The city of Philadelphia, for all of its well-known shortcomings, knows how to eat.

Being a self-proclaimed foodie, I’ve sampled the gamut of what culinary Philly has to offer. This ranges from great markets, like the granddaddy Reading Terminal Market at the corner of 12^th and Arch St. or the outdoor Italian Market in South Philly on 9^th St. between Christian St. and Washington Av., to great — and some not so great — restaurants. I’ve hopped around West Philly, North Philly, and the distinct districts of Center City in search of the best of the best.

Some notable mentions? Distrito in West Philly for couples and Mexican wrestling enthusiasts; Alma de Cuba in Rittenhouse for what’s certainly the classiest take on “fried cow” I’ve ever encountered; and the Franklin Fountain in Old City for old-school — and I mean really old schoo l– ice cream parlor fare, true to the quaint turn of the century in both fare, presentation, and atmosphere.

But I digress. None of these gems take the stage tonight. Tonight, Tinto gets the spotlight.

On 20^th St. between biggies Chestnut and Walnut St., Tinto is conveniently located a mere block away from the Roxy Theatre, so the whole dinner-and-a-movie shtick is incredibly doable, if you’re after a date. And, well, if you’re going to Tinto, it’s likely you are on a date-the rustic cubby walls stocked with wine bottles, flickering candlelight, and Basque inspired decor peg Tinto as a definite date restaurant. But no worries! Grab a friend, grab a parent, heck, grab your worst enemy-just make sure you bring at least one or two people along, because Tinto is all about sharing.

Chef Jose Garces, scheduled to be a contestant on the upcoming season of Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef, has created a menu around pintxos, a Basque-region equivalent of tapas. The nature of the meal itself opens people up to one another. None of this antisocial entree nonsense for Garces-at Tinto, each diner orders 4 different pintxos, or small plates, and everyone shares. I’m always after something different in my dining experiences, and Tinto’s pinxtos certainly serve it up, so to speak.

And the crème de la crème of the menu? My personal favorite is simply called Figs, but the flavors are anything but simple (and everything to do with delicious). It consists of four perfectly tender little figs wrapped in thin Serrano ham and drizzled with a spicy sauce. The gazpacho is another winner, served creamy instead of chunky and complimented by a neat little skewer of peppers. The Kobe beef, three rare little medallions layered on crusty bread with a garlicky relish, is another must-try. Save room for dessert and snag the Chocolate Y Café, a decadent melting pot of chocolate, coffee, almond, hazelnut, and-oh, of course-gold.

Atmosphere? Check. Food itself? Big check. And Tinto drives it all the way home-my waiter was incredibly friendly and accommodating, and the sleek, modern presentation lends an elegant touch to the entire experience. Good job, Tinto.

A few closing remarks for practicality’s sake-

Pinxtos range from $4-$38, and each diner orders four. If you do the math, you can expect a moderately expensive meal, especially if you plan on indulging yourself with the wine list or creative cocktails like the Donostia, which features cider foam and rosemary among its more potent ingredients. Some of the heavier pinxtos, such as the New York Strip (boasting truffled goat cheese-not your meat-n-potatoes pub grub!), will cost you close to 40, while humbler plates of oyster or wild mushrooms tend to hover between nine and 15.

If you liked your stay at Tinto, the fun doesn’t stop there! Garces is a culinary cornerstone in the City of Brotherly Love, so be sure to check out his other venues like Amada (tapas at the corner of 2^nd and Chestnut St.), Village Whiskey (a brand new establishment with an emphasis on a liquid diet, as the name suggests, right next door to Tinto itself), and Chifa (a bold fusion of Peruvian and Chinese fare on 7^th and Chestnut).

Overall?

Yeah, I’d go back. 4 stars.

For More Info:

Tinto
114 S. 20^th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.665.9150

http://www.tintorestaurant.com

Make Reservations
Moderately Expensive
Wine, Beer, & Cocktails
Great For Dates
Not For Kids
Tapas

Emily Homrok is a junior studying Film & Video Production. She interns for the Drexel Publishing Group and writes for the Philadelphia Examiner. She is Poetry Editor of FirstStep Press’ Stepping Stones Magazine, and her poetry is forthcoming in Gargoyle Magazine.

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