Bar Isabel image

Bar Isabel

Restaurant Spanish restaurant

Spanish-influenced, creative plates & craft beers in a cozy space with an old-world vibe. People often mention great, good, service, menu, delicious, octopus, restaurant, dishes, Isabel, drinks,


Address

797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7, Canada

Website

barisabel.com

Contact

+1 416-532-2222

Price rating

$$$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (2.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 5 to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 5 to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 5 to 11 pm
  • Friday: 5 to 11 pm
  • Saturday: 3 to 11 pm
  • Sunday: 5 to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (37) good (35) service (32) menu (29) delicious (25) octopus (22) restaurant (21) dishes (20) Isabel (16) drinks (15)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Lora L. 6 months ago on Google
    Don’t waste your money. The food is nothing special and even below expectation. We tried the bone marrow, and the octopus people recommended, but they are tasteless/ordinary, it just doesn’t worth the money I paid for and I hope I didn’t get into this restaurant. To be fair, the patio we seat in has a vibe, but it doesn’t make it special compare to other restaurant. They charged 20% service fee, but it just doesn’t feel worthy with some ordinary food and service. Overpriced and you can have the same food and experience in most of the other restaurant in much reasonable price.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob C. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best dinners I have had in Toronto. Hands down. We ordered the tasting menu. The staff was super friendly, asked how hungry we are, then asked what we needed to have from the menu. We where all blown away. The food was fresh, delicious and creative. The service was perfectly paced, friendly and helpful. We sat at the bar and the bar tender was attentive to everything and answered questions we had. Cocktails where on another level. Fantastic. Definitely deserves its place in the top 100. You have to eat here!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Melissa D. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious drinks and food. Loved the atmosphere as well. My only complaint is that I felt super rushed. We got kicked out after two hours (on the dot). Servers were hovering the entire time. We wanted to order dessert, but we were basically told that we couldn’t because someone else needed our table. So upsetting. I’ll never understand why it’s worth ruining a customer relationship just to turn another table.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bredgy L. 1 month ago on Google • 272 reviews New
    Follow @bredgyeats for more food photos! A spanish-inspired tapas bar serving up some delicious small bites that are perfect for sharing, with a wide variety of choices for a large amount of mouths. The patatas bravas were addicting cubes of fried potatoes, a thin crisp exterior encasing a tender inside and topped with a tangy ketchup, creamy mayo and green onions that make it hard to stop eating. My personal favourite was surprisingly the grilled mushrooms, maitake mushrooms grilled to perfection for a distinct smoky aroma that compliments the subtle umami notes of the maitake, while also giving it a slight crisp to contrast the tender bounciness of each bite. The basque cake is a must get as well, giving you an almost indescribable feeling of comfortness of a sweet, buttery basque cake that's topped with a coating of their sherry cream. We ordered: Half Octopus, Grilled Mushrooms, Patatas Bravas, Shishito Peppers, Sourdough Bread and Olive Oil, Small Iberico Tasting, Sea Bream Ceviche, Pork Secreto, Gai Lan Romesco, Basque Cake

