Brasserie LB次元官网网址橢cole, a beloved French restaurant in downtown Victoria for 23 years, will soon be under new ownership.
In an email to Victoria B次元官网网址, co-owners of Cafe Brio, Sam Harris and Vincent Vanderheide, announced that Brasserie will join Brio as part of the Vinuel Restaurant Group B次元官网网址� a partnership between the two men.
"You can expect the same great food, service, ambiance, and staff that Brasserie is known for," Harris said in the email. "The one change you can anticipate is the option to book reservations by telephone and online, via OpenTable."
The restaurant, located at 1715 Government St., has historically focused on seasonal, locally available products cooked in a classic French-country style and it appears, at least for now, this style will not change.
Harris has led with a , with an ever-changing menu prioritizing seasonal, local produce and ingredients.
He confirmed that Chef Abhi (Abhishek Vijayakumar) will continue as head chef and said they hope to retain all staff in their roles.
This is not the first venture for Harris, who helped to open the Courtenay Room, Agrius and Boom + Batten. Vanderheide was also involved in the opening of the latter and has experience as beverage manager at Canoe Brewpub for the last seven years, and was a past bartender at several successful establishments in Victoria.
Brasserie L'Ecole has temporarily closed several times in the last half year, leading to speculation about its permanent closure on social media. A staffer launched a GoFundMe campaign for the restaurant at the end of February to help support the business, noting financial obstacles.
Victoria B次元官网网址 reached out to Brasserie L'Ecole staff but has not yet heard back.
Harris said the restaurant is "opening soon" for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., but could not give an exact date as they are waiting on a change of licences.
"We are very excited to have acquired one of our favourite restaurants. We look forward to continuing the legacy," Harris said.
