Mambo Lounge

I was staying in the neighborhood and had a craving for a cubano sandwich. It was a quiet Tuesday…read morenight. I popped in, sat at the counter, and was greeted immediately by a pleasant woman who took my "to go" order and told me the sandwich would be ready in just a few. While I was waiting, she kindly asked if I needed anything to drink. I declined. Shortly after I took home perhaps the best cubano sandwich I ever had. The warm sandwich had a perfect balance of ingredients. The Cuban bread with a thin crispy crust and soft inside made for a perfect mouth-feel. Absent was globs of mayo and mustard, flavors that often override the real stars of the show, the roast pork and ham. In it's place was a light dressing that complemented the meats perfectly. I've had Cubano sandwichs in Miami and NYC. The Cubano served up at LaCubana is as good, if not better. The only shortcoming: malta (a non- alcoholic malt beverage, popular in Puerto Rico and Cuba) wasn't available.

What we ordered: * Ham and cheese croquetas…read more* Coconut shrimp (special) * Guava bbq short rib (very good!) Service * Server was super nice and even took a picture of us * Very attentive and polite Ambience * Super old school diner vibes with cool Cuban gear and decor * Only downside is the bathroom is down some steep stairs with not a lot of air flow.

Cubano medianoche and red cabbage slaw. Yum!

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Pressed Cubano sandwich

Bar Raval

4.1(354 reviews)

4.8 km•Little Italy

Good, actually great vibes. Food was tasty and if I went with some friends or a partner, it would…read morehave been even better. I went by myself and had the "we'll make you a cocktail." It was a tasty and easy to drink mezcal drink with a bit of chocolate and topped with a lime leaf. I had the steak tartare with mushrooms. It was fun and slightly vinegar-ed. I had pan con tomate and unfortunately, it was a bit bland. I don't think the tomatoes were sweet nor flavorful enough so I ended up putting the steak tartare on top. I also had their smoked sardine and egg and surprisingly, it was my favorite. The sardines were quite good! The waitstaff is nice and always ready with a smile. There's limited space and even more limited seating.. as in half the people were just standing because there weren't any chairs. Seems like a great (first) date spot and pre bar hopping restaurant.

We made a reservation on a weekday and when we arrived, our table was ready. The bar has both…read morecounter tables inside and heated patio. We were seated inside and enjoying the beautiful wood carved decorations. The drinks menu offers great variety of cocktails, wine, beer and liquor. The food menu includes great tapas options for sharing. The staff are friendly and the service is fast.

6.0 km•Ossington Strip, Beaconsfield Village, Trinity Bellwoods

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White Negroni

Bar Habana

4.5(4 reviews)

Cute speakeasy on ossington strip! Located in the back of La Cubana -- look out for the neon sign…read moreinside ;) not as busy and lively as I expected on a Saturday night but when it's a speakeasy at the back of a staple Cuban restaurant in the city you know the food is a smash. Drinks were unique -- would go back! Because it wasn't busy the service felt on the slower end but all in all a great spot to hit

Cute little speakeasy tucked away behind La Cubana on Ossington. They are still doing a promotional…read morehappy hour from 6-8 pm until March 10th, so go while you still can. All cocktails are half priced and we had 5 different cocktails and loved them all. Here's the cocktails I had, in order of most favorite to still favorite: 1) Mango habanero margarita: it's described as being sweet and tangy but definitely has a bit of a kick to it and varies drink to drink depending on how much of their homemade mango habanero hot sauce they add to it. But it's always delicious! 2) Pandaiquiri: it's a clarified cocktail with hints of coconut and pandan. They also have quite a generous pour for this one. I'm not complaining! 3) Carajillo affogato: I would save this one till the end. It's the perfect dessert cocktail to end your night at Bar Habana. It's served with a scoop of boozy ice cream and a spiced rum-espresso combo to pour over. I could drink the drink without the ice cream too, but mix the ice cream into the drink and it's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. 4) Piña colada: pretty solid piña colada and only at #4 cause it wasn't unique to this bar. 5) Reverse mojito: described as light and refreshing but we found this to be a little sweeter than we'd have liked. I would prefer a regular mojito to this, but glad we tried it For food we got the conch fritters, grilled shrimp, honey glazed pork belly, and guava bbq short ribs. The short ribs were amazing and so tender. The portions are pretty good for the price and quite filling. Those 4 dishes were like a meal. The pork belly was good too but I would've liked a bit more pineapple salsa with it. The conch fritters are good for the price but you don't really get much conch in it. If you do get it though, ask for the mango habanero hot sauce to dip instead of the chipotle mayo. And lastly, the grilled shrimp was cooked well and a decent portion. I would definitely go back again, happy hour or not.

