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.

BOTTOM LINE: An elevated snack bar with all-day service!…read more Located just outside the main strip in Bala is this rustic chic spot that doubles as a casual (take-out) cafe and fancy dining spot. This review is for the cafe/breakfast part, and I'll need to come back for dinner one day. Reservations are for dinner only. First of all, the menu is EXTENSIVE, which was pleasantly surprising given how compact the indoor appeared to be (unless there's a backroom I missed!). From various pastries, brunch specials, salads, hearty sandwiches, and pizzas, everything looked looked pretty fresh and hearty. There's also a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks The SMOKED BRISKET GRILLED CHEESE AU JUS definitely hit the spot with rich slices of brisket, chewy gruyere cheese, and a tasty dipping just. The JERUSALEM SPICED CHICKEN SCHNITZEL SAMMIE lightly battered crispy chicken that was more like a chicken tender than a traditional schnitzel, but it was more ergonomic that way in sammie form. Their pickled toppings gave it a good balance of flavours. That said, from a presentation/portion/value perspective, both plates looked barren with just the sammies, and I think throwing even a pinch of some greens on the side would really complete things. Overall, a great spot to come by if you're in the area!

The backyard patio is the draw - along Bala bay, with amazing views on what has been amazing long…read moreweekend weather. There are people arriving and leaving on boats docking directly at the patio; giving a very different vibe to most patios in Ontario. There is a great hot and cold cafe menu, a well stocked bar, and a good selection of sandwiches. It is a bit on the pricier side; but the backyard patio is worth the extra couple of bucks. Food is brought to the table - a nice touch! This is also a tourist store with a good variety of homewares and local pottery and crafts.

Cant go wrong with the Ambiance, eat your sandwich with their smoothie on the deck by the sun. Jack…read moreand stella is the pinnacle of summer patio vibe Must visit while you're in Bala

Excellent espresso based drinks, teas, sandwiches, etc. in the front. A cheese counter too! Go…read morethrough the door to the back and you enter a whole world of antiques, collectables and artwork. A real gem for Gravenhurst!

Very cute and quaint eatery in Port Carling, Muskoka Lakes Canada…read more The area of Port Carling is something straight out of a magical movie. Perfect lake community with beautiful buildings and surroundings. We stopped here for a coffee before heading to our cottage on the lake for the weekend. This shop is very clean and inviting. Great menu of items including breakfast and lunch. They also offer specialty drinks, cookies and much more. I really loved the relaxing feel and the decor which seemed to be made locally & for sale. Great little spot to check out.

Small cafe on the main street of Port Carling, offering a variety of sandwiches and coffee (hot…read moreand cold). The service is quick, and food is good - we had the breakfast sandwiches, which were filling and tasty. Not a lot of seating though.

Every time I'm visiting Midland Ontario I always get a treat from Grounded Coffee! This time I got…read moretheir delicious ginger molasses cookie! So yummy! Service is always friendly and store ambiance is always warm and bright with places to sit and enjoy their baked goods or coffee. Highly recommend!

This was a great local coffee shop. They offer more than just coffee here. There's a space to sit…read morein the shop and also a small space for children to play. There was quite a line when we arrived, but service was moving well. We ordered drinks and a pastry. There were options for juices/smoothies, and then the coffee/tea selections with different choices for flavourings. They use local milk which is nice. I had myself a mocha and enjoyed it. This cafe is a good stop if you're in Midland and walking around town!

The bonbons are a work of art I got the six piece 2 hazelnut 2 vanilla 2 pure milk. 10/10. The…read morestaff was friendly and knowledgeable. And I can't even describe the decadent, silky texture and rich chocolate taste of the Belgian brownie. My mouth felt guilty from being pampered. It was not made with powder. The brownie was made with melted chocolate, and you could taste it.

From the owner: We make handcrafted chocolate onsite using the finest European chocolate. read more

Great service, great ambiance, nice and quite, plenty of seats inside and a few outside, very clean…read moreand great decorations. We ordered double espresso and latte, unfortunately not my kind of espresso, roasted too dark and off the balance of a great espresso, left charcoal like after taste. I personally prefer a balanced light roast to get the narrow sweet spot between acidity and bitterness. Plus, darker roast has less caffeine, and I like more

Very interesting decor. The Rueben would sell in NY that's how good. The frozen cappuccino was…read moreawesome