The three sisters behind Embrujo Flamenco—Eren, Mali, and Jais Fernandez—have opened Café Madrid, a new restaurant and event space one floor below their restaurant on Danforth Avenue. “I got this idea because I realized there is not a true tapas bar [in Toronto] like you would find in Madrid,” said Jais, the general manager. “It’s a very casual dining experience. Usually in Spain at a tapas bar you go and have a coffee, which is why we called it Café Madrid. The espresso machine is number one.”
Exposed brick walls and cream concrete floors create a neutral palette in the restaurant, which holds 40 and is available as an event space throughout the week. Café Madrid is currently open to the public only on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Rows of wine bottles fill a large square in one wall, a design element inspired by a similar feature at a facility owned by the Spanish winery Freixenet, Jais said. “Every year they put an empty bottle in and it represents the growing of the company,” she said. “This represents the success Embrujo Flamenco has always had.”
A long glass fridge set atop the bar holds a variety of tapas dishes. Jars of Manzanilla olives, Manchego cheese, and a leg of Serrano ham also top the bar, which is decorated with imported Spanish tiles. A handmade wrought iron panel sits at the entrance to the room, and the tapas selection of the day is written on a large mirror that hangs beside the bar.
The menu, created by chef Mali, includes items like cod croquettes, liver paté infused with Spanish sherry, dried chorizo, and herb-marinated olives. Dishes range from $3 to $10. A selection of European beers and Spanish sherries is available. Tastings can be arranged for events.