Piña colada on the back left and Carajillo affogato in the front

Non alcoholic + alcohol

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Old Baracoa

La Bella Managua

4.3(302 reviews)

5.6 km•Christie Pits

The space isn't fancy, more diner-like, but the aromas coming from the kitchen are incredible…read more Watching generous plates pass by only made ordering harder. By the time we decided, I was fully hungry and ready to dig in. Luckily, both the drinks and food arrived quickly. The mixed ceviche ($18.95) combines shrimp and fish tossed with peppers, onion, and cilantro, served alongside avocado and plantain chips. The acidity is well balanced, so it's not overly citrusy. That said, I would've liked more fish, as the shrimp dominates the dish. If you're dining with a group, the yucca mixta ($21.50), typically a main, works perfectly as a shared starter. The fried cheese is reminiscent of mozzarella sticks, but better, with a higher cheese-to-batter ratio. The crispy yucca is addictive, especially dipped into the onion sauce, which adds a refreshing tang. Even the avocado salad was a hit and was as a great way to finish off the plantain chips from the ceviche. Ordering a Cajun shrimp stir fry ($25.95) at a Nicaraguan restaurant felt strange, but it worked. The dish blends a lightly spiced teriyaki sauce with creamy avocado, giving it a unique, almost Nikkei-style twist. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked, and the rice soaked up the sauce without becoming too salty. There's even a surprising hint of wok hay that could rival some Cantonese spots. The churrasco ($32.95) is ideal for a solo diner. The beef tenderloin tips were grilled to a perfect medium rare. While the meat itself is fairly mild, the thick chimichurri adds plenty of flavour. Paired with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a generous serving of vegetables, it's a well-balanced plate. Whatever you do, don't skip dessert. La Bella's flan Napolitano ($7.95) is fantastic, with a custard that's firm enough to hold its shape yet still smooth and creamy. The caramel is light and fluid, adding sweetness without becoming sticky. Flan fans you better fly over to try this. The three milk cake ($8.50) is equally impressive. It's fully soaked, rich, and indulgent without crossing into overly sweet territory. I genuinely couldn't decide which dessert I preferred. Both are worth ordering. As mentioned, reservations are highly recommended. Despite how busy it gets, the small team runs the dining room with impressive efficiency, making sure guests are well taken care of.

Have you ever found a restaurant that was so good that you were afraid to tell people about it in…read morecase it got so popular you'd never find a table next time you went? This is such a restaurant. But for the greater good, and because it totally deserves to be hyped up, I'm gonna share this gem with you! Granted, I have only been here once and I had never had Nicaraguan food before but everything this restaurant served up from drinks to appetizers to mains to dessert was unbelievable. It may look like nothing special on paper and even look understated on the plate but once it's in your mouth your tastebuds are in for a ride! Let me explain a bit more...the "tacos" look like a sundae collided with a salad on the plate but when you break it up and try it the crunch and the sweet and the sour just works like magic! I ordered the Churrasco but swapped out the mashed potato with rice and beans - how the Nicaraguans eat it I was told - and boy was I glad I listened! I have never downed so much rice and beans so quickly in my life; normally I avoid them so that's testament to how tasty it was. 3 out of all 3 of the desserts were delicious but the standout favourite among my party was surprisingly the cheesecake, so don't knock it till you try it. The atmosphere is lively and colourful, and the service was great too! That's it; I think I've shared enough - you're welcome

4.0 km•Queen Street West, Downtown Core

Indoor seating

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Havana Sanguich

4.6(21 reviews)

