Mercado Restaurant in Toronto

682 Caledonia Rd, Toronto, ON M6E 2T5, Canada

★★★★★
(965 reviews)
Categories: Portuguese restaurant Tapas restaurant

About

Folksy, family-run Portuguese hangout offering tapas, grilled meat & seafood, plus cocktails.

Website
mercadotoronto.com
Address
682 Caledonia Rd, Toronto, ON M6E 2T5, Canada
Plus Code
MGWP+QH Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
12–9 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
12–9 PM
Thursday
12–9 PM
Friday
12–10 PM
Saturday
12–10 PM
Sunday
12–4 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Counter service Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.5
★★★★★
965 reviews

Most Mentioned

patio (61) tapas (33) seafood platter (25) umbrellas (9) conversation (7) creativity (6) blood sausage (6) spread (5) foie gras (5) pork belly (5)
5 stars
747
4 stars
106
3 stars
35
2 stars
24
1 stars
53
★★★★★
December 15, 2024

The server was super friendly and sweet. All our dishes were scrumptious. Our dinner conversation was funny and entertaining. We had a lot of laughter, and hopefully, the other guests were not annoyed by our cheerful reunion of old friends. Our friendship goes back more than 53 years.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Atmosphere was beautiful. Food was tasty. Nice Caipirinha! Service was quick. Waitresses were attentive and friendly. Overall excellent first visit. Will be back soon

★★★★★
November 12, 2024

Mercado Restaurant on Caledonia is a gem for Portuguese cuisine. The attentive, friendly staff made our experience exceptional. We started with the perfectly seared scallops, then enjoyed the Beira Mar platter, a fantastic mix of meat and seafood that was both flavorful and satisfying. Highly recommended!

★★★★
October 6, 2024

Food was awesome. Service was good. Interior was nice. Would recommend sitting outside in the patio (see pictures). Bread and Olive Tampanade was good. The bread was soft and went well with the olive spread which was delicious. If olive spread is not your cup of tea, they do have have olive oil and balsamic vinegar option. The potato pave was delicious. The potato slices were soft in the inner layers while the outer layers were crispy. Vieiras (seared scallops, passion fruit, ube potato, and vulcanic salt) was a great appetizer. The scallop was perfectly cooked and melts in your mouth. It paired well with passion fruit and ube potato sauce. Biera Mar Platter was FANTASTIC!!! It’s a meat and seafood platter containing: 8oz flat iron steak, 12oz angus steak, chorizo, pork belly, grilled tiger shrimp, grilled squid, and grilled octopus. The steaks were perfectly cooked. We got them medium. The pork belly was tender and flavourful with a super crispy skin. The chorizo was tasty and delicious. The grilled tiger shrimp were massive and just perfectly cooked. The grilled squid and grilled octopus were fresh, perfectly grilled, flavourful and had great texture. Would definitely recommend this meat and seafood platter. We also tried four of their desserts which were refreshing and cleansed the palate. Each dessert had fresh fruit (blueberries or strawberries) and chocolate shavings which complimented each dessert. Our favourites ranked from best to least are: 1)Torta Acoriana (coconut cake, passion fruit mousse and mango jelly) was our #1 favourite dessert. A perfect combo of coconut, passion fruit and mango. Would definitely recommend. 2) Tiramisu was good. They make a pretty good, not too sweet tiramisu that was delicious. 3) Ambrosio (hazelnut mousse and dark chocolate cake) was chocolatey good. A great combo of hazelnut mouse with dark chocolate. 4) Pistachio Mousse and raspberry jelly was okay. There was something off about this dessert.

★★★
September 17, 2024

Seafood platter for 2 people was pretty good and tasty. We asked for more bread but the waiter didn't inform us that's extra charge. I told the waitress that we're celebrating our wedding anniversary and she didn't know what to do. Typically, in special occasions like these they'd have special way to help celebrate or give complimentary dessert. We're a bit disappointed at this restaurant. The patio was a nice place and decorated beautifully.

★★★★★
June 17, 2024

Trendy yet good. Large restaurant with a lovely patio. Excellent service (no shortage on staff). Good place to have dinner if you come with a large group. Platter style offerings. A bit on the pricey side.

★★★★★
June 17, 2024

Such a cute little place. Loved the ambience here. If you are looking for Authentic Portuguese food then this is your place. Our server Vanessa was the sweetest. The seafood is absolutely delicious. Loved the grilled Octopus and the Seared Blood Sausage. Desserts are heavenly especially the Pistachio Ricotta tart. Will definitely visit again.

★★★★★
June 4, 2024

Went here for a birthday, and I cannot stress the level of care the staff put into this dining experience. The food was amazing, timely, the quality was premium. There was a lunch 3 course menu offered at 48$ you could get a starter main and dessert with a drink and espresso. There were 2 options so naturally we got one of each. I highly recommend the short ribs especially if you're craving a tender rib with creamy mash. My favorite dessert was the chocolate moose. It was perfectly balanced. Again over all 11/10 experience and I will be going back.

