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A meal at this breathtaking hexagonal restaurant in the heart of Algonquin Provincial Park is the highlight of many visits. A view of the lake is a great accompaniment to the food, as is the towering stone fireplace in the center of the log-walled dining room. Menus change daily, but you can expect hearty Canadian dishes with local and seasonal ingredients. Bring your own wine for no corkage fee.
Algonquin Provincial Park West Entrance, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, P1H 2G5, Canada
Known For
- Children's menus and babysitting service
- Limited seating for non-resort guests
- Weekend lunch buffet
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed mid-Oct.–late May, Reservations essential
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A husband-and-wife team, both Stratford Chefs School grads, operates this small culinary gem. The chalkboard menu changes daily, and nearly everything on it is locally sourced. Two- or three-course prix-fixe dinners have French, Italian, and Asian influences. The other dining options are shared tapas-style "food flights" with a choice of four to six dishes to share among couples; roast Muscovy duck with mushrooms, beluga lentils, and carrot puree may be an option for your main course. The global dim sum Sunday brunch, with Asian small plate delicacies such as Korean braised beef cheek buns and spicy Chinese omelets, is a must-try.
74 Wellington St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2, Canada
Known For
- Desserts like ricotta cheesecake with sea buckthorn sauce and orange sorbet
- Farm-to-table cooking at its finest
- Caters to dietary restrictions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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The dozen or so petite tables are set with blue-willow-pattern china in this quaint restaurant serving traditional English fare on the Muskoka Wharf. High tea—a three-tier platter of shortbread, scones with Devonshire cream, and savory finger sandwiches, plus a pot of tea per person—is served every afternoon.
900 Bay St., Gravenhurst, Ontario, P1P 1Z9, Canada
Known For
- Quaint waterfront views
- Rotating seasonal high tea menus
- Gift shop selling a variety of 27 loose leaf teas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner., recommended
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The best ingredients prepared simply and served in generous portions are what make this off-the-beaten-path restaurant such a find. A free shuttle service from Niagara Falls hotels whisks guests to this labor of love, owned and operated by the Mollica family. Modern Amalfi Coast–inspired decor brings a seaside terrace indoors, and it feels miles, not 10 minutes, away from the city's tourist attractions.
3518 Portage Rd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2J 2K4, Canada
Known For
- Extreme popularity with local diners
- Wine cellar with more than 300 options
- Relaxed dining experience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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The huge windows framing the Twenty Valley conservation area are reason enough to dine at this restaurant, regarded as one of the best around Toronto, on Jordan's boutique-lined Main Street. Regional specialties and local and organic produce are emphasized on a seasonal menu that has included Wellington County boneless rib-eye steak served with mushroom-and-onion fricassee and blue cheese butter. The dining room, reminiscent of the French and Italian countryside, is lovely, with a soaring ceiling, whitewashed beams, and a view of the gardens. Cave Spring Cellars, which has a shop next door, provides many of the wines.
3836 Main St., Jordan, Ontario, L0R 1S0, Canada
Known For
- Special menus that highlight local produce
- Unbeatable views of the countryside
- Québec foie gras on brioche
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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In an elevated French bistro setting, Mercer Kitchen engages chefs who have no interest in doing anything that's been done before. Wash down the innovative pan-Asian cuisine---think crispy arctic char with a sweet and spicy papaya salad---with a pint from one of a dozen rotating local craft beer taps. The kitchen welcomes post-theater snackers with a tasty late-night menu. Offerings change every few months, so expect something new every visit.
104--108 Ontario St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 3H2, Canada
Known For
- Rotating selection of steamed bao
- Delicious smoked meat yaki soba noodles
- Locally sourced ingredients, all dishes made from scratch
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Frequently cited as the best restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake—an impressive feat in a town with so many excellent restaurants—Peller Estates manages refinement without arrogance. The stately colonial revival dining room is anchored by a huge fireplace at one end and has windows running the length of the room overlooking a large patio and the estate vineyards. A menu of ever-changing expertly prepared entrées often weaves the Peller Estates wine into modern Canadian cuisine.
