Italian Kitchen, due at the end of the summer, will be a modern Italian restaurant across from Saltlik on Alberni Street. It’s owned by Emad Yacoub’s tentacular Glowbal Restaurant Group (Coast, Glowbal, Sanafir, Afterglow). The executive chef will be Ryan Gauthier and the GM will be Robert Byford (both ex-Beach House). I’ve taken the nickel tour, and it’s a big, two level space (about 200 seats with a long kitchen bar). Box Interior Design is doing the aesthetics. Bluprints indicates a massive departure from mangiacake Italian schtick.
UPDATE: some video of the almost finished product…
UPDATE: it’s open.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Any chance this restaurant will be open weekend of Aug 24th and if so would love to make a reservation . Thanks so much. Out of town visitor – important.
They’re thinking the 27th for a grand opening, so maybe as a “walk in.” No guarantees.
I just walked by the restaurant and it looked open to me! There were people sitting at the tables by the windows.
No – the restaurant is in ‘training mode’ right now & will not officially open until August 30th. Only another week!
I have to say that I was extremely disappointed with Vancouver’s Italian Kitchen Restaurant. From the rude manager, to the unattentive wait staff, to the poorly prepared food (which they got wrong two times!), the entire experience was terrible. If you’re going to check out an Italian restaurant in Vancouver, do not go to the Italian Kitchen in Vancouver.
Care to qualify that with any information or is ranting unabashedly a new game that no one has taught me? Sniff.
If anyone cares, I did not make the comment above about shilling. And in the future, I will post with my full name.
Interestign points from both of you, I located this site b/c I was looking up the Italian Kitchen, I have to say that my personal experiences with the glowbal group have been mixed. I have been to coast 5 times, 3 out of 5 it has been worth it, the rest of the time the food was not up to par. As for glowbal itself, it clearly was one of the the WORST dining experience that I have had in Vancouver (LIFT takes the cake on the worst), the service was poor, the food was crap and overall it was snotty and rude. Decided to try sanifir, the best way that I could describe that would be, if you order the right thing, it might come out good. There were a few great items, but, walking out after spending $215 (for 2 pers), I knew I could do better in Vancouver. I think that I need to try Italian Kitchen just to see what it is about, but, I will be cautious with what I order.
Paul, any suggestions for other restaurants in the city? Have you been to Goldfish? I feel like I am running out of good quality places to eat, b/c when I can cook at home and it tastes better, I know there is something wrong….
Thanks
Hi Paul, What do you think about Joe Fortes & Gotham. Both restaurants have excellent food and services, but Joe Fortes is a bit noisy.
I don’t think I will even try the Italian Kitchen…not too impressive, just by reading the reviews.
Italian Kitchen is a great addition to the down town scene. Food is great! Service is very good. My only complaint was the noise level at the downstairs bar….I’m lunching there today.
Was at Italian Kitchen on the weekend – thought it was outstanding. Food was excellent, service good, and it was nice to go out downtown without having to dine in Yaletown…will go back.
The Italian Kitchen has staff that act like Mafioso hence the name of the restaurant, I guess.
We were told that there were no seats available at 10:30pm and half the restaurant was empty.
The food was mediocre and the servers were not ‘world class’. In all of my dining experiences, I have never encountered such rude and pretencious staff..which would be ok if there was something to substantiate those attitudes.
I just had dinner at Provence last night. – An old but very very stable restaurant. Food was spectacular – Quiet – not a place for a party but if you want good food it was not lacking
The food was good, but I can’t say the service was spectacular. I felt like I was in a Cactus Club with better food. The staff seem very self absorbed, all chatting away about their weekend plans at the bar. I went up to the restroom, and one of the waitress cut me off and went in to primp her hair. oddly enough, and it may be because we ate too much, but my date and I both felt rather ill after the meal. The Cappiccino Creme Brulee tasted nothing like its title would suggest. The ravioli was cooked perfectly but too heavy on the creme. Too much hype; I’d rather just go to Provence any day.
I went on boxing day, loved the food! Service staff was fantastic! Sometimes it takes time for a new restaurant to work out the kinks! It really doesn’t matter what people say on here negative, this restaurant will do very well. The platters are the way to go, and the calamari starter was amazing! Good luck kids!!!!!
We had high expectations for Italian Kitchen, but unfortunately we were VERY disappointed. We made a reservation 6 days ahead to assure a good table for our group of 8. We started off at the bar and had a bottle of wine and cocktails and things were looking good. When they were ready to seat us we were informed that the table we reserved was not available and that our reservation did not specify that we wanted specific seating. They proceeded to tell us that we must be mistaken and it could not be their fault????????? OK! Apparently we are total idiots and their 20 year old hostess does not make mistakes!!
Anyway it just went down hill from there. The food is OVERPRICED Earls or Cactus Club food, in fact I believe that Earls is probably better. The seafood platter was lack luster and had little flavour, the steak was uneventful and the pasta was over cooked. The atmosphere is cramped and the decor is boring. Needless to say none of us will be back.
The worst thing of all is the attitude of the management. They act as though you are lucky to be there and you should just shut up and eat. Unbelievable!!!!!! So Save your money and go somewhere with good food and nice people. :)
I ‘m sorry to hear about you experience, Bill. I’ve been twice to Italian Kitchen and both times the service and the food was top notch.
The price tag is on the high-side, but I would argue that it’s not over-the-top.