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BEST RESTAURANTS

An Abundance of Winning Okanagan Restaurants


Eating out is a year round attraction with options at every price point and complexity. Every year we invite Okanagan Life readers to share their favourites. These are the results of the 15th annual Okanagan Life Best Restaurants readers' poll - a poll that is 100 per cent reader driven, with zero influence from advertisers. Browse by region to discover the winners in a whole smorgasbord of categories. With so many great recommendations from the people who live here, we're sure you'll find our Best Restaurant Awards a valuable guide. Bon Appetit!

Click here to see our 3rd Annual Editors' Choice Awards.

2009 Best Restaurants Award Winners

Best of the Best View
Undiscovered Restaurant Patio
New Restaurant Service
Steak Meal for the Money
Seafood Business Lunch
Ribs Pizza
Vegetarian Burger
Appies Veggie Burger
South Asian Wrap
Best Japanese French Fries
Best Chinese Sandwich
Italian Coffee House
Greek Fish & Chips
European (French, German, etc.) Pub/Neighbourhood Bar
Mexican/Southwest Late Night Bite
Romantic Dining Casual Restaurant/Bistro
Breakfast Shuswap Eatery
Brunch Wine List
Buffet Winery Restaurant
Dessert Local White
Family Restaurant Local Red
Place to Eat and Hear Live Music Dessert/Icewine
Place to Dine Alone Sparkling Wine
Caterer  

 

Best of the Best
Central
1 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
2 RauDZ Regional Table (formerly Fresco)
3 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Tita’s Italian Bistro
South
1 The Hooded Merganser
2 Zias Stonehouse Restaurant (Summerland)
3 Theo’s Restaurant Ltd.

Undiscovered Restaurant
Central
1 The Fixx Café
2 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
3 764
3 The Blind Angler Grill (Peachland)
North
1 The Curry Pot Indian& Nepalese Cuisine Ltd.
2 Lorenzo’s Café (Enderby)
3 ORA Restaurant Lounge
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Cubby Hole
3 La Casa Ouzeria Restaurant

New Restaurant
Central
1 Cabana Bar & Grille
2 764
3 Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
North
1 Temptasian Restaurant & Bar
2 The Curry Pot Indian& Nepalese Cuisine Ltd.
3 Los Huesos
South
1 Victoria Rd Deli & Bistro (Summerland)
2 Lee’s Fusion

Steak
Central
1 The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 RauDZ Regional Table (formerly Fresco)
3 Ric’s Grill
North
1 The Phoenix Steakhouse
2 The Italian Kitchen Company
3 The Armstrong Inn Restaurant
(Armstrong)
South
1 Black Iron Grill & Steakhouse
2 Bogner’s of Penticton
3 Naramata Pub (Naramata)

Seafood
Central
1 Christophers Steak & Seafood Restaurant
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 RauDZ Regional Table (formerly Fresco)
3 Ric’s Grill
North
1 C - Lovers Fish & Chips
1 Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurant
2 The Eclectic Med Restaurant
3 Fisherman Direct Seafoods (Enderby)
South
1 Salty’s Beach House
2 Cozy Bay Seafood Café (Summerland)
3 Isshin Japanese Deli
3 The Hooded Merganser

Ribs
Central
1 Montana’s Cookhouse & Bar
2 Memphis Blues BBQ House
3 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
North
1 Royal Knight Restaurant
2 The Armstrong Inn Restaurant (Armstrong)
3 Boston Pizza
South
1 Pasta Factory
2 Piggys BarBQ
3 Black Iron Grill & Steakhouse

Vegetarian
Central
1 Lake Tai Restaurant
1 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 Dawett Fine Indian Cuisine
3 The Bohemian Café & Catering Co.
North
1 2P’s Health Kitchen Restaurant
2 The Curry Pot Indian& Nepalese Cuisine Ltd.
3 New Delhi Indian Restaurant
South
1 Dream Café
1 Lee’s Overseas Delights
2 Wheat Grass Café

Appies
Central
1 Cactus Club Café
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
2 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
3 Joey’s Global Grill
North
1 Squires Four Public House
2 Sir Winstons Neighbourhood Pub
3 The Roster Sports Club Bar & Grill
South
1 The Vanilla Pod Restaurant (Summerland)
2 Kettle Valley Station Pub
3 The Hooded Merganser

South Asian
Central
1 Dawett Fine Indian Cuisine
2 Siam Orchid Thai Restaurant
3 Hoang Gia Vietnamese Cuisine
North
1 New Delhi Indian Restaurant
2 The Curry Pot Indian
& Nepalese Cuisine Ltd.
3 Boa-Thong Thai Restaurant
South
1 Navratan Fine Indian Cuisine
2 Saigon on Main Restaurant
3 Best of India Restaurant (Oliver)
3 Iyara Thai Restaurant

