After nine years, iconic Vancouver chef Vikram Vij is bringing his South Surrey restaurant My Shanti to the end of its run.
The news came late Monday (Oct 30) night via social media.
"Vikram Vij and the management team are announcing the closure of My Shanti after nearly 10 years. The restaurant will cease operations in November 2023," reads the post.
"Vikram would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past decade," continues the announcement.
My Shanti, located at 15869 Croydon Dr in South Surrey, was considered a trailblazer when Vij ventured south into the suburbs of Vancouver with an upscale modern Indian restaurant concept in 2014.
The restaurant stood out amidst a sea of chain restaurants in the Morgan Crossing shopping plaza and the general area - thanks in no small part to its shimmering exterior wall. While it may have been an ongoing challenge to draw diners from the city, many locals from in and around South Surrey considered My Shanti a mainstay. The restaurant has also hosted several popular events and dinner series during its near-decade run.
"My Shanti is a reflection of the personal and culinary journeys that I’ve taken with friends throughout India. Each dish has been chosen to represent the uniqueness of a particular region’s cuisine," says Vij on the restaurant's website, adding: "This restaurant is an homage to the diversity and richness of Indian cuisine."
My Shanti was lauded by the Globe and Mail as Vancouver's "best new restaurant" in 2014. In 2016, My Shanti was named Best Indian Restaurant by Vancouver Magazine - an honour it repeated in 2020.
My Shanti the latest in a series of closures for Vij
Vij opened his first Vancouver restaurant, the eponymous Vij's, in 1994, followed 10 years later by its casual sibling, Rangoli; at the time, both were located on 11th Avenue in the South Granville area. Later, Vij would add a food truck and a restaurant, Sutra, in Victoria. Ultimately, Vij's moved to its current Cambie Street and Rangoli slid over into the old Vij's.
In May 2020, Vij announced the closure of Rangoli, citing the pandemic's challenges and a wish to consolidate operations at the Cambie Street restaurant. His Railway Express food truck was also long off the streets at that point, and just a year ago, in October 2022, Vij's Sutra ceased operations.
The one-time Dragon's Den "dragon," and his team at My Shanti are hoping customers will come visit them for a final meal before the restaurant shutters next month.
However, it's best you get your tables booked fast. "Due to the nature of staffing a closing establishment, the exact date has not been officially decided," adds My Shanti of its impending November closure.
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