4. Restaurants

Mercato Ristorante

111 Market St NE, Olympia, WA, 98501
  • (360) 528-3663
  • Store is closed

Mercato Ristorante Menu

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Applebee’s ( 2500 Capitol Mall Dr SW )

Visit below restaurant in Olympia for healthy meals suggestion.

Applebee’s ( 2500 Capitol Mall Dr SW )

Visit below restaurant in Olympia for healthy meals suggestion.

Applebee’s ( 2500 Capitol Mall Dr SW )

  • Vadim S.

    Great food, service, and value. Best restaurant in Olympia we tried during our vacation.

    (5)

  • Catie B.

    Lot's of seating and great service (even for our party of 12); delicious food and very well priced. All, unfortunately, ruined by an automated air freshener located directly above our table that pumped out fragrance every 10-15 minutes. Completely astounding. Why would you ever think to put one of those gas-station-bathroom-style misters in a restaurant?? If you can manage to avoid being seated under one of these air polluters, the bread pudding alone is worth a visit.

    (2)

  • Russ B.

    Met my sister and my niece here for dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect based on the local area but was very pleased. I had the Duck which was ok but I should have had one of the pasta dishes. Be sure to grab some deserts we shared 3 at the table and we're glad we did!! Nice place will definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Susan R.

    Excellent food, great service. They have a really good deal for $25 for three course meal, I came on a Wednesday. For the $25, I ordered the zucchini appetizer , salmon dinner followed by bread pudding. All very excellent! I also ordered a drink I've never tried before which wasn't to my liking. The server noticed that I was not drinking it and took the initiative to remove it from my tab. Very nice! Great service!! I I ordered a Gavi white wine, very nice light wine with great flavor. I also ordered the pear, hazelnut, gorgonzola salad which was ample and flavorful. To top it off, I ended with a cappuccino. Overall, a very nice dinner enjoyed on a sunny deck for a pleasant experience!

    (5)

  • Ashleigh M.

    Haven't had a ravioli that satisfying in quite a while!! Service could have been a bit better but I loved this place... It was daytime but we still ate by candle light

    (4)

  • Angie F.

    Don't order the scallops! I just got back from dinner tonight and feel like I left my wallet behind! I ordered the scallops for $23, you only get 3 scallops! Yes, you did read that correctly, three little scallops for $23!!!!! We have eaten here numerous times and usually love it, not this meal!

    (2)

  • Monique F.

    I love this place. From the appetizers to the main course it was delicious. The server was friendly and quick. I had to the lemonade which was one of the best lemonades I have ever had, and I had something with a thick pasta and balonase sauce and goat cheese. It was exquisite! My mother in law had the ravioli and an ice tea she also loved hers. We got polenta as an appetizer and I would be back for that! The portions we're not too big but just the right amount. At first I thought they looked a little small but once you start eating that pasta your belly feels up quick. They also give you bread with oil and vinegar dipping sauce. So once you eat the bread and if you get an appetizer plus your meal you will leave very satisfied!

    (5)

  • Sonny Z.

    Tasty tasty treats from drinks to desserts. Service was a bit " off" on this Saturday brunch . Meals were served a bit on the cold side. It seems like our server was too overwhelmed by all that was going on. She got the orders right, but alas.. Food was served cold. Will try again next time!

    (4)

  • Terra H.

    I took a friend here for a congratulatory lunch, although I've only come for dinner before. I had an amazing chopped salad with chicken, olives, and tiny strips of salami. My friend had a chicken panini with thick slices of roasted white meat. For dessert I had bourbon bread pudding. The first bite melted in my mouth. She had her favorite, pot-de-creme, like a chocolate creme brûlée with two dense but delicious donuts. Service was great, attentive but not overbearing. I would come back tomorrow if I could afford it.

    (5)

  • Lisa C.

    I have eaten here maybe 6 times over the past 3 years and had some good meals. Today I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner, along with 2 of our adult sons. What an underwhelming experience. The salmon and pork tenderloin were just OK, nothing to get too excited about. And this may sound like a strange criticism, but the portions on some of the items are just too large! Seriously, who wants a whole coffee mug full of gelato? It just isn't as appetizing presented that way. Come to think of it, the best meals I've had here have all been pasta dishes. If I ever come back here, I'll stick with that. But more likely, I will just go to Basilico for some real Italian food.

    (3)

  • Gizelle M.

    Came here for my friend's rehearsal dinner. They have a room adequate for approximately 40 people, and even have enough space for the rehearsal. The waiter kept getting everyone's order wrong. He wrote it down, but my fiance ended up with my salad, AND entree. A friend next to me got HIS salad. Come on. The food was.. tasteless at best. My salad was pretty much greens with balsamic vinegar. My fiance's Caesar salad barely tasted like a Caesar salad. I ordered Eggplant, and though the top was salty, the rest did not taste like anything. His very small-portioned Penne pasta was the best dish. But it was nothing special, it was just more tolerable. It was not a terrible experience. But the food is not worth coming back for.

    (2)

  • Kelly A.

    I keep wanting to like this place. I've had a couple decent lunches, but disappointments continue to pile up. Tonight I had a "risotto" with corn, spinach, and tomato. It being summer, I thought it would be perfect. Meh. It was a pile of white rice (just rice is NOT risotto!) with the other ingredients nicely presented but without flavor. I think I added salt five times trying to amp it up a bit. The cocktail was nice.

    (2)

  • Lynne E.

    Great bread (with good EVOO, vinegar), gnocchi and the BEST bread pudding with vanilla bean gelato...haven't tried anything else on the menu, as my husband and I are hooked on the items mentioned above. The portions are on the larger side for the gnocchi, but was slightly upset to find out they've cut back on the size of their bread pudding and gelato which my husband and I like to share. Overall, the food is great as is the atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    We enjoyed a lovely lunch to celebrate my aunts birthday, great food and fantastic service!! Wonderful experience and we look forward to coming back again! Oh! And the wine was great too!

    (5)

  • Cam S.

    My friends and I just stopped by 30 minutes before closing for drinks and pizza. We didn't feel rushed at all. It's just a terrific place: delicious food, wonderful drinks, good service, a beautiful restaurant. I look forward to going back for a full meal.

    (4)

  • Lloyd A.

    Birthday dinner, party of eight and everything was perfect. Excellent food and service, thank you Lenita! Robust atmosphere but not too loud. Olympia is fortunate to have Mercato.

    (5)

  • Joshua J.

    People, have we gone to the same restaurant? Maybe this place has improved over the years? I'm confused, I'm surprised Mercato is still around. I remember going here a couple of times throughout the year, and thinking, glorified Olive Garden. I have just never had a good meal here. Maybe I'm a little picky with Italian food, but at its root, it's fresh, simple, rich, and perfect. If you like Oliver Garden, you'll probably think this is really, really good. If you know what cacio e pepe is, you might not like it so much. I don't know. I would give this place another shot, as long as someone else was paying! Thanks for listening!

    (2)

  • Kim M.

    Went with my son, daughter-in-law and 17 month old grandson and had an excellent experience! We were greeted and seated right away. Our waiter was very nice and super helpful. I have a gluten allergy and the waiter was very, very helpful! We got the prawns caprese and it was wonderful and we all loved our main courses - two duck salads, one spaghetti and one penne with marinara. The wine was very good too! Just an all around great experience. Will go out of my way to go again next time we visit.

    (5)

  • L P.

    I've been here almost 10times and its always perfect and amazing! I've had everything from salad to pizza to gourmet lamb and no matter what I get its always off the chart! Every server is attentive and on top of it and friendly. I love their wine selection and atmosphere is romantic and classy but yet they're not expensive for the quality you get. I love this type of Italian, it's not heavy like Olive Garden and there's just so much to try...LOVE IT

    (5)

  • Elyse P.

    Great service, our server was very nice and the service was quick. We liked the food, wasn't anything I'd rave about but we enjoyed it. Ambiance was okay, we got stuck in a little corner at a tiny table between two large groups of people so it wasn't ideal. However they did get us a same day reservation on New Year's Eve which is hard to find. The bread they give you is a bit skimpy and disappointing, the bread is usually one of my favorite parts of these types of restaurants. The chamapgne was good, the server gave a good recommendation. All and all a good experience.

    (3)

  • Donna S.

    Lunch time --great friendly service. Duck salad fresh with dried cherries and gorgonzola cheese. The balsamic dressing perfect for the salad. The pasta with salmon, capers, seasoned with parsnips-just a little sweet flavor and a hint of pepper -- my mouth was very happy. The focaccia was warm and the olive oil and balsamic vinegar I would recommend to all who want great Italian with local grown produce!

    (5)

  • Derya S.

    I went today for the first time and we been really impressed. So we booked a baby shower on top of it. Been a chef myself and multiple times to Italy, I can say it is very close to Bella Italia. Olive Garden is not. I think the food was quite good and I will be definitely back.

    (4)

  • Jim E.

    We have been here many times over the last five years and never been disappointed, but they have definitely stepped up their game recently. We has the antipasto, bruschetta, nocchi, penne and my son had a pizza. Everything was perfect and fresh. Our service from Lenita was wonderful.

    (5)

  • Jim D.

    Just had lunch and I had the chopped salad The food is good but the service was just okay

    (3)

  • Sherry O.

    Our group was greeted immediately and shown to a booth. The server gave us menus and time to look them over, we ordered drinks and took our time ordering. All4 of us chose the 3 course dinner. The egg plant Napolian was layered with mozzarella, tomato and marinara . Perfect Salmon, risotto, pork tenderloin and penne pasta. All 4 dishes were delicious. Finally the bread pudding and gelato were surprisingly decadent. We would order the meals again!

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    We went here for a coworker's birthday lunch. There were 6 of us and we all ordered something different. I ordered the Steak Ciabatta with tomato basil soup. The soup was rich and flavorful. The steak was a full 8 oz steak on a slice of French bread with mustard and veggies and cooked perfect. Our waitress was very friendly and fast. I recommend the Mercato for a classy lunch.

    (4)

  • Michielle F.

    Amazing!! Eggplant appetizer was great. Chicken penne was delicious!!! Bourbon cake for dessert was wow!! Great service also!!

    (5)

  • Bruce T.

    We have enjoyed one fine lunch and one excellent snack here in the last couple months. We sat at the bar. The place has good decor, a nice noise level for conversation and they do know how to mix a cocktail. The wine list also reflects good quality. The soft egg pizza makes a nice lunch for two. If a snack is all you need, I can recommend the hors d'Å“uvre plate with salami, bread and cheeses, also for two. Do ask for extra bread if you go for the hors d'Å“uvre plate - they are generous with the protein, so we wanted more bread to stack it on. The service staff is genial and efficient and the menu varied. We'll probably return for an actual dinner sooner or later. We made our forays here in midafternoon because it is right across the street from the Olympia Farmer's Market, where we went for fresh veggies.

    (4)

  • Nhoj K.

    It's been nearly 2 years since my first review of Mercato. The quality has held, in fact, improved. IMHO, this is the current best dining restaurant in Oly with Ricardo's at a very, very close secondi. The fall menu had some delish pasta items (gnocchi with veggies and panchetta, gnocchi made with flour, not potatoes and a chicken pasta.) The Spousal Unit said this meal was as good as Umberto's in Vancouver (she was partly correct but "windage" must be factored due to a super yummy Barbera and her omni full glass du vin). Great service, not pushy . Waiter was knowledgeable about the menu, chef and wines.

    (5)

  • Carly K.

    Bad service. We felt like an inconvenience being there. We're hurried to order. I got the meat and cheese plate. Order came sans cheese. Dining mate got a Caesar salad. Order came sans dressing--just lettuce and croutons.

    (2)

  • Morgan P.

    This restaurant has never failed to impress before however this visit was a complete fail. From the dry bread to the bland food, we will not be returning. I ordered the Spaghetti and my friend ordered the gnocchi. Both were completely tasteless and very oily. The gnocchi was touted as one of take servers favorite dishes. He must not have tastebuds. A very truncated menu disappointed on varsity and dairy free options. The one star is for the service only. Will not return.

    (1)

  • Drizzy R.

    We had our wedding dinner here for around 15 people. Since it was on a Thursday, they put us in a private room, which was really nice. When you call to make your reservation, they ask if it will be separate checks or all under one bill...which is nice and saves the host the awkwardness of announcing that everyone will be paying for their own meals! They accepted the delivery of our cake from Wagner's as well - they have cold storage space if you need it. With such a big group, they had a special menu you could choose from - most entrees were about $15-25. The food was decent, but nothing amazing. Timothy, our server, was great. They offered GF options as well, which was good for one person in our group. Parking was easy and right across the street from the Olympia Farmer's Market and the wharf, which is a nice setting. I'm not sure if we'd go back...I'll have to try out the other Italian places in the south Sound first.

    (3)

  • Wanda H.

