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    Madrina Bar y Tapas

    3.9 (199 reviews)
    ModerateTapas Bars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Madrina Bar y Tapas Photos

    Business Info

    MADRINA BAR Y TAPAS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Madrina Bar y Tapas

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    Steak tartare
    Connie C.

    While the outdoor seating can experience the vibes of Distillery District, indoor seating has AC and a view of a gorgeous dining room. I loved the table tops looking like the tiled buildings. We had a group of 5 people, making reservations on OpenTable was EZPZ. Also with a large group, we cannot agree upon for the pre fixe, we can semi agree on various tapas though. Most of the tapas were in quantities of 2, so we either had to order 3 orders or someone has to forgo certain items. We ordered a whole galore: truffled egg yolk, iberico steak, steak tartare, patatas bravas, 2 types of toasts, 2 types of oysters. If you're adventurous enough, they have this flight of 3 cocktails, made on the whim via vibes by the bartender. You don't know what you'll get, and it won't be the same day to day. My favorite dishes would be the Iberico steak and the patatas bravas. Well made and got that Spanish flair as you would expect at a tapas place. Food was so good, we forgot to really chat. Depending on what you order, some dishes do feel overpriced and more like an amuse bouche at a cocktail party. If you have a group, definitely make room for 1-2 of their entrees. Worth!

    Nkemjika O.

    I simply don't like when we throw Michelin in front of restaurants, and things become sloppy. We walked up to the restaurant, because of its gorgeous vibe and outdoor patio. The servers were very kind, the bartender waited on us, and she was extremely pleasant to work with. First slip up, was bringing a Syrah that was probably 15 to 20° colder than it should've been. And while, that may sound pretentious, it was so cold. the glass was showing massive condensation. It is tapas, and we ordered quite a few, but I sadly can say none of them blew us away. The shrimp croquettes were extremely runny inside and didn't seem to have a good flavor overall. The tortilla, which is one of my favorite tapas items, was oddly overcooked with the potatoes, a brown color that they probably should not have been as well as the omelette. Potatoes were fried well, however, they had no flavor. Which is hard for a potato. The paella was too salty, the pork had none. It was such a juxtaposition. The kids meals were impressive to look at on the menu but again lacked quite a bit of flavor. Overall, the price point was not bad for a tapas restaurant, and the vibe was good, but the meal was just so so and we instantly thought we could've gone better for better value.

    Saana B.

    Very good cocktails, ask for a bartender recommendation. The Jamon is a must try, perfect with the refreshing gin cocktails.

    Smoked salmon
    Maria Alejandra E.

    Went here for my anniversary and did the tasting menu with wine pairing. It was amazing, the third course was the best and the dessert was amazing. I ended up buzzed, full and happy. They gifted us some cherry wine and the service was fast and knowledgeable about the food. Only complaint is that they seated us in a high table when I had book for a low one and I was wearing a skirt . The best of all is that the place in in distillery in an old but cute building.

    Catalan chicken lettuce wrap
    Lucia L.

    I was pleasantly surprised to have really enjoyed the food here. Usually I haven't liked restaurants in the distillery district too much. Spanish tapas are not that common in Toronto and I'm so happy to found somewhere that serves pintxos! Their crab pintxos was so delicious and packed with crab. I loved their shrimp croquetas too. The only thing that was a bummer was the service was super slow. Even thought it was a Wednesday night, it was pretty packed so that might have been why.

    TORTILLA DE PATATAS
    Nikki J.

    Madrina was amazing. Located in distillery district, the interior is very chic. I was sat at the bar upon arrival. This place is Michelin rated, so the prices are according to that. I ordered light, but everything was really filling! I got a tortilla española and shrimp croquetas. The flavor on both was exquisite. The croquetas were nice and crunchy, while the tortilla was a bit creamy in the middle. Service was great, but it was a little slow maybe because I was solo. I had to flag down my server twice, but I wasn't in a rush so it wasn't a huge deal.

    La Bonita and Barcelona Gin Sour
    Taylor R.

    We had a wonderful experience and night here. First of all, the cocktails were outstanding! We particularly enjoyed the Barcelona Gin Sour, La Bonita, Lavender Early Grey Martini and Noche de pason. The cocktails were delicious, balanced and we couldn't get enough! The food choices were so fun- different than your normal menu. We shared 5 different items from the Tapas menu between two of us. Our favorites were the patatas bravas, shrimp croquettes and chicken lettuce wrap. Don't leave without trying the lettuce wraps! Our server was kind and helpful and we sat outside where we enjoyed live music in the square. All in all, great dinner. We'd go back!

