Chef David Gunawan to open Royal Dinette farm-to-table restaurant in Vancouver

by Stephen Hui on June 18th, 2015 at 1:37 PM

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The acclaimed chef-owner of Farmer’s Apprentice and Grapes & Soda is partnering with the Donnelly Group to launch a farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

In July, David Gunawan will open Royal Dinette (905 Dunsmuir Street) below Donnelly's second-floor Blackbird Public House & Oyster Bar in the financial district.

A news release says the "casual and playful new restaurant that honours Gunawan’s trademark local, sustainable and seasonal approach to dining" will serve "weekday lunch as well as happy hour, dinner and late-night libations Monday to Saturday".

“At Royal Dinette, we’re not only bringing the concept of seasonality and true farm-to-table cuisine to downtown Vancouver,” Gunawan states in the release issued today (June 18), “but we're also aiming to engender a new awareness in our guests about food itself — how it is produced, sourced, prepared and ultimately served.”

There will be, according to the release, "fresh pasta, butcher and pastry stations and seating for 80 throughout the dining room, bar, chef’s table and outdoor patio".

While Gunawan is Royal Dinette's chef-owner, he'll be joined by Jack Chen (Farmer’s Apprentice, L'Abattoir) as head chef; Chen-Wei Lee (Chambar, Blacktail Florist, Wildebeest, Bao Bei) and Jonathan Therrien (L'Abattoir, Café Medina, Chambar) will head up the front-of-house team; and Wendy McGuinness (Chambar, Blue Water Cafe) will serve as bar manager.

Beyond Beige Interior Design and Milltown Contracting are handling the layout and decor.

Royal Dinette is on Twitter and Instagram as @royaldinette.