One of the best things about boating is that when you make landfall at port, you get to go out for dinner and try the local fare. Food always tastes better after a full day on the water. I always remember one particular dinner going back to our sailing days in the early 80's on Lake Simcoe when we crossed from Lagoon City to Barrie in our CS 36 sailboat. It was the worst possible weather with driving rain, high winds and big waves. When we landed in Barrie, quite frankly I was thankful that we had made it to terra firma. Simcoe was a great training ground for our later exploits down the Atlantic coast and around the Caribbean. Anyways, the restaurants were closing by the time we made landfall in Barrie; cold, wet and hungry. As a last resort, we called up the owner of Tek's Seafood, a member of the Barrie Yacht Club, and he graciously stayed open for us. We had a lobster feast that, to me, was as good as or better than anything I've had on the East Coast or in Maine. The owner sat down with us and we talked boats and our sailing conquests and the food was good ... Really good ... and we appreciated it more, after that long slogging sail across the lake.

So let's fast forward to 2011. Some things don't change and one of those things is when you step off the boat to go to dinner, it's automatically going to be better than if you had driven your car to the restaurant. Now we are not going to review all the restaurants on Georgian Bay. There are too many and my wallet's not deep enough. We're not going to give any bad reviews either, because we're only going to write about the ones we really like.

Kudos Kuisine – Parry Sound
Kudos is new to the Parry Sound area and is the closest restaurant to the marina district and only five minutes walk from Big Sound Marina on Bay Street. Owner Stephanie DeLaurier has put a very nice restaurant together. The property is esthetically pleasing and the interior is comfortable and trendy with a covered casual balcony out front. We ate in the private dining room with our boating rendezvous group. By pure accident our server Jonathon Ryeland happens to be the son of a friend and he is the spitting image of his Dad. Jonathon with the assistance of a few others did an excellent job of managing the our group of sixteen.

I can't speak for all sixteen at our table, but our party of three had excellent meals. Our main courses were the pan fried maple syrup syrup marinated Pickerel encrusted in cornmeal, butternut squash ravioli w/ Asiago ragu and Beef Wellington stuffed with mushroom duxelle and basted with hunters sauce. My Wellington was melt in your mouth tender and it came after my plate of fresh oysters which had an interesting horseradish based concoction that was a change from the usual Tabasco or plan horseradish routine. We all enjoyed our dinners and had no room for desert. Incidentally their Ontario VQA Pallatine Hills house wine selection is unique to their restaurant - our Gewürztraminer was excellent. Next time back I'll have lunch there and sip a Corona on the porch and watch the cruisers ramble by.

Good company. good service and good food means Kudos has come up with a winning combination. In summer even during weekdays they can be busy so call ahead for reservations (705) 746 4300

Library Restaurant - Midland
The new owners of the Library Restaurant have done a terrific job with their menu. The vegetables are field fresh and cooked to perfection. The Bruschetta is divine with tomatoes that taste like they just came off the vine and just the right amount of garlic and goat cheese generously baked on crusty French stick bread. Spinach salad was as good as you will find anywhere. Main course was the 14 oz. peppercorn steak with three peppercorn brandy sauce ... and it was one of the best steaks I’ve had in a long time. Cheesecake desert was good but I can't say was the best I have had. My wife had a rack of lamb dinner special and it was perfectly cooked medium rare and crusted with a coarse salt glaze ... and I got to try some. Maybe too salty for some but perfect for our tastes and chefs who try and please all by not taking chances always loose out to chefs that prepare a dish to their own style and commitment. The whole meal was delicious. Our young server seemed new to the job but handled things well with a smile and her heart was in her work. The Library Restaurant is located in a 1915 converted library and the surroundings make for interesting architecture perusal while you dine. The acoustics of the building mean that conversations carry but that adds to the interest of the evening. Congrats to the owner and chef. We'll be back again soon. Located in downtown Midland. Call (705) 528 0100 for reservations.