The Noms: Colombian Special Salchipapa $25.50…read more Cubano Smoked Brisket Sanguich $20.50 It's a tiny shop but just know they aren't serving tiny portions! The food we got was enough to feed us both - twice! And we're talking full to the brim. It is on the pricier side, but they are far from stingy with their portions. It was our first time so we asked the staff what he recommended and homie came through! The Colombian Salchipapa is basically a fully loaded Cuban fries supreme on steroids. There was plantain, pulled pork, cilantro lime chicken, chorizo, cheese, and corn, all topped with hickory sticks. All of that paired with their house-made tartar sauce was heavenly with the best flavors and textures. The Cubano Smoked Brisket Sanguich was also incredible. There's smoked brisket, roasted mojo pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and fried onions, all stuffed in Cuban bread. The brisket and pork were super tender and juicy too. It was such a satisfying chew that we literally ate in silence while nodding in approval the whole time, lol. Hot tip: we had leftover tartar sauce from the salchipapa, so we poured it on our sanguich and it made it even better! Definitely worth getting it on the side if you're getting the sanguich alone.

The best Cuban sandwiches in the city!! You get your moneys worth here! The sandwiches are huge and…read morethey're full of flavour. I've been here twice now and will be continue to come back!

4.7 km•Waterfront Communities-The Island

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Baro

3.7(228 reviews)

We went there for Brunch. The food tasted good but the portions could be bigger. The pancake was…read morebomb and more importantly, it wasn't too sweet Most of the staff are nice and attentive. We got seated in their rooftop balcony area and it was such a vibe especially since we visited on a rainy day. They had enclosed the space so well that you still feel you're outside and yet you won't get wet. Will definitely go back for dinner to try their streaks

The place was very aesthetic and had great vibes and great service from staff. However the food is…read moremediocre and requires distinct taste preferences. The drinks were great, no issues with the margarita towers. Same with the sweet corn, they have a little of spice however that were cooked to perfection. The octopus main dish was also very aesthetic. (Gave us clamps to use instead of fork lol) In the end, everything was great. However the main dish which is the burger was not that great. Would not recommend. Everything else was good. 4 people ordered the burger the one with the least food experience liked it the most Ok, aside from food. The elevator going up stunk and during the duration of our stay. Plates were broken numerous times resulting in shards hitting our group.

5.3 km•Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods

The first floor bar - so stunning

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Interior

Rhum Corner

4.2(136 reviews)

I got to try Haitian cuisine in Montreal and was curious how it would taste in Toronto…read more Food: Got to share the oxtail with rice and peas, the meat was fall off the bone and tendon was soft. The griot was well seasoned and tasted great with the fried plantains (bannan peze) and pikliz! I love how you get a jar of pikliz and can take as much as you desire. Service/atmosphere: The wait staff was attentive, friendly and gave great customer service!

The yummiest food and vibey restaurant located on Dundas st west, close to trinity bellwoods. We…read moreordered the accra, Mac and cheese, Haitian spaghetti, fried fish plate, ginger beer and a piña colada. The food was fresh, flavourful and the quality did not miss. The accra was a standout!! The service was great and our server made sure to provide thoughtful information as we were ordering. Overall, the food, service and ambiance of rhum corner was nothing short but amazing and I will be back again.

5.6 km•Bickford Park, Little Italy

Accra

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Inside bar

Bar Isabel

4.2(524 reviews)

So fun! A colleague recommended this place and I walked by yesterday night (a Friday) and it was…read morepacked! Fun vibes leaking out onto the streets and lots of chatter and conversation. I was able to score a table for 4 today (Saturday) for lunch and had a great vermut with some fizz. We had three adults and a little baby. We got the prix fixe meant for 2 people and added a few other dishes to supplement. The prix fixe included: Shishito peppers, simply roasted and topped with flakey salt Pan con tomate, better than the ones I had yesterday... the sourdough bread they make themselves in house. Think, crusty, topped with great olive oil. We ended up ordering a side of just bread and olive oil because we loved it so much. Papas bravas, a touch spicy. Lots of scallions. I thought they were just alright, but my friend devoured them. We chose the manchego over the chorizo (one of my friends is a pescatarian) and we enjoyed that. The star was the octopus and our additional order of the mushrooms with cured egg yolks. The octopus was so tender and yet crispy at the tentacles. The mushrooms were just scrumptious!! My absolute favorite. Crispy, meaty, topped with some greens that went nicely with the oyster mushrooms. To finish, we had basque for dessert. Umm can't believe it's the first time I had this! Wow, so delicious.