    Disappointing, I guess the pasta must be good???? I would steer clear of the steak ciabatta big hunk of stringy meat , husband had the smoked salmon bruschetta which was dried out hunk of fish so hard he could not eat it. The pear salad we ordered as an upcharge was hunks of pear and whole chestnuts not good....The only thing good here was the waitress. Won't be back anytime soon. We have been here prior, they used to be much much better.

    (2)

  • Adrian S.

    I was looking through reviews for Mercato, and I was surprised that I hadn't written one. I've gone there quite a few times -- mostly for lunch. Their prawns caprese and panino caprese are good. For lunch I usually have the chopped salad (chicken, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, mozzarella, red wine vinaigrette), or the salami panino (I have a weak spot for salami) -- which I had last week.. For dinner I usually steer toward the steaks (get it?). Strip steak that is. And the crab cakes are decent. All in all, it's a decent restaurant. It can get a little hectic and noisy at times.

    (4)

  • Melissa F.

    My parents seem to really enjoy this place, but I've been here twice and I can't stomach it. Food should taste like the flavors of the food, like pork or chicken or pesto or whatever, and not simply SALT. Everything is so incredibly salty and otherwise un-flavorful. The first time I went, I had the tagliatelle con gamberi di parma and the sauce was so salty, I had to sort of dry off the noodles before I could eat it. I ate all the shrimp and then just sat there, pushing my noodles around. The noodles were also bland other than just swimming in a salt sauce. The second time, I had the bistecca di lombo and even asked them to watch the salt. Barely tolerable. The texture and cooking of the meat was decent enough, and the broccolini with no salt was perfect. The gorgonzola mashed potatoes were dull - just mash with some unremarkable chunks of gorgonzola. It was truly nothing to write home about. The "port-shallot reduction" and the finishing with pine nuts just makes it sound like some sort of gourmet dish. The reduction was dull, and it may as well come on some kind of dish you'd order at Denny's. The pine nuts? Well I love pine nuts, but they served no purpose on this dish - just ostentatious. What else? The bread is some sort of flatbread with rosemary and a shit-ton of SALT. I have to brush it off like crumbs before I eat it. The wine selection? I've tried three different reds and they all pretty much sucked. I'm usually not so cruel about food, but this place is purported to be the best Italian in Olympia. I really.. just.. can't. PIcking up a Marie Callendar's microwave meal would seriously be a good equivalent. :(

    (2)

  • Kat M.

    I'm sticking to my previous review in terms of dinner and overall Italian food... However, it's a really good choice for warm weather happy hour! While it's not a spectacular view (better at Swing for sure), you're able to get a table outside easily. The cocktails & wine are good and usually well priced. Really the winner here is the happy hour snacks. The polenta with gorgonzola & mushrooms is delightful. Eggplant napoleon as well. They used to offer a HR size of the salad with the encrusted goat cheese which was awesome, last time I went it wasn't an option though. Great summer choice for reasonably priced happy hour food & drinks!

    (4)

  • Brandon S.

    Had dinner here last night. Noticed an insect scaling Mt. Penne Pasta. Called waiter over to introduce him to my uninvited guest. His response: "So, how can I help you here?" *crickets* *sound of tip falling*

    (2)

  • Catamara R.

    Great food! Good atmosphere, casual yet as sophisticated as you want to make it. Good wine selection for all tastes and price range... the 3 course meal for $25 was a bargain! Next time however I would have one of us order the 3 course meal and the other just a main and share the desert and first course. Everything was divine! Very excellent food!

    (4)

  • Huong N.

    Went there for a retirement party. We ordered: Salmon, baked sausage, and the chocolate chocolate with homemade donuts, and a 2011 dolcetto d'alba . Food was pretty good, the salmon was overpriced for the taste I would not get that again. Pasta was a good price and tasted pretty good. Steak looked delish! Dessert was fantastic!! Service was good, and the wine was fantastic. I am usually not a fan of dry reds, but I loved this one. It was definitely not boring, and had a kick to it. Pared good with my pasta. Next time I would get the pasta, but I wold like to try other deserts and definitely the steak.

    (4)

  • Nicole Z.

    In actuality I would give this 3.5 stars. Came here for lunch with a friend, having heard it was a spot to hit in Oly. The food was pretty good and well portioned for lunch but also pretty pricey. A few of their salads sounded tasty but I wanted to try the pasta if it was my only time venturing in. I decided on the gnocchi which was cooked and seasoned well, very fresh with the asparagus, pancetta and grated cheese. I couldn't do the egg on top, I know its supposed to be fab, but I just cannnnt do easy eggs. My friend had the chicken sandwich and basil strawberry lemonade which she really enjoyed. I saw the salmon salad go by and it looked fantastic. In summation, food was tasty but a bit pricey, service and atmosphere was pleasant but nothing special. Glad I tried it once, probably wouldn't be a regular stop if I were still in the area.

    (3)

  • Marko L.

    Great atmosphere and friendly service. For an Italian place, they have a couple healthy choices too, if you're not looking for pasta. One off menu recommendation, get a double misto salad and ask them to add smoked salmon, tasty and filling!

    (5)

  • Frank K.

    Went in for breakfast and a couple things bugged me. I understand the concept of a invisible server but, non existent is something else. I am here for breakfast, I would like someone to ask if I would like a cup of coffee or something to drink before I've been sitting there 10 minutes. I understand this is an Italian style but, olive oil brushed on the toasted bread should be spelled out. It's not that I wouldn't go back because the hangtown frittata was good but, I sure won't go if I am really hungry or in a hurry.

    (2)

  • Brandee N.

    Love this place. I was absolutely apprehensive based on the reviews...I usually rely heavily on customer reviews..., but since the reviews were mixed I figured I should try it. So comparing with some reviews I've read... Ambiance: I love the quiet ambiance... I'm not a fan of olive garden nor it's loud atmosphere. I also love the area it's in... Very different from the dirty main downtown Olympia scene. Bread: The bread is a cheesy focaccia You can eat focaccia hot or cold...someone complained that it was cold and hard? I'm not getting that experience as I am currently chewing one in my mouth. Love the bread! Wine We ordered a bottle of the pogini 2010 chianti...good selection.... Very smooth! Food: Smoked Duck Ravioli/ Add pancetta Fritto misto /Only calamari Eggplant I enjoyed all of the food except the Prawns cypress

    (5)

  • J J.

    Delicious lunch and dinner. Great service. Pretty pricey for dinner though. Recommend the caprese panino for lunch.

    (5)

  • Nicole G.

    Our server was very wonderful. Nice, friendly, and balanced everything. He asked to take our daughters orders first and their food came out quickly. My husband like his dinner although he said he wouldn't order it again. My pizza was great and my daughters liked their pasta.

    (4)

  • Natasha B.

    I was a huge fan when this place opened for the first few years! On my recent visit it seems to have gone a bit down. The food is still excellent, just a smidge pricey. We were able to get reservations the same day. Happy hour drinks were very good but I probably wouldn't pay for the full price cocktails. Our server was nice, knowledgeable on the menu, but a little hard to find at times. Nice atmosphere with an exhibition kitchen. Fun, just a little noisy when it's busy but I love that. They have private rooms you can rent for meetings or parties which is awesome! This is a good place to eat but nothing to write home about anymore. The food is good enough for me to visit again and see if I just caught a slow day or something. Great for any size party. I wouldn't call this authentic Italian, more Italian with a contemporary spin (a yummy one!)

    (3)

  • Rebekah T.

    This place used to be really good, now it's just meh. They have taken the best items off the menu. Definitely slipped over the past year or so.

    (3)

  • Courtney S.

    Great food. Sometimes great service. Super wine list. Pricey but unique -- try scallops and ravioli dishes! Great for larger parties.

    (4)

  • Stephen P.

    As a restaurant manager, I tend to have pretty high standards when reviewing service, drink, food and ambiance at other restaurants. With saying that, I have no reservations about giving Mercato Ristorante my highest recommendation. Here is why: Over the past year, Chef Taylor has considerably raised the bar and is preparing food a few notches above both what is expected and the price paid. The polenta appetizer ~ cake-like polenta, a rich Gorgonzola sauce and wild mushrooms ~ is a dish that thoroughly satisfies ($7.50). Plus, don't miss the chocolate torte with caramel sauce, salt and whipped cream! Sherilyn, the bartender and our regular server (we always sit in the bar), is precious. She treats us like friends, spoils us with service and always has a smile on her face. We adore her! The beverage program at Mercato is coming along. I appreciate having a glass of Pendulum Red 2008 for $9.00! Last night I had a peach & jalapeno margarita that was delicious! The ambiance of Mercato is a bit "corporate" in feel, but it is always clean and neat, which I appreciate. Skip the "fine dining" restaurants that charge way too much for far too little, take your nose out of the air, open your eyes and realize that Mercato is one of the few shinning stars of the Olympia restaurant scene!

    (5)

  • Z Z.

    Although our experience there wasn't terrible, I had much higher expectations going into it. I wouldn't totally not recommend this place, but perhaps try it for lunch instead.

    (3)

  • Julia R.

    Pricey for lunch, which is when I visited with a friend last month. However, food is good and ambiance is nice. I tried the strawberry basil lemonade, along with a not totally memorable chicken sandwich. Both were good, but at $18 with tip and tax, this would be a special occasion spot for me.

    (4)

  • Kelly G.

    Really great service. Ate outside. Food was fairly good & my wine was so-so. But liked the place. So did my business associates. I don't often order pasta but did order the clam pasta they offer. It wasn't terribly flavorful but it did give me food poisoning. I ate there about 26 hours ago & got extremely sick. Just starting to feel alive again & it wrecked an entire day. I will call the restaurant to let them know it happened, but damn...

    (2)

  • Antoni H.

    I know this place has great food as I've eaten here before, but great food is nothing when you don't have a server to take your order, bring it to you, or even offer you a drink. Was seated and then ignored by 2 servers that were serving a bigger table. One looked over and gave me a fake smile and then ignored me. The other one only acknowledged me after she saw me getting up to walk out. The saving grace was the guy I saw on the way out who I told I was being ignored, and offered to help and serve me right away, but by then I had decided to leave.

    (1)

  • Janice B.

    We come here regularly to enjoy the quality food. No complaints from the kitchen. Awesome. The wait staff and host staff, however, are a separate case. Quick note: Saturday hostess appeared frazzled by the busyness and instead of a composed greeting and reassurance to service for 5, she says "um we don't have room here but if u want to wait an hour..." secondly, the wait staff is awkward and has lack of sense for the social interactions of a table. It was late and all we wanted was a good meal sans the chit-chat perkiness. And despite their perkiness, on three occasions a meat substitution was "missed" on the order ticket (sever's fault). Food is good. Service needs re-teaching.

    (3)

  • Kathryn A.

    Great place to meet friends, shopping at the farmer's market, just across the street. Good food, reasonably priced, and friendly staff. When the weather is nice, one can dine outdoors.

    (4)

  • Alan B.

    Been here a couple times for corporate leadership meetings and have to say, the food is amazing! Truly four star quality all around. The last time we were here (during morning hours) I had the penne di pollo - and every bite was a little bit of heaven. So if you're ever looking for a truly high quality taste of Italian cuisine in Olympia, I'd say you would be wise to check out Mercato!

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    Mercato is on notice for me. I love to meet people there for lunch because it is upscale without being to fancy, good food without being outrageously expensive, and flavorful. I love the outdoor seating, and the service is usually fine. Best thing on the menu= antipasto plate. Yum. I would go back and just order that (to share, it is big). So why only 3 stars? Had some inconsistent and odd service during the last couple of visits. I'll still go back, hoping for better... Recently ordered the pizza gamberi to go, left the resto and discovered they had not added the shrimp! They offered to fire up the shrimp and put in on, but then the pizza would have been cold and I couldn't wait around, anyway. So they gave me a $10 gift card...kind of random since the pizza was $14 (but I did keep the pizza... but it was not at all what I ordered). Also ordered a salad that was soggy and overdressed, overpriced, and bland. The oily, chewy croutons were a crime against humanity. Still, I love some of the other dishes so I hope they polish up the rough spots and become a bit more consistent...

    (3)

  • Steve C.

    Went here for a party in a private room where we had about 20 menu items spread out. About 2 were pretty good, the rest meh to worse. I looked at the menu prices and decided no way am I coming back.

    (2)

  • Ken P.

    Great atmosphere and I enjoyed the wonderful appetizers. The smoked salmon bruschetta was delicious and large enough for several people. We had a great time and the next time I come to Olympia I will have to try something new from their menu.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    Best Italian in Olympia that we've had. Duck Gnocchi was great.

    (4)

  • nicky f.

    4 stars for the food. 2 stars for service and ambience. Our lunch was really good,flavorful and the portions were substantial. If you like blood mary's, they make one that is deeeelicious! I would go back just for that. Service & ambience. I'll make it quick. The server looked unkempt, we heard the delicious sounding lunch specials after we ordered, (as he was telling them to the next table). That's annoying, right?! As far as the ambience, we sat outside because it was a gorgeous day. Well, where was the music? The speakers were there... I don't know it just lent itself to a boring blah kind of vibe.