    Geraldine G.

    I loved this place! Went here early in the week for dinner. Not busy not like the weekend which made for a calm experience. Everything we ordered was delicious! A real must try are the oxtail buns! I could eat a whole platter of those! The tomato bread, Rusa potato salad, the Gilda Madeira skewer was a delicious surprise! Shrimp croquettes were also tasty! What I can say to you in going here is each dish is meant to share! Bite sized tapas! Makes you want to go to Spain! Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by everything. The flavours for each dish really popped! Definitely want to return! The customer service from beginning to end was so good. Positive, patient and so helpful whenever we had a question. Real standouts!

    Tasting menu on Sept 3, 2023
    Ainsley E.

    Was happy to get a reservation here rather last minute and experience their tasting menu. The decor in this place is awesome -- clearly a lot of thought went into the pieces here. I thought the loud house music clashed with the vibe, maybe trying a little hard to be hip when the interior is already impressive. From the tasting menu, here's what we had ordered from our favorite to least favorite: - avocado gazpacho - tuna tartare cone - eggplant and zucchini chips - iberico ham croqueta - flan de queso y fresa - coca flatbread with escalivada - arroz negro con pulpo - patatas bravas - gilda se salmon - oysters with salsa aperitivo Many of these dishes could be improved with another hit of salt at the end. I felt a lot of these were under seasoned, especially the squid ink paella, which you'd expect to be bursting with flavor, which was bland. The weakest was definitely the oysters, and coming from an oyster fiend that says a lot. You could barely taste the oyster itself with the salsa and the shoestring bits made it really awkward to eat. Avocado gaspacho on the other hand had us off to a really strong start -- may not have topped that honestly. The first three courses were super strong and it was kind of a bumpy road from there. I'd go again and maybe sit outside on a nice day. As cool as the decor is in there I think I'd prefer it to be a bit less congested and loud during my meal.

    lavender-earl grey martinis with rusa potato salad tuna tartare
    Stephanie C.

    My friends and I decided to stop by Madrina to get some quick bites before heading to another restaurant. The place itself was very pretty, with a bar inside and outdoor seating in the heart of the Gooderham & Worts Distillery District. They had an extensive menu with Spanish inspired tapas and platillos. We choose a few items to share including the Rusa Potato Salad with Tuna Tartare, Tortilla de Patatas, and the Eggplant Escabeche. We loved the drinks here! The Lavender Earl Grey Martini was very good. The subtle sweetness of the lavender- earl grey syrup and blackberries paired well with the vodka. It was probably my favorite thing we ordered. As for the food, the tapas were all good.. the only thing I didn't like was the eggplant because it was a bit too sweet for my liking. My friends loved it though. Also there were a lot of bees in the outdoor area due to the plants. I would definitely sit inside next time. Overall, Madrina has great vibes, great food, and great drinks. I recommend to anyone who is in the area.

    Nimish H.

    I was here to meet few friends. Overall ambiance is very nice, the staff were courteous. There are good options available to try different cocktails. It also has decent vegetarian food options. I will not come again, but worth trying if you're in the area.

    Tortilla
    Amy L.

    We were looking for a good Spanish tapas bar in Toronto and happened to stumble upon this spot in the Distillery. The ambiance of this place is cozy and upscale and it was very busy on a weekend night (we were seated at 9:30PM and it was still packed in there). Service was a little slow and we waited a while for our drinks and food to arrive. Our server was friendly and sweet but you can tell that she was a little overwhelmed by the dinner rush. Our water never really filled and we waited over an hour for our "mains" to arrive. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't that great. It was okay, but nothing really stood out. The two of us shared the Ham Croquetas (not bad), Truffled Egg Yolk (really salty), Tortilla (my fav dish of the night - was creamy and flavorful), Octopus (tasted ok but $24 for 5 thin little slices of octopus is insane. It shouldn't even be listed on the mains category), and the Shrimp Paella (biggest disappointmnt of the night). What should have been the highlight of the meal, the paella, took over an hour to arrive and we both laughed at how small the dish was for a main. All in all, this is a tapas bar so don't expect to be very full but there are definitely some other great spots in town for a much better value. It could be a fun spot to hang out with friends but I wouldn't come here for an actual dinner again.

