A first glimpse inside the renovated Canoe

A first glimpse inside the renovated Canoe

A caribou etching adorns the wall near the soapstone bar (Image: Suresh Doss)

Last December we reported that Canoe would be closing up shop for a million-dollar facelift. Unlike most construction projects in the city, the restaurant was remodeled on schedule, and opened last night with insiders reporting (ok, tweeting) its down-to-the-wire progress. We snagged some images at the start of yesterday’s service for this first look at Canoe’s new digs.

The first thing to note in the Anacleto-designed space is an explosion of browns and taupes flooding the room. Hardwood floors and walnut tabletops are complimented by neutral upholstery. Moving a half-step more casual, linens are replaced with place mats and runners. Canadiana tributes dominate the dining room, with dangling antler-like fixtures and a large caribou—lifted from the face of the quarter—etched into the wall near the soapstone bar.

Although the current a la carte menu is limited, with Winterlicious as its primary focus, a full menu launch is expected after Valentine’s weekend. Same goes for the much-coveted Chef’s table.