Brothers Justin and Cristian Isidro bring the food, wine and welcoming spirit of Portugal’s neighbourhood tascas to Fraser Street.
A deeply personal new restaurant is opening on Fraser Street.
Hospitality veterans and brothers Justin and Cristian Isidro will officially open Maria Celeste on Tuesday, August 4, bringing their long-held vision of a welcoming Portuguese tasca to Vancouver’s Fraserhood.
Named for their mãe — mother in Portuguese — the intimate 36-seat restaurant at 4181 Fraser Street is inspired by the neighbourhood gathering places found throughout Portugal, where food, wine and conversation are shared around the table.
“Growing up in Portugal, tascas were where everyone ended up on any given day because they were all about welcoming the whole community,” says Justin. “That’s the feeling we want the moment people walk through our doors — there’s always a seat for you at our table.”
Two Hospitality Careers Under One Roof
Maria Celeste brings the brothers’ respective hospitality careers together for the first time.
Justin, formerly the longtime director of operations at Michelin-starred Kissa Tanto, Meo and Bao Bei, leads the restaurant’s front-of-house and wine programs. He is also the founder of Portuguese wine importer Vìnicola Portugal and earned the Michelin Guide Vancouver Best Service Award in 2022.
Cristian helms the kitchen after working at acclaimed restaurants including Kissa Tanto in Vancouver, Lisboeta in London and Cozinha das Flores in Porto.
The menu draws on the brothers’ memories of Portugal and their mother’s cooking while showcasing seasonal ingredients from British Columbia.
“Everything on this menu starts with memories of the way our mãe cooked and the way Portugal eats,” says Cristian. “We take those traditions and let British Columbia’s ingredients speak through them.”
Portuguese Dishes Designed for Sharing
True to the spirit of a traditional tasca, Maria Celeste’s menu is designed to be shared across the table.
Smaller dishes, listed as Pratos, include Rissóis de Camarão, crisp golden pastries filled with shrimp, cream and lemon; Bacalhau à Brás, made with shredded salt cod, egg and straw potatoes; and Arroz de Marisco, a Portuguese seafood rice with prawns, mussels and clams.
Larger Da Terra plates include Pluma de Porco Ibérico, pairing Iberian pork with fresh clams in a classic combination associated with Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions.
The Bife à Portuguesa features Carrara Wagyu served with a Lisbon-style café sauce made with cream, butter and mustard.
Guests can also leave the decisions to the kitchen by ordering the Come e Cala-te chef’s menu. Translating loosely to “eat and be quiet,” the sharing menu is built around the freshest seasonal ingredients and the dishes the kitchen is most excited to serve.
“We are cooking simply and generously — letting nothing go to waste,” says Cristian. “When a plate lands on the table, I want it to taste like you are in Portugal.”
An All-Portuguese Wine List
Justin’s wine program travels through Portugal by the glass and bottle, with selections ranging from sparkling Espumante and refreshing Vinho Verde to structured Alentejo reds, elegant wines from Bairrada and fortified wines.
Guided by the Portuguese expression vou para a terra — reflecting a deep connection to land and place — the list features both historic producers and smaller-scale growers.
A dedicated Vou Pra Terra section further highlights wines selected for their sense of origin and regional character.
A Modern Vancouver Tasca
The 1,300-square-foot restaurant was designed by Studio Roslyn in collaboration with the Isidro brothers and constructed by Belcarra.
Warm wood, aged materials and nostalgic details give the room the familiar, unpretentious feeling of a traditional tasca while introducing a contemporary Vancouver perspective.
Maria Celeste began its limited soft opening on July 29 and officially opens on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The restaurant will initially be open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m. Reservations are recommended, although walk-ins will also be welcomed.
Maria Celeste
4181 Fraser Street, Vancouver
@mariaceleste.yvr
mariaceleste.ca
