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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 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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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
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Stock up on hoppy brews fresh from the source when visiting Sawdust City, which owes its name to the former local logging trade. There's a full kitchen on-site serving hearty gastropub fare like cheesy truffled burgers and duck wings, with regular live music scheduling.
397 Muskoka Rd. N, Gravenhurst, Ontario, P1P 1G3, Canada
Known For
- Beer flight samplings
- Eight rotating taps
- Inside bar, patio, and kitchen areas with separate menus
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The big draw here is the revolving 360-degree view perched 520 feet above the Horseshoe Falls---it's simply breathtaking. The atmosphere puts it above those serving similar cuisine in the area, drawing an eclectic crowd of couples in cocktail attire and families in casual clothes. The menu revolves as well; prime rib with horseradish sauce and chicken cordon bleu have made appearances. Reservations include free admission to the observation deck.
5200 Robinson St., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 2A2, Canada
Known For
- Best spot for seasonal firework shows
- Revolving selection of special dishes
- Award-winning cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–Apr., Reservations essential
View Tours and Activities
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White tablecloth service and an up-close-and-personal view of the rushing Horseshoe Falls rapids amount to a stunning dining experience. Prix-fixe dinners are recommended to take advantage of the hearty menu.
6650 Niagara Pkwy., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 0L0, Canada
Known For
- Crème brûlée with Wayne Gretzky cream whiskey
- The closest possible dining experience to the falls
- Fogo Island shrimp ciabatta sandwich
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This local favorite with an Asian-fusion angle offers fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a minimalist and modern dining room. The alley patio, partially covered against the elements, is a reliable spot for wholesome creations like a refreshing cold soba noodle bowl loaded with shrimp from Fogo Island. The establishment is also a microbrewery, offering seasonal, small-batch suds on-site.
34 Brunswick St., Stratford, Ontario, N5A 3L8, Canada
Known For
- Omakase food boards for sharing
- Giant homemade steamed bao (stuffed Asian buns)
- Tucked-away terrace filled with greenery
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Tues.