Restaurants in Southwestern Ontario
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Conorlee’s Bakery & Delicatessen
An islanders’ favorite, Conorlee’s is a great place to grab lunch-to-go before a bike tour. Fresh-baked breads, espresso, local honey and awesome pizzas are all available, but the coolest offering is the Wine & Dinner Series (per person $38), a monthly five-course sampling of Pelee’s finest. It’s held at the Pelee Island Winery; check Conorlee’s website for dates.
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Spago Trattoria e Pizzeria
Windsor has a reputation for its Italian, and this is the place to dip your tongue in some. If you’re not in the mood for delicious pasta, the clean-shaven staff also deliver outstanding pizzas from the wood-fired oven. Upstairs, the Spago Ristorante Italiano has a similar menu and a bar that stays open late.
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Down the Street Bar & Restaurant
Darkly atmospheric, with gorgeous gilt mirrors and old neons stirring memories of Parisian cafes, this place offers pre-theater dining, microbrews and wines by the glass. The menu is multicultural (thin-crust pizzas, goat cheese enchiladas) and late night the bar steps up as one of Stratford’s more kickin’ nocturnal haunts.
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Cornerstone
Thick stone walls plus scuffed wood floors equal serious comfy-ness at this well-loved vegetarian cafe. Go for coffee in the morning and return for a pint and some live music in the evening. If you’re looking for a sandwich, consider the Taste of Downtown: avocado, brie, red peppers and garlic aioli ($8).
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York Street Kitchen
This technicolor bunker at the bottom of an old riverside warehouse dishes up homestyle cooking: show-stopper sandwiches on homemade bread, brie fritters, salads, quiches and desserts. Try the ‘Mennonite’ sandwich: sausage, cheddar, corn relish, tomato, honey mustard, mayo and lettuce.
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Bertoldi’s Trattoria
A massive place with a massive wine list, Bertoldi’s does authentic Italian and also has special regional menus (we can’t think of an Italian region whose cuisine we wouldn’t want to taste). It doesn’t take reservations but you can phone ahead on the weekends.
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Covent Garden
This humongous, barn-shaped market will whet and satisfy any appetite. There’s a permanent collection of delis, bakeries, chocolate shops, fresh produce stalls and world cuisine eateries, plus seasonal vendors and a sunny, busker-fuelled buzz on the patio.
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Raja
Challenging Stratford’s demure Anglo tastes with funky lashings of chili and spice, Raja plates up super curries, soups, salads, breads, vegetarian and tandoori dishes and serves them on white linen. Staff are dapper and unfailingly polite.
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Tango Café & Grill
Aromatic coffee has bean-fiends tangoing through the doors here, many of whom decide to stay for a tasty sandwich, omelet, burger or salad. Fair trade coffee blends include the light-roasted ‘Sleepy Monk’ and tongue-in-cheek ‘Moonbucks.’
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Bubi’s Awesome Eats
Though Bubi’s boasts big servings of garlic anything, it actually has a varied menu that appeals to someone who forgot their after-dinner breath mints: burgers, wraps, tacos and curries. It’s nothing fancy, but well priced and friendly.
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Thaifoon
Classing Dundas St up a bit is Thaifoon. A calm, composed atmosphere and babbling water features provide relief from the mean streets, while chili-laden curries, stir-fries, soups and salads provide a kick in the pants.
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Old Prune
From November until March, the famous Stratford Chef's School trains at this Edwardian house. Expect fresh, often organic and contemporary food with a hint of Québécois cuisine. Make reservations.
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Gown and Gavel
In the cobblestone Hess Village, Gown and Gavel inhabits a large, intricate building. The food is upscale pub fare, with sandwiches and salads. Upstairs, a little-known tearoom waits to be discovered.
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Blue Martini
Blue Martini is the mainstay of a crop of cool eateries and bars with wrought-iron fences and outdoor patios. Lash out on a late-night steak and lobster tail ($37) or more affordable pasta dishes.
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Vidalia’s Bar & Grill
This place shakes things up a little bit with offerings such as onion flan and squash ravioli. Don’t fret, regular burgers are also on the menu to satisfy those who are less-adventurous.
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Let Them Eat Cake
All-day breakfast (we couldn’t deny ourselves the eggs benny pizza) as well as fresh-baked scones and muffins make this Stratford institution the perfect place to start your morning.
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Church Restaurant
A grande old dame of Stratford's culinary scene, the restaurant is set inside the old Christ Church (1874), with organ and altar still intact. Reservations are essential.
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Stone Crock Bakery
The Stone Crock Bakery is a Mennonite-run bakehouse selling fruit pies, muffins, breads, quiches and scones fresh from the oven – they taste as good as they smell.
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Scudder Beach Bar & Grill
This woody bar room serves wraps and sandwiches plus gallons of cold beer; there might even be a live band on a Saturday night (otherwise it’s the game on TV).
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Sammy’s Souvlaki
Bump elbows with taxi drivers and late-night beery hordes at Sammy’s, serving take-out souvlaki, falafels, poutine, burgers and hot dogs. Burp…
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York St Kitchen
Excellent sandwiches and home-style cooking are dished out at this jazzy little café, covered in inspiring artwork.
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Westview Tavern
Across from the ferry dock you’ll find pub standbys such as fish and chips, grilled cheese and locals talking hockey.
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Veg Out
Fresh juices, smoothies, and amazing meatless dishes are cheerfully served at this vegan restaurant.
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Pazzo Pizzeria
Critics rave about the pizza served here. Upstairs, the ristorante has an excellent wine list.
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