- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Tinto
Categories: Restaurants Tapas Bars Nightlife Bars Lounges Tapas Bars, Lounges [Edit]
114 S 20th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 665-9150
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
356 reviews for Tinto
Review Highlights
-
"pork belly with cucumbers - simple and loved it." In 46 reviews -
"Jose Garces you've done it again." In 40 reviews -
"and I would suggest the tasting menu." In 38 reviews
Loading...
356 reviews in English
-
Review from Avneet S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/22/2012
Okay. Chef Garces may be the paramount genius of all the Philly celebrity chefs.
It's really good you guys.
Really, REALLY good.
A plus for me - there are PLENTY of vegetarian options...good ones at that. Not the obligatory, "oh, I guess we need something on there for the herbivores *eyeroll*" one-off dish that usually resides at the bottom of a fine dining menu, but really meticulously thought out combinations of plants and dairy. Absolutely wonderful.
And, my omnivorous friends were just as pleased as me. Go. Really. -
Review from Amy H.
Huntingdon Valley, PA
4/16/2012
I keep looking for an excuse to go back to Tinto. I think that speaks well for the place.
A friend and I went on a rainy Tuesday night, and it was still active (full, which speaks well of the place, but with open seating enough to not need a rez on a week night). It's really a tapas place, which we love and which there should be more of in Philadelphia.
We just keep ordering small plate after small plate, and when were delightfully full, we found that the bill was surprisingly reasonable. Particular stars were the SOPA DE CASTAÑO (creamy chestnut soup - OMG it's so good you guys), the Short Ribs and the Pork Belly. The table next to us did a giant tasting menu, and we heard "oohs and ahhs" of tasty-happiness the entire time.
Great date place.
This place should be avoided if you're on a low fat diet, or if you hate really delicious food. -
Review from Steve S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/16/2012
It's crazy that i've never reviewed Tinto before! We've been here 6 or 7 times since it opened - we probably average once a year. If there weren't so many good choices in Philly, I could easily eat here much more often.
1st course
mixed spanish olives w/ fantastic mahon cheese and great saucisson - very healthy portion for the $5 price - definitely a bargain!
boquerones - marinated anchovies, pickled vegetables - definitely different but delicious, but not for everyone.
moules basquaise w/ frites - We've never NOT ordered this! One time we ordered two. Simply the one of the best mussels and frites in North America.
2nd course
spanish octopus - perfect
braised short rib sandwich - perfect
wild mushrooms - fantastic, healthy portion
The bill was $ 111.00 w/ 3 cocktails and 20% tip - not bad for some of the best food on this continent.
There was one problem though: A busser walked up and began to pick up the pulpo dish, even though there 2 pieces left. We were clearly still eating - it was our 2nd course we had 3 plates of plenty of food on the table, and this guy doesn't even think to ask before reaching in and taking the plate? Tinto please train your staff to ask if diners are finished with a plate - don't assume. -
Review from Lauren C.
Sewell, NJ
5/25/2012
Having been to Amada twice already, I had high expectations for Tinto. Boy, did it ever deliver. Although smaller in restaurant size and menu size, the flavor was just as strong and amazing as Amada. The dessert menu was the only weak area, only having 4 choices, none of which sounded amazing to me, so we passed. The standout dish of the night was the scallops- definitely order!!! Other fabulous choices were the brisket sandwich and patatas bravas (different style of serving and taste than Amada.) Don't miss out of another one of Garces' gems.
-
Review from JR R.
Williamstown, NJ
5/18/2012
Went in last night for the first time... Definitely going back.
The food was awesome! Started with the short rib sandwich, which was great. The mussels were even better, they come out of the shell. The lobster was also great. We finished the dinner with the ny strip and it made the meal complete. -
Review from Todd D.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2012
This is one of the best Tapas Bars in the City. It is a great place to share a million different small plates with friends or have a low key wine dinner with the wife. There is a great selection of food and wine as well. They have some of the best lamb chops I have had in a long time...
-
Review from Tim B.
Philadelphia, PA
5/20/2012
Stopped in for a drink after a bad experience at A.kitchen.
Here we got a very friendly bartender in a very nice environment.
Service was excellent. Bartender provided us with a complimentary tasting sample that was extremely delicious.
We both agreed to visit Tinto again for dinner as our next dinning night out. I don't think we will be disappointed. -
Review from Ken M.
4/1/2012
We are fans of the sister properties 'Chifa' and 'Amada'........ would Tinto deliver as well? Hell yes! The food was delicious and we had great service. It was all Pro's and just one Con.
The Con: The red Sangria. We did not like the Sangria, it tasted watery/bland (it did not have that 'fruit marinating all day' flavor to it). Come to think of it, we didn't like Chifa's Sangria either...... Yet, from what I remember, we did like Amada's Sangria...... go figure. I hate to admit it but many New York City restaurants seem to make better Sangria than most Philly spots.
The Pro's: everything we tried. Here is a few we had:
- Pulpo: the spanish octopus was exquisite.
