I was up in Muskoka and we came here for dinner on a Saturday around 5pm and easily got our choice…read moreof seating but probably best to make a reservation just in case during prime time. I had my initial hesitations thinking it might be some basic pub food. Who knew this restaurant out in Gravenhurst is better than many Toronto restaurants in the city. One of my fav meals in a while. The Oar recently undergone a new concept change to Lamorna. While they still kept the Oar as their name given the familiarity and reputation of the previous restaurant concept, the menu and indoor decor has completely changed with a new chef in the last couple months. The menu is farm to table and it rotates weekly, and I can really taste the difference, which explains the more premium but reasonable price. Note a burger will always be on the menu and we really like their dry age burger, rich and the accompanying (what looks like hand/in-house cut) fries are so delicious, I wouldn't mind ordering more on the side. We also dined at their outdoor patio so our pups could dine with us. They so kindly brought over a water bowl for the dogs too! Towards the end of the meal, chef Ben came out personally to greet us and we can feel the passion and care he puts into his food. We asked about how he came to this restaurant and his inspo for his food and he told us it's from his travels. eg. why the schnitzel is thicker because he enjoys the thick katsu he had from Japan. He told us he recently sold two of his restaurants and decided to head up this restaurant after his travels. The chef actually goes around and sources ingredients directly from the farms and locally. We also appreciated the fresh pasta and thick cut schnitzel. We also absolutely love the eggplant and the croquettes too. Actually everything we had was a highlight and that's rare for me to find all the dishes impressive at a restaurant. Highly recommend order their bread service so you can use the bread to clean up the sauces from the remaining plates, as it's not included by default. I also love the charm of the plates and cutlery. They open a box of different knives you can pick a knife to use all vintage/second-hand and gave the feel that it's from grandma's home. Highly recommend this spot! The attention to detail, quality and personal service makes this spot special.

I can only concur with the comments of a most recent review. What might attract many is the Farm…read moreto Table concept and a talented chef who is committed to his calling. We were more than pleasantly surprised to be offered some sophisticated options for starters and main course that were not menu options. With access to fine dining somewhat limited in Cottage Country we accepted the challenge. The starter was a perfectly cooked fresh Newfoundland scallop served with a delicate rich pesto toasted panko breadcrumb dressing. My main course was a homemade cappelletti pasta with fresh peas sautéed in a delicate sauce.. My companion ate from the menu with the Arctic Char which was slightly on the dry side, likely finished off in the oven, but fine by Gastro Pub standards. The wine selection was uninspiring and low range but relative to the overall dining environment so I went with a pleasant locally brewed beer and my companion an indifferent Ontario Chardonnay. Service was excellent, attentive and friendly. Outside dining was available but likely for more casual diners. Dining inside, for me being the preferred option, but on this occasion did tend to be on the the noisy side but that was down to the patrons. Nothing pretentious here, no doubt credit to the chef and staff . Definitely worth a visit and reservations although likely not 100% essential daytime are recommended for evenings . This place is an oasis in a desert of upscale dining.....worth at least a 25 to 30 km drive! The overall emphasis here is that this place is based and built on team work with the utilization of both local food and staff....it succeeds !

Cliffside Restaurant is located inside the Muskoka Bay Resort. We just finished a round of golf…read morethere and on a Monday, our top choice for restaurant was closed so we decided to go here. The view is fantastic overlooking the trees, nature and the course. A perfect way to squeeze in the last drop of summer as by the evening it did get a lot chillier up there. Food-wise I didn't have high expectations but we were both impressed by the quality of food. The tuna stack and the summer berry salad and it was fresh and great starters. The chicken chimichurri was delicious with a crisp on the skin and love the accompanying sauce. My SO enjoyed his steak frites too though I think it's more of a medium well than medium rare we ordered but it was fine. We also ordered two desserts since we couldn't decide on one. The Banoffee pie was certainly unique though it was sweeter and kind of decadent to have all at once. I don't normally like pretzels but I do like the candied pretzel that taste like a cookie on top of the baoffee pie. The lemon olive oil cake seems like the healthier lighter choice made with extra virgin olive oil and honey. I think sharing a dessert at the end would've been better than each of us indulging one. Overall a 4.5 star review, I'm rounding it up so that overall rating reflect closer to that. Can't beat the view and the service was really good despite there being an event on the other side of the restaurant.