  • 3/5 Avi Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Disappointing experience at Bar Isabel tonight. We've been really looking forward to trying out this place - it's been on our radar for 3y now. To be able to try as many things as possible, we went for the tasting menu ("Chef's Menu"), which sounds very promising when booking. However, when we got to the restaurant, not only did the waiters not know that this is what we ordered, three different waiters asked us what we want to order. We finally started getting dishes served and the food was very tasty however, we only got a handful of dishes, no meat dish, no questions asked regarding whether we feel we had enough or if everything is fine. We realized after the fact that the quarter octopus and pumpkin was our main course to share. We realized that when, while waiting for a meaty dish, a dessert was served. The waiter didn't even ask us if we want coffee/tea with our dessert. By the time we got to order our coffee, the dessert was long gone. At the end of the meal we did the math that, had we ordered the food we got from the menu, we would have paid ~$70/person. All that the "tasting menu" gave us is the lack of opinion to choose our dishes and we paid $77/person. The service, as mentioned, certainly didn't justify the mandatory 20% charge. Bottom line: we enjoyed the food, but it certainly wasn't a $300 worth of meal, which is what we paid for a few tapas and a $60 bottle of wine. We left really disappointed, especially because of how much we wanted to love Isabel and after checking the regular menu and realizing that we could have ordered a lot more food and all things that we like for the same price. We decided to share our feedback with the staff, who apologized, but thought that a sourdough is an appropriate compensation.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Babu B. 1 year ago on Google
    Service is excellent, and the food is so delicious. We chose to participate in the tasting menu and we allowed the waiter to choose dishes for us, and Its super fantastic. We were overwhelmed with the incredible textures and flavours of each meal. Our waiter was highly trained and very knowledgeable about each dish and how it was prepared. The sommelier chose a wonderful bottle of wine based on our personal tastes and pairings for the meal, one that we never would have chosen. Overall, this experience left us dazzled. We will be back soon. Muchas Gracias para todos.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amir S. 1 month ago on Google • 150 reviews New
    So many other bars and restaurants have come (and gone) since Bar Isabel opened, but this place remains my favourite night out in the city. And that's really all I need to say about this cozy, intimate spot and its top notch menu.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Gillian F. 2 years ago on Google
    A disappointing first experience to say the least. We had heard such great things about Bar Isabel but it was an off night forsure. Of course it's a very unique spot with a great location and the menu items seemed great from what we ordered (we had just come from dinner in King West), however, the inside of the restaurant was as hot as it was outside (30+ degrees). It was very uncomfortable which made it hard to have an enjoyable experience. I'm also still not sure about the automatic gratuity of 20%, I find the service usually isn't great with autograt. Our server was so so, definitely not memorable though.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christina B. 3 months ago on Google • 21 reviews New
    I lowered my expectations because the hype around this restaurant is reeealll. But can now say it’s completely warranted. Even at really good restaurants there are usually 1-2 dishes that are just ok, but I honestly loved everything we ordered. The service was fantastic, the wait staff are very attentive and quick to fill up water, replace cutlery, etc. It’s pretty pricey but it was worth it for us since the food and service were great. Here’s what we ate: Half octopus — best octopus I’ve had since Portugal. So soft and tender and the cream sauce went really well with it. Sea bream ceviche & chips — light and refreshing with a good amount of acidity. The chips seemed like they were made in house and tasted fresh (I hate getting served stale chips, and they def weren’t). Pintxo matrimonio — was not expecting much from this but it was soo good. The anchovies were well prepared and added the the right amount of saltiness to the fluffy bread. Patatas bravas — can’t go wrong with potatoes as a side, and they were still crispy even though they were covered in sauce. Seared foie gras & pear mostarda — very rich, decadent and sweet, but loved it. The foie gras melted on my tongue like butter. Basque cake w/ hot sherry cream — served warm and it has crispy edges which were my favourite part. It soaked up the cream sauce making every bite moist.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Art T. 2 years ago on Google
    This restaurant is 100% a must visit! The staff were super friendly and the red lighting creates such an unique vibe! The food were tasty but prices are on the higher end. This is a restaurant where the prices justify the quality of the food you are getting! Cocktails were very delicious! 100% coming back!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nathalie M. 2 years ago on Google
    Good place to go for tapas. I had a non alcoholic cocktail which was enjoyable and refreshing. The shishito peppers were good, nicely seasoned with coarse salt and a hint of lemon juice. I really liked the 2 meat 2 cheese charcuterie board. I was just a bit disappointed there were none of the Jamon serrano or jamon iberrico that were offered on the meat boards. You also have to pay for house bread to enjoy with the meat and cheese. The bread was very good, served a bit warm and made upstairs in their in house bakery. We got the quarter octopus, which was delicious and nicely grilled. It was nice and tender, not too chewy like octopus can be. The patatas bravas were very good and crispy. The house salad was really nice. We also got the 8oz Picanha Steak which was tender and has a nice grill flavour. The onions on the side were delicious. The Basque Cake with Hot Sherry Cream was very good. I was happy to see they offered this as it’s not that common to find in Toronto. It was warm and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I feel like it would be enough on it’s own without the sauce but the sauce was nice too. It’s also made in house. Overall, a really good experience even though it’s on the pricier side and there is mandatory 20% service fee.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Shannon 1 year ago on Google
