All-day breakfast, pizza and Greek food is the winning combination at Route 97 Grill.
The new restaurant in the Ramada hotel where Smitty's used to be is owned and operated by Titiana Verinchik.
"I'm Russian, but my favourite country is Greece and I love Greek food," she said.
"But, Route 97 Grill isn't just Greek food, we have pizza, all-day breakfast and so much else for lunch and dinner."
With Smitty's closing out in the location recently, it was a quick transition to Route 97 Grill.
On the exterior, the Route 97 Grill signage is temporary banners and inside it's the same furniture and decor (and, yes!, robot server) that Smitty's had.
"We're going to do a renovation," said Verinchik.
"But, we wanted to get open and serve great food right away."
Since it opened, Route 97 Grill has been doing well with a mix of customers -- many from the hotel and many lured in by it high-profile location just off the restaurant's namesake -- busy Highway 97.
Yes, the food.
The menu is extensive.
There's an array of 14-inch pizzas from Opa Greek-style, of course, to traditional pepperoni and specialty butter chicken, Mexicana, Trio Italiano and chicken alfredo.
The Greek food ranges from gyros and stuffed pitaz to platters of salad, potatoes and chicken souvlaki, calamari or shrimp.
There's fish and chips, fish tacos, quesadillas and numerous handhelds from philly cheese, Reuben and clubhouse to BLT and beef dip.
Breakfast options cover all the traditionals -- crepes, pancakes and French toast to skillets, benedicts and omelettes.
When she lived in Russia, Verinchik ran a coffee shop and international cuisine restaurant in Ekaterinburg.
She moved to Canada seven years ago to Grande Prairie because her husband worked in oil and gas.
Five years ago Verinchik moved to Kelowna for the lifestyle and worked a couple of jobs outside of restaurants before she was drawn back into the food-service industry she knows so well.