290 John St. E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada
Known For
- Farm-to-table cooking with locally sourced ingredients
- Seasonal game entrées
- Gorgeous views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Exquisite progressive Canadian food and venerable wines are served by an enthusiastic staff on this bucolic property with three 19th-century Mennonite stone buildings. Sit on the large outdoor patio overlooking vineyards and Lake Ontario beyond or in the glassed-in restaurant, where many of the tables have a similar panoramic view. The menu is locally sourced and seasonal: think venison haunch with heirloom beets, torchon, smoked cauliflower purée, and blackberry reduction. Desserts, like spiced pumpkin cheesecake served with mascarpone gelato, are the perfect demonstration of simplicity and innovation.
3620 Moyer Rd., Vineland, Ontario, L0R 2C0, Canada
Known For
- Desserts are the perfect demonstration of simplicity and innovation
- Daily five-course table d'hote menu shows off local dishes
- Artisanal charcuterie and cheese platters
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
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This brainchild of chef-owner Stephen Treadwell (formerly of the prestigious Auberge du Pommier), his chef de cuisine Matthew Payne, and his son, wine sommelier James Treadwell, Treadwell embodies the farm-to-table philosophy. Sit down for dinner on the sidewalk patio or in the sleek dining room and indulge in some of the best that southern Ontario has to offer.
114 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada
Known For
- Lobster club sandwich rules the brunch menu
- Prestigious Ontario-focused wine list
- Bread from nearby Treadwell Bakery
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Niagara-on-the-Lake's first winery restaurant is still one of its best. After a complimentary winery tour and tasting, you can indulge in the spacious, light-filled dining room with big double doors framing vineyards almost as far as the eye can see. The menu of locally inspired cuisine changes every six weeks. Tasting menus are available to try such culinary masterpieces as wild Pacific halibut with local asparagus and morels.
1249 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 2J0, Canada
Known For
- Excellent seasonal dinner selections
- The bar has its own tasting menu
- Farm-to-table cooking
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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The best fine-dining-with-a-view in town, 21 Club plays up its casino locale without being kitschy. The high-ceiling modern space is inspired by roulette, in a profusion of red, black, and gold, and juxtaposes the traditional steak-house menu. More secluded seating areas wind around the perimeter next to huge windows overlooking the falls, on a raised, illuminated floor on a patio. Because 21 Club is only accessible via the casino floor, all diners must be at least 19.
6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 7X5, Canada
Known For
- Steak options spanning the continents
- Extensive wine list with more than 700 options
- On-site sommeliers who know their stuff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential
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In the original 1917 lodge building, this small lakeside pine dining room offers an ever-changing prix-fixe menu of contemporary Canadian cuisine, which might kick off with fennel and mustard-rubbed pork belly and move on to pistachio and cherry-crusted Australian rack of lamb or the house specialty, beef tenderloin. Fish and vegetarian options, such as sweet-potato gnocchi with shaved Gruyère, are always available. Desserts, included with the meal, always include some variation of crème brûlée (perhaps a chocolate-chili version), and homemade pie.
Boat from Algonquin Provincial Park Cache Lake Landing, Huntsville, Ontario, P1H 2G8, Canada
Known For
- Bring your own wine
- Four-course prix-fixe dinners
- Complimentary water taxi pickup
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed late Oct.–mid-May. No lunch, Reservations essential
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The well-stocked bar at this casual pub with booth and patio seating divides the room into two equal halves, with the locals converging on the east side. The pub fare includes quintessentials such as fish-and-chips, grilled steak and fries, burgers, and finger food. Salads, pasta, and sandwiches are also available.