Came here for a date night and I really wanted to love Bar Isabel, but was a little disappointed…read more There was a lot of hype around the restaurant, but the food was just average. We ordered the Sea Bream Ceviche and chips, quarter Octopus and Patatas Bravas. The highlight was the ceviche. The octopus was unfortunately a little overdone, which made it tough. I would absolutely not order the patatas bravas again. The potatoes were very dry and tasted as if they had been sitting out for some time. We also sat at the bar and had a few ordered of cocktails with the food. Be aware that the bar itself slopes down towards you. With that being said, my partner put her drink down on the sloped part and it fell all over both of us, with the bartender seeing it all unfold. He was nice in providing some extra napkins to dry ourselves off, but all he had to offer was "Yup that happens a lot" as opposed to maybe offering to remake the drink which was now 2/3 empty as a result. Was a little disappointed at that service in particular, especially when you're paying upwards of $18 for a small cocktail. The atmosphere was good, however. IF I were to give it another try, I'd probably just opt for drinks and skip the food, which was a little pricier for what you're getting portion-wise and quality.

4.7 km•Koreatown, Palmerston

Half Octopus

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Patatas Bravas

Ave Maria Latin Café

4.2(45 reviews)

•$

Came here today and got a cubano. Tasted pretty good. It came with a pickle and delicious house…read moresalsa. It was a bit pricey at $10 but i didnt mind the price since I enjoy supporting family run businesses. The cafe was small but had a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with kind staff. Not relevant but they had a world map where customers could pin their place of birth which I found very charming. Only nitpick is that I wish I got a real plate instead of a paper one since I was dining in, but it's not a dealbreaker. Will be coming back to try the Colombian iced coffee cuz that looked heavenly.

This is the cutest Colombian cafe. My Colombian friend was thoroughly surprised at how good this…read moreplace was and gave his approval. I got 2 dishes that I enjoyed in store. The tamale was probably the best I've ever had because of the size and the masa was cooked well in a sauce which ensured it was tasty and not dry like so many I've had before. I also had a vegetarian arepa topped with arugula, fresh slices of tomato, sauteed onions and queso fresco. A blackberry jugo finished off my meal perfectly. Since my friend had a couple empanadas and they looked great, I bought a few to take home for lunch the next day. At $3 a piece, they are worth it based on the texture of the pastry and the ratio of filling to shell. This is a great little shop with a great selection of snacks owned by a boss lady. I will be back on my next visit to Koreatown.

4.9 km•Waterfront Communities-The Island

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A delicious sausage. Thankfully not my sausage.

La Cubana

3.6(5 reviews)

Not sure why the reviews are low here! My friends and I stumbled upon this place after finding out…read morethat the restaurant we were trying to go to was full. Overall, we all really enjoyed the sandwiches. Food - 4/5 - I got the seasonal special, a fish Cuban sandwich, and it was really tasty! My friends got different sandwiches and also really enjoyed it. Service - 4.5/5 - really nice folks. They tried to keep it friendly and fast, even though it was super busy! Ambiance - 4/5 - Felt like a diner with some Cuban character to it! Overall, would comeback again and have another sandwich!!

Been hearing lots of good things about La Cubana from friends. Went to their foodcourt location at…read moreThe Well and got the shortrib medianoche sandwich and yuka fries. The sandwich was good - generous heaping of tender shortrib meat and tasty marinade sauce. The fries were a bit too greasy for me, though were pretty good size. Overall, can see why this place has many fans.

Yuka Fries

Storefront

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Farrah A.

0

1

0

13 years ago

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!! would absolutely go back again and again! Went to Mambo Lounge for the first time because of Winterlicious. The menu seemed great online. For a erstaurant i've passed many times, I'm so sad I've never been there bofore!! The food was absolutely amazing. The salad was super-fresh....The Creme Brule was awesome as well (which I wouldn't have expect from a Cuban restaurant). but the piece de resistance was the strip-lion! It was soo juicy, flavourful, tasty and cooked to perfection!!!! But the food wasn't even the best part! the SERVICE, which I'm huuuuuge on, was simply amazing. Period. The restaurant was rammed (Winterlicious Saturday night crowd) but everyone was smiling and truly happy to servce us! We thought the food would take a bit longer to come out, but we were wrong. It was prepared in a timely-manner, while we enjoyed the live band!! We were very close to the speakers, so the music was a biiiit loud at times, but it definitely didn't take away from our experience! PLESE GOOOOO!!! read more

Ray L.

