Opening a new restaurant during a pandemic is certainly not the best case scenario for any business owner, but if anyone can pull it off, we’re betting it’s the team behind the super-popular Filling Station and The 9W Market, who know a thing or two about serving up good eats. When we heard their latest venture, Mercato, was now open for takeout and outdoor dining, we packed up our hand-sanitizer, threw on our mask, and headed to over to Tappan to check it out.
Pizza—specifically Roman-style pizza—takes center stage here, and Mercato offers two sizes: Personal ($16-$19), which serves up to two, and the 24-inch Alla Pala ($32-$36), which can easily feed a family of five. So what’s the secret to these deliciously decadent, Roman-style rounds? It might have something to do with the hand-made dough, but it’s definitely no secret (they happily explain how it’s made via an informative menu insert): non-GMO ancient wheat, soy, rice flour, and good old H2O come together to form a sourdough that’s cold-fermented for 72 hours, creating a crisp, airy, and easily digestible crust with only one-third the amount of gluten and carbs you’ll likely to find in whatever dough your corner pizza place is slinging.
Then there are the toppings, which are definitely outside the box, but not at all intimidating. Mercato’s menu boasts 10 mouth-watering combinations, from the basic Margherita (topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil), Sausage (featuring house-made country pork sausage, D.O.P. tomatoes, caciocavallo, and mozzarella), and Wild Mushroom (loaded with a mix of portobello, oyster & shiitake shrooms nestled alongside caramelized onion, fontina, fresh thyme, and sesame seeds) to more inventive pairings like the Spazzatura (house-made sausage, veal meatballs, Nueske's bacon, pepperoni, and Jersey Girl mozzarella) and Truffle Potato (thinly sliced Yukon potatoes, rosemary, EVOO, and truffle-infused Sottocenere cheese).
We washed down a Sausage and a Margherita with the help of Mercato’s house-made sangrias ($9 for a glass; $28 for a carafe), which come in four flavorful varieties: Classic Red, Pomegranate, Citrus Elderflower, and Pear Ginger. A nice selection of wines and local beers are also available.
Can’t do gluten? Don’t fret. There’s plenty of options for you as well, including a range of tasty salads ($10-$12), charcuterie and mozzarella boards ($14-$18), classic Italian desserts ($8-$10), and a plate of veal and ricotta meatballs ($13) that we’re still thinking about.
31 Rt 303, Tappan
(845) 606-9000
Hours
Mon-Sun: 4:30pm - 9pm
