Salt Wine Bar finally set to open on Ossington
The Saint is the only mystery resto left on Ossington. The much-anticipated Salt Wine Bar, which has been tantalizingly papered up since last summer, should be opening within the next few weeks. Owners say it will be a simple, competitively priced bar-eatery-store that will focus on cuisine from the Iberian peninsula, so expect Spanish and Portuguese products and dishes. Chef Dave Kemp, previously of the utterly un-Iberian Prego Della Piazza in Yorkville, will head the communal tapas-style menu. True to the bar’s name, cheeses and charcuterie—up to seven different types of prosciutto, including some house-cured meats—will be staples.
Tapas standards will include grilled sardines, boquerones (anchovies) with red sherry vinegar, and the not-so-standard torchon of foie gras. The venue will have seating for over 70 patrons, and menu items will be on display for take-home customers. Dishes are expected to average $15.
Spanish and Portuguese wines will provide the backbone of the beverage selection, with a nod to New World wines from Argentina and Chile. Always temperature-controlled, wine will be sold by the glass ($6–$10) and by the bottle ($20–$50).
Decor-wise, Salt won’t be venturing too far from its Ossington compatriots: lots of reclaimed wood on the tables and bar top, with antique chandeliers providing ambience. For now, owners say it’s just a matter of jumping through a few more bureaucratic hoops before the paper comes down.
NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY
Sign up for Table Talk, our free newsletter with essential food and drink stories.
