Elma

“Absolute delightful time at Elma! Mike gave us 10/10 service and delicious recommendations! We had the steak kebab, chicken and rice, shrimp fritter, and the octopus. DON’T SKIP OUT ON THE OCTOPUS. Mike told us it was a bestseller, and now we know why. Cooked perfectly and the potatoes along side were to die for. We finished off with the affogato. Thanks Elma and Mike!!!!!”

“If you are visiting Penticton, do yourself a favor and come to Elma’s. Everything about this restaurant is spectacular. The service, the food, the drinks, the atmosphere- all of it is unparalleled in this town. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Elma’s a few times, and every single visit has been special and memorable. The food is something you won’t forget. At our most recent dinner visit, I had the girit, charcoal octopus, and braised beef cheek. The girit was mouthwatering (same as any bread/dip we’ve ordered here), the octopus was unbelievably tender, and the beef cheek could be broken apart with a spoon and melted in your mouth. Words cannot explain how delicious the food is. I quite enjoy that the plates are small shareable portions, meaning you can try several options and go on an entire flavor journey in just one night! More than the food, however, is the service. The waiters and waitresses at Elma’s clearly care about their guests, going above and beyond to ensure your night goes wonderfully. They are constantly changing your silverware and plates, ensuring each dish gets to be enjoyed and savored to its full potential. Every table is meant to feel like a staff member’s #1 priority, even when there are several tables to attend to. Good food is one thing, but I think a staff full of wonderful, attentive, and personable attitudes should be celebrated. Truly, the restaurant should be proud. (Special shoutout to Hallee, who is truly the sweetest!) I was also extremely impressed by Elma’s owner, Ayse, who reached out to me after an unfortunate incident that occurred due to another guest. Ayse went above and beyond to remedy any concerns I had. Even though they obviously could not control the actions or beliefs of another patron, Ayse and her staff were attentive and sympathetic to a degree that I truly did not expect. Their compassion towards me and my partner is, in my mind, what truly sets them apart from any other establishment- not just in Penticton, but in most of the places I’ve traveled to. Elma’s does not feel like a business, it feels like a group of wonderful and talented people who deeply care about sharing those talents with guests. I cannot emphasize enough how remarkable and caring the staff and ownership is at Elma’s- the amazing food is just a bonus! Pictured: girit, tandir croquettes, charcoal-grilled octopus, turkish coffee, Elma French toast (brunch menu)”

“I’m a massive fan of Turkish cuisine, so when we headed over for a family dinner we arrived with high expectations. Elma did not disappoint! The service was great with Ebony getting us off the mark with some wine before we ordered our feast. We ordered 7 dishes in total and while they were all delicious, the lamb, octopus and pasta came out as the favorites. There are already plans formulating for a return visit to try the weekend brunch. Looking forward to heading back to this new favorite.”

“One of the best restaurant dining experiences I have ever had. The building itself is a great location, well decorated and excellent atmosphere, and the open air top floor with lake view is amazing. As for the food itself, top notch and I cannot wait to go back again to try more dishes. We went as a group which made it nice to try some options including the octopus, scallops and one of their flatbread pides. For the mains we had the beef shish as well as the pasta, and the seasonings and flavour through everything was top notch. If I had only one night in penticton, the dinner would be at Elma.”

“We were in Penticton looking for good brunch spot and landed on Elma. Called and we were waitlisted. Received a system text about on waitlist. But when we arrived, we are welcomed in. Elma was busy but staff were still friendly and attentive. This is a Turkish inspired establishment and it reflected on menu but not halal. It is on beach front and plenty of free public parking is available. Their waffle and French toast were amazing. French toast was more yummy. Loved the dining experience and food.”