Central Kitchen + Bar Review

Central Kitchen + Bar Offers “Comfort Food With Flair”

When one thinks of a location for a successful trendy restaurant, a multi-purpose recreational facility might be at the bottom of the list but Central Kitchen and Bar in Kelowna has made it work.

Specializing in “comfort food with flair”, this downtown restaurant is located close to several of the city’s newest high-rise buildings in an area of town where free parking still exists. Entering through the recreation bubble, visitors are immediately transported to a trendy, glassy, cosmopolitan restaurant. The new glassed-in extension is a brilliant addition and at noon on a Tuesday, the place was packed.

The menu is interesting and varied ranging from salads to burgers, sandwiches and pizzas with a decent wine list. Sadly, there is little consideration for gluten sensitivity as the selection of foods was meager save for pizzas and we were disappointed to hear that there is a separate fryer for vegan foods but not for gluten sensitivity. There is no mention of gluten-free options on their website whatsoever.

That said, my hubby ordered The Vintage burger with a gluten-free bun and a side of Caesar salad (minus the croutons). Being a big guy with a big appetite, he enjoyed the burger was still hungry at the end of the meal and unfortunately could not graze on my sandwich or yam fries.

Our friend ordered the Winter Harvest Salmon Salad that looked beautiful and was a generous plate. The seasonal dish included roasted vegetables, farro, kale, arugula topped with a tahini ginger dressing and spiced walnuts. Add a brown sugar glazed salmon and it was a lovely meal. While there was a little too much raw kale for his taste, he enjoyed the flavours.

I had the Jamaican Jerk Crispy Chicken sandwich with yam fries on the side. The sandwich contained a generously sized and perfectly cooked chicken filet topped with garlic aioli, lettuce, crispy onions, a perfect jerk sauce and coleslaw served on a soft potato bun. Wow!! This mountain of deliciousness was a meal on its own but the yam fries on the side were outstanding. I was so sad not to be able to share them with my guy but our friend helped himself.

At $18.50 for most burgers and sandwiches and $22 for the salad, this is not a cheap eats spot but for those looking for great flavours and good service, Central Kitchen is definitely worth a visit.