Wander down the Broadway side of Ft. Tryon Park and
you’ll be greeted by the warm red glow of Tinto. Enter
and the eatery smells faintly of fresh mint, which probably
emanates from the bar where raspberry mojitos are de rigueur.
The interior is awash in reds, explains owner Miguel Acosta,
“like you’re inside a bottle of wine.” In Spanish, Tinto means
“red wine.”
While the menu is steeped in Mediterranean cuisine, a faint
Caribbean breeze wafts through it as well. Start with the gazpacho
soup ($8) or Tinto house salad with goat cheese, red onions,
cucumber, mango, kalamata olives in champagne vinaigrette
($8). The house ceviche ($10) carries the sea to the table, with
scallops, baby arugula, mango, avocado, red onions, in mint
citrus dressing. Anchor your meal with the churrasco ($18), a
tangy grilled skirt steak over pineapple coconut rice and topped
with a tropical pico de gallo. Tinto’s warm décor, expert food
preparation and friendly, but unobtrusive service, makes for a
romantic night out.