Bar Isabel

Amazing Birthday Celebration at Bar Isabel! I went to Bar Isabel with my sisters on Friday night to celebrate my birthday, and it was perfect! The place was alive with laughter and good vibes, and unlike many downtown Toronto spots, it felt inviting and unpretentious. Our server was fantastic—so attentive and knowledgeable. He curated an incredible tasting menu for us, and each dish was just incredible! The standout for me was definitely the grilled octopus; it was honestly to die for. The cocktails and mocktails were equally impressive. I tried the alcohol-free Sangria, and it tasted just like the real thing! Whether you’re looking for a celebratory dinner or just a great night out, Bar Isabel is definitely worth the visit.

Passionate. Intimate. Artistic This is what you feel from the moment you walk in; from the atmosphere, to the staff who greet you, and the food which you eat. It truly deserves 5 stars for the heart and soul they put behind every single item in their menu. Their staff, especially Adrien - just as charismatic as the food itself. I'd come back just to see him again. Godspeed sir, and I hope I got your name right with all the music and yelling in the background So why'd I give it 4 stars? Honestly; it's too good for me. I'm not an artist. I can't appreciate nor understand the vision they have, but I can sense it like a blind man who can smell roses nearby when he's lost in a park. Isabel is that park. I stumbled through bushes made of menus written in Spanish, felt the bone barrow sap drip onto my shirt from the trees above and experienced the true, aromatics of tapas. I hope Isabel, and the staff who work there prosper in life because visiting this restaurant can potentially be a life changing experience for the right person. Some dishes to note are the veal bone marrow, cheese plate, and the basque cake with sherry cream. Every dish was memorable and unique in its own way.

The food is pretty decent, nothing really blew me away aside from the olive oil cake; that was damn delicious. Drinks are strong! Ambience is cool but can get quite loud, had to yell at my guests to maintain a conversation. Definitely a standout spot in the city for a nice evening.

Tatsy food and good value for Saturday lunch. We went as a party of two on a Saturday. It wasn't hard to get a reservation just thirty minutes prior to seating. We got the lunch special day with the chorizo and octopus, as well as the veal bone marrow. Overall the food was quite good. The bread was consistently too charred (overpowering burnt taste) and some offerings like the chorizo were very greasy, but overall it was really good. The dessert was a highlight and the warm sherry cream was delicious. Too much ice in the drinks as well, which made them hard to drink at times. Maybe a straw would have helped offset that. The octopus was delicious to me, but my partner found it a tad fishy. The bone marrow was massive. The potatoes were nice and crispy and very tasty. Drinks overall weren't bad, and we enjoyed the barragana (might have butchered the spelling) the most. I'd come back for sure! We felt like the lunch was great value.

Bar Isabel became one of my favourite restaurants in the city by the end of my dinner. We ate at their outdoor patio. You’re pretty exposed and immersed with the people of the neighbourhood as you dine, which has its own contribution to the experience overall. I had someone’s dog for instance decide to sit beside me for longer than her owner would like when I had the bone marrow dish on our table. We ordered the tasting menu to get a good exposure to what they had to offer, which I’m very glad that we did. The tasting menu is a price range and we were told by our server that it depended really on how much we wanted to spend. They then asked us a few questions to gauge our food preferences, then we just started to get an assortment of dishes The amount of food was definitely more than enough to get full from. The food was delicious. In particular, the foie gras with sobresada is easily one of the best dishes that I’ve had in the city this year. It’s a lot of great ingredients prepared well.

Love the character inside bar Isabel. Service was lovely and food was delicious! My personal fave would be the croqueta and the basque cake for dessert!

This is the best tapas restaurant I have visited in Toronto thus far. Let's start with the service. The wait staff was friendly, efficient and personable. They were very much a major part of the wonderful evening. After taking our orders they orchestrated the sequence and timing of the delivery of these delectable dishes. The menu of Bar Isabel is extensive but not repetitive. We thoroughly enjoyed one of the three anchovies we started the dinner with, along with some amazing sour dough bread with earthy olive oil. The shishito peppers were served at the same time with veal bone marrow. What a delicious combo! We were then served an abundance of snow pea tips with lemon and garlic after two absolutely incredible jambon croquettes. It was one of those rare occasions where after eating a croquette so expertly prepared, I actually couldn't fathom having another one in the same evening in fear of ruining the experience. The grilled octopus was tender and full of flavour from a sauce that was unique both in terms of seasoning and texture. The grilled picanha steak was delicious. The well trimmed steak was expertly prepared, with the fat rendered beautifully to enhance the flavour. The cocktails were unique and delightful. Cappuccino was prepared like a proper cup of cappuccino one would expect in Europe. The miniature sorbet bars were the size of a domino but they packed such a wonderful flavour profile, they were the perfect finishing touch to an excellent evening. I think I have found a tapas restaurant that I will return to again and again.

Bar Isabel is a quaint and vibey Spanish restaurant with a delectable selection of food. I love having a little bit of everything so their Tasting Menu is highly recommended! every single item on their menu sounded promising, so just giving them a price point and letting them run the show for us is such a smart option! Saw that there was a 20% service charge included. But it was well-deserved so far the best service I’ve had in the city. Everyone was involved and meticulously attentive - my table napkin was always folded nicely when I came back from the washroom. We had the $80 option had 4 appetizers, 3 mains and a dessert. Everything was memorable. Highlights were the sourdough topped with tomatoes with mussels on the side, the ceviche guac mix, and the salad. (I don’t even like mussels so I was mind-blown). The oyster mushroom salad (that was reminiscent of actual oysters) and the octopus (grilled, crunchy on the outside and so tenderly delicious on the inside). Everything was seasoned to perfection, flavoured yet well-balanced and overall a texture party! The succession of the meals was just right! We literally walked 3km back to our hotel because we were so full and fulfilled!

Amazing Birthday Celebration at Bar Isabel! I went to Bar Isabel with my sisters on Friday night to celebrate my birthday, and it was perfect! The place was alive with laughter and good vibes, and unlike many downtown Toronto spots, it felt inviting and unpretentious. Our server was fantastic—so attentive and knowledgeable. He curated an incredible tasting menu for us, and each dish was just incredible! The standout for me was definitely the grilled octopus; it was honestly to die for. The cocktails and mocktails were equally impressive. I tried the alcohol-free Sangria, and it tasted just like the real thing! Whether you’re looking for a celebratory dinner or just a great night out, Bar Isabel is definitely worth the visit.

