Revelstoke's 112 raises the bar

By Alison Lapshinoff

REVELSTOKE, BC—The quiet little town of Revelstoke is undergoing a metamorphosis and the 112 Restaurant and Lounge is following suit.

Comfortably situated in the folds of the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges just over 400 km east of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway, this sleepy little mountain hamlet has historically had its roots in industries like logging and the railway.  But these days, a younger crowd of an athletic and outdoorsy nature is flocking to town, to check out the new ski resort, now in its second year of operation.

The 112 Restaurant and Lounge, part of the Regent Inn, has been serving up classic elegance with a side of winter adventure for 30 years, catering to Canadian Mountain Holidays, a well known heli-ski operation for almost as long.  Swiss chef Peter Mueller has been serving with pride classics like Dijon crusted rack of lamb Provencal and chicken cordon bleu since 1978.

But, as change sweeps through Revelstoke, so it does through the 112. The restaurant has recently undergone a complete make-over.  Gone is the cozy, yet somewhat dated remote mountain lodge vibe.  Slick new hardwood floors, walls clad in perfectly aged brickwork and charcoal grey paint give the dining room and lounge a modern, contemporary feel.  
A polished marble bar, funky hand-carved furniture and a floor to ceiling wine rack separating the dining area from the lounge make this the sort of place where young locals linger late into the evening savouring locally brewed Mount Begbie beer and eating appetizers like sesame crusted ahi tuna with wasabi aioli and fresh steamed mussels in a garlic, white wine broth.

There is, perhaps, a local singer belting out tunes from the small stage set up in the corner, or maybe just quiet funky music playing and a muted hockey game underway on the flat screen TV above the bar. Outside, huge snowflakes quietly drift down carpeting the town in a soft, white blanket.

While the menu has been spruced up also, certainly, the old classics will never die. Escargot and crab stuffed mushrooms are served up alongside the new ahi tuna putanesca and the mouth-watering, man-sized 16 ounce bone-in ribeye steak.
 
As the winds of change blow through Revelstoke, the 112 Restaurant and Lounge at the Regent Inn has raised the bar for service and luxury in the mountains.