71 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

We're a big fan of places like Stages and Perro Negro but for some reason we never made it to the Livet. It makes me feel a little sad and guilty.

 

The restaurant business is weird. There's no other business like it. If two hobby shops opened downtown they wouldn't have enough business for the both of them and they'd shut down in a year. But restaurant after restaurant opens and the demand is never satiated. Boom and Batten, Chuck's Burger Bar, Flying Pig, The Local, all open within a short walk of each other, patrons lined up out the door and still the demand is there. But then one guy loses his shirt for some random reason.

[Victoria Watcher]

i think it's fair to say some places are undercapitilized.  poor servers or not enough of them and that first impression can be blown.

 

the bird place on yates before dylan's pub.  sult.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 January 2020 - 07:17 AM.

[Mike K.]

I quite liked it. The only drawback was its hours seemed to focus more on the afternoon/evening than earlier meals. They also used wood for their cooking which would result in a lot of 911 calls from adjacent residential towers.

[Mixed365]

Big blow to the downtown restaurant scene. 

Unfortunate it didnt work out for them. 

[weirdie]

Too bad, it was always pretty dead whenever I walked by.

They started cancelling reservations last week, so this announcement isn't much of a surprise.

https://www.reddit.c...s/en25wk/livet/

[Matt R.]

I’m assuming the “8 years” reference includes his time at Stage.

I ate at the Livet a couple of times, great food and service. I wouldn’t speculate on why he closed. It is indeed a strange business.

Matt.

ETA and I think Sult is doing ok? I don’t think the guy’s getting rich yet, but the doors are open and the vibe and food are great.

Edited by Matt R., 17 January 2020 - 01:04 PM.

[gstc84]

I only went once with friends - food was good and the drinks were great. Mostly we were excited because rooftop patios are so shockingly rare in Victoria. But my friends perceived it as overpriced and we never went back. Will be curious to see who (if anyone) takes over the space since it is a bit hidden.

[Nparker]

...Will be curious to see who (if anyone) takes over the space since it is a bit hidden.

Unfortunately, that was probably part of the problem.

[Spy Black]

It was expensive, and the menu was a bit modern which, for the "non-hip" crowd (a huge portion of the restaurant going public in Victoria) can translate into perceptions of small portions and "weird but expensive food". 

 

It didn't help that so much of the restaurant was designed and constructed around the outdoor patio, which as most long time Victoria residents know, is only really useable for maybe 4 months of the year.

Having the patio closed and unusable for such a large chunk of the year takes away a lot of the charm of what is otherwise a rather tiny and architecturally unspectacular indoor restaurant.

 

I suspect you'll see the Fort Street Commons bunch do something with the space, as they pretty much own everything in, on, and around that corner of the block, including the alleyway and open space in behind Livit/Discovery.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see the space revert to offices, which is what occupied the that 2nd floor location for decades, and which would reflect the fact that the lower floor is already offices, currently a well established local architectural firm.

Edited by Spy Black, 18 January 2020 - 08:24 AM.

[VIResident]

I’m assuming the “8 years” reference includes his time at Stage.

I ate at the Livet a couple of times, great food and service. I wouldn’t speculate on why he closed. It is indeed a strange business.

Matt.

ETA and I think Sult is doing ok? I don’t think the guy’s getting rich yet, but the doors are open and the vibe and food are great.

Hey Matt, can you please check your messages - just sent you one. Thanks. 

[Matt R.]

Let’s not forget that the owner, I presume, still has his other business going - The Island Brine Co.

https://www.islandbrinecompany.com/

Matt.

[zoomer]

i think it's fair to say some places are undercapitilized.  poor servers or not enough of them and that first impression can be blown.
 
the bird place on yates before dylan's pub.  sult.

OVER CAPITALIZED ACTUALLY.