Beach Bay Café + Patio opening soon in Raincity Grill spot

The Beach Bay Café + Patio will be opening soon in the former Raincity Grill spot in Vancouver’s West End.

At the corner of Beach and Denman–a stone’s throw from the shore of English Bay–the Raincity Grill was a landmark restaurant in Vancouver’s dining scene history, and many were stunned to learn of its sudden demise in the fall of 2014.

After a major overhaul of the prime piece of real estate, the Beach Bay Café has a fresh look and an appealing concept, along with a core team of staff on the floor and in the kitchen with much local and regional experience.

The restaurant is operated by Viaggio Hospitality (who also have Cibo, Uva and the Waldorf Hotel on their roster), and a rep from the organization shared a few key details about the Beach Bay Café.

Look for a menu of west coast-inspired fare with an emphasis on locally-sourced produce and sustainability. In the kitchen will be Executive Chef Scott Korzack (previously at L’Abattoir and Bambudda).

Under the direction of Bar Manager Adrian Lindner, the restaurant’s bar program “will capture new age and traditional flavour combinations with a polished feel.” There will be a broad wine program featuring diverse selections at a number of price points.

Andrea Vescovi (formerly of Bluewater Cafe) is on tap as General Manager, and Luc Trottier (GM Quattro Whistler for 13 years) will serve as Restaurant Director. They’ll preside over a space that has been revamped to include a lot of white, a bar of carerra marble, open kitchen, light wood and brushed chrome tables, a sea-inspired patio, and simple artwork that evokes English Bay of yesteryear.

“We are excited to be creating a new dining experience to re-establish this area of Vancouver and this legendary location,” says Viaggio.

As the finishing touches go into the space and project, the Beach Bay Café + Patio is poised to open “very shortly,” as in within hopefully a few days. Hopefully they’ll share the good news about their open doors on their Twitter account.

Beach Bay Café + Patio

Address: 1193 Denman Street, West End
Website: www.viaggiohospitality.com