Pastry Chef Jeff Salzsauler at Lupo Restaurant in Yaletown, Vancouver (Canada).
I was delighted to be re-introduced to a lovely space in Yaletown, Vancouver recently. Locals remember Villa del Lupo fondly and so do the new owners: Julio Gonzalez Perini and Michael Mameli once worked at the Italian restaurant together.
This time around, they have re-named it Lupo Restaurant and focus on what they call “reinventions of Italian classics.”
“It’s not your parents’ Villa del Lupo,” laughs Mameli. And Perini agrees, “Gone are the linen table cloths, the extravagant prices and the need to whisper in the dining room.”
I had the chance to sample some of the food coming out of the new kitchen and I was happy with the change. The dishes are down-to-earth and accessible, making this a perfect spot to have a reasonable Italian meal without getting too fancy. Happily, they have kept the romantic atmosphere and added a little shot of hipness to it.
By the time the pastry chef, Jeff Salzsauler, brought out a sampling of the desserts, I was completely won over. A very nice touch.
I also like that, because of the prime location in Yaletown, Lupo Restaurant is offering a pre-event menu. From 5:00-6:15pm, you can get a 2-course meal for $28 and a 3-course dinner for $37. Oh, and the wine list is quite extensive, with over 40 red wine choices by the bottle.
I’m so glad this beautiful space is being used again, and used well.
Lori Henry is a freelance Travel, Health and Hockey writer based in Vancouver, Canada.
