A new Spanish restaurant, Casa Rubia, is taking over the Martine’s Wine Bar at 293 Palmerston Ave. in Toronto.
The new restaurant comes from Grant van Gameren, Hailey Burke and Zach Smith — the team that operates popular nearby spot Bar Raval — according to a recent release. Bar Raval received Michelin acclaim for exceptional cocktails last year.
Casa Rubia, slated to open in late September, will feature menu items inspired by northern Spain. Dishes will include langoustine, smoked tuna carpaccio, fideo with cockles, bone marrow with grilled scallops and sea urchin, wood-fired suckling pig, whole roasted turbot and cuts of beef imported from Spain. Much of the seasonal menu will center around the wood oven.
The name draws inspiration from Rubia Gallega, the cattle breed native to Galicia, Spain. Rubia also translates to “blonde” in Spanish, which inspired the visual elements of the restaurant brand including a blonde siren drawn from Galicia’s Atlantic folklore.
The cocktail program will feature martinis, negronis, sidecars, vermouth, aperitivos, eaux-de-vie and traditional digestifs. There will also be Spanish and Atlanta wines.
The restaurant will feature 50 indoor seats with a mezzanine. There will also be a downstairs bar and a 20-seat patio. The design will center around European elements including vintage artwork, soft lighting, salvaged pine and warm plaster.
“I have a feeling Rubia is going to be a very special place,” van Gameren said in the release. “The food feels natural and the presentation unique. I think it’s exactly what Toronto needs right now “
