Dinner in Penetanguishene area?

[shana]

We're planning a mid-week day trip up to Awenda Provincial Park to swim, hike and relax - we'd like to eat dinner somewhere in the area (Penetanguishene) before heading home.

Any suggestions? We'd like something nice but know after the hiking/swimming we might not look our best!

[JamieK]

Here's a previous thread on this topic
http://www.chow.com/topics/318478

We have a cottage nearby and we love Henry's Fishhouse in Midland off Hwy 12 near Wye Marsh and Martyrs Shrine in Midland. A bit of a trek from Penetang but the fresh pickerel is fantastic and it doesn't matter what you look like or what you're wearing. It's in a marina and the guests are mostly boaters.

Whatever you do, don't go to Blue Sky restaurant on the way down to the Penetang dock. It's crap.

People rave about the Dock Lunch (yes the fries are good) at the Penetang dock but you wanted "something nice" and you can't even get a beer there.

Another possibility is Captain Robert's Table Restaurant in the Discovery Harboury on Jury Dr. It's touristy but the food is all right and the view is nice and you can visit the heritage site if you want.
http://www.discoveryharbour.on.ca

[estufarian]

Dock Lunch burned down a couple of months ago.
I've had excellent breakfasts at Blue Sky!
Henry's Fishhouse is OK. I'd go back - but wouldn't make a detour.
Haven't been to Captain Robert's.

[JamieK]

Oh my, it burned down??!? What will the seagulls do?

[estufarian]

Oops - misheard the report (or had brainfade). The Dock SURVIVES.
It was "Top Dog" that burned down (next to the Dairy Queen).
Finally made it to The Library over the washed-out street fair on the weekend. Probably the best (most upscale) place in the area. Entrees around $20-25. Tablecloths; open kitchen; Uniformed servers. Huge portions and reasonably well-cooked. Clientele more upscale, although plenty of family groups. Dress reasonably casual (you wear your best baseball cap!).

[JamieK]

Ha!, yes, I took a walk by The Dock Lunch about a week ago and there actually has been a bit of outside renovation and thought, wow, they've done a marvellous job of restoration!

I've been hearing about The Library for years, and I've got to try to get out there this summer. I've always put it off because I got the impression it was fairly formal (for Midland). t's just too hard to get dolled up once you've been cottaging a few days (or even hours) so I'm glad to hear about the "reasonably casual" part.

I wonder where the original poster ended up going for dinner after a day in Awenda?

[JamieK]

Did you ever go to Arthur's in Penetang? It was down by the dock, had a rooftop patio. I think it's a dentist/medical office now. We had some great meals there. Too bad it's gone.

[estufarian]

Don't recall that one. And there are several others I've been trying to forget!

[estufarian]

Most of the places are definitely 'local' - diners or a small step up. If that's what you want I can expand.
The 'finest dining' in the area is in Midland at 'The Library' - still downscale by Toronto standards. Haven't eaten there 'yet' - am going next week, so depending on when you travel, I can report back.