Mercato Mio — Restaurant in East Pennsboro Township

Just another very below average Italian joint on the West Shore. Really disappointing. We started with the "Licurdia" Onion Soup which was average, but the best dish of the evening and it went straight downhill from there. The Nonna's Chicken was an insult to all grandmas. Two small thigh/leg quarters presented plain with nothing on them. The advertised caponata and pesto were in a small pile on the side as was a pile of arugula. The chicken was so dry it was inedible and my wife only took a few bites. We were told they cook it sous vide and if that's true, it was cooked days earlier and put in the walk-in until needed. Just horrible. In fairness, they credited that dish. I had the Pork Loin which was an odd presentation as I expected a piece of loin but they sliced it thin and laid it on the plate (like scallopini) completely covered in a mushroom sauce that was so salty it was difficult to eat. And there was an odd crunch like when you don't clean clams completely?!?! Were the mushrooms not cleaned of all the dirt or was it unincorporated finishing salt? Who knows. The atmosphere is very institutional and my wife nailed it when she said it was like when you visit someone at an independent living facility, and the food tasted that way too. The only positive was our server, Mark, who was great. Very pleasant and efficient. Thanks Mark. But the most outrageous aspect is the wine pricing. They have a small list and the pricing ranges from approximately four times retail like Bolla Chianti at $40 which is $9.39 in the State Store all the way to almost seven times retail for Pio Cesare Barolo at $550 and five and a half times for the 2020 Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape at $440 which is currently $80 in the State Store. This is no joke. The highest mark-ups I've seen in a long time. Who would pay those prices? They did allow BYOB with a corkage that they said was $20/bottle but they charged me $25. Best advice, skip...

This restaurant is located inside the hotel.

The decor and ambience were a nice surprise as it was nice, clean and quiet. There is a grand piano in the corner, so I wonder if there are live music nights. It’s a nice place to go if you want a quiet dinner.

Our server was Mark and if you saw any of the other reviews, Mark does not disappoint. He was very helpful without being pushy. He checked on us but wasn’t hovering. He gave suggestions in a knowledgeable manner. My friend and I went on a Friday evening around 5:30pm and it wasn’t very busy but more people slowly flowed in as we were eating.

We had the bread basket with focaccia, whipped ricotta, tomato jam and garlic butter and it was really good (we were also relatively hungry 😅). For main, we got Nonna’s Spaghetti/Pasta and the meatballs were well flavored and tender. Per Mark’s suggestion, we also got the Rigatoni with lamb and short ribs in it and that was flavorful and hearty. For a protein option, we ordered the salmon and both of us really enjoyed this option. The salmon was tender with a slightly crispy exterior while the center maintained juicy. It was well seasoned and the veggies and onions that came with it were also very delightful and provided a wonderful crunch. All in all, we would definitely go again.

For non alcoholic drinks, they have unsweetened/sweet tea (depending on what they have available that day) and a mocktail that Mark is excited about as he was responsible for it (I think).

Not a bad place to go on a date or to bring people from out of town for a more intimate dining experience.

Please excuse the bread in the picture, we ate most of it before the mains arrived. I think there were 6...

We attended a Yelp event catered by Mercado Mio. With 60 attendees, everyone was more than satisfied with the food and service provided by this fine establishment.

Anthony, the Maître D', gave an introductory speech and a toast to kick off the banquet. Five courses were served, each paired with a thoughtfully selected wine and prefaced by Anthony. The head chef, an impressive 27-year-old from NJ, along with two sous-chefs, handled all the food that evening. Five waitstaff members, two of whom also tended bar during the cocktail hour, provided impeccable service. My son, who has a tree-nut allergy, was well-cared for by our waiter, who ensured any dish containing nuts was substituted. We're truly grateful for their attentiveness.

The cocktail break room was nicely set up and inviting. Live piano music by Bob Barry set the perfect mood throughout the evening.

As for the food, the freshly baked focaccia with tomato jam & whipped ricotta was phenomenal. Pesto pasta butternut squash salad was refreshing. Shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon was addicting. The main course, duck breast in chutney with garlic mashed potato... I needed more of that heavenly goodness! Finally, Tiramisu for dessert which was the only miss for me in terms presentation and also the lady fingers was tough (which is the only thing not made in house btw), but still tasted amazing.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mercado Mio for its food, service,...