Toronto's culinary scene has a dazzling new gem in Summerhill, where Seahorse has emerged as the city's newest destination for seafood enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable dining experience.
The restaurant is backed by an impressive roster of hospitality veterans. Co-owners Simon Bower, known for his work at Lucien, Mercer Street Grill, and YYZ, and Richard Renaud, with experience at Piano Piano, Speducci Mercatto, and Real Sports Bar and Grill, met five years ago at a neighbourhood coffee shop. Their shared passion for hospitality sparked an instant connection that would eventually lead to Seahorse.
"Richard and I, when we first met, we were going to do something like coffee by day and oysters by night," Bower explains. "As time passed, the vision became all about hospitality — great food, a great team, in the right neighbourhood."
The intimate 38-seat restaurant channels the atmosphere of a modern French brasserie with subtle oceanic touches. Every design element was chosen intentionally, from 80-year-old refinished chairs to elegant glass chandeliers, creating a warm, lived-in interior that feels anything but generic.
Managing the raw bar is partner Eamon Clark, an eleven-time oyster-shucking champion with deep connections to the oyster community. His commitment to showcasing Canadian shellfish from coast to coast means oysters are often flown in and served the very same morning.
Executive Chef Federico Garcia, previously of George Restaurant and sous chef at acclaimed Quetzal, brings Michelin-starred experience to the kitchen. His deliberately tight menu features chilled shellfish, buttery tartares, and charcoal-grilled entrées that highlight the finest seafood available.
Signature dishes include the Small Ice Box featuring oysters, mussel escabeche, wild Argentinian shrimp, and dry-aged kampachi crudo, plus show-stopping scallops and an exceptional Pear Cake that Garcia describes as "one of the desserts that kind of started my career."
Seahorse represents everything Toronto's dining scene does best: bringing together talented industry veterans to create something truly special for the community.