Introducing: Bar Isabel, Grant van Gameren’s highly anticipated new restaurant in Little Italy
Name: Bar Isabel
Neighbourhood: Little Italy
Contact info: 797 College St., 416-532-2222, barisabel.com, @BarIsabel797
Owners: Grant van Gameren (Black Hoof, Enoteca Sociale) and Max Rimaldi (Enoteca Sociale, Pizzeria Libretto)
Chefs: executive chef Grant van Gameren and chef de cuisine Brandon Olsen (Black Hoof)
General manager: Guy Rawlings (Room 203, Brockton General)
The food: Sharing-friendly plates ranging widely from Mediterranean standards like a whole grilled octopus ($49) to chicken wings ($10) served escabeche-style. There’s also offal and cured meats (including jamón ibérico, $25 for 40 grams ), and a range of vegetable plates ($5-6) and seafood dishes (starting at $8). The late-night menu of bar snacks changes daily.
The drinks: Local and international craft beers selected by Rawlings (including beer nerd picks like Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René), as well as a list of unusual wines selected by sommelier Mik Piltz (Splendido), with an emphasis on Portuguese and Spanish bottles. The long cocktail list, from Michael Webster (Momofuku, Weslodge), includes both classics and changing house creations, like the Old Flame ($14).
The place: Bar Isabel’s long wood-filled and encaustic-tiled room, complete with curved ceilings and mismatched tables and chairs, was inspired by van Gameren’s travels in Spain, Italy and France. The restaurant caters equally to patrons sitting down to a full meal and those stopping by for a beer and fried pig’s ears ($8) at the long cherrywood bar.
By the numbers:
• 10,000 pounds of hand-poured encaustic tiles from Mexico cover Bar Isabel’s floor
• 1,400 square-foot dining room
• 200 hours spent cutting and assembling the glass mosaics (composed of 20,000 tiles) which decorate the space
• 6 beers on tap (on the current roster: selections from Bellwoods Brewery, Dieu du Ciel, Bar Volo’s House Ales and Spirit Tree)
200946 Old Flame ($14): rosebud-infused gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg whites, finished with a chartreuse flame (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-11/ introducing-bar-isabel-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200951 Bodegas Naveran Dama Extra Brut 2010 ($11 per glass), a cava that the restaurant serves in vintage coupettes (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-16/ introducing-bar-isabel-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200952 Salted chocolate dessert ($5) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-17/ introducing-bar-isabel-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200953 Basque cake ($7): an almond flour–based cake that’s finished with a table-side drizzle of reduced sherry cream (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-18/ introducing-bar-isabel-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200961 Octopus and potatoes ($19) from the late-night menu (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-intro/ introducing-bar-isabel-intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200960 Fried rabbit with sticky eggplant ($19) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-25.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-25/ introducing-bar-isabel-25 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200959 A cold side of marinated Swiss chard dish with peppers and raisins ($6) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-24.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-24/ introducing-bar-isabel-24 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200957 Chicken wing escabeche ($10 for 4 pieces) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-22/ introducing-bar-isabel-22 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200956 Blistered shishito peppers seasoned with sea salt ($8) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-21.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-21/ introducing-bar-isabel-21 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200955 Cheese plate ($16 for 3 pieces). Current selections include Montenebro, manchego, cabrales and mahon (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-20/ introducing-bar-isabel-20 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200949 Crispy pig ears with a cold rice and pickled egg salad ($8) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-14/ introducing-bar-isabel-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200948 In addition to cured meats by Crown Salumi (van Gameren’s retail salumi business) and Hogtown Charcuterie, the restaurant also serves the cult Spanish jamón ibérico ($25 for 40 grams) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-13/ introducing-bar-isabel-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200945 Fresh marinated white anchovies with sweet peppers and pickled jalepenos and served with house made chips ($9) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-10/ introducing-bar-isabel-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200954 Olives ($5) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-19/ introducing-bar-isabel-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200947 Chefs Brandon Olsen and Grant van Gameren working in Bar Isabel’s newly outfitted kitchen (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-12/ introducing-bar-isabel-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200943 A nod to Bar Isabel’s previous moniker, Crown Cooks, can be found in the glass mosaic above the lintel of the front window. Van Gameren and his girlfriend hand cut and assembled the glass-tiled mosaics along the room’s walls (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-08/ introducing-bar-isabel-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200942 Custom-made stained glass windows (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-07/ introducing-bar-isabel-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200941 The view from the back of the restaurant (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-06/ introducing-bar-isabel-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200940 The cherrywood bar (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-05/ introducing-bar-isabel-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200939 “We built the place to look like it’s been here for a hundred years,” says van Gameren (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-04/ introducing-bar-isabel-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200938 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-03/ introducing-bar-isabel-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200937 Van Gameren worked with designer Marx Kruis to build much of the space. Kruis is responsible for the room’s curved ceilings and stained oak woodwork, as well as the maple and marble tables and the cherrywood-topped bar. (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-02/ introducing-bar-isabel-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
200936 The exterior of Bar Isabel still shows remnants of its former occupant Grappa Ristorante (which has moved to The Queensway) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Bar Isabel Introducing: Bar Isabel https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-bar-isabel-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-isabel/slide/introducing-bar-isabel-01/ introducing-bar-isabel-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
This is superb news… what a killer team.
yea the wood seats and benches look reaaaaallllll comfortable, not!