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El Mercado
Review
About
Features
CUISINES
Latin, Contemporary, Ecuadorean
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Discover
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Mastercard
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 12:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
Monday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Contribute
4.5
1,044 reviews
Excellent
744
Very good
191
Average
63
Poor
26
Terrible
20
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Brian L
Vancouver19 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
The eating area was a very nice space, the service was terrific, and the food was also very, very good. We had a very nice evening here, but with the exception of two families with three children under five years old. The children did not know how to behave in a restaurant, and the parents were indifferent to trying to maintain order in a fine dining environment. It was clear that everyone in the space was impacted. I would not choose to eat again at El Mercado under these circumstances, and I feel it is incumbent on the restaurant to set expectations for parents if they cannot on their own. The lack of a fifth star is to that experience.
Written July 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SagarVS
India2846 contributions
May 2023 • couples
I tried the Seven course menu priced at USD 50. I can assure you that this package is not worth your time. Alternatively I suggest you try the Ala Carte menu and you will save yourself a lot of time. The restaurant simply does not have the creativity to pull off a seven course over two hours. The manager and the waiters tried very hard to please us and they were genuinely friendly and served smartly. The tasting menu is not for me at this place.
Written May 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberto P
Guayaquil146 contributions
Jan 2024 • family
Nice place, excellent view of the Barranco sector, beautiful decoration and the food, like all gourmets, small portion, but very good flavor, somewhat expensive, but worth the experience
We have returned and the experience is just as good as before.
Very well decorated place, with views of Machángara and the modern part of the city. Attentive and helpful staff, delicious food, we ordered Duck magret, orange salmon, lamb and NY steak, all very tasty.
Written January 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luisa P
Guayaquil167 contributions
May 2024 • couples
The access to the restaurant is not so nice (somewhat dark and narrow), however inside the atmosphere is very cozy and has a nice view, the service is good, the food is delicious but the price is very high. It doesn't have parking. Even though we called to request a reservation, the person who greeted us hesitated to serve us, after insisting they gave us a table. That made us uncomfortable!
Written May 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reynoldbryan
Los Angeles58 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
This is one of the worst restaurants we ate at in Cuenca. If you come to Cuenca you HAVE to miss “El Mercado”. Chef Fabricio Medina and his impressive team produced non-fresh octopus that had a fishy flavor. The El Mercado salad has the wrong dressing for its ingredients. Try a champagne or raspberry vinaigrette. The service was not special and the first thing they do not serve is cold bread to start the meal. Chef Fabricio didn't even come out to apologize for the not-so-fresh octopus. We went out after appetizers and made restaurant reservations at an establishment we knew wouldn't put out this kind of garbage. People can't eat out of sight and that's just for tourists. When we arrived at the restaurant they asked us if we had a reservation, which we did, but the place had two tables occupied for a very large restaurant. GTFOOH!!!
Written October 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R. Fahey
Wilmington11 contributions
May 2023 • friends
Beautiful location. A fine meal of fish and vegetables. The chocolate feast was delicious. Unfortunately, I cannot give this restaurant five stars because the service was slow and they lack certain attentions. They never offered water and they placed a dish of olive oil and vinegar, but they took ten minutes before they brought for two people two tiny pieces of bread. It was a rather stingy display!
Written May 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary V
Ottawa81 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
We had such a nice meal on our first night in Cuenca that we returned for a second meal the next night! Though we were initially seated next to an arguing couple, the staff were very considerate and relocated the four of us to another even nicer table in this beautifully appointed restaurant. On the first night, I had a delicious duck breast dinner and my wife had a grilled fish with risotto that were both wonderful and was finished with a delectable apple tart-creme brulee dessert. The next evening, having seen an amazing looking hamburger, we decided to come back with our friends and share that. It was also excellent!
Written December 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JasonHall
Cuenca17 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
The quality of the food was quite good but the table we were given and the service we received really detracted from the experience. We were seated at the entrance and were told that there were no other tables available even though several tables in the actual dining area remained vacant the entire night. Our waiter was attending to a party, which was clearly much more important to him than we were. He forgot to bring our appetizers, never checked on us, i.e., to give us the opportunity to order another drink or ask for the salt, and we had to ask several times for the simplest things such as to bring the bill. I really would have liked to have tried those langostinos I ordered (which the waiter forgot) or experienced the ambience that this restaurant is known for, but apparently that night they were so concerned with the VIPs that we became the VUPs (Very Unimportant Persons). In hindsight, if they were too busy to attend to us, they should have just said so and we would have gone elsewhere. With these prices, you are paying for the experience as much as the food, and our experience could have been much better.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberto M
Dear Mr. Hall,
My name is Roberto Mora and I am the GM of El Mercado. I greatly appreciate your feedback, specially becase it presents us the honest perspective of our customers on our regular operation.