Japanese
Central
1 O-Zeki Japanese Restaurant
2 Momo Sushi
3 Genjie Japanese Restaurant
North
1 Mahoroba Japanese Restaurant
2 Bento & Sushi
3 J-Don Japanese Donburi Café
3 Sushi 1 Japanese Restaurant
South
1 Isshin Japanese Deli
1 Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
2 Origami Japanese Restaurant

Chinese
Central
1 Wok Inn Restaurant
2 Mekong Restaurant
3 Jimmy Ho’s Takeout Express
North
1 Golden Crown Restaurant
2 Temptasian Restaurant & Bar
3 Kiki Gardens Restaurant
South
1 Beijing Restaurant (Summerland)
2 Chinese Laundry Restaurant
3 China Palace
3 Lee’s Overseas Delights

Italian
Central
1 La Bussola
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 Mamma Rosa Authentic
Italian Restaurant
North
1 The Italian Kitchen Company
2 Tita’s Italian Bistro
3 Intermezzo Restaurant
South
1 Pasta Factory
2 Villa Rosa Ristorante Italiano
3 La Casa Ouzeria Restaurant

Greek
Central
1 Yamas Taverna
2 The Greek House Restaurant (Lake Country)
3 Olympia Pizza & Greek Taverna
North
1 Royal Knight Restaurant
2 Papa’s Greek Taverna (Armstrong)
3 Minos Greek House (Salmon Arm)
South
1 Theo’s Restaurant Ltd.
2 La Casa Ouzeria Restaurant
3 Mykonos Pizza & Spaghetti House

European (French, German, etc.)
Central
1 Bouchon’s Bistro
2 Gasthaus on the Lake (Peachland)
3 Wood Fire Bakery
North
1 The Eclectic Med Restaurant
2 Hubert’s Restaurant (Lumby)
South
1 Bogner’s of Penticton
2 Il Vecchio Delicatessen
2 Zias Stonehouse Restaurant (Summerland)
3 La Casa Ouzeria Restaurant

Mexican/Southwest
Central
1 Hector’s Casa
2 DJ’s Restaurant
North
1 Little Tex Restaurants
2 Los Huesos
2 Taco Del Mar
South
1 Vallarta Grill
2 Shades on Main Family Restaurant
3 Piggys BarBQ
3 TacoTime

Romantic Dining
Central
1 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
2 The Yellow House Restaurant
3 Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar
North
1 Earl’s
2 The Phoenix Steakhouse
3 Intermezzo Restaurant
South
1 Bogner’s of Penticton
2 The Hooded Merganser
2 Theo’s Restaurant Ltd.

Breakfast
Central
1 International House of Pancakes (IHOP)
2 The Jammery
3 The Bohemian Café & Catering Co.
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Denny’s Restaurant
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
South
1 Valentini’s Café
2 Shades on Main
Family Restaurant

Brunch
Central
1 Eldorado Dining Room
2 The Vintage Dining Room (Coast Capri Hotel)
3 The Chateau Dining Room (Lake Okanagan Resort)
North
1 Branches Café (Best Western Vernon Lodge)
2 Range at Predator Ridge Golf Resort
3 ORA Restaurant Lounge
South
1 Magnums on the Lake
2 Fairview Mountain Golf Course (Oliver)

Buffet
Central
1 Eldorado Dining Room
2 Buffet King Restaurant
3 Mama Panda Buffet
North
1 The Curry Pot Indian & Nepalese Cuisine Ltd.
2 ORA Restaurant Lounge
3 The Great Wall Restaurant (Armstrong)
3 The Pantry Restaurant
South
1 Beijing Restaurant (Summerland)
1 China Palace
2 Magnums on the Lake

Dessert
Central
1 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
2 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
3 Moxie’s Classic Grill
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Earl’s
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Blue Icing Dessert Bar
2 The Hooded Merganser

Family Restaurant
Central
1 Boston Pizza
2 White Spot Restaurant
3 Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill
North
1 Boston Pizza
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
2 The Pantry Restaurant
South
1 Boston Pizza
2 Mykonos Pizza & Spaghetti House
2 White Spot Restaurant

Place to Eat & Hear Live Music
Central
1 Minstrel Café & Bar
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 The Grateful Fed
3 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
North
1 Lorenzo’s Café (Enderby)
2 Junction Café (Armstrong)
3 El Portillo Coffee House
South
1 Dream Café
2 Zias Stonehouse Restaurant (Summerland)

Place to Dine Alone
Central
1 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
2 Memphis Blues BBQ House
3 White Spot Restaurant
North
1 Boston Pizza
2 Bean to Cup Coffee House & Roasters
3 The Cliffs Café (Enderby)
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Denny’s Restaurant
3 Lee’s Overseas Delights

