The Big City Has Landed in Kelowna with Foodie-Inspired Spaces

The Kelowna culinary landscape will be forever changed with the introduction of two new spots, that couldn’t be more diverse and different.

The interior at Pilgram & Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

The Revival Group has just opened two hot new spots in Kelowna that cater to a more sophisticated taste. 27 Kelowna and Pilgrim & Pearl are both located within the newly renovated Prestige Hotel at the corner of Abbott Street and Highway 97 in downtown Kelowna. The doors to 27 opened just a week ago and it is already gaining praise from all over the Okanagan Valley. Pilgrim & Pearl opened Tuesday afternoon and it is expected to be become Kelowna’s new favourite restaurant.

A small sample of the oysters available at Pilgrim & Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

Owner Jason Troll is excited to bring the bold and different experiences to Kelowna’s culinary scene and is looking forward to doing something unique in the community. As soon as you walk into Pilgrim & Pearl you are hit with a bright and inviting atmosphere that encourages you to get together with friends. Not at all stuffy or pretentious the room blends an exciting dining experience with the causal feel of friends getting together for a cocktail.

The 42 foot bar at Pilgram & Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

“We had a vision that was a little bit east coast, it’s Hamptons meets Martha Stewart, with a little bit of Rodney’s Oyster Bar (in Vancouver), we wanted it to be comfortable, accessible, and we want people to come in and have a lot of fun,” explains Troll. “You can comfortably seat a group of 25, it’s airy, sunny and bright. We have reclaimed wood, the hardwood floors, all topped off with our 42 foot bar which makes it a lot of fun.”

One of the shareable items available from Pilgram and Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

This is the first oyster bar to appear in Kelowna and Troll wanted to bring something fresh and new to the area, instead of the same old scene. The Prestige Hotel approached The Revival Group and asked them if they would be interested in teaming up to produce something in the old restaurant and lounge space. The name, Pilgrim & Pearl comes from Hollywood royalty Elizabeth Taylor and the famous gift she received from her former husband Richard Burton for Valentine’s Day.

“My wife Michelle and I have always thought about doing an oyster bar here in Kelowna and it was just a matter of putting the right team together and finding the right location, this has been a dream for about four years,” adds Troll.

The live oyster bar at Pilgram & Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

Troll and Chef Jason Leizert have made dozens of trips to Vancouver to secure the best and freshest seafood which will come in on a daily basis. The seafood focused menu serves up the classics such as New England Clam Chowder, Prawn Cocktail, Oyster Rockefeller and Coquille St. Jacques, plus you can find Lobster and Crab from the live tank, a seafood charcuterie board and even a lunchtime lobster roll. A blackboard will announce the butcher cuts of the day to create your own surf & turf menu or satisfy the carnivore in the group.

Bowl of mussels from Pilgram & Pearl (Photo Credit: Contributed)

The restaurant also has an extensive wine list which was compiled by professional Sommelier Derek Morrison which includes local wines as well as choices from around the world. Pilgrim & Pearl will be open Sunday to Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. and from Thursday to Saturday it will stay open until 11:00 p.m.

Once the restaurant is closed people can pop over to 27 Kelowna for a sexy and sophisticated drink. Behind the bar is The Revival Group Director of Operations, Gerry Jobe, and award winning mixologists Luke Atherton and Dave Simpson. The space is a real foodies hangout that features what Troll calls the best cocktail list in the country. There are 16 classic cocktails, 15 original creations and four interpretations of Voodoo-style drinks on the menu along with bottled and barrel aged cocktails.

Birdcages are an exotic detail that adorn the lighting in 27 (Photo Credit: Contributed)

The setting has a Vancouver Gastown feel to it and drips with exotic and luxurious elements. With Moroccan-style seating, a playful and social atmosphere it will become your new favourite lounge in Kelowna. The kitchen is open until 12:30 a.m. and stretches the boundaries of typical bar food.

A unique creation from the cocktail menu at 27 (Photo Credit: Contributed)

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say the cocktail list is the best in Canada, “Troll says proudly. “There is no other bar in Canada doing what Gerry and Luke put together, and why I’m so proud of them is because of their execution. You don’t have to wait 10 to 15 minutes for your drink. It is done quickly and beautifully.”

Crispy Snails with Miso Mayo, Sweet & Sour Short Ribs, and Charred Oxtail with Tamarind Dipping Sauce and Kimchi are just a few items available on the menu. Troll says his group is not afraid to push the boundaries in the Kelowna and the Okanagan and it is time for the community to have new, innovative and exciting choices.

Both new spaces are located in the Prestige Inn located at 1675 Abbott Street, just before the Bennett Bridge heading into West Kelowna.