This is a restaurant review I've been looking forward to doing. I've previously managed the Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Family Estate, and I've always been impressed with their culinary program there. Remember that this is a review of the restaurant, not the winery itself… which will come later.😉
The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Family Estate is an iconic dining destination within the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. Mission Hill Family Estate quickly gained recognition for producing high-quality wines, and its success allowed it to expand and establish The Terrace Restaurant in 1992. Since its inception, the restaurant has become renowned for its exceptional culinary offerings, breathtaking views, and commitment to creating unforgettable dining experiences.
The restaurant's design reflects the winery's commitment to excellence, featuring an elegant and contemporary setting that complements the natural beauty of the surrounding vineyards and lake. The Terrace offers al fresco dining, allowing guests to savour their meals while soaking in the stunning panoramic scenery.
Under the direction of talented chefs, The Terrace Restaurant offers a seasonally-inspired menu that showcases the finest local and regional ingredients. Diners can indulge in creative and sophisticated dishes that perfectly complement the winery's acclaimed wines, creating a harmonious marriage of flavours to enhance your dining experience.
Throughout its history, The Terrace Restaurant has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the top 5 winery restaurants in the world. Its commitment to culinary excellence and dedication to offering guests a memorable experience has solidified its reputation as one of the premier fine dining establishments in the Okanagan Valley.
For this lunchtime culinary excursion, my server is Hannah. As a server in a fine dining establishment, Hannah was great with her wine knowledge and was very knowledgeable about the wine pairings with the meal. She is very discreet and present only when needed.
As a server within this restaurant, being a shadow in the background is most important to the guests' dining experience. The beautifully plated and artful dishes, incredible views of vineyards and Okanagan Lake, and the astonishing architecture all paint a lovely scene for the guest to soak within, savouring the moment. The server doesn't compete with this scene. Instead, they let the guests soak it in, enjoying their moment. Hannah delivered on this very well.
As Hannah greets the table, she arrives with glasses of bubbly to get us started. Exhilaration Brut Rose. Made with Pinot Noir grapes from their estate vineyards in Oliver, this lovely bubbly is a fresh berry salad of flavours. Complimentary sparkling is a beautiful way to commence a meal in the gorgeous Kelowna summer sun.
The lunch menu is a two-course prix-fixe (fixed price) with wine pairing. After Hannah took lunch orders, out came the bread. Now, this is in-house-made bread; to go with it is a little bowl of strawberry vinegar with chokecherry and oil for dipping. Oh…My…God!! I'm not one to eat bread in a restaurant because, in my mind, it takes up valuable real estate in my stomach instead of the meal. But this was an exceptionally intriguing bread dip I could not resist. How well it paired with the bubbly, well-done Terrace Restaurant blew me away.
My first-course selection is a lovely piece of art as a meal—Wagyu Eye of Round Carpaccio with chanterelle mushroom, Wise Earth baby beets, and roasted strawberry. The wine with this meal is the 2019 Legacy Collection Prospectus, their divinely crafted Pinot Noir. These two dance together in perfect harmony. The wines' aromatic aromas also add to the beauty of how these complement each other—the dusty, fruit-forward wine steps back and forth between old and new world style. With the meal, it presents a more old-world style, and on its own, it leaves an impression of new world—crafted tannins and an acidity perfect to lighten the fatty protein in the meal. The best way I can describe how well they work together is to liken it to an orchestra. Individual instruments that together envelope you in a beautiful moment.
And this was only the first course!
For my second course, I selected pan-seared scallops with savoury clams poached with estate mint & espellette pepper. This is paired with the 2020 Legacy Collection Perpetua, their exquisitely crafted Chardonnay. This pairing was insane. I say insane because they each complimented the other with such finesse as though they have been forever destined to be together. My enjoyment, impossibly, grew when I discovered little bits of sea asparagus whose pop of salinity provided the perfect counterpoint to this symphony. The wine is fresh and lively. Bring in flavours of citrus and stone fruit and mineral elements. This pairing and flavours of the meal and the wine was a literal mic drop.
With any plate they produce, they strive to have the ingredients speak for themself. And it's evident that they purposefully craft the dish around the wine. Yet they do it in such a way that neither one is the breakout star.
When you look at the size of the kitchen and the tiny space with the culinary team working within it, you can't help but marvel at the skill and coordination it takes to craft these memorable lunches.
As I had pointed out earlier, their lunch menu is a two-course price-fixe. You get a choice from two options for the first course and two options for the second course. Each course comes with paired Mission Hill wines.
After lunch service, they shift to a limited à la carte small bites menu and wines by the glass.
They have two multi-course set menus for dinner that are perfectly paired with their wines.
Yes, this is an outdoor restaurant. The restaurant is outfitted with heaters, misters, and sunshades to ensure comfortable dining. All to preserve this magical setting they have created for a culinary adventure.
For those seeking a remarkable fusion of gourmet cuisine, superb wines, and breathtaking surroundings, The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Family Estate is a must-visit destination that truly embodies the essence of fine dining. In my opinion, they are the pinnacle of fine dining in Kelowna.
Cheers🥂
-BC Wine Nerd
PS - You can visit my Instagram or Facebook page for more pictures from this visit.
Website: Terrace Restaurant
Address: 1730 Mission Hill Rd
Reservations highly recommended: Make a Reservation
Phone #: 250-768-6467
Hours: Lunch - 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Small Bites - 2:30 pm-4:00 pm
Dinner - 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
Dietaries: Can easily handle most dietary restrictions.
Wine by the glass menu: 100% 🇨🇦
Menu $: 🍷🍷🍷🍷
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