A respected Vancouver restaurant group is in the final prep stages to open the doors to its latest venture, an Italian restaurant and bar in East Van’s Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood.
Folietta, the newest member of the Wentworth Hospitality Group family, is set to open next week (the last week of May 2025) at 1480 Nanaimo St.
Known for spots like Tableau, Maxine's, and Homer St. Cafe, Wentworth is pivoting from French to modern Italian cuisine with Folietta.
"This is our fourth and largest restaurant, and our first outside of downtown Vancouver. We are extremely excited to be a part of the community," shared Roy Comesotti, Vice President of Operations, Wentworth Hospitality Group, in a May 23 media release.
Regional Italian dishes on the menu at Folietta
Led by Executive Chef Bobby Milheron and Chef de Cuisine Imtiaaz Patel, Folietta's menu will highlight regional Italian dishes, including house-made pasta, Bistecca Fiorentina, and veal chop Parmigiana, alongside a dedicated kids’ menu.
However, Folietta intends to be senza (without) a couple of things, per the opening announcement: "No pizza. No clichés."
Patel added: "We’ve drawn from regional traditions but added a Vancouver lens through local ingredients and seasonal creativity.”
Folietta will also offer a robust bar program designed by J S Dupuis with Italian-inspired cocktails, negronis on tap, Amaro Shave Ice, and a curated selection of Italian wines and spirits led by General Manager Miguel Arrais (formerly of Anh and Chi).
Aperitivo hour, dinner to start, brunch to follow
The 130-seat space, designed by Ste Marie, features an open kitchen, four dining areas, and a semi-enclosed patio.
Set in The Grant, a new mixed-use development, Folietta aims to be a neighbourhood favourite for everything from afternoon aperitivos to weekend brunch.
The new restaurant takes its name from the abundant greenery of Grandview-Woodland; it's a riff on foglietta, which refers to leaves or foliage in Italian.
An exact launch day for Folietta will be shared early next week, as opening plans are finalized.
Once Folietta opens its doors, it will offer aperitivo hour daily from 3 to 5:30 p.m., with dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m. weeknights and to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend brunch will begin this summer. Reservations will be available via the Folietta website. Follow Folietta on Instagram @foliettayvr.
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