CURRENTLY SERVING:

At some point, we’ll have to sit down and examine the growing trend of The Incredible Expanding Restuarant in Philly right now: You know, spot opens; spot does well; spot purchases property next door and consumes that property whole. Rinse and repeat. But for know, let’s just give some props to chef Jose Garces, who just pretty much doubled the size of his fine Basque dining emporium, Tinto:

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chef Jose Garces has doubled the size of his incredibly popular Basque wine bar and restaurant Tinto, located at 114 South 20th Street, by opening a 40 seat dining room, which extends Tinto’s warm decor of dark woods, tile and wine motifs. For the expansion, Garces secured the two-story townhouse next door and broke through the wall between the two properties.
“This expansion is a response to our customers’ requests,” says Garces of his popular second restaurant. “As with the original dining room, Tinto’s addition will make guests feel as though they have been transported to a cozy wine bar in Spain’s northern Basque country.”

While we usually bristle at the Busch Gardens concept of making! you! feel! like! you’re! in! A WHOLE ‘NUTHER COUNTRY!, (Cuba Libre, anyone?) Garces is a tasteful dude and we’re sure no one will make you wear a funny hat or force you to speak the Basque language when ordering. Full press release after the jump.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chef Jose Garces has doubled the size of his incredibly popular Basque wine bar and restaurant Tinto, located at 114 South 20th Street, by opening a 40 seat dining room, which extends Tinto’s warm decor of dark woods, tile and wine motifs. For the expansion, Garces secured the two-story townhouse next door and broke through the wall between the two properties.
“This expansion is a response to our customers’ requests,” says Garces of his popular second restaurant. “As with the original dining room, Tinto’s addition will make guests feel as though they have been transported to a cozy wine bar in Spain’s northern Basque country.”
To create the new space, Garces retained accomplished designer Jun Aizaki of the New York-based firm Crème, with whom he collaborated to conceive Tinto as well as his popular tapas bar and restaurant, Amada. For the new dining room, Aizaki builds upon the acclaimed restaurant’s rustic wine cellar scheme, with tile-topped tables with blackened metal pedestals, natural walnut chairs, upholstered settees and blackened metal sconces.
While seated in the newly expanded dining room, guests will delight in the Basque inspired cuisine created by Garces and his highly skilled staff. Some of the noteworthy dishes, which have quickly become guests favorites include: De Pato, duck confit, black cherry, bleu de basque spread; De Cordero, lamb loin, eggplant, bacon, sherry jus; and Moules Basquaise, mussels and chorizo in sauce basquaise, lemon aioli, frites.
Tinto, which opened in March 2007, has been featured in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Wall Street Journal. Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Rick Nichols wrote, “At Tinto, chef Jose Garces presents the bold bounty of northern Spain’s sea and mountainside,” while Bon Appetit opined, “The restaurant may be small, but it still has room for the city’s best Spanish wine list.” Of Tinto, Philadelphia Magazine wrote, “The chef behind it all is Jose Garces, who has exceeded the very high expectations raised by his brilliantly conceived first restaurant, Amada.” Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan wrote in his Three Bell review, “Tinto already ranks among the city’s most thrilling eating adventures.”
Tinto is open for lunch Monday through Friday, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 11 pm; and Friday and Saturday from 5 pm to 12 midnight. For more information, call 215-665-9150 or visit the website at www.tintorestaurant.com.
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