A hot new Spanish restaurant from a Michelin-starred chef opens in Yorkville

Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood is now home to St. Thomas, a new Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar led by Michelin-starred chef Quinton Bennett (Enigma Yorkville).

Staying true to the culinary traditions of northern Spain’s Basque Country, the restaurant embraces simplicity and robust flavours. It sources high-quality, local ingredients to craft a menu that authentically captures the essence of the region.

Scallop, nori pesto and pickled wild salmon roe

“In my decade of living in London I would often frequent Spain, particularly the Basque region. It has one of the best food cultures in the world and I love their approach to dining out, especially Tapas, Pincho and small plate styles. Being able to eat your way through a whole menu and experience the entire restaurant cuisine if you wished,” says Bennett. ” I enjoy eating like this and always wanted to create a restaurant with this style in mind.

The seasonal A la Carte menu at St. Thomas highlights a carefully selected variety of fresh, seasonally changing dishes. Crafted by a Michelin-trained team, the menu offers small plates that are served when ready, creating a quick and relaxed shared dining experience. Diners can expect a selection of hot and cold dishes ranging from Hamachi crudo with mandarin jelly and pickled ginger to slow cooked Iberic pork neck with peach mint chilli jam and smoked aubergine chamoli.

Inspired by the charm of San Sebastian in then Donostia Region, Pinxtxo hour is available daily from 5 to 6 p.m. The experience offers a glass of champagne and a selection of seasonal pintxos for $45 per person. Pinxtos, small snacks enjoyed in northern Spain, are somewhat less recognized globally compared to their tapas counterparts.. Served on skewers or toothpicks, they offer a diverse range, including meats, fresh seafood, olives and peppers.

While the Pinxto menu changes as the week goes on, there are some staple including Wagyu beef tartare, toasted brioche with truffle emulsion or marinated goats cheese with red onion and orange marmalade. “It’s where the chef gets to be creative and create small daily dishes,” says Bennett.

Wine enthusiasts can look forward to St. Thomas’s monthly exploration of global wine regions, complemented by delicious small bites. Curated by beverage and wine director David and chef Bennett, this experience includes table-side tasting notes and explanations. Kicking off the series is a focus on Catalonia, promising a firsthand journey into diverse wine regions.

Additionally, St. Thomas offers a private wine lounge for those seeking a more intimate setting. Guests can reserve the lounge for private gatherings, complete with a bottle of champagne and a selection of luxury savoury and sweet pintxos, served in an afternoon-tea-style setting.

St. Thomas is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m and reservations can be made through OpenTable.