The Blackstone Renaissance Hotel & Mercat a la Planxa Review

Came and tried out their tasting menu. Most tasting menus I try, attempt to give guest a unique experience by combining flavors and experimenting with ingredients that don t normally go together. It s always an interesting experience but sometimes some dishes are more interesting then they are good. At Mercat a la Planxa they don t go that direction and instead their tasting menu is a greatest hits of their tapas. This results in a delicious and memorable dinner and at $55 per person also one of the cheapest tasting menus I ve ever done. The cocktails were also very good/strong and made a good companion with the dishes. Will come back again!

Would not go back. Limited menu. Poor service. Pricey. Bad attitudes.

This fantastic, if expensive, restaurant specializing in tapas calls for going in a big group. I'd recommend for a birthday party, or a family, so that everyone can try a bit of everything. If you're already heading here and have budgeted, get the tasting menu. The chef really knows what he's doing with the flavors and you will not be disappointed. Reservations recommended so you don't have to wait. Excellent sangria and views of the South end of Grant Park.

Traditional Eggs Benedict was prefect. Loved the atomopshere.

Really very very good. Ambience, service and comprehensive menu. Something for everyone and a great wine list too. Recommend the bacon wrapped dates.

After a great breakfast here, we went for dinner, spoke to the dining supervisor to let him know that we were in a bit of a rush trying to go to the airport and could we do dinner within 30 min. He said no problem, gave up our menus, sat us and told us the waiter would be right over, 10 minutes later I asked the supervisor if we could give him our order since the waiter had not showed, he could not and there was only one waiter. so we decided to sit at the bar, we placed our order, there were some type of delay in brining out the food which was good but we rushed through the meal and got out in 55 minutes. Good food but not a quality experience.

A true culinary delight. My wife and I savored every bite and sip!

Service. Food. Wow! If you see pork on menu, commit!!!

Had lunch there yesterday. Service was superior. We went with the Chef's Tasting. OMG!!! Everything was over-the-top fabulous. The flavors were fresh and the combinations of tastes were heavenly. The mushroom soup was outstanding as was every "tapas" item the servers brought out. Will return often.

A bit overpriced. $20 for 2 ounces of cheese with sorbet and jello for some reason?

Great modern interpretation of tapas and a large selection of paellas (the Fideau, made with thin toasted angel hair pasta is my favorite although some of the monkfish was slightly overcooked and underseadoned last time I got it). Their beverage program is also interesting with some really great Spanish wine options and a ton of sherries.

Terrific Spanish tapas restaurant in Chicago. Great friendly service and nice atmosphere.

Every bite I had was at least very good and much of the food was amazingly delicious. Never having been there, I had dinner one night with a small group and came back the next night with a large one. Don't miss the wide selection of fine sherries.

Definitely one of the best Spanish restaurants I have been to, the food is of a superior quality, all the tapas are delicious, the decoration of the place is in very good taste and the price is in proportion to the quality of the food, definitely It is not cheap but it is worth visiting if you are in Chicago.

A good experience. Good food. Fun ambience. Professional Staff. Thank you.

Best authentic Spanish tapas in town. Don't miss the paella, the pink Sangria and their famous Giin and Tonic!

Awesome food. Quality. Good service. A place I highly recommend.

Carlos @ the bar. Octupus is the dish of the decade.

Tapas are fantastic and authentic. Spinach Serrano salad is great if you like a sweet and savory salad combo.

Definitely one of the best restaurants I've been to, all the tapas are delicious, the price is in proportion to the quality of the products, the decoration and setting of the place is the best. Definitely if you are in Chicago do not hesitate to visit it.

An eating experience not to be missed even by the luckiest of eaters.

Loved this restaurant! Try the Chef Sampler. You'll be glad you did! Everything was awesome!

Had breakfast there on our last day in the city. Everything was great. The roasted breakfast potatoes were prefect. Serving sides were large.

Great and unique experience. The bacon wrapped dates were delicious.

Amazing Catalan food, worth the price. The Decor very aesthetically pleasing !!

Hours posted not correct. Door locked when I tried to get breakfast at 8:30 on Saturday

For the most part, the food was very good (I highly recommend the octopus, steak, and the pan tomate).
The bread tasted homemade and rustic - enough to look over the tacky 5$ bread charge.
Specialty gin and tonic was excellent.
Docking a point because they told us the paella had certain allergens (that we noted at the beginning of the meal) only after it was brought to the table.
The paella itself was only ok (it was pretty salty), but we probably would have ordered something else for the table if we knew that our allergic diner could not eat any of the paellas, we chose the one we ordered because it was the only one whose menu listings left out his other allergens. Either way, would not order the paella again even if it was edible to my whole party.

