The space left behind by a Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant that abruptly shut down earlier this year is getting a completely new identity.
A Noms Mag community member (tng.stndrd) spotted signage for Linh Noodle Bar, a new concept from the team behind Linh Cafe, at the previous Bacaro unit in Vancouver House.
Linh Cafe confirmed the news on their Instagram shortly after.
We previously reported on Bacaro’s closure, which came as a surprise to many given the Northern Italian spot’s Michelin recommendation.
According to Linh Cafe, the new concept will feature “Vietnamese soul, refined with precision” with a focused menu, a deeper expression of flavour, and cocktails designed to pair with the food, not just accompany it.
For those unfamiliar with Linh Cafe, the restaurant was founded back in 2014 in Kitsilano by chef and owner Tai Nguyen.
Tai was born in North Vietnam and discovered his passion for cooking at age 15.
After relocating to Vancouver in 2001, he trained in French cuisine through apprenticeships at acclaimed spots including Mistral French Bistro and Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe.
The result was Linh Cafe, a concept that brings together the elegance of French cuisine with the warmth of traditional Vietnamese cooking, named after his wife Linh.
After seven years in Kitsilano, the team relocated to Vancouver House in September 2021, where the cafe continues to operate.
Linh Noodle Bar represents an evolution of that vision, taking the Vietnamese flavour foundation and building a more focused, noodle-forward dining experience around it.
There isn’t much information out about the menu, but we’re willing to bet that their lineup of pho will be the stars here.
Their Pho Bo features AAA Canadian beef brisket sourced from Alberta farms, which is a level of sourcing you do not typically see at most pho spots in the city.
No official opening date has been announced yet, but the Instagram post noted “we’re almost ready,” which suggests it could be soon.
The Pac Rim location is a strong spot for the new concept, sitting in a high-traffic area downtown with plenty of foot traffic from nearby residents and office workers.
It is also a fitting upgrade for a space that sat empty after Bacaro’s departure.
Linh Noodle Bar joins a growing list of upcoming food spots in Vancouver that we have been tracking, including Mandy’s Gourmet Salads, Truffle Donut, and Pallet Coffee Olympic Village.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1029 W Cordova St., Vancouver BC