Espresso Bar Mercurio

The Espresso Bar Mercurio is a great place to grab a quick bite for lunch, or a coffee and a snack.  It has a unique arrangement for ordering that is part cafeteria style and part table service.  When you enter the restaurant, you pick up a menu and wait in line to approach the counter.  There you are given a table number and you place your order and pay.  Then you go find the table with your assigned number and await your meal to be brought to you.  The daily specials are written on the windshield of a classic 1950s Fiat.

They serve sandwiches, salads, burgers and other main courses but with a bit of a twist.  The burger came on a thin herbed flat-bread instead of the traditional hamburger bun , while the cod fish and "chips" were served with lightly breaded zucchini fries and an aioli dipping sauce. I love this variation on the potato fries, since the zucchini was both tasty and probably healthier.  Both dishes were accompanied with a bit of green salad and some home made potato chips.

 Many people were having coffee and dessert.  We tried a butter tart, which was a bit too sweet and gooey. We also tried their Cafe Au Lait cookie which was the right consistency between crunchy and chewy and had a nice chocolate flavour but not much coffee taste.  Other cookie flavours include Shortbread and chocolate chip, and some vegan options like Flourless Cashew and Cranberry Oatmeal.

Espresso Bar Mercurio
321 Bloor Street West
416-585-2233