stuff - how was the food? Well let me tell you, it was tasty! We started with the tradicional (so refreshing, so flavorful - perfect texture), toreado (not the best looking - kind of a muddy green color, but had a bit of a kick) & granada (pomegranate was out of season so they substituted strawberries - I just wasn't impressed with the texture or the flavor of this one) guacamoles - favorite listed fist. Next came the ceviche (quick note, the bread served with the ceviche was quite delicious, almost like a cracker that doesn't make crumbs everywhere - don't know what it was but the texture complimented the ceviche perfectly). We had the dorado & callo ceviche - the dorado was so refreshing and light tasting with just enough citrus - yum. The Callo was alright, but I didn't love the grapes with it - it made it a little too sweet for my taste. (By now we are already starting to get full - no worries about there being enough food at this restaurant during restaurant week) Taco Time! We had Carnitas de puerco, rajas, hongos & camaron (I was with a vegetarian friend, so we opted to try only 1 with meat, 2 with veggies & 1 shrimp). I love meat, so my favorite by far was with carnitas - it was so perfectly shredded, *Spicy*, juicy, delicious - more please! The other 3 were just OK for me - the shrimp was a bit too smoky flavored for me and way too much sauce, the rajas was tasty but I really wanted a protein with those beans and the hongos was unique, but nothing I felt I needed to eat more of. For a side we ordered the arroz verde which I found to be underwhelming due to the mushy texture of the rice, but I couldn't pass up the chance to eat something topped with melted, gooey chihuahua cheese! (We took a breather here and ordered a round of drinks - so much food and it kept coming out one dish after another - it was almost overwhelming) Round 2 of drinks - I played it safe and ordered a margarita tradicional - you can't go wrong with this if you like margaritas. Dana G. ordered pepino el pyu which was by far the best tasting beverage of the night - so refreshing - if you like cucumber at all you must try this! Candice G. ordered a shady gato which was a little on the sweet side, but also refreshing - all of these drinks were better than the smokey pablo. So dessert, really? We don't have room for this, but since it was included, we forced ourselves to order the chocolate cake with chiles and a raspberry cheesecake and boy were we ever glad we made room. The cheesecake was light, airy, fluffy and not at all dense as some cheese cakes can be. The chocolate cake had a perfect harmony of spice/sweet/chocolate but was very rich - a couple of bites were more than enough. Overall our server was attentive but not in our way, the atmosphere did not feel like a typical Chicago restaurant - the vibe is much more energetic and fun, the food was good and the drinks were great. This is a place I can see myself at again.
(4)M O.
If you're thinking about trying Mercadito, I would implore you to seek out an alternative. Read my story below of how Mercadito's owner singlehandedly crushed an expensive brunch First, our waitress was telling us about the menu when the music was suddenly ratcheted up to way-too-loud. When she noticed the alarmed look on our faces, she explained that she saw the owner had just arrived, and apparently he likes his Top 40 bumpin. Funnily enough, when someone in control of the music realized how absurd the noise level was, and turned it down, the half-full restaurant broke into applause. I've never seen such a thing at an upscale, sit-down restaurant. Then, we never saw our waitress again. Another girl came by the table 20 minutes later and took our food order. She turned our to be the manager on duty that morning, and explained in hushed tones and uncomfortable smiles (as if to communicate "i know this is gonna sound bad, but tee-hee, such is life") that our server was first "dealing with some things" and then "was pulled onto the owners table" to "meet his every need". She finally tilted her head back indicating toward one large table of attractive people surrounding one fat ass in an ill-fitting button down, suggesting said fat ass was the owner, who clearly prioritizes his own fat ass getting fed before his patrons. Jerk. Finally, as nearby tables' frustrations grew, patrons began to complain amongst ourselves, and no one had ever witnessed such a drastic change in service; from good/decent to begin with, to non-existent. One couple who arrived a little later got wind of the abhorrent service and quickly asked for their order to-go. We dropped $100 on a meal that absolutely sucked - because the loser owner had to entertain (read: buy) his friends.
(1)Toby B.
This is a spectacular Mexican restaurant with refined ingredients and flavor. The ceviche (all 3 of them) not only had great flavor, but the seafood was beyond delicious, . We had the mole tacos and the mole had an adventurous taste with it's mild spicy kick (in my opinion) with a nice hint of sweetness. Of course, first look at the price and you might be concerned, but Mercadito is one of those places you can bring your friends and family, especially if they are out-of-town. Not only do they get a unique and memorable dining experience, but I believe it leaves a positive impression on high end Mexican food. It's definitely a place we have visited multiple times and would return back even for a quick snack! Ceviche and mole tacos would be a nice midnight snack for anyone!!!
(5)Chris W.
The food was very good. The atmosphere on Saturday night was crowded and loud. The service was attentive but the cadence of food delivery was horrible. My wife was finished with her fish tacos long before my enchiladas were served. This seems like a good gathering place where you can casually graze on small plates with friends. Not a good place to take a date as you'll be eating at different times and unable to maintain a convo. Unusual quirks included no dessert(!) and the fact you are unable to mix your tacos in an order (they come in fours)
(3)Kathy L.
All I can say is two words since we left this establishment.... wrong move! I'm so disappointed in myself for choosing this place for a romantic evening trying to "spice up" things between my fiance and I. Wrong move! The hostess was on face book on her i phone or whatever and that was top priority over seating us! We finally sat down to a noisy party of 8 after requesting a private table. Wrong Move! Ordered our entrees and requested a split plate and when the food was finally delivered.... it was on one plate and cold.... Again wrong move! The drinks were totally over priced for the pour! Just put it this way........ It was a quiet ride home but made the most of a bad situation! Thank god for Godiva chocolates and absolute vodka! Right Move! Never again will We make that wrong move!
(1)Valentina V.
If I'm being honest with myself this place isn't the greatest. It's very trendy and has more of a lounge vibe than a restaurant. There is always music playing and it can get really loud, we were basically shouting the entire meal. The tacos are just ok, skip the ceviche and try the gaucamole. There was one thing I loved and would go back for, the rest of my party was jealous they didn't order it, and that was the tampiqueña (skirt steak). It had great favor and was very juicy.
(2)Anna C.
Mercadito had quick awesome service. My boyfriend and I were in a rush coming in. We thought it would take awhile, it being a more upscale Mexican restaurant. Boy was I wrong! Our food came out fast! We ordered chips and salsa before our tacos; only one suggestion.... Don't be so stingy with the sauce! The sauce is awesome but it was sooooo little. Other than that the tacos were alright. Nothing beats the little hole in the wall Mexican joints but this was still pretty good.
(3)Jai S.
Great place to find vegetarian food.. Loved the tortillas with different Guacamoles and salsas. Do try out the mango salsa.. tastes amazing! There are some good entrees.. From tapas style dishes to crunchy entrees, this place has a lot of offer. The ambience is very hip..always buzzing whenever I have visited for dinner. Now for the best dish I have had here- Caramel custard!! Have never been able to stop with just one portion. It is sinfully tasty!! Mercadito - a must!
(5)Rosa C.
Really nice restaurant, delicious fusion Mexican cuisine, nice environment, good cocktails and music. If you want a private environment to talk and later party hardy ask for downstairs tables. All dishes are delicious, I recommend to try the top sellers tacos: Pancita, ESPADA, pastor, carnitas. Also Elote. If you are Peruvian, you will be surprised with the Peruvian drink: Chilcano or Pisco Sour. The bartender: Luis Barrios learned to prepare those drinks in Peru and he is really friendly and can give great recommendations in dishes too. I also got impress with the decoration: monarchs butterflies in the restroom
(5)Su C.
Mercadito!! First off, murals, murals, contemporary rustic murals. The ambiance was decorated with a rope candelabra which added a nice granja (ranch) feel, not to mention the exposed faded painted brick walls... Space is a bit tight...but the intimacy is part of the tre chic crowd. Jeff bartender was very informative, also spoke the necessary Spanish to breakdown the ingredients perfectly!He rec the pastor guac, roasted pineapple and a crunchy chicarron added texture. Followed by a shrimp watermelon ceviche which was dead on amazing, perfectly balanced; could hardly taste the fishiness of shrimp. The last true defining appetizer was the corn on the cob which was charred roasted underneath the classic elote on the cob street carrito toppings. Earplugs at bar a must, if you're near by margarita station, since the constant tapping of steel cocktail shakers are a bit of a shell shock ( quite getting used to after a while). But very worth standing there since you can get a good feel for the entire place standing up. Chips were ok, could have a bit more oil to them. Tostadas however were like communion wafers, so delectable and the right amount of a soft crunch. Finished with the lobster tacos to go because I was too full to eat anymore. Overall, the staff were very affable. The house manager Rafa couldn't have been more welcoming. At the end, I was asked to create a quote to be entered into a twitter quote contest which I said, "beautiful food for beautiful people." My hats off to them! I'm sure that when I return, I will be able to add another star when I can actually sit down to be served and can actually experience the hospitality portion of the establishment. Salud amigos... Ervin Martinez Marketing department Su Casa Restaurant Since 1963 on an 1867 converted carriage house. This review was brought to you in part by a business partnership with the surround River North restaurants of Chicago.
(4)Luiza R.
Mercadito, I had high hopes for you! I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because of the decor. If you're more concerned about ambiance and drinks, this is probably a great place to go. But if you want a good meal-- definitely not worth it. Their guacamole was literally brown...I saw plastic black bins behind the bar where they mix their pre-made guac...gross. For maybe 4 spoons of guac, it's nearly $10. Then we ordered salsa, which is really like a small side (probably 2 teaspoons worth) of puréed pasta sauce. So disappointing, we were expecting a pico de gallo style salsa, judging from the description. Now the tacos, they were just ok...I wouldn't pay $17 for 4 tacos there ever again. Super saucy and it tasted like they were microwaved. Then we ordered the cheese and mushroom flautas, this was the best thing we had. But can you really go wrong with melted cheese and mushrooms on a tortilla? The rice and bean side was completely tasteless and a waste of money. Drinks: margaritas were pretty strong so that was good. Overall, I'm so disappointed. This place has been on my list for quite a while. Next time, I'll just stick to Chipotle.
(2)Faith N.
So, I thought it was just a bad server the first time I attended that made the experience bad. I was wrong. I accidentally came here with my boyfriend to celebrate my birthday (I confused it with another restaurant so I agreed to come). He made reservations the day before and informed them it was my birthday as well. When we arrive, they guide us to a table between two other tables while there were numerous other tables available. I ask them for another table, they oblige. The table next to us obviously have a birthday girl at the table as well and they bring out a dessert to celebrate her. Let's just say that they never got around to doing the same for me. In addition, we were rushed out yet again. Even the bus boy tried to take the mat from underneath the plates while we're still sitting there! Overall, just a horrible experience. The food is decent, but the service (which I think is equally as important) was just horrible.
(2)Alyssa P.
3.5ish Mercadito - a trendy restaurant with a surprisingly simple natural decor, super friendly staff and several yummy menu items. Here's a quick breakdown of some items we tried: House-made lemonade - fantastically refreshing with the option to add fruit juices*. I added passion fruit to mine - so delicious. Other flavors included strawberry, cucumber, mango, pineapple and watermelon. Guacamole - we ordered two for $12.50 - the traditional (pico, jalapeno, garlic and cilantro) and mango (jicama, chipotle and pico). The first was a-ok, very typical. The mango on the other hand had a nice kick to it. Chunky avocado + bits of mango + chipotle = creamy sweet spicy deliciousness. Chips that were served with were nice and crunchy but for the price I was expecting a little more guac. The portion was about the same you get at Chipotle for $3. Tacos! (four tacos for $11.50) All tacos served in a corn tortilla. I've never been a fan of corn, I usually find them heavy. Mercadito's were nice and light. Pork - aka Pastor (chile ancho rubbed pork, chile de árbol salsa, grilled pineapple). Great flavor in these tacos but hard to eat. The pork isn't shredded, its cut into cubes...and kept falling out of the tortillas. Fish - aka Espada (blackened swordfish, spicy aioli, cabbage-jalapeño slaw) was really nice - nice flaky fish, good flavor, I wish the portion of the filet was bigger but what can ya do? Mac & Cheese - Ahhh super creamy elbow mac with poblano, manchego cheese, corn, cilantro. Oh my gosh. I would never have thought to put corn in my mac but this was amazing. Creamy, spicy, al dente pasta. For some crazy reason my table mates didn't love this one, but they are crazy. Order the mac and cheese, at $6 for a nice portion I'd order another two. Queso Fundido - probably my least favorite of lunch. One of my table mates said 'it's like making your own quesadilla'. Meh, I didn't like this one at all... gooey cheese was hard to scoop out of its dish and even more difficult to spread on the corn tortilla. Even the chorizo didn't help. Wouldn't order again. So, Mercadito is a worthy spot for lunch depending on what you're looking for - try the lemonade, the mac & cheese, and the swordfish tacos.
(3)Effie D.
Went for lunch with work friends and service was beyond horrible. It wasn't even too busy as there were still plenty of open tables. Our waitress would go MIA for long periods of time and we would need to ask the bus boys to grab her each time we needed her. We ordered our entrees after sitting for 30 mins. The food came out fast, but we were there from start to finish for close to 2 hrs just b/c we kept waiting for her to come back. Despite the horrible service, the food was delicious. Ordered swordfish tacos and Pastor (pork) tacos which were very tasty. The swordfish was soft and the cole slaw on top was a perfect compliment. The sauce on the pastor had just a hint of spice and the pieces of pineapple added a great sweet touch. The flan is the best I've ever had. Not to sweet and not to watery. I'm willing to go back to try more dishes but I do hope they hire more workers so we don't have the same beyond horrible experience.
(3)Harris I.
A friend and I were at the rooftop at the Wit talking to strangers and they mentioned "best tacos in Chicago" referring to Marcaditos and we had to try. We walked in around 6pm, and the place was jammed packed. An hour and a half wait time was given to us but the hostess mentioned that there may be seating downstairs. We went down and found open seating very quickly. I ordered the Carne tacos. It was love at first bite...the flour tortilla was the softest, and the steak was done just right. It had an amazing kick to it... Perfect place to take a date, or go as a group. You want to make reservations before. A trendy place to go! Im already making plans to go back soon!
(5)Dalia M.
I was between 3 and 4 stars but given how Edith treated us well my first time here, I decided to go with four. I have been here twice in the last month or so. Came in with a girlfriend once on a weekday and we sat quickly but then waited 20 minutes to place an order. The second it was three of us on Saturday - again sat quickly and then waited a bit for the one drink we ordered to be made and brought over - our app came out first actually. The cocktails are fun and tasty, the ceviche was good but nothing crazy, the tacos were very delicious - we had the al pastor and the steak ones. Second time did fish, steak and then the short rib DIY taco. I wish they served the tacos a la carte or perhaps two per order. Four seems pretty aggressive and I like trying different kinds! It's pricey, upscale Mexican food in a fun, trendy spot that's pretty entertaining. Service has been slow both times but I was won over by food, cocktails and my surroundings. Would come back for a fun night out!
(4)Jeana C.
Mercadito is a great place to go to with friends or with a date. Dark, trendy, loungy but can be really loud. They have an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs is more for actual dining while downstairs is more like a bar. The times I have been there have been great. The shrimp tacos and The big nose goes to Mexico (cocktail that is on fire-literally) are my go-tos!
(4)Brad W.
One of my favourite stops for Mexican food in Chicago. I love the guacamole choices. The spicy salsa is a must try. Tacos come in 4's so easy to share. Famous for margaritas.. Outstanding service! Only negative is tables very close so hard to have privacy if that's what you there for.. Never disappoints.
(5)Mahina W.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night. Wow it was packed and really loud! The atmosphere is very hip and the crowd is mostly in their late 20s/30s. Lots of large parties..we got seated next to what seemed like a bachelorette party because one of the girls was wearing a tiara with questionable shapes attached. We ordered: Appetizer: **lobster ceviche Entree: **Espada tacos (4 blackened swordfish tacos with spicy aoili and cabbage-jalapeno slaw) **Pancita tacos (herb-marinated pork belly, roasted orange hash, spring greens slaw, cilantro, chicharron, chipotle-piloncillo vinaigrette) Drinks: **Big Nose goes to mexico - cool flaming drink! **Little Market - loved the pineapple flavor It was pretty hard to hear the server because the restaurant was SO loud but the food was delicious! There are lots of options for tacos. My favorite food item was the pancita tacos. The drinks were also both great. The tacos can come with tortillas or lettuce wraps. My friend has a gluten allergy and we were able to get 2 of each type of taco with lettuce instead! Great place for a fun dinner with drinks, especially if you want a late dinner or like Mexican with a twist.
(5)Mallory Z.
I can't decide if this is an objective 2 stars or subjective. Maybe it's just me because the place was packed but I can't be the only one with these opinions. My sister, mom, and I picked this place for our monthly dinner. My sister called early in the day asking for a 7pm reservation (on a Thursday). She was told they had no reservations available at 7 but they had a 6:45. Haha seriously? So we took it. They showed up around 6:50. I rolled in around 7. The place was pretty crowded and the entire place reeked of BO. I sat down and told my sister. She laughed because she smelled it too and thought it was the guy next to her. I disagreed because it wafted throughout the entire restaurant. I still don't know what the smell was, but please someone find the source. We started with the chips and toeado guac. This guac was amazing. A star just for that. Chips were underseasoned and underwhelming. My mom thought they were stale. I just thought they were bad. We came for the fish tacos but would have liked to try something else too. I still don't understand why you need to order 4 of the same taco. In fact, we asked the waiter and he said "that's just how the chef does it." Being out with my mom, it reminded me of all those times she said "because I said so." We decided to just order for the table. We got the mahi mahi tacos and the pork belly. We also ordered the cauliflower and green rice. Nothing really stood out. I want my tacos dripping in grease and regret. That's where all the flavor is. Like I said, maybe it's just me because the rest of my party liked them. The cauliflower I thought was the stand out, although it was more onions than cauliflower. The rice was average rice, like you can get out of a box, but drier. All in all the prices are way too high for the taste. Although I much prefer hole in the wall Mexican, I have nothing against fine dinning Mexican if it can stand out. This place didn't.
(2)Lorenzo P.
Came at Mercatido with a very big group of people and that's already a problem because normally the food cannot be ordered as one wishes and you have to resort to group meals and menus. The staff did a very good job and the food all in all was good, but I'd love to come back by myself or with a smaller group to really appreciate how the restaurant is. What we had for dinner was ok, nothing special but neither bad! Nice atmosphere, good service, and nice drinks!
(3)Catherine P.
It pains me to give this place such a mediocre review because I was looking forward to trying it out... But that's what our experience was there. Totally mediocre. We had reservations for a large group on a Saturday night. Arrived and waited an additional 20 minutes, only to be crammed into a booth meant for 6. Food, cocktails, the bill, Etc all took a little longer than usual to come out. I found the food to be decent... Nothing particularly noteworthy besides the guacamoles. The saving grace in my opinion were the delicious margaritas. The drinks and the presentation were great. I would consider coming back another time for drinks and guacamole, but considering the bounty of great places with amazing decor/ambiance, I won't be recommending this to folks anytime soon.
(3)Kavita S.
In the past, I was a huge fan of Mercadito, and I would've given it a solid 4.5 stars. Over the past 4 years, I've dined at Mercadito for lunch and dinner at least 5 or 6 times, but have to say that I was extremely disappointed with service on Friday. This is a very generous 3 star rating. As many reviewers have mentioned already, don't expect to have a well-paced meal here. They have difficulty getting you a table on time, even with reservations. Once you do get seated, the tables and seats are jam-packed and so close to one another. It's difficult to sit down and move around. The table surface is very small, and if you order an app, a few tacos and a side dish, they're all magically going to appear at once and you will have no place for your food to fit on the table. The servers will move things around as they see fit, even your glass of water or cocktail will be moved across the table where you can't reach it during your meal. The restaurant also tends to get really noisy, but not in an energetic way. Just a tip: do not go on a first date here...you'll miss the entire conversation and lose your voice in the process. What added to this poor experience was being rushed by the servers throughout the meal. The food was not brought out in increments, but all at once, with a minute or two between the different dishes. This cluttered the table and made the dining experience every uncomfortable. We weren't finished with many of the dishes, but the staff was in a hurry to clean up the table. The servers lifted our unfinished cocktail glasses without asking and removed and shook out the placemats in front of us, while our party was still eating. This was the oddest experience I've had at Mercadito, but maybe that's how it is on Friday nights around 7pm? The only good thing is that the food and drinks do not typically disappoint. Mercadito doesn't have the best tacos or margaritas in the world, but they are definitely tasty and worth trying at least once. For what you're paying, you're better off exploring some other eateries in the area. If you don't mind being rushed, then by all means visit at your convenience. Lunch is less rushed in my opinion, so that may lead to a more pleasant dining experience.
(3)Danielle C.
Outstanding food and service!!! We decided to try two different types of tacos, the carne & pork belly. They come 4 tacos per order, so our plan from the beginning was to share our dinners. The way they serve is as the food is ready, so it's meant to share anyways. The pork belly came out first, and was delicious! When the carne came out, I told my husband that they were even better! The wait staff was amazing! I don't think my water glass was ever less than half full the entire meal. Efficient was the word my husband used to describe the staff. Go with a small group and be prepared to share!!
(5)Kimberly S.
For whatever reason whether it's guests in town, a girls night out or a date night I always end up at Mercadito. It's good food with great drinks. During peak hours this place does get loud and sometimes it can be hard to hear the people you're with. You are also sitting pretty close to your neighbors, but this isn't that uncommon in Chicago. Don't let these things deter you though! I love the selection of margaritas and have always found the servers helpful when I can't decide. There are plenty of tacos and side dishes to choose from for even the picky eater.
(4)Minh C.
Best items on the menu: their guacamoles This is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at - our table of four ordered a lot of plates from across the menu, but what sticks out in my memory were the guacamoles. They ranged from sweet to slightly salty and a bit tangy, depending on which of the six you choose. If you enjoy guac, this is the place to try out a couple new concoctions - just remember to ask your waiter for extra chips, because they did skimp on that.
(4)Michelle S.
Whether this place is completely empty or jam packed the vibe in this restaurant is always perfect. I went here again last night for our biweekly ladies night out and we had a blast. Rodrigo was our server (same as the last time we were there) and he is absolutely amazing! Next time we go I will request him only, his personality, humor, and knowledge of the food is phenomenal-- on top of that, he remembered us from the last time we were there! The menu is mostly finger foods but of the best kind-- we ordered toreado guacamole, tomatillo salsa, Elote mexicano, and pollo & pastor tacos. All were delicious and nothing was left behind. You can't go wrong at this place, from the drinks (strawberry or mango margarita) to the dessert (torrejas de bolillo) we loved every bite. We will be going back soon!
(5)Marie C.
Amazing steak tacos. I had a birthday here and the menu was great. I tried to throw another party here and they gave me a really hard time. I made reservations and they lost them twice. The food is exceptional. The service from the hostesses could be improved.
(4)Melissa B.
My sister and I loved this place! We were going to a party that evening and we were searching for a restaurant near the location, and we happened upon Mercadito basically by accident. We were not disappointed! We both absolutely loved the margaritas and the food. I am a vegetarian and I appreciated that many of the tacos could be made veggie-friendly. My sister and I split a couple different types of tacos and also a zucchini empanada type of thing. Absolutely EVERYTHING was delicious. We really were pleasantly surprised that this place we picked randomly was so yummy! As other people have mentioned, the restaurant was pretty loud. That didn't bother me too much though, it was a fun atmosphere. I also really liked our waiter. One weird thing was that we were seated at a table that is a booth on one side, and they pack in the tables so tightly they literally have to move the table in order to seat people at the booth. That was a little strange but the food and drinks more than made up for it! I would absolutely go back!
(4)AJ T.
The quick & dirty review: This place sucks; it's over priced, service is hit or miss, and the food is mediocre & salty. I'd say skip Mercadito unless you've got money to burn. Ordered: - camaron and dorado ceviches (2.5/5 stars for both - not bad, just not very good) - three types of guacamole (1 star - all very odd tasting; one was flavored with way too much cinnamon or and another way too much soy sauce) - arroz verde (2 stars - literally tastes like cheese melted over rice; no depth of flavor whatsoever) - 4 types of taco: carnitas de puerco (weirdly thai inspired, and I was not a fan), camaron (way too salty, but good otherwise), pastor (this was actually pretty good, and the pineapple added just the right hint of sweetness), and the carne taco (also quite good; don't see potatoes on tacos too often, so I enjoyed this one) - 3 types of flan (3 stars - good as far as flan goes) - the coconut one was best, followed by the caramel, then the dulce de leche was just okay Came here with a group of 10 for Restaurant Week; not only was the hostess unbelievably rude, but then she messed up by seating us at a table for 8; obviously it wasn't the most comfortable of settings for our group. When the adjacent table opened up, she refused to let us use that extra space. That being said, our server and other support staff were nice enough.
(2)Tal C.
Eh- overpriced, food was just okay, very uncomfortable seating, and weird service. The food: If you order tacos, you have to get tacos in orders of 4 (of the same taco), no mix and match, which kind of sucks if you like trying a lot of different things and aren't in a big group you can share with. I'd rather go to Big Star where you can order 1 taco, or De Cero where you can order them in pairs. I ended up ordering 8 tacos just because I wanted to try two different kinds. The beer battered mahi mahi was good, but not great. I don't even remember what the other one was exactly, but something with Chicken that was just meh. My friend also ordered 8 tacos and was underwhelmed. Decor: Very pretentious place. We got seated in the cocktail lounge, even though we had a reservation in the dining area, and we were seated at a small table with a chair on one end and a couch on the other. I sat on the couch and was TOWERING over my friend to the point that we were both very awkward and uncomfortable and kept trying to adjust ourselves. I guess the couch thing is really "in" right now, but they should at least make sure the couches and the chairs are the same height. Service: Our waiter was attentive, but not very informative and pretty confusing/awkward when we asked him questions about the menu. Don't get me wrong, the food is okay, and I've definitely had worse, but for that price, there are countless places in Chicago I'd rather eat.
(2)Ashley R.
Food is good! It has a beautiful presentation but don't go there hungry unless you are planning on spending $200. Wonderful for a night out. The atmosphere is well worth it with a seductive vibe. I have been here twice and have not been disappointed by the food. The ONLY thing I would change is faster service. We where sitting there for a good five minutes or more each visit. I was hoping the second visit would provide better service but it did not. Server was nice and well educated of the menu doing his best to up sell. I can appreciate that. Just faster service is needed.
(3)Alle K.
Possibly the best tacos I've ever had. Go on a Tuesday for taco Tuesday! Good service and cool atmosphere
(5)Vincent C.
Mercadito was good, but absurdly overpriced. I'm actually jealous of how much money they take in on the weekends. I'm not one to usually complain about the cost of going out, but this was just ridiculous. For $9.50 you can get a modest ice cream scoop worth of guacamole, that doesn't get refilled. For $3 you can get 2 ounces of salsa. I think you can buy a 16 oz jar of the Frontera salsas for less than twice as much and those are just as good coming out of the jar. I don't know if I had to pay for the tortilla chips, but forget about getting refills. And while I'm in the complaining mood, let's talk about how loud and crowded this place gets. I had to yell just to talk to the other end of my table of 6 and I had to push people out of the way to get up and leave. I mean the tacos and chile relleno were good, but not that good. I think everyone waiting to get seated would do much better getting out of their comfort zone, taking the 30 minute cab ride north to Clark and Touhy, the tacos/salsa/guacamole up there are better and cheaper. But I guess you can't stand around with a fancy tequila cocktail in your hand.
(2)Heidi J.
I love this place. Fun atmosphere, great service and drinks (those margaritas get you though - you don't feel anything till you stand up!), and great food! I love the tacos and the pomegranate guacamole. The only qualm I have with this place is the super RUDE HOSTESS!! Get it together up front and stop with the horrible 'tude!
(4)Shawn M.
Having visited the Miami and NYC locations I can say with confidence this is my favorite. I met a friend here for brunch and ordered what seemed to be the only thing that made sense at the time considering the previous night... The perfect hangover cure .... 1 alcoholic drink 3 a la carte items from the brunch menu Game on! I had the octopus taco. Oh-em-effing-gee. Perfect. Seriously. Better than any fish beef or chicken taco on the market. Don't agree? You may be crazy. Next the pork hash. Sounds just like the name. Pork hash browns. Pleased again. I highly recco. Next I took a sip of my drink, the Blanca something. Lets just call it the Blanca delicioso. Perfect mix of wine and fruit to dull my headache. Finally the reason I'm not giving 5 stars. I ordered something that resembled soggy nachos with a fried egg on top. Not a fan. I chose....poorly. It's a solid recco for brunch. Enough food to soak up what's left of the night before that's lingering in your stomach.
(4)FoodLover Z.
Upscale, slightly expensive Mexican dining. Not the best Mexican food in town, but worth a visit. Highly recommend the camarones and carne tacos, and the pepino el pyu and tres viejo for drinks.
(4)Jaime M.
When I ordered a chile relleno that costs $22 I was expecting a superior and/or huge dish. What I got was one regular poblano pepper with some filling and a sauce that tasted sort of ok, but that's it. A bit of black beans on the side that were seasoned a bit and not much more. Not even tortillas, which is common to have with chiles rellenos. And that small simple dish cost me $22. I know that the rent is high here, but this is not fair. I want to see their cost structure for that dish. Typically restaurants aim for 30% food cost, 30% labor and 30% profit margin. I'd bet this is more like 5% food cost, 10% labor (didn't take brain surgery to assemble the simple dish) and 85% profit. The ambiance is hip and really loud, almost like a club. The tables are so closely packed together that they had to move the table next to ours so that we could squeeze and sit. Bizarre. As long as people keep paying those prices, why would they change? But I feel taken advantage of.
(2)Tzofit M.
Honestly, I think this place is way too overpriced and is definitely nothing to write home about. Mojitos were tasty but a bit weak. The decor is nice and I liked the atmosphere inside. Guacamole was really nothing special... I've had much better and the other dishes we ordered were below average and way more expensive compared to most Mexican restaurants. Overall, the only reason I'd come back here is because the vibe is chill and they are open late.
(2)Irene G.
I may have to come here one more time to give it a 5 star rating, but I have to say I was impressed with this place. The decor is trendy with a classy atmosphere. My friends and I came here for lunch and everything we ordered were delicious. My pollo tacos were beyond flavorful, I'm guessing the roasted garlic sprinkled at the top had something to do with it . :) The guac was pretty good and the tortilla chips were warm and crunchy. The menu prices vary depending on the time of day you dine in. Of course, lunch is slightly cheaper than dinner. They also deliver! I can't review any of their drinks, but I know that the next time I dine in I'll be sure to order a margarita and try their shrimp tacos. Excellent all-around-can't wait to try this place again!
(4)Jean-Paul M.
Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. My mouth is watering thinking about the lobster tacos. Awesome margarita...Tres Viejos. It's spicy (and how a margarita should be!).
(5)Jeffrey W.
Best brunch deal in town... $12.95 per person family style... You can pick 3 items for the table.
(3)Simone C.
My girlfriend and I went their for restaurant week. The food was really good and I liked the concept of modern Mexican food. The apple guacamole had a nice smoky flavor; the mahi-mahi ceviche was delicious and so were the tacos we ordered (with a special mention of carnitas de puerco, camaron, and mole). The desserts were just fine (I liked the delicate taste of the flan tres leches more than the intense flan de cajet). The big downside of this place though is the noise. This place has to choose if it wants to be a restaurant or a club, because the volume of the music in the restaurant area is unbearable. I just enjoy having dinner while having a conversation, which is impossible at Mercadito, unless you scream at each other.
(3)M G.
I love this place. It has a great atmosphere with a dj at night and the decor is pretty cool. Great food and drinks and it's also a good place to go with friends. Try the baja tacos and the cucumber margarita. Down stairs has a super small lounge too called Double A. That I dont care for since it is literally the size of a shoe box.
(5)JL S.
Hmm pricey for tacos but you go for the ambiance and drinks. The food I must admit is quite good. Pretty people in a fun atmosphere with good food..what's not to like..it is a bit loud but it's a bar kind of.. The specialty drinks are excellent.
(4)Hilary S.
Creative margaritas, amazing guacamole (get a flight, you won't be sorry), but the tacos were pretty underwhelming overall considering what great reviews this place has for the food. I was brought here on a first date and it was way too loud to have any kind of normal conversation, but the ambiance was trendy, fun and relaxed. We had a reservation but still ended up waiting a half hour to sit down, and service was less than impressive. Also, we were squished in so tightly with other tables that I was practically sitting in my neighbor's lap. This would be a fun place for a larger group of people because everything is tapas-style and easy to share.
(3)Katie H.
Went here with 7 others for a holiday meal. I'm a fan of Mexican food, so I was excited to try this after hearing about it from others. Since our group was so large we went with the group offerings, which was great since it gave us all a smattering of everything. We tried the steak, chicken, shrimp and pulled pork tacos. I thought the pulled pork was the best with the chicken coming in a close second! The guac was amazing. We tried three different types - classic, pomegranate and mango. All of them were excellent. The mango was my favorite of that. For dessert we had flan and cheescake. I thought this was the weakest part of the whole meal, but they weren't horrible, just not as good as the rest of it. Tequila and maragritas were also excellent. They have an after-dinner maragarita that tastes a little like a mocha - it was a HUGE hit with our group. My only complaint about the place was the fact that they squished the 8 of us adults in a booth. It was large but not really ideal for 8 people, 8 waters, 8 drinks, and all that food. There wasn't much room to move.
(4)Jill W.
I've been to this restaurant quite a few times most recently on Saturday. We love it every time! It is really loud but the atmosphere is fun and lively. The guacamole and salsa are amazing and it's always fun to try new combinations. We've eaten quite a bit on the menu and been happy with everything. The only downside is when you order tacos, you get four but they all have to be the same. It would be nice to mix and match. The drinks are really good too! This is a great restaurant for a fun night out!
(5)Carmen B.
Another stop on St Patrick's Day - but I've been here before and had the same experience. LOVE IT! The hosts are very nice, the drinks have interesting taste profiles and are very good, and so is the food. We were initially seated in an undesirable area (perfect view of the urinal on the main floor), talked with the hosts, and we were reseated in 20+ minutes. During that respite, we ventured downstairs - I'd never been down there before and it's a totally different casual cool vibe, with a different drink menu. We had three taco varieties, an awesome guacamole, and several very tasty drinks - consider the blueberry/smoky chipotle drink (don't recall the name but the staff will know this one) - I may return this weekend just for this purpose! Really enjoyed everything about this dinner. Go!
(5)Kate P.
Came here at recommendation of a local. So glad she did! Great atmosphere, delicious margaritas, and good food. Get the guacamole. You won't be disappointed. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)Bobby F.
The service / our server was great. The appetizer portions were small for what you paid. Like $10 for a spoonful of guacamole. The drinks were fantastic although pricey as well. We did have an issue with the valet getting our car a ticket for parking illegally and not telling us. Not the restaurants fault but the manager said he will help us and make it right. I would go back, just in a cab.
(3)Anna W.
ughhhhhh I hate mexican restaurants that don't offer free chips and salsa. Okay, so the food here is pricey. $13 for the smallest tacos you will ever eat? blah. I got the shrimp tacos, which were good, but there was WAY too much sauce on them. They were not $13 good. My mom got soup that came with desconstructed tacos. eh. The salsa looked like baby food (got the verde and habanero). Just not a fan of finely pureed salsa. Ordered beans and rice. not Mexican style. boo. oh I don't know. I just have a problem with Mexican that tries to be fancy.
(3)Mary M.
All of the cocktails were delicious and aesthetically pleasing. I ordered the Mahi Mahi tacos. They were delicious! I'm craving one just thinking about it right now! All of the tacos that we ordered, carnitas and something pork, were good but they were extremely small. This place is a pricy, especially if you want to order an actual entree. The decor is wild and entertaining to just look at. I did not like how I had a reservation and part of my group had not arrived but they made us stand and wait. It's not like someone could sit in our reserved table for the 5 minutes we waited for our friends.
(4)Giang-Thu N.
I made reservations for 5. One person was running late by 15 mins and they wouldn't seat us. When all of us got there we had to wait another 30 mins for a table. I really just don't see why we couldn't get seated and start with a few drinks. But maybe I'm the only one who thinks like that? Our waiter was nice and drinks were good, pricey but nothing shocking-- it goes with the territory. Nice ambience.
(4)Patrick M.
The atmosphere is what makes this place. Great lighting, unique designs on the walls and a great location. The beer and tequila list is also quite amazing. We went in a group of four and shared everything. My favorite were the shrimp and chicken tacos. The guacamole is hit or miss depending on which kind you get. The traditional and mango guac is amaze-balls and the spicy is just so-so. Overall, great experience and would come here again.
(4)Christopher M.
Reasons it deserves 5 stars: - Queso Fundido is beyond amazing. Such cheesy goodness. - Multiple choices for damn good guac. - Great Carne tacos. Reasons it deserves 2 stars: - Poor shrimp tacos. - Weak margarittas with too much damn ice. I want a drink with ice, not ice with a drink. - I know this makes me sound like an old man, but it's damn loud in there. Head to Mercadito if you're down in River North and need a good Mexican fix. That being said, there's better to be had throughout the city.
(3)Esperanza K.
Delicious! Lived everything we ate - guacamole, Mexican corn & salad. Lots of flavor!
(4)Peter V.
I think the key to places like this is proper expectations. I went into my dinner here knowing that it would be a bit overpriced, given the location and general feel of the restaurant. However, I accepted that and marched into Mercadito ready to try some tacos and enjoy some margaritas in good company. It was sort of similar to Dos Caminos in New York - genericized, scene-y, overpriced Mexican, but in a fun atmosphere that works, if you know what to expect. I especially enjoyed the Toreado guacamole - I loved the kick. We sampled a bunch of the tacos - I especially enjoyed the shrimp, the beer battered mahi mahi, the tilapia, and two types veggie tacos: one is mushroom-heavy, and the other is more of a black bean taco.Those latter two actually really beat my expectations - especially for veggie tacos. The drinks were strong and fun. I went to Mercadito on a quiet Monday night, and so the crowds were pretty thin and we didn't have any service problems as some of the other reviews mention.
(3)Holly H.
As a girl from the Southwest I feel that I have high expectation for my Mexican food. Mercadito strikes a great balance creating Fresh Latin dishes that do not lack any flavor. The Mixology is also really impressive so if you normally get wine, take a chance on a couple of their specialty cocktails. The Pepino was my favorite. Only downside is that it is very crowded, so be sure to grab a reservation.
(4)dina d.
Great drinks.
(5)Sabrina C.
I think this is about the best high end Mexican that I've had in Chicago. Although it was very loud, crowded, and pricey the food was worth it. The ambiance is very chic upscale and the place is very clean. The food is amazing. We had two types of guac... the one with the bacon and the one with pomegranate. Very unique in flavors and so delicious. Everything that we had was good. I have zero complaint about the food. I would come here again.
(5)Andrea B.
When you are exhausted from walking all over downtown Chicago this is the place to go for a nice pick me up cocktail. They do fabulous drinks with tequila that will make you forget what a margarita is! I've tried a few choices here and can say I haven't hit a loser in the bunch, but the Smokey Pablo is my favorite. Spicy, fruity and boozy, this one hits all the right angles. The food falls behind the drinks here. The Mexican style corn on the cob was cold and didn't seem as though it was on the grill long enough. The tacos were hit and miss, with the steak being one of the better ones. I would not have expected this, but my fave thing on the menu was the brussel sprouts. These are certainly not healthy with the rich sauce, but they were freaking delicious. Would it be weird to just go to mercadito to eat a bowl full of brussel sprouts washed down with Smokey Pablo?
(3)Aadil R.
love this place.
(5)Brandon B.
Bouncing from a wedding reception (i.e. already full of cake, sandwiches, and champagne) to a huge taco buffet is a little bit of an exercise in masochism....while I did pack away several of the delicious tacos, I was able to avoid dousing myself in more tequila. Late afternoon the place was totally dead but our party, which was nice for the moment because we could actually talk and think and celebrate. Someone in our party ordered the small trays of tacos which were unique and suprising combinations of simple ingredients, and this was just a fragment of the menu. Love to come back on a hopping night, sounds like it would be a fun social scene.
(4)Laura G.
A fun and trendy spot for better than average food. The shrimp tacos are tasty, and I like how they have a few different types of guacamole to try. I also really liked their corn with manchego cheese and chili. It is pretty expensive for what it is, but worth trying at least once. Service is decent, but warning: it is SO loud it's hard to hear the person next to you!
(3)Phillip C.
Cool feel to the room, good food & drinks. A bit loud & expensive, but neither prohibits a good time. I came for a weeknight dinner with one other person and was initially thinking I'd have to yell over the music, but we had no problem conversing. Fish & pork tacos were each tasty, as were our drinks (can't recall specifics). The side of rice was worth adding too. I could see this being too busy to really enjoy a weekend 2 top, but would be great for a group anytime.
(3)Abel V.
First time here....last time too. If you're looking for bland, unseasoned food, this is the place to be. First, making reservations for a certain time didn't help as we got seated forty-five minutes after our allotted time. Upon entering the place, I envisioned a Latin fusion, trendy type of place with Latin rhythms and sounds playing in the background. What we saw and heard was a club type of atmosphere, people yelling across their tables trying to carry on a conversation because the music was thumping so loud like we were in a the hippest place of a hip hop scene. Now I might be a little old school, or hallucinating but every time I've visited a Latin joint, I hear the sounds and rhythms of the country or countries it's food is trying to replicate or take to a new level. Trying to carry on a conversation with my wife and friends over a hip hop music, eating bland, tasteless guacomeles, salsas & ceviches was not the experience I was hoping for. If you want some Latin fusion or close to authentic, without the club atmosphere, Don Julio's or other similar places are a safer bet. Now I have to say the drinks were not bad, however the beer selection was limited and as I scanned the bar, so were the choices or liquor. Mostly Latin infused drinks, only "cervezas" as I was told from the bartender. She should've said "only Mexican cervezas" because that's all they had. Anyway, our waiter seemed to forget about our small table once a group of twenty or so were seated next to us. When I asked for extra chips for our table, it took them fifteen minutes to bring them out. Decor was nice but I toned it out after our experience. Safe to say my wife and I along with our friends are not coming back to this place.
(1)Carly O.
I want to give Mercadito 3 stars, because honestly, their food was pretty great. I went for Restaurant Week and thought their Prix Fixe menu was a good deal and offered a nice variety of options and was more than enough food. I have zero complaints about any of it: guacamole, ceviche, tacos (al pastor was fabulous), arroz verde and tres leches flan. My drink (called LIttle Market, I believe) was fantastic. Our server was friendly and pleasant enough, though he disappeared for a long period of time after we got most of our food right away. It took forever to get the check. I never know if they're trying to create the impression that they don't mind us lingering to chat, or if they truly have forgotten about us. (Servers in general, that is.) Also, the restaurant isn't responsible for the types of patrons that end up dining there. But honestly, this was NOT my crowd. Is this place always such a "need to be seen" type establishment on a Tuesday night? But the absolute most annoying thing, the one that will probably keep me from ever going back, was the intolerable volume of the music. My girl friends and I spent the entire night screaming at one another across the table. It almost sounded like it got louder as the night wore on, if that was even possible. If I want to listen to pulsating techno music at eardrum destroying levels, I'll head to the club. I do NOT want to deal with that when I'm trying to enjoy a nice meal with friends.
(2)Karl F.
I really liked the food, drink, service and character of this place. My waiter Carlos was very attentive. The house margarita was awesome. The tacos were just the right size so you didn't get over stuffed. I would call them tapas size. Next time I am in Chicago I will go there. I wish there were one near where I live.
(4)Vivian Y.
Oooh..I know, only three stars! I do hope to upgrade it in the future. I was invited to the Grand Opening last night and was very excited to check out this new place that is so popular in NYC. The people at the door checking off the guest list were very nice. Not snooty at all and certainly alot more efficient than other Openings that I have been to in the past. Mercadito knows how to throw an opening. Free drinks (and they were all excellent, from the true margaritas made with grand marnier, to the flaming drink and the cucumber one as well!). Not to mention the free appetizers and a tasty selection of their tacos. Even better, we were able to sit in a booth rather than have to stand in the bar area all night. They had a nice selection of ceviches from mahi mahi, shrimp, scallops and grapes (my favorite!) to the various styles of guacaomole (with mole or pomegranate). I enjoyed the mole-style guac immensely. Everything was nicely seasoned but none of the ceviches packed any punch! So why the three stars? I think it must have been the tacos. The fish taco was not very good. It was fried in beer batter then wrapped up in a taco with a cabbage slaw. The fish was tasteless as was the batter. The other taco's offered were chorizo which was good, not greats; then the beef(?) taco with salsa verde which was pretty good, but not great again. My friend told me that their regular menu offers 4 of their tacos for around $18 which I found astonishing as I would not pay that kind of money for the taco's that they were serving last night. Then there is the decor in the back of the room. The paintings on the back wall reminded me of a tacky mural on the streets of Cabo. I'm not sure what happened here in the back room because the front of the house is quite trendy and hip. I'd definitely come back again, especially for the drinks as they were all really good. Service was extraordinaire! They definitely beat my expectations for an opening night!
(3)Jacob W.
I came here on Cinco de Mayo, and the place was insanely popping. Actually, I think it was really the dimness of the interior and the volume level of the music that made the place feel almost like a club, when the clientele wasn't actually acting all that crazy. Anyway, this place is cool if you dig the Miami scene and if you want to spend a lot of money. The drinks are good and boozy. I had one that was lit on fire before being served to me. I was worried this would burn off some of the alcohol but it had PLENTY left. The food -- we got this special for 4 people, $35 each, that included different types of guac, ceviche, tacos and then one dessert. We had a spicy and smoky guac but I preferred the original at the end of the day. The ceviche was my least favorite. We got the mahi mahi ceviche and the shrimp ceviche, and both were mushy and not particularly flavorful or fresh. But OK. The tacos were very good, and very tiny. One order (~$15) comes with 4 and I had 4 altogether, and even those tacos with all the other things didn't fill me up sufficiently. So the bill adds up. The pork belly tacos were phenomenal -- a must. Dessert, caramel flan, was also a must. Best flan I've ever had, and I don't usually like it, because it's usually so flavorless. This was life-changing flan, like really good, rich bread pudding meats creme brulee.
(3)Erika K.
Check out my ful review here: thebuckwheater.com/merca… Food: both interesting and delicious Space: Miami nighclub meets Chipotle Service: good Value: on the higher-end Must Eats: pancita taco, chipotle salsa, flan de cajeta
(4)Christina M.
I still rave about the food and drinks I enjoyed here a few weeks ago. Great for the price, as well.
(5)Roxy H.
Okay, my experience here was right after I had my daughter. So, I was already feeling like a fat pig because I still had my baby fat on. We walk into Mercadito with all the beautiful people! LOL. This place was bumping. Nice attractive, mixed crowd. I was told that reservations here take forever so we were just going to enjoy the bar and order food there. It was soooooo crowded. We ate a few items on the menu. Small portions. Nothing too memorable besides the drinks and steak tacos. Downstairs, there is a cool "room" with limited seating and waitress service. Very swanky, very masculine and dark. It was a very sexy, less crowded area to have a drink with my man. LOL. I don't think I will ever return, even with the baby fat gone, once was enough for me and the experience. Check it out. It's worth it.
(3)Mehul P.
Guacamole was good but the chicken tacos were excellent. They marinate the chicken very well. Oh and my traditional margarita was nice and strong.
(4)Marla D.
Checked Mercadito out for date night. Loved the creative and delicious drinks, the vibe was sexy but I suppose i can attribute that to my date. The tacos were interesting but served cold and charging for salsa is tacky. I think that was salsa. It was bland and watery. Service was good and speedy. I don't mind dining somewhere that plays loud music and guests are buzzing with excitement. There was an older woman yelling at the hostess about the noise and demanding a quiet table. I thought she was insane and should've ordered delivery. I would go back for drinks.
(3)Lindsay D.
Food is good, but considering the awesome taco and Mexican options for the same price or less, it is hard to justified. Main reason I am giving an average rating is because the service is snooty.
(3)Stephanie B.
I'm sorry, but this was uber disappointing. I hoped to have a stellar experience given my yelp buds rated it 4 stars. The fiance and I were NOT pleased whatsoever. The fact that the music was so loud that I could even order without shouting was disturbing. Was I at Spy Bar or Mercadito? We honestly couldn't fathom stepping foot in that spot ever again. The overpriced guac was a lime juice overload. And the 2 or 3 tablespoons for $10 a pop was absolutely rediculous. The carne tacos were good. I loved the purple potatoes on them. The steak was flavorful and tender, but for $15.50 I would hope that the ability to mix and match from the 9 options would be nice. The tables were so cramped we had to pull it out for me to get into the booth. We had literally three inches separating us from the other patrons. Not only was that stuffy but I could hear every word of both convos on either side of me from the real estate talk to the "I hate all men" girls next to us. I left there not only feeling disappointed but also with a headache.
(1)Brian O.
Delicious. Great atmosphere. Strong/good drinks. Only thing keeping it from a 5 was it didn't fill me up, which I would have expected with the price. But still a four due to the amazing flavor. I got the pork tacos. Good chips and guac too!
(4)K A.
I was very disappointed when I made a return visit to Mercadito. The first time we went with group of friends enjoyed the food and staff. The following week we decided to take my mom out since we enjoyed the place so much. Our reservation was at 745. Arrived on time and literally had to wait 40mins to be seated. What's the point of making a reservation of you have to wait so long for a table.. I am not sure if I would ever go back or recommend this place to anyone due the rudeness we received from the front. We had to keep going up front to ask how much longer and they would say soon, we r looking for a table of three. All the while we r seeing everyone else be seated but us.. Highly disappointed!!!
(1)Max T.
The first thing I thought when they opened up Mercadito in Chicago was, "why on earth would we want Mexican food exported from New York City?" Seriously, my old hometown has terrible Mexican food, and that's something even New Yorkers will admit to. Of course, Mercadito isn't *terrible* Mexican food, and it shouldn't be, at the prices it charges. And it's got a great atmosphere and great drinks. But the food itself is the very definition of "meh." Fine execution, difficult-to-justify prices. Go for the scene, not the food. And by scene I mean, loud-as-hell, long-ass-waits, your-entire-party-must-be-here, everyone-is-dressed-nicely, there-must-be-an-extra-zero-in-the-bill scene (just like home). Chicago is full of amazing, homegrown Mexican joints.
(2)Angela S.
The food here is decent, it's a loud scene.
(3)Stephanie N.
Great unique Mexican cuisine. They have a great party space in the basement. This is truly a must try for those who like higher end Mexican. The wait staff can be a little slow, but other than that it is truly a great place to try.
(4)MaryAnne M.
I have now had both brunch and dinner at Mercadito. Brunch was a few months back, so that will be brief. I do recall it being delicious and full of choices. We did sweet: Pancakes, manchego cheese, strawberries, cinnamon butter, maple syrup. And savory: Estrellados y tampiqueña -eggs sunny side up, chile guajillo marinated skirt steak, purple potatoes, poblanos, chive aioli, grilled spring onions, avocado Bloodies are spicy. Like I like 'em. On to dinner: A few comments on the other reviews: If you want to eat in silence A) Eat at home B) Find a library that serves food Moving on. Dinner. Saturday night. 8pm. Restaurant is packed. Jam-packed. Party of 6. Took awhile for them to seat us, but again, it was Saturday night. Some of the highlights: Chicken Mole - Braised shredded chicken, mole, and plantains, served with choice of two salsas, onion, cilantro & tortillas. Chile Relleno - Stuffed poblano, scallops, shrimp, oaxaca-manchego cheeses, roasted tomato-árbol salsa. (My choice) The pepper was so tender, and scallops so delicious. Table ordered a few taco platters. Most outstanding was: Camarón shrimp, roasted garlic, chipotle mojo, avocado. Had some heat to it, but not overwhelming. The mango martini was a huge hit with everyone. Someone, I can't say who, said should like to bath in the mixture. Again, can't say who. We were celebrating a birthday and they were kind enough to store the Sprinkles cupcakes for us until dessert time Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. And, upon inspection of their website it has been brought to my attention that they deliver. Deliver.
(5)Matt W.
Love Love the Tapas concept, and Chicago does it as good as anywhere in the world. $15 margaritas hit the spot along with al pastor and fish tacos. Environment is definitely loud and some place where you can take clients to impress and enjoy a good meal. Expect about $100 per person if you go with the full slate of drinks, appetizers, tacos, and dessert. Wouldn't recommend it as a first date type of deal as it gets LOUD and the tables are so closely seated next to each other. Service was impressive, laid back, friendly. The tacos are small, i would say two bites and you are done - that only left me with the feeling that, " I want more, damn it!" A definite must add to your Chicago repertoire of restaurants.
(5)Jonathan W.
I'm not into the whole River North clubby factory-restaurant thing much like many of the other reviewers here. I'm biased about them and that's just the way it is. If you're looking for a crowd pleaser however, and it is a special occasion where you can afford to spend some extra cash, this place is an ok call. The food is meant for sharing which was the first downfall of the group I was with...I don't think anyone was feeling that due to dietary fussiness, experience, etc. Everyone needs to share. Food is three stars at best however. Al Pastor tacos were a shell of what they could be, guacamole preparations seemed interesting but essentially was just guacamole with some pomegranate seeds. Bottom line is what's fanciful on paper doesn't translate onto the plate - intriguingly described food was bland and lackluster. Very nice, albeit overpriced selection of tequilas and mezcals. I will not be back by myself, and with a group reluctanty.
(2)Emma Z.
Went for lunch, what a great place for a quick lunch downtown! The staff were all so friendly and attentive -- best service I've had in a while. The tortas were amazing. I had the mushroom one, and I highly recommend it. The guacamoles are ridiculously good. The atmosphere was fancy, yet casual. A++
(5)Susan F.
I've been to Mercadito once for drinks, but have had carryout lunch from there once as well. I remember the tacos being very good, but small, and very expensive. Minus 1 The drinks at Mercadito make up for everything, honestly. Everything else is subpar at best. The guacmole is fantastic, but you barely get half a cup of it. I would suggest the Rita Tradicional, for sure. The mango salsa didn't do much for me but the regular guac was pretty good and chunky. The atmopshere, I dig man, but the service, not so much. The hostess was incredibly rude and clearly was not familiar with pleasing her customers. The details of the story are a bit long, but my co-workers and I were not impressed with how anything was handled. Like I said, the ritas are fantastic, though overpriced. They could have gone down a dollar, to be fair. I respect and enjoy fine restaurants, perhaps more than some 20 somethings my age, but I'm no fool. The food is a bit overpriced, enough said. I will have to check out this taco lunch they speak of, and see if it can sway my review enough to put another half or full star up here. However, heaven forbid if I don't dress up swanky for lunch for fear of not being served... I'm a mexican and rita fanatic, and Dito only gets 3 staros.
(3)Kristi T.
This is not a good place to take your parents, your boss, your hipster low key friends, or anyone hard of hearing. Its loud, its crowded, and people here are here to be seen. If you're not up for dressing up, being hit on by Scott Dissick impersonators, having your husband hit on by slutty cougars, and having your food come out of order as it is done, pick somewhere else. If you're out for a girls night, a fun dinner before going out, bachelorette party, etc - this place is perfect! Even just a double date with another couple that enjoys being "in the scene" is great. My only excuse for not writing a review on Mercadito until now (since I have been there at least 20 times) is because inevitably I have one or four too many delicious margaritas. They make them "skinny" if you request which I am pretty sure just means all tequila plus a lime. Hence the buzz. This food is tapas style, which is a really fun and non traditional way to eat mexican! My personal recommendations: Tradicional and Toreado Guacamole Flautas - like a mini, fried, rolled up quesadilla with manchego cheese Estio Baja Tacos - battered mahi and chipotle coleslaw Pastor Tacos - chili rubbed pork and grilled pineapple Ensalada - one of my favorite salads in the city, mixed greens, queso fresco, jicama, and mexican balsamic - yummy! Arroz Verde - green rice served in a scalding hot pot covered in oaxaca cheese As you can see, I spare no expense on my food items, hence the need for "skinny margaritas" . Definitely a favorite spot in River North, and def my favorite Mexican food!
(5)Chirag P.
I'm definitely a fan of upscale mexican food done "tapas style" We actually had a group of 14 that went here for dinner on NYE and everyone was stuffed by the end. Since it was a party of more than 7 we had to do the "tasting menu" and let me tell you it was well worth it. Half of us did a meat menu ($40 pp) while the other half of the group was veggie ($35 pp). Everyone gets a portion of whatever you choose tacos, guac, salsas, desserts, etc. And there is so much food for the price, that even I (a notorious glutton) was full. The place was packed and it seemed hip/trendy, perfect to get us into the NYE party mood. The drinks were great but pricey, try the 'Old Market.' I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good Mexican food.
(4)TN T.
Hello! Not sure how dinner is but I came here for brunch and got the family style brunch but it was really more like appetizers! Pretty good food! but small portion sizes! exclamation point!
(3)Eric M.
If I could rate their food alone it would be 4 stars. However, taking in the whole experience Mercadito has a lot to fix. First off the sound. It's crazy loud. Like I thought I was in the middle of Public House on a Saturday night, and I went on a Wednesday! The decor is nice - modern with cool glass. I really like the menu. It's broken down easy to understand and there's a good amount of drink concoctions to pick from. What I don't like is the price. My wife and I came and each ordered one drink, shared a ceviche, and ordered a flight of tacos each. After tax and tip we were at $90. That's pretty pricy. I love how the food tastes though.
(2)Kelly D.
Been several times and I'd like to like this place more.... It's kind of loungey, but tables are packed in - kinda like your in the cheap seats at a basketball game - no elbow room. The food is good, but might take a backseat to the drink menu. The rosemary marinated skirt stake is available in taco form or as a main dish and is pretty good. The chipotle beer battered shrimp (botana) is alot of fun, too. Drink concoctions are quite good (as long as you like tequila/mezcal) - try the Shady Gato - my fave. Now the real reason I do like this place, pastel de chocolate - chile spiced chocolate cake....... I still have mixed feelings about this place - I think the lighting is off or something - but go for the chocolate cake & drinks!
(4)Sylvia T.
We went here for a friend's birthday. The "club" downstairs felt a little claustrophobic, the ceiling is a bit low. The tacos were absolutely amazing though. I thought we were going to order individual entrees, but it was served more appetizer style with small plates on the side. It actually turned out to be better that was as everyone got to sample a wide variety of different tacos. The pulled pork were my favorite. The assortment of guacamole was really great as well. We will definitely be back!
(4)Ali B.
