Although Queen Street east of Bathurst has long been known as a shopping destination, there has been a lack of upscale restaurants in the area. That is until Nota Bene, a new venture by Yannick Bigourdan and David Lee of Splendido and restaurateur Franco Prevedello, opened last week. Located in the bottom of the Canada Life building and designed by KPMB architects (the company behind the Gardiner Museum), the 7,000-square-foot space is divided into a front bar and lounge section and a dining room. When combined, the rooms hold 110 seated and 200 for cocktail receptions.
The restaurant is decorated with dark brown leather chairs and wood panelling, but splashes of colour show up in the pale yellow leather banquettes, fuschia panels in the ceiling, and a series of abstract urban paintings by Canadian artist Alex D'Arcy. A 20-seat semiprivate dining room features hanging black-and-white glass lights. Chef David Lee—who will divide his time between Splendido and the new restaurant—offers seasonal Canadian dishes like Nova Scotia lobster salad with maple bacon. The restaurant is available for full bookings, and special menus are available for private dining and events.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly credited KPMB Architects with the design of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
