Minstrel Cafe & Bar

4.0 star rating
8 reviews Rating Details

Category: Cafes

4638 Lakeshore Rd
Kelowna, BC V1W 1X5
(250) 764-2301
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

8 reviews in English

  • Review from Jay P.

    •  
    • 9 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Edmonton, AB

    4.0 star rating
    8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here

    This is one of Kelowna's best kept secrets.

    The food was good, but that's not why you go there. The service was friendly, but that's not the point either. There even seemed to be a good live music schedule, but that's not what I loved the most.

    What got me was the huge 140 year old Sycamore tree in the back that provides shade to the loveliest patio I can remember.

    We arrived at Minstrel on a warm summer day in late August after a long walk along the Myra Canyon bridges and testles. We were hot, tired and hungry when we stumbled upon an oasis under the Sycamore tree.

    We discovered Gray Monk Pinot Gris that afternoon and enjoyed a wide variety of the menu's lunch offerings. I can honestly say that everything I tasted was very good.

    I highly recommend you check out this spot on a warm summer afternoon.  Sit on the patio and enjoy the tree.

  • Review from Sheryl H.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    Kelowna, BC

    5.0 star rating
    2/2/2012

    I had to post a review after reading another comment on here about the burger being just alright.  My husband was the head chef at the Keg.  No offense to my husband but the Minstrel burger is the BEST burger I've ever had!  After all everything is better with bacon.  Their burger is no exception.  The bacon, mushrooms, and crispy thin onion rings on this burger are phenomenal!  The caesar salad has shaved Parmesan, prosciutto, and roasted tomatoes.  Very unique and tasty.

    Best place to see live entertainment.

  • Review from Lucky M.

    •  
    • 28 friends
    • 27 reviews

    Calgary, AB

    4.0 star rating
    10/6/2010 1 Check-in Here

    This is a nice bistro restaurant with crack staff , well run kitchen and good wine selection favoring locals.

    The great assets are the outdoor patio under an ancient, massive and impressive tree..  AND that this is a live music venue!!  A rarity anywhere.  This establishment supports musicians both local and touring and should be visited and supported for that reason alone.

    One issue is the use of the word "tapas".   I don't know what you expect when you order tapas, but I was not expecting an enormous portion piled on dinner plate.  Even if they were called appetizers, they would still be large....  I guess that's not really a complaint, I just think they should drop the word "tapas".

  • Review from Sarah M.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 37 reviews

    Vancouver, BC

    2.0 star rating
    7/4/2011

    NOT THE BEST........

    OMG,

    My boyfriends and I went there for dinner on saturday night.

    We both ordered the hamburger. It was just fine....
    The bread was a bit too sweet for me.
    The burger came with mushrooms, bacon, cheese, and fried onion/onion rings.
    With and option of green salad, caesar salad or roasted potatoes (I know, roasted potatoes? wtf)
    I ordered mine with the caesar salad.
    The caesar salad was just ok. nothing special and my boyfriend ordered his with the roasted potatoes. He said the potatoes were a bit dry...

    Bit mediocre I say.
    Service was ok. not very good. They gave us a glass of water that was chipped so! not very careful either.

    Dear owner,

    Please swap the roasted potatoes for fries/chips!

    Thanks

  • Review from Mark S.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 7 reviews

    St Catharines, ON

    4.0 star rating
    7/3/2010

    There aren't very many small restaurants/bistros in Kelowna that I would describe as excellent, but this place is an exception.  

    The following is a list of things that I love about the Minstrel;

    - I love the courtyard/patio ( There's an amazing Plane Tree around which the whole courtyard revolves.  Yes, it is "just" a tree, but I wouldn't mention it unless it was impressive - in a "size matters" kind of way)
    - Great Pizzas
    - Decent venue for live music
    - Friendly staff

    Whether you are some crusty old wealthy WASP type person, or some kind of wakeboarding hipster hybrid, you will likely find something to enjoy about the Minstrel.  

    My only criticism would be their limited draught beer selection.

  • Review from Karen R.

    Burnaby, BC

    5.0 star rating
    12/28/2010 2 photos

    We were enticed to this place by the evening keyboardist entertainment (someone my boyfriend knows from Vancouver). Our table of four was first sat near the door so we asked to be relocated closer to the entertainment. They sat another table then we were sat near the fireplace. Our drink order was immediately taken but then we waited over twenty minutes before getting wind of anyone once again. It's not that the wait staff was absent per say, more that those viewable were moving at mock speed around the edges of the room. Our waitress suddenly popped up and took the food order from the table behind us, promising to take ours next as she relieved her heavy laden drink tray. She left, wandered over to the bar then disappeared into the kitchen, then reappeared looking frazzled at the bar. She seemed to shake herself then come to as she headed over to our table, taking our food order. Bread magically appeared then was replenished. Food arrived and wow! Two of us enjoyed the half rack ribs, Deb enjoyed the ravioli and my boyfriend Steve (being Vegan) got a yummy vegetable laden plate of tomato pasta. The ribs were super tender, unlike anything I've ever tasted. Paired with an Asian styled 'slaw' noodle concoction along with sea salted perfectly cooked baby potatoes-what more could a gal ask for? (besides the bigger portion that is)

    We delved into a peanut butter crunch dessert for me (to share with steve) and a four scoop serving of mango sorbet for steve (to share with me). I gotta say that I enjoyed my dessert but wished throughout the whole thing for the small peanut butter segments to have been bigger than the fudge. Oh well. A wonderful and unexpectedly awesome evening after all. (The live music rocked!)

  • Review from Chun M.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 30 reviews

    Kelowna, BC

    4.0 star rating
    11/25/2009

    Nice menu, food, and atmosphere. I hear the lamb is fantastic, I tried the Mahi Mahi, and it was superb. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a casual evening out. Fairly priced, automatically billed cover if live music is present for the evening.

  • Review from Ken H.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Vancouver, BC

    2.0 star rating
    12/11/2010

    Food satisfactory. Service mediocre. Wine glasses removed while wine left. Fork returned for re-use. Service charge for band that never appeared.

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...