Summer at Il Mercato Trattoria
Il Mercato Trattoria launched the summer season in style by winning triple honours in The Coast’s Best of Food survey – voted BEST ITALIAN, BEST PASTA and BEST DESSERT. Thank you to all of our guests for voting!
We’re getting incredible feedback on our new menu, especially dishes like the handmade Tasca filled with Nova Scotia Lobster, the Pancetta-wrapped Pork Tenderloin and the Whole Grain Mustard Marinated Rack of Lamb. We’ve also got great new varieties of our thin crust pizzas for you to try.
This season we are featuring some incredible wines, including the refreshing NOVA 7 by the glass, handcrafted by Benjamin Bridge in the Gaspereau Valley. We also have a fantastic selection of new cocktails to quench your summer thirst, with ingredients such as muddled cucumber and mint, crushed berries and ginger beer.
Don’t forget to swing by on your summer stroll to try Maurizio’s handmade Gelati a Mano, with flavours such as amaretto, blueberry, passionfruit, mint chocolate and zesty lemon. Stop in to see the new and ever-changing tastes of summer!
We look forward to seeing you soon at Il Mercato.
Voted Best Italian, Best Pasta and Best Dessert in The Coast’s 2010 Best of Food Reader Survey
Spring at Il Mercato Trattoria
Spring has sprung! To kick off the season, Il Mercato Trattoria will shortly be launching exciting new menus, as well as a fresh new cocktail list to toast the warmer weather. As always, our menus will reflect our exceptional standards of quality and passion for food, at prices you would not expect. A special Grazie to all of our guests who joined us on the most romantic day of the year – on Sunday, February 14th, Il Mercato opened its doors to welcome romance! Chef Deneau created a special Valentine’s Day menu that was a standout, garnering rave reviews from guests who also enjoyed our warm atmosphere and exceptional service. The Savour Food and Wine Festival’s ‘Dine Out Nova Scotia’ event, which ran from February 1 – 11th, not only brought in loyal customers who have come to expect great dishes from us, but also introduced us to many new guests who had not yet experienced Il Mercato. The Prix Fixe menu was extremely well received and we look forward to participating again next year. Il Mercato is always bringing in fantastic new wines to try, with many great affordable wines to choose from by the glass. Pairing fabulous wine with our incredible flavours is another passion of ours, and our knowledgeable servers are always ready to help with recommendations to make your meal complete. We look forward to seeing you at Il Mercato!
Spring has sprung! To kick off the season, Il Mercato Trattoria will shortly be launching exciting new menus, as well as a fresh new cocktail list to toast the warmer weather. As always, our menus will reflect our exceptional standards of quality and passion for food, at prices you would not expect. A special Grazie to all of our guests who joined us on the most romantic day of the year – on Sunday, February 14th, Il Mercato opened its doors to welcome romance! Chef Deneau created a special Valentine’s Day menu that was a standout, garnering rave reviews from guests who also enjoyed our warm atmosphere and exceptional service. The Savour Food and Wine Festival’s ‘Dine Out Nova Scotia’ event, which ran from February 1 – 11th, not only brought in loyal customers who have come to expect great dishes from us, but also introduced us to many new guests who had not yet experienced Il Mercato. The Prix Fixe menu was extremely well received and we look forward to participating again next year. Il Mercato is always bringing in fantastic new wines to try, with many great affordable wines to choose from by the glass. Pairing fabulous wine with our incredible flavours is another passion of ours, and our knowledgeable servers are always ready to help with recommendations to make your meal complete. We look forward to seeing you at Il Mercato!
Valentine's Day
We will be open for dinner on Sunday, February 14th at 5:00pm. Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe Menu
Primo
Pan roasted jumbo scallop topped with a ginger shiitake panzanella, roasted grape tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil
$13 Secondo
Prosciutto wrapped New Zealand lamb stuffed with arugula and ricotta, finished with a caramelized fig mustard and served with asparagus risotto
$27 Dolce
Dark chocolate éclairs with mocha mascarpone icing
$10 $45 pp + +
We will be open for dinner on Sunday, February 14th at 5:00pm. Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe Menu
Primo
Pan roasted jumbo scallop topped with a ginger shiitake panzanella, roasted grape tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil
$13 Secondo
Prosciutto wrapped New Zealand lamb stuffed with arugula and ricotta, finished with a caramelized fig mustard and served with asparagus risotto
$27 Dolce
Dark chocolate éclairs with mocha mascarpone icing
$10 $45 pp + +
Dine Out Nova Scotia Event!
