"Jose Garces’s Spanish stalwart Tinto returns to Rittenhouse Square after a nearly year-long hiatus with a new name and menu that trades tapas for Basque’s beloved bites known as pintxos. Tinto Pintxo opened this week with takeout and delivery to start through Garces Trading Company’s ghost kitchen at The Olde Bar. On-site takeout, delivery, and dine-in service will kick in by March (or as soon as Philly’s current COVID-19 guidelines loosen to 50-percent capacity). Indoor dining resumed this month at 25-percent capacity after an eight-week break. Garces’s revised restaurant doubles as a new to-go bottle shop stocked with hard-to-find Spanish wines, with a cava, red, and white list expected to grow up to 70 selections. Patrons can also sample Tempranillo and other native grapes via tasting flights, discounted bundles, and a wine club membership. Tinto Pintxo won’t roll out its full menu of assorted Spanish snacks until indoor service starts. Over the next few weeks, patrons can preview a cross-section of dishes via a takeout and delivery deal. The teaser menu kicks off with Spain’s prized pig (cured jamón serrano), Spanish cheeses paired with membrillo, or jelly cubes made from quince fruit; and bite-sized pieces of its namesake pinxtos like cordero (lamb Loin, eggplant, bacon, sherry) and jus chistorra (spicy pork sausage and parsley). A 'tins and toast' section includes fried sardines in tomato sauce, tuna belly in olive oil, and esparragos (jumbo white asparagus)." - Tierney Plumb