    (3)

  • Marma S.

    I actually would like to give 3.5 stars instead of 3 or 4. My husband brought me here for my birthday dinner. I thought the prices and portions were very reasonable. My appetizer was the prawn caprese. It was very good and I thought the amount food was refreshing compared to other Italian restaurants that are usually overpriced. I ordered the gnocchi roma. The flavors were delicious but the gnocchi were a little doughy. I would try it again though since chefs are human and can have an off night. My only problem was that for the price of the entree you should get a dinner salad. I was disappointed in that. Service was great.

    (3)

  • Ayanna E.

    I was here a week ago on a dinner date, and we had a really great time. My guy called ahead of time (same day) and made reservations for us. I checked in first while he was running late, and the hostess allowed me to choose our table because we had a reservation. We had a choice between the wine room and the chef's table (which was a small, private table away from the main dining area). Of course we chose the chef's table, which made it a very romantic dinner. I strongly suggest if you are on a date, see if you could request this table by making a reservation in advance. Well worth it! I was undecided on a red for my wine choice, and my waitress offered to bring me two tastings of reds that she thought I would like with my proposed dinner choice. Based on her selections, both me and my guy had great wine with our meal. She was very attentive and super nice, making our experience even greater. The food was delicious. We both had gnocchi, but two different kinds. Both were good. We also had the salmon brushetta for an appetizer. I am not a seafood fan, but it was very good. We had the bread pudding for dessert, and I suggest sharing it unless you are still super hungry after your meal. All of it was very good. We each ordered a glass of desert wine, but they only had enough of it left for one glass, so they split the wine between the two of us and made it on the house. Overally it was a wonderful evening with no complaints. Neither of us live in the Olympia area, but when we come back, this place is definitely on our list!

    (5)

  • Samra S.

    Called on a Monday to make a reservation for Thursday night dinner with friends. Why Thursday? ** THURSDAY NIGHT WINE DINNERS ARE BACK** So sayeth the website. The website doth lie-eth. I even asked when I called to make the reservation if they were still hosting the Thursday night wine dinners. I was told without hesitation that 'yes' they were. However, when we arrived on Thursday expecting a three course meal paired with wines for $35/person we were very quickly disappointed. It felt like having to admit there was no wine dinner that evening demoralized our waiter and left him bereft of the desire to provide attentive and helpful service the rest of the evening. And the food ranged from okay to not good. Between the three of us we had the pappardelle, gnocchi and the fungi pizza. The pappardelle was flavorful (which is not too terribly hard when there's that much meat in one dish) and the pasta itself was very tender. The gnocchi was pretty chewy and greasy -I'm thinking it was pan fried. And overall, it was a VERY salty dish - the other ingredients were not able to balance the pancetta. The fungi pizza was not enjoyable. It was very strangely constructed -the mushrooms appeared to have been cooked on the stovetop and then added to the pizza after it came out of the oven. And there was WAY too much arugula on the pizza - it was the only thing I tasted. And I enjoy arugula on my pizza. But we all enjoyed our salads - one Caesar and two pear and gorgonzola salads. The white wines were nice and they did seem to have a good selection of wines. However, our comrade that ordered the cocktail was not as pleased with his selection. Kraken rum, Swedish Punsch and lime juice - very disjointed and odd mixture. Olympia offers a plethora of Italian-ish, moderately priced restaurants to the dining public - most are a far better at delivering quality food for the same price. Overall, I don't think I'll go back of my own volition.

    (2)

  • JP M.

    Our usual Saturday evening M.O. Late tasting at the Wine Loft and then "where to for dinner?" Mercato fit the bill since we were craving pasta. Started with the goat cheese appetizer and a bottle of Owen Roe Abbott's Table wine. Just as the appetizer was delivered the snow kicked in so we decided to hunker down for a nice long dinner. (What's with the snow?!? This is Oly dammit!) Entrees. She had the steak with potato puff and broccoli and I had spaghetti bolognese with a sausage. The app, wine and snow storm were amazing. The entrees were very good. Our server was excellent, pacing the evening very well. We hadn't been to Mercato in awhile thinking it a better summer choice. It's also a great place to spend a Saturday night watching for snow!

    (4)

  • Philip S.

    Stopped in for a drink tonight. Nothing special, just a scotch. Good bartender.

    (3)

  • Melissa J.

    We sat outside on a sunny day. Server was nice. Ribeye was fatty, chewy and under seasoned. Main pet peave was that they did not clear off our glasses when they bought new drinks. So many empty glasses on our table!! We've never really liked this place and keep thinking our poor experiences were just isolated incidences. This place just doesn't click with us but maybe it will for you.

    (2)

  • Casey A.

    Meh. Yup that sums up my thoughts of Mercato. When my husband and I moved to Olympia, we heard good things about this restaurant. We ate here three times, before giving up on having a fantastic meal. This was going back 6 years ago. We have told people who were headed to a meal there to go to another Italian restaurant in town and all of them thanked us profusely. So fast forward 6 years and after hearing from numerous people in a short time period about how good the food was, we decided maybe they had improved/changed and to give them another shot. The decor is nice, maybe they were going for an upscale Cucina Cucina decor wise. The menu is impressive, lovely sounding dishes. But the food is just ok. Wasn't horrible, but not fantastic, nothing to rave about. Makes me wonder about the people who raved about it, and where else they were eating to compare it to. To top it off all their pasta says it is "made fresh" yes...by a company in Seattle and they get deliveries of it every few weeks, it is not fresh as I would describe it.

    (2)

  • BreAna H.

    Not going to say much other than the service was good, the food was great, and we were able to sit outside on a beautiful evening! The bill was about $67.00 for two people with a glass of wine, soda, an order of garlic knots, two starter salads, and two entrees. Not bad at all!

    (4)

  • Sarah Y.

    You really can't go wrong with this place ... unless you're on a 'fast food only' budget. But I will say, it's worth every penny spent! I had the duck and it was juicy, tender and had a yummy apricot sauce that was dirzzled over it. The service was outstanding too! Great food excellent wine and well trained and personable staff! We will most definitely be going back!! Thanks!

    (4)

  • Kyla O.

    Visited Mercato for the first time this Saturday for lunch with a friend. We were seated within a minute of entering by our server who was playing hostess/server double duty. The restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday at 1, but then again we were seated in the front section so I could have been wrong. Our server was kind, attentive and unobtrusive. She didn't try and upsell salads or appetizers - a pet peeve of mine. My friend ordered the penne di pollo alla toscana: penne, chicken, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and cream sauce. She gave me a bite and it was fantastic. The portion was ample, the cream sauce was wonderfully light and they didn't skimp on the tomatoes. I had the gnocchi con pancatta: gnocchi, pancetta, spinach, caramelized onions, grape tomatoes and a butter sauce. The house cured pancetta was out of this world and all of the flavors blended beautifully. We both had the strawberry lemonades which were to die for if you like sweet, fruity drinks. I will absolutely visit again and am looking forward to sampling more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Elisa R.

    Went to Mercato's on the Monday of Fourth of July week. It was slow in Olympia and not many people out and about due to the holiday. My husband and I were on lunch, and arrived around 12:20. We waited about five minutes to be seated and then waited another 10 to have our order taken. A waittress happened by and noticed we had not yet ordered and helped out. Despite the initial poor service, the smoked salmon ceasar was the best salad I have ever tried. The portion was large, the amount of smoked salmon was plentiful and the lettuce was nice. It was delicious. Since it was a work day, I ordered a basil-lemonade to drink. It was not good. I have eaten at Mercato's previously and had the same customer service experience. At least this time, I enjoyed the meal. It would be nice if the customer service, and consistency with food preparation be addressed.

    (3)

  • Bri D.

    The husband and I came here one afternoon for lunch and it was pretty much deserted. There were a couple other tables besides ourselves and a party of 8 across from our section. Unfortunately, because of poor seating management we were subjected to the incredibly rambunctious party and their cackling laughter. I understand that they were having a good time and all, and they deserve to, but I think it was poor planning on the servers part to put us all so close together when there was more than enough space in the otherwise empty restaurant. Anyway, the menu is interesting enough although there are a lot of things on the menu that I wouldn't like because I am picky. It is also a little bit pricey. I ordered the steak ciabatta sandwich which was very good and flavorful. It was served with a small side salad on the plate and together with that I found it to be very filling. Overall, we had a pleasant but pricey meal for lunch.

    (3)

  • Vicki D.

    What a wonderful first time visit!!!!!!! I will pay a return visit soon. Pizza Margherita was just so good, and Skylar's service as our waiter was beyond reproach. All in all, a most pleasant experience!

    (4)

  • Natasha H.

    I yelped this place yesterday while looking for a nicer place in Olympia to go for a celebratory dinner. Made reservations, though at 8 on a Wednesday night it wasn't really necessary. Which is honestly a shock! Nothing we ordered was disappointing. We spent a long time looking at everything on the menu because it all sounded amazing. Finally we settled on... -crema de spinaci e carciofo (slightly spicy, best I've ever had) -pear and Gorgonzola salad (the raspberry vinaigrette was SO good!) -fettuccine alla bolognese (veal, beef, and pork, really generous bites of meat) -penne di pollo alla toscana (great cream sauce, not at all heavy) -creme brulee The meal was perfectly timed, Brenden our waiter was helpful with wine suggestions (the Columbia Valley Savignon Blanc was delish!), and was attentive without hovering. We also got to sit at the Chef's Table, which is this little nook of a booth across from the Beautiful kitchen. It was just secluded enough to make the dinner completely romantic, and watching the presentation of the food was lots of fun! My only complaint is that they are only open until 9. I know it's not that different from most places in Olympia, but I'd definitely give it 5 stars if it stayed open later.

    (4)

  • Lindsey M.

    A couple of my girlfriends and I came here for a mother daughter night out. I had a great time because of the company, not the food. It isn't the cheapest locale for an outing and it definitely didn't deliver for the price. I expect more for 13 to 16 a plate. The good: Good wine. Great ambiance. Wonderful waiter. The bad: The food... I was dissatisfied with the food here and it seems I was not alone. The menu sounded wonderful on read through and everything that was ordered at the table appeared edible, but nothing special. The main issue was a serious price to quality mismatch. I ended up ordering gnocchi. Overall, the dish was pretty unremarkable except for the copious amount of grease. I had the urge to pile my little gnocci on the edge of the bowl to save them from drowning. Not wanting to offend my fellow diners I left this unsaid, but, without my prompting, my mom later revealed her citrus grilled chicken was also disappointing on several levels and more citrus than chicken. She reported a similar experience with this restaurant on a business outing where most people at the table were dissatisfied. In short? I wouldn't come here again.

    (2)

  • Shannon H.

    I came here with a group of ten other folks for a math meeting, and I greatly appreciated our server. She was patient and took excellent care of us in our private room. I noticed other reviewers have panned the food as mediocre, but it sounds like the general feedback in our group was that if you ordered standard Italian dishes, they were standard. If you opted for one of the specials, they were tasty. I had spiced pumpkin ravioli, which was absolutely fantastic. A bit pricey, but worth it for the specials! ###

    (4)

  • Thomas J.

    Went here on Valentine's Day without a reservation, in clothes more suited to lungeing a horse (which I had never done until an hour prior to this dinner, and have never spelled until just now) and the staff didn't seem to mind too much. Fortunately, my date was similarly attired and we matched, so it wasn't too big of a deal. Of course all the tables were booked, so we ate at the bar. The special Valentine's drinks were indeed special, and a chocolate vodka concoction was especially tasty. The crab cakes were quite good, and the salmon was a bit overcooked and overglazed, but still tasty. The service was quite good, and the level of attention we received considering we had no reservation was exemplary. The pasta seems to get good marks, so I might try that the next time. Oh, from the wikihow page - "...lungeing incorrectly can be very dangerous for both you and your horse." Now you tell me.

    (4)

  • Derek I.

    Nice...it'll do. It's middle of the road, overpriced and the service is hit and miss. It's part of a chain that also owns Ramblin' Jacks and Billy's out in Aberdeen so it has that kind of feel like the manager doesn't really care.

    (2)

  • Richard E.

    Great food,great atmoaphere.Best restaurant in Olympia.The pear salad and Bolognese Paperdelle are exceptional.As good a wine list as therre is in Olympia.

    (5)

  • Sven G.

    Great, attentive, unobtrusive service. Took the 'Molto Carne' pizza and ODed on jalapeno, but it's really good if you like your pizza thin and spicey.

    (4)

  • Mel E.

