La Bartola
{{Short description|Former Mexican restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
{{Infobox restaurant
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| name = La Bartola
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| logo = File:LaBartolaToronto.png
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| established = {{Start date|2020|06|27}}
| closed = {{End date|2025|03|15}}{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Phoebe |title=Michelin-approved Toronto restaurant is permanently closing |url=https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2025/02/la-bartola-toronto-closing/ |access-date=25 February 2025 |work=Dished |publisher=ZoomerMedia - BlogTO |date=25 February 2025}}
| current-owner = Ivan Castro
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| head-chef = Ivan Castro
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| rating = Bib Gourmand
(Michelin Guide)
| street-address = 588 College Street
| city = Toronto, Ontario
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| country = Canada
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| website = {{URL|https://www.labartola.ca/}}
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La Bartola was a Mexican restaurant which operated in Toronto, Ontario. It served a fully vegan and plant-based menu.
History
The restaurant was owned and operated by Ivan Castro, who also served as the head chef. The restaurant opened in summer 2020, in the midst of the peak of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Karon |title=This Toronto restaurant puts vegan Mexican food in the spotlight |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/food-and-drink/this-toronto-restaurant-puts-vegan-mexican-food-in-the-spotlight/article_bdbf1dba-5d44-5cad-a1da-27476bc1b14c.html |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Toronto Star |publisher=TorStar |date=21 April 2022}} As a result of these restrictions, the restaurant started primarily as a takeout operation, with limited seating on an outside patio.{{cite news |last1=Gladysz |first1=Kayla |title=Toronto's newest Mexican eatery officially opens this weekend |url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/la-bartola-vegan-mexican-restaurant-open-toronto |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Daily Hive Toronto |date=23 June 2020}}
Prior to opening a brick-and-mortar location, Castro first started the business as a taqueria pop-up which served food at festivals in the Toronto-area. He also worked as a private chef and hosted supper clubs at his home. Castro wanted to serve a menu at his restaurant inspired by his upbringing in Mexico City.
The restaurant was fully vegan and served plant-based cuisine, with the goal of serving Mexican cooking based on the ingredients the indigenous Aztecs and Mayans would have used prior to the introduction of beef or dairy. In lieu of meat in its tacos, La Bartola served fillings such as braised hibiscus flowers, smoked banana blossoms, and jackfruit.
It offered an a la carte menu, but also had an option for a tasting menu for guests.{{cite web |title=La Bartola |url=https://www.labartola.ca/ |website=La Bartola |publisher=La Bartola Taco Shop Inc. |access-date=20 December 2024}}
Castro announced he would close the restaurant on March 15, 2025, citing the physical and mental toll that owning and operating a restaurant took on his wellbeing.
Recognition
The restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand designation by the Michelin Guide at Toronto's 2022 Michelin Guide ceremony, and retained this recognition in 2023 and 2024.{{cite web |title=La Bartola |url=https://guide.michelin.com/ca/en/ontario/toronto/restaurant/la-bartola |website=Michelin Guide |publisher=Michelin North America |access-date=20 December 2024}} A Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Michelin praised the business's vegan offerings, highlighting the black sesame tostadas, sikil pak, and braised hibiscus tacos.
{{Portal|Canada|Food}}
References
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{{Restaurants in Greater Toronto}}
{{coord missing|Ontario}}
Category:Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurants in Canada