Name: Tinto Bar De Tapas
Contact Info: 1581 Bayview Ave., 416-485-1581, tintobardetapas.com
Neighbourhood: Leaside
Previously: The Mad Italian Gelato Bar
Owner: Nota Bene alumn Otta Zapotocky, who also owns L’Avenue bistro across the street
Chef: Robert Leonard, who previously worked at Lee and Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
The Food: “Everyone’s calling us Basque, but we’re not,” says owner Otta Zapotocky. He characterizes the food as a mix of French and Spanish, with a dash of Latin American. There are subtle Asian notes, too, like a starter of blistered shishito peppers and a soy-spiked baby octopus dish. Tapas options are divided between hot (chorizo mussels, bacon-wrapped dates, escargot) and cold (ceviche, carpaccio, charcuterie).
The Drinks: Tropical mojitos and caipirinhas, plus by-the-glass sangrias loaded with brandy-drowned fruit. The 34-bottle wine list mainly sticks to Spanish-speaking nations with a few Portuguese and Italian options.
The Place: With its bold colour palate and blaring classic rock, this restaurant is an outlier on the quiet Bayview strip. Diners have to stand up to read the marker-scrawled tapas menu, which is hand-printed on almost every wall of the 35-seat restaurant. Food is prepared in the small open kitchen, which doubles as a bar.
294832 <b>Tinto Bar De Tapas</b> is located at 1581 Bayview Avenue, between Manor Road and Belsize Drive. (Image: Connor Sharpe) Introducing: Tinto Bar De Tapas https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-11/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Connor Sharpe)
294826 This strip of Bayview has never seen so many primary colours. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-06/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
294827 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-07/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
294833 The open kitchen doubles as a bar. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-12/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
294834 The menu is hand-printed on almost every wall of the 35-seat restaurant. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-13/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
294821 Shrimp ceviche topped with shaved carrots, fennel, sweet Peruvian chilis and citrus segments ($7). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-01/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294822 Corn soup with cotija, garnished with deep-fried sundried tomato tortilla strips ($7). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-02/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294824 Piquillo peppers stuffed with cheese and duck confit ($6.5). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-04/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
294823 Bacon-wrapped Medjool dates stuffed with fontina cheese ($8.5). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-03/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294825 Iberico Platter: Valdeón (a Spanish blue cheese), Manchego, jamón ibérico, salchichón (Spanish summer sausage), ibérico chorizo and fig jam ($30). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-05/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294829 Marinated baby octopus with soy and sherry vinegar ($8.5). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-09/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294830 Calimocho-glazed pork belly topped with beet slaw and garnished with peanuts. Calimocho is a cocktail made with red wine and cola ($12). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-10/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
294828 Chorizo mussels in a fennel-tomato sauce ($12). (Image: Caroline Aksich) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tinto-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tinto-bar-de-tapas-toronto-restaurants/slide/tinto-toronto-restaurant-08/ tinto-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Does the “chef” even know what he’s doing? A lot of this “Spanish” menu seems like Mexican resort food. I wouldn’t bother wasting your money on this menu they clearly don’t know what they’re doing here.
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