Side Trips from Toronto Restaurants

The dining in Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake is enough to boost a whole other genre of tourism, as there are a number of outstanding restaurants thanks to the area's many chefs being trained at the area's reputable culinary schools, and impeccably fresh ingredients from local farms. Produce, meats, cheeses, beers, and wine are all produced in Ontario, and some restaurants even have their own gardens, vineyards, or farms. In the immediate areas surrounding Niagara Falls, the dining is a little more lackluster, as views, convenience, and glamour take precedence over food, but there are some great pubs and upscale restaurants to be found among the tourist traps. Reservations are always encouraged, if not essential.

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  • 1. Bijou

    $$$

    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
    519-273–5000

    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
  • 2. Blue Willow Tea Shop

    $$$

    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
    705-687–2597

    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
  • 3. Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall

    $$$

    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
    519-271--9202

    Known For

    • Rotating selection of steamed bao
    • Delicious smoked meat yaki soba noodles
    • Locally sourced ingredients, all dishes made from scratch
  • 4. Boathouse Restaurant

    $$$

    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
    866-369--9672

    Known For

    • Waterfront barbecues with roast pork and lamb
    • Lovely views of the water
    • Fresh seafood dishes
  • 5. Pazzo Taverna and Pizzeria

    $$$

    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
    519-273–6666

    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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  • 6. Queen Victoria Place

    $$$

    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
    905-356--2217

    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.
  • 7. Revival House

    $$$

    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
    519-273–3424

    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
  • 8. The Alley

    $$$

    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
    519-271--5645

    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.
  • 9. The Oar

    $$$

    A cut above the rest, The Oar entertains guests with its beautiful pinewood floors and rustic cabin-like interiors. Burgers and steaks can be had but the upscale tavern menu has been known to include specials like quinoa-stuffed portobellos on a layer of avocado chimichurri and pan-fried locally caught pickerel, plated with root veggies and pecans. Expect live music from locals and even an occasional Canadian star like Jim Cuddy. 

    530 Muskoka Rd. N, Gravenhurst, Ontario, P1P 1G3, Canada
    705-687--8618

    Known For

    • Live music on the patio
    • Locally sourced ingredients
    • All-you-can-eat spaghetti nights

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Recommended
  • 10. Zees Grill

    $$$

    For alfresco dining, it's hard to beat Zees Grill for its huge wraparound patio with heat lamps across from the Shaw Festival Theatre. More informal than most similarly priced restaurants in town, its seasonal menu brings panache to homegrown comfort foods such as grilled swordfish with purple potato hash and buttered baby bok choy or beef ribs with shallot, garlic, and fingerling potato hash. Appetizers follow a similarly elegant, yet whimsical, philosophy.

    92 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 2J0, Canada
    905-468–5715

    Known For

    • Brined turkey breast sandwich with cranberry-infused aioli
    • Banana bread French toast
    • One of the best local places for outdoor dining

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Dec.–mid-Apr., Reservations essential

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