Passionate. Intimate. Artistic This is what you feel from the moment you walk in; from the atmosphere, to the staff who greet you, and the food which you eat. It truly deserves 5 stars for the heart and soul they put behind every single item in their menu. Their staff, especially Adrien - just as charismatic as the food itself. I'd come back just to see him again. Godspeed sir, and I hope I got your name right with all the music and yelling in the background So why'd I give it 4 stars? Honestly; it's too good for me. I'm not an artist. I can't appreciate nor understand the vision they have, but I can sense it like a blind man who can smell roses nearby when he's lost in a park. Isabel is that park. I stumbled through bushes made of menus written in Spanish, felt the bone barrow sap drip onto my shirt from the trees above and experienced the true, aromatics of tapas. I hope Isabel, and the staff who work there prosper in life because visiting this restaurant can potentially be a life changing experience for the right person. Some dishes to note are the veal bone marrow, cheese plate, and the basque cake with sherry cream. Every dish was memorable and unique in its own way.

The food is pretty decent, nothing really blew me away aside from the olive oil cake; that was damn delicious. Drinks are strong! Ambience is cool but can get quite loud, had to yell at my guests to maintain a conversation. Definitely a standout spot in the city for a nice evening.

Tatsy food and good value for Saturday lunch. We went as a party of two on a Saturday. It wasn't hard to get a reservation just thirty minutes prior to seating. We got the lunch special day with the chorizo and octopus, as well as the veal bone marrow. Overall the food was quite good. The bread was consistently too charred (overpowering burnt taste) and some offerings like the chorizo were very greasy, but overall it was really good. The dessert was a highlight and the warm sherry cream was delicious. Too much ice in the drinks as well, which made them hard to drink at times. Maybe a straw would have helped offset that. The octopus was delicious to me, but my partner found it a tad fishy. The bone marrow was massive. The potatoes were nice and crispy and very tasty. Drinks overall weren't bad, and we enjoyed the barragana (might have butchered the spelling) the most. I'd come back for sure! We felt like the lunch was great value.

Bar Isabel became one of my favourite restaurants in the city by the end of my dinner. We ate at their outdoor patio. You’re pretty exposed and immersed with the people of the neighbourhood as you dine, which has its own contribution to the experience overall. I had someone’s dog for instance decide to sit beside me for longer than her owner would like when I had the bone marrow dish on our table. We ordered the tasting menu to get a good exposure to what they had to offer, which I’m very glad that we did. The tasting menu is a price range and we were told by our server that it depended really on how much we wanted to spend. They then asked us a few questions to gauge our food preferences, then we just started to get an assortment of dishes The amount of food was definitely more than enough to get full from. The food was delicious. In particular, the foie gras with sobresada is easily one of the best dishes that I’ve had in the city this year. It’s a lot of great ingredients prepared well.

Love the character inside bar Isabel. Service was lovely and food was delicious! My personal fave would be the croqueta and the basque cake for dessert!

This is the best tapas restaurant I have visited in Toronto thus far. Let's start with the service. The wait staff was friendly, efficient and personable. They were very much a major part of the wonderful evening. After taking our orders they orchestrated the sequence and timing of the delivery of these delectable dishes. The menu of Bar Isabel is extensive but not repetitive. We thoroughly enjoyed one of the three anchovies we started the dinner with, along with some amazing sour dough bread with earthy olive oil. The shishito peppers were served at the same time with veal bone marrow. What a delicious combo! We were then served an abundance of snow pea tips with lemon and garlic after two absolutely incredible jambon croquettes. It was one of those rare occasions where after eating a croquette so expertly prepared, I actually couldn't fathom having another one in the same evening in fear of ruining the experience. The grilled octopus was tender and full of flavour from a sauce that was unique both in terms of seasoning and texture. The grilled picanha steak was delicious. The well trimmed steak was expertly prepared, with the fat rendered beautifully to enhance the flavour. The cocktails were unique and delightful. Cappuccino was prepared like a proper cup of cappuccino one would expect in Europe. The miniature sorbet bars were the size of a domino but they packed such a wonderful flavour profile, they were the perfect finishing touch to an excellent evening. I think I have found a tapas restaurant that I will return to again and again.

Bar Isabel is a quaint and vibey Spanish restaurant with a delectable selection of food. I love having a little bit of everything so their Tasting Menu is highly recommended! every single item on their menu sounded promising, so just giving them a price point and letting them run the show for us is such a smart option! Saw that there was a 20% service charge included. But it was well-deserved so far the best service I’ve had in the city. Everyone was involved and meticulously attentive - my table napkin was always folded nicely when I came back from the washroom. We had the $80 option had 4 appetizers, 3 mains and a dessert. Everything was memorable. Highlights were the sourdough topped with tomatoes with mussels on the side, the ceviche guac mix, and the salad. (I don’t even like mussels so I was mind-blown). The oyster mushroom salad (that was reminiscent of actual oysters) and the octopus (grilled, crunchy on the outside and so tenderly delicious on the inside). Everything was seasoned to perfection, flavoured yet well-balanced and overall a texture party! The succession of the meals was just right! We literally walked 3km back to our hotel because we were so full and fulfilled!

Ideally, I'd give it a 4.5/5 Bar Isabel offers a dimly lit, casual ambiance that can quickly become lively and noisy. While the regular menu is impressive, the real culinary journey lies in their undisclosed tasting menu. Starting at $75, this six-course feast (sans dessert) showcases the restaurant's best dishes, with the option to customize for dietary restrictions. The tasting menu was a revelation. The sourdough bread with anchovy and olive oil was a simple yet exquisite start, the salty, umami-rich anchovy perfectly balancing the acidity of the sourdough and the richness of the olive oil. The tuna mojama, while initially dry, grew on me with each bite, offering a unique textural experience. The jamon croqueta (made with bechamel) was a standout, with a crispy exterior giving way to a gooey, cheesy interior. It was pure indulgence. The sobrasada and foie gras was another highlight, a harmonious blend of rich, savory flavors. The patatas bravas were perfectly executed, with well-cooked potatoes and a balanced sauce. The pork secreto with chorizo spice was the grand finale, the tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork complemented by a perfectly balanced sauce. To top off the meal, the Basque cheesecake was a delightful surprise. Creamy, slightly burnt on top, and perfectly sweet, it was the ideal ending to an extraordinary dining experience. The service at Bar Isabel is both efficient and attentive. While the noise level can be a bit much, the quality of the food and the overall dining experience make it a must-visit for Spanish food lovers.

