For my husband's birthday, I took him to a play at Soul Pepper theater. We popped in to Madrina to have a drink and a tapa before. At 6:30 we sat at a high table and ordered a glass of wine, a cocktail and a tapa. We told the waiter we were going to the theater and must leave by 7:15. Our drinks arrived and the wine was not the size ordered.the cocktail i ordered was incorrect, but we only asked that they fixthe wine order. By 7pm our tapa had not arrived and when the waiter came he asked if we wanted our bill. We said yes, and that considering the time we assumed he forgot our tapa. We paid and left. It was a shame as we had hoped for something special. The Somontano was mediocre, but the cucumber cocktail was excellent. read more

Sat outside on the outside patio on a Saturday in May, band was playing nearby so that was good placement. Had a late lunch so figured would grab some tapas to hold us over until dinner. The chicken skewers were probably the most tender chicken I've ever had. The eggplant was divine. Would definitely recommend to any in Toronto to try and will return to try more great dishes they had on the menu. read more

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A refreshingly modern take on spanish tapas, this menu was beautifully executed with bold new ideas and flavours that I haven't seen anywhere else. Let's start with the cocktails - the gin sour was the one of the most refreshing cocktails I've ever had - perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, while packing a pomegranate punch. The caprinha was similar to a margarita, and was decent but a bit too sour for my taste. The food was also excellent - I loved the patatas bravas, which were made hasselbeck style for that extra crispy texture. Croquetas were good but nothing out of the ordinary. The shrimp paella was excellent; they had 3 types of shrimp in there (whole, chopped, and tartare) which made for really nice bites along with the perfectly flavored rice. Lastly, the tomato bread was one of my favourites for its simplicity - warm bread, sweet tomatoes, silky smooth olive oil, all topped with flaky salt made for a perfectly balanced bite. Overall I loved this place and would definitely go back, however I would order 2-3 extra dishes next time as the food was so good it actually made me hungrier for more! Great for lunch or dinner, plus they have a beautiful patio in the heart of the distillery district. read more

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I had a fun experience. Starting with my custom made drink. It was a gin and tonic variation. The server asked me series of question on how I usually take my drinks and then came up with a creation that was tasty, semi sweet just how I like it. The menu is all tapas which is supposed to be for sharing however I found the portions extremely small. For example the beef tenderloin was listed under larger tapas and came with two Small pieces that's not sharable that's more of a tasting portion. Everything was tasty but the portions are tiny especially for the price read more

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I've been here twice now. The first time was with a friend, the food was ok and the heating wasn't strong enough on the patio. The second time was with a group of friends. We each got a drink and each picked 3 tapas to share. The portions were small, I paid 65$ at the end of the night and felt like I barely ate anything because I was still so hungry. I didn't like the patata bravos. The tortilla de patata was delicious and my favourite thing that we tried, I would get this again. The red sangria just tasted like sugar, and no wine. The chicken wraps were kind of bland, I wouldn't order these again. The waitress wasn't rude but also wasn't very friendly and made no effort to converse with us until it was time to pay. Overall, I'd say this place wasn't anything special. The location is nice in the heart of distillery, but the food was a little over priced for what we got. read more

Madrina Bar y Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This restaurant is in an amazing location, I love the distillery district. Atmosphere is nice but feels cramped, there is not space for large parties. Noise bounces around in this place extremely easily. Food and staff were good but not excellent, not what I'd expect for a Michelin star. Plates are extremely small compared to other restaurants of this style and lacking flavor in some areas. Great wine selection though read more

Madrina Bar y Tapas - John Dory - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The good: location and ambiance! Really love the distillery district and the location of this tapas place. The ambiance inside is great and cozy! Love the artwork. Great service and friendly servers. The meh: I was underwhelmed with the portion sizes of the meal. Definitely felt overpriced and the actual food was not much, especially the paella. I've been to great tapas places in Spain and all over the world. For that price, it should have been much bigger and more shrimp. read more

