Timber Shuswap — Restaurant in Area C (Blind Bay/Sorrento)

What an amazing little gem in Blind Bay! I was very pleased to hear the former chef at Jack Sam's (Quaaout Lodge) is the Chef and Owner of this restaurant

We chose to go here for a late lunch as they have a dog-friendly patio! It was extremely comfortable and spacious, with about three or four tables out front. There were also lots of accessible seating options inside - no booths, but very spacious with restaurant-height tables all around.

The service was quick and friendly- we were greeted and served water right away. We opted for the daily house special iced tea, which was peach hibiscus. It was light and delicious, not overly sweet, with a beautiful pink hue and a fruity and floral flavour. It came in about a litre glass container, which was perfect for our group of three people.

For our mains, we all chose the crispy chicken sandwich; you can also add a side for an additional reasonable cost. One of the group chose the salad, and we chose the tomato basil soup.

The salad was incredibly fresh, with beautiful local ingredients. It was made with a fresh local greens blend and had a fresh creamy tomato vinaigrette. It also included cute little micro-carrots, and we were marveling at the tiny size!

The soup was light and tomato-based; not creamy, which was perfect for a hot day. It was very basil-centric, which was delicious. You could also "see" all of the ingredients - tomato, onion, basil, etc. - which I loved.

And the sandwich -WOW! A perfect amount of breading with a delicious crunch, with just the right amount of "greasiness" - not overly oily. It was made with a very generous portion of chicken thighs and was served on a delicious brioche bun, toasted perfectly with a perfect amount of butteriness. I typically do not like dark meat, but this was so delicious and light - you couldn't even tell it was dark meat and was not at all fatty or chewy. It also included lettuce, tomato and a lovely dressing.

The prices were also very fair, especially for the quality of the food - it was just over $25 for each of us. Also keep in mind that they do not yet have a liquor license (as of August 2022).

I know I will be dreaming about this sandwich. Ten out of ten would recommend for your next trip...

Unfortunately, my dining experience this evening doesn't line up with many of the other reviews for Timber; I had the 7oz Tenderloin and was sorely disappointed.

On two positive notes, the texture of the steak was as I would have expected for a tenderloin, and the presentation of the plate was appealing.

My steak was served in two pieces - one of which was slightly overdone - and was liberally doused in an au jus that was both unpleasant and unexpected (I do not remember it being mentioned on the menu, as I would have asked that it be withheld had I known about it). The steak itself was extremely bland, and lacked any intrinsic flavour, which was extremely disappointing. I also found the vegetables unappealing and I left them largely uneaten, and though the potato pave was cooked to perfection, it was seasoned in a way that I did not personally enjoy.

The atmosphere itself was decent enough, though the seating was incredibly uncomfortable and does not encourage diners to take time to enjoy their meals.

Service was good, although we did need to wait for our cheque. Our table was attended by at least three different people, which was both lovely to see and appreciated.

I do not feel that the value of my meal was even close to worth what I paid; I have enjoyed much more flavourful steaks at home and in other establishments.

Overall, while Timber may be a good choice for diners seeking a bit more of a culinary adventure focusing on constructed flavours, if you're looking for a rich, natural/traditional eating experience, I would suggest...

Just had dinner there tonight for the first time! Our sister told us she visited a few weeks ago and had one of the best meals she’s ever had. Don’t let the restaurant bring in a quaint strip mall scare you off! Even though it was a Wednesday when we went, Timber doesn’t seat many, so reservations are a must to ensure you get spot. We started with the Vietnamese Carpaccio that was SO refreshingly flavourful. It didn’t come with any crostini or bread which to be fair, it didn’t say it would on the menu and there was so much flavour that it didn’t really require any, but we asked for some anyways to soak up the delicious sauce. You can tell the chef takes pride in every morsel that leaves the kitchen as in a flash, the server came back with pristinely toasted sliced sourdough crostini for us to enjoy with the carpaccio that was ridiculously flavourful.

For our mains, we ordered the duck and scallops with pork belly and they were both outstanding. Had to top it off with the strawberry and rhubarb dessert that was like a deconstructed pavlova.

It was hard to beat the presentation and taste of the dishes, but the kicker of the night was our fabulous server. She was timely, confident, knew the menu, gave suggestions, hilarious and kind. If you visit Timber, I hope you get to be served by Sienna! If management reads this, please give Sienna a HUGE kudos for making our night that much better. We are foodies visiting from Vancouver and were blown away by the freshness of the food and impeccable service. We will be...