    Crab Pinxto
    Rachel L.

    Food: 4.25/5 Madrinas Bar y Tapas offers a 10-course tasting menu for $89, which encompasses a large variety of their most popular dishes on the menu. We opted to order our own plates as there were specific items I came to try. My favourites and must-have dishes from the tapas included: 1) the Tuna Tartare Cones (soo creamy and delicious, flavoured with salmon roe and plankton aioli all served in a crispy cone shell), and 2) the Truffled Egg Yolks (topped with a strong truffled mushroom puree and fresh black truffle). The yolks came on a spoon and were meant to be eaten in one bite which created the most magnificent flavour explosion! I ordered the patatas bravas based all the positive reviews, but unfortunately it fell flat from expectations, with the bravas sauce tasting more like a very tart ketchup and the potato similar to a hash brown. More aioli would have been great to balance out the ketchup ratio. From the pintxos category, which are essentially small open-faced sandwiches, we had the crab (very yummy) and escalivada (roasted veggies, anchovy and truffle butter). The latter was good but not worth the price tag at $9 for two small pieces. As a truffle lover, I also opted for the espuma de patata con trufa (potato foam, low temp egg, black truffle, trout roe), which was as tasty as anything with truffle can be. From the platillos menu (larger version of tapas), we had the oxtail buns and steak tartare with foie gras. The buns were great when dipped in the red wine sauce, but not quite measuring up to the $19 price tag. For the tartare, the foie was shaved on top of the beef which caused the flavours to be lost in the dish. I would have preferred more foie or a small solid piece on top. Drinks: 5/5 Both cocktails we ordered were delicious and hand-crafted with complex ingredients. My partner exclaimed it was something he could drink everyday. The Barcelona Gin Sour (rhubarb & ginger gin, ginger liqueur, pomegranate syrup, lemon juice, egg white) was tangy and slightly spicy due to the ginger. The Noche de Pasion (gin, black currant liqueur, pedro ximinez sherry, lemon juice, fig syrup, vanilla and fig bitters) was sweet and refreshing. Coming from a gin lover and someone who enjoys cocktails on the sweeter side, this was perfect. Atmosphere: 5/5 The interior had a great vibe as the restaurant is located within the distillery district and kept the theme on the inside as well. The decorations, ceilings and walls resembled a distillery and the ambiance was cozy. We made a reservation ahead of time for standard seating which we preferred over the high tops that looked less comfortable. Service: 5/5 The servers were pleasant and both food and drinks arrived in a timely fashion, despite the busy night. We came for a birthday celebration and were given sherry digestif at the end of the meal for dessert, followed by a Madrinas Bar postcard wishing a happy birthday and hand-signed by all the staff. The lovely gesture shows that the restaurant goes above and beyond to make their guests feel appreciated!

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    21 days ago

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    6 months ago

    Tiny tiny portions with high high prices. We spent $100 and left starving and had to get burgers somewhere else.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Madrina Bar y Tapas Reviews in Other Languages

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    Rasa - Cheese Bread Amuse Bouche

    Rasa

    4.4(376 reviews)
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    Because we enjoyed Sara, we decided to try Rasa next. The vibes are definitely similar with the…read moretasting menu of small bites. The food had some tasty components and interesting combinations, but when comparing directly to Sara, I think Sara still wins for me. A couple plates here landed slightly salty for my taste. The cocktail menu is also very creative. The service was amazing. Everything came out quick, the team was friendly, and the pacing was great. Overall still a lovely evening. However, Sara is still my favourite of the two.

