t 0 the Restaumnt Pbotograpby by Cbris Clm·k restaurants BEST IN SOUTH OKANAGAN The Country Squire. Those fortunate to have dined at the Country Squire say it is more of an event than a simple night out for a meal. Proprietors Ron and Pat Dyck live a restauranteur's dream every day. Patrons first endure the picturesque drive out to Nararnata (or arrive by boat or plane). Then they share r readers have a five course dinner, that SIIXNCen! Once again! L.:a t year's takes aU evening, with 32 reader's poll was such a huge success other lucky diners. During the breaks between courses, that e doubled our number of 'Best of' guests have a chance to categories this year. relax and explore the property's lakeshore setting. Now you can find out what Okana­ 2nd: Theo's Restaurant. ganites consider to be the 'Best of the 3rd: GraJmy Bogner's. Rest,' including best place to buy BEST IN NORTH shoes, lingerie, fresh vegetables; best OKANAGAN Demetre's Steak House. T.V. and radio personalities, realtor; Since 1984 Demetre's has best Okanagan tradition and much, been known for its delicous much more. Greek cuisine and large portions. Owner Jim In order to vote, readers clipped the Diamantopoulos is happy ballot from our Summer issue of with the addition of Sir Wmston's Pub adjoining Okanagan Life and mailed in their them, for those who like an choices. extra beverage before or after dinner. Locals know Now you have it. Your year-long that if you want to dine at guide to the best the Okanagan has to offer. Once again it confirms that our Valley is a great place to live! naga Demetre's on the memorable. 2nd: (tie) place for great pizza in a weekends you had better Finer Choice; de fun, family atmosphere. In reserve well in advance. Montreuil. 3rd: (tie) the Okanagan it's no 2nd: (tie) Boa Thong Thai Guisachan House; Earl's. different-although they Restaurant; The may be looking over their Courtyard Garden; Earl's. BEST ATMOSPHERE shoulder. Joey Tomato's 3rd: Intermezzo Eldorado Hotel. A has moved up one notch Restaurant. peacefullakefront setting, since last year. 2nd: Joey 180• view of the water, Tomato's. 3rd: (tie) Boston BEST SERVICE elegant heritage decor Pizza; Breadeaux. Vmtage Dining Room. (reproduction of the Some say the best service original hotel) and BEST BURGER is not even noticed. No candlelight dining. 'Nuff' Burger Baron. Owner sooner have you thought said! The 'El' were Rob Ohlmann is quick to it, than it's there. Well, runaway winners in this admit that Burger Baron Vmtage Room servers are category again this year. doesn't try to impress with not quite mind readers, 2nd: Joey Tomato's. 3rd: their looks, but he is proud but they are the epitome of (tie) Thea's; de Montreuil. of their continuing reign as politeness and the purveyor of the best professionalism. Overseen BEST PIZZA burger in the valley. Unless by Maitre'd Bart Dorssers Pizza Hut. "Pizza Hut, it's sunny outside bring (said to be a 'Tom Cruise nothing but!" Their slogan your bib, as you may want look-a-like') the staff takes must be working' People to pull over after your pride in making every all over the world 'drive thru' to consume dining experience recognize 'the Hut' as a this delectable, homemade offering before you get seafood restaurant: one, home. 2nd: Red Robin. choose a good name; two, 3rd: White Spot. sell fresh fish so you have a continuous fresh supply; BEST STEAK three, start cooking. The Keg. Comfortable in Cod father's has followed the their expanded 'comer of formula to a 'T,' vaulting Water St. and Lawrence into the top spot in this Ave.' location in Kelo~vna category less than a year (they've added Keg Caesar's after beginning to serve lounge), the Keg continues meals in their new to impress Okanaganites Guisachan Village location. with their succulent steaks. 2nd: Christopher's. 3rd: Patrons also talk about the Pelican's Landing. impressive, life-like chalk art by full time Keg artist Rob BEST RIBS Bowen, which adds a unique (tie) Adel's Creekside signature to their fun Ribhouse and Earl's atmosphere. 2nd: Restaurant. The Christopher's Steak & Abougoush clan at Adel's say Seafood Restaurant. 3rd: people like their ribs not (tie) Vmtage Dining Room; just because they use Cattle Country. premium products that are steamed to just the right tenderness, but because they BEST SEAFOOD can't resist their homemade Codfather's Seafood Deli. sauces. Not so fast, says Three steps to a successful Earl. He claims the ribs at his restaurant are "fall off the bone tender" too, and are prepared with their unbeatable barbecue sauce. Guess we'll have to wait until next year for a tie-breaker. 