Piripi is Merrick Park’s newest eatery. It reminded me of an upscale Bar Isabel from Toronto. But the decor, service and quality of food is better. The Chef has quite the pedigree having apprenticed at Noma of Copenhagen, rated the best restaurant in the world for a few years running. Per Se of New York, The French Laundry  in Napa. and Alinea of Chicago. She also spent two years at El Bulli prior to its closing.

The menu is served Tapas style and it is recommend to come with friends so you can order several dishes. The cheese and Iberio ham platters are wonderful, the egg omelette was light as air. I wouldn’t recommend the cured tuna and tomatoes as it was dry and tasted like canned tuna. The Cod dish was also a disappointment. The Rib eye was very flavourful and sliced. The Paellas looked amazing and a lot of other things on the menu looked enticing.

The Sangria was authentic and traditional. You can bring your own wine at a reasonable $25 a bottle corkage.

For The desserts there were only 2 choices. We ordered the planet of chocolate and it was uninspiring. The other choice was Basque French Toast, probably a better choice. The decor was warm and inviting, and there was a private dining room as well as some outdoor tables.

I would say this was an expensive restaurant but of good quality. They say eventually the chef  will customize some menus and do some molecular cooking. But for now the female chef is doing a fine job of Spanish Tapas and Paellas.

Happy dining,
Shanea

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