Old Montreal’s Boris Bistro, a Haven for Gluten-Free Diners, Is Closing on August 20

French-leaning, gluten-free restaurant Boris Bistro is permanently closing on Saturday, August 20 — after 23 years on McGill Street in Old Montreal.

Cœliaque Québec, a non-profit whose mission is to support those with celiac disease, shared the news on Facebook on Tuesday, August 9. In the post, the foundation’s general manager, Edith Lalanne, thanked restaurant owner Jean-Marc Lebeau for “his audacity, involvement, and commitment to the celiac community.”

Lebeau opened Boris Bistro, named after his dog, in 1999, becoming “the precursor of the revival of McGill street,” per the restaurant’s website. In June 2018, after Lebeau was diagnosed with celiac disease, the restaurant morphed into a gluten-free establishment, becoming the first in Quebec to obtain gluten-free certification from the Canadian Celiac Association and the Fondation québécoise de la maladie cœliaque. The bistro was also well-known for its spacious, tree-lined courtyard terrasse tucked behind a tall McGill Street facade.

A CBC Montreal News report about the upcoming closure, which aired on Wednesday, August 10, cited staffing troubles and rising food costs as reasons for the decision. Eater has reached out to Boris Bistro for comment