Madrina Bar y Tapas - Paella - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A solid choice for tapas. Sampled a wide variety of items, no bad choices. Standout items: the artichokes with iberico ham (the puree underneath the artichokes was to die for - forgot to ask what it was, I could have literally eaten it straight with some bread); crab & avocado salad canelloni; steak tartare on roasted marrow bone; smoked octopus served under a smoke-filled cloche. Would definitely stop in again but oddly there was nothing to push this resto into 5-star territory. Drinks were insanely overpriced; all the dishes were solid but nothing really spectacular. Standard tables were a bit crowded - if only 2 guests maybe ask for a high top along the wall. read more

Madrina Bar y Tapas - Crab & avocado salad cannelloni - Tapas Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It brought back memories of dining in Barcelona and Madrid! Tapas and Cava! Vale! Great location in the Distillery District!

What can I say? I was pleasantly surprised. Madrina Bar and Tapas was delightful. From the delicious array of food choices, to the warm and sexy ambiance, this restaurant checked every mark! The shrimp croquetas are an absolute MUST! A special thanks to our server, Latish! Your hospitality and attention to detail was exemplary. Erika & Mandi read more

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We were looking for a good Spanish Tapas spot and I think we struck gold! First of all, the location is perfect. The restaurant itself has a persevered exterior that makes it look like the rest of the distillery district but has a very modern style inside. It was impressive just to look around. Our server Victor did a great job talking us through the menu and recommending the Chefs tasting menu. I've included photos with the review. The absolute star was the Tuna Tartare Cone in our opinion. The egg & truffle potato had an incredible texture and offered a very unique taste, delicious. Everything was amazing overall. We didn't opt for the drink pairing, but will do it when we are back soon! The wine list was a perfect length, and every choice we made was a good one, so well done for putting a great wine list together. Many thanks to the team there, you just earned two new fans! read more

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Seems that my review wasn't posted. Will write again. Nice decor and nice atmosphere but music too loud and not unique. The service was excellent and the waiter was very attentive. The wine list is extensive although by the glass options limited. The food was mixed- some very good, others not well done. We ordered tuna tartar and steak tartar. Not what we expected. They were each served in a little cone and the tartare seemed whipped. good taste but outrageously priced for what it was. We also ordered the Manchego cheese and it had been clearly sitting in the kitchen too long as it was cold and the cheese was hard. Disappointing. We had the smoked octopus which was overcooked and hard. The taste was good however but at $29 for a small plate, this should have been perfect. The shrimp and clam paella was very good but the clams were minuscule and the paella was tiny. Ridiculous for $38. They forgot the crispy bread with tomato and when they brought it we were at the end of the meal. It was okay but a few very small slices for $13. The wine was good but pricey- 5oz for $20. Huge mark up. All in all, nice place but ridiculously priced. Dinner was $350 for 3 people. In an out in 90 minutes. We were told we had 2 hours. For this price, we should not have had a time limit. I don't think I'll be back. read more

The food was outstanding. The Michelin star is well deserved. The tasting menu was a wonderful variety of delicious food. The gazpacho was one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. The service was also terrific. Our waiter Altay was friendly and welcoming. He there when we needed him without hovering. His timing was perfect. We look forward to our next meal there. read more

Had a great experience at Madrina back in February. We enjoyed the duck paella, Spanish potato omlette, croquettes (which I felt was too salty), 2 cocktails, and their cheesecake. To be honest I went for their beautiful empress gin and tonic, but then remember i can make this at home while sipping it. But then i ordered the second cocktail called Flor De Jarez, it's made with rum, apricot brandy and vermouth....it was phenomenal! read more

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Really enjoyed their tasting menu on my recent trip to Toronto. My cousins and I decided to come here for dinner on the last night of my visit. Upon entering the restaurant, the first thing that I saw was the beautiful sight of Iberico and I instantly knew that I was in for a great meal. There were five of us and we decided to just do the tasting menu. Everything was fabulous - special mention goes to the marrow and, of course, the Iberico. Really authentic Spanish tapas served in a nice modern restaurant with friendly service. Apparently, gin and tonic is a big thing in Spain now so we had to try a couple. Overall, it's a Michelin-Star quality meal served in one of my favorite cities. Highly recommended!!! read more

