Provence Marinaside: A Tale of Pandemic Resolve

Provence Marinaside joins the list of re-openings in Vancouver, which have been coming thick and fast this week. That’s really good news. How reassuring to see all those familiar names returning to whatever the new normal might be. Of course, many never completely shut down but switched to takeout almost without missing a beat. Several— including Top Table and the Glowbal Group—have all along been preparing and donating meals to the homeless. Even in dire times there’s no limit to the generosity of this industry.

Yesterday Provence Marinaside announced its reopening for dining-in. I believe their impeccably thought out measures exemplify our hospitality community’s understanding of the need to get things right.

An early adopter

Provence was among those who moved quickly to take out and delivery when others initially closed. In early April, Owner and Executive chef Jean Francis told me: “You have to be agile to survive. Our main concern is how to continue to serve our patrons while keeping them and our staff safe. We were one of the first restaurants to come up with the idea of take out. This was entirely new for us. I have a wonderful staff and we are constantly brainstorming ideas.”

Quaglia and crew came up with the idea of fully prepped meal ‘kits’ that you could finish in your own kitchen—with the help of a video included. Their French Cooking Made Easy Kit was so well received that five others followed, including a Prawns Provençal kit and a roast chicken kit.

They’re still offered for takeout, along with many other dishes as well as popular grocery items. Provence was also quick to take advantage of the change in liquor laws that now allows take out / delivery of alcohol. They offer it at half price during Happy Hour with any meal order. (Read more about Provençe’s extensive wine program here.)

Safety is paramount. Says Quaglia, “As we now carefully re-open our restaurant, we want you to know that we are committed to the health and safety of our staff and our guests. We’ve actually been serving inside for the past week but wanted to do a soft re-opening to ensure we had all the enhanced health and safety processes perfected. We are confident that we are now in that position.”

Patios: Outside is definitely ‘in’

Like others’ Provence’s new business model is somewhat daunting. Prior to Covid-19, including TWB (The Wine Bar) and patios, the restaurant could seat 159 people. The new arrangement accommodates only 60, with socially distanced tables on the patios and inside, while TWB within remains closed.

However, given the fast tracked and flexible patio options introduced by the city on May 27, I’d be tempted to apply to remove street parking and expand the outside seating area (above) to the edge of the boulevard. It’s a model that could and should be used in several parts of the city. Even though temporary (through October 31st), it’s a welcome measure to bolster a battered industry that needs all the help it can get. (If you’re a restaurateur I highly recommend reading the Price Tags article and checking the link to City Hall’s patio program.)

You can find here all Provence’s menu details and hours, as well as comprehensive info on their health and safety protocols here.

Provence Marinaside is also supporting The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre with the donation of meals and funds. Check out the donation option on their website if you’d like to lend a hand.

“Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of Provence during this challenging time,” says Quaglia. “We could not have survived this long without you and I look forward to welcoming you back to the restaurant.”

Other stalwarts who have recently confirmed reopening include: Cardero’s, The French Table, Glowbal Group, Jules, Kafka Café, Nightingale, Nuba, Tractor and many, many more…

All images courtesy of Provence Marinaside / Emrys Horton, EPH Photography