Local Guide
December 20, 2024

Food was average and over priced. The owner was extremely rude and was more concerned about how the food looked than how the guests were being treated. Front line staff were pleasant but the management left much to be desired. Will never return

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Beautiful space. Very traditional menu. Worth the experience.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very good. The service staff is friendly. The cocktails are quite delicious. I feel tired after eating the foie gras here. The seafood platter is generally good. The only drawback may be clams because of the sand problem. First The second claim was that it was cooked just right and was very tender, but the problem with the sand was obvious. After the reaction, the store made a new one. The sand felt much better, but it was overcooked, as if chewing gum. It was not chewy and not delicious. . Their duck steak has been taken off the shelves and is no longer on the menu. So I ordered the medial rare lamb rack. I didn t expect it to be very tender and delicious . The price is average for Western food. Probably wont go there again. Parking: Not sure if there are enough parking spaces during peak hours.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Overall tastes good. Atmosphere is great. Chorizo is not as good as the ones I tried at other Tapas placed. Food : 4/5

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

Its so GOOD!!! I recommended everybody to try it!

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Food was excellent. Service was attentive and excellent. Wine prices are very, very high. I like my wine but I will be drinking beer in future visits.

October 21, 2024

Outrageously expensive for run of the mill food . First and last time for me . I d go out of my way not to recommend this restaurant.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Always a good time and great food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Great experience and lunch

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Place with soft music for lunch or dinner, families, special ovations.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Group dinner was great

★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Rude beyond belief, its only beautiful inside with plants everywhere you look but Id rather have nice people to deal with than look at a bunch of pretty plants. I called the manager to voice my concerns and all she had to say for it was, ok, ok, if you wrote us a review already I dont know what you want me to do if you cant run a business properly, dont run it

★★★
September 21, 2024

Such a big patio but no dog allowed Please reconsider your approach

★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS TO IMPROVE! We arrived late to our reservation due to living in barrie and stuck in traffic (called to.inform) We went as a huge group to celebrate relative bday (tourist). First of all once they saw all of us the lady just rolled her eyes, than the whole time being served we felt unwelcome. The tone of voice you can tell she did not want to work. Food was alright. It wasnt bad or great. The sangria was AMAZING and as a bartender its hard to say that lol. But overall the food was good but they could do better with the service and dont smile just to make sure you get a good tip, if you dont like your job then try something else at the end Food can be great but customer service needs to be an priority.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Food was fantastic, service was good, and the atmosphere was phenomenal. From the outside, you wouldnt think the inside would be so nice.

★★
September 21, 2024

A pretty patio in the industrial area, with nice inviting decor...but dont expect good quality food or service. Run by inexperienced staff who dont know the menu. The food is below average as a very high price. The quality and taste of the food doesnt match the price. Very few fish options for a Portuguese restaurant.

★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

This restaurant is a decent find in an industrial area, about a 10-minute drive from Yorkdale. Youll probably need Google Maps to locate it, but it feels like youve stepped into an elegant oasis. The interior and patio are elegantly decorated, and the mismatched plates are a unique touch. Google Maps labels it as Portuguese, which matches the tiled interior decor, but the menu is more of a fusion mix. It includes dishes like Ceviche from Peru and French Escargots, with only Bacalhau à Brás and Arroz De Crustaceos are Portuguese. The Ceviche was good, but the Steamed Escargots were small and seemed out of place, especially after a recent heavy rain. It felt like they might have come straight from outside, which didn t really fit the restaurants style. The Seafood Board looked Instagramable but tasted average. The octopus was dry and chewy, and the shrimp sauce was heavy on butter. The Rabbit was dry too, a bummer since I expected more, but it was on special, so cant complain too much. On a positive note, the complimentary bread was excellent, especially the tasty olive spread. The drink selections were okay but on the pricey side. Service was on point, friendly and attentive. Overall, it s a cool spot for a chill, intimate dinner if you re into the vibes more than the food. But if youre focusing on food quality and value, there might be better options out there. Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 3/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - 3/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 5/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 2.3/5 OVERALL - 3.4

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Had a wonderful time enjoying the IG worthy ambience and shared a mixed food board of sea food and perfectly cooked meats.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

This place is fantastic and truly demonstrates the Portuguese spirit and hospitality. The ownership is extremely polite and approachable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Amazing restaurant. Excellent food and service. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

We love Mercado, delicious food, and amazing staff Parking: Lots of free parking Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Tasty food and a cute outdoor patio. There arent any vegetarian options on the menu. However, the kitchen is very accommodating, and they prepared a vegetable risotto that was very delicious. There is also plenty of parking available. Vegetarian options: No vegetarian mains are on the menu, but the kitchen is able to make vegetarian dishes on request.

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Fresh and delicious food! Especially the octopus! Love it!

Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Outside of the cute patio esthetic, there was nothing great about this place. I saw someone post that it s a hidden gem but I was thoroughly disappointed after dining here. It s ridiculously overpriced for what you get. Portion sizes are SO small. We ordered the white wine clams (literally 12 pieces that don t even fill the dish up for $26), the octopus entree and lobster and fish risotto and 2 drinks. After spending $200, definitely left unsatisfied. In addition this place doesn t have high chairs so don t expect to bring your young kids here unless you bring your own attachment.

