Madrina Bar y Tapas

• ebottomley@thedistillery.ca

I Chen (AngelsofGod)

It's my first time eating at this establishment and was introduced by my friends. Firstly, the quality of the food was delicious and was a next level experience. We had drinks and if you're looking for a hefty meal then this wouldn't be your place as it's a Tapas bar. The idea is you get to sample different small dishes which out shines more quality than quantity. The dishes that stood out the most was the cured ham with tomato infused toast as the ham wasn't too salty and the tomato toast was on point. The egg plant and the mushroom toast was a good medley too. Overall, a nice place to revisit again sometime soon, the food was delicious and the staff were very pleasant. They also provided complimentary sherry after the meal which was a nice touch. With a nice embience coupled with good food, what's not to like.

Tatiana Khazne

This restaurant was a choice for small celebration and date night on a week day, so around 4 pm it was pretty empty, which allowed us to pick up our own seating which we liked. Patio looked decent ( dog friendly) but music outside was bit too loud, so we headed inside. Interior of the restaurant is probably the strongest point. A lot of attention to details made it a very pleasant environment to be. We were excited to try their chefs menu. Out of 10 dishes we liked 4 or 5. Dessert had a nice potential if wasn’t too salty at some points to the unbearable level. From the dishes we liked cream made of olives, gazpacho and egg yolk cones. Housemate veggie chips were delicious, except of a bit overwhelming taste of oil they been cooked in ( probably can be fixed) Overall we liked the vibe of the restaurant and presentation, might consider to return one day.

Sylvain B

Madrina Tapas is a beautiful space in the heart of Toronto’s Distillery District, but unfortunately, my experience left me underwhelmed. The service felt slow and somewhat disengaged, which set the tone for the evening. Our server didn’t seem particularly attentive, and was not following up on plates not delivered. The food itself was decent but not memorable. The selection of tapas was appealing on paper, but the execution was just okay. While nothing was particularly bad, none of the dishes stood out as something I’d go back for or recommend to friends. For a tapas restaurant in such a prime location, I was hoping for more vibrant flavors and creativity on the plate. I ended the meal with an espresso, which sadly was bitter and lacked the richness I expect. It was not the kind of finish you hope for after a meal out. Overall, the experience was fine but forgettable. With so many excellent restaurants in Toronto, Madrina Tapas didn’t leave a strong impression and would not be my first choice for a return visit.

M C

Girls Nite Out. There was a bit of a mix up with our table (table for 4 instead of 8) but it was resolved within 10 min. We were seated on the patio. Luckily the sun was setting so it made the temperature manageable with the occasional breeze. Although there were umbrellas, it wouldn't have cover our entire table so if you don't like sitting in the sun, consider indoor seating. Aside from Opera Night being held around the corner for ICFF which took precedence in music; Madrina's ambiance was comfortable and relaxing.. we all enjoyed sitting outdoors, under the city stars. Our server, Dayne, was wonderful. She was pleasant, courteous, knowledgeable and honest. We chose Madrina because we were told not everyone had to order from the tasting menu as a couple in our party had dietary restrictions. When we were seated, we were told the entire table had to participate. Dayne rectified it & honored our request as it was a call center mix up. 6 of us ordered the tasting menu and 2 off the menu. The presentation of the food & drinks were beautiful. Everyone enjoyed their cocktails and beverages. Being Michelin recognized, I had higher expectations for the tasting menu. Some dishes were slightly over salted while some lacked seasoning. Perhaps it was do to the fact that the dishes were not delivered in the order of the menu. Favorite dish- Patatas Bravas. This was an elevated French fry and I appreciated the effort it took for the final result. Least favorite- Eggplant and Zucchini Chips. The ratio of the tempura-like batter was too thick compared to the slivered vegetables. The oil wasn't fully drained as well, resulting in a greasy bite. The time in between each dish was long. It was close to 3 hours from start to finish. The sherry was a nice touch at the end. Thank you, Dayne! I would try Madrina again but à la carte.