- Organic Chicken: yeah, the chicken was super tasty but the accompaniment of foraged mushrooms....... effin' fantastic!
- Wild Mushrooms: (see above) we liked them so much we ordered a plate full
- Duck: duck confit, serrano ham, black cherry, la peral spread...... Yum!
- Arugula: we always order some type of salad in-between courses, it kind of cleanses the palate, this salad delivered.
- Chuleta: berkshire pork loin..... the salbitxada made it happen!
Our server was great. Our water glasses were continually refreshed. Our courses were spaced-out/timed perfectly. The price points were as expected.
Note to chef Jose Garces: We realize that you are expanding your empire at a feverish pace (California........ the 3 restaurants opening at the same time at the Revel casino, damn!). All we ask is that you stay grounded and keep an eye on your Philadelphia properties, we want them to have longevity. That is all.
Thank You
Ken -
Review from Alice B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/21/2012
Came here and got the tasting menu, which unfortunately was not as good as I remembered last time. Most was okay, but then again, it was just okay. The bass was raw in the middle. Like it could have been revived by a vet raw. The sangria was good, but the desserts were not impressive. I'm not a fan of flourless anything when it comes to baking, especially chocolate cake, and my mother and I just laughed that awkward laugh when you take a first bite of something terrible and don't want to swallow it, but know you kind of have to. Not for me next time... !
-
Review from Tyler T.
3/9/2012
I've been to Tinto about once a year for the last three years. The first time I came for a business Christmas party downstairs in the private dining room. I drank about 8 bourbon and gingerales (at about $10 a pop) on the company tab so I was ready to eat!
The vendor got the tasting menu for about 30 people and it was excellent. The food kept coming and I left the restuarant very pleased.
I didn't enjoy Tinto nearly as much the second time. I came by myself on a weeknight and got the tasting menu again. I think it was in the fall like my first visit, but the chef's selections did not please me as much. Maybe I didn't drink enough bourbon this go round?? I left very full but not completely satisfied having spent about $85.
The third time I came with my girlfriend, her dad and his wife. He is very into "European" style tapas restuarants so I figured Tinto had to be top of the list. He was very out of the loop with the Philly restuarant scene and hasn't experienced Philly food in about 15 years. When I told him where we were going he said something about an old restuarant he went to 20 years ago and how he was dissapointed. I told him that those days were over and Philly is making a name for itself now.
We started with a few pitchers of Sangria (Garces' makes the best) and he ordered the tasting menu for all of us. The food was excellent and it kept coming. I left very full, drunk, and satisfied. I think everyone at the table was feeling the same way as me.
I like Tinto alot., but not as much as Amada. Check it out and decide for yourself. You wont regret it! -
Review from Vichet O.
3/5/2012
Let's keep this simple, because it's Monday morning and I'd rather be eating. I can't yet, so instead I'll write about eating. It makes sense in a pretentious, douchey kind of way, doesn't it? No? Well then shut up - no one asked you.
You can tell when I'm writing hurriedly/sloppily when I use more than one set of parentheses per review. Sorry Jose Garces - I'll write you a more flowery one some other time.
In short, Tinto has tasty food (of course it's small - up-scale tapas?), a great wine selection (and good sangria from the few sips I had), superb service and atmosphere (look at the list of places I like and you'll get it), all in a once a month splurge kind of experience. I'm glad I reassigned funds from my "clothing optional establishment" budget to come to this place. And that the staff at Tinto are cool with being paid all in ones. Just kidding. Don't do that.
For added flavor, there was even a hipster talking about how well he speaks French (in hilariously mangled French) to impress the decidedly mainstream (non-Francophone) date he was on. He was butchering it, but she seemed impressed, so hats off to you, brother!
I mean, shoot, if I didn't pick places like Tinto, I wouldn't get any dates, period. Am I right?
I had a lot of things here:
1) Charcuterie Mixto:
Tasty. Light. My favorites were the lomo, and the chorizo pamplona. The egg salad was an interesting addition to the cold cuts - mild eggy flavor isn't the first thing I'd choose to mix with something salty and cured, but hey. I learn something new every day. It was nice - I enjoyed them better with the mixed cheeses below, though.
2) Mixed cheeses:
I forget exactly which ones we had, aside from the bleu de Basque, which was great.
3) Haricot verts:
Not what I expected - a little more on the sweet side. I guess that had something to do with the sherry vinaigrette and orange slices. Try it if you're looking for a different spin on green beans.
4) Mushrooms in cast iron skillet:
These were awesome, if just a tad more oily than I would have liked. "Wild mushrooms, roasted potato, shallot, parsley." Exactly what it sounds like, and unless you're deaf, it sounds awesome. Assuming you like mushrooms.
5) Baby artichokes:
One of my favorites of the night. Just... pleasant. Really it's just papparedelle, some kind of creamy sauce, and baby artichokes, but for me it recalled the feeling of good soup on a rainy day. Or, you know, kick-ass baby artichokes on a rainy day.
6) Pork belly canapes:
It's a good thing these were bite sized, because they were good enough for me to eat at least six or seven. Just do it, if you're pork-inclined.
