Mediterranean Bites at Bar Reyna – Toronto

By: Shelby Morrison

Looking for a place to grab an after-work drink in Toronto?

Bar Reyna is a Mediterranean snack and cocktail bar nestled inside an old Victorian townhouse at 158 Cumberland Street. While attending a media dinner, I was thoroughly impressed with everything from the atmosphere, the food and the service.

“Reyna” means Queen in Spanish, which was quite fitting for their opening night on Victoria Day.     

 

The back patio is a summer outdoor oasis with wooden walls and white designs wrapping the inviting space. String lights and plenty of greenery made the space cozy, yet chic.

I started the night with King Arthur’s Concubine cocktail – consisting of Botanist gin, muddled strawberry, basil, lime and rhubarb bitters. It was perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. As for the food, the Veggie Flower Pot was awaiting my arrival. I immediately began munching on mixed raw vegetables, which were dipped in homemade hummus, tzaziki and green olive tapenade. The cute arrangement was made to look like a garden, and was covered in crumbled gingerbread on the bottom, which was a sweet and unexpected pleasant surprise.

The next small plate I sampled was the Eggplant Byaldi which was a mini toast topped with mashed eggplant, pine nuts, pomegranate and cherry tomatoes. The different flavours and textures combined beautifully for a refreshing start to the meal.

The Spinach and Feta Borek was up next and was served with a whipped honey yogurt. The pastry was flaky and crispy, with a smooth combination of spinach and feta inside. The whipped honey yogurt added a wonderful tang and creaminess. As this point, we were brought out another cocktail. This time it was their take on the Old Fashioned which included bourbon, angostura bitters, sugar, orange, and garnished with a cherry. It was definitely a strong, yet flavourful drink.

Steak Tartare lovers would be over the moon with this dish. Pieces of raw steak were combined with Dijon mustard and topped with egg foam and then loaded into a crispy cone. This unique take on a classic dish was extremely impressive.

As if there was not enough food, we were served Merguez Lamb Pide, which was encased in flaky dough and stuffed with lamb sausage and harissa. The cocktails definitely came in handy since this dish had a nice kick to it.

One of my favourites of the night were the Zucchini Fritters sitting in a roasted tomato aioli. Although they were deep-fried, they didn’t feel too heavy or greasy at all and the dipping sauce helped cut through any of the richness.

The star of the show in my opinion was the Cataplana. Lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams and monkfish are combined in a light tomato broth. The freshness of the seafood and the brightness of the sauce made for the most delightful and light, yet satisfying dish. Warm sourdough bread was served alongside for soaking up the tomatoey goodness.

If I wasn’t full before, I definitely was now. However, I find it nearly impossible to refuse French fries, so of course I had to indulge in some Greek and Italian Fries. The Greek fries were topped with wild oregano, shaved feta, olive oil and lemon and served with a creamy feta dip. The Italian fries were topped with shaved grana padano and served with a truffle aioli. Bar Reyna’s menu does offer a few different varieties of fries.

For a sweet ending, Salted Caramel Bites were served. These were pretty much dessert spring rolls filled with caramel sauce. As soon as you bite into this deep-fried treat, the most decadently delicious caramel sauce comes oozing out. I could have eaten many, many of these!

Bar Reyna is an ideal spot if you are looking to be taken care of. The service as well as the ambiance was on point, and of course the food was beyond amazing.

You can relax during your meal while listening to some Latin, French, and Middle Eastern tunes. “I wanted to create a place where anyone can come for a drink, a snack, or a full meal in an inviting atmosphere that encourages them to take a seat and stay a while” said owner, Nicki Laborie, “At Bar Reyna, it’s about the food, drink, décor, vibe and service. In our approach, there isn’t one element that outshines the other”.

Do yourself a favour and head to Bar Reyna as soon as you can for a pleasant and relaxing experience in the heart of Yorkville.

— Shelby Morrison

Additional photos courtesy of Bar Reyna

 

 

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