Boasting some great ethnic cuisines, from Thai food to Lebanese food, North Bay also has a range of traditional Canadian joints in fine bistro style and craft brewery fashion. We take you to some North Bay’s best food spots that make for satiating stops on a Northeastern Ontario foodie road trip.
North Bay Breakfast Spots
You just can’t go wrong with a Canadian breakfast, and that’s because of its world renowned maple syrup. If you’re looking for the best places to have a taste of this sweet delicacy, we’ve got you covered.
Terry’s Place
It might take you a while to decide what you’re having because Terry’s Place offers a lot of breakfast options. To sample Canada’s famous maple syrup, have their pancakes or French toast with a choice of savory or sweet toppings. If you want eggs and French toast, go for the Hungry Man—three eggs, three slices of toast, a piece of French toast with bacon, sausages and ham.
For something a little different but very Canadian, go with the Breakfast Poutine: deep-fried home fries with your choice of pulled pork, bacon, or diced ham with mozzarella, hollandaise sauce and eggs. If all of that sounds delicious, then the other good news is that Terry’s Place serves breakfast all day.
Oak East Eatery
This is another spot where you could indulge in French toast or pancakes topped with delicious Canadian maple syrup. Oak East Eatery also features indigenous fried bread and a fried egg tostada on their menu—if you’re looking to try something new. For something extra indulgent, dig into the cheesecake on their breakfast menu.
Laid-back Lunch in North Bay
It’s always good to have lunch spots in your back pocket while traveling. Especially ones that work as on the go options or as a sit down meal. Here are some options that offer easy on the go take away while you explore or as a sit down meal to take a break from sightseeing.
The Food Truck
Located right next to the North Bay Museum, The Food Truck serves up delicious and hearty Canadian food. With a range of meat burgers, plant-based pogos, poutines, funnel fries, as well as mouthwatering Oreo churros, this truck stop has something to satisfy almost any craving.
Be sure to try the Pierogi Supreme, featuring 10 pan fried cheese and potato stuffed pierogis topped with sour cream, bacon, and green onions. And if you’re not sure what a pierogi is, you’re in for a treat. This filled dumpling is cooked in boiling water and then pan fried before serving to create a chewy, crispy, tender morsel.
Joey’s Restaurants
Serving Canada’s best fish and chips, with your choice of Wild Alaska Pollock or North Pacific Cod, Joey’s also boasts delicious fish tacos (opt for a crispy shrimp or chicken taco instead) topped with hand cut pico de gallo, chipotle aioli, cheese, shaved cabbage and of course, a side of fries. Enjoy a pan seared snapper, charbroiled salmon fillet, shrimp feast and much more, fresh from the ocean and cooked to perfection. Finish off with Joey’s mud pie, lemon meringue pie, or a classic New York cheesecake.
Dine on Dinner in North Bay
North Bay offers a range of traditional Canadian dinner options. For the best options in the area, we’ve got you covered.
Wyld Street Poutinerie
You can never have too much poutine, right? From signature beef poutines to veggie poutines and an extra large, butcher shop-style poutine, there’s lots of options to sample. Be sure to try the Philly Cheesesteak featuring fresh hand cut fries, poutinerie gravy, Quebec cheese curds, prime rib of beef and a Yorkshire pudding!
For a modern twist on the traditional poutine, try the Korean BBQ poutine featuring shaved prime rib coated in Korean BBQ sauce. For a more traditional experience, have their traditional poutine featuring the classic combo of fresh hand cut fries, poutinerie gravy and Quebec cheese curds. A vegetarian version of this available with a plant based gravy.
Churchill’s
For a Canadian fine dining experience, Churchill’s will not disappoint. With choices of beef tenderloin steaks or prime ribeye steaks from the wildfire grill, you can choose to have them accompanied with a traditional Yorkshire pudding too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try out the Grilled Ontario Rack of Lamb accompanied with baby potatoes, herbs de provence, dandelion chimichurri and seasonal vegetables. For some vegetarian options, you can choose from Ontario pickerel, pan fried gnocchi and much more.
The White Owl Bistro
Located on the shores of Lake Nipissing, the White Owl Bistro serves up some traditional Canadian bistro dishes with a focus on farm to table cuisine. The impressive taste and quality of their food is attributed to the use of seasonal, sustainable, local and healthy ingredients. So despite being a little on the pricier side, you’ll be eating a meal made with the best ingredients available.
It will be difficult to choose from Potato crusted Pickerel, Somewood Farm’s Pork, Grass Finished Bison, Seafood Cannelloni and Beef Burger. Don’t worry if you’re a vegetarian, the Vegan Mushroom Quinoa Burger packs a punch with jalapenos and you can add on goat’s cheese for an extra $3. And those are just a few options from the dinner menu; this Bistro has a separate menu for lunch and Sunday brunch, so you might have to visit more than once to sample them all!
Craft Breweries in North Bay
It’s no secret that Northeastern Ontario has some of the best craft beer in all of Canada. We’ve got you covered on some of the best craft breweries and beer gardens in North Bay.
New Ontario Brewery
This brewery serves up a series of flagship beers as well as seasonal beers, offering Northbay a local beer to call its own. One of their famous flagship beers is the Brewing Bear Runner Blonde Ale that offers smooth malty flavors with a light citrus and herby finish.
Often hosting live music performances and special events, it’s always worth taking a look at their Instagram profile to see what they’ve got coming up. From Taproom Trivia to live music that has previously featured artists like Chico Wheeler, Rob Holtz and Hot Dog—you definitely want to visit this brewery when it’s alive and kickin’ with performances.
Gateway City Brewery
Featuring an on-site tap room and a retail bottle shop, this microbrewery offers beer by-the-glass or beer flights. After sampling their beer, you can purchase your favorites in cans to go from the retail shop. While you enjoy your beer, you can get stuck into their pinball machines and other games in their arcade games selection.
Cecil’s Brewhouse
A popular spot for in-house brewed original brands of beers and hearty pub grub, you can’t go wrong with popping into Cecil’s Brewhouse. Their featured pours include Black Knight Cream Stout, Ruby Red Radler and Wyld Blueberry Wheat Ale, to name a few. If you’re into your red meat, make an occasion out of Cecil’s prime rib weekends. Cecil’s signature age-old recipes and naturally brewed pours make for the perfect afternoon or evening meal.
Whether you prefer s’mores around the campfire of fine-dining establishments, there’s a foodie option for you in North Bay. To find out more about the culinary delights on offer in the region, read our Northeastern Ontario Travel Guide.