mijols3

I am taking my parents and my husband to NOTL for a long weekend mid-July. Am seeking referrals for two dining locations; both need to offer a variety of dishes (chicken, meat, fish) and am hoping to have choices between upscale and casual (depending on our mood, appetite, etc.) Any suggestions are very much appreciated... thanks in advance. Also, a healthy lunch location would be great.

SF

The restaurant at Queen's Landing is very, very nice. Upscale, many choices, close to the center of town but on the water so the setting is beautiful. My husband and I had a wonderful dinner there last year.

A casual healthy place for lunch is the Epicurian. It's right on the main street across from the Royal George Theater. You go through a line like in a cafeteria but the food is creative and healthy. They have a really pretty outdoor patio too.

HogtownJim

I was down at NOTL to see the play Journey's End at the Shaw Festival
this weekend. Lunched as Peller Estates and tea at Prince of Wales hotel. All in all a very fine day.

I would also recommend taking the wine route back from NOTL to Hamilton and the Lakeshore back to Toronto with a stop at Oakville's marina and take stroll downtown.

As for dinner, I dinned at Peller Estates a while ago - excellent experience.

For Peller estates, see http://www.peller.com/peller/

PLJ

My parents were at Peller Estates for lunch last month and tell me that it was wonderful.

I had a lovely lunch at Hillebrand Estates about a year ago - highly recommended.

www.hillebrand.com/hillebrand/experience.html

mijols3

Thanks very much for the replies... anyone else? I know there are countless spots to select from, which is why I have posted this. We are taking a cooking class at the Strewn -- anyone experince this before?
Thanks again, mij.

travelphile

two years ago we drove to Jordan from NOTL and had dinner at the Inn on the Twenty - or rather at the Restaurant that goes with it. One of the most wonderful meals of all, and we travel quite a bit.

We had lunch at a winery, Hildebrand? Whatever the 'H' one is... it was a fine lunch, but nothing special.

Headed to stay in Vineland this weekend (two hours!) and haven't made any decisions on where we will eat... I'll post when we get back!

mijols3

Great, thanks and look forward to hearing about your experience.

travelphile

I did post a short trip report - but here's where we ate..

Friday night, Luingini's - in a plaza in St. Catherine's. Nothing to write home about, food was good, atmosphere not so good.

Saturday, amazing breakfast at our B&B (Bull Frog Pond Guest House), off to the wineries. Ended up having lunch at 3:30 at Angel's Gate. Beautiful deck, overlooking the valley, lake and Toronto Skyline. We were the last diners seated.

DH has the salmon/rice and loved it. I had a chicken with strawberry balsamic reduction & greens equally wonderful! Shrimp roll with spicey Thai sauce was our app.

Since we had such a late lunch we headed into Jordan and decided on Zooma Zooma for apps/dessert about 8:30. Gargonzola polenta app & roasted red pepper soup and Chocolate/Raspberry tartufo for dessert - all wonderful! However, Zooma Zooma would be ideal for a lunch or drinks, but is too much like a cafe/coffee shop for dinner (IMHO).

We had tried to get into Vineland Estates for apps/dessert, but due to a special event we couldn't get reservations When we visited the winery on Sunday morning we decided it would be a priority if we go in that direction for next year's anniversary trip.

Not much of a 'foodie' trip like the first time we visited, but I have no complaints about any of it. (Angel's Gate is only open for lunch - FYI.) East Dell had the best view that we saw, but is out of the way for dinner, we like to have our vino and not worry about the drive home!

garyt22

Almost all of the winery restaurants offer heathy, upscale, and beautifully presented meals with locally raised produce and regional favorites. Many of the dishes are created for the season using peaches, berries, maple products and what is in season that day.

Our favorites(separated by fanciness scale):

High end: Peller Estates
Strewn
Prince of Wales
Peninsula Ridge
Vineland
On the Twenty

Mid semi casual: Queens Landing(terrace)
Angels Gate
Hildebrand
Pillor and Post

Casual: Old Angel Inn Pub
East Dell
Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar

If I were advising, the best are Peller and On the Twenty for Dinner and Old Angel Inn Pub and Hildebrand for lunch.

Have Fun!

mijols3

Thanks so much -- will let you know our results at the end of the month.

syd

I had a great lunch at Peller last fall. I can't comment on "healthy", but I do remember there being plenty of options. We dressed casually for lunch. I also liked it much better than Hillebrand.

Another place I'd recommend is Ristorante Giardino in the Gate House Hotel. Very good Italian food.

Patrick

My favorite has become Old Angel Pub for really good food and pleasant service in a nice atmosphere. We've tried the Prince of Wales twice, and it is very sad. It tries so hard to be a grand dining experience, but it all ends with the beautiful tables and place settings. I have yet to have anything outstanding to eat, and their servers are so inexperienced and uncomfortable in their jobs the whole thing just comes off as a dismal failure to me.

I agree that lunches at Epicurian are really good.

And I have a total blank on the name of the little house with the outdoor seating that is on the corner nearest the Festival Theatre? Nice lunches outside there too -- rather Italian.