★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Came here for a large birthday party. We sat inside but they have a nice outdoor seating area. The appetizers were delicious; we enjoyed the foie gras, the clams, the shrimp, and conch salad. We also had the ceviche. The escargots were incredibly difficult to eat and they dont give you the tools to do so which was kind of strange. We also ordered the meat and the seafood platters. The meat platter was alright; we had told them to cook the beef medium rare but one piece was closer to medium well. The pork belly, squid and chorizo was good but the steak was deader than dead. The seafood platter was an incredible disappointment; it seemed like everything on this $200+ platter was frozen, including the shrimp and lobster. I can understand the snow crab legs, but the shrimp and lobster had the poor mushy texture to it indicating that it was beyond overcooked or just came from frozen. You would think that for paying that price, it would be at least decent quality seafood. Im not sure if they just had a bad batch of supply or what it was. The service was ok; we had to separate our party into two long tables and they really had a hard time serving the food to the appropriate tables. There was also no discussion about allergies and that had to be dealt with after the fact (the server was apologetic though). We also asked for more bread to dip in the appetizer sauces and it never came. The kicker was when one of us ordered a cappuccino after dinner and when it came she said there was a incredibly strong smell of bleach coming from it. I smelled it and definitely smelled of the Clorox bleach wipes used to clean in hospitals. The server apologized and said it may be from after cleaning the coffee machine - that is so concerning because clearly it wasnt cleaned/rinsed properly and could you imagine what would happen if someone drank it? Overall we had higher hopes for this place. In the end it was well over $150+ per person for a less than average meal for that price. Hopefully they can only improve from this point onward. Parking: It is in an industrialized area and the parking lot itself is kind of on a slanted lot with poor lighting so a little hard to navigate.

★★
August 21, 2024

I was hyped to try. Got some of the specials (it was missing salt) got our mains, food tasted bland. No flavour at all. So disappointing. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

The octopus and jumbo shrimp are spectacular in size and grilled to perfection.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Had octopus, it was a little too tough, but everything else that we had was good. It was six of us, with appetizers & meal& dessert we spent just over $900

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

What a fabulous experience! Great food, service and atmosphere

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

grilled seafood are so good! Highly recommended! Will come back again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Loved the place. the price was pushy but

★★
August 21, 2024

Pro: Food was fresh and flavourful, but nothing too special. Cons: Drinks weren t good. Dish sizes were too small. Too overpriced. We (2 people) had lunch and ordered 3 dishes and 2 drinks (1 was non-alcoholic). We knew the prices when we ordered, but we were t expect the dishes were so small. Our bill was around $240, almost $120 per person. For the dish sizes, the quality, the location and atmosphere, it s definitely unworthy.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Just had lunch at Mercado. First time there. Our server was very polite and explained the menu to us. Being of Portuguese heritage my expectations of the food were high. I was not disappointed! We had the bacalhau a bras and the arroz de pato as our mains. The food was not only delicious, but I enjoyed their creative take on traditional Portuguese dishes. We will definitely go there again and recommend this to friends and family.

★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Ordered seafood with light risotto, shredded duck, and a scallop appetizer. The seafood rice texture was very hard and had some unopened clams. The duck and rice was very dry and almost tasted like jerky. The scallop dish had a lot of pickled veges which were overwhelmingly sour and only had a few scallops-Which were overcooked and rubbery. Unfortunately, this restaurant food quality and dishes went severely downhill from our satisfying visit in early 2023. We expected much more for the price.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Tasty and legit, well cooked Portuguese food, with a good Portuguese wine selection. The only element that was a tiny bit disappointing was the desert menu. Overall pretty good.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Great service and fantastic food. Ideal place for a date! Definitely will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Very Delicious food ! Great service ! Highly recommend!

★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Beautiful restaurant/food presentation however the food itself is surprisingly bland which was disappointing, especially considering the price

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

The food here is absolutely delicious. Every dish Ive had has blown me away. The lamb, the duck leg, the cod. All fantastic. The owner is very friendly and all the staff here are friendly and nice. Highly suggest this place.

★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Its unfortunate, I seldom change a review. We have come many times to Mercado, brought our customers and clients for dinner there but probably not again. The lady at the front was pretty rude ( glasses older miserable), we didnt have a reservation and havent needed one during the day. She said there was no tables the whole place was empty, when I asked to sit at the bar she said it was too dirty. So why not clean it So unfortunate because I would say otherwise a cool vibe food is hit or miss, but mostly esthetically beautiful. Picture worthy..thats all.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Our first time at Mercado. Food was delicious and our server Vanessa Ely was amazing. Patio was our choice which enhanced the appetite

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Amazing food, service and Ambient

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Very pleasant place, food is great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

One of my favorites and one of the best Portuguese restaurants in Toronto for me. Stopped for some takeout and everything was delicious! Even grabbed some rice pudding just to quiet the sweet tooth and it didnt disappoint. If you want variety, quality and great tasting Portuguese food with super friendly service this is the spot!

