It’s a new year and Kingston is booked and busy! Thursday Food readers can now add Strings at the Spanish Court Hotel to the list of new places to eat, alongside buzo, Mystic Thai and Mingles.

Truth be told, the hotel’s principal Chris Issa is known for keeping guests intrigued. This time around he’s extended what was the outside deck area of the café, enclosed it with floor-to-ceiling glass, so patrons are inside looking out. He also engaged the services of mural artist Rohan Blair, sourced strings (guitars are suspended throughout), added lights (floating candles and pepper lights are intertwined with branches) and introduced a cosy, novel dining experience for 44 inside and 17 outside complete with live entertainment most nights.

Strings restaurant features hot lava stones for self-cooking at your table.

Thursday Food suggests starting with a small (there’s large, too) Caesar salad, while contemplating mains that range from Black Angus Ribeye Steak, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Seared Herb Garlic Salmon, or Grilled Pork Chops with sides of loaded baked potato, Parmessan truffle potato wedges and grilled vegetables. The mains are finished tableside. One of the perceived benefits of using lava stones in cooking is obtaining perfectly homogeneous cooking of meat or vegetables, and who doesn’t want a final say in how their steak or salmon is finished! The presentations are naturally IG friendly; after all who eats before capturing and sharing! Be warned the stones are hot and retain heat. There were rave reviews for the mains.

Copious spoonfuls of Chocolate Thunder Brownie, hot skillet chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream brought our dining experience to a formidable close.

Strings @ the Spanish Court Hotel

Opening hours: 4:00 pm-12:00 midnight

For reservations, call: 876- 926-0000

Parking

Additional parking at 14-16 Worthington Avenue

With shuttle service