Introducing: Barsa Taberna, a not-strictly-Spanish tapas restaurant near St. Lawrence Market
(Image: Megan Leahy)
Name: Barsa Taberna
Neighbourhood: St. Lawrence Market
Contact Info: 26 Market St., 647-341-3642, @BarsaTaberna, barsataberna.com
Owner: Aras Azadian
Chef: Michael Smith, formerly the chef de cuisine at C5 in the ROM
The Food: At heart a tapas restaurant, Barsa’s menu is divided into “cold,” “hot” and “fried” dishes, while several larger plates are also available for diners who prefer not to share. Spanish staples like patatas bravas (i.e. fried potatoes with aioli) complement some of chef Michael Smith’s own, not-strictly-Spanish creations, like grilled octopus with Indian-spiced chickpea stew, or a Korean-style torta stuffed with kimchi.
The Drinks: Barsa’s signature sangria includes a unique blend of liquors, syrups and house-macerated fruits.
The Place: The 170-year-old heritage building is a part of the Market Street revitalization , which has brought a raft of new restaurants to the western side of St. Lawrence Market. Barsa’s interior takes a cue from Gaudi and Picasso’s Barcelona: the grotto-style dining room has a slightly subterranean feel, with original stone brickwork and heavy wooden beams overhead, and a kaleidoscopic mosaic wall contains fragments from 1400 variously tinted wine bottles. The 75-seat patio will be opening early this summer.
276110 The restaurant is located on the newly redeveloped Market Street strip, just west of St. Lawrence Market (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-2.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-2/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-2 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276109 Stone walls and heavy wooden beams give the dining room a subterranean feel (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-3.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-3/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-3 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276104 The restaurant was designed by <strong>John Tong,</strong> who also designed <strong>The Drake Hotel</strong> (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-8.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-8/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-8 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276103 The colourful 3D wall was made from 1,400 variously tinted wine bottles (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-9.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-9/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-9 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276108 Braised beef short ribs with piquillo peppers, sugar snap peas, collard greens and orange ($13) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-4.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-4/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-4 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276107 House pickles, quail eggs, marinated goat cheese and fennel ($9) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-5.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-5/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-5 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276105 Rack of lamb with roasted eggplant, walnuts, carrots and pomegranate glaze ($34) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-7.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-7/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-7 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276106 Sangria cake with coconut tres leches, compressed fruit and mango sherbet ($9) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-6.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-6/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014-6 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
276102 Cava sangria with macerated mango and blueberries, fresh raspberries and raspberry syrup ($20) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Barsa Taberna https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Toronto-Life_Barsa-Taberna_Megan-Leahy_26052014.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-barsa-taberna/slide/toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014/ toronto-life_barsa-taberna_megan-leahy_26052014 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)