I couldn't wait to try Mercadito! When I finally did I went with a group of girls from work (4 total), one of us had a Groupon. After making reservations we ended up going on a Wednesday around 6:30 PM. Tapas style sharing was best for our group and most people/groups that go in. Here is what we got.. Guacamole (3): Tradicional, Mango, Toreado (spicy/favorite) *don't waste your time with the tradicional. Ceviches (2): Dorado & (no longer available) *The other one we got is not listed on the current menu, but is similar to the callo (it was scallops, red grapes and a few other ingredients) very sweet..was not much of a fan. ...on to the TACOS! Pastor * Camaron Pescado* Chorizo (I did not try this, not a fan of chorizo..it was not the favorite of the group) *Asterisk mark my favorites MARGARITAS-VERY GOOD I think i had 3 :) Portions over all are small, but that is to be expected. Mercadito is Fancy Mexican. Go for the experience and the atmosphere, but not if you are looking for traditional Mexican food. This would be good place to take a first date, just don't booze to hard drinks are pricy.
(3)Allie P.
I ADORE Mercadito and am especially thrilled that their kitchen is open late. I'm in the service industry and work evenings, and the options for late-night dining (aside from your typical, greasy bar fare) in River North are pretty limited, so this place has been a fantastic addition to my repertoire. It's pretty quiet later in the evenings, so it's a great place to unwind after work and grab a bite. On top of that, the food is LEGIT amazing. I'm well on my way to being able to say that I've tried everything on the menu, and I have yet to find something here that I dislike. Among my favorites: the dorado ceviche, carnitas de puerco taquizas, and for dessert, the torrejas de bolillo.
(5)Lauren B.
I would have given Mercadito 4 stars if it weren't for the noise level. This place is exceptionally loud, so dont plan on catching up over dinner here without yelling at your dinner companion. That being said, the food is lovely. We had the guac with pomegrante seeds which was delicious treat for your mouth.......the cool seeds with the slightly spicy guac was a great balance. For dinner we shared the mahi mahi and tilapia tacos. Both were delectable but the winner is the tilapia taco with the delicate fish, spicy sauce, and cool avocado....a must try!
(3)Ryan T.
Yeah this place gets 5 stars. Mercadito has a great energy and atmosphere! I came here last Saturday for my birthday dinner and it was an awesome experience. Margheritas were fantastic (i had the standard) and my girlfriend had a bunch of fruity stuff in hers. They were strong and perfect. Food and service were quick and polite. To start we had guacomole Elotes style which was refreshing and good to warm the stomach up. For dinner I had the Langosta or Lobster Tacos which were a dream come true. They packed a lot of lobster into those tacos and they were the perfect texture and taste. I tried some of my friends Flautas with Chicken and they were also excellent. If you are in chicago and want to try a great place come here!
(5)Cory A.
We could talk about the vibe, the super loud music, or the unique art hanging on the walls, or from the ceiling for that matter, but that's not really why I eat here, so that's not really what concerns me. We all wanna eat at a place that is hip and trendy, then go out and tell our friends to go, and believe me, Mercadito definately lays it on thick, but sometimes, beyond the expensive and urban appeal a restaurant tries to sell you, the food is that good, it's hard to notice what's even going on around you. I have eaten at Mercadito probably 5 times in the last year or so and always look forward to my return. It's not the 14 dollar tacos, or even the house salad with queso fresco that pulls at me. It's simply a package that isn't really sold anywhere else in this city, or at least any place I've been too. Individual plates are well thought out, and executed quite nicely, and even though there are some things that aren't amazing, like the prices that are hard to believe, the fact that you can wait 30 mintues past your reservation, or that an order of salsa clearly only serves one person, have a glass of their house margarita, and those things get a lot easier to swallow. Mercadito blends flavor and some authenticity of the regionous cuisine of Mexico with a modern American approach. It's not that they do this, that you should flock to this restaurant, because a lot of places with try. It's that they do it well.
(4)Heather S.
I dined at Mercadito for the first time this week. I love Mexican food and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Going during lunch hour, my husband and I were easily seated. The crowd was all young people - I don't think anyone was over 50. We ordered 2 of their salsas - the traditional and the pineapple. Both were very good and creamy. The flavors mixed well, but there wasn't much spice. Since my friend requires a gluten-free diet, we found out he cannot eat the chips because they are fried in the same fryer as the beer battered fish. However, there were only 2 dishes he couldn't eat (and anything with mole) and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable. The tacos are small - about a 4 inch diameter. You also cannot mix tacos - all 3 must be the same type. Luckily, I ordered the pescado and my friend ordered the carne asada so I was able to try both. The fish was excellent and the combination of flavors unique. I actually think the carne asada was better, though. The mix of spicy, savory and tangy was great. We also each ordered one drink - both were very tasty. I loved the chile powder on the glass, too. Overall, the food was good. The flavor combinations were upscale and appropriate for foodies. However, $82 for lunch for 2 was a bit steep. I also don't like when you must pay for chips and salsa. I would go back for special occasions, as I did enjoy it. However, at this price, I wouldn't frequent Mercadito.
(3)Brian D.
Went for lunch during restaurant week. I think I would have given more stars if I hadn't been during restaurant week because the menu was limited and I was forced to eat guacamole and civeche. I started with the Smoky Pablo. It was tasty with the bluberry foam on the top. Not very strong, but tasty none the less. I wouldn't have chosen those items if I were able to pick my own items from the full menu. Not a fan of guacamole but I can't say they were bad (maybe my palate is changing). The ceviche with the hicima and shrimp were very good, but the scallop ceviche was a bit tangy for my taste. With that being said, the tacos were off the chain!!! The chicken tacos with the shaved brussel sprouts on top were oh so good. The meat on the carne tacos were seasoned well and melted in your mouth. The shrimp tacos had the best sauce on them. I had tres leches for dessert and It was also very good. I think I will give this place a try after restaurant week. That was I can try more tacos and get more to eat. The portions were kind of small (tapas size) so I wasn't really full after lunch and I think I was just trying to be a fat a$$. :-)
(4)Dzifaa L.
Just checked this place out since my friend recommended it as it was previously listed on restaurant week. Went there for lunch and ordered the chips and guacomole for appetizers. Got the shrimp tacos which were pretty good but extremely SMALL.. they give you three kid size tacos for about 10 dollars. Extremely over-priced for Mexican food. Good service and basic menü. Probably would not go again as you can get better bang for your buck elsewhere in my opinion.
(3)Donisha L.
Went here for my birthday back in June since I've heard about this place so frequently during our daily "where should we go for dinner" conversations at the office. Since I am a lover of all things Latin (particularly my men and my food) thought I would give this place a try! One word: ehhhhh This place was a little crowded for a Monday so a great place for the average Monday through Sunday socialite. They have a nice little patio, so perhaps the warm weather that day had something to do with the mass exodus of chicagoans indulging in outdoor eating. I just didn't think the food was too die for, I'm not craving it, and after we got our bill I spent more time trying to figure out what the hell we actually ordered that made it so pricey! Drinks perhaps? I guess at $16 a pop it can certainly add up. Although the margaritas that came to our table lit on fire were certainly cool to look at! We ordered a few taco dishes (carne, camaron, and pescado) along with the enchilada plate. I think we all agreed the enchilada plate was the best but again nothing spectacular. I could have gone to any taco stand on the westside and it would taste the same, only it would have saved us the hundred plus bucks we spent at mercadito. Overall, cool for the scene, not in my fab five.
(3)Christina C.
Tacos are flavorful, robust, and memorable. Guacs have a kick that turns your tongue on. Margaritas stand out because they're not served weak. I love it here.
(5)Alana B.
Amazing place. Went there on a Saturday night, music was great, food was awesome. Guacamole choices are perfect, margaritas even better. Definitely a fun place to go on the weekend before you go out, also tried the shrimp & fish tacos - incredibile.
(5)Mandi G.
I went here for restaurant week and liked the food so much that I came back again last week. Highlights for me were the ceviche, the traditional guacamole and the tacos al pastor. They also have a brussel sprouts with chorizo side dish that is really good. And their Mexican spin on bread pudding dessert was outstanding. I really only wrote this review to address two major problems that so many other reviews mention. The tables are WAY too close together. It is beyond ridiculous. The entire restaurant is pretty much communal seating. This wouldn't be so bad if the people sitting next to you weren't suburban Euro-trash on date night or wasted older dudes on the prowl. Second, they play the WORST music I have ever heard in a restaurant. Think "Spring Break in Cancun". I get that they are going for a club vibe. Play some loungey house music. Do not play "How Low" by Ludacris. Don't play anything by Ludacris for that matter. This place has the potential to be so much better than it is. But, the food is good and that's what really matters, I guess.
(3)Aliyah R.
We had made reservations for 8:45, and the whole party arrived before 8:45 and we were not seated till 9:30! We kept asking the hostess and she kept saying "It'll be 2 more minutes,"The manager is setting up the table,", "I promise another 10 minutes." Really, you're going to make a party that has a reservation wait 45 minutes without offering drinks or appetizers? Rude. The food was alright. The guacamole was not that great, and neither was the ceviche. The best thing were the tacos and dessert was alright as well. Not super impressed with the front of the house or the mediocrity of the food.
(2)WindyCityGrl T.
Why didn't I dine here sooner! I loved everything about this restaurant. The ambiance, service, delicious guac/margaritas/tacos!!! I enjoyed the pork tacos the most. I'm now a fan and can't wait to return!
(5)Katie D.
I've been to Mercadito twice... the first time for a bachlorette party with about 10 girls and the second for date night with the hubby. The food was excellent both visits and it proved to be a great place for any occasion. By far the best tacos I've had in Chicago. The drinks weren't too bad either!
(5)Carl G.
Really enjoyed the food. I ate dinner with a friend of mine that is a Chef at an Atlanta italian restaurant. he is very hard to please and he was impressed. Enough said. It is pricey but this is Chicago so most of the better establishments are. We had a great time, go check it out.
(4)Dana G.
Restaurant Week Girls night out!! Hollerrrr. If I had to choose one word to describe this place it would be.... onomatopoeia... Let me explain. The buzz of the atmosphere, the crack and splash of the ice in the mixer during the creation of a signature cocktail, the sizzle and crunch of the food. This place is literally alive with these sense explosions. If you are down for a quiet night out this isn't your place. Luckily for us girls, we like it loud-ah! It was Restaurant Week so we had a tasting menu. Boy did we get our moneys worth. By the end of it we all had food babies. We got to sample 3 guacs, 4 tacos, 2 ceviches, 1 side and 2 deserts. The guac was very flavorful but I will have to say the more original one didn't really hit the mark with us. I would say to stick with the traditional. All the tacos were good. Perfect blend of flavors in each. We got 2 veggie, one carnitas and one shrimp. The mushroom one was my favorite. The dish that stood out in my mind would have to be the dorado ceviche. The wafer-like crackers that came with it were a bit too soft for me as I'm used to a traditional chip crunch. There was plenty on the table though so I just used the leftover from the guac. We also ordered a variety of cocktails. They all had a smokey flavor. The consensus was the pepino el pyu was the best. Made with cucumbers it is amazingly refreshing and dangerous as you can't taste the booze. The shady gato is a must as well, if not solely on the name alone. I definitely recommend this place for a fun and exciting night out and escape from your average Chicago restaurant.
(4)Jennifer S.
Very cool space in a cool neighborhood! Good service, unique decor and vibe and delicious and flavorful tacos!
(4)Jen A.
Ok Mercadito, I'll be back for another girls night out. All the food was delicious and the people-watching was fantastic. If I did a shot for every jumpsuit and sparkly dress in this place, I'd out-drink Marian in the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Loved the unique cocktails-- we tried the cucumber margarita with a spicy salted rim and thought it was great. I did not enjoy waiting shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of loud bachelorette parties for 60 minutes even though we had reservations. I also did not enjoy shouting my conversation across the table to my girlfriends. On the plus side, we were able to ridicule a lot of outfits regarding the people standing right next to our table without any fear that we were heard.
(3)Joy W.
I had a great time here! I went with a large group, and we got the $35 tasting menu. That was a great choice because we got to try their absolutely delicious guacs (the toreado w/pico de gallo was my fave) and salsa (the chipotle one was great). Let's see, then we had a selection of their tacos, which were very tasty and filling. The pastor taco (rubbed pork and pineapple) was the winner of that race (if I go back I want to try the hongos taco, which has wild mushrooms). Their fried plantains were very juicy and delicious. The green salad side was fine but nothing special, so I wouldn't order that. For the dessert, we tried the bread pudding, chocolate something and the flan- hands down, the flan was the best because it came drizzled in caramel sauce and was lighter than the others, which was good after a fairly rich meal. A few caveats. The drinks were incredibly underwhelming. For starters, they served the margaritas in tumblers with tons of ice, so I felt like I wasn't even getting much. More than that, they just didn't taste that good-- all sweet and no liquor (and then diluted because of the ice). I suppose I'm spoiled in that I judge cocktails off what I can get at Violet Hour or Whistler...but seriously, if you charge as much (or more!) that's kind of what I expect! In short, if you order a drink here, I'd stay with something simple like a plain martini or wine. Perhaps this is just my taste since so many others loved the margaritas, though...still, I maintain that if I can't taste the liquor at all, something has likely gone wrong. On a final point, I really liked the interior. Very classy, intimate feeling (wear something nice- it's more fun that way!). Still, it's quite loud upstairs so I'm not sure whether it would be a good place for a date, but going with a group was really fun and I'd definitely do it again!
(4)Sara H.
Mercadito = Merca-NoNo!! Did you know Mercadito has a "your entire party must be present before they can be seated or you lose your reservation" rule? Neither did we. And, they did not mention it when we called to make our reservation for a party of 12!! When we arrived they told us to hang out and we would get seated when everyone arrived. When most of the party was present we tried to get seated but were told that our reservation had been given away and we were now on the wait list--which would be long due to the size of our party! The drinks we had while waiting for our non-existent table were good but the service was so bad I will never go back!
(1)Char Y.
We have read so much about this restaurant and were thrilled to find out that they extended restaurant week menu for March. We came on a week day for lunch and were promptly seated. We informed our waiter, Renee, that we had to be out in 1 hour, and he promised to help us out. We were quite confused by the menu initially. It's $22 per person for pick 2 guacamole, pick 2 ceviche and pick 3 types of tacos. We ordered tradicional guacamole - good, just like the one in mexico mango - very good, sweet but salty at the same time callo ceviche - very good, the scallops are surprisingly tasty combined with red grapes. camaron ceviche - good, wish there was more shrimp. pastor - very good, loved the pineapple combined with pork pato - good, loved the mole & pumpkin puree on top. estilo baja - good, amazingly crispy yet juicy on the inside mahi mahi. capirotada - the bread pudding was very disappointing, hard on the inside and took a long time to arrive. The food was good, but WAY too expensive for mexican food. The tacos are amazing, but also amazingly small. I loved the fact that the tortillas were house made and extremely soft. However, I think i can get much better value for lunch for $44.
(3)Jeff R.
It seems like every other post of mine is for Mercadito. Not entirely true but this will be my fourth time going in a year. The most recent visit (if you can call it that) was last December for a company holiday dinner. It was my suggestion because it was close by, good food, great drinks and a lively atmosphere. As an added bonus it doesn't break the bank, something of high importance in this climate. We followed the advise of our server, and kept the game plan simple - keep the tacos and margaritas coming until we say stop. Since it's been a while it might be hard for me to recall all the different tacos. I know we loved the carne, and I liked the mahi mahi. The others were good on a varying degree. If you've been to Mercadito before you know they love their drinks - and so do we. My favorite is the pepino el pyu (tres generaciones blanco, cucumber, lemon, hoja santa, cumin salt). The cucumber is a fun and refreshing twist to a margarita. We also really ate a lot of the chips, salsas and guacamole. The spicy salsa was my favorite (I think the one with peanuts), and the gaucs were also very tasty. I almost forgot, we also started with a few ceviche dishes the cleanse the palate between spicy salsa, gaucamole and our trays of tacos (not to mention it goes great with the drinks). There was ONE non taco dish ordered - the carne asada. Darn it was good: deliciously seasoned and cooked to order. Next time I go I think I might try a non taco dish. It was a successful evening in all regards - good food, good drinks, good value and a good crowd. It may not be the best Mexican food in town, and it may have a "lively" (i.e. loud), but that's the point. You go to Mercadito to have a fun night with some good food on the side. They know their strength and execute well. If history is any guide I'll be back soon.
(4)Paul R.
Went here for dinner and it was too loud but then on the other hand I guess I'm getting too old for the hipster spots. I wish they had some ambient music in the background to drown out our neighbors. It was so loud we had to leave and eat next door...
(2)Scott F.
Cool ambiance and great food but a restaurant experience for me relies on service. The hostess snapped at us and had major attitude. the waiter seemed bothered that he was a waiter and had to be serving tables. It seemed as though we were asking too much when simply asking for menu recommendations. Not one thank you or good night from one staff member on the way out. Probably would not recommend it to friends. Better places where they enjoy and respect their guests.
(2)Meredith G.
I took a friend/client here for lunch yesterday after reading good reviews on yelp via my phone and was able to make a reservation too. Convenience won me over. The staff here are so friendly from the server to buss boys. We followed our servers suggestion with ordering 3 items to share. We started with the ceviche callo which was bay scallops, strawberry, key lime-habanero broth, & mint. It was a generous bowl with flat chips. We also enjoyed their guacamole tradicional style served with fresh chips and lastly a plate of 3 carne tacos. The tacos were small, but packed with flavor in each bite. I could've eaten 3 more easily, but we left perfectly stuffed. Check this place out.
(4)kaveh a.
I used to be a Chicago resident and for the past 5 years Manhattanite but upon my return to the windy city for a visit i was taken to this spot and shown the velvet rope. Well sort of. It was at least a rope. The downstairs where all the sound system is and the action happens has some major major potential. However the DJ who seemed to be in his 40's was probably missing his gig at the Smith wedding in the burbs. As any NYC establishment will tell you, music is a integral part of any nightlife. Formula for success small and intimate. check Top notch DJ Fail Great crowd if its the best you can do, its the best you can do Over all i am being very generous by giving this place A-OK lets just say its worth a shot
(3)Sarah A.
I've been here a couple times for drinks and appetizers. The BNGTM (Big Nose Goes to Mexico) is definitely the drink to get (they light it on fire). A little flashy for a margarita, but it's delicious. I think it might be a little pricey, but it's got a great atmosphere and nice staff.
(4)Marcy T.
The food at Mercadito is absolutely top notch. Every taco, every guac, every ceviche. It all deserves five stars. There isn't a bite I didn't love! We've been there twice and both times have been absolutely blown away by the food - absolutely in the "OMG, that is amazing" category. The pulled pork taco is to DIE for. On top of the amazing food, I can say without a doubt that the service here is some of the best in Chicago. AJ, specifically, is one of the overall best servers I've ever dined with. Attentive, funny, easy going and knows a foodie when he sees one, he was delightful to deal with. He even refilled my iced tea when it was only half gone because he noticed my ice had melted and wanted me to have "fresh" drink. Thank you! I agree with other posters that this can definitely have a young, hip and sometimes "meat market-y" feel. But we've had great luck with going early on Saturdays and Sundays and getting seated right away with less of "da club" feel. Much more relaxing than at 7 or 8 o'clock. But even with that sometimes too young feel, it's worth the time and the money because this place is phenomenal across the board.
(4)Roberto M.
2 stars for the food. 4 stars for the cocktails. This is not Mexican food. Mercadito does not crack the top 25 for Mexican food in the city of Chicago. The food is overpriced, (16 bucks for 4 tacos?) and the flavors are unimpressive. The food is geared towards its clientel---after work loop socialites. The salsa has no kick. The flavors are not authentic and the menu is easy to read for the "we like tacos and guacamole crowd." The drinks are good and warrant their 10-14 dollar price tags. The margartias are creative and delicious. Go for drinks to start your night. Go to Zocalo for dinner.
(2)Deana L.
*Disclaimer: Due to the weather, the writing in this review is uninspired. Mercadito is a very nice, trendy spot. The food was fairly tasty; we had the fish tacos and the chicken tacos. We also got the chips and salsa. I thought that the multiple types of salsas were a great idea. On Sunday afternoons, it seems pretty laidback although busy, but not as loud as some people have said. Or, maybe I am losing my hearing... I do have an objection to the prices. I understand the food is good, but I just can't pay $14 for 4 small tacos when I can just go to Pilsen and pay $6 for a plato.
(3)Jason N.
The 3-star rating might throw you off, but allow me to explain. Made a reservation for 7 and considering the fact we were late, the staff seated us quite quickly on a crowded night. We did the tasting menu which I believe was $30 a person, some of the food did wow however the portions did not. They start you out with a sample of 4 different guacamole's. The classic was just guac, there was a smoky one where I tasted maybe a hint of cumin?, that was the winner to me. The other two weren't my thing, sorry it's just mango guac doesn't do it for me. They then bring you four different tacos one at a time. The lamb taco was meh, off to a bad start. Then came the steak taco, very tasty and charred to perfection. After that one was the Tilapia taco, hands down my favorite. The fish was cooked perfectly and it was dressed with a tasty sauce that was simply delicious. And then came the carnitas taco, which was also very good. The carnitas were cooked nice and tasty, and it had a hell of a kick to it. I'm talking to where my nose was running. The main issue I had was the portions. The tacos were tiny, I mean it made Mexican street tacos look like the Super King Burrito at TBK. And for 7 people, they only brought out 2 small plates of pico de gallo and other garnishments. It was good overall, but with the struggle of downtown traffic, the crowds, the high prices, and the small portions, I can't see myself putting Mercadito in the "must" pile.
(3)Laura H.
I hate to disagree with some of my favorite Yelpers here, but seriously? How did you get past the table situation? The tables are LITERALLY one inch apart. When I say literally, I mean it. That's no exaggeration. (a) We asked to move to another table and were given two other options that were just as bad. We were told a corner table wasn't possible even though several were never used the entire night. (b) They seated us on an end and then seated four large men next to us. One guy actually said, "are you serious?" to the waitress when she showed him the table. (c) We could hear our neighbor's conversation the entire night. (d) I had to get up to let the guy at the table next to me out. Repeat, I had to get up because he couldn't get up if I didn't move! The food and margaritas were good, but there are several great Mexican restaurants in Chicago that do not require you to sit so closely to the other diners. Plus, the service was awful! We were lucky enough to get a polite waitress, but before we got to her we dealt with three rude hosts (why are there three anyway?), a bartender who had to be flagged down after 5 minutes, and our original waiter who didn't understand why we didn't like sitting one inch from other guests. Seriously?
(2)Elizabeth R.
If this place wasn't so expensive, I'd go there more often. But the drinks are pricey (though really good) and the food isn't cheap either. I always get the tacos - all of them are awesome. There's also usually a large crowd, which makes it really hard to get a table and almost impossible to grab a spot at the bar. Downstairs was a lot less crowded but also a lot less fun.
(4)Keith C.
Still 5 stars. The all you can eat taco special is unbelievably awesome. Big nose goes to mexico is one of my more favorite drinks here because of the effects of the fire. Anyways, three of us got an order of the pescado, carne, mushrooms, pork and the deep fried mahi mahi. This probably would have filled us up except that we then went and ordered another round of the pescado because it is so good.
(5)Kyle B.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "Man, I could go really go for some breakfast right now, but I would also like to have a dance party with music that is entirely too loud for any sort of conducive conversation." No? Me either. But that's what was going down at Mercadito (whether I liked it or not.) I went here with some friends a couple of weekends ago not knowing about the trendy breakfast food rave I was in for. However, I did very much enjoy the company so I thought, regardless of the fact that they might serve me up some glowsticks and a hit of "X" as an appetizer, I'd still give it a try. I will say they do have a pretty sweet "Hangover Brunch" special where you can get a couple of items on their brunch menu along with a signature drink for $18. Not a bad deal considering the food is pretty high quality and the drinks are very unique. However, since it was restaurant week and we wanted the full experience, we opted for the RW menu which added a few more items for $28. Head-pounding atmosphere aside, the food was tremendously good and the drinks were definitely unique. I can't say that it was entirely worth the price tag, but I left happy with our selections. It's just enough food to keep you satisfied, but not overly stuffed like a greasy spoon brunch diner. Now I know some of you Mercadito regulars are going to say, "That's what it's supposed to be like on Saturdays! It's what they're known for!" I get it. I get that they want to be trendy and "hip". But to some extent, it just gets annoying. I mean when you're seated right in front of the DJ and his speakers, the subwoofer is enough to scramble your eggs. All in all, the food was tremendously good, but if that's all you're in it for, save the trip for another day. If you do in fact want to be involuntarily booty scrumpin' to the beat while enjoying your Huevos Rancheros, by all means head here on a Saturday.
(3)Gwynne R.
This restaurant is DELICIOUS! A friend of mine is a hostess here, so she invited us in on a Saturday night towards the end of her shift. Mercadito is very upscale and trendy. Very cool looking modern bar and interior in general. We skipped on the specialty drinks and just got some cocktails - the vodka tonic was pretty strong, but who knows how much it cost me! We tried the guacamole sampler, which comes w/ three different kinds of guacamole, all very good. The chips that they serve the guacamole with are also amazing, they seemed fresh out of the fryer/oven and I would have eaten as basketful of them on their own! For dinner I had the chicken taquitos which were great! My other friend had a cheese dip w/ meat, which was very good. Best of all were the steak tacos which had something on top of the meat that made them a little but crunchy. TO DIE FOR!!! All of the food was very precisely seasoned and flavored. Definitely a lot of garlic, which I looooove, but beware and bring some mints or gum for after your meal! This place is definitely pricey, but we got a discount on our bill since my friend works there. However, I would definitely come back for more, despite the high prices - this food was AMAZING!
(4)Vincent A.
I am unabashedly addicted to the tilapia tacos. Seriously, I've had them 15+ times and I could eat them right now. Most of the other tacos are very good, especially the carne and the mahi mahi. It doesn't look like much but you must also try the green rice (arroz verde). There is something in there, either creme frache or crack, that makes it hard to put down the spoon. Most of the food is very good and, considering I've been there about 20 times, impressively consistent. Plus, the prices are very fair. The atmosphere can best be described as urban opulence. With graffiti-like art, well-placed mirrors, and other shiny items, Mercadito screams hip and the crowd reinforces that. double a is a very tiny club downstairs and the doorstaff is imposing but, if you're patient and polite (and have a party of equal guys and girls), you'll get in. The walls in double a are distressed wood with a tequila shelf that give the room a warm, sexy vibe. This is a great spot for a mellow, albeit loud, after dinner drink.
(5)Jeff G.
My fiance and I went here for my birthday dinner. She made reservations. I'm glad she did. The place was packed on a Tuesday night. The waitress was very helpful. She gave a brief explanation of the menu (food is meant to be shared) and how to order the tacos (order of 4). We ordered toreado guac, barbacoa chicken taquizas and an order of the special tacos of the month (braised pork). Everything was fantastic. Portions are on the smaller side (for the price), which is good for sharing and ordering more things. But compared to the order of tacos you can get at de cero, they are smaller. I got a traditional margarita. It was good, but I'm easy to please when it comes to fresh margs. Mercadito is not an everyday place to eat (for our budget) but was a nice date night.
(4)Nona Gayle D.
Went here a couple night ago with a very good friend.... and there were a couple cons and pros about the place... Pros... The food is tasty The service is prompt and polite The food came out quickly Cons The food was a bit overpriced The seating was all bunched together The restaurant was so loud that I practically had to yell to my friend who was only about 2 feet away from me. Parking was difficult to come by. The orders are meant to be shared by the party which is good and bad.... but thankfully my friend and I ordered the perfect portion and were stuffed! It's a good place, but I really wouldn't suggest it as a date spot... unless you wanted to yell at each other the whole time.
(3)Charles W.
The atmosphere: fantastic, boisterous and energetic but not overbearing, and conversation suppressing. The tacos, salsa and guac: tasty and the margaritas are deftly mixed. The price is perfect for what you're getting. Mercadito will make you muy contento.
(5)Chi G.
I really enjoyed this place! After 10pm, they give a 50% industry discount which I took advantage of. Bring your industry card or a recent pay stub. The music is loud and the crowd is sexy. Great place for a girls night out or a late night bite. The food is fresh and coctails are tasty. We enjoyed the guacamole and steak tacos. The mixto ceviche and fish tacos were a miss for us, but I would still recommend this place.
(4)Jim W.
Fun, a little bit pricy, but yum! We went on Mother's Day on a Sunday night (no drinking Sundays here), so the ambiance/crowd was probably not representative, and I never made it to the downstairs bar, but I liked what I saw and ate. The decor was colorful and had lots of flair, I liked the couch/tables in the front room, and the place just generally gave off a lot of energy, though I could see it being deafening loud on a weekend night. Food What looks to be little portions is way more than meets the eye! Probably what disappointed me most was that the taco orders couldn't be mixed/matched despite all costing the same thing. Since they come in orders of 4, if you want a lot of different ones... take more people with you! Absolutely loved the toreado guacamole...dunno how they got it so spicy! (though they could have mashed the avocado so I could avoid the huge chunks I got that evening). The scallop cerviche was also great, sweet and sour at the same time, very fresh and refreshing, served with these large sugary crackers. The sauce that came with the tilapia and steak tacos were amazing...easily trumped Big Star (though a future visit will determine if the al pastor). Our bill for tacos and guacamole and cerviche starters, whoops almost forgot the corn on the cob, ended up being over $60 after tax with no drinks...which costs the same as sushi. Admittedly we were stuffed, but part of that was due to excessive chip munching for slow food turnaround time. Definitely a little pricy. But would I do it again? You betcha! I'm already strategizing how to make it for all-you-can-eat tacos after 11p on a Fri without either starving first or showing up completely wasted...
(4)Niti B.
Only one thing to say amazing shrimp and mahi mahi tacos!! Can't beat the creation of guacamole with fresh pomegranite, a burst of refreshing flavor in your mouth. The margaritas are interesting and creative if you are looking for something a bit on the edge.
(5)Jit S.
Food is ok, small portions. Like the drinks though!
(3)Gigi R.
Not impressed. Waited for 45 mins to be seated for our reservations (res at 9:45, didn't sit down until 10:30), and also arrived 1 hour early. No apologies from the hostess. Half of us were served our entrees while the rest of our party waited 30 mins for their meal. To make matters worse, they did not warn us that the kitchen was not going to serve us all at the same time so we sat there watching our food get cold whilst we waited and waited for them to be served. The food was sub-par and way overpriced for what it was. The guacamole was pre-made and therefore was somewhat brown from the oxidation and it was very onion-y, almost to the point where it was overbearing. Very unappealing and not good. The crowd there was no older than 25 years old, we felt like we were at a club, not a restaurant.....music was so loud that we could not hear anyone speak. All in all it was not up to standards. Have no desire to go again unless I feel like club-hopping with jersey shore.
(2)Michael P.
I have been to Mercadito only once, which is why I can't give it five starts. For me to give a full stamp of approval, I have to go a few times. Any place can be great or bad once. Enough about me... on to Mercadito Chicago. We arrived just before the rest of the dinner crowed maxed the place out. Clearly this place is known. That is a good sign. The waiter was very helpful with explaining the menu and let us know if a dish will take longer to make or not and that the food is brought to the table as it is cooked so we may get our dishes at different times. We chose to get the chips and the traditional guacamole to go with our drinks. I had the Big Nose Goes to Mexico... The only thing I hated about the drink was that there wasn't more. If you are a fan of quality ingredients in your drinks, then you will understand that the price is not so expensive... just know they can run your bill up quick. I selected the tampiqueña as my entrée. This was a piece of heaven on a cutting board... and I have to say.... Serving this dish on the cutting board was a great presentation. The flavors were balanced and bold will being suitable for those who cannot handle spicy food. This was a great dining experience. I will be back and I hope for more of the same. Décor: 4 out of 5 Food: 5 out of 5 Service: 4 out of 5
(4)Sandy N.
I went here this past weekend with a friend for Chef Week--only to find out that they didn't participate in the Chef Week lunch on weekends because they had brunch. It wasn't too much of a difference--the server told us that the special menus just had more options. My friend had the Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi, mexican style coleslaw, chipotle aioli), which was good. The portion was pretty big (4 tacos) but it was a bit spicy for me, so I had some milk (the server paused for a bit at the request, then said "makes sense"). The fish practically melts in your mouth. I had the pancakes (manchego cheese, strawberries, cinnamon butter, maple syrup). The cheese was really subtle, but the combination of flavors was perfect. They skimped a little on the strawberries though =[ We also had the mango and tradicional guacamoles. Good, but spicy! (yay, milk) The atmosphere was very hip and the server was really nice! Will definitely come again.
(4)Christel D.
I really wanted to LOVE this place. I went with a few friends for lunch. It was a first for us all. We decided to all order our own meals but shared a bite or two with each other. Think it is better to do as intended, tapas style so order lots & share. Pros: -Beautiful space. Clean. Great decor. -Carne Torta was heavenly! I did not order this but sampled from a friend. - Super friendly staff & we had a beautiful, cheery, helpful server. Cons: - I know everyone raves about the tacos but I just really did not dig the braised pork or steak tacos. The tortillas were yummy though. Next time might try the chicken or mushroom tacos -Bland rice & beans. Kinda odd. How is this possible? -Friend ordered a Long Island Iced tea & said it was the worst one he's ever had. There are so many options on the menu. So although I did not like the steak or braised pork tacos I will likely go back to try out some other items.
(3)Jim F.
One of the best dinners I've had in a while. Portions were just right, was able to taste several of their tacos, sides, etc. Great atmosphere. Drinks were excellent. Highly recommended
(5)Katie G.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD Made a reservation for a Tuesday night for my boyfriend's birthday. Extremely rude and bitchy hostess. Did not greet us when we walked in, smile or say anything. I said that my name was Katie and that we had a reservation for 2 at 7:30. She snickered and said "your last name is Katie?" Umm. Really sweetheart? Are you dumb or just a bitch? Pretty sure it's both. Another hostess led us to the worst table in the restaurant. Crammed between 2 large loud parties. I declined. It's his birthday, is there anyway we can get another table? I pointed to one empty table, and then another. The answer was no to both. It was a Tuesday night- the restaurant had plenty of open tables that they could have offered up. I was extremely frustrated and disappointed, since I had made this reservation two weeks prior and had even indicated on the reservation that it was a special occasion. The only answer resolution that they had for us is that we could sit in the bar. They took us downstairs to take a look. The bartender down there was the only friendly person on the whole staff. We declined and decided to leave. Was fuming- I asked the hostess's name on the way out. She told me Bliss or Bless or it might have been Bitch. I almost responded-"first name or last?" But just left. I have no idea how that woman was hired into a service industry job. As a hostess you basically have three job responsibilities: 1) Smile 2) Be friendly and welcoming to your guests 3) Seat people Pretty straight forward, right? She failed miserably at all three. We walked down the street to Gilt. Explained our situation and how terrible the service was at Mercadito. They were happy to take care of us. Amazing food and service. Was happy to spend my money there. I am a young professional who dines out quite frequently and I have never, ever had such a terrible experience in my life with a restaurant. I will not be back. Go to Gilt instead. Much, much better.
(1)Tatyana L.
Kicked off Restaurant Week with a visit to Mercadito. I absolutely loved the food on the prix fixe menu and was so full at the end of the meal that is was difficult to breath! It's hard to say which taco was my favorite because they were all delicious. We had the carnita, pollo, pescado, and pastor tacos. Yum! As other reviews have mentioned, street parking was difficult to find so we wound up paying the $12 for valet. I loved the decor; however, they have the tables set up extremely close together. It was almost impossible for me to get out from my seat with out knocking something over on the table next to us. I will definitely be back for the food; however, will probably try to come on a week night when I hope it won't be as crowded and loud.
(4)Mally S.
The reviews are all wildly different, so I will add my two cents. For $30, I got a Victoria beer and four of the tiniest tacos known to man. Yeah, they were good, really good. For that price, I was hoping to not leave hungry. No such luck. After spending my lunch money, I was still starving. Yeah Mercadito, you are good, but not worth that much money.
(4)Samuel M.
I came here with two friends on an evening in which waits at many other Chicago restaurants exceeded 2 hours. I can't say I was disappointed, but all in all the experience at Mercadito resulted in mixed feelings. I must give them points for the low-set tables; it made me feel like a sultan (provided that sultans eat Mexican food) and added to the overall hedonism of the experience. The first thing I noticed about the menu was the pricing, which was wayyy expensive, even for this notoriously pricey pocket of restaurants. I had a bit of a hard time believing that someone expects me to shell out $15 for four miniscule tacos. They also had a margarita on special that was (wait for it) $17. When I finally swallowed the reality of how much I was going to pay for it, the food was of very high quality, and miraculously I did not feel fleeced when leaving. We started with two guacamoles; the restaurant offers six flavors, which I found a little gimmicky. However, the chile de árbol guacamole was pleasantly spicy and a nice change of pace; the pepita, served with pumpkin seeds, was also very unique, but was awkwardly spiced with excessive cinammon. Of note, the sampler was $12.50 for two lilliputian scoops. All of our entrees were fantastic; our table shared a roast chicken, which I usually don't order out; this one,however, was flavored assertively enough that it was definitely worth ordering. Delicious, and also easily the best value on this particular menu at $18.50, complete with delicious black beans and rice - if I return, this is what I will order. We also shared two "taquizas" (small ramekins of meat served with salsas for make your own tacos), one carne asada and another carnitas. The meats were perfectly cooked (carne asada perfect medium rare, carnitas tender and melting off the bone) and all four of our salsas (habañero, chile de árbol, verde, and chipotle) were distinctly flavorful. These were a little steep for their size at $23 (Note: I actually like not being served a trough of food, I just prefer to pay a reasonable amount for it). The service, like the food, had its ups and downs. Our server and host were both very informative and attentive. However, we had to wait around 40 minutes for our food; the table next to us was seated after we had already ordered, and got their food before us. At several times throughout the meal, we had another server come to our table and attempt to give us food/drinks that we did not order, which was at least a minor nuisance. All in all, my three star review of Mercadito should not be interpreted as "meh", but that eating at Mercadito is like riding a roller coaster. The food was awesome enough to outweigh the exorbitant pricing and awkward service. I will likely return, although there are many other fantastic Latin restaurants in this city which outshine this mixed bag of an experience.
(3)Dyan F.
Food is very good. Would appreciate the opportunity to mix and match types of tacos, but perhaps with time that wil become an option. The drinks are even better. Such inventive drinks that really incorporate Latin flavors and ingredients in truly innovative ways. The servers are a handsome bunch too. My only complaint is with the placement of the tables. A little too close for comfort. My heart goes out to you if you're on an awkward first date, but Mercadiot, please don't make my co-worker and I play third and fourth-wheel to this.
(4)Brianna M.
Let me start off by saying: I LOVE GUAC. So to come to this fancy Mexican lounge with a trendy ambiance and find a whole assortment of different kinds of guacamole had me beyond stoked! My date and I ordered the flight of 3 different guacs and chips including pomegranate, traditional, and sweet potato guac. It was seriously heaven in my mouth, with the classic guac being outstanding, the pomegranate having a fruity twist and the sweet potato one having a sweet kick. Also ordered a mango and cucumber margarita which kept us super happy. Lastly, the two trays of steak and chicken tacos were simply delish and were jam-packed with flavor. This visit totally changed my view of the standard of a taco and fine Mexican dining. Definitely coming back the next chance I get; Muy sabrosa!
(5)Allison S.
Loud, crowded place, but I like that kind of atmosphere. I love coming here whenever. Brunch is great and they have live violin sometimes. Their brunch cocktails are great, and its fun to come with friends for their brunch bottle service. you can get vodka with multiple bloody mary mixers and garnishes or champagne with fruit purees and fruit garnishes. They are all really good and fun to make! My favorite cocktail here though is the pepino el pyu which is cucumber and tequila and spices. You can't even taste the tequila and its the perfect mixture! I tried another drink recently that was kind of spicy and sweet, which had a really good balance, but the cucumber one is definitely the best! The service is usually pretty decent, not super friendly, but always prompt. I almost always get tacos and split them with people. I like how they change the menu seasonally also. I like how you can get lettuce instead of the tortilla (if i try tobe healthy) but the corn tortillas are so good its hard to resist. My favorite tacos are the estilo baja with battered fish and spicy slaw. The chicken, and chicken mole are both good, and also the shrimp and pescado. Ive had the pastor ones also, which are a little spicy for my taste but the mango really helps to balance. The guacamoles are pretty good, I like their spicy one the best, just because I am not the biggest fan of fruit in guacamole. My favorite foods I've probably had here are the sides, the brussel sprouts and cauliflower are delicious! a great accompanimient to split with people! Definitely a fun place to come with friends and to grab a drink before a night out! I just do not like that you cant sit down unless your full party is there.
(5)Elana L.
I like Mercadito but honestly I have Gd better tacos for less money. I would probably skip this place and go somewhere else.
(3)Giuseppe D.
I was originally lured into Mercadito by word of their excellent drink list, and was BLESSED to find out that the food is even better. They have a very extensive list of tequilas that are used to create their custom house--made drinks. Some of them feature a chile powder or even whole cucumber slices. Though I can rave about the drinks I can see hundreds have already beat me to it, so I'll briefly talk about the food. More specifically, the tacos are incredible. They make their tortillas in house, along with their sauces. I've tried the steak, mushroom, and mole tacos so far and every single one of them have been phenomenal; my favorite being the mole tacos. They also have 6 (maybe 8?) different guacamoles, from regular, to jabanero, to mango guacamoles that are all made in-house. With great custom drinks, amazing food, and friendly/knowledgeable service, I will most definitely be frequenting Mercadito.
(4)Chaim L.
On a sultry Tuesday night, the place was hot. The energy was spilling out the door as we arrived and continued throughout the evening. The hostesses are professional and lovely - the bar tenders know how to keep the crowd happy with fun, creative drinks and solid standards - the traditional margarita was unusally sophisticated (not too sweet). Once seated - on time - the wait team took over and were relentlessly delightful and on top of everything. And the food can hang with the setting and the staff, it's creative, well-balanced yet some strong flavors - fun and very satisfying. You could pick at a dish here or there if your a heartless foodie - but overall the great selection (great for sharing) can't disappoint.
(4)Missy M.
I was really hyped to come to this River North hot-spot and it did not disappoint! Started with a glass of Rose Cava. Crisp, light and pretty- gotta love a pink drink! We had reservations at 8PM and waited about 10-15 mins to be seated, which wasn't bad considering it was the Saturday of Vday weekend. The bar was fun to sit at and people watch. Some of the tables looked tight for the seating, but luckily we were on the end and had no issues with the space. Started with the Manzana guac (apples, almonds, etc) and it was very good, however the star was the Mango guacamole!! Best guac ever!!! Wow Wow! We could not stop talking about it. Also had the cacauate (sp?) salsa (like a mexican style thai peanut sauce). I was really impressed by the selection of crazy flavors of guacs and salsas. Next, we had the quesadillas, which were more like empanadas...SO delicious!! One was filled with wild mushroom and the other with shrimp. They came on a bed of black beans. Amazing! Lastly, we had an order of the el pastor tacos (comes with four 3-bite tacos) and an order of the mole (chicken with plantain and mole sauce). Both were so delicious!! Great to share. We were stuffed after that. Probably could have skipped a plate of tacos or the dillas, but it was worth it for the variety. One of my favorite parts of the night was my drink that literally came on FIRE!!! So cool. It had the wow effect AND it was potent and delicious. Tequila, rum, fruity but not too sweet. It had a great seasoning on one side of the rim with salt and other spices. My only complaint was that the food came out a little too quickly... they could have spaced the courses out a bit more, but at least they were too fast instead of too slow! All in all Mercadito was very trendy and had the delicious food to back it up. I would highly recommend it for a really fun night out!
(4)Holly S.
I have been to Mercadito several times and have been pleased with the food every time. The maji maji tacos are a must order. The guac is fantastic. Margaritas are always great. Now this is definetly a "trendy" restaurant and can get crowded but Saturday night was exceptional because of our FANTASTIC waiter Daniel. Daniel was super energetic, very attentive to our table, knowledgable about the food, etc. He really made this most recent visit to Mercadito my best visit. If you can request Daniel to be your waiter do so, you will NOT be disappointed.
(5)Helen M.
I made reservations for a party of eight for 8:00 on a Saturday. From the time we walked in, from the time we left, all I can say is I was extremely happy with my experience at Mercadito and so was the entire party. When we arrived, we were seated immediately, keeping in mind the entire party has to be present before they will seat you. Our waiter was great, he was very attentive but not overbearing. I loved that he kept an eye on us, refilling our chips and water without us asking. I also loved how every time a staff person saw us taking pictures, they offered to take a picture of the whole table. We had 3 different staff take pictures of us during our dinner. The food was wonderful - we had the Tradicional,Granada, and Camote Guacamoles and the Chipotle and Verde salsas. Out of these, we LOVED the Granada Guacamole and Chipotle salsa. The Granada was made with strawberries, since pomegranates were out of season, and was delicious. Who would have thought strawberries in guacamole would taste so good. For our tacos, we ordered the Pollo, Carnitas de Puerco, Pescado, and Calabacitas. They were all really good, noting that the Carnitas de Puerco were pretty spicy, so I probably wouldn't order that again only because they were too spicy for me. Overall, the food and the service were wonderful. Everyone in my party was asking me how I found the place and what a great choice I made. In fact, most everyone said that they would definitely return. As far as the negatives of Mercadito, like other reviewers, I would agree that the place is very loud, so be prepared for that.
(5)Katy O.
I went here with a girlfriend who lives in the area last weekend and we had a great experience from start to finish. We found street parking less than a block away, score! Then we started off at the bar with delicious margaritas with unique flavors. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying and kept the food flowing, answered our questions about the different menu items, etc. We started with the "original" or "standard" guacamole, which was fresh and delicious. We tried the salsa with peanuts in it- a little strange but also delicious. The chips served with both are fantastic. After we started on the salsa and guac they brought out the elotes we had ordered. These were, hands down, THE BEST ELOTES EVER. If you go to Mercadito, you must order the elotes. Perfection. We finished up with the carnitas tacos, which were to die for. They are also perfectly sized tacos. All of the items on the menu are meant to be shared so portions are a little smaller, but as a tapas fan, I really enjoyed this. The prices are reasonable given the quality of the food. The atmosphere is loungey, so it would be a fun place to start off a Friday or Saturday night. I will definitely go back.
(5)Jenn R.
Will SO be back!! We tried to go during restaurant week, but missed it, but they have a weekend brunch deal that includes an entree & a drink for $18... the perfect hangover cure... I'm sold! We started with the tradicional guac, which had huge chunks of avacado, which we love. I had the carne tacos which were delicious. Hubs had the huevos rancheros and he loved that as well. For drinks, I had the auntie ox and Hubs and the maria sangrita, which were both awesome, although the auntie ox was a little sweet. No biggie, I just added some water to it and it was perfect. They ran out of sangita mix, so he then tried the green-go... I could and would drink those all day!! I love that their drink names are ones I can remember. Can't wait to go back.
(4)K B.
Mediocre at best. This place is loud and the food is bland. I doubt that the food is authentic. The margaritas were great and the waitress was friendly and did her best to appease me and my party. We thought that our food was void of flavor and the waitress recommended the habanero sauce. It helped a bit, but there was nothing she could do about the black beans/rice... tasted like it was from a can. I was also disappointed that I made reservations and was seated 40 min later than scheduled. We were seated near the door at a lounge table and I was sooo cold. I inquired about being moved to a standard sized table away from the door and was told it would be an additional 45 min. Definitely would not patronize this place again. Next time I'll stick with a place that never disappoints like Carnivale, Mi Tierra, or Raymonds.
(2)Julie W.
The restaurant week menu was amazing!!
(5)Leang E.
I met a friend up at this place, and she had reservations downstairs. It was nice because the upstairs was louder and seemed a little more formal. The downstairs area is more lounge-like and laid back. I appreciate the music a little more as well. There was a dj and a violinist mix, and it was such a pleasant and unique combination and I truly loved it! The energy and flow was amazing, and I even stayed after my meal to dance and hang out. I know breaking the weekday rules... Anyways, we ordered the pomegranate guacamole and they must of ran out of pomegranate because there were slices of strawberries in it instead. I have to say that I was surprised that they didn't ask us if it was okay, and if we still wanted it but they just served it. I am not sure if it would have made it any better if it was pomegranate. I guess the intent would be to give it more of a tangy flavor like a lemon or lime would add to it. I was disappointed with the carne asada taco really. It was kind of bland, but the tilapia fish taco was delicious. The prices are really what surprised me. I know what is typical for Mexican fare can not be compared here, but I felt like twice as much or more is too pricey. There are some really good spots that I love much if not more, although the spicy sauce on the fish taco is enticing it's just not enough. The service was pretty good. I would recommend it for a 2nd or a 3rd date spot, but it's too loud for a 1st date. It's also a good spot for a group. We did see Robin Robinson did make an appearance here for a short moment to meet up with some people.
(3)Justin M.
I read about all you can eat tacos in another review and HAD to go that route; after a night of drinking is was purely necessity. Started off with chicken and carne asada; both very good. Waitress suggested trying fish tacos so we tried calamari (amazing with some kind of spicy mustard sauce), shrimp with avacado (delish). We came here during restaurant week. Prices are high, but the service and experience were top notch. Margaritas are VERY strong.
(4)Dan G.
Ok I went today since I wanted to try this place since the longest, the atmosphere is great, the decoration, the service, the food. When I talk about the food the steak tacos were delicious, however the only think that disappointed me was the fact that I couldn't mix my tacos, I consider that mercadito should let people mix their tacos since we are paying high prices for the food, also the smokey pablo (my margarita) was great, the guacamole was awesome along with the chips, I really recommend this place ... PS. you should have horchata that is the thing that makes a good mexican restaurant.
(4)Rebecca W.
Hubby and I went to Mercadito Saturday night after I kept hearing rave reviews from a co-worker, but we were significantly underwhelmed. Got there at 6:30pm to an hour and a half wait which was fine -- drinks for us! Started with a couple of traditional margarita's, which were just meh. Seriously, at $9.50 a pop I was expecting a little more than two-thirds ice, with the other third being sour-mix. Our second round was much better -- I had the Little Market, he had the Smokey Pablo, both were a little spicy and not as blah as the margaritas. Onto dinner...started with the toreado guac, which was awesome (but not as spicy as our server made it sound). Followed up with the ensalada verde which was also fantastic -- greens with queso fresco, jicama, corn and a spicy chipotle-balsamic vinaigrette. Mmmm...delicious! We should have ended our meal there, because our mains (both ordered tacos) were seriously mediocre. I got the mole, he got the chorizo. Mine was sweet and pretty ok, but nothing extraordinary. His was SALTY! Holy moley it was salty. And had no real texture -- some crunchy slaw might have helped it significantly. Perhaps we should have stuck with the traditional (read: boring) carne, or camaron, or pollo. Oh well. As if to add insult to our sub-par meal, our service was SO slow! We ordered at the same time as two other tables next to us, and they were both finished with their meals before we had even received our tacos. Seriously? What gives? At $120 for two, I was expecting a little more, Mercadito. Not much, but stepping it up just a little would have made our night so much better. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon...
(2)jules l.
My friends took me here for my birthday, and we started at the bar with cocktails, chips and guacamole. We could have stayed there all night - the tortilla chips are the best I have ever had, and the 6 different kinds of guac blew me away - each one was amazing in its own way, and I couldn't get enough. The cocktails were fantastic - very delicious and worth trying some of the different specialty drinks. The only reason I am not giving this rockin' place 5 stars is because they didn't have enough options for vegetarians or pescaterians like me.
(4)Jedd J.
Really good mini tacos
(4)Steven W.
OVERALL Baffled how this place is in business. Must be the prime location? PLUSES 1. The pork tacos were really good. NEGATIVES 1. Portion sizes were possibly filling for 7th Century Mayans who averaged 4 feet 4 inches. 2. You and your clothes will reek of this place by the time you leave. 3. The ambient environmental noise of 95 dB may cause ringing in your ears. 4. The place was empty at 6pm, but we were not seated until our entire party arrived. Yes, we stood there waiting next to the hostess for 20 minutes in an empty restaurant. 5. The margaritas had the alcohol content of an O'Doul's. 6. Our friend's credit card was over charged by a large amount. 7. Our waiter disappeared for more than 30 minutes at one point. After dessert, employees kept leaning over our table to take away plates, clean off the table, and lean into us making it clear they wanted us to leave for the next party. When my wife asked for a water refill after the check was brought, they only refilled her water glass 1/3 of the way. 8. Early in the night, one of the managers yelled at a group of employees hanging out in a circle talking since there were no customers yet and nothing for them to do. He made a really big unpleasant scene out of it. One of the employees immediately wandered off, but then the manager joined the employee chat session and it continued on for at least another 5 minutes.
(1)Aman G.
Outstanding. I went earlier this week with a group of colleagues. Four of us shared 8 dishes, plus some guacamole, and we were stuffed. First off, the things I didn't like - my gin and tonic was actually a gin and soda... the waitress seemed confused that I wasn't ordering a margarita (I can't stand tequila of any quality in any form after a bad experience a few years back) and screwed up the drink order. The chicken taquitos were also pretty lackluster. Not bad, but nothing special. Fortunately, the rest of the food was so fantastic that it made up for these minor gripes, to the point where I'm happy to give the restaurant 5 stars. Food was distinctive and delicious - all the tacos we tried (pork, mahi mahi, chorizo, steak) were simply fantastic. We got a sampler of three different types of guacamole - we did traditional, mango, and the spicy chili one. The traditional was only meh (kind of a waste of a choice in the sampler), but the other two were terrific - incredibly unique and flavorful. Even the tortilla chips were fantastic. Highly recommended - may be the tastiest Mexican meal I've had.
(5)Kelly K.
While it's pretty close to authentic, it's still high brow for Mexican food and they don't include beans and rice with the entrees. Seriously, who doesn't include beans and rice in a mexican entree!? Also, the last time I was here for lunch, the service was awful. We had a table of 5 and the rest of the restaurant cleared out before the waitress even asked if we wanted our check.
(3)Aubrey R.
I hate to write bad reviews but... We came here on their one year anniversary as there was supposedly some dinner specials for $1, after confirming this on the phone with (I think her name was madison) we arrived. On arrival we said we were there for the anniversary and they sat us... we said this again to someone else who came to our table. After about 10 minutes our waiter came and after us asking a third time he told us that all the specials for the night were in fact sold-out. This should have been said sooner. We ordered drinks, chips and salsa and some tacos to share. The fish tacos were very good, and it came with the world's smallest salsa, but its a classy joint so I understand maybe its just for a tasting. The waiter forgot to put our drink order in which took another 20 minutes at least. All in all, a disappointing experience. As I live in logan square, I would rather have paid $10 for a quality mexican meal and a margarita than $20 for a taco and a drink.
(2)Nhu N.
I initially gave this place 4 stars but after reviewing my review (ha!) I'm forced to subtract a star. I'm a fan of this place. I love the borderline swanky decor that had a little twist of Mexican. I came here for Valentines day dinner that only offered a prix fixe menu. $60 a head. The food was overwhelming. I'm ta;king about your choice of 3guacs, 2salsas, 2 sides,2 appetitizers (yes it's different from sides) 4 (x2) choices of tacos. I mean wholy shnitzelwheicher. What am I a beastly mammoth whale? They could've done a better job at constructing that menu. I also ordered a Smokey Pablo - baaaad mistake it was disgusting. Why was my drink spicey? Anyways... I give it 3 stars because I dig the music that was playing and the food was amaze-balls. I enjoyed the exciting decor but I really wish the tables were a little further apart. I hate eating elbow-to-elbow with a stranger. I can definitely see myself revisiting with a group of girlfriends, bobbing heads, and ordering a different drink!
(3)Richa G.
Great drinks, very friendly servers and flavorful food. Try the mango chipotle drink and the mole guac.
(5)Dan S.
This places tacos are amazing, cool decor as well. Try the pork tacos and you will crave this place regularly. Half price after 10 pm on Fridays too and the crowd late on Fridays makes this the place to be as well. It turns into a lounge and the party heads to cuvee afterwards.
(5)Tammy M.
Atmosphere is "trendy". Tables are close together and music is loud. However...food is good. Very fresh ceviche. delicious tacos. and the most out of this world dessert (we ordered something described as "mexican french toast". portions are small however.
(4)L C.
I would rate this 3.5 stars. It's definitely on the pricey side for tapas. Went here in April and remembered having pastor tacos, fried plantains, mango guacamole, and a couple other dishes. We ordered a lot for the two of us. Everything was fairly tasty and there was an extensive list of drinks. This place's atmosphere is well suited for a party group. Service was a bit slow though.
(3)Billie O.
We arrived on Saturday night and the place is jammed with young, trendy people and the place is LOUD. On the nights I have been there when the promoters Lonnie and Vince throw parties, it's fun. These guys throw great events. The drinks are good and some are quite unique. The food, however, is just awful. Our group ordered a price fixed menu and the portions were huge. Our fish tacos, however, tasted terrible and smelled fishy, the guac was interesting but just ok, and the remainder of what we ordered left little to be desired. The service was atrocious, our waitress would just look over our heads when passing by. The waiters need serious training. This is a good place to go when there is a Lonnie/ Vince party and grab a drink, or for a young crowd who wants to do some people watching. This is NOT a good place to go when you are looking for good food, good service or to actually hear a conversation.
(2)Lindsay D.
When all is said and done, the food, margaritas, and vibe were smashing; totally exceeded my expectations actually. It had been pretty hyped up by friends, so I decided to give it a try for a birthday dinner. I was SO impressed by the unique margarita flavors, finally choosing the cucumber one---with a cumin sea salt rim and the refreshing cucumber tequila mix, it was lovely. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu and really was not disappointed by anything. Some tacos were better than others, but they all ahd their own spin and flavors. I highly recommend the pork and pineapple tacos and the Chorizo queso dip as an appetizer. Every gucamole order was incredible, with my favorite being the Pumpkin seed, cinnamon one. The crowd had an edgy vibe, especially the later and later it got ( with some creepy older guys thrown in). I couldnt sometimes hear my friends talk, because of how loud it was, but that wouldnt deter me from going back. Our waitress was also excellent complimenting the whole experience. Try this place out, you definitely wont regret it!
(4)Kyle J.
I love this place. The music and service were excellent. Great vibe and excellent food.
(5)Pretty K.
I've been here a few times with a large and small groups and every time its been a pleasurable experience. The food is great and perfect portion sizes, although a little prices but the atmosphere and the service is great. I LOVE their tacos, I've honestly tried them all but my favorites are, pastor and pescado. Its also a great place to go grab some drinks after work or before a night on the town.
(4)Tazeen K.
