Around the World Dining in the Great Canadian Wilderness
Hankering for some ethnic cuisine during your stay in Ontario’s cottage country? There are plenty of traditional food options to delight your senses – not just the taste buds.
Japanese
Wabora Japanese Fusion Steakhouse in Bracebridge, Muskoka serves Korean as well, but the Japanese dishes are in abundance, including sushi, teriyaki, bento boxes and udon. This popular establishment also offers workshops on how to make sushi. (video).
Sushi is artfully prepared by Sushi Chef Joanne You at Windermere House in Muskoka. Available from the elegant, casual atmosphere of their dining room, these Japanese dishes feature fresh, seasonal ingredients crafted with unique preparation techniques (open seasonally).
Italian
That Little Place by the Lights, also in Huntsville, lays out an Italian spread in a more contemporary café-like downtown venue. It’s home-style Italian cooking at its best – that’s why The Food Network has visited!
At the JW Marriott The Rosseau, Muskoka Resort you’ll find Teca, which offers “simply Italian” cuisine and an extensive selection of Old World wines.
Maurizio’s in Parry Sound draws from two-century-old recipes for its Italian fare, and offers a wide selection of traditional dishes.
*Please note: as of July 27, 2018 Maurizio’s is on the move! Keep your eyes on their website for an announcement of their new location in Parry Sound. Just can’t wait? Head to Glenn Burney Lodge on Sunday’s from 4pm-close for Maurizio’s pie on the patio. For details click here.
German & Austrian
Swiss Country House at the Ahmic Lake Resort in the Almaguin Highlands is a popular ‘hotspot’ for those who love schnitzel, strudel, potatoes Roesti, and more. (A beautiful view of the lake as well.)
Steirerhut Restaurant & Schnitzel House in Sundridge (also in the Almaguin Highlands) delights diners with an array of traditional Austrian food, and offers a great selection of German and Austrian beers and wines.
Thai
Enjoy the spicy and sweet tastes of Thai food in Bracebridge at The Thai Restaurant. Let them guide you through their wide array of dishes on the menu, including their signature creations. Looking for your Thai to go? Check out The Thai Hut in Huntsville, a unique food truck experience with a menu full of authentic dishes to tempt your taste buds.
Chinese
Looking for great Chinese food? Consider The King’s Buffet or The China House both located in Huntsville, and the popular The New Haven in Bracebridge.
Also in Bracebridge is the Hong Kong Buffet, which features the largest buffet selection in Muskoka, combining Chinese and Japanese cuisines. While in Muskoka you can also try the Rickshaw Restaurant in Gravenhurst.
Moving north a bit to Almaguin Highlands, a visit to Ha’s Restaurant in Sundridge to meet Chef Nghe (Guy) Tran – winner of Chopped Canada – is a must-do culinary experience. Featuring Chef Tran’s dishes that are always fresh and made from scratch. Be sure to ask for a bowl of Chef’s winning Apple Canh Chua soup! As of 2018, Ha’s Restaurant is exclusively takeout. Give them a call with your order from the menu and they’ll prepare it fresh for you to pick up.
While in Parry Sound, visit JJ’s Garden in the downtown core, as well as Boston Cafe, a family business since 1963 that offers a daily dinner buffet.
Mexican
El Pueblito, formerly One Fifty Five, serves up freshly prepared Mexican food in a warm environment in the heart of downtown Bracebridge. Try a delicious empanada served in handmade corn tortillas or authentic soft tacos filled with your choice of carnitas, slow braised beef cheek, slow roasted pulled chicken, or a vegetarian option if you’d prefer.
Pack your appetite when you head to Ontario’s cottage country and visit one of the many fine ethnic restaurants here. To plan your getaway, click here.
Guest Blogger: Karen Wehrstein
A resident of Muskoka, Karen Wehrstein is a freelance writer and published novelist whose work has appeared in the National Post, Montreal Gazette, as well as Muskoka Magazine, What’s Up Muskoka and other regional publications. She lives on thirty acres of beautiful forest near Lake of Bays.
