'I am ready to close this cherished chapter': Legendary Vancouver chef announces retirement
It’s official: Vancouver’s The French Table will be closing its doors after 15 years of operation.
Owner and chef Hervé Martin broke the news on The French Table’s website, sharing a heartfelt goodbye to all the valued friends and patrons of the restaurant.
“After 57 years in this beautiful, demanding, and deeply rewarding industry and 40 years of welcoming you through our doors in Vancouver, the time has truly come for me to say ‘au revoir,'” wrote Martin. “At 72, I am ready to close this cherished chapter.”
If the news sounds familiar, in July 2024, Martin had shared that he would be retiring and that new owners would be taking over the space. However, due to last-minute sale complications, Martin reopened the restaurant and continued to run it.
“The French Table is now officially sold, and this time, unlike last year when the deal fell through, the sale is moving forward with the landlord’s full approval,” said Martin.
He also added that this decision was not made lightly, sharing that the restaurant business is “beautiful, but it is also tough, especially on the family.”
“The long hours, the missed holidays, and the constant demands of service are not carried by the chef alone, but by those who love him. I have been very fortunate that my family understood the obligations of this path and their patience and support made the sacrifices lighter and this life possible,” he wrote.
Before opening The French Table in 2010, Martin trained in Michelin-starred restaurants in France and then went on to work in the elite kitchens of three Michelin-starred establishments in Switzerland and France. He even served as the executive chef to King Leopold of Belgium at one point during his 57 years in the restaurant industry.
Once retired, Martin plans to tend to his vegetable garden, play his accordion under the stars, and finish writing his book about “the true story of a boy who started as ‘a new slave in the kitchen’ and somehow found his way to your tables.”
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The French Table will continue to operate until its last day of service on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
“From the bottom of my heart, merci. For your trust, your laughter, your loyalty, and for making a Frenchman far from home feel so very much chez lui,” concluded Martin.
The French Table
Address: 3916 Main St., Vancouver
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