22

0

12 years ago

Great atmosphere and the food was awesome. Had a steak from the summerlicious menu with a spinach and walnut salad and creme brule for dessert. The yucca fries that came with the steak were really good. Wife had the sea bass and she loved it. I would recommend this place to friends for sure. It was relaxing and great for a casual date. read more

Frederick W.

0

1

0

17 years ago

A truly Cuban restaurant with a friendly Cuban staff. The tapas are wonderful, as are the entrees. There is an all-in dinner special at a (relatively) bargain price and live music on weekends, when you must make a reservation. For a real treat, try Andres extra-minty mojito! read more

Mark D.

0

1

0

5 months ago

This place closed around 2019, im not sure why it's listed here. This place closed around 2019, im not sure why it's listed here. read more

Mambo Lounge - cuban - Updated September 2026

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People who viewed Mambo Lounge also viewed

Bar Isabel

4.2

(524 reviews)

So fun! A colleague recommended this place and I walked by yesterday night (a Friday) and it was…read morepacked! Fun vibes leaking out onto the streets and lots of chatter and conversation. I was able to score a table for 4 today (Saturday) for lunch and had a great vermut with some fizz. We had three adults and a little baby. We got the prix fixe meant for 2 people and added a few other dishes to supplement. The prix fixe included: Shishito peppers, simply roasted and topped with flakey salt Pan con tomate, better than the ones I had yesterday... the sourdough bread they make themselves in house. Think, crusty, topped with great olive oil. We ended up ordering a side of just bread and olive oil because we loved it so much. Papas bravas, a touch spicy. Lots of scallions. I thought they were just alright, but my friend devoured them. We chose the manchego over the chorizo (one of my friends is a pescatarian) and we enjoyed that. The star was the octopus and our additional order of the mushrooms with cured egg yolks. The octopus was so tender and yet crispy at the tentacles. The mushrooms were just scrumptious!! My absolute favorite. Crispy, meaty, topped with some greens that went nicely with the oyster mushrooms. To finish, we had basque for dessert. Umm can't believe it's the first time I had this! Wow, so delicious.

Came here for a date night and I really wanted to love Bar Isabel, but was a little disappointed…read more There was a lot of hype around the restaurant, but the food was just average. We ordered the Sea Bream Ceviche and chips, quarter Octopus and Patatas Bravas. The highlight was the ceviche. The octopus was unfortunately a little overdone, which made it tough. I would absolutely not order the patatas bravas again. The potatoes were very dry and tasted as if they had been sitting out for some time. We also sat at the bar and had a few ordered of cocktails with the food. Be aware that the bar itself slopes down towards you. With that being said, my partner put her drink down on the sloped part and it fell all over both of us, with the bartender seeing it all unfold. He was nice in providing some extra napkins to dry ourselves off, but all he had to offer was "Yup that happens a lot" as opposed to maybe offering to remake the drink which was now 2/3 empty as a result. Was a little disappointed at that service in particular, especially when you're paying upwards of $18 for a small cocktail. The atmosphere was good, however. IF I were to give it another try, I'd probably just opt for drinks and skip the food, which was a little pricier for what you're getting portion-wise and quality.

La Vinia

4.1

(89 reviews)

Me and my wife randomly found this spanish style restaurant on Lakeshore for the Civic Day long…read moreweekend. No complaints about the foods, excellent. When the bill came along, we were a little suprised. It is not about our affordability or fairness of the foods, but the way the bill was presented to us. After we sat down going through the menu, the server came along and recommended a daily special "Appetizer of the day", we looked at the menu, all appetizers on the menu were around $14, we assumes the "special" won't be much different, and the server did not bother to tell us about the price. We were wrong, the special "Appetizer of the day" we had was priced $35 on the bill, about the same price of a main course. We would be much happier to pay if we had knew the actual price before we ordered.

