We came here on a Good Friday for dinner with my in-laws who live in Duncan. We started with the roast beet salad with caramelized apples, goat cheese, and pumpkins seeds on a lovely bed of fresh arugula and parsley. The salad was delicious and perfect for two to share. As a main course I had the large prawns on a tomato basil coconut sauce, served on bulgur lentil risotto, with a pile of sautéed vegetables on top. It was perfectly seasoned, and the prawns were fresh and succulent. I only wish I remembered to take a photo before I dove into the tasty prawns. Everyone else in my party were happy with their entrée’s too: spicy Italian meatballs on crispy polenta, braised beef, and mushroom ravioli. To finish we shared a crème brûlée, with a crackly sugar top. The service was friendly and efficient. I also loved the artwork, done by a local artist. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an interesting quality meal made with fresh ingredients.
Wendy Y.
Place rating: 5 Richmond, Canada
Amazing meal with breathe-taking view. My significant other and I were visiting Salt Spring Island over the weekend. On the day prior to boarding the ferry back to Vancouver we stopped by Duncan for some wine tasting. We first stopped by Zanatta winery for a quick tasting, didn’t realize there’s a restaurant attached to the establishment. While we were doing the tasting we could hear people having a good time over food which looked and smelled amazing. We couldn’t resist so we asked for a table for two outside on the terrace. I got a corn chanterelle mushroom soup garnished with white truffle oil and a duck confit sliders with brioche buns. The sandwich was exactly what Scott P. had — pulled rosemary & orange scented duck confit with fig tapenade and gorgonzola cheese and a tossed salad. In addition to that we ordered a sparking wine sampler which featured three glasses of sparking wines filled half-full made by the winery on the property. Sparking wines were alright, but again the highlights were the food. Corn chanterelle mushroom soup was just so good! It’s more like a pureed soup. Flavor was perfectly balanced and seasoned. The sliders were warm, fresh, and made with lots of love and keen culinary skills. There were many items on the menu that I wanted to try but couldn’t because there’s only two of us. But if next time we were visiting, I’d love to try their braised beef short ribs, prawns in tomato, basil, wine cream sauce with creamy white polenta. The view was spectacular. You have the hilly mountains as the back drop and in front of the mountains are rows after rows of grape vines. In the middle of the court yard, which is located right behind the restaurant, standing is a slated fountain which wasn’t running at the time we were there but can definitely use a cleaning. Being able to enjoy the wonderful food while admiring the beauty of nature on the terrace overlooking the vines, the mountains, ah… now that’s a vacation.
Scott P.
Place rating: 5 Lake Cowichan, Canada
You can taste the passion of the chef in your meal. The setting is fabulous! If you go in the summer sitting on the wrap around porch overlooking the farm yard is an amazing bonus to your meal. My lunch consisted of duck confit sliders on house made brioche buns. The duck had a fig, caramelized onion compote with blue cheese. Just amazing combination without being over rich as you would expect from the description of ingredients. My guest enjoyed the salad of day: prawns, avocado, local corn on ice berg lettuce cups with a vinaigrette that included hints of truffle. There were many choices on the menu that are worthy of returning to enjoy. Chef Fatima you are outstanding!
Ken M.
Place rating: 4 Cobble Hill, Canada
I must admit that I haven’t dined there this year. But I’m new on Unilocal and thought this place deserved special mention. I’ve eaten there on the pation of the tasing room at the Zanata vinyard. The service was fine but the setting is what really sets this place apart. You can order a platter of artisan cheese and cured meats and enjoy some of their delicious wine while looking out on to the Vinyard in gorgeous Glenora. I’m sure they will be hopping with the wine festival coming up next week
