Merchant

Merchant.... Well, as a Guy Grossi fan I was excited about making my way into Merchant. Knowing however that merchant is at the lower end of the "Grossi" restaurant spectrum I was also realistic in my expectations. Entering the restaurant you are greeted with cabinets containing varied cured meats ready to be sliced and a by completely overstocked with Campari, yup!! you're in an Italian restaurant.... The restaurant itself has a very low key feel to, super casual dining with the promise of amazing Italian fare. The open kitchen, with chefs all speaking Italian to each other compounds this promise! We were greeted and seated promptly and given some nice advice with regards to the Italian wine list. The menu is interesting without being overly exciting. Everything you would expect, pasta's, risotto's, seafood, and meat dished. We started we some prosciutto, creamed salted cod, and anchovies wrapped in prosciutto. The creamed cod was amazing! The prosciutto (which is sliced to order) was amazing, the anchovies however were bland and definitely missing something... As we had three entrees we shared a main, getting the evening special of lamb tortellini. The tortellini filling was amazing, the pasta however not so. My dining partner was Italian, so this was always going to be a tough test to pass... All in all I was actually a little disappointed with the whole experience. Twice our plates were cleared when we weren't finished, the service in general was not smooth or friendly at all. Obviously this restaurant has amazing potential, I do believe however that if Guy Grossi was to have seen the way this place was running (or stumbling...) he too would be a little disappointed.