Sliding Doors: Vancouver Restaurants Opening and Closing This Month

The old adage goes that when one door closes, another one opens—and in the last week, that seems to apply specifically to restaurants in Vancouver.

Last Friday, we caught wind that the beloved (and beautifully decorated) Jungle Room would be shuttering its doors as of October 19, and this seems to be confirmed by the fact that reservations for the spot aren’t available past that date on the restaurant’s Tock page. 

The city also recently lost one of its most beloved dim sum spots, Flamingo House Chinese Restaurant. After 50 years in business, the restaurant posted on its website: “After a wonderful run, our team is ready to hang up their aprons and enjoy a well-earned retirement. Our last day of service will be September 28.” You’ll be missed! 

And while El Gato Gab Gab quietly closed its doors and switched up its Instagram handle in late September, it promptly swung them back open, introducing Mojo Cantina-Izakaya, a Mexican-Japanese concept serving up killer cocktails and charcoal-torched share plates.

Speaking of Boxset Collective haunts, taking over the old Bar Susu spot, Giusti opens next week, serving up handmade Italian cooking that explores the entire country of Italy, “from handmade pastas to aperitivi…including a few rarely seen shapes.” The menu will be led by chef Mark Perrier, and is the brainchild of Carla Giusti herself, plus hospitality veteran Cam Watt (The Keefer Bar, Acre, June), and Miguel Quezada (formerly of Savio Volpe, Oddfish and Elio Volpe).

Meanwhile, Brooklyn-based chain Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has officially opened its first-ever B.C. location, offering up 32 unique varieties of dumplings such as the Wagyu beef, mac n’ cheese and apple pie dumplings. Though the spot has origins in The Beastie Boys’ favourite neighbourhood, all ingredients are locally sourced and supports Canadian producers. 

Belli Pizza, serving up New York style pizza, natural wines and, according to the spot’s Instagram, “other good stuff”  opened on Commercial Drive on Tuesday, October 14.

Later this week, on Thursday, October 16, Chef Tushar Tondalkvar will be opening Kavita, a “poetic” new Indian concept with two special menus to choose from: an à la carte menu inspired by India’s festival calendar—think Holi, Diwali, Onam and Eid—bolstered by regional and seasonal ingredients; and the “amma”-kase tasting menu, a play-on-words nodding to Japanese omakase and the homage to mothers, as “amma” translates to “mom” in several Indian languages. The 1,500 square-foot restaurant features 46 seats, including eight at its chef’s table plus a peek into an open kitchen. 

As for what’s coming soon?

We’re still patiently waiting for Oide’s new coffee lab and roastery, which the shop teased on social media earlier this year, and for Suyo chef Ricardo Valverde’s Uchu Cevicheria to arrive.

Top Tofino Korean restaurant Jeju will be making its way to the mainland with a new restaurant opening in November, which they teased on their Instagram.

 

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There have also been murmurings of a new dual concept cafe and bar set beside Commercial Drive’s Rio Theatre, and though owner Corinne Lea posted this teaser reel on Instagram, she could not be reached for comment.

 

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