July 21, 2024

Was excited to try this restaurant however we were very disappointed! The staff was very rude to us which I now notice is mentioned on a lot of past reviews. The food was ok but both my husband and I have been deathly sick since we got home! Unless you want to spend a couple hundred bucks to get food poisoning stay away!!

July 21, 2024

I am utterly flabbergasted by the behaviour of this restaurant! My husband and I had scheduled a reservation for Saturday night, unfortunately he fell ill and we were unable to go out for out for the dinner we were looking forward to. I phoned around 1 PM to cancel a reservation for that night at 7:15. The woman I spoke to on the phone was extremely rude and told me I would be charged. I said I dont understand how you would charge somebody who cannot come due to an illness? We didnt simply not show up!? I phoned and tried to give the Restaurant as much notice as possible and frankly if you cant fill a table for two people on a Saturday night with 6 1/2 hours notice you must have bigger problem than our cancellation? Fast forward, the restaurant did charge us for the cancellation and then went on to trash me on Instagram and block my husbands account. To say I was rude and or screaming is an outright lie. I simply expressed my disappointment in the way they were treating me in my normal tone of voice. I am completely disgusted that a restaurant would behave so unprofessionally, but since this happened to us, we looked through some of their past reviews and see the owner clearly has no respect for people and often comments inappropriately back to his customers! They keep deleting the response I left to their message on Instagram so I decided to leave a review here explaining my experience. In the day and age with so many people struggling and working so hard at making a living please dont support such a nasty place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Everything is amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Wonderful experience, atmosphere, and waitress were very attentive. We were a party of 10, and she took the time to explain everything we inquired about. Great wine selection and drinks. The food is to die for!

June 21, 2024

The Food and Service was excellent. When I go to a nice Portuguese restaurant I would expect to hear ambient Portuguese music in the background, not loud Eurotrash Techno Music pounding in my ears. Complaining to our server who in turn spoke to the Manager did nothing. Complaining to the Hostess and Manager at the end of the meal was met with shrugs and Its Friday. Sorry, will not be back and would not and could not recommend.

June 21, 2024

My first negative Google review and Im not happy about it. In short, cod full of thorns, no oil and a straw potato was withered, the WORST PICANHA IN CANADA, in terms of flavor and price, risotto rice and hard beans, 3 paper-thin picanha steaks. The bill was by far the most expensive for the worst food I tried in Toronto, I wont go back here again.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

We were a large group celebrating my surprise birthday. It was the best birthday celebration at a restaurant ever. The food was delectable, the service was top notch and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The duck paella is soooo tasty. The grilled octopus was so tender and flavourful. The mixed seafood was to die for all prepared with quality ingredients. You can t go wrong with anything on the menu as it s all prepared with love. They have an impressive wine list and their patio is a romantic oasis. Thank you for making my birthday extra special.

Local Guide
June 21, 2024

The dining experience this time was very poor, mainly due to the waitress incompetence. When we needed water, she opened a $10 bottle of mineral water without our consent. Additionally, the waitress had poor English skills and couldnt understand the customers questions. Most importantly, she was unfamiliar with the dishes. When we asked for recommendations, she had no idea about any of the menu items. Despite this level of service, an 18% gratuity was the lowest option on the machine. When I was paying with my credit card, she kept staring at me using the card machine, which made me very uncomfortable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

This is a hidden gem. An authentic portgese dining experience. Food was excellent, from taste to presentation. First the bread, it was warm, soft inside and a crunch to the crust served with a tasty olive spread. We also ordered the pork blood sausage. That was really unique. Its like chocolate molten cake but savory and with cooked apples that pairs so well with it. Highly recommend. The clams was also large and the sauce is done so well. Goes perfectly with the warm bread to soak up the sauce. The mains were nicely done. As Portuguese are known for their seafood so we ordered a seafood platter, cod fish, and also a steak to share among our party of four. Finally we end the meal with desserts and cappuccino. They have a very lovely patio as well. Too bad we came on a day when it was rainy so we didnt get to dine in the patio, but the interior dining room was just as nicely and tastefully done. If you are looking for a unique, authentic portugese dining experience that wont break your wallet, this is a great restaurant to try.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Delicious food! The meat and seafood platter is a must try. Will definitely come back and try more!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

May I give you 6 stars ? It s a beautiful place, all decor, details, loved everything! The quality of the food is beyond delicious, fresh and amazing! Good job guys ! Toronto needs to know this beautiful place !

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Absolutely the best!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

If you are a seafood lover this is the right place to eat, beautiful interior design, perfect patio for summer.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. I have been coming to mercado for years and have always left satisfied without a single complaint. Everything tastes amazing and the white sangria is a must. Carlos has done an incredible job, and the patio looks stellar. Parking: Lots of space, compared to their previous location.