We swooned over the senbei crusted tuna ($20), a starter of ahi tuna wrapped in seaweed and rice…read morecracker bits, deep fried to create a crispy coating but still leaves the fish raw and warmed. Sliced into thick meaty pieces, it's adorned with a wasabi aioli that gives it Japanese French flair. The amazing tuna made the shrimp lettuce cups ($17) seem severely underwhelming. Sure, it contained great fresh ingredients like delicate butter lettuce, poached shrimp, and cool vermicelli, but it seemed to be missing something - like a mango slaw (or even the coleslaw they serve with the fish and chips) - anything to give it colour, interest, and more flavours. Cliffside smartly heats their plates, so the mains arrive and stay piping hot. But it does mean proteins like the seared salmon ($42) should be undercooked to finish, so it's not completely cooked through when it arrives. Nonetheless, the fish had a nice crust and was still flaky inside. I wouldn't have thought to marinade salmon in a rosemary beet mixture, it ends up creating a natural tasting sweet and savoury glaze. Overall, the main is a healthy but filling dish finished with soft creamy stewed lentils, roasted asparagus, and a light citrusy beurre blanc sauce. Our seafood meal continued with the fish and chips ($24), which had a nice airy crispy beer batter. In lieu of the traditional chips, Cliffside serves the fish with shoestring fries, it's slightly softer texture almost reminiscent of McDonald's spuds. Online reviews generally commend the restaurant's food but complains about service. Our Friday dinner went off without a hitch with someone around whenever we needed. The only anomaly was Cliffside includes a bread plate and butter knife with their place settings but never actually asks if would like or serves any carb. Perhaps a bit strange, but hardly anything that would mean a flaw in their service.

Gord and I had brunch this morning at Bethune's Bistro…read more We both had the Classic Breakfast ... a nice old school brekkie for $10. The home fries seemed to be made from scratch and the bacon was really crunchy.

The classic breakfast ($9.95) consists of a choice of eggs, protein (bacon, sausage, or ham), home…read morefries, and toast. I'm glad to see their scrambled eggs are made with real eggs and not the boxed liquid ones; I could tell from the telltale flecks of white mixed in with the yolk and denser texture. Their bacon was also tasty: crispy, not too salty, and had a nice smoky flavour. If anything, the home fries could use more time on the flat top to develop a crispier crust, but they were still decent and would pair nicely with fried eggs to create a soft hash. I was excited to see the lovely caramelization on the house pancakes ($9.95 for three) but it didn't really translate into flavour. As pancakes go, they're nice and fluffy but also store-bought tasting, especially when served with packaged table syrup. Bethune's plain house burger ($9.95) reminded me of the ones I had in high school at Johnny Andersons. The beef patty is thicker than McDonalds, but also seems to be mixed with flour as it has a softer consistency. Still, it had a nice crust, and was adorned with all the classic fixings: mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The French fries are also a step up from the home fries - crispy, hot, and made with real potatoes. The low prices may partially be attributed to Bethune's lean (but not mean) staff. Even on weekends there's usually only one person out front and presumably one chef. Yet, service was efficient, and I've always felt taken care of and welcomed. If you're in Gravenhurst, I'd recommend skipping fast food and support local at Bethune's Bistro instead. While it's more aptly described as a diner or family-style restaurant (as opposed to a bistro), there's a friendly small-town charm to the place and you won't leave broke or hungry.

It's in a prime location, right by Muskoka Lake, feels like a classic family-owned restaurant…read more The food was okay. The Caesar Salad with a Twist was great, the air-dried prosciutto was super thin and crispy, with cornbread croutons and fried capers, definitely a nice "twist." The fish taco was good too. The Open Face Prime Rib was a bit disappointing. The beef was dry and had a strange smell. It's not that the beef itself was bad, just that it didn't seem to have been cleaned or prepared properly. Service was great. We had to change tables twice, and they were very accommodating. Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 2.7/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - NA/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 3.9/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 3/5 OVERALL - 3.4

We had a lovely lunch on the porch in the sun, with a light breeze making the summer heat…read moremanageable. The grilled calamari was prepared just perfectly. The Caesar salad comes with a touch of prosciutto and fried capers. And the Naanwich has spicy jerk chicken (with a nice kick), and pickled veggies, all a bit odd, but tasty.

