Award-winning plant based pizza restaurant Virtuous Pie is opening its first Vancouver Island location in Victoria, BC, on December 14, 2019. The restaurant is located in a historic building at 530 Pandora Avenue, in the heart of downtown Victoria and just steps from the city’s scenic Inner Harbour.
At over 2,300 square feet, this will be the largest Virtuous Pie location yet, with 61 seats and a 653 square foot outdoor patio, which will open in spring 2020. The restaurant is also debuting a brand new feature unique to this location, a communal bar area and a cocktail menu: it will include a selection of local beer, wine, cider, and house cocktails, including a new take on the Victoria-born classic cocktail, the Shaft.
“As this is our biggest restaurant yet, in a city with such a vibrant craft beer and cocktail scene, it made a lot of sense to add a bar program,” says Jim Vesal, Director of Culinary and Business Development. “It’s being led by Greg Dickson, an industry veteran from Factory Brewing and Matthew Benevoli, who’s won a number of prestigious awards in world cocktail competitions. Their creations will be a mix of old favourites and fresh approaches.”
The food menu will include all the popular plant-based pizzas, ice creams, and small-plates for which the restaurant has become famous. There will also be some additional side dishes and bar food added for late night visitors and patrons who just want to have a few drinks and a bite before going out.
The restaurant has been designed by Simcic Uhrich Architects, the team behind a number of notable Vancouver spaces including Strathcona Brewery and Juniper Restaurant. Architect Bill Uhrich says much of their inspiration came from the neighbourhood’s architectural and social history.
“The restaurant’s new home, the Finlayson Building, was an important building and social space during the Victorian era. The facade’s Chinese and Italiante elements and colour palette are referenced inside. And the interior flow and layout also take their inspiration from the saloons and bars of 19th century Victoria,” says Uhrich.
The team used a combination of grey stained white oak, white quartz, faux leather upholstery, and brass-finished details to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The sconce lights mimic street lights, again bringing the outside in.
To celebrate the opening, Virtuous Pie Victoria will be donating 10% of profits from the first week of sales to A Home For Hooves, a Vancouver Island-based animal rescue and sanctuary. You can look forward to plant based pizza in Victoria soon.
This news release was received in November, 2019.