Moms Restaurant - Midland
Hankering for a big home cooked breakfast? Moms Restaurant at 200 Pillsbury Drive just off of # 12 (close to Martyrs Shrine) in Midland will fit the bill. We both had Eggs Benedict. The Hollandaise was rich and creamy. Back bacon replaced the usual ham. It was excellent. Home fry potatoes yummy. Service was fast and friendly. Judging by the awards on the wall this is one of Midlands favorite breakfast stops. We always notice the parking lot is full on weekends. They also serve lunch and dinners. Menu isn't extensive but what they do, they do very well. (705) 527 0700

MC Sushi – Midland
Hankering for a big feed of Sushi? MC Sushi is a new Japanese restaurant at the Huronia Mall on hwy. #93 that offers all you can eat sushi, maki & sashimi lunches and dinners. Very good quality sushi. Nice bright atmosphere, clean and the sushi made fresh at the counter. Weekend all you can eat lunch is $13.95. Price goes down on weekdays. Soups and deserts are included but if you order more than you can eat you pay for the uneaten food so the idea is you order here and there and pace yourself until your ready to roll out of your seat. They also have party trays for pick up so if you're entertaining on the boat it is always a crowd pleaser to have fresh sushi on hand. Call (705) 526 6788

Olympia Gardens - Penetanguishene
If you are in Pentanguishene and in the mood for some great Mediterranean food check out Olympia Gardens right on the main street on top of the hill. It is easy walking distance from the town marina and a short drive or cab ride from any of the other marinas in the area. Call ahead as the restaurant is not large and can get busy on the weekends. They also have banquet facilities in a separate building (705) 549 4802

St. Amants' Waterfront Inn - Britt
Are you a lover of fresh fish? This place has pickerel so fresh that I swear I thought I saw it jump on the plate. Everyday a fishing boats leaves in the morning from the St Amants' marina and returns with the catch in the early afternoon ... and that is what you are having a few hours later for dinner. The restaurant is very small town and casual ... the fish is divine. These folks go out of their way with service and ensure top quality food. The atmosphere is not fancy but then I was too focused on the table conversations and my food to pay that much attention to the decorations. Let's put it this way, the place has charm and you had better catch your own pickerel and cook it on the shore if you want it any fresher. Their phone # is (705) 383 2434

The Surf Restaurant - Perkinsfield
Somebody recommended that we try this restaurant. Just a ten minute drive down the Balm Beach Rd from Midland is the Surf Restaurant. It sits on the Balm Beach right where the road runs out and turns to water. It is an interesting place with patio and interior restaurant that is decorated with old beach photos, canoe, log accents overlooking the beach - very bohemian. This is an unusual place in an unusual area, but it is very casual - beach bum chic you might say. When we were there a guy with a parrot on his shoulder was hanging out at the bar. Not kidding ... Jimmy Buffet fans would like this place. They serve prime rib every Friday & Saturday night that is the best I've ever had (I've eaten a lot of prime rib in my day). Generous portions with a huge Yorkshire pudding. This was also the best Yorkshire I have ever had and normally I hardly touch the stuff but couldn't resist eating the whole thing. Pickerel is another favorite here. You won't leave feeling hungry. Call (705) 361 1612 to confirm they are open before you drive down. Forget about breakfast and lunch that day and arrive hungry!

Little Britt Inn - Britt
One of the best kept secrets on Georgian Bay is the Little Britt Inn made up of owner Jim Sorrenti and staff. With a view of the bay this inn features 4 cozy rooms and 2 great restaurants. The Lower Deck is open year round while the Upper Deck is availabe in July and August only. While on a kayak trip this spring I stopped in for lunch and meet Jim and had a tour of the inn for the very first time. Although I was early for the Upper Deck and it notariety the Lower Deck was more than comfortable with it's marine atmosphere. The feature of the day was a roasted pork sandwich which in it's own right was great but the delight of the meal was the walleye chowder. If you get a chance to stop by the Little Britt Inn you will not be disappointed. 1-888-383-4555

Top of the Cove Restaurant - Honey Harbour
When I die I hope they bury me with a view half as nice as the view from South Bay Cove's marina restaurant. The mix of Georgian Bay terrain and yachts with a view towards the sun setting is hard to beat.

