Meet Franco Felice – Chef and proud owner of Cafe Il Nido since 1988.

Franco is a fixture within one of Vancouver’s oldest and most established Italian dining destinations and is a man who imbues a passion for life, people and Italian cuisine.

Formally trained as a Chef, Franco has worked with many of Europe’s finest in the kitchen and he holds true to the important teachings he embraced years ago: the creation of quality food is an art form.  Just as an artist labours meticulously before their canvas - a Chef works just as carefully to create a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Franco’s passion for both his business and his cooking stem from a lifetime of travels and are influenced by his having grown up in Cosenza, Italy within a family and community centered around simple, healthy and delicious food.  

Though Franco strives to incorporate such culinary influences throughout his menu, Cafe Il Nido is not devoted to any particular region of Italy, rather it includes a healthful dose of fresh Pacific Northwest and Californian-style twists.

Franco believes strongly that quality cuisine does not need to be overrun by additional ingredients that only work to distract the senses.   At Cafe Il Nido perfection lies in a dishes noble simplicity and the passion with which it is prepared.

Sparing no expense where top quality ingredients are concerned, Franco buys locally-produced, organic product as much as seasonably possible.  He also sources top quality Italian olive oil, spices and specialty items in order to provide guests with a truly authentic dining experience.  This is complimented by his well-priced, well-sourced eclectic wine list that changes to suit each menu throughout the year.