VANCOUVER — Toptable Group founder Jack Evrensel has stayed on in a consulting capacity since the group was acquired by Vancouver’s Aquilini Group last March, but he has announced plans to leave the restaurant group at the end of February.
“I had made a commitment to staying on during the transition,” said Evrensel, who oversaw Vancouver restaurants such as CinCin, West, Blue Water Café, Thierry and Araxi in Whistler, B.C. “This marks the end of a wonderful journey that started 33 years ago with the opening of Araxi, which I named for my wife. I also deliberated carefully when it came to selecting our group’s name. I chose ‘Toptable’ to represent the promise of things to come and to forge the destiny we’ve since realized with our restaurants.”
Meanwhile, Toptable is expanding, with plans to launch a new restaurant in Whistler. It will feature a menu designed by James Walt, executive chef of the group’s Araxi Restaurant.
“Whistler remains a very special place for us, as it’s the location of our first restaurant, Araxi Restaurant and Bar,” said Michael Doyle, president of Toptable Group. “This new property not only speaks to our commitment to delivering premium hospitality experiences but also to continuing the tradition of excellence for which Toptable Group is known to both British Columbians and visitors alike.”
Details about the restaurants and its name are yet to be announced. It’s scheduled to open this summer.