So yeah. In retrospect, I probably should have gone all out for the chef's tasting with wine, but hey - next time.
Bien fait, Jose. Well done. -
Review from Caitlin C.
Richmond, VA
3/7/2012
I came here with clients and absolutely loved it. We had the chef's tasting menu, which was a great way to sample across the menu, and everything was great. They even worked with us to find gluten free items for one of our guests without changing the menu too much.
In addition to the food, the space was really nice. Dark and warm.
Next time I'm in Philadelphia for longer than a meeting, I'm going to insist on coming back. -
Review from Brian C.
1/31/2012
Tinto is actually really good. The food is very good. It's a tapas style restaurant so bring friends to share the experience. It's a lovely restaurant in a perfect location near Rittenhouse Square. The only problem I have with Tinto unfortunately is that I prefer Amada over it. Both Jose Garces restaurants, and with similar dishes and styles (I know that they emphasize different regional cuisine), but usually if I'm in the mood for Tinto, I'm in the mood for Amada. Why must you put me in such a predicament Jose?
I'm a sucker for Iberian ham (Jamon Iberico) and I love that they have it here. I also love that they have bocadillos (small sandwiches) here (and kind of wish they'd make bocadillos with Jamon Iberico like they do in Spain).
Well there you have it. A good place for some fine tapas... I guess it's a good problem to have to decide between the two restaurants. -
Review from Vanessa H.
Philadelphia, PA
2/12/2012
Service was good if a little "you should be thankful to be here." Atmosphere was good. Bar setup is pretty awkward...if you were looking to have a drink at the bar, keep in mind you will constantly be jostled. Also, try to sit on the main level rather than in the basement with the restrooms. Glad they proactively offered use of coat check, as the dining room isn't ideal for bringing your parka.
Food also good. The main problem is that the food doesn't live up to the prices. Take the scallops. Two scallops (delish for sure, but not something amazing), on a little bed of cheesy grits (we're talking 4 tbsp here). $18. Half the price or double the scallops, folks. Same issue goes for the rest of the seafood and meat portions of the menu. For anyone who's ever eaten legit tapas, this will seem silly. -
Review from Joe S.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2012
Had a great experience @ Tinto. We walked in without a reservation on a Saturday night but ended up getting a couple spots at the bar. The bartender Josh was outstanding. I have seen some mixed reviews on the red sangria, but I will say that we enjoyed it (fairly light on the palate, but it went well with the food we were eating).
-
Review from Louis D.
2/20/2012
So good. 3 of us did the tasting menu, and we got 17 (SEVENTEEN) dishes. Highlights were the duck, seabass, cheese plate, and many others.
Amada might be my favorite restaurant in the city - definitely my favorite Garces place, and this is right up there with it. Of course, they do serve some very similar dishes. -
Review from Chris W.
Glenside, PA
3/6/2012
Been here twice and ti keeps getting better everytime.
Jose Garces places are always killer. INCREDIBLE wine selection and great for groups since it is Tapas style.
Go in expecting to spend a bit more than normal but you will not regret it. -
Review from Aaron T.
Philadelphia, PA
4/22/2012
Their brunch is out of control. I highly recommend the grits and the pork belly. It's expensive, but we appreciate it every time we go. It does not dissapoint.
-
Review from Erik s.
3/18/2012
Tinto to me is like the cool kid's table at lunch I always wanted to sit with in middle school. Then I sat there and realized yeah everyone is pretty and stuff ...and nice enough...yet I was a bit underwhelmed. So instead I went back to sitting at the lunch table where we farted in snapple bottles and passed them to unsuspecting people. After dining at Tinto 4 or 5 times over the years I agree the food/drinks are decent, as is the decor & service as it should be at this price point. Yet I'm hard pressed to remember anything truly memorable. Then again Spanish tapas aren't really my thing. I just realized this review isn't really a review....thus pointless...thus I wasted your time....my apologies...enjoy the weekend.
Listed in: F@ck the Recession
-
Review from dave c.
Philadelphia, PA
1/30/2012
Reservation for 7:30. Waited 35 minutes for the "table to be prepared."
Upon being seated, no attention for 5 minutes. Awesome.
Zero sense of warmth or welcome.
The feeling that you should be thankful that they so graciously allowed you to dine with them.
Yes, the food was good, but enough with the cutesy (read: miniature) portions. Not asking for the typical American ration, but the morsels "presented" took tapas to a whole new low.
Oh. And a $13 Kettle One on the rocks? C'mon. That's a third of what a whole handle of Kettle costs. I know beverage markup is where restaurants make their money, but this was just absurd. -
Review from Tony D.
Somerville, NJ
2/23/2012
Best Restaurant in Philly!!! Been there twice, & both times the food was amazing (as was the experience)... Took a group of coworkers (6) & ordered the chef's choice and it didn't disappoint! A taste of everything, & all is great! Try the Mushrooms (& I hate shrooms), the lamb (in shot glasses) the steak... Can't go wrong with any order (even vegetarian) in my opinion. Worth every penny.
