photo: Tapastree.ca

The West End’s trailblazing Tapastree at 1829 Robson is set to close on September 15th and then reopen as an Italian restaurant called Tavola (“Table”) at the beginning of October. The transformation will see the room down-sized from 65 seats to about 50, with the 10 seat bar standing pat. Owner/chef Mike Jeffs is looking to do a series of shared entrees (like a 30 ounce Bistecca alla Fiorentina), pastas made in house, and a big antipasti bar paired with a wine list of BC and Italian labels.

It might seem crazy at first glance to close a successful and often extremely busy neighbourhood restaurant to roll the dice on an entirely new and untested one in the same location, but 13 years is like 50 in this industry, and Jeffs and partner Nicole Welsh are looking forward to trying something new. With the success of their Italian-themed Nook around the corner on Denman, I don’t see this as a shot in the dark, but rather as a calculated means of staying sane and happy. Good on them. Look for more info on the changes and the menu in next Thursday’s Westender, where my column will look at four new restaurants that are coming our way soon.

In the meantime, make haste to this legend before it’s too late.