Cactus Club Cafe Banks Road — Restaurant in Kelowna

Alright, here we go: I walked into the Cactus Club expecting another glorified chain restaurant, you know, the kind of place where the menu's as predictable as my poor life choices. But then, something miraculous happened—Jasmine B. She wasn’t just a waitress; she was the Michelangelo of drink refills, the Hemingway of friendly banter, and, dare I say, the Gordon Ramsay of knowing exactly when to check in without ruining the flow of conversation. Jasmine, you made me believe in the art of hospitality again.

Now, let’s talk about the food. I opted for the burger while my counterpart chose the steak, a discerning choice, as it would come to be. It was cooked so perfectly it was like they hired an ex-lover of his to grill it—seared on the outside, tender on the inside, and served with just enough flair to make you feel special but not pretentious. The atmosphere? As delicious aa the food and drink it offers. Dark woods and modern elegance appear like how Sinatra sounds: smooth, strong, and just the right amount of character.

But it wasn’t just the food or the drinks, or even Jasmine's ability to make us laugh like men who forgot all their troubles for a brief, shining moment. It was the vibe. That warm glow of red booths, the low hum of hushed conversations, and the kind of lighting that makes everyone look a little better than they do in the daylight. It’s a rare kind of magic.

So, Jasmine B., and the staff of Cactus on Banks if you’re reading this, thanks for making an otherwise average work day feel like the climax of a Scorsese movie—unexpected, satisfying, and impossibly cool. Cactus Club, you’ve officially ruined most every other dining experience for me. And I couldn't be...

Worse experience ever. Waited too long for the food and meal came with cilantro on a burger that was not even listed on the menu. Then waitress was no where to talk about my meal and getting it replaced after stopping at the table one time. Did not see waitress till everyone finished eating. Everyone left hungry and disappointed. First review that I have ever left in 30 years. Could not get meal fixed because no waitress came around to ask about it, could not get anyone attention. We asked for a buster seat and a high chair but they sat us at a high table so unable to sit child in it because it was so low ask to be moved but ignored. Some of our meal went to another table and so other people could sample it before they took it back and gave it to us. None of our water or drinks got refilled, since no waitress was helping us. I know everyone is short staffed but they were there right fast to be paid. No one would help when I wanted to complain. Everyone was too busy, even with staff standing around, it was not pleasant to be ignored. Paid $30 for stuff ravoilo that was very little on the plate, instead left hungry and will not be coming back. Overpriced and horrible food. Teriyaki chicken tasted like yogurt and very little chicken on it. So pay $160 for...

My grandma (82) wanted to book a family dinner for my 35th Birthday. Great grandkids, aunts, parents, everyone. She made the reservation about three-weeks before the dinner.

When we arrived (11 people), we were dismayed to see that they had us at separate tables, with the group split up. This was not mentioned or expected prior to meeting there, the restaurant never let us know. The elderly family members who understandably wanted to see my little children were left hobbling around or watching from afar. What made it a bit worse is when we were leaving, we saw the staff putting together a table that could seat 10-12 (If you use the ends as well), so it was clear it was possible, just not for us that evening.

An important thing to note too was the reservation was for 5:15 PM, not exactly peak hours for the fancy Kelowna types.

I suppose our disappointment is that somewhere much worse (Think Boston Pizza, same prices, way nastier) were options, but we thought choosing a nicer place would come with the service too.

Will we go back one day? probably - Will we go back with a group / for an event bigger than 4-6 people, unfortunately,...