Service isn't overly friendly, but food is so good doesn't much matter...
I'll go back whenever I can for sure! -
Review from Matt M.
Magnolia, NJ
3/27/2012
Holy crap it is expensive! I'd agree with other reviewers, this is a good once a year type of place. The scallops were awesome, cooked perfectly. We had a ton of other dishes but those damn scallops stand out the most in my mind. Make sure you eat a real dinner before or after. You will not get full eating here unless you drop $85 to $100 pp. I would say go to Village Whiskey next door and get the beef short ribs & cheddar over duck fat french fries for $12. It's better than $50 worth of Tinto food.
-
Review from Chris W.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pretty disappointing restaurant week experience here. Had high hopes but was instead treated to a night of mediocrity once again reaffirming the over-hyping of restaurant. Here's the course by course breakdown.
For appetizer I had the chicken brochettes (boring with minimal flavor), the chorizo (lived up to the hype, a can't miss). the mussels (only about two in the bland broth), and the arugula (loved the fried goat cheese and orange vinaigrette was the perfect dressing).
For entrees I tried the bomba rice (not much different than a simple dish I make at home), the sea bass (cooked nicely with delicious salsa), the chicken (also a winner, tons of flavor), and the pork belly (was not impressed, too salty for even me).
Both desserts offered were average, nothing memorable but nice to have something sweet at the end. The biggest disappointment was I was not even full at the end of the meal. Also we were on the rushed side by the army of waiters patrolling the dining room. We had a pitcher of sangria too which made a final bill over $130 with tip, a lot for leaving without a satisfied stomach. I'll stick to Amada next time. -
Review from Luca B.
Philadelphia, PA
1/16/2012
Oh Jose.... Where did you go?
I've been here 4, maybe 5 times and the food has been great (the first time I tried it it was "oh my god this is good" great) every time. The first time I went a few years ago I had the duck confit wrapped in Serrano ham over bread and some La Perla cheese. Wow. The second time I went I had the duck confit wrapped in Serrano ham over bread and some La Perla cheese. Delicious. The third time I went I had the duck confit..... CHANGE YOUR MENU ALREADY.
Jose Garces, now of Food Network Iron Chef fame has about 200 restaurants in the downtown Philadelphia area. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make boatloads of money but surely there's no way any human can possibly keep the menus of so many restaurants fresh and innovative on a consistent basis. And that's a shame, really. The man is very very talented and the food is still wonderful, but I just won't go back.
If you've never been here, then by all means go, its really really really good but if you've already been here, try something new, try any of his other restaurants, Chifa comes to mind. Why have I been 5 times? Well the first two times, the place was still new and new to me, the last two or three times was at the request of various friends.
Great restaurant, great food, great ambiance, great service, nothing new though. If the menu changed seasonally here, I'd give it 5 stars. -
Review from Janine L.
Downingtown, PA
2/15/2012
Tapas = little food for a lot of money, but here, it's worth it.
Tinto offers prompt and friendly service, high quality well prepared food, and a chef who accommodates food allergies - a lot of seafood on the menu and I can't have most of it. Personally I don't like when restaurants do not allow al a carte orders and force you to order off of an over priced fixed menus because it's a holiday, but here, because of their willingness to bend a little for the allergies I didn't mind it. Will definately consider coming back for another special occasion. -
Review from Lauren B.
North Wales, PA
2/11/2012
We made reservations for 8:30, and granted we were 10 minutes late, but we were not seated until 9:30. A little disappointed. Our waitress was not friendly. She was judgmental and absent.
Everyone at the table selected the Chef's Tasting ($55 per person). Keep in mind, Tinto strongly suggests that the entire table participate in the Chef's Tasting or no one at all. This is a tapas place, so the plates are small. The tasting was enough to fill most of us, and the food was pretty delicious.
For the price, I'm not sure Tinto is worth every dime spent. A Brazilian steakhouse would have been the same price, quality food and much more satisfying. Go down the street to Chima. -
Review from Lisa B.
Royersford, PA
2/14/2012
This is another wonderful restaurant by Iron Chef Jose Garces. Like his other places, the menu is made up of small plates. . .which add up to big prices. But with the company of good friends and family, it's a fun and tasty treat.
Favorites included the Duck: duck confit, serrano ham,black cherry, la peral spread, which most of us preferred minus the la peral (a blue cheese). The duck was moist and succulent and was perfectly paired with the black cherry. Another favorite was the Pork Belly: berkshire pork belly, honey lacquer, shaved apples. And the Artichokes were another crowd pleaser: baby artichokes, fresh pappardelle, meyer lemon, idiazabal. The only problem is that with the small plates, you often wish there was more than just a bite or two when you really enjoy something. I could have eaten a much bigger plate of that duck!
For dessert we shared the Torrijas, which was not one of my favorites. It's like French toast: toasted brioche, caramel mousse, crème fraîche sherbert, orange. The Cuajada was very unusual, served in a glass. It's sheep's cheese, spiced crema, green apple escabeche, mint, and almonds. Each spoonful brought a different taste sensation. I also liked the Gateaux Basque: whipped cream, figs, cherry syrup. That was my favorite, as the cake had hints of butterscotch flavor with a shortbread texture.