    We went here for a nightcap and didn’t order any entrees. The service was exceptional! We were greeted warmly and we’re supported by many of their staff members! We ordered a tomato bread appetizer, which wasn’t great and curry potato dish that was excellent! The dessert was great too, though on the greasy side. Their bartender is a master of his craft and our Aperol spritz and espressos Martinis were excellent! They add 20% to your bill for service - something I find extremely tacky. Though, I’d have likely tipped that much anyway, I never feel that tips should be mandatory. For 5 drinks, 2 apps and a dessert, our bill was $160 - quite high for what we had.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alicia P. 6 months ago on Google
    Decided to book a reservation here at 5:30pm on a Wednesday night, and we had the place to ourselves...well only for like 20 minutes before it became packed! Heard lots of great things about this spot. My fiancé and I spent a lot of time in Spain, so we had high expectations, and it didn't disappoint! We went in knowing we wanted to do a tasting menu, and we specifically asked for no steaks and to reduce red meats (we were more interested in the Seafood). With that in mind, here are the dishes we got with ratings: - Boquerones en vinagre (5/5) - Mussels escabeche (5/5) - Sea Bream ceviche & chips (5/5) - Pan con tomate with Jamón Ibérico (2/5) - Grilled scallops (5/5) - Patata bravas (4/5) - Grilled mushrooms and cured egg yolk (5/5) - Quarter Octopus (5/5) - Sobrasada & Foie Gras (3/5) - Basque cake with hot Sherry cream (5/5) Overall, the service was impeccable - they really listened to what we wanted. As for the food, I think it's a great spot for tapas, sharables and it's very light. We ate a lot of seafood and it was dressed with very light veggies and citrus which we loved! As for comparing to food from Spain, I'd say it's close but it's definitely got like a Canadian twist on it which is lovely! Would definitely return here again and still pick Seafood heavy dishes!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 parinaz e. 1 month ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    Absolutely amazing! Never have I ever given a place 5 stars this fast. The taste of every dish we had was immaculate and not a single dish disappointed us. Me and my husband went for the tasting menu and it was approx $200 and we had 12 dishes. Mind you when they say tasting menu, all the dishes were full size dishes on the menu and if was well worth the money we paid! The cocktail they made for us tasted absolutely phenomenal ! I don’t like GIN and never have I been more in love with cocktail in my life. The highlight was the bone Marrow oh so buttery and melt in your mouth. And the octopus so delicious.The ceviche is immaculate as well! What an amazing burst of flavours in your. Mouth We could not finish everything and they were kind enough to wrap it up for us !
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Becca K. 9 months ago on Google
    4.8 Bar Isabel is one of my favourite restaraunts in the city. It’s such a great vibe, amazing service, and the food is delicious and well executed. All the apps are great- don’t sleep on the shishito peppers and it would be a sin not to order the panne con tomate. The octopus is famous for a reason and the mushrooms are a dream. The ambiance is great and it’s a fun place to go and order lots of different things to share. The only small negative is the speed- which is a silly thing to complain about. Our first tapas came in about 4 minutes after ordering them. I get that they have a lot of reservations and a quick turn over but the last bite would be lifted with a fork and the plate would be taken a second later. The restrooms are downstairs and the service fee of 20% is included on all bills. Not a great spot for kids, perfect for a date night, or a spot to bring a friend for a special occasion.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Julie H. 10 months ago on Google
    Great atmosphere and service - perfect for a night out with a small group or a date. Manzanilla olives were delicious (I normally don’t like olives as many are too salty but this was perfect and quite flavourful). Mixed meat and cheese plate - cheeses were delicious but the cured meat wasn’t anything more impressive than what you can get at the grocery store (for much cheaper). Quarter octopus was generous in size and well cooked. Sourdough Bread & Olive Oil was a nice starter with good quality olive oil.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Samantha J. 9 months ago on Google
    Food was very good, however very expensive and felt overpriced given tapas sized positions. Atmosphere was very loud and noisy felt like we were yelling to speak to the person sat next to you. Restaurant is dark almost old pub feel. Doesn’t really suit tapas, should be more light and airy. Overall nice restaurant. However, would likely not return given the price. I’ve recently visited Spain and this meal would have been a fraction of the price there. Even with import and higher Toronto prices, I felt ripped off.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J 2 years ago on Google
    I have so much love for Bar Isabel - it’s a place I always return to for it’s simplicity and the comfort I get from the familiar staff & menu. Over the years I’ve always been impressed by the quality and consistency of the food and of course the expertise of the staff when it comes to their wide selection of beverages. This place is a true gem in the Toronto restaurant scene - I wish I could get a table here more often! The basque cake is a MUST TRY.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Taisiya M. 8 months ago on Google