Caterer
Central
1 The Bohemian Café & Catering Co.
2 The Ridge Restaurant (Managed by Okanagan’s Finest Foods)
3 Deli City Café & Catering /
Bunches Bistro
3 Details Catering (Waterfront & 764 Restaurants)
3 Memphis Blues BBQ House
North
1 The Other Company Catering (Armstrong)
2 Gourmet to Go
3 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
South
1 Joy Road Catering
2 Il Vecchio Delicatessen

View
Central
1 Summerhill Sunset Bistro (Summerhill Pyramid Winery)
2 Grapevine Restaurant (Gray Monk Estate Winery)
3 Old Vine’s Restaurant (Quails’ Gate Estate Winery)
North
1 Blue Heron Waterfront Pub & Restaurant
2 Alexander’s Beach Pub
3 The Clubhouse at Mable Lake Golf Course (Enderby)
South
1 Lost Moose Lodge& BBQ Dinner House
2 The Hooded Merganser
3 Salty’s Beach House

Patio
Central
1 Eldorado Dining Room
2 Summerhill Sunset Bistro (Summerhill Pyramid Winery)
3 Grapevine Restaurant (Gray Monk Estate Winery)
North
1 Blue Heron Waterfront Pub & Restaurant
2 Junction Café (Armstrong)
3 Alexander’s Beach Pub
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 The Hooded Merganser
3 Kettle Valley Station Pub

Service
Central
1 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
2 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
3 RauDZ Regional Table (formerly Fresco)
3 Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Golden Crown Restaurant
South
1 Boston Pizza
2 Amante Bistro
2 Dream Café

Meal for the Money
Central
1 Memphis Blues BBQ House
1 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
2 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
3 White Spot Restaurant
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Little Tex Restaurants
3 The Italian Kitchen Company
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Il Vecchio Delicatessen
2 Pasta Factory

Business Lunch
Central
1 Earl’s On Top
2 Cactus Club Café
3 Moxie’s Classic Grill
3 Nineteen Steakhouse & Lounge (West Kelowna)
North
1 The Italian Kitchen Company
2 The Phoenix Steakhouse
3 Blue Heron Waterfront Pub & Restaurant
3 The Eclectic Med Restaurant
South
1 Earl’s Restaurant & Lounge
2 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
3 Theo’s Restaurant Ltd.

Pizza
Central
1 Bordello’s Italian Pizzeria
2 Boston Pizza
3 Papito’s Pizza
3 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
North
1 Pizza Hut
2 J J’s Pizza Plus (Armstrong)
3 Main Street Pizza& Pasta (Enderby)
South
1 Boston Pizza
2 Kettle Valley Station Pub
2 Murray’s Pizza (Summerland)
3 Panago Pizza

Burger
Central
1 Gorgeous Georges Gourmet Burgers
2 White Spot Restaurant
3 Cabana Bar & Grille
North
1 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
2 The Armstrong Inn Restaurant (Armstrong)
3 Roster Sports Club Bar & Grill
3 Sir Winstons Neighbourhood Pub
South
1 White Spot Restaurant
2 The Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro
3 Barking Parrot
3 The Hooded Merganser

Veggie Burger
Central
1 Cactus Club Café
1 Milestones Grill & Bar
2 Gorgeous Georges Gourmet Burgers
3 The Grateful Fed
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Earl’s
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Monashee’s Bar & Grill
South
1 Dream Café
2 White Spot Restaurant

Wrap
Central
1 Wrap Zone
2 The Pita Pit
3 Vintner’s Poolside Grill (Coast Capri Hotel)
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Wrap Zone
3 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Dream Café
3 Wheat Grass Café

French Fries
Central
1 New York Fries
2 Bouchon’s Bistro
3 Joey’s Global Grill
North
1 McDonalds Restaurants
2 Anchor Inn Neighbourhood Pub (Armstrong)
2 The Armstrong Inn Restaurant (Armstrong)
3 White Spot Restaurant
South
1 Jeffer’s Fryzz
2 Copper Mug Pub

Sandwich
Central
1 Memphis Blues BBQ House
2 Mediterranean Market
3 Wood Fire Bakery
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 2P’s Health Kitchen Restaurant
South
1 Il Vecchio Delicatessen
2 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
3 Quiznos Subs
3 The Bench Market

Coffee House
Central
1 Bean Scene Coffee House
2 Blenz
2 Starbucks Coffee Co.
3 The Roasted Bean Coffee House
North
1 Bean Scene Coffee House
2 Bean to Cup Coffee House & Roasters
3 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
South
1 The Beanery & Bakery (Summerland)
2 Bellevue Café
2 Fibonacci Raostery & Café
3 The Green Beanz Café