Chifa is still my Garces favorite, but this one is also high on the list. Forget about your diet and enjoy every morsel that comes out of the kitchen! -
Review from Jill T.
Bethesda, MD
1/30/2012
We thought the food was excellent! The menu was interesting and varied and the food
was really good! The place is small (we sat near the entrance which was a bit cold when others came in), but we had a really excellent meal and would recommend this restaurant! -
Review from Amanda G.
11/29/2011
I can't get on board with Tinto for two reasons -
1. I'm simply not a fan of tapas.
2. The first time I ever had octopus was here, and it was one of the most memorable experiences (in a bad way) I've ever had. The plate that came out was straight up tentacles, little suction cups and all. I'm not used to eating gummy legs unless they're fried, you can call me amateur, but it grossed me out right away. Anyway, when I clamped my teeth down for a chew the leg shot from one side of my mouth to the other. It was so hard and inflexible. I gave it another chance, chewed again, and the same thing happened. I could not make a dent in the thing. So I spit it out into my napkin (which I never do). A friend I was with advised me that the technique was to simply swallow and not chew...my theory is, if you have to swallow food like a pill, maybe it's just not edible.
Anyway, this was definitely a "meh" experience. The dessert was good. The food was too scarce. And the octopus was frightening.
Pass. -
Review from Mike N.
Philadelphia, PA
12/20/2011
Ah one of Jose Graces's place...
I admit the man has some talent for being an iron chef.
Tinto has a romantic ambiance where the lighting is balance enough to enjoy the artsy view of your dinner plates. And the mirror walls reflect the stretching feel of a good size room. My date and I were placed in a room closer to the kitchen where we don't mind the background noise of the happy chit-chatters and the light cling-clangs of the kitchen.
We weren't that hungry so we ordered 4 tapas. I wouldn't recommend 4 tapas for 2 famish people. The recommendation is 3 tapas per person. But if I was hungry, I think I could destroy 5 tapas and then some. The menu includes the credit of the staffs like the ending of some movie (well that's nice of them). Our selection was the pulpo, pork belly, albondigas, and the green beans. The green beans were an afterthought to cut up the protein pattern.
Oh oh watch out for the food paparazzi as I described it in my head while my date took some pictures of the dishes. These tapas are sure pretty.
First dish: pulpo (grill octopus) came out with bubbly foam on top and a side of streaking sriracha-like sauce. Fresh, slight crispy-chewy with a nice spice.
Second: pork belly was crispy, flavoring, and delish. I could eat like 50 of these if I was self-gluttony bastard.
Third: albondigas (meatballs) came with little skews and a pouch egg in the middle of the dish. As my date described it as "savory ", I reply with "yummy". I was lost in words with all the overwhelming flavors (which made me felt kinda dumb haha).
Final the afterthought: surprise-surprise, these green beans were man-oh-man (no homo) good. It came with almonds, dates, little oranges, sprinkle paprika, and deliciously good sauce. I wasn't expecting it to be one of the best green beans I've ever tasted.
Overall my experience was satisfying and I would recommend it. However, the glaring of beautiful green eyes and cute little giggles helped that experience. -
Review from Eliza P.
Philadelphia, PA
3/8/2012
If you've read any of my other reviews, you know that I work for a non-profit and don't have a ton of expendable income: enter, my friends who make tons more money than me! One such friend was in town for the weekend and I decided to make him take me to Tinto, a place I've been wanting to try for a long time but haven't been able to because, well, I have to pay bills and a girl needs running water...right? Anyway, neither of us were disappointed. Here's why (duh.).
Great decor and ambiance - I wasn't on a date, but this is clearly a restaurant that would help you make a good impression on a significant other. We had a reservation but did have to wait for a bit, which was fine because it gave us a chance to have a drink at the bar. Nice bar, good drinks, no complaints. We were seated soon enough, and I have to say, our table was my only negative of the night. We were down in the basement, which depending on how you look at it, is either really romantic and cozy, or kind of feels like the place where you put the social rejects or red-headed stepchildren guests. You definitely miss out on some of the ambiance and vibe, which sucks when you're at a nice place. We were also literally right next to the storage closet and were basically sharing a table with the couple next to us. Luckily we were four nice people so it was okay, but it really could have taken a turn for the "incredibly awkward" at points if we were mean and/or socially inept.
Okay, on to the food. Clearly, when I'm at a restaurant, I eat a lot, and when I'm not paying, I eat even more. So, here's what we had (no exaggeration, and don't judge me): Manchego cheese, arugala salad, olives, black cod, lamb skewers, Kobe beef, crispy potatoes, wild mushrooms. I think that's it. Tinto is small plates, so I swear, it wasn't as bad as it sounds right there. Anyway, everything was pretty incredible. The potatoes and mushrooms were insane, and my friend, who's actually in the meat business (no, really), said the beef and lamb were both delicious. As a vegetarian, I really didn't feel limited by the menu, which is also always a plus. Sadly for my taste buds, we didn't get dessert, but I'm sure my BMI appreciated that gesture.