After a long day at McCormick convention center, I was whipped. Didn t feel like walking or wandering the area for a place to dine. Initially went into Mercat for a drink. But after watching plates of Spanish cuisine pass by headed to their tables, we decided to stay and dine at our hotel. Staff was very professional and attentive. Food was delicious and presentable. My only regret is I didn t get the paella !

Breakfast was great but the service was super slow. May have been a staffing issue.

After a long day at McCormick convention center, I was whipped. Didn t feel like walking or wandering the area for a place to dine. Initially went into Mercat for a drink. But after watching plates of Spanish cuisine pass by headed to their tables, we decided to stay and dine at our hotel. Staff was very professional and attentive. Food was delicious and presentable. My only regret is I didn t get the paella !

Had the taster menu option. Most dishes were vegetables or cheese. But great beef dish.

OMG such a great place & most delish and flavor-able food! Try the rose sangria, the bacon wrapped figs, tomato roasted focaccia, butternut squash pasta dish. All amazing and really out of this world! I'll be back next time I'm in Chicago! xoxo

The service here is mediocre (at best). They have a decent brunch every Sunday... Although I haven't seen the menu change over that year and half. This place is very conveniently located near the Art Institute and millennium park. They also have a pretty good blanco sangria.

Sadly the main restraunt was under construction when I visited so I didn't get to experience the whole ordeal but what I had I loved. I got several small tapas, including Chorizo, tater tots with aioli, prawns, and flat bread. the flat bread and chorizo were perfect. The tots and prawns were excellent but could have used a touch more sauce. The cheesecake for dessert was phenomenal. Will be back when it is open.

An odd combination of spectacular food and frenetic, bumbling service. We both had the tasting menu with wine pairings, and each course seemed to have some sort of problem. The wait staff recognized this and made up for it by bringing us a HUGE amount of food. All of it amazing, but for some boring patatas bravas. I appreciate their effort but, even so, I'd rather have had a standard size menu with careful service, especially for a $300 meal for two. Examples: wrong cocktail delivered; my wife asked for no beef/pork/lamb but first course was bacon wrapped figs and prosciutto; we ordered sparkling water but waiters kept pouring in regular water; busboy kept taking our plates before we were done; forgot one of the wines until we asked; never offered dessert; and so on. Al the while there was this feeling that all the staff were in a rush even though the place wasn't full at 9 on a Saturday night. My sense is that this is simply bad floor management and poor training, which is fine for Applebee's but not what's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the south loop. We had five different people serving the table and they couldn't keep track of one another. The hostess spent half the night hanging out at the table next to us with friends. Maybe the manager is on an August holiday?

Great place for breakfast and brunch. You can get a peaceful view of the park if you get the right seat. Many options to select from. The food was flavorful and well presented.

We have been here a few times now and we were happy with food and service so naturally we went again. This experience I must say hands down the worst meal in Chicago. The Tapas was suggested by the waiter where we told him there were a couple allergies at the table he said not a problem. Well when the food started to come it was clearly a problem. Three of courses consisted of two sardines with a red pepper. Now we're not cheap by any means, after all we are dining at meerkat. For eight ppl the bill was $1000. We did make a complaint; the general manager Andy P replied that wiener circle and Portillo's serve hot dogs. Hmmmm.... Of course this is after we paid our $1000 check

Who allows someone like this to run their business really? They really need to open their eyes and save their investment.

Sad thing is we ended up going to The Gage afterwards for some drinks. We were talking to the manager and telling him our experience at meerkat. He actually had his cooks reopen the kitchen to serve us food!! Now that is an amazing manager who really knows what customer service is about and knows how to make his customers happy and coming back.

We walked to Mercat from the South Loop and had Antonio as our waiter. He was an excellent waiter that knew the menu front and back. Food was amazing and presentation was impressive. I would definitely recommend this place and Antonio as well.

Stayed at the hotel and wandered down for some dinner. OMG, it was awesome and memorable. Bacon wrapped dates, octopus, a flatbread thing. Seriously it was perfect. Sit in the attached bar, less people, same great food.

Nice place for a group dinner but the staff is rude if you come late at the night.

solidly good, not great. Everything was on the salty side.

Fabulous tapas. Crazy busy at Happy Hour due to its loop location, but it calms down afterward.

The Food was enjoyable ... Slow service ... always room for improvement with the service ...

We came here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Walked upstairs to the dining area and we're we quickly seated. The restaurant was half full and the interior was beautifully designed and decorated. The customer service was also outstanding which made the night even better. Our server was very attentive and helpful through the evening.

We started off with a couple of drinks. Some sangria and a Pina de mi ojo. Both were pricey. As for the food, it was definitely pricey as well, with some dishes that stood out and some that weren't tasty at all.

