![]() ![]() “We’ve been able to collect some great local talent to help be ‘the boots on the ground’ both in the front of house and back of house,” said Eligh. The restaurant and its staff from the island are also excited about the restaurants opening. “We really just want to make sure that the food offerings and service is approachable and mesh well with Victoria.” Then obviously on the busy Thursday, Friday, Saturday we’ve got the seats here for a really great time.”Īdapting to Victoria is something Toptable Group will have to do, as this is the first restaurant they have opened on the island city. Eligh said “that the quieter mid-week night we’re able to front-load the room and create that buzz and atmosphere you want. This is so at anytime of the week the restaurant could be a desired spot. Marilena’s design was built to create pockets of ambience. We have a lot of import wine coming in as well, old world and new world.”Īt the front of the restaurant, guests are greeted with a wide bar with an “incredibly deep list of spirits and fun homemade cocktails,” said Eligh. According to Eligh, the restaurant is “trying to showcase of a lot of Vancouver Island B.C. There’s a extensive wine list and two tall stocked wine cellars in the back. When it comes to beverages, the restaurant offers nothing less than quality and quantity. Although the restaurant specializes in local and exotic import sustainable seafood, the chef said that “outside of that, we have something for everyone.” The raw bar will also serve up fresh hibachi, ahi tuna and more from Pacific waters around Hawaii. One of the seafood highlights from international waters that the eatery will prepare is a stripped bass from Mexico. Coming from the hot kitchen behind me we’re showcasing both chilled, warmed, and shared plates,” said Eligh from his kitchen made up of stainless steel working stations and ocean-coloured wall tiles. “We have an incredible sushi chef here producing sashimi, negi and rolls off of that raw bar. The restaurant’s cuisine will have a strong seafood focus anchored by a Japanese-inspired raw bar. We’re definitely excited about the time of year we’re embarking on this opening.” “The pandemic had a lot to do with the delays, but now we’re trying to time that opening with the kind of vibrancy coming back into Victoria’s food scene and downtown in general. ![]() This project has been in the hopper for probably three and a half years,” said Marilena executive chef Kristian Eligh. Toptable Group and the professional hockey team share the same owner, Francesco Aquilini. The restaurant group is also notable for its connection to the Vancouver Canucks. The new restaurant, Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar, will be located at the Rotunda building on 1525 Douglas St. Not only has Toptable Group been well-renowned for its restaurants in Vancouver, but in Whistler and even in New York City. The trend continues with the Vancouver-based Toptable Group opening a new restaurant in downtown Victoria. Victoria is no stranger to fine dining, especially when it comes to serving seafood. Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar restaurant wine, beer and liquor bar. ![]()
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