Fish & Chips
Central
1 Shady Rest British Fish & Chips
2 Lord Chumley’s Fish & Chips
3 Hooked on Seafood
3 The Two Chefs Family Restaurant (Peachland)
North
1 Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurant
2 C - Lovers Fish & Chips
3 Fisherman Direct Seafoods (Enderby)
South
1 Cozy Bay Seafood Café (Summerland)
2 Jeffer’s Fryzz
3 Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurant

Pub/Neighbourhood Bar
Central
1 Pheasant & Quail Pub
2 Doc Willoughby’s Downtown Pub
3 Sturgeon Hall Restaurant
3 Tonics Pub
North
1 Sir Winstons Neighbourhood Pub
2 Squires Four Public House
3 Blue Heron Waterfront Pub & Restaurant
South
1 Kettle Valley Station Pub
2 The Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro
3 Peacock’s Perch Neighbourhood Pub (Summerland)
3 Copper Mug Pub

Late Night Bite
Central
1 Boston Pizza
2 Denny’s Restaurant
3 Cabana Bar & Grille
3 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
North
1 Boston Pizza
2 Checkers Bar & Grill
2 Sir Winstons Neighbourhood Pub
3 Denny’s Restaurant
South
1 Boston Pizza
2 Denny’s Restaurant

Casual Restaurant/ Bistro
Central
1 Joey’s Global Grill
1 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
2 The Fixx Café
3 Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen
North
1 The Brown Derby Café (Armstrong)
2 Hungry Jack’s (Enderby)
3 Bean to Cup Coffee House & Roasters
3 Little Tex Restaurants
South
1 The Sweet Tooth (Summerland)
2 Pasta Factory
3 Dream Café

Shuswap Eatery
1 Yan’s Restaurant (Salmon Arm)
2 Moose Mulligans Marine Pub (Sicamous)
3 Hideaway Pub (Salmon Arm)

Wine List
Central
1 La Bussola
2 Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar
3 The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar
North
1 The Phoenix Steakhouse
2 ORA Restaurant Lounge
3 The Eclectic Med Restaurant
3 The Italian Kitchen Company
South
1 Toasted Oak Wine Bar & Grill (Oliver)
2 Bogner’s of Penticton
3 The Hooded Merganser

Winery Restaurant
Central
1 Old Vine’s Restaurant
(Quails’ Gate Estate Winery)
2 The Terrace Restaurant (Mission Hill Estate Winery?—?West Kelowna)
3 Grapevine Restaurant (Gray Monk Estate Winery?—?Okanagan Centre)
3 Summerhill Sunset Bistro (Summerhill Pyramid Winery)
South
1 The Patio at Lake Breeze (Lake Breeze Estate Winery?—?Naramata)
1 The Sonora Room Restaurant (Burrowing Owl Estate Winery?— Oliver)
2 Barrel Room Bistro (Hillside Estate Winery)
3 Cellar Door Bistro (Sumac Ridge
Estate Winery?—?Summerland)

Local White
Central
1 Pinot Gris (Gray Monk Estate Winery)
2 2008 Chenin Blanc (Quails’ Gate Estate Winery)
3 2006 Chardonnay (Mission Hill Family Estate)
3 Gewürztraminer (Gray Monk Estate Winery)
South
1 2008 Pinot Gris (Lake Breeze Estate Winery)
1 2008 Viognier (La Frenz Winery)
2 Gewürztraminer (Sumac Ridge Estate Winery)
3 Farm Reserve Riesling (Holman Lang Winery)
3 Sauvignon Blanc (Sumac Ridge Estate Winery)

Local Red
Central
1 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir (Quails’ Gate Estate Winery)
2 2005 Oculus (Mission Hill Family Estate)
2 2006 Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir (CedarCreek Estate Winery)
3 Harmony Vineyard Merlot (Stag’s Hollow Winery)
South
1 2005 Mosaic (Hillside Estate Winery)
1 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (La Frenz Winery)
2 2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc (Hester Creek Estate Winery)
3 2006 Merlot (Burrowing Owl Estate Winery)

Dessert / Icewine
Central
1 Mission Hill Family Estate
1 Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
2 Summerhill Pyramid Winery
3 Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
South
1 Jackson-Triggs Vintners?— Okanagan Valley Estate
2 Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards
3 Holman Lang Wineries

Local Sparkling Wine
Valleywide
1 Cipes Brut (Summerhill Pyramid Winery)
2 Steller’s Jay Brut (Sumac Ridge Estate Winery)
3 Blue Mountain Brut (Blue Mountain Vineyard& Cellars Ltd.)