- Story by Joseph Blake Photography by Don Denton

Every month for the last few years when my old kayak partner comes down from his Cobble Hill farm for a visit, we害羞草研究所檝e eaten lunch at dozens of local bistros. We害羞草研究所檝e grazed the food scene and eaten at places when they害羞草研究所檝e just opened their business or expanded, renovated, or changed chefs. I害羞草研究所檝e also written about local restaurants for two decades and these are my five favourite lunch spots in Oak Bay.

Charelli害羞草研究所檚 Cheese Shop & Delicatessen

is one of my favourite places in Oak Bay. I害羞草研究所檇 visit the tiny, overflowing, European-style Charelli害羞草研究所檚 just for the rich, cheese aroma of the shop 害羞草研究所� let alone the great customer service, delicious samples, and mouth-watering sandwiches. Monthly cheese-tasting on Saturday afternoons are linked to the store害羞草研究所檚 Cheese of the Month Club offerings. But it doesn害羞草研究所檛 stop there. Wine tasting events after hours (hosted by sommelier Ernest Sargent) and what staff and regulars call the best breakfast sandwich in town (I agree!) have also been bringing the faithful to Charelli害羞草研究所檚 since 2003.

Some minor expansions mean there害羞草研究所檚 a take-out kitchen serving up soup and sandwiches Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and more delicious sandwiches Tuesday through Thursday served from 10 a.m. until they run out of fresh baguette.

Up to five people work the store害羞草研究所檚 narrow confines and counter on the weekend and they are smart and passionate about food. Cheese, smoked and cured meat, condiments, sauces, specialized hardware, books and even bartending supplies 害羞草研究所� this Foodie find has it all.

Bon Sushi

Both my kayak partner and I love Japanese food, so Bon Sushi is one of our go-to lunch spots in Oak Bay. I almost always choose the sashimi bento with salmon, tuna and other raw fish, dynamite roll, seaweed salad and miso soup. We害羞草研究所檝e also tried Bon Sushi害羞草研究所檚 udon bento with beef or chicken teriyaki, and tempura bento. All are delicious but I always go back to my favourite bento box. The little restaurant害羞草研究所檚 tiny kitchen also turns out excellent Agedashi tofu, various noodle dishes, and an array of delicious, special fusion rolls like the dragon roll, crunch roll and the spicy TNT roll.

Chef Jun Shinn is the son of the owner who bought the restaurant seven years ago. In early spring, Bon Sushi underwent a minor renovation with new, darker gray walls that warm the bright space featuring cool jazz background music. Small tables on the patio overlooking Hampshire Road, Athlone Court and Oak Bay

Windsor Cafe

Jay and Quinn Forsythe renovated and reopened Windsor Cafe a little over a year ago after managing Lemongrass, Jay害羞草研究所檚 family害羞草研究所檚 Cadboro Bay restaurant. The young couple has figured out that the 1934-built space, with Quinn害羞草研究所檚 father害羞草研究所檚 paintings on the wall and big windows looking out on Windsor Park, is best suited as a breakfast-lunch spot. No more dinners. Salvaged, scorched Cedar milled into benches, tables, the bar and signage warm a bright, light trio of rooms on three floors.

I often eat on the patio and I was happy to see prawn scampi and chorizo mussels still on the new, spring-summer menu when I revisited the cafe in April. I look forward to trying a couple of new menu items, including Madeira rigatoni, cavatappi pasta and smoked gruyere cheese. With draft Hoyne Dark Matter, Phillips Blue Buck, mimosas, Caesars and VQA house reds and whites, Windsor Cafe is the perfect place for a drink and a nosh or just a coffee and pastry.

Demitasse Caf茅, Kitchen & Garden Centre

Demitasse Caf茅, Kitchen & Garden Centre is very near my home and just a short walk for a double cappuccino and chocolate croissant. Besides being a welcoming space to grab a morning, custom-roasted coffee and pastry, the Demi is also a hangout for the local, commercial gardening community and the parking surrounding the business is packed with landscapers害羞草研究所� trucks during lunch.

Chefs produce burgers, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and a very creative combination of pizza by the slice to eat in the garden or at a handful of tables inside. Everything is made with locally-sourced produce that害羞草研究所檚 often organic.

The Demitasse Garden Centre wraps around the outside of the building and offers rare and unusual plants and trees, as well as providing home garden design and garden renovation service. It害羞草研究所檚 a truly unique and wonderful Foodie find in Oak Bay.

Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen

Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen is a convivial community hub. Head baker Cam McCaw has been at Ottavio for a decade and he makes the best croissants in town but this hot spot might be most famous for its cheese.

害羞草研究所淥ur focus is cheese,害羞草研究所� says general manager Genevieve LaPlante, listing special events like the 害羞草研究所楾he Big Cheese Cut害羞草研究所�, 害羞草研究所楩esta Italiano害羞草研究所� and last year害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所楽aturday in France害羞草研究所�.

害羞草研究所淚n early fall we害羞草研究所檙e planning a Blue Cheese Festival with samples from some of the 20 kinds of blue cheese we carry.害羞草研究所�

I love Ottavio害羞草研究所檚 Italian-style Illy Coffee, their panini sandwiches, and local-sourced fresh salads and soups. The menu offers a healthy lunch rationale for a dessert cone of Ottavio害羞草研究所檚 in-house, Italian-style gelato made with organic milk and local fruit and berries.

It害羞草研究所檚 also a consistent source for quality products such as Amoliva Olive Oil 害羞草研究所� a premium product masterfully produced on the Tuscan property of a couple from Oak Bay Village are just another plus for this thriving, 28-seat, family-oriented business.