    It used to be my favourite place to go for delicious food. Haven’t been here since let simmer. Was super excited to go again for dinner tonight but food tasted below average… there was no kick into anything that we had, it almost was tasteless… we asked for salt, even salt was missing… very disappointed not sure what happened… but here are some cute pics
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alexus T. 11 months ago on Google
    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!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sonya G. 8 months ago on Google
    Fantastic restaurant, my favourite in Toronto! Absolutely loved the ambience, service and food. Had a dealer’s choice drink and I absolutely loved it! The food was delicious, loved every bit of it. The cherry on top was the basque cake. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like, 5 out of 5 stars for sure anytime!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alexa C. 7 months ago on Google
    Amazing place! I went for a date night and everything was amazing. Loveddd the ambience was such a great vibe. I went on a Tuesday night it did get busy. Amazing service the server helped us with the menu and the food came out quick. Everything we had tasted really good! Really great spot to try small different dishes to share. Service fee is already included of 20%. This spot is great for date night, girls night, or group setting. I would highly recommend!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Olivia 5 months ago on Google
    Delicious restaurant. Never disappoints. Love their seasonal vegetable dishes. Incredible espresso martinis. And of course - great seafood! Ambiance is versatile, great for date night as well as reunions with friends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anne-Marie M. 5 months ago on Google
    Was taken here for my birthday and had a great time! Ambience was vibey and dark with a Spain at night feeling. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. They gave us extra plates and a knife to cut our own cupcake, and stored my flowers in the cold room for me while we ate!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Luiz F. 4 months ago on Google
    Bar Isabel is a hidden culinary gem in Toronto that deserves every bit of recognition it receives. Nestled in a cozy, intimate setting, this restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience. The octopus dish was nothing short of perfection, a testament to the chef's artistry in the kitchen. The meticulous preparation and presentation were truly impressive. The bread served here is a revelation in itself, setting a high bar for artisanal craftsmanship. It's a must-try for anyone who appreciates the finer details of dining. And let's not forget about the desserts - they are hands down the best in the city, a symphony of flavors and textures that will leave your taste buds dancing with delight. What sets Bar Isabel apart even further is its remarkable affordability. You can indulge in exceptional cuisine without breaking the bank. In summary, Bar Isabel is a culinary masterpiece in Toronto. From the impeccable dishes to the welcoming ambiance and reasonable prices, it's a must-visit for food enthusiasts. Don't miss the opportunity to savor the extraordinary flavors this restaurant has to offer.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Oscar K. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was really good! We got octopus, bone marrow, scallops, shisito peppers, broccoli, and mussels. The atmosphere was nice and there were good vibes. The only thing is that it is quite pricey. With a bottle of wine, it came out to over $300 for four people.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yuxi C. 2 years ago on Google
    I've been to Bar Isabel several times over the years and have had great experiences in the past. However, their menu is significantly reduces and prices have gone up a lot. The 20% automatic gratuity is also a bit off-putting, while I'm happy to add 20%+ tip for great service, I don't like that it's mandatory. I paid $86 pp for lunch with a glass of wine. While the food was good, there's not enough variety with the reduced menu and price point.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tran M. 2 years ago on Google
    Our bartender was extremely friendly and easy to talk to. He recommended the croquette that wasn’t on the menu and I swear I could have eaten 10 more! The bone marrow was also delicious. The service was quick, the staff were friendly and great. Will be coming back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrea L. 1 month ago on Google • 42 reviews New
    Came here to celebrate a friend’s birthday. It’s a cute little spot on College with a lovely ambience! We got the: - whole octopus (8/10) The whole octopus was way too much for 4 girls. It’s huge. We probably should have gone with the half (the waitress warned us as well lmao). Overall it was a good bite and came with some veggies underneath, but pricy at $100 - patatas bravas (7/10) this dish was okay, nothing spectacular - picanha steak (8/10) steak was nice and tender, but nothing notable - shrimp (7.5/10) you have to peel the shrimp yourself. it was good but can easily make a dish like this at home - bone marrow (8/10) not the best bone marrow I’ve had in Toronto - foie gras & brassada (9/10) this was a great bite! flavours complimented eachother well - shishito peppers (7/10) these were really salty - croquettes (10/10) probably my favourite bite of the night, it was so smooth and delicious - tomato sourdough bread (6/10) nothing to rave about - basque cake (9/10) mmm I loved this one, it was so warm and gooey 🥳 we were so full by the time dessert came around so we should have only got one (we got 2 for 4 girls) - wine (servers recommendation) Overall it was pretty pricy $600 for 4 people. I’m glad I tried it but probably won’t be coming back

