Mercato delle Bontà — Restaurant in Bellingham

Such good food. Such dedicated and hardworking owners. Fair prices. Tasty wines. Killer location (closer dedicated parking would be nice, but it's worth the short walk!). What else is there?

The mortadella sandwich on house-made focaccia is so good, crave-able, memorable. There was an article recently in the Seattle Times about how mortadella sandwiches are the cool lunch of the year - the writers would move here if they had tasted this one!

And the trattoria in the evenings that they are open, what a great addition to town. Every dish is individually made as it's ordered, fresh pastas, amazing meatballs, nice salads, thoughtful wines, and a good playlist at the right volume (not too loud but also not too quiet...you understand) in a cool and historic space.

The food has a very NJ Italian style in my humble opinion - which is authentically great. No bulk vats of sauce and baskets of garlic bread here! Highly...

I hope this place gets popular. The focaccia is extremely good. I believe it's homemade mozzarella based on the taste and features.

I've had their mortadella (star of the show) sandwich and their cannoli. It's pretty crazy how simple and fresh can combine when you do them well.

The cannoli took me back to when I was in Boston. Have not found a good cannoli since Mike's Pastry in Boston and I am eyeing their tiramisu. They always have a smile on their face. It's a very clean, modern restaurant, and I just want them to succeed so badly because we needed a place like this bellingham!

Update: since I first visited, they now have calzone, Sicilian pizza, and a wider variety of prepared foods. I did try the tiramisu and it...

Love this place. Absolutely delicious sandwich creations, sweets (black & white cookies and cannolis just like where I grew up in NYC!), and coffee drinks. There are other food items as well such as calzones and focaccia. Italian specialty grocer items also available. Park at Trackside and walk over to their gorgeous storefront (and attached beer & wine spot) on the waterfront. They’ve designed both spaces so simply and beautifully, too. Perfect place for a date with a friend or yourself, or to read a book/work on your laptop, or grab a sandwich and coffee to go between errands, like I did today. I am so glad this husband & wife duo brought their Mercado to Bellingham of all places- we are so lucky to have this...