Tailleur, French-Style Brasserie, Opens on Main Near Future Streetcar Stop

By Kevin Collison

Tailleur, the new restaurant concept by the creators of The Russell, feels like a refreshing culinary oasis à la Parisian brasserie, especially if you enter off Main, past all the streetcar-related construction.

“I wanted a bistro and bakery with a New York and European feeling,” said co-owner Heather White. “It felt like the city was missing that kind of element.”

Along with her partner, chef Amante Domingo, White has designed an intimate space richly decorated with old hunting prints, brass light fixtures and trophies and gear from her equestrian career jumping horses.

Tailleur opened in mid-August at 3933 Main and its a natural outgrowth from The Russell which opened down the street three years ago.

Tailleur’s decor conveys the feel of a French brasserie.

“Domingo’s dream was to cook with fire and I came from a bakery background,” White said. “The baking quickly grew during Covid–quiches, baked goods, muffins, scones.

“We were growing our of the space and wanted to expand The Russell menu. The owner of The Russell building owned this place and showed it to us. We knew we wanted it to be a restaurant and we did the work ourselves.”

The new location always had been a retail space, it opened in the 1920s as a pharmacy, and it took about 18 months to complete the renovation. White did all the interior design work.

Domingo said the pair were inspired by a visit to the famed Balthazar brasserie in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City.

“The Russell is a take on rustic Midwest wood-fire cooking and this is uniquely Heather and her upbringing horse jumping,” he said. “This is built around an individual.

“It has a very brasserie feeling to it so that when you’re here, you feel lost in time.”

Tailleur also has a back patio that seats 24.

Entrees include Duck Confit, Steak Au Jus and Chicken Paillard. There’s also Mussells and Steak Tartare. Other menu items include quiche, frites, caprese salad and Scotch Egg Caesar.

At some point, White, a native of Vancouver, BC, intends to introduce English High Tea service.

The restaurant seats 68 people on its lower level and has a second level that can be used as overflow or for private events. There’s also back patio that seats 24. Parking is available behind the building.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tailleur is currently closed on Sunday, although the owners eventually anticipate starting a Sunday brunch.

The new brasserie has opened at a reviving corner of Westport and Main.

The new Transit Coffee shop recently opened in the former Katz Drugstore is being renovated as part of a 192-unit apartment project, all in anticipation of the streetcar’s arrival in early 2025.