Restaurants in North Cowichan

Making sushi is an inherently quiet and intense process. Chefs tightly roll seaweed and rice around fish and veggies at One More Sushi. The meditative calm is cut by the sounds of crackling grills covered in teriyaki sauce and meats. Hot oil bubbles up around tempura-battered veggies and even bananas, and pots of miso soup pour forth steam like a fax machine built in the 1800s.

Situated inside the Travelodge Duncan, Sequoia Kitchen + Buffet satisfies families of travellers and locals alike with a menu of elegant comfort foods. Chefs wield a gourmet touch when creating such dishes as lobster mac 'n' cheese or pulled-pork sandwiches cut into the shape of a giant truffle. The kitchen also serves breakfast daily and sets out lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch buffets that feature 14 hot dishes, two soups, and a salad and dessert bar.

Nestled amid the vibrant scenery of Cowichan's wine country, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club's 18-hole, par 71 course weaves through 6,193 yards of fairways and greens kissed by breezes moving inland off the waters of the Saanich Inlet. Named one of Canada's Ten Best Golf Courses for Value by Westjet's Up! magazine in 2009, the course's front nine weaves alongside the seaside community of Cobble Hill before ascending a ridge to a plateau on the back nine, where players can soak in sweeping views of Salt Spring Island and name new constellations in the divots peppered across the course below. Though players encounter many par 4s and reachable par 5s, Arbutus Ridge concludes with three treacherous holes, including the 214-yard, par 3 17th hole, where golfers must overcome swirling winds to land tee shots on an island green. Golfers can prepare for rounds with a stint at the club's driving range or by scouting sand traps' self-defence mechanisms while watching the club's online course videos.

Arbutus Ridge cares about the condition of its course and the nature that surrounds it, and because of its efforts toward sustainable practices, the course has been certified by Audubon International. After rounds, course patrons can retire to the Satellite Bar & Grille, which overlooks the Satellite Channel and serves a seasonal menu of West Coast–influenced French bistro fare, with offerings that include halibut, salmon, and tenderloin steak, which pairs well with a glass of Jean Van de Velde's tears.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Length of 6,193 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 70.3 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 125 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

For patrons bound for Steeples Bar and Grill, the experience begins before the restaurant comes into view. A scenic drive over the Malahat and through Goldstream Provincial Park offers a feast of vistas, and then the restaurant's steeple—an artifact of the restored church where it has taken up residence—peaks through the trees like a giant toddler playing hide-and-seek.

Beneath it, beams that were hand-hewn generations ago hint at present-day staff members' attention to detail. Amid casual, cozy surroundings including shuttered windows, guests dine on upscale dishes such as steak encrusted with black peppercorns, seared tuna, and creamy tarragon fettuccine replete with king prawns. The drink menu complements meals with daiquiris, martinis, and draft beers.

The culinary masterminds at Dish Cookhouse put inventive twists on homestyle diner fare, drawing from international flavours to construct juicy sandwiches and all-day breakfast. The crunch of fresh-cracked eggs fills the kitchen as chefs whip up omelettes and sizzling skillets of veggies, meat, and cheese. For lunch, the diner gurus infuse pulled pork with Vietnamese flavours and cap succulent burgers in creative sauces such as the house burger sauce or garlic-cheese mayo that can stop even the most persistent vampires from stealing a bite.

Every business begins with a dream that takes its owner on a proverbial journey. Victor Sanchez did things a little bit backwards. He was out on the open road, rumbling along on a transcontinental motorcycle adventure to Argentina, and he crossed path with his muse: food. Victor fell so in love with the exotic cuisines he sampled throughout Mexico and South America that he vowed to share them with his Canadian neighbors.

Instead of starting from the ground up, Victor expedited the process. He purchased Carlos Cantina & Grill, a local hotspot with a solid reputation for tasty Mexican food. Though he vowed to preserve the menu that made the eatery so popular, Victor payed homage to the trip that started it all. He’s added monthly South American specialties to the lineup of tacos, chimichangas, and chicken mole in a homemade sauce. He recruited a team of chefs that craft flavourful burritos and enchiladas for people of all culinary inclinations—noting on the menu which entrees are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Tangy margaritas and fire extinguishers filled with guacamole are always available to cool off tongues as guests dine amid brightly patterned tablecloths and warm adobe walls.

At the head of Browning Harbour, in a sheltered cove, the Port Browning Marina offers a safe haven for boats in water that's deep enough no matter the tide. The marina's fresh drinking water, shower and laundry facilities, and convenience store provide for captains and campers who have settled into the area's tent and RV camping sites. The marina's 3,000 lineal feet of wharfage make a solid base for kayaking, hiking, and scuba-diving excursions around Pender Island. The marina's pub and café dish up seafood, pizza, and hearty pub fare after a day of adventures. Port Browning Marina is also a quick walk or slow moonwalk away from the Driftwood Centre, which includes a grocery store, bakery, gas station, and other essentials.