琉璃神社鈥檚 newest restaurant is welcoming patrons for dinner.
Erica Jane is located at the base of the One Water Street towers, offering an elevated dining experience for everyone in the Okanagan.
Chris Pooli, CEO of affiliate Kelly and Carlos O鈥橞ryans restaurants, says it鈥檚 taken more time than expected to finally open the doors.
鈥淥ur first official date was May鈥� of 2022, and then we got pushed to September, and then January, and now we鈥檙e into March.鈥�
Although construction started in December 2021, Pooli says the delays were caused mainly by the engineering of the closed patio.
The closed patio features two tree-like concrete and metal structures holding up the roof, complete with small hanging lights to represent the stars.
The restaurant is a vision of the late Reg Henry, founder of the O鈥橞ryans chain, who passed away the same month construction started.
The name, , is a tribute to his daughter who died of cancer years earlier.
鈥淗e always wanted to open up a nicer restaurant in 琉璃神社, so when the opportunity came around he jumped all over it.鈥�
Although the restaurant has features of fine dining, Pooli says they won鈥檛 be leaving people out of the experience.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going for high end. We鈥檙e calling ourselves elevated Okanagan dining. We don鈥檛 want to be the stuffy place where you have to have a dress code to come in. We understand we are in the Okanagan and summer in the Okanagan people are going to come in shorts and t-shirts and that鈥檚 fine.鈥�
Pooli says they don鈥檛 expect every guest to want to sit down and have a three-course meal.
Erica Jane has been open for dining since March 3 but hosts its official grand opening by invite on March 15.
The restaurant is still looking to hire, expecting to have about 90 employees during the peak of summer.
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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