Food was so good I forgot to take more photos!…read more We visited LaVinia last week for dinner. We ordered the grilled chorizo and ham croquettes tapas. The ham croquettes were delicious and paired with an amazing garlic aioli. The grilled chorizo was also great but the garlic aioli muted the chorizo taste unfortunately. We also had the arugula and pear salad which was topped with Stilton cheese. We really enjoyed it. For our main course, we ordered the seafood paella which was amazing and everything was cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed the mango cheesecake and lemon sorbet for dessert. The restaurant is tightly packed, intimate, and has a great atmosphere for a date night dinner or dinner with friends. The waiters were attentive and very helpful when ordered. The chef also came around near the end of our dinner to ask how our meal was.

Madrina Bar y Tapas

3.9

(204 reviews)

Good ambience for friends to get together . There is outdoor patio. Service is good. We order prixe…read morefor $98 with multiple tappas. I like half of them only. Hence I only give it 4 stars.

This was a fun place! It's a little tight in there, I won't lie, but once I was seated things were…read morefine. I'll add that I wasn't in the best mood when I came in but this place changed it. We ordered the avocado flatbread (which I didn't try but my friend said was very good), the chicken lettuce wraps, chorizo croquetta, spinach croquetta, and something else I can't remember. But honestly, it was all good. Very good flavors! Our waiter then brought over some sort of digestif that tasted like cherry to me, also good and unexpected! There are such unique tapas and pairings, I would love to come back and try more!

Beso by Patria

3.9

(571 reviews)

•$$$$

My birthday dinner at Beso by Patria was nothing short of exceptional- it turned out to be the most…read morememorable dining experiences we've had in Toronto. Every dish was beautifully prepared: bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. What truly set Beso apart, however, was the hospitality. Despite the restaurant being incredibly busy, Bryan, our mixologist and bartender, and Krisztina, the general manager and sommelier, took the time to chat with us throughout the evening. They shared their knowledge of the menu and wines helping us with our choices. They both transformed a fantastic meal into a truly memorable experience. The evening ended with a personalized birthday dessert! It's rare to find a restaurant that combines outstanding food with such authentic, heartfelt hospitality. Even on a packed night, the team made us feel like we were their only guests. We can't wait to return!

We had high hopes for this spot, especially since the ambience was beautiful--perfect for a lovely…read moredate night. We ended up ordering quite a few items from the menu. Our favourites were the oxtail pintxo, bravas, wagyu, churros, and flan--each of these really stood out and delivered on flavour. That said, I was especially excited for the paella, and it unfortunately fell short. I've had better paella from a food truck, and for much cheaper. Between the chicken and striploin, we preferred the chicken as it had a more cohesive flavour. The striploin was cooked closer to rare when we asked for medium rare, making it tough to eat, and the rice itself was quite bland. On a positive note, the service was lovely--attentive, warm, and accommodating throughout the night. Our server checked in often without being intrusive and made the experience feel polished and welcoming. Overall, while the ambience and service made for a great evening, the food didn't quite justify the price for me. Not sure I'd return, but still a nice spot if you're looking for a good atmosphere.

La Paella

3.9

(55 reviews)

If I see Iberico ham on a menu, I'm always tempted. At La Paella, the plato de jamon Iberico ($42)…read moreis cut thicker than usual, making it meatier and chewier than the delicate, thinner versions I've had before. The upside is you really taste the sweet pork. The downside? It's paired with black truffle chips that completely overpower it. Do yourself a favour: eat the ham first, then the chips to wash down your cerveza. Otherwise, you're wasting the ham. The croquetas ($18 for six) change with the season. Ours were studded with bits of ham, finely diced into a creamy, almost mashed potato-like filling. The crisp exterior against the soft interior made for a great bite. I'm glad the server suggested ordering sourdough ($5) alongside the gambas al ajillo ($29), because the garlicky olive oil and sherry sauce was excellent. Specks of guindilla chilies add a subtle but noticeable kick. If I weren't trying to save room for the main, I would have devoured an entire thick slice of that crusty bread. You'll need at least two people to share a paella but a larger table is even better so you can try a couple of versions. Do not miss the paella de langosta ($100 for two-person portion). It's a simple but effective combination of lobster tail, prawns, and scallops, all cooked well despite the risk of overcooking such large pieces. The saffron rice is infused with an aromatic seafood stock and dotted with broad beans and peas for colour. It could be a touch drier - I prefer when the bottom forms a crispy crust - but if you enjoy a creamier, risotto-like consistency, this will suit you. Only while writing this did I realize you can request it done socarrat (the traditional burnt crust), which I'd request next time. As for meat options, the paella matadero ($84 for two-person portion) is not for the faint of heart. You really really need to love pork - chorizo, pork belly, and ribs make it rich, salty, and quite heavy. Without much sauce, the ribs can lean a bit gamey. As a table, we agreed we should've gone with the traditional chicken-based Valenciana instead, as this was simply too much. By the time 8:30pm rolled around the cheesecake was sold out, but who cares as their churros were fantastic! Freshly fried with a light crispy exterior and a soft moist centre, they were coated in cinnamon sugar and served with a chocolate sauce that wasn't overly sweet. Easily one of the best churro orders I've had.

