Elma

Finally had a chance to get down to Penticton and check this newer restaurant out! Why did we wait soooo long??! What a welcome addition to the Okanagan restaurant scene. The interior of the restaurant is like walking into a urban, big city restaurant. It is sleek and well designed with lots of natural light overlooking the lake and Lakeshore strip. Open kitchen concept, beautiful bar and COVID friendly seating both inside and on their patio. Now... let's talk about the main events - Food & Drink. The restaurant is Turkish inspired after Ayse's {co-owner} family history. They own the Motel next door. Derek Ingram, Executive Chef (previous Executive Chef with Fairmont Hotels) - has created an inspired menu that infuses local produce with the delights of Turkey. It is all very approachable AND very tasty! Lots of great flavour, beautifully presented and well executed. We enjoyed the Grilled Octopus (done on charcoal) w/ a lip-smacking bean hummus. Our server recommended the small-plate feature of the night - Okra in a spiced tomato sauce. All the plates are shareable (we encourage this style). Our main feature was the Smoke Lamb Shoulder with hummus, panisse, sumac onion, charred tomato, cabbage salad w/ Elma sauce & puffed grains. The lamb shoulder was slowly braised and was brimming with umami flavours and filled with aromas of the far east. All of the accompaniments were well thought thru and portion size was more than enough. The beverage program is fun with creative craft cocktails served in great glassware and beautiful Okanagan wines (each selected to pair with the flavours on the menu). Service was good. We had an attentive server who provided excellent suggestions. Looking for a nice meal in a great atmosphere - go here! Well worth it.

I live in Vancouver, and this Penticton gem is in my top 3 restaurants to eat at in BC. If you visit Penticton and don't eat here, you've made a terrible terrible mistake. This restaurant really shines when you dine as a large group — order meze-style so everyone can try all the dishes (featuring both traditional and fusion Turkish dishes, simply spectacular). The flavor and the quality of the ingredients is just out of this world. Menu is also vegetarian and vegan friendly. The service is 5-star. And the decor is elegant but welcoming, with stunning views of the lake/beach. I can't wait to go back...

Elma is a fantastic and highly enjoyable experience, an absolute delight to find in Penticton! The dishes are fresh, exciting and creative, the cocktails are fun and very tasty. It is chic without any pretence, make a reservation immediately! Elma impressed me from the moment I called to make a reservation with Emily, to being seated at a spotless table with a bright and stunning view, all the way through service. Meeting Mike our server was a treat, he was genuinely friendly, knowledgable and attentive, his suggestions were ideal, his service was flawless! I had the pleasure of quickly meeting co-owner Micheal, his pride of ownership shines brighter than the sun over the lake. Every part of the evening was brilliant, the food and drink, the location and view, the decor and hospitality all combine to make this one the best locations in the Okanagan. Elma is absolute gem of a restaurant, the owners and every staff member should be very proud of what they have created, thank you to everyone back and front of house with special recognition for the kitchen team. Elma is a world class restaurant, an absolute delight. -Jet. (Photos taken from Elma facebook page, they absolutely accurately reflect the what we ordered. )

Came here at the end of Jan with two people with gluten allergies and they were basically able to modify every dish with a twist to accommodate the requests. Bottomline. It's very rare to find a place where pretty much everything you order is exceptionally delicious. The downside is it makes it incredibly difficult to narrow down your meal selection. Recommend the halloumi, the tuna, the prawns and you can't go wrong with any of the dips (2 different hummus's shown and labneh).

The Elma has excellent drinks, food, service and atmosphere. The bartender Josh is very knowledgeable and creates unique cocktails! Every food item was dynamic and delicious. The owner Mike took the time to connect. Our server Ebony made our evening so personable, I highly recommend. We love this family run restaurant, cheers ? ❤️

The food is here amazing! Probably one of the top restaurants I’ve been to in BC. The food is creative, fresh, and well priced for what you’re getting. You must try their fried mussels and octopus. The mackerel wasn’t bad either. The half roast honey truffle chicken was a deliciously filling entree. We didn’t want to eat red meat when we visited, but my friends say the wagyu is a great option too! The service is attentive and friendly. I wish they did reservations here because I feel the hosts overestimate wait times on busy nights which can turn people away.

Wonderful cocktails and environment. The food is fantastic and very different from what’s in penticton. Wheel chair accessibility to the ground floor section of the restaurant. Would recommend to everyone.

Probably one of the best restaurants we have ever been too in a long time. Every single thing we got was creative and delicious. The cocktails were very unique and well done too. All of the food is Turkish which isn’t something you find often, especially in the Okanagan! I highly recommend coming to this restaurant, it is worth the drive even if you live in Kelowna.