Mercantel — Restaurant in Aveiro

A breath of fresh air in a Portugal that cannot count the number of restaurants that offer exactly the same dishes everywhere.

So here we are, entering this restaurant that couldn't be in a better location in Aveiro (in front of the canal, steps away from Mercado do Peixe). Inside, you feel like teleportation exists and you landed in a fancy, classy, high-end restaurant in Manhattan.

Service is almost perfect, which is a rare thing in the country. The menu is deliberately proclaimed as "sharing dishes", which is a concept I love.

The chef (or owner ?) Wants to please everyone and the menu ends up with ravishing experimental dishes that will delight your taste bids and stir your curiosity but there's also dishes without a twist (like fried small fishes, very Portuguese) that shouldn't be on this menu, unless revisited because that is what this restaurant should be all about.

The wine selection could be better, including natural and / or organic wines, in order to reinforce the quality focus that the restaurant wishes to convey.

Some dishes are absolutely spectacular (the corvina ceviche made with dark plum leite de tigre is a masterpiece), some others simply very good and well, some less to my (very demanding) taste. It is to be said that their chocolate mousse is the best I've had in my entire life.

I would suggest humbly to the chef to add some reflexion about how guests share the dish - since it's a sharing experience, as some dishes are not easy to share because of the plating or some ingredients. They look fabulous, often taste the same but not easy to handle as a shared dish.

Overall a really refreshing, very pleasant experience. Professional and friendly staff, attentionate.

The value for money, for a restaurant in this category and at this location, is...

Amazing experience worth taking some time to post about. I was not expecting such a great service coupled with great food. The waiters were very knowledgeable on the menu, wines and cocktails. They helped us navigate the different options and perfectly explained the preparation and appropriate pairings. Not even 5 minutes after we ordered we already had appetizers and bevrages on the table, and they constantly came over to make sure all our needs were covered even if the place was full. The food was amazing, presentation and flavors. You can tell the quality of ingredients they use and how they innovate. The oven rice was amazing. The meat was soft, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The croquettes were unlike anything I've tried before and the shrimp empanadas were rich and flavorful. I'm surprised this place hasn't made it to the Michelin guide even as a recomendation, hope they get...

Ambiente increíble, justo al lado del canal y con una decoración preciosa que hace que la experiencia empiece bien desde el minuto uno. El lugar tiene una vibra súper acogedora y especial.

La comida… ¡una auténtica explosión de sabor! Cada plato tenía su propia personalidad y estaba lleno de matices. Es verdad que algunas raciones son un pelín justas, pero sinceramente merece muchísimo la pena por la calidad y la originalidad de todo.

El personal fue de lo más majo que he visto: la camarera nos explicó varios platos que no conocíamos y hasta nos recomendó sus favoritos de la carta (¡gran acierto!). El chico que también nos atendió fue igual de amable y súper atento, incluso nos recomendó un sitio típico de Aveiro para probar un postre local. Además, nos dijo algo que nos encantó: “ojalá hubiera más clientes como vosotras”. ¡Ese tipo de detalles te hacen sentir súper bienvenid@! Para rematar, la camarera nos invitó a unos chupitos riquísimos y brindó con nosotros, un gesto que marcó la diferencia.

No puedo dejar de mencionar el postre de algas: tal y como nos recomendaron, fue el mejor broche final. Una mezcla perfecta entre dulce y salado, diferente y sorprendentemente delicioso.

En resumen: un restaurante con encanto, comida de autor con sabores únicos y un equipo que te hace sentir como en casa. ¡Volvería sin pensarlo!

English:

Amazing atmosphere, perfectly located right by the canal with beautiful décor that instantly sets the mood. The place feels super cozy and special.

The food… an absolute explosion of flavors! Every dish had its own personality and was full of unique touches. Portions can be a bit on the smaller side, but honestly, it’s totally worth it for the quality and creativity.

The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive from start to finish. Our waitress explained the dishes we didn’t know and even recommended her favorites from the menu (spot on!). The waiter was just as kind and helpful, and he even suggested a local spot in Aveiro to try a traditional dessert. He also told us, “I wish we had more customers like you,” which made us feel so welcome! To top it all off, the waitress treated us to some amazing shots and even toasted with us — such a lovely gesture.

And I can’t forget the seaweed dessert: exactly as recommended, it was the highlight of the night. A surprising mix of sweet and salty flavors — unique and absolutely delicious.

In short: a restaurant with charm, creative dishes full of flavor, and a team that makes you feel truly at home. I’d come back in...