Walked in on a Sunday with no reso for 2. No wait…read more I'd say it's something like a 4.3 realistically. Would come back. Food: Paella: ordered the crispy pork belly and rib paella. Was honestly really good. Looking at all the other reviews here it seems like a mixed bag. But this one was great. Maybe the others aren't always good? The paella is made to order and is cooked in front of you though so maybe they don't have their QA locked in. Our experience was great. Super flavorful. Only thing is that there wasn't really any socarrat (which is the best part!). Purists will say this is required for a paella to be good but I enjoyed myself anyway. Gambas: incredible. I could come back here for just this. The sauce was unreal and so flavorful. No notes. Bread: we got up sold on the bread. Went great wiping up the gambas sauce but the bread itself wasn't that great as far as bread goes. Service: Service was not bad. Pretty prompt and didn't wait long for anything. Ambiance: Pretty cute. Decor is colorful and very Spanish.

Tapagria Spanish Tapas

3.6

(315 reviews)

Weekend brunch here is a pretty good deal, including Spanish roast pig & roast beef for just $49…read more(the price has stayed the same since at least 2020 though they've lost the oyster bar & maybe other things). They get 4.5 stars. Most food items were pretty good. House seafood & chicken paella was decent (mushroom truffle paella was better). Chicken & duck stew were quite overcooked & did not have much flavour though. There were also a few brunch staples, so it's not just Spanish food. They like truffle oil here & a few dishes have it, but it's subtle. The 3 dips were very good, even if they were more Middle Eastern.3 cheese selection & charcuterie were good, The bread (both in the pinxtos & loose) was a bit stale & dry. The bread basket had a demi baguette with no cutting implement or place to cut it. Desserts were the weakest part of the meal. Churros were very hard: fried to a crisp, though they tasted ok. Carrot cake was very dry & red velvet cupcakes were quite dry. Alfajores were decent & cherry cheesecake & date squares were good.

Came here over the weekend to celebrate my mother's birthday. Guests were 4 adults and 3 kids…read more Place was surprisingly not that busy especially on a Saturday night when that parking lot always gets so full. Place was nicely decorated and clean. Kids liked the little led lamps on the table. They really help with reading in the dim lit place (for the ambiance). But yes not that many tables taken and restaurant is fairly big. Could be the price point which is a bit on the higher side. But let's talk about the food. Had a really great meal here. For the items I remember the price will include. Let's get to it. Started with some bread ($8). It's a bit bigger than a muffin but splits into 4. Comes with some whipped truffle butter. Was small so we had to order 2. We ordered 2 plates of potatoes ($12?). Which kind of resembles the breakfast potatoes (home fries) you get at breakfast spots but elevated , seasoned well and a nice red sauce base and a white sauce top. We ordered some mussels. This dish was a bit confusing. Taste wise it was good, and the server did warn us. So they take the mussel on a half shell, remove the mussel mix it with some stuff and put it back on the shell, then batter and fry it. By the time it's fried you don't know which side the shell is on so you need to bite into it slowly . We ordered the chick which is pretty small portion wise (2 small thighs) and will run you about $30. Delicious sauce and very juicy. We ordered a pork chop ($48) , not sure if the pink would scare you , but it was delicious and was quite tasty I found. The mushrooms $18)was a real winner for me. Beautifully presented and an amazing burst of flavour. Served with a raw egg in the middle for dipping and seasoned well. I could have just ate the mushrooms so delicious. Next came the seafood platter. Shrimp, squid rings and octopus. Char on the octopus was amazing. The kids surprisingly kept asking for more. Shrimps were a good size and quite tasty. Then of course the seafood paella $95) came. We ordered a large and it is quite filling. There is a smaller one I think around $50. Flavor was good, portion of seafood was very good. It was a work of art. The rice was nicely seasoned and everything tasted really good. We ordered some Churros for dessert (2 PC's for $12). It comes with a chocolate sauce that the kids wanted to drink, it was tasty and dipping the churro in it was great. We asked the server if they do anything for birthdays. She told me they have cheese cake so we shared a piece of that too... Delicious.. not sure if it was a problem or miscommunication, but thought it was going to be complimentary for birthdays, or what I was less to believe. Could have been miscommunication but it was $18. It's fine though, we enjoyed our meal. I would go back for special occasions, 4 adults 3 kids meal (no alcohol) and a diet coke after tax and tip was around $450. Food was tasty , but you will drink a ton of water from all that sodium.