Now before we talk about about the restaurant, let's give a little plug to the marina - because it is part of the overall experience. The marina is very well run by any standard. Everything is spotless and the staff rush to help boaters and they do it with a smile and a spring in their step ... and they never seem to tire even into the evening. At 8pm they still are going full tilt with smiles as bright as the sun. Ice is free, washrooms are pristine with fresh flowers, the landscaping is spectacular with every blade of grass is neatly trimmed and everything is in it's place neat and tidy. I observed typically five golf carts on the move at one time bringing people to and from their boats and heading up the docks to assist each and every boat coming in. I don't know if it's a service that everybody gets, but I saw one staffer walking a boat owners dog for them just after the boat docked and yes she had a doggy bag. It is not a big marina but it has a high ratio of staff to boaters. I've stayed at marinas from Ontario to Nassau and I can't say that I have seen anything quite like the level of service at South Bay Cove. I'd go so far as to call it a boutique marina. My only suggestion would be to greet returning boaters with an ice cold split of Champagne (just kidding ... I had a marina in South Carolina do that once and I liked it a lot - lol). Hats off to Managers Bill & Jill Snider and the owners who run the marine resort like a finely oiled machine.

As you might expect in such a well run marina, the restaurant was equally well managed. Chef Derek Mayes and his large crew behind the spotless open concept kitchen put out fabulous appetizers, entrees and deserts. They will not disappoint you! The ambience of the restaurant is clean and crisp and even the entertainment was subdued yet very pleasant to have in the background while your enjoying a terrific dining experience. It is not cheap and the average cost per person with wine would be around $60 but the presentation and quality is supreme and you are getting every dollars worth in value. They also offer a three course fixed price Table D'hote menu for $45. and they do offer a lighter fair menu as well. All the sauces, fresh vegetables and meats were exquisite and cooked to perfection. Our server was a professional and timed everything perfectly working with great efficiency.

Our party of four were thoroughly satisfied and impressed. Without dragging you through each menu selection in detail here's a sampling of what we had. Take my word, it was all very nicely done: Sweet Watermelon Argula Salad with Wild Honey, Feta & Lime - Roasted Five Onion Apple Cider French Onion Soup - Lobster & Leek Pasta Purses in Chive Cream Sauce with Riesling Soaked Nova Scotia Scallops - Slow Roasted Pork Loin with Braised Savoy Cabbage and Apple Butter - Seafood Bouillabaisse with PEI Lobster, Clams, Halibut, Mussels, Shrimps, Scallops in a Tomato Saffron Broth. Are you getting hungry yet? And the deserts were divine too!

Whether your travelling by land or boat you should treat yourself to the special experience South Bay Cove offers. The Top of the Cove Restaurant is open only during the summer season ... so call ahead to check. Reservations are recommended as it is busy on the weekends (705) 756 3399 or (705) 756 3333

Princess Hotel - Tobermory
We stopped in Tobermory bringing a boat from Detroit to Midland. Being early May there wasn't much open in Tobermory for dinner. We thought we'd try the Princess Hotel which has a great view of Little Tub Harbour - and it was a short walk from the gas docks where our boat was parked. Due to weather delays we actually had two dinners there and a packed lunch to go. The folks that own the property are friendly and although the staff were just training at the tourist season opening they did very well ... with friendly service and food that came out promptly with good timing. The restaurant mid week for that time of year was surprisingly busy both nights. There were bicycle tourists, divers, locals and a few boaters mixed together. The food is reasonably priced and many dishes have a Greek influence. Steaks, seafood, pasta, sandwiches and a few specialty dishes like leg of lamb are on the menu. They offer a special every night that includes your appetizer, main course and desert. I had the veal special the first night and it was very good. I chased it down with homemade blueberry pie. The second night I ordered Shrimp & Scallops Santorini off the regular menu. It comes served in a lambkin dish smothered in feta cheese with a good portion of scallops and shrimps swimming in a tasty tomato based sauce. For lunch on the Bay they packed us grilled chicken sandwiches. All of our meals were very good and so were the cold Coronas. The restaurant is clean and un-pertinacious and is great value for hungry travelers. (519) 596 8282