  • 4/5 Janice C. 2 months ago on Google • 40 reviews New
    A cozy and vibey tapas bar. Came on a sunday evening to hang out and enjoy a light snack. Yes it is a bit pricey but you can control that based on intake (perhaps a spot to hit up after having a proper meal!) The drinks were tasty and the octopus and bone marrow were delicious. The most memorable part of the evening was actually the dessert - the basque cake and sherry cream. This cake only reminds me of a warm and tender hug on a cold and rainy day. It has the simplest ingredients but is made perfectly! Trust me, this dessert is a must try.

  • 5/5 Jessica P. 1 month ago on Google • 25 reviews New
    Didn’t opt for the tasting menu but ordered individual dishes instead between 2 people (we eat a lot). Ordered: Sea Bream Ceviche & Chips, Jamón Croqueta, Sobrasada & Foie Gras, Daily Vegetable (Grilled Gai Lan) & Hazelnut Romesco, Quarter Octopus, Pork Secreto w/Chorizo Spice, Grilled 10oz Picanha Steak, and Basque Cake with Hot Sherry Cream, plus 2 glasses of wine and 2 cocktails (Barragana & Rambla Highball). Came to around $300+ for 2 people but very well worth the price for how filling it was. Our favourite dish was by far the daily vegetable. Other notable favourites were the foie gras (great texture) and half octopus (super tender). I would skip the pork as it didn’t have much flavor and was a little on the fattier side. Service was great at the bar. The bartender saw to our drinks quickly and prevented us from over ordering. He also recommended a great off-menu Pinot noir. Beautiful ambiance for a date. Wish we had room to try more dishes!

