Verdict: Run

Type: Spanish

Location: Downtown Toronto, Ontario

Must Try Items: Tasting Menu - $75-135 CAD per person ($55-$99 USD or $74-$134 SGD)
*tax (13%) & tip not included

Found via: On our Radar since 2021

Comments:

Reddish hue lighting made me instantly think of photography dark rooms, but the atmosphere was quite opposite (photography dark rooms usually quiet, calculated, careful due to the developing chemicals and timings). Energy in Bar Isabel was still electric with a loud ambient noise from everyone’s chatter.
The Tasting Menu option is Value for Money! As mentioned above, they have the option for a tasting menu within the range of $75-135 per person. You set what you’re comfortable spending and the Bar Isabel staff will do the rest. You’ll get the chance to include any dishes you’d like to eat, then they will design the rest of your menu based on your selected price point.
We were a group of 6 and had set our budget to $85 each. Meaning they had $515 to design the perfect menu for us that night. The variety and timing of the dishes was absolutely fantastic (like which dishes came out together). Our only requests were the Octopus, Jamon of some sort, and the Ribeye. We loved that we got to try things that we otherwise never would have ordered - like the Anchovy Gilda and Sobrasada & Foie Gras.

Anchovy Gilda was a skewer stacked with anchovies, pickled green guindilla pepper, and brined olives with Marcona Almonds inside.
Sobrasada was a new ingredient for us. It’s a really soft, fatty sausage and it was smeared on a piece of grilled sourdough bread, then topped with some Foie Gras (looks like it was shaved on top). Great dichotomy of textures.
Patatas Bravas was a sleeper dish - didn’t expect it to taste so good for a simple dish. The potatoes remained crispy despite the sauce on top. Fantastic balance of salty and a touch of sweet
Whenever I go to a Spanish tapas place, I’m always looking for some jamon (cured sliced ham) that will bring me back to my travels in Barcelona. The plate of various cuts and sausages provided a cool variety of textures and range of Iberico meats
Octopus was cooked well, a touch of smokiness from the char. Great texture, good bite, not chewy or mushy.

Basque Cake with Hot Sherry Cream is a MUST eat. I’m not sure if a more perfect dessert exists. Having the juxtaposition of the crunchy cake exterior with the soft melty interior and the hot, sweet, cream was heavenly. Even our friends who are the least fond of desserts couldn’t help but admit this basque cake was stunning.
- Plus 1$ from each Basque Cake sold will be donated to charity. You get to eat good and feel good!
Extensive list of wine options with a fantastic sommelier to guide you
Great date or group dinner spot

Bar Isabel

Bar Pompette