Zambri’s opened in October 1999 at 911 Yates Street. An unconventional location at the back of a strip mall between a drug store and a supermarket. In the early days it was a simple operation. Peter was the chef; Jo took care of the front of house and Calen was in charge of business development.
The goal was to create a simple trattoria-like restaurant focused on serving a casual lunch. The incredibly well-prepared Italian food and efficient service created favourable word of mouth. And over time, the obscure little eatery gained highly acclaimed industry recognition. GOLD Best Casual Italian Restaurant Vancouver Magazine, Victoria Chef of the Year, EAT Magazine, to name a few. The Urban Peasant James Barber called it the “Nicest little Italian restaurant in BC. Probably in Canada. Terrific food.”
In 2001 the restaurant expanded to include a small bar, a private function room and twenty more seats. With the addition of Frances Sidhe, a trained sommelier, Zambri’s started serving dinner, galvanizing the restaurant. All of this set the stage for a place where people could sit and drink a glass of prosecco, people watch, try something new or a dish they have come to love.
