5 Road-Trip-Worthy Restaurants Outside of Toronto
Enjoying seasonal harvests.
Fall is prime road-tripping season, as we relish the last sunny, warm weather before hunkering down for winter. While the leaves change colours and exploring a new destination are reasons enough to get behind the wheel, venturing out for great food adds a delicious twist to the journey. Plus, with harvest season in full swing across the northern hemisphere, there’s an abundance of fresh, seasonal fare to enjoy. Expand your tastes and horizons by driving to one of these Ontario restaurants, where the exceptional cuisine is well worth the extra kilometres.
The Restaurant at The Bruce Hotel, Stratford
The Restaurant at The Bruce Hotel offers all the charm of an old-school fine dining experience minus the stuffiness. Executive chef Jacob LeBlanc previously worked in some of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Ontario, including Toronto’s Canoe, and brings the same emphasis on homegrown ingredients to The Bruce. The à la carte menu spotlights local products like McIntosh Farm dry-aged duck and Pfennings Organic Farm greens. Additionally, the restaurant frequently hosts themed dinners that further celebrate the region’s bounty. If you stay the night at the hotel, you can also take advantage of its 24-hour hotline for freshly baked cookies.
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The Smokin’ Birds, Bala
When it comes to road trips, a stop at a stellar roadside stand is a must. Chefs Jennifer Dewasha and Jane MacDonald channelled their experience at high-end Toronto restaurants such as Café Boulud and Sofia into this low-key smokehouse in Muskoka. There, barbecue classics brisket and pulled pork are slow-cooked over hardwood and served with sides like fries cooked in brisket fat or punchy pineapple coleslaw. Enjoy your meal at one of the colourful picnic tables while soaking up the last days of summer sunshine or take it on the go as an in-car feast that’s worth every bit of potential mess.
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The Gate, Flesherton
Housed in a handsome, 150-year-old building with exposed-brick walls, The Gate exudes the coziness of a beloved neighbourhood spot. With former Langdon Hall chefs Jonathan Gushue and Philippe De Montbrun at the helm, however, the cooking could go toe-to-toe with any of Canada’s best kitchens. Grey County farms provide the lion’s share of the ingredients for a loosely Mediterranean menu of dishes like lamb shoulder with charred tomatoes and fettuccine with sprouting broccoli purée. Beautiful plating plus top-notch wine pairings by sommelier Mathilde Coquin, who trained at several Michelin-starred restaurants in France, complete the experience.
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Darlings, Bloomfield
This effortlessly cool spot is the brainchild of Jesse Fader, former co-owner of Toronto’s Superpoint and Paris Paris. Set in a ranch house with views of the surrounding farmland, Darlings’ wood-panelled bar and a soundtrack of throwback tunes give it a homey, nostalgic ambience. The relaxed vibe is an easy match for its Italian American comfort food menu and a hip wine list that highlights local gems and other favourites in the natural wine spectrum. From fresh-made stracciatella swimming in olive oil to wood-charred pizzas cooked in a limestone oven, every dish at Darlings is unfussy yet expertly executed.
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Cambridge Mill
Big views meet big flavours at Cambridge Mill, set in a 19th-century mill overlooking the rushing waters of the Grand River. Seasonal ingredients shine in the restaurant’s contemporary Canadian menu, with mains ranging from ricotta agnolotti with confit mushrooms to grilled pork with roasted peaches. The Heron Hour menu, the restaurant’s answer to happy hour, offers the chance to snag a good deal while sampling rotating monthly menu items. Cambridge Mill also goes all out for weekend brunch with sprawling hot and cold buffets that include a carving station, a seafood bar, and bottomless mimosas and caesars.