    Been to Mercato a handful of times. A great spot in the Spring & Summer months, with their outdoor seating. Good selection of drinks to sip on. On my most recent visit, I ordered dinner & wine. My experience was good. Pleasant server who seemed happy to be working & eager to please. He did forget to bring me my wine, but hey... it happens! :0) I ordered one of their pizza's & to my surprise, it lacked flavor. I ate only half of it & decided not to take leftovers home. The pizza had Chanterelle mushrooms, goat cheese... & beyond that, I'm not sure. I really couldn't make out any flavors. If I had to guess, I'd think they even used dried mushrooms, not fresh (even tho they were in season). It was okay. I'll be back for drinks on the patio... & we'll see about food.

    (3)

  • Kristina B.

    I always enjoy Mercato. The other reviews seem to indicate that they're going for an Italiano vibe, but honestly I've always just thought of it as a farm-to-table type of restaurant. I cannot weigh in on the pasta or pizza because I haven't ordered that here. I can say that the rack of lamb and steak gorgonzola are superb. I've also had the prawns caprese appetizer (prawns wrapped with prosciutto alongside a tomato, mozzarella and basil caprese salad) and it was fresh, delicious and pretty filling for an appetizer. Excellent wine selection as well, particularly their South American types - I had a great Argentinean malbec.

    (4)

  • Cara T.

    I'm surprised that Mercato only has three and a half stars. I always insist on coming here when I visit Oly. I had my rehearsal dinner here too. The quality of the food is great. I have never been disappointed coming here.. The only one downfall is they don't update the menu very often which is boring.

    (4)

  • Lilly T.

    I came here with my parents and brother for a nice lunch back in the spring time and we came out disappointed. The food was so-so. Nothing special or unique and everything was so sour and unflavored. We ordered the lasagna alla ragu (had better), the pizza salame (poorly made crust) and one other dish that I can't remember. The food at Mercato isn't terrible, but it's also not memorable. Pricey for the portions, but the environment is really nice and romantic. Service was good and they are always friendly. I guess Mercato is considered one of the more upscale restaurants in Olympia. I think the food could improve though.

    (3)

  • James O.

    The food is really pretty ordinary. How they feel the menu prices are justified is beyond me. Its not about prices, but the food is about what I would expect from the Top Foods deli. And the salad... I have never had a salad before that was dry - I didn't even know that as possible. Great location though.

    (2)

  • Ben P.

    One of my favorite Italian restaurants in all of the greater-Olympia area if not my favorite. Expect great atmosphere, an extensive menu and drink selection, quality food, and solid service. The food is just as good as anywhere in Olympia in terms of taste vs. value, and is perfect if you want a high quality meal without the expense of going to a super fancy restaurant without throwing down a ton of money. If you're going to go on the weekend, call a few hours ahead and make a reservation but you're usually good without calling on a weeknight. Overall, one of my favorite restaurants in Olympia.

    (4)

  • Ronnie Z.

    I have not visited a ton of Italian places in town....So my review may adorn a slightly different rating in the future. Though overall, this was a wonderful place, nice ambiance with an excellent wine list. Wait staff friendly and quick. Great table bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic. As a group we had the baguette with balsamic goat cheese-INCREDIBLE! The real main staple of my dinner(Gnocchi with pancetta) was flavorful, but was not incredibly memorable The Gnocchi itself was perfect in regards to overall texture and taste. The other guests in my party had wonderful looking meals all of which everyone liked. So 9 out of 9 like dinner! Bring the big credit card- you'll wind up drinking more than one glass of wine, staying late drinking, eating, and laughing. .

    (4)

  • Autumn M.

    Went here a few weeks ago as I was going to give this place another chance after a terrible experience several months ago....BAD idea...hostess seated us, 20 minutes went by before we received menus and a waiter. Another 20 minutes went by before we received drinks, and yes...another 20 minutes before someone would take our order. Finally our meals came... the food was average-and cold. Be sure not to drink all your water during dinner as your refill will come when you get your bill...which you guessed it...was well over 20 minutes after we ate.

    (1)

  • Yosafena C.

    Excellent food. I ordered pasta dishes both visits and my date made more carnivorous choices. Everything was prepared and presented perfectly. Luckily, we didn't order salads - as that seems to have caused enormous problems for other diners. A most excellent bread pudding for dessert. We'll be heading back just for that! Nice atmosphere - tho a rather odd shaped building resulting in chopped up seating areas. I particularly enjoy the outdoor area (when the weather allows). Weird martini glasses. Tall... champagne flutes almost. Still in search of the perfect martini in Olympia.

    (4)

  • Kris W.

    It's good, but it's not great. Appetizers always seem to be the standout when I dine here; the goat cheese one is very filling and could be split between a couple and leave both satisfied. Hit or miss cocktails - some are great, some miss the mark. Entrees can be very heavy, even in summer (I am somewhat ok with that in the winter, but not when it's hot outside). I've never had a salad horror here; mine have been alright. Pricier than it should be, and full of suits to match. I'd probably opt for Anthony's instead for the money.

    (3)

  • Julian H.

    Went for lunch the other day, ordered lasagna, thought "Finally! A place in Olympia I can rave about." Great food, decent service, nice atmosphere, decent prices (not great, but everything in this town seems pricey). But, weird music: while the decor screams for some Puccini, instead they are playing 70's TV show themes and Prince?!

    (4)

  • Rena S.

    One of the best meals I've ever had! We dined al fresco and everything from wine to dessert was simply amazing. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations and attentive to our needs, but not at all intrusive. We all agreed that their bruschetta is phenomenal. Great bottle of wine and simple field greens salads with a lovely balsamic vinaigrette were just right. One of us had salmon with fresh asparagus on the side, I had the penne pollo with sundried tomatoes & panchetta in a garlic cream sauce, and our other friend had the portobello mushrooms on top of polenta triangles. The polenta was perfection - crispy on the outside and creamy inside. We shared a serving of the sparkling sorbet which was light and refreshing. We are all three still raving about our experience at Mercato and highly recommend giving this ristorante a try!

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    My favorite place in Olympia and anywhere for that matter. Great food,atmosphere,bread to die for,and good service. You will need reservations on weekends or wait an hour.

    (5)

  • Juli M.

    Ridiculous. Sometimes lousy ingredients despite being throwing-distance from the Farmers Market. Can ruin even good, fresh Salmon, which is an insult to any resident of the Pacific Northwest. Kind of stuffy and posh and modern. Staff seem preoccupied with each other and screw up orders. Interesting music choices. Lousy drinks. Expensive, and way too expensive for the quality if not the idea of the place. Need to learn to season the food coming out of their kitchen. Could be an ideal stop after hitting the Market on the weekend, but isn't.

    (2)

  • Amy T.

    I don't know how to convey how good this restaurant is, but's its Soooo good. Basically think about how annoying it is to wait at the Olive Garden for "authentic" Italian and understand that most times you can walk into Mercato's and be seated very quickly. The food is very real and authentic, wholesome and to die for. I've never felt annoyed towards the staff and they are very friendly and knowledgable about menu orderings and specials. Now you won't get as much as at the Olive Garden but what you will get is quality delicious fare. I am a mom, and the restaurant is welcoming of children but I will say the kids menu is VERY over priced for what you are actually receiving. But I feel that the standard menu prices are fair and realistic for this type of quality establishment. You simply MUST try the bread pudding, even if you say or think you don't like Bread Pudding order this and share it with your dinner companion and you will not be sorry. The bread pudding is something for my dreams and something I find myself thinking about later. I recommend getting the gelato on the side so you can really enjoy the crisp, cream, just right sweetness of this dessert. In fact on my last birthday when I was just have a terrible day my husband stopped and picked up the bread pudding to go and surprised me, I cried my eyes because it such a sweet and loving gesture and because I was so excited that I got to eat and enjoy it. Mercato's has my business for life.

    (5)

  • Nathan A.

    This is a well designed restaurant down by the Farmers Market. The decor is nice, the staff are well dressed and friendly, and basically everything looks the part of a good restaurant. There are rooms for private parties, booths, tables, even outdoor seating. The food itself is nothing to write home about. It is decent but nothing special. If you want authentic Italian food in Olympia any of your other choices would be better. If your looking for a place that can host a larger group, where atmosphere and friends are more important than the food, Mercato would fit the bill.

    (3)

  • Megan M.

    Overpriced like most of the nicer Oly restaurants. The food was good, the ambiance and service was great. A little annoyed that the salad came at the same time as the pasta. The pasta was good. Not the best I've ever had, but I'll definitely go back as the options in Oly aren't that great.

    (4)

  • Supek, L.

    I went here again about a month ago and soooo being the Moron that I am.... I totally left my debit card in the black book after paying and didn't realize it until the next evening when I went to pick up groceries at Safeway.... I called up right away and asked if they had it... yes!!! they did!!!! and it was 5 minutes to closing but the girl said they would wait for me. (It's a 15min drive) I'm so glad that there weren't any unknown charges or anything and that you can rely on good people/business practice these days!! Thanks again Mercato's!!

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    Best lunch salad in Olympia. Sometimes can be difficult to get a table though. April 2012 update. Their salads have actually gotten better. Their chop salad is maybe the best salad ever!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Friendly. Accommodating of large crowds. But nothing special. One of the owners other restaurants, Rambling Jacks, has way more character and better food.

    (3)

  • Kirun M.

    I went here yesterday evening after searching all of downtown Olympia for a place to eat outdoors! It wasn't until after I ate at Mercato and was on my way home did I realize that the Oyster House also has outdoor seating (when the weather is good)...but I was there on Saturday for lunch, so I was happy I tried something new. Mercato has an early dining special from 4-6pm, Sunday- Thursday with a priced fixed menu which includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $18/ person. Fortunately, the drink I got was really tasty and kept my mind off of how incredibly long it took to bring out the food! I got there at 5:30 and didn't leave till 7:30. Early spring in Olympia is not the same spring in Los Angeles (it was 90 degrees this weekend!) Anyhow, the wind picked up by the time we were done with dinner and so we opted to take our tiramisu to go rather than eating it there...it could have been left behind entirely since it went in the trash after one bite. The main course was pretty decent - I had Gorgonzola steak with mashed potatoes and fresh spinach. Maybe spend the $18 on a regular meal that you really want instead of a three-courser. Go early when it's warm out and enjoy the bread and the drinks and get a dinner you're excited about instead of falling for the "deal".

    (3)

  • Olystacy B.

    I have been to this restaurant a handful of times and always appreciate the food and hate the service. The pumpkin ravioli is to DIE for an is almost impossible to find so they have me by the kahunas as I keep coming back for that....but that will change after our last visit. My sister and I decided to make this our restaurant of choice for a Christmas tradition dinner a few days before Christmas. Upon walking in we were brough to an undesirable table. We had made reservations so I asked if we could move to a nicer table since the restaurant was almost empty. We were told "sure" and the hostess simply walked off. We looked at each other in surprise and escorted ourselves to the table. ONce there we waited for about 10 minutes before anyone came over and poured water, and greeted us. Another 10 minutes went by before a server arrived to take our order. It was another 10 minutes before she returned with my salad and 7 tiny, limp, tough asparagus that my sister ordered WITH HER MEAL. By this time both my sister and I were out of beverages with no hopes of getting the refilled. We had to spend another 10 minutes waiting for her to return to tell her to take the asparagus back. SHe did not apologize. As a former server, I cant believe she even TRIED to serve them to us. She should have told my sister they were not good and been honest. At this point we asked if they were out of bread (as they always serve a foccacia type bread prior to dinner). She simply said, "oh, no..." and walked off. SHe brought the bread with our meals about 10 minutes later. We still had not received a beverage refill. I honestly get irritated when I pay 3.00 for ONE glass of ice tea with no refills! The waitress had only a few other tables to attend to and did a poor job of making our Christmas tradition dinner special. THis restaurant charges high prices for their menu items but gives you McDonalds service. Red Robin has better customer service! In economic times such as these this restaurant should take heed and pay attention to customer service or they, too, will soon be out of business. You can not charge the prices they charge without giving nice service. GREAT food if you want to deal with the horrible service. The pumpkin ravioli and Chicken Pasta was very tasty! I simply can not recommend this restaurant.

    (2)

  • Becca M.

    this is one of my favorite restaurants in Olympia. I've tried lots of different things on the menu and have NEVER been disappointed. Everything is always cooked perfectly, and is completely delicious (and as an ultra-picky person, that is saying quite a bit). The service is always good: I've never had a waiter/waitress that wasn't cheerful, friendly, and on-top of service (And I have been there A LOT). I've been here on dates, with parents, with friends, and even just me and a little kid. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

    (5)

  • Leslie C.

    love it! one of my favorite eats in town. pizza is fabulous. atmosphere is nice - upscale, but definitely not stuffy. locally owned business - sister restaurants are ramblin' jacks and italia. they are my kids favorites!

    (5)

  • Matthew R.

    Great atmosphere and great food. Was a very nice surprise on a trip home to Olympia. Should be four stars, subtract one for serving the salad at the same time at the entree, which created all sorts of logistical difficulties. Huh? Who does that?

    (3)

  • Robyn H.

