Edmonton’s ‘Dalla Tavola Zenari’ restaurant shutting down

For 40 years, the Zenari family has run a family business in downtown Edmonton.

Elisa Zenari’s parents opened a kitchenware store and café at Manulife Place in 1984.

Being Italian, serving and hosting came naturally.

“I love to cook, I love to host. We all as a family love to host,” said Elisa Zenari, Co-owner of Dalla Tavola Zenari.

Zenari went across the street and kept the tradition going with “Dalla Tavola Zenari” Italian for “from the Zenari table.”

The restaurant opened in December 2020, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s because of this and running deficits for two years, Zenari has to file for bankruptcy and close shop on New Year’s Eve.

Moreover, because it was a new business, it did not qualify for any Covid-19 relief.

“The pandemic is in everyone’s rear view mirror, just like we all want it to be. But the effects of it aren’t necessarily. It’s like we ran out of runway. We ran out of time,” said Zenari.

Zenari says a lot of things are changing, from people’s habits post pandemic, to the economic climate, and businesses.

“I think people like to go out and dine out. I just think that it’s shifting,” said Zenari.

All because of bad luck and bad timing, Zenari has to close up. However, she’s hopeful another door will open to carry on her family’s legacy, and achieve “la dolce vita”, the sweet life.