I went for dinner her on 6/21/11, the night of the storms. We had reservations for 6 people at 8:15 pm. When we arrived at 8:10, we were informed it would be another 20 mins before we would be seated. My first thought, 'What's the point of a reservation?' Then we were presented with two options - wait the 20 mins or eat in the lounge, from where we would be moved to another table at 9:30 due to a large party coming in. Neither were optimal options since we were hungry and on a schedule with it being a Tuesday night. We chose to sit in the lounge. We chose to sit in the lounge. In addition to the seating drama, we learned the AC in the place is broken. It was a hot, humid night and the large AC they placed in the back of the restaurant was not making it to the front. Next we have a waitress who clearly did not care about providing proper service since her tip was already included in the bill. After our drinks arrived, she asked if we were ready to order. Mind you, she had not told us about any specials, nor asked if we had any questions about the menu. I asked about specials and recommendations. She told us there were no specials and everything on the menu is good. That basically tells me that either she's never eaten at the restaurant or doesn't like anything on the menu. Through the course of our meal, she never once returned to check on how our food was or if we needed anything else. And at the end of the meal, we weren't even asked about wanting dessert. Plus, when we called to make reservations, we had asked about a gluten-free menu. The restaurant confirmed there was one available. However, when we asked our waitress about it, she had no clue what we were talking about. She recommended the jicama sticks to my friend w/the restricted diet. Really? Jicama sticks for dinner? She did not even offer to ask if the chef can make something for her. So, based on the treatment from the hostesses and the waitress, I would NOT go back here. However, the food was something else! They have at least three types of guacamole. We got the mango and another one and they were both so delicious!! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food. But was the good food enough to surpass the terrible, terrible service? I'm not sure I'll return...
(2)Angela A.
Last night I went to Mercadito with 5 girlfriends late night for dinner. It was a very cute atmosphere and had a DJ playing great music but it was so loud we had to shout across the table. The service was OK. We did not like that we ordered all of our food at once and 1-2 plates were coming out every 10 minutes so the others had to just sit and wait. Like the rest of the reviews said it is over priced Mexican food. Yes they tried to put a twist on it by adding mango and mushrooms in some of their dishes but it was still over priced. I do not mind spending money on good food but it was almost not worth it. We were glad it was Taco Tuesdays so you got to try a variety for less price. Not sure if I will be back. Glad I tried it tho.
(3)Kathy M.
Had the pleasure of going to Mercadito for Mother's Day and it was definitely a treat! They had a special menu that day that included a drink and family style options which gave everyone at the table the chance to sample a bunch of different things. The drinks were outstanding concoctions of deliciousness - I highly recommend them! Standouts foodwise were the guacamoles to start, the shrimp soup, and the steak and baja fish tacos. Our service was quite good - when our food was taking longer than usual to come out, both our server and a manager were on top of it. This is a restaurant that has tip-top servers and bussers who are attentive and pleasant. The only disappointment was a very underseasoned posole. However, there were so many other positives that I'll definitely be giving them another try!
(4)Cris C.
I was excited to try this place. We arrived at 5 p.m. to find the place empty on a Saturday evening... tumbleweed rolling through would not have surprised me. There were only some casually dressed tourist types seated at the bar. The hostess coldly stated that she had nothing available until 6:45. Literally, no one was seated anywhere. I will never return to this restaurant. Tacos should never come with this kind of attitude.
(1)Nancy S.
Went for dinner last night with a groug of about 8 people. We ordered Family Style. It was delicious & fun. Our Server, while a little rough around the edges, was very helpful & knowledgable. I will definitely return.
(4)Call Me A.
I can't say enough good things about Mercadito. I hosted a surprise 30th birthday party for my fiance there last night and it was so seamless and easy. We had around 25 people attend and we had 3 tables reserved for our group in the basement bar area. We had to get the price fix meal for a party of our size, and all of the food was amazing. We had so much food people were stuffed, and it just kept coming. The price fix meal was $35 dollars a person and totally worth it. Their drinks are also amazing, but not cheap. All in all it was an easy and awesome night. Highly recommend for parties!
(5)Andrew S.
We waited an hour past our reservation time to be seated. Food was average. I guess I am not a fan of super trendy places where you can't hear the person across from you because the music is so loud. Any place that makes me wait an hour with a reservation will get one star from me.
(1)Levar W.
I ate here New Year's Eve and enjoyed every single bite of my tacos. The menu was overwhelming with so many food and drink options, but the waitress took her time to carefully explain the menu and gave great drink recommendations. I would definitely revisit again.
(5)Julie M.
I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 here because some of the menu items were misses, but, considering the number of times I came here for dinner, I'll give it a 4. All the tacos are really good. I especially like the mushroom tacos. The regular guac is the best. The others sort of tasted weird. Really, I just came for the tacos. And the flan was pretty good, too. I was usually here on a weekday for dinner with my coworker straight from a workout at East Bank Club. No one seemed to mind the way I was dressed. No crazy scene during those times and worked well for me since I was only here for work during the week and just needed an easy-going dinner.
(4)Annie T.
dis. a. ppointing. i had heard SO much about Mercadito and made a late reservation on Friday at 10:30pm since my friend was flying in late. we got there right on time and weren't seated for a good 45 minutes. it was a bad start to the night, but we would've gotten over it if it weren't for a couple (or more like a whole lotta) other gripes: (-) -waiting 45 minutes to be seated (when we had a resv) -sitting for a good 10 minutes before our server even came to our table -ordering a bottle of pinot noir. 5 minutes later, our server told us that they were out but they had a bottle that was twice the price available (a good restaurant would offer us the nicer bottle for the price of the original) -we ordered the camaroncitos al chipotle and boy were they a disappointment. upon presentation, we were so excited to chow down. only to find that it was merely batter and barely any shrimp contributing to not much flavor/substance in each bite. blech. we didn't even finish it. -we ran out of chips and i had to remind our server twice to bring us some more -our guacamole was delicious but the last bit was just a big chunk of avocado. how wasteful! why wasn't it made in such a rush? also, it was served in a plate that made scooping with a chip difficult. guac would fall onto the table and go to waste. use a BOWL, people. -the music was playing at 140 decibels and left my ear crying on our way out. we also couldn't hold converation across the table without YELLING. come on. sure it was later at night but we were there to dine. we weren't in the bar/lounge area. the music was waaaay too loud. i'll stop being a debbie downer and outline the few things that DID make us happy... (+) -the tacos. all hail to THE TACOS. if there's one thing that saved Mercadito, that's it. we ordered the pork belly and also the carne (steak). both delicious... pork belly a smidge better because of the flavors -the guacamole is also deeeelicious. my only gripes are above in the neg column -good atmosphere (sans loud, loud gut wrenching music) and great people watching well, that's that. my tips to you: -go to one of the Rick Bayless restaurants a couple blocks away -order only tacos and guac -make an EARLY reservation -wear earplugs
(2)Anj S.
Waited 1 hour with reservations very rude hostesses. The food was just okay tonight, has been better in the past. More of a club now than a restaurant on the weekends.
(3)Tony G.
Best steak tacos in the city! The food here is great, a little overpriced but still and awesome night out. If I'm in the mood for upscale Mexican this would easily be my first choice. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends so sometimes its better to go at off hours or during the week.
(4)David J.
I don't understand the appeal of this place. My wife and I went there for the first (and only) time last night. The service was decent, though the bar was backed up and it took us awhile to get our drinks. However, the food was awful, with the exception of the guacamole. The habanero salsa was bland, the shrimp tacos looked like diarrhea (though didn't taste quite as bad), and the carne tacos were ok. But for the prices they charged, there is no way I would come back again. De Cero is a much, much better alternative -- much better food and better atmosphere.
(1)Ela G.
The host staff seemed unapologetic and didn't seem to care that our 8:15pm reservation was not honored until 9:30! Thankfully the general manager was somewhat more responsive and placated us with margaritas and guacamole. Needless to say when we finally sat down, we were hoping the food would be amazing to make it worth the wait....sadly it wasn't. The ceviche was "strange", the mahi mahi was great but the shrimp and scallops were average or weird...weird is not a good quality for raw seafood, lemme leave it at that. The tacos were ok, food came out surprisingly fast, which was nice. The carne was the only taco that was good...the tilapia and chicken mole were not great. All in all, I won't be going back. I appreciate the GM's attempt to make things right with the drinks, but they need to better train their reservation staff. The entire restaurant was packed and backed up with people who were waiting for their reservations...it's not brain surgery...don't take as many reservations if you can't handle or turn the tables when you promised you would, plain and simple.
(2)Monica S.
I've been here several times and while the food is good, the service is horrible. Each time I've gone, I made a reservation ahead of time and still I was not seated for 20 minutes or more. Last time I went with my family and we were a group of 4. I am 8 months pregnant (and quite large in teh belly!) and they tried to squeeze us into a table that was way too small. It could probably only hold 3 petite females comfortably. I was with two guys and another female. There was no way we could sit there. I asked to be seated at the many other empty tables and they said this is the only one that was available for us. We decided to eat somewhere else after that. Another time, my husband specifically told the waiter about his dairy allergies. They brought out his meal and he started having a reaction as he ate it. We called the waiter and we asked him if he had removed the allergies (butter and cheese) from the entree. It seemed like he barely remembered and checked with the kitchen. They had not remembered and the waiter didn't even apologize. The manager finally came and apologzied after we asked to speak to him. While the food and drinks are tasty, the service is rude and horrible so go there with caution!
(2)Penny S.
Great service, food was okay, fun room, nice ambiance. Way too loud! Overpriced. Would likely not return.
(3)Ryan P.
meh sums up the whole experience. i wouldn't return.
(2)michael r.
So I took my fiance here for her birthday. We had a reservation for 8pm and arrived promptly. Maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine but I don't like sitting in the bar for 40 minutes after my reservation time before being seated. That being said, we tried the trio of guacamole which we really enjoyed. I sampled a number of different tacos which were all very good and I would really recommend the fish tacos. they were delicious. They served up some very interesting but overpriced drinks. The margarita's were good but that's pretty hard to screw up in my opinion. One other thing I'll say is that the restaurant is excessively loud. The couple next to us also made a remark to the same effect. People seemed to be yelling across the tables and it echoed throughout the restaurant. Maybe it's quieter on a weeknight. We also went downstairs afterward to meet friends for a few drinks and the lounge is small but cozy and a fun place for after-dinner drinks.
(3)nicole j.
went here for my birthday dinner it was a sat night very packed. the chairs felt like they were going to break very wobbly and i am 105lbs lol my friends chair was too...i ordered a mojito it was pretty tasty the food was pretty good besides the fact that my friend had a long hair in her taco. they brought her a new plate but still charged her full price for her dish which i thought was a bit odd...then we went downstairs to the lounge area. we got a table with a bottle the waitress was terrible our table was a mess and we had to get our own juices cuz she didn't keep them full! one of the worst bottle service i have ever experience in chicago..would maybe come here for dinner again but def not for a night out...
(2)C C.
Way overpriced but mighty tasty food. Fun. New. Hip. Trendy. But, I paid 83 bucks for just some tacos, guac, and wine for two. You wouldn't know there's a recession going on while dining and drinking at this place.
(4)Gretchen H.
I thought this place might be overrated, but it wasn't...not even close. The service was great...they were very willing to help and made great recommendations. I've been a couple times...once for a chef's tasting menu which was really amazing. Everything from start to finish was really yummy...the guac, the ceviche, the tacos of course. Some of my favs were the carnitas and the steak. AMAZING! I highly recommend this for a girls night or a group dinner. It is a little loud, so if you're on a date it may not be the best venue....but then again, maybe it is!
(4)K G.
The food here is awesome. Every time I've gone, I've tried different items off of the tasting menu and loved every single one. The drinks are outstanding too, their cucumber margarita is to die for. You definitely need reservations, and will probably end up waiting even with them.
(4)Brandon B.
Listen, the tacos (and mostly everything else) here are pretty good, and I understand we are in River North. I have no problem paying a lot of money for food, but at the end of the day, these are taco's. I am still giving it 4 stars because of quality, it is just tough to continually come here after being here a few times to pay $15 for a few tacos that you can make at home. I think it is definitely better than a place like De Cero which is around the same price, Mercadito was better though. Weekends are tough to get in, but a good time with good atmosphere
(4)Sean D.
Brunch steak from family tasting menu - outstanding. Ceviche - so, so - not lemon marinated shrimp but rather cooked. Tacos you can get them way better at a simpler mexican join. Will def come back though for the steak and try something else on the menu, the place is great inside, so it's a 3+
(3)Joe K.
very rude staff. will not be going back too bad because food was good
(1)T Q.
For all the hype, the food at this place was just meh. We ordered the guac which wasn't bad, but nothing special. We had 2 types of tacos as our entree and although they were decent- I think de cero's options for a la carte tacos are way more interesting. If you are taking a date here, rethink it- it's a little too happening and loud to hear the person across from you. I'd probably hit up adobo or de cero instead of this spot.
(3)Nick C.
After hearing all of the mixed reviews on Mercadito, I was a little concerned with what the meal might entail. Some Yelpers have gone as far as saying this place trumps any Bayless spot. Yet others have compared it to Taco Bell! Anyway, I tried to consider those outliers and give the restaurant a fair shot. We arrived, maybe 5 minutes, but had to wait a little for our table to be prepared... no problem, straight to the bar. We ordered two classic margaritas, and they were very good (on the same level as those at Frontera). Our table was ready before the bartender could ever finish our cocktails. Once seated, I noticed how incredibly packed the place was. It was a Saturday night, and it was 7pm, but the increasingly large crowd reminded me off a hot spot in NYC. Now, onto the meal itself, from the appetizers to the dessert, I was shocked by Mercadito. I will also be so bold and claim it to AT LEAST as good as Frontera! We ordered a couple of the salsas and a classic guacamole. Both were very good, but one of the salsas, I believe the medium, was outstanding. We also ordered the elote and ceviche. The elote was out of this world, and a dish I will forever crave! The ceviche was also good and was made with the freshest of fish, but I would recommend less lime and apples in the scallop ceviche. Between my girlfriend and I we had the mole taco, carne taco, and mahi taco, and they were all very good. I loved the mole sauce and the perfectly fried mahi. I usually am not a dessert person, but our waiter must have heard my girlfriend talking about my birthday, so he brought us out a complimentary flan with a candle for dessert... very nice touch. Overall, Mercadito is a must for anyone who loves the upscale Mexican food idea. SIDE NOTE: I thought this was more reasonably priced than Frontera. I would highly recommend a reservation though, by the time we left I had hear the hostess tell a group there was at least a two hour wait!
(4)Sandra A.
Three to four stars for their drinks. Big Nose Margarita, fabulous! Would never go back for their food. It's extremely over priced and the food was blah. For a girls night out or having a drink, I'll would consider this place otherwise, nah, ill pass.
(2)kb j.
We went early on a weekend evening. When we arrived, the restaurant was not very busy. By the time we left, the restaurant had transformed into a crowded, energetic scene. We had reservations and were promptly seated. Tables are crowded together. The noise level is high with the positive result that our neighbors' tables' conversation was drowned out by the din and the negative result that we had to lean in, in order to make ourselves heard. The room is well-lit and has a modern sleek look. There is a bar area, but, it seemed as if there weren't any bar stools (perhaps we missed finding them?). The wine list is small, but there is an extensive tequila list. The food consists of smallish bites and servings and presentations seemed well suited for sharing. Recommended are the Estillo Baja tacos (the restaurant's take on fish tacos) and the ceviches. Great tortilla chips are served with the guacamole selections. Service was attentive. We will return.
(4)Kate M.
Delicious food but indifferent service.
(3)John W.
I am a Chicago resident and frequently dine at the city's restaurants with my friends and business relationships. Since Mercadito's opening last fall I have been able to get to know some of the staff quite well. A few weeks ago I contacted one of the managers about a very high profile client of mine who was in need of last minute birthday dinner reservations. Although it was his wedding weekend (read he would not be working the night they'd be in) this manager did not miss a step and arranged for me to be in contact with two servers at Double A lounge (which is below the restaurant). This seems peculiar on it's face but was part of a larger plan to ensure my guests were able to experience all that Mercadito had to offer. They were seated for dinner upstairs and afterward followed up eating with excellent cocktails downstairs. Clear communication between the two spaces allowed for a smooth transition between each of the restaurants levels. All in all my client was thrilled with the way he was treated and can't stop talking about Mercadito/Double A Lounge! The entire family loved the restaurant and said that the overall experience was one of the best they have ever had in Chicago. That statement says a ton about the staff given how affluent and influential this particular client is within the City of Chicago. I'm sure they've been to hundreds if not thousands of restaurants over the years and they liked this one the best. In fact they enjoyed the time so much, Mercadito was added to a "safe list" for business functions at the fortune 500 company this individual works for. I know this decision is largely a result of the outstanding service provided throughout the evening. The food is incredible, but without amazing service this man would not have been impressed. Mercadito/Double A is a great spot for eating out or being entertained. I would highly recommend it and as represented above trust them to take care of my most important clients. You'd be wise to go see what all the hype is about and find out for yourself how wonderful this location actually is.
(5)m. P.
Was there for a quick lunch-unfortunately nothing quick about the service. The food was greasy and overpriced-I felt like I needed a shower after the chips and the fish tacos-gross! The steak tacos were decent, but with all of the good mexican places around, I say, "skip it!!".
(2)Sara W.
My new favorite place in chicago! The best shrimp tacos & queso fundido I have ever had. Margarita was pretty good, but not the best one I've had. Lobster tacos also fantastic. Good service & very cool atmosphere
(5)Hector M.
Best Mexican fusion I've had. Love the fresh panucho taco. I gave it 5 stars, Reason: It was just amazing different flavors for what you'll ever eat in a tortilla. And they are small ones called panuchos as they are called in Mayan Cuisine. Gotta have it. Can't wait to go back, Best Stick to your Ribs ever. Fun place.Great for groups of people. Loud? Drinks were great
(5)Joe P.
Poor acoustics and loud music make for a down-rent atmosphere. Food and service are uninspiring and the space too big. Was served a beer with no glass; the entire experience was forgettable. Not recommended unless you just don't know any better.
(2)Priyanka P.
Amazing mexican food, incredible drinks and a great ambience, though it is really loud.
(4)Yini G.
We were lured in by Chicago Chef Week and the promise of tasty food for a reasonable price. Well, this place is popular! Making a reservation a week in advance, we could only get a 5 pm opening on Saturday. We showed up on time and waited in the lounge area until the staff finished up their meeting. Once the meeting was over, our party of 2 and others were seated promptly. Minutes ticked by. Sure, it's nice given plenty of time to look over the menu, but it would better if a waiter/waitress came by to ask for drinks and explain the menu. The other parties' servers came by within minutes. Where was ours?? With each passing minute, my annoyance was growing. While I was left there in my annoyance, we quickly learned the busboys' spot was near our table. I lasted 15-20 minutes before I turned my head to these gossiping busboys and asked if a server was going to come by. They all looked surprised and scrambled away to find one. If I was going to be subjected to waiting another 5 minutes for a server, I would have left Mercadito. Lucky for them, a waiter came by. He was apologetic, but not overly sincere. Not sure where our original waiter was, but this guy was distracted by his other tables. The food itself was quite good - original flavors for Mexican food. Sampled three guacs: traditional, mango and mole (least favorite). Sampled two ceviches: scallops and mahi mahi. Sampled four tacos: carne (yummy!), pollo (ditto), carnitas and camaron. Can't miss with any of these. The tacos are deceptive - they're small, but have a great deal of filling. You'll leave satisfied. Sampled two desserts: flan and de luce (besides texture and sauce, I couldn't tell the difference between the two). Like others, thought presentation of the dessert was strange. The wooden bowls seemed like an afterthought, they ran out of budget, or they were left over from another restaurant. Would I recommend it? On the fence. Food was fantastic. Our service was terrible, but others definitely had better servers. Looking at some of the other reviews, it looks like a hit-or-miss experience. I want to be optimistic - if you go, hope you have a better experience. You'll definitely enjoy the food.
(3)Alyssa O.
Only giving it 3 stars and not less because my experience may have been due to some poor choices. Also, my expectations were pretty high. Basically it was just too bad to be true, so I might give it another shot. The best part of the meal was the apple guac, although the portion was tiny. The steak tacos were pretty good too. But the bad far outweighed the good. We also ordered pork tacos (way too peanutty, almost overwhelming, and the meat was not what I expected), mushroom tacos (plain gross, and I love mushrooms. they put this disgusting black fungus on top), and shrimp tacos (the glaze should be good in theory - something like an orange chicken sauce with a mild garlic flavor - but in reality my mouth was confused and unpleased). The drink I ordered also sounded great on paper, but in reality I could not take more than a couple of sips. It was like a bloody mary, but with pineapple juice instead of tomato. I love spicy, but this was uncalled for. And lastly, this place is ridiculously overpriced for what you get.
(3)Carla S.
I have some good and some bad things to say about this place, but overall liked it and want to go back. Starting with the bad, we had a late reservation to begin and then ended up waiting at the bar for 30-45 minutes past our reservation time. While this was somewhat annoying, the drinks are delicious, and the bar area is pretty busy, so it was kind of fun. But to make up for it, they gave our group a round of margaritas and an appetizer on the house, which was really nice. The food was great. We got the queso fundido (so good), carne asada tacos, raja tacos and one other, sharing style. They were all so good except raja was very spicy, too much for me. Overall, the food and drinks were good, the atmosphere was fun, and the staff was nice despite the wait.
(4)Mark P.
Food was pretty good - particularly for the price. Yes, the entrees come "tapas style," but they are large by tapas standards. On a Saturday night, it was very crowded, full of 30-somethings. Staff was friendly, but service a bit slow. I will go back.
(4)a h.
Blah. Expensive tacos, and super-spicy, not necessarily tasty. I like tasty. I was just not impressed with the food. At all. Great atmosphere though. I would go back for some drinky drinks. But, I probably won't ever go back. I would much rather go to Adobo Grill or Eivissa.
(2)Cheryl W.
I love this place! The mango gauc is so delicous; The bite size shrimp tacos are the best I've had in the city; and the tangerine/ shrimp civiche is fantastic! Great prices, great food, strong margaritas!
(5)N W.
In short.. Great bartender.. Great first drink from bar... Crowded and fun.. Waitress nice.. seating too crowded... food o.k. at best.... and felt rushed the entire time after being seated well after our reservation they need to change focus from just trying to turn tables to making guest have a positive UNrushed experience
(3)hyo l.
today i was gonna try xoco, but they were closed because they were on vacation. so my friend and i were trying to find a mexican restaurant near by there and ended up trying this place. we ordered tilapia taco and carne tortas. omg... taco dish was so tiny, came with 3 small tiny tacos and it was $10.50. it was tasty but come on... i thought tortas was better than taco. tortas was pretty big and came out with fries (which was little too salty for me). I dont think ill go back to this place.
(3)L F.
The food was fabulous! Our waiter was rude, tried to rush us out the door. I did not realize it was a fast food restaurant. Our waiter did not offer us dessert - dessert menu is limited that could be improved. Don't order the coffee - not very good. The fish tacos were my favorite but it was all very tasty. Kuddos to the chef!!!! Not so much to our waiter. We did tell the Manager when leaving and it appeared they addressed it with him.
(3)Rachel P.
Oh Mercadito how I wanted to love you! First, I love me some good Mexican! Second, I do love a good scene every now and again...however, Sunday evening do we really need the house music blasting so loud from the speakers that I can't hear my friend who is mere arms reach away across a very tiny table? Saturday you go in with some expectations...sunday let's dial it down just a tad! That being said if the food was great, more stars would be bestowed. Unfortunately, the food was just okay. I would go back for the spicy guac, and the super delicious strawberry margarita over rocks-phenomenal! Maybe a table outside for a drink and an ap over the summer would work, but I would not come back for dinner. Fish tacos (talapia) were strange in texture, can't even really describe it other then way too crispy for a sauté...hard shell with mealy internal texture...left on too long?! The steak tacos were little tiny chunks of fatty steak...not mouth pleasing. The sauces were all adequate, but all the tacos tasted lacked for something on the plate-we like veggies and vibrant raw things with our meat tacos to add some freshness! It is summer after all-make use of the gorgeous produce-none to be found-a very sad story indeed! Mercadito there are too many great Mexican joints in this city to take you seriously; even for fancy schmancy Mexican standards, I've had much better and more inventive. You do however make one fab margarita, hats off for the drinks!
(2)M B.
Chicago-native and Mexican descendant here. Thought the ambience was decent, enjoyed the unique Pepito margarita but thought the food was barely average and totally OVER-PRICED. Shrimp Ceviche appetizer lacked flavor and seasoning. The different salsas offered are sub-par and very disappointing along with their fried flour tortilla chips - YUCK!. 4 mini tacos for $15! Really?! And I don't care for how the entrees are (over) organized. If you want to try different types of tacos you're forced to order multiple platters (4 tacos on each). This may work for groups of 3 or more but not a group of picky girls or two or less people. Oh, wait... they have prix fixe menus for groups of 6 or more that "forces" you to order specific entrees and salsas. I'd eat at a dive, mom-n-pop Mexican place over Mercadito ANYDAY! I think the crowds this place draws is solely for the margaritas, which are on the pricier side too - skip the food altogether.
(1)kellie f.
mercadito use to be one of my favorite places to go! the carne tacos were unbelievable, until they changed the recipe with the change of the season.. the service is always great and they have always been accomodating, but who changes something that is so amazing?? the chorizo tacos are always great and so are the guacamoles' but stop changing your food recipes! leave well enough alone!
(3)Nick B.
Mercadito was an amazing dinner. The atmosphere was trendy and hip. Very nice lighting to make it feel intimate and personal with whomever you are with. The food was amazing. I was with 2 other people and we split the small plates to get a tasting of everything. The tacos were yummy. All the dishes were excellent with some being better then others I would recommend and get again the following: tocino guacamole, langosta tacos,pescado tacos. Overall a fantastic time and a nice spot to take a companion or date. Would love to go back again soon. Its a bit pricey but it is worth it. Its trendy, hip, and fun place to be.
(5)H F.
This place is extremely unorganized and the staff is incompetent. First, we waited 20 minutes for the waitress to take our drink orders even though it was a weekend afternoon and not extremely busy. We ordered guacamole and salsas as appetizers which arrived AFTER the entrees came out. The waitress merely said that normally the kitchen is not that on top of things. The entrees themselves came out about 10 minutes apart from each other. My sister asked for tacos which weren't spicy and she recommended the pork tacos which ended up being very spicy! She said the shrimp tacos were the spiciest on the menu and they were not spicy at all . It was a bit odd that she had said that because I've had them before even and they are not spicy at all. Our plates were cleared before we were even done and the waitress just completely forgot to bring coffee when we asked and simply said -- you don't want it still do you?? The service is bad. If it wasn't a few blocks away I would never go again.
(2)Ben B.
this place was terrible! way over priced! bad service! and very hot inside! some blond heir guy was a complete ass to our group of 20 at the end of the night. he took my drink from me while i was drinking it. like he took it out of my hand when i was trying to drink it! i will never go there again!
(1)Blackie L.
Mercadito is just ok. It's a nice room with a good vibe. The drinks were good and interesting, but a lot of them had a very similar flavor. The food was just ok. I had concerns about a Mexican place that started in NYC coming to Chicago. With 1 million Mexicans and our own Chicago-Mexican food and culture, do we really need some glammed up NYC import? I say no. As far as the food goes, the guac options were interesting, but at the end of the day, it's guacamole. The tacos seem to be what they're famous for, but I'm not sure why. I've had way better carne asada tacos at taco joints all over the city, for why less trouble (and, granted, much less to look at.) I've never understood taking time-tested street food and trying to jazz it up. I'd take a nice greasy Mexican chorizo taco with fresh cilantro and onion on a locally made corn tortilla from some dive taco and burrito spot any day.
(2)Anna M.
great appetizers, especially their different guacamole (pumpkin and pomegranate). shrimp tacos were fantastic.
(4)Disha M.
FLAMING MARGARITAS!!!!! Alright, this is probably one of my favorite spots in the city. For the atmosphere, the drinks (FLAMING MARGARITAS!!!!!), and decent food. I shaved off one star only because I am not the biggest fan of their tortilla chips. I mean, how do you screw up a tortilla chip?? They can do better, i know they can! But they won't :( Try their shrimp tacos... spicy and delish!! Add the habanero salsa to it ha. Also, you can't go wrong with any of their fancy shmancy margaritas here. Sure, they're kinda expensive, but I appreciate the creativity involved in each drink. Lastly, if you love tequila as much as I do, you will NOT be disappointed in their tequila list. Perfect!
(4)Amy M.
This place is amazing. You will never see guacamole the same again. I recommend trying the sampler of guacamole. So good! Tacos are amazing. Love this place
(5)L B.
All the food I had was really good and I actually thought more than fairly priced for what I was served. The drinks were also tasty BUT my $12.00 marg (yes I expect that price for the area but seriously . . . the skimpiness of the drink???) was in a rocks glass (only option there as far as I know) which was FULL of ice so if I were to pour my drink out into a regular martini/marg glass it probably was about 1/3 of a true drink. It was definatly not a full shot of tequila in my drink - had three margs which would have put me on the floor most places but really didn't even feel it here. Despite the fact that the food was good I still can only give this three stars -based more on the overall experience. This place is just too packed in for such a small space. You are truly sitting ON TOP of someone else unless you have a booth. It is also very loud and hard to speak with your table - we had 6 people and the people on the ends by the other table really could not even participate in our conversation bc the restaurant is so loud and everyone at the table next to us was yelling over the noise also. You can make a reservation but every time I have waited AT LEAST a half hour after my reservation to be seated despite the fact that my party has always checked in on time. I think this serves as a scenester spot more than anything and although I am young and enjoy the scene, one scene of Mercadito was enough for me. Too loud, too crowded, too long of a wait. Too bad the food is so good? Maybe it would be better to try this place at lunch or at the least request a booth so maybe you and your friends/date can talk instead of trying to read lips across the table.
(3)BR S.
this place was amazing. food = incredible. service = incredible. definitely check it out. great crowd.
(5)john w.
great tapas restaurant with extensive bar menu. busy, busy spot, even on a late sunday night. friendly wait staff and excellent ceviche. fresh ingredients and fun atmosphere. very LOUD and not the place for quiet conversation, but a fun place to hang out with friends for a drink and some people watching.
(3)Britt C.
Underrated!! Little hidden gem. I was so shocked that no one was in this place when we were there! Great ambiance. We were just searching around for somewhere nearby to grab a drink and something to snack on. Good cocktails, good tacos, and plenty of guacamole options. Definitely worth checking it out. Hopefully they will have the bacon guac when you're there! Yummm!
(4)Christopher V.
Tacos can only be ordered in sets of 4. No mixing and matching. Service was attentive, food was just ok.
(3)Andrew B.
Though my entree was above average, my overall experience was not. The appetizers that I ordered were both overpriced and unappetizing. I left Mercadito feeling sick and I have no intentions to ever go back. On the other hand, the hostess was very clear that she would only hold our table for 10 minutes despite the restaurant being nearly empty. Although the tortillas for the queso fundido were very fresh and tasty, the cheese was chewy and the appetizer came out after my meal. Lastly, I would not recommend eating at Mercadito.
(2)Srishti K.
If you're looking for a trendy place and delicious food/drinks, this is a great choice. I have been here twice - once for lunch and once for drinks and I can't wait till I have a chance to go back. FOOD For the appetizer, we got the guacamole trio. Usually, I am perfectly happy with regular guacamole but their mango and pina styles are AMAZING. If you like a spicier guac, I would go with the pina. The mango is my favorite because it's sweet and spicy all at the same time. The only reason this place is a 4 and not a 5 (other than their prices) is for the tacos. For about $16, you get 3 tacos which admittedly is pretty filling. I got the chicken tacos. The meat was great, and I like that they have pieces of sweet potato. Other than that though, the tacos are definitely a little bit on the bland side. They also overstuff the tacos, which makes for some super messy eating. The tacos are good, but probably not worth the price. DRINKS My absolute favorite thing about Mercadito is their pineapple margarita. If you like spicy food, get the red chili powder on the rim. It adds an extra kick that is way better than just salt. The margaritas somehow manage to be delicious and super strong at the same time - perfect for happy hour! AMBIENCE & SERVICE This place looks super cute. A lot of reviews have commented that this place is super loud. I think it gets louder around dinner, but it is pretty reasonable during lunchtime. I went in at about 12 and didn't even need a reservation. I didn't make much note of the service but that's probably a good thing -- it's perfectly adequate.
(4)Jake L.
This place is legit! Awesome atmosphere, tacos are great, margaritas are better, cool little downstairs hang out. Afterwards check out going to Untitled across the street for post drinks. great one two punch and a great friday night all together. Def recommend.
(4)Lydia J.
Always awesome! Make sure you have a reservation though because it's always packed. Great drinks great food and great service. It's pretty loud so if you're looking for something more intimate choose a different setting but if you like a high energy environment this is a perfect choice.
(5)Patrick M.
Had an order of the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Shrimp tacos. Both were delicious. Also got an order of queso. Was a bit surprised that it was served with flour tortillas used for tacos instead of traditional corn chips but still pretty good nonetheless. Mahi Mahi tacos were the highlight of the dinner.
(4)Taylor D.
Went here with girlfriends and now I crave those mushroom tacos every day! Love this place! Great drinks and great food! We also had some of the best service! Make it a point to stop here after work sometime soon!
(5)Shan D.
Great food and even better scene. The shrimp tacos are my favorite. Come here for brunch when your group can share several items and you each get a drink. It's definitely a good value. This place is also great to grab a quick drink at the bar. Several great cocktails, and the bartenders are super friendly and attentive Dinner does get pricy, especially if you have a couple of their specialty cocktails
(4)Annalise V.
All around experience: "meh it was alright" We arrived with a reservation but when being seated they rudely let us know what time we "needed to be out by" Our server was friendly but was not very interested in giving actual service. We got the salsa trio, which was definitely not worth the money we paid for it. When our meals came, all of them were so spicy that a few people could not finish. The margaritas were not anything special, and the "michelada" was basically Tabasco sauce and beer. It is obvious that the ingredients are fresh and of good quality, but they are masked by too much spice. For someone who enjoys spicy food, the food was nothing special. Not one person in our party of 6 said we would be returning. Too expensive for the quality of service, drinks, and food.
(2)Miranda N.
I honestly just love this place I dnt know Anything negative to say about this place. I've only been on weekends and ALWAYS make a reservation. Once you get there u maybe wait 10 mins while they clean off your table not bad for a place that is packed. Music is loud when I'm there so it is really not a place to have a heart to heart conversation. The food is amazing whenever i go I'm usually with a group so and we order off the sharing me it is actually cheaper that way unless u just r with a ton of picky eaters this is the best route. Shrimp tacos r amazing so r the mahi mahi tacos I recommend the traditional guac and pomegranate guac and also the mango hell just try them all I haven't had anything on the menu I wasn't a fan of
(5)Dave S.
Came here on a Friday night during Restaurant Week. Sat down around 6 and it was pretty empty, but started by 7 it was packed. Ended up getting the special: Blanco and Mango Guac - These were amazing! Bacon really does make everything taste better! Callo Cevechi - The shallots themselves were tasty and I was intrigued by the pumpkin seeds, but I am not a cilantro fan and it was too powerful in this dish (the cilantro had no effect in the other dishes) Tacos - These were amazing, definitely Big Star comparable. Had the choice of 4: carnitas de puerca - the toasted peanuts were a delicious compliment to the braised pork Hongos - My friend who is tragically allergic to shriimp said he wanted the vegetarian taco, though he had no problem with the pork, or bacon. mushrooms and cheese is usually a winning combination Langosta - How can you go wrong with lobster? Graham Elliot Special - Smoked Salmon with pickled shallots, fried capers and a dill crème fraiche Plátanos Machos - Fried plantains are great with or without the ginger-jalapeño sauce f Flan de coco y cajeta - If you're a fan of coconut, caramel or anything sweet, you'll love these. The portion sizes are not huge, but this was a lot of food! We also opted for the $7 drink discount off their $11.50 cocktails, which ended up being a great financial decision.
(4)Lola D.
I remember this place as my favorite Mexican when I lived in Chicago. Everything was very creative, well thought out. The atmosphere is unique within itself. I always tried a couple of different tacos with a few delicious cocktails. Beautiful presentation, delicious food, and a one of a kind experience. I also remember the queso fundido disappearing after only a few minutes, soooo yummy. Can't wait to come back one day
(5)Brittany S.
Some friends and I went here for brunch during Chicago restaurant week and I definitely will be back! We shared the 4 course meal. We had regular and mango guacamole and chips both were tasty and fresh. We had steak and black fin fish tacos. Both were flavored and cooked to perfection. The main course was enchiladas and pancakes I didn't eat the pancakes but my friends loved them. The enchiladas were ok but could have used a tad more flavor. We each had a dessert which we all shared. I really enjoyed the coconut and Carmel gelatin type desserts. Wasn't a fan of the milk flan. I had a white wine cocktail that was very good it was a mix of fruity but somehow classic and masculine too. It was packed for brunch and tables were a bit close together but our waitress was friendly and attentive. So over all satisfied customer
(4)Lee L.
CHICAGO: This is a highly-hyped restaurant and for me was excellent; better than the reviews would indicate. I had the fish tacos, the helote, and the plantains. The fish tacos (5 star) were served high, were crispy, firm, lightly battered and seasoned, and full of flavor. The helote corn on the cobs (4 star) were beautiful and rich in flavor, lots of cotija cheese and spicy. Plantains were good (3 star). The strawberry fresca (4 star) was great too, with strawberry purée, lime, syrup and soda, with chile on the glass; delicious and alcohol free. Yum; I will be back to try the lobster tacos.
(4)Dutch B.
total home run...food is tasty and perfect. our server was jade, she's great also. managers are on top of it too.. great great place...
(5)Kelsey K.
This place was seriously amazing. Some of the best and strongest margaritas I have ever had. I particularly loved the queso fundido. Living in San Francisco you would think you could find this delicious appetizer at any Mexican restaurant, but sadly you cannot. My husband and I devoured the first order, that we ended up ordering a second round of queso fundido. The tacos were very tasty as well and there really was an option for anyone. From chicken to fish to spare rib to beef, you name it. Although I have no idea when I will be back in Chicago, I do know that when I return, I will be enjoying at least one meal at Mercadito!
(5)Vivian T.
Good guacamole and ceviche. However, was very unimpressed with the tacos/main dishes available. I'm not sure why everyone seems to like the lobster/mahi mahi tacos so much, I personally found them to be a little on the less-than-fresh side. The drinks are well made though. Good G&Ts and margaritas.
(3)Cristina P.
I came here for an after work event. They were able to accommodate 15 of us, but they made us order from the share-able menu which is about 30 per person. We ate soooo much that night. My absolute favorites were the steak with pineapple, chicken with peanuts, and fish taco. The shining star was the corn on the cob which came out with cheese and pepper and was roasted on a stick. The mini quesedillas which were more like empanadas were delicious too. I ate at this place a week ago and have been dreaming about it since. I was majorly impressed. The decor is beautiful so bring your friends. It may be a little too loud for a first date, but I would definitely recommend for a group or corporate outing.
(4)Ashli H.
Update: Taking away two stars for poor customer service. I arrived at 7:30 with an initial reservation for a party of two. Even though I offered to order right away, they gave away our table and I'm still waiting 30 minutes later. Absolutely ridiculous. Next time, I'll be going to Frontera. Original review: If you are looking for somewhere to go with a vibrant atmosphere, cool decor, and killer margs, then this is your place. I agree with the comments about the noise level, but you know what you're getting into before you come here; just be ready to make friends at adjacent tables. The vegetarian options here are great. They are also willing to modify non-vegetarian items on the menu that interest you. My boyfriend and I celebrated an anniversary here last Friday and they even brought us out a dessert to celebrate. Sweet gesture.
(2)Morgan S.
I have had great experiences here but my last visit wasn't the best... I love their chicken tacos with corn and avocado and the pomegranate guacamole in the fall, but not a huge fan of the seasonal menu change of the chicken tacos with I think bacon on them... Also was VERY loud the last time I was in there.
(4)Nancy H.
For such a highly hyped restaurant, it sure is small! Would've been a great experience if we weren't so uncomfortably cramped or a little deaf by the end of dinner. My girlfriends and I came here for happy hour / early dinner on a Friday evening and had a lot of fun yelling at each from across the table (mild sarcasm). All sarcasm aside, though, it was a very tight squeeze everywhere... standing by the bar, our tiny square table at the end of a booth where we had to sit in a C formation in order to fit around, and even the bathrooms! My god! First of all, they're downstairs (pretty sure there's no elevator), and secondly, the stalls were horribly designed. If you can get inside without brushing up against something dirty, I applaud you; you must be a contortionist. Avoid if you are claustrophobic or a germaphobe! The food, drinks, and service were great, though. The staff came around offering complimentary coat check, dropped off our ticket stub, and retrieved our jackets too. We shared 2 different guacamoles (unlimited refills on chips), shrimp tacos (small shrimps, not breaded, divine sauce!), pastor tacos, alambre de pollo (kind of like fajitas with melted cheese and served in a little cast iron skillet; comes with small tortillas, refried beans, and sauce), brussels sprouts with pork belly & chicharrones (so good but a little over sauced), fried plantains, and churros (not good). Two things to note about the tacos: all 4 have to be the same (no substitutions), and you can request to have them served on bibb lettuce instead of tortillas. Excluding drinks, we paid $28/pp after tax & tip.
(4)Norm J.
I must say that food wise this is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to. We had the Enchiladas and Tampiqueña which were both amazing. The drinks (margarita tradicional with mango & pepino el pyu) were strong and tasty, just the way I like them. The only negative about Mercadito is that they pack you in there like sardines. I swear the people on either side of me could hear every last word of my conversation with my date. If you don't mind strangers knowing all of your business I definitely recommend Mercadito.
(4)Mike W.
Congratulations! You've earned my first review for all of the wrong reasons! I will say, the food was very good but that's like saying you crashed a crotch rocket at 160 MPH to get really great care at the hospital. We had a party of four reservation at 6:30. Two of us arrived at 6:25 while the other two were running late. They then told us they only seat when all members of the party are there and said we could wait at the bar and would get us a table at "some point". My fiancé asked if we could be seated since she sprained her ankle and the bar has not seating. They said yes, but only if we would agree to leave in an hour. We declined that offer and quickly realized that the manager is an incompetent ass. We would have just left but didn't feel like eating Subway on a Saturday night. As a seasoned veteran of the restaurant industry, that was my first clue that this is a "empty their wallet and get them out" operation. The 2nd was the $26 bill for a small margarita and a small malbec. The other two of our party arrived and we were actually seated quickly. The waitress came and her mouth moved but we had no idea what she was saying. The music and the other diners were so loud that the only person who could hear some of what the waitress was saying was a foot away from her. We asked her to speak up, used some interpretive sign and dance moves and then understood what she was saying. And what she was trying to tell us is that this is a tapas restaurant. Wait a minute, it's a Mexican restaurant by category but they're saying they're a tapas restaurant, with plates meant for sharing. OK, cool! So can we mix and match the tacos? Ah, no...you can only order four of the same kind of taco...but then you can share! Mexican tapas but not Spanish but not really build for sharing. But it sounds trendy so let's go with it! I ordered the carne asada full plate..and was then told by the waitress that this is a tapas restaurant and I should order something else because the carne asada could take 30-45 minutes to be prepared. Really?? A meal that requires marinating in advance and is then just thrown on a grill to cook medium rare takes 30-45 minutes? I ordered the carne asada. The food came out staggered somewhat but not too bad. The carne asada did not take as long as advertised. I wondered why the waitress tried to down sell me then took clue #3 with get em in and get em out restaurant model. Summarized, I will never part with my money in this place again. I will say that the staff that clears the tables and fills water glasses are terrific. They are enthusiastic, gracious and beyond friendly - I hope that they all find jobs in much better places. The management, hostesses and waitstaff are full of themselves and the space filled by this restaurant could be much better utilized.
(1)Sara P.
We went there for a going away party late last night. It was set up through the events coordinator Wendy who was absolutely Wonderful and accommodating. Beautiful set up, Courteous staff, just amazing people. The food was amazing. Had a huge array of tacos, Salsas, guacamole and appetizers. Amazing cocktails, A few nice wines. Rafa our server was above and beyond. Accommodating, patient, he couldn't have been more spot on he was amazing. We can be a handful, especially myself with questions and dietary restrictions.he was stellar, thank you. I would recommend this place for anything and will be back soon For sure.
(5)Raquel G.
I would give this place no stars if I could. I had walked by this place many times and thought it looked interesting so I recommended to my family that we go there for dinner when they came in town. It was shockingly bad from start to finish and I felt embarrassed that I recommended the place! Yes it's very loud, but I don't fault them for that. . it was the food and service that shocked me. We got ceviche and guacamole to start. . both were bland and way overpriced. I ordered the fish tacos and was disgusted when I saw the food. It looked so unappetizing I was nervous to eat it. I took one bite and couldn't continue. It just looked old, unappealing and tasted terrible. I'm a longtime server and I usually never send things back, but I literally couldn't take another bite. My whole family's foods looked and tasted bad as well. I felt so embarrassed that nobody wanted to eat! A young male manager came by but seemed annoyed to talk to us. Then while my mom was still eating the busser came by and literally cleared everything away down to the place mats! The place was busy and they clearly they wanted us to get up and leave. It was insulting. Then to top it all off they gave us another tables leftover bag. I don't get why this place is even popular, it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a decade. Maybe it was an off night, but I would never ever return.
(1)Food C.
Food is great. I would recommend the lobster tacos- BUT the glasses are always dirty! Always. Every time I order water there is food floating in it. The bartender explained to me that it's due to them washing their glasses in the same dish washer as the food, but this really needs to change. The drinks are awesome too, but the left over food in them deter me from ordering them. Other than that - the food is good, service is good, food comes quickly and it's a great place to go before hitting the clubs or bars!
(4)Cassandra A.
This is second only to RPM in the city for me. Their baja fish tacos with lettuce shells are AMAZING. I also love the different types of guac. All the drinks are good -- I think I've tried 80% of them! Some of the servers are hot too so that doesn't hurt. I love when it's nice out and you can sit outside eating a couple tacos with a margarita. Just a great spot, and a great price.
(4)Marcos B.
Great ambience. Great service. Okay food. Okay drinks. My friend and I got reservations for Friday night at 9 pm; got seated right away although we were running a late and the restaurant was packed. The guacamole was delicious; many options to satisfy various tastes. The tacos were also very good, but the portions were quite small for the price. I will definitely go back to this location when I am back in Chicago, and this time I will know what to expect.
(4)Jeremy C.
Ohh... Ohhh... The food was that good here. The guac..... all 3 I tried were delicious!!! I was with a big group and I tried about one of every taco... Here is the TIP!! Get any taco that has pork in it!!!! You can't go wrong but those are the best!!!! This place was packed when I went.. Make a reservation or you will end up like the DBags eating entrees at the bar... Trust me, you don't want to be one of them!!! She's a beauty!!! If you haven't been here.. Go here...
(5)Michael W.
While in Chicago for business, I was kind of craving some Mexican food. Low and behold, Yelp has come to my rescue once again, and I ended up at Mercadito. A quick cab ride, and 10 minutes later, we were all here ready to eat. Mercadito isn't your typical Mexican restaurant. This place is moreso on the swanky side, and the prices definitely reflect that. Mercadito also has a full bar which is stacked with tequila for days. Go with their margarita or any other tequila based cocktail and you won't be disappointed. As a party of 6, we decided to order the following: - Guacamole trio (traditional, mango, pina) - Al pastor tacos - Carne tacos I was a little more on the hungry side so I ordered the pollo a la brasas (adobo marinated chicken, three corn pico de gallo, chile de árbol salsa) for myself. For starters, the guacamole was pretty solid. Each had it's own distinct flavor and tasted incredibly fresh. The only downside was that each was an incredibly small portion, and when split among 6 people, didn't give too much for each person. At $14.50 for 4 normal sized tacos, these bad boys were pretty pricey, but to give Mercadito some credit, they were also pretty amazing. The al pastor didn't taste overly oily and was incredibly juicy. Same deal with the carne asada tacos. My polo a la brasas ran $17.25. Pretty much, I was given a plate of chicken, some tortillas, and salsa for me to create my own tacos. I actually really liked this dish, and after I finished that, 2 tacos, and some guacamole, was pretty stuffed. Mercadito does serve up some solid food. Things are prepared with care, the restaurant itself is definitely a post-work gathering spot. The only downside is that it just breaks my heart that 4 tacos cost $14.50. In total, our dinner came out to be about $60 a person, which if I were back in California, could get me 8 super burritos. Definitely a nice spot for a Friday outing, but probably not for a casual Tuesday dinner.
(4)Cornelia A.
This place is still a favorite of mine!!! Food and drinks are delicious... Industry nights are the best!!!
(5)Bobbie Z.
I would have to say that Mercadito has the best tacos in town. They are perfectly sized, well-seasoned and flavorful. Order the traditional guac as a starter. Also can't go wrong with their mango margaritas (but w/o the paprika!).
(5)Elizabeth A.
I came to Chicago with three fellow Floridians and we stumbled upon this gem. Our server was Joseph and he bit only gave us great suggestions but also great service. We tried the mahi mahi tacos, pastor tacos, carne tacos, carnitas de puercos tacos, they ere phenomenal. The drinks ere a little over priced but my bloody Mary was very good. Over all the prices were a bit expensive for the portions but the quality and the atmosphere were both top notch.
(4)Ortiz N.
ceviche was great, my friend had the lobster ceviche & i had the mixture ! the home made habanero salsa was spicy but good, drinks were great ! i suggest you make reservations it gets busy very fast
(4)Shradha A.
here's an updated review for a more recent dining experience at double a downstairs: yelp.com/biz/double-a-ch…
(4)Chris T.
I almost gave this place 3 stars, but the entrees and drinks pushed it over to 4! Let me go over what I didn't like first: I'm not a fan of places that pack you in TIGHT. We were put in a middle 2 person table with so little room on either side that the table had to be slid all the way out for me to get seated. It felt like we were pretty much having dinner with the two other couples on either side of us. So coming here for a date might be awkward. Also, the salsa and guacamole - they were both fresh and decent, but the salsa should have been free. You also get so little salsa it's kind of silly. The guac didn't stand out in my mind, I felt like I could have gotten the same at Chilis. What was good: The drinks! Were all tasty and strong. I had the pepino el pyu, the margarita and the misty's sleeve. I still can't decide which I liked best, but my friend loved the Pepino the most, and I liked the spicy kick of the Misty. My entree was delicious: I had the Tampiqueno. It was cooked perfectly and I loved every bite. The presentation was unique too. My friend had the Enchiladas and enjoyed it. Tasted good to me too! So I would come back, but next time I'd rather eat outside or at the bar.
(4)Rylee S.
Jesus was our waiter and he made recommendations that were on point! Lobster tacos. V-9 cocktail. Alambre de pollo. Mac n cheese. Torrejas bollilo (dessert). You won't be disappointed! They lose one star because I'm a petite girl and the tables were so tightly packed together we actually had to physically move our table so I could get into my seat without sticking my booty in someone else's plate of food- when you're spending on average $60-$100 a person I would expect better.
(4)Dax R.
This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. They have some of the best and creative tacos as well as a good selection of guacamole. We always come here with groups. The drinks are good as well.
(4)Amy K.
This place is average. If you want an upbeat atmosphere with some excellent drinks, then this is the spot. What makes it average is its food. The tacos were way too salty. The guacamole was came in such a small portion I thought it was a joke. The Mac and cheese was watery and tasteless. I'd only go back for the excellent drinks and cool ambiance.
(3)Adele n.
This is a good place to do restaurant week. Some restaurants give you puny portions of their worst food during restaurant week. Not so at Mercadito. Their $33 per person menu lets you choose for the table: two types of guacamole, one type of ceviche, a side, four tacos, and a dessert. Tons of excellent food for the money. Add a drink (a delicious margarita perhaps?) for $7. Stand out items for me were the spicy mango guacamole, the shrimp taco, and the goat cheese carmel flan. The environment and decor is lounge-ish -- busy, crowded, upscale. There's a really swanky little bar on the lower level.
(4)Alma V.
Fun atmosphere and great drinks but loud and super expensive for really tiny portions. So...meh.
(3)Sofiya C.
I've been here several times, but in the past 2 months twice. Once for a birthday and last night I hosted my friends bachelorette here. Food is excellent. If you have a large party do the sharing menu, you won't go wrong, you will get plenty of food! Unfortunately the way we ended up here last night is because tavernita closed Thur and last minute we got switched to the AA tequila lounge (downstairs part) of mercadito. The booth was ok, just wish the tables were high enough where we didn't have to hold our plates on our lap. The service was good, the general manager stopped by to make sure all was well. The drinks are strong but delicious! The gals had a blast and continued talking about how much they loved dinner for the next day!
(5)Monica J.
DELICIOUS! I got here at 7:45 for my res but my friend was running a bit late due to the horrible weather. Anyway, they told me once my friend arrived, we would be seated. By the time my friend came, it was 15 minutes passed our res. but they told us we would be seated. After another 15 minutes, we were still waiting, so one of the hostesses said that we would be comped for our first round of drinks because of our long wait, which was so awesome! ...especially because their drinks are amazing and we were already looking forward to ordering them My friend got the Big Nose Goes to Mexico drink and I got the Misty's Sleeve. AMAZING! We split the tore ado and then my friend got the flautas and I got the hongos tacos. Everything was delicious. My only issue is that I would love to mix and match the tacos and not get four of the same kid (four come with every order). If you are in a bigger group, it is great to come there, order many tacos and then share amongst each other. Overall, it was a great dinner and I was once again NOT disappointed.
(5)Andrew F.
My go to place for delicious tacos and guacamole. And drinks. Pepino El Pyu is amazing. I wish I could finish this review but now I'm hungry for tacos.
(5)Ana M.
Made a reservation, they lost it. Took 25 min to get chips - no salsa included. Chips were stale. Guac was very good. Salsa verde was bland. Got their most popular tacos were beer battered mahi mahi. They were bland. Flavorless. I didnt even know mexican food can bland and flavorless prior to eating here. Beautiful venue but bad food for high price. Ive had better food truck tacos.
(2)Blair W.
5 Stars - Food 2 Stars - Service (specifically the hostesses) 4 Stars - Ambiance (updated but quite noisy) 3 Stars - Beverages (all sweet) My favorite taco is the estilo baja with corn tortilla. AMAZING. The guacamole is also very good. The drinks used to be great, but they changed the menu and neglected to keep any spicy drinks (Tres Viejos was our crowd favorite). Our group used to consistenly eat/drink here before going out, but with the drink changes and the production it is to get in I'll stick to takeout.
(4)Justin B.
Let me start by saying that when we were being seated for our RESERVATION the host had the nerve to ask us to finish in an hour because they had another reservation coming. I've never in my life had someone tell us we had a limited time to eat at a restaurant when we had a RESERVATION. Guess what? It's YOUR job to figure out your reservations and capacity, not mine. Don't accept our reservation if you need us to eat on your schedule. So that was not a good start. This was a shame because the food was actually good. That's about the only good thing I can say about this place, however, and the only reason I gave Mercadito two stars vs. one. The music in the restaurant was so loud one might think they were conducting an experiment to see how loud a place can get and still have people sit and eat. The weather was muggy and humid outside and somehow it managed to be even muggier and more humid inside. I'm fairly certain air conditioning has been invented, so I'm confused as to why the restaurant would refuse to use it when it's 85 and gross outside. Really they need to transplant the chef to a place where the food is highlighted, because the rest of this place is what I imagine people who watch Entourage feel like a restaurant should be like... loud, chaotic, humid and "hip". If you're in your 20's and an insufferable person, I think you'll probably find this place more tolerable than I did, since it seems to cater to that kind of low-standard crowd. All-in-all if they actually kept the restaurant under 80-degrees and the music under 5,000 decibels I could consider dining here again due to the food being solid, but considering we were asked to not take more than an hour to dine when we had a reservation... that sealed my decision not to ever come back to this place before the noise and temperature even factored in.
(2)Mark C.
I'm sorry... But there's no excuse to make us waiting for a reservation on a Tuesday night. We just left. The food is good (not great) ... I've eaten here before. 1 star purely for not respecting my time.
(1)Dina E.
Love the shrimp tacos, guacamole trio and ceviche. They have awesome cocktails, try the "Little Market", nice and spicy! Great service, but we felt a little rushed between entrees and they seemed to rush us at the end. Desserts are ok, but the tacos are the star of this show!
(4)Lisa S.
You get what you pay for....sort of? This is a pretty tasty Mexican spot in River North. The food is good, not great. But, it has a really fun atmosphere. I think my favorite part is the "unique" guacamoles....my favorite one has pomegranate seeds! My biggest complaint is that you have to order four of the same tacos, which is fine if you're in a big group and want to share. But, for a small party, it's frustrating that you can't mix it up. I'd definitely recommend De Cero in the West Loop over this place: it's more flexible and delicious!
(3)lori c.
thought this place would be great to take my boyfriend who LOVES mexican food. I am glad I didn't take him here for his birthday. Tacos were delicious BUT I would recommended dining here if you have a party of 4 or more. the tables are literally 2 inches away from one other which causes you to ask the person next to you (strangers next to you) to get up out of their seat so that you can squeeze through. the tacos come in 4s (I don't care for lamb & thought the lamb tacos were delightful; the swordfish tacos were too salty) but are a little more expensive than other locations (and is about the same quantity and taste). I do not care to return to this restaurant - which I think is ok because the servers don't seem to care if they see you again.
(3)Julia S.
Tacos, guacamole, and margaritas are amazing! We got the trio of guacamoles (tradicional, mango, and tocino) and they were all incredible! Our table was a little crammed beside the couple next to us, but overall we really enjoyed the ambiance.
(4)Abha S.
Loved the guac varieties, fresh tortilla chips and the food there! They have a wide selection of margarita's to choose from as well. We had reservations for the evening and so there wasn't a wait which was great :) Will definitely return!
(4)Teresa H.
LOVE this place! There are two things I could eat every day for the rest of my life: pizza and mexican food. With that being said I would consider myself a mexican-food connoisseur of sorts. With several different options for margaritas, guacamoles, salsas, tacos, and more this place is like heaven to me! Everything is delicious. I had about 4 of the spicy margarita -- can't remember the name but it was amazing.
(5)Tynee C.
I didn't have an opportunity to dine here but based on the comments about service, I can contribute. I called last Thursday about reservations for a large group and was told that someone from events would contact me when she returned from vacation. I don't have a degree in Business, but I don't think business should stop because someone is on vacation. Any who.... I have yet to receive a response. Oh wait ... I got an email from Mercadito telling me that I'm on their mailing list to receive junk emails at my job. No worries. We have a reservation at another restaurant on Monday and I will Yelp about it.
(1)Ritika K.
Mercadito is amazing. I loved the food, drinks, ambience and service. All the guacamole flavors and tacos were delicious. I really liked the mushroom taco and chicken taco. I like that they can substitute the tortilla with lettuce. A lot of items on their menu can be made vegetarian. However, they charge the same price for the vegetarian version. I tried the caramel custard and chocolate cake for dessert. Caramel custard was yummy but the chocolate cake not so much. Chocolate cake was served with bananas, which is not my favorite. I will definitely go again.
