UPDATE (1/2/2008): I’ve posted my review of PINKYS HERE.

LK Dining Lounge or LilyKate Fine Foods as it started out RIP. I’m speculating here but I believe Britta Joyce, owner, decided to pack it in after roughing it for a couple years with lukewarm response to the restaurant, despite the venue being comfortable and elegant.

With the fierce competition between restaurants in this city, be it for customers or even staff, I’d speculate to say that the only way you’re going to do well in this market is to ensure people keep you top of mind when it does come time to make a decision to go out and eat. Earls, Cactus Club, and the other big box restaurants do this by hiring the most ‘desirable’ talent. Other restaurants like Glowbal focus on impeccable service, then there’s others like Hamilton Street Grill that have arguably the best quality embedded in their raison d’etre.

For the little guy, there is hope – it’s about high touch, getting the word out and continuing to beat the same drum all the time. Networking, advertising, media and PR are all vital communication elements. You can no longer build it and hope they will come.

Speaking of PR, super-publicist Cate Simpson is spreading the word about Pinky’s Steakhouse which will open early December 2007 in the space of the former LK Dining Lounge. Good luck to them. Release after the jump.

OPENING IN YALETOWN – EARLY DECEMBER 2007

Restaurant name Pinkys Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar

Style Relaxed Fine Dining
Cuisine Steak with Accessories
Design No “Big Box” restaurant here

Team
Owner: Browns Restaurant Group
Company President: Scott Morison
Director of Operations: Carl McCreath
Executive Chef: Frank Lu
Pinkys Yaletown General Manager: Jordan Pickering
Events and parties: Jerusha Dunsmore
Public Relations: Cate Simpson

Location
1265 Hamilton Street, Yaletown (Between Davie and Drake)
Vancouver, BC V6B 6K3
604-732-9545
www.pinkyssteakhouse.com
info@pinkyssteakhouse.com

Hours
7 days a week 4:00 pm – 12:00 midnight
Friday only lunch 11:30pm – 4:00 pm
Available for private events daytime Saturday – Thursday

Capacity
Dining Room 55 people
Cocktail Lounge and Bar 60 people
Cocktail Lounge and Bar Stand-up 80
Overall capacity 115 or Stand-up 175
Patio 34
Private Room: no
Buy-outs: yes
Size 3,000 sq ft

Pinkys Dining Room Low key glamour with leather tufted upholstery and splashes of sexy colour. Seating at booths and tables & chairs. 55 seats

Pinkys Cocktail Lounge and Bar Signature center round bar creates a hub separating the 45 seat lounge and the dining room. Mid century style chairs covered in beautiful fabrics and low lighting. Lounge 45 seats. Bar 15 seats

Patio Street front cobblestone patio shares a glass awning with Yaletown neighbours Coast (seafood restaurant) on one side and other newcomer Flite (wine bar) on the other. Open year round weather permitting. 34 seats with expansion plans

Design In-house designer Jillian Harris has designed a sexy condo sized room for Yaletowns’ first steakhouse. No “Big Box” restaurants here. Leather, crystal, colour and organic materials are used for approachable old school opulence with mid-century modern touches resulting in a low key glamour that is both masculine and feminine

Market Home office and retail shop owner “yaletowners”; Friday martini lunches and after work gathering spot. Big wines, big steaks, small attitude; A woman’s steakhouse…

Pre-opening contact information:
Director of Operations: Carl McCreath 604.833.1661
Designer: Jill Harris (Brown’s Restaurant)

Vision Pinkys is an urban twist on the classic steak house with a menu built around the highest quality, Certified Angus Beef accessorised with a few focused, signature “non steak” entrees, snappy starters and yummy desserts

Pinkys is “New Classic” cuisine that focuses on traditional steak dishes with exciting, flavourful twists. A large selection of cuts and sizes that offer really, really big steaks to small and petit steaks

At Pinkys the wine program is red heavy with a large selection of value bottles along side some of the industries heaviest hitters. Oversized classic martinis are our signature cocktail

At the bar and lounge approachable wines by the glass, classic cocktails and a fun appetiser menu creates an energy that fuels the martini hour and spills into the evening. Nostalgic tunes and relaxed professional service create a warm, comfortable experience