Tapas!

Hands down, my fave tapas restaurant in Chicago is Mercat a la planxa! Inspired by the dishes of Catalonia, this is the closest you will get to Spanish tapas without having to fly to Spain! Mercat is well known for its menu of traditional tapas, grilled steaks, fresh seafood, cheeses and cured meats. And DO NOT forget the Sangria! The prices tend to be on the higher side, but the quality of the food speaks for itself, so it's well worth it. 

We started with the seasonal sangria with the strawberries, rhubarb and thyme. It was so refreshing and delicious. I could drink it every day! What better way to sit out a summer rain storm!?

The pan con tomate is served complimentary to all diners. So simple, so fresh.  

The cheese. Oh the cheese. It would be a shame to come to Mercat and not order the cheese. Can you tell I like cheese? We started with a trio of quesos chosen by the chef. Each came with a spread/dipping sauce. Our favorite was the Garroxta (a goat cheese) with roasted garlic dulce de leche sauce. OMG! Yum!

After the Sangria kicked in, I was unable to get some good shots of everything else we ordered but the following are a must in my book:

-          Spinach salad with serrano ham, chorizo and fig

-          Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds

-          Garlic shrimp

-          Braised rabbit ravioli, brandied cherries and brown butter. Superb!!

The service was great and our server Sally stepped in to offer suggestions when we couldn’t make a decision on our own.

Live in Chicago? Planning a trip here? Head to Mercat ASAP!!!!

638 S. Michigan Ave.

(312) 765-0524

http://www.mercatchicago.com/