A couple of weeks ago, I visited Cava, a tapas restaurant in Toronto, as it was highly recommended.

Two legs of jamon Iberico greet you as you enter, a hint of what is to come. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming.  The wood paneled walls and wood tables give it a modern yet rustic feel.

Cava offers a wide selection of small plates incorporating sustainable ingredients.  We shared a number of plates however the following 3 were my favourites.

Supergilda: a sardine placed on toasted bread with roasted tomatoes and speared with an anchovy and olive toothpick.

Charred rapini with queso fresco con miel, olive, and za’atar: the bitterness of the rapini was well balanced with the sweetness of the fresh cheese infused with honey. The sesame in the za’atar brought a crunch to the mix.

Chicken liver and foie gras mousse with house-made bread: the mousse was creamy and lingered on the tongue.

We also ordered a full portion of the Iberico ham, only to be disappointed by the meagerness of it. It was not worth the $30 it was priced at.

We paid approximately $140 for 2 people which did not include drinks or tip, an expensive culinary experience.

The service was attentive, however I was disappointed to see that the wait staff made no attempt to remedy an uncomfortable situation for my dinning companion. Half way through our dinner, a couple was seated at the next table, which I must say was too close for comfort. The gentleman, and I use this term loosely, decided to sit on the bench with his partner not taking into consideration that this would infringe on my friend’s personal space. She was practically forced to climb the wall on her other side to avoid coming in contact with this inconsiderate dinner. It was apparent to myself, the waiter and the other patron that she was quite uncomfortable, yet our waiter did not address the situation.

Having been forced to finish our meal, hurriedly, and skipping dessert, we left the restaurant disappointed at the experience.

Although the restaurant offers a pretty setting and the food is gratifying, the lack of attention to the comfort of the patrons and the elevated cost of the fare would make me think twice about returning to Cava.

Cava  –  1560 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 2S9  –  cavarestaurant.ca