(4)Shaun C.
The greatest restaurant in Chicago. If you like tacos, you have to stop here.
(5)Miss O.
Meh.
(1)Jack W.
Ok
(4)Kendrick W.
So let's start with the obvious. Great looking place and vibe when you walk in the door. Pretty much what you expect at a location in River North. Having said that, let's hit the other obvious point, pricey for mexican food. $22.50 for an enchilada? Do i get to pick out the shrimp myself? No I don't. Having said that, I didn't have the enchilada so maybe it's worth every bite. I had the chips and guacamole and they were quality and priced in the range that you typically expect at a good location. I also had the pescado tacos. Absolutely fabulous. If you're a fan of the fish tacos at Taco Joint (L.P. location) then you'll love these. Going to go out on a limb and say they were even tastier... Finally the moment of truth. When you stumble into a place after a hard day of work and need a drink the only thing you want is quality. First and foremost they were quick. I barely got seated before a drink menu was in my face and even though I wasn't ready it was like they read my mind and were back within 60 seconds which is about all it usually takes me. I ordered a margarita, the misty's sleeve. (in fact I ordered two) There was a hint of something spicy in it without it being overpowering and it was fabulous. So if you're ready to drop a little coin this place is worth it. On a side note, I was actually able to hear my friend across the table, so that's a bonus.
(4)Sahar M.
If it wasn't because of the ambiance and fancy margaritas and guacamole, I don't think anybody would go to this restaurant. Bad food, super laid, over priced and terrible table management. My fiancé and I got to the restaurant tonight 15 min before our reservation and were told to wait in the bar till table gets ready. 2 drinks and 45 min later we got seated!!!! The hostess excused herself from keeping us waiting by saying people are not leaving. We don't have a table for u!!!! And about the food: I ordered Mariscada ( sea food fajitas) and my fiancé had carne asada, both over salty and chewy! The coleslaw that came with my dinner was the only high light of out table. Our next table almost didn't touch their tacos. Overall, we were very unhappy and will not come back! Go there for drinks and guacamole by the bar, food is below average!
(1)Jenna W.
Where to start. I never had shrimp tacos until I went to mercadito and I wasn't expecting to like them but they were amazing!! I don't generally eat much meat so this is a great place for fish tacos and their margaritas are very unique. The pepino el pyu is my favorite. A must try. Service was good and the atmosphere is nice for dates or going out with friends.
(4)Masumi T.
I came here for a light bite. I was craving ceviche. We went with the shrimp. The shrimps were good but there was too much other stuff - pineapple, jicama, mango. The brussel sprouts had TOO much aioli, but the pork was good. The espada taco was good but again too much aioli!
(2)Rich B.
Went here to eat while on a work trip to Chicago. This place is in a great location and easy to find. We had reservations and only had to wait a few minutes. Pretty impressive considering it was jammed pack. Some co-workers set up the reservation so I wasn't sure what to expect as tacos are their main dish there. We ordered pretty much every kind and they were all delicious. My favorite was the Mahi taco. I devoured several of those for sure. One thing I heard was a must have while there is the margaritas. We ordered a few pitchers and it didn't disappoint or fail to get us liquored up fairly quick. I originally started this review back in March when I first went and have been back twice already since then, basically stopping in everytime I go to Chicago. If you're in that area, I highly recommend giving it a try. I'm very picky so any place I go back to, I feel is really good. =) Don't forget the margaritas!
(4)Scott M.
Everything has a smokey flavor. If that's you thing then this place is worth a try. My personal favorite were the tacos camarones and the smokey Pablo to drink. We got the tasting menu which is a great deal. Got to try 4 different tacos, 3 different gaucs, fish and shrimp ceviche and a dessert.
(4)Dan S.
So you find yourself in Chicago's River North Neighborhood and you feel like some damn good tacos and some quality Mexican-ish drinks. Your first choice of course is Frontera Grill, but it's a two hour wait. And you may ask yourself should I just catch a cab down to 18th street to get the good stuff. But you're in a slacker mood because you really don't feel like making the trek to neighborhoods beyond the River North bubble, you look at your options. A few blocks is your plan b. Enter Mercadito...the good news is even on a Friday you just maybe able to get a table and when you walk in - the place is vibey, dark. The outdoor seating is def worth it weather permitting...so what about menu. The small Cerviche plates - ok, average. The Guac - it's ok. The salsa - not ok, it's a weird looking puree thing that tasted like diluted hot sauce. Fine. missed with the salsa - the tacos? They are decent - the steak is flavorful, the fish is crispy but..that taco plate is pricey. Look, I get it - you're in River North, rent is expensive but can't we get a nice presentation going? They bring you (4) small tacos that have too much food on them...it's just a little off kilter. How about a separate plate of fish, steak, etc and then bring me some condiments and a stack of tortillas? Make me feel good about spending $20 for this! Ok, I maybe overly critical as Frontera sets the bar rather high and frankly, I don't mind dropping the cash if you can deliver a similar experience. So yes - in many US cities Mercadito is a yelp 3 star place but alas with so many innovative places opening up in Chi-town, they are due for a tune up. If they do, i will come back and spend more money.
(2)Aditi M.
Fantastic !! This place just makes you happy ! The ambience is so chic !! With So many different seating choices. I had the guacamole trio (traditional, mango and pineapple) and kept trying each of it trying to find out my fav and the tray was empty before I could decide, lol .. So, I would say, every flavor was a winner .. I ordered the vegetarian (hongos) tacos and I wish I and a picture of it .. The tacos were the best I ever had - soft melting in your mouth, perfect blend of flavors and spice (I loooove Mexican food and I keep trying different Mexican restaurants) .. It qualifies for a Chicago attraction in my books !
(5)James Z.
Mercadito, to this day, is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I've visited a million times over the years and each visit is always fun, delicious, and enjoyable. I come in sometimes just for their cocktails. I especially love the Pera Te, Tres Viejos, Little Market, and Smokey Pablo cocktails. For brunch, I love the Guava Cava, Mango Mimosita, and Auntie Ox cocktails. I personally like sweeter concoctions and occasionally, some spicy ones. Luckily, Mercadito often melds sweet, savory, and spicy. My mouth and tummy thank you, Mercadito mixologists! Of course, one of their signature foods is the guacamole. The mango guacamole is my personal favorite. The granada is also fabulous; the pomegranate adds a lovely color and a nice bite! In terms of tacos, the camaron is my ultimate weakness! Spicy, saucy, and the shrimp is juicy. I'm not the biggest fan of seafood, but I can eat a million of these... and over the years, I probably am near the one million mark! The carne and pastor tacos are also winners. For brunch, their version of chilaquiles is yummy as are their enchiladas. I like their flan selection, and for me, the coconut is always a crowd pleaser. I often visit Mercadito with friends (for "'girls'' nights" usually! haha) and each time, the coconut bests the tres leches or goat's milk versions. I love this place so much I went twice recently for Restaurant Week. I personally feel they always have the best bargain for RW. Hence, why I frequent this River North gem. (The one flaw... those really low seats and tables at the front of the restaurant. If possible, avoid those chairs/tables if you have a hard time eating that low... or if you have back problems. Eeek!) Overall, Mercadito is a good time!
(5)Ashley M.
Plain and simple the food is very good. Very tasty and reasonably priced. My problem was not the food if not the service. It was an early weekday afternoon, and not busy at all and when we walked inside we reached two female hostesses. Mind you they are behind a small desk and we were the only couple to walk in. They never stopped to look up from their computers and acknowledge us. We were inches from them so it was very obvious we were standing there. We gave it a minute and nothing so we had to excuse whatever they were doing to get their attention. I thought that was very rude. We had a tall, slim bald man as our server but he also was pretty rude. He kept making remarks about our choice of food and clearly we are Hispanic and was questioning how "Mexican" we were. Any who, he kept mixing up our order. I would go again and give it another chance, but I'd hope for friendlier people to serve us and get our order correct the first time. We only ordered two types of tacos and guacamole.
(3)Todd H.
The food is the best Mexican I've had in a long time. The place is clean and "hip". I thought the price was a tad high, but it's worth it.
(5)Danielle K.
Drinks A+, Food A++! This place is absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is fantastic. You will leave all giddy, and you won't even mind that you're $75 poorer.
(5)#NAME?
Came back on a Friday night, big difference... First you are like sardines with your food neighbors-You are no more than a foot away from the person next to you, or even less than that-They kept packing people in and actually bringing in more tables for people to sit at- I got the chicken tacos the first time there and had been craving them since, reordered but this time they were so dry, no juice like I had the first time with them- They had so many "managers" with ear pieces walking around scoping the place out, couldn't they see to stop smashing people together? The real fun was trying to get out once done, honestly it was a wall of people-If a fire were to break out on a busy night you are screwed! I would not want to go again on a busy night, it's not fun to have someone right next to you or having people knocking your bag off the chair and bumping into you- Also, the waiters need to chill on removing plates/drinks for the table-
(3)Zach M.
I made a reservation for 8 people at Mercadito upon a recommendation from a co-worker. We were looking for a fun atmosphere with plates to share and good after work drinks flowing. Mercadito made that expectation happen. The service, food and drinks were great and made the evening a win. The food was fantastic. It was nice to be able to choose "sharing" options that allowed for us to choose from several different types of salsas, guacamole, tacos and much more. There were options fort those looking for traditional eats to unusually delicious finds as well. Along with the food, the margaritas were also exceptional. The only problem was that there must have been a hole in the bottom of everyone's glasses... One con with the evening was how the noise level. It was often times difficult hear from across the table. However, this type of atmosphere somewhat calls for this noise level, so I will not bring down my overall review on that basis. Overall, I truly enjoyed Mercadito and would recommend it for a good night out with friends and great food and drinks to go around as well.
(4)Gilles D.
Nice restaurant. Good ambiance. Great margaritas. Service was efficient. The food was excellent. The only problem is that for large groups (we were 8) you have no choice but to order from the family style menu. It's kind of like Tapas. You get to choose 2 of something 3 of something else etc. it's a fix price depending on the combination you choose (4 levels from $30/person to $45/person -pricey!). For 8 people, you would therefore order for 8. The problem is this is way too much food!!! And it comes sequentially so for us, the best tacos came at the end and everyone was so stuff that we could barely touch it. For 8 regular people (not big eaters) we should have ordered order 6 people. I would give it 3 1/2
(4)P D.
This place is trendy and tasty. Great for groups, can be loud. drinks and food amazing. Vegetarian options. Staff was helpful and nice. Downstairs is more of a mixology bar / lounge feel. Make reservations first
(4)Amalita A.
Came here once when they first opened and I haven't came back since. I was pleasantly surprised as to why I haven't. On both occasions we've dined with a large group. They're very helpful and service was great they have it done to a T. Loved the atmosphere downstairs as well. There tacos and appetizers are so delicious. I also had a cucumber cocktail that was amazing. Will come back again with friends!
(5)Jasmine J.
The tacos at Mercadito are REALLY good. Actually, just about everything I've had here has been really good (I wasn't crazy about the Misty's Sleeve cocktail). The servers are friendly and attentive. I've been twice in the past six weeks and will definitely be returning. I first went on a Saturday night as part of a group of six. We made reservations through Open Table a few days ahead of time. The second time I went late on a Thursday with one other person. We didn't have a reservation and waited for 15 minutes or so at the pretty crowded bar before being seated The tacos come pretty quickly, but I like to start with chips and salsa anyway (try the tomatillo). The tacos are small, but if you start with chips and salsa/guac and get a side dish you should be full. Definitely share with someone so you can try a variety. Double A lounge is downstairs and they serve tacos as well, but it's a small space. Wednesdays & Thursdays they have "Double Hour" where $5 can get you 2 tacos or a margarita. I plan on checking this out next. Oh, and it IS loud here.
(4)Jami S.
I would have only given Mercadito 1 star, maybe not even, if it wasn't for the fact that we went on NYE with a large group. But even still they should have been 100% more organized then they were. We went with a group of 10 people for the 10:15 seating on NYE. It was a 5 course tasting menu and all you could drink for $100 a person. Honestly, that was the deciding factor in location for us b/c that is a good deal. But that is not what happened. They sat our group an hour late, even after almost all of us went up to the host stand to complain. They kept saying there was nothing they could do, they can't make their guests leave. That is terrible management in my opinion when you have fixed times to sit down you can just explain that to the customers. On top of that we had to pay for our drinks until we got seated which was terrible customer service. They wouldn't even extend our drink deal another hour to make up for the hour we missed. All in all terrible customer service and orginazation skills on the part of the restaurant. I know you are a very busy, popular restaurant but you need to get your act together. I know we weren't the only disappointed party there since the host stand was SWARMED with complaining customers. Definitely sad to say that I used to like Mercadito but after that poor display I would be hard pressed to return with a large group on a big night out.
(2)Bob P.
Had the baja tacos (battered mahi mahi). The fish was flavorful, the aioli and slaw paired great with it as well, some of the better fish tacos I've had. But they were very small; could eat each taco in 2 bites. Also got chips and chipotle salsa. Again, the salsa was tasty, but there wasn't nearly enough of it. Food was great, prices were pretty standard for River North. Slightly bigger portion sizes would go a long way
(3)Rajiv S.
I was here for Restaurant week. The guac was awesome, cocktails were refreshing! Ceviche was real good, the tacos blew us away.. camarón (shrimp), estilo baja (mahi-mahi) & vegetarian zucchini tacos were amazing! I didn't like the dessert too much, we got the tres leches flan.. Finally the tacos from deCeros might have some competition!
(5)Melanie H.
Definitely yummy and I see why people enjoy it! I went during restaurant week and the trio of guacs were okay. Not blown out of the water. I have really high standards when it comes to ceviche and I was just not impressed. Everything was a bit overpriced in my opinion, but still some great food. Tacos were wonderful and I hate flan, but theres was really good. On another note: I have been here for the night scene with a table downstairs and I loved it. Great service and great drinks!
(3)Jen D.
Yes, Mercadito can be a scene. Yes, sometimes you have to wait for reservations once it gets bumping. Yes, the guacamole portions are hilariously small. Yes, I love Mercadito anyway - because those faults for me are avoidable or small enough to be overlooked so I can enjoy some of their oh so magically delicious tacos. If you want to avoid a potential wait for your table and a scene, go early. And I don't mean senior citizen early. I mean 7:30pm. I went on 7:30 on a Wed night and the restaurant was relatively quiet, but sometime over the next hour it became bumping and loud. And if you think the guac is overpriced, then don't order it. I on the other hand will always, gladly order it! On my most recent trip... my group of 3 people ordered the 2 taste guac - we had the pomegranate and the sweet potato. The pom. is my favorite, the sweet potato is pretty good but it is definitely subtle - as in you don't notice there is sweet potato. But it's delicious and so I'll order it again and again. I will agree with everyone who says they don't give enough chips, but I think they'll bring you more if you ask. Over different visits I think I've tried 75% of the taco options and I've not been disappointed yet. This time we ordered the braised pork, mole chicken and shrimp. My favorite was surprisingly the chicken, but I loved all 3. We shared the cauliflower side, which was good - not amazing, but good. I love the cucumber margarita... (pepino on the drink menu). Refreshing and not too sweet. I wish I worked in the neighborhood so it was easier to come by!
(4)Sonya M.
Not really my cup of tea. Gave me horrible case of diarrhea too. (TMI, I know but it's true) Give me traditional Mexican any day but you can keep the "creative interpretations." I went for Valentine's and have to say I might have enjoyed the experience much more had the regular dinner menu been an available option. The Valentine's menu was a 5 course meal that consisted of an appetizer, main course and desert. We were allowed to pick up to 2 items for each course and while the food was interesting I can't say I was thrilled about it. I skipped the guacamole but my date said it wasn't anything special. The camaron ceviche (shrimp, pico de gallo,jicama,pineapple, lemon-guajillo broth with tortilla chips) wasn't bad but not anything I was crazy about. The Arroz y Frijoles were very good but the various tacos were hit or miss. Loved the pollo (chicken) tacos but the Carnitas De Puerco (pork) tacos were WAY too sweet. Can't say I was crazy about the Taco de Carne (steak) tacos either. I only had a bite of the botanas and skipped the flan altogether. The desert shot of tequila was a nice touch and needed after such a disappointing meal. Waitress (named Rachel) was a bit aloof but she did her job so I have no complaints. The atmosphere is fantastic and I loved the interior but as they say style over substance. Good delivery doesn't always equal good content.
(2)Stephanie L.
Ahhh, I was really torn on this review. Had a reservo for 815 on a Friday night. Walked in and the place is bumping. It was quite an interesting crowd. I felt there were a lot of ladies in this place (****HINT to all you single men....go to Mercadito on a Friday night**). And I still really dont understand why women have to be b*tches to other women....I am just trying to get a drink, please put your elbows down so I can get into the bar. Yes, I did just say excuse me...please dont be rude and pretend like you didnt hear me. So we started off with some beverages. We got a skinny girl marg, a couple of beers and tres viejos. The drink was fantastic. It was spicy and citrus-y. I really enjoyed it! Cheers to the bartender for suggesting it. We then were standing for about 15 mins before brought to our table (which was about 30 mins after reservations). Server was pretty good about explaining everything on the menu. We decided on two different guacs (traditional and toreado) and the roja for salsa. I started laughing when they brought it out. It was literally a tablespoon of each of them and like 12 chips. Mind you, we had 4 people at our table and we were hungry. The guac was $12.5 and salsa was $3. This was the most ridiculous portion I have ever seen for that price. INSANE! The toreado was really good guac. Everything else was just ok. We then ordered the carne, rajas, and estilo baja tacos. They come in sets of 4. They were all really good and very different. We also got a side of rice and beans. The rajas were really spicy, which I liked, but other people werent expecting it. For my bday celebration, they brought out a caramel flan or something like that. It was also very good. The service was so-so. The portion sizes are RIDICULOUSLY small. The food itself was pretty good. The atmosphere is definitely club/restaurant/loungey. Drinks pretty good and the actual crowd was pretty good, minus crabby ladies. Its definitely trendy Mexican. Dont come here expecting Chi-Chi's style :)
(3)Edwin W.
Simply the best tacos you will find in Chicago. This place will be your typical trendy restaurant in River North, that being, loud, dark, shiny, douchy etc.. Did I say LOUD? If you're not into the whole River North scene, I'd say skip this place, as no one should endure all the aforementioned conditions just for a taco. What we ordered: Guacamole - it was good, but not worth mentioning again. Salsa - Interesting twist to salsa, and definitely comes with a lot of heat. Tacos - Roasted Shrimp, Smoked Chicken, Short Ribs, and Mahi Mahi. All were phenomenal. The flavors were fresh and the seasoning along with the toppings that came with the tacos triggered foodgasm. I tried the martini before ordering our food and I don't know about you, but if I'm paying $14 for a martini, it better at least give me a hint of Asian fury on my face. Nope. Overall, good place for delicious tacos if you're hanging out in the area and would like some mind blasting flavors before hitting the bars nearby. I would definitely recommend this place for all of you suburbanites who are only fortunate enough to come down to the city once a month.
(4)Katie P.
First things first -- AMAZING, fresh mango margaritas! I came with a party of four and the waitstaff was nice enough to let us order off the tasting menu. Definitely ask to try this menu if you want to sample a bit of everything! The chips were a little cold/stale, but other that that - everything I tried was outstanding. My favorite dish was the cheese appetizer. Some of the best Mexican food I've had in Chicago for sure.
(5)Marc R.
This place is busy. Very busy. At least on the weekends. We had a large group and made it to our reservation a little late so they turfed us to the bar. The place was standing room only and a buzz of very loud music and people moving about. There were a lot of women here on girls night out dressed very well. We were a table of men and laughed about about the fact that the place was wall to wall women - from two suburban moms "doing the town" to Indiana tourists getting dressed up, to a family of tourists just taking in the madness. We ordered a mix of the tacos and some guacamole and a pile of margaritas. First let me talk about the tacos. These were good and very flavorful. They were very small on tiny little tortillas. Now, I have had these sorts of tiny tacos - in fact on my first trip to Mexico when a kid I was blown away by how little a tortilla can be. As I remember it the server in Piedras Negras said "they are not as big here in Mexico"...and he could have worked at Mercadito since these were not as big as those at taquerias or even Big Star in Wicker Park. Second, they were good. Yes, they were very good. We ordered chicken, pork, fish, and beef and were very happy with the way they all tasted and the way they were prepared. So, while these were expensive tacos they were very good tacos. We also had an order of guacamole and some quesidillas and these were both good even if the guacamole was small. Overall it was a great dinner in a fun dynamic place that was just a buzz with a trendy girlfull feel. There is a nightclub or a bar in the basement, but a friend (not me) checked it out and we decided to pass. I did see that they have a Taco Tuesday like many other places in town, so perhaps this is worth checking out. One big problem on the night we were there: The music was TOO LOUD. It was annoyingly loud on the night we were there. We could barely hear the server describe the menu items. If you want even a moderate sound level, this might not be the place for you. Feel the bass. No, really, feel the base because you might not be able to hear your friends.
(3)Patty M.
The energy in this place was amazing...I met my friend and her husband for dinner and dancing it was her birthday and she'd been ranting about this place for a couple weeks. The food and drinks delicious. The server and server assistant very nice! The music was so good I was excited to get downstairs to the lounge only to get stopped by a Terry Crews look alike asking were we on the list (A LIST)...sadly we were not and were sent our merry way. =/ On the fence about returning. Ps.... I'm a waitress I remove empty plates, glasses and silverware but to lift up someones glass and remove the table mat like the place was closing I was shocked and so were the other people they did it to.
(2)Stephanie Y.
Had a reservation on Saturday night, but still had to wait an hour and fifteen minutes to get seated! They comped us some drinks but we had to fight for it and they weren't real apologetic about the situation. Food is good though!
(3)Neha M.
I have no clue why this place doesn't have a better rating based on the experience I had here. I went with my boyfriend and two of our friends and we had a great time and had zero complaints. The ambiance and vibe of this place is really nice and the service was no different. The drink selection was also superb and all of us loved the drinks that we ordered. They have a bunch of different kinds of guacamole with literally something for everyone! I am vegetarian and really loved the food here as did my non-vegetarian company. Forget all the bad reviews and try it out once! Definitely will be going back :)
(5)Brett F.
¡Mucho gusto, Mercadito! If we're grading on a scale of best upscale, trendy, pseudo-pricey Mexican joints, this place is tops. And no, that's not at all heavy handed sarcasm. No really, scouts honor or whatever. Mercadito successfully scratches the itch for those evenings when you want to get at a bit of the social scene yet are still craving good 'ol carne tacos and glorious guacamole. Who says you can't mix Chanel and Ceviche? Not this girl. Expect stylish surrounds packed with the typical River North/Downtown types all downing fire breathing tequila cocktails and langosta taquiza platters by the fistful. Lots of bustling action and a slightly noisy atmosphere make this popular locale far better suited to groups or casual encounters over romantic rendezvous' and intimate dining. Having hosted a client outing at Mercadito as well as graciously being treated to a fabulous - and raucous - birthday dinner here, I can say with assurance, both resulted in a tremendous amount of entertaining fun. Now, with all this hustle and bustle can the food actually be any good? Indeed, it can and is. Was especially impressed by the intense, unabashed spiciness of their habanero salsa, the flavorsome carnitas, camarónes and pastor tacos (WAY delish!), and, of course, their salute to the authentic with a bona fide elotes appetizer which dependably validated there's really nothing better than sweet corn married to mayonnaise. So don't go discounting Mercadito solely based on its outwardly chic clique façade, you hear? It may look all Paris and Lindsay on the outside, but it's Paloma and Luis getting down in the kitchen.
(4)Lisa Z.
Mercadito is a great spot. I like it. But, it's kind of the same concept as De Cero, and I might like that better. A few thoughts -- - orders of guac are not very big. Maybe this is good, as I don't need to fill up on that crap. - Tortas not as good as Bayless (but can we hold it against them? not sure.) - booth seating in front not ideal (I had to bend over to reach the table!) Still over all this is good. Plus, it's in a fun location and it's a fun crowd. If you are doing a girls night or fun night out with friends, this is a great spot for it because you can try lots of food and they even serve drinks that they light on fire. Who doesn't like flaming drinks!?
(4)Phil O.
I've been here 3 times, and each time the tacos, guacamole, and margaritas have been impressive. I've experimented with the carnitas, lobster, carne, and shrimp tacos. My favorite are the carne and one of the lobster varieties. My favorite guacamole is the regular.
(5)Michael W.
Mercadito was a wonderful experience. We were seated promptly (had a 6:30 reservation on a Friday). We ordered some guacamole (delicious) and two varieties of salsa. The salsa was fantastic - it was more like a sauce but had SO much flavor. Then for dinner we ordered the Carne Tacos and a mixed skewer platter. Both were outstanding. The service was also quite good. Our only complaint (if you call it that) was the volume level in the restaurant was very loud. The entire restaurant is along the bar scene and it was loud enough that it was difficult to have a conversation at our table. On the flip side, we come to Chicago for this kind of scene so why complain? I guess on the positive side the volume was proof that this place was popular - guess I prefer that to an empty restaurant!
(4)Ryan L.
If Mercadito was muy bueno enough for Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari, it's good enough for this guy (I stil have hope for those two). This place is like a soon-to-be Bravo reality series. Serious scenesters with their pressed shirts and hair product are prevalent here. Weird Kristin-stalking aside, the food here is delicious and has never disappointed on my excursions to Mercadito. The tacos are on the smallish side, but that's easily overlooked. They were the best part of the meal. The big winner in the taco derby were the camarones tacos, spicy and bursting with flavor. The al pastor were right behind, complete with the classic pineapple topping. The traditional guacamole, a simple dish, was very tasty. Drinks are ok. The Shady Gato was fine, but nothing noteworthy. Try the Missionary (re)Position. The music is interesting. The mix goes from electronic, cheesy hip-hop, and top 40. Then out of nowhere they throw in a Bag Raiders remix. I was quite pleased with that. This joint is good for large groups and is quite shot-friendly.
(4)AJ S.
I absolutely LOVED the world's most expensive TACO Palace. I summoned the inner fatman within me and tried almost every taco they had! We ordered Steak Tacos, Pork Tacos, Mahi Mahi Tacos, Short Rib Tacos. The Steak and Pork Tacos were my favorite. They also have several different kinds of gaucamole. All Very Good. After Everything, I walked out of a Mexican restaurant spending almost $80 just on myself. Perhaps the more impressive thing was that I was happy doing it because the food was that good. Try it out!
(5)Alexandra G.
Yum! Loved everything we ordered from the triple guac sampler to the 5 different types of tacos, and of course the margs! Didn't give 5 stars, primarily because of the super cramped seating and the very high noise level. It was extremely hard to hear people in our party, even when seated so closely. It was PACKED on a Saturday night, bar area nearly impossible to get a drink, but the food was excellent and if you like to "see and be seen" you'll enjoy this spot for great people watching, if nothing else.
(4)Jocelyn S.
Appetizerz were weak in flavor, and could use more presentation when served. drinks were all well made. layout is tight.
(3)Sarah M.
Mercadito is sooo yummy! The little tacos they give you are really good. So much flavor is packed into each bite! And the tequila cocktails they serve, are very well done. Not too sweet or strong. The traditional margarita is great, and I also enjoy the spicy cocktails. I would love to be able to give this spot 5 stars, but the prices are too high. I can't get over the idea that Mexican food is supposed to be cheap. Maybe I spend too much time in late-night or carry-out Mexican taco joints, but paying more than $15 for 4 mini tacos is rough. Maybe if they let you mix and match, or create a sampler platter for $30, I would feel better. Also, the amount of guacamole for the price is pretty silly. That said, the food and cocktails are excellent! I'll keep coming back - as long as I have $100 to burn for Mexican food.
(4)Palak Q.
I would have given it five starts, but just because of their customer service, I have taken a star away. Excellent food! The best are the mahimahi and the mushroom tacos. Try the former on lettuce leaves and you won't be disappointed. I took my best friend there on a Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. when there were just a couple more people waiting to be seated. Before we were even seated, the hostess informed us that we will have to leave before 6:30 because they're pretty busy for the evening. Wow! I have NEVER had anybody say that to a paying customer. Overall, a good experience. I have been there almost three times. This incident happened the third time I was there and never went back. I will perhaps go to another location in Chicago.
(4)Raph V.
nice place, but $10.50 for Chips and Guac c'mon! I would only recommend the Fish Taco's.
(3)Rick T.
A good modern Mexican option, if you don't mind the driving club music. I highly recommend the flight of guacamoles to start your meal. Ample portions and several helpful recommendations from our server rounded out a good evening.
(4)Joel N.
Took us in exactly at our reservation time. Very trendy and EXTREMELY noisy. Food was good with some great vegetarian options. Food comes out as made but very awkward when 3/4 people have their meal and one has to wait. Staff very anxious to remove plates even when not finished.
(4)Kyle M.
This place has slowly gone down hill. The food is average and the service is poor. I would recommend double a downstairs.
(2)Eileen Z.
Oh, caramel flan. You are married to my sweet tooth. As for tacos, the carnitas de puerco is probably my favorite. Out of their ceviches I'd say the dorado ceviche (mahi mahi) is the tastiest and most balanced in taste. Their cocktail menu though, superb.
(4)Khadijah L.
This is a review for a trendy River North mexican restaurant. For homestyle/traditional mexican, please check out my other reviews. I concur with most reviewers here that the food and cocktails are excellent. A lot of attention to detail. The portions are smaller, and a little pricier (but typical of River North), but I think Mercadito provides more than just trendy ambience, it actually delivers really good food to the table, which is what counts. First of all they have a wide variety of everything you want, and they are all excellent. They have like 6 different kinds of salsa, guacamole, different tacos. Each has unique flavors, very detailed. I love their chipotle on anything. They were very accommodating, giving recommendations, giving us extra chopped habanerofor the picante addicts at our table. The guacamole trio was great (the mango guac was the best), the salsa was spicy as hell, the tacos were awesome (try the mahi mahi or camarones), plantains came with jalapeno-ginger sauce. All delicious. Their cocktails are so creative and had flavored spice salt on the rims like cilantro salt on their watermelon cocktail. Amazing. I'm not usually a fan of trendified foods, but they are made so well here, I'm impressed and will return definitely. Word of caution, this place gets PACKED and is LOUD as hell. We did not mind. Fun Friday evening spot. We loved it. Just keep that in mind.
(4)Nina K.
I really wanted to like this place after all the hype it got. I came here on a Saturday night for drinks ONLY. I was greeted with a stale, stink-eye face. The hosts here are SO rude and they were giving me such a hard time because I didn't have a reservation. I was there with my boyfriend and we just happened to be in the area and just wanted a few drinks before meeting up with friends at a club. Eventually they seated us, we ordered one drink each, and ten minutes later the manager comes to our table and said "we have a party waiting after you so here is the bill." He was so rude and obnoxious about it. I definitely will not be coming here ever again after that incident. Who kicks their customers out? That's white people for ya.
(1)Bethany M.
This place is excellent. Every time I am there the food is always high quality and intriguing ingredient pairings. I suggest the guacamole dip with bacon and the shrimp tacos. The margaritas are also excellent and they are deceptively strong.
(5)Fredrick B.
OK I said I would be back, and I dined there over the holiday weekend since my daughter was in town, loves Mexican food, and had never dined here before. Better than my luncheon experience revealed! This is a tapas style Mexican restaurant. We ordered the chicken and steak tacos--four small tacos per platter, the trio of guacamole--traditional, mango and pineapple, the ceviche camaron (shrimp), the queso fundido, and a myriad of other appetizers. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD! The drinks were a bit over-priced, but adventurous and in many respects unusually refreshing. I stand by my rating--outstanding! One drawback: Don't sit next to the windows in the winter--it was cold!
(5)Sarah S.
I have been here 5+ times now. For both lunch and dinner. Although the food is good and the entres have unique flavors I cannot get over how SALTY everything here is. From the guac to the tacos, everything has 10 lbs of salt dumped in it. I first thought it was just a fluke, you know sometimes you have a bad meal due to the chef, etc, but now everytime I eat here of recently the food is over the top salty. It still gets 3 stars b/c the mixed drinks are so good, the service is good, the ambiance is good and honestly I think the tacos are to die for delicious if they weren't so salty. The last thing I want to do is leave a restaurant bloated, not from being stuffed, but from the salt.
(3)Suzanne B.
Can't believe I did not know of this place in NYC! Hands down the BEST carne/steak tacos I have ever had, absolutely delectable! Rosemary marinated skirt steak with tiny potatoes and avocado salsa, mm mm mm. Tacos come in 4s, so an order per person was perfect, with an order of guacamole and ceviche to share as starters, it was the perfect amount of food (both apps were delicious, especially those chips!) Margaritas were great. The atmosphere is lively and fun, can't wait to return.
(5)Jackie F.
Best meal we have ever had!
(5)Charla W.
So I had reviewed this restaurant for the first time back in 2010 and said I would be going back here. Well, bad idea as the second time around was terrible. I definitely will never go back here again. My most recent experience at this restaurant was not so great. My husband and I went here to celebrate a special occasion...bad idea. This is definitely not a restaurant for couples. It is loud, crowded, and not intimate at all. When we got to the restaurant we didn't have to wait too long for a table as we had a reservation. We were a bit late for our reservation, but they were still able to seat us. We were sat at a tiny two top table and told what time we would have to be done with our dinner by so they could seat another party. Is this a new trend now where restaurants tell you what time you have to get up from your table?? I worked at a restaurant for years and have never heard this before. Well after being seated, the service was poor. I think our server came to our table maybe two times the whole night. It probably took him about 10 minutes to even greet us initially. It was even harder to tolerate as I watched him go to his other tables constantly throughout the night. Our food was good, but extremely overpriced. I am talking about $15 tiny tacos and like $10 guacamole! The drinks are good, and if I ever came back it would just be for drinks. The drinks also were pricey. The restaurant is extremely, and I mean extremely loud. My husband and I could barely have a conversation throughout dinner. If you plan on talking to the person you are having dinner with, do not go here. So sadly, Mercadito did not live up to my previous experience and expectations. I will not be back.
(2)Laura K.
Well someone else planned a group dinner to Mercadito, so I went back and I am SO glad I did! What a difference this experience was than last time - a whole star better! :) We went with a group of 8 this time so we got to try all kinds of different dishes which was fun. The tacos that we tried were amazing and the margaritas were going down way too easily. They have group menus which is cool and super easy to split at the end which was nice. All in all, I was thrilled with my experience here. We went earlier in the evening because it was pre-event which was great because it wasn't too loud yet which allowed for some great conversation that everyone was able to hear and participate in. I now can say I will definitely be back here - and it will be my choice!
(4)Meg S.
Love love LOVE the drinks here, and you can and should order any of them spicy. If you're looking for trouble order the floater as well and say goodnight. The guacamole are all really good but the spicy one toreados is the best. I've tried several times to replicate it and have gotten close, but just not the same. Variety of really tasty and interesting tacos too!
(4)Rachel W.
Mercadito has been on my list to try, so went w/my girlfriends for a birthday dinner on friday. It is loud and clubby/lounge feeling, w/tons of energy. I'm pretty sure half of the diners were headed to underground after tacos, so that always makes for some entertaining people watching. I'm not typically a fan of margaritas because they're too sweet, but these ones weren't as brutal as most, and were actually pretty tasty. I love Guacamole so the fact that they have guac flights was a real seller for me. We just shared a bunch of tacos, and I thought all were delicious. It's definitely a place for groups, so that you can order as many kinds of tacos as you please.
(4)Jessica V.
I came to Mercadito last week for a co-worker's faux baby shower. We came with a group of nine girls during our lunch break. I had heard great things and as Mexican is my favorite cuisine, I was VERY excited to try the food. We started with two appetizers of the guacamole trio, which I thought tasted great. After that, our entire experience was on the decline. We all ordered tortas for the most part. My friend's carnitas torta was brought out by itself. Another 5-10 minutes elapsed, and nobody else had yet been served their meals. After that, food slowly trickled out of the kitchen over a span of 20 minutes or more, until the only two people that had yet to be served were me and my friend next to me. At this point, we told the other girls to go ahead and start eating, and I walked up and made mention to the manager that our food had not yet come. After this, I would say 10 more minutes passed before we even got our food, at which point almost everyone else was done with theirs. After only a few bites, it was time to go. Welp, so much for that torta I was so pumped about. I would say over 30 minutes elapsed before the first and last person was served. Totally unacceptable. But the thing that I find most upsetting that I feel like it warrants a negative Yelp review is that I had the overwhelming feeling that we were just being overlooked. Our server, noticing that we still had not gotten our meals, pointedly ignored our table and avoided us altogether. When he finally came back, it took about 100 hours for him to bring us change. I mean, get it together guys!! I would love to say that I'd go back at another time to try to garner a better experience, especially because I know Mercadito is known for its night life, but I really just don't think that I would. As someone in the service industry, my experience was far too upsetting for me. Where I work, if someone had an experience like like that, we would have handled it very differently, and my boss WOULD NOT be happy about it.
(2)Maggie R.
Highly recommend this place! It's a fantastic spot for a date or low key dinner with friends! Great upbeat atmosphere, delish tacos, and the best part: downstairs - double a - mixology bar open on Fridays and Saturdays :) don't wait - go check it out!!!
(5)Manas P.
A bit on the pricey side, but very well worth it. They have an extensive selection of the finest of tequilas and signature margaritas. If you find yourself here for dinner, you must try the tacos - they are simply amazing. While the tacos are not served in high volume, just remember that your are paying for quality, not quantity. We were fortunate enough to visit Mercadito in January since chicken tikka tacos were on the menu for the month as part of the "Tacos for Strength" campaign, which you can read more about at bit.ly/1205r4S . As someone who grew up eating Indian food, Chef Andrew Zimmerman did a fantastic job capturing the essence of the Indian dining experience and successfully fusing it with fine Mexican cuisine. With the great food, unique margaritas and extremely friendly staff, I definitely plan on making a return visit.
(4)Yolanda S.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! Amazing food and Amazing tacos! I've tried a few of the margaritas the Best one is the Misty Sleeve so good! The shrimp and carnita tacos are Great they truly are the tacos that have changed my life! The salsas and ceviches are great too and the Granada guacamole is good. I've been there on a Sunday twice it was low key, we got a table right away. Then we went on a Saturday it was packed great atmosphere we had to wait about an hour for a table. It wasn't that bad we just went to the bar and had some Amazing Drinks! The service has been Great as well. This last time we had Kike he was helpful and attentive, if he wasn't available our bus boys were on top of it. Our water never got low Awesome Service!! You've gotta try it!
(5)Renee R.
Absolutely delicious! I had some of the best taco's at Mercadito that I have ever had in my life, and to top it off, my waiter was amazing. I wish I could remember his name because I would like to credit his wonderful suggestions and fabulous service for the great experience I had at this restaurant! Also, amazing cocktails and so very unique.
(5)Bobby B.
Great food, great drinks great atmosphere. Drinks are a little pricey but they are very strong which I prefer so you get what you pay for. We usually try to go with a good size group so we can order a wide assortment of tacos.
(4)Stephanie H.
I just went here for the first time with my co-workers. We ordered the chips and guac, which was a tad spicy but tasty. I ordered the camaron (shrimp) tacos. The entree came with 3 tacos, which were the traditional small tacos. They were spicy and yummy, but lacked pizazz. What I mean by that was that it was literally shrimp with a spicy sauce poured on top with a sliver of avocado. I was expecting more for $10.50. The serving size was perfect for me, but I don't think a guy would feel full afterwards. The service was good, and our glasses were always filled with water, but I'm not dying to go back any time soon.
(3)Jay X.
Went here with a friend who seemed to like it last time. However, it took forever to get a waiter. We had to ask two different times to get someone. We ordered the tacos and carnitas hash. He made note how uncomfortably oily his tacos were and my dish was covered in grease. Kind of gross. Thankfully there was bread there to soak up the grease in my stomach :P.
(2)David B.
I have been to Mercadito a few times and I have found it to be okay for food. If I were to eat the same food at an elementary school cafeteria in Boise, Idaho, I would love to come to school for Mercadito taco day. Unfortunately, that is not the case. You sit in a super loud, dark restaurant where the service is terrible and the policies are even worse! Do you know that if you want to sit in the dining area at Mercadito, the policy is that you have to order a FULL MEAL?!? I tried to make reservations so I can take a girl on a date to have drink and apts. I figure, I can be classy and make reservations. I call to make the reservations for 8:30, first question the "manager" asks me, " are you eating dinner", I then say, "no im having drinks and apts". He then proceeds to tell me that its restaurant policy to order a full meal in the dining hall because of blah blah blah and then I hang up. Margaritas are good and the valet guys are pricks. FIN
(1)Amy K.
Went with my cousin for late dinner, was one of a few Mexican places that were still open, and I was not expecting it to be a lounge after hours, but whoops! Regardless, the food was fantastic and I'd been meaning to come here for a meal, but very pleasantly surprised! We were seated in the front portion of the restaurant considering it did become a swanky hot spot for partiers further back by the bar, and it was relatively loud, but expected because again it turned into a lounge by this time (11pm). The server discussed that they bring out the plates as they are made and it is small plates for people to share, which we did. We had ordered several small plates, flautas, tacos and an entree to share. I will only eat their guacamole!! I don't know what they put in it, but I'm not a fan of it anywhere else and had I known this before ordering, I would have been content just eating that with chips. Just enough heat with not the usual mushy texture, I wish I could eat it every day!! The tacos were yummy and the flautas were okay, but the shrimp enchiladas with the variety of sauces was just like something I've never had before and it left quite an impression on me! I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but I will gladly return and highly recommend Mercadito's! The one star left off is just because of the clubby atmosphere it turned into so late which is probably my fault for not researching it, but I thought it was a restaurant, sheesh! Next time, I'll be the loud one rolling in heading to the back jamming out to retro tunes! :)
(4)K T.
Good food, good drinks. A bit overpriced for what it is perhaps, but on par with the style of restaurant - you pay for the vibe.
(4)Sao-Mai N.
A fun twist on Mexican food, Mercadito serves up a platter of small bites that fills you up. Forget the large platter occupied with three enchiladas with a side of refried beans and rice. Imagine beautifully plated tacos that contain more filling than the shell because let's get real the filler is the more important part. Along with guacamole and ceviche, I left satisfied with flavors from all spectrums. Also, don't forget to wash down your meal with well mixed margaritas! Just a note: the atmosphere is lounge loud and the tables are set close together so expect some yelling and unintentional eavesdropping on your neighbors.
(4)Cali G.
The food here is outstanding. Visited Mercadito several times and their shrimp, tilapia, and lobster tacos are crazy good. Top if off with a margarita and you are so set. Fun atmosphere and good vibe. It's a very alive and loud place. The decor is really cool and colorful. Must try it at least once.
(5)Coleen K.
I've been to Mercadito many times over the past 5 years and it still stands as a solid choice for delicious drinks, albeit prettty expensive, and fun Mexican food. I love sitting on their outdoor patio in the summers. This place usually has a nice crowd on weekends, which makes it a nice spot for pre-going out drinks/apps. Location in River North can't be beat. My go-to item is always a variation of their fish tacos. Always fresh and nicely seasoned. I've had a lot of different drinks and they're always awesome-- very fruity and refreshing, which is fun with mexican food. Do yourself a favor and make sure to get a CHILI RIM on any drink-- perfect kick to any of their cocktails!
(4)Parisa S.
I hosted a bachelorette dinner here and can't say enough good things. First, the food is actually very good. And I'm from California, so I should know. Extra stars for the guac and tacos, particularly the steak and pastor varieties. Great drinks menu with lots of festive margarita options. Second, the ambiance here is just so fun. Perfect for a party or celebratory occasion. Just be forewarned that you will need to scream to hear your neighbors. Small price to pay. But what really gives this place 5 stars is the service. From the moment I contacted the restaurant until the check came, the service was nothing short of fantastic. For a party of our size, I was given a few pre-set menu options with tons of flexibility on foods I wanted served. It was so easy and a huge hit with the guests. Susan, my contact there, was so responsive and even offered her suggestions on menu choices. Though my reservation was booked for 12, the restaurant never made a fuss over the fact that we were a) 15 minutes late and b) showed up with 10 people. We were seated, never charged for the 2 no-shows, despite me having to secure the reservation with a credit card, and our waitress was fab. Food came out quick but not too quick and we were never rushed out of there, despite it being a busy Saturday night. Overall, I couldn't have been happier. Thanks, Mercadito! I'll be sure to return.
(5)Caroline A.
Confession: I've never really been a fan of Mexican food. Between 3am burritos and a super fun dinner at Mercadito, I think I've become a convert! Mercadito is a loud and crowded hybrid of a restaurant and bar. Filled with pretty people of all ages, it definitely has a meat market feel. Here you will see boys with pressed shirts and designer jeans. Nice man candy to look at while stuffing myself with chips and guacamole. A group of 10 girls got together here to celebrate my Mija's birthday, and we thoroughly enjoyed the crowd, cocktails and menu. My favorites were the empanadas, shredded pork tacos and melted cheese dish! It would be a good idea not to wear anything very restricting around the waist as it's easy to keep eating even though you're full. Cocktails were strong and went down a little too fast! We did not make it downstairs to the lounge, but I hear it's quite the scene. For another night. We will be back!
(4)Kate C.
Great food and drinks! I definitely recommend the ceviche and cucumber margaritas. The tacos were also great.
(5)Amy S.
This place is always a good time! The music is loud, so it is hard to talk to people in the group except for the people sitting directly next to you. But it is a perfect spot for dinner before going out and partying. Their beer-battered mahi mahi tacos are my favorite! The drinks are nice and strong. I have been here for brunch a few times, and they usually have a live instrumentals, along with a DJ, and the option for bottle service, which is pretty amazing. This place has the same owner as Tavernita, but Mercadito is significantly better!
(4)Angie M.
Yelpers be talkin' some smack about Mercadito. "It's too loud!" "The tables are too close together!" "It's too crowded!" I answer with this: Yes, it's too loud. Yes, it's too crowded. Yes, the tables are probably too close together. But isn't that why you're heading out to Mercadito? To take advantage of a loud, crazy, bustling, hip and trendy restaurant with pretty decent food and amazing people watching? Duh. A quiet romantic spot, Mercadito is not. Get over it. My posse of 10 well-heeled ladies chose Mercadito as the location to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of our nearest and dearest friends. Our b-day gal definitely enjoys a 'scene' and relishes the opportunity to get decked out in full hair, makeup and wardrobe. Mercadito seemed like the perfect place to take her. It was. I walked in to Mercadito at 8:30 on a Friday night to an absolutely BUMPING restaurant. Bumping meaning packed to the gills, loud as hell, cheesy hip-hop music blasting kind of bumping. Whoa. It was kind of a sensory overload. The crowd was everything from Eurotrash to scenesters to cougars to well-heeled urbanites to new money flashers to desperate wannabes and everything in between. You like people watching? Get to Mercadito. Like, now. With a party of 7 or more, you are required to participate in the pre-ordered sharing menu. My gals picked the Canastota choice, which, at $40/guest secures your pick of 3 types of guac, 2 salsas, 4 types of tacos, 2 sides, 2 bontanas and a dessert tasting. Yes, it's a lot of food. Especially for girls. The winners, at least for me on the front end were the smoky roasted tomato roja salsa and the spicy kick of the toreado guac filled with hot Serrano chiles. I couldn't keep my hands off the elote (Mexican corn on the cob) with its rich mayo topping and generous splash of grated Mexican cheese. I was gaga for the simple ensalada comprised of mixed greens, corn, jicama, queso fresco and chipotle-balsamic vinaigrette. But the best part of the meal was definitely the tacos. I was down with the pollo and pescado tacos, which are my usual go-tos in the taco arena, but I surprised myself by devouring the succulent carne asada taco and the best one of the night, the carnitas de puerco. Whoever thought to put peanuts in a pork taco is a genius. The only mis-step of the evening was the service. Our food came out lightening fast. Like, waaaaay too fast. Our appetizers had barely been set down on the table when the food runners tried to deliver the tacos. I had to have a chat with the waitress to tell her to slow things down a bit. We wanted to enjoy our food and not be rushed through the meal. Her response was that once the kitchen gets started, they just pump out the food. I have to question this method. Main courses should not be delivered 3 minutes after the appetizers. That ain't right. Once we sorted things out with the food delivery, things got back to normal and my gals and I had a blast chair dancing to the music, scanning the crowd (note to the woman with the bad extensions and skin-tight minidress: No.), flirting with cute guys and sipping our cocktails. Mercadito is definitely a FUN spot. Rumor has it the downstairs portion of the restaurant is pretty hoppin' on the weekends...
(4)T B.
Great dinner last night. Was our anniversary and the staff took care of us to make sure we had a great night. Food was outstanding. Not sure about all the negative reviews about the noise as we thought it was fine. Will return
(5)Lisette C.
In LA, you know that the less you pay for Mexican food, the better it is. This rule of thumb doesn't seem to translate in Chicago, at least not at this restaurant. This place is sceney, loud and serves "Bougie" Mexican food. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know how I feel about bougie Mexican food, if you haven't, I don't like it. I won't bore you with the details, but our group of 7 was forced into a tasting menu. These menus start at $30 and go up to $50 (?). Our assertive server decided that we needed to go with the $40 menu, without really consulting with us. But this was a business dinner, so noone seemed too upset, but it was still strange. We were served a myriad of savory bites that included ceviche, a guacamole flight, roasted pork tacos, chicken tacos, etc. We all had margaritas, but most of us only had 1 because the one that waiter selected for us was not to our liking (he inisisted it was a best seller). 2 or 3 of us ventured for a second classic margarita and that seemed to be a hit. We opted to skip dessert because we filled up on chips and guac, so I can't comment on that. But what I can comment on is that fact that we spent about $80 each at dinner....yes.....for Mexican food! WAY TOO MUCH for what we ate. At Mercadito, you get what you pay for....which sort of seems like bottle service at a club that happens to serve overpriced Mexican food. Bottom line: Come here with a healthy credit limit and with a date you don't really want to listen to.
(3)Ben T.
I usually don't like margaritas but Mercadito makes them the way they're supposed to be - on the rocks and not too sweet. Grab a margarita with some mezcal and the shrimp tacos. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Sara K.
Mercaditos is near my office and the food and drinks are always fantastic. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is there have been a couple of times when the food took awhile -- not good when you're stopping in for lunch. But that aside, it's a great place -- with some awesome guacamole!
(4)Abby M.
I have to agree that everything we ordered was good - but definitely overpriced for the portions. I didn't think the drinks were very strong for the $13 price-tag. Get the mango guac, mahi mahi ceviche and carne tacos - skip the pescado. We had a concert to go to, so we went early on Sunday (6:30) and there were people in there, but we didn't get to experience the vibe and scene that others rave about. We did get to see a proposal, which was cute. I can't say I'll be back.
(3)Laura H.
Really liked the atmosphere here....very trendy and upbeat. Food was excellent. Small portions and slightly pricey, but to be expected for the location. Bonus: Double A is below the restaurant so if you want to continue late night, you have the option to go downstairs and keep the tequila flowing.
(4)Matt M.
This place has a great vibe. While there are a lot of people around and cozy atmosphere where you can speak to the table next to you, the food is amazing. This is a see and be seen type of restaurant with a relaxed but high fashion type of decor. The salsas & guac are a must and the enchiladas and mole plantains are great. While it is a bit loud, the friendly staff and waiters helped us navigate the menu and give us suggestions that made the meal excellent. Worth the trip and a kitchen open till midnight during the week.
(5)Francis C.
After watching Modern Family (back-to-back) the other day, with a full hour of Sofia Vergara, I had a desperate craving for a nice taco. I wound up at Mercadito, mainly because I heard they had the hottest tacos in town. When I arrived I was amazed..... It was a taco fiesta... It seemed every table had a nice taco, and I'm not even going to mention all the action at the bar. Mercadito.... You filled me in Soo many ways... I had the Guacamole to start, then a Tequila, Don Julio, thank you whoever you are. I followed with more tequila and Pancita tacos, on a recommendation of my waitress. Next came Langosta Ceviches, Pollo tacos, Enchiladas, Arros Verde, and Habanero Salsa. Not to forget my friend Don Julio, who had decided to join me at the table. Everything was Soo delicious. I may have begun to slur my speech towards the end of the meal, but Senior Julio didn't really notice. The food really impressed me and I was Soo excited I apparently offended the table of tacos next to me. The women at the table next to us were REALLY hot but not very friendly, in fact they insulted Don Julio and myself by saying we had a staring problem and it made them feel awkward. After a brief consultation with "The Don" we explained if the woman would just put her nipple away, we could focus on more important things........ When we got home I put "Donny" to bed, and threw Sofia's face on top of that ladys body..... Thank you Mercadito....
(5)A. M.
LOVE this place! I had the carne asada tacos and a mango margarita--both were great. The atmosphere was my absolute favorite! I want the number for their interior decorator so they can come decorate my house :)! Not a place I would recommend for a quiet date night, but rather if you're going out with friends for a night out this is the place to go for dinner. The music is a little too loud for me and the seats much too close together, but all around, great experience!
(4)Cody W.
Margaritas (even house) that are delicious. Service is always outstanding. Don't get much other than tacos and quacamole or other appetizers. Steak tacos are amazing. It is pricey even from a date perspective but I've never once regretted it.
(5)Jonathan E.
My girlfriend and I made a wise choice to visit this little gem during restaurant week. We absolutely loved all four of the tacos we tried, but our favorites were definitely the Mahi Mahi and the shrimp tacos. We also absolutely loved the Brussels sprouts. We would of never of ordered the sprouts, but the waitress suggested them and we are glad we listened! The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was great and not too bad being restaurant week. This is definitely a 5 star review for the service and the food we ate. Some things we didn't think we're anything to write home about were the three flavors of guacamole they offered as well as the ceviche and flan were nothing special. The cocktails were tried were also meh. I'd stick to a tasty beer to accompany my tacos on my next visit there.
(5)Joe L.
great demonstration class! great food!
(5)Mel L.
Mercadito is great for groups because it's small plates. I came here with some friends, and my only complaint is that the tables are super low, which is not ideal for those who wear short skirts/dresses and wish not to flash the entire restaurant...but anyway... We got the chips and guac duo - mango guac was delicious and normal guac was, well, normal, prob wouldn't order that again since there's other good looking options. We also got the queso fundito with chorizo which came with tortillas. It should have come with a few more tortillas, but our waitress had no problem grabbing us more when we ran out. We split 2 taco plates, each of which came with 4 tacos and both were really good. Margaritas were tasty!
(4)Roman L.
The food and drinks here are well made here. We went on a Monday around 6:00 and it got busy fast. You'll most likely run into a wait once in awhile at a good restaurant in River North, it's going to happen so hard to see people giving any establishment 1-2 stars less because of that. There are some unique flavors and amazing twists on some classic Mexican eats. I've tried the traditional guac and chipotle and roja salsas with the house made chips and all superb. The guac isn't too thick and onions don't overpower. The chipotle has a little heat with a some sweetness to it while the roja isn't completely overpowered by the tomato and is complimented by the other ingredients. The albondigas (meatballs) were made to perfection and again complimented well. I've also had the carne and camaron tacos with the carne being just a touch dry on the meat and camaron tacos having a great sauce. The brochetas dish is good for sharing, but definitely tasty to the point that I could see wanting to keep it all to yourself. I've tried the mojitos, margarita, V-9, and smokey Pablo. I would order all again. Our server, Jesus, was exactly what you'd want in a waiter at a higher priced establishment and although busy he checked in on us several times without being annoying and accommodated any requests we made. Knowledgeable and great customer service. As others have noted it is a little higher priced. Compared to other tapa style places there is definitely a premium but pretty in line with other River North places. The seating in spots is extremely close to next table, like if you got up for any reason your butt may possibly be in the food of the next table. The only other item is that we've been here 4 times and the hostesses are a little inconsistent. Overall all good, but on our most recent visit the hostess didn't say much and although she was prepared to seat us, due to her lack of communication she ended up walking to our table all by herself and then came back and said oh I thought you were following me. Got a chuckle out of me but the wife was a little perplexed on the events as they unfolded.
(4)Helen L.
They got some awesome tacos. You can mix and match and try different meat. My favorite is probably the steak.
(4)Kelly W.
I 've eaten here before and loved it. But this review is for the hostess staff, specifically Emily. My best friend was having her bachelorette dinner here last Saturday and I couldn't make it because I was in Boston training for a new job. I had completely forgotten to check with the MOH about what the plans were so that I could contribute in some way so when I remembered that the party was that night, I had to scramble in the two short hours before I had to go to work to get a couple bottles of champagne secured for the dinner. I called and Emily was wonderful. Very helpful, super accommodating, especially when I couldn't get them some of the paperwork they needed the preferred way, she still accepted everything and got the bottles of champagne secured for the dinner. The bride to be had a fantastic time, the champagne showed up right at the beginning of the meal for them, and everything worked out. I'd like to thank Emily and the rest of the staff for taking care of this for me and my friend, it was really important!!
(5)Corey H.
Oye! I was here only for booze, and booze I got! I love Midwest pours... me thinks two ounces in Chicago is way different than in San Diego.
(4)Sitar M.
Delicious! The menu for parties of 7+ is limited.
(4)Kyle M.
I have been here three times now and it is awesome every time. First off, the atmosphere is modern and cool. Feels like you are in Vegas. The people are pretty, and the food is outstanding. We started with margaritas which were perfect in every way and the guacamole is a must order!!! I ordered the tampiquena which ended up coming out first with only 20 minutes to cook. After the first bite of the steak, potatoes, and brussel sprouts I realized that was eating that entire steak, it didn't matter how full I was already. The price is reasonable and it is a great place to take guests from out of town. My parents loved it as well as friends I had in from DC and NYC. You can't go wrong here.
(4)Jennifer C.
This restaurant is such an anomaly to me. Sometimes you go and get great service and great food, other times your server is completely MIA and the food is mediocre. Anyways my husband and I went in on Wednesday around 11 pm. It seemed like one waiter was serving the whole restaurant, and while this isn't inherently bad it doesn't make for the best customer service . To drink I had the pineapple margarita which was amazing. I will probably come back just to have this. My hubby had the strawberry margarita which was also very good. To eat we had the chipotle salsa and chips. This was pretty decent as well. We also had the carne tacos which were just ok. Lastly we had the tres leches which was very disappointing. The cake was not at all milky and it tasted like something that was purchased at a chain grocery store. Overall, I will be back for a margarita and maybe some chips and guacamole, but no food other than that.
(2)Alicia V.
This is a very loud, very cramped, small restaurant. The food portions are small with large prices! The drinks are good and strong. It's not your typical Mexican fare with rice and beans. The brunch is very disappointing. The service is very slow. The staff tries to rush you out. Never again! If you want real Mexican food with big portions and small prices, try Nuevo León!
