Munching in Midtown at Mercadito

Chandler Volel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:04 +0000

To many, Magic City is considered a destination famed for being the home of countless celebrities, beautiful beaches, and attractive people. More times than none, Miami is overlooked when the conversation of premier dining is discussed, but with so much to do here it is easy to see why this is the case. Recently, I had the privilege to experience a restaurant that has enough potential to finally rocket Miami’s dining scene to the forefront once and for all. Mercadito is a chic Mexican restaurant located on the outskirts of Downtown in the rapidly growing area of Midtown. With the revitalization of The Design district and Downtown Miami being about a 10 minute car drive away, Mercadito is the ideal location to begin a memorable Miami night. The wonderful set up allows partisans to either eat outside under the awing to enjoy the weather or inside where it is incredibly designed and wonderfully decorated. Upon entering, I was greeted by two hostesses and an assistant manager who warmly welcomed me into the establishment. After waiting for less than five minutes I was escorted to my seat and introduced to the extremely hospitable General manager Yves Stoopen and the knowledgeable server Daniel. Following my brief discussion with Yves about the elaborate Mexican influenced decor, Daniel explained nearly every dish on the menu while giving me the low down on the most ordered dishes. With his help I was able to enjoy a very flavorful meal which consisted of: b.n.g.t.m (big nose goes to Mexico): A drink that can be compared to the likes of a top shelf Long Island Iced Tea. This concoction is brought to the table bearing a small flame that must be pushed down into the mixture of herradura blanco, reposado, dark rum, guava, and orgeat that’ll leave you sweating! Guacamole: Three different types that was fresh, moist, and seasoned as follows Toread- Sauteéd chile serrano, garlic, oregano, tomatillo pico de gallo Manzana- Apple, tomatillo pico de gallo, chile morita, crispy sweet potato Camote- Sweet potato, pico de gallo, roasted chile serrano, cinnamon,ginger, spicy pumpkin seeds Ceviches: Again I was able experience several different type Camarón- Main component of shrimp which had a spicy kick. Seasoned with pico de gallo, jícama, pineapple, lemon-guajillo broth, tortilla strips Dorado- Mildly seasoned mahi mahi with asian pear, tamarind-chipotle broth Mixto- In my opinion the best out all three. This had a great variety of flavors with enough seafood to put Long John Silver to shame. Made with octopus, shrimp, mahi mahi, tomatillo pico de gallo, passion fruit-serrano broth Tacos: Each taco I tasted was exceptional so honestly, I can’t say which one I enjoyed more! I sampled Pollo- Chile morita smoked chicken, butternut squash-apple mojo, shaved brussels sprouts Pastor- Chile ancho rubbed pork, grilled pineapple, chile de árbol salsa Carne- Rosemary marinated skirt steak, grilled pear, shaved brussel sprouts, chile de árbol vinaigrette, crispy leeks Aside from the food, Mercadito has an amazing atmosphere and enough eye candy to give the average person diabetes. If you are looking for an eloquent restaurant that offers a blend of Mexico's culture, art, and food in a modern fashion, this spot is a must. It is also an excellent choice for the hip and trendy who want to experience great food with service to match. For those who are not fortunate enough to get a server as knowledgeable as mine, a link of the menu along with prices is embedded to MENU.

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Munching in Midtown at Mercadito