Feb 1st - 11th In conjunction with the Savour Food and Wine Festival, Il Mercato is proud to be participating in this year's Dine Out Nova Scotia event. Join us February 1st -11th to savour a delectable, three-course Prix Fixe menu you won't soon forget. Dine Out Nova Scotia Prixe Fix Menu
Antipasti
Crostini with flash fried artichokes, fig pesto and mozzarella di buffalo Pasta Asciutta
Ravioli ai funghi Secondo
Pesto crusted salmon with lemon aioli, wilted greens, roasted potatoes $35 pp + + For more information on the Savour Food and Wine Festival or Dine Out Nova Scotia, please visit the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia's website
Feb 1st - 11th In conjunction with the Savour Food and Wine Festival, Il Mercato is proud to be participating in this year's Dine Out Nova Scotia event. Join us February 1st -11th to savour a delectable, three-course Prix Fixe menu you won't soon forget. Dine Out Nova Scotia Prixe Fix Menu
Antipasti
Crostini with flash fried artichokes, fig pesto and mozzarella di buffalo Pasta Asciutta
Ravioli ai funghi Secondo
Pesto crusted salmon with lemon aioli, wilted greens, roasted potatoes $35 pp + + For more information on the Savour Food and Wine Festival or Dine Out Nova Scotia, please visit the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia's website
Holiday Hours
Closed Dec 24th - 27th. Re-opening Dec 28th.
Closed Jan 1st - 3rd. Re-opening Jan 4th.
Closed Dec 24th - 27th. Re-opening Dec 28th.
Closed Jan 1st - 3rd. Re-opening Jan 4th.
March Newsletter
Welcome to the first edition of Il Mercato's monthly newsletter!
We like to surprise and delight our guests with new menu offerings, special prix fixe menus, and special events; and now, you will be able to find all the details posted on our website. Our newsletter lets you know all about what you might have missed the month before, and gives you a preview of what we are planning next.
February was a busy month for us with the month long Savour Food and Wine Festival, The main event gala, held at the Halifax Marriot Harbourfront Hotel on February 26, showcased a few of our all time favourite dishes like our signature handmade Ravioli and our ever popular Risotto Croquettes. Of course, what would a meal be at Il Mercato be without a scoop of our homemade aMano gelato! This year, we served them in mini brown-butter cones made from scratch by our in-house pastry chef. We were a big hit with Savour participants; in fact, Il Mercato won for best booth!
As part of the Festival, restaurants throughout Halifax offered a two week prix fixe menu. At Il Mercato, the first week, February 16th through the 21st, featured Nova Scotia pork loin, stuffed with roasted pears and ricotta cheese, wrapped in pancetta and slow-roasted to perfection. During the second week of our Il Mercato prix fixe, Chef Larry prepared the traditional Italian Osso Bucco which our guests couldn't seem to get enough of!! It seems our prix fixe was a definite hit and will most likely become an annual event for us.
Another February highlight for Il Mercato, was our fabulous Valentine's Day menu prepared by Chef Larry and his culinary team. Rich, creamy lobster risotto and the time-honoured classic tiramisu for dessert helped make this Valentine's Day one of our best ever!!
Celebrate is something we love to do at Il Mercato. Every day is a great day to enjoy our extensive martini and cocktail list; and, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, our front of the house staff creates unique new concoctions that are as tasty as they are unique.
Thanks so much for reading our first newsletter – be sure to check out our website for all our upcoming events; and, of course, come in and enjoy our classic Italian food at Il Mercato!
Welcome to the first edition of Il Mercato's monthly newsletter!
We like to surprise and delight our guests with new menu offerings, special prix fixe menus, and special events; and now, you will be able to find all the details posted on our website. Our newsletter lets you know all about what you might have missed the month before, and gives you a preview of what we are planning next.
February was a busy month for us with the month long Savour Food and Wine Festival, The main event gala, held at the Halifax Marriot Harbourfront Hotel on February 26, showcased a few of our all time favourite dishes like our signature handmade Ravioli and our ever popular Risotto Croquettes. Of course, what would a meal be at Il Mercato be without a scoop of our homemade aMano gelato! This year, we served them in mini brown-butter cones made from scratch by our in-house pastry chef. We were a big hit with Savour participants; in fact, Il Mercato won for best booth!
As part of the Festival, restaurants throughout Halifax offered a two week prix fixe menu. At Il Mercato, the first week, February 16th through the 21st, featured Nova Scotia pork loin, stuffed with roasted pears and ricotta cheese, wrapped in pancetta and slow-roasted to perfection. During the second week of our Il Mercato prix fixe, Chef Larry prepared the traditional Italian Osso Bucco which our guests couldn't seem to get enough of!! It seems our prix fixe was a definite hit and will most likely become an annual event for us.
Another February highlight for Il Mercato, was our fabulous Valentine's Day menu prepared by Chef Larry and his culinary team. Rich, creamy lobster risotto and the time-honoured classic tiramisu for dessert helped make this Valentine's Day one of our best ever!!
Celebrate is something we love to do at Il Mercato. Every day is a great day to enjoy our extensive martini and cocktail list; and, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, our front of the house staff creates unique new concoctions that are as tasty as they are unique.
Thanks so much for reading our first newsletter – be sure to check out our website for all our upcoming events; and, of course, come in and enjoy our classic Italian food at Il Mercato!