    If its pasta you're looking for then pasta you will find. Also some of the best tiramisu in Olympia is served here. I was disappointed in the gelato because it wasn't true gelato so just order something else. Prices are moderate to slightly more than moderate but hell, this ain't the Olive Garden, mio amico!

    (4)

  • James O.

    The food is really pretty ordinary. How they feel the menu prices are justified is beyond me. Its not about prices, but the food is about what I would expect from the Top Foods deli. And the salad... I have never had a salad before that was dry - I didn't even know that as possible. Great location though.

    (2)

  • Sarah Y.

    You really can't go wrong with this place ... unless you're on a 'fast food only' budget. But I will say, it's worth every penny spent! I had the duck and it was juicy, tender and had a yummy apricot sauce that was dirzzled over it. The service was outstanding too! Great food excellent wine and well trained and personable staff! We will most definitely be going back!! Thanks!

    (4)

  • Lilly T.

    I came here with my parents and brother for a nice lunch back in the spring time and we came out disappointed. The food was so-so. Nothing special or unique and everything was so sour and unflavored. We ordered the lasagna alla ragu (had better), the pizza salame (poorly made crust) and one other dish that I can't remember. The food at Mercato isn't terrible, but it's also not memorable. Pricey for the portions, but the environment is really nice and romantic. Service was good and they are always friendly. I guess Mercato is considered one of the more upscale restaurants in Olympia. I think the food could improve though.

    (3)

  • Mel E.

    Been to Mercato a handful of times. A great spot in the Spring & Summer months, with their outdoor seating. Good selection of drinks to sip on. On my most recent visit, I ordered dinner & wine. My experience was good. Pleasant server who seemed happy to be working & eager to please. He did forget to bring me my wine, but hey... it happens! :0) I ordered one of their pizza's & to my surprise, it lacked flavor. I ate only half of it & decided not to take leftovers home. The pizza had Chanterelle mushrooms, goat cheese... & beyond that, I'm not sure. I really couldn't make out any flavors. If I had to guess, I'd think they even used dried mushrooms, not fresh (even tho they were in season). It was okay. I'll be back for drinks on the patio... & we'll see about food.

    (3)

  • Kristina B.

    I always enjoy Mercato. The other reviews seem to indicate that they're going for an Italiano vibe, but honestly I've always just thought of it as a farm-to-table type of restaurant. I cannot weigh in on the pasta or pizza because I haven't ordered that here. I can say that the rack of lamb and steak gorgonzola are superb. I've also had the prawns caprese appetizer (prawns wrapped with prosciutto alongside a tomato, mozzarella and basil caprese salad) and it was fresh, delicious and pretty filling for an appetizer. Excellent wine selection as well, particularly their South American types - I had a great Argentinean malbec.

    (4)

  • Cara T.

    I'm surprised that Mercato only has three and a half stars. I always insist on coming here when I visit Oly. I had my rehearsal dinner here too. The quality of the food is great. I have never been disappointed coming here.. The only one downfall is they don't update the menu very often which is boring.

    (4)

  • Ben P.

    One of my favorite Italian restaurants in all of the greater-Olympia area if not my favorite. Expect great atmosphere, an extensive menu and drink selection, quality food, and solid service. The food is just as good as anywhere in Olympia in terms of taste vs. value, and is perfect if you want a high quality meal without the expense of going to a super fancy restaurant without throwing down a ton of money. If you're going to go on the weekend, call a few hours ahead and make a reservation but you're usually good without calling on a weeknight. Overall, one of my favorite restaurants in Olympia.

    (4)

  • Ronnie Z.

    I have not visited a ton of Italian places in town....So my review may adorn a slightly different rating in the future. Though overall, this was a wonderful place, nice ambiance with an excellent wine list. Wait staff friendly and quick. Great table bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic. As a group we had the baguette with balsamic goat cheese-INCREDIBLE! The real main staple of my dinner(Gnocchi with pancetta) was flavorful, but was not incredibly memorable The Gnocchi itself was perfect in regards to overall texture and taste. The other guests in my party had wonderful looking meals all of which everyone liked. So 9 out of 9 like dinner! Bring the big credit card- you'll wind up drinking more than one glass of wine, staying late drinking, eating, and laughing. .

    (4)

  • Autumn M.

    Went here a few weeks ago as I was going to give this place another chance after a terrible experience several months ago....BAD idea...hostess seated us, 20 minutes went by before we received menus and a waiter. Another 20 minutes went by before we received drinks, and yes...another 20 minutes before someone would take our order. Finally our meals came... the food was average-and cold. Be sure not to drink all your water during dinner as your refill will come when you get your bill...which you guessed it...was well over 20 minutes after we ate.

    (1)

  • Yosafena C.

    Excellent food. I ordered pasta dishes both visits and my date made more carnivorous choices. Everything was prepared and presented perfectly. Luckily, we didn't order salads - as that seems to have caused enormous problems for other diners. A most excellent bread pudding for dessert. We'll be heading back just for that! Nice atmosphere - tho a rather odd shaped building resulting in chopped up seating areas. I particularly enjoy the outdoor area (when the weather allows). Weird martini glasses. Tall... champagne flutes almost. Still in search of the perfect martini in Olympia.

    (4)

  • Kris W.

    It's good, but it's not great. Appetizers always seem to be the standout when I dine here; the goat cheese one is very filling and could be split between a couple and leave both satisfied. Hit or miss cocktails - some are great, some miss the mark. Entrees can be very heavy, even in summer (I am somewhat ok with that in the winter, but not when it's hot outside). I've never had a salad horror here; mine have been alright. Pricier than it should be, and full of suits to match. I'd probably opt for Anthony's instead for the money.

    (3)

  • Julian H.

    Went for lunch the other day, ordered lasagna, thought "Finally! A place in Olympia I can rave about." Great food, decent service, nice atmosphere, decent prices (not great, but everything in this town seems pricey). But, weird music: while the decor screams for some Puccini, instead they are playing 70's TV show themes and Prince?!

    (4)

  • Rena S.

    One of the best meals I've ever had! We dined al fresco and everything from wine to dessert was simply amazing. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations and attentive to our needs, but not at all intrusive. We all agreed that their bruschetta is phenomenal. Great bottle of wine and simple field greens salads with a lovely balsamic vinaigrette were just right. One of us had salmon with fresh asparagus on the side, I had the penne pollo with sundried tomatoes & panchetta in a garlic cream sauce, and our other friend had the portobello mushrooms on top of polenta triangles. The polenta was perfection - crispy on the outside and creamy inside. We shared a serving of the sparkling sorbet which was light and refreshing. We are all three still raving about our experience at Mercato and highly recommend giving this ristorante a try!

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    My favorite place in Olympia and anywhere for that matter. Great food,atmosphere,bread to die for,and good service. You will need reservations on weekends or wait an hour.

    (5)

  • Amy T.

    I don't know how to convey how good this restaurant is, but's its Soooo good. Basically think about how annoying it is to wait at the Olive Garden for "authentic" Italian and understand that most times you can walk into Mercato's and be seated very quickly. The food is very real and authentic, wholesome and to die for. I've never felt annoyed towards the staff and they are very friendly and knowledgable about menu orderings and specials. Now you won't get as much as at the Olive Garden but what you will get is quality delicious fare. I am a mom, and the restaurant is welcoming of children but I will say the kids menu is VERY over priced for what you are actually receiving. But I feel that the standard menu prices are fair and realistic for this type of quality establishment. You simply MUST try the bread pudding, even if you say or think you don't like Bread Pudding order this and share it with your dinner companion and you will not be sorry. The bread pudding is something for my dreams and something I find myself thinking about later. I recommend getting the gelato on the side so you can really enjoy the crisp, cream, just right sweetness of this dessert. In fact on my last birthday when I was just have a terrible day my husband stopped and picked up the bread pudding to go and surprised me, I cried my eyes because it such a sweet and loving gesture and because I was so excited that I got to eat and enjoy it. Mercato's has my business for life.

    (5)

  • Nathan A.

    This is a well designed restaurant down by the Farmers Market. The decor is nice, the staff are well dressed and friendly, and basically everything looks the part of a good restaurant. There are rooms for private parties, booths, tables, even outdoor seating. The food itself is nothing to write home about. It is decent but nothing special. If you want authentic Italian food in Olympia any of your other choices would be better. If your looking for a place that can host a larger group, where atmosphere and friends are more important than the food, Mercato would fit the bill.

    (3)

  • Megan M.

    Overpriced like most of the nicer Oly restaurants. The food was good, the ambiance and service was great. A little annoyed that the salad came at the same time as the pasta. The pasta was good. Not the best I've ever had, but I'll definitely go back as the options in Oly aren't that great.

    (4)

  • Supek, L.

    I went here again about a month ago and soooo being the Moron that I am.... I totally left my debit card in the black book after paying and didn't realize it until the next evening when I went to pick up groceries at Safeway.... I called up right away and asked if they had it... yes!!! they did!!!! and it was 5 minutes to closing but the girl said they would wait for me. (It's a 15min drive) I'm so glad that there weren't any unknown charges or anything and that you can rely on good people/business practice these days!! Thanks again Mercato's!!

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    Best lunch salad in Olympia. Sometimes can be difficult to get a table though. April 2012 update. Their salads have actually gotten better. Their chop salad is maybe the best salad ever!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Friendly. Accommodating of large crowds. But nothing special. One of the owners other restaurants, Rambling Jacks, has way more character and better food.

    (3)

  • Kirun M.

    I went here yesterday evening after searching all of downtown Olympia for a place to eat outdoors! It wasn't until after I ate at Mercato and was on my way home did I realize that the Oyster House also has outdoor seating (when the weather is good)...but I was there on Saturday for lunch, so I was happy I tried something new. Mercato has an early dining special from 4-6pm, Sunday- Thursday with a priced fixed menu which includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $18/ person. Fortunately, the drink I got was really tasty and kept my mind off of how incredibly long it took to bring out the food! I got there at 5:30 and didn't leave till 7:30. Early spring in Olympia is not the same spring in Los Angeles (it was 90 degrees this weekend!) Anyhow, the wind picked up by the time we were done with dinner and so we opted to take our tiramisu to go rather than eating it there...it could have been left behind entirely since it went in the trash after one bite. The main course was pretty decent - I had Gorgonzola steak with mashed potatoes and fresh spinach. Maybe spend the $18 on a regular meal that you really want instead of a three-courser. Go early when it's warm out and enjoy the bread and the drinks and get a dinner you're excited about instead of falling for the "deal".

    (3)

  • Leslie C.

    love it! one of my favorite eats in town. pizza is fabulous. atmosphere is nice - upscale, but definitely not stuffy. locally owned business - sister restaurants are ramblin' jacks and italia. they are my kids favorites!

    (5)

  • Matthew R.

    Great atmosphere and great food. Was a very nice surprise on a trip home to Olympia. Should be four stars, subtract one for serving the salad at the same time at the entree, which created all sorts of logistical difficulties. Huh? Who does that?

    (3)

  • Olystacy B.

    I have been to this restaurant a handful of times and always appreciate the food and hate the service. The pumpkin ravioli is to DIE for an is almost impossible to find so they have me by the kahunas as I keep coming back for that....but that will change after our last visit. My sister and I decided to make this our restaurant of choice for a Christmas tradition dinner a few days before Christmas. Upon walking in we were brough to an undesirable table. We had made reservations so I asked if we could move to a nicer table since the restaurant was almost empty. We were told "sure" and the hostess simply walked off. We looked at each other in surprise and escorted ourselves to the table. ONce there we waited for about 10 minutes before anyone came over and poured water, and greeted us. Another 10 minutes went by before a server arrived to take our order. It was another 10 minutes before she returned with my salad and 7 tiny, limp, tough asparagus that my sister ordered WITH HER MEAL. By this time both my sister and I were out of beverages with no hopes of getting the refilled. We had to spend another 10 minutes waiting for her to return to tell her to take the asparagus back. SHe did not apologize. As a former server, I cant believe she even TRIED to serve them to us. She should have told my sister they were not good and been honest. At this point we asked if they were out of bread (as they always serve a foccacia type bread prior to dinner). She simply said, "oh, no..." and walked off. SHe brought the bread with our meals about 10 minutes later. We still had not received a beverage refill. I honestly get irritated when I pay 3.00 for ONE glass of ice tea with no refills! The waitress had only a few other tables to attend to and did a poor job of making our Christmas tradition dinner special. THis restaurant charges high prices for their menu items but gives you McDonalds service. Red Robin has better customer service! In economic times such as these this restaurant should take heed and pay attention to customer service or they, too, will soon be out of business. You can not charge the prices they charge without giving nice service. GREAT food if you want to deal with the horrible service. The pumpkin ravioli and Chicken Pasta was very tasty! I simply can not recommend this restaurant.

    (2)

  • Juli M.