The service was on-point and our waiter patiently answered all of my friend's questions about meat without punching him in the face. I would absolutely go back but would request to sit on the main floor. Jose Garces, I'd like to buy you a shot. Or four. You win this round. -
Review from Meredith F.
Philadelphia, PA
12/13/2011
Went to Tinto for a Birthday celebration with a fairly large group, which can be challenging for a tapas style restaurant. The bar is very narrow and there is constant traffic as food is served when ready, which makes for mingling in the bar while waiting for our table was difficult at best.
Many parts of dinner were delicious. The highlights: Please have the duck!!! Delish! We had to order a 2nd this was such a great flavor combination and perfectly assembled. Duck was juicy and simply delightful. A must have. And cheese: boucheron and petit basque....very flavorful and left me wanting more.
I would recommend to steer clear of the tuna tartare. This was a MAJOR disappointment. Why would you destroy such a lovey flavor with a gherkin pickle and an over baked tasteless croissant. Epic failure in my opinion.
Overall, a fine experience. Expensive for what they are offering. And that includes the beverages. Sangria was far great. Only truly wowed by the duck. I would go back to have that and that alone. -
Review from Jeff H.
10/10/2011
This is my second exposure to Chef Garces - the first being Village Whiskey where I have gone several times. I almost went there again the other night but decided to give Tinto a try for several reasons:
- I was afraid if I went to VW, I would stay and drink several Manhattans and risk missing my flight the next morning (yes, did that once)
- was in the mood for a sample of several smaller dishes
- and read several great reviews of Tinto on Yelp
- the cute front desk woman at the Le Meridien highly recommended it
I am glad I went.
It was late, kitchen is closing in 5 minutes late. Yet they were very accommodating and friendly. I never felt rushed and the food came out in a reasonable pace. I tried the Duck Canapes and the Merluza En Salsa Verde (See bass and cockles) with glass of red wine. Both were very tasty, well prepared, and nicely presented. I later decided to finish with a cheese order and even though the kitchen was closed by then they gladly served me. The Serpa was as described - "A soft spanish style cheese, not creamy soft but not hard like a Manchego, with the forward flavors that you would expect with a sheep milk based cheese." spot on - though Serpa is actually from Portugal. And it went very well with the remainder of my red wine.
Overall, I enjoyed Tinto and would go back. Service was friendly and the food was great. The interior decor is interesting but not dominating. They have tables arranged in a way that allow for both romantic or quiet conversations as well as larger, and louder, groups.
A new "one of my favorites" in Philly. Though at $40 to $60 pp, not an everyday type of place. -
Review from Andrea G.
Lansdale, PA
1/19/2012
Tinto is one of my fav's! My only complaint is that if you're getting a table for two it can get a little cramped and you will be able to hear your neighbors entire conversation which can get pretty interesting.
The food however is worth it! Either the wine pairing or sangria is always a nice way to go. Make sure you check out the truffled chestnut soup, prawns, duck and diver scallops you cannot go wrong!
It's getting a little sad but I've been here enough that the wait staff is remembering me when I go back and thats saying a lot with so many great options in Philly. -
Review from Jillian P.
Philadelphia, PA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
First, let me put out a disclaimer: I enjoy high-quality small plate-type courses. The menu was very diverse, carefully curated and reflected high-quality ingredients (so you can see why I came here in the first place). I also adore Village Whiskey and wanted to try out another Garces restaurant (sounds adventurous, but it's right next door).
We were seated towards the back of the first floor at the last table before the kitchen. Although my chair was just as far out as the seat of the gentleman sitting at the next table, my chair kept getting knocked into (his was fine). My date scooted the table back so I could move forward. Fixable.
The waiter came out and seemed all right. He didn't make any specific recommendations except to get the tasting menu which includes their "nicer dishes." I was immediately put off by that language. "Nicer" dishes? No, thanks, I'll order some of the shit plates. I don't know if they are trying to up-sell but c'mon. He also said to get 4 plates each. I wasn't ravenous, the server didn't seem to offer specific dishes and so we both ordered 4 to share: pork belly, duck, crab and tuna tartare. We agreed that if we liked what we received, we'd order more. We put in our drink orders.
I ordered the Sangria Blanca and it was all right. I was expecting a lot less ice. When I make Sangria at home, I chill it and rarely ice it. What I got was more of a Sangria slushy. My date ordered the Chicquito, a lovely-sounding cocktail with tarragon-infused gin. This was also a slushy. And neither of us could taste any tarragon in the cocktail. We both agreed that it tasted more like a very acidic apple juice than a $12 drink.
The food arrived: first, the pork belly on a crostini with apples. They were very good. The flavors were balanced, the pork melted in my mouth and i was especially impressed with the portion.
