Santa Marta is a Spanish restaurant that offers elevated cocktails, traditional tapas and heaping plates of paella.

Named for the patron saint of hospitality, Santa Marta was founded in April of 2023, with the intention of bringing Spanish cuisine to Dundas West. Owner Marta Martinez hoped to introduce traditional Spanish dishes to the neighbourhood.

The dining room is filled with nods to the culture and cuisine. Signs on the walls show the proper way to pronounce the names of dishes, while stacks of wine bottles form barriers between the tables.

Other details, such as a meticulously tiled bar and a bust of a grinning skeleton, give the space a uniquely European feel.

Santa Marta's menu consists mainly of meat dishes, with a particular emphasis on seafood. Fish, shrimp and prawns all feature prominently in many of the restaurant's signature items, including paella.

Often regarded as Spain’s national dish, paella is a flavourful rice dish that can be customized with many different ingredients.

One of Santa Marta's newest variations is the paella with foie gras ($43), which consists of green beans, artichokes and tender duck liver on a bed of seasoned rice.

Though Marta tells us that foie gras is not usually included in traditional paella recipes, I found that the fatty meat enhanced the flavours of the creamy rice and earthy vegetables.

Croquettes ($4.50 each) are small, cylindrical appetizers, or "tapas", usually filled with ground meat or chopped vegetables. Santa Marta currently offers three different kinds of croquette: Iberian ham, blue cheese and mushrooms.

Of the three options, the mushroom flavour was my favourite, though all three bring something unique to the table.

The Iberian ham, for instance, is a type of dry-cured ham with a distinctive texture and a rich, savoury taste. Though it bears a superficial similarity to prosciutto, it is unlike anything I've ever tasted before.

Steak tartare ($15) is served on crusty bread, garnished with fish and seasoned with a variety of fragrant spices.

Like most raw foods, steak tartare can be a bit of an acquired taste, especially when paired with seafood. As a fan of steak tartare, I enjoyed the saltiness of the fish, as well as the contrast between the crusty bread and the tender meat.

The Olivier salad ($16) is an unusual dish made with boiled potatoes, diced carrots, dill pickles and finely minced fish, all packed into a tight disk shape.

Though this recipe is a staple of Russian cuisine, it is widely popular in Spain and served as a tapa in many bars. Its mild flavour and creamy consistency make it easy to see why.

The ventresca tuna salad ($22) is a stripped down salad made with tomatoes, onions and tuna.

The dish gets its name from the cut of meat used to prepare it: the "ventresca," or "belly," is widely considered to be the richest and most luxurious part of the tuna.

The Mezcalita ($17) is a sweet and spicy cocktail that comes to the table smoking. Made with mezcal, lime juice, orange juice and pineapple juice and garnished with a rim of crushed peppers, the drink can almost be compared to a spicy margarita.The Margaret ($16) is a more conventional take on a margarita, made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.The red sangria ($16) is a fun, fruity drink that pairs red wine with crisp, tangy apple slices. White sangria is also available, for those looking for a more floral taste.Be sure to try the Estrella Damm ($7) if you're a fan of beer. Brewed in Barcelona since the nineteenth century, this beer is a little bitter at first blush, but becomes sweeter and smoother with every sip.Santa Marta is located at 869 Dundas Street West.