    Ridiculous. Sometimes lousy ingredients despite being throwing-distance from the Farmers Market. Can ruin even good, fresh Salmon, which is an insult to any resident of the Pacific Northwest. Kind of stuffy and posh and modern. Staff seem preoccupied with each other and screw up orders. Interesting music choices. Lousy drinks. Expensive, and way too expensive for the quality if not the idea of the place. Need to learn to season the food coming out of their kitchen. Could be an ideal stop after hitting the Market on the weekend, but isn't.

    (2)

  • Becca M.

    this is one of my favorite restaurants in Olympia. I've tried lots of different things on the menu and have NEVER been disappointed. Everything is always cooked perfectly, and is completely delicious (and as an ultra-picky person, that is saying quite a bit). The service is always good: I've never had a waiter/waitress that wasn't cheerful, friendly, and on-top of service (And I have been there A LOT). I've been here on dates, with parents, with friends, and even just me and a little kid. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

    (5)

  • Robyn H.

    If its pasta you're looking for then pasta you will find. Also some of the best tiramisu in Olympia is served here. I was disappointed in the gelato because it wasn't true gelato so just order something else. Prices are moderate to slightly more than moderate but hell, this ain't the Olive Garden, mio amico!

    (4)

  • Vadim S.

    Great food, service, and value. Best restaurant in Olympia we tried during our vacation.

    (5)

  • Catie B.

    Lot's of seating and great service (even for our party of 12); delicious food and very well priced. All, unfortunately, ruined by an automated air freshener located directly above our table that pumped out fragrance every 10-15 minutes. Completely astounding. Why would you ever think to put one of those gas-station-bathroom-style misters in a restaurant?? If you can manage to avoid being seated under one of these air polluters, the bread pudding alone is worth a visit.

    (2)

  • Russ B.

    Met my sister and my niece here for dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect based on the local area but was very pleased. I had the Duck which was ok but I should have had one of the pasta dishes. Be sure to grab some deserts we shared 3 at the table and we're glad we did!! Nice place will definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Susan R.

    Excellent food, great service. They have a really good deal for $25 for three course meal, I came on a Wednesday. For the $25, I ordered the zucchini appetizer , salmon dinner followed by bread pudding. All very excellent! I also ordered a drink I've never tried before which wasn't to my liking. The server noticed that I was not drinking it and took the initiative to remove it from my tab. Very nice! Great service!! I I ordered a Gavi white wine, very nice light wine with great flavor. I also ordered the pear, hazelnut, gorgonzola salad which was ample and flavorful. To top it off, I ended with a cappuccino. Overall, a very nice dinner enjoyed on a sunny deck for a pleasant experience!

    (5)

  • Ashleigh M.

    Haven't had a ravioli that satisfying in quite a while!! Service could have been a bit better but I loved this place... It was daytime but we still ate by candle light

    (4)

  • Angie F.

    Don't order the scallops! I just got back from dinner tonight and feel like I left my wallet behind! I ordered the scallops for $23, you only get 3 scallops! Yes, you did read that correctly, three little scallops for $23!!!!! We have eaten here numerous times and usually love it, not this meal!

    (2)

  • Kelly A.

    I keep wanting to like this place. I've had a couple decent lunches, but disappointments continue to pile up. Tonight I had a "risotto" with corn, spinach, and tomato. It being summer, I thought it would be perfect. Meh. It was a pile of white rice (just rice is NOT risotto!) with the other ingredients nicely presented but without flavor. I think I added salt five times trying to amp it up a bit. The cocktail was nice.

    (2)

  • Monique F.

    I love this place. From the appetizers to the main course it was delicious. The server was friendly and quick. I had to the lemonade which was one of the best lemonades I have ever had, and I had something with a thick pasta and balonase sauce and goat cheese. It was exquisite! My mother in law had the ravioli and an ice tea she also loved hers. We got polenta as an appetizer and I would be back for that! The portions we're not too big but just the right amount. At first I thought they looked a little small but once you start eating that pasta your belly feels up quick. They also give you bread with oil and vinegar dipping sauce. So once you eat the bread and if you get an appetizer plus your meal you will leave very satisfied!

    (5)

  • Sonny Z.

    Tasty tasty treats from drinks to desserts. Service was a bit " off" on this Saturday brunch . Meals were served a bit on the cold side. It seems like our server was too overwhelmed by all that was going on. She got the orders right, but alas.. Food was served cold. Will try again next time!

    (4)

  • Terra H.

    I took a friend here for a congratulatory lunch, although I've only come for dinner before. I had an amazing chopped salad with chicken, olives, and tiny strips of salami. My friend had a chicken panini with thick slices of roasted white meat. For dessert I had bourbon bread pudding. The first bite melted in my mouth. She had her favorite, pot-de-creme, like a chocolate creme brûlée with two dense but delicious donuts. Service was great, attentive but not overbearing. I would come back tomorrow if I could afford it.

    (5)

  • Lisa C.

    I have eaten here maybe 6 times over the past 3 years and had some good meals. Today I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner, along with 2 of our adult sons. What an underwhelming experience. The salmon and pork tenderloin were just OK, nothing to get too excited about. And this may sound like a strange criticism, but the portions on some of the items are just too large! Seriously, who wants a whole coffee mug full of gelato? It just isn't as appetizing presented that way. Come to think of it, the best meals I've had here have all been pasta dishes. If I ever come back here, I'll stick with that. But more likely, I will just go to Basilico for some real Italian food.

    (3)

  • Gizelle M.

    Came here for my friend's rehearsal dinner. They have a room adequate for approximately 40 people, and even have enough space for the rehearsal. The waiter kept getting everyone's order wrong. He wrote it down, but my fiance ended up with my salad, AND entree. A friend next to me got HIS salad. Come on. The food was.. tasteless at best. My salad was pretty much greens with balsamic vinegar. My fiance's Caesar salad barely tasted like a Caesar salad. I ordered Eggplant, and though the top was salty, the rest did not taste like anything. His very small-portioned Penne pasta was the best dish. But it was nothing special, it was just more tolerable. It was not a terrible experience. But the food is not worth coming back for.

    (2)

  • Lynne E.

    Great bread (with good EVOO, vinegar), gnocchi and the BEST bread pudding with vanilla bean gelato...haven't tried anything else on the menu, as my husband and I are hooked on the items mentioned above. The portions are on the larger side for the gnocchi, but was slightly upset to find out they've cut back on the size of their bread pudding and gelato which my husband and I like to share. Overall, the food is great as is the atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    We enjoyed a lovely lunch to celebrate my aunts birthday, great food and fantastic service!! Wonderful experience and we look forward to coming back again! Oh! And the wine was great too!

    (5)

  • Cam S.

    My friends and I just stopped by 30 minutes before closing for drinks and pizza. We didn't feel rushed at all. It's just a terrific place: delicious food, wonderful drinks, good service, a beautiful restaurant. I look forward to going back for a full meal.

    (4)

  • Lloyd A.

    Birthday dinner, party of eight and everything was perfect. Excellent food and service, thank you Lenita! Robust atmosphere but not too loud. Olympia is fortunate to have Mercato.

    (5)

  • Joshua J.

    People, have we gone to the same restaurant? Maybe this place has improved over the years? I'm confused, I'm surprised Mercato is still around. I remember going here a couple of times throughout the year, and thinking, glorified Olive Garden. I have just never had a good meal here. Maybe I'm a little picky with Italian food, but at its root, it's fresh, simple, rich, and perfect. If you like Oliver Garden, you'll probably think this is really, really good. If you know what cacio e pepe is, you might not like it so much. I don't know. I would give this place another shot, as long as someone else was paying! Thanks for listening!

    (2)

  • Kim M.

    Went with my son, daughter-in-law and 17 month old grandson and had an excellent experience! We were greeted and seated right away. Our waiter was very nice and super helpful. I have a gluten allergy and the waiter was very, very helpful! We got the prawns caprese and it was wonderful and we all loved our main courses - two duck salads, one spaghetti and one penne with marinara. The wine was very good too! Just an all around great experience. Will go out of my way to go again next time we visit.

    (5)

  • L P.

    I've been here almost 10times and its always perfect and amazing! I've had everything from salad to pizza to gourmet lamb and no matter what I get its always off the chart! Every server is attentive and on top of it and friendly. I love their wine selection and atmosphere is romantic and classy but yet they're not expensive for the quality you get. I love this type of Italian, it's not heavy like Olive Garden and there's just so much to try...LOVE IT

    (5)

  • Elyse P.

    Great service, our server was very nice and the service was quick. We liked the food, wasn't anything I'd rave about but we enjoyed it. Ambiance was okay, we got stuck in a little corner at a tiny table between two large groups of people so it wasn't ideal. However they did get us a same day reservation on New Year's Eve which is hard to find. The bread they give you is a bit skimpy and disappointing, the bread is usually one of my favorite parts of these types of restaurants. The chamapgne was good, the server gave a good recommendation. All and all a good experience.

    (3)

  • Donna S.

    Lunch time --great friendly service. Duck salad fresh with dried cherries and gorgonzola cheese. The balsamic dressing perfect for the salad. The pasta with salmon, capers, seasoned with parsnips-just a little sweet flavor and a hint of pepper -- my mouth was very happy. The focaccia was warm and the olive oil and balsamic vinegar I would recommend to all who want great Italian with local grown produce!

    (5)

  • Derya S.

    I went today for the first time and we been really impressed. So we booked a baby shower on top of it. Been a chef myself and multiple times to Italy, I can say it is very close to Bella Italia. Olive Garden is not. I think the food was quite good and I will be definitely back.

    (4)

  • Jim E.

    We have been here many times over the last five years and never been disappointed, but they have definitely stepped up their game recently. We has the antipasto, bruschetta, nocchi, penne and my son had a pizza. Everything was perfect and fresh. Our service from Lenita was wonderful.

    (5)

  • Jim D.

    Just had lunch and I had the chopped salad The food is good but the service was just okay

    (3)

  • Sherry O.

    Our group was greeted immediately and shown to a booth. The server gave us menus and time to look them over, we ordered drinks and took our time ordering. All4 of us chose the 3 course dinner. The egg plant Napolian was layered with mozzarella, tomato and marinara . Perfect Salmon, risotto, pork tenderloin and penne pasta. All 4 dishes were delicious. Finally the bread pudding and gelato were surprisingly decadent. We would order the meals again!

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    We went here for a coworker's birthday lunch. There were 6 of us and we all ordered something different. I ordered the Steak Ciabatta with tomato basil soup. The soup was rich and flavorful. The steak was a full 8 oz steak on a slice of French bread with mustard and veggies and cooked perfect. Our waitress was very friendly and fast. I recommend the Mercato for a classy lunch.

    (4)

  • Michielle F.

    Amazing!! Eggplant appetizer was great. Chicken penne was delicious!!! Bourbon cake for dessert was wow!! Great service also!!

    (5)

  • Bruce T.

    We have enjoyed one fine lunch and one excellent snack here in the last couple months. We sat at the bar. The place has good decor, a nice noise level for conversation and they do know how to mix a cocktail. The wine list also reflects good quality. The soft egg pizza makes a nice lunch for two. If a snack is all you need, I can recommend the hors d'Å“uvre plate with salami, bread and cheeses, also for two. Do ask for extra bread if you go for the hors d'Å“uvre plate - they are generous with the protein, so we wanted more bread to stack it on. The service staff is genial and efficient and the menu varied. We'll probably return for an actual dinner sooner or later. We made our forays here in midafternoon because it is right across the street from the Olympia Farmer's Market, where we went for fresh veggies.

    (4)

  • Nhoj K.

    It's been nearly 2 years since my first review of Mercato. The quality has held, in fact, improved. IMHO, this is the current best dining restaurant in Oly with Ricardo's at a very, very close secondi. The fall menu had some delish pasta items (gnocchi with veggies and panchetta, gnocchi made with flour, not potatoes and a chicken pasta.) The Spousal Unit said this meal was as good as Umberto's in Vancouver (she was partly correct but "windage" must be factored due to a super yummy Barbera and her omni full glass du vin). Great service, not pushy . Waiter was knowledgeable about the menu, chef and wines.

    (5)

  • Carly K.

    Bad service. We felt like an inconvenience being there. We're hurried to order. I got the meat and cheese plate. Order came sans cheese. Dining mate got a Caesar salad. Order came sans dressing--just lettuce and croutons.

    (2)

  • Morgan P.

    This restaurant has never failed to impress before however this visit was a complete fail. From the dry bread to the bland food, we will not be returning. I ordered the Spaghetti and my friend ordered the gnocchi. Both were completely tasteless and very oily. The gnocchi was touted as one of take servers favorite dishes. He must not have tastebuds. A very truncated menu disappointed on varsity and dairy free options. The one star is for the service only. Will not return.

    (1)

  • Drizzy R.

