CANTORO ITALIAN MARKET

Reviews 4

T

T Sea

First, the market is very good. Different types of Vegetable & Fruits that you dont normally see in other Grocery Stores. Great Bakery (My favorite). Meat seems fresh. Tons of dried and even fresh pasta. Looks like a good selection of hot take-home entrees in the Deli, but I cook, so really I never buy take home meals from a grocery store. If you cant cook, then this is the place for you to pay for your lack of cooking skills. Everything looks good and its not what you would find in other places. Its the restaurant I have problems with. The first two times was fine for lunch. I just wondered where they cooked the food? Immediately on the other side of the Restaurant Bars wall is where they cook the food in open view. Then right there, in the open is where the Entree Hot Deli is for the market. It kind of makes you wonder, since our lunch came pretty fast? It was the 3rd time that things started souring. Again for Lunch, instead of given a table in the Trattoria (its not very big), we were placed upstairs which is another open floor that sits above the regular market. Its dark, noisy, connected to the other sided of the market which sells, well I dont know, because it looks like a warehouse up there... One more thing, the public bathrooms are there, and if someone from the Market needs to use them, they walk past your table. Theres a lot of traffic in there. The next time we came after 2pm... but they said that lunch is closed and dinner starts at 4pm. We told the hostess that we would shop around & Come back when it opened at four. We shopped and because my guest was not from around the area, we decided to sit outside in the car and talk. When we went back in at four, the place was pretty empty, but we were taken upstairs to the dark, noisey, platform they use for a restaurant. "Why"... we didnt have a reservation, but I asked, "theres plenty of room down here" and the manager said "we have to save those tables for the people with reservations." I just paused, What can I say, we waited over an hour (She recognized us from before), so we went upstairs. Not happy, thats for sure. The result of this review has been 4 more attempts at Lunch, and every time, I was told to wait for at least 35 minutes because I didnt have a reservation. Im not a person that makes reservations for lunch (and here I just dont think about it for Lunch?)... so again, Friday, April 15, 2016 we went for lunch and again was reminded that I forgot to make a reservation and that I would have to wait at least 30 minutes to be seated... where, I didnt ask! Ive tried, I like the food, but Im not going to wait in line, because I didnt have a reservation for lunch and be placed upstairs in a make-shift restaurant setting!!! S-or-r-y. I just want you all to be aware of these things before you ruin an anticipated lunch/or dinner at someplace youve all heard "You should go There!" One more thing... This is the "Worst" parking lot Ive ever tried to park in. Everytime I go for groceries I have to seriously watch where I park my car. Its not a flat lot, not even close to it. I wonder where the next shopping cart will come from, on its own free will and brush against my car. They also need more parking spots. I went there on Saturday afternoon for some groceries and I seriously could not find a parking spot. Besides making the restaurant too small, the parking lot is Horrendous. Just saying... I hate to "Flame" this place. It does have good food, unique groceries, and the small restaurant for only the special (Reservation) people does have a very nice atmosphere... but it also has some disappointing features to it. One more thing that Ive always wondered about... Where are they cooking all that food, because most of it is on the menu and in the hot deli on the other side of the bar wall? Have a nice time there... and really, there is nothing Im saying here that you cant figure out for yourself. I have never written a review, this is my first... I hope I dont have to do another!

KA

Kate Fraser

So let me start off by saying, I typically prefer to eat at home. I love to cook and am seldom wowed when I do eat out, let alone wowed enough to even be concerned with writing a review. This is a big deal. I know food. Unbelievable experience last night. It was the best meal Ive had in years, YEARS. From our Server, to the manager Alex, to the wine/starter/meal/ and of course dessert, our experience was over the top. Our server suggested a lovely rose to start off with. Its always nice to have a server that is familiar with whats available. Then we ordered a salad to split (Insalata di Calamari Calde- Mixed Greens, Red Onion, Grape Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Red Wine, Anchovy Vinaigrette, topped with Warm Crisp Calamari (Calamari can be grilled upon request) . The grilled calamari in my salad was perfectly charred, salad thoughtfully dressed. Beautiful presentation. My next course was a half portion of pasta. I ordered the mushroom linguine (Linguine con Porcini- House Made Cantoro’s Linguine, Fresh Porcini Sauce(Fresh Porcini, Dried Porcini, Onion, Garlic, White Wine, Chicken Broth) ). I was immediately delighted to notice the pasta perfectly al dente. The sauce was not a heavy cream, it was an perfectly seasoned, earthy, herby, and light. For our main course, we ordered the veal tenderloin, with some ridiculously (Saltimbocca alla Romana- Medallions of Veal Tenderloin, Fontina Valle d’Aosta, Prosciutto di Parma, in a Light Sage Demi Glace ) good cheese melted beneath a thin slice of prosciutto. By far, the best meal Ive ever had a restaurant. Thank you Cantoro, for lovely evening, we will be back. Kate & Alan

MI

Michelle Hedstrom

Extremely underwhelming especially for how expensive everything is. First, theres no kids menu, but that doesnt factor into this review at all. They were very accommodating to make buttered noodles and grilled chicken, and there is pizza on the menu. For the other 4 adults we all got 4 different main courses. Everything was under-seasoned and lacked flavor. I had some Bolognese pasta thing. Honestly, taking Prego and adding garlic, basil, and ground beef wouldve had more flavor. My parents who dont like a lot of salt both said theirs were under seasoned, and didnt take any of their leftovers home, and these are people who ALWAYS take leftovers home. Gelato was ok for dessert. The cannoli was the best thing about this meal. One thing I wasnt aware of is that inside of the market theres an entire pastry section, which is completely different than what is available in the restaurant for dessert. My son who loves cake, got some small celebration cake which we took home, and actually refused to eat it past the first bite because the frosting was so incredibly sweet. And this is a kid who LOVES frosting.

GE

Geno Jannette

If you are looking for a great Italian artisan market, come to Cantoros Market in Plymouth, Mi. This market is one of a kind with a wide variety of prepared foods as well as fantastic deli, homemade pasta and fresh meat counters. The produce is always fresh and if you are looking for a fine wine, you will find hundreds of wines along with wine professionals to guide your selection. Take a look at the many pasta selections, soups, and the olive bars. You wont be disappointed. If you need olive oil, vinegars, can goods, flours and other speciality items, you will find them at Cantoros. Lastly, the pastry counter is the best that I have seen in all of Michigan. You will find a great selection of fresh breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, tarts and torts all surrounded by handcrafted cannolis, biscotti, pudding cups as well as individually prepared desserts for your special dinner. Go to Cantoros. Its the best.