LaVinia Restaurant

Nice atmosphere. Arroz Negro was good. The free fresh bread was served with Aioli. Nice staff and chef would interact with the guests. My kid loved the sorbet.

December 30, 2024 on Google

Food was salty and lacked remarkable flavouring, which we were hoping for. Thankfully we left as restaurant was filling up. Small footprint led to an inability to enjoy a quiet dinner. Perhaps owners should cut the Christmas music which was playing too loud and competing with all conversations going on at the same time. Plenty of food was served. Not an issue. Drinks were great. Food flavor, however, was wanting and noise level was too high.

November 30, 2024 on Google

Best Spanish restaurant ever. I used to go to a couple of Spanish restaurants in Toronto, they were good, but not as good as LaVinia. The moment you walk in you feel you are part of the LaVinia family. The staff is very friendly, and even the Chef comes out to check how’s the food. I’ve been in Spain several times, and LaVinia brought me back to those trips. Excellent food, excellent portions, and excellent price. I will definitely come back and recommend it to everyone.

August 11, 2024 on Google

We had high hopes for this restaurant given the reviews and recommendations but left disappointed. So let’s start with the good… the service was great, and the staff were really attentive. I also didn’t mind the presentation of the meals. The restaurant was small and intimate, but the sound didn’t carry which allowed for my partner and I to have conversations without yelling. The not so good was the actual food. For the price you pay, we expected more (not in terms of quantity, but the quality)… The order: - Pulpo a la Gallega - Octopus was overcooked and rubbery. We enjoy octopus at other restaurants and even when we travel so it was a bit disappointing. - Croquetas de Cangrejo - these could have been a bit more crunchy on the outside but I didn't mind the flavour, though my partner didn’t like the taste, he thought the crab wasn’t fresh. - Paella de Marisco - incredibly salty and lacked any other flavour. The seafood also tasted stale/frozen. Also it did not have a burnt bottom, so it was more like a risotto. Didn’t finish this due to the salt. The chef came out and tried to explain why the meal was salty, but an explanation really doesn’t justify the amount in the meal. It also didn’t help there was no other flavour present. If you’re using seafood (which can be naturally salty), then reduce the additional salt? He offered us free dessert, but honestly we were kind of turned off by the previous courses. Maybe it was an off day, but I would not recommend based on the food we had. Potentially the non-seafood dishes are better, but this ain’t it. Overall food lacked flavour, and seafood wasn’t cooked correctly or tasted fresh.

April 4, 2024 on Google

We had a dinner for 4 on a Wednesday evening at this Spanish Cuisine restaurant. Small, nicely decorated place with great Sangria. A variety of Paellas were available one being a seafood selection which we ordered. Paellas take 40 mins to prep so order that first then tapas. Tapas are amazing and flavourful here. We had a variety and even ordered some twice as we couldn’t get enough. Portions are not bad, service was unhurried, attentive and skillful.. we noticed they prepared beverages as well and performed table side service, serving the first helping of Paella when it was ready. During our meal, we had the pleasure of speaking to the Chef/Owner who came by our table and after we asked, he happily shared how he prepped the food we were enjoying. Friendly and hospitable true and true! Definitely returning to this great restaurant.

October 27, 2023 on Google

First time at an authentic Spanish restaurant. Had seafood risotto, sausage & ratatouille, and soup of the day (carrot and ginger). I imagine the style and flavour to be true to its roots. Noticeably fresh ingredients, well plated, and great service. Would've preferred stronger flavour, but food was good as is. Under $100 meal for two, call it fair value. Overall good experience. Would recommend, but would not repeat. 4 stars

October 14, 2023 on Google

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The food was amazing! The paella was so tasty and the quantity is a lot. The sauteed mushroom, chicken croquettes, and arugula pear salad were all fantastic. I hope this restaurant stays in the neighbourhood for a long time.

July 25, 2023 on Google

Absolutely the best Spanish restaurant in Ontario. Friendly staff and delicate service. The chef comes out and greets every guest. This is very unusual these days in Toronto. It just adds extra detail that the chef really do care about and appreciates his guests. The food was exceptional. Nothing unconventional, sticking to the authenticity. It’s very hard to find a restaurant who has strong fundamentals and does a good job executing traditional dishes. Definitely recommended and this place will be one of my go-to places.

July 24, 2022 on Google