Authentic Spanish Eatery and Bar Chato Opens in Thornbury

There can literally never be too many Spanish restaurants. In fact, it's Concrete Playground's dream to see every street lined with them and for life to become a neverending string of eating tapas and drinking Spanish wine. For these and other ham-related reasons, we’re incredibly excited that Chato, a bright and authentic Spanish eatery, has just opened in Thornbury.

Chato has moved into their new digs on High Street and is warming up the suburb with an authentic Spanish winter menu — mixed in with some Australian staples. Chato translates to ‘a small glass of wine’, but the dishes on offer are in no way small or stingy. The breakfast menu is a balance of basics (eggs any way with sourdough, $9.50 and toasted museli with poached fruit, $12.50) and a few Spanish inspired dishes, including torrijas (brioche dipped in vanilla and lemon milk and lightly fried, $12.50) and Flamenca (eggs cooked in a chorizo and tomato ragout and topped with serrano ham, $16.50). While traditional Spanish food is very much ham-based, Chato offers many vegetarian dishes as well as gluten-free option, so it sounds like there’s a dish here to suit everyone.

The lunch menu includes a menu de dia (set menu of the day, $19.90) and anyone who’s visited Spain will understand how authentic this is — most restaurants offer a set menu to delight tourists and regulars alike. Alongside traditional paellas and empanadas, the menu also boasts a solid selection of bocadillos, which is basically a Spanish-style sandwich. We're keen to try the lomo, which consists of grilled marinated loin of pork with shallow fried bell peppers ($9.90). Bueno.

Best of all, Chato is run by Darebin locals Maria and Jenny Echevarria-Lang, who source their produce from local, free-range — so you can eat with a clear conscience. But better get in quick, because we expect this place to pack out faster than you can say “Bring me all of your ham!”

Chato is located at 921 High Street, Thornbury. Open Sunday to Wednesday 8am-3pm; Thursday to Sunday 8am-11pm. Call 9484 9554 for bookings.

Images: Eugene Hyland.