Bar Isabel

This stucco-walled College Street version of a Portuguese taberna is cozy in the winter and open to the street in the summer. Always busy, it's a casual and relaxed place with great food and a young and energetic staff. The food menu emphasizes tapas, cheeses, house-cured meats, offal, and seafood. Recent standouts have included: sobrassada and foie gras tapas, beef tartare & chicheron, roast bone marrow, and B.C. halibut ceviche.

Cocktails are divided between Fresh and Sturdy, and include the Isabel Fashioned 2.0: bourbon, Spanish brandy, trans-Atlantic syrup, Bilingual Bloodfest bitters, and an Oloroso rinse. The Barragana among the Fresh cocktails was particularly refreshing: charred pineapple & jalapeno infused tequila, Cointreau, sage simply syrup, and lime juice.

This is a very popular place to eat and drink, so reservations are suggested to avoid disappointment. As usual, bar seating is unreserved, but it is suggested to arrive early, as it fills up quickly. Unusual in Toronto, the kitchen is open until 2 am, so this is a great place for a late-night nosh.