A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Campagnolo’s First Night

I met our web designer at Campagnolo tonight, ostensibly to discuss plans for the second beta version of Scout (due next Monday) but really just to check the much anticipated casual Italian restaurant out on their first night. Campagnolo (Italian slang for “country bumpkin”) is the second restaurant from Tom Doughty, Robert Belcham, and Tim Pittman. Fuel on West 4th was their first.

  • In the beginning (a few months ago)
  • There were only plans...
  • Chefs Alvin Pillay and Robert Belcham
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • Opening Night, Campagnolo
  • Looking in
  • The front window
  • In the kitchen
  • The dining room
  • Proud dad, restaurateur Tom Doughty
  • Tim Pittman, co-owner/manager
  • The main dining room
  • The dining room
  • Awaiting the first tables
  • The dining room
  • Service station
  • CityTV staging shots
  • Table for two in the window
  • The menu
  • Freshly polished
  • First service
  • Deuce
  • Chef Alvin Pillay
  • Proud dad, restaurateur Tom Doughty (spectacles)
  • Hall that connects dining room from rear wine bar
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • Getting the bar ready - 6:20pm
  • IMFrom the back looking in to the rear wine bar
  • First round in the wine bar
  • The wine bar
  • The rear wine bar
  • The rear wine bar
  • The rear wine bar
  • Service
  • The menu - cheap!
  • Cheese sticks
  • Peroni
  • Tagliarini with pork ragu
  • Nice and wet risotto
  • Nutella tart
  • Pannacotta
  • Treats
  • Great ceiling

The bar wasn’t even finished when I walked in at a little after 6pm, but by the time I was done my main it was all done and looking super swank. The whole package has a very modern and elegant feel to it, but it gels better than I thought it would with the gritty block on which it’s located. It’s still not fully complete, as they’re expecting a wall divider and some new wallpaper within the next little bit. Dinner was made doubly superb by the fact that it was dirt cheap.

Curious as to what it looked like while under construction? Click here for a short film.

There are 8 comments

  1. Yes, there were plenty of people. This was a very quiet soft opening, done at the last minute. I counted over 20 covers at one point.

  2. Just called ahead to confirm they were open, and evidently it’s just for “friends and family”. Officially open Friday for dinner. I know the wrong people, I guess.*sulk*

  3. Went last night – room was full and buzzing. Food was excellent, wine list made me happy and service was warm and informed. Dessert was especially yummy – the pannecotta was killer, as was the selection of grappa. Will be back.

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