Introducing: Branca, an Argentine grill house in a former residential home on Dundas West
Name: Branca
Contact Info: 1727 Dundas St. W., 416-519-8165, branca.ca , @BRANCA_TO
Neighbourhood: Dundas West
Owner: James Bateman
Chef: Kanida Chey, the former chef de cuisine at Weslodge
The Food: Barbecued meats, cooked via traditional Argentinian methods—a charcoal parrilla grill for smaller cuts, and a blazing wood fire for large cuts and whole animals. Short ribs and skirt steak are sliced, fanned across a wooden board and served with house-made chimichurri, harissa and salsa criolla, an Argentinian condiment made with onions and vinegar. Starters include grilled shrimp and Spanish octopus.
The Drinks: The South American cocktail list includes caipirinhas, pisco sours and Argentinean Fernet with Coke.
The Place: Branca is housed in a former residential row house near Dundas and Lansdowne. The room’s plush green banquettes, marble tabletops and exposed brick walls create a warm, buzzy ambiance.
291104 <strong>Branca</strong> is housed in a former residential row house on Dundas West, near Lansdowne. (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-17-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-17/ branca-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
291087 Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-01/ branca-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
291103 Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-16/ branca-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
291088 A pig roasting over a wood fire, <em>el asador</em> style. Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-02/ branca-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
291089 The wood fire is housed in this brick building out back. Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-03/ branca-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
291091 Former Weslodge chef Kanida Chey (right). Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-05/ branca-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
291092 Spanish octopus with confit potatoes and cherry tomatoes ($14). Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-06/ branca-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
291093 Argentinian red shrimp with guacamole, tostones and crema ($13). Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-07/ branca-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
291094 <em>Salchica parrillera:</em> heritage pork sausage with mustard seeds and corn bread ($11). Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-08/ branca-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
291095 Homemade sauces for grilled meats: harissa, chimichurri, roasted eggplant and an oniony <em>salsa criolla.</em> Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-09/ branca-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
291096 Beef short rib ($17) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-10/ branca-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
291098 Suckling pig: chicharron, tenderloin, belly and shoulder ($34) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-12/ branca-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
291099 Caramelized endive ($5) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-13/ branca-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
291100 Burnt carrots ($5) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-14/ branca-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
291101 Rice and black beans ($5) Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-15/ branca-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
291090 <em>Parilla</em> means "grill" in Spanish. Introducing: Branca https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/branca-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/branca-toronto-restaurants/slide/branca-toronto-restaurant-04/ branca-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0