This place is busy, loud and cramped. But service was on point, especially considering tip is automatically included in the bill. We got the tasting menu which is a bunch of small dishes on the extensive menu. here are some of my faves: White asparagus with saffron aioli - Asparagus was shaved and then cooked to perfect, basically until it was just about to fall apart. Saffron aioli was godly, lightly flavoured to not overpower the asparagus, but also super tasty. Coming back for this again. Sourdough with tomatoes - A simple dish. I don't usually like sourdough, but the bread was fresh, crust was thin and the inside was the right chewy. Fresh tomatoes + olive oil was refreshing on the bread. Grilled octopus - Texture was a bit overcooked, but it was close. The suction cup were perfect texture. The tentacle soaked up the sauce nicely making it super tasty! Basque cake - WOW this was good! I would probably come back just for this. It is kinda like a rum cake, but with vanilla. So good!

Food: 4.5/5 First off, I love that they have a large menu here, with a good variety of small starter dishes as well as larger mains. We got the jamon croqueta to start, which was served piping hot. We were absolutely famished coming in and so having that first bite of that gooey cheese truly hit the spot. The scallops are also a must try, although small portions, they tasted so fresh and balanced! The ceviche here was a surprising highlight of the night. Not as runny as a traditional ceviche, it had large chunks of sea bream and the chips were perfectly crispy and salted! So so good. The queso Azul and mostarda was also a great app! The richness of the blue cheese in contrast to the sweet pear... absolutely divine! As for the patatas bravaas, I would skip this one next time. Personally I felt that there was too much mayo and sauce, the potatoes weren't crispy enough, and honestly the flavours together felt quite plain and forgettable. As for the mains, we got the octopus and the pork secreto with chorizo spice. While the octopus was fantastic, perfectly soft and seasoned, the pork was definitely the highlight. If you love a fatty meat, this is the one. It was served with a sweet sauce on the side, which added a fresher tangier dimension to the richness of the pork. We absolutely devoured this. Lastly, the cake is a must try!!! Initially, we were taken aback that there was only one item available for dessert but after having that first bite of the sweet basque cream coated in the still hot sherry cream... we understood they only need one dessert item. Truly unforgettable! We were so tempted to order another one. Overall food here is generally fantastic, small portions but everything is tapas style so you get to try a little bit of everything. Service: 4/5 All of the servers here were super nice and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu items and what/how much to order. I will say that since this is a pretty busy spot, even on a weekday when we came, it did take a while to get their attention and some requests we made were forgotten. Regardless, the staff here have a friendly attitude and seem to be hustling! Atmosphere: 3/5 This place is insanely busy. It's pretty difficult to get a reso last minute so definitely book ahead of time. The main thing I can't stand about this place is how dark and loud it is! It's def purely not an intimate spot for conversation. The space, while cute, is also extremely cramped. It felt as if they tried to fit as many tables in here as possible without considering the comfort of each party. Washrooms are clean enough but honestly this place is your typical college st or Ossington type spot... crowded, dark, and way too loud.

Great food and lively ambience! We went as a party of 6 for my dad's birthday and had a lovely time trying out a bulk of the menu. Definitely a place to go with a larger group so you get a taste of everything (it's a rather large menu). We also went with two teens, but the restaurant is very loud and might not be the best environment for a quiet family meal The food itself was quite good with a few star standouts including the Jamon Croquettes which we got two orders of since they were so delicious. Deep fried, but light, and creamy and a flavour bomb with the Jamon inside. The shrimp al ajillo were cooked perfectly with the balanced garlic oil. The grilled octopus was also quite tasty; usually I'm skeptical of octopus since it can get really chewy but this one had a nice char and was very soft. The standout dessert was absolutely the basque cake -- the sherry cream was so good with the rich cake. Some dishes like the beef tongue was a bit too salty though, I would skip on this if I were to go again.

Been wanting to try this place since I was told about their famous basque cake, then I saw they offer saturdays lunch special. From the host to the servers, they were all amazing; very friendly and attentive. They do have a small patio out front, but we chose to sit inside for the aircon :) The highlight of the day had to be the cake for sure! I can't really put it to words of how it tastes or its texture, it's just perfection. It's one of those things that you have to try to know. The shishito peppers were delicious, yes they're just seasoned peppers, but it was done so well! The octopus was nice and tender as well, not rubbery at all. I would come back just for the shishito peppers and the basque cake.

Bar Isabel is incredible - from the food to the ambiance to the service, they really nailed everything. We told the servers to just take care of us, and they certainly did. Pretty much everything we ate was amazing. My favourite bites included the pan con tomate, sea bream ceviche, patatas bravas, and other interest bites included the mussels, white asparagus, and ribeye steak. Finally, the bone marrow - absolutely incredible, one of the best bites I've had. The bread, bone marrow, chimmichurri, and salt went so well together and made for an absolutely heavenly bite. I can't wait to come back!

One of the city's best tapas restaurants The atmosphere here is very cool Food is fantastic and the service is amazing. I have been here a few times and never been disappointed

Wow - so good, and so much food! I don't remember specifics because we all got the tasting menu for the night. It was outstanding, and so much food (for under $100). I remember the octopus and steak were outstanding, but those were later dishes in a 5-6 course meal, so it may be recency bias. Service was great as well. The servers were responsive and friendly. Highly recommended!

First dining experience on my trip to Toronto and what a good one it was! Definitely recommend mKing reservations as this place is always packed. It's worth it! We ordered several dishes tapas style and honestly everything was just delicious. The octopus was definitely my favorite but the steak and the pork were also great! Come have a drink and some good food to share! The staff was super nice and took great care of us!

