Such a wonderful find. Very generous portions and my favorite cheeses in the mix. We really enjoyed our tapas with wine pairings!
Before the dining room makeover this was a pleasant dining experience with great food and peaceful atmosphere. After the revamp, the dining room is gone and seating is now crammed into the bar area. Same great food, which is a blessing and a curse. After being closed for months you might have expected a menu change. Atmosphere is now cramped, noisy and unpleasant. Very disappointed; far better being left the way it was. Maybe the outside dining would be better, but we're in no hurry to go back & find out.
I've never seen a staff more eager to share background on how the dishes and drinks were constructed/prepared. Unfortunately I found the actual results struggled to live up to the hype. The Bruja margarita was tasty, but served in martini glass meant it was a smaller sip than I would have liked. The Verdura salad was tasty, but significantly smaller than a typical side salad with a $10 price tag. The hot Chorizo was the one bright spot in the meal, good flavor and portion size. The Gambas shrimp was tragically under seasoned, no salt or garlic in the first attempt. The second try had enough garlic to prove the chef's point, but still lacked on salt. While our waitress and the rest of the staff made a decent effort, it wasn't the flawless effort you'd hope for in an establishment striving to be high-caliber.
For a restaurant in a hotel, this place has some excellent eats. We took the tapas approach to the menu and did not get a disappointing dish. It's a small location with great music and ambiance.
Tinto is currently offering a competitively priced and deliciously awesome summer pre-fix menu. Showcasing some of Iron Chef Jose Garces' greatest hits, this flavor-intensive package may be the desert's 'best bang for your buck'. Spanish wine-pairing also available. Knowledgeable service staff will educate and entertain. Romantic, outdoor, (and refreshingly misted) patio seating available nightly. A perfect way to explore many tastes and textures from Spain's basque region right here in Palm Springs!