Datiles con almendras: The best tapa of the night unfortunately came first. Bacon wrapped dates with marcona almonds topped with la peral fondue. A sweet and savory dish with an interesting touch and the end of the bite when you bite into an almond. $10

Pan con tomate: I read a lot of reviews comparing this to bruschetta. There is no comparison. Bruschetta usually is full of flavor. This however was just tomato's spread on top of crispy sourdough that wasn't very crispy. Could barely taste any olive oil. $7

Gambas de ajillo: This tapa was actually quite tasty. Shrimp in garlic, shrimp and birds eye chili that gave it a nice kick. $14

Patatas bravas; I've had better but these weren't bad. Just a little plain. Just potatoes covered in salsa brava, garlic aioli and chili oil. $9

Canelons de sant esteve con jarrete de buey: short rib filled cannelloni, with farm chicken foie Gras, and creamy truffle bechamel. This one sounded good but tasted to gamey. The cannelloni also added a weird slimy texture that was unappetizing. $15

Bunuelos Del ampurdan: You get three fried beignets with lemon cream and salted butter sauce. These weren't bad but coulld have used about triple the amount the say us they provides us with. $10

Overall, it was a great night and lovely dinner, but at the end of day, there's better tasting tapas in the city, and for a lot less. I wouldn't completely leave Mercat off the list, but probably wouldn't return anytime in the near future.

One of my favorite Tapas/share plate restaurants in Chicago! Right there with Girl & the Goat and Purple Pig.

Food here is amazing. Dont let its location (in a hotel) fool you...really really good food.

It's a good place to eat. It's Spanish but not really Mexican food

Merkat is simply one of the best restaurants I've ever experienced. The military has taken me around the world, and I've dined at fine restaurants from Mumbai to Manhattan. Nothing comes close to the flavors and pure shock and awe of the flavors presented at Merkat. The experience is like the world's best fireworks display, except with flavors. The ooohs and ahhhhs your tastebuds will enjoy are simply without equal. Since moving in Chicago in May 2014, I've been to Merkat four times, two just in the last week alone. I took clients and colleagues to dinner, and they were absolutely thrilled with the meal. If you are staying the Renaissance Blackstone, there's no reason why you shouldn't be dining at Merkat. It's in the lobby. I highly suggest the Chorizo from the "Carnes" menu and the Fig and Ham Salad. These are packed with flavor, and they'll make your eyes roll back in your head. Because this is a Tapas restaurant, your order will be staggered. Order 3-4 items per person, and the magic just happens every 10 minutes. Remember the fireworks display. Just when you think you've seen/tasted the best thing, the waiter arrives with another dish that'll blow your doors off. Yes, it isn't cheap, but, good lord, it's so worth it. The staff is great, the atmosphere is terrific, and you'll have an experience that cannot be beat. Jose Garces is an amazing chef, and I'm happy I can enjoy his menu anytime I'm downtown.

The service was great the food was phenomenal. We tried so many different items the tapas items had full flavor and just great, but the Ribeye steak tender, flavor, and cooked to perfection.

Great tapas! Highly recommended along with their special Gin and tonic.

Excellent Spanish restaurant with very tasty dishes and superb service

Hands down the best restaurant I've ever been to - our company exhibits at IRCE every year and this is a guaranteed perfect meal every time

Service was outstanding, especially the bartender who tended to customers during lounge hour, he was great. The drink I had was well made and very good. Some of the food was excellent, some it just okay. The bacon wrapped dates were great and the sauce they were served with was a highlight of my meal. I also ordered octopus which was tough (which for octopus can be somewhat forgiven) but it also had little flavor and what flavor was there was mostly salt; I found it disappointing. The salad I was served because it was made in error and the kitchen didn't want to throw it out was good, with crunchy walnuts and salty bacon lardons and bleu cheese and a sherry shallot viniagrette that was really good. Unfortunately the bleu cheese was overpowering and made the whole salad very strong and salty, but not inedible by any means. I'd return to try other options on the menu for the great ambiance, drinks, and service, and would definitely have the dates again while there.

It's like being on vacation. So much fun to explore!

Mercat is a great night out in Chicago. We were Jose Garces fans back in Philadelphia making this a must visit. The interior is gorgeous with lots of glass, light and modern touches of classic Spanish. The service is amazing, in true tapas form. The waitress and busser was attentive with food, drinks and silverware not pressuring but also allowing for a true small plate experience. Try a little bit of everything. We tried at least 8 plates and were not disappointed by anything, though the serano salads was quite excellent.

The Chef's Tasting with paired wines is a stellar way to spend an evening!

The $75 tasting menu was flavorful and was more food than we could eat. My vegetarian spouse was less enthused about the vegetarian tasting menu. The food was not as unique and did not "wow" as much as Jose Garces' Philadelphia restaurant, but still a decent choice.