I think the food here is even better than the Spanish originals (and I've been to Spain more than 10 times and many different cities). The patatas bravas, fois gras, and basque cheesecake are must try's! The service was friendly and knowledgeable and made good recommendations. The ambiance when I went (on a Wednesday night) was extremely noisy, but I liked the design, decore and lighting; it felt extremely rustic and authentic. I will definitely be coming back!

Came here with as a group, to introduce one of our friends who is visiting the country to show Toronto's food scene. Note: Some of the photos are very hard to see because of the lighting at the restaurant. It was my first time here, but one of my close friend frequents this place, and I can see why. It is good food that isn't overly priced, and they were all consistently good. My friend's highlight was the shrimp al ajillo, while my favorite was the grilled mushroom with cured egg yolk and foie gras. The bone marrow was great, but I wish there was a bit more flavor to it. My friends also enjoyed the octopus, but I think I've come to realize over the years that I'm just not a fan of grilled octopus in general. The shishito peppers were very simply but very well done. The sea bream ceviche could use more fish but tasted good. And the basque cake was great. It was quite sweet, but it was weirdly easy to eat at the same time. I do wish that we can pour the cream ourselves to enjoy the cake two ways. The service was also prompt and pleasant. Overall, I would love to come back again some time.

Great spot to hang. Food was delicious but pricey. They have an auto tip if 20% which really threw me off. I recommend the pork belly and tomato bread. Foie gras toast was also very good. Cocktails are boozy which is great but just overpriced but I guess that's how Toronto is like now! I recommend this place and would revisit

I've been eyeing Bar Isabel's tasting menu for so long. I finally got to try it this year for my birthday and I was not disappointed. Reservations were pretty easy and made about a month in advance online. I went on a Saturday around 7:15pm and it was pretty busy! They do have a seating limit of around 2hrs, which was more than enough time for us (although we are fast eaters). I really liked how the tasting menu is customized to the your food preferences and price point. Everything we had was super tasty and fresh. The grilled octopus and shishito peppers were some of the highlights. These are small plates, so don't expect to be stuffed at the end! Service was pretty good. We didn't feel like we waited long for anything and the time between dishes was just right. Will definitely be back to try their other dishes a la cart!

Started off with the barragana cocktail - I love a jalapeño infused tequila cocktail with pineapple. The server will warn you that it's spicy but it wasn't the least bit. We got a ton of food - patatas bravas, shishito peppers, ceviche, bone marrow, octopus, snow pea leaves, and the basque cake. Everything was absolutely delicious. They even got us more bread for the bone marrow. I wish the basque cake was topped with some kind of berry to counter the sherry but I'd order all those dishes again.

Food is excellent from start to finish. The iberico pork is maybe the best dish there. The steak is ok. The octopus is good as are all the starters we tried. I think Bar Isabel is better than its other restaurant Quetzel despite its Michelin star.

Love love love Bar Isabel! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by a sleek and dimly lit space with a red hue. It is always busy and you definitely need a reservation during peak times. Despite it always being packed, you can actually converse with your table pretty well since it is a pretty intimate space. Service is quite friendly and efficient (but keep in mind there is a mandatory 20% service charge). There have been times when it gets really busy and service can be a little slow. They are most well-known for their Spanish tapas but I personally find their larger dishes to be better than some of the smaller tapas. My personal fav dishes are their Octopus (MUST-TRY) and Picanha Steak (perfectly cooked), and Basque Cake (ugh it's so so decadent). Some plates I didn't love were the snow pea leaves (tastes like Chinese-style snow pea leaves but for 1/4 the value) and the mussels (again, very very small portion for the price - I think we got 6 mussels for $12). The ceviche, croqueta and patatas bravas are pretty average and you can't really go wrong with them. I would definitely recommend this spot for a date night or with a small group of friends! It can definitely add up price-wise but it seems like that can't be avoided anywhere in Toronto nowadays.

Sat outside and it was pretty lovely. Overall was alright. Everything was pretty overpriced, took a while to come out, and tasted okay. One stand out though that knocks it up to a 4 star was their grilled mushrooms with shaved egg yolk - definitely recommend getting that if you go.

I've been hearing raving recommendations for Bar Isabel and finally got a chance to try it out this past weekend. Reservations are highly recommended as it got busy VERY quickly during the course of our meal. Bar Isabel is a Spanish tapas style restaurant with renowned drinks. FOOD (4/5) As a group of 4 we ordered a decent list of items starting with Sourdough bread, slices of Coppo, Jamon Croqueta (croquettes). And the more substantial dishes consisted of the Bone Marrow, Picahna Steak, Patatas Bravas (homefries), and Seabream Ceviche. The sourdough bread was very standard, nothing to write home about. The slices of Coppo, which we were told were from the pig neck, was a nice cured meat but wasn't too special imo. The croquettes were PHENOMENAL! By far my favourite single bite of the night. Super creamy, rich, and decadent coated in a crispy shell. Definitely recommend the croquettes. The bone marrow was a bit underwhelming in taste and plating. It's served with charred bread, a chimichurri, and sea salt. It was good, but it didn't wow. The patatas bravas was a plate of "homefries" garnished with spring onions and sauces. I thought they were quite tasty and the sauces reminded me a bit like Indian masala. The sea bream ceviche was really tasty, refreshing, light and added levity to the meal. We ordered the large size and it had enough filling to share for 4 however did not have enough chips to portion. The steak was well seasoned and cooked to a nice medium temp. It is served with caramelized onions that paired well with the cuts of steak. Overall, the food was good quality and some dishes were really tasty but did not really wow me (apart from the croquettes). DRINKS (2.5/5) Bar Isabel is ranked fairly highly in bars in Canada and Toronto so we had high expectations going in. We ordered the Rambla Highball, Barragana and the house Vermut. The rambla highball was nice and refreshing and a bit sweet. The Barragana was surprisingly offputting. They use a sage infused base that is SUPER strong and turns the drink very herbacious and the added jalapeno makes it simultaneously spicy. Amongst my group, we did not enjoy it. Lastly the vermut was pretty standard. Even after consulting with the waiter perhaps we ordered drinks not fit for our palette but it left much to be desired. AMBIENCE (3/5) The restaurant is overall quite dim with red lighting for effect to give a bit of a tavern feel. There is decor throughout to add to the tavern-esque look. I'd say it is a more unique ambience heightened when it gets busy and feels more lively. I must say though it is a bit impractical because often we found it was hard to read the menu or properly appreciate the looks of the food. SERVICE (5/5) Staff were very friendly and overall helpful with understanding the menu. They also came by multiple times to refill our water even though we could've done it ourselves. There is however a mandatory 20% gratuity fee for all dine in guests. I do appreciate that the payment machine did not prompt for additional tip which could've lead guests to accidentally tip twice. ACCESSIBILITY (5/5) Bar Isabel is directly on College Street in the West end and directly accessible by streetcar. There is also paid street parking on College as well as a parking lot for the neighbouring Metro that is also paid. PRICE (2.5/5) The prices is a bit on the higher end but you do get your money's worth in terms of freshness and quality of ingredients. OVERALL (3/5) Bar Isabel provides good quality tapas style foods in a tavern-esque environment. Really recommend trying as a group, but be prepared to spend a decent amount to sample the different foods and be full. I wouldn't mind returning but at this pricepoint I may feel more comfortable frequenting some other options in the downtown core.

