I never ever usually give 5 stars ever but after my wonderful dinner at Lakeside last night its…read morereally my only choice. We were invited there by our friend Dorothy and her husband Gord. She is a local Realtor whom we done business with for years. My brother and his wife arrived first and was a bit early and the owner greeted them warmly and as he knew there were 3more of us coming without even being asked he asked a gentleman to move over one seat and brought over a couple of others stools so by the time I arrived I had a great seat at the bar waiting for me. Now for the Bar Tender....once again she was exceedingly warm and friendly and was delighted to tell us about the house drinks. I decided to ask it they had Margueritas as they weren't on the drink menu. She then carefully went over the different types of Tequila I could choose from which included Patron my personal favourite. She then created the best Margarita Ive ever had. My brother and his wife had Gin and Tonics created with the same care and flair as were the Virgin Ceasars ordered by our friends. We then were moved to our table and were warmly welcomed by our charming Kiwi waitress who had a wonderful sense of humour and provided terrific attentive service throughout our meal. Now for the food...I chose the Mulligatawny soup which was delicious and the Prime Rib which came with roast potatoes perfect Yorkshire pudding and a medley of beautifully cooked fresh vegetables which even included parsnips which as a transplanted Brit I thought was a creative touch... even the red wine gravy was spot on. My sister in law had The Blackened Mahi Mahi out friends both had the chicken supreme and my brother the seafood casserole. Each of these dishes was prepared with great care were creatively garnished and had generous portions... none of those tiny haute cuisine portions here.... We left stuffed but not before sampling their creme brulet which was also perfect. While outside after dinner I encountered the kitchen staff and they were equally friendly and interesting and we shared our passion for great food. Both my brother and I share a passion for great food and are no strangers to the kitchen. When guests come to our family cottage they are always delighted with our fare but once in awhile its nice to get away and let someone else do the work. Often Im disappointed when my dinner arrives has skimpy portions and I sit there thinking I could have made it better myself... theres none of that here! At the end of the day it comes down from the top as wise owners appreciate their staff and while setting high standards ensure that each staff member is treated fairly and with respect. It was apparent that each of the staff we met were happy to work there in this warm collegial environment. The final touch was that as I couldn't eat all my main course I asked our server if I could take it to go. Rather than simply drop a takeout container on the table she took it in the back packaged it up and returned it as we were leaving... we were sent off with the same warmth as when we were greeted and left feeling we had made some new friends... we can't wait to go back!....Crisco

We had a large party there and it was such a nice location. Unfortunately because there were 14 of…read moreus they made us order a head of time, which I understand stand but still was a little annoying. The cocktails and all the mains were really good. The view is stunning. I would not suggest getting the creme brûlée as it was not the greatest.

Annie's opened in Bala two years ago, and we were excited because there's definitely a lack of…read morerestaurants in town. We had hoped we'd hit upon a good restaurant for breakfast, especially. But we were pretty disappointed in Annie's the two times we gave it a try this summer. To begin with, the atmosphere definitely warrants the two-star "meh." Bare walls, bare tables, a standard kitchen that opens onto the tiny, 8-table restaurant. The service is pretty lacking as well. One morning our server was grumpy and dismissive. Another morning with five people, our meals came out...well, piecemeal. A plate here, and plate there, and then a 10 minute wait on fellow diner's side order of French toast...which resembled Wonderbread. The food is okay. The first occasion I ordered an omelet and was horrified when it came out barely cooked, one of my culinary phobias. Cutting into it, the insides ran out. Husband said it was my fault for not asking for the omelet well-done; I say there aren't many people who enjoy a runny omelet as a standard. The next time we were in, I avoided the omelet and tried a grilled cheese with tomato. The server mocked me for ordering a grilled cheese for breakfast. Really? Unfortunately, when the sandwich arrived the bread wasn't toasted and the cheese wasn't melted. The saving grace of Annie's is the home fries. They are obviously homemade from fresh potato and really well cooked.

It's too bad the other review for Annie's isn't great...I've had 2 opposite experiences - both…read morepleasant! That being said, I've only had breakfast there (and know they have a strict "switch to lunch" policy before noon hits..) Anyway, food and service are generally served warm, and the quality is excellent for an equally excellent price. No complaints here (yet)! TRY THEIR SAUSAGE. A mild kick to it, but absolutely to die for. Also, home fries, home fries, home fries. The highlight of the meal! Stay tuned for a lunch review...

Again, was not disappointed! Stopped by for lunch with a friend. Ordered the same chicken club on…read moreGF bread since it was so good last time. This time I also tried a salad on the side that was like a vinaigrette slaw made from mainly cauliflower - it was delicious and flavourful. My friend got the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and said it was excellent! We were able to eat outside which was so nice. We both agreed, we'll be back next time we're in the neighbour.

Cottage Cravings only recently came to Bala after a fire at their original Gravenhurst location…read more last year left them looking for a new space. But I'm so glad they landed in our tiny, sleepy town: CC is about as close as it gets to a one-stop shop here. There aren't a lot of places where you can grab a coffee and sandwich, pick up cheese and charcuterie to take home, or grab wall art or dish towels for the cottage. I appreciate that the products here are so thoughtfully selected as well. Cottage decor can teeter on kitschy, but the selection at CC -- technicolor enameled outdoor dining sets, lake-themed hooked rugs, craftsman birdhouses -- is tasteful as well as fun. Popsicle makers and painted martini glasses give ideas. Food from local vendors means you don't have to wait for next week's farmers market to pick up those jams or condiments. And a bounty of healthful dining options from veggie paninis to fresh soups make a quick, delicious lunch. CC definitely makes a great addition to our little hamlet.