Tapas at Embrujo

3.4

(121 reviews)

I can't believe that it's been most of 2-years since we were last here but we're *not* disappointed…read morethat we returned. This time we booked a Friday night table with a party of 5. For our meal we ordered 2 paellas and 7 tapas, I think we could have actually traded out one of the paellas and maybe, maybe, added another tapas. In addition to the food we shared a pitcher of white Sangria. Everything was wonderful, the dishes were well prepared, arrived quickly (allow about 20-minutes for paella), and were hot. We enjoyed our meals and used the bread to sop up the sauces as we couldn't let them get away. This evening's flamenco performance included two musicians and a dancer. As always it's a powerful and intriguing performance. It's always a treat. I'm sure we'll be back long before another 2-years go by.

This place is charming, with it's colourful interiors and flamenco show on Fridays…read more Stopped by for winterlicious and the food was pretty good too. Standouts were the absolutely amazing bacon wrapped dates with almonds and honey, and the poached marsala pears. Also got the beef tenderloin with whiskey sauce and fries which is one of their most popular items - beef was pretty tender and whiskey sauce was interesting. Service is friendly. Place has a warm vibe. It's like a party in someone's home.

La Bonita Latin American Restaurant

4.1

(33 reviews)

The best Colombian food I've ever eaten…read more big portions Lots of parking spots available I'm glad to see that there are no more pot holes in the parking lot I'm glad that the parking lot is finally cleared and fres paved I will definitely return

Amazing Colombian food in big portions, quick and friendly service, and nice casual atmosphere…read more Although technically an appetizer, the Patacon Relleno Vegetariano (stuffed green plantain with black beans, salad, avocado slices) could stand as a meal on its own - very hearty and filling. The texture of the crunchy green plantain slices went really well with the soft avocado, salad, and beans mixture inside, with a delicious sauce. The Ensalada (salad) came in a very large portion and consisted of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and avocado. Sancocho de Pescado (traditional & hearty Colombian soup made of fish, root vegetables, and tubers - including cassava / yuca, potatoes, plantains, corn on the cob; seasoned with cumin and cilantro) had a very flavourful soup broth that tasted like comfort food. It was served with rice, toasted arepa, and avocado. It had a good amount of meaty fish and various types of root vegetables that had been cooked really well (so they were all soft) and absorbed the rich flavour from the soup broth. Arroz con Camarones (seasoned rice with shrimps, vegetables, salad, green plantains) was my favourite - very flavourful rice with lots of big, tender shrimps.

El Tenedor

5.0

(7 reviews)

We made a reservation the same day thankfully and forgot to mention we have dietary restrictions…read more We arrived and the chef made accommodations on the fly. We were so impressed with the quality of food and many delicious flavors, presentations and the very nice and friendliness by the chef ceaser and Abraham. They made our anniversary dinner incredibly special. Highly recommend this establishment.

Elegant, cozy and food is amazing. A small restaurant you see the Chef cook your meal, and he is an…read moreamazing chef, his food has so many flavors that you don't want to finish the plate. Not recommended for large groups as space is limited. But definitely a must-try Spanish restaurant.

Adega Restaurante

4.2

(182 reviews)