Longtime Kitsilano breakfast and brunch spot Sunshine Diner now has an evening sibling. Inevitable Fondue and Piano Lounge opened in April, using the same space as the decades-old diner. Run by Jessica Pantsios and her husband, who has owned Sunshine for over 30 years, Inevitable introduces a new concept for the retro dining space. Fondue and Piano lounge.
“We turned the restaurant into a completely different platform. It’s a night-time vibe; it’s a completely different concept.” The concept, as the name suggests, features live piano performances each night Inevitable is open. The menu switches to small eats and fondue, both cheese and chocolate.
Previously, they tried opening Sunshine in the evenings, but Jessica says it was never successful for dinner service. Having enjoyed fondue in places like Whistler and noticing a lack of this warm, gooey Swiss dish in the city, they decided to pursue it. At the same time, there is a lack of live music in Kitsilano, Jessica notes.
Given that they both enjoy fondue and live music, and seeing an opening for something new in Kitsilano, they decided to create Inevitable as an evening counterpart to Sunshine.
“It’s this personal but unique and amazing experience we created together,” she says.
The name is personal, too. It comes from a comment Jessica made to her now-husband decades ago while they were dating.
“I told him it would be inevitable we would end up together,” she says, adding that they are married with two children.
They have partnered with local pianist Peter Tam on the music program. Sometimes he performs, and other times he organizes other performers. Fondue and Piano lounge.
Jessica says they have been surprisingly busy, though unevenly.
“We just want to make people happy and want them to come out,” she says.
Inevitable is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Thursday to Saturday at 2649 West Broadway.
Photo by angela pham on Unsplash