There are several Oliver's Coffee in Muskoka Lakes area. We ended up coming to this location since…read morewe had a pit stop in Bala. The Oliver's Coffee was pretty busy when we arrived around 2 pm. The store itself was deep and narrow. Most people having their coffee to go! I too don't want to stay in packed coffee shop when the weather was nice and sunny. Coffee was ok. I do like they have some Espresso based drinks. Right next to a laundromat, they do get a lot of customers coming in for a coffee while their clothes being wash/dry.

we were ordering a muffin and a coffee but a black coffee and they did order perfectly and it was…read morereally good. I really loved it and I devoured it. It was so good that my dad drank the coffee. Because it was really good and who doesn't like a cottage snack on the way there or back.

Fish and chips were great. Hot out of the fire. Beautiful weather to sit outside and enjoy.read more

Nice service. Good portions. The veal sandwich was good. The large poutine was enough to share…read more Good for take out.

Amazing coffee amazing food amazing staff would highly recommend definitely would go backread more

Visited from NYC last week and had a butter tart and carrot cake -- both delicious. The staff is…read moresuper kind and welcoming. Had a sandwich as well and it was delicious!!

Just in town from Florida .. the best breakfast I've ever had and the coffee was very good…read more Waitress & hostess staff were very kind and cordial. I'm here to 2 months and MEK will be my home away from home!!

Absolutely disgusting customer service. We will never return, and I would recommend others look…read moreelsewhere. The restaurant took our name and phone number and told us the wait would be approximately 30 minutes. We returned after waiting 40 minutes only to be told their system wasn't working and they were no longer seating customers. The problem isn't that their system failed--things happen. The problem is that they already had our name and phone number and made absolutely no effort to contact us. If we hadn't walked back to ask, we would have continued waiting indefinitely for a table that was never coming. We even offered to pay with cash, but they still refused to seat us, despite having put us on the wait list 40 minutes earlier. They simply dismissed us. This showed a complete lack of respect for their customers and our time. A simple phone call or someone stepping outside to notify the people waiting would have taken only a few minutes. Instead, they chose to leave customers standing around with no communication whatsoever. There are plenty of restaurants in Collingwood that value their customers' time. Based on this experience, this isn't one of them.

We liked this place so much we returned the following day…read more The first visit I had a quite good iced chocolate chai. (I'm always excited to find chocolate chai.) The berry scone was amazing as well. I wished the tea place we went to the day before in Gravenhurst (Blue Willow Tea Shop) made their scones as good as this. Farmer's Daughter's scones were sweet and didn't need jam. The chocolate chip cookies were fantastic as well. I liked the husband's edamame avocado bean salad. The son got a pasta combo for $18.99. I really liked his mac and cheese; the pasta salad was fine. I wasn't a fan of his peanut butter chocolate chip cookie (too much pb, not enough choc) The daughter really liked her potatoes dauphinois. Her side of roasted cauliflower, mushrooms, and broccoli were fine, but the pierogies were exceptional. This place drains your wallet little by little. I suggested it because I thought it would make sense to have a cheaper lunch but I'm not sure it was. Especially by the time we got dessert. (But it was worth it!) The next day the husband and I had the lentil wrap - he ordered it the first day and was a fan. It was kind of like Amy's brand of samosas but better and fresh. It definitely grows on you. The daughter was not as into her chicken with cornflake breading. The son got the lasagna but thought the previous day's mac n cheese was better.

Lovely little gourmet grocery store and cafe. We picked up a few very tasty homemade rice krispy…read moretreats, a delicious coffee, and some homemade strawberry plum jam. Service was friendly. If they stayed open a little later they could get a lot more service. I walked in 5 minutes before closing and they locked the door behind me. My husband said 6 or 7 people walked up and were turned away in the 10 minutes I was in. Sandwiches looked good, I wish I could spend more time. Lovely baskets and plants as well.

This was our first visit to the Waubic and let me tell you it didn't disappoint! We traveled up the…read morebig chute to get there and that was quite an experience and then took I nice ride to arrive. There was plenty of parking and make sure you say hi to Jenny and George! The fish and chips are a definite must! Make sure you enjoy it with a Waubic Ale! This will be a must for every vacation stay. If you don't own a boat, make friends with someone who does or you will have a difficult time getting there :)

Very friendly atmosphere. Welcoming staff, great food. Must be experienced!read more

Great service! Had the smash Burger with Fries, it was delicious. Love that they make their own…read morebread and have great variety of baked goods.

From the owner: Welcome to our cozy pizza and wings joint! At our place, we're not just about great food; we're…read moreabout creating unforgettable experiences. Dive into our mouthwatering pizzas and finger-licking wings, but that's just the beginning. Our menu also boasts delicious burgers and fries, and don't forget to save room for our heavenly homemade desserts, including pies, cookies, and tarts. Plus, take the comfort of our kitchen home with freshly baked loaves of bread. We're not just a restaurant; we're a destination where every bite tells a story. Come hungry, leave happy!