Valentine's weekend proved to be a bittersweet one for a Gastown Italian eatery.

While Nicli’s Next Door at 68 East Cordova Street in Gastown celebrated Valentine's Day with a romantic four-course dinner, it will be permanently closing its doors on Monday (February 15).

Nicli’s Next Door, with chef Josh Gale, offered a focus on local and seasonal ingredients, a selection of five house-made pasta dishes from spaghetti to gnocchi, and antipasti ranging from North Arm farm beets with mascarpone and hazelnut vinaigrette to arancini al formaggio with san marzano tomato.

The restaurant issued a statement dated February 10 which said that “our team will lament the loss of Nicli’s Next Door, the great food and the philosophy it stood for” and that “Gastown is growing at an exponential rate and we are seeing a diversity within this culinary epicentre we haven’t seen in a long time”. Although a specific reason for the closure was not stated, they promise to share good news in the near future.

Meanwhile, its neighbouring related operation Nicli Antica Pizzeria (62 East Cordova), a certified Verace Pizza Napoletana pizzeria with a wood-fired oven and Neopolitan pizzas, will remain open.