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Located on distillery district, an upbeat modern yet casual tapas restaurant that is a must try! Food was fresh and flavourful (especially the octopus) and did not lack in flavor for all dishes ordered. Service was on point; establishment is clean, and decor is well put together. Remember, this is a tapas restaurant! Which means it is small servings as shareable foods, so order more or try the whole menu ;). The pictures attached were good for 1 hungry couple. read more

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Went there for my birthday August 9. The sangria was great and the tapas were very . My wife reminded the waiter it was my birthday and waiter went inside to bring, what traditionally should've been a dessert or slice of cake. But strangely he came out with a shot glass filled with pebbles holding up a lit candle? Very strange and somewhat disappointing. You'd think they'd want to feature one of their great desserts. read more

Tapas were decent at best. Sangria was great. Our waiter was really polite. Why am I giving it 2 stars? My wife and I were having a great evening, continued ordering tapas throughout our time there, 2 pitchers of sangria, overall having a good time. All of the sudden one of the hostesses came to our table to let us know we needed to hurry up and leave because the next party for the table had arrived.... Place was EMPTY, nobody waiting to be sat. We were already wrapping up but when I was trying to explain that to her, she simply said "you have 3 minutes" turned around and walked away... spent $400 + to be kicked out like that and not even allowed to engage in a conversation. Ridiculous. read more

A wonderful, tasty, afternoon spent on their patio . Began with a delicious sangria and slowly tasted our way through small tapas perfect to share. Each dish exploded with unique flavors. Well worth a stop while in the Distillery District of Toronto read more

Booked a reso for two on a Friday night while we were checking out the TO light fest in the distillary district. This restaurant is conveniently located in the Centre of the district right beside the main stage! Great location And easy to find! I liked the ambiance of the place with exposed brick walls, artsy sketches and exposed wooden beams. I loved their charcuterie and cheese display with two ham legs near the front door! Onto the foodsss Started off with Truffled egg yolk - this came out as literally two egg yolks on two spoons sprinkled with a generous amount of truffle shavings and some salt! This was soooo decadent and so delicious. The pinch of salt definitely lifted the rich and full flavor of the truffle and egg yolk. Yum!! Calamari sandwich w squid ink aioli - not my fav, but I liked the lightly battered calamari rings and buttery bread Steak tartare and bone marrow - this is a Must get!! Super delicious melt in your mouth bone marrow cooked to perfection and topped with classic steak tartare. Sooooo good Octopus - omg this was my favorite dish. I don't like hummus usually but I can eat this curried hummus for days! The octopus was so tender and Smokey, I justt wanted to close my eyes and savour the moment with every bite! It also comes in a fancy display with smoke! Overall , spectacular dinner experience. We are definitely coming back for the bone marrow and octopus lol! read more

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Atmosphere: The patio in particular is beautiful with white fragrant flowers contrasted by the burnt orange of the decor. Didn't spend much time inside but a brief peek in suggested similarly well thought out. Service: Friendly Food: Decidedly not vegan friendly. Asked re vegan options and directed to some items that were clearly not vegan eg butter, cheese. Olives all same variety, unwarmed, and somewhat off:I would have this to be a strength at a tapas resto. Bread w tomatoes and olive oil (don't recall name on menu but largely, bruschetta) was good, though similar item with mushrooms and truffles didn't allow for similar praise. Cocktail (Poniente,$19) was fine. Overall: Would return largely for a glass of wine and bruschetta-like app especially if in the summer on the patio. 3.5/5 read more

1st time here. Excellent services with unexpected yummy food. Everything good except a bit noisy (maybe I am too old for the music) Highly recommended. read more

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I came here by myself for some tapas and a glass of wine (or two). The staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. I ordered several savory tapas and one sweet tapas. I recommend the bread with olive oil and tomato. It's deceptively simple but was delicious and hit me like a warm hug. Another highlight was the chocolate ganache sweet tapas. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly servers, great food. read more

