Named for Nyx, the Roman name for the Greek goddess of the night, downtown Vancouver's high-end modern Italian restaurant Nox has quietly closed its doors this month. The restaurant opened for business after lengthy delays in spring 2022.
Located at The Cardero building at 1575 W Georgia St., Nox was initially the venture of restaurateur Alejandro Diaz and chef Sam Fabbro, who rose to prominence at El Santo in New Westminster, and Arpeg, which owns And-Co, the "bespoke professional hub" at The Cardero that had Nox under its umbrella of on-site offerings.
Nox's last Instagram post is dated Aug. 24, and a comment dated Sept. 5 from someone asking for confirmation that the restaurant had closed was unanswered.
On Google, Nox appears as "permanently closed" and on First Table, a restaurant booking site that offers discounts to diners who book early in the evening, the Nox listing reads: "Unfortunately, Nox Restaurant is closed for business." Additionally, it is not possible to book Nox on OpenTable; diners are referred to El Santo.
Nox was known for its contemporary Italian fare with a West Coast influence. Dishes included small bites for sharing (chicchetti), like tuna conserva and bruschetta, mid-sized plates like risotto or a burger, pasta selections, and larger mains such as a half chicken or ribeye steak with sides.
It is unclear precisely when Nox closed its doors, but it is likely it happened as or just before September got underway.
Two one-star Google reviews of And-Co from people identifying themselves as former employees of Nox include detailed accounts of their last shifts on Aug. 26, pointing to what they say are instances of "unprofessional" and "inconsiderate" behaviour on the part of the managing partner from Arpeg.
When reached for comment, Diaz confirmed by phone with V.I.A. that he and Arpeg parted ways in July, and that about a month later the restaurant closed.
V.I.A. has reached out to a representative for Arpeg and will update as more information becomes available.
