It’s not the first time to report on the KINGFISHER RESORT near Courtenay but a recent visit for lunch warrants a repeat look. 

An old business colleague and his wife from Ottawa were visiting Vancouver and came to the Island for a day. Since they had never been past PARKSVILLE we decided to take them for a drive culminating in lunch at the Kingfisher. And we are all so glad we did. 

We arrived and settled in to a window table  in the OCEAN 7 dining room.  While we surveyed the menu we sipped on some UNSWORTH Pinot GRIS from the COWICHAN Valley. It’s crisp and delicious. 

Selections were made. An order of Calamari for the table to start. It arrived with a cucumber yogurt dip and their special lemon preserve dipping sauce that is wonderful but difficult to describe. We all enjoyed it. 

Then we ordered. One Seafood Chowder, Raw Marinated Albacore Tuna Tacos, Green Curry & Coconut Saltspring Mussels and A Korean Chicken Bowl. 

The chowder here is excellent with a variety of seafood in a rich creamy broth. Always a good choice. The Sashimi Tuna Tacos (2) looked stunning with the tuna served in little cubes. 

The mussels were the best I’ve seen in ages and we all got to sample. Large, plump mussels in an amazing green curry & coconut broth with Garlic Toast on the side. So good and a generous portion.

The Korean Chicken is a star. A bowl with sticky rice julienned carrot, a small taste of kimchi topped with the most amazingly crispy and tangy pieces of fried chicken tossed with black sesame seeds. Simply the most delicious chicken one can imagine. And a generous portion too. I can’t wait to order it again! 

Finally, we shared an amazing dessert platter which included Creme Brûlée, Cheesecake, Macaroons, and and Ice Cream. A spectacular presentation. 

The Kingfisher is not inexpensive but one cannot mind paying for truly outstanding food. 

If you are driving to Courtenay or Comox it’s a good place to stop. Wonderful food, excellent service, enjoyable ambience. Be sure and check out their gorgeous garden and peek in at the Spa. 

The resort recently won the HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR BC. Justifiably so! 

Just saying…

If you are thinking of a casual lunch and don’t want to go far you must consider UPSTAIRS at Quality Foods in PARKSVILLE. It’s a cool venue with lots of nice seating as well as a large deck if you want some sun. There is a direct outside elevator so you can avoid the crowds of shoppers on the main floor. 

Good news! It’s licensed. They have a nice assortment of Craft Beers on tap as well as a selection of wine. On Thursdays the wine is on special. 9 ounce glass for $7. On Friday it’s cheap Beer. Martinis are $11, Cocktails are $9. 

The food menu is limited but good and includes Pulled Pork or Beef on a Brioche Bun, Sizzling Nachos, Tandoori Chicken Pizza, Tacos, Chicken Wings, Prosecco Buttered Prawns, Panninis, and more. And the prices are reasonable. Wings are $15 for a generous plate. The Tapas are $10. 

Even better, Wednesday is WING DAY. Wings for $7.50. And they are delicious with a variety of sauces including BBQ, Honey Garlic, Thai Chili and Teriyaki. 

For a casual lunch UPSTAIRS is a good choice. 

You can sit at the bar and watch your Favourite sports or at the window watching the food shopper below, or find a comfy chair by the fireplace or lounge outside on the deck. It’s all good. 

Take a look at this YouTube video showing the entire facility. https://youtu.be/C8CZGNTxcRU?si=agBAi2tqOvcNOT76

Quality Foods, Alberni Highway at Despard in PARKSVILLE. 

Just saying…

Today was a day to revisit the BAYSIDE Resort in PARKSVILLE.  It’s been several years since my last visit and the whole resort has been renovated during my absence. My dear Sheila suggested we go out for lunch and directed me to the BAYSIDE and I’m glad she did. 

We were seated at a perfect table for two in the window with a fabulous view towards Lasqueti Island and the expansive Sandy PARKSVILLE beach. Service was immediate and two glasses of Iniskillan Pinot Grigio arrived quickly. An order of Calamari and a Monterrey Chicken Sandwich soon followed. The Calamari was excellent, the best we’ve had for a while. We shared the sandwich which contained a generous portion of grilled Chicken breast and was delicious. Accompanying the sandwich were really good fries. Also the best in a long time. 

Lunch at the BAYSIDE was a delightful experience and we would highly recommend it. You can look at their website here. https://www.baysideresortparksville.com

For a look at the menu go here. https://www.baysideresortparksville.com/Content/Admin/images/DiningMenuFiles/DiningMenuFilesPdf/Lunch Menu_9089361_LUNCH_MENU_2023.pdf

If you have not been here you really must try it. I’m thinking that dinner at sunset might be spectacular. 

Just saying…