We did the tasting menu and it's an unreal value for the experience. The server asks you what items you're drawn to trying and price range and curates a menu that would match the palette of the items you've selected. And everything that came out down to the drink recommendations were just fabulous. I kept forgetting to take pictures because everything tasted so amazing LOL so there was definitely more food than pictures! Definitely a great environment and experience for a date night!

A cozy place on the western part of College Street near Ossington. Due to the streetcar constriction (hope it will finish soon!) , the access was a bit tricky at this time, but in spite of this, the restaurant was FULL of people by 6:30pm (Friday). I am glad I made a reservation. Was a perfect place to catch up with my girlfriend with great food and drinks after busy weekdays. Even though the place was busy - the a dimly lit interior somewhat gave us a sense of privacy. The service was excellent. Our server was very good at giving details about the menu to us, his descriptions/suggestions were so good that I wanted to order almost every dish he mentioned! He was also friendly and attentive. We (two) had the following dishes: Food: Shishito Peppers Sea Bream Ceviche & Chips Grilled Octopus (Quarter) Roast Veal Bone Marrow Drink: Isabel Fashioned ¡Rebujito! And some draft beer and local craft beers. Impressed by the Roast Veal Bone Marrow. The melty bone marrow came with toasted multigrain sourdough & refreshing Parsley Verde & good quality sea salt. Each item was simple, but eating together - soooo good! Loved this. The grilled octopus was excellent as well. Tender, perfectly seasoned, and goes very well with butter sauce with a hint of sourness. Eating with the sautéed dandelion underneath the octopus gives another layer of flavor (nice bitterness). Enjoyed this, thank you!!! The shishito was nicely seasoned, fried perfectly leaving the plumpness/crispiness of the peppers. They weren't too pungent or overly salty at all. I loved the shaved salt sprinkled around the peppers. Sea Bream Ceviche was the least favorite food of the night, but they are still good. Just felt that it is not worth the price. Will come back for sure, this is a place for the well executed food and excellent service!

One of my favoriate spot in town. The setting and ambiance is very European. Reminds my dining experience in Spain. The food is amazing. Order their octopus!! Pinxto Matrimonio, and their cocktails are Delicious as well.

Ambiance: Dimly lit, red glow with an old European feel. Perfect for a date night or if you're craving a quick trip to Europe. Nice and intimate with small tables, and wall hooks for your jackets and bags. Albeit loud once it gets busy. Service: Great! Super friendly, great recommendations, attentive and polite. Nothing negative. Food: Ceviche was nice and fresh with incredibly crisp chips. Not overly citrusy. Jambon croqueta is a must have. It's super tasty and it's a two bite piece so definitely not to be shared. Picanha cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Went well with the grilled mushrooms for additional meatiness. Potatoes were cut and fried golden but the sauce was too much - like ketchup and mayo covered potatoes. Overall decent food :) Drinks are nice and fresh. Good price for a tall signature cocktail. Very refreshing and mature flavors.

Came here with high expectations and I was pleasantly surprised! I made a reservation to celebrate my partner's birthday, I would suggest making one in advance to guarantee a table. Upon entering, the space is intimate and the vibe is fun and romantic. The highlights of the night were the Grilled Mushrooms & Cured Egg Yolk, Picanha Steak, Sea Bream Ceviche & Chips, and drinks! Honourable mention: the octopus and Basque Cake (sorry to the basque cake lovers). The only concern I had was the amount of time we had to wait for our food. We had received a couple of our dishes in a timely manner, but waited almost AN HOUR for the rest of our food. We had seen other tables, who were seated significantly later than us, receive their food (including the same things we ordered) before we did. Maybe they wanted to bring everything out all at once, but an hour is still longer than I would have expected. For all the Basque Cake lovers (and ones who haven't had it yet), it was a solid 8/10 for me. I don't understand the hype for it, but it is delicious nonetheless! I personally wouldn't order it every time as most do. TLDR: This place is great for special occasions, very romantic and intimate. Drinks and food were delightful, you can't go wrong with any of the dishes in my opinion. Service was nice, servers are attentive and kind.

I had a terrible experience, we were charged the 20% service fee and on top of that our waiter added an extra $50 for each couple when we asked to split the bill. It is outrageous that restaurants are not only trying to normalize adding 18 and 20% service fees, but that they are sketchy enough to get their staff to add additional tip on top of that. On a $333 bill, we ended up paying $550 after 40% gratuity and HST.

I didn't love this place. There was definitely a buzz going on so the ambiance wasn't terrible. It was quite claustrophobic. I had booked a table weeks in advance for three, and it felt they squashed us in on the smallest corner table ever. We were practically sat on top of each other (thankfully I was with my boyfriend at the time lol). I also stated upon booking that it was a special occasion as we were there to celebrate a birthday, and they did everything but make it feel special. When they brought the dessert to the table, no one said happy birthday- they kind of just miserably placed the dessert in front of the birthday boy and walked off in a rush. I honestly can't remember the food. If I can't remember the food then that means it wasn't so terrible it stood out, but it also wasn't so amazing to stand out either. A little disappointed as it was recommended to me by a good friend of mine, and his words were "this was my favourite spot when I lived in Toronto."

