Taste North Bay: A Culinary Adventure Through Local Restaurants, Farm-to-Table Dining, and Northern Ontario Flavours

Not only is North Bay known as the Gateway to the North, expanding horizons that go well beyond adventure and activities, but its culinary scene is just as big, highlighting a selection of diverse and local cuisines, culinary feasts and farm-to-table movements. 

Many of the establishments up here depend on their relationships with vendors who house locally sourced produce, meats and fish from surrounding bodies of water. At the same time, global influences are highlighted by the creativity of chefs who bring out the locality of the region.

Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy bistro dinner, a laid-back craft-brewery meal or international delights, North Bay has you covered. This city is also home to some incredible Canadian comfort spots, along with some hidden gems. But sometimes, you’re just looking for the classics like pizza, simple dinners or a cool food truck—they’ve got that, too.

With its waterfront views and welcoming vibe, North Bay offers so many delectable dishes, there is a cuisine to tantalize every taste bud. 

Canadian Comfort Foods and Local Classics in North Bay

Wyld Street Poutinerie

A go-to spot for creative, over-the-top poutines with flavours ranging from classic Canadian to global fusion.

Let’s start with Canadian, eh? Since you can never have enough poutine, Wyld Street Poutinerie has a selection of signature beef and veggie options and everything in between. For a more adventurous selection, try the Tater Tots on Top, pierogi, buffalo cauliflower, Mexican, pogo, B-Mac, Korean BBQ and Shawarma poutines—just to name a few!

Average Joe’s Eatery & Patio Bar

North Bay’s only year-round lakefront restaurant, known for casual comfort food and unbeatable Trout Lake views.

Average Joe’s Eatery & Patio Bar is North Bay’s only year-round lakefront restaurant, located on the glistening shores of Trout Lake. Did someone order a prime rib burger with fresh-cut fries and a side of beautiful view?

Churchill’s

An award-winning North Bay institution serving Canadian fine dining with an impressive 5,000-bottle wine cellar.

From a Canadian classic to Canadian fine dining, Churchill’s raises a glass to excellence. This award-winning restaurant is the ideal spot for family get-togethers, a night on the town, a theatrical experience, or a romantic evening for two. Inspired by both Canadian fare and international flair, Churchill’s serves prime rib, steaks, and seafood on a silver platter. Your toughest decision is going to be which one of their 5,000 wine bottles from 12 different countries pairs the best with your meal.

Burger World

A beloved North Bay diner famous for fresh, never-frozen beef patties and all-day homestyle breakfasts.

Burger World needs no introduction. With two newly renovated locations (1308 Algonquin Ave and 1405 Hammond St), they are famous for their 100% pure fresh beef patty, never frozen. This casual dining establishment also serves homestyle breakfast all day, along with other diner favourites like poutine, salads, sandwiches, steaks and wraps.

Bay Truck Stop

A classic Northern Ontario stop for hearty, homestyle meals made from sustainably sourced ingredients.

Flavourful homestyle cooking is the name of the game at Bay Truck Stop. A stop here gifts hungry families, travellers and truckers with healthy soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and more. This family restaurant serves sustainably sourced ingredients blended with good old homestyle cooking.

International Flavours in North Bay: Fusion, Italian, and World Cuisine

East Oak Fusion

A global mash-up of Indian, Chinese, and Canadian flavours that creates a uniquely North Bay dining experience.

East Oak Fusion takes taste buds on an international journey from India to China to Canada, blending diverse cultures and ingredients for a unique dining experience.

Farina Ristorante

A warm and inviting Italian eatery offering traditional pasta dishes, chicken parm, and decadent desserts.

Heading over to Italy (sans passport), Farina Ristorante is like stepping into a traditional Italian eatery. Here, you can indulge in pastas and chicken parm—and don’t forget to leave room for the cannoli!

Craft Beer and Casual Dining: Where To Unwind in Downtown North Bay

Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen

A lively brewpub serving hearty pub favourites and small-batch craft beer made onsite.

For a good local brew, Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen is known for its hearty pub-style food and in-house craft beers, brewed with the finest ingredients, served pure filtered, ice cold and on tap.

Taste the Bay: North Bay’s Signature Culinary Experiences

Taste the Bay goes beyond just food. It is where the heartbeat of the community comes to life; it is a chance to connect and share stories while showing appreciation for regional ingredients and the serene surroundings of the Bay. It is where chefs, farmers, artisans, and food lovers all come together to celebrate the bounty of Northern Ontario, which can be seen in every dish served, in every bite taken.

Whether you are sampling local preserves at a weekend market, dining in a quaint lakeside cafe, or perusing a forest-to-fork tasting menu, Taste the Bay offers unique settings to accompany each dining experience. This Northern prix fixe culinary experience includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert, carefully crafted to provide an exceptional dining experience with unparalleled value.