Then, the crab was brought to the table. The silhouette was impressive. Upon first glance, you saw a mound of crab salad on a little piece of bread. Upon closer inspection, the meat was shredded--like tuna salad. The worst part was that the entire thing was cold--the avocado, the crab, the salad--as if they had just scooped it from the fridge onto bread. There wasn't any flavor, it was just cold, and the "lump crab" was not lump crab. I'd also like to say that I am from Maryland but I have a feeling that this would have disappointed anyone.
After tackling that, we moved on to the duck plate. One was slightly overcooked, and the other was bone dry. Neither of them tasted like anything.
The final dish was the tuna tartare. I order tartares because I love the flavor of whatever protein is showcased. It was on a bland croissant and the tuna was mixed with small red and green peppers (not bell peppers, but I don't know the name of them). The tuna was less than bite-sized and comprised maybe 1/3 of the tartare. All I tasted were peppers but maybe it's because the pieces of tuna were so small you couldn't taste it.
Needless to say, we didn't order more food. Or drinks.
Overall: decor was intimate, inviting and I especially enjoyed the lighting. The seating arrangements were awkward. The food was confusingly inadequate for the hype and the Garces name. -
Review from Kevin W.
Philadelphia, PA
9/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I'm going to go with 3 stars here and stick to my guns all day long. Everything here is small plates (Tapas) which is fine, although not really 100% up my alley.
Food; At the end of the meal I'd have to say it was good, but far from great. I had the duck and the octopus. Octopus, to me, felt a tad too much like frog legs. Seemed to have a slimy wet texture to it. Might have been cooked just a minute longer. The duck was very good. It was wrapped in bacon. I had the blue cheese for an app. It was pretty good. If you're more of a traditional type of person this may not be the place for you. Personally I'd never really go back there. I don't feel the food was high quality enough to warrant the price.
Service; It was good but, basically a different person comes by each time and just drops food off. We must have had about 7 different people drop stuff off. That just didn't make it feel "personal" enough for me I guess. It had an assembly line feel to it. I do understand tapas are almost a different animal when it comes to dining out but I just dont think it was worth more than 3 stars for food or service.
Dessert; Was by far the best part of the meal. Forget the name but they only have 2, and it wasn't the chocolate mousse.
Bottom line; Not a first date type of place and I could recommend about 20 other places you should try before you go here. I would consider this more of a lets eat out at a nice place, on a Tuesday. -
Review from Amy B.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Consider Tinto if you want to conquer a menu that includes seafood, cured meats, and interesting cheeses. This is a menu for people who like to try new food (or, I suppose, who know a lot about Spanish food already and want to eat more!).
I came with a colleague who is squeamish about meats and cheeses. We both ordered the chef's tasting, and while the kitchen did their best to accommodate my companion's quirks, let's just say I had more than my share of the (awesome) spicy crab montadito. Obviously my friend's tastes are not Tinto's issue. I point them out partly for people who have food restrictions and are thinking of dining here. The kitchen will definitely help you, and make sure anything you specifically mention is not served. However, Tinto serves bold, adventurous food, so it may not be the right choice for everyone.
If I went back I'd probably order off the menu now that I've had a taste of the offerings. The highlights: Organic chicken with Catalan spinach, perfectly cooked sea bass in salsa verde, green beans with paprika sherry vinaigrette, and the juicy, amazing duck montadito. Oh, and the spicy fries with lemon aioli, which didn't fit the mood of the meal but tasted too good for me to care. Lowlights: an enormous bowl of pitted olives (hard to eat with any grace), and the rich chocolate cake for dessert paired with fruity gelato (the gelato and cake did not taste good together, though both were good separately). I also did not care for the huge scoop of egg salad served with the charcuterie.
Wines were a strong representation of Spanish varietals, but I wish there'd been a more extensive by-the-glass list. I was looking for a strong, spicy red to pair with our aggressively flavored dinner, and didn't find it. However, our waitress kindly let me try a few wines before choosing one, and I did enjoy the monastrell and tempranillos I eventually drank.
Finally, I really loved Tinto's decor and ambiance. This was a sexy, elegant restaurant where noise levels were at a murmur and the lights were kept low. A perfect date restaurant, in my opinion, especially with the shared plates.
Just make sure your date likes to eat.Listed in: Philadelphia Phreedom
-
Review from Jesse T.
Hatboro, PA
3/7/2012
Lamb Shooters....delicious! Cheese platter....delicious! Pulled pork sandwich....delicious! Thats just a portion of the tapas we stuff ourselves with....nothing let us down! Such a beautiful restaurant from top to bottom. You get what you pay for....prepare to pay alot but also prepare to be blown away.
-
Review from Matthew G.
West Chester, PA
12/3/2011
Tough to decide between 3 or 4 stars although I went with 3 stars due to that fact that the sangria (both white and red) were really disappointing. That's a huge black mark for a tapas place in my book.
Some of the tapas range between delectable to disappointing. One downside going to a tapas place for the first time. You can order a dozen dishes for a party of 4 and their will almost inevitably be one of two you wish you could do a 'redo' on.
