Slightly upscale 'research and development' department popular with families closes after two years
Burnaby's excellent Brentwood restaurant options have steadily grown in recent months, but with the closure of White Spot's experimental R+D Kitchen concept after two years, the large development has a new vacant lot. I did.
Opening in spring 2022, R+D Kitchen was positioned as a slightly more upscale, gentler, experimental branch of the legendary Vancouver-based family restaurant chain.
Not a full test kitchen (White Spot has an in-house test kitchen at its headquarters and a rigorous process for developing and implementing menu changes across multiple locations in BC and Alberta), an R+D location was the vehicle for a beloved brand. We branch out into slightly more upscale cuisine, combining invention and comfort.
Building on White Spot's backbone, R+D offered dial-up options for upscale casual favorites such as salads, bowls, and burgers. R+D has taken the menu in a more contemporary direction with ingredients such as Wagyu beef, mustard onion confit, and black truffle cheese. Children's meals were also available, but not, for example, in Whitespot's cherished cardboard pirate packs.
R+D Kitchen was located in the “Tables” food court at Amazing Brentwood, which is part of the old Brentwood Mall building.
Elsewhere at Amazing Brentwood, several major restaurants have debuted since R+D Kitchen opened in 2022, most recently including the expansive Tap & Barrel and sushi hand roll bar Hello Nori , Earl's, OEB, and La Taqueria are debuting.
Rumors that R+D Kitchen was about to close spread in the community and online earlier this spring. A sign was posted at the restaurant about a week ago announcing April 28 as its last day of business.
R+D Kitchen's Instagram account has been made private, but the restaurant's website is still up and running and is still listed in the Amazing Brentwood directory as of noon on April 29th.
An employee said by phone Monday afternoon that the restaurant is closed and that the closest Burnaby White Spot locations are at 4129 Lougheed Hwy (Gilmore) and 6500 Hastings St (Kensington).
VIA has reached out to White Spot and Amazing Brentwood for further comment on the closing.
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