  • 5/5 Chris L. 7 months ago on Google
    One of the most iconic restaurants in Toronto. It literally never disappoints. The service is wonderful and the food speaks for itself. Everything on thé menu is dynamite. Thé basque cake is spécial and always a treat. Highly recommend

  • 5/5 Andrew C. 2 years ago on Google
    Bar Isabel never disappoints! The food, drinks and service are all top notch. We tried some different menu items from our usuals this time and they were incredible. The chorizo Iberico was so delicious and a must try. The Barranga is one of my favourite cocktails. Spicy with a sweet finish it’s refreshing and tasty. We look forward to coming back soon!

  • 5/5 Laica T. 2 years ago on Google
    We wanted to try this place all summer and we finally came to dine inside. Good time overall. I would recommend the shrimp. They are served with the shell on, which was fine. It was easy to peel. The shrimp had a distinct garlic flavour was delish. I had the Rambla Highball which was a perfect refreshing summer cocktail. For dessert I had the Basque Cake with Hot Sherry Cream. It was all amazing thank you Bar Isabel.

  • 5/5 Zayeema S. 2 years ago on Google
    The decor is super cute. We ordered a ton of dishes but I definitely recommend the sea bream ceviche, the patatas bravas with the white anchovies and the basque cake. The drinks here are really good too. We also had the bone marrow, the grilled octopus and the mushrooms with a cured egg. The bone marrow was good but I wish there was more of it. The grilled octopus was good but isn’t why I’ll go back. The mushrooms were delicious but a tad on the salty side. The drinks were good, the one that I loved had pineapple, jalapeño and tequila (I don’t remember the name right now) but definitely recommend that one.

  • 5/5 Golden T. 2 years ago on Google
    Great food, great service. The Bone Marrow and the octopus is a must try, sure it might be a little pricey but you get what you pay for…

  • 5/5 David P. 2 years ago on Google
    This restaurant is fantastic👍🏻The food is very fresh and delicious. The waiter was friendly and service was excellent. Value for money, five-star praise

  • 5/5 Gary N. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent food - the octopus and vanilla cake are musts. The bone marrow and jowl meat were amazing for those looking for different textures to try!

  • 2/5 Ray H. 7 months ago on Google
    Bar Isabel has a great vibe and it is a nice pleasant place to share time with friends and family. We liked the front patio. The service was good, had good knowledge of the Menu and helped us to place the order by explaining some pf the dishes. The food was not the healthiest for sure! the method of frying was present in most of the foods that gets your attention like the Shishito Peppers and the Bravas & Boqs that the latter arrive to the table wet in fried browned side oil. Frankly, fried foods or even the presence of a fryer in a restaurant with a claim of being one of the best in Canada takes you back to the 60's -80's but without doubt not in 2023 or the future of foods. The Ceviche was overwhelmed by the wetness of the Cucumbers making disappear the lemony taste and the right amount of salt. The Pan con Tomate was good snd the Boquerone safely fresh. We liked the blue Stilton Queso Mostarda with the caramelized slice of Pear on top served in a small toast. The winner was the not overly sweet Basque cake well prepared with the sauce on top. The cost is average for restaurants in Toronto and must avoid to find value for your money. 20% of gratuity tip is automatically added which frankly we do not mind. If you eat fried foods and not too concerned about healthy foods, Bar Isabel has a great atmosphere and it is beautiful and a nice place to go for dinner.

  • 3/5 Yunhan L. 1 year ago on Google
    I expected more. I have tried a few tapas places in Toronto and this one was just okay. For food and drinks we got: Croquetas: Probably the best dish. Flavourful, creamy, and crisp. Octopus: I love this piece of seafood but overall I was disappointed with how Bar Isabel made it. Octopus was slightly over cooked. At it’s price point, it should have been served with some side like potatoes. Meat and Cheese Plate: Classic spanish selection of meat and cheese. Bread: Thick and fluffy. It’s valid. Shishitos: Good! Drink: Forgot the name but it was like top 3 worst drinks I had. Mostly tasted like gingerale and rum despite the fancy name and list of ingredients. The service was friendly and attentive. Food came pretty fast despite the restaurant being very full. Food: 4/10 Service: 9/10

  • 5/5 parasuram d. 6 months ago on Google
    One of the best places I’ve been to in a while. The food and drinks were amazing. Really good vibes and excellent service. Feel free to ask the staff for recommendations if you’re unsure cause we did and they did not disappoint. We ordered too many items to list here so I’ll just mention the highlights. Pork Secreto, Jamon Croquettes, Patatas Bravas and Iberico and tomato bruschettas.

  • 4/5 Alvia G. 2 years ago on Google
    For two of us, we ordered quarter grilled octopus, picanha steak, mussels, patatas bravas, scallops special of the day, garlic snow pea leaves and the sourdough bread. Food was pretty good and the amount we got was filling for us. Highlight was the seared scallops in a cilantro paste that was similar to chimichuri. The garlic snow pea leaves wasn't so good, too tangy. We ended the meal with Basque cake for dessert. Rich but really good.

