Pigeonhole

Designed to feel like a Parisian wine bar and café, Pigeonhole, which was named the best new restaurant in Canada in 2015 by Enroute magazine, incorporates several salvaged and reclaimed elements to strike the perfect balance between old and new. The tin ceiling and green marble countertops have European influences, while close, cozy seating and the open kitchen create a bustling yet intimate feel.

Pigeonhole’s kitchen, while designed to meet commercial standards, is reminiscent of a residential space. It includes a hotline that acts as a kitchen island featuring custom millwork, shelving, and ornate hardware where guests can feel part of the action. Dissolving the boundaries between the dining room and kitchen, the unique layout promotes a shared experience.

FRANK worked with the client to expand this street-level circa 1930 space once occupied by a tea room to create a fresh dining concept that also lent a nod to its quirky past. The utilitarian brick-faced building has new glazing but remained mostly unchanged, and the exterior sign pays homage to the previous tenant.