Come taste a delicious meal at Tzin Wine & Tapas Ltd. They are open late from Tuesday to Saturday. You can get there by public transit. They are found in a neighborhood filled with merchants, restaurants, coffee shops and parks.
Tzin is a tiny spot tucked away on the 104 Street promenade. It mainly functions as a wine bar, but they do offer some lovely small plates to pair with that vino. They even tell you which wine goes well with each dish, using a fool-proof colour coding system. Dishes like duck breast with cherry chutney, sweet potato waffle and tangerine balsamic exist alongside lamb meatballs and BC side strip prawns on this always changing menu. Reservations are always recommended, as it’s basically impossible to get a seat otherwise.
I love that this place is so small. It’s just 20 seats, so you’re sitting close to people and the vibe is great. Typically, the owners are hands-on – they’re working the room. The chef is right there in front of you. It feels a little crowded but it’s really fun; like you’ve become friends with who you’re sitting beside. It’s got great atmosphere, food and wine. I like their traditional Spanish paella – it’s a great dish with homemade sausage and seafood that feels comforting and has really nice, big flavours.
Their cojondongo is strange to pronounce, but delicious to eat; a smoked whitefish in a sherry vinaigrette. The shrimp and grits are a perfect pairing. And, of course, the Alberta beef flat iron steak is delicious with a nice glass of red.