Yuyo’s Pizza & Mexican Kitchen

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We were on a tour in Sitka, and our guide told a story about how he had a friend who grew up in Sitka and was in college before he figured out that pizza wasn’t Mexican (because the only place that he’d had it had been at this Mexican restaurant). This restaurant does indeed serve an excellent pizza, although we opted for the Mexican food, which was great too.

It was delightful to find so many authentic flavors so far from Mexico. The enchiladas and chile relleno were both excellent, and the pastor served in a crispy taco was unusual but very tasty as well. Top marks to the refried beans also, which are difficult to do right. There’s no liquor license, so no margaritas.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yuyos-sitka

Raclette Steaks

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I walked past this place many times before finally deciding to go in because it’s always seemed like it was kind of empty, but then I saw that there were quite a few good reviews and decided to check it out.

I think the original concept must have been more towards steaks with raclette cheese slid onto the top of them tableside, but at least at lunch, it’s completely different and much more reasonably priced than the original menu I saw. Now the emphasis seems to be on variations on cheese steak sandwiches and hamburgers. We tried both, and both were excellent.

The cheese steak was as good as any I’ve ever gotten and had a nice mixture of peppers and cheese, along with an excellent crusty bread that didn’t dissolve as I tried to eat the sandwich. The burger was juicy, perfectly cooked, and had all of the ingredients I look for.

Service was kind of not present for the most part. You’re better off walking to the back of the room to make sure you can order and pay, and you are pretty much on your own. As far as getting seated as well, at least at lunchtime, that was the case.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/raclette-steaks-vancouver

Earl’s Kitchen + Bar (Test Kitchen)

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I like all of the Earls locations except possibly the one in Orlando, Florida, but I think this one is my favorite because it’s not just Earls. It’s also the test kitchen where they develop new recipes. There’s always something new here that isn’t on the menu at the other Earls, and I find that most of them quickly become favorites that I hope will spread throughout the rest of the chain.

On this visit, we were there for brunch, and I tried their new Nashville hot chicken and waffles. They were really good. The hot chicken wasn’t overly spicy, but just enough to give it an extra zip that regular chicken and waffles didn’t have.

I also had a dessert that was kind of like bananas Foster cake. It was sort of a chocolate banana cake with caramelized banana slices on top and scoops of ice cream above that. Delicious.

Service at Earls is always great, and the bonus of going for brunch is that they have 50% off on all sparkling wine by the bottle, which pretty much lowers it to retail pricing.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/earls-kitchen-bar-vancouver-2

Erica Jane

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This is a stunningly beautiful restaurant with creative appetizers and an excellent selection of different beef cuts. We went on a Wednesday and were hoping for their Wednesday special of Beef Wellington, but they were already sold out, so we settled for prime rib, which was some of the best I’ve had. It’s served with traditional Anju and horseradish and some delicious mashed potatoes.

For a starter, I had the seared scallops, which were perfectly done without being overcooked, but with a nice sear on the outside. The wine list has some extremely thoughtful selections, and it’s fun the way that every wine includes a listing of how far the winery is from the restaurant.

Of course, there are plenty of selections from the Okanagan, but we couldn’t resist a bottle of Molly Duke or Blue Eyed Boy, an Australian wine that you don’t see around here too often.

Service was excellent.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/erica-jane-kelowna

El Taquero – Tacos and Tequila

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We came here on the Taste of Kelowna Food Tour and loved it so much that the next year we came back on our own. This place has the best Mexican food I’ve had in Canada, and that is high praise considering that I grew up in Southern California and live in Vancouver now.

The street tacos are absolutely authentic. My favorites were the vegetarian Rajas Poblanas with poblano chilies, the pork Cochinitas Pibil, and the fish Pescado Veracruz. The chilaquiles were also the best I’ve had, with half green and half red sauce to make them even more interesting. Margaritas here are great, too.

By complete coincidence, we ran into Andrew, the wonderful guide from our Taste of Kelowna tour last year, who was escorting another group around and happened to arrive as we were eating. He even remembered my name, and was so kind that, after he left, we discovered he had comped us a delicious order of churros served with a wonderful chilled caramel sauce.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-taquero-tacos-and-tequila-kelowna

Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Winery

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This is a beautiful setting overlooking the Quails’ Gate vineyards, and if the weather is agreeable, you definitely will want to sit outside.

We had a lovely lunch here, and the service was excellent.

For me, the highlight of my meal was the rib eye steak, which was perfectly grilled and one of the best pieces of meat I’ve had in Canada, and priced very reasonably. The trout and bison carpaccio were also excellent.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/old-vines-restaurant-kelowna

Miradoro at Tin Horn Creek Winery

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Miradoro has perhaps the most miraculous view in all of the south Okanagan. They also have some of the most professional service that we encountered.

Both at lunch and dinner, the focus is on Italian, with offerings of pizzas and pastas.

We went for dinner and enjoyed the duck pate appetizer and their interesting take on savory donuts as appetizers.

For our main courses, we had the Cornish game hen, the venison pasta, and the flank steak. All of them were good, with the flank steak being the standout for me.

I always enjoy a place that has interesting gelato and sorbet flavors, and the blueberry cranberry sorbet was particularly unique.

We enjoyed the 2011 Tin Horn Creek Syrah, which was fully mature and reminded me in many ways of an older Burgundy.

There’s also a full bar program.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/miradoro-at-tinhorn-creek-oliver-2