(2)Laura F.
Mercadito is an AMAZING, hip, lively restaurant with deliciously unforgettable food. Even more impressive is the restaurant's attention to detail when it comes to accommodating large groups. I have now hosted 2 large parties at Mercadito, and the staff have blown me away with their service. The prix fixe menu is perfectly priced and you get SO MUCH FOOD! The best part of all is that you get to enjoy your company without having to worry about what to order, how to split the bill, or any of the mumbo jumbo that often accompanies large group dining. The event staff, Sharon in particular, is so easy to work with. If you're in need of a place to host a large group (even just a party of 10 or 12), then look no further. You will not be disappointed in the experience. 5 stars for Mercadito!
(5)Jessie M.
Such a good pick for restaurant week! * Great service * The rose malbec was delicious, and only $8 * Highlights were the carne tacos and the brussels sprouts. Don't be fooled by the vegetarian designation on the sprouts--they had more chunks of pork belly than actual vegetables. I am not complaining. * Courses were served small plates style, not rushed, but paced perfectly.
(5)Jesse P.
This place is fantastic! The bacon guacamole was to die for. We got pastora and pascato tacos and they pretty much melted in your mouth. There maybe a little bit of a wait but you'll never leave disappointed! Soooo gooooddddd!!
(5)Scott H.
Mercadito is a nice contemporary experience. The food is very good and the atmosphere is a lot of fun, especially during happy hour. The good: - Food and salsas - Great feel and prompt service The bad: - approaching expensive for tacos - cramped tables unless you get a booth Overall, I would recommend the restaurant without question. A great place for lunch or dinner. Maybe not for families, but a couple or younger crowd.
(4)Sarah H.
This is a fantastic place to bring your friends and colleagues for a dinner and drinks. The food price is over priced for my taste of tacos but the drinks were delicious. I ordered the mole tacos in which you get a four small tacos for a hefty price. As for drinks, I recommend the smokey pablo. It gives kind of a kick to it. The overall atmosphere was great and our waitress gave us the best recommendations. I would come back just for the drinks and chips and guacamole only.
(3)Samantha J.
I've been to Mercadito several times for lunch, never for dinner though. Mercadito is near my office so it's one of the favorite sit down lunch spots. The place is trendy, but can be a nice oasis from corporate America for lunch. Pros: - The guacs and salsas are all amazing! - I'm addicted to the Verde Salad with spicy shrimp....it's a must try! Large portion with a ton of shrimp, so you really do get your money's worth - Trendy space - Good service, but this is a place that it takes a full hour for lunch - Great prices Cons: - For lunch they are on the slower side for service - It can get loud in there, there is nothing to absorb the noise so if it's crowded it can be noisey It's a great lunch spot, I'll have to try dinner sometime soon!
(4)Anuj S.
Great experience at Mercadito. Given it was a Saturday night and we went in without a reservation, I'm going to excuse the excessive wait time - over 1 hour, when they initially told us 30 - 45 minutes on the phone and when we arrived. That part of it was seriously the only thing that I can complain about. Next time, definitely do the reservation thing. But the place is awesome... great decor. The food was delicious and I loved that I have finally been able to find an upscale Mexican place that actually caters to vegetarians. They actually mark their menu items with a v for veggie, which was much much appreciated. Oh.. and the tacos were SO flavorful. Really good. Really, nothing like what you might expect. The tid-bits of crispy potatoes on these mushroom tacos that I got were SO good. We also tried the enchiladas which were also different yet really good. How many times have I said good? This place can be pricey, but to me it was worth it. Can't wait to be back and introduce more people to my new favorite upscale Mexican place in Chicago.
(5)Mike W.
I've been 6+ times and every time it's awesome. I recommend Mercadito to all friends coming to town. Great food, good service and awesome drinks. You can't go wrong.
(4)Bryce B.
New to yelp. Came to Chicago here on business and was impressed with the decor, however compared to other experiences in Chicago the service could be faster. Food was great, but Im living in NY where tacos are the next step ahead of Chicago, however the guac and langoustines were delicious!!!! WAY TO LOUD though
(3)Janene M.
My sis and I came for the start of a birthday We had the traditional guacamole. Very good! Just enough heat. The drinks are no joke!! They do not skimp on the tequila. We both had strawberry margaritas. For dinner, I had the shrimp tacos, and my sister had the chicken tacos. Small, but tasty. For dessert, we had the churros. Overall, I was very pleased. The ambiance and decoration is very cute. It is very loud. This is River North, so it is pricey. This is "fine dining Mexican." If you want something traditional, you may want to check out Lalo's. I would return again.
(4)Trasee H.
The atmosphere reminds me of a swanky lounge with delicious drinks with booming music and mood lighting. But you're quickly reminded that you came here for the food! We came on "Taco Tuesday" which offered two tacos for $5.50. It was a great deal and allowed us to sample a lot of the menu for a relatively low cost. The margaritas are good, though small. But the food is the main draw. Delicious, almost mini, tacos (the carne, minus the avocado was my favorite), yummy verde rice with cheese on top, and a slew of salsa and guac options. The service was pretty good too. Definitely recommend for a Tuesday night. And there's specials on Wednesdays and Thursdays too. I'll be back!
(4)Neeru J.
I'm giving it 3 stars for the service, but the food was average at best. We went there for my B'day, so maybe that's why I'm being a bit harsh, but for the money, you can get better Mexican food at pretty much any other joint in Chicago. The Guac was average and salsa below par, but the Tacos saved the night for us. Their tacos were decent. I recommend it if you are looking to get drunk and have a good time as the place has a decent vibe (although its a bit loud), but not if you are looking for good Mexican food..
(3)Tiffany L.
It's pretty good, but not amazing. We came here for restaurant week brunch, and you get to try a variety of their foods -- 3 guacs, 2 types of tacos, and 2 choices of entrees (brunch options though). The guac is pretty good, not the best I've had. My fave out of the three was the one with the strawberries. For tacos we got pastor and the battered mahi-mahi. I'm not of fan of their tortillas -- they need to sear 'em a bit or something. I don't know why some places serve their tacos in these kind of tortillas. The pastor was the better of the two as far as flavor. For entrees, we chose the steak and eggs dish, and the scrambled eggs w/ carnitas and pico de gallo, I have no idea what they were really called. The steak and eggs was SUPER rich, if you like that sort of thing. I did not enjoy that white sauce or cheesy junk they drizzled on top of the eggs. Though I bet some people would call that dish really good drunk food. We also added 2 cocktails -- again, I cannot remember the names, but one was basically a mango chile mimosa, the other was a vodka/passion fruit sort of concoction. I much preferred the first -- especially if you enjoy those chile covered mango candies they sell in mexican stores. This place seems like a good place for happy hour or a late night place to grab drinks and a bite to eat. The acoustic are terrible so good luck having a conversation in this place.
(3)James Michael S.
I was very impressed with the overall dining experience at Mercadito. We had a large group of 8 guys and we were very well taken care of from the moment we arrived. Here's what you need to know...Mercadito has a super trendy loungey feeling. It's somewhat loud but still easy to have a conversation. There was a constant house music being played which kind of gives it a Vegas feel. For large groups you have to do the tasting menu. It works out well because there's a constant flow of food. I'm a big fan of this place and I'll certainly go back soon.
(5)Neisha G.
Disclaimer: If you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner this may not be the place for you. That being said this place is AWESOME. The layout of the restaurant is modern and cool. There was a great DJ and they servers were attentive yet relaxed. The drinks are strong and the the food is excellent. I will be back ....tomorrow :) You must try the shrimp tacos and the guacamole flight ...YUM!
(5)Christina P.
Mmmmmmmmercadito. I can't stop thinking about you - nor do I want to. I'm digging this spot in a major way. It's the hottest spot on the block - so expect a wait and definitely make reservations. Sexy crowd with some amazing people watching. And don't even get me started on the food. Taste explosion. I'm obsessed with the shrimp and steak taco's. Either of the fish taco's is a gamechanger as well. And the guacamole ... TDF (to die for). The drinks are strong and tasty and the service is TOP NOTCH. Rodrigo made our night out such a fun one and was super attentive and gave fabulous recommendations. I can't wait to get back - and soon!
(5)Mary B.
We made a reservation for 4 people and when we showed up we still had to wait around 30mins to be seated, which was not a good first impression. The dining area was only half full, so I'm not sure what the holdup was. While waiting, we ordered a round at the bar, where we were greeted by a very rude bartender, who acted as if he could not be bothered. This was the theme for the rest of the night, as the service was very poor. We ordered 2 orders of guacamole and 1 order of ceviche to start and when the waiter returned to take our order again, and we weren't ready, we were told that they make reservations very close together and that he would need to inform the hostess station that we were going to take longer. Again the dining area was half empty and we had only been seated for 20mins! When my friend complained to the manager about the comment and that we would appreciate not being rushed, he told her to calm down. I was ready at this point to settle the bill and finish the meal at another restaurant, but I was out voted. We ordered another round of drinks and 4 plates of 4 tacos to share. When the drinks were brought out, the waiter spilled an entire drink on my friend's lap. He felt very bad, but the manager never came over, my friend was not offered a complementary drink, nor did the restaurant offer to pick up the dry cleaning bill. Overall, I will not return to the restaurant due to the horrible service, nor will I ever recommend it to anyone. The food was good, but overpriced for the experience offered. There are much better tapas options available throughout the city for me to waste my time and money here again.
(1)Linda SingaSong S.
All the buzz 'bout this place finally got to me. Had some friends visiting in the summer time from New York and Wisconsin and they wanted to try out new restaurants in the city. Patio and indoor dining area was bumping at 7pm. Even though we made reservations, we ended up waiting another half hour. So we docked it by the bar & kicked back with some signature drinks. My guests had mojitos, little market, dizzy oaxacan, and I stuck to the margarita tradicional. The drinks were great, quite creative, unique contrast of different flavors; sweet & sour, sweet & spicy (dizzy oaxacan- had a bit of cayenne pepper). Our party of 6 got seated on the patio. Our server was awesome! She was sweet, explained and answered every question we had, and offered us some of her fav items on the menu. Appetizer: Trio of Guacamole Yumm-o! They all tasted sublime and the chips are addictive as hell! Meals: We had a multitude of tacos * Pastor * Carne * Carnitas de puerco * Pescado * Pollo There is 4 tacos to an order. Size isn't too big or small, Perfect to share with the group. We noticed later on that we didn't get one of our taco dishes, so the chef gave us 2 complimentary taco dishes. Man..we were so stuffed by then!! The ambiance is great. Trendy, good looking crowd. Esp during the summer time, this place gives such a great view of the city. Taco flavored kisses!!
(4)Tiffany N.
Mercadito makes fancy Mexican and they make it well. A group of 8 of us had the tasting menu here and I have to say it is such a great value for groups. We had an assortment of salsas, guacamole, ceviche, tacos, and sides for just $35 each. Everything I ate was delicious, but my favorites were the al pastor tacos and the spicy jalapeno guacamole. I dream about eating them sometimes. The atmosphere is sexy - great for dates or even just ladies night out. The drinks are divine. The service was stupendous. And they practically had to roll me out of there because the food was so plentiful and I just couldn't stop eating. All in all it was a delicious meal.
(4)Stephanie R.
An amazing selection for restaurant week 2013. Made a reservation for three people at 6pm on a Monday. We were seated upon entering and the waiter was very attentive. We were a bit early; the place started filling up with the dinner crowd around 7, it was PACKED by 7:30. As part of the restaurant week deal ( 3 guacamoles, 2 ceviches, 4 different types of tacos, 2 sides, three deserts and one drink per pax) we were able to try most of the menu. I would highly advise the margaritas, the pomegranate guacamole, and the Zucchini tacos. Being a vegetarian, I was delighted at all of the options I had. Dishes came at a great pace; when you were done enjoying one delicacy, the next was on its way. My only complaint (such a minor one) was that the tables were very close together. The waiter had to keep moving the chair next to me so he could reach the next table. Overall an amazing experience.
(4)David Z.
We went to Mercadito for a birthday dinner. Unfortunately, I wish we had dined somewhere else. Mercadito does have a few things going for it. We were very happy to be seated at the exact time of our reservation. There is also a complimentary coat check, which is nice. The decor of the place is also very hip - they have just the right balance between light and dark. Very cool. And finally, the tequila selection seems to be pretty good. That's about where the good stuff ends. Our waitress was rude. I was practically yelled at for not wanting to order a drink right away. Sorry, I had not decided yet. I am not "sick" or "crazy," I was just trying to figure out what I wanted. Then, when I tried to order my steak, I got yelled at again because I wanted it well done. Do you know why I always ask for it well done, waitress? Because I do not want there to be pink in the steak and bloodiness on my plate. And still, even when I order a steak well done it's still very pink about 80% of the time. After the waitress told me I should order it medium-rare, I insisted on well done. It still came out very pink. Awesome. We waited for-ev-er to get our check as well. Every time the waitress came to our table she was intimidating and acting like a jerk. Some tables might think that's cute and/or funny, but not us. Although I like the decor, I don't like sitting 2 feet from the table next to us. The music is too loud and some of the tables are too close to the bar. Speaking of the bar, there are no chairs at the bar, so if you are at one of the tables near the bar there will be people standing about 4 feet from you. So much for privacy. The bathrooms are single bathrooms so you may have to wait in a line that is close to the kitchen in a high-traffic area as well. And the food? Well, honestly, it sucked. My $25 pink steak was still flavorless - it certainly wasn't overcooked though! The guacamole appetizer was decent, but we only got enough chips to eat about half of it, and they didn't offer additional chips. And wait, no dessert menu? Oh well, I didn't want to give this place any more of my money anyway. All in all, we were VERY disappointed with Mercadito. I can think of at least 5 better Latin places right off the top of my head, and they're cheaper too. Sorry, we won't be back.
(2)Emily F.
Love, love, love Mercadito! I may be a little bias because I am a total sucker for good Mexican food, but I promise, Mercadito does not disappoint! The main reasons they get five stars: The food! I have now been four times and have tried something new every time. I have loved every taco I have eaten and every bite of guacamole consumed. I am very particular about what guacamole is good... I have had four of their options, all delicious! I will never be able to go to Mercadito and not order some kind of gauc! The drinks! Amazing margarita, so yummy! That is all :-) The atmosphere! Laid back but high end atmosphere. You may sit a little too close to the table next to you but that is what it's all about - family! It really helps in the whole experience and plus.... they're trying to fit as many people in there as possible because the place its pretty tiny for how popular they are. The staff. In addition to how much I love the food... the staff has completely wowed me as well. The first few visits were great, but nothing compares to the amazing service we received this past Saturday evening. My server, Stephanie, was sweet, quick, helpful, and just all around a fantastic server that helped make our experience a great one. In addition, there was this one manager that stood out as absolutely incredible. I noticed him a few minutes in as he was helping the servers, bussing tables (in his very nice suit), folding napkins when people got up to go to the restroom, and more. He was going out of his way to help his staff while also making sure all the guests were comfortable and having fun. It was really refreshing to see one manager really go above and beyond! I will probably visit Mercadito on a biweekly basis :-)
(5)Ryan K.
The wait: When we first came on a Tuesday evening, the host us that the wait for three was officially 20 mins, but she suspected that it would be a lot shorter and encouraged us to wait in the bar area until they came to get us. We ordered a drink and waited and waited. After about 45 mins, they tried to seat us at a tiny table that was a two-top that they just stuck a chair on the end. The chair on the end was touching the other two chairs, so there would have been no room for anyone's legs. We asked to speak to the manager who didn't really offer any help, but said we could have the next available table. We did wait. The food: we had the pick two salsas and pick two guacamoles, and both were good, but definitely not worth the premium price. They charged $3 for about an ounce of salsa. The best thing I had was the mahi mahi ceviche. I had the masa quesadillas, which were actually much more similar to empanadas, and they were average. Drinks: I had a tasty mezcal margarita. It was very good, but for some reason carried a $17 price tag. Ultimately, I would not recommend Mercadito.
(2)Britney M.
I went to Mercadito for brunch this weekend and definitely enjoyed my time there. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive, and our food came out quickly. They had a great brunch and drink selection to choose from as well. My favorite thing was the chilaquiles and guacamole , but I wasn't really a fan of the shrimp or pork tacos (the only reason for the 3 stars instead of 4). Overall, I had a pretty good experience and will check this place out again.
(3)Kristina B.
We had a birthday dinner here on a Saturday night with 6 couples, and had a 9:15 reservation. Well, they're lucky that the margaritas are good and that the music was super fun, because even with a reservation, we didn't get seated until almost 10:30. Total bummer, but whatever. I was all set with what I wanted to order - carne asada - until our waiter came and informed us that we absolutely had to do the sharing menu - um, what? Really? That's kind of annoying. Again, they're lucky that the tacos were damn good because I was slightly less annoyed after my first bite of the steak taco. The chicken was just ok, but the short rib taco was AMAZING! Everyone at the table was raving about it. I also loved the small, crunchy pieces of potato in the steak taco - unexpected, but delicious. I only remember two of the varieties in our guacamole trio - traditional, and mango. The mango had a really gross looking color to it and was really unappetizing - the taste was allright, but not my favorite. The traditional guac however was amazing - great texture and really good flavor - I for sure had way more than I should have! Don't come here expecting a romantic date night - it's way too loud for that. But come and enjoy the delicious original margarita, they're fantastic!
(4)Mike S.
Had a late lunch with another couple. We started with the guacamole sampler, very good!! My favorite was the Pomergranet, such a unique flavor! We each ordered tacos and got something different, chicken,Mahi,steak and Pastor. The tacos come in fours and are on the small side but filled with a generous amount so it works. My favorite was the Mahi, but all were very good. We really enjoyed the decor, seemed very upscale but had a really laid back attitude. Would defiantly go back
(4)Jen H.
Four girls on a night out, celebrating everything from a belated bday to a Euro visitor to a recent wedding to one of us OTP... plus just any ol' weeknight, and boy, did we have a great time here! Service = 5. I absolutely love it when I ask a server her opinion and she gives it up with confidence and passion. TY for great food & drink suggestions and always keeping our drinks and plates full of goodness. Atmosphere = 4. Pretty typical Chi nice joint. Could do w/o the droves of financial-type post-happy-hour imbibed suits, but my girl did find the view of them quite pleasant. Whatever. Food = 4. The pollo a las brasas (whole chicken in adobo) yelp.com/biz_photos/Sfx5… was fabulous, just perf for us to share! Guac, tacos and ceviche were all also very good. I usually don't care for corn tortillas, but these were seriously little hand-made pillows of awesome. Tequila selection was incredible! Sometimes you just experience a place where you imagine bringing a specific friend back to b/c you know they'd really love it... this was easily one of those places!
(4)Ray C.
Went here with a friend following an after work event to get some dinner, and we were not disappointed. Nothing we were served was less than delicious. My friend had the shrimp tacos, which I tried, and I had the fish tacos, both of which were extremely tasty. It kind of reminded me of the food that was at Cantina 46. Also, the Brussels Sprouts were a fine side dish. The server was friendly and knowledgeable but seemed a little rushed at times for a Tuesday night. Regardless, I would go back for sure.
(4)Vanessa R.
I recently visited Mercadito for a birthday dinner, which I was highly anticipating. Unfortunately, we were in for a major letdown. Let me explain. Atmosphere: I was impressed upon arrival - Mercadito has great décor and looks very upscale. This place however is very loud, so I would not recommend it if you're looking for an intimate drink/dinner. The layout and décor is fun and this would be a great place to come and grab a margarita with some friends, nothing more. There is a bar, but no seating. Also, the seating is very close to one another - I was sandwiched in between 2 people and could barely fit my purse between us. Food: I'm willing to compromise on some things if the food is good - however the food here was mediocre at best and pricey! We ordered the traditional guacamole & it was okay - bit of a lime taste and decent chips. For dinner, I ordered the carne asada taquiza - which came with a heap of homemade corn tortillas and my choice of two salsas - I went with the habanero (spicy) and the verde (medium). The steak was plentiful and juicy - but again, nothing out of this world. The tortillas were a bit stale and the salsas were bland. Zocalo has a very similar taco platter and it is seriously like 10 times better (AND you can pick up to 3 different meats) - and not to mention significantly cheaper. Also, there was no dessert menu. Service: Service started out great as we were greeted with complimentary coat check and were seated promptly at our reservation time. However, things promptly went downhill and this is Mercadito's downfall & the reason I will not be returning. The best way I can describe our waitress was... a bully. If we wanted rude, aggressive, air-head service, we seriously would have gone up a few blocks to Ed Debevic's. Once we were seated our waitress literally pranced over to our table and greeted us with a "what's up?!" I ordered a drink (traditional margarita), while my date did not. She then proceeded to say "are you serious or crazy" and asked if he "was sick" as to why he didn't want a drink right then and there. He did eventually order a drink, but seriously lady, back off. We thought that since we didn't really feed into her forward style of waitressing, she would cut the theatrics. Wrong. I asked her if I could get a side of the rajas without sour cream and she looked at me like I was crazy and said no. Then, my date asked for his steak to be cooked "well done" and she told him that it was supposed to be medium; however he proceeded to let her know that he didn't want it to be rare or pink inside so he preferred well. She kept insisting that he was ordering it wrong, and needless to say, it came back pink inside. She kept skipping us over and we waited over 20 minutes for the check. She then proceeded to sit down next to me on the booth to take the orders for the table next to ours - blocking me in since the seating is so tight you have to move the table over(which we couldn't do without squashing her (which we should have done in retrospect)). Oblivious, she went on sipping out of the other table's drinks, flexing her muscles (literally), etc. until we just pushed the table back ourselves & a nice bus boy apologized and helped us out from the table she was blocking us into. Seriously - this lady was a ridiculous joke. I echo other reviews in saying I'm not sure what the appeal of this place is. If you feel like overpaying for mediocre food and dealing with unprofessional service, head over to Mercadito. One star for the nice décor & complimentary coat check.
(1)Rick W.
Went on a Sat night around 6pm and got a seat right away. I don't usually order margaritas in restaurants any more because they are all too sweet, but, Julio, our waiter recommended it. It was one of the best I've ever had. We ordered mango guacole, braised pork tacos, ceviche and shrimp tacos. All were excellent except the shrimp, it was just good. All portions are tapas portions, but still got filled up on the 4 that we ordered. Our waiter Julio was great. All of his suggestion for what to eat were spot on and his service and attitude was first class. The only problem I had was that we got a littled crowded by the people around us as the place got busier, but other than that the atmosphere was fine. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more food and another marg.
(5)Erin M.
Good tacos but not great. Super small and super overpriced. Good if your on a diet??! ;) Our table got several different kinds and shared. My fav was the Shrimp one ( camaron) the chipotle mojo sauce is killer!.... but beware it's really spicy! Same goes for the Gauc.....We got the traditional and the mango both good but you are getting like a tablespoon of each for 13 bucks! The only one real negative was the hostess ... super rude to our party and told us we would only have an hour and a half for our table ( even though we had reservations) who says that?! I would probably go again the ambience was fun and drinks were good!
(3)Christina L.
I come from California, land of mucho Mexicans. So, I'll admit I was already a little jaded before I arrived. I have a hard time rationalizing paying mucho dollars for "fancy" Mexican food, especially if I can get the same food for 1/3 of the price at a "not fancy" Mexican joint. Well, the $62/person bill after I had 2 drinks, a bunch of chips and guacamole, and 3 tacos (yes, 3 teeny tiny tacos) did not make me change my mind about the value of "fancy" Mexican food. Loved our bubbly and attentive waitress that handled a large, rowdy group efficiently. But any bump in the rating that would have come from that was killed by the fact that I had to SCREAM to be heard by people sitting next to me. Those who know me, know I'm already loud, so the fact that I have to scream should be a good indication that it's WAY too noisy there!
(2)Julien D.
Cool place for Mexican food. The decor is quite pleasant and somehow makes me travel. I find it easy and convenient however I have never been there for diner. Only went there for lunch, and yet found it quite relaxing and different. I will go back.
(3)Ali A.
Late night BRUNCH! This place is like a mexican tapas restaurant. It is a little pricey and you have to buy the chips and salsa, this always bothers me in any mexican restaurant because this is how I evaluate how great a mexican restaurant is. Tacos, guac, lots of different salsas (to buy), bloody mary's. The service was excellent as well. If you're in a group don't expect to split checks, apparently their system doesn't allow it. Caused some delayed time on paying for our checks. I heard the had a tequileria downstairs... I was too tired to check it out.
(4)Cally B.
I wasn't impressed with the service. The food was tasty but really annoying you can't mix and match tacos. I worked for a restaurant through out college and the meat is already marinated and sitting in the back at a prep station. It's not like they are making the tacos fresh from scratch at the moment you order them. Also a table got up and left because they put 3 people at a 2 person table and the guy on the end kept getting bumped by the 3 strange hipsters walking around in their tight jeans and sport coats with there goofy ear pieces in (your not James Bond). Do not go here on a first date, anniversary (unless you are a polygamist) or any time you want to talk to the person sitting next to you. This place would be good for a bachlorette party, birthday party or and other large group outing.
(2)Rachael P.
Four of us went to Mercadito this evening on the recommendation of a friend. The waitress was lovely, the drinks and food quite good (though very expensive and very small portions)however, the music was incredibly loud....but the real reason for my one star review is that we were treated rudely by the assistant manager. We were seated in a booth in the basement...and although the room was completely empty, except for us....he asked us to move our coats...so that he could seat another couple in our booth. They supposedly had reservations coming in 30 minutes later and were trying to prepare. However, shoving another couple next to us...and handling the situation so poorly....caused us to leave well before we were done. After spending two hundred dollars...in one hour of appetizers a couple of drinks...we felt unwelcome and went to finish our evening elsewhere.
(1)Ronald P.
Had brunch here on 'Black Friday' It was my 1st time dining at Mercadito and I'd have to say it was somewhat of a mixed bag. The layout is neat and the restaurant has a nice open and modern vibe. In terms of ambience, they have a similar feel to other upscale Mexican restaurants in River North like Zocolo's and Cantina Laredo. My date and I had the guacamole flight and habanero salsa to start. The salsa was the only real miss for me. It was just too small of a serving. We ordered a couple of different tacos and their version of French Toast. The mushroom tacos were very good and the French Toast was spectacular but also too rich for me to eat more than a slice. No complaints however as I'm not normally a big French Toast fan. I could argue that the place is better than my own rating so I wish Yelp allowed 3.5 stars as a score. The guacamole was good but not as good as Cantina Laredo's table-made version and the tacos were good but not as good as Zocolo's. I'll go again but Mercadito's would have to knock me over with a dish before I rated it as higher than my 3rd favorite upscale Mexican restaurant in my hood.
(3)Veronica S.
Love The Guacamole And Margaritas At This Place!! Fish Tacos Were Delicious And Perfectly Street Size Small :)
(5)Veronica H.
My sister, a friend, and I went in for an early dinner on a Saturday. My sister brought my niece and they were super cool about it. They brought her a high-chair and sat us in the front room closer to the window, which was perfect for her. We really enjoyed our meal from start to finish. After, we realized we had ate a little of every animal we normally eat within a month, in one sitting! We shared everything, appetizers and tacos. The flautas with goat were really flavorful, but the fish tacos were my favorite! The salsas are perfectly spicy and tangy. The hibiscus margaritas are also a must have! I normally don't like margaritas, but these were so good! The tab was about $50 per person, but we were in downtown so we expected that!
(5)Nicole C.
I had a couple of friends coming in from out of town who were dying to go to a Rick Bayless restaurant, but that plan fell through when I realized that all of the Bayless restaurants are closed on Monday. :( Plan B: Mercadito The four of us shared the following small plates: - Tradicional Guacamole (tomatillo pico de gallo, jalapeño, garlic, key lime, cilantro) - Mango Guacamole (jÃcama, chipotle, pico de gallo) - Piña Guacamole (pineapple, tomatillo, habanero, mint) - Camarón Ceviche (shrimp, tangerine, roasted jalapeños, citrus-guajillo broth) - Chorizo Tacos (home made chorizo of the day, manchego cheese, roasted tomato-árbol salsa) - Rajas Tacos (black bean hash, chile poblano rajas, crema fresca, crispy potatoes) - Corn Masa Quesadillas (oaxaca-manchego cheeses, wild mushrooms, salsa verde, crema fresca) We enjoyed everything and literally licked our plates clean. It turned out to be a great place to take out-of-town guests -- the atmosphere and the vibe is very cool, fun and urban. Although they missed out on Chicago's very own Rick Bayless, Mercadito was a great alternative. I'd love to go back for brunch. And, I just realized they deliver - bonus!
(4)Kellye W.
I wish I could give this place NO stars!! While the food is reasonable the service is horrendous! I appreciate a manager getting behind the collar but refusing reservations because I went out with a bartender with bad breath two years ago and the bartender is still salty about it is ABSURD!! If this were the case no one would EVER go out anywhere in the world!! Unacceptable. No worries, this place stinks of Proof-ish servers anyway. huffingtonpost.com/2012/…
(1)Celia B.
So the yelp-ers said this place would be loud and it was...really annoying actually. Nevertheless, we tried a number of platters and everything was tasty but perhaps not as exciting as one would expect for the high prices. The highlight for me personally was the "green" margarita- that was unique,delicious and worth getting another :)
(4)Jair J.
I will absolutely never go back. The server was completely rude. Didnt care for the menu and the server said, if you so much as eat a chip i will automatically charge you thirty five dollars for the entree. It was the most unpleasant experience aside from being so over priced. I also experienced racism, it was very shocking considering its a Mexican restaurant and I'm Mexican. Beyond horrible, never going back. However I did consume five beers to forget what happened until my friends finished their dinner.
(1)Andrew T.
This has been on my list for a long long time, and I finally made it, even if visiting another upscale Mexican place made me feel like I was cheating on Chef Paco and New Rebozo. There were three of us, but we ordered a ton of stuff so we could try various items. We started with guacamole (with queso fresco and pomegranate seeds), the shrimp and tangerine ceviche, and the queso fundido. The guac was pretty good, not heavy on the onion, and I liked the pomegranate flavor. Ceviche was promising, but was almost too sweet - I have have liked more of an acidy bite with it, but then, I think I prefer almost everything to be too sour. And the queso fundido was good - came out sizzling in a little cast iron skillet, with nice mild chorizo and a good salsa verde. The strike comes when you get the tortillas - they're small, thick, and supposedly house made, but I didn't think they were all that great. They're a bit doughy, and they don't have much corn flavor, to my taste. So they could definitely be better. Our tacos included the skirt steak, chorizo, and estillo baja. All were good, and with nice toppings. The skirt especially was perfectly marinated, great flavor and very tender. The slaw served with the estillo baja was nice and tangy with good dressing, and not too much raw onion, and the fish was nice and mild. In fact, I think there's a theme here - not too much raw onion. They don't seem to be cutting their dishes with it. It was in moderation sprinkled on tacos, in moderation in the slaw, and in moderation in the guac. Good for Mercadito. They do, by the way, have delicious fried plantains with a smoky sweet sauce. Good caramelized coating on the plantains, just excellent. Plus some interesting non-alocholic beverages - nice fuit juice and club soda mixes with a little lime. We had a mango and a pineapple, both were tasty. A nice change from the standard Jarritos. Service was very prompt - our dinner came out about 3 minutes after we ordered. And our waiter was very helpful in explaining things on the menu. They really do pack people in to the place, but we went on a Sunday night, so there wasn't a whole lot of traffic. And I should be careful to mention some exclectic tunes - at one point (to our delight) "Regulators" was playing. Mount up. As for the rating? Well, it's pricey, for what it is. I think of Mexican places I really love in Chicago, and if I wanted fancy tacos - as in, not the standard cheap (but usually still delicious) taqueria type tacos, but a little better class of ingredients, and with a little flair type tacos - I would go to Bien Trucha and pay far less for about the same, if not a smaller menu. And if I wanted more of a dinner? I would go to New Rebozo and pay less for better food. So I'm not sure I would go back. It would be fun go to with a group, but I can think of better destinations. Nothing really the matter here, just an issue of cost effectiveness.
(3)Kay R.
Good ambiance, Great drinks, nice location. Food was shrug. Pricey for the portions. Food was meh - Guacs (tradicional and the queso fundido) were tasty. Tacos (4 to an order) were flavorful (chicken and jamaican jerk flank steak). Ceviches weren't good (too sweet, scallops and shrimp seemed a lot more chewy than they needed to be). Portions were small, especially for the high prices for every dish. Can't say i'll be back.
(3)Nicki W.
Mercadito, I'm in love and I want the world to know! My socks were rocked off last night in a major way, mainly due to my company but Mercadito didn't disappoint. Few restaurants have given me the chills of utter elation, so congrats to you! We had a 9pm reservation on a Saturday night for 2 and waited for 20 minutes. That's not bad and we didn't mind because we just grabbed some drinks at the bar in the meantime. Note to self, if you don't like super crowded restaurants more resembling a lounge, with music blaring then this may not be the place for you. If you enjoy amazing margaritas, top notch tacos and other Mexican fare, nice tunes, and choice people watching then this is a restaurant you shouldn't miss out on! There's one bar located to the back on the right and it's tiny. I wish it were 3 times the size that it is because about 1/3 of that is taken up by the service well. Packed. Packed. Packed. It took us about 5 minutes to even flag a bartender. For some reason, it didn't even bother me. Just watching the bartenders work their magic with the wide variety of fabulous and colorful margaritas and all the mixings included, I was happily amused. Every drink being made behind that bar looked delectable. With an insane selection of tequilas, one should be quite happy as a clam. The decor was enough to keep me amused. Very chic, very sexy. Wild murals covered the walls and crazy light fixtures hung from all over. The location of our table certainly wouldn't have been my first choice. We were sat at a table about 15 feet in front of the bar. It's squished among 4 other tables and there are crowds of people standing behind you waiting to grab a drink. If you want to have a first date, hearing the other person talk about themselves most likely wont be possible. You also have to be as slim as gumby to fit between the tables. Next time I'll make sure I don't sit there! Our waitress was friendly and fun. It was hard to make much conversation with her other then asking her what she likes and having her order it. That's how I roll, especially in a restaurant where I can't hear anything but blaring music. We tried a variety of drinks but here are some favorites: * Smokey Pablo-cien años reposado, mango, chile morita, blueberry float (once you mix up the blueberry float, it becomes a delicious, sugary berry beverage) So don't order this if you don't like sweet! * Misty's Sleeve- el tesoro blanco, ginger, hibiscus, valencia orange, chile serrano, hibiscus salt (this one was more on the bitter side, and the hibiscus salt was very interesting) * Tres Coops- single village mezcal, st. germain elderflower, domaine de canton ginger, averna, lime, egg white (very refreshing!) * Dizzy Oaxacan- mezcal, grapefruit, lemon, ginger beer, bitters, cayenne Onto the food. Seriously by the time I had consumed about 4 margaritas I was starting to get full but I made room. Try the Guacamole. The portions are suited more for smaller groups. I felt the 3 guac choice would be fine for 3 people and under. We tried the Traditional, Mango and Granada. AMAZING. The Mango had chipotle in it and the two flavors together created harmony. Granada was bliss, mixed with Pomegranate seeds. How interesting! Loved it. The bottomless pit known as my stomach was at about 90% capacity and we hadn't even gotten the tacos and sides yet. The Mahi Mahi Tacos (Estilo Baja) were dropped on the table. Succulent beer battered fish with mexican cole slaw and chipotle aioli makes this taco a "must order". Great combination of flavor. Duck Confit (Pato) was the other choice. Pumpkin Puree with prune mole slathered on top. The duck was juicy and flavorful. Although there were many others I wanted to order, I felt our choices were pretty solid. 4 tacos come per order and it's $14.50, unless you order duck and that's an extra $2. If you're one who's prone to putting up a stink about expensive tacos, then save your breath and just dine elsewhere. I thought the prices were fine when stacked up to the quality I was receiving. For our sides we tried the Elote Mexicano, which was mexican style corn on the cob. Basically amazingness on a stick. It was sweet, covered in what seemed like sugar and cheese. Order it. No questions asked. We also ordered Coles de Bruselas, brussels sprouts with chorizo. It had great flavor, (and I'm not normally one to order brussels sprouts). Full wouldn't even describe my situation at this point but we needed desert to top it off. We tried Torrejas de Bolillo, creme anglaise soaked mexican bread, vanilla ice cream, cajeta sauce. Our waitress told us this was her favorite and boy was she right! I could eat this every single day. Overall, I'm very impressed. Service was great and our girl was always on top of everything without being annoying, the atmosphere was enjoyable, food was lovely and I'll be back. This might have to be the local for my birthday dinner. Check it out if you haven't!
(5)Kori E.
A friend and I came back here not too long ago and we definitely enjoyed our experience. The cocktails are so inventive and tasty here, we kept them coming all night! We ordered a few things to nimble on throughout the night. We had the Ceviche, which was my favorite dish of the night. We also had the guacamole, which if you ask me is just like any other guacamole and we shared shared the shrimp tacos. The sauce was a little over powering on the taco and my mouth and lips were on fire!! I definitely love coming to this here! It is super hip and there is an energy that flows through the place. Compared to the last time, our waitress was phenomenal! She was always checking in and we never sat without a fresh cocktail for long. My only complaint was the music was a bit TOO loud that night. We kept having to say "What?!" to each other throughout the night. Overall, a great spot to hit up on a Friday or Saturday night!! I've yet to stop by during the week...
(4)jennifer j.
I LOVED the atmosphere, the energy and the upscale and fun menu. I was looking forward to the ceviche the most, but it was the tacos that ended up being the standout. In fact, I wish we had not ordered the ceviche at all, which lacked flavor, heat and citrus. The guacamole trio also seemed to lack a real flavor punch. the must have saved all the seasoning for the pork taco's...which i wished we had ordered first, times three. Margarita's were amazing and like a truly good margarita, it packed a punch that was delivered in a slow and subtle way. The waiter was great even though it was impossible to hear anything and he was stepping over the four person deep crowd at the bar. I like this place, but it is a matter of knowing what is a hit and and what is a miss. Great place to celebrate or get yourself in a festive mood.
(4)Maria S.
It really pains me to give a restaurant a bad review, but this place just is not worth it. I am a little baffled as to how it stays so busy... Must be the tourists or there are a LOT of people in this city that like to celebrate mediocre, over-priced food. On a Friday night, we could not get a reservation for a table for 4 ppl until 915pm, and we were not actually seated until 945pm. This is not THAT big of a deal to me since we had cocktails at the bar while we waited, but if I wait for a place I believe it should be worth waiting for. We ordered three different tacos, two kinds of guacamole, empanadas, a cheese dip and a few side dishes. Unfortunately, nothing that we ordered fell into the "delicious" category; everything was just "meh". I will say that I did really enjoy my cocktails here, the Tres Viejos is especially yummy, but even good alcoholic concoctions are not enough for me to ever want to return. Sorry, Mercadito, I did not love you:(
(2)Gabriela R.
I Love Mercadito! great "mini" tacos ! a bit expensive for only three per plate but worth it. Appetizers are amazing! and you should try the Smokey Pablo for a drink. If you come here on Fridays is a great hit!
(4)Edward W.
Been there many times now. Great lively atmosphere. The strawberry margaritas were incredible. Must try the different salsas. I thought they all were great. Fish tacos were delicious. Definitely try the chicken. They tell you up front that it will take a while, but it is worth it.
(5)Mark A.
So this is another New York and Miami institution that is wanting to conquer Chicago. (No, I'm not talking about Sushi Samba Rio.) I cannot decide if I like this place or hate it, and "hate" is the right word here: there's no "it's okay" or "it's not my favorite place in the world." It's like or hate, period. (For me.) The space is inviting; yes it's noisy, but we have plenty of subdued, more romantic spots around the city so that doesn't bother me. That said, in no way did our group need to "shout" to one another as another Yelper mentioned; the acoustics certainly accommodate table conversation just fine. Even though several of the large booths along the west wall were open, we were given a table in the back, and boy do they pack 'em in. Between our table and the one directly to the south, there was maybe 3" in between, and that's after we pushed it to the north a bit. That part sucked, because we were essentially eating with another random party, and they didn't pick up our tab. The food was "good," although with Rick Bayless just down the street, I don't know what these clowns were thinking when they selected the location. Chicago is chock-full of upscale Mexican joints, and this is just another one on the list. The food is good, but I had some gripes: the pastor tacos were salty, the tacos estilo baja were strange and the fish quality was poor, and the caldo de camaron had a tasty broth but the tiny frozen shrimp out the Trader Joe's bag were tough and overcooked. For me, the key to a good restaurant is doing the not-so-little things right (not oversalting/overcooking basic foods). Also, this spot should be in the Randolph row of restaurants, or even the South Loop; it has no business being Rick's neighbor. I did enjoy the chipotle (brown) guac and the "Auntie Ox" drink. Now, let's talk about the service. The waitress was a little flaky and was nowhere to be seen after we placed our order. The plates kept spitting out of the kitchen, which were spaced nicely, but we had this industrious waterboy who probably visited our table a good 20 times during the meal. If anybody's glass would so much as drop to 3/4 full, he'd be on it like white on rice, and his approach lacked finesse so our table had water drops scattered everywhere by the time we were done. I know the opposite is much worse, an empty water glass, so it wasn't really a problem per se, rather something to give us a laugh. I think what I'm going to do with this place is use it as cocktails/guacamole stop. They have some nice outdoor seating which will be great in the summer. Perhaps if I had an office nearby, it would be a decent spot to take people to lunch. When I need some haute comida mexicana, though, I will be calling up Rick or going to Mexique or Salpicon. Mercadito might think its legacy in NYC and Miami is enough to win over the Chicago market, but we've kept Rick to ourselves around these parts for ten years, and we're not looking for a Team 6 anytime soon. We know how fancy shmancy Mexican should taste, and Mercadito isn't fooling us.
(3)Ellen D.
The tacos at Mercadito are to die for. Granted, I've only tried one of them (the same one all three times I've been there), but I don't even care. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the service is friendly and on-point. It is a little pricey, but definitely worth it. I'll be back here again soon for sure... Keep it up!
(4)Jordan R.
Why won't you let me love you, Mercadito? ROUND 1: Once again, I was here with a large group of people on a Monday night - with reservations. My gripes are not so much with the food but rather the mismanagement of the situation. Our waiter was upset that we wouldn't go off the prix fixe menu because of the number of people... but only because we wanted to order MORE! It's not like we were trying to be cheap with him. We just didn't want to be limited to what we could and could not have. SO then he brings the manager in to the situation... we are now "allowed" to order what we want, this is still America right? But then were informed that he has to talk to the kitchen b/c he concerned about the "demand" -- mind you the restaurant is about 25% full!!!! What a joke! After this our water is giving us the big pissy attitude. Which is hilarious, considering our group is also industry and he's about to make a boatload of money off of us. The food was okay, I liked about half of what I ordered. They almost killed our friend with the pepper allergy, even though she brought it up several times throughout the meal. They made no effort to accommodate...come to think of it they omitted the truth regarding the preparation of her food and left it up to god and Benadryl to save her life. PRO: The tequila was good, and plentiful, but not enough to make me forget... ROUND 2: Swung by here with a friend b/c we couldn't get into our #1 pick. The restaurant was no where near full but yet waited 15min to sit at one of their many tables to have an app and a bottle of wine. The waitress then informs us we have to leave by 7! LOL, what?!? What if we didn't want to? I mean it worked out b/c we had theater tickets, but really? She said it was reserved and they were trying to do us a favor by seating us. BS Flag is raised. I'm done here, I think.
(2)Patricia J.
Ok seriously 195!! Save your money ok! 60 for street tacos !Never again!!
(1)Jason W.
A little loud and cramped but the service is great and the food was delicious.
(4)Marisol D.
Im a native Angelino (Los Angeles resident) so im a bit picky with my Mexican food, however for the mid-west, Mercadito does a pretty good job. For a light heavy option with tons of flavor go with the Grilled Red Snapper (pescado a la talla). For the meat-and-potato types, my hubby loves the pollo a las brasas. The drinks and chips/salsa are also great for a happy hour.
(3)Kaitlin M.
Great bold mexican food and drinks in a classy Mexican atmosphere. Try a couple of the guacamoles because each has their own unique well paired flavor. Each of the tacos are also always consistently good. A must is at least one of their specialty cocktails. My staple is the Pepino el Pyu. It has a smokey peppery taste that is great with one of sweeter guacamoles to start. Prices are comparable to the quality and quantity of food. If you go during the winter stay clear of the front windows because you will feel a breeze. Now... go enjoy my friends!
(5)Lisa H.
Went with friends on their suggestion. Definitely quality, delish food to my amateur foodie palate. Love the varieties of salsas to choose from. The habanero had a nice slow heat and the fresh guac was lovely. The classic margarita actually has tequila in it-not a watered-down version popular at standard Mex fare joints. The 4 of us shared a variety of tacos. They are small and come in plates of 4-you are supposed to share tapas-style. My personal favorite was the shrimp tacos-they were slightly smoky and creamy. We later placed a second order for more. A close second was the pork belly. The absence of the 5th star is due to the environment. The noise level in this place is ridic-it was difficult just to hear our server. It wasn't just busy-noisy, it is structural; the restaurant has poor acoustics that magnifies sound to the point that it is distracting to the experience. I don't mind being in close proximity with other tables, but our tables were mega-small, and on one side we had strange low seats that made me feel like I was sitting at a child's play table. In summary, it was worth visiting, and I'd go back on occasion-however it does not compare to my favorite Carnivale.
(4)An P.
Taco + brunch + tweetup = Taco Twunch!, YEAH! Sunday brunch is best served with friends, good food, and some tasty libations. Parking downtown can sometimes be a hot mess but we used valet parking and marched on in. Seated in the back it was a bit empty when we arrived and started to fill in quite nicely during the afternoon. We opened up with three types of guac, each with fresh ingredients and delightful fresh taste with freshly made chips, better than getting some out of the green bag at the local bodega! I enjoyed the tradicional guacamole and out came some salsa which really exceeded my expectations. Do yourself a favor and get yourself the chile de arbol, in fact do yourself a favor and load all of your salsa with chile de arbol! Another note on the salsa: the chile de arbol was very delicious and it's so good I'd want to have it as some soup. In fact, if I had my way I probably would have put it on every single thing I ordered minus my blanca's punch! Someone get me this recipe - STAT! The one thing that disappointed us surely was that we couldn't mix and match all of our tacos! We decided to get some mushroom taco, shrimp taco, mahi mahi, tilapia, and some steak. The tacos came out very quickly and we started mixing and matching all of our baby tacos. Had I not had some chips, guac, and salsa, I would have probably engulfed my tacos in all of two bites. Gradually getting fuller I also ordered some Victoria beer on draft. The tacos were fantastic and every bite was delightful. Don't underestimate the mushroom taco because frankly it's got the maximum taste of all of the tacos, which is not to say any of them are bad, but that the mushroom taco is a cut above the rest. For Sunday brunch, a great place to pass by the afternoon. Kudos to Mercadito and their fine work.
(4)Dan M.
The tacos are pretty good but can be replicated at home with a little effort. The margaritas are very good and the menu of mezcal margaritas and cocktails is great. It's a smallish place with low ceilings, so unless you are on the patio, it's impossible to keep your ears from bleeding a midst the onslaught of screaming bachelorette parties. Great place to go if you're a girl or trying to pick up girls. In no way is the a good spot for a date. Better off taking your chances waiting for a table at Big Star.
(3)Selena L.
Awesome ambience, great food, late night hours, great for people watching.
(4)Christina M.
I was pleased that I made a reservation via yelp and it was there when I arrived. The girls at the front desk are a bit stoic and not so warm. But I figured I'm way to hungry to care. We waited about fifteen minutes for a table. Which was quite annoying seeing that there were plenty of free tables in the room. And I called out to my date which table was probably ours. ( and it was) We finally sit and check the menu. I was disappointed; that we could not mix the tacos....$14.50 for four mini tacos.....all the same.....I'm puerto rican I know better than that....I went with the steak and my date went with the pulled pork. I was disappointed with the steak the seasoning was off and the meat almost had that refrigerated taste to it. Ek not to mention the fat on the steak. The pulled pork was actually really delicious. Oh wait...I have a curve ball, I did order the fish tacos....and ended up with steak. Our waiter mixed up the order....so when he placed the steak tacos down (because everything comes as it's made) I didn't have the chance to say it was the wrong order until about 10 minutes later and and that point i was so hungry I just face dived in. The guacamole was really good. Not the best I ever had but good. We had the mango margarita and Cucumber. Those were also good. Not amazing. My side order of the platanos were my favorite, I wasn't impressed with the rice and beans. All and All. I believe the people who created the Mercadito restaurants did something amazing....they brought Mexican Street food and elevated it a notch. But I know where I can get amazing Mexican that won't be $80's a pop and delicious... sorry Mercadito it was good but I wasn't impressed.
(3)Carter G.
Always a great date place as I was here last Friday. We started out w some guac/chips and of course throw in a few margaritas. Moved on to a plate of shrimp tacos and carne asada tacos which were good.The tacos come in plates of three, but are very light which is nice for a weekend dinner. Mercadito is a bit pricey, but we're downtown Chicago and again its a great date place. After a few more cocktails we headed to their downstairs bar/lounge. Ended up being a great night. #recommended
(4)Timothy G.
I like the comment about there being no Nachos, umm, thats an American thing, not really a Mexican cuisine staple... The food here is excellent, and the atmosphere is electric. I have ben here twice, and everything is always devoured too fast at the table, the drinks are darn good too...
(5)Kate J.
Went here to celebrate my 21st birthday with my two sisters and my cousin. What started off our evening to a great start was a drink from the bar. I had the b.n.g.t.m. which was so delicious I think I drank it in one sip (btw it comes on fire so the glass gets hot on the rim). When we were seated, our server (I think her name was Joann) was so friendly and helpful when giving us suggestions on what to order. We ordered the chicken tacos (grilled chicken, cactus salad, tomatillo salsa, avocado) and fish tacos (beer battered mahi mahi, mexican style coleslaw, chipotle aioli), and devoured the chips and salsa. The mixologists at Mercadito know how to do their job. They asked me what I like to drink and I said grey goose and grapefruit juice. Since we had been drinking tequila we didn't want to switch to vodka so they whipped up a shooter that had tequila and it tasted like grapefruit juice and it was delicious. After many drinks and amazing food we went downstairs to double a for more drinks and a good time. Mercadito does it right.
(5)Meera T.
I can't tell you how the food was. Why? Because I never ate here. We came here on a Saturday night after finding out Frontera Grill had a 2.5 hour wait. Mercadito was close, and when I called, the guy on the phone said "there was no wait". It seemed to perfect to be true, having a nice restaurant have space on a Saturday. It was. We arrive and are told it would be an hour wait. That's fine, I get it. It was kind of annoying that I was told there was no wait literally 3 minutes before I arrived, and the hostess brushed it off as "we fill up in minutes". We were told to wait at the bar. Even though the bar was full service, there are no chairs so you would have to eat standing up. No thanks. We watched people who even had reservations get pushed to the bar/waiting area for 10-20 minutes at a time. That's when I had a feeling we weren't going to get seated. I asked the hostess after 40 minutes if she knew when we would get a table, and she told me that it would still be an hour from now. I told her that it should only be 20 minutes, and she said that they couldn't seat us until a reservation cancelled. Okay, I get that. What I don't get is why you told us it would be a definite hour long wait, when in reality, there was a chance we wouldn't get seated for the rest of the night. After finishing weeks of exams and wanting a nice night out, Mercadito completely ruined it for me by being this evasive. Oh, let's not forget to mention there was a row of TEN TABLES that were empty the whole time we were there. We could have eaten and left before anyone with a reservation showed up there. When we left, no one was even being seated there and it was untouched. I will never return here, even with a reservation. You lost a customer, Mercadito. And by the looks of it, you're overpriced anyway.
(1)Gaby M.
We only stopped for drinks this time, but the food looked absolutely delicious. THE DRINKS ARE STRONG, DELICIOUS, FLAVORFUL, AND WONDERFUL! Bartenders and staff were very friendly even on a Friday night when it was packed and busy.
(4)Lauren R.
Great tacos! I had the duck confit tacos with prune mole and pumpkin puree, then had the pastor tacos with pineapple. DELICIOUS. But the service here is the worst service I've experienced at a restaurant that doesn't mind charging me $15 for 4 small tacos. If I'm paying that kind of money, I'd like a little common courtesy, and not being rushed through my meal with rude comments about how much or how little I am ordering. Not worth it. I will not return here, and go spend my money at an equally tasty restaurant with lower prices and way more appreciation for their guests.
(2)Keith C.
If you are going for "high end" Mexican and don't want to put in a reservation months in advance like the Bayless joints, then Mercadito is your spot. The margaritas are strong and full of agave power. Recommend the pescado (tilapia) tacos - they are not fried and delish. I wish you could mix and match the tacos, at least on the weekends where the economies of scale reason wouldn't matter. Fun environment. Pricey - but not somehwere you are going to go every weekend for your cheap Mex fix.
(4)Sarah V.
If you want to lure me to any restaurant, show me the cocktail list. And what a cocktail list Mercadito lured me with! Considering I worry about getting a little blood mixed in with the tequila running through my veins, this list was positively euphoric to me. So a balmy Friday night, I make reservations for the boy's birthday. It was a surprise to him that I made the reservations, no less at 5:30 so we could go out for drinks and dancing afterward. The place was less that crowded, no reservation needed for the octogenarian's midnight hour, apparently. We're seated and our fabulously educated waiter talks us through the menu. I throw up the diva hand and tell him no explanation necessary for cocktails, but he recommended house favorite salsas and guacs and dinner ideas. Callo Ceviche: Tender scallops with small chunks of watermelon and serrano peppers in a pico de gallo relish. Perfection! I was spooning it into my mouth, sans tortilla, with no shame. Cacahuate Salsa & Chips: Grilled tomato, toasted peanuts, chile de árbol. Delish! A house favorite and recommended by our waiter. Pollo Tacos for me: Herb marinated chicken, chipotle pickled sweet potato, chipotle salsa, crispy manchego. Seriously?! Has anything ever sounded tastier in your life? Not in mine, and it was magnificent. Carnitas Taquizas for him: Michoacán style braised berkshire pork with three different salsas that are DIY. He was in love, good for him. I was entirely too busy inhaling my tacos to even notice anyone else sitting at the table. Cocktails: Big Nose Goes to Mexico: el mayor blanco & reposado, dark rum, guava, orgeat, fire. If you need to ask me how it was then slap yourself. It was heaven. Margarita Tradicional: tequila blanco, grand marnier, fresh lime juice, organic agave nectar, with added smoke. Really refreshing, but I would have been happier to taste more of the tequila. We also tried various glasses of tequila, sans training wheels yo, and were happier than clams. More than two and I would have needed to have been peeled from my seat. And our very funny waiter was kind enough to bring out a birthday flan for my birthday boy. And it was the best flan I've ever tasted. Candle on top of course. What would have taken this magical evening to Disney magic status- our appetizers and entrees coming out at a non-lightning speed. We felt incredibly rushed through our dinner, as if they had parties lining the block trying to get in. Did I mention we had reservations for 5:30? Service was fantastic, food was fantastic, but I would have preferred to slow down and enjoy the meal. Who am I kidding, at the rate we were gobbling everything down they were probably worried we'd chew through the table cloth if we weren't served fast enough.
(4)Robert M.
Tries way to hard to be cool. This is a Sunday Brunch review. First off I love the décor. The service was prompt and fast. The server explain the menu and how you should order (it is meant for everything to be shared). We start with salsa trio. Both where great. Chips where fresh and tasted great. However you only get a small amount of chips. We had plenty of salsa left that the busboy took with the empty chip basket. Next we had Chilaqiles which came out cold and had a pretty strong spicy kick which was not stated on the menu.. Taste wise even cold they where not that great. We order the egg on top which did not come either. Next up was the Taco's. We got the rib taco's which the meat was good and the tacos where hot but everything was overpower by the cole slaw topping. Way too much on top. In short if you are looking for a good Mexican breakfast go somewhere else.
(3)isabelle j.
Tried this restaurant based on concierge suggestion. Overall, it was good. Our biggest complaint is that the waiter did not inform us that certain drinks and dishes were spicy, nor was it indicated on the menu. Not a big deal, unless you don't do spicy like one of my friends. We ordered the pollo, carnitas de puerco, and pescado tacos. We shared the different tacos. The carnitas were tasty and my fave but quite spicy. My friend, who isn't into spicy food, wasn't very happy and ended up having to eat just the meat. So, if you aren't into spicy food make sure you ask about a dish before ordering. For drinks I tried the Big Nose Goes to Mexico. Cool presentation! But it was spicy! While I like my food spicy, not a fan of spicy drinks. So I was a bit disappointed. Especially when I asked the waiter to describe the drink to me before I ordered. The ambiance is a loungy/hip trendy vibe. We went on a weekday evening and it was pretty busy. Lots of people dressed in cute attire and great dance pop music coming through the speakers. It wasn't too loud to where you can't hear the other person talk. Just loud enough that you can make out the melody of what's playing. Dim lighting with candles at the tables. The waiters are very attentive. Overal, a good experience. We probably would not go back, especially with so many other restaurants in the area.
(3)Jen N.
After looking into several different options for a fun restaurant that's nice but not pretentious, and that could accommodate a large party, I finally settled on Mercadito for my work dinner. I could not have been more pleased with my decision. Since we had a party of 35, I had the daunting task of choosing a menu beforehand that would satisfy and impress everyone. Mission accomplished. Everyone - even the pickiest of eaters - raved about the food! Drinks were flowing, and service was outstanding. Highly recommend.
(5)Caroline M.
Crazy delicious tacos, cocktails, and guacamole. Literally everything I have had here has been great. Wednesday nights they have a great deal on house margaritas and tacos -- highly recommend to try it out with a friend. Mahi mahi and crispy pork belly were my two favorite tacos.
(5)Raj B.
I like the different types of guacamole, salsa and tacos they have on their menu. Although i didn't try all of them, the ones i tried were great and authentic. Good for dinner and late night bite. Although i wish they had different Beers on the menu than the typical mexican beers like corona,dosEquis etc, i think their tequila selection is great(but a lil bit on the pricey side). Pros - Interior decor, Sharing Food menu, Guacamole, Tacosservice, tequila options. Cons - Too loud for a date/romantic dinner, The drinks are overly priced, the quantity of the food is very less for the price you pay.
(4)Heather S.
This place is just fun! Look, I can go on and on about how tasty the food is (it is!), how the cocktail program can compete with any other lounge in the city (it can--I highly recommend the Red Riding!), or all the other positives that add up to a 5 star review. But mostly, i love Mercadito because it's the best place to shake off a long day at the office. It's impossible not to have fun here! Also, our waiter last night, Rodrigo, *may* have been superman. I'm pretty sure he had ALL the tables, and we never felt overlooked!
(5)Katie O.
