New Victoria restaurant operated by Canucks owner's Toptable Group
For a city of its size, Victoria punches above its weight when it comes to culinary pursuits.
That streak continues with a new fine dining restaurant opening along Douglas Street in downtown Victoria, which has peripheral ties to the Vancouver Canucks.
Renovations to the space at the Rotunda building at 1525 Douglas Street have long piqued the curiosity of people walking by.
Now, after four years in the making, Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar is set to open at the end of June.
"[It was] 2019 when we embarked on the project," said Marilena executive chef Kristian Eligh.
The eatery will be operated by Toptable Group, the restaurant group owned by Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini.
Aquilini thinks Marilena will be a fine dining hit in Victoria, especially in the hands of Eligh, who went to culinary school and finished his apprenticeship in B.C.'s capital.
"I grew up in this great city," he said Thursday.
Eligh was also culinary director for the Hawksworth Restaurant Group in Vancouver.
The executive chef says that Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar is designed for Victoria, however.
"We're a seafood-centric restaurant highlighting local and imported sustainable seafood," he said.
"We're catering to Victoria. It's very important that everybody feels comfortable in this space," he added. "The hospitality and food will exude that."
While the Canucks may have ties to the restaurant, don't expect to find any TVs at Marilena,
You can expect there to be a team dinner, however, when the Canucks hold a training camp in Victoria in September.
And like any good team, it's all about putting on a show at home.
"Simply, we want to be the best restaurant in Victoria," said Eligh.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.