Have you heard the news?
A new Toptable branch, Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar, is opening right here in Victoria!
The excitement to share it with the community surrounds the team in a steady hum and they can’t wait to have you join them for the opening day on Wednesday, June 28th.
Located in LEED Building at 1525 Douglas, this new restaurant places emphasis on seafood and features a magnificent cocktail and 42-page wine program — key ingredients and spirits either hand-selected internationally or locally sourced.
The deep cocktail menu has been created by the Bar Manager, Jayce Kadyschuk, and contains an adventure for any palette. It’s filled with drinks made from premium whiskey, vodka, gin, mezcal, rum, and more!
Their Executive Chef, Kristian Eligh, has returned home to Vancouver Island in the midst of this new role after exploring all aspects of the culinary industry for the last two decades.
In an interview with Victoria Buzz, he stated that he’s very excited to present a carefully crafted and passionately created menu for visitors to enjoy.
“We’re trying to put Victoria on the map and grow the culinary scene here, so it’s important for us to be reaching out to local farms and local fishermen,” Eligh said.
We had the pleasure of getting a sneak peak at what Marilena will be offering, and in sampling courses from the menu, his passion for the curation of good food is clearly evident.
“The focus is local and imported sustainable seafood…it’s a fun experience for the diners because there’s so much to explore and so much to see.”
To note is the delicious kanpachi crudo and the vanilla bean cheesecake — better add this to your list of must-tries!
The menu will be year-round with a selection of seasonal changes. So there will be classics that customers come back for and new, creative additions that people can try!
Not only has there been hours of care and attention put into the food menu, and the cocktail and wine program, but the space itself.
Warm, soft lighting shines down from above across the 160-table dining area, an attractive and extensive bar back extends to the near-ceiling, and custom salt art from an artist in New York rests easily on the far wall — giving the space a lifted and crisp feel.There’s even a wind-shielded patio so you can enjoy your cocktail and delicious meal out of the wind if you prefer.
But don’t take our word for it, go check it out for yourself!
Toptable has a long list of premium restaurants in places such as New York, Vancouver, and Toronto. They’re owned by Aquilini Investment Group, who also own the Vancouver Canucks.
Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar
- Where: 1525 Douglas Street
- When: Open 7 days a week from 4:30 p.m. until late
