Reviews

September 5, 2006 - Metro
 “Social Eyes” reporter Warren Frey caught Il Nido patrons and owner Franco Felice toasting the new Fall menu. View Image

September 5, 2006 - 24Hrs,
Michael Schratter, On the Town reporter

The smart date speeds you to an urban restaurant.

So lucky man, now you've got yourself a date. What's next? Why not slow it down a bit and take your lovely companion out for a little cuisine and lubricous drink? The choices abound in our city of restaurants, but you certainly can't go wrong with the well established Il Nido. In a business where places come and go as fast as a Middle East truce, 19 years is a lifetime. Il Nido's has been serving inventive Italian cuisine for nearly two decades in its hidden cozy corner of Robson and Thurlow. Celebrating the end of the season sitting amongst the lush greens of the courtyard, during Il Nido's "Sights and Tastes of Summer" party, it's hard to believe that just outside the doors there is a hustle and bustle of a city center. While admiring the works of local artists-in-residence, I couldn't get enough of Chef Amber Husband's baby portobellos stuffed with Italian sausage, cambonzola cheese and candied red peppers. Hey, has anyone seen my date? View Image

Ildiko Herr - Concierge
Pacific Palisades Hotel
August, 2005

Dear Franco, Congratulation on being voted #1 Best Courtyard Patio in Vancouver by the Province! My guests were amazed by the service, the food and the ambiance. The couple I sent on Saturday, they said, it was their ever best restaurant experience and that Cafe Il Nido is definitely their favourite restaurant and they will go back next week when they return from Alaska. Thank you, Il Nido team! Ildiko Herr - Concierge Pacific Palisades Hotel - Kimpton Hotels Phone: 604-688-0461 Direct Line: 604-891-5188 Fax: 604-688-4374

Jonathan McDonald
The Province
June, 2005

#1 of 5 Courtyard patios
A Tuscan setting tucked into the courtyard of the Manhattan Apartments for true global meshing and atmospheric and digestive tranquility, exemplified by the new summer menu and pleasant wines.

Jesse Nuytten
The Epoch Time
February, 2005

VANCOUVER - As winter chills; II Nido is on hand to warm Van-couverites . Cafe II Nido offers quality meals to all age groups for casual and formal occasions in a tranquil environment on Thurlow Street in downtown Vancouver, The main menu changes as the seasons change, and new specials are offered every week. Entrees range from $19.00 to $29.00. Executive Chef Amber Husband, who says she has almost complete control over the menu, and who runs the kitchen almost single-handedly, repeatedly emphasizes quality, quality and quality. Indeed, her selection of fresh ingredients brings a surge of excitement to the palate. II Nido's dining area bears an aura of elegance. There is seating for 45 people in the winter and 70 in the summer, after the private patio opens. "We have a very wide range of clientele from the ages of 20 to 25...or between 50 to 65...we have reached all types of people," Husband explains. Cafe II Nido has been established for 17 years and that experience is definitely reflected through the level of cuisine, the attitude, and the style present. Positive attitudes emanate from the cafe - the entire atmosphere just feels harmonious. Nonetheless, to truly appreciate it, one must experience II Nido firsthand.

Timothy Renshaw
Vancouver Lifestyles Magazine
June, 2003

At Il Nido that experience is pretty much what you’d expect from a restaurant whose name roughly translated means The Nest. Warm, personable and familiar. Add in linen on the tables, Chet Baker on the soundtrack, local art on the walls and a subdued dash of Northern Italian romance in the room and you have a closer approximation of Felice’s nest. It’s his tip of the hat to the European affection for restaurants sited off Main Street. The nest is a safe haven in the urban storm. Il Nido’s predecessor in the 1907 vintage Manhattan Apartments courtyard space was Binky’s Oyster Bar. Can’t say as der Binker left much of a mark on the local restaurant landscape. Il Nido’s enduring run, however is a testament to its simple appeal. The Manhattan itself has had its ups and downs. But the J.E. Parr and Thomas Fee-designed building remains an interesting example of the city’s early 20th century architectural heritage. That look has won it fleeting showbiz fame as the backdrop to such Hollywood productions as the Look Who’s Talking movies with Kirstie Alley and John Travolta.