The Queen West spot formerly occupied by Habitat and Satori Supper Club is now home to Vdara Restaurant—a contemporary space designed to cater to the area's local arts community and the corporate crowd. "It is upscale but at the same time there's simplicity to it and it has a bohemian feel," said Gianfranco Pellicori, who handles PR for the venue, which officially opened in mid-December and is owned by Mark Entesary, Tony Recchia, and John Pirathap.
Vdara, which seats 104, is decorated in cream and black and features natural materials like granite and reclaimed wood. An Ontario tiger-striped limestone wall serves as a backdrop for the bar, which has a granite top and glass facade accented by amber lighting. Leather chairs in cream and black provide seating at dark wood tables, and a variety of contemporary chandeliers light the room. A patio can accommodate 116 during the warmer months.
The intentionally vague menu includes dishes like "wandering free bird caught by sticky steamed buns" and "no noodling celery root lasagne wild with shrooms." "We want people to ask our floor staff questions. We want to make sure there is interaction with our clients," Pellicori said. The dishes also feature locally sourced ingredients. "Everything is as fresh as can be and everything is made in house, from the kitchen to the cocktails," Pellicori said. Executive chef Mani Binelli visits Kensington Market daily to shop for ingredients, and pastry chef David Kozicky prepares a selection of breads, pastries, and preserves each morning.
Vdara also offers an extensive cocktail list. Mixologists Daniel Green and Elizabeth Savage serve drinks with names like Strawberry Blond, Prickly Pear, and Pink Peach. Vdara is available for private bookings, and catering is available.