This was my second time coming here, after my first visit over 3 years ago (wow, time flies!). I was significantly less impressed this time around; the food was decent but the tapas sizes were small and overpriced for their worth. We started off with blistered shishito peppers - a classic. It was good, cooked through with a light crisp, and sufficiently salty. The vegetarian in our group ordered Pan con Tomate - it was decent, but not particularly impressive. The near-carnivore colleague got the bone marrow - it was my first time eating it straight from the bone and was messier than I thought! The flavour comes from the accompaniments, so I loaded mine up with the salt and chimichurri sauce. It was very flavourful but fatty! My meat eating friend and I then shared scallops, shrimp al ajillo (which were quite massive and came shell-in), and a quarter of an octopus. The octopus was good but really quite small! My companion ended up having to order another quarter for herself... The other sides we ordered were extremely flavourful. The patatas bravas were very crispy and the sauces with which they were served added a complexity, not too dissimilar from the mayo mixture that comes with takoyaki. The grilled mushrooms and cured egg was delicious (I love mushrooms!!) and the special vegetables of the day, leeks, was very yummy too. We rounded off with dessert, ordering a basque cake and almond cookies with hot chocolate. I was expecting a basque cheesecake (silly me!) and quite surprised to see a pound cake like pastry with heavy sherry cream basted over the sides. The hot chocolate was too rich and indulgent, but the almond cookies were light and crumbly and delicious. I had a coconut dark chocolate dairy bar all to myself and that was scrumptious!

This is my favourite restaurant in Toronto. Almost every dish I've had has been outstanding and cooked nearly perfectly, I only really have good things to say about this place. It's cozy & quaint, but really delivers in food quality. This review covers my thoughts on my last visit here: * Pan con Tomate is a classic and fresh starter dish (note that the bread crust can be a bit on the tougher/crunchy side). * Sea Bream Ceviche is delicious (one of my fave dishes in general) and I appreciate the balance of acidity that tastes so satisfying with the raw fish. The tortilla chips have a great texture and are salted just right, pairs very nicely with the ceviche in one bite. * Bone Marrow is so fatty and I love the salt that it comes with. I've had this before and noticed that this time it came with some sort of green sauce which I didn't love (overpowers the mouthwatering bone marrow flavour). * Scallops were cooked perfectly and we really liked the green sauce that accompanied. * Grilled 10oz Picanha Steak (not pictured) is delicious, cooked perfectly medium-rare and seasoned with enough salt to bring out the natural beef flavours. It also has a fatty cap that adds a lot of depth. YUM! * Basque Cheesecake. is. amazing. I don't know what's in there but it manages to soak up a bit of the condensed milk yet isn't too sweet, and the texture is very dense but in a good way. I haven't had anything like this before. It looks simple but I'm impressed every time I come back, like it's my first time trying it again. Side note, I've also had: * Grilled Octopus which I remember being tender and cooked really well. * Meat & Cheese Plate had a yummy selection * Shishito Peppers were well-salted and cooked just enough Prices are reasonable for the quality of food you receive, and it really just depends what you order because everything adds up. Portions for some dishes might look small but if you order enough it is actually quite filling. Service is great and super helpful with the menu, but expect to pay an 18-20% auto gratuity no matter how many people you're dining with (I was just with my boyfriend). Can't wait to come back here!

Came here with reservations for two and were seated at the most comfortable table where we could actually have a conversation and enjoy our evening. I actually didn't get any pictures of the food we got because it was such an enjoyable night. Given it was both of our first times, we decided to do the shared chef's menu. We got to try so many different dishes that we probably wouldn't have ordered on our own. I will say, by the time the main came out, I was stuffed so go there hungry because you won't be disappointed!

just go, prob best spanish spot in toronto we got 16 dishes tasting menu for $85 crazy value and variety staff and service is quick and attentive great spot for dates and girls night

I have been here multiple times in the past ten years and they are still great. If you are wanting an intimate, cool setting for a date or small party dinner, I would recommend this place. Their grilled octopus and basque cake has been a constant in my life. I've even ordered the basque cake to go! We also tried the scallops (too small in my opinion) and cheese plate for the first tinge. The meats for the cheese plate are made in-house (delicious!) and the two cheeses were mild yet flavourful. 100% will return in the future.

Came here back in december with some friends and we ordered: Anchovies Sourdough bread Quarter octopus Patatas bravas Pork jowel Mushrooms Steak I've come here a few times over the years and each time the food is really great but the service is very mediocre unfortunately and has not gotten any better. I'm not sure if it's maybe just my luck but out of the four times I've been here, not one time was th service even above average. Each time I'm here we are always waiting a long time on service or asking for water. The fastest service is when the bill comes. Not sure if anyone else has had better experiences here with the staff?

Excited for this place since I always see it on Instagram. My boyfriend and I here came here for dinner and decided to share the 45 day aged ribeye, grilled mushroom with cured egg yolk and jamon croqueta. We also decided to order a house cocktail. The dry aged steak was probably one of the steaks I've had! The meat was very tender and savory with a nice hint of smokiness. I also really enjoyed the mushrooms and egg yolk dish. It was super flavorful and the egg yolk added an extra layer of flavour. The croqueta was also creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Overall really enjoyed all the dishes here (definitely on the more expensive side)! Service was great as well!

This is a popular Spanish restaurant for good reason -- every single dish was fantastic. The service was also quite good. We had the Jamon Croqueta -- lightly fried on the outside but not overly greasy, perfectly tender on the inside. Patatas Bravas -- the sauce on top really elevated the dish overall. Soft potatoes, definite crowd pleaser Bone marrow -- huge bone was presented along side some bread. A bowl of salt is on the side so you can salt to your taste. Comes with Chimichurri which was a welcome accompaniment and melded the dish perfectly together Seam Bream ceviche and chips -- look up the definition of fresh and this will be it. One of my favourite dishes of the bunch. This is a must try Pork secreto -- came with a ?maple sweet sauce. The meat could stand on its own though. Perfect amount of fat to make it a guilty pleasure

fantastic ambience, both friendly and intimate. Small plates contain copious sharing meals that were constantly being brought out through the evening. This tapas meal made our business function, a truly enjoyable experience.