Winter Dining in North Bay: Seasonal Menus and Cold-Weather Adventures

Every season has a charming reason to dine. During the winter months, the city transforms into a snow-covered winter wonderland, giving visitors plenty of reasons to take advantage of the Winter Prix Fixe Menu and warm up with a hot and hearty meal, embracing the comfort of the season.

The best part about indulging in a curated dining experience is working up an appetite, spending the day enjoying winter activities in a destination that is known for true cold-weather adventure. Attracting both locals and visitors from across Ontario, snowshoe trails through Duchesnay Falls, the thrill of ice fishing on Lake Nipissing, and family-friendly activities like tobogganing and building snowmen in the many parks that make up the landscape of North Bay are just some of the activities that have visitors embracing the beauty of North Bay. It is the ideal pairing of outdoor adventure meeting gastronomic delights.

Farm-to-Table in North Bay: Restaurants and Producers Focused on Local Ingredients

The Block Public House

A downtown gastropub celebrating Northern Ontario farmers through modern comfort dishes and local craft drinks.

Farm-to-table is more than just a movement up here. It is a philosophy and ethos to take the freshest ingredients straight from local farmers, growers and purveyors to deliver the best to locals and visitors alike. The Block Public House is a gastro pub located in a historic building on Main St. It was built in 1911 and originally housed the city's first hardware store. Today, it supports local farmers and businesses, highlighting the farm-to-table ideology, from their winter beet salad and Canadian maple bacon burger to their seared lake trout. The Block Public House offers a casual dining experience with its modern yet rustic dining room and boasts a variety of hand-crafted signature cocktails, perfect wine pairings, and a wide selection of Ontario craft beers. Oh, and parents take note: kids eat for $5 every Tuesday.

Matthews Maple Syrup

A century-old maple syrup producer offering tours, tastings, and classic Canadian sugar-bush traditions.

It does not get more Canadian than Matthews Maple Syrup. Located forty kilometres south of North Bay near Lake Nipissing, the Matthews family began producing maple syrup back in the 1920s when grandpa Foreshew tapped trees on his farm in the Loring area. More than a century later, the current farm is set on 151 hectares of forest in Nipissing Township. In addition to maple syrup, other sweet products include maple sugar, maple jelly and maple butter. Give taffy on ice a try while taking a walk in the forest. Matthews also offers tours on how this delicious Canadian treat goes from tapping the trees to your tongue, and depending on the weather, you can take a wagon ride in the sugar bush on weekends and throughout March Break.

1886 Lake House Bistro

A year-round lakeside bistro offering seasonal dishes, cottage-country charm, and strong partnerships with local growers.

1886 Lake House Bistro is where casual cottage lakefront dining and exceptional food is elevated by remarkable company. Whether it is a laid-back lunch, a romantic dinner, or a night out with friends, you'll find a menu inspired by seasonal, fresh ingredients and traditional comfort foods with a contemporary twist. Open year-round and set on the shores of Lake Nipissing, almost every item on the menu pairs with a local purveyor. The décor features hand-crafted butcher block tables, barn board accents, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it feel like a cozy and familiar place to unwind.

Located on the grounds around 1886 Lake House Bistro are various vegetable gardens and greenhouses, including the Ghost peppers used for Chef Greg’s secret hot sauces. Some of the like-minded vendors that 1886 partners with include Callander Bay Market, which produces all the chutneys, mustards, ketchups, relishes and compotes and Mnogin Greenhouse, a sustainable indoor growing facility located on Nipissing First Nation.

Wistiwasing Farms

A farm-driven culinary destination where chefs craft hyper-seasonal dishes using ingredients grown steps from the kitchen.

Just 30 minutes from North Bay, Wistiwasing Farms uses their regional ingredients straight from their garden, allowing their chefs to create curated seasonal dishes.

Where To Shop Local in North Bay: Farmers’ Markets and Year-Round Producers

The North Bay Farmers’ Market is full of year-round hustle and bustle. Boasting more than 100 friendly vendors, this award-winning farmers’ market is filled with the sights and smells of North Bay’s locality. It is no wonder the North Bay Farmers’ Market has been named as one of Ontario’s Top Farmers’ Market Destinations. This downtown market has created a simple and sustainable mission: to give locals and visitors reliable access to fresh and healthy locally grown food, support wellness and agriculture education and provide the opportunity for local farmers, food producers, artisans, musicians and community organizations to create a sustainable, vibrant community.

During the warm summer months, the market is outdoors and open from May to October and moves indoors from October to May. Bonus: Going to market during the cooler months means you can search and shop for seasonal foods and unique and fun holiday gifts made by artisans and crafters from around North Bay. 

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