★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Based on my experience: Cost: CAD250 for two with 2 cocktails, 2 appetizers and 2 mains (tip included) Service: we got there and we were told that we only had the table for one hour. Our waiter often seemed to forget that we were there. Food: it was lacking flavor, something as basic as acidity and salt for a ceviche. Atmosphere: The place is decorated really nice, no complaints. Cocktails: Awful, it did not have the right balance, it was pure alcohol ( I asked for a daiquiri) . Final review: I wont be going back since I did not enjoy the food

★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Had a great dinner here. Started off a touch shakey with the service as I dont think anyone knew whose table it was so we had to ask for water, to order drinks (after 10-15 minutes of being seated) and we did t get bread until after our appies arrived so I know that sounds like we didnt like it, but once they got it together we had a great time and the staff was excellent it quickly ironed itself out and the food was great. Definitely in the hidden gems category as its pretty non descript from the outside and among some commercial buildings but as they, when you know, you know:) we would for sure go back.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Not giving 5 stars because a traditional Portuguese restaurant must have soup, the food was good, and the service was great. From my point of view, it is a Portuguese Fusion Cuisine, not a traditional, anyway was a good experience. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Lovely family lunch, perfectly sized portions and very attentive staff.

June 21, 2024

horrible experience. Looked fancy, foods are okay, horrible sevice. Until we finished our meal, the server did not check us once. We had to wait the whole time to ask for water, and didnt even get water till we left. It wasnt even that busy. Fathers day dinner turned out an unpleasant event.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Always a treat! My husband and I have had dinner here a few times now. Last night we went for dinner for our anniversary and everything was excellent. We first did not had an ideal table inside but the hostess went above and beyond to find us a table on the patio when available. The staff were all very attentive, knowledgeable and kind. The seafood is to die for!

★★★
May 21, 2024

I came to this restaurant for an engagement dinner, and while the food was delicious, the service was not even close. Though the servers were nice, they lacked attentiveness and professionalism when serving with us. We wanted to make this dinner special for our friends and we even informed the restaurant two weeks in advance. Nevertheless, we felt that we were met with the same service as Chuck s Roadhouse. We had to keep trying to find our server to refill our water jug, and for a restaurant with these prices, I was surprised that they didnt fill our cups with water. Along with that, we had different servers come at us at different times creating inconsistencies and a lack of communication within their team showing further place for improvement. Though these are small problems, this is what takes a restaurant from 1 star to 5 stars.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Amazing food and service here. I finally found a restaurant that really knows what they are doing. You wont be disappointed.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Bread was great

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I recently dined at Mercado Portuguese restaurant and had an exceptional experience. From the moment I walked in, the service was impeccable. The staff were attentive, friendly, and truly added to the warm ambiance of the place. Now, lets talk about the food. I had the pleasure of trying their octopus, and I must say, it was the best Ive ever had! The octopus was perfectly cooked, tender, and packed with flavor. Each bite was a delight, and it paired wonderfully with the sides that accompanied it. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Portuguese dining experience. The combination of amazing service and top-notch food quality makes it a standout choice.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

I have been to this restaurant twice now, and both times have been amazing. Food quality is outstanding. Everything is super fresh and very authentic to its portugese roots. Service is really good and very descriptive for people who havent had portuguese cuisine before.

★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

The server was very new and seemed to know very little about the food, while it is understandable I would say more training is needed before allowing server to work alone. The food was OK, I guess we had high expectations after reading the reviews but seafood was slightly overcooked and not very tender. I love grilled octopus and always order it, and this is not a place I would go to for it. Dessert was also OK but not outstanding. The presentation of food was really great though. Also the decor is very nice.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Excellent Food and service

★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Somebody highly recomend me this place , but i dont know if they serve us to make me never come back again . The vegetables were really bad en everything was cold . I ask for some lemon for my seafood and they bring me the lemon cut like i ask a corona.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

This restaurant deserves a Michelin star@michelin.

★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Great friendly service, nice ambiance- change of pace between outdoors and indoors, and good quality food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Went in for Mother s Day lunch. Great atmosphere, great service, great food. Desserts were phenomenal

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

My family & myself are pleased dining at this Portuguese resto. Very delightful atmosphere & warm welcoming staff. Definitely we will be back & highly recommend to our friends & extended families. We had the seafood platter satisfied my seafood cravings

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Our first time eating at Mercado Restaurant Food was amazing Server Jason was outstanding Restaurant the cutest thing ever We had the privilege meeting the owner Carlos wonderful person Will go back for sure Paula, Marco, Mikey and Monica

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

had a lovely meal here and will definitely be back again sometime. a little bit pricey generally looking through the menu selection, but if everything else is as good as what we ordered tonight for dinner (Sinfonia grilled seafood platter.for 2) then just take my money lol. pretty space too.

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Went there for Good Friday for my first time. Everything was amazing!! Going there again today! Ahahah Parking: There s plenty of parking spots

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

This is a superb restaurant with great food, big portions, excellent friendly service. Worth the drive (1 year later) just getting better! Love this place!

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

The food is just scrumptious! My friend and I went and it was so good that we had to go back the day after. I would 100% recommend to my other friends!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

I used to frequent this restaurant and hadnt been back here for a while, but I was pleasantly surprised when I came back yesterday. The restaurant is beautiful, very elegant and refined. I loved! The food is still delicious and beautifully presented. The service was impeccable. I intend to go back again.