I fondly apologize on behalf of my team and my own; that is no the quality and level of service we impart.
We had discussed about your review with our service team, and we have taken the necesary corrections in order to prevent this type of situations with any other guests.
I would like to share with you my personal email address: robertomora1977@gmail.com, you can reach me on it at any time. I personally asume the disapointment of you visit, and would like to invite you for dinner as my guests; since the experience you had is not our standard.I look forward to host you.
Yours truly,
Roberto Mora
Written August 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ChistianPetra
282 contributions
Oct 2022 • solo
Before I went to the El Mercado, I already knew what I wanted to have. For appetizer I had the scallops and for the main course braised beef ribs. Four Pan Seared Scallops, Sweet Corn Cream, Bacon, Pimentón, Parsley, just the right amount served with a lovely bread roll and a glass Chardonnay. I particularly enjoyed the Braised Angus Short Rib, Au Jus, Baked Corn Casserole, Seasonal Vegetables as my past experience in Ecuador with beef has been less than positive. However, the braised ribs were very tender and could be separated with a fork. The beef was served with a strong red wine. Santiago made a special effort to make sure my meal was exactly what I wanted. Since I have been in Ecuador I don’t usually eat deserts so I just payed the bill. On my way out I passed Emily….the goddess of deserts…I’ll probably return tonight for a Creme Caramel and an espresso.
Written October 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
504
New York City356 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
Very nice ambiance and view. The service was also good. The food was good but not outstanding; more traditional continental than Ecuadorian.
This was definitely fine dining with prices to match. We ate here at the end of our 10-day long trip, and duck was very welcome after all the pork and trout we had throughout the trip.
Good people watching too - very upscale clientelle.
Written January 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RubyroxMontana
Bozeman57 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
Everything about El Mercado was excellent: the environment, the service, the food. My husband and I chose 3 starters and a salad, sharing everything, all of them absolutely delicious and perfectly prepared. We sat in the upper dining area with the big windows looking out to Cuenca and the mountains, just beautiful. Will definitely be going back before we depart!
Written February 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MNO
United States104 contributions
Jun 2022 • none
El Mercado was recommended by our tour guide, and it was certainly a good choice. The restaurant is right in the middle of Cuenca, making it a short walk from many of the main hotels, and, if you get lucky, there are tables with a sweeping view of both the river and the southern section of the city. As far as the food is concerned, I ordered the short rib and enjoyed it, although I wish it had been more tender. We visited on a Monday evening without a reservation and there was hardly a full table, meaning we were able to enjoy the view from those coveted seats which overlook the river. Overall, a good experience and I would return without hesitation.
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ROBERTO C
Sao Paulo482 contributions
Oct 2023 • friends
Elegant restaurant with impeccable service. We came as a group for lunch. and fixed menu of 03 steps..Everything is very good and great quality and quantity
The restaurant has a very large space and we were on the 2nd floor overlooking one of Cuenca's rivers.
It offers a small shop (a market) for purchasing seasonings, sauces and kitchen items. Great
Written November 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AngelAwakened
Los Angeles126 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
I was excited to try this highly recommended restaurant, but my experience fell short. We arrived on time for our reservation, and the restaurant's beautiful design earned it two stars. However, the initial disappointment came with cold bread, which improved after being reheated. Unfortunately, the waiter removed our bread without asking if we were finished. The meal went downhill from there, with overcooked and not fresh pulpo, an uninspiring salad, and bland, albeit hot, potato soup. Surprisingly, we weren't asked about our experience when leaving without ordering a main course.
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
44 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
We've been here a few times and even though the prices are high compared to what you would normally expect, they certainly aren't the highest priced in the city by far.
They have some of the best service you'll find in these parts and their attention to detail is impressive. You probably won't want to eat here every night, but it's a great option for a special occasion or date night.
Written February 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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