It's our go to place when at the cottage. Lunch specials are constantly good as is the serviceread more

Actually made a turn about to try this Thai restaurant. I'm glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised…read morewith the size and taste . All quality ingredients which were tastefully fresh. The mushroom shrimp soup was extremely flavourful Great portion size and plenty of meat on my dish. I think: I have to get a take out box! The service was friendly and polite. Not the greatest roadway ambiance but that could be ignored for the products value.

First off the services was fantastic , I got the Turkey Swiss on marble rye with some kind of…read moreBerry drizzle. Wow! My girlfriend devoured the BLT on gluten free bread and said it was the best BLT she ever had . Thanks Well Fed

Come on How is that Turkey sandwich $15+ ???…read moreDon't get me wrong it's a decent Turkey Sando, nicely toasted but u could make it at home and not wait 10+ min in the rain and spend $15!

We put in a take-out order and it was ready in barely 15 minutes. The sweet & sour chicken was good…read moretender white meat, with an overabundance of the typical sauce served in as separate container, which was nice to allow us to use as much as we wished. Egg rolls were crispy and tasty, although nothing really special. Beef and broccoli was great, not slathered in sauce and with good beef cuts.

We visited this quaint restaurant for a late dinner on a Saturday night and the service was quick…read moreand friendly and the food was served hot. Overall it was a very pleasant experience and the food was delicious.

This is one of our go to places when in gravenhurst. The wings are always good. This time I had the…read morebeef dip for a change. Had potato soup as the side. I wasn't disappointed it was quite good. Good value. It's a busy place on a Friday afternoon and the bar seems to keep the servers busy which seems to cut into the time spent with people having meals. There is lots of parking and a nice atmosphere. Quite if you sit on lower level away from the bar. Im looking forward to patio season and sitting outside.

Craving some pub grub, the Frosty Pint was an easy choice. Drove right by it once as it's set back…read morefrom the road and didn't see the sign. There is lots of parking, a small patio and 2 levels of indoor dining. I had the Beef Dip and it hit the spot. Fresh bun, lots of tender beef and the au jus was perfect. Fries were good. They did have a good local craft beer selection. Service was good. She knew the menu well and was very friendly! Would go back next time I'm in town!

Pizza One's chicken bruschetta ($16 for a medium) starts with a garlic butter base that's topped…read morewith chunks of chicken, onion, tomato, parmesan, and mozzarella with a sprinkling of Italian seasoning to provide a pop of freshness. Overall, the pie has good flavours (the parmesan adds such a nice salty finish) and the toppings are well spread out allowing each bite to incorporate all the ingredients. While Pizza One has tons of developed recipes, my husband always goes with his custom pizza ($18.50 for a medium): pepperoni, mushroom, onions, and extra cheese. His wasn't as impressive as the chicken bruschetta, the pepperoni were larger slices, which meant they needed to be toasted longer as the soggy centre ends up tasting like bologna. With the extra cheese, Pizza One should consider applying less marinara to ensure the crust doesn't become doughy and soft. They are not a thin crust pizza, but their crust is still slimmer than what's typically found at the chains. The chicken bruschetta's crust was nice and airy, and the bottom lightly toasted until it almost had a Pizza Hut crunch and flavour but without the greasiness and heaviness. I've never had it myself, but my husband claims it's like New Orleans's pizza crust.

Came into Gravenhurst late with few options for dinner. Found Pizza One to be nearly closing for…read morethe night (they close early nowadays with covid impact on tourism etc). Luckily Patrick had not turned off the oven yet and was kind enough to make us a small Donair pizza before wrapping up. They're super friendly and definitely made us feel super welcome as it's our first time in town. We took it back to the hotel so we don't stop them from going home for the day. The pizza itself was absolutely amazing. Perfect balance of toppings, cheese and crust. It's so perfect that even after 4 slices, I don't feel bloated. I really liked the sauce and the wonderful ingredients that make it such a great combination. Definitely need to come in - am sure it's one of the best in town.

Completely random little burger hut in the middle of a park overlooking a lake. Service was…read moreexcellent and if you like burgers, fried appetizers and more importantly poutine, this place is your jam. We went with another family and basically ordered everything on the menu- burgers were excellent and kids thought having a branded bun was super cool. Poutine with or without pulled pork was excellent BUT portions are enormous, it would be very easy to share with 1 or 2 people. Great little spot and we all loved sitting by the lake eating dinner. Employees were great, food was exactly what we wanted, and it was reasonably priced.

Fast, friendly service - got an order out for 7 people in under 10 minutes. High quality burgers…read more Fries perfectly crisp. Returned twice in a week!