The Riv Bistro - Midland
You've had the excellent Greek cuisine on the Danforth in Toronto, in Thornhill at Santorinis, at the historic Olympia Restaurant in Lindsay, but if you haven't had dinner at the Riv Bistro you are missing some really good authentic Greek Cuisine. The Riv Bistro is located at 249 King Street, the main street of Midland and it is only a very short walk from the Midland municipal marina. The restaurant is small and unpretentious. It has a Greek flare to the décor with flamboyant murals painted on the walls and a kind of small town homey feel. The restaurant is clean, the service is prompt and courteous, and the food is divine. The Calamari appetizer is the whole body of the squid, scored, marinated and broiled with olive oil, tomatoes, feta cheese and kalmata olives. They have Horiatika prepared as the traditional Greek salad. The Shrimp Madras, sautéed in curry with jalapeño peppers and parmesan is to die for. The lamb is shank meat, a bit grainy and bursting with flavor… just the way we like it. We thoroughly enjoyed the excellent paper thin phyllo pastry Baklava, prepared with almonds instead of walnuts and dripping with lemon flavoured honey.

The prices are reasonable, the portions are generous, and the quality and presentation is excellent. If you like Greek and Mediterranean food, you'll love the Riv Bistro. It opens for dinner at 5pm and I would suggest calling in your reservation. (705) 526-9432.

Scully's Grill - Midland
Here's what I like about Scully's. The waitresses are nice and it doesn't get much better than hoisting a few Coronas and eating their Seafood Salad Sandwich while overlooking the town marina. You get to watch the motorcycle tourists mingle with the boat types and townies. As well, you can be entertained watching the yellow jackets get trapped in the many baited pop bottles hanging above the patio. The menu is typical roadhouse fare but the food is prepared very well and the portions are generous and the prices are fair. Best of all, it's right on the water and has a casual and unpretentious marine feel. Drop in or call (705) 526-2125 for hours of operations or for reservations.

Henry's South Fish Restaurant - Doral Marine Resort, Midland
One advantage that Doral Marine Resort has over other marinas is that it has a Henry's Fish Restaurant right at the docks. Henry's is a busy place in the summer and for good reason. They serve excellent fish dinners, cooked to perfection and in generous portions. I like the pickerel and the fact that they have to curl the fish's tail end because it is too big to fit on the plate! It's a great place to get a great fish dinner and having the premises stuffed to the gills with boaters only enhances the experience. (705) 528-1919.

Henry's Fish Restaurant - Frying Pan Island, San Souci, Georgian Bay
This is the original Henry's Restaurant.
Ditto above on Henry's Midland, plus the fish tastes even better because... You had to take your boat to get there. It's exotic eating at a cottage-like restaurant out on an island and settlement that sounds like the Caribbean. You get to watch the efficient dock masters dock the boats and seaplanes that come and go. But make no mistake, what appears to be a small restaurant on the outside can put out hundreds of fish dinners daily and still maintain their quality with quick and efficient service. And by the way, Henry’s has some menu items other than fish, but why bother when the fish is so good. (705) 746-9040.

Log Cabin Inn - Parry Sound
For over 20 years the Log Cabin Inn has being offering a tradition of fine dining at Parry Sound. Just a few minutes from the downtown core and Parry Sound's marinas, the Log Cabin Inn has exceptional menus and wine list. Their Chef Dave Chiasson has been with the property for 5 years. The owner Kathy Dalrymple has been operating the resort since her family started the business in 1987. People drive from southern Ontario and stay in the resorts beautifully appointed cottages just to partake in the fine dining offered in the spacious log restaurant. For boaters the neat thing is you can grab a five minute cab ride to the resort for lunch or dinner and Cathy will make sure either she or her staff get you get delivered back to your boat safely at the end of your dining experience.