Let's start off with the good:
Highly recommend the sea bass and the Kobe beef. They were great. Figs were also quite nice as were the short ribs. Artichokes were also quite good with a nice sauce that complemented the fresh pappardelle and artichokes well. Bread that came out too with our various tapas was good too. Bambo rice was also a hit although the one person in our party passed because of the asparagus. I loved it though especially since the asparagus didn't overpower the dish which can easily happen.
The service also during the meal was really good. Never had to wait for dishes to be cleared, water glasses were constantly filled, and our server was great.
Love the ambiance and the interior. Really nice restaurant inside.
The so-so:
Diver scallops weren't bad either but they were a bit overcooked and too chewy. Usually one thing I almost never order out in a restaurant because they are so damn hard to cook properly especially when the kitchen is slammed on a busy Friday/Sat night. Pork belly was cooked great but it was a bit on the fatty side for pork belly.
The bad:
Tuna tartare was just a conceptual fail. Why take a beautiful piece of raw tuna and chop it up into pieces so fine? Texture is a huge part of eating tuna tartare and this dish just didn't have it. Ditto the cold jumbo lump crab. It was like eating crab salad without the mayo and no so fresh avocado. Both dishes I would definitely avoid. Same with the mushrooms. Way too much salt and no real variety in the types of mushrooms. Boring dish that should be avoided.
Sangria was the real letdown though. It stunk. I understand they aren't going to use a higher-end bottle of wine to make the sangria but for $32 for a small pitcher it better be better than a '$2 buck chuck.' Also it needs a lot less ice and a bit more fruit. I understand it needs to be chilled but I felt like I was at a fast food place trying to improve their margin by overflowing your glass with ice.
If you are going to go with the sangria though, go with the white. It was slightly better than the red. Still, I was really looking to some sangria after a brutal week at work & it simply wasn't that good. Certainly not worth the inflated price for a poor quality of wine and enough ice to make a small igloo with. Better off going with a glass of wine even though most of their 'wine by the glass' selections are pretty overwhelming Spanish wines.
Sitting on the booth seat shouldn't be an exercise in torture. I am only 6' feet tall and felt uncomfortable with no leg room & hunched over a bit. My friend at 6'2'' simply couldn't sit in the booth without being uncomfortable. He had to take a chair. Pity anyone over say 6' who has to sit in one of the booth seats because there simply isn't enough room.
Also it took a ridiculous amount of time to get the check. Shouldn't take 20 minutes.
Verdict:
I know that some people love to come to a tapas place on a date but I have always much rather preferred to come with a group of 4 or 6 people who I love to converse & drink with instead. Tapas really are a social thing. Plus, it also means you order a ton of tapas and get to try a broad selection of the menu.
Poor quality of the sangria was really disappointing. Also thought it was a bit pricey for a tapas place given the quality of the food we got. It was good but not great. I expect something pretty good or even great when our bill comes out to over $100/person with gratuity.
Given that I like Amada more, I don't think I will be back to Tinto unless there really is a good reason to come. If you are going to come, look thorough of the writeups here to try to get a better idea of what tapa to order and which ones to avoid. -
Review from Teri R.
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have not been quiet about my crush on Chef Garces, and our latest date has not dampened my passion. I fully expected Tinto to be very reminiscent of our last outing to a JGR, Amada ... and looking over the menus and reading reviews, it looked like that would be the case. But I have to say I found the two restaurants to have very much their own personalities.
While Amada feels to me like a mature, experienced, sensuous retreat, Tinto comes off as just plain sexy and a bit fresh. In my eyes, life is not complete without both.
My one and only issue with Tinto is space ... tables are small and packed tight, and there is less separation of business and pleasure (kitchen is clearly in view down a flight of stairs near the one stall bathroom, and I spent my evening looking almost directly at a server's station where servers were busily punching in orders all night.) Though I must admit the space is very easy on the eyes, and I adore the black & white details mixed with the glass and wood ...
Enough of my complaining, though ... onto the food. oh, the food. Shortly after being seating, our excellent server William came over and asked us if we had any questions about the menu. We had a few ideas and he helped us fill out our order so that it was well-rounded and packed with both new and familiar items. He also suggested a timetable of plate arrival -- knowing which dishes would pair well together. He was spot-on on all fronts.
A dish appeared out of nowhere, with a quick description that I missed (all i heard was "complimentary" and I dug in) but seemed a little like cheese tissue paper wrapped into a tube, served with some tasty dip. So yummy ... very good start, we were now very excited.
Everything we ate was scrumptious, but I was most taken with the Mixto cheese plate, the wild mushrooms (OMGgood) and the lamb brochettes with the eggplant and smoky bacon char (yowza) and dessert (torrijas) was crazy good. But we ate an amazing amount of food and had some delish cocktails, and there was not a miss on the menu. We were stuffed but hoping we had another plate or two coming. Even considered adding to our order. But ... yeah, the bill was coming and we knew the score. You don't dine like this on a budget. We had to rein ourselves in ... don't expect to get out of here for less than $50 a head before drinks/tip. But worth every penny.Listed in: Tapas and small plates
