The legendary Vancouver chef has announced the closure of his main restaurant ‘temporarily’

Legendary Vancouver chef and restaurant Umberto Menghi announced on Tuesday that it was temporarily closing its main Vancouver restaurant. Garden.

Closure is effective immediately.

In a heartfelt letter shared to the restaurant’s website and social media, Menghi said, “This decision was not taken lightly, but was made to protect our valued customers and staff.”

Menghi adds that under the current restrictions on capacity and group size due to public health orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, it would be challenging to provide the high hospitality that Giardino expects.

“In particular, we have found that maintaining the social distance between staff and customers and between customers is very adjustable. We always provide impeccable service in a warm, inviting environment and this time we can not give the same service and environment built by Giardino,” Menghi said.

However, Menghi tells Giardino that this is not the end – his last BC restaurant.

“We hope to reopen under different circumstances,” said the acclaimed chef.

Umberto Menghi in 2015. File photo by Dan Toulongot

Giardino, in its current iteration, was launched in 2015. The spacious Tuscan-inspired restaurant in Hornby has become Il Giardino’s new home, a long-standing “little yellow house” heritage restaurant.

Also used to manage Il Cominetto and Tratoria de Umberto in Menghi Whistler; Il Cominetto is now a TopTable Group (ELISA, Black & Blue, Cincinnati) restaurant, and Menghi at the end of last year Trattoria was sold to the owners of Joe Forts in Vancouver.

Here is Menghi’s statement about Giardino’s temporary shutter:

I am sorry to inform you that I have made a very difficult decision to close Giardino temporarily.

This decision was not taken lightly, but was made to protect our valued customers and staff.

It is very difficult to work in the current conditions in a place where people have gathered and socialized for many decades. Giardino is a place where everyone feels welcome and you always see a familiar face. In particular, we found that maintaining a social distance between staff and customers and between customers is highly adjustable. We always offer impeccable service in a warm, inviting environment and we cannot afford the same service and atmosphere that Giardino built this time around.

We hope to reopen under different circumstances. My sincere apologies for the sudden decision. Hope to see you all again in the future.

Sincerely,
Umberto Menghi