Came here with my sister and aunt. The ham croquettes were the what thing we have tried all night by a long shot. (5 stars) The octopus (4 stars) - this a boiled octopus not grilled, so it was quite different than I am used it. It was served with a glass cover where you could see the steam, and then the cover was removed and the octopus and presented. The flavors combined pretty well. The paella with the shrimp - 3.5 stars, the shrimp on top was not really well cooked. Manchego Cheesecake (4 stars)- had a very rich flavour, the cheese for me almost had a rotting taste (not bad, but a bit overwhelming), would recommend it. Baby Sardines - (4.5 stars) Kind of small, but very tasty. Pa AMB tomaquet - (3.5 stars) simple and tasty, but nothing to rave. Small potatoes (3 stars) - a bit undercooked The cost for 3 people (no drinks) with tax and tip was 113$. We ate enough, but we were not stuffed. read more

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I'm going to preface this by stating that this is based on my experience with delivery. Looking at all the pictures and reviews of other people's dine in experience, I hope to eat in the restaurant when we're allowed. We ordered the tasting menu for 2 and we were so excited to celebrate a special occasion with this food. When I took everything out of the bag, I was less than thrilled. There were some items that looked great, and there were some that looked not so great. Starting with the positives, I really enjoyed the Spanish croquetas. After heating it up in the toaster oven, they were crispy with a creamy inside. The steak tartare was so good and hands down our favourite menu item. The roll was super soft and was perfect to hold the tartare. I would order that again on its own. Now for the not so great. The first menu item, montadito de escalivada, looked to be a bite full of flavour. It was not. Even with the anchovy, there was not much taste to it. I also had to rebuild it as everything fell off during the trip. The crema catalana also took a beating during delivery as you can see in the photos. The taste and texture was like watered down condensed milk. The shrimp paella was disappointing. The rice was flavourful, I must say, but plain. There was a single shrimp. One. In a menu for 2. Do we rock paper scissors for who gets it? I understand a la carte it comes with one, but in a meal for 2 you would figure that each person gets a piece of everything. It would've made more sense for there to be one dessert for sharing. One shrimp for sharing is wrong. We ate according to the order on the menu. By the time we got to this point in the meal we were just eating to finish the food. There was no enjoyment. At a $100 price point this is not something that should be ordered for delivery. I don't think this style of cuisine is ideal for travelling. Perhaps packaging needs to be reconsidered. read more

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Located in the Distillery District, it is a small packed restaurant that didn't have a lot of space between tables. The washroom was clean with interesting lighting effect with low ceilings. The open kitchen behind the bar was cool to watch as we sat at a high table nearby. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. The menu was full of tapas and the price was what surprised us. Be warned: it is a pricey place if you want your tummy to be full. So we decided to share three tapas - as appetizers and grab dinner somewhere else!! Two tapas were open faced tiny canapés with crab and smoked salmon. The other dish was octopus with hummus. The quantity for this dish was such a disappointment!! Three bite size each. Presented nicely but definitely not nice to the wallet. Walked out disappointed. I had better tapas or small dishes at other places that actually satisfied my tummy and it didn't cost an arm and a leg!! I would never go back. Well, unless someone else is paying for the full bill. But then, there are better restaurants in other neighbourhoods. read more

We went to Madrina before a show. The atmosphere was lively, the lighting and decor were pleasant and the service was attentive. We sampled from the tapa menu and had some lovely dishes like croquetas and patatas bravas. Each item was prepared with care and presented beautifully. The cocktails were tasty. read more

My friends and I tried Madrinas for the first time, and unfortunately our experience didn't start off great. When we arrived there was no line. I noticed at least a couple empty tables, and even peeked at their iPad - the system also showed a couple empty tables. But when we tried to get a table, for some reason it felt like they were looking for an excuse to make us wait and told us it would be 30 minutes before a table would become available. We put our names down, and literally 7 minutes later - after walking towards the opposite of the end of Distillery - I got a text saying my table was ready. Unsurprisingly, they gave us the table that I noticed was available on their iPad... Anyways, the food ranged from average to good. Definitely try the steak tarare on bone marrow - it was delicious! The crab sandwich, salmon sandwich, and cheese were all very average, with nothing about them standing out. They forgot to make our shrimp paella, but good and they were nice enough to comp it. read more