    Cute little spot on Harbord. We got a spot at the bar cause it's usually more interactive, but it…read morewasn't here. Next time we might just do a table. But if you want to see how the kitchen works and drool over dishes comes out, this is the perfect spot. The service was ok. We did the classic tasting menu with wine pairing and our wine pairings kept coming later and later, which was also disappointing. I also got their award winning cocktail, down by the bay. It was fantastic! But the food was great. As part of the classic tasting menu you get 6 savory dishes and a dessert (to share). They start you off with an amuse bouche of bread with tomato cream. I could eat a whole basket of those. The courses are broken up into 3 pairs, so for the first we got the chopped salad and spicy ceviche. These are two of their best dishes and I wouldn't miss getting them. For the next course we got the chickpea fritters and country style ribs. These dishes were ok. The chickpea fritter was good but the ribs were overcooked, dry, and didn't have the greatest flavor. It would've been more flavorful with a good glaze. I would skip these dishes next time. And for the third course we got the rasa burger and truffle gnudi. The burger was good, but it was just a burger. The gnudi would be something I get again. For the final course we got the sticky bun. These bun was a very dry at the bottom, but otherwise good. I might try the ice cream sandwich next time. Cause it looked amazing too. Overall, great experience and a place I'd come back to. I'm glad I did the tasting menu, but if you're coming with a larger group, just order the whole dishes a la carte.

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    Beso by Patria - Paella Patria

    Beso by Patria

    3.9(570 reviews)
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    Beso by Patria offers a really enjoyable Spanish dining experience…read more The Paella Patria was fragrant and flavorful, with fresh Argentinian shrimp and purple mussels. The saffron-infused rice soaked up the rich seafood broth perfectly. You can ask the staff to remove the shells if you want to eat more elegantly. The Spanish Octopus was tender and meaty--so fresh, I could have eaten more! I also tried the 36-month aged Joselito Iberico ham. Even though it's not my usual favorite, it was rich, flavorful, and paired nicely with the optional little crisp toasts. The baked white asparagus was a highlight, fresh and flavorful with a touch of minced meat that elevated the dish. The 16oz beef rib steak was cooked well done but still tender and juicy, and the accompanying little peppers added a subtle kick without being overwhelming. The restaurant's atmosphere is dim and cozy, perfect for dates or small gatherings. The staff were enthusiastic, checking in frequently, and even the management stopped by to make sure everything was going smoothly. Overall, a very satisfying meal with a good mix of flavors and textures.

    This place had been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more The interior is stunning--very upscale, with gold accents and a bit of that "John Wick" vibe. The atmosphere feels elegant yet lively, perfect for a night out or a special occasion. We came mainly for the paella, and it did not disappoint. There are a few topping options, and it takes about 45 minutes to prepare, so I'd recommend ordering it early. The seafood was the highlight--shrimp were tender and bouncy, with mussels, clams, and even green beans. The flavors together with the rice were perfectly balanced. The Iberico pork shoulder was tender and flavorful, with a sauce that had a subtle savory depth--absolutely delicious. The fried eggplant was a bit on the salty side, and surprisingly didn't taste much like eggplant (more like fried potato slices), but still enjoyable. Overall, every dish had its highlights, and the dining experience was very satisfying. With the combination of great food, attentive service, and stunning ambiance, I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

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    Beso by Patria
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    Beso by Patria - Interior design is very interesting

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    Bar Isabel - Pork Secreto

    Bar Isabel

    4.2(519 reviews)
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    The space is intimate and cozy, and perfect for lingering over shared plates and drinks. The staff…read moreare genuinely friendly and caring, and they're great at guiding you through the menu, especially when it comes to cocktail recommendations. The tapas are really good, though dishes did come out a bit on the slower side. But honestly, it fits the whole experience here: order a few cocktails, enjoy the atmosphere, and let the night unfold at its own pace (within the seating time limit of course). One of those spots that makes you want to order just one more plate. We got: * Half Octopus * Mussels Escabeche * Jamón Croqueta * Shishito Peppers * Sea Bream Ceviche & Chips * Grilled Beef Tongue & Mojo Rojo * Sobrasada & Foie Gras

    Rating this a 4/5 overall because I did enjoy my experience here, but I will say the food itself…read morewas more like a 3/5. Came here on a Thursday night and was surprised at how busy it was for a weekday. Despite that, the service was excellent! Staff were friendly off the bat and very attentive after each dish was finished, making sure to wipe off the table or exchanging the plates which I was really impressed with despite how busy they were. We decided to go with their tasting menu where you gave them a price range you wanted to stick to - I believe it was $85-$200, and you can mention some dishes you definitely want to try and they curate the rest for you which I thought was so unique! I loved the idea of that. The dishes we really wanted were the octopus, bone marrow and scallops. The only standout dishes to me were the scallops, and a salad I cannot remember the name of but was so shocked at how good just a simple salad could be. Other than that, the other dishes were still good, but nothing extraordinary to be honest. The octopus was a bit too charred which was disappointing as it was what I was looking forward to the most. The tasting menu we got also had mainly vegetable dishes (other than the ones I just mentioned), so was hoping to get a few more meat dishes. This is definitely a great spot for vegetarians as it had a lot of veggie dishes. I would still come back to maybe try some of their other more meat focused dishes. Overall, I still had a great time and can't stress enough how lovely our waitress and the rest of the staff were!

