In Vernon, the Olivier restaurant found a buyer after weeks of closure

See my news
Follow Le Démocrate Vernonnais

A page turns for restaurant L’Olivier, in Vernon (Eure). After several weeks of closure during the summer, the establishment reopened its doors with, at its head, new managers : Khaled Yousfene, en cuisineand Béchir Selmi, behind the scenes.

Neighbors for around fifteen years, it was during a meal with friends that they learned of this opportunity.

“In June, we went to eat at L’Olivier and the manager at the time (Sami Touati, Editor’s note) confided to us his desire to sell his restaurant. We talked together and signed in September. »

For the restaurateur, the establishment had everything to please: “I really like this city and the setting. It’s also a beautiful restaurant. There were a lot of good points. »

Heading for Algerian flavors

As a reminder, Sami Touati embarked on a new adventure, in September 2023, by moving into the former premises of 20 Heures Vin.

Over the months, it had built a very good reputation to the point of receiving awards from Google for its excellent rating: 4.9/5 out of more than 130 reviews.

But barely a year later, the manager had to give up due to lack of manpower. He had launched an appeal for help before the summer holidays but did not find an ideal candidate. Sami Touati therefore decided to pass the torch.

If the name of the restaurant remains unchanged, in the kitchen, Khaled Yousfene has decided to head towards the Algerian flavors. On the menu: couscous, tagines, bourek (meat, vegetables or shrimp), squid, chorba, méchouia salad with Berber bread… “We also offer a French dish of the day, at lunchtime, for people who want to eat on the go,” underlines the chef.

On the dining room side, the restaurant offers around forty seats between the interior and the terrace.

“A life project”

In the kitchen, Khaled Yousfene will be in charge.

“I cooked a lot with my mother and that’s what made me want to make it my career. »

After 30 years of experience in catering, Algeria et in Paristhe latter carries out a dream : have your own restaurant. For around fifteen years, he has owned a bakery in the capital from which he will soon sell in order to build “this new life project”. “We have owned a house in Vernon for about fifteen years. We come there every weekend but eventually, we would like to live here,” explains Khaled Yousfene.

L’Olivier, 5, place d’Évreux in Vernon. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.