A Restaurant Week visit- but why only 3 stars? The front of house. We were initially seated at a "table" a foot or so off the ground. My beau and I are both quite tall- 5'11 and 6' so the little tykes table was not going to work. When we informed the desk wenches for another table we were informed we could go "downstairs but it's NOT the same" *cue eye roll*. I nearly went out the door, but the narrow entry way packed with people prevented our escape. What is the deal with that? Are you a nightclub? Why constantly have a line 10 deep at all times?! In our defense, it was 6pm, and half empty on wednesday, but yes, vilaness hostess, we will go to the dungeon. After crossing the moat (kidding) we reached the beautiful underground of mercadito- Double A . The woods are dark, rich leather seating, cozy booths designed for adults, not small children. The bar is perfectly centered, giving guests the opportunity to watch the drinks being made from anywhere. Very cool! We were pleased to eat from the restaurant week menu. Bravo to mercadito's menu! Did not leave hungry. Im a guac whore, and the granada was def in my top 3 of all time. The other 2 guacs were stellar as well. Ceviche (2 kinds) and tacos (4 kinds) followed. But the ceviche and tacos came at the same time. It was a bit odd, certainly created a crowded table, but everything was fresh and tacos hot. Get the camaron tacos. Chipotle mojo!!! Nom, nom, nom!!! Flan- amazing. We got flan de coco and flan de cajeta. I'm still craving flan! Our service was certainly spotty, maybe she checked on us once while making a drink at the bar? If she was talking to us, and not herself. Hard to tell without eye contact. Or actually stopping at the table. I guess I expect more than taking the order and bringing the check. The food saved this restaurant (nightclub? I simply can't tell from the loud thumping music upstairs, constant line at the door, yet still quite a few empty tables at 7:30 when we left ) from being a complete fail. I wouldn't go back because if I want bad service, that's what drive thrus are for. .
(3)Adam B.
This review is based on my NYE experience. The only good thing about this was the guacamole and the ceviche. I enjoyed both of those as part of the 5 course NYE dinner option but that was it. Well can't complain about the drinks either even though I have no idea how much the cost of each drink was. We ordered a variety (steak, chicken, pork, fish) of tacos to please the group of 10 we had . I wish we never ordered the tacos and stuck to all Apps and Sides. The flavors of the tacos were salty, very salty and extremely salty. These might have been the saltiest tacos I have ever eaten. The first tacos that came out was edible, 2nd were borderline edible if you want your blood pressure to increase drastically, and next were not edible. At this point most in our group were a little tipsy, it was NYE and didn't want to make a big deal of it. One of the guys mentioned something to the waiter and all he did was apologize. He might have offered to bring out new tacos but at this point it was 11:30 pm and everyone was on sodium overload. Overall this was not worth the $55 a person before tip/tax/drinks, I understand its NYE and you can over price your food but not worth it at all. Now its about midnight, they hand out NYE hats, noise makers, etc. The clock strikes 12 and we have made it into 2013. People are having a good time, cheering, blowing the noise makers etc. I am one of those. I am blowing the noise maker and can make it extremely loud. We are all having a good time. Another customer comes up to me shortly after 12 and asks if i can stop blowing the noise maker, don't get me wrong, I am not blowing it constantly, its a bit annoying but its NYE and you are allowed to be a little loud and obnoxious, as the rest of the restaurant is doing the same and having a good time. We agree i'll blow it a few more times and she walks away. A few min later her friend comes back up to me after I hadn't even blown the loud noise maker again and gets all up in my face. I call her a f*cking bi*ch and tell her to go back to her table and security and manager comes over. Of course its my fault, not her's as she came over to my table to get in my face, but because she is a "hot" female according to management, her word is better than mine and I need to leave. Somehow I talked my way out of not leaving and everyone went about their business. After a few min, we were talking with the table next to us (another table of 10 of our friends) and I told them what had happened. At that point I was pissed, I went and blew the noise maker as loud as I could, still it wasn't that loud and it was 12:15 on NYE, at that point the manager and bouncer came up and kicked me out. I tried to talk to the manager and did not put up a fight to leave and even said I would like to talk to him outside about what happened and the over salty food. He was unresponsive and would not take me up on that offer. He insisted the bouncer make sure I leave right away, they almost didn't let me leave money with the rest of my group to pay the bill. I was not wasted or incoherent and not being an annoying drunk customer. I left and was very disappointed in the food and the way management handled this situation. They would not listen to my side of the story or even ask me to stop making noise with the noise maker that they gave to their customers, they respect the "hot" female customers over any male customer they have. TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT - will not be visiting Mercasalty again.
(1)Masha K.
The margaritas here are really good.
(4)Melanie S.
I met a gf for lunch here today. She's been trying to get me to come here since it opened and I always resisted. Today, she wore down my resolve. I got there before her as usual (I really need to stop being so punctual; it always bites me in the ass) and got a table in front. Immediately "All You Need is Love" started playing. Kind of an odd choice in a place like this. And why does Beatles music ALWAYS seem to follow me wherever I go? Anyway, my friend arrived and we studied the menu. Margaritas were the order of the day. That much we knew. The waitress, a dead-ringer for Snooki, came over and explained their different specialty margaritas. We settled on a pineapple one and a cucumber one and would share. Snooki then explained that the menu was small plates. I just wish this trend would die a slow death. All that means to me is that I have to order a bunch of stuff to be satisfied and my wallet will suffer exponentially. The cucumber margarita was unlike anything I've tasted before. I'm a huge fan of cucumbers, especially in cocktails. I love their clean, refreshing flavor. This margarita elevated the humble cucumber to a new level. The pineapple one was good too, but I didn't really taste too much of the fruit in it. We ordered a small guacamole to start. It was plenty good, but for $8.00, it was a criminally small portion. The chips were good, if a tad greasy. For our next course we ordered two kinds of tacos: pastor (pork) and carne (skirt steak), as well as a side of rice and beans. As expected, everything is a la carte which is how they nail you. I really wanted to order the elote mexicana ( Mexican style corn on the cob) that everyone raves about, but I didn't really want to gnaw like a beaver in the middle of a bustling restaurant. I save that for the privacy of my own home. The tacos were good, not the best ever, but certainly flavorful. I think the pork ones were tastier than the steak ones, but the garnishes may have been a contributing factor. The garnish on the pork one complemented the meat better. I did not care for the rice and beans. I thought the beans, which were black, were entirely too soupy, and the rice was simply white rice with a couple of carrots thrown in. It had no flavor whatsoever. I expect better for $4.50. I'll come back to Mercadito. The service was fine and the food was good. I do wonder if this place will be able to endure at this location. It's been a doomed spot for other places in the past. 3.5 stars.
(4)Angela P.
We went here with my sister and brother-in-law during restaurant week and I have to say, we were not impressed. We had to wait close to an hour after our reservation time which was a little annoying but since it was restaurant week, I cut them some slack. Once we were seated at our TINY table our waiter came right over to see what we wanted to drink, at least I think that's what he asked, but it was so hard to hear him because they had a DJ spinning like we were at a dance club. Again, I LOVE me some dance music, but if there is no dance floor and it's not a bar I don't think it has to be that loud. Honestly. We then placed our order which came with quite a few items, actually. We tried the guacamole trio (pomegranate, charred? and original), the shrimp and mixed ceviche the cheesy rice, fried fish tacos, mushroom tacos, carne asada tacos and shrimp tacos. And it ended with flan. Everything was just...okay. The best thing of the whole meal was the pomegranate and the original guacamole. They taste SO fresh and just had an overall good flavor. The next best thing was the mixto (mixed) ceviche, it was sweet and salty and was just very balanced. And the cheese type crackers they served with the ceviche was pretty good too, very different than what one is used to eating with ceviche, but good none the less. Overall, I would definitely not go back here. I would much rather go to my staple out in Geneva that is a very similar concept but is executed much better. The front customer service here was horrible and needs a makeover which is an immediate turnoff for me! The one hostess, when telling the other which group was next, looked up at me and mouthed "the bitch over there" to the girl who was going to be seating us...yeah...that bad! I honestly wouldn't waste your money or time coming here, there are much better places to try!
(2)Angel S.
Spanish fusion at it's finest. I have now been to this place 4 times in the last month because I just can't seem to get enough. The menu is very simple, but the flavors are complex and each bite is better than the one before. Usually I choose foods that are savory over sweet, so I was hesitant to try the pineapple guacamole, but the balance of the sweet with the habanero finishes with just enough spice to remind you that it's a guacamole. There are a variety of tacos to choose from and I haven't had all of them yet, but I definitely recommend the carnitas and the carne. The Camaron shrimp tacos had a little too much sauce for my liking, but I'd be willing to try them again with the sauce on the side. My favorite thing on the menu? Mexican style corn on the cob, which is covered in Parmesan cheese and paprika, it's worth getting corn in your teeth for!
(4)Claudia B.
I was there last night for the first time, with couple friends of mine for a late bite and a drink after work. I really enjoyed it, yes is loud, and yes is tide, but everything was good and the service was well paced. i love their tacos, and their margaritas are to die for.
(5)Nika H.
Great Food! Great Service.....Seating is too close for comfort.
(4)Thomas F.
This was a great place to enjoy some bacon guacamole and a delish Mescal cocktail.
(5)Medea O.
I don't even know where to begin to say how much I love this place. It's by far one of my favorite restaurants to go to in the city. Drinks I absolutely love this one cucumber drink its just so refreshing. I also get the mango margarita. You must make a reservation because if you don't you will be waiting for at least an hour. Which I've waited for an hour or more with a smile because I think the food and drinks are worth waiting for. It's not your average taco that's for sure. Everything is made with the freshest ingredients and is just so incredibly delicious. I usually get the shrimp taco I literally will drool at the mouth while they're placing it on the table lol. Can't forget about the guacamole. I have tried all the different types and can't say one thing bad about any of them. I especially love the spicy guacamole and I believe its the mango guacamole is my absolute favorite. Don't forget to save room for dessert either. The chocolate cake just melts in your mouth. I came with a group of people and we all ordered a dessert and had the waiter place it in the middle and we just went to town. You most definitely don't leave hungry that's for sure. I didn't think I would be able to eat for days I was so full. The staff is very friendly and I love ambiance of the place. It does get crowded and that comes with a lot of noise so if you're looking for a quiet place to have dinner this is not the place. I have recommended this place to so many friends and every single one has gotten addicted to the food as much as I have. This review just made me hungry and now wanting Mercadito lol
(5)Kammie G.
Two friends and I went over there for brunch yesterday. We wanted to check the place out because my friends have been telling me to have my birthday dinner here next weekend sunday before we head over to UG for late night. I had to check the place out and the food. Also my friend's friend is a full fusion band which was playing there that day. Beating the drums, saxophones, violins, the DJ... I have to say I am a complete and total fan of full fusion bands from now on. So much energy and it's so uplifting. Really wakes you up and makes you ready to take on the day! The decor of the restaurant is really nice. It's large and has many tables. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. I am a big fan of the set up they have there and the people that were there. Our waters were being constantly refilled and we were given proper attending to by the waiter. The staff overall looked like they were enjoying themselves and they were friendly. The food is very yummy. We had the chilaquiles with a fried egg on top. It was simply delicious! I've never had anything like it before and it was amazing. Really filling too. We also had the mahi mahi tacos which were pretty darn spicy but really good as well. I've never had fish tacos before so it was quite the experience. Also had the mango pork tacos which I didn't try because I don't eat such meats. The mango guacamole was pretty good also although it didn't have as much of a flavor and/or kick as I would like it to. Excited to come back for my birthday dinner here on sunday. Plus I'll get half off food for being industry :) Good thing too cause the prices are pretty high. Oh, the perks!
(4)Wendy H.
I loved this place the guacamole and salsa was fantastic. The chicken tacos were superb. I will definitely go back
(4)Colleen F.
I arranged a birthday celebration for my sister at Mercadito last weekend. While the food was wonderful, the restaurant appears to be engaging in shady business practices. Because we had a group of 7, we opted for the sharing menu which cost $35 each. When we received our bill, however, one of my friends realized we had been charged over $20 for food we did not order. The waiter muttered something about forgetting to take the extra food off the bill and about twenty minutes later, came back with the correct bill. On top of this, one of the girls did not partake in the sharing menu because of dietary restrictions so her share, including tip was $25. She looked at her bank account the next day and noticed that she was charged $34. I can understand one mistake, but the combination of these suggests intentional dishonesty. I hope this was a fluke and that deception is not a common occurrence here, however, I fear we are not the first victims. Before dining at Mercadito, I suggest you think twice and if you decide to proceed, please be vigilant about checking your bill and credit card statements.
(1)Bron M.
I tried this place at the recommendation of a friend who used to live in Chicago. I'm glad I asked. The entire staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent. The only complaint I had was the noise. It extremely loud but if you can get past that it's worth the visit. There were two in our party. We shared two tocino guacamole (there's bacon in it -- how can you not love that) and the traditional guacamole. Both were excellent but the bacon flavored version was our favorite. For dinner we shared the lobster and tilapia tacos. There are four small tacos each so it's enough food, especially when paired with all that guacamole. Drinks were good albeit a bit expensive. I would definitely visit Mercadito again when in Chicago.
(4)Barri S.
I recently ate at Mercadito for the second time. My first experience was great. However, this last visit will be my absolute last. Dined with a large party and did the pre fixe menu. Definitely not worth it! We left super hungry and upset. We were over charged and the staff would not further explain the bill. What we ate did not justify the bill.
(1)F W.
Great assortment of Mexican plates, creatively & deliciously done. The variety of salsas, guacamole, tacos & other small bites is outstanding & really comes together. The menu promotes sharing by offering 4-5 tacos per order, allowing combinations of guacamole, etc. Traditional ingredients / choices (chicken, beef, tomatiillos, queso fundido) as well as more innovative approaches (shrimp lobster, aioli, wild mushrooms, etc.) are well prepared & can be part of a great meal for your group to share. Service, presenetation & food have been consistently good over several visits with small & large groups. Check out the menu - If you don't appreciate the prep, ingredients & options you may not enjoy it as much & find it a little expensive. If you're into cocktailing, the mixed drinks are excellent but at $10-$15 will set you back. Beers appeared reasonably priced. Really enjoy Mercadito- it all works for me.
(4)Brian G.
Management has some issues. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. The service was prompt. And the food was good, though not the best Modern Mexican. My friends enjoyed their soft taco plates (about $15 for 4, stuffed with meat and tender carne asada). However I ordered the brochetas ("skewers") from the Main Courses section of the menu (marked $34, but I was later told "It is actually $27) - so I expected a feast. It was very low amount of meat (less than the taco plates). I told the waiter of my disappointment and though he was friendly he only profusely offered an explanation of how the price was actually $27 and they were really kind of starters to share anyway. Since he wasn't on the ball, I told the manager of my issue and he(!) went off into a discussion about how things were actually meant to share and so forth. Management needs to understand that (in the United States), customers have really high expectations, and while I don't mind hearing the management's viewpoint about a problem, I clearly expect them to do something for me. And it wouldn't hurt if they could maybe, possibly, acknowledge that my concern is reasonable (i.e. that item does not belong on a "main courses" part of the menu). The man was friendly enough and offered me his card "to make sure everything goes well next time", but I was a little surprised in an upscale, trendy place not to have received some sort of financial accommodation - I still wound up paying $27 (and tax and tip) for something that was much less than their (good) $15 taco plates. And it's all a matter of management really being clued into expectations. So what would otherwise have been a pretty fantastic experience left me with a really bad impression. What a waste.
(2)Hector R.
I made a reservation a week prior to December 23rd for a party of 11 and left my Credit Card number with them because it was a Big Party. It was my 21st Birthday and I wanted to take my family out for a different experience from our normal dinning places.... Instead We got the most Horrible Experience with their Customer Service. When we arrived at Mercaditos, The tall Caucasian woman host (I didn't get her name because she left) told me we had to be done at 8 O'clock and our reservation was at 6:30 because she had another party to sit at our Reserved Table in the up most rude way. I was shocked because I thought that's why you make a reservation in the first place. So from the start they were rushing us to finishing eating without us even being seated yet. We sat and our food was Spectacular. Everything we ate we loved. It was so tasteful. that's the only good part. But wait it continues.... My Aunt ordered two Orders of Elotes (corn on the cob). They were side dishes for the 2 toddlers to eat. on the Menu it clearly said they were $1 for each person and they ended up charging us $6 each plate. in the end they ended up giving her back $9. Then as we were eating, the bus boys came and took our place mats, plates, cups, knives, and forks and started to clean and we were not finished, we still had more food on the way. I was baffled- not only that the servers around us were looking at my family and I as if we were a nuisance to them, as we ended our meal, they practically started cleaning and placing for the "OTHER PARTY" as our butts were leaving the seats... I am confused as to why the service was so bad when we are clearly going to pay a generous amount of Gratuity fee. Meaning they are going to have a Guaranteed Tip, we mad a reservation and we were clearly going to spend a good amount of money there. Over all the food was awesome but the service and people were bad and snooty Thanks for the 21st Birthday Experience
(2)Travis J.
Stopped by Sunday after the Bears game, we sat at the bar waiting for the dining room to be ready to serve, and the experience at the bar was a great start. 2 attractive bartenders, that could not have been friendlier, and made drinks with ease that looked so good, I didn't want to drink them, and they tasted even better. To top of the bar experience, I believe her name was Connie, made two ceviches that I could have eaten for every meal for the rest of my life and would have died happy. The guacs were just as good, and when you sprinkle in bacon, you have found happiness on a plate. The great experience continued at the table, where our waiters killed it with service, and the 5 tacos we sampled from the menu, kept getting better. Overall, a great place to grab a spicy margarita and some tacos that will make you want to go back for more.
(5)Luke L.
WOW, the tacos here are amazing. Seriously, they explode with flavor and the place has a great ambiance and attractive crowd. The only reason it doesn't get 4 stars is because the way the pricing and portions work out, it's hard to leave this place feeling truly satisfied. I like restaurants that make you feel like you're really getting a lot for what you pay for and while the food is top notch, that feeling of satisfaction was just lacking for me. That said, I would definitely go back...maybe I'm just a fatass
(4)Sandra M.
Food was really good. The margaritas were great but a bit pricey when you start to special order with the different tequilas, skinny, etc. Ate here for dinner and brunch..both were outstanding.
(4)Tony P.
Mixed review for me. We walked in on Saturday night as were seated promptly. Unfortunately, the sound was outrageous. If I've learned anything from Gordon Ramsey, its don't put up with crap! So we asked for another location. They took us even further to the back which was even louder. Sorry. I do not want to shout over dinner. We did end up with a table outside which was fine. The server was Stefanie and she was super attentive. Kudo's to her. The drinks were excellent. 5 stars on that. They even have a spicy Margarita. Don't know whats in it, but its yummy. Guac is also excellent. The dinners were "ok." Had better. Have had worse. Nothing overly creative or unusual, but still enjoyed them. So overall, if you can sit outside and its nearby, then go for it. Don't think I'd make a special trip.
(3)Molly A.
the margaritas are absolutely amazing. the rest of the menu (that we experienced) is thoughtful and combines some truly interesting flavors. i love the combinations of meat and fruit so often found in the taco section! the amount of spice was just right. i highly recommend the peach guacamole and the fish tacos. i will be doing my best to replicate both of them at home after tasting them here.
(4)Amanda F.
My party of 8 had the three course Canastita menu and a booth in the basement. All three of the guacamoles were fantastic, especially the fruit one. I just wish there was more of it! The best of the tacos were the beer-battered mahi mahi and the steak. The vegetable taco and the chipotle shrimp we both very tasty, but the corn tortillas overwhelmed the skimpy filling. Our sides were the Ensalada and the rice and black bean dip. I didn't think that I could love a salad, but the chipotle dressing is amazing. It was my favorite dish of the night. The black bean dip is smooth and flavorful; its definitely not from a plastic tub. All my cocktails were so superb (and should be for $13-$14 each) that I can't remember any of their names (just the garnishes: a cucumber, a lemon slice, and a pink drink with an orange slice.) The lemon drink was my favorite. I've had better tacos in Chicago and for a lot cheaper. At Mercadito, you're paying for the super trendy and hip scene. I even found myself trying to shazaam their playlist. I would come back to this place for the drinks and perhaps happy hour pricing, but the food alone isn't creative or substantial enough to merit the price premium.
(3)Bradley R.
Let me start by saying that I don't like to discount what others write in their reviews. But I must say that if you think these are the best tacos in the city you don't get out much. Granted they were tasty and the service was pretty good here. The noise level of this restaurant was so loud that my date and I could not hear each other. We were actually texting each other from across the table at one point. Maybe if they turn off the trance music people would be able to have a conversation. The tables were way to close and I understand that you are paying for the river north ambiance but I just wasn't feeling this place it didn't work for me.
(2)Sunny J.
Perfect, awesome, amazing. Great food, hot people, beautiful restaurant. On Sat nights you can even get a deal on the tacos. Have been there about a dozen times and never been disappointed!
(5)Fabiola C.
Best margaritas in the world. The service is always outstanding. People complains about how loud this place is but it fits perfect for the kind of river north crowd and style. Perfect for a girls night out. I'm from Mexico and definitely can tell that the tacos here are amazing and affordable. Try the pepino al piu margarita which is the best. The hostess are nice and friendly except when the restaurant is packed, however they always try to find the way to accommodate you. They have an amazing dessert named torrejas the best dessert you have tried in your life.
(5)Lindsey F.
Overpriced. We were here for restaurant week on a Sunday with a large group. We enjoyed all the food and the service was good as well. The only things that were a draw back were the price and offerings. We had a member of our party that is vegetarian and for the restaurant week menu we were all forced to get the 4 course option. One of them was ceviche, which inherently doesn't offer a veggie option. With all the other reasonably priced restaurants in Chicago (with great food also!) I wouldn't go back here unless there was a discount on Restaurant.com or Groupon.
(3)Jason L.
I've eaten at Mercadito for years, ever since it opened. Their food is generally very good and if that's all you look for in a restaurant then I highly recommend it. After my last experience there during restaurant week last Friday, I doubt that I will ever go back. We had an 8:30 reservation and were not seated until 9:15 or 9:30. There was no remorse or apology on behalf of the restaurant staff. No acknowledgement of any sort that they may have underperformed or not lived up to expectations. Please know that I eat out 6 nights a week and understand that things happen. Waiting 10-20 minutes for a reserved table is perfectly understandable on a Friday or Saturday night. Waiting 1.5 hours is not. When things of this nature have happened to me before, and they have, management and host staff have been verbally apologetic, even occasionally bought us dessert or an appetizer. NEVER in almost 3 decades of eating out with frequency have I felt so mistreated and unappreciated. It was obvious that the staff could care less that we had waited 1.5 hours for our reservation. Once we were finally seated, there were 2-3 waitresses working in the entire restaurant. It took forever to get our order taken and forever to get food. In between each course a bus boy would stop by the table obviously trying to clear it and get us out of the restaurant to turn the table; unacceptable when we had been seated there for only the appetizer course. I'm sure Mercadito does not care (as proven by my experience last week), but they have most certainly lost a customer.
(1)Bri B.
Yumm!! The food was delicious. I loved the concept of tapas plates. I took my best friends and my partner for a birthday celebration and it was pretty good. It was more than enough to sustain us and the margaritas were delicious!!! Our waitress, Rachel, was also really wonderful! She was very kind and super attentive! My only complaint and why they didn't receive 5 stars were the chips! I asked the wait staff if they had fresher chips or were they just that hard, and she apologized profusely and just that's just how they are. Those things are so hard, you have to sort of grind them with your teeth instead of chew them! Good luck if you have fillings!!! But other than that, the guacamole is amazing! We also ordered the queso fundido, along with the carne, pollo, and camaron tacos. It was all very good, especially with the small corn tortillas. Instead of eating those jaw breaking chips, I just put everything into the tortilla and it was perfecto! My least favorite taco was the skirt steak (carne). I think it was something about the flavoring, and I'm just not a fan of skirt steak. Also, for my friend's birthday, we brought along small cupcakes to celebrate and it was great that the wait staff immediately came with a lighter and plates so we could celebrate! I LOVED THAT! Super attentive and friendly! I would definitely go back and I would bring friends!! I really want to try the pork belly tacos next time!!!
(4)Antaash U.
Not to miss: trio of guacamole, ceviche and the salsa!!! The small plates style of dining makes it so easy to try everything you want on the menu. The ambiance is perfect whether you're on a romantic date or girls night out. Mercadito also has wonderful service because servers are so knowledgeable about the menu and willing to answer all your questions so you know exactly what to order. It takes the stress out of dining! This is hands down one of my favorite places to dine in the city.
(4)D J.
A little mid week tequila is a good cure for the winter blues...a couple of amazing margharitas to go with some great Mexican food served with a good accent...not a shabby work week after all! Clearly others think so too...Mercadito was pretty packed with the post work crowd when about half a dozen of us trooped in for some sensible and stylish downtown dining. The restaurant offers up a sharing menu which is clearly the better choice for groups, and with an extended restaurant week pricing, it turned out to be a good deal pricewise too. The trio of guacs was a terrific teaser to the taco and ceviche main courses, in my case this ended up being the calabacitas and hongos(mushroom based) - both incredibly fresh and yummy. The dessert sampler was good not great. The best selection of the night ..a double dose of the little market margharitas - with a little hint of chile to balance the fruit flavors this drink hit the spot for sure! The morning after guilt for having dropped a boatload of cash for tacos and tequila apart(!), loved my first trip to mercadito and would love to go back here.
(3)Cerene P.
This place was hard to find. After going around in circles we called and asked them what was the easiest way to get there. The host gave us some jacked up directions which took us even further out the way. With that said.....this spot is very contemporary and trendy. It was my birthday weekend and we wanted to find a spot that was open late, we did stay here until 3am and had a blast!! After midnight they have a limited menu but we weren't looking to pig out so this wasn't a problem. We all ordered different types of tacos and then shared. Definitely not your typical taco but it as good. Down stairs they have a little club/bar only big enough for about 30 ppl but it was so cool, there was a dj and bar. This would be a great spot for a small private party.
(3)Ariana S.
Looking for a tasty meal, fun atmosphere, friendly, accommodating waitstaff and an experience worth paying for? Yes? If so, stop reading this because you won't find any of that at Mercadito. My 3 girlfriends and I decided to stop in at Mercadito for Brunch as this is a restaurant that is generally recommended to by the hotel that she works at and she tends to send people here often. Unfortunately, I am afraid those inquiring tourists will now be sent elsewhere. Brunch started off on a rocky foot after hearing about 5 minutes straight of the rules concerning brunch. 1.) You can order table style but ONLY if the whole table agrees to order it. 2.) You must not request any special requests without receiving an obligatory sneer from the waitress 3.) You must be punished with an extra 20 minutes of waiting time if you weren't ready the first time around. So after we had copious notes of the rules and regulations, we ordered our food...if that's what you call it. 2 of us ordered the Chilaquiles and I was not prepared to be served an oily plate of grease-soaked tortilla chips. Fine- I know that this is the premise of the dish but this was literally the only ingredient on my plate. The egss we were promised to be included? Nope. Tomatillo sauce? Is that the same thing as oil? Black beans? oh that's what that black smear was! When we asked the waitress for some salsa or some kind of sauce to salvage any chance of us eating our brunch, we were met with yet another one of those famous sneers and (BAM!) a $5 ramekin of sauce that really couldn't live up to its weighted value. Other weird things were the busboys who were creeping on our table and literally lifting my plate mid-bite to clear a stray side plate. What?! I had come in another time for drinks and was generally pleased but, I'm sorry guys, this place lost some serious respect today.
(1)Lola K P.
Drinks review only. Girlfriends meeting for happy hour, so I was obliged to return. Not hopping with happiness from my last encounter with the party night crowd, but the earlier time meant more after-work people, which made for a much better experience. Got to enjoy some primo drinks which I can't remember now, but you can't go wrong with their list. Would return.
(4)Caroline M.
Move over Xoco. It's Mercadito's turn to impress. My meal here was about eighteen billion times better than at all of Rick's restaurants combined. Food: My friend and I indulged in the following: Mango guacamole Manzana guacamole---our fave of the two... I know, apples sounded gross to us too, but it was really good. Promise. Chicken flautas--spicy and lotsa flavor. Elote----My friend claimed it to be better than sex. I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but it was the best corn I've had, dare I say ever? Do NOT pass up the elote. Carne tacos---absolutely divine. Don't share, get your own to devour. Horchata flan--a sweet way to end the meal. Drinks: Oh.My.God. The traditional margarita was perfect. Our fabulously sexy bartender, Justin, whipped up a few things for us including the smokey pablo and some drink with egg white. Drinks were strong and had me asking my friend, Um....what's 2+1? when adding up the bill at the end of the night. Service: Considering it was Saturday during the dinner rush, we were very taken care of seated up at the bar. My only gripe is being constantly reached over and having "I WANT A RIESLING" yelled in my ear. WTF, who orders a German wine in a Mexican restaurant?! (Fyi, they don't serve riesling). The food rocks, the drinks were flawless and service was nearly perfect. I highly recommend for a sexy night on the town.
(5)Meagan H.
This place was just as expected. It's loud, it's busy, it's everything you should expect at such a place. We made reservations for 8 PM on a Thursday evening. The waitress took us to our mini-table. She pulled the table away from the booth to allow me to get in. I looked at her like she was kind of crazy thinking I was going to squeeze my 5'10, curvy self through this tiny space to sit down. I looked at my date like "do you wanna try that challenge?" The waitress told me the women usually squeeze through to the seating. So I gave it a go and I made it! Once I sat down I took everything in. It was loud with hip hop, dance and pop music booming. Everyone you're sitting next to becomes your best friend because guess what, their butt is probably touching yours. The place is dimly lit with the obvious Latin inspired paintings on the wall, high-class tequilas sheltered away behind crystal clear glass, and the aroma of freshly cooked mahi mahi lingers at the tip of your nose. Mmmmmmm. I like this place. The drink menu is substantial and unique. They make every drink feel like it was made just for you. My Misty's Sleeve was somewhat spicy with a little punch. Not overwhelming. The waitress told us the Platos Fuertes took up to 40 minutes to cook, so I ordered mine right then and there, the Tampiquena. We ordered some Camote, or sweet potato guacamole, that made the little hairs on my skin stand up. You'd probably think it's an odd combination but really it's the perfect combination. We thought our Platos Fuertes were going to take too long so we ordered the Estilo Bajas Tacos. My Tampiquena ended up coming out first with only 20 minutes to cook. After the first bite of the steak, potatos, and brussel sprouts I realized that it didn't matter how full I was going to get but I was eating that entire steak. Then our Estilo Bajas came out. Boy oh boy. With every plate it just gets better. Unfortunately we didn't have enough space left over for dessert so we decided to call it night. I squeezed my way out of my table, walked through the busy bar and off to our car. At the end of it all I thought "wow, I can't wait to go back"
(5)Daniel S.
'The tacos are making me thirsty...' I believe Cosmo Kramer was referring to pretzels but at mercadito- it's the tacos. Some apps were good as was the bite of taco- but overall, it was quite oversalted.
(2)Manuel G.
Things where great here. Went for drinks and appitizers. Great Tequila menu. One of the best I've experienced. Night atmopsphere was very club like. Dark lighting and the private room downstairs was much more intimate.
(4)Abe Z.
This place has an amazing choice of tacos and they're worth every dollar!! Try their Cucumber drink as well..best I've had in Chicago
(5)Fideo T.
I love the atmosphere!! Been Mexican Im really picky with places that say they have "mexican food" but the flavor at Mercadito is awesome!! Its a fusion but still really close to the real deal. They don't ruin the main flavor of the dish. I love it!!!
(4)Lindsey W.
I've eaten here a few times, but my trip this weekend was the tipping point for writing the review. I understand this is a popular place, but it's been open for awhile and there are some major issues I have with the service that need to be worked out. For starters, I had friends (six) coming in town so I made reservations in Oct. for 12/16. On 12/14 I received an email saying that my reservations had been canceled by the restaurant. So when I called, they said a male had just called in and canceled them- which is entirely not possible, there wasn't even a male in my group. But the were able to reschedule them, for 15 min later. As they said, lucky for me... even though I didn't do anything. Then arriving at the restaurant an hour early to start having drinks, we told them we were there but would wait for our 8:15 reso. 8:15 rolls around and they said they were waiting for our table to leave but they had the check. 8:30, still waiting. 8:45, apologized but nothing they could do. Note: there were probably three empty tables that would have fit us at this point, not sure why there was just one we were waiting on. Finally sat us at 9pm and the hostesses were not nice about. When the waitress approached we apologized for being in a bad mood, but skipped the apps (I've had the guac before and it is pretty good, small portions thou) and went for the tacos. She did her best to help our moods with a few free drinks (half the party had stopped drinking bc their moods were no longer festive) and got our food. Our tacos were delicious, but after being starved we would have eaten anything at that point. Previous trips have left me content, but I'd rather skip this place in the future and opt for better service with a more friendly atmosphere.
(3)M J.
Yes - expensive for most of us 99%, luckily went there for a working lunch (12pm - 1:30pm Friday) and colleague picked up the check. Chips and salsa not free. My 4 star review is simply for the food. Small scoop of guac and salsa (1st one listed) was ok. Had better fresh guac at other places. I had the Steak salad - Excellent! Steak pieces spread along corners of square plate, not blended in the salad - maybe to show there were many pieces cuz the veggie mound was huge. As a side, had green rice - Excellent also! Colleagues ordered tacos which yes were really small in size, but the 2 refills of chips helped stuff us. Food was great - our waitress was super kind. The only thing i didn't like was after colleague paid, waiter came by and started taking away our platemaps, felt rushed and there were at least 5 empty tables around us. Weird..
(4)John T.
Came here for a get together with a bunch of people and we had a good sized booth facing the entire restaurant. Excellent decor and an awesome place to take a date. It is eye candy looking around with a good attention to detail. The food was great, the drinks were made well and our server was friendly. I had the taco's and although simple, had a great taste. I would highly recommend this place!
(4)James C.
Came in after a show. It was raining outside, so we were happy to be indoors. When we approached the host stand, no one was around. A waiter finally approached and said they were closing two hours early for a special event. There were no warnings on the website, which I checked before traveling all the way to the restaurant. As we tried to figure out an alternative place, a manager just stared at us from the front. It would have been nice for management to apologize or suggest other places. It was frustrating because there were about five tables still eating when we left. I will not come back.
(1)Kristin C.
Definitely in our top 5 Chicago restaurants. Being vegetarian we're always a little worried walking into a new restaurant, not knowing how accommodating they will be with our "can you take that off or add this" requests. Let me tell you that we have yet to find a more accommodating place. Not only is the menu clearly labeled with their vegetarian options, but they are way more than willing to create vegetarian versions of non-vegetarian menu items. For my parents 30th wedding anniversary we covered an all expenses paid weekend in the city which included dinner here. We gave them a pre-paid gift card and when they sat down all they did is tell the waiter that they had never been there before, that they were vegetarians and the waiter said, "no problem - I've got it" and he just kept bringing them vegetarian dishes until they couldn't eat anymore. My parents were so thrilled by the experience, my father walked out with a "the taco that changed my life" t-shirt. We recently brought my brother and sister-in-law here for dinner and they had the same amazing experience we've had every time. Did I mention they have the best margarita in the city? They do. They also have amazingly creative and delicious variations that change from time to time. I've also attending a cooking class here as part of a corporate event. The cooking classes are WELL worth the money. Their head chef cooks in front of you, explaining how he makes some of your favorite dishes. I think they're around $75 per person (don't quote me, because I didn't have to pay for myself when I went to it) but this is what we got with it... A 5 course meal, one full size drink came with each course, in between courses they handed out shot glasses filled with different types of tequila (three total), plus they raffled off prizes including full bottles of tequila, t-shirts, and day of the dead sugar skulls and you leave with all the recipes. The class pays for itself in the liquor alone. It was a fun evening and I cannot wait to do it again.
(5)Helen H.
ambiance- very cool! service- not so great.... the guy was just not knoweldable about the menu and the level of spice the food was at. it didn't start the night off well. price- not too bad.. a little pricey i thought $15 for 4 tinyyy tacos. even i could finish all of them and that's sad b/c i dont eat that much. i was hoping for leftovers food- excellent! the carnitas were def. my favorite- somehow all the flavors just worked SO well together. the shrimp was good too, but a little too saucey. the mahi mahi was somewhat bland. but overall the food was really good.
(4)Marisol D.
Food was good but way over priced and small portions
(3)Laura H.
Fancy mexican food just never does anything for me. That said, the ambiance and cocktails were delicious. The restaurant is a bit swank, young and fun atmosphere. The drinks, I got something on fire which was really cool and the margarita (smoky and spicy) was BOMB.com . That said, the food itself was pretty blah, portions small and priced on higher side. Good lounge like place for drinks and small bites, but don't go here hungry.
(2)Lana Z.
I really struggled with how many stars to give this place. On the one hand, we really enjoyed our food, on the other hand, we had terrible service...so I settled on three. Had a dinner reservation for four, at 6:30 on a Thursday night. I arrived a little early and grabbed a margarita at the bar while waiting for my girlfriends to arrive. The bartenders were friendly and the margarita was delish (albeit, a bit small for the hefty price tag). Turns out one of our friends was running way behind coming back from a business trip so we told the hostess we would be three with a possible fourth joining later. Very accommodating, they placed us at a table for three where a fourth could squeeze in (good thing our fourth is teeny or I'm not sure the squeezing would have worked but I digress). The three of us were promptly seated and this is where it pretty much went downhill. Our waitress, who, according to our receipt, was "Lov C", was anything but full of love for our table. She pretty much badgered us into ordering despite the fact that we weren't ready (and when we apologized and told her we hadn't seen each other in almost a year so we had been too busy talking to look at the menu, she rolled her eyes and walked away!) SERIOUSLY!?!? We made a quick decision and ordered. Despite "C"s best efforts, she did not ruin our evening as we were all just so happy to be together. Many tacos, ceviche, and guacamoles later (and margaritas and dessert), we were stuffed and happy, no thanks to the Loveless "C". In addition to the waitress, we also had several bus boys crowding around our table frequently asking if we were done with this, or finished with that. (After the third time, we told them they could take the guac, DESPITE the fact that we still had chips and guac remaining). Overall, I would give the food four stars, maybe even almost five, but the service was really pretty terrible. I get it, it's Thursday night, the place is hopping, and they want to turn tables around, but we had a $200 tab, it's not like we were just hanging around taking up space! I'll PROBABLY go back, because the fried plantains were THAT good...
(3)Engy A.
I went to Cabo for my honeymoon and had the BEST FISH TACOS OF MY LIFE. Then a few weeks later, I come to Mercardito for lunch and have the SECOND BEST FISH TACOS OF MY LIFE. I got the beer-battered mahi mahi tacos and OH MY GOD SO YUMMY. I can't stop thinking about them. I can't stop telling all my friends about them. Anytime someone remotely mentions Mexican food, I perk up and suggest "Mercadito?" Acutally, no. I usually scream and demand "MERCADITO!!!!!!!" Seriously, it's so good. I've also had the ceviche (so yum), the cheesy rice thing (can't remember what it was and too lazy to look it up) which was also yum. And the guac was yum as well. I could do without the pretentious atmosphere, for which I'm yanking one star away. Otherwise, YUM YUM YUM!
(4)DONNA M.
Muy Caliente! Hello Gorgeous! Tasty margaritas made smokey & spicey if you please. The guac & cerviche was wonderful expecially since we are in Chicago where the fish is not so fresh; the right amount of citrus & spices. Not a very carnivourous person, but the carnita tacos were hard to resist - mouthwatering! .....I was also impressed w/ the spicey chocolate cake. I am always looking for tasty Mexican food in Chicago & found it at Mercadito :)
(4)Danielle S.
Restaurant Week 2012. We chose Mercadito over several other options because the menu would allow us to try a wide selection of different dishes. Our choices were the tradicional, mango, and toreado guacamoles; mixto and camaron ceviches; mahi mahi, shrimp, hongas, and fish tacos; arroz verde side dish; and tres leches as well as the caramel goat cheese flan. The Pepino El Pyu cocktail was amazing - I'd rank it as one of the best I've had right up there near Aviary's cocktails. Found the recipe online and tried it a few days ago. Yum. Service was impeccable, though they brought us some of the shrimp tacos before we'd even ordered the shrimp tacos. So we got 2 round of 2 shrimp tacos. A bit later we were served a pair of the zucchini tacos, which we hadn't ordered and we got to keep all of them free of charge. So yeah, instead of 4 tacos per person we ended up with 6 on top of all the other food. We were stuffed. Though we hadn't ordered the zucchini tacos, they ended up being our favorite. The bf rates our dinner here as the best meal he's ever had. Though it wasn't the same for me, it earns a spot in my top 5.
(4)Jenn G.
Mercadito has great restaurant ambiance in a great location in River North. Definitely a good option for a group dinner or date before heading out in the area. As far as the food goes, it's definitely overpriced for what it is, but that's to be expected in the area. It's not going to win any awards for culinary genius or taking Mexican food to new levels, but it's enjoyable. As with many similar places, Mercadito requires you to order your tacos in sets of 3, which is pretty annoying when you want to sample multiple types of tacos, but don't want an order of 12! I sampled the veggie (mushroom and squash), fish and shrimp tacos, and they were all quite tastey. I'm a huge fan of seafood tacos, so next time I'd skip the veggie ones and just get more fish and shrimp. All of them had a little "kick" which I also enjoyed. We also got the fried plantains and trio of guac as a starter - all delicious, but none stood out in particular. I think the margaritas were good... but we were there St. Paddy's Day night and frankly my drinking tastebuds had been shot from consuming copious amounts of beer all day. Other things to note: it was very noisy, service was particularly slow (not sure if that was a St. Paddy's Day staffing issue or normal), and I'm pretty sure they charge $1 per person just for tap water. Overall, a decent place. Doubt I'll be back though as it didn't leave enough of an impression for repeat dining.
(3)Roosevelt H.
It was a good dinner. the chicken tacos were great. Kinda pricey though
(3)Cara T.
I went to Mercadito for Sunday brunch with the hubby and some friends. We started with the camarón ceviche. It was solid. We also had a guacamole that was very tasty. I sampled several tacos. My favorite taco was the beer battered fish. The fish had great flavor and the crunch of the slaw was a perfect combo. The camarón taco was super spicy...a little too spicy for my taste. I also had two of the drink specials, both were very yummy. The atmosphere was amazing. They had an open air patio dining area. Everything about this place was perfect for a Sunday brunch with friends. Great sharing menu with awesome food and drinks.
(3)Kate D.
Solid Mexican weeknight date with my ladyfriend. I had only heard good things from friends and coworkers, but doubts were raised by yelpers. Overall, I get where everyone is coming from on the rants and raves. Me? I emerged with "yay! I'm a fan" on my lips. We secured a reservation for Tuesday dinner without problems. Our table was inches from the one next to it, and the ambience can only be described as BUMPIN', but I kinda expected that and didn't really mind. I wasn't trying to romance Eva, just catch up over tacos and margs. Our server Chelsea was friendly and knowledgeable. I wanted to ask her to join us. The service was speedy and my water was always full. Bravo, Dito. I enjoyed my margarita, although it was a bit overpriced and a bit small. I went with tequila reposado con don julio ($14). It was good but didn't blow me out of the water like a recent marg I'm still dreaming about. We each ordered tacos (4 for $15.50) and traded 2 for 2. Eva chose mole, I went with pescado. I'm a HUGE baby about spice and, lamely, the pescado option was a bit spicy for me but I'm sure the rest of the population would think they're bland. Both were delicious and we were glad we mixed it up by trading. Again, a teensy bit pricy for 4 smallish tacos. Dessert. Yum. We shared the torrejas de bolillo and fought over who got to lick the plate. So good. Just do it. That's all she wrote. I'd go back.
(4)A H.
I have been to Mercadito twice now. I went for dinner the first time and LOVED the tacos I ordered (I recall them being some sort of fish taco). The flavors were great but people are right that portions are fairly small. The other day, I went for brunch. Their "family style" option is a great idea because it allows you to try a variety of options. The huevos rancheros, tacos de huevo a la mexicana and mexican french toast were all very very tasty. I enjoyed my bloody mary a lot too - perfectly spicy. However, like dinner, portions were not huge. It was perfect for me, but I could see someone needing more. FYI, brunch was not crowded at all on a Saturday at noon.
(4)Liz L.
I had never really wanted to try this place because the reviews aren't too great on Yelp, but had to go for a client dinner. I was pleasantly surprised and my clients walked out of the place very happy. The place is trendy and modern but not douchy at all, but that may be because we went on a Monday night. We all ordered margaritas, which were good but you know plain margaritas. The food was spectacular though. We ordered the traditional guac, callo and camaron ceviches, the corn masa quesadillas, estilo baja tacos, pollo tacos, pastor tacos and the costillitas tacos. Seriously, all the tacos were fabulous. I liked the pastor (chile rubbed pork) and costillitas (bbq short ribs) the best but it just was a matter of personal preference. Everything inside the tacos were prepared perfectly size-wise, not too big of chunks that things were falling out but not too small that you felt like you were eating some ground taco mix. Our waiter even adjusted the orders so that instead of 4 tacos each per their menu, we got 6 each so that everyone in the party could try everything. The ceviches were really good too, super fresh. The only thing is that the raw onion taste was strong and I felt self-conscious about speaking into my client's face (this was necesary because it was pretty loud in there) with onion breath. They should soak the onions in ice water to take away some of that strong raw taste. The guac was okay, I've had better though. I think Rick Bayless's guac is much better. Overall, really good experience. The food, atmosphere, service were all top-notch. Definitely will go again with friends.
(4)Andrew V.
Mercadito has excellent food. The Carnitas are some of the best that I've had. The chicken mole tacos? Very tasty. The guacamole: I've had 4 different ones there and they've all been great. The margaritas, given what you pay for them (10 dollars+) are really expensive and barely have any liquor in them. Compare that to an equivalently priced Blue Agave margarita at Frontera Grill a block away, which packs a significant punch. The last time we were there, we were all very annoyed with the service. They clearly get very busy around the time we were finishing up (around 7pm on a Thursday), so they started clearing the table while we were still finishing our drinks (our $10+ drinks) and talking. I'm not talking about just removing some of our plates, they removed all the place mats and started wiping down the table with a wet rag. When we called them out on this they said that was their policy and they pointed two tables over where there was another group sitting at a virgin table to prove their point. Its not like we were squatting, we'd been there for less than an hour and the three of us put down 140 bucks. I'm giving Mercadito 3 stars. If I was judging on the food alone I would give it 4 stars, but part of a restaurant experience is the service you get and the people you interact with. I was just so cheesed off by that experience I may never go back...especially since I can go to Xoco a block away and get a Puerco Pibil torta and a Bohemia beer and spend a whole lot less money.
(3)Rachel Y.
Very good standard margarita with fresh lime juice. Also love their ceviche. This place has a friendly and energetic vibe. Downside is that this place is very loud, and the place is usually packed. The seating is very close together, as is typical of most places in the River North neighborhood.
(3)matty z.
Extremely impressed with the fantastic flavors employed. Overpriced, yes, but fantastic food. And the size of the dishes really does belie how stuffed you'll be following. This guy had three "mini" tacos and some chips and salsa... I was definitely full. We were conservative in our first visit, but I truly did enjoy the flavor of each taco-- the mahi mahi, the steak, and the mole chicken. Mole sauce was beautiful, and the mahi mahi was great (though i prefer non-fried fish tacos), but the steak was DELICIOUS. The salsa, once again, looked reeeeeeeeally small when it arrived, but it was an exercise in not-putting-globs-on-each-chip. And it worked! It turns out when you have really good salsa with tons of flavor, it goes far!
(4)Ivy D.
The place is VERY expensive and that is JUST FINE but the portions you get are superbly small. I don't mind a restaurant calling themseves "tapas", but it's not OK when the tapas size dishes are the price of a full dinner entree anywhere else. The guacamole came in what looked like an ashtray and there was probably three spoons of it. I have no idea if that was the small or large but I think it was in upwards of $10. We also ordered salsa and it came in an even smaller ashtray, no more than 2 tablespoons of it. I thought I was getting salsa, but all I got was 2 tablespoons of this liquidy paste. My friend ordered civiche and it also came in an ashtray, all 3 spoons of it. The chips were outstanding but (as you may have guessed) they serve it in a very small dish. I don't mind AT ALL paying for quality food, and this stuff was pretty good, but $65 later + tip (for 3 people) we walked out of there hungry at 2AM. I had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp tasted great, but they didn't come with any kind of trimmings you'd normally expect (i.e. some rice or anything green on the side). All you get for about $15 are 4 TINY tacos on a yet another tiny plate with nothing else on the plate. I'd at least expect some tomatoes and lettuce on top of the taco, but there was only a TINY slice of avocado on it, and that's the only green you get. Some cilantro rice on the side would have been a nice and inexpensive touch for the restaurant to add to their taco dishes (it would have set them back $.25/plate to go this "extra mile"). I also think that for the amount they are charging they should have chips and salsa on the table which is what you come to expect at most Mexican restaurants. Oh...and YOU CANNOT HEAR A THING IN THERE!!! The music is SO LOUD it's almost nerve wrecking to eat a meal. We came out of a bar to find a spot to chill out and eat, but instead, we were very annoyed with the loud music. There was nothing enjoyable about having dinner having to scream across the table for your friends to hear you.
(2)Seema A.
Too hyped up and foo foo mexican food. Go across the street to Moe's Cantina for better food and a fun vibe.
(1)Kathryn S.
I cannot stop going to Mercadito. Seriously I go about twice a week and that's not just because it's across from my office. The food is fresh and flavorful, they are accommodating for vegetarians and the atmosphere is great. Try to the estijo baja with zucchini instead! From my sister, to my family, to my colleagues, I have gotten a great reaction from everyone I have brought with me. My office recently had a fifteen person event here and we had great service, tons of food, and an overall good time. I am definitely looking forward to hosting a birthday or bachelorette party there myself.
(5)jenny m.
This was really a mixed bag experience for me. On the one hand, I thought the food & the service were really great. On the other hand, the closeness of the seating, the loud & cavernous space, and the quickness of the arrival of our app's & entrees making the meal feel very rushed, were not so great. Let's start with the positives. The food was really delicious. My dining companion and I did the restaurant week menu which consisted of 3 guacamoles, two ceviches, 4 tacos, and a dessert. Of the 3 guacamoles (traditional, mango, and a mole poblano), only the mango left something to be desired. The other two were really good - especially the traditional, they nailed it for me. The two ceviches we ordered were the shrimp and mahi mahi and they were both on point. And I love me some ceviche - anywhere I can get it I order it. And these were a couple of the better ones I've had in Chicago. For the tacos we went with the pastor, mahi mahi, shrimp, and mushrooms. THe mahi mahi was the star - the fish was crispy and the sauce complimented it perfectly. The shrimp was also tasty but oddly spicy (it had good flavor, but was just a little to spicy for this girls weak palette). I was not a fan of the mushroom taco though. I love mushrooms, they would be a part of my last meal in some capacity, but the taco was just mushrooms and very little other flavor. I thought this was going to be the stand out and was disappointed that it was just....boring. I did not try the pastor as I don't eat pork but my friend gobbled it up without complaint, so I'll assume it was good! Our server was also fantastic. She was quick with our drink order, which BTW the margaritas are fantastic, and she let us take our time in ordering. Now the negatives. The biggest issue was that the tables are so close together they might as well have just made the seating communal. The tables are literally about 6 inches apart. In order to seat people, the diners at the next table would have to stand up and move so they could pull the tables apart to get others in/out. And I wasn't the only one that thought this - the parties on either side of us remarked at how close the tables were. In fact the 3 girls sitting next to us said something to the affect of 'I guess were going to become good friends tonight since we are practically dining together'. It just felt very awkward to be trying to have a conversation with your dining companion while having to tune out the folks around you because they were so close you could hear every word of their conversation. The other issue for me is the noise level. It was just very loud and you felt like you had to talk in an outside voice to be heard, which was also awkward because then you felt like you were disturbing the diners next to you in talking loudly. My last complaint, and this might just have to do with it being restaurant week and them having the restaurant week menu items pre-prepared, but everything came out so quickly. Within 5-10 minutes of ordering we had the guac's, the ceviches, and the first of our tacos. It felt very rushed and we didn't even have time to enjoy the appetizers before getting the entrees. THe rest of the tacos came out within about 5 minutes and we finally had to ask them to bring the last one back a bit later because our table was so full, there was no room for it. I like to enjoy a meal and not get there, sit down, order, and be done eating in 30 minutes and that's about what we could have done. It was just not relaxing at all. Now the million dollar question - is would I go back? Yes, but probably only for lunch when they might not be so busy. Which would bring the noise level down and hopefully afford you a table without folks sandwiched next to you. Because I really enjoyed the food - just not the experience as a whole.
(3)Jean C.
I'm in a food coma as I write this. Dinner #4 of restaurant week led us to Mercadito. Hubs is a big fan of Mexican food and even though I made all the reservations, I kept him in mind. I know, I'm sweet and thoughtful. But, honestly, when I was looking at the menu online, I couldn't pass this up. We were 20 minutes early for our 7pm reservation and got seated immediately. The place was jam packed and lively. Our little two top was perfect although close to tables on the left and right side of us. Service was attentive and friendly. He explained the restaurant week menu as well as the regular menu. Obviously we opted for the special $33 menu which included: selecting 3 guacamole, 2 ceviches, 4 types of tacos, one side and one dessert for the table. If you order a drink then the prix fixe price is $40. Great deal still when margaritas are $10+. The hubs ordered the big nose and that baby came to the table on fire. So cool and so strong. The way this place works is that when the kitchen is done preparing dishes, it comes out. So things may get out of order. The three guacamole we picked were traditional, mole poblano and toreado. Of the three my favorite was the traditional. Why mess with a good thing? We opted for the shrimp and scallops ceviche. The scallops had mint which made for an interesting flavor. The shrimp was divine. The four tacos were as follows: pastor, carne, estilo baja and camaron. My favorite was the camaron. It was garnished with a slice of avocado and rounded off with nicely with heat. The estilo baja (beer battered mahi mahi) was my least favorite. Too much batter, not enough mahi mahi. The pastor and carne were delicious. The tacos are "small" but when you have to eat four, they are perfectly sized. For our side, we picked the brussel sprouts with chorizo. Amazing. I love brussel sprouts. Dessert was bunuelos which were ok. We thought they would be like doughnuts with the chocolate sauce but they were flat and didn't have a lot of flavor even with the cinnamon sugar. Dinner took about an hour and fifteen minutes but it wasn't rushed. Service was good and empty plates were cleared quickly to make room for the new plates. This was such a fun place but it was loud! The music was loud to be heard over the voices but then you feel like you are screaming at each other. As I was observing the clientele, this is definitely a place to be seen. Lots of pretty faces grace this restaurant.
(4)Jay S.
Granted came here today for restaurant week and got stuck with the pre fix menu but very average food. We liked the mahi taco and juevos carnitas, but again just average stuff. Id come here after work for a drink and nachos.
(3)Sonal R.
They have a good brunch if you are looking for something new. Portions a little small for my liking. Cocktails are good. Ambience is great.
(3)Angela R.
Brunch was great! We did the choose 3 options, which was well portioned for the 2 of us. The specialty drinks were fun, we had a green tea infused vodka and a white wine punch. For the mimosa you have to buy the.whole bottle of champagne which would have been to much to drink for us, which was a disappointment as we were looking forward to a mimosa. The music was a little loud for a brunch atmosphere, but the live saxophone player was a nice touch. Our waitress served us well, and offered good suggestions. The only food complaint was that the poached eggs were not cooked all the way through as requested.
(4)Debbie H.
Mercadito has the potential to reach 5-star status, but they have a ways to go in the service and organization department. It's loud and crowded, with a good crowd, but it seems like management wasn't ready to be catapulted into popularity given the lack of ability to deliver food - or drinks - in a reasonable amount of time. The margaritas are delicious - strong without knocking you on the floor, and you should definitely try the version they light on fire, even if just for the experience! The salsas are generally good, although the one with peanut sauce wound up tasting more like creamy peanut butter than a salsa. The tacos are really good, but make sure you order enough apps because you will be waiting for some time for your entrees! However, the staff is really very nice and the manager gave us a complimentary shot of tequila after dinner (presumably to make up for the wait...unless everyone gets that!). I'd go back again, but will likely wait until it's open for a few months and they've worked out the kinks.
(3)Meghan B.
I loved this place. I went twice and both times I loved our meal. The cucumber margarita was so refreshing and different. And the fire salt drink was awesome too! The mushroom tacos and the carnitas tacos were amazing. And if you're with a group get the poblano fundito. It's so sinfully delicious. Oh and I have to mention the salsa de arbol (I think that's the spelling). It was so so good. And of the gauc we tried the mango won hands down - it was not sweet so it hit the spot. All in all a great experience. My only complaint is the noise - it gets pretty loud later...they should fabric up that room a bit - the place echos like a cave.
(4)Stefanie G.
Let's break this review down. The food was great and the original margarita was awesome. I have to recommend the plantain guacamole and the carne tacos. The marinated skirt steak in there was awesome. That's where the good stuff ends. It's a bummer they don't let you mix and match the tacos. Service = terrible. I had read reviews before so I wasn't expecting the speediest service and it lived up to the reviews. I don't know why they wouldn't want to turn tables faster considering how small it is and how many people are trying to get a table. Once we actually put our orders in everything came out fast. Tracking the server down was the hard part. Not sure what they are doing since they don't even run their own food. Ambiance was not great. It was SO LOUD. I'm not an old fart but having dinner with three friends and literally shouting across the table to even have a conversation is not ideal to me. Not to mention we were so on top of the table next to us that you couldn't even get out to get to the bathroom. The only reason it gets three stars is because of the food.
(3)Adam K.
Had the Carnitas Tacos and they were probably the best morsels of Mexican food I've ever had. HUGE flavor. My wife got an enchilada and it was VERY bland - avoid it, unless you like bland food. A friend of ours got the shrimp tacos...again, HUGE flavor...very good. This place has awesome margaritas and an enormous tequila list. We'll continue to visit when we're back in town again.
(5)Julie L.