2nd: Swiss Chalet. 3rd: Boston Pizza and Kelly 0' Bryans. "Winn ... in more ways than one" SERVICE & REPAIRS • DOMESTIC & IMPORTS 355 Spedding Court (in the Banks Centre) Kelowna • (250) 861-3454 BEST APPETIZERS Kelly 0' Bryan's. Up and down the valley folks know that it will take a little longer to order from the Kelly O's book, oops, that is, menu. Page after page filled with tasty appies and much more (including a little 'Blarney' of course) makes decision making a little tougher. Veterans know they can't go wrong with a plateful of Kelly O's famous, 'patented' Pachos. 2nd: (tie) Earl's; Hotel Eldorado; Joey c:rJJome aulJ experience the magic aulJ the all11re u(; Tomato's. @511mmerllill @;Jtafe JViuerl/· $2Jiscemiug taste b11lJs BEST DESSERTS will npprl'riafe o11r &J. crJ. gromu 100% all-uaf11m/. Cheesecake Cafe. Their name says it all. wines aulJ piJmmilJ agelJ chroiiiJ(Jfllles with 110 Easy winners for the second year in a row, s11lpllites alJlJt•lJ. ();(}f,IJ settle fjor '"~in orlJiuaire' despite some impressive competition, the Jl}hfiiiJOII COli haJJI' ffte r:::f/Jes f at e5tt/lllllerftillf Cheesecake Cafe stakes its reputation on delicious (you guessed it) cheesecakes and big servings. Ask for a piece of cake and be prepared to eat like the Jolly Green Giant. fl870 c:rJJimte df!ake dl?oalJ, @ (elowua, eJJ. crJ. 2nd: Vmtage Dining Room. 3rd: (tie) Water Plllail: SIIJ/IJI/Clhi//.si/k.urf Street Grill; Abbott's Dining Room. C(;;elephoue 76lj...8000 or 1-800-667-3538 BEST ASIAN Mekong Restaurant. When Dan Truong escaped from Vietnam as a refugee 17 years ago, little did he know he would give so many people pleasure by serving them taste n·eats from his native country. This place really ILLICHMANN sizzles. Szechuan, that is, right at your table. SAUSAGE & DELICATESSEN LTD. Plus the view of the Lake and Dow Reid\; 'Sails' at the foot of Bernard are an added enjoyment. 2nd: Mon Thong Thai Food Restaurant. 3rd: Chinese Laundry. a "' <;': BEST BREAKFAST International House of Pancakes (IHOP). Any restaurant with 'pancakes' in its name is bound to do well in the early morning fare category. This was a close race, but lliOP managed to maintain the number one position it claimed last year. Maybe it's just that people know that breakfast has got to be good where OKANAGANLIFEFALL 1996 • 16 it claimed that Kelly O's pioneered before ordering. Don't be too the 'free birtl1day dinner.' If they concerned, however, since didn't, tl1ey may just be the best everytlling that proprietor and chef known for it. Like they say, "There's Grant de J\llont:reuil concocts is only two kinds of people in the delicious. 2nd: Joey Tomato's. 3rd: world: those that are Irish ... and J\llon Thong Thai Restaurant. d1ose who want to be Irish" .. because they know how to have a BEST MEAL FOR THE good time! 2nd: Hotel Eldorado. MONEY 3rd: (tie) Joey Tomato's; The Oodles Restaurant. ''Ve got lots of Vintage Room. answers in this category, which is good, si nce lots of restaurants are BEST PLACE TO TAKE apparently feeding tl1eir pao·ons OUT-OF-TOWNERS well Oodles skyrocketed to the Hotel Eldorado. You can't beat a front of tl1e pack in their first year. BEST COFFEE mixture of heritage, fine dining and Owner Bill Raine, who hopes to HOUSE I BISTRO tl1e allure of the lake to provide a franchise his new Kelowna pasta Stau·bucks. First the world, then visitor with an culinary highlight. house, says they serve over 100 pasta the Okanagan. Starbucks Plus guests have their choice of a combinations and vows no one will entered the loca l market with a lively lounge, elegant dining room leave hungry. 2nd: Joey Tomato's. big splash (of coffee!). T here are or casua l patio on the water's edge. 3rd: (tie) Finer Choice, Kell y 0' now five outlets from Penticton 2nd: Earl 's. 3rd: Joey Tomato's. Bryans and 'Vater So·eet Grill. to Vernon, with a sixth on tl1e way (opening this month) in BEST WINE SELECTION BEST EATING ADVENTURE vVestbank. Coffee lovers love The Vmtage Dining Room. Wine de Montreuil. This categ01y also this influ,x of gourmet java lovers enjoy the VIntage Dining got a wide variety of votes, including imbibing spots. 2nd: Bohemian Room for a variety of reasons. Greg the snack bar in City Park. That the 'boys in blue' (okay, black, Bagel. 3rd: Perks. Capozzi of tl1e Capri claims they wasn't quite the kind of adventure yellow and uh, gray) frequent. have one of the \videst selection of we had in mind. For those tl1at take 2nd: Smitty's.