Heading north to the cottage gives us a chance to breathe pine-fresh, rather than Pine-Sol-redolent, air. Cottage living is an occasion to reconnect with simpler times, when meals were made over fires, not nuked in microwaves. But sometimes you want the best of both worlds: a loon-serenaded sunset and a first-class meal that requires no effort.
Here are four of Muskoka’s best eateries that are worth abandoning the cottage for, at least for an evening.
Abbey’s Bake House
(1112 Juddhaven Road, Minnett, 705-765-7603)
New Yorkers might have the cronut, but Minett, Ont., has brownie-stuffed chocolate chip cookies ($2.48). Did we mention that these sinfully delicious mash-ups are baked in the most adorable nineteenth-century church? Although the Abbey’s Bake House’s motto is “Eat something worthy of confession,” we think you’ll be bursting with Leonard Cohen–worthy hallelujahs when you bite into one of their delightfully gooey maple-bacon butter tarts ($3.58). Park yourself in one of the Muskoka chairs looking out onto Lake Rousseau and indulge. Don’t forget to grab a bag of their granola ($6.55), a perfect snack for hiking or long car trips.
The Norsemen
(1040 Walker Lake Drive, Huntsville, 705-635-2473)
It’s easy to miss this out-of-the-way restaurant, as it’s tucked off the main drag, in a thick forest grove. The exterior of the 90-year-old lodge could use a lick and a promise, but once you’re inside it’s cosier than nan’s. Original wood beams and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces imbue this stalwart establishment with pure Muskoka charm. We love nabbing one of the coveted seats on the screened-in porch, which has a marvellous view of Walker Lake. Convivial owner Les Gayne goes out of his way to welcome each guest and is keen to help you choose a wine from the global offerings. Chef Sean Hobson, who earned his stripes in some of T.O.’s hottest kitchens (Le Sélect Bistro, Buca), has crafted a seasonal menu with local highlights such as an Ontario grass-fed lamb sirloin served with mint-pea purée, roasted fiddleheads, shallot-garlic tarte tatin and Yukon gold potatoes ($31).
Spencer’s Tall Trees
(87 Main St. W., Huntsville, 705-789-9769)
Located at the top of a hill overlooking Hunters Bay, Spencer’s serves up French faves like expertly seared calf’s liver served with caramelized onions, smoked bacon and balsamic-infused jus ($19), and pickerel drizzled with maple liquor butter sauce ($22). Chef-owner Randy Spencer has earned many accolades for his expansive wine list, which he has curated to marry perfectly with the food. The turn-of-the-century house has undergone few renovations; the main bar area leads to four snug dining rooms, perfect for intimate conversation. Come warm eves, the summer room beckons thanks to the idyllic gardens surrounding it.
Moon River Lookout
(1002 Walker St., Bala, 705-762-2393)
Bala, the cranberry capital of Ontario, is home to the region’s only winery, Muskoka Lakes Winery. Located on the Canadian Shield, you can imagine that Bala isn’t the ideal terroir for viticulture, which is why the winery’s specialty is cranberry vino. Grab a glass of the local specialty at Moon River Lookout where they infuse cranberries into several dishes. One of our favourites is the Lake of Bays beer-battered pickerel served with cranberry tartar sauce ($19).