As a generally lazy individual, it takes me a lot of effort to get on Yelp unless I am truly compelled, either by annoyance or excellence. Sadly for you Mercadito, I have been compelled by annoyance x1000. I will preface this. I am not the easiest restaurant patron. I have food allergies. Like, ridiculous food allergies where I have to be very picky. I hate being a pain in the tush, but I almost NEVER run into problems. Apparently the waitstaff at Mercadito has never heard of such a thing as a dairy allergy. And another thing they have not heard of? The word Accomodating. Dictonary.com , friends, it will help you greatly in the future. A friend had a birthday dinner here last week, and I was excited. Mexican restaurants are generally pretty gluten free, and it's pretty easy to just ask for no cheese and avoid mole. However, once seated, we were informed that we had to order from one of the prix fixe options, as there were more than 7 of us. This is a pain in the ass for those of us with food allergies, because everyone at the table has to agree, and did the 12 people I was with want to dine on gluten free, dairy free fare? I think not. I politely pulled the server aside and explained that I have food allergies, and could I order seperately from everyone? No. This is not an option. I explained that there were not four different kinds of tacos on the menu I could eat and it would be fairly ridiculous of me to spend the $30 per person on one taco. She finally, begrudgingly said she'd check with the kitchen staff to see if I could just have four of the same kind of taco. I was still displeased with this, because I was also paying for three different kinds of guacamole, two salsas, two sides, and dessert. Server came back and so nicely announced that they could make me four of the same taco. The "I hope you're not hungry, because you're SOL on the sides" was implied. Fast forward an HOUR after all four taco varieties had been served to the table. My individual plate of four tacos came out. As I had been snacking on chips for this time, and everyone else was done, I wasn't in a huge rush to sit there and enjoy all four of them while my dining companions watched. So I ate two and figured I'd save the other two for lunch. Nope. Not an option. Thank you so much for throwing those away, server lady. I was still cursing you at lunch the next day when I could have been enjoying leftovers. At the end of the night, you can imagine how pleased I was to be paying the 20% added gratuity (what happened to 18%?). I paid a grand total of $54 for two tacos, some chips, and a margarita. On the bright side, the two tacos I had were delicious. But ruined by my annoyance at this place. If I wanted to be treated like an annoyance and eat chips for dinner, I could have sat on my couch and yelled at myself. I shall not be patronizing this place ever again.
(1)Lori F.
Was in Chicago for a conference, wanted to go to Frontera Grill but they're closed on Sundays. Went to Mercadito and had a wonderful experience. We split huevos rancheros and carne tacos. Adam, the manager was awesome. Will go back. Wish they would open a Mercadito in Denver.
(5)Nirmal G.
I've now been here twice. The first time I came here was on a Saturday night at 10:30pm. I didn't eat anything since I showed up late to a dinner, but it seemed like a cool place so when a friend was visiting Chicago, I suggested we go here. I figured since it was a Tuesday night, it would be a little more chill than it was on a Saturday night. I was totally wrong. The restaurant was crazy packed and full of loud, drunk people. Made no sense to me. It's definitely very loud so we were definitely shouting at each other and I was shouting at the waiter. The restaurant is very nice inside and regardless of where you are sitting, you have a decent idea of what's going on around you so I really liked that. The food is really fantastic. The flavors are interesting and more complex than traditional Mexican food. I was a little concerned about the peanut allergy since the waiter seemed to brush it off (or maybe he just couldn't hear me because it was so loud!). Since my friend and I are both vegetarian, we ordered plates to share. I really really like that they denote on their menu what the vegetarian options are and they definitely have a lot of options. We ordered the corn masa quesadillas, the hongos tacos, the rajas tacos, the platanos machos and two salsas. My friend wasn't sure that that would be enough food, but it definitely was. I thought the best dish were the rajas tacos and my friend thought the quesadillas were the best. We both agreed that the platanos were a great mix of sweet and savory and I don't even like platanos! The plates have tiny portions (especially when you think about what you get with traditional Mexican cuisine) but I think that because there's so much oil/cheese that you really do become full. All of the dishes came out kinda at the same time and our table became pretty crowded, which I didn't like. I don't think that there's any way around that. Overall, although the food is interesting and tasty, I'm not sure that I would come back. For a Mexican food fix, I would choose a more hole in the wall place and considering how loud it is in the restaurant, it's not the best place to catch up with friends or for that matter, talk at all. I would come back to attend a dinner but wouldn't suggest it to anyone. There's so may other still trendy but less loud restaurants in the area that I would definitely choose something else!
(3)Rochelle R.
This place is amazing! I wish we had one in LA. Great food (esp the tacos...this isn't your average taco.), cocktails are unique and delicious, and the environment is fun and exciting yet romantic and perfect for a date night.
(5)Veronika O.
By far the most gourmet and delicious tacos out side of mexico. Had the fish taco, and the Huitlacoche mushroom taco, to die for! The margaritas are exceptionally crafted. The variety of fresh guacamole flavors just amazing. All in all extremely delicious food, but pricey, got the habanero hot sauce it was about 2 table spoons for $8.
(5)Amanda Z.
You craving tacos? Go to Mercadito! They look small, but their taste is mighty and they pack them full of meat and flavor so you are too full to finish the plate of four (what seem to be miniature) tacos! I tried the mahi mahi, pastor and carne asada tacos, and each was magnifico! I think the carne was my fave, but just because I am a very carnivorous lover of all things beefy. The trio of guacamole that we got was all perfection as well...the mango, tradicionale and the last one on the list that is spicy (I forget the name cuz it was difficult to pronounce) were all super tasty and they make their own tortilla chips so they aren't greasy at all. I nearly filled up on chips and guac before the tacos even came out...no wonder I had to pause between taco #3 and taco #4 and really consider how gluttenous I wanted to be on a Friday night. The fat girl inside me won that debate though because after a lengthy 10-15 min pause, I STILL polished off that last taco! Atta girl... The margaritas I'm hesitating on a bit...it's weird because they TASTE like they are strong, but they really aren't. So they are tasty and very sippable, but after you finish your cocktail it's like you never had one in the first place (this coming from a girl who usually feels it after one). I was a little disappointed in that because the drink menu is lengthy and the presentation beautiful. So stop being so stingy w/the tequila and then you will earn your 5 stars! Only other thing is that the tables are so close together it's like you're having dinner w/the couple next to you, so that's a bit uncomfortable, especially if they get their food first and you just stare at it the whole time...but that's neither here nor there. The whole place is REALLY loud, more loud than "energetic" as OpenTable would suggest...sitting right next to my friend in a booth, we were shouting at each other. Good thing I coated my throat with guac or else it would have been sore the next morning. In conclusion, I would suggest dining at Mercadito only with a group of friends, not with a date or anybody that you want to conversate with. It's definitely a scene, so look hot or they may not give you a table!
(4)Terris A.
This is a review on Mercadito's BRUNCH which I tried for the first time today. I have been to Mercadito so many times for dinner that I thought I would try it on a Sunday morning. First, the word must not be out for this amazing brunch because there wasn't that many people there. We decided on their family style where you get to choose 3 items and a drink for only $19.50/per person. We ordered the tacos huevos- amazing, steak and eggs dish (don't remember the name, probably because I am a vegetarian and didn't eat it!) and huevos ahogados which I have to say could be my favorite dish at Mercadito. The bloody mary's were good, strong enough and tasty. Definitely make it in for this brunch!
(5)eden s.
Two words: Shrimp Tacos!! OMG - they were amazing. Fantastic flavors on delicious corn tortillas. The guacamole samplings were also delicious and I felt like licking the Ancho salsa bowl clean!! MMM MMM... Margaritas were also delightful. I will be back very soon bc I am dreaming of those shrimp tacos. Loved this place! Only downside - it is super loud.
(5)Mark S.
Great food, service and margarita's - terrific brunch on Sunday's too!
(5)Amanda M.
I have been here a few times and I love it! Cucumber Margarita (Pepino el pue I believe it is called?) is to die for... best marg I have ever had! Also, had my favorite guac here (and I have had ALOT of guac in my time) The Naranja one is WOW Chicken mole tacos are too delicious as well. Also went for a cooking demo here- SO WORTH IT! 5 tastings and 5 cocktails and 3 shots of tequila... beyond worth the 55$ Portions are small and a bit pricey... but I love this spot
(5)Tuya S.
Not a romantic date night restaurant. No, no, no. But absolutely recommend for group parties and just chilling at the bar. After all it's a restaurant AND a lounge. Think Japonais... The atmosphere is very festive. Very loud music (I mean very) and non-stop buzzing mix of people both from the city and suburbs. Though I wanted to scream once at a gentleman who was trying to outshout his dining companions, I gave in totally when the food arrived. Interesting mix of guacs and salsas. Our order of guacs and ceviches were enough to fill us up, that, when our entrees arrived we felt little overwhelmed. However, my whole fish, the red snapper was absolutely majestic! I must say, the fish was an epitome of a Mexican cuisine that night. It was delicately marinated in advance and steamed with well balanced mix of spices. Loved it! The venue carries good selection of tequilas but I was not really impressed with their margarita. We finished up our night at a bar located downstairs, the "Double A" with bigger party at VIP table. Advanced reservations needed for dining unless you are planning to hang out at the bar.
(5)Elizabeth N.
After the rude hosts - I won't be back. One of the worst displays of hospitality
(1)Christina G.
I like the vibe of this place--yes it's really loud, but you feel like you're eating dinner in a club which I personally like. The drinks are great; I liked the cucumber drink but asked for it without the simple syrup which makes it a lot better if you don't like sweet drinks. The food is also admittedly good, but it comes out faster than an order at Taco Bell, which procures visions of a little factory in the kitchen cranking out tacos. Us to the waiter--"what's good on the menu besides the tacos?" Waiter: "We're a taqueria, so...the tacos." Perhaps pushing the tacos because they're cranking them out? Also there is a "VIP" tequila lounge downstairs and I love anything where you have to be VIP!. We ventured down there after dinner, danced the dance with the security guy who initially wouldn't let us in, then finally dropped our waiter's name, and went right in. Of course we left after a quick walk through, but it looked kind of cool. Just wanted to see what it was all about.
(3)Amar P.
One of my favourite cuisines is Mexican food, so group of friends and I went to Mercadito to get some grub before a concert. Speaking of concert, this place loves its 80s/90s music, which is a bit odd but I'll take it. This was my third time at this establishment, and it did a good job filling up my tummy. We were seated promptly and ordered drinks. Previously, I had gotten the bngtm (big nose goes to mexico), which is a margarita that is lit on fire by the bartender. I do recommend it not for its taste, but because its fun :). The drink my friend got a Misty's Sleeve, and I highly recommend that one. I ended up getting a Modelo because I like beer. We initially got the guacamole. The mango guac is unique and quite good, but it seems as if it isn't as fresh as it could be. The best part of the meal are the tacos. They are pretty small and we had a few rounds of these. The tilapia tacos were delicious, and we were tempted to order them again, but decided against it and try other things on the extensive menu. The carnitas tacos were also very good, and the peanuts in the tacos WOWed us (I'm a big nut guy). The carne tacos was okay: the potatoes threw the taste off. I have also gotten the chorizo tacos, and those are excellent as well. We also tried some ceviche. The camaron ceviche was not that good and do not recommend it. The mahi mahi ceviche, on the other hand, was delicious and we wished we had more. The check came, and as usual, and were ready to fork over whatever we had in our wallets. This place is a tad overpriced but you do get great service. Our waiter knew the drink menu well and help us get good drinks. I would come back again, but not until I get my next paycheck.
(4)Andrea R.
Mercadito take 2! This time with a party of 22... My friend had booked her bday reservation a month ago, but they still made us wait 45 minutes for our table. That may be OK in NY, but not so much here in Chicago. Fortunately, they made up for the long wait with delicious food. We started with a trio of guacs that rivaled some of the best I've had in the city. Their tacos were unbelievable once again (this time I tried the beef and mushroom) and the corn was a bit hit among the table (too messy for me to eat). And I can't forget to give kudos to the cheesy rice- my own personal heaven! As promised in my last review, I ordered their fire margarita this time. It looks very exciting, although I think I prefer the taste of their regular margaritas. Based on the crowds last night I would say this is definitely the place to be seen these days. You should have plenty of time for people watching at the bar since you'll most likely be waiting a very looong time for your table...even with a reservation.
(4)Anne B.
I had some friends who had never been to chi come in town for the weekend, so i decided to bring them here for a reunion dinner. the food was awesome- the pork tacos and pineapple/chili guac were awesome. the ambiance was good- hip and trendy. However, I am giving this place 3 stars mostly because of the music and the clientele. Firstly, the music was WAY too loud. I felt like i was in a club. it was hard to conversate. More importantly- there was a large table behind us that was supposedly a going away party- and one of the women in the party was so absurdly drunk that she began screaming and having a full-on psychotic attack in the restaurant. she was screaming- running around the table- it was literally a scene out of jersey shore to the point that the entire side of the restaurant was staring at her. it was impossible to focus on our conversations/food. This went on for literally 25 minutes. not joking. although the host came over and asked her to quiet down maybe once or twice before finally stepping in after 25 minutes, that behavior is completely unacceptable for a dinner scene and she should have been kicked out after 10 minutes. if i go back, it won't be for a long time.
(3)Kimberlie T.
Highly recommend their cucumber drink from the bar. Has a little spice and it's delicious, I could drink them all day - insert alcoholic here. But seriously it's a great place for a drink, food, etc. Good for groups a hip spot in river north you are by everything if you decide to leave after. It is a little pricy but the food is good. I suggest getting the prefix menu for groups, everyone pays one amount for a certain amount of food depending how hungry you are. Good ambience and atmosphere, you'll have a good time.
(4)Rachel N.
I expected it to be another sultry downtown eatery that is a tease, but the food a mercadito is actually pretty legitimate. Started w/ 2 types of guac, the regular and the mole--and I used to think that guac is guac is guac. Wrong. This guac is unreal. I liked the tangy regular more, but one of my friends basically wet herself over the mole she enjoyed it so much. We then dipped into a salad--large, delicious, and again, tangy--and the tacos. Went for the "mole" taco (she's obsessed)-sautéed chicken, sweet plantain, mole poblano, crema fresca; "hongos"--huitlacoche, wild mushrooms, manchego cheese, salsa verde--I could have pounded 50 of those; "rajas" black bean hash, chile poblano rajas, crema fresca, crispy potatoes-yum. It's super loud in there, and since I'm a geriatric at the age of 23, it was hard to hear my dining companions. Also, I've heard it's quite posh, but on the banging Monday night we went, it was mostly mid thirties that needed to take a jaunt on the treadmill, so perhaps go elsewhere (or on a different night?) for man trolling. Overall, delicious food, B-level service, and A for ambiance. Oh, $93 for 3 pre-tip, w/ only 1 glass of wine.
(4)Sonny P.
Going to this place is like going to a lounge..The music is bumping and it is busy! Good looking crowd... Pros: Food is above average Drinks are strong and highly recommended Cons: crowded, the tables seem like there on top of each other. I have been there twice and the first time I went I had a great experience but the second time I went, one of my friends did not like his dish and it took a really long time to get the food. However, I would definitely go back here the 3rd time
(4)Sandra G.
After reading countless reviews my friend and I decided that the only real way to find out if we like it was to try it. So I will make this short and sweet. We went about 4:30 on a Sunday. Not to many people and the hostess informed us that the kitchen doesn't open up for "warm" food until 5 but we could get some guacamole/ceviche. It was no issue we just had some yummy drinks at the bar. Misty's Sleeve & Margarita and some mango guacamole that was delicious! Then we got seated. Tacos, beans and rice & corn guacamole were good. Not a fan of the ceviche it was too sweet for my liking I'm used to really limey ceviche. Anyways, Service was good, most of the food was good, and drinks were good. I will be back.... minus the ceviche. & I love the atmosphere!
(4)Tracey K.
Would it be reasonable to move to a city for a restaurant? If so, this place would be reason enough. Randomly came by late one evening looking for decent Mexican food in the area. The bf and I decided to take a chance on Mercadito and we're better people for it! Ok, maybe not but the food and service were excellent. Our knowledgeable waiter helped us decide from the countless options of salsa and specially crafted margarita concoctions to start off our meal. He then guided us through the various flavor fusion tacos they had to offer. We ended up trying the shrimp, steak, tilapia and chicken tacos, each masterfully paired with complimentary sauces. If you are I'm Chicago, make certain you experience these tacos. Mercadito, you have raised the bar. Well done!
(5)Loreal U.
Yum! Short rib tacos!!!
(4)John L.
Sort of looks like that Aztec themed Mexican restaurant at Epcot Center. Fantastic tacos! Wow! This place was great. Had a decent crowd for a Monday evening. Good ambiance. Not too loud to talk or anything. At first I was thinking that it was a bit too pricey but when I realized just how amazing the food was I was OK with it. I switched from margaritas to beer to ease up on the bill a bit. Try the Habanero salsa. It goes well on everything and has a good kick to it. It's blended to a smooth consistency more like a sauce than a salsa and aside from using it for the chips you can spoon it over every bite of your tacos and it'll leave you with a pleasant burn to chase with a cold Modelo. I'm a fan. It's downtown and you'll pay a little more but I gotta say, I think I had a 5 star experience there.
(5)Susan P.
Have been about 8 times now. Really enjoy the food, however have only had acceptable service on 1 of those visits. Not sure why after several months they still haven't worked these issues out. Nice for large groups. Get the carnitas and fried fish tacos. Spicy peanut salsa is yummy too. Nice selection of tequilas, also interesting mixed drinks.
(3)Meredith J.
Mercadito is a new addition to the vast amounts of Mexican restaurants in Chicago. It's loud, entertaining, delicious, and muy caliente! I've been twice and I can't wait for my third visit, it just keeps getting better and better here! Love the ambiance and how the chef makes sure all of the food is true to its origin- spicy. Its refreshing to go to a Mexican restaurant and leave with your mouth all fired up- not like conventional Mexican restaurants which lack flavor & heat. Mercadito isn't afraid of being authentic and original. ORDER THE ORIGINAL GUACAMOLE- IT'S UNREAL!
(5)Carol K.
I tried it once. No go. I tried it twice. A little better. But overall Mercadito is just okay in my book. The first time I visited- it was a total meltdown. We had a reservation for 9:30 on a Friday night and got there around 9:20. We were told we "were early- go and take a seat at the bar". Okay- stand around the crowded bar was more like it but it gave me a minute to look around and see that no one had their food in the restaurant. Oh-oh, I thought. This place has a service/kitchen timing issue. By 10:15 we still had not been seated and when we spoke to the hostess. she once again told me that we had come early. "yes", I said- but now you are late". We ended up leaving with no food after waiting an hour for our reservation. Fast forward to last night. Our table was ready this time and since we were a group of 10 we were seated at a large communal table in the front. Lots of rules at this place and on this visit- for groups 10 or larger we were told we had to do one of the tasting menus (these start at $30 a person and go up to $45) Our server was steering us toward the higher end- but we persevered and ended up at the low end. Trust me- this is more food than you will ever be able to eat- and in our case we left much of it on the table untouched. You get a choice of 3 guacamole's, 4 tacos, 2 botanas and a couple of sides. The food was quite good. The spicy beef taco and the mahi taco were my favorites. Service was slow. Getting a drink was an art and this place was not even that busy. Plenty of bussers kept the table cleared but that may have been because things were not coming out on a timely basis. The space is modern and open (the old Sugar space). The kind of place that I Iike to eat in. The bartenders are quite good at mixing up a variety of tasty drinks that you may not find in other places. And there is valet parking available out front. Mercadito at 3 stars is generous. And I doubt I will be giving them another chance to pull that up. Go when you have time to wait- or if you just want to "see or be seen" in one of the new spots in town. While the food is good- the service, price and attitude of the staff just don't encourage me to come back. See what you think.
(3)Yvonne O.
I was excited to try Mercadito, having read great things about it from other people on Yelp. So, I made a reservation way in advance, for an early dinner on a Friday and was set to enjoy. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing spectacular. We ordered a sweet potato guacamole and a mahi mahi ceviche, the tilapia (4) and beer-battered fish tacos (4) and sides of elote and black beans and rice. (Yes, it was a Friday in Lent, so very fish-based). My husband was not able to eat a lot of the food because of how spicy things were, and I did not see that coming given the listing of ingeredients on the items - who knew? Even I thought the slaw on the battered tacos was a bit too much heat. I was not a fan of the flatbread that came with the ceviche and used the chips that went with the guacamole instead. Wine was good, but they were out of port and didn't have a listing of other available alcohol that they could pass out. We asked what kind of whiskey they had and it was like pulling teeth. For what it was, a bit over-priced. the atmosphere is certainly young and fun, but they are also clearly trying to rush people through the meal (grabbing plates when you have just taken the last item off it, not asking if you want another drink, etc.) which does not make for a relaxing experience.
(2)Matt S.
Since it was a Wednesday night, and my girlfriend and I are used to eating late in NYC, we were shocked that we couldn't find a place in Chicago to eat around 10 p.m. Luckily, we came across a bunch of people hanging outside of Mercadito's, and decided it was our best option for a sit down dinner. Once we got inside, we realized we were in the Mexican lounge of Chicago. Everyone is wearing faded jeans, button-ups, slicked back hair, tight dresses, and heels. Its a lounge. Its filled with older guys and younger girls. Its 'hip'. We sat down immediately and ordered a traditional guacamole with chips, fish tacos, and something else that had some tuna in it, can't remember what it was, but since I can't remember, then I'm pretty sure it wasn't the greatest in the world. The guacamole was delicious and was the highlight of the dinner. Looking back on the night, I wish I tried one of the other types of guacamoles that they had which had mango and other stuff within it. However, the traditional was one of the best I have ever had, and I have had a lot of places guac's. The fish taco's were not what I expected though. It comes on a long plate with three taco's placed. The taco's are basically these tiny little things with a piece of fish drowned in sauce with a slice of avocado on top. The tacos were ridiculously spicy, to the point where I would have a bite, then take a drink of my beer. I love Mexican food so much, by far my favorite food in the world, and I wasn't able to finish these bite size tacos, because they just weren't good. They actually tasted kinda meaty to me. All in all. Mercadito can be a great place if they would fix some things. I also plan on visiting the one in NYC to see if it is any different, because the concept is great and the guac was awesome, so I'm hoping I could order something a bit better with the tacos.
(3)Ayame L. O.
I am always satisfied and leaving the place spending more than intended lol. I love tacos and yes this is like a fusion taco place but it is amazing. The atmosphere is always calm or it's probably because I go during slow hours. I always get the carne asada tacos and like 10 drinks I swear. The cucumber drink is to die for. I always come back for more even though my lunch would cost me a fortune there haha.
(5)Lindsay R.
Margarita + Guacamole Flight + Estilo Baja Tacos = Heaven
(4)Mahsa T.
I think the atmosphere here really bumped my experience up a notch. I'd give the food itself a 3, but add in the pretty people, the good service, the funny friends and some margaritas, and you've got yourself 4 stars! We had a party of 7 at 8:30 on a Wednesday night and had no problems getting our table, it did take a few minutes for us to get seated once everyone had arrived, but we did not have any issues like other reviewers had. We were seated in a nice large booth overlooking the whole restaurant. Our server Juan was friendly and great with recommendations and steered us towards the better items on the menu. We had two vegetarians in the group and he was very accommodating with their requests and brought out vegetarian tacos for them. Loved the bus boy who kept coming around every 5 minutes to refill my water (as I was parched and dying from dehydration)--so I REALLY appreciated the water refills---that right there is good service in my book. My only complaint about Mercadito is that because we were a party of 7, we had to order from the tasting menu, which includes 4 kinds of soft tacos, 3 kinds of guacamole, two salsas, and 2 sides. The cheapest of the tasting menu options is $30 per person, which is the one we picked. It's a bit too much food but at least it gives you an opportunity to taste a bit of everything. It is on the pricey side for Mexican food but whatever. So we ordered: Tilapia tacos--excellent, my favorite on the menu Carne (steak) tacos--good Pollo (chicken) tacos--decent Mole tacos--decent Traditional guacomole--pretty good Granada guac (with pomegranate)--pretty good Mole guac--not that great Salsas were nothing special Favorite drink: pepino el pyu--a cucumber concoction Make sure you don't fill yourself up with the chips and guac like we did because then you'll be stuffed by the time the rest of the food comes out. All in all, there was more than plenty to feed all of us and we had food left over on the table. Now the fun part--the crowd. Definitely interesting...to my left, a large party of some pretty good looking guys, in front of me, two girls who had spent all day picking out their outfits just to be noticed, to my right, some trendsetters. New place in town to be seen but didn't feel stuffy, very relaxed atmosphere, definitely gets loud in there so be prepared to shout all night, but have fun doing it!
(4)J K.
First fancy place in River North, lo those many years ago and it is still amazing and still packs in the crowds. The spicy margarita is the BEST!
(4)mei s.
we had lunch here a couple of days ago. this was not my first time here. I've been at least three times and i keep forgetting to write a review. i've never been disappointed here. i've only been here for lunch, i imagine the evening crowd to be more chic. lunch is still cool but more business-like. we ordered the estilo baja beer battered mahi mahi, arroz verde green rice casserole, plátanos machos fried, and flautas crispy rolled tortillas. i've had their guac, ceviche and other things in the past. i've enjoyed them all. i highly recommend this place to anyone with a sense of taste. i noticed that they're located in nyc too in my old hood. i will have to check it out the next time i am there.
(4)Dotty K.
Definite repeat value. My favorites were Camaron tacos, Santa Lucia Pinot noir, big nose goes to Mexico (cocktail) and pastel de chocolate for dessert. The Camaron tacos were the best tacos ice had.
(5)Cathy B.
I left here with mixed feelings, but as I am trying to write this review, am having difficulty explaining why. We went for Restaurant Week, but wound up ordering off the main menu. We looked at the prices on the main menu and realized we could get more variety for about the same price if we just did that. Unlike some other reviewers, we were in and out in exactly one hour, which was perfect for lunch on a workday. THe service wasn't TERRIBLE, but it also wasn't great. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees and were served our entrees first. Never a fantastic sign that things are running smoothly in the kitchen. All that said, the portions were small -- I had the taco plate, and it featured tapa-sized tacos; also, the $2.50 (or whatever price it was) for salsa was kind of ridiculous, since you were presented with less than 1/4 c of salsa -- enough for the chips, but not enough if you wanted to add it to your food. But, the food was delicious. The small size encouraged you to really savor, versus gorging. And, that's not a bad thing.
(3)Randy E.
Just had our Holiday lunch at Mercadito - they have a great tasting menu for groups. Just the right amount of food and you get to taste several dishes. You can't go wrong with any of the Guacamoles - they have 3 to choose from. The MUST ORDER on the menu is the coles de Brussels - roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy pork belly Yummm! The place has contemporary hip vibe. Our server was great! She was very helpful with ordering giving good recommendations, quick with the drinks :) and upbeat. I think her name was Belle. Check it out - you will enjoy!
(4)Jourdan M.
I love this place and will continue to come back. Everything from the drinks, to the food, to the atmosphere is pleasing. One of my favs in Chicago!
(5)Crystal X.
Shrimp TACOS! I know I know 4 tiny tacos for $15 but the sauce served with the shrimp is worth it! I never share this dish!
(4)Jake P.
I had a reservation for 8:30 and we were running late so we called ahead to let them know so they didn't give our table away. However, when we finally had our whole group there they told us they could only hold a table for 15min so we had to wait for he next one to open up. An hour later, we finally got a table. But because we waited patiently the manager comped us a round of drinks. In the end, the food was pretty good (just remember its all tapas and meant for sharing) but slightly pricy. Our group of 5 ordered 2 aps for the table, 1 drink each (not including the comped), a bottle of wine for the table, and an order of tacos each and our bill was ~$150. I would highly recommend the corn as an appetizer. The drinks were great, but again you're in River North so expect to pay a premium. And, besides our initial wait, the service was excellent. Oh and one last thing, don't expect to have much intimate conversation here because the music is pretty loud.
(4)Morris D.
Hi kids, how's it goin? Well this is my 4th time at this restaurant. I've been there 3 times and loved it so much that i figured I'd go back another time, which brings us to 4 times. Me and my racquetball coach were sat across from a few Bears players, so that was pretty coo. I always get the Carne tacos. You get 4 tacos topped with a few different fixins, couldn't tell you what the fixins are though. I do know they were from Chicken Fixins. There is 20 locations of Chicken Fixins and they have netted 5 million in profit, should be obvious. My racquetball coach ordered some sort of Pork Tacos. For a second i thought I was with Andy Mullady at The Stretch on a Sunday afternoon. What else folks, we copped some pineapple guac and ordered some sorta of Pineapple potion for our drinks. Afterwards we went to a jewel and bought a bunch of pineapples and went home to continue the pineapple theme of the night.
(5)Kate T.
Last night was my first time at Mercadito and I am in love! Every single thing I had was absolutely delicious, and I already can't wait to go back. Starting off, I ordered the Smokey Pablo to drink. It was sweet without being overly so, and the chile wasn't overpowering but gave a subtle kick at the end. We ordered the camaron ceviche, which was fresh and fruity. They served it with an almost buttery cracker which complimented the ceviche well, a nice change from traditional chips or saltines. We also had a tomatillo salsa and habanero salsa, served with chips. The habanero definitely was spicy but still good, and the tomatillo was wonderful as well. Don't expect large bowls of salsa though, everything is definitely served for tasting, not gorging. We also ordered a couple of the tacos. The carne tacos were delicious, the skirt steak was well marinated and the small bits of potato added a nice texture and taste. We tried the special taco of the month, which was a smokey pork taco, extremely delicious as well! The tacos come in servings of four, so I recommend each person ordering a different type and then sharing so you can experience the different tastes. Finally, for dessert, you MUST order the torrejas de bolillo!! It may be the best dessert I've ever had in my life! The taste and texture were rich, sweet, and smooth, not to be missed. I'll be back to Mercadito even if just for this dessert! Our server was wonderful, very helpful with suggestions for each course and attentive without hovering. The only reason Mercadito doesn't get 5 stars from me is because it is a little too loud (don't come here for an intimate evening) and they cram people in like sardines.
(4)Sam M.
Great atmosphere on a Monday night. A bit pricey, but not too bad. So much great stuff on the menu, looking forward to going back and more of the taco combinations.
(4)Diana C.
Mercadito, Mercadito, Mercadito! That's the chant in my head whenever anyone suggest Margaritas... Seriously, their drinks are tops. Their food is tops. I have never had a bad anything there. And, get this: *they have turned me into a fish taco person*. The fish is cooked perfectly; the slaw is out of this world. Don't even get me started on the goat's milk caramel flan...I would move mountains to get to that thing! Highly recommend.
(5)Jeff S.
OK...I didn't get a chance to eat here, but it scored major points based on first impression. First off when we got there we went to the bar for some margaritas...HUGE tequila menu, but no Cabo Wabo (my favorite), but definitely not a deal breaker. Settled on a Tres Generaciones margarita which was pretty damn good. A little on the pricey side, but consider the location. Looking around it seemed like a pretty trendy place. mid 20s to early 30s crowd for the most part. Had a DJ spinning house throughout the place. It may not be like that all the time, but this was on a Friday night at about 10:30-11 and it definitely made for a good atmosphere IMO. Basically this is probably the go-to place for a late dinner or drinks before heading over to Hubbard St. or wherever else in the area you're headed. On a side note I can't wait to try one of their guacamoles and tacos. From what I hear they are a couple of the must-get menu items.
(4)Anne S.
As much as I love the cucumber margarita I think $13 for that experience is over the top, especially because the food is just mediocre. I have given this place 3 chances to impress at 3 different times and I just have to say "nunca mas!" If you want a hot spot with a lively vibe, good DJ, lots of groups of gals and guys, etc. then you would be happy with Mercadito...as long as you expect to shell out at least $40 an hour. Don't try: Ceviche (so bland a newborn could eat it) Tacos Pastor (not enough cilantro) Guacamole (so many places do better) Do try: Duck (Pato) Tacos Carnita Tacos (these are by far the best thing on the menu and would be a delight if only $2 a piece) Cucumber Margarita Es todo, Anna
(2)Kimberly T.
Mercadito is all that you will read here on yelp. Here's our experience on the weekend, I strongly suggest you RSVP. The host informed us that she didn't have a table for two but if we hurry and eat and be done by 7:15p.m., which gave us an hour and 45 minutes, then she can sit us, so we agreed. We sat for almost eight minutes before our waiter came over, please remember we have to be done and out by 7:15p.m. So finally here comes our waiter, not understanding a word he was saying... his English was not that great, I ordered a margarita that was not that tasty, they use fresh lime juice which took over the cocktail and canceled out of the other flavors. The food was good, yes. It is over priced but, it's worth it. I was still hungry when I left. We ordered shrimp tacos wrapped in bib lettuce, chicken tacos in corn tortillas and Mexican style corn on the cob. The apple/mango salsa was a bit hard in the chicken tacos but, corn on the cod on the other hand was really good. Over all the food was excellent, our service was mediocre. I felt that two gentleman that were walking around with the headsets on should've been more attentive to why our server hadn't come over. After dinner we realized that they knew that we only had to 7:15p.m. to be done because when we got up to leave he informed the host that we where leaving, REALLY! The managers made no effort to get our server( our server wasn't on the floor at all he came running out the back), knowing we a time frame to be out but you made an announcement to the hostess letting her know that we are leaving. I will be back for sure. Managers should be more attentive and aware to what is present and not what's coming. If the waiter would've come in a timely manner we would've ordered more food, therefore we would have spent more than $55.00 on two small plates, one ear of corn, one margarita and a diet coke $65.00 with tip.
(4)Vishesh N.
I won't be going to Mercadito ever again. The portions were tiny, food was meh, and service was crappy. To start, the $12 double-guacamole appetizer, while good, was barely enough for one person. My mahi mahi tacos were tiny small and smelled a little bit like horse manure. Not cool. Finally, the service was bad. Our waitress didn't offer any suggestions, or do any of the things wait staff typically do (like be polite). When we indicated that a dessert might be in the offing, she dropped one (ONE!) dessert menu on the table and walked away. I was considering getting the "pastel de chocolate," which the menu describes as "chile ancho spiced chocolate cake." Wanting to know what this cake would taste like, I asked the waitress: Me: This chocolate cake--what kind of spice is it? How does it taste? Her: It's spiced with chile ancho. I can read the menu, thanks. Then, after ordering dessert but before it was served, we were all but shooed out of the restaurant by the (I'm sure well-intentioned) busboy who cleared everything off the table, including our placemats. Seriously, what the hell? All in all, not impressed. P.S., The chocolate cake tasted like a a mix of dark chocolate with lots of cinnamon and chile spices -- a bit like they ground up Hot Tamale candies and mixed it in the batter. Not a fan.
(1)Kelley H.
We made reservations and when we arrived, asked to sit on the patio. The hostess said she could accommodate us but we could not use the table for more than 90 minutes. You know, I didn't really want to sit on their sidewalk for hours on end, but really, giving me a time limit? The rest of the service was good. Our server was very knowledgeable (everything on the menu was her favorite) and all the helpers were efficient and funny. The food is mostly small plates and came out very quickly- very. We got two guacamoles (they have six flavors) and waited a little while and then asked for an order of tacos carne. The food was fine but super spicy. The margaritas were expensive but good. We had been there almost an hour by then and I couldn't stop looking at my watch, so we asked for the bill and left. 72 minutes.
(2)Eric G.
GREAT place. So happy that I finally made it over here. Thanks to Restaurant Week and thanks to my friend that orchestrated an entire week of lunches every day including Mercadito. Our server was very personable... I can't remember his name though! He helped us pick out the items from the menu to feed our table of 10. The food was all very fresh tasting. I loved the gaucamole with the pomegranate in it. The tacos were nice and light but packed with flavor. The cocktails I tried were so tasty (Little Market and Pepito... or something like that). I almost felt like I was sitting outside on a patio in the summer. The place gets packed for lunch (at 12pm), so make sure you snag a reservation ahead of time. I really like the ambiance. I'm glad to hear they're open late so I can stop by after long nights at work!
(4)Jackie P.
I'm torn between three and four stars. I think the kicker here for me is that the staff was rather inefficient and that really bothers me. Let me back up first. Every year I'm charged with creating a fantastic, holiday lunch excursion for my department. This year we total 13 people and I was actually given a budget. In years past I could do whatever my heart desires. This year they gave my heart a limit. From what I could tell from their website, Mercadito had a tasting menu that would fit the bill. They also had several bar packages that would work for me to. At $33 a per person we had more than enough food to share....4 kinds of tacos, three kinds of guac, two kinds of salsa, chips, queso fun dido, etc. and then I just choice the drinks by person instead of a bar package because we only had 2 hours and most of us had to go back to work. The food was amazing, divine even and I'm sure I had a food-gasm. However, it was only a little "o." It took me almost a week, 3 phone calls and 4 emails to get anyone to help me set things up. Since my party was so large I couldn't just make an appointment. Fine. But help me. Then when we got there we were seated immediately and waited forever for our waitress to bring drinks. I also had to tell her we had a menu prepared for us. She had no idea. So why did I have to go through all the trouble in advance? I also had a cake brought in to celebrate a new baby in the group and Mercadito had no problem serving that up. They even cut it up for us and repackaged the leftovers. I really wish the service had been on par. If so they would have surely earned that fourth star. At least the service at the restaurant could have made up for the service beforehand but that didn't happen. Everyone in my party went back to work tipsy and quite happy, however, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. First impressions are so hard to move past.
(3)Princess D.
Cute place that offers very good food. I had their shrimp tacos which were delicious. The chipotle mojo sauce that was served in the tacos made them even tastier. The guac is excellent. The server will make it to your liking. My overall experience was wonderful. The only complaint is that it gets too loud so you really can't hear yourself speak or hear what others are saying.
(4)Candace W.
First let me say that I loved the ambiance. I will also note that I actually thought the guacamole trio was decent, which is a feat because I don't care for guacamole at all. That's the good. The bad was that the service was a little slow for lunchtime. One person in our party had to wait almost 10 minutes to receive her food after everyone else was served. Finally, and most important in my eyes, the tacos were tiny! I once thought no tacos could get smaller or more expensive than Big Star until I had lunch here. I have never been anywhere were the reaction to my plate of food was, "I'm going to be hungry before I leave the restaurant!" The three tacos plate is an appetizer at best and it comes with nothing. No rice...no beans...no plantains... I certainly don't mind paying for good food, but eating for me is functional and should satisfy and satiate me. I don't need to go somewhere and buy overpriced food and drinks to be seen in a trendy spot. Theres nothing wrong with this, but can't I have the best of both? I guess if I ever returned I'd make sure to eat beforehand.
(2)Abby T.
YUM!!!! I really liked their Smokey Pablo cocktail. It comes w/ a blueberry floater and once you stir it, the whole drink is dark in color. Refreshing drink and not too strong, which I love. I hate cringing everytime I take a sip of a cocktail. The pomegranate guacamole was very good too....lots of onions so don't plan on having a make out session later. :) I ordered the flautas as my entree. Those were pretty good; your standard flautas -- nothing too impressive about those. I also got the elotes...it's nice to be able to order that at a sit-down restaurant as opposed to a street vendor. I asked for more chili powder and then I couldn't feel my lips. HAHAHA! My friend ordered the steak tacos which were a very generous helping of tacos. The meat was very flavorful. I liked the ambience of the restaurant. It had an authentic feel with just enough added to make it a trendy dining spot. The waiter was just ok...did not go above and beyond by any means. The bartender was super friendly. The shot glasses are HUGE. :) I will definitely be coming back to Mercadito!
(4)Joel M.
I came here with a big group and really enjoyed the food. I was the DD so I tasted a few margaritas (which were great) but did not get to truly indulge as I would have liked. Started with the chips, salsa, and guacamole. Chips were warm and fresh, guacamole was amazing since there were about five different varieties (e.g. mango), and the salsa was tasty but more of a puree then a chunky pico-de-gallo style. . Next were the flautas and tacos which were amazing. Small corn tortillas with big chunks of meat (we tried chicken, steak, and chorizo) and some fresh cheese and sauces to finish them off. Small and simple but very well executed. The only reason I didn't give this place more stars is because I think I am extremely biased with Mexican food and think Taco Bell is heavenly. Also, it is very clubby and not a great place to sit down and eat unless your starting out a long night of drinking with some pre-game margaritas and tacos.
(3)K R.
I loved it ! First time eating here ,recommended by one of my co workers and it was great! My husband and I came in on a Wednesday night ( not a busy night) hostess was on the phone with someone trying to make a RSVP so we didn't get greeted right away and waited for her to finish 3min agh, but as soon as we got seated our waiter came to the table , he was friendly , informative, explain to us the menu since it was the first we dine here, and told us what he recommended (great service I think he's name was Jesus not entirety sure ) we got the toreado guacamole delicious !!!! You need to try it , and the poblano guacamole that one was ok too salty for me. Then we got the callo ceviche which my husband liked but I didn't too sweet for my taste. Dinner : husband ordered la tampiqueña which is like a skirt steak great seasoning, the sauce is delicious, and it was serve in a bed of Brussel sprouts and potatoes super good , I got the mole tacos , they were little tacos but the most flavorful tacos ever! sooooo good !!!! DRINKS!!!!!!this is when I was sold had the best margarita ever and to make it more exciting it was on flames hahahaha its called big nose goes to Mexico , it had two or three different types of tequila , it was fruity but not too sweet and it was serve with a flame on top Yuuummmssss!!!!!!!! Iam coming back with my friends next time to check out the lounge that is located right downstairs !!
(5)Amanda Z.
Another birthday dinner for meeeee. What can I say, I have the best friends in this world. This time, we were doing it sexy taco style at Mercadito, another place I've been meaning to hit up for some time. The chips and respective salsas were very good. The tacos were even better. I sampled the steak (yummy) and the camarones (that's shrimp for you non-Spanish speakers) which were amazing. SPICY. But amazing. I'd eat them again and endure the subsequent heartburn in a second. The guacamole was done very well. We were boring and stuck to the traditional green and limey version, but it was quite swell. We ate it all. My traditional margarita was refreshing and delicious...my gal pal's Little Market drink was spicy and sweet with big chunks of pineapple and even better than mine. I'd skip the Shady Gato. It was good, but nothing that blew my mind. But otherwise, plan to drink. The cocktails are fabulous. Service was a bit of a misstep with our server returning to the table to verify our drink order (incorrectly) mere moments before our correct drinks appeared and plain forgetting to take my friend's order. He wasn't rude by any means, but he just seemed plain scatterbrained. When we are paying for fancy tacos, get that shit together, man. All in all, I liked it. A lot. I'll return for the drinks, the spicy tacos and likely to venture into the fancy kinds of gauc. Vamos!
(4)Candy A.
I didn't find anything amazing or out of the ordinary here. Guacamole wasn't new, inventive our unbelievable. Tacos' were good - but not on par with the flavor of Big Star. The staff wasn't very helpful and seem more concerned with acting/looking cool - than giving us suggestions or accurately explaining the menu. We shared the Chile Relleno as recommended. Although fresh - it simply wasn't memorable. Can't say I'll be going back....
(2)Sherill M.
Unimpressed. This is definitely a date or after work grab a drink and appetizer type of place. Portions are extremely small and overpriced. Menu is limited. Staff is very particular about what you order. Don't try to mix and match, pair, substitute or anything else. If it's not partnered on the menu, you're not getting it (I hate places like this). Very small trendy and pretentious. If you want a real fulfilling latin american meal.......go elsewhere.
(2)Rapeepat C.
We went there on a whim. Atmosphere was nice but the table layout is very awkward...it's very crammed and you don't get any personal space unless you came with a big crowd and sit at the booth. We were lucky and get a 2 people corner table but it's still sort of awkward because I'd be staring down the rows of table, so as my boyfriend. We ordered an appetizer, camaroncitos al chipotle (rock shrimp sort of salad) and 2 tacos: a pastor and a carne. The rock shrimp was a good start. However, it wasn't enough heat for me. But I liked the idea of eating it with lettuce. The idea of ordering 4 little tacos with no variation is retarded to me, but whatever. For the pastor, I don't eat pineapple but the grilled pineapple was fantastic. Unfortunately, for both of the tacos, I find the seasoning of the meat was too mild. I relate tacos with bold flavor meat countered by some salsa and sour cream. So, the tacos to me are overrated. They were innovative no doubt but lacking on the flavor front. Want to try new style taco that packs the punch? Try Del Seoul. All in all, will never return again unless someone pay for my meal. Way too expensive for average new style mexican food.
(2)Lauren D.
Where to begin... I guess I'll start with our reservation. It was at 9pm. We arrived at 8:45pm and were told to wait in the bar area. The bar area was packed, 3-4 people deep so it took a while to get a drink and standing comfortably was out of the question. We were finally seated at... wait for it... just after 10pm. Seriously. No apologies from the host staff whatsoever. I guess they're too cool to be apologetic to their guests. I do not recommend this place if you want to actually talk to whomever it is you're eating with. I could not hear a word - they play this very loud DJ-type music and the acoustics are terrible. We were also basically sitting on top of the people next to us. Lots of the menu items seemed good, but I usually settle on quesadillas, so when our server came by to take our order, I ordered them but asked if they could do chicken instead of mushrooms. This apparently was a ridiculous request and not possible. I explained to him I just wanted quesadillas and no mushrooms, and so he said something to me (I have no idea what) and then I just nodded and said I'll have that to whatever he said. I ended up with a small skillet full of melted cheese, tortillas, and a salsa. It was quite fun getting the melted cheese onto the quesadilla, let me tell you. Not that I would ever complain about a skillet full of melted cheese, but come on. I also tried the tacos with peanuts and pork. They were nothing remarkable. The guacamole, spicy salsa and chips were probably the highlight of the evening. I have no desire to go back. I will probably attempt to order the skillet full of melted cheese to go at least once though.
(2)Johnny T.
I didn't know how this was going to end. I'd read the reviews. I knew of the complaints. I wasn't in the mood for foolishness. Luckily for all involved (myself included), there was no tomfoolery. There was only good food and good company. Yes, people walk around here thinking they're on camera. They'll preen and pose and purse lips and try to see who else is doing that. Do yourself a favor: take a shower and comb your hair and you'll be fine. Mercadito may have roots in NYC and Miami, but this ain't NYC or Miami. It's Chicago. Men and women sport muffin tops. Guys will wear untucked shirts to cover big bums (dress or no) and women will make unfortunate decisions below the waist. Who cares. It's cold here for the majority of the year. Function over form. Who goes to a restaurant to look cute? I go to eat and eat I did without wondering about how I looked or who was looking at me.* Tequila and I have long been enemies -- even before it lent its surname to an alien being from the west coast. I had no time to dabble with its tricks. I settled upon a dry rose and hit the menu hard. Cheesy rice? BAM! Trio of guac? Holla (stick with the toreado and traditional; mango looks too much like baby poo to be enjoyed)! Four types of tacos (don't get to the top of the hill if you can't roll)? You know we killT it. We ordered the beef, shrimp, chicken, and mushroom tacos. I am not one for beef, so I can't speak to it. The mushroom tacos were a surprising choice. The mushrooms were substantial and, when combined with the cheese, had an enjoyable texture. The chicken tacos were brilliantly paired a delicious mole. It kept it simple but didn't sacrifice taste. The star of the show, however, were those camerones? Can I get a witness? Shrimp, avocado, garlic, and chipotle mojo? What? What? Too good. I could have eaten those all night. As much as I enjoy variety, I think I might just order these on my next visit. Dessert was forgettable and unnecessary. Do what you do well and just do that, Mercadito. Desserts aren't for everyone. They aren't for you. It's okay. *But you know I was the fiercest b!tch in that spot. Reck-a-nize.
(4)Amanda T.
Holy whoa Batman! This place is a nice little gem. I recently (and finally!) dined here after scoring last minute reservations. We came fairly early-ish and the place was already packed, especially by the bar. It is definitely the place be seen and apparently where all the beautiful people congregate. It's really trendy and fits River North standards. I ordered a margarita with heat. It was different and a little strange, but very good nonetheless. The ceviche was refreshing; I loved it. But the best part of the whole meal were the tacos. At first glance they look like they would be perfect sized (they give you four). I don't know if it's just me or if I was too busy stuffing my face with ceviche and salsa pre-taco time, but after the third taco, I was tapping out. I had the shrimp tacos, which were a little messy, but to die for. So good. I was also able to try a pastor (pork) taco and I think I actually liked it better than the shrimp. The pineapple added a nice touch to it. Even though the place was packed, the staff definitely brought their A-game. Our waiter was super helpful and made some great suggestions. The entire staff was ridiculously attentive. I take one sip of water and it seemed as someone was already waiting to fill up my glass. Now I know what it feels like to have my very own water wench...I like. Mercadito has some great stuff in their arsenal and I can't wait to go back.
(4)Jill S.
If you are all about being seen, ambiance, and eating late this is the place to go. It was rather loud, not as in club/music loud, but loud as in everyone was screaming. The front of the restaurant is more like a lounge, good for larger groups. We sat in the back where the tables are on top of each other... it was actually quite a challenge to squeeze into my seat. The closeness of the tables made it difficult to hear what my boyfriend was saying. I wish that I could have sat beside him to hear better. Still, I am glad we tried this place. The food was great and so were the drinks. Loved my cucumber margarita and even the tradicional margarita. Guac - fantastic. Cevice - a little flavorless, but the whole shrimp made me happy. The Main Events were great. Tried the Pastor tacos, and Carne Taquizas. Taquizas are basically like 'put it together on your own' tacos. It comes with a pot of meat, 2 salsas, an onion/ceviche mix, and several corn tortillas. The unfortunate part about ordering the tacos for dinner is that they have a list of about 12 different tacos, however you can only order 1 kind, and then you get 4 of that one kind. That absolutely sucks. Bad idea Mercadito. Quit being lazy in the kitchen, you know you're busy enough and are making all the kinds of tacos simultaneously anyway, how hard is it to mix it up on a plate? My advice: go with a group so you can share and try more than 1 taco variety and be ready to scream at each other.
(3)Manish P.
came here in a group of 4. wasnt busy at all so we were seated right away. we all got tacos which were plenty tasteful. i have a thing for micheladas so i got one. it was just as good as the one i had in mexico a couple months ago. everyone enjoyed their food, the gauc was nice and spicy so that was awesome. from all the bad things ive heard about this please i actually had a great time. don't know what people are complaining about.
(5)hanna y.
I think service has a lot to do with how well a restaurant is perceived. My friends and I choose Mercadito for our most recent dinner club destination. We went to Mercadito and it was your typical trendy eatery, which in all honesty, turned me off a bit. The place was overly crowded and they shove you next to the bar, which is practically on top of tables trying to enjoy their meal. The food was delicious and the extensive salsas and guacamoles were tempting. I must agree with the the others about not being able to mix and match the tacos offered is stupid. Before my friend and I got there, another friend showed up early and ordered a drink at the bar. While there the bartender accidentally slipped the alcohol shaker which coincidentally landed on her thumb. The bartender barely even took a second glance before saying sorry and moving on. Management came over to try to "smooth" things out. Her thumb was bruised, but nothing to go to the hospital for, which was his only solution. She ended up paying for the drink she ordered AND they didn't even comp her meal or take off a portion. The restaurant manager said he would get in contact with her the following day, but never did. I totally wasn't demanding he pay for our entire meal, but maybe do something for patron that got hurt from one of his employees. I would totally go back, but lack of customer service deters me from ever returning. The taste of food lasted a mere night, while the black and blue fingernail haunted my thoughts for weeks.
(2)I P.
One of my favorite places in Chicago. We used to live in NYC and Mercadito there was good but Chicago is way better. Love the saucy shrimp tacos - I crave them!!
(5)Cathleen M.
This place seemed more like a club than a restaurant, complete with young ladies in short skirts, bachelorettes in pink boas and over-the-top expensive drinks. And the music was LOUD. I don't mean just a little loud, but walk-out-with-a-headache loud. Maybe I'm getting too old (I'm only 32) or I've had my share of "the scene" in my 20's to appreciate a place like Mercadito. Whatever the case, I was really unimpressed. There were 8 in our party. We weren't sat until everyone arrived, which I can understand on a Saturday night at 8 pm. One of us had the mind to pre-order our guac selections (maybe when she made reservations?), so once we were seated, things happened quickly. In no time we were munching on guac and chips with drinks in front of us and a very helpful, sweet server explained the menu. The service was outstanding, and I never felt that we were being rushed. The food tasted pretty good, and I liked the concept of taco tapas. We paid $35 per person for three types of guac, two types of ceviche, a couple sides, four tacos and dessert. There was a lot of food! We all commented on how full we felt before the last taco plate arrived at the table. I was a bit shocked that when out bill came, 20% gratuity had been added. Isn't 18% typical? I'm happy to leave extra when the service is good, but to add it automatically seems a little grandiose. Kind of followed along with the vibe of the whole place. A little too much. Overall, it just seems like another trendy spot where people go to see and be seen. Can't say I'd see a reason to ever return.
(2)Tripti S.
Really yummy guacamoles Drinks were good. I am vegetarian and so I ordered Rajas tacos. They were super duper hot but really yummy. All my friends enjoyed the their entrees. Dessert was a big disappointment and hence, I took 1 star away. It is definitely a very pricey place but the ambiance and crowd is upscale as well!
(4)Monique M.
Holy crap - I have to send a thankyou note to the girl who recommended this to me. We went on a weeknight, and I think that made all the difference. We walked in, got a booth and didn't leave for 4 hours. Rodrigo one of the head guys around there waited on us, sat and had shots with us, made EXCELLENT recommendations, and basically spoiled us rotten. Duck tacos: yay Misty Sleeve: YAAAAAY There wasn't really anything bad or over the top 'trying too hard'....it was delicious all around. Sophisticated mixology, which I'm now ashamed to admit, I never expect when it comes to tequila. Music being piped in from Double A bar down below was OFF THE CHAIN, if a bit loud...we had to yell to hear each other over dinner. But the DJ was so good (did I say SO GOOD), we ended up down there drinking and boogying with *surprise* a chicago Bear and his birthday entourage. Bonus!! I'll be back.
(5)Tish N.
So this place is LIVE! From the dj, dude playing the bongos, to sparklers for bottle service at 1 pm....there is no other way to really put it. If you are timid and you like dainty, quiet brunches don't even come here. It's loud, the food is full of flavor and the drinks are creative and fantastic. My best friend and I try to do brunch at least once a month and I decided on this place because I had a gift certificate. We had the brunch special with 3 courses and a drink. I had the mango mimosa and it was INSANE. I liked that the sweet was calmed with chile and cilantro. We had the chicken tacos and they were very tasty. The chicken was tender, just how I like it. For the second course, PANCAKES! There were like nothing I've ever had, the butter was mostly cinnamon and combined with the syrup and strawberries...every bite was heaven. We also had something like an eggs benedict but with a latin twist. I'm so in love with chipotle hollandaise sauce and the cornbread base. We got dessert, the waiter offered us flan but for some reason I don't like flan anymore. We ended up with this dish that puts you in the mind of flunnel cake, topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream. I was pleased with my entire meal and we left trying to figure out when we were going to come back. Another thing: EYE CANDY, there's so much handsome and fine up in there...whew.
(4)Nycole K.
Ok, all I can say is I wish I were in Chicago at this exact moment so I could go get a plate of tacos with a side of guacamole! Yum! We had dinner reservations at another spot and some locals we met at a bar recommended this great spot that was right around the corner. And am I glad we took the recommendation! This place was really fantastic. The decor and atmosphere was great, really cool, modern styling with interesting twists like a giant comic-like mural on the back wall and ropes between the floor and ceiling to create small spaces for cozy booths. They specialize in Tacos, and that's what we had. We ordered 3 plates of tacos - you get 4 small tacos per plate - and they were all fantastic. Everyone raved about the mahi fish tacos, but I'm just not a fish taco person so I'm not really a good judge. The chicken and pork were great though. I also thought the guacamole and salsas were awesome. They're served in small portions so you can try several, which is fun and completely worth it. Don't miss a margarita. We got top shelf, which was spendy, but soooo worth it! Yum! Absolutely perfect.
(5)Onur U.
I've heard so much about how over-priced and obnoxious this place is, so I never planned to go. But then a friend asked me to join him for lunch there, and I figured what the heck. When I walked in the door at 12, Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer was playing, so that set the mood right off the bat, this place is aiming to be a party spot. When I went to order the three taco special, I was hoping to sample a couple different tacos, but they told me the taco special is only for one type of taco. At first I was surprised since how hard could it be to make three different tacos given that they're just pumping them out in the back, but when they came I realized the things are tiny, so they may not be able to cook 1/3 that amount of protein easily. I got an order of the fish tacos, and I have to say they were surprisingly good. Nice, light breading, crunchy without being greasy. They were topped with crunchy shredded cabbage that was drenched in too much sauce, but still maintained its texture. These were solid if not spectacular tacos. Too bad I only got about 4 bites of it. For 15 bucks including tax and tip, the price is quite steep, particularly since they gave you almost no food. So I guess if I'm in River North, not worried about value, looking for a place to get some bar snacks and margaritas while listening to music that makes you want to scream the lyrics, I guess I've found my spot. Yeah . . . I doubt I'll be back.
(3)Margaret G.
My sister and I strolled up to the restaurant to find my mom outside, sitting on the curb just needing some "fresh air" after chugging her margarita a little too quickly because she was "im just so thirsty!." When is she going to learn she is still a lightweight compared to the last time she drank? Food was standard, delicious but not outstanding. What does come to memory is the increasingly loud music which reached night club levels as we dined. Maybe it was my long day at work, my increasing boringness (so my sister says) or my stubborn dad refusing to scream across the table to communicate but the MUSIC WAS TOO LOUD FOR DINING. Although I did relish in examining my fellow h.sapians courting each other, showing too much leg with no understanding of the word modesty or the phrase "leaving some to the imagination" with the false illusion they are being eyed by all of the opposite sex. Highlight of the night- saw a woman with the biggest honkers I have ever seen. Parting comment: Order the arroz verde. My mom (after sobering up) enjoyed it thoroughly!
(3)Denise R.
I really enjoyed my experience at Mercadito. The service was great and the waitress provided some really good recommendations. The margaritas were absolutely delicious. Some of the best I've ever had. I went for the house margarita and my date had the pineapple one. Both were perfect but I preferred mine as it was less sweet. We ordered the tacos al pastor and they were so flavorful and spicy. Although rice and beans seems like such a simple dish, they were so good! We also had some shrimp dish which was also very flavorful. We also had the guac which was yum but a pretty small portion. For dessert, the manager suggested an off-the-menu item which was similar to a french toast a la mode. I'm so happy he recommended it! Mention it when you go. Lastly, service was good and prompt (especially the bus boys clearing the tables). I took off a star because I felt it was way overpriced. The tacos were pretty small but pricey. Also, the booth seat I was sitting in was extremely uncomfortable. I felt like I was sitting on a camel's hump no matter which side I moved to.
(4)Greg N.
