Searching for a good lunch at an Okanagan winery
 

Our fall vacation this year will take us through the Okanagan twice, but not long enough to really visit wineries (we did that in May/June, though). So, we'd like to stop for lunch at one.

On the way up, we will leave Leavenworth around 9am (stopping at a fruit stand or two), heading up 97 across the border at Osoyoos. We'll spend the night in Sicamous. I'm thinking we'd want to stop for lunch around Oliver or Penticton?

On the way back, we'll be coming from Nelson and overnighting in Osoyoos. We've tried Burrowing Owl, so that's an idea, or maybe NK'Mip (we haven't tried).

We're bringing along a couple who have never been to Canada (or traveled much at all), so we'd like to choose carefully. A view from or near the restaurant would be good. Nice but not formal. Traveller69, you really know the wineries -- any recommendations

Having been there recently, I can recommend both Nk'Mip and Burrowing Owl in the Osoyoos/Oliver area.

Nk'Mip has two areas for dining, including a patio cafe with a lovely view of Osoyoos, the lake and mountains. Food and wine are good too, as is the interpretive centre attached to the winery.

Hillside wineries in Naramata have a bit of a view to Okanagan Lake over vineyards, but that's probably out of the way for you.

Mission Hill and Quail's Gate wineries in Kelowna have lovely views too.

Much depends on the weather!!!

Good luck!!

Thanks, Borealis! I'll let you know where we end up.

we had a really nice lunch here by naramata/penticton http://lakebreeze.ca/
burrowing owls gets good reviews.

Hi Sludick - sorry I didn't read this earlier. I have not been to Nk Mip to dine so I can't make a comparison. I do love Burrowing Owl for view and the food has always been good. If you recall I recommended the duck confit last report but can't remember whether you were there after that or not. You are becoming such a frequent visitor to this area I am losing track!!! There really isn't anyplace else in this area for dining as far as wineries go. One other thing you mention stopping at a fruit stand before crossing the border. When we came home from Oregon they specifically asked if we were had any fruit. We didn't of course because we live here so I don't know what the rules are. Perhaps you should check or maybe you have done it before and it was OK. You never know what they are going to ask. The apples are excellent right now - even some peaches, nectarines and melons at the farms here but they are coming to an end quickly. Enjoy!

Yes, we have managed to make it up that way a few times lately, haven't we? Since we live in Florida, that is a little unexpected, I admit!

As it turned out, we didn't stop for lunch yesterday. We had a nice breakfast at Pension Anna in Leavenworth (WA), and then stopped at a couple of fruit stands in Washington state. We only got enough to eat along the way before the border, though (they didn't ask, but we didn't have any fruit by that time).

Once across the border, we stopped at Hester Creek and Gehringer wineries for a few bottles of wine for our vacation, plus a few fruit stands. We found some HUGE MacIntosh apples, some German plums/prunes, raspberries and blackberries (those last came from farther north, closer to Vernon). It was a full day's drive to Sicamous, allowing time to make stops.

Maybe we'll hit Burrowing Owl and try some duck confit, if they have it, on our loop back.

sludick--We have stayed at Pension Anna quite a bit and really enjoy it!

Yes, we think Pension Anna was quite a treat. The "individual comforters" concept took a bit of getting used to, but even my husband really liked it -- plus the German-style breakfast. And everyone was so very, very nice!