Best restaurant in Toronto that we had. The vibes were so cute and quaint, very cosy spot that had a lot of good ambience. The waitress was probably one of the best we've ever had, she knew everything on the menu, and had really great recommendations for both wine and food. The scallops were mediocre, they were a little small for the price in my opinion, but everything else was phenomenal. Food eaten, ranked: 1. Ceviche (with extra chips) 2. Pork secreto 3. meat and cheese plate 4. pan con tomato 5. Shishito peppers 6. Potato's bravas 7. Scallops

When I can't go to Spain I come to this OG Spanish spot! The past few times I've been here, they either ran out or weren't serving my favorite Foie Gras Toast (cured meat, honey and shaved truffle on a crunchy bread ?). But this time I made sure to call in advance and reserve an order, which ended up being the very last one of the night. Grilled Mushrooms & Cured Egg Yolk: This was pretty good, the egg yolk had a bit of rich/saltiness and the mushrooms were grilled nicely Quarter Octopus: This just ended up being 1.5 tentacles (about 6 pieces of octopus) and was $32 :/ Roast Veal Bone Marrow: Can't really go wrong with this accompanied with a side of tangy chimmichuri sauce Cured Chorizo (?): Buttery and full of flavor, one of my favorite cuts of cured meat Foie Gras with Peaches: This was really tasty, the peaches were sweet and caramalized and the foie gras was slightly salty, rich and buttery. The food is pretty much the same as before except the prices are higher cause inflation. I also noticed resos aren't as hard to snag as they used to be which is a plus, and walk ins generally have zero wait time now. For a very casual dinner, it was over $200 including 1 alcoholic beverage. I honestly find it quite steep now for some items

I have heard of this place for several years, but only had a chance to try their takeout food recently. The portion was relatively small and pricy, but with decent quality of food provided with some highlights there. Their bakeries and cold dishes were especially amazing. My favourite dishes from the order: - Sourdough loaf: Why is the bread dish worth mentioning? Because it was bigger than my face and so chewy and flavourful. - Basque cake: They provided us with clear heat-at-home instructions and it tasted soooo delicious and not overwhelming me with its sweetness level. I wished the portion was slightly larger though because we couldn't have enough. - Mixed plate 4 pack: This included two types of cheese and sausage. Both sausages were so delicious and were gone in ten minutes. The Mountain oak Gouda cheese (cow cheese) was my personal favorite, with slightly stronger than medium flavour. My husband preferred the lighter Manchego cheese (sheep cheese). The cheese goes really well with the sourdough loaf. Worth a try. Now some hot dishes: - Charred octopus: We are a fan of octopus, so would almost order octopus dish everywhere we can. This was overall an average dish. The sauce was really good but the octopus was too hard. I would recommend dipping the sauce with the sourdough loaf though. - Asparagus salad: It was cooked well with its highlights being the strong scent of the Marcona almonds. This was a good dish but not wowing me. In general, I would like to revisit this place when they are reopening for dining in.

Amazing dining experience. The staff are very polite, professional and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is pretty cool, dark and cozy. The food is great. But everything is just a bit pricey for the portion. It is a lovely restaurant though.

Prepare to spend a pretty penny when dining here but the food won't leave you disappointed. The ambiance is nice & moody but the darkness made all my photos look like 50 shades of red. Service was on point. Our server was lovely & helped explain the menu, daily specials, offer suggestions on what to order, and help course out the meal. Water was always topped off and everyone worked together. There is a 20% service fee automatically added at the end of your bill. Anyways let's get down to food. Things I loved: -Ceviche. Normally ceviche is a hit or miss with me because of how acidic it can be. This one was perfectly balanced and the avocados just added that extra layer of creaminess I wasn't expecting. I must say, this was our favourite dish of the night. - Seared Foie gras. This has the consistency and taste similar of pork belly or salmon belly. Melts in your mouth. Paired with the sweet pear, it help balance the fattiness. - daily special of a baguette topped with Foie gras, soppressata, and cheese. Normally Foie gras is thick and heavy. But biting into this was like biting into a cloud full of umami flavour. $8 per piece. - daily special of croquettes. It was baked perfectly and tasted so comforting like the filling of your favourite chicken pot pie but with a very creamy mashed potato consistency. - Grilled mushrooms with cured egg yolk. This was umami after umami. - Dessert!! Basque cake with hot sherry cream. The perfect way to send your meal. It's warms up your stomach with it's temperature, richness, and perfect amount of sweetness. - Dessert. Spanish hot chocolate with almond biscotti cookies. Comes in a mini pitcher & you pour it into tiny tea cups. The hot chocolate is like pure thick chocolate pieces that's melted. It's meant to be drank in small sips. Not overly sweet but definitely rich. The almond cookies were delicious. 4 big pieces. A bit chewy & soft in the centre, crunchy on the edges. It was great. Things that coasted in the middle: -The scallops. They were well cooked. $25 for 3 pieces is a lot. Flavours were as expected. Nothing special. If you are craving scallops, order it. But I could have done without it. It didn't wow me like the others. Things I wouldn't order again: -The mussels. 8 tiny mussels In a dressing that was simply too sour for me. My friend did enjoy it. As you can see, from everything we ordered, only 2 dishes I would reconsider ordering for next time. As expensive as the meal was for only 2 people, the food was good enough that we felt like it was worth it. I am already looking forward to coming back with my partner to show him what he missed out on!

Made a reservation last minute to come in on a Friday night, and super lucky they had table. They were definitely a little bit busy, so there was a bit of a wait here and there, but nothing glaring. The waiters and waitresses were extremely nice, and my friend and I had a great time there. We both got the tasting menu because everything seemed so good, and we just couldn't decide what to eat. I love that our waitress listened to what we liked and curated the tasting menu based off from that. Everything was spectacular. Some of the dishes that really stood out to me (even after a week with my goldfish memory) are the tomato salad, the jamon croquette, the foie gras, and the octopus. I personally feel like the jamon croquette tastes like a fried edible claim chowder and it's everything I want and more. The foie gras was also extremely delicious. They placed it as the dessert, and I can see why. The candied pear really complemented the foie gras. Definitely will come back when I am in town!