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Having just one night to hop around Toronto, my wife and I made the most of it and visited quite a few places. If my review could only be two sentences, I'd end it by saying that this was our far-and-away favorite and highlight of the night. After walking around the Distillery District Winter Village, we made an impromptu decision to hop into Madrina for some tapas and cocktails, and we couldn't have been happier with our decision. Everything from the ambiance to the service, food, drinks, and everything in between was perfect. I started off with the Dos Mares cocktail, because when I see mezcal on a menu I can't resist. It was perfectly balanced, and you could tell the bartender knew their craft as it engaged my sense of smell as well as sense of taste - excellent presentation and the definition of a full experience in a glass. For food, we shared the ham croquetas, which were by far the creamiest croquettes I've ever had. We also had the fantastic mushroom and truffle open-faced sandwich. I have to say they did not skimp on the mushroom at all - great flavor. Lastly, we got the patatas bravas which were uniquely presented with alternating toppings of sriracha brava sauce and wasabi aioli. The best I can do for you is to say come and try Madrina for yourself. You won't be disappointed. read more

The patio ambiance is amazing. Nice music and relaxing atmosphere. Very open concept. Service is very nice and energetic! From reservations, to the host at the front. I love it how they provide and pour the bottled coca into the Cuba Libre. This adds a very personal and interesting touch. Definitely makes the dining experience more entertaining. Seleccion de embutido 50% acorn fed iberico ham, salchichon, chorizo (20g of each) $17 Very thinly sliced and reasonably priced. I really like how there are quite a few options of iberico ham. Smoked Salmon Cream cheese, honey, chives $6 Tortilla de patatas (V,GF) Spanish potato omelette, confit onion, aioli, chilli and olive oil caviar, cooked "a la minute" $9 -Not bad, it's like a chucky fry with aioli on Crab and avocado salad Cannelloni Romesco sauce, salmon roe, cilantro cress $16 -This is absolutely my favourite, light and good portion of snow crab filled inside wrapped in very fresh avocado. Very unique concept as it is not wrapped in nori or rice paper. The beef tartare presentation was nicely done. Great for first dates and a nice evening with friends and loved ones! read more

Was here not knowing it was a Michelin star restaurant. It was my 2nd time trying tapas, a girl friend of mines first. The hostess was very kind & welcoming and took our jackets upon arrival. They also had no hesitation taking care of the nut allergies at all times. We had the ox tail, a potato dish, and marinated olives and dessert, we didn't care for but everything else was divine, most courteous staff and excellent food. They even brought a cake with a birthday card. To top it off they gave us complimentary sherry before leaving. A bit pricey but well worth every penny. read more

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TLDR: Ambiance is amazing; Food is suprisingly unexpected; Seats are too close to each other; Friendly staff; non hipster friendly; accommodating staff Approaching spring and yet Toronto is still below freezing which tells us that less people will dine out on a weekend. Nevertheless, the scene on touristy areas will always be more packed than expected. My partner and I decided to drive downtown and have an unusual dinner out on a Sunday. We were supposed to go to the traditional hipster places in Queen/King St. West but as soon as we saw this tapas place while walking around the Distillery, we know we need try it. I've been craving for Spanish Sardines lately and I must say the moment I got the Menu, my eyes were looking for anything Sardines! It was the most satisfying dish I had for the entire week and I couldn't lie. The tangy flavour of the sardine is something I LOVEEE! Although the ambiance is superb, I find it a little crowded. It fits the main idea of a Tapas restaurant but also a struggle when you want to order many dishes. Here's a simple correlation which I couldn't guarantee 100% : size of table drives less food or dishes to fit for a table which means less food to order because you think you order alot cause it took all the space of the table. Also less space drives frustration of customer during winter when everyone wants to get a hold of their things at once. My partner loved the bone marrow and beef! If you have high cholesterol and high blood pressure problems, for sure you wouldn't want to see this because just by looking at it, it's mouth watering. Overall, we will come back not on a summer but early spring! I think in the summer this will be packed. read more

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To start my Toronto vacation, we had a late dinner at Madrina Bar y Tapas. Walking into the restaurant, I was blown away by how warm and rustic the interior was. It felt like I was in a classy establishment in Spain. Our server was very attentive all night and welcomed us to Toronto. We ordered so many things and they were all delicious, but must-try's are definitely the East Coast Oysters with Salsa Aperitivo, the Smoked Duck Paella, and the Selección de Embutidos y Quesos. This is the perfect place to eat, drink, and chat when you're in Toronto. I would happily come back again! read more

