Tobermory Dining Help

[Porto]

Hi Chounds,
Spendin 4 days up on the Bruce Pininsula staying in Tobermory. Looking for any recs..
Fine dining to casual laid back dinner, lunch, or good pub food, sandwiches, java place. Have a vehicle and will drive if needed.

Thanks in advance,
Porto

[noodlehead]

Just returned from a week in cottaging on Colpoy's Bay near Wiarton. Fell in love with Little Tub Bakery in Tobermory. I recommend the small butter tarts, large wild blueberry tarts and the AWESOME large egg custard tarts, not too sweet and absolutely delish.
We tried the Fish and Chip Place and enjoyed the local fried whitefish, batter was nice and light. Also tried the fish and chips at the Crow's Nest bar but wouldn't order it again , the batter was way too thick and kinda soggy.
To be honest nothing else struck my fancy when I was researching restaurants online so we bought fresh fish from Howell's Fish in Wiarton on two occasions and had the best meals at the cottage. Absolutely loved their smoked fish.

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Howell's Fish
153 Division St, South Bruce Peninsula, ON N0H, CA

[cha_siu_bao]

I agree about the Crow's Nest Bar. Fish and chips there wasn't that great because of the batter. Also, their pizza resembled that of the frozen variety that tasted somewhat like cardboard. We also ordered bruschetta which was basically smeared with too much garlic butter that didn't melt completely (too greasy) and was slapped with canned dice tomatoes (soggy mush). Suprisingly, there was freshly cut tomatoes (small pieces) on our nachos. I was not expecting fine dining at a pub but this restaurant was a disappointment.

Had dinner at the Mermaid's Secret, which was pretty good. We had panini sandwiches, not bad :) If you're not a big eater, try their half sandwich with soup combo.

[longolame]

I am consistent Bruce Peninsula fan. I visit at least twice a year. And yes, the restaurant options are limited. If you have transportation then I recommend a trip to Lion's Head. The scenery is magnificent (especially if you drive out the the lighthouse) and there is a nice pub/restaurant in town, the Lion's Head Inn. We usually get the bison burgers that are raised locally on Todd's Cape Chin farm. http://www.alswebfarm.com/capechin.html
http://www.lionsheadinn.ca/

We usually take our camp stove, buy fresh Lake Huron whitefish and cook it up picnic style. We used to buy the fish at Raney's Fish Store in Tobermory but I believe it's closed up now. Our second choice is Howell's the fresh fish outlet in Wiarton,

btw there's a Beaver Tails outlet in Tobermory. I really like them as a fast food sweet treat.

Fresh and tasty coffee can also be a problem. We found an acceptable place in Ferndale, a tiny crossroads on Hwy 6. The Crossroads Coffee House.

Although I haven't tried them (hopefully this weekend I will) there's an organic bakery on Hwy 6 between Ferndale and Tobermory. The Harvest Moon Bakery. Here's there link:
http://www.harvestmoonbakery.ca/harvest_moon_contact_us.htm

We also eat at the Wiarton Inn at the north end of town. Nice outside patio and great fish and chips.

Photos can be found at http://torontovore.blogspot.com/2007/09/bison-and-buttertarts.html
and http://torontovore.blogspot.com/2007/...

If your travels take you anywhere near Meaford, try Ted's Range Road Diner for a unique experience with game meats (great if you're craving musk-ox steak or a caribou stir-fry). We had great bison steaks and live music on our last visit (don't let the quonset hut outside decor put you off). Directions and photos are in the links.

We'll be staying at the Crystal Springs Place motel in Mar this weekend. If you see us with our Siberian Husky, be sure to say hi.

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Ted's Range Road Diner
, Meaford, ON N4L, CA

Wiarton Inn & Restaurant
666 Berford, Wiarton, ON N0H2T0, CA

[Porto]

Hi Longolame,
Thanks for the great tips....I'm really glad to hear that options are available within reasonable drives of Tobermory.... I will follow up with some of these for sure.
Hope you have great weekend up there... I'll look for the Husky....Porto

[bijoukitty]

Harvest Moon makes absolutely amazing butter tarts. I bought one and it looked so good that I ate it as soon as we were back in the car. Then I had to get back out and go
buy half a dozen more. I live on The Butter Tart Trail and while I don't want to be a butter tart traitor, these were the best homemade tarts I've ever had....
I bought some meat pasties, but wasn't as impressed with them. (Maybe I just don't like pasties since this was my second try.)
They 're north of Wiarton (on the left) and have a website which is worth checking out... sort of an
eccentric hippy-rasta feel to the place.

harvestmoonbakery.ca

After Labour Day the hours are reduced.

