One of Vancouver's most acclaimed high-end Italian restaurants has revealed it is now in its final months, after an incredible 25-year run.
Michelin Guide-recommended and award-winning Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca will shut its doors before the end of 2024.
The news was delivered to a stunned room at the 35th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, as chef/owner Pino Posteraro spoke onstage to accept the award for Best Italian - Upscale.
Posteraro began by saying the award was "bittersweet."
He continued to share that the restaurant's lease at 1133 Hamilton St in Yaletown was up at the end of October, and, as a result, the restaurant would close on December 23.
However, said the popular chef: "You will not be rid of me yet," adding "when one door closes down another opens," hinting at perhaps another venture for Posteraro.
Cioppino's is known for its enduring menu of high-end Italian fare, served in a sprawling Yaletown space.
In 2008, a visit from iconic food personality Anthony Bourdain to Cioppino's in Vancouver for his show No Reservations put Posteraro and the restaurant in the global spotlight.
The restaurant has won multiple awards over its lengthy tenure.
More information is likely to come in the wake of Posteraro's surprise announcement.
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