If you haven’t been to the Cowichan Valley you are missing one of the most beautiful spots on Vancouver Island. About an hours drive from Victoria the Cowichan Valley is a must visit for wine lovers.
Temperatures are moderate with a year round pleasant climate. Grapes are grown on site and enjoy warm days and cool nights.
We recently had the opportunity to attend the soft opening of the newly renovated restaurant on site at Unsworth. We enjoyed a lunch with wine by the glass. There is an extensive menu with some differences between the lunch and dinner options.
Here is what we enjoyed.
Snacks & Charcuterie
Black Brioche
cultured herb butter – sepia – $14.
Wow that colour really hits when the bread comes to the table. The bread is flavourful, soft and a bit decadent with the cultured herb butter I can see how it could become rather addictive. Yummy.
Pizza
Prawn Seampi
prawns – garlic butter – fior di latte – garden chili – lemon – parsley $32.
The pizza was nice and came warm to the table which is good. We asked for Basil on the pizza (it came on the side and we added it ourselves) which really enhanced the flavours of the pizza. We asked to have the garden chili on the side because we weren’t too sure how spicy it might be. So its nice that they are open to some modifications.
Warm Plates
Fire Roasted Pepper & Tomato Soup
fennel oil – cheese croquette – $18.
The Fire Roast Pepper & Tomato soup was delicious and best of all it came piping hot. That’s always a good thing for me because it takes a little time to take my pictures.
The soup tasted like graden fresh tomatoes and had just enough bite from the pepper to make it an interesting as well as a deliciously rich choice. Creamy and smooth accompanied by a potato dumpling that was crispy on the outside and yummy and soft on the inside.
Hokkaido Scallops
caramelized cauliflower – chili crisp
G-Farm’s mushrooms – rhubarb vinegar $32.
Perfectly seared scallops that were tender and so flavourful, just delicious. The scallops were a nice size and the mushrooms were perfect. The chili crisp made each bite a spice journey.
Wines
A choice for me between the 2024 Unsworth Vineyard Pinot Gris or the 2024 Saison Vineyard Pinot Gris. I tasted both before making up my mind. The Saison was a bit more fruit forward with enhanced acidity which worked for me. It also was ideal with the Fire Roasted Pepper & Tomato soup.
For my lunch companion it was the 2023 Pinot Noir. The wineries of the Cowichan Valley craft a delicious selection of Pinot Noirs and this one was no exception. Perfect for pairing with the Prawn Scampi Pizza.
Affogato
orange crush
vanilla ice cream – Grand Marnier
Galliano – $19.
Why settle for ice cream when you can have an “orange crush” for your dessert? This was a treat. So if you want to end your dinner with a bang instead of a whimper than this is for you. This was a shared dessert.
The restaurant has been totally redone and you would not recognize it compared to before the reno. A spacious, very modern look with windows on two sides bringing in lots of light and some nice views.
Lots of booths and banquette seating, overhead lighting and the room sports a large bar where the cocktail magic happens.
In an area between dining and reception there is a display of wines and a work station.
Overall the atmosphere is sophisticated casual that lends itself to a quiet business lunch or intimate visit for two. Some areas have seating for six. The room is comfortable with background music that is at a quiet level. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable.
Pizzas are made on site, or should I say, outdoors. There is also seating outside which would be ideal if you want a casual snack with a glass of wine.
We would definitely enjoy returning to try the more extensive dinner menu.
Discover Coastal Cuisine in the Heart of Cowichan
Food, wine, and place in perfect harmony.
Welcome to The Restaurant at Unsworth — where the flavors of Vancouver Island come together on the plate and in the glass.
A culinary celebration of all-things Vancouver Island. From a seasonally inspired menu showcasing fresh, local, sustainable ingredients, to exceptional service and award-winning wines, we give bold, new meaning to farm-to-table cuisine.
A Menu Rooted in Local Ingredients & Seasonal Inspiration
Though the Cowichan Valley may keep a low profile, it’s quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for food and wine. At Unsworth, we celebrate the valley’s abundance through simple, refined dishes crafted with ingredients from farmers, foragers, and producers we know by name. These relationships bring a sense of place to every menu we create.
Menus change with the seasons, inspired by what’s fresh from the valley, ocean, and garden. Whether for a leisurely lunch or an intimate dinner, each dish is designed to showcase Vancouver Island’s ingredients alongside estate wines.
Unsworth Vineyards
2915 Cameron Taggart Rd, Mill Bay, BC V8H 1A2
info@nullunsworthvineyards.com
(250) 929-22
Tasting Room: 11am – 6pm daily
Our visit took place during the restaurant’s soft opening. Not all menu items were available at the time of our visit. The dishes we sampled were nicely presented and lived up to our expectations. Lunch, including dessert, was complimentary. We each had one 4 oz glass of wine at $14. and $16. + tax a gratuity equal to 20% of the value of the food (which was complimentary) and the wine was left for the team.