99 Ontario St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 3H1, Canada
Known For
- Roast prime rib draws a crowd on Friday
- Easygoing staff and clientele
- 20 beers on tap
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Consistent with the aesthetics of Taboo Resort, the Boathouse offers luxurious and contemporary international cuisine in a subdued dining room with sleek furnishings, hardwood floors, and a wall of lakefront windows. The kitchen has oriented the menu to appeal to a health-conscious crowd.
1209 Muskoka Beach Rd., Gravenhurst, Ontario, P1P 1R1, Canada
Known For
- Waterfront barbecues with roast pork and lamb
- Lovely views of the water
- Fresh seafood dishes
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You can't always please everyone but Brch & Wyn does a solid job of catering to both the strong-coffee-and-brunch crowd and the theatergoers looking to prolong an intimate evening. The mood of the converted industrial space is airy with exposed brick and beam, contrasted by tropical garden wall coverings and plush couches and bar tables.
245 Downie St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 1X5, Canada
Known For
- Charcuterie and artisan cheese boards
- Hearty grilled "toastie" sandwiches
- Highly curated wine and beer list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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A five-minute drive from Clifton Hill, this local joint manages to be both casual and refined. Sit in the back room where exposed-brick columns and black-and-white photos of Naples on the walls set the scene for the southern Italian pasta dishes and thin-crust pizzas. The extensive menu includes 10 pizzas with wafer-thin crusts and generous dollops of tomato sauce, and plenty of pasta dishes and hearty meat dishes to choose from.
5485 Ferry St., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 1S3, Canada
Known For
- Family-operated establishment that's a local favorite
- Extensive Italian and Niagara-region wine selection
- Heavenly affogato
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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You can request a Yorkshire pudding to accompany any meal at this tavern just off Queen Street, which should tip you off to its British leanings, played out further in the decor: a warren of rooms with creaky floors and well-used wooden tables and chairs, low ceilings and exposed beams, and convivial chatter throughout. Ontario's oldest operating inn sets out pub fare such as shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, and steak-and-kidney pie. Entrées change periodically but always include the house specialty, prime rib of beef au jus.
224 Regent St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada
Known For
- 24 domestic and imported brews on tap
- Operation since 1789
- Live music many evenings
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Located where several important streets come together, Pazzo Taverna and Pizzeria is home to one of the city's best and most convivial Italian restaurants. Have a drink and people-watch at the bar or on the patio. The kitchen creates hearty regional Italian mains—like chicken scaloppine with mushrooms, balsamic braised shallots, and wild arugula—that make good use of locally sourced produce, meat, and sustainable fish. It's a popular meeting place after a play, the decor is soothing and modern, and the service is quick and friendly.
70 Ontario St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 3H2, Canada
Known For
- Locals flock to the downstairs pizzeria
- Lasagna with lobster, shrimp, and crab
- Streetside seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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Inside a former refectory building dating from 1904, this gracious second-floor restaurant has a huge veranda overlooking the falls across Niagara Parkway. The kitchen is run by celebrated chef Sydney Krick, whose menu reflects high-quality contemporary cuisine like burgers with melted goat cheese, porcini-crusted lamb chops, and maple-brined pork chops.
6345 Niagara Pkwy., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 6X8, Canada
Known For
- Books up in advance for seating on the veranda
- Focus on locally sourced artisanal ingredients
- Smart wine and beer pairings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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Reimagined French classics like steak frites with root vegetables are hearty productions created with local ingredients. Constructed in 1873 as a congregational church, the building has most of the original architecture in place, but today snowy white table linens gleam in the afternoon light that pours through the stained-glass windows. The upstairs Belfry Bar (an actual belfry) is one of the most unique places you'll ever dine on brunch creations.
70 Brunswick St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 6V6, Canada
Known For
- Lively summertime patio
- French comfort food
- Fantastic Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Church closed Mon.--Wed. and Jan.–Mar. Belfry closed Sun.--Mon. and Jan.–Mar., Reservations essential
