Federico Murrini moved from Milan to Vancouver when he was 19. He worked at restaurants in Milan and continued to do so after coming to Canada, spending time at the Georgia Hotel and then Don Francesco before buying his own restaurant when he was 36.
It was 1991 when Federico bought L’Artista Restaurant. It’s rare to find a restaurant that’s been successfully running for that long — let alone by someone as dedicated as Federico. “Sometimes I work 12, 14 hours a day," he says. "It might be a long day but I really do enjoy it.”
Monday to Saturday Federico is in the kitchen. That sort of devotion is impressive, and when he looks back on it even he can’t quite place how he has managed to retain his indomitable spirit. “I am not sure, I just love to work. It’s in my blood. I’d be bored if I stayed home,” Federico says, then adds earnestly, “But, I do go on vacation, take a week or two off a year.”
This is a great Italian restaurant with good atmosphere for either a romantic outing or business lunch. Servers are friendly to kids, and they have delicious meals that are able to cater to even the most tastes. Their portions are generous for the price paid, and splitting a meal and appetizers will still satisfy most ravenous appetites.
