...with Dominic Caracciolo

BY QUINN CURTIS AND LINDA GARSON PHOTO BY DONG KIM

Dominic Caracciolo is all about family — whether by blood or through the connections he’s built with his loyal customers — his deep-rooted family heritage and commitment to tradition are evident in every dish he serves at the restaurant. Caracciolo’s parents immigrated to Calgary from Calabria, Italy, in the early fifties, bringing a little piece of Italy with them by opening an Italian grocery store (or as they would call it in Italy: a mercato) in the heart of Bridgeland, across from the old General Hospital. Some may now recognize the building as the bustling ramen spot, Shiki Menya, but to Caracciolo, it remains a landmark of his parent's hard work and passion—the foundation of his love for the restaurant industry and hospitality.

Of course, Caracciolo didn’t always know he wanted to own an Italian restaurant. “I went to Mount Royal College, took General Studies, and dropped out,” he laughs. “A friend of mine hired me in the securities business on a trading desk. Then, around 2001 or 2002, a lot of family members wanted to retire, move out of Bridgeland, and all that sort of stuff. That led to a lot of family discussions and decisions, and with my parents getting older, I decided to come in, buy everyone out, and operate in Bridgeland for about a year,” he says.

After running the family business for a year, Caracciolo decided it was time to find a new space for his thriving grocery store. That’s when he discovered the perfect location, and in 2005 he opened up in Mission, nestled on the corner of 4th Street SW.

“My intention was always to have a gourmet grocery store —something high-end. We had a little café, a small restaurant, a cooking school on one side, and a demo area on the other. We started doing lunches, and then the demand for dine-in service really took off,” says Caracciolo.

With his amazing selection of fresh ingredients and delicious dishes, Mercato quickly became the go-to spot for classic, home-cooked Italian meals.

“The space has been torn apart a gazillion times—we’ve moved things around, always trying to keep the essence of old-world charm meeting the new,” says Caracciolo. But one thing remains constant: it’s always a family affair.

“I partnered with my sister and brotherin-law to open Mercato West. Then, after COVID, I launched Sorella, which my sister now owns and operates,” he says, adding, “our 20-year anniversary made me hyper-focused on this location. I have no plans for other ventures —we’re just constantly working to make Mercato better and ensure we don’t miss any details.”

Despite not being a big wine drinker, Caracciolo is most excited to open a special bottle — a 2011 Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva — gifted to him by one of his wine suppliers, Carlo Belushi from Vendemmia. What makes this wine so special?

“Just the fact that we have so much Barbi Brunello di Montalcino here. Brunello is one of Barbi's most spectacular Italian wines. And for such a relatively small city, we receive an incredible allocation,” says Caracciolo. With his daughter’s 21st birthday approaching, Caracciolo plans to pop open that bottle to celebrate what matters most to him — his family.