Marco Polo Restaurant closes after five years

By NewsPress Now

Marco Polo Restaurant, the Downtown eatery known for its unique Italian-Asian fusion menu, closed for good on Saturday.

Opening in December 2018, it invoked the legacy of the famous merchant of Venice who spent more than 20 years in the 13th century traveling throughout the Mongol Empire, mainly China. By coincidence, Polo died almost exactly 700 years before the restaurant’s closure, on Jan. 8, 1324.

Owner Dean Callon offered a brief statement on Facebook about the closing.

“I want to thank you St. Joseph for the last five years,” he said. “It was a pleasure to give you our culinary experience.”

The restaurant occupied a space in the Kirkpatrick Building at 614 Francis St, which has hosted several previous eateries. Dishes served included ponzu panzanella, an Italian salad with a Japanese citrus-based sauce, and Mongolian ribs with a side of Italian porridge.