Tinto

March 12, 2010

Tinto

114 S. 20th St.

Philadelphia, PA

The Setup: Greg and I were visiting Philadelphia for the weekend and decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner. After searching the Zagat guide and checking menus online for nearly 2 hours, we finally decided on Tinto, which is one of the restaurants owned by the newest Iron Chef, Jose Garces.

The Experience: By the time we decided to have dinner at Tinto on a Friday night, it was already around 10PM the night before. Luckily we were able to secure a reservation for 9:30 PM which worked out perfectly since we had plans earlier in the evening. The restaurant was only a few blocks from our hotel which was convenient, and once we arrived we were taken to our table right away. After browsing the menu online, Greg and I came ready with questions, and our waitress didn't let us down. She was able to give us a description of all of the cheeses on the menu and explain to us some of the dishes we were unfamiliar with.

The Food: Greg and I are living on a somewhat tight budget while we're both back in school, so it was really a treat for us to splurge on this dinner. We were both glad that we did, though, because the food was amazing! Tinto is a tapas restaurant so their menu consists of a wide variety of small plates. The waitress informed us that a full meal usually consists of 3-4plates each. We decided to order a little bit at a time and share our plates rather than order 3 plates each. Greg started his meal with a Johnny Walker scotch ($10) and I started with the signature Tinto sangria ($8). The first plates we ordered were the cheese mixto ($15) and the serrano ham wrapped figs ($5). The cheese plate came out with 3 different cheeses and was served with bread. Our waitress informed us that the cheeses were chosen by the Chef and aren't necessarily always the same cheeses with every mixto order. On our plate, there was a bleu cheese, a mild unpasteurized sheep's milk cheese and a creamy goat cheese. The cheeses were a nice accompaniment to the serrano wrapped figs, which were both salty and sweet.

For our next plates, we decided on the braised shortrib sandwich ($10) and the spanish octopus ($10). All I can say about both of these dishes is WoW! The shortrib sandwich was served with bacon, asparagus, and a celery root aioli and was a whole new, completely gourmet take on the sandwich. The shortribs were so tender they almost melted in your mouth. And speaking of tender, the spanish octopus didn't even require a knife. It was served with a lemon powder on the side which I have never seen before, but it was really good.

By this time, Greg and I were starting to get full, but the menu is full of such enticing items that we had to try just one more: prawns served with chorizo, grape tomatoes and some chili powder on the side ($12). Although the prawns were tasty, the chorizo made them a bit too salty for my taste. The lemon aioli did cut the saltiness of the dish, but for me it just didn't compare to our previous plates.

Being a pastry chef in training, I couldn't leave without at least looking at the dessert menu, although I promise you I had no intention of actually ordering from it.....until I saw the olive oil and orange blossom custard ($8). Next week just happens to be custard week in my baking class so I told myself I was doing research, and Greg and I decided to split a dessert. The custard was served with an orange blossom gelee and an almond tuile, and it was definitely one of the top 5 best desserts I've ever eaten. The custard was rich and creamy, and the crunchy almond tuile added a nice texture. It was a nice dessert to share since it was so rich.

The Verdict: A++ This meal makes me understand just why Chef Jose Garces won the next Iron Chef competition. All of the dishes on the menu are well thought out and were presented beautifully. Even though the plates and portions are small, you can choose items like the sandwiches and the skewers to round out your meal and accompany some of the lighter dishes. If you're in the mood to be a little more adventurous with your meal, choose the Chef's Tasting option for just $55.00. This will get you 4 plates of the Chef's choice, although the menu is not completely set in stone. If you have any food allergies or just an item you really don't like, they will tailor the Chef's Tasting to accommodate your needs. Next time you're in Philadelphia, Tinto is definitely a must-try restaurant!