Vancouver will soon have another Italian restaurant, as the recently-announced Locanda dell'Orso has set its launch date for a Downtown space that had also previously been home to an Italian concept.
Locanda dell'Orso (which translates to English as the "inn of the bear") will open on Tuesday, May 14 at 350 W Pender St.
The West Pender address had served as the longtime home of one of the city's Autostrada restaurant locations. The restaurant closed at the end of January this year, after five years as Autostrada and five years before that as its predecessor, Cinara.
For its part, Locanda dell'Orso promises "an indulgent Italian culinary experience," according to a press release, and draws its inspiration from the "the Italian legend of the Innkeeper and the Bear," which found an escaped bear finding a welcoming home at an inn's hospitable courtyard.
The menu at Locanda dell'Orso will feature "dishes traditionally found in Northern and Coastal Italy." In the Head Chef post will be Marquella Uhrig (Kevin & Kevin Juice).
Menu highlights will include agnolotti stuffed with chicken, beef, and rosemary, which reflects the cuisine of Italy's Piedmont region, while "the classic Sicilian dish of Canestri Caponata, with vegetables, capers, and olives, spiced with Calabrian chilli, and topped with salted ricotta, embodies flavours found along the Italian coast," describes a media release.
The former homey Autostrada space will see an infusion of modern touches, "with bold artwork, creating a classic Italian aesthetic, inspired by advertising seen during the modernist avant-garde movement, known as ‘Futurism.'" The space is 1,500 square feet and seats 50, including a dozen at the bar.
The new restaurant joins a bustling Italian dining scene in Vancouver, with peers such as Ask For Luigi, Bacaro, Carlino, and Magari by Oca among the many capturing the attention of the Michelin Guide.
Locanda dell'Orso will be open for dinner service Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Follow @locandadellorso on Instagram for updates.
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