Management at the brand new Dragonboat Pub at Skaha Lake Marina -- in the same waterfront space where for a couple years caterer/restaurateur Fergy Ferguson ran the Nautical Dog Café before moving on to Front Street's Honey Toast -- thinks the south end of Penticton is woefully underserved by the food and beverage industry.
We agree. While eateries and brew pubs have propagated at the opposite end of Penticton, turning the northern tip of downtown into the eating & drinking hotbed of the entire South Okanagan, the south seems almost deserted -- especially over the past year since Nautical Dog's departure.
But now, Dragonboat has taken over Dog's ex-space, revamped most of it and put together a menu that runs from early-riser breakfasts through to late-night drinks and snacks.
Fifteen hours a day, seven days a week. And yes, alcohol is on the menu. A big variety too.
That it’s stationed where it is -- on the water's edge, adjacent to the marina and with a great view of all things aquatic through its abundance of floor to ceiling windows and accommodating patio -- will only add to its cachet.
We stopped by last Saturday morning, just a couple days after the venue's soft opening, at a time when staff was still training staff. And we found Dragonboat to be a comfy, modern space with little in the way of pretension.
And that's precisely the image GM Keith Corbett, undoubtedly familiar to many in his long-time role with the Penticton Lakeside Resort, wants to put forward.
"We're trying to make a place the townspeople of Penticton can feel is theirs," he said. "Where they don’t have to dress up or dress down. Where they can just be themselves."
Rather than quiz Corbett on all that's led to this point -- he's also part-owner of the Dragonboat with another Lakeside mainstay, David Prystay -- we got straight into the good stuff. The food.
And he was more than happy to oblige.
"We serve elevated American pub grub," he said. "It's a menu everyone will understand. Burgers, nachos, fries, bacon and eggs, that sort of thing."
We asked Corbett for some highlights throughout the day, which begins early at 8 am and ends late at 11 pm, and again he was happy to oblige.
"For breakfast, our eggs Benedict are awesome," he started. "We just had someone in here who said it was the best in town.
"We also do smoked salmon eggs Benedict. And we do French toast. And classic bacon and eggs. And avocado toast too."
For lunch and dinner Corbett recommended stuff like Dragonboat's "great" burger, its "huge" sub sandwich, and its "SUP Bowl," a mix of quinoa and veggies and a "beautiful vegan dressing everybody can enjoy regardless of dietary restrictions."
Corbett is particularly psyched about the fish and chips, saying Dragonboat chef Dave Northcott is a "big fan of Lucky Lager beer and wanted that beer represented in his fish and chips."
And Dragonboat's homemade Lucky Lager-battered fish and chips were born.
There's even barbecue ribs flavoured with both Jack Daniel's and cola.
"Our buns are made at Crowsnest Bakery in Cawston," added Corbett, "and Dave's making pies from scratch for desert. And as Penticton comes in bloom, we'll incorporate that into our salad campaign."
As for the "pub" part of the name, the back wall of the establishment is generously stocked with alcohol of all types. And Dragonboat features no less than 24 taps.
According to Corbett, they'll stock beers from just about every regional brewery and a few outliers too, like his personal favourite, a Belgian golden ale called Delerium Tremens.
"It's my favourite beer on earth," he smiled. "It has 9% alcohol and a history of being brewed by monks."
What's more, Dragonboat will serve alcohol from 9 am (!!) through 11 pm every day. "So if you want a Caesar or a mimosa before you go out on your boat in the morning," said Corbett, "just drop on by."
But there's much more to the place than a cool menu. Like that view for instance, looking out on wharves, water and the hills and mountains sprouting up from the west side of Skaha.
It's a view you'll see form virtually anywhere inside the 90-seat restaurant and certainly from the 40-seat, pet-friendly outdoor patio, parts of which are mere meters from the water's edge.
And we'd be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the renovations. Dragonboat has a new roof, a new HVAC system, and all-new kitchen equipment. New plumbing and services were brought in from Lakeside Road and an interior wall was removed. And the drop ceiling that spanned the seating area was eliminated, giving the interior much more height.
Corbett is particular proud of the local and Aboriginal art dotting the walls. In one corner you'll find a mural by Jenny Long. Along another wall, several paintings from Cody Lecoy.
"From conception of the idea, it's taken us two years," he said as we prepped to take leave. "But this is a 27-year dream for me."
You'll find Dragonboat Pub at 3895 Lakeside Rd, at Skaha Lake Marina. For more info, check out its website here.
