Routes Grill is Lake Country’s newest restaurant and it is a family destination featuring fresh, accessible food.
The young partners include husband and wife duo Jeff Kreckau in the kitchen and Cody Kreckau on the floor, along with Michael Coates.
Between them they have a wealth of experience in some of the Okanagan Valley’s top restaurants including Cabana, Sparkling Hill, Grey Monk and the Globe restaurants at Big White and Sun Peaks.
Jeff and Michael went to culinary school together in Alberta a decade ago and kept in touch.
Jeff and Cody moved to Lake Country three years ago. Owning a restaurant had been a long-time dream and last year they began to consider the former Mama Shpengis location for their first foray into ownership.
The dream became reality this spring and the new ownership team spent time and elbow grease freshening up the space and developing a new menu.
“We’ve had a tremendous response already,” said Jeff. “We have had people come in for lunch thinking it was the old restaurant and bring their family back in the evening.”
With the soft launch behind them and most of the kinks ironed out of the system, Jeff said the team is ready for larger crowds, although the line-ups on a Friday evening have been gratifying.
Reservations are available.
Reaction online has been very positive with good reviews on social foodie websites like Urban Spoon.
“This is such a great location,” said Jeff.
The menu focuses on fresh and local ingredients wherever possible. Multiple Lake Country suppliers have been engaged. The versatile menus are printed in-house and always have something that is up to the second fresh—the local asparagus and fennel soup is excellent. The burgers look fantastic as do the pizzas. The pasta is fresh and flavourful and the flourless chocolate dessert comes in for real praise from customers online.
The team at Routes is looking to create a family friendly atmosphere. There is a kids menu that offers a series of age appropriate variations on the adult menu.
An added bonus for the adults include reasonably priced Lake Country wine. The floor plan is comfortable and open with flexible tables for larger parties. The work of local artists will soon be found hanging on the walls.
Routes Grill is open for lunches from 11:30 a.m. until it’s empty, then opens evenings from 5 p.m. until it’s empty or midnight. Mondays are closed. Call 250-766-0777 for reservations.