We came here with the kids and loved the atmosphere and the staff. Moody red lighting. Warm, convivial, and friendly service. Our favorite dishes were the vinegary pinxtos matrimonios, the gailan with romesco sauce (charred to perfection), and the pan con tomate (even though tomatoes were not in season). The pork secreto with honey was rich, smoky and really delicious--almost like Spanish char siu. We took it home and had it for breakfast. I would probably not order the grilled octopus or gambas al ajillo again, and the patatas bravas were pretty standard fare (could have been crispier). We were on a short trip to Toronto, and this is not a restaurant I would probably return to as a visitor, but as a neighborhood tapas place, it's pretty solid.

Amazing spot for a date night or night out! My bestie took me for my birthday and I throughly enjoyed all the food we got! Some items were better than others, and price point was okay for the portions! You have to get the Veal Bone Marrow, Shishito Peppers, but my most favourite items were the Sonrasada & Foie Gras and Sea Bream Ceviche!! It was on this toast and literally melted!! The Octopus was good but there wasn't anything spectacular about it, and the tomato toast we got was also mediocre. Overall great spots for drinks and some food! Would love it if lighting was a bit better, I also noticed they don't have AC so it may be hot in the summer

Great service! Good date spot! I highly recommend the bone marrow and the ceviche. Small plate tapas more on the pricey side. Overall a great place to check out!

I've been to bar Isabel multiple times and have enjoyed their tapas / small plates! Everything comes in a tiny portion so be prepared to order multiple items! It's great for foodies like me who like to try everything. Ambiance was great, the tables were still spaced apart so we weren't super close to our neighbours which I appreciated. We ordered the veal bone marrow which was wonderful but only came with one bone and a side of small toasts. I appreciate how it was nice and deep full of marrow. Seasoned nicely and I loved how they give us maldon salt which really lifts the flavors! We also ordered the olives which were not bad but they weren't the super plump green ones that I generally like. They're middle sized. The Shishito peppers were made really well and weren't spicy or overly salty at all! They were seasoned nicely and served as a good "veggie" for us... although we could have ordered more veg but there wasn't a lot of selection for veg dishes. The grilled 8 oz picanha steak was wonderful! Very nice and tender and tasty w the maldon salt. Wine list was not bad, I stuck to my cab sauv!

Amazingggggg Tapas here. The standouts were the Shrimp, Snow pea leaves, and the Mushrooms!!! THE MUSHROOMS...Absolute flavour bombs and crispy. I highly recommending ordering their classic bread and olive oil too, it was nice together BUT even better if you use the bread to dip with the Shrimp dish's sauces and chili oil!! Other notable tapas we tried was the Ceviche. It was almost like a guac but the fish was plentiful and fresh with the in house chips (seasoned with paprika too!). The Tomato bread was alright. Atmosphere felt super European. Especially since we came during the COVID outdoor patio season, their street side tiny tables for 2 set up was very minimal and Chic. It was a pricey meal but a lovely treat once in a while.

I loved the food! The Grilled Octopus was great! The service was good, and the place was very cozy. The meat was very nice, too. I love it and I will definitely come back! I would totally recommend it and it is my most favourite restaurant, It is outstanding. I love that the restaurant is very unique. My whole family likes the restaurant. Bar Isabel is one of the best places I've been. I can't wait to come back!

super cute place. tight. very charming quaint neighbourhood gem. I am a ethpaña fanatic, I opted for the Tinto de Verano though I wish it was sweeter than what I'm used to. the dish that stood out for me and is now engraved in my brain is the garlicky mushroom!!! I think if you dont like mushrooms, I don't know what to tell ya but to try something once and let this be that once! might change your perspective for life. Pan con tomat = good, shishitos = fun finger food, good, bone marrow = good, papatas bravas = good, mushrooms = to die for MUST get, excellent, steak- also excellent, shrimp w/ shells = good.

Nice ambiance, wonderful menu, loved the frsh bread & olives, mushrooms with egg, octopus, bone marrow and basque cake

Bar Isabel has a rep that's hard to live up to. Celebrated for years as one of the top spots in the country, you walk in with high expectations. I checked it out right after it opened and LOVED it, but to be honest, I was a little nervous that all the hype may have wiped out that magical element that a hot new place can hold. I'm very pleased to say that the magic is still there. And it's delicious, delicious magic. My friend and I got the tasting menu because we hate making decisions- trust me I can't even pick a movie on Netflix. The tasting menu ranges in price, though I'm not totally sure how it works. Much like Nobu, the server asks about preferences and best dislikes, and seems to curate a bit of an experience. My friend wanted shishitos, and I wanted octopus- sure enough these came out along with many other tasty treats. Highlights include: Jamon croquetas (pillowy and salty); runner beans with hazelnut romesco (nutty and smokey); white asparagus with aioli (holy hell you have to get these); the basque cake (blow your mind good); and the famous octopus (you can't come here and not get this). Other dishes include scallops (sweet and lovely but heavy on cilantro); mussels escabeche (Briney and bright); and cured jamon iberico (yum). Let's talk ambience. The place is majorly vibey and I just gotta say that every diner in there was gorgeous. Dins at Bar Isabel is an event, and that makes for a fun vibe. It is, however, one of the loudest restaurants I've been to in recent memory. Which is fun and fine, but my biggest complaint is that I mostly couldn't hear the servers when they were dropping dishes. We figured it out, but damn that's loud. The one thing that wasn't amazing was the service. Our server seemed like a nice guy and his passion for food was super clear. That said, it was a little... awkward. It's sort of hard to explain, but there were a lot of check-ins, several at times when we hadn't had a bite yet. Drinks took quite a long time to hit the table. We also got a strange warning about the bill- that the taxes are applied to ab auto-gratuity. That's an unusual practice already, but to learn about it as a sort of "warning" that the bill might be "more than you expect"... strange moment. Anyways... it's all forgivable, but as I walked out, looking at a couple at the bar having an adorable time with a very charming server, I couldn't help but feel like I'd missed an element of the experience at this ultra cool west end spot. Bar Isabel isn't going anywhere. Get there quick... if you can get a reso. If you like this review, follow me here, on Instagram (_nickeatseverything_) or on my new TikTok (@nickeatseverything)