The cazuela was amazing! With rabbit, lobster, chorizo, and artichoke with rice and saffron broth. It's amazing and addictive and I had to have it every time I stayed at the Blackstone. They're redoing the dining room so the restaurant is operating only in the downstairs bar which has very limited seating and they have an abbreviated menu. I can only hope the full menu returns to its former glory when the dinning room reopens. The interim cazuela with chicken and shrimp and no artichoke is worth skipping...

Highly recommend. Great service, great cocktails and amazing paella.

Friendly knowledgeable and efficient waitstaff. Both great food and wine that's worth the price.Probably the best tapas in the city. We had the tasting menu for both of us with wine included. The only problem was that the large paella pan was too much. So we had only a small portion of it and took the rest home and it was great re-heated the next day. Still we split a desert with coffee. 250 with taxes and a good tip for 2.

Had 3 items on the tapas menu. While the food was flavorful, overall the dishes were all very salty

The salade verde was not typical....in a good way. It was fresh and inventive. The tuna tartare flat bread was outstanding....I have never had anything like it. Both were recommended by the server and I am grateful. This is a hidden gem.

Wonderful food, fun atmosphere, good service, delicious cocktails.

Exquisite food, terrific service. Every plate was beautiful and flavorful. A very nice place to dine.

We went to Mericat based off of some of the reviews here. Our experience here was atrocious, and I encourage you to spend your money elsewhere.

Our server that night was Dante. His pre-memorized speech about the menu was not only long, but seemed to be slurred (along with his glossy eyes). This speech was given to every other table in the section while we were there.
He was impersonal and seemed to judge us based off of looks (I only say this because he touched our table two times throughout our visit, and we started receiving food before drinks arrived).
When we got our bill he put it down and said I have to sign it, no thank you for joining us or have a good night.
He deserved every cent of the 10% tip we left.

The food, lacked flavor while being over salted. I think I drank about 8 glasses of water while we ate.

Our only two good expierces here were the host, and also the food runner Jason.

I spoke with a manager before our departure, and told her about our bad service experience. She apologized, while making excuses about why Dante is still allowed to be a part of their team.

I expected much more from such a unique spot, in a populated/tourist part of the town.

I heed you to take this review as a cautious warning, and consider a meal elsewhere.

This place is outstanding! Our server, Jenn, was very accommodating. The Verde salad, scallops, and Ribeye were delicious. Highly recommend!:

Very tasty tapas style dishes from Catalonia... enjoyed our meal and the service bit the wine was certainly on the expensive side, especially knowing how much it costs in Spain.

Went here for a birthday lunch and was not disappointed. I had the expectation that lunch for two would be pretty pricey -- and it was.

After all was said and done, two lunches, two drinks (non-alcoholic) and dessert, the total was somewhere around $80. But if every time I came to Mercat was like this, I would make a habit of dining there.

Our server took the time to describe the menu in enough detail that I knew what I was getting. Contrast this with some restaurants who have vague menus, and it was a welcome change. Unfortunately I don't remember our server's name, but he was a tall, dark-haired genial guy. Mercat, I know you read these reviews, so please KEEP THIS SERVER AND GIVE HIM A RAISE.

The view of Grant Park is fantastic, and the temperature was not too cold on the cold February day I went. You can tell that guest comfort is high on the list here.

I'll be returning to this location next time I'm in the area and want some of those chocolate-dipped marshmallows!

Fairly authentic and well prepared. Paella had a thin layer of rice and dry like it should be. unlike other Spanish restaurants.

Fun, dynamic food options in an upscale setting. My wife and I went there for our anniversary and had a great time sampling all of the creations.

We visited for Sunday lunch. Nice ambience, very (kid-)friendly and attentive staff. The Tapas selection is on the smaller side. Unfortunately, they were out of at least 3 of the most interestingly sounding (meat/seafood) Tapas, which left us with mostly vegetarian dishes to choose. We were surprised since it was a slow day with maybe 5-6 tables being occupied.
The Tapas tasted soso, and the ingredients didn't shine. Most sauces were either too bland, others were laden with Cayenne or red pepper powder, meaning they were just spicy without any additional complexity in the heat or flavor. The portion size of the Tapas was too large. A single person probably won't be able to have more than 3 Tapas.
Expect to rack up a rather substantial bill, since many Tapas cost more than $10. Alcoholic beverages are also quite expensive. E.g., a Sangria is $12...

Pretty good drinks, really good food, only four star because the menu isn't super extensive, and it's decently pricy

Best shrimp I've ever had in my life. Wow! Every single tapaa i had was awesome, but the shrimp excelled!!!