[Porto]

Hi Hounds,
Spent a few great days in the Bruce / Tobermory area.

Tobermory
The Grandview Restaurant, casual fine dining - Good food and service
I had a decent steak and a really good cesare salad, SO had a broiled laketrout, really nicely done, great view of the bay too and wine, really well priced.

Craigies for Breakfast...Dont go, grease on a plate.
Try Crowsnest - Breakfast Looks Good

Little Tub Bakery on the West side of 6 just south of town 5 minutes on the corner of Warner Bay / Little Cove Rd - Amazing Tarts- Butter, Blueberry, Stawberry, you name it buy them....Really Good

A Mermaids Secret -- Good Coffee,

Lions Head
Lions Head Inn Above average pub food....Good, unfortunatley the Bison Burger was not available.

Dyers Bay
Applewood Inn - Small cottage feel, Had Goulash, was ok, SO had chicken--a bit dry and weird cajun spice, wine prices reall good, nice atmosphere but the kitchen is a small operation one chef and unfortunatley no dessert due to thier stove breaking down.

Wiarton
Wiarton Inn, good fish and chips (haddock only though). worth stopping in.

North Of Ferndale
Harvest Moon Bakery--- Great Rubarb and Stawberry Pie

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Harvest Moon Restaurant
5 Parkside Dr, St Jacobs, ON N0B2N0, CA

Little Cove Restaurant
, Tobermory, ON N0H, CA

Applewood Inn
967 Dyers Bay Rd, Miller Lake, ON N0H1Z0, CA

Wiarton Inn & Restaurant
666 Berford, Wiarton, ON N0H2T0, CA

[blue bike]

We had a good experience at Lighthouse last year. The fish was cooked very well. A bit overpriced, though.

[Porto]

Thanks Hounds,
Sounds as though there is not a great deal up that way but I'll certainly use your suggestions to pick out the best of what's available. If anyone has any thoughts to places to stop for lunch on the way up or down anywhere along the Highway 6 and 10 Corridors please pass them along. I'm heading up tomorrow (Thursday) and coming home Sun afternoon. Any last thoughts on Tobermory area dining is greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.......Porto

[Santeria]

Just got back from a weekend up in Tobermory. I gotta say, foodwise it was a huge disappointment. The fish and chip place was a bit of a let down; while the white fish was very good and fresh testing, the frying technique was just not there resulting in a greasy fish with a boring batter. Fries were also boring; of the thinner variety unlike the thicker cut which I prefer with fish.

Went to to Leaside for breakfast and it was pretty good, although basic (terrible homefries). I decided to try Lee's again for their dinner service and it was probably the worst meal I've ever had in a restaurant. Our meals came out way to fast and the meats were very rubbery (I suspect they were microwaved) and everything was terribly bland.

I also tried Craiggy's for breakfast, which was also decent. I would be curious to try their fish and chips, but unfortunately I didnt have enough time.

You should definetely check out the little tub bakery, on right on highway 6 and little cove road. There butter tarts are amazing, the best i've had. The perfect crust encasing the runny filling, and caramelized top... so good!! There fruit filled tarts are also really good.

[Wiley]

Shipwreck Lee's is rated #1 on Trip Advisor

[Porto]

Thanks for the tips eveyone, I'm heading up next weekend, I'll keep doing my homework until then. Happylnuts I called the Grandview but they do not take rservations, I will try to get there one evening for sure.

Any more rec's are greatly appreciated Chows.........Porto

[happylnuts]

Hi Porto, I've been to the Grandview Dining for dinner while watching the beautiful sunset. The food was great especially while enjoying the view in the dinning room. Enjoy!

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Grandview Motel & Dining Room
, Tobermory, ON N0H, CA

[taysdad]

Porto,

You've got to try Fish & Chip Place in Tobermory! Their Fish Tacos made from local white fish - are legendary. Super great. Other menu items are good too!

The candy/fudge place a couple doors over makes good fudge too. Enjoy!

http://www.thefishandchipplace.com/

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The Fish & Chip Place
, Tobermory, ON N0H, CA

[trane]

Beware, they close pretty early. We got there at 8:05 and they refused to seat us. Other than that, tobermory is a culinary wasteland.

P.S. there are several threads documenting what's in the area if you search. Including an indonesian restaurant somewhere in the area.

[blue bike]

The Indonesian restaurant closed down. They opened a store instead.

http://www.stone-orchid.com/