Chabrol Toronto Patio
(Cava Pop-up)
A quaint and tasty Spanish tapas patio bar pop-up by Cava in the heart of Yorkville
Tel: (416) 428-6641
Address: 156 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M5R 1A87
Overview:
Located in the heart of Yorkville – Chabrol operates a small pop-up patio offering an approachable take on Spanish cuisine with its menu being heavily inspired by Cava, one of Toronto’s best-known Spanish restaurants. This patio seats a total of 8 people in its tapas-style bar layout which makes for a very personal experience with Chef Doug Penfold who not only is a prestigious master of his craft in several cuisines ranging from Spanish to French, but also a pleasure to chat with as he shares his unique take on what Spanish food is. This Cava pop-up at Chabrol is a rare opportunity to enjoy a piece of the now-closed Cava on St. Clair.
Ideal for those in the mood to try new dishes – the perfect opportunity to eat and share dishes is at the Cava pop-up. The pop up is a great choice for tapas-style meals ranging from those looking for a full meal to those just looking to snack while out. The menu is very reasonably priced, creating a high-value meal without breaking the bank, something one might not expect in Yorkville.
Our Review:
The pop-up is located right in front of Chabrol with barside seating under a small tent right in front of the Chef. Though small, the bar itself has a modern feel with beautiful wood bar tops and sat on the busy sidewalk of Cumberland Street in Yorkville surrounded by several other bar patios and high-end restaurants. This setup gives you a very personal experience with Doug as you’re able to chat with him and watch as he produces his beautiful small-plate dishes in front of your eyes, while also allowing you to feel the energy of the buzzing Yorkville community.
Dishes range from Jamon Serrano, Olives, Manchego & Marconas, and other tasty Spanish Tapa dishes. For larger sharing Tapa style dishes, Chabrol serves an exceptionally delicious mackerel ceviche mixed with squash, Spanish onion, and nuts. As well as grilled meat options, including, chicken, pork and beef heart. The wide variety of dishes showcase Chef Doug’s culinary ability but also is a perfect spot to share and enjoy multiple dishes.
We recommend checking out this Cava pop-up while patio season is in full effect this summer as it not only is a very approachable and welcoming venue with great value tapas, but also a chance to enjoy a taste of Cava and Chef Doug’s Spanish eats before the location returns back to Chabrol which is known for its French cuisine. If you’re looking for an intimate dining spot with the chef, or just a relaxed laid-back date spot the Cava pop-up at Chabrol is a perfect warm and welcoming small patio to enjoy with family or friends this summer.
Music:
Outdoor Ambience
Crowd:
Young & Mature Professionals, 21-35+
Vibe:
Open Concept, Relaxed Upscale Patio
Our In-Depth Review:
Starting with the ambiance of the venue, this pop-up is located right in front of Chabrol with barside seating under a small tent right in front of the Chef. Though small, the bar itself has a modern feel with beautiful wood bar tops and sat on the busy sidewalk of Cumberland St in Yorkville surrounded by several other bar patios and high-end restaurants. This setup gives you a very personal experience with Doug as you’re able to chat with him and watch as he produces his beautiful small-plate dishes in front of your eyes.
The first dishes we enjoyed from the menu as appetizers were the Jamon Serrano and Olives on the side which paired perfectly with a glass of white wine.
This delicious dry-cured ham which is common in Spanish cuisine was extremely high quality and freshly cut in front of us. As a second appetizer, we tasted the Manchego & Marconas which as its name states is a delicious Spanish pesto made with a mix of manchego cheese and marconas almonds topped with grilled eggplant and red pepper.
For mains, we enjoyed a unique but exceptionally delicious mackerel ceviche which was mixed with squash, Spanish onion, and nuts. This dish had a very vibrant but well-balanced flavour profile and an amazing combination of textures which is why we think to consider it our favourite dish on the menu, and a must-try if you’re a fan of ceviches.
Last but not least we ordered the Maruno Spiced Skewer of Beef Heart to try one of the different things on the menu and really get a sense of Chef Doug’s culinary ability. This particular menu item may not be the most approachable, but we were pleasantly surprised by the nearly perfectly seasoned charcoal-grilled skewer of beef heart on a bed of Spanish style slaw.
This flavourful dish boasted a stewy flavour with subtle hints of coriander and cumin and we have no doubt that the other more traditional options (Chicken Leg / Pork Shoulder) would be equally as good as the beef heart variant.
Overall we highly recommend checking out this Cava pop-up while patio season is in full effect this summer as it not only is a very approachable and welcoming venue with great value tapas, but also a chance to enjoy a taste of Cava and Chef Doug’s Spanish eats before the location returns back to Chabrol which is known for its French cuisine. If you’re looking for a chill date spot or a place to enjoy with a small group of family or friends this bar patio is a solid pick for this summer.
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