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

Perfect. Great service. Great presentation. Delicious food. Beautiful heated patio. Fado playing in the background a wonderful touch. Cant wait to visit again

★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Go for the pictures, not the food. DO NOT order the paella -- it is NOT paella not worth 120$!!!! A+ on decor. Service is ok, it improved after we asked for water since we ran empty, and they came by twice to do other stuff. Food looks good, no food poisoning (which is why this is 3 stars and not 2) but lacked flavor . Their bread and olive spread was the best thing we had out of everything. Paella is not worth 120$. Please do not order this, or you would be upset that one of the decor items did not come along for free with the meal. Chicken was overcooked drumlets , likewise with the seafood. The rice is normal Portuguese Style with carrots, the peas were not even integrated in. They were sprinkled on top of same with seafood. Short rib was fall off the bone but no flavor- they may have let it braise for too long. Gravy was where the flavor went and the veg was great. I personally would not come back due to ridiculous food prices for what was served. But i guess you pay for the atmosphere? Maybe better off going to yorkdale restoration hardware for the same price or cheaper. They have hanging chandeliers as decor too!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Friendly. Staff very clean

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Fav Portuguese restaurant everything was cooked perfectly make sure to eat the seafood bowl fast or the seafood gets overcooked! Beira Mar (meat platter for 4) Caril de Marisco (seafood bowl platter for 2)

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

All perfect

★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

We went for dinner on my birthday midweek in January on a Wednesday. The restaurant wasn t busy as it was right after the holidays. We were greeted right away, and our server took our orders, trying to answer our questions to the best of his knowledge as he was new. We were quite excited to try this restaurant especially coming from up north. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations. Overpriced. I had the octopus which was completely rubbery. The steak dish was small for the price. In the end, our bill was $500 for three adults and three kids with no alcohol. Too expensive for a midweek meal. Really disappointed with the taste of our meals as well. Other than the beautiful patio that is enclosed, there s nothing else to rant and rave about.

★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Was really looking forward to eating at Mercado. The restaurant is beautiful and the food was good. The service was horrible!!! My issue was that we were seated for a 6:30 reservation and we were rushed by the staff from the moment we sat down. By 7:15 we were told that they needed our table for the next seating. No rush was repeated but 3 separate servers came to our table to tell us that our table was needed for the next seating! Our drinks and water were removed when were told this too! Our bill was 450.00 for 4 of us and we got to sit down and enjoy our evening for 1.5 hours. Disgraceful! Ive had longer lunches. By the way, clearly others can sit and enjoy their meals because we were seated after many tables were already eating and no one rushed them. With the cost of an evening out these days, it was offensive to be treated that way.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Parents! If you are going here with young kids please note there is an explicit adult theme in the washrooms. I feel the restaurant management should be warning you as well. Aside from that, great atmosphere, great food. One of the best Portuguese spots in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

We came as a family of four for a dinner celebration! Can t believe I m only writing a review now since it s one of our fav seafood restaurant in Toronto! It is a bit far from central but trust me it worths the drive/commute! I spent almost two months this year in Portugal and I can say this with confidence that Mercado is quite amazing even if you compare it with restaurants in Portugal. One of the Portuguese waiter told us that the chef here is honouring traditional cooking methods that is even rare to see in mainland Portugal. Food portion is huge, worth every penny! For starter we had the foie gras, three chucks of fatty livers were accompanied by this interesting apple/fruity purée, which was a great combo! We ordered seafood platter last time this this time we tried the meat and seafood platter ($198) and the portion is too much for 4 people. The octopus tentacle is huge and super fresh, you can tell this was a happy and healthy guy when alive lol the pork belly is the favourite of our group! Crispy skin and the fat is rendered perfectly! Not to mention the meaty sausage, steak and the humongous shrimps! Desserts are a must ! We got the the chocolate mouse cake and orange mouse :-) all amazing! We were all happy with the food like always! Salute to the owner and the chef who are still doing their best to serve Toronto!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Portuguese fine dining at its best. It is VERY pricey but it was worth it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Mercado is simply the best. Best cuisine in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Absolutely love this restaurant in Toronto in my opinion, one of the best! Always serving fresh seafood, incredibly delicious, with a beautiful interior. The staff, true professionals, not only recommend but also share their expertise. Had an amazing experience highly recommend it to anyone craving delicious food, especially seafood enthusiasts!

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

Good place to have a delicious food! My family enjoyed the time there!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

My husband and I went on a date night, we opted to try Mercado because people have been raving about it and we live walking distance to it. From the moment we stepped in the service was amazing. Our waitress was super kind and very good at her job. We placed our appetizers and within minutes it was on the table. My husband and I couldnt believe how fast it was. Now generally, youd think it would compromise the quality of the food... But it DID NOT at all. The food was amazing, great portions and so full of flavor! The sangria is amazing as well, I highly recommend trying it. We 100% will be back, I found the food, the ambiance and the prices to be great. I cannot recommend it enough! (Also, the womens bathroom... I mean cmon)

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

expect to spend like $60-$80 per person. I d say the food is kind of in the middle, not the best but not bad by any means. The desert was very plated very nicely and was tasty. It s definitely worth a try I ll say that. By the way I Loved the bathroom decor very funny (but not kid friendly).

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

Excellent restaurant from the photo! I haven t earned enough money to have lunch there yet!

Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Food is always delicious here, but the last time I came I did not have the best experience. I made a reservation over the phone, but when our group of 6 got there we were told that there is no reservation under our name/phone number. We got seated anyway because the restaurant was not yet busy (only three other tables were taken). Our food took about half an hour to arrive and when it did, our server was quick to ask to clear the table although we were very clearly still eating. After we ordered dessert and espresso, our server said there was another group coming and that we had another few minutes. Mind you, we were not even in the restaurant for an hour and a half. I paid the bill and we promptly left. When I got home I noticed I got charged for an extra half bottle of wine that we canceled (and also did not receive). The server was horrible, and unfortunately ruined the good feelings I had for this restaurant. If you want to eat quickly and gtfo then come here and enjoy the shiettty service.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

TOP5 service, quality and environment

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great food and service at this restaurant, will definitely be going back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Was there last Saturday! One of the best restaurants I have been to. Exceptional staff...very friendly and kind and on top of things. The food was amazing we had the seafood Platter $150 with Sangria pitcher 37 it was incredible. Loved the vibe the music and the feel like your in a European patio so cute!!!! The olive spread OMG the best I ever had...THE BEST! The bathrooms were super clean and so cute and lets just say very very amusing and cute!!!! Fantastic all around! Will definitely return soon! Great Gold Mine in an unexpected part of town!!! Parking: Great parking

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Excellence. Food was amazing. Definitely bringing my family and friends here. The servers were on top of it. Parking: Its right in-front the restaurant Kid-friendliness: A beautiful patio with Art decoration. Kids were also there enjoying their time.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Theres this charming restaurant that used to be on Saint Clare St. The whole vibe is great - youve got fantastic service and a really inviting atmosphere. But, when it comes to the food, well, its a bit of a letdown. I mean, for dishes that cost more than $40, youd hope for something truly exceptional, right? Sadly, thats not quite the case here. Ive been twice now, and both times, the food left me wanting more. My recent visit was okay, I guess, but when youre paying a premium for pasta, you kind of expect it to be out of this world. My rigatoni? Well, it was just okay. Thankfully, the company I was with was fantastic, so the food hiccup didnt really matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. Ive been to places like this in other parts of the world too. The settings are lovely, but somehow the food doesnt quite measure up. Take, for instance, a place in GDL Mexico called El Santo Coyote. If youre a true gourmet, I think you might be left wanting more here. But if youre just looking for a pleasant spot to grab a bite, youll do just fine, and the food is passable, even if its not exactly mind-blowing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food was excellent. The patio is very beautiful and comfortable.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Undeniably the best Portuguese restaurant in the GTA! I have ate at Mercado multiple time and hosted many of my special occasions there. Not once have we been disappointed. The food is always amazing, so flavourful, delicious and cooked to perfection! The Service is impeccable, everyone working there is attentive, professional and kind. The chef has such a great passion for his cuisine and is always creating new innovative Portuguese dishes! The overall atmosphere is spectacular, with the most picturesque outdoor patio, beautiful decor and welcoming ambiance! The owners are the sweetest couple who always check on the service and speak with guests! Must try spot! Definitely my favourite restaurant!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I finally had the chance to eat at Mercado and, it was fantastic! We were a party of four on a reservation so, we just walked in. At first, we sat outside but, it was getting chilly so, we asked to be moved inside and the staff re-accommodated us. We ordered an assortment of food along with a couple bottles of Portuguese wine. Overall, the food was delicious. We shared everything and, at the end, we were all satisfied. The portions were reasonable for the upscale profile but, you must be willing to splurge for it. The staff were friendly and diligent. The setting is definitely quaint with a lively atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Needless to say, highly recommended

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

WOW, WOW, and WOW. I was so blown away by this spot. The food was amazing, they transformed the space into something I incredible, and I m pretty sure they serve the best sangria in the city. 200% recommend!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Excellent choice of seafood from Portugal. Good quality food and portion. The waitress is friendly and helpful. Overall great experience! Will come back for sure.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great Portuguese food and distinguished service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Its a great place to dine with friends and family. Excellent food and the atmosphere is very nice

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The 2 of us went to Mercado for lunch and dined in the covered patio. It was very nice. Decor reminded me of Portugal for sure. We ordered a few tapas. Food was good but a bit pricey in my opinion.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Decor is amazing Food is good but expected more given the reviews Service can be sharpened a bit Would go back to try other dishes Food : 4/5 |

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Solid 4 of 5 for the ambiance. Had the meat and seafood platter (recommended) with the house red and had some takeaway portion for the night

December 21, 2023

Terrible service and food !!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

A gem for amazing grilled seafood and meat ! Perfect space for celebration. Great selection of drinks and the perfectly crisper fries.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Delicious food, EXCELLENT service, place is newly renovated, Patio is Gorgeous. Food prices are very expensive but definitely worth it.

