Excitement is building around the opening of Kitsilano’s newest restaurant.
Opening at the end of February, fingers crossed, Juanita will be located in the space formerly occupied by Blue Martini Jazz Cafe at Cornwall & Yew.
The team behind Lower Lonsdale’s Lift Breakfast Bakery is behind Juanita.
Lift is known for its made-from-scratch breakfast and baked goods and Juanita General Manager Jesse Johnson has confirmed with Kitsilano.ca that that Juanita will have an all-day breakfast and lunch menu which is an almost exact replica of the menu from their sister restaurant.
In addition to recognizable and approachable Lift staples like Eggs Benny, classic breakfasts, and Reuban sandwiches, Juanita will have a distinct Southern European influence in some of the breakfast dishes which will tie their daytime menu to what they have planned for the dinner hour.
For those of you wondering where the name Juanita came from, restauranteur Jane Young worked at a number of 3-Michelin star restaurants in coastal Spain where her nickname became Juanita (a loose translation of Jane to Spanish).
When thinking about the concept for this new space, Young wanted to bring together some of those spice blends and comforting flavors to a very approachable and honest cuisine.
The beverage program at Juanita will showcase local beer and wine while also recognizing that the flavors from that part of the world often go best with the wines from there as well. Juanita’s unique cocktail list will be crafted by Bar Manager Max Henney (formerly of Chambar and Keefer Bar).
Part of the physical space of the restaurant will be dedicated to a small coffee shop area that will pay homage to Lift, where it all began for partners Jane and Fraser Young. They’ll have pastries that are baked fresh and delivered daily from our production bakery as well as sourdough, milk loaves, and baguettes.
Stay tuned for an official open date for Juanita.
Last modified: January 22, 2021