    We had our wedding dinner here for around 15 people. Since it was on a Thursday, they put us in a private room, which was really nice. When you call to make your reservation, they ask if it will be separate checks or all under one bill...which is nice and saves the host the awkwardness of announcing that everyone will be paying for their own meals! They accepted the delivery of our cake from Wagner's as well - they have cold storage space if you need it. With such a big group, they had a special menu you could choose from - most entrees were about $15-25. The food was decent, but nothing amazing. Timothy, our server, was great. They offered GF options as well, which was good for one person in our group. Parking was easy and right across the street from the Olympia Farmer's Market and the wharf, which is a nice setting. I'm not sure if we'd go back...I'll have to try out the other Italian places in the south Sound first.

    (3)

  • Wanda H.

    Disappointing, I guess the pasta must be good???? I would steer clear of the steak ciabatta big hunk of stringy meat , husband had the smoked salmon bruschetta which was dried out hunk of fish so hard he could not eat it. The pear salad we ordered as an upcharge was hunks of pear and whole chestnuts not good....The only thing good here was the waitress. Won't be back anytime soon. We have been here prior, they used to be much much better.

    (2)

  • Adrian S.

    I was looking through reviews for Mercato, and I was surprised that I hadn't written one. I've gone there quite a few times -- mostly for lunch. Their prawns caprese and panino caprese are good. For lunch I usually have the chopped salad (chicken, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, mozzarella, red wine vinaigrette), or the salami panino (I have a weak spot for salami) -- which I had last week.. For dinner I usually steer toward the steaks (get it?). Strip steak that is. And the crab cakes are decent. All in all, it's a decent restaurant. It can get a little hectic and noisy at times.

    (4)

  • Melissa F.

    My parents seem to really enjoy this place, but I've been here twice and I can't stomach it. Food should taste like the flavors of the food, like pork or chicken or pesto or whatever, and not simply SALT. Everything is so incredibly salty and otherwise un-flavorful. The first time I went, I had the tagliatelle con gamberi di parma and the sauce was so salty, I had to sort of dry off the noodles before I could eat it. I ate all the shrimp and then just sat there, pushing my noodles around. The noodles were also bland other than just swimming in a salt sauce. The second time, I had the bistecca di lombo and even asked them to watch the salt. Barely tolerable. The texture and cooking of the meat was decent enough, and the broccolini with no salt was perfect. The gorgonzola mashed potatoes were dull - just mash with some unremarkable chunks of gorgonzola. It was truly nothing to write home about. The "port-shallot reduction" and the finishing with pine nuts just makes it sound like some sort of gourmet dish. The reduction was dull, and it may as well come on some kind of dish you'd order at Denny's. The pine nuts? Well I love pine nuts, but they served no purpose on this dish - just ostentatious. What else? The bread is some sort of flatbread with rosemary and a shit-ton of SALT. I have to brush it off like crumbs before I eat it. The wine selection? I've tried three different reds and they all pretty much sucked. I'm usually not so cruel about food, but this place is purported to be the best Italian in Olympia. I really.. just.. can't. PIcking up a Marie Callendar's microwave meal would seriously be a good equivalent. :(

    (2)

  • Kat M.

    I'm sticking to my previous review in terms of dinner and overall Italian food... However, it's a really good choice for warm weather happy hour! While it's not a spectacular view (better at Swing for sure), you're able to get a table outside easily. The cocktails & wine are good and usually well priced. Really the winner here is the happy hour snacks. The polenta with gorgonzola & mushrooms is delightful. Eggplant napoleon as well. They used to offer a HR size of the salad with the encrusted goat cheese which was awesome, last time I went it wasn't an option though. Great summer choice for reasonably priced happy hour food & drinks!

    (4)

  • Brandon S.

    Had dinner here last night. Noticed an insect scaling Mt. Penne Pasta. Called waiter over to introduce him to my uninvited guest. His response: "So, how can I help you here?" *crickets* *sound of tip falling*

    (2)

  • Catamara R.

    Great food! Good atmosphere, casual yet as sophisticated as you want to make it. Good wine selection for all tastes and price range... the 3 course meal for $25 was a bargain! Next time however I would have one of us order the 3 course meal and the other just a main and share the desert and first course. Everything was divine! Very excellent food!

    (4)

  • Huong N.

    Went there for a retirement party. We ordered: Salmon, baked sausage, and the chocolate chocolate with homemade donuts, and a 2011 dolcetto d'alba . Food was pretty good, the salmon was overpriced for the taste I would not get that again. Pasta was a good price and tasted pretty good. Steak looked delish! Dessert was fantastic!! Service was good, and the wine was fantastic. I am usually not a fan of dry reds, but I loved this one. It was definitely not boring, and had a kick to it. Pared good with my pasta. Next time I would get the pasta, but I wold like to try other deserts and definitely the steak.

    (4)

  • Nicole Z.

    In actuality I would give this 3.5 stars. Came here for lunch with a friend, having heard it was a spot to hit in Oly. The food was pretty good and well portioned for lunch but also pretty pricey. A few of their salads sounded tasty but I wanted to try the pasta if it was my only time venturing in. I decided on the gnocchi which was cooked and seasoned well, very fresh with the asparagus, pancetta and grated cheese. I couldn't do the egg on top, I know its supposed to be fab, but I just cannnnt do easy eggs. My friend had the chicken sandwich and basil strawberry lemonade which she really enjoyed. I saw the salmon salad go by and it looked fantastic. In summation, food was tasty but a bit pricey, service and atmosphere was pleasant but nothing special. Glad I tried it once, probably wouldn't be a regular stop if I were still in the area.

    (3)

  • Marko L.

    Great atmosphere and friendly service. For an Italian place, they have a couple healthy choices too, if you're not looking for pasta. One off menu recommendation, get a double misto salad and ask them to add smoked salmon, tasty and filling!

    (5)

  • Frank K.

    Went in for breakfast and a couple things bugged me. I understand the concept of a invisible server but, non existent is something else. I am here for breakfast, I would like someone to ask if I would like a cup of coffee or something to drink before I've been sitting there 10 minutes. I understand this is an Italian style but, olive oil brushed on the toasted bread should be spelled out. It's not that I wouldn't go back because the hangtown frittata was good but, I sure won't go if I am really hungry or in a hurry.

    (2)

  • Brandee N.

    Love this place. I was absolutely apprehensive based on the reviews...I usually rely heavily on customer reviews..., but since the reviews were mixed I figured I should try it. So comparing with some reviews I've read... Ambiance: I love the quiet ambiance... I'm not a fan of olive garden nor it's loud atmosphere. I also love the area it's in... Very different from the dirty main downtown Olympia scene. Bread: The bread is a cheesy focaccia You can eat focaccia hot or cold...someone complained that it was cold and hard? I'm not getting that experience as I am currently chewing one in my mouth. Love the bread! Wine We ordered a bottle of the pogini 2010 chianti...good selection.... Very smooth! Food: Smoked Duck Ravioli/ Add pancetta Fritto misto /Only calamari Eggplant I enjoyed all of the food except the Prawns cypress

    (5)

  • J J.

    Delicious lunch and dinner. Great service. Pretty pricey for dinner though. Recommend the caprese panino for lunch.

    (5)

  • Nicole G.

    Our server was very wonderful. Nice, friendly, and balanced everything. He asked to take our daughters orders first and their food came out quickly. My husband like his dinner although he said he wouldn't order it again. My pizza was great and my daughters liked their pasta.

    (4)

  • Natasha B.

    I was a huge fan when this place opened for the first few years! On my recent visit it seems to have gone a bit down. The food is still excellent, just a smidge pricey. We were able to get reservations the same day. Happy hour drinks were very good but I probably wouldn't pay for the full price cocktails. Our server was nice, knowledgeable on the menu, but a little hard to find at times. Nice atmosphere with an exhibition kitchen. Fun, just a little noisy when it's busy but I love that. They have private rooms you can rent for meetings or parties which is awesome! This is a good place to eat but nothing to write home about anymore. The food is good enough for me to visit again and see if I just caught a slow day or something. Great for any size party. I wouldn't call this authentic Italian, more Italian with a contemporary spin (a yummy one!)

    (3)

  • Rebekah T.

    This place used to be really good, now it's just meh. They have taken the best items off the menu. Definitely slipped over the past year or so.

    (3)

  • Courtney S.

    Great food. Sometimes great service. Super wine list. Pricey but unique -- try scallops and ravioli dishes! Great for larger parties.

    (4)

  • nicky f.

    4 stars for the food. 2 stars for service and ambience. Our lunch was really good,flavorful and the portions were substantial. If you like blood mary's, they make one that is deeeelicious! I would go back just for that. Service & ambience. I'll make it quick. The server looked unkempt, we heard the delicious sounding lunch specials after we ordered, (as he was telling them to the next table). That's annoying, right?! As far as the ambience, we sat outside because it was a gorgeous day. Well, where was the music? The speakers were there... I don't know it just lent itself to a boring blah kind of vibe.

    (3)

  • Stephen P.

    As a restaurant manager, I tend to have pretty high standards when reviewing service, drink, food and ambiance at other restaurants. With saying that, I have no reservations about giving Mercato Ristorante my highest recommendation. Here is why: Over the past year, Chef Taylor has considerably raised the bar and is preparing food a few notches above both what is expected and the price paid. The polenta appetizer ~ cake-like polenta, a rich Gorgonzola sauce and wild mushrooms ~ is a dish that thoroughly satisfies ($7.50). Plus, don't miss the chocolate torte with caramel sauce, salt and whipped cream! Sherilyn, the bartender and our regular server (we always sit in the bar), is precious. She treats us like friends, spoils us with service and always has a smile on her face. We adore her! The beverage program at Mercato is coming along. I appreciate having a glass of Pendulum Red 2008 for $9.00! Last night I had a peach & jalapeno margarita that was delicious! The ambiance of Mercato is a bit "corporate" in feel, but it is always clean and neat, which I appreciate. Skip the "fine dining" restaurants that charge way too much for far too little, take your nose out of the air, open your eyes and realize that Mercato is one of the few shinning stars of the Olympia restaurant scene!

    (5)

  • Z Z.

    Although our experience there wasn't terrible, I had much higher expectations going into it. I wouldn't totally not recommend this place, but perhaps try it for lunch instead.

    (3)

  • Julia R.

    Pricey for lunch, which is when I visited with a friend last month. However, food is good and ambiance is nice. I tried the strawberry basil lemonade, along with a not totally memorable chicken sandwich. Both were good, but at $18 with tip and tax, this would be a special occasion spot for me.

    (4)

  • Kelly G.

    Really great service. Ate outside. Food was fairly good & my wine was so-so. But liked the place. So did my business associates. I don't often order pasta but did order the clam pasta they offer. It wasn't terribly flavorful but it did give me food poisoning. I ate there about 26 hours ago & got extremely sick. Just starting to feel alive again & it wrecked an entire day. I will call the restaurant to let them know it happened, but damn...

    (2)

  • Antoni H.

    I know this place has great food as I've eaten here before, but great food is nothing when you don't have a server to take your order, bring it to you, or even offer you a drink. Was seated and then ignored by 2 servers that were serving a bigger table. One looked over and gave me a fake smile and then ignored me. The other one only acknowledged me after she saw me getting up to walk out. The saving grace was the guy I saw on the way out who I told I was being ignored, and offered to help and serve me right away, but by then I had decided to leave.

    (1)

  • Janice B.

    We come here regularly to enjoy the quality food. No complaints from the kitchen. Awesome. The wait staff and host staff, however, are a separate case. Quick note: Saturday hostess appeared frazzled by the busyness and instead of a composed greeting and reassurance to service for 5, she says "um we don't have room here but if u want to wait an hour..." secondly, the wait staff is awkward and has lack of sense for the social interactions of a table. It was late and all we wanted was a good meal sans the chit-chat perkiness. And despite their perkiness, on three occasions a meat substitution was "missed" on the order ticket (sever's fault). Food is good. Service needs re-teaching.

    (3)

  • Kathryn A.

    Great place to meet friends, shopping at the farmer's market, just across the street. Good food, reasonably priced, and friendly staff. When the weather is nice, one can dine outdoors.

    (4)

  • Alan B.

    Been here a couple times for corporate leadership meetings and have to say, the food is amazing! Truly four star quality all around. The last time we were here (during morning hours) I had the penne di pollo - and every bite was a little bit of heaven. So if you're ever looking for a truly high quality taste of Italian cuisine in Olympia, I'd say you would be wise to check out Mercato!

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    Mercato is on notice for me. I love to meet people there for lunch because it is upscale without being to fancy, good food without being outrageously expensive, and flavorful. I love the outdoor seating, and the service is usually fine. Best thing on the menu= antipasto plate. Yum. I would go back and just order that (to share, it is big). So why only 3 stars? Had some inconsistent and odd service during the last couple of visits. I'll still go back, hoping for better... Recently ordered the pizza gamberi to go, left the resto and discovered they had not added the shrimp! They offered to fire up the shrimp and put in on, but then the pizza would have been cold and I couldn't wait around, anyway. So they gave me a $10 gift card...kind of random since the pizza was $14 (but I did keep the pizza... but it was not at all what I ordered). Also ordered a salad that was soggy and overdressed, overpriced, and bland. The oily, chewy croutons were a crime against humanity. Still, I love some of the other dishes so I hope they polish up the rough spots and become a bit more consistent...