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Madrina is a new Spanish tapas bar that is located in the Distillery District. I was able to go try the place recently for dinner. They are currently amidst their soft opening and I believe the waiter told my party and I that their official opening will be in August. Madrina has a variety of items to choose from from the expansive menu - just about anything to suit everyone's tastes. Their menu is meant to be shared and is divided into several sections (from different types of ham/cheeses, pintxos, seafood in a can, seafood, plates that are inspired from the land, the sea, and the earth, and dessert). There is also an expansive alcohol list which includes wines, sangria, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages. My party and I of three made reservations at around 7:45pm and were promptly seated. Service was great as our waiter was from Barcelona; he patiently went through the menu with us to give us some recommendations to try. Our party ordered our drinks (a draft beer and another alcoholic drink for 2 which was served to us in a flower vase with some plastic flowers - I don't remember the name for either). In terms of food we ordered the boquerones, the selection platter of ham, the escalivada pintxos, Catalonian crispy bread (Pa amb tomaquet), the confit cod fish (Bacalao al pil pil), the Atun Rojo Con Ajoblanco (citrus and pepper marinated yellowfin tuna loin, almond & garlic cream), steak tartare, and the chocolate ganache for dessert. The most favourite dishes voted by the table were probably the steak tartare and the cod fish. The tartare had unique delicious flavours and the cod was beautiful and buttery. Depending on how much food you order, the amount can quickly add up as each dish is small, but also meant to be shared. It is best if you come with a larger party of people to try more food. Overall, the service and food was good - the price can be steep depending on what types of food items you order. The interior design of the place reminds you of Barcelona and Spain (designed by Studio Munge). Madrina probably doesn't top my other favourite Spanish tapas bar in the city, but it is worth a visit to try! read more

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we popped by here for some drinks on a wednesday evening. i was planning on have 1 drink only but our amazing mixologist joshua was too good at his job! had 2 specialty cocktails that he was concocting for their summer/winter menu. 1 first drink was a twist on your paper plane, not only was it being made with gin [i love gin!!] but there was a compari frothy foam mix too! oh lord heavens in my mouth! i wanted to chug that down in 3 seconds! had to sip it slowly and enjoy it! it was like having the asian bubble tea with milkfoam! but obviously, minus the tea and milk and sub the alcohol! the flavours were slightly tart yet sweet. so refreshing! itd be perfect for your sunny summer patio days! the second drink i had was smoked with pork belly?? my god i believe he said the name was going to be 'the count jambon' or something. it was a twist on your classic negroni but with that smoked pork bacon ham magical animal fat! oh my! i was in for a surprise. the presentation was quite the show! the drink is covered bc its smoked up, then as he slides off the cover, you can instantly smell the aroma of the smokey bacon is infused all in there and the asian pear garnishes soak it all up too! oh my i need more just writing this up right now! thank you so much joshua! we'll be back soon forsome food too! read more

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This little spanish tapas restaurant is in the Distillery District. The menu was confusing since it was in Spanish with few bits of English, so we ended up getting the chefs tasting for 2. The highlights of the tasting were: anchovies with pepper and eggplant and the bone marrow with steak tartare and puréed olive. The only thing was that the dishes are carb heavy (lots of bread), and not knowing what things are on the menu, you'd be in for a surprise on how things sound vs. taste. Would come back with a bigger group to pick and choose more varieties of tapas! read more

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We tried the tasting menu, and unfortunately none of them can be categorized as tasty. The flavour was either bland and weird. They try to make some nice dishes but unfortunately failed all the way. And in fact, I have never dine in a restaurant that ALL of the dishes are so underwhelming‍ read more

