Dezeen Magazine

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

Ménard Dworkind recreates 1970s New York pizza restaurant in Montreal

Thin ribbons of wood line the green ceilings and white pine wall panels in this Montreal pizza restaurant designed by local studio Ménard Dworkind.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

Vesta, located in Montreal's Villeray neighbourhood, takes cues from the decor of New York pizzerias of the 1970s. Its funky colours, bold use of textures and use of vintage objects are intended to recall the "spirit of Italian family restaurants".

"In its own contemporary way the design of Vesta evokes the spirit of Italian family restaurants common in North America during the 1970s," Ménard Dworkind said.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

White pine panelling covers half of the walls with the other portion painted a dark green colour that extends across the ceiling of the restaurant. Slender oak bands laid against the surface form a linear, geometric pattern.

An L-shaped bar clad with beige powder-coated steel topped with a white oak counter is situated at the centre of the restaurant.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

Oak cabinetry fronted with black steel frames and glass forms an illuminated display case for the wine selection on the panelled wall behind the bar.

Red leather stools around the counter match the banquette seating against the wall. Vintage wood dining chairs provide additional seating around dining tables that are crafted from large Carrara marble tiles and feature an oak border on their edges.

An open kitchen allows patrons to view food preparation. Inside the cooking space there is a large prep counter also cut from white Carrara marble fronted with diamond tiling, and a large pizza oven the studio imported from New York.

Graphic yellow pizza boxes are stacked along the 20-foot (six-metre-long) white rack that extends over the kitchen counter, which was constructed to accommodate Vesta's large number of takeout orders.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

A pair of globular light fixtures adorn the wall above each of the seating areas. The tiny lights match the black dot lamp from local workshop Lambert & Fils that extends over the bar counter.

Surrounding the perimeter of the restaurant is an oak shelf lined with vintage cans of tomato sauce in a nod to old, traditional Italian style food and restaurant decor.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

Ménard Dworkind was founded by designers David Dworkind and Guillaume Ménard in 2017.

The firm has designed a number of restaurants in Montreal including a wine bar that takes cues from bottle labels and Miss Wong restaurant designed as a mini Chinatown.

Vesta by Menard Dworkind

Other projects by the collaborative office include a beauty salon featuring hacked pink armchairs and IKEA sinks.

Photography is by David Dworkind.

More images and plans

Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Floor plan
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind
Vesta by Menard Dworkind