    (3)

  • Steve C.

    Went here for a party in a private room where we had about 20 menu items spread out. About 2 were pretty good, the rest meh to worse. I looked at the menu prices and decided no way am I coming back.

    (2)

  • Ken P.

    Great atmosphere and I enjoyed the wonderful appetizers. The smoked salmon bruschetta was delicious and large enough for several people. We had a great time and the next time I come to Olympia I will have to try something new from their menu.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    Best Italian in Olympia that we've had. Duck Gnocchi was great.

    (4)

  • Ayanna E.

    I was here a week ago on a dinner date, and we had a really great time. My guy called ahead of time (same day) and made reservations for us. I checked in first while he was running late, and the hostess allowed me to choose our table because we had a reservation. We had a choice between the wine room and the chef's table (which was a small, private table away from the main dining area). Of course we chose the chef's table, which made it a very romantic dinner. I strongly suggest if you are on a date, see if you could request this table by making a reservation in advance. Well worth it! I was undecided on a red for my wine choice, and my waitress offered to bring me two tastings of reds that she thought I would like with my proposed dinner choice. Based on her selections, both me and my guy had great wine with our meal. She was very attentive and super nice, making our experience even greater. The food was delicious. We both had gnocchi, but two different kinds. Both were good. We also had the salmon brushetta for an appetizer. I am not a seafood fan, but it was very good. We had the bread pudding for dessert, and I suggest sharing it unless you are still super hungry after your meal. All of it was very good. We each ordered a glass of desert wine, but they only had enough of it left for one glass, so they split the wine between the two of us and made it on the house. Overally it was a wonderful evening with no complaints. Neither of us live in the Olympia area, but when we come back, this place is definitely on our list!

    (5)

  • Samra S.

    Called on a Monday to make a reservation for Thursday night dinner with friends. Why Thursday? ** THURSDAY NIGHT WINE DINNERS ARE BACK** So sayeth the website. The website doth lie-eth. I even asked when I called to make the reservation if they were still hosting the Thursday night wine dinners. I was told without hesitation that 'yes' they were. However, when we arrived on Thursday expecting a three course meal paired with wines for $35/person we were very quickly disappointed. It felt like having to admit there was no wine dinner that evening demoralized our waiter and left him bereft of the desire to provide attentive and helpful service the rest of the evening. And the food ranged from okay to not good. Between the three of us we had the pappardelle, gnocchi and the fungi pizza. The pappardelle was flavorful (which is not too terribly hard when there's that much meat in one dish) and the pasta itself was very tender. The gnocchi was pretty chewy and greasy -I'm thinking it was pan fried. And overall, it was a VERY salty dish - the other ingredients were not able to balance the pancetta. The fungi pizza was not enjoyable. It was very strangely constructed -the mushrooms appeared to have been cooked on the stovetop and then added to the pizza after it came out of the oven. And there was WAY too much arugula on the pizza - it was the only thing I tasted. And I enjoy arugula on my pizza. But we all enjoyed our salads - one Caesar and two pear and gorgonzola salads. The white wines were nice and they did seem to have a good selection of wines. However, our comrade that ordered the cocktail was not as pleased with his selection. Kraken rum, Swedish Punsch and lime juice - very disjointed and odd mixture. Olympia offers a plethora of Italian-ish, moderately priced restaurants to the dining public - most are a far better at delivering quality food for the same price. Overall, I don't think I'll go back of my own volition.

    (2)

  • JP M.

    Our usual Saturday evening M.O. Late tasting at the Wine Loft and then "where to for dinner?" Mercato fit the bill since we were craving pasta. Started with the goat cheese appetizer and a bottle of Owen Roe Abbott's Table wine. Just as the appetizer was delivered the snow kicked in so we decided to hunker down for a nice long dinner. (What's with the snow?!? This is Oly dammit!) Entrees. She had the steak with potato puff and broccoli and I had spaghetti bolognese with a sausage. The app, wine and snow storm were amazing. The entrees were very good. Our server was excellent, pacing the evening very well. We hadn't been to Mercato in awhile thinking it a better summer choice. It's also a great place to spend a Saturday night watching for snow!

    (4)

  • Philip S.

    Stopped in for a drink tonight. Nothing special, just a scotch. Good bartender.

    (3)

  • Melissa J.

    We sat outside on a sunny day. Server was nice. Ribeye was fatty, chewy and under seasoned. Main pet peave was that they did not clear off our glasses when they bought new drinks. So many empty glasses on our table!! We've never really liked this place and keep thinking our poor experiences were just isolated incidences. This place just doesn't click with us but maybe it will for you.

    (2)

  • Casey A.

    Meh. Yup that sums up my thoughts of Mercato. When my husband and I moved to Olympia, we heard good things about this restaurant. We ate here three times, before giving up on having a fantastic meal. This was going back 6 years ago. We have told people who were headed to a meal there to go to another Italian restaurant in town and all of them thanked us profusely. So fast forward 6 years and after hearing from numerous people in a short time period about how good the food was, we decided maybe they had improved/changed and to give them another shot. The decor is nice, maybe they were going for an upscale Cucina Cucina decor wise. The menu is impressive, lovely sounding dishes. But the food is just ok. Wasn't horrible, but not fantastic, nothing to rave about. Makes me wonder about the people who raved about it, and where else they were eating to compare it to. To top it off all their pasta says it is "made fresh" yes...by a company in Seattle and they get deliveries of it every few weeks, it is not fresh as I would describe it.

    (2)

  • BreAna H.

    Not going to say much other than the service was good, the food was great, and we were able to sit outside on a beautiful evening! The bill was about $67.00 for two people with a glass of wine, soda, an order of garlic knots, two starter salads, and two entrees. Not bad at all!

    (4)

  • Marma S.

    I actually would like to give 3.5 stars instead of 3 or 4. My husband brought me here for my birthday dinner. I thought the prices and portions were very reasonable. My appetizer was the prawn caprese. It was very good and I thought the amount food was refreshing compared to other Italian restaurants that are usually overpriced. I ordered the gnocchi roma. The flavors were delicious but the gnocchi were a little doughy. I would try it again though since chefs are human and can have an off night. My only problem was that for the price of the entree you should get a dinner salad. I was disappointed in that. Service was great.

    (3)

  • Kyla O.

    Visited Mercato for the first time this Saturday for lunch with a friend. We were seated within a minute of entering by our server who was playing hostess/server double duty. The restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday at 1, but then again we were seated in the front section so I could have been wrong. Our server was kind, attentive and unobtrusive. She didn't try and upsell salads or appetizers - a pet peeve of mine. My friend ordered the penne di pollo alla toscana: penne, chicken, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and cream sauce. She gave me a bite and it was fantastic. The portion was ample, the cream sauce was wonderfully light and they didn't skimp on the tomatoes. I had the gnocchi con pancatta: gnocchi, pancetta, spinach, caramelized onions, grape tomatoes and a butter sauce. The house cured pancetta was out of this world and all of the flavors blended beautifully. We both had the strawberry lemonades which were to die for if you like sweet, fruity drinks. I will absolutely visit again and am looking forward to sampling more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Elisa R.

    Went to Mercato's on the Monday of Fourth of July week. It was slow in Olympia and not many people out and about due to the holiday. My husband and I were on lunch, and arrived around 12:20. We waited about five minutes to be seated and then waited another 10 to have our order taken. A waittress happened by and noticed we had not yet ordered and helped out. Despite the initial poor service, the smoked salmon ceasar was the best salad I have ever tried. The portion was large, the amount of smoked salmon was plentiful and the lettuce was nice. It was delicious. Since it was a work day, I ordered a basil-lemonade to drink. It was not good. I have eaten at Mercato's previously and had the same customer service experience. At least this time, I enjoyed the meal. It would be nice if the customer service, and consistency with food preparation be addressed.

    (3)

  • Bri D.

    The husband and I came here one afternoon for lunch and it was pretty much deserted. There were a couple other tables besides ourselves and a party of 8 across from our section. Unfortunately, because of poor seating management we were subjected to the incredibly rambunctious party and their cackling laughter. I understand that they were having a good time and all, and they deserve to, but I think it was poor planning on the servers part to put us all so close together when there was more than enough space in the otherwise empty restaurant. Anyway, the menu is interesting enough although there are a lot of things on the menu that I wouldn't like because I am picky. It is also a little bit pricey. I ordered the steak ciabatta sandwich which was very good and flavorful. It was served with a small side salad on the plate and together with that I found it to be very filling. Overall, we had a pleasant but pricey meal for lunch.

    (3)

  • Vicki D.

    What a wonderful first time visit!!!!!!! I will pay a return visit soon. Pizza Margherita was just so good, and Skylar's service as our waiter was beyond reproach. All in all, a most pleasant experience!

    (4)

  • Natasha H.

    I yelped this place yesterday while looking for a nicer place in Olympia to go for a celebratory dinner. Made reservations, though at 8 on a Wednesday night it wasn't really necessary. Which is honestly a shock! Nothing we ordered was disappointing. We spent a long time looking at everything on the menu because it all sounded amazing. Finally we settled on... -crema de spinaci e carciofo (slightly spicy, best I've ever had) -pear and Gorgonzola salad (the raspberry vinaigrette was SO good!) -fettuccine alla bolognese (veal, beef, and pork, really generous bites of meat) -penne di pollo alla toscana (great cream sauce, not at all heavy) -creme brulee The meal was perfectly timed, Brenden our waiter was helpful with wine suggestions (the Columbia Valley Savignon Blanc was delish!), and was attentive without hovering. We also got to sit at the Chef's Table, which is this little nook of a booth across from the Beautiful kitchen. It was just secluded enough to make the dinner completely romantic, and watching the presentation of the food was lots of fun! My only complaint is that they are only open until 9. I know it's not that different from most places in Olympia, but I'd definitely give it 5 stars if it stayed open later.

    (4)

  • Lindsey M.

    A couple of my girlfriends and I came here for a mother daughter night out. I had a great time because of the company, not the food. It isn't the cheapest locale for an outing and it definitely didn't deliver for the price. I expect more for 13 to 16 a plate. The good: Good wine. Great ambiance. Wonderful waiter. The bad: The food... I was dissatisfied with the food here and it seems I was not alone. The menu sounded wonderful on read through and everything that was ordered at the table appeared edible, but nothing special. The main issue was a serious price to quality mismatch. I ended up ordering gnocchi. Overall, the dish was pretty unremarkable except for the copious amount of grease. I had the urge to pile my little gnocci on the edge of the bowl to save them from drowning. Not wanting to offend my fellow diners I left this unsaid, but, without my prompting, my mom later revealed her citrus grilled chicken was also disappointing on several levels and more citrus than chicken. She reported a similar experience with this restaurant on a business outing where most people at the table were dissatisfied. In short? I wouldn't come here again.

    (2)

  • Shannon H.

    I came here with a group of ten other folks for a math meeting, and I greatly appreciated our server. She was patient and took excellent care of us in our private room. I noticed other reviewers have panned the food as mediocre, but it sounds like the general feedback in our group was that if you ordered standard Italian dishes, they were standard. If you opted for one of the specials, they were tasty. I had spiced pumpkin ravioli, which was absolutely fantastic. A bit pricey, but worth it for the specials! ###

    (4)

  • Thomas J.

    Went here on Valentine's Day without a reservation, in clothes more suited to lungeing a horse (which I had never done until an hour prior to this dinner, and have never spelled until just now) and the staff didn't seem to mind too much. Fortunately, my date was similarly attired and we matched, so it wasn't too big of a deal. Of course all the tables were booked, so we ate at the bar. The special Valentine's drinks were indeed special, and a chocolate vodka concoction was especially tasty. The crab cakes were quite good, and the salmon was a bit overcooked and overglazed, but still tasty. The service was quite good, and the level of attention we received considering we had no reservation was exemplary. The pasta seems to get good marks, so I might try that the next time. Oh, from the wikihow page - "...lungeing incorrectly can be very dangerous for both you and your horse." Now you tell me.

    (4)

  • Derek I.

    Nice...it'll do. It's middle of the road, overpriced and the service is hit and miss. It's part of a chain that also owns Ramblin' Jacks and Billy's out in Aberdeen so it has that kind of feel like the manager doesn't really care.

    (2)

  • Richard E.

    Great food,great atmoaphere.Best restaurant in Olympia.The pear salad and Bolognese Paperdelle are exceptional.As good a wine list as therre is in Olympia.

    (5)

  • Sven G.

    Great, attentive, unobtrusive service. Took the 'Molto Carne' pizza and ODed on jalapeno, but it's really good if you like your pizza thin and spicey.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Mercato Ristorante

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