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I decided to try this spot for my birthday dinner the other week, and had an okay experience. I thought the atmosphere was great; the decor was adorable and I really enjoyed the drinks as well. The food however, I was not as impressed with. For drinks, I ordered the gin sour which I thought was absolutely delicious; it had a hint of ginger with pomegranate liqueur and I loved it! My sister ordered the white wine sangria which was very good as well. For food, we started off with the island mussels, shrimp croquetas, and the manchego queso. All these dishes were okay, however not anything too special. I probably liked the cheese the best, it came with crispy toast and a jam which was yummy. Next, we ordered the eggplant escabeche and crab montaditos which are basically open faced sandwiches. I enjoyed the eggplant one, it was served with goat cheese and was quite good. However, I was not a fan of the crab one. The crab meat was served cold, and just tasted fishy to me; it did not seem fresh at all. We also tried the patatas bravas which I was quite excited about initially, but I ended up being a little disappointed. It was not very crispy or flavorful, and was supposed to be served with a sriracha brava sauce, which ended up just tasting like bland tomato sauce. The wasabi aioli it was served with was a little bit better in flavor, but overall this was a pretty bland dish. The next dish we tried was the chicken lettuce wraps, and I actually enjoyed this one, the chicken was very good and flavorful. We ended with the shrimp and clam paella, and the grilled octopus. I liked the octopus better than the paella. The octopus was pretty tender and the flavor was good. I found the shrimp in the paella to be a little fishy tasting and lacking freshness again. The rice in the dish was okay, but I still thought it lacked flavor overall. I really enjoyed the vibes at Madrina, and feel this is a cute spot for a night out and drinks, but the food is a hit or miss to me. Some dishes were quite good, but the seafood dishes seemed to be lacking in freshness, and some other dishes were lacking in flavor. read more

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I had really high hopes for Madrina, but it was extremely disappointing. Sorry in advance for my essay. Originally my friends and I wanted to make a reservation for 8 for their tasting menu, however their online booking system didn't have a group of 8 available. After some very confusing back and forth with the lady on the phone, we booked 2 tables of 4. Few days later, they called me again and changed it to a table for 8, except now we had to pay mandatory 18% gratuity. On the day of, both on the website and on google maps, the entire restaurant was marked as closed. A bunch of friends msged me asking what's going on. Madrina's phone line is so odd, it says 2 min hold time but hangs up on you after 2 min. I called like 6 times before getting through. Ok, it's a mistake, they're not actually closed. But also, apparently they're not doing the tasting menu anymore due to the Christmas market. That sucks. All this confusion before we even get to the restaurant. But it doesn't get better... I tried to order the pear chamomile martini. The server tells me they're out. Ok, no problem. I order the poniente. Also not available. How about the pisco sour? Surprise, not available. How is it possible that 3/7 cocktails on the menu are not available? I finally end up with a off menu negroni. It's pretty good. Now for food. The server suggests everyone gets 2-3 items. Between my husband and I we ordered: El bulli olives - teeny tiny, quarter sized. Tastes like liquid olives. 5/10 Shrimp croquetas - also very small, timbit sized? Tastes good though, 9/10 Patatas bravas - couldn't detect any hint of layers in it, was actually quite solid. My husband says it's "one giant French fry with ketchup and mayo" 4/10 Steak tartare - actually really good, bone marrow was excellent. 10/10 Beef tenderloin medallions - no one asked us how we wanted them cooked, it was around a medium rare. I probably would've liked medium instead. Also it was really small too. 7/10 Would I come back? Definitely not, and I recommend you don't either. The food was too hit and miss for how expensive it was, and portions wayy too small. The service (before and during) was mediocre. Tasting menu got pulled, hours kept changing, 40% of the cocktail menu is unavailable, and we still had to pay mandatory 18% gratuity for very slow service. We were there for 2 hours! Honestly I think I deserve reverse gratuity for having to call them so many times and listen to that awful hold music and get hung up on. read more

Amazing first experience with Spanish cuisine! Beautiful location in the old Distillery! They have a decent sized patio as well. We ordered majority of the menu as we knew tapas to be fairly small dishes. I loved how the served my Blanco Sangria in such a huge cup (not sure if it measured up to 6oz but it was a lot of wine I wasn't complaining at all). The lobster cones were by far my favorite ever! We ordered two orders of them because they were that good. Everything was amazing I'd recommend you pop in and try their entire menu out if you can - you won't be disappointed! read more

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