Unlike those that let price taint their review (and therefore do not give an accurate representation of the experience)....... you are about to embark on a very unbiased and accurate journey into the culinary "skeels" at Mercadito. Just a thought...if you are surprised that a drink costs $10 in River North...you may want to get out a bit more. My love for Mexican food knows no bounds. Mr. Bayless put "fine dining" and " Mexican" in the same sentence...and Chicagoans are the lucky benificiaries. I have run by Mercadito with my girlfried many times this summer...so we had it on our "must try" list for a while. The wait was worth it... First...we had some cocktails at the bar. All were nicely crafted and had some really cool flavor combinations. This seems to be all the rage (exotic ingredients)...and is one that is losing its hipness with me. I am starting to revert back to the classics...and eschewing the trends...but Mercadito is no more guilty than other restaurants in staying current in the Mixologist world. That said...they were all tasty...but when I go back...give me a Cadillac margarita (Grand Marnier and top shelf tequila) straight up with salt. Second...it was really crowded and the vibe was bursting with energy. The interior is nicely done...modern but not cold...chic but not overdone. The ambience has a nice warm glow at night (lighting is key) and the subturranean room is WAY COOL (nice music...a bit clubbier...and you can eat there). We will sit there on our next visit... Oh yeah...the food! We sampled just about everything...the guac was delectable...the tacos were brilliant (albeit a bit undersized)...and the coffee/desserts were decadent. Overall...the food was quite good...and lived up to our expectations. The overall service was good...and the bill was what I expected from an upscale restaurant in River North. It isnt Topolobampo (the benchmark)....but Mercadito is a solid choice for high end, flavorful mexican.
(4)Rada I.
Coming from San Francisco, I was really skeptical that we would get good food here. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Not only was the food amazing, the drinks were fantastic.... Not too sweet, and perfectly tequila. LOVE LOVE LOVE it here. Can't wait to come back for more of that fancy guacamole.
(5)Jose B.
The ambiance is perfect here. I'm a regular here and our group will typically have a dinner and then head down to double a lounge afterwards. This makes things really convenient for the group, no lines or cover! Dress here is trendy which is more my style. Food isn't inexpensive but I guess you expect that when you come to a place like this. Overall it's at least somewhere you need to try. No clue how it has a 3.5/5 stars with this many reviews.
(5)Barbara S.
Not at all your traditional tacos you would find on the south side of Chicago or anywhere really but WOW i love their tacos. So much flavor. You can say it's quality over quantity. So if you're expecting a big meal this isn't the place for you. Even though it's a bit pricey they are hands down the best tacos i've ever had, everyone should come here at least once in their lives!
(4)Arpana U.
I was deciding between 3 and 4, but I liked the atmosphere of this place and the service (especially those busing/filling water) was good. Yes it is a clubby feel. You come out here to dress up and put on those high heeled shoes you couldn't resist buying but had nowhere to wear them to, and have a fun night on the town. If you're expecting a nice quiet meal, or traditional mexican fare, do not come here. Mercadito does not boast itself as either of those, so you can't hold it against the place when it's not that. Guac: traditional is really good, pineapple (pina) is traditional with pineapple mixed it (so don't get both), and mango was AWESOME!! Tacos: hubby is vegetarian so we got carna tacos, but veggie. They were SO good. The mix of ingredients and sauce was awesome. Guessing it would be good with steak too (but other reviews have said steak is dry, so I can't really comment). But me being a meat eater, I thoroughly enjoyed the veggie version and would get it again. I also got the shrimp/camaron. I just wasn't a fan. I don't if it was too smoky or what, but that taste just wasn't right for me. I chose not to finish them (and instead went back to the guac). (Sidenote - didn't think they were spicy at all, as other reviews said.) Chile relleno: Also got it vegetarian, and also really enjoyed it. Great cheese, but not too much. Veggies were great, it had carrots, which I don't usually like cooked carrots, but these were great mix of raw/cooked/not overpowering taste. Also seeds of the chile made it spicy, but not so much you couldn't eat it. Dessert: decided to splurge (although price of desserts compared to everything else isn't too bad). Got the goat milk caramel flan. Really good, really sweet, really caramel-y. I couldn't taste the goat milk, hubby said he could just a bit. Overall, it was a fun night out. Pricey for sure, but knew that going in by looking at the menu online. $15.5 for four small tacos is a lot, but you're paying for the ambiance and different dining/food experience, so enjoy it. If that's not your scene, that's cool, hit up another place! Also, be sure to make reservations, unless you're cool with standing at the bar and waiting, there is no bar seating. It seemed like people were waiting on avg. 30-45 min. But their drink selection is awesome. They're opening up something called Tavernita and gave us info on it, so kind of excited to see what that place will be like.
(4)Kris L.
Good River North spot though packed and loud we walked in on Saturday and were able to secure a very guarded spot at the bar for fantastic margaritas but more importantly tasty (though a little salty) pastor tacos and fresh ceviche. Good bar eats but too loud to propose too your girlfriend.
(3)Ken Z.
On the good side--the food is tasty and the restaurant is lively. On the bad side--you have to order 4 of the same tacos at a time, which is completely stupid. Other similar restaurants let you order singles so you can try more of a variety. Also, Mercadito would really love to turn your table quickly, so you might feel rushed sometimes.
(3)Emily B.
I wanted to love Mercadito, but it was just okay for me. Truth be told, I could down Chipotle tacos just as gleefully but there is something to say about the posh dining vibe you get from this joint. Then menu is impossibly authentic, to the point that I had to ask our Enrique Iglesias-esque waiter to translate some of the sections. Also, the tequila list is as big as their food menu, which just goes to show you, they mean business. If tequila and I didn't have such a hate/hate relationship, I'm sure I could have got down with one of their selections. But, we settled on food instead, ordering one of their 8 varieties of guac (mango guacamole...bomb dot com) and some pork tacos featuring cole slaw and roasted peanuts. The plus is that the tacos are perfectly sized. The minus is there is 4 in an order and no mixing and matching. They run about $14 an order. I was uncomfortably stuffed after the several rounds of chips they kept bringing to the table and had no room for dessert even though they looked pretty legit. Probably won't return, even if I get a craving for Mexican. I think it's more a place to slam some bomb maragaritas, to be honest. Side note: do you have any idea how hard it is to focus on your meal when you're playing "gay or straight?" with your waiter? Also helpful to know, you can't sit in the dining room or front area unless you order food. If you just plan to drink, you'll have to post up at the bar.
(3)Kevin N.
If you dropped into Chicago and thought to yourself "what an ideal place to find Mexican food," you might not be surprised to consider yourself an army of one (or few). Hailing from a part of the country known for its Mexican fare, I wouldn't typically consider myself one of those folks who would find the possibility of successful south of the border eats in Illinois it impossible to consider...but the proximity of the city may encourage some curiosity therein. Enter Mercadito, where a group of us sauntered in for a recent sharable dinner. The small plates, from ceviches to creative taco options to some of the unique cocktail choices and desserts available, lent themselves to roundtable chats about the nuances of the food and our time together. Interesting sidenote that the soundtrack here seems to be Alternative Radio, circa 1994 or thereabouts, which I happen to like quite a bit, but it seemed an interesting choice, at least until you consider the physical decor - lots of carefully rusted and backlit touches throughout. In my neck of the woods they might get thumped a little for the size of some of the portions and the creative vs. traditional elements happening...but here, in a pinch, Mercadito provided a perfectly pleasant backdrop for friends and tastebuds, and not always in that order.
(4)Chris H.
Overall very good. They were out of two tequilas that the waiter had recommended [!] which was a bit off-putting. The tacos were good; carnitas was very good. The guacamole was OK, chips were great. The best was the corn hominy/pork belly side dish--it was to die for.
(4)Porsch K.
I came here for my birthday party a few weeks ago and had a GREAT time! The food was spectacular, the ambiance was exactly what I was looking for and the music and drinks topped it all off. To start I had a party of 17 ppl so I was initially worried about the sharing menu not being enough for my party BUT it was mos def enough. I had guys and girls there attend and I must reiterate, there was enough food. There are 2 reasons why I did not give Mercadito 5 stars and though they're slightly minor, for the price that we paid for our dinner, I expect NO INTERRUPTIONS or DISTURBANCES in service. 1. I made reservations for my party 2 weeks in advance providing them with my choosing for the sharing menu ($35 pp). When we were seated and ready to be served, surprisingly, our waiter had only received half of my sharing menu. Thank God for email, so I quickly retrieved my sent email to the party planner from a week ago, and we were back in business. -I am a FREAK when it comes to being prepared for things & as this was my Bday party I slightly began to have a mini meltdown thinking that this could only get worst 2. I had a confirmed party of 17 and as the last 3-4 ppl trickled in, we realized that there was clearly only enough seating for 13 ppl. Again, I panicked & this time the manager came over to speak with me. -Hands down, the manager (Dan-I think) handled this issue with complete respect and sincere apology about this situation...this put a smile on my face & within 5 minutes, he made room for the rest of my guests quickly resolving this issue. THANK YOU MANAGER. PARKING: Forget about it lol...or Valet, if you have a later reservation like I did (9pm) if people are driving make sure they arrive 30 minutes earlier to guarantee them a decent street park...but I recommend valet. Overall, I love this place despite the expensive as F prices! You pay for what you get and our server/service, quality of food and ambiance were ALL ON POINT....until we got out bill! lol Our bill came out to be $1100...In hindsight, I would recommend this to future party goers...MAKE SURE you're party opens a tab and/or orders their alcoholic drinks at the bar. Not only are the drinks expensive as hell (but amazing) this increased the taxes and gratuity making the rest of my party having the fork over more money. Make a long story short, I HIGHLY recommend this place for a cool date, BDay celebration or anything interactive w/ ppl. Please make sure you come prepared to fork over a hefty penny but leave feeling that the service and atmosphere was well worth it!
(4)Bridget K.
I'm finally getting around to reviewing Mercadito and I think it's always best to highlight the positives before sharing the 'wahwahwah' bad news. Mercadito's guacamole list is as impressive as their high end tequila selection. We went with the Mango guacamole which was hands down some of the best guac i've ever dipped my chips in, and I've dipped my chips in a lot of GUAC mmmhmm. As for alcohol, unfortunately, tequila makes me want to change my name and move to another country the next day so my group and I stuck to wine. The ambiance is alright, I felt a little like I was in a dungeon because of the soft lighting and unbelievably uncomfortable chairs but overall, we enjoyed our gay/straight waiter. We ordered the pork tacos which were phenomenal. They are grouped in 4's and they won't allow you to mix n' match which limits your options quite a bit since they run about $14 bucks a plate. Oh and the restroom is located on the bottom floor of the restaurant which is so strange for a place serving 60-120 proof liquor...someone is bound to take a tumble and it ain't gunna be pretty. 'ay!'
(4)Lala S.
i would give this place a 3.5 if halves were a possibility, but they aren't, and I usually round up, but I won't. IMO, this place is a little too modern for me without the authentic Mexican taste I normally like. It was all OK, nothing extraordinary, nothing I would ever have a craving for necessarily... Their tortilla chips and tostadas were tasty. The tortilla chips were thin, not heavy, and not greasy. I don't know how authentic their tostada chips were, but I'm not an expert in authentic tostadas. They reminded me of pie crust in tostada form. The two salsas we tried were good. Chipotle was my favorite. The Chile de Arbol was pretty good, too. I was with a mild eater so I didn't get to try the habanero. The tacos were pretty tasty. We opted for the carne asada but I'm pretty sure they rotate the fillings and condiments for those pretty regularly, so I won't bother going into detail. The elotes were ok. Nothing that you can't recreate at home. The ceviches were really sweet for my taste. I just hate seafood + sweet. It just doesn't make sense to me and none of the ceviches had any heat and could use some salt. or something. The ceviches were just really lacking. The drinks were really tasty, however, the refrescos were delish and I had some adult drink with pineapple and tequila. I would go back for drinks.
(3)Helena G.
We were a group of 9 so I did a reservation and they lost it. We didn't have any problem getting a table because the restaurant was completly empty (Saturday 11.45 am). We had some refrescos (natural juices) of mango and strawberry. They were very good. I loved the mango and the traditional guacamole. I had the huevos revueltos. It's similar with eggs Benedict but with a Mexican touch. I liked it. We also had some single and double expressos (coffee) and they were ridiculous expensive, $4/single and $6/double. The single was super small. And the coffee quality was terrible. I loved the decor and ambience. The staff was super nice, except a guy who was very rude pushing everyone to take the glasses and plates. It was an awful attitude. I'm giving 3 star because I think that this place is pricey. We had some guacamole, a brunch dish and one drink each plus coffee and we paid almost $40 per person.
(3)Vivien S.
Great ambiance, and excellent cocktails. This is a fun place for a birthday celebration (i.e. big groups). If you're looking for a romantic date, this place would be too noisy for this purpose. The food is decent, definitely on the high-end of Mexican food but nothing too exceptional.
(3)Colin J.
By far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. All of the drinks, sides, and tacos are fantastic; particularly the Carne and Camaron.
(5)Dennis C.
You have to give them A for effort -- in a town with the street market and Rick Bayless, opening a high-end taco place is quite a challenge. I think Mercadito does a fine job, as evident by the patrons at 11 PM at night ( it was restaurant week). There wasn't anything to complain about--we had the guac, shrimp, pork and steak tacos. But as mentioned before, nothing mind blowing. One of the things I love about Chicago--the people know their drinks and bars. And no wonder, with the winters there it's no surprise there's a bar at every corner. The drinks here were good -- not too strong, but not too weak. But who am I to say....
(3)Jessie R.
We were a party of 4 and a friend wanted to treat us for dinner. He has been raving about this place. By me being half Mexican, I was not excited about eating Mexican food. Let me tell you, this place is amazing! Last Saturday was my first time here. They have their Spring menu right now. Daniel was our server. He was very helpful and made a few suggestions. The guy knows what he is talking about. We were not disappointed with any of them. The margaritas were absolutely delicious. We ordered a tier of 3 guacamoles, the traditional, elote, and poblano; all were delicious. Even the chips were yummy! We had the pescado, carne, and carnitas tacos; AMAZING! We also ordered a burger. Yes, a burger that Daniel recommended. We weren't there to eat a burger, but with the description that he gave, we just couldn't resist. Again, AMAZING! As main dishes, we ordered a tampiquena, brochetas, and my bf had another burger (he felt it was that good), lol, and I ordered another round of carne tacos (I only ate 1 1/2, I was so full because of the appetizers). We didn't want to leave without trying a dessert. We were sharing, since we were so full. We were going to go with the tres leches cake, but Daniel suggested a dessert that has a "bolillo" and ice cream on it. It was a GREAT choice. It tasted like french toast. Overall, it was a delightful experience. Mercadito knows what their doing and Daniel knows his stuff. I definitely recommend it. On our way to our car, our friend asked me what I would rate it from a 1-10, I said definitely an 11! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Diana D.
First timer at Mercadito and was not disappointed! Had my Bday dinner her with 8 friends and Sharon unhooked me up with a great table . I picked from a few menu party options, for large parties and everything was incredible. All drinks were unique and tasty. Food was outstanding. ..my personal fav was the carnita tacos and arroz Verde. I'm glad I picked this spot to celebrate my Bday. I'll be back for sure!
(4)Betsy P.
This place is pumping right when you walk in. It's pumpin so much that's it's hard to have a conversation. Who cares, right? When the delicious signature margaritas start coming your way, you end up talking louder anyway. Mercadito gets my approval. The place is always packed, so it's recommended to make a reso. The staff are knowledgeable of both food and drinks, which is a real plus. The food is amazing. Please don't forget to order the trio of guacamole. Yummy! Also, food is served tapas style so everyone in your company can enjoy all the delicious bites. It's worth the wait. Once you tried Mercadito, you will come again.
(4)Ashley K.
Went here on Saturday night for my bachelorette party dinner. I thought it was a perfect place for a large group, since the restaurant was fairly noisy, no one was particularly bothered by the fact that we were shouting and laughing a lot. The food was awesome. We did one of the sharing menus and it was more than enough food for everyone. We started with three guacs - the mango, traditional and I can't remember what the third one was. I don't normally like fruit guacamole but I really enjoyed this one, especially the smoky background flavor provided by the chipotle. The other guacs were delicious as well. The two ceviches - mahi mahi and shrimp were light and refreshing and tasted fresh, not fishy, just as good ceviche should. We sampled four different kinds of tacos: tilapia, pastor, rajas, and chorizo. The tilapia and pastor were my favorites. The sweetness of the pineapple in the pastor taco was perfectly balanced with the spicy chile. The tilapia was cooked just right and topped with one of the most delicious sauces I've tasted recently. The choizo and the rajas were also very good but by the time they came out, I was so full that I don't think I enjoyed them to their full potential. The chorizo wasn't heavy, like so many chorizo tacos can be, which was a definite plus. I can't really comment on the price, since I didn't pay. I do know the drinks were a little pricey but they were very good, so in my mind, that makes it worth it. The only downfalls: they wouldn't seat us until our entire party was there, even though they had a whole section reserved for us. Then when we were finishing up drinks after paying our bill, three employees hovered over our table giving us a death stare until we left. Relax buddy. I get that you're busy but I would like to enjoy the last delicious drops of my mango margarita.
(5)julie q.
Went here for lunch - Agreed that it's pricey. And, as another yelper pointed out, I think it's absolutely retarded that you can't combine your tacos. So three steak, or three pork, or three fish, but not one steak, one fish, and one pork. Dumbest thing I've heard. Food - Steak tacos were super duper good. Pork tacos w/pineapple were a bit spicy for me, but had good flavor. Guac (regular kind) was a bit lime-y, but good overall (maybe a bit to many red onions). Margarita was eh. It had good flavor for the first drink but there was so much damn ice in it that I couldn't taste the flavor after the first swig. I guess they want you to GULP? Oh and for $10, no thank you. Torta was pretty decent and HUGE! Fries were good. Service - average Will I go back? No. Food was too overpriced for some steak and pork and corn. Marg was overpriced for a glass full of ice. Guac left me crazy onion breath for $8.
(2)anil t.
In-line with De Cero/Big Star, a cut below Antique and Taco Joint in my opinion. Really don't like that I can't pick more than one type of taco...why can't I choose three different ones?? Can also be quite loud, but pretty cool atmosphere.
(3)Kedar U.
Mercadito is the place for great authentic Mexican and awesome Margaritas! We had veggie tacos and enchiladas and both were delicious. The only drawback is the seating can get pretty cramped when they get packed.
(4)Hayley P.
The Little Market margarita and Carne tacos... perfect!
(4)EV G.
Um no - not so much. First the good parts. We went here early on a Monday so we didn't have to make a reservation or wait. Our waiter was very good, informative, prompt. Food was pretty good - guac and tacos (chicken and shrimp). Not wowza fantastic but good enough. Now the bad. Expensive - $21 for enchiladas or $12 for guacamole. I mean really? I don't think the food is worth the price. Inflexible - 4 tacos to an order. Many flavor choices but each order must consist of only one choice. So to try shrimp tacos and chicken tacos, you must get two taco orders. How about at least a couple choices per order? It all costs the same - so I really think this is an attempt to get you to order more tacos. Frankly, I've had better cheaper tacos. All the food came at once - like 6 minutes after we ordered. Well ok, I guess its preferable to waiting for too long but maybe they could bring out the guacamole and let us munch for a bit, then the tacos? LOUD. LOUD LOUD LOUD. Again, it was a Monday night and not full but jeez was it freaking loud. We were at a little two person table and I could barely hear my husband across the table. He was on the outer part of the table so the waiter was next to him explaining the menu - I literally could not hear a thing he said. I cannot imagine what this place is like on a Friday night. Won't be back - there are way too many awesome Mexican restaurant options.
(2)Triphena W.
Had a great time here! Mercadito is definitely a place to see and be seen. Cool, energetic atmosphere. Mostly young, trendy crowd. Loud top 40s music. Choose another restaurant if you want to have a relaxed, intimate meal. The food isn't cheap, but you're paying for the quality (e.g., fresh ingredients, homemade corn tortillas, gristle free proteins, etc) and atmosphere. The traditional, mango chipotle, and chile serrano GUACAMOLE ($13.50 for choice of 3) were great. Creamy and vibrant. Fresh, nicely salted chips too. Pass on the ceviches. The bay scallop and shrimp ceviche ($19.50 for choice of 2) were fine but unremarkable. Didn't care for the flatbread that accompanied the ceviche either. The TACOS ($14.50 for 4) were the highlight of the meal. Try any of the following: tacos pastor (chile ancho pork, grilled pineapple), tacos camaron (shrimp, chipotle mojo), tacos carne (rosemary skirt steak), and tacos hongos (wild mushrooms, manchego cheese). Fantastic. Bold flavors, juicy meat, high filling to corn tortilla ratio. And finally, the LITTLE MARKET COCKTAIL ($10.50) was refreshing and went down too easily. Although completely packed on a Saturday night, service was efficient and attentive. The bussers did a phenomenal job; water glasses were continually filled and finished dishes were quickly removed from the table. Mercadito would be great for a date or a group of friends. I don't mind paying more if the food and cocktails are this good and the atmosphere is this cool.
(4)Rosa B.
Came here for dinner before going to the Goodman to see a play. Amazing food and service. It is authentic mexican food and the staff is great and very on top of things. We tried a couple different guacs and margaritas and split the carne tacos which were to die for. our waiter was very informative on the menu after stating we had never been there. he made suggestions and was polite. even people who weren't serving us were considerate that we had everything we needed. i love this place and am going back next week. i cant wait to get some of my friends to come with me and just drink some great drinks and awesome food.
(5)Mary T.
When I saw my meal this was the first thought that popped into my head: "What the f...are you kidding me? These are tiny; real tacos eat these things for breakfast!" I'll back up a little, I came here with my co-worker birthday club for lunch. The two birthday girls chose Mercadito and spoke quite highly of it. I'll admit, I entered skeptical seeing as the reviews for this place are very mixed, but I hoped to fall on the love side of the love-hate divide. Our server was very nice, he explained that the plates were smaller and intended for sharing. He ended up being very attentive throughout the meal. We started out with the shrimp ceviche. I'm not wild about ceviche, it always falls short with me and this was really no exception, I did like the flatbread it was served with though. We also ordered guacamole, which I don't like, but it received rave reviews from the rest of the table. I was torn between the shrimp, mahi and tilapia tacos, but settled on the tilapia ones because they were grilled, not fried. I also ordered the arroz verde - green rice with cheese. When they started delivering our food I got excited; the carnitas, carne and mahi tacos arrived and looked quite good. The tacos weren't huge, but they were generous with the proteins and toppings. Then my meal came... I had the aforementioned reaction because here is what I got for $10.50 (or $3.50 per taco) - 3 mini tortillas with a portion of tilapia on each about the size of a flash drive. Each taco was covered in sauce and had a sliver of avocado that may have been thinner than a pencil! From a taste perspective the tacos were excellent, the sauce on them was amazing. From a value perspective they failed miserably; my tacos were so skimpy I could have rolled the tortilla around the fish at least 1.5 times. I also could have eaten at least one more plate of them and I wasn't abnormally hungry; the idea that this plate was meant for sharing is a joke. If a co-worker had attempted to take a taco I would've stabbed them with my fork (does that qualify for worker's comp?). The arroz verde was disappointing too - too cheesy and bland; I was happy I ordered it, otherwise I would've needed to grab a snack to make it all the way to dinner. The dessert menu didn't strike my fancy so I passed, but my co-workers split the torrejas de bolillo. It got good reviews and did seem like a portion suited for 2 or 3 to share. You won't find me racing back here, especially on my dime. There are plenty of other great Mexican restaurants in the city, I just don't find this a good value for my money especially since everything (including chips and salsa) is a la carte. TIP: They do have all you can eat tacos after 10 or 11 (depending on the night) for $23; good idea in theory, but IMO all you can eat anything at that late an hour is a recipe for disaster. Note: You can't mix and match tacos, all three have to be the same; I find that pretty ridiculous.
(3)Jenny L.
started with guac and lobster ceviches. its super difficult to go wrong w guac. im not sure if i would want to order lobster ceviche again next time. it was so-so. yummy tacos! we always get chicken and beef. beef can be a little heavy in my opinion. regardless, tastes great. wanted to try something new, so we ordered stuffed pepper- which was good. def expect fun atmosphere. i wish it was a bit quieter.. sound volume is waaay out of control. the tables are too close to one another; too many people talking over each other; music is blasting from speakers everywhere. by the end of dinner, i walked out with husky voice and almost deaf.
(3)Matt L.
Orale. If you like the comida Mexican and you're pelotando, I highly recomiendo checking this place afuera. Cacahuetes in your carnitas taco? Why not. Best habanero salsa ever? Si. Guacamole? OK (Spanish for okay). Fried plantains? Pinche yes! Mahi mahi ceviche? No tanto - kind of disappointing actually. The cocktail list wasn't malo, but not quite as bueno as I'd expectar. I did have one marg that was literally en fuego. It was buena onda. You apagar the fire by pushing the floating limon filled with liquor down into the liquid beneath it. A lot of the drinks seem to have mezcal or anejo tequila in them, which I find a bit overpowering and just unnecessario. I also had a michelada, and on the menu, one of the ingredients is "secrets". Um, que? I definitivamente could not afford to comer and drink at Mercadito a menudo - I'm not Ricky Martin, but for an occasion especial, it's a fun place with accessible food. Good musica tambien, despite the fact that it was on a loop. We heard Calvin Harris - No Estoy Solo at least two veces, and I think Mika - Tranquilo, Take It Facil was on there.
(4)Zuzzi E.
Let me preface this by saying this review is for Mercadito and not Double A Lounge (the bar downstairs). I was in town last weekend, quite excited to catch up with good friends at Mercadito (a restaurant they have been raving about). The only reservations they had left were at 9:30 PM-- really close to the tail end of when I can eat without going into a food coma and missing out on the rest of the night. Anyhow, we show up on time and are told to wait a few minutes. A few minutes turns into many minutes. And to make a long-story short, we are not seated until a bit after 10:30 (a full hour after our reservation). We assumed because they were an hour late seating us, they would comp us for the drinks we were forced to drink while waiting. Nope. Not even after my friend suggested retribution in the form of free drink or dessert. I understand being busy and running behind. But I really dislike when a restaurant doesn't take the steps to offset their inconvenience to customers.
(1)Kathryn B.
Great recommendation! Three of us went and split chicken and pork tacos, chicken enchilada, rice, and tried 2 salsas. Being from Texas, it is rough that Mexican restaurants do not serve chips and salsa upon being seated. Also being from Texas, the salsa was much a disappointment. When our waiter told us to try the spicy salsa, it was hardly what I call spicy. Their salsas had an orange coloring to them, interesting. The place was beautifully decorated and had a great hang out vibe to them. Our waiter was nice and gave us good recommendations! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(4)Melissa C.
Ohhhh... Nooooo.... Place is way to overprice to have drinks that are not even mixed well.... I will say that the atmosphere was awesome. It was a group of 30 girls for a bachelor party. They had reserved the downstairs lounge room for us. Loved the room and it really accommodated us perfectly. Although the food was okay, I really was not impressed with the overly priced drinks. Given the fact that we did have a large group, our server did not accurately input our drinks, she over charged us...... It sucked that I had to explain to her that our table did not have 8 mojitos, her response "Well some of the girls, were jumping from table to table" My response: &%#^#*&$(*& Won't be going there anytime soon.... There are plenty of "SCENE" places in Chicago.... NO need to spend $15 on a taco....
(2)Silvia Z.
I've been to Mercadito on three occasions. Two just for dinner and once for restaurant week. Every experience so far has been great! I really recommend this place to everyone, just for the experience, and to try a more upscale Mexican dining. It is a bit more costly to eat here, the dishes come with about four tacos each, but don't be deceived! You will get full...and it is quality food. I've tried most of their tacos. Tacos that stand out..the pescado tacos, just the right size for the taco, most of all, it HAS flavor, with the poblano tomatillo on top, and I remember very distinctly, a sliver of fresh avocado-it makes for the perfect bite! They also had another fish taco, beer battered mahi mahi which I would recommend. Their tacos al pastor was good as well. Another item from their menu I would like to point out is their guacamole.They really try to be creative when it comes to their guacamole and I recommend trying their mango version. (Don't try the manzana guacamole, reminded me of the texture of durian...) For drinks, I would try the micheladas, rimmed with the salt/spices. YUM! Pros: good dining experience, good food, great decor and atmosphere Negatives: sometimes loud, depending on what night/time you go (later in the night)...may not be the best place for a date at that time. Also...price! Don't expect cheap! Although, they have Taco Tuesdays- $2.75 for the summer.
(5)Connie M.
I enjoyed my food, my drink was alright, but their air conditioning is--inexcusible. They have some ridiculously pathetic ice-machine looking thing towards the back of the restaurant, by the bathrooms, that I think is supposed to function as A/C. It blows over about a 5 foot radius, leaving the remainder (like, 95%) of the restaurant HOTTER than a sauna. I found myself dripping on the food, and spice of the food, which I usually appreciate, made me sweat even more. Granted, it was 90 degrees yesterday evening, but what this effectively means is that this restaurant is intolerable for about a quarter of the year. Would I'd go back in the winter? The memory is last night is so.. traumatizing (tasting my sweat on the food?) that I doubt it. They don't have anything that unique or great enough to merit it. And a final note: why do restaurants play music at club volumes? To make the atmosphere even worse? To distract you from the heat? I just don't get it.
(2)Gil C.
Tacos were exquisite! Try a variety, it's worth it. Guacamole is a meal of it's own =)
(5)J P.
Oops, I waited until Friday at 5pm to try and make reservations for dinner. The hotel concierge suggested I "try to get into" Mercadito. Open Table had tables... guess this place isn't as hip as they try to hard to be. We got to Mercadito and walked into something like a club scene (think mini-skirts, platforms, and jersey shore hair), and apparently without a 6" mini on I wasn't quite "in" enough to get a table. Even with a reservation we were told to go ahead and hang out at the bar. Fifteen minutes later we finally got a table, and then waited ten minutes for a waitress to show up. No deal on a waitress ever showing up... but hey, the water guy was on it. Anyways, long story short we walked out and I feel really great about our decision. Unfortunately notoriously great food doesn't make up for shitty service guys.
(1)Leah C.
mexican food served tapas style... my friends and i skipped over the tequilla offerings and tried out some wine - i really enjoyed my rose on a toasty summer evening. we shared the traditional and mango guacs at the bar. the bartender was nice enough to let us sample some of the guacs to make sure there wasn't too much heat for my friend's sensitive palate! the mushroom tostadas are seriously some of the most deliciously prepared mushrooms i have ever tasted! the hongas tacos were equally good. my big complaint - and it's a big one - is they highly encourage ordering a variety but yet they do not allow you to "mix and match" the taco platters. each taco platter comes with FOUR tacos. i'm not sure why you shouldn't be able to at able to choose two fillings per platter. i hear de cero allows for that...
(4)niki q.
Great small plates and drinks! The service was really fast, the atmosphere was nice, we will be back on our next trip to Chicago!
(5)Darrin D.
I love the food, the people and the staff. This place is great! The carne tacos are awesome as the whole adobo marinated chicken. My favorite drink would have to be the el pirata (tequila, pineapple chile, and beer). After dinner head downstairs to Double A. You won't be disappointed.
(5)CHIYOKO H.
We were a little cramped with 8 ppl to a half circle booth..but it was ok-. The food was delicious, I recommend the guacamole we tried the mango and the original. Steak tacos, Shrimp tacos (a bit spicy), Mahi Mahi tacos were def my favorite. I also tried the strawberry margaritas-yum.
(4)Patty T.
Mercadito is a great place to go for a light meal with friends before a night out on the town or if you're up for some active people watching...but not good if you're really hungry, want to have good conversation, or on a date. The scene is fun/loud/trendy and the food is pretty good. ...but the tables are crammed together, the portions are a bit small, the prices are a bit high (for what you're getting), and the music is cranked way up.
(3)Adam K.
Over priced, over hyped and not very impressive. Our waiter lacked basic etiquette, continually interrupted us and was overly pushy. The tacos couldn't compare (size, flavor and price) to the taco stands and hole in the wall restaurants in and around California (avenue). My recommendation is pass, unless you're looking to "impress" by how big of a bill you can run up.
(2)Caitlin A.
A great place to go if you like tequila. They have so many different kinds of margaritas it is always hard for me to choose. The food is pretty good as well. The only complaint I have with the food is that you cannot mix and match tacos. You have to get 3 of the same one. Still, over all this is a fun place to check out if you are in the mood for contemporary Mexican.
(4)Jason H.
My wife and I headed down to River North this Friday and were able to walk right in and get a table with no wait. The place was packed (6:30 pm or so) but not unpleasantly so. We proceeded to have one of the most fantastic Mexican meals we've ever had (and she's from New Mexico, with a pretty critical palette for spicy cuisine). The small, tapas-style dishes were a real delight. My wife is a vegetarian, which limits my options when sharing dishes in a situation like this, but I was really pleased with each dish we had. We got the mango guacamole (spicy and delicious, with just enough mango to make it interesting--not overwhelming at all), the veggie tacos, and the veggie quesadillas. We could have happily had another two or three dishes. The service was prompt and friendly, and even though they were quite busy, we didn't feel rushed at all. My wife had a margarita with habanero pepper (just enough to add an interesting flavor). Highly recommended!
(4)Katie P.
Went here last night with some girlfriends and was super disappointed. First off I got a cocktail called "the big nose goes to Mexico" and it was 80% ice. Ridiculous for $13.00. When I asked the waiter about it he said the liquid is measured so if I ask for less ice next time it won't make a difference. I expected a regular sized drink for $13.00 and this set the tone for the night. We ordered 2 guacamoles: traditional and mango but they only served it with maybe 3 small flat bread pieces so after we each had 3 bites we needed more bread or chips. Then we each ordered tacos and while they were good, they weren't anything special and again were super pricey ($14.50 for 4 mini tacos). Both my girl friends agreed we won't be coming back, due to it being super expensive and having stingy drinks.
(2)Jessica P.
It was eh. The food was forgettable and in small portions; not worth the price. I've had better Mexican at a more reasonable price. We got the traditional guac and the verde salsa (bland) to start followed by pescado and carnitas de puerco. Enjoyed the traditional Margarita and the little market Margarita. Positives: We sat right away without reservations on a Tuesday night at 6PM (lucky night it looks like) Cons: Service, food, price, and noise level
(2)Karen P.
We had a reservation for six on a very sultry Saturday evening. Our reservation was honored on time. Our waiter was personable and the serving assistants took away our empty plates, filled our water and made the service very good. The restaurant is upscale, trendy, typical River North crowds. It was quite noisy so I would not recommend this place for a romantic, relaxing meal but it is an interesting place to people watch. Our table of six shared the many selections of appetizers and tacos. Everything was prepared exquisitely and deliciously. I had the carne asada, which was a little salty, spicey but delicious. One of our guests ordered the quesadillas with shrimp which really looked good. We ordered three desserts for the table--all outstanding and simple. Who would think a fried flour tortilla with cinnamon and sugar could be so good with a side of melted chocolate, infused with orange? Even the cappuccino was delicioso. I would like to return for a late lunch and an afternoon off work with a great margarita or two! Definitely returning with a group!
(4)Payal G.
Need to start by stating that I did not eat here but I did have one drink and that one drink was kick ass. In more ways than one. 1. The price of the drink. $14 for a drink. WOW ! A little pricy for me... 2. That one $14 drink kicked my ass for real. It was one strong ass drink. And for those that know me know I can drink. So I would totally go back for one drink to put me in the mood. 3. All their drinks were very creative and fun. My drink was on fire. Really! I was a little lost on what to do because the bartender lite the drink and walked away. I tried to blow it out and that did not work. So I wish they helped me out a little! 4. I tried my cousin and husband's drinks and their drinks are just as amazing as my drink. My cousin fell over from one drink (she's a light weight AND they're drinks are just that strong) 5. They have a lot of crazy drinks that are oh so yummy and strong. Oh - their margaritas were beyond perfect too! 6. I had to wait and fight the crowd for a good 15 minutes to get to the bar then another 15 minutes to get a drink. Thank God I forgot to wear earrings that night. So my ass was kicked but it was a fun kick ass! Anyways, I really want to go back for brunch and dinner. It is a place that you have to RSVP. Also if you don't like crowds and loud music then this place is not for you. So RSVP; highly recommended!
(4)leyla a.
I truly love the food at Mercadito, the food gets 5 stars. The tacos are excellent so is the barbacoa (slow cooked meats stewed in juices & served with tortillas). The cocktails are also tasty, even though I am not much of a cocktail girl. I do, however, LOVE michelada (beer, lime juice & some assorted sauces) - absolutely fantastic for a hangover. Additionally, Mercadito has a great tequila list. There does tend to be a wait Thursday through Saturday nights but get over it. If you don't want to wait, I am sure there are plenty of open tables at Chilli's. I am really sick & tired of people in complaining that they had to wait. Have a cocktail. The best part about Mercadito is Sunday brunch. You should certainly give it a try if you already have not.
(4)Mike O.
The best selection of tequilas and guacamole's that I have ever encountered! We had the street tacos which were very tasty. Overall...I would recommend when in Chicago.
(4)Paul B.
Wow, very impressed with this chic River North establishment! Margaritas good (no Sangria, boo), spicy pineapple guacamole? Yes please! On a Saturday Mercadito was very loud due to the multiple concurrent bachelorette parties but I didn't seem to care very much. If that doesn't give you an idea of the male/female ratio that fine evening, maybe the fact that women were coming out of the men's restroom at 8pm is? Anyhow the carnitas were absolutely the best I've ever had. Hands down. No questions. I almost gave Mercadito 5 stars simply based on the carnitas... mmmmm Definitely check this place out
(4)Tiffany K.
I came to Mercadito for dinner on a weekday evening (back in July '10). It was super packed! Figures.. because the food was really really reallllly good! We started off with 2 different types of guacamole. I think we ordered the tradicional and toreado. I remember one being spicy. Anyway, I don't think anyone can go wrong with guac. We then ordered chicken tacos and tampiquena (marinated skirt steak served with rice, beans and tortilla). The hot entree wasn't that great compared to the tacos. I remember telling my boyfriend, the next time we come back, we're just going to order tacos and guac. Oh! I also had the margarita that was served with a lit up lime right dab in the middle. Pretty neat and prettttty tasty! It's a small drink but verrrrry strong. ;) For those of you who have not been to Mercadito yet, I suggest you order tacos and guac! You won't be disappointed. :)
(5)Phil P.
Pretty darn expensive, and not a lot of food for the price. I was looking for some authentic mexican food, but this is more like some fancy-shmancy mexican tapas. I do like that they offer a "family brunch" option on the menu, where you get to try a few different menu items for one price. I wish we knew, though, that they gave us LESS food of each menu item, because we would have not gone with it. The guac we got was pretty damn good... and there were two beef taco options. One so-so, the other top notch. Wish I remembered which was which! Bottom line: If you're hungry, go elsewhere!
(3)Eleni D.
My BFFs and I were ready for fun on the first night of our girls weekend in Chicago - and from the moment we stepped into the lively and energetic Mercadito, we were sure it could deliver. Coming from Toronto, where most of our trendy resto-lounges serve Italian or Asian-fusion, it was refreshing to go somewhere 'hip' where authentic margaritas, flautas and several different types of guacamole are on the menu. Speaking of which - the mango guac is a MUST HAVE. Ever since I've returned home, I've been dreaming of it. Now that I think of it, Mercadito should come out with a cookbook like so many other popular restaurants do (e.g. Grazie in Toronto). The music is loud (the DJ is super, by the way), making it very difficult to talk, but we were so focused on the food at first, we barely noticed each other. We attacked the flautas and tacos when they were served, then ordered the churro dessert to cap off our dining experience. Love Mercadito. Please open a branch in Toronto.
(4)Danny H.
Came here for a work lunch. I had a torta w/ fries and the table had this guac tray and a salsa tray with chips. Torta was decent but the GUAC/SALSA WAS AMAZING.
(4)Martie M.
My boyfriend and I went for brunch last Sunday. For $18 pp., we had steak tampiquena with eggs and a potato/cactus dish that was out of this world. The price also includes a brunch cocktail. Beautiful atmosphere, nice group of people dining, and perfect portion for the price. Definitely going again.
(5)Erica W.
I have to bump Mercadito up to 5 stars. The food and drinks are simply delicious, to the point where I couldn't fully concentrate on the conversation. The chips and guac are the best I've tasted. The chips are made in-house, and they are perfectly salted with just the right crunch. The guac comes in so many varieties - my favorite is the mango. The margaritas - ridiculous! I just got a classic margarita with mango - off the chain. Went great w/the mango guac. The tilapia tacos have just a little bit of crispiness on the outside that I really like. I've taken friends here from out of town, and they just love it. It's got just enough of a scene, and the food and drinks are fantastic. The only drawback is that they tend to trip when it comes to having the whole party there before you get seated, so make sure that all of your party gets there on time. Mercadito is now officially one of my top restaurant picks for Chicago.
(5)Megan H.
Met some girlfriends for dinner here on a Saturday. We had a 9 pm reservation but didn't get seated until 10. Not too happy about that. I was told that this is the norm. Yes, they did comp our first round of drinks but really? We had to stand in the super crowded bar getting bumped into left and right by every person trying to get a drink. We were all required to be there on time before we would get seated (and we all were). I feel that the restaurant should have been held to the same standard. This is just poor management. I'm ok waiting 15 minutes for a table but an hour??? Since there were 7 of us, we had to get the "family style" menu. Personally, I was happy with this option as we all got to try a little bit of the menu. I felt the amount of food was adequate although they were VERY stingy with the salsa. The food was good. However, I don't see myself ever going back.
(2)Anne D.
I really wanted to like this place, but alas, I was very disappointed. I came here for lunch today because they were advertising $1 tacos! What a deal, right? Well, the tacos were literally about 2 inches in diameter - even smaller than their normal (already small) tacos. They also had a limit of one per person. Lovely. So we still had to order full entrees. The tiny chicken taco was alright, but it had very little flavor. Definitely nothing to write home about. I got the corn masa "quesadillas," which actually seemed more like small empanadas. Not that I don't like empanadas, but it just seemed a little weird. There seemed to be ingredients in the quesadillas that were not listed on the menu. I absolutely cannot stand beans, and although beans were not listed as an ingredient, there they were, mixed in with everything else. Other than that, the quesadillas were fine - not horrible, but just OK. Once again, there was very little flavor or anything interesting to speak of. I was expecting it to wow me, considering the high price and small portions! They got the order wrong for one of my dining companions and graciously comped her meal, so we did appreciate that. The restaurant itself was cute inside, and the water refills were constant (the busboy deserved the tip more than the so-so waitress!) All in all, I don't know that I'd come back here, unless someone else was treating. Big prices for small portions of mediocre food. I'll stick with my neighborhood taqueria!
(2)Chris B.
Food was great, but definitely over priced...I don't care who you are, you never pay more than $10 for tacos it's just not right. But again the food was delicious, I had the Carne Tacos. They were small and $15 but had great flavor. What I really disliked was how tiny my margarita was for $11. Again very good, but when I think Mexican food and margaritas I think $15 for 24 oz, not $12 for 8 oz. As far as the atmosphere I thought it was well decorated and they sat us right away (of course it was a Monday night). But I have to agree with the people talking about the loud music, I get that it wants to be a posh lounge where "everyone" goes but people don't go partying at 7pm on a Monday night (if you do check yourself in to AA), most people want a somewhat quiet dinner. The music choices were great though, just turn it down from 5-9 or something. All in all, I would say if you really want incredible Mexican go north (Rogers Park, Uptown, even Lakeview), and not river north, they don't know what ethnic food is, they just cater to the tourist and money grubbers of this city.
(3)Patty S.
If you don't have a reservation at this place, don't think that you'll get a table Saturday night at 7PM. The last time we were there, we sat at the bar. It's first come, first serve and you can order off the full menu. Eating at the bar is an experience because you can talk to the bartenders and learn more about the restaurant and their favorite dishes. First off let me say that they have a very inventive drink menu. Right off the bat, I know I wanted to try b.n.g.t.m (big nose goes to mexico). They flip the lime inside out, fill it with liquor, light it on fire, and float it on top of the drink - talk about a show! And when you're ready, you just push it down (with a skewer) to put the fire out. Although it was a bit pricey (@ $13), it was worth every penny. I will most definitely go back for this drink. Now, let's talk about the food. When we were there, they have the $30 tasting menu for 2. It consisted of choice of 3 guacs, 2 ceviche, and 4 types of tacos (1 for each person), a side dish, AND a desert. I love the tasting menu, it's a great way to eat and try a variety of different dishes. My favorite guac was the mole poblano. It had a great smokey and sweet flavor to it. The ceviche was good, but it didn't blow my mind; the 2 we ordered was good and I would eat it again. The main part of the meal were the tacos. We ordered the: pastor, estilo baja, mole, and carne. My favorite 2 were the carne, and pastor. The only critique is that they were a bit salty. I think someone was a bit heavy handed with the salt when they were marinated. Besides that I loved all the favors. It was like a party in my mouth. For desert, we got the flan made with goat milk. It was very dense and sweet. Although according to our bartender, it was exactly how he remembered growing up in Mexico and that's enough of an endorsement for me! ;) I was stuffed by the end of this meal. I could barely eat the flan and only took a bit. We also barely touch the rice and beans we ordered so we took it home. What a great way to remember the delicious meal we had from the night before! Next time I will bring the girls for a fun girl's night!
(4)Mike L.
Remember that girl in high school who was slept with every dude on the football team and thought she was hot shit for it, but really she was just a bitchy slut? That's Mercadito. Mercadito clearly loves Mercadito. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is that the sex, I mean food, was pretty good. Plenty of reviews talk about the food, so I'm just going to focus on my experience as a customer. I went there for lunch with a big group of co-workers, 11 of us in total. We showed up at noon, and the place was half full. It's a big space, but it wasn't quite the bustling scene I've seen there at night. First of all, our waitress took our drink orders - coke or iced tea? Really, those are the only 2 options we are allowed to have? Made their lives easier when they came to refill, but I really don't care. I stuck with water. Then she forced us onto the sharing menu, since we were such a big group. There were two options that were identical except that one had cevice and the other a botana option (quesadilla, etc.). Half of us wanted to do the cevice menu, half the botana, but the waitress insisted that we all have to get the same thing. When we started pushing back and even asked if we could just order off the regular menu instead, she responded by saying, with a straight face, "we're one of the busiest lunch places in the city." Half the tables were empty the entire time we were there! Our entire table was pissed at this lady, and we would have almost definitely got up and left if we weren't such a big group. The crappiest part was that served each course split on two different platters, so it would have been ridiculously easy to let us do half cevice and half botana. Summary - I don't think I saw a single Mercadito employee smile the entire time we were in there. Least accommodating place I've been to in a while. Food was pretty good but not worth $21.50 a head for a lunch of tacos and guacamole. Next time I'm going to Chipotle.
(2)Linde P.
I had heard rave reviews of this place and it's tacos, and I just couldn't believe it! That is, until I actually tried them, and they were delicious!! We had the tacos de carne asada, mahi, and pastor. All were very uniquely prepared and appropriately flavored. We also tried the guacamole, which is pretty small but still very good! My only disappointments were the shrimp enchiladas and the michelada. The shrimp enchiladas were just too bland for me and the shrimp itself were just blanched. They could add a ton more flavor by seasoning and grilling the shrimp. The michelada just tasted too much like Worcestershire sauce, which I would never want in a michelada. Otherwise, the food was outstanding! It's definitely meant for groups though, because tacos come in a minimum order of four and you can't mix and match. So just to try three tacos my boyfriend and I would have to eat 12 tacos! It was also VERY loud!! It was fun for us, but if you want to be able to actually have a conversation during dinner be sure to plan it do you're done by 8.
(4)Sarah Z.
A birthday party on a Saturday night for 10+ people: Seating in the front... Great, lively atmosphere! Some chips and guacamole, on the spicy side, but yummy. An excellent margarita. A bite of mahi mahi ceviche. A bite of shrimp ceviche. An excellent margarita. Some kind of salad which was good. A steak taco, very good was the consensus. An excellent margarita. A pork taco, way too spicy was the consensus. A shrimp taco, which was okay. An excellent margarita. $95 per person. In my opinion... a rip off.
(3)Lindsay S.
My rating reflects the most unprofessional, unorganized, rudest service I have ever received in my life. I recently held a cocktail party here and began communicating with the event coordinator (EC) and owner in Oct with regards to the event potentially being held in Dec. I plan a similar event each month at a new restaurant and, to date, have worked with about 6 venues, successfully. At first everything was fine. Responses were prompt and I met the EC in person to see the space/discuss details. The space was small, however the EC assured me that we could arrange the tables in a certain way to give us more space. I decided to push back the event until Feb since I knew our Dec crowd would be too large. They were excited and followed up promptly via email with a special cocktail and appetizer menu. Early Feb I reached back out in attempt to re-confirm the details (date and specials) and it all went downhill. I received no response from the EC. After 2 days, I sent another email. No response. I then left a voice mail, which was returned via email saying they were "still working on it". After a week of no response, I sent another email (copying the owner) stating that if I didn't hear back from them soon I would have to cancel the event (it was a week and a half away at this point). I received a 1-sentence email from the EC saying "whatever we agreed on before is still fine". Having planned events before and knowing the importance of getting things documented I wrote back asking, "ok...so the specials are still xyz, correct?" Also, I was still waiting on confirmation of the end time of the event and also that the space could be arranged as we previously discussed. After a day of not hearing back, I left yet another voice mail for the EC. After a total of 3 days, I crafted an email with a few "choice" words and was about to send it when I got an email from the owner asking if I had heard back from the EC. This was about my fifth clue that there was a chink in the armor. I expressed to him my discontent with the communication and service thus far, and also tried to confirm the details (after all- that's the most important thing). He responded promptly, apologized, and said he'd take over the event. However, he basically changed everything I had already discussed with the EC- he had the event time wrong, said he couldn't do the specials that had been "confirmed", and couldn't arrange the space as it had been discussed. I explained that the space wouldn't be big enough without the changes and that I don't bring 85 people to a restaurant that's not willing to offer us a special in return. I corrected the times but also assured him we would be out of the space when needed (which in effect cut our event at least an hour short compared to past events). He was willing to accommodate our requests. But then on a *hunch* I decided to make sure we were on the same page regarding the date of the event (I only spoke with the EC regarding this) and thank God I did. I got an email back saying that he thought it was another date, and that they could no longer host the event (in 5 days). He offered up another, smaller space- I said that it wouldn't work and that he had by EOD to tell me whether or not they could host. They could. At this point I wasn't expecting much, but I definitely wasn't expecting the rude and borderline slimy service that we received at the actual event. The owner, who said he would be there for the event, wasn't. When I got there, the manager on duty tried to increase the price of the drinks yet again, and also completely switched the food specials to a much more expensive offering. I explained that that wasn't what I had spoken with the owner about (and could prove via email), and he said sorry, but you're still getting a good deal. I eventually got the drink prices switched back but he wouldn't budge on the food. I didn't feel like arguing but let him know he would have a lot of unhappy customers who expected a different price. I had multiple guests throughout the night complain to me that the wait staff was rude and unorganized- forgetting orders, general snootiness. The manager also tried to convince me that the free appetizers we had been offered had been served which they hadn't. The icing on the cake was when, at the end of the event, the staff was literally shoving people out of the space and pushing tables into guests' backs and legs (a simple 'please move to the bar area' would have sufficed). I'm legitimately shocked at the horrible business that was conducted at this venue. I'm not sure how they do things in New York, but in Chicago guests get treated with respect and business is conducted in a professional, civilized manner. That would also entail that staff members communicate to each other and try to uphold some sort of honor. It's truly a shame, as the food here is good, but I don't think I will ever be back to this venue by choice.
(1)B R Hungry X.
I am giving them 4 stars because their food and cocktail mixology is some of the best Ive ever had. They gave me my first experience and meaning to food and drinks having different depths of flavor. we ordered chips with salsa and guacamole, where you can choose the salsa you want. We had their tacos which I crave for. at first glance, they are small, but filling. The lobster tacos are a must, same with the steak, the tortillas are soft and are made fresh and very tasty and authentic. The mixed drinks on their menu are sooooo good! Try the Michelada or something called, I think a market cocktail? so yummy. I cant wait to go back again. I wouldve given them 5 stars, but the seating is tight, you practically have to climb over eachother to get in and out of your seat, (hopefully you dont get placed into low seats, go to the front of the restaurant and youll see what I mean, it feels like you are sitting at a kiddie table, you will be very close to strangers eating by you. Its loud with the music and the chatter. For me, the great food and drinks made it worth it. :) a little pricey, but expected for the area, overall, give it a try!
(4)Christina C.
This place.. I wasn't a fan of their drinks. But I'm positive other people would LOVE them. They are unique and fun and festive. I am just a newbie at drinking so I can't appreciate good shit yet... :) I've only had the guac, and the ceviche. but Holy smokes batman they are amazing. I will absolutely go back for the full dining experience.. Once I get my paycheck. Beautiful place, I wish I was swank and my apartment looked like this place. But I digress. If you're looking for a great time, with great food and great company, go here. You don't be sorry!
(4)Te D.
Quick tips for your life... water- doesn't taste like city sewage or chlorine! so that's nice. food- Flavorful but too salty Insert a dance floor otherwise the music is too loud I used to live in Mexico. Paying this much for food is sacrilege Reservations made wait time non-existent Details for your life... Mercadito's interior design team really outdid itself. The brick walls boast an urban mural of the Mayan calendar (?) with fierce horses and leaves flying everywhere. I'm not sure what the concept is, but it looks amazing. Mercadito is so serious about their mood lighting. In the upstairs area alone, there are five different kinds of lighting fixtures. Textures and shapes are everywhere, literally... placemats, booths, ropes hanging from the ceiling... wait, why are ropes hanging from the ceiling? I don't know. There's a thin line between "perfect" and "too much" - and Mercadito is definitely walkin' the tightrope. Music is clubbishly loud. J-Lo, Akon, Ke$ha, and Shakira's top 2010 hits blasted mercilessly over the speakers. I'm not hating on the music, I'm just saying provide a dance floor. Overall, the experiences was... nice. The décor is beautiful, the food is flavorful, the restaurant is clean, and the wait staff is courteous. *With that being said, "WHO PAYS $15.5 US Dollars for four tacos? Or even, who pays $3 for 6 tablespoons of salsa? All I'm saying is the mahi mahi in my tacos better have been caught fresh in Hawaii Wednesday morning, tested for low mercury levels, and marinated in special beer sauce specifically for my dining pleasure Wednesday evening. That's the only way I can justify paying that much. Either that or they're still trying to break even on their interior design budget. Only in very specific instances would I recommend Mercadito -- If my friends wanted a twist on Mexican food regardless of the cost, and in a club-like environment, I would recommend Mercadito. Otherwise, I know a place where you can get tacos for $1.55 chips and salsa included.
(3)Bora U.
What a fun spot! I love how lively and enthusiastic the staff are at this place. I've been here once for late night bites with a group of 8 after a wine tasting event and once again for a after work dinner with an old friend. Both times I thought the service was excellent and the food was satisfying. I've had nearly all the tacos and I think my favorite is the pato - duck confit with prune mole and pumpkin puree. Very rich and sweet. The only thing I don't enjoy is that you have to get 4 of each type of taco. This works when you're with a large group, but not so great when there are just two of you. In any case, I also like the brussel sprouts with chorizo and albeit on the pricey side, I really enjoyed the langosta (lobster). The sauce was to die for. Now, I cannot say enough about the crazy drinks here. The margaritas are perfect, but the Big Nose Goes to Texas drink is on FIRE --- literally! The drinks are so tasty and addictive. Just remember, for $13/drink, after a couple, they really add up. It's not necessarily a cheap night out, but it's definitely a fun and memorable spot.
(4)Gretchen C.
If I had to rate on the food/drinks alone, i would give this restaurant 5/5. However, the last few times I have been there, the bus service has been rushed, and I was left feeling like they needed us out of there. I was there on a Tuesday evening, allbeit, fairly crowded for a Tuesday, still, there was no reason for the bus boy to come by, pick up a drink that wasn't finished, lift it up to see whether or not it was finished, only for us to tell him to put it back down. That's just poor training if you ask me. Also, we were sitting to the right of the door, and one of the hostess' decided it would be a good idea to spray the front door with windex, only to have gotten some of the spray on my back. I would like to tell them to just tone it down a notch. You've got your food to keep you up and running, so take it easy on the other stuff. Don't rush the customers, and easy with the disinfecting. Aside from that, good stuff! If anything, hold onto your drinks if you want to savor them 'til the last drop. FOOD IS GREAT THOUGH!!!!
(4)Robert F.
Went here last Friday night fully expecting to wait an hour or so ( we called ahead ). So we go and the hostesses are typical for Chicago, kinda rude and just really short...We give them our name and they just say ok....So my gf and I just stand there and wonder "are they going to just remember our faces and hunt us down when a table is ready?"- the place was crowded and loud as shiz! They just stand there with this look of amazement on their faces that we are surprised by that...Anyway this was about 7:15. We go to the bar for some drinks and ask for some chips and salsa which is like $4, whatever ya know...well they give you like 20 chips and literally a tablespoon of salsa. I mean you are kidding right? We ask for more and the bartender chick tells us that will be a whole other order?! I mean come on...seriously...are you that hard up that a teaspoon of salsa is an extra $4. So an hour goes by and I go up around 8:25-8:30 and ask if our name is about to be up, and I notice on their computer the clock is like 15 minutes slow?? So they tell me that they quoted me an hour..It HAS BEEN an hour! We ended up just eating at Moe's Cantina and having an awesome bartender that hooked us up with shots of Patron' and had a great meal. This place is lame and won't be around for long if they nickel and dime you for everything. That would be like Gibson's Steakhouse charging you $4 for some bread...REALLY?
(1)Eliza Z.
I came here with a big party (about 15 people) for someone's birthday. First off, the wait. We had to wait for almost an hour on a Friday night, in a hugely crowded restaurant. There was no room to stand near the bar, there was no room to stand near the door not to mention it was freezing. So we got some drinks and all 15 of us stood awkwardly in the way of everyone. The drinks were pretty terrible. Overly sweet in most cases, and the bartender recommended to get some drinks "with smoke", which sounded really cool, but basically amounts to the bartender dropping a ton of liquid smoke into your drink. Not very appetizing at all, tastes like licking a cold bbq grill. Once we were finally seated, it took about an hour before we got any food. We had to do the tasting menu, so I tried a whole bunch of things. Guacamole - you get three with the tasting menu. Every single one of them tasted the same to me, with the exception of the pomegranate, which tasted the same but with pomegranate seeds. Salsas - not very impressive, I can't even remember which ones we ordered. But at least we could taste a difference between the 3 of them. Ceviche - shrimp and mahi-mahi. I don't know how they even call this a ceviche, because the seafood is cooked. Bland. Tacos - the only one anyone cared for were the steak ones. Every other one was pretty bland and basically was just some meat on a tortilla, no onions, tomatoes, anything. Not so great. We took desert (flan) to go. Granted I tasted it the next morning, but it wasn't the right texture at all. So after about a 4 hour ordeal of a dinner (it took forever between each course) and about $45/person, I got lesser quality Mexican food than I could have made at home. I definitely will not be returning here. If I'm going to drop this kind of money on Mexican food, it will be an excellent entree at Frontera Grill, not some tiny tasteless tacos at an overly trendy and crowded lounge.
(1)