  • 4/5 Johanna S. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent service! Super friendly staff and food was delicious. The octopus was a little too charred because it tasted a bit bitter but everything else was delicious. It was super packed but they accommodated us. Their virgin drinks were also good!

  • 5/5 Alexandra N. 7 months ago on Google
    After listening to all of my friends positive reviews about this restaurant I was really excited finally to try it. And let me tell you…it’s even better in person! Unfortunately we forgot to ask the name of our server but she was amazing. She recommended us a delicious skin contact Georgian wine and it was such a great wine to pair with anchovies. A must try is basque cake! Also it’s very pleasant to see that they include 20% in the total bill. I know lots of cheap Karens might complain but even if the service isn’t 100% just look around and see how busy the restaurant is and be understanding that they are trying their best! Will recommend this place to everyone ! Thank you guys!

  • 5/5 Anne E. 1 year ago on Google
    We celebrated my brother in law's birthday here. I don't know what a better word to "perfection" I could choose. David was an amazing waiter, always very welcoming and attentive to our needs. Hélène gave us a great wine and accommodating service, making sure that we were good. Alessandro proposed great options and made us feel special. In general the whole crew was amazing. And oh man, the food... We ordered almost everything in the menu and ALL of it was sublime. Can't wait to go back. Thank you!

  • 5/5 Lisa C. 1 year ago on Google
    Bar Isabel blew me away, and is definitely worth the hype. I got the tasting menu here and our server was kind enough to adapt the menu based on how much my friend and I could eat. (e.g., They asked what was a ‘must-have’ for us and our general preferences. Then throughout the dinner, he’d come back to check on us to see how much more food he should bring out) My favourite dish was the croquettes—something off the a la carte menu. There were also these mussels in a sour / savoury vinaigrette that were delicious. I would also highly recommend the bone marrow if you’re comfortable with a ‘fattier’ dish

  • 5/5 Jessica Z. 9 months ago on Google
    The tasting menu is great and worth the money . I like everything in small plates. More veggies than meat which is fine as the flavour is decent and rich. If they will include more in tapas menu, will be even better.

  • 5/5 Maya M. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious!!! I was a bit nervous as the menu was a little outside of my comfort zone, yet I was blown away. I also liked the shareable portions - the food is so good you want to try as much as you can.

  • 5/5 Kim 1 year ago on Google
    One word: wow. My friend wouldn’t stop raving about this place and I’m so glad I checked it out. I loved everything from the service, food, drinks, music and ambiance. We asked the server and bartender to surprise us with the drinks and literally every drink they brought us was amazing. Also, this restaurant probably has the best shishito peppers I’ve ever tried in Toronto hands down. Seriously such a hidden gem. Will definitely be coming back again and again.

  • 4/5 Cee Eun-jung L. 9 months ago on Google
    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

  • 4/5 Kama K. 1 year ago on Google
    Been here twice now and can definitely say that the first time doesn’t compare to the most recent visit — huge improvement imo when it comes to the dishes and their quality. The asparagus was just outstanding and so were the shrimps. The ambiance is truly unique and makes you want to stick around for longer. The service was a bit sub par — our first server went above and beyond but the person who took over made us feel quite unwelcome and rushed us to leave even though the place was practically empty. Will happily return regardless

  • 4/5 Philip R. 3 months ago on Google • 2 reviews New
    The service was very friendly and they definitely earn their tip (but the 20% mandatory gratuity is a bit much)! My only issue was it took quite a while to get the food some times. While expensive and higher end food and presentation, it is technically a bar and was dimly light and extremely noisy and cramped. The food: Fish ceviche = 9/10 - very tasty and recently portioned but a bit too sour. Bone marrow = 7.5/10 - rich and interesting to try but the tiny plate made it easy to spill and it was very hard to eat. Scallops = 6/10 - very tasty Scallops with a not great sauce but also $6 each!? Octopus 5/10 - sauce was too strong, and vegetables with it very bitter. The octopus was tiny for the cost, and tasted like bacon? Pork secreto = 10/10 - perfect texture, good portion, great sauce and served well. Chefs kiss for this one. The drinks were pretty good. Overall a nice experience and open to go again.


Call +1 416-532-2222 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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