DINING ‘N STYLE
TAPA TORO @ I-DRIVE 360 A Celebration of Spanish Cuisine By Maria Delis
Fusing food and entertainment under one roof is not a new concept for Vassilis and Katerina Coumbaros, the husband and wife team behind International Drive’s Taverna Opa Orlando. The popular eatery is a hit because patrons enjoy delectable Greek cuisine while awaking part of their Dionysian spirit through music and dancing. The concept has worked so well in Orlando’s busy tourist corridor that the couple decided to open a second restaurant. After visiting Spain and falling in love with the culture and food, Katerina and Vassilis found their inspiration. “Tapa Toro is our way of bringing all these memories home,” said Katerina Coumbaros.
The new restaurant is located in the I-Drive 360 complex, home to The Orlando Eye. Paying tribute to both classic and contemporary Spanish cuisine, Tapa Toro has a rich tapas menu and a broad selection of Spanish wines, spirits and cocktails. The restaurant’s focal point, however, is the seven-foot-wide “paella pit.” A twelve-seat, white marble bar surrounds the pit allowing guests to watch the chef prepare paella dishes. Vibrant mosaic tiles decorate the two end-walls of the paella bar, a design reminiscent of Park Güell in Barcelona, while the dining rooms exude a contemporary-meets-rustic ambience.
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Tina Marie Interior Design decorated Tapa Toro with “Barcelona-inspired furnishings and light fixtures,” traditional art pieces, as well as interactive art housed in flat screen televisions. The generous interior space allows for Flamenco dancers to perform tableside to the beat of the guitar, and for the sounds of their heels on the wooden floor to travel throughout the restaurant, transporting diners to Spain – a country that knows how to celebrate life. In July, Orlando Style sampled Tapa Toro’s delicious offerings at a special media event hosted by Wendy Lopez, Executive Chef.