December 21, 2023

We tried to dine at the restaurant last Friday. We did not have reservations and we were advised that we could not dine t because they were fully booked. There must have been 12 -14 customers and the restaurant was half empty . We were quite disappointed with the rudeness and uncooperative of the staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was excellent. And the seafood was perfectly cooked. Employees were very helpful but a little too helpful. I couldnt get through the menu without being interrupted, but they were just trying to be helpful.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Absolutely Perfect!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

A beautiful restaurant with a wonderful welcome, the cuisine is excellent and above all Good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Ordered take out from here during the pandemic to celebrate our anniversary. It was so amazing! When we picked it up, it was just getting packaged. 20 mins later when we arrived home, everything was hot and fresh. We loved it so much that I took my husband here for his birthday last week. The octopus was grilled to perfection, all the seafood was fresh and displayed beautifully. 10/10 would go back for more occasions!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

always reliable on quality and great service! Easy to become a regular. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great atmosphere, great food.....

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

A great experience- great atmosphere -great good-great people.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great sea food platter.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Overpriced for what you get. Service was underwhelming. Poor location with decent parking

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Absolutely recommend this restaurant! The ambiance is delightful, the food is impeccable, and the service is excellent. Its an ideal spot for gatherings with friends or family Ill certainly be returning.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I give this place 5 stars.. for one of the top 5 worst restaurants in Toronto.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great restaurant. Atmosphere is fantastic. Chef Migual is wonderful. Staff were kind. I would recommend.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Amazing experience!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Celebrating our 8th anniversary here We chose to dine in the courtyard. The atmosphere was very romantic ~ It s not cold at all since it s winter and there s heating. I ordered a seafood platter and two appetizers. The sauce cooked with foreign wine in each dish was rich and rich. Sake is added to the white clams, so the juice is quite bitter. The smoked octopus leg is a huge one and very satisfying. If you are not full, the unlimited baguettes are quite delicious when dipped in soup, you must try it I don t really like the dessert pudding. The toilet decoration is very unique The downside is that its really expensive, but since its an anniversary celebration, I think its still worth it.

December 21, 2023

I booked a reso here for my mom s birthday. I called two weeks in advance and he said he was fully booked and he could only take me at 4pm so I agreed. I was there at 4pm and it was empty until 6pm . anyways we get there and the owner asked my mom where we would like to sit inside or outside. She asked if there were heaters outside. He responded if you see people outside obviously there are heaters. It was rude and sarcastic. So we did sit outside and the service from there was just terrible. We were a table of 6. And we felt very rushed. As we were eating our main course the server added another table to our table and put a table cloth. My brother asked what s this for? He responded for the next reservstion we didn t even order dessert yet. We then were asked do you want to see the dessert menu and we ended up ordering two desserts before getting the dessert he asked if it s okay he brings the bill. We said okay. The dessert comes and he then says sorry to bother you is it okay if I bring the machine for you pay we say okay again. We pay the bill and continue to eat our dessert. The server came over 3 times to glance over to see if we were finished. We felt so rushed. And then proceeded to the table and removed the dessert not asking if we were done or not which we weren t. I just don t understand why your rushing out your customers. We are the customers coming in spending quite a bit of money. The food was good but if the service sucks people aren t coming back . It doesn t make any sense. Your clients are what makes your business. It was disappointing and my brother did mention to the owner on the way out saying how we felt very rushed to leave. And he responded saying tables have a time limit bro. I highly recommended treating your costumers with more respect. I also notice you already have a lot of bad reviews. Kinda wish I read them before coming. I ll be sure to spread the word on your terrible service. Sorry not sorry but even if your food is good doesn t make me want to come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The best Portuguese restaurant in the city. Every dish we have had has been AMAZING! Chef Miguel is awesome person and Chef...always accommodating to our needs and a great person to talk with. Brought a couple of friends to celebrate his birthday and they were blown away with the service, food and ambience of the patio. Thank you Chef Miguel & Team Mercado for your great service and great conversation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Amazing food. Fresh seafood and pichania to die for The owner Carlos is an amazing human. Made our meal so much better with his conversation and knowledge. I will definitely be back to visit and try the rest of the menu. Everything was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

If you are looking for amazing Portuguese cuisine with tropical vibe, please visit this restaurant. The restaurant has been staying in my checklist for a long time. I booked the place for my bestie s birthday celebration, we ordered 3 dishes in total. Tapas are foie gras, chicken gizzard in tomato sauce and the Giant seafood rice. Every dishes are beautifully cooked, but the most impressive one is the Seafood rice. It has lobster, gambas, mussels, scampi and clams. Although we kept digging in, the seafood seems bottomless. Is the heavenly dishes for seafood lovers. I would love to visit again and try other most dishes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Beautiful place! Clean and cozy restaurant. Tons of parking spots. Went there for lunch in a Wednesday, it wasn t crowded as I heard happens during weekends. Strongly recommend making a reservation. The food? OMG! So fresh and well cooked in a stunning presentation. Perfect deserts!! Very friendly staff! Just amazing since the first step in!

December 21, 2023

I dont know how, but there were several empty tables and I asked them to change the chairs at my table and they refused. I found it unacceptable because at no point did they prioritize the customers comfort. There was never any concern about pleasing the customer. This just makes me not come back and not recommend it. Sad!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good food and very nice atmosphere. I didnt like the location very much, but there is parking.