A fierce competitor for the number one restaurant in Toronto (in my books anyways) is Torito, a little restaurant in Kensington Market (Augusta and College st) serving up delicious tapas. The atmosphere is very laid back and friendly, the staff is very knowledgeable and very genuine and welcoming and the kitchen (open to the dining room) is absolutely spotless.
Although for appetizer sized portions this place is a little pricey, it is definitely worth the splurge just for the attention to detail and flavour that is apparent from the chef. The ceviche was light and delicate with finely hand chopped white bass complemented by lime juice and a hint of red onion, toasted corn kernels and cilantro. The yam chips were also a great accompaniment to this palate awakening dish. Chef Luis Valenzuela showcases his talents on my favourite dish of the night, the grilled octopus. It was cooked to perfection, not chewy as it easily turns out, and was complemented very well by the smoky taste of the grill. The tongue and cheek dish melted in your mouth. The fiery paprika and sherry shrimp were divine, so good that we ended up licking our plate clean. Unfortunately not on the regular menu, but the “raw” pasta special of the night was a kaleidoscope of flavours I will be sure to steal inspiration from. The pasta in itself was made from thinly julienned carrots and zucchini, texturally similar to pasta but a little strange. However, the soy peanut sauce it was served with was out of this world. (definitely outside the Latin influences of this restaurant). Finally, our dessert: stuffed churros. They were incredible, served still warm, oozing a very sweet chocolately filling that I surely could have eaten a whole liter of!
I definitely recommend this restaurant as a place to grab a drink and some tapas, but definitely don’t go if you’re ravished (unless you’re ok with a higher bill). I cannot wait to return once their patio opens up so I can enjoy a glass (maybe pitcher) of sangria and some wonderful Spanish cuisine.