Mercat a la Planxa

Excellent food!! Wonderful atmosphere and service!

Horrible. The menu online looks nothing like what we were served for Easter brunch. We took our family of 4 out to eat and where do I begin? The staff uniforms were dirty and they were unkept, the food was horrible and not worth $95 a person and the restaurant itself was dirty from the floors to the tables. They were mad and unhappy and didn't greet us no one smiled! We don't mind spending money on an experience but this was beyond an experience. Staff wouldn't even come around to take out used plates we had a pile of plates on our table. We will obviously not return again!

Mercat a la Planxa is a Spanish-inspired restaurant located within The Blackstone Hotel. The restaurant itself is a beautiful space with a pleasing aesthetic. Unfortunately, the staff and food left a lot to be desired. My friends and colleagues and I were in town for an international food blogger conference and decided to reunite over dinner at Mercat. The evening started with drinks at the bar for half of our party. Unfortunately, the bartender made them feel less than welcome. His service was curt and outright hostile. My friend told us she felt compelled to leave but didn't want to ruin the evening we had planned a week for. Our server was no better; when she came to introduce herself, we all immediately felt unwelcome. Common questions about the menu were answered with a condescending remark about how "it's exactly what it sounds like" or "I have no idea." Without her guidance on the menu, we took some time to decide on what to order. She would return to us in a harried state, asking, "Are you ready yet, or do I need to come back?" We all agreed her vibe and energy were completely out of line and unprofessional. Having overheard how she spoke to others who didn't look like us, we realized we were her problem. We ordered many menu items, the croquetas de serrano were the best dish we ordered, but nothing really stood out as remarkable. When we asked for the check, the server brought it to us and said, "We don't split checks." Not that we asked, but the way she said it as she slapped down the bill was the final straw for us. The next evening, another friend who wasn't at the dinner the previous night invited us for a pre-dinner cocktail in the bar. We attended and were met with the same dismissive, hostile behavior from the bartender. It was so overt that we decided to tell fellow Black food bloggers not to patronize this restaurant. As a result, I can't, in good faith, recommend it to anyone.

5 stars all around for this beautiful spot in the lobby of the Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago. The atmosphere is old-world elegant, the service impecible, and the menu, while not terribly expansive, offers such variety. Nice cocktail and wine list as well. I had the scallops which were perfect. Nicely browned and expertly seasoned The tuna tartare was just the right amount of spicy. The calamari was nicely breaded and crunchy. I loved the pistachios in the bacon-wrapped date tapas. They provided a nice crunch. The beef meatball tapas were seasoned well and had a nice crust. And the blackened peppers and goat cheese were also delicious. Everything was perfect. 3-4 tapas dishes per person makes a nice dinner, and they're definitely made for sharing. I would definitely go back.

Mercat a la Planxa is such a gem! It’s a delicious, unique take on tapas and I couldn’t recommend it more. Whether for a date, catching up with friends, or family dinner out its funky, modern vibe suits every occasion! The service was fantastic; our waiter was on top of it without hovering. The chocolate cake is absolutely stellar - it seriously completes the dining experience!

So far I have only eaten here just once for a dinner, first visit, table for two. Was impressed that the Chef seemed to be watching the table just as intently as our servers did, which made the chefs tasting menu a nice choice for the evening, every plate came out with perfect timing, and we left here quite full. Starting with some well made cocktails, then sangria which we loved. Servers were attentive and the host was quite helpful. The entire staff hit the mark, also a manager went around to all the tables and checked in with us on how the evening was going, which is always nice. Finding your way into the restaurant, and navigating your way to the restroom are a little bit confusing, so the restaurant host as well as the hotel reception staff are a kind and necessary help on your first visit. We were staying at the nearby Congress plaza hotel, where the food options do not compare, so perhaps we will stay here and have some brunch and more next time. I just added to this review a year after visiting because the menu is still on my mind! Now after perusing through the recent menu and other reviews I’m feeling more and more certain that we will return.