Chef Bernard's has been written up in a couple of guidebooks as a quirky sight that makes the town a destination. True to form, I drove 40km OUT of my way to Kimberley just to eat here, and ended up staying in the town for 2 days. It has been voted one of the top 20 restaurants in the Pacific Northwest for nearly a decade, and received 2 Academy Awards from the American of Restaurants and Hospitality Services in 1995.
The awards are justified. The place is pretty amazing. The menu is extensive, and while it offers all the traditional German foods, there is a bizarre addition of Thai, and then some traditional pan-European delights. The night we were there, he was featuring a roast suckling pig for $24.99CAD. A bit too expensive for my hostel pocketbook, but a STEAL compared to urban-US prices for such a meal at such a restaurant.
Schnitzels and pasta dishes are priced around $20CAD, but do not come with all the superfluous courses that The Mozart House, two doors down, offers gratis. You must pay for these things at Chef Bernard’s, which is the only fault I can hold to the place.
Dining is right on the Platzl sidewalk directly opposite the "World's Largest Cuckoo Clock," or on their covered deck, or inside the quirky dining room which has model trains running around the walls. Funky and fun.
They recommend reservations here. On an August Thursday evening, I could have chosen a table wherever I liked. But don't count on that at Christmastime.
This is a restaurant that offers the kind of dining experience that you WILL talk about for a decade. The food is great, the atmosphere is kooky, and the service is a notch above their competitors. Try it!