The Log Cabin is a large restaurant where you will be greeted by a giant two sided stone fireplace right next to their comfortable bar. Their service is attentive and the demeanor friendly. Owner Kathy and her General Manager Cathy Balkwill personally greet each guest and the timing of our server throughout our evening in the dining room was impeccable. I apologize for not remembering our servers name but he was very good, and not overbearing as you sometimes find in fine dining rooms. The restaurant is definitely upscale ... but not so much so that you have to dress up - casual attire will still get you in.

Now the star of the show is the food. They offer a great selection of specials every evening. I hade the Penne Madagascar With Beef & Mushrooms in a peppercorn cream sauce and it was delicious. My wife had the Pan Seared Rainbow Trout with lemon caper dill butter. The trout comes right from the North Channel. The vegetables are all fresh and cooked to perfection. They also offer a wide selection of fresh hand cut to order steaks, lamb, chicken and seafood dishes ... including east coast lobster and shrimp & scallops. They have a very cool wine cellar built on the natural granite below the restaurant. Some of the bottles are aging comfortably right in the rock crevices of the granite outcroppings. The wine list is impressive ranging from inexpensive Sangiovese Italian at $22 bottle to something special like 1995 Sociando-Mallet, Haut Medoc from France for $160.

Whatever your taste you won't be disappointed if you have been cruising and are ready for a really good meal at the Log Cabin Inn. Reservations are advised on the weekends but not required. Phone (705) 746 7122

Anchor Inn Hotel - Little Current
A boater friendly restaurant in downtown Little Current, this is the home of the Cruisers Network that broadcasts every day at 9 am during boating season on VHF channel 71. The Anchor offers excellent hand cut steaks, cooked to perfection and they serve fresh white fish brought in right off the docks. The deck of the restaurant overlooks the harbour. The attached bar is hoping at night. The dining room is casual and not fancy, but the food is great and they have a good selection of wines. The local yacht club even provides free boating seminars at 10:30 am on Saturday mornings at the restaurant. I'm all for restaurants that support boaters and, did I mention, the food is good. (705) 368-2023.

Sportsman's Inn - Killarney
The Sportsman's Inn has experienced a renaissance since the new owners took over and renovated. The dining room overlooks the marina and the main channel. It is fun to eat while watching a parade of yachts go up and down the channel. It's a sight to see when the Viking Owners Association is in town. If the food doesn't make you drool, the boats will. The dining room serves fresh Georgian Bay fish, steak and they fly in oysters, lobster and other seafood every week during July and August. There is also the outdoor patio and a bar. In the summer, it's busy, so reserve ahead. (705) 287-9990.

Grandview Dining Room - Tobermory
We came to the Grandview off season, not by boat but by car. At 8 pm in late October, it was the only full service restaurant open in town. The Grandview overlooks the Harbour from the east side. It provides a great view of the harbour and the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry and it's a great place to watch the sun set. The staff was very courteous and, although the restaurant is not fancy, it is clean and the view is hard to beat. We had the appetizer combination plate, roast duck and the prime rib special. It was all excellent and we washed it down with a good Pinot Noir. Pricing wise, it's not cheap, but the overall value was great and we were pleasantly surprised. (705) 596-2220

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Do you have a favourite restaurant on the Bay that we should know about? Are you a restaurant owner feeling left out? Email us at: info@BoatingGeorgianBay.com and we will review the restaurant when we can. You don’t have anything to lose because...

It's free... except for us, as we pay for our dinners.

It's painless... you won't even know we've been there.

If we don't like your restaurant, we won't write about it. You won't even know what we thought and neither will the public.

If we like it... We'll tell the world all about your restaurant.

Bon Appetit!