People in Bradford don’t need to board a plane to escape the snow and experience the warmth of Portuguese culture — just head over to Tapas no Patio.
Owner Luis Raimundo held the restaurant’s official grand opening at 23 Holland St. W. on Saturday, March 1, when he welcomed everyone to experience the eatery, which features a dining area, bar, lounge chairs and fire place, six televisions and a small but unique menu which Raimundo plans to change every two to three months based on the seasons. Some staples he expects to feature on a regular basis include steaks, mussels, shrimp, prosciutto, cheese and fish while also offering juice, coffee, beer and liquor.
“If you want to have a good time, come on over and check it out,” he said, explaining that since first opening on Nov. 2, he’s had plenty of positive feedback from customers who enjoy being able to get together to watch sports, play cards or dominoes, and just chat — all accompanied of course by food and drink.
That cozy, friendly atmosphere was one of Raimundo’s main ideas for the restaurant.
“I always like when people sit down, have a drink, have something to snack on and enjoy the evening,” he said. “This is the place.”
Born and raised in Portugal, Raimundo said he came to Toronto about 37 years ago, where he operated two different restaurants before coming to Bradford about seven years ago, where he and a partner opened Ilha Azul at 6 Holland St. W in September 2020, before it was later sold.
True to its name, his newest venture is themed around tapas, the concept of enjoying multiple smaller portions — similar to appetizers — rather than big single servings.
The full name, Tapas no Patio, is actually Portuguese for tapas on the patio, and once the snow melts and temperatures rise, Raimundo is looking forward to opening the patio area out back featuring an outdoor grill and stove where he can cook meals for guests right there, hopefully accompanied by live music.
Meanwhile, the past holiday season wasn’t quite as busy as he would have liked, having only just opened one month prior, but Raimundo is expecting much bigger crowds once the location becomes more well known.
For now, he describes the restaurant as having a mostly relaxed feeling during the day, with a little more excitement in the evenings.
Tapas no Patio is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and until 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.
For more information, stop in or call 905-775-7888.