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    Bar Isabel - Half Octopus

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    Byblos - Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

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    4.4(987 reviews)
    2.3 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core
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    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Food: We had our office holiday dinner here and 15 people attended. We did a set menu which had 3 courses. The first course was Labneh with bread, hummus, & beef tartare. Second course was Lamb pide & pear salad. Third course was grilled branzino, middle eastern fried chicken, black truffle rice, and thrice cooked fries. Then there was dessert which was chocolate mousse cake & baklava. Because of my many food allergies the main server for our table was very attentive & specific in asking me what I wanted as modifications. For example I got a wagyu beef pide instead of the lamb. Every dish was really delicious, presented well & quite filling. I couldn't eat all of the food. Though I tried almost everything. Service: The pacing of the dishes was quite masterful. They really paid attention to when the food was going to come out. As I mentioned above the main server was very attentive to my food allergies. I really appreciated that as some restaurants aren't as attentive. The food was served family style so everyone could take what they wanted from the serving dishes. The dishes were served in little bowls along the tables with each bowl serving about 4 people. We had asked for one long table so it was a little snug. But we made it work. Ambiance: For dinner the lighting of the space is really dim. LOL. I would have appreciated just a little bit more light. The restaurant is in an old building so to use the washroom you had to go down two flights of stairs. The dining area is small also. But it's a pretty space. As mentioned above we asked for one long table to seat 15 people. I was expecting square tables but it was a bunch of small round tables pushed together. So the tables were really crowded with food from all the dishes. But the servers made sure to take empty serving dishes away as soon as possible. The music was a little loud for me so I had to yell to be heard. The place was packed though. Everyone at our table enjoyed the food, the service & atmosphere. The restaurant is close to Roy Thompson Hall & the other theatres nearby so it's a convenient location as well. It's too bad this place is only open for dinner. I would have loved to see how they would operate a lunch time service. In any case, Byblos was amazing. I would come back here again to try other dishes! Note: Some of my pics of the main dishes didn't turn out so it's mostly desserts that are pictures

    Really enjoyed my night at Byblos. The vibe is super chic but not too formal. I love that the menu…read moreis designed for sharing, so you get to try a little bit of everything. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well-balanced. Also loved the cocktails. Great spot if you're looking for something a bit different from the usual dinner places.

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    Byblos - Upstairs level downtown location

    Upstairs level downtown location

    Byblos - Lamb Ribs

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    Yuugi Izakaya

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    4.4(104 reviews)
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    Came here for a casual dinner and drinks, and overall it felt like a really easy, relaxed…read moreizakaya-style spot in downtown Toronto. The space itself leans more modern and clean rather than the typical dark, cozy izakaya vibe, which I actually didn't mind. It felt comfortable, not too loud, and easy to settle into for a slow dinner. We ordered a mix of small plates to share, and everything came out looking nicely put together. The aburi-style salmon sushi was one of the highlights for me.. lightly seared, with a soft texture and just enough flavor on top without being overwhelming. The tuna tataki was also fresh and clean, simple but well done. Some of the fried dishes leaned a bit richer with the creamy sauces, but they were still enjoyable, especially if you're in the mood for something a little more indulgent. The beef fried rice was straightforward but satisfying, one of those dishes that's easy to keep going back to between everything else. Drinks were a nice touch too.. refreshing, nicely presented, and added to the overall experience. Overall, this feels like a solid spot for a casual night out with friends. It's not overly traditional, but it's easygoing, shareable, and comfortable.. the kind of place you'd come back to when you just want good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

    Great spot for small plates and drinks!…read more Love the vibes here. It really does remind me of Japanese izakaya. Their pressed sushi is a signature! Dont skip on the karaage cuz the sauce with a onsen egg is bomb! It can get busy and its a small place. So go early!

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    Yuugi Izakaya - Yuugi sushi & Wagyu sushi

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    Madrina Bar y Tapas - tapas - Updated May 2026

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