Mercat Bistro — Restaurant in Dallas

What a cute spot. I just loved everything about the atmosphere of this restaurant. It’s on the small side, but it’s cozy and inviting with a beautiful and unique chandelier in the center. It’s a great spot for lunch with the girls or a date night with your loved one.

Food wise, we had a very good experience. The escargot was 5 stars awesome. If you’re afraid of escargot but like mushrooms, get it anyway. No, they aren’t mushrooms but that’s what they remind me of every time I eat them. The garlic butter they are soaked in is out of this world.

We also had the mushroom ravioli, but I would not get this again. Way too heavy on the cream. Not enough mushrooms.

A friend got the mussels which were excellent. Other friends got various salads which they all enjoyed. One got a burger which looked absolutely delicious.

Two of us had coffees: a latte and a cappuccino. The latte was great. The cappuccino was okay.

Only two of us shared dessert: creme brûlée. It was very good. However, idk if this is normal, but our brûléed Carmel topping was very thick. Honestly too thick. So it was kind of chewy and not as crisp. I also wish it were served in a more shallow dish so we had more topping. But I loved the biscotti and berries served on top.

But while the food ranged from good to great, the service was pure meh. Our server (let’s call him J) was not very attentive. J didn’t tell us much when he greeted us. Just got our drinks. Didn’t explain a thing or point out the drink menu (which most people had missed). I ordered a Peche Mignon when we ordered entrees and it came half way through my entree. I was ready to forget it at that point but didn’t turn it away because I wanted the experience as I heard it was a fun drink to get (champagne over a frozen ball of fruit poured at the table). But when it was brought and I asked him to pause so I could video, he didn’t really listen and I didn’t get the whole thing. He didn’t check on us to see how we were liking anything. He didn’t offer us a dessert menu. The person who got a latte just asked for it after noticing it on the cute chalkboard menus above the kitchen. So I ordered the cappuccino and a friend of mine ordered the creme brûlée to share as we just assumed a French restaurant would have it. J did not proceed to offer dessert or coffees to any of the other six people at our table. He did split our checks correctly. But overall, the experience was very lacking. If I didn’t have a friend tell me she had excellent service all three times she has eaten here, I would probably be hard pressed to come back because ours really was...

I loved the warmth of the intimate lighting and petit marble tabletops. The bistro's charm extends beyond its décor, embodied by the attentive and knowledgeable staff who guide guests through a delightful experience.

My culinary exploration commenced with the soup du jour, a symphony of flavors that danced on my palate. The lentil salad that followed was a delightful interplay of textures and tastes, each bite a testament to the chef's mastery of balance.

For my main course, I had set my sights on the pan-roasted salmon, envisioning it nestled amidst a bed of vibrant ratatouille. However, fate had other plans, as the ratatouille was unavailable. Undeterred, I placed my trust in the chef's recommendations on the menu and ordered a side of glazed carrots, a decision I did not regret. The carrots were cooked to perfection, offering a touch of sweetness that complemented the savory salmon.

The salmon itself was a masterpiece, its flavorful skin and delicate flakes infused with a smoky essence that hinted a skillful use of the grill. The accompanying sauce, a harmonious blend of butter, lemon, and herbs, elevated the dish to new heights of flavor.

To quench my thirst, I indulged in the Pear Noel cocktail, a festive concoction that captured the essence of the season. The sweetness of pear brandy intertwined seamlessly with the baileys chocolate liqueur, creating a symphony of flavors that perfectly complemented the meal.

Despite the absence of the ratatouille, my dining experience at Mercat Bistro would have been nothing short of exceptional but for the service. Our cocktails were so late to arrive, I had to get up and ask around why we’d had such a long wait time. They did apologize but I noticed the tables to our left and right also experienced the same delays in getting their drinks. Bar man/woman...

One word - AMAZING. The food, the service, and the atmosphere were spectacular. I honestly don't recall a time where such perfection abounded all around. My husband and I were in Dallas for the weekend, and some local folks we were chatting with recommended Mercat for brunch.

We went on a beautiful Sunday morning and had a perfect seat overlooking the adjacent garden. The visit started out right, with an extremely warm welcome at the host stand, followed by a genuinely friendly and professional waiter. All other staff supporting our service was very, very attentive, always one step ahead of any response. Coffee cup low? A new, fresh cup shows up to replace it - and with a smile. Out of bread from the delicious baguette and ricotta appetizer? Another plate of bread appears as if out of nowhere. Some breadcrumbs fell into our water glass? A new glass shows up. Not a single detail was missed, and everybody was perfectly professional, but still friendly and welcoming. Amazing.

And now the food. Everything hit the mark. We had the green chile crepes, the salmon & blinis, and the aforementioned bread and ricotta. The crepes were just the right balance of some richness from the sauce with the light crepes and fluffy egg and chicken and chili filling. The sauce balanced the slight heat from some of the chiles. The ricotta and honeycomb atop it were so flavorful and fresh, with nice fresh bread alongside. And the smoked salmon was both well-smoked and deep in flavor, but also plentiful. Lovely little blinis with a farmer's cheese and some caviar were perfect accompaniments.

We both commented on how every dining experience should be this wonderful. Thank you to the entire...