Elisa reopens with supper club, wood-fired grill still on pause
The Yaletown steakhouse fires back up Saturday after a May fire, though the signature Grillworks Infierno stays offline during repairs.
Elisa, the Yaletown steakhouse known for wood-fired grilling, is reopening Saturday after a large fire forced a temporary closure.
On April 26, a blaze broke out in the restaurant's venting system at the Empress Galleria building around 8 p.m. Fire crews found heavy smoke showing from the roof and extinguished the fire fairly quickly, though heavy water damage and damage to the ceiling resulted. Fire alarms activated, but sprinklers did not engage. No injuries were reported.
For now, the restaurant is launching as "Elisa Supper Club"—a thoughtfully curated dining experience created by Executive Chef Andrew Richardson and his team—while work continues on upgrades to the dining room and the signature Grillworks Infierno grill.
The supper club will feature everything from Elisa's signature tartares and raw bar selections to expertly prepared steaks, seafood, and seasonal favourites. "Elisa Supper Club offers the exceptional dining experience you know and love, thoughtfully reimagined for this moment," the restaurant said in an Instagram announcement.
The steak selection will be a little more limited than usual during the transition, the restaurant acknowledged, but all Elisa classics will be ready. "The entire Elisa family is looking forward to cooking for you again and welcoming you back into our dining room. Thank you for your patience and continued support, we're excited to share this next chapter with you," Richardson added.
Reservations are now available online. It's a restart that keeps the kitchen burning while the grill waits.