DINE 'N WINE IN THE OKANAGAN
From casual atmospheres to fine dining, the range of lakeside options is extensive for recreational boaters. Here are a series of places to check out this coming season.
Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre/ The Barking Parrot 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton
The Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre on Okanagan Lake is boating-friendly with its marina, and makes for a great place to visit whether you’re staying for a few days or want to drop in for a few hours to dine in the afternoon or evening. In addition to the Hooded Merganser Bar + Grill that offers formal dining, visitors will appreciate the Barking Parrot Bar, known among the boating crowd for its comfortable patio and casual atmosphere. Enjoy a fresh, cold beverage, or its diverse menu, which includes its popular $5.95 menu (that’s offered with the purchase of any beverage) to meet a variety of budgets. If you’re from out of town, the Penticton Lakeside Resort is the ideal gateway to Okanagan Lake in a quiet setting with a range of accommodations, services and amenities.
For more information visit www.barkingparrot.com or call
(250) 493-9753
Cactus Club Cafe/ Kelowna Yacht Club 1-1370 Water Street, Kelowna
From steak and seafood to fresh greens, the dinner and lunch menus are varied at the Cactus Club Cafe, offering something for everyone and every budget. A short distance from the transient slips of the Downtown Marina Kelowna, this is just one of two locations in Kelowna. With views of Okanagan Lake, its diverse lunch and dinner menu make it an ideal choice for larger groups with various tastes. Menu items include a range of seafood, beef and pasta dishes, while vegetarian and vegan menu items are also offered. It’s even an ideal place to round out a day of boating by simply choosing from the list of cocktails, local wines and craft beers.
For more information visit www.cactusclubcafe.com or call (236) 420-2272.
Local on Lakeshore 12817 Lakeshore Drive South, Summerland
Tucked away in the quiet community of Summerland, Local on Lakeshore is easy to get to by boat from Lake Okanagan and once moored at its private dock, relax shoreside with great views of the lake. Adult-oriented in an “upbeat metropolitan-style” setting, Local on Lakeshore offers daily happy hour specials (between 4 - 6 p.m. Monday to Friday) on beverages, light appetizers and casual fare. It’s also worth noting Local on Lakeshore offers a selection of local BC VQA wines, Classic Craft Cocktails and BC Craft Brewed Draught Beers. Or, if you wish to visit for dinner, there’s a choice of various menu items ranging from fresh salads to seafood and beef dishes, using seasonal fresh ingredients. For more information visit www.localonlakeshore.com or call (250) 494-8855
Hotel Eldorado at Eldorado Resort 500 Cook Road, Kelowna
Winner of the Diners Choice Award for 2019 with a bar that has been winning the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2005, The Hotel Eldorado will provide the ideal night out by boat. Known for its trendy martinis (including its acclaimed Crantini), awardwinning wines and craft beers, dinner is a treat with its locally-inspired menu that includes such main courses as BC seafood, lamb rack, or beef tenderloin. If you come following an afternoon on the water, casual fare includes pork belly poutine, baby back ribs, and artisan greens. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. Further, temporary moorage is available for restaurant patrons and the marina has a fuel dock, plus daily and weekly slips for hotel guests.
For more information visit www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com or call (250) 763-7500
Oak + Cru Kelowna Social Kitchen and Wine Bar Delta Grand Okanagan, 1310 Water Street, Kelowna
Whether or not you’re staying at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, you can relax at the on-site Oak and Cru Social Kitchen and Wine Bar where you can cruise right up to the resort’s slips and enjoy a great meal day or night. With menu items sourced from local food producers, lunch will be a joy with such items as wild mushroom soup, its signature “Fire Deck” oven pizza, or classic fish n’ chips, while such culinary creations as Beef Tartare, roast salmon and charred cauliflower steak can be enjoyed for dinner. It’s also worth noting that even the spirits are locally sourced from the award-winning Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery in Vernon.
For more information visit www.oakandcru.com or call
(250) 869-3508
Manteo Resort at Eldorado Resort/Smack DAB Restaurant 3762 Lakeshore Road
From deluxe guestrooms to a series of amenities, the Manteo at Eldorado Resort is a fixture on Okanagan Lake. While the hotel and boat-accessible grounds will certainly please visitors, the dining at the Smack DAB restaurant is equally impressive. Enjoy what Smack DAB calls "new style classics with big bold flavours." For instance, lunch offers uniquely-flavoured chicken wings, gourmet pizzas, and savoury pasta dishes or try The View room for dinner as menu items include seafood dishes and veal chops to the classic 8 oz. New York Strip. Vegetarian and gluten-free items are also available. It's also known locally for its craft beer selection, all brewed by British Columbia and Pacific Northwest producers. For more information visit www.manteo.com or call (250) 860-1031 The Cove Lakeside Resort/Bonfire Restaurant, 4205 Gellatly Road, West Kelowna
In addition to the Cove’s plush accommodations and amenities for visitors, the Bonfire Restaurant is a great dining option on Okanagan Lake for lunch, dinner, or just to relax with a refreshing beverage or two. “This is a popular gathering place to enjoy a meal or drinks on the patio with family and friends,” says Trevor Jones, director of operations. “From a culinary perspective, we have a menu that is honest, approachable and fresh.” While the menu is diverse – from pizzas and burgers to steaks and risottos – the restaurant has a relaxing atmosphere with a true farm-to-table-experience. “A lot of our products are grown on our three-acre farm right across the street from the hotel,” says Jones. “So, as we grow and rotate 24 to 36 products through our menus throughout the year, most of what we serve is from our own farm and is fresh and in season all the time.”
For more information visit www.bonfirerestaurant.ca or call (250) 707-1810