Top Spots to Enjoy Chef-Owned and Curated Menus in South Eastern Ontario
Want to taste elevated menus across South Eastern Ontario at places to dine that are owned and operated by their chefs? Sounds tasty! Stunning flavours melt into satisfying palate pleasers on curated menus from the very professionals who make the food. Read on for 36 places to try across South Eastern Ontario, where the chefs are the owners, too.
Tantalize your tastebuds in the Bay of Quinte
1. Corinne Sykes of The Kafana
This resto is both niche and scrumptious. Serving up Mediterranean and European fare, chef and owner Sykes also specializes in unbelievably good Ukrainian perogies!
2. Jeff Camacho of Burger Revolution
Owner and chef Camacho grills up intense and memorable burgers in Belleville, with flavours like Chevre Guevarra and the Royal Rizal. Burger Revolution is a favourite in the Bay of Quinte region, with Camacho using local sustainable, grass-fed and grain-finished premium beef, flame grilled with only the freshest locally grown produce and cheese. His creativity shines in bold burgers!
Savour the flavours in L&A County
3. David Yeung at Fool’s Kitchen
This popular spot in Napanee is a treat from start to finish. The house-made Asian fusion restaurant delivers incredible flavour and creativity in every dish. From Cambodian to Vietnamese to Thai and Korean, Fool’s Kitchen is slowing down the pace and focusing on culinary enjoyment.
4. Ellena and Ben Fleury, Ellena’s Cafe
This place always smells delicious walking in! Ellena’s Cafe in Napanee is a perfect blend of cozy cafe, community hub and homemade lunch stop. Look here for the house made artisan breads, hearty soups, sweet pastries as well as the retail shop to take home something mouth-watering.
Indulge in culinary delights in Prince Edward County
On Picton’s Main Street you can find Cameron cooking up a perfectly balanced menu of seasonal and Spanish-inspired food, cocktails and regional wines. WIth a global culinary background, Cameron features the finest ingredients sourced from around the world making for unique and flavourful dishes. (our feature header image).
6. Hidde Zomer at Flame + Smith
This restaurant is on fire. Literally. Flame + Smith is all about woodfire cooking with open flames, farm-to-fire cooking which takes centre stage in the experience of eating here. The kitchen is open to the restaurant, with the open-fire cooking visible from every vantage point. Hidde and his partner and co-owner, Sarah Soetens, offer a fresh and garden-based menu which changes on the daily - and makes for a sizzling dining experience.
7. Martin Brzozowski at Onesta
Traditionally-inspired, hand-crafted Italian food and wine, you say? Sign us up. Martin focuses on antipasto and freshly-made pasta in this favourite PEC restaurant. The focaccia here is next level. Look here for take-home offerings, as well!
8. Jared Hartley at Hartley’s Tavern
From bison striploin to seared duck breast, Hartley’s Tavern is serving up elegance crafted with County ingredients and flavour. This result is a refined yet creative menu at this family-owned restaurant that elevates the downtown dining experience in Picton.
9. Leah Marshall Hannon at Stella’s Eatery
This is a special place. Chef Leah honours the legacy of her ancestors through thoughtfully prepared, simple comfort food, inspired by local and sustainable food in Prince Edward County. The ever-changing menu here is full of fresh and foraged seasonal ingredients - stop by to see the chalkboard for what’s on!
10. Myles Harrison at Theia
This intimate 25-seat resto in Picton may seem tiny, but the food resonates big time. As the Myles is known for striving for deliberate and familiar dishes while also showcasing the agricultural bounty of Prince Edward County. He’s also a sommelier so expect some perfect pairings; look here for totally unpretentious but memorable dishes.
11. Jesse Fader at Darlings/Hank’s Lonesome
Darlings and Hank’s Lonesome both pass the vibe check and then some. Casual, with reliably good, simple food. Hank’s Lonesome is known for its chicken and epic Cool Ranch Caesars while being a honky tonk tavern. Darlings is a self-proclaimed pizza ranch known for its personal service (we hear the vodka pizza is a must!). It was voted top 10 new restaurants in Canada by Air Canada and enRoute Magazine a few years ago and everything has only gotten better since.
This highly-recommended resto in Picton hits all the marks. Chefs Su and Choi are acclaimed for their delicious homestyle Korean cuisine. Known for their Korean sauce made in house with their own recipe, Chef Su and Choi have made Sujeo a sought after restaurant with their culinary art of perfectly blending spice and flavour.
13. Jamie Kennedy with J.K French Fries
This foodie phenom was set up last summer at the Wellington Community Market, selling elevated fries and weekly extras. With a history of culinary innovation and a commitment to sustainable agriculture, Order of Canada Chef Kennedy helped pioneer farm to table initiative and is now making a mark on the PEC culinary scene reimagining the food truck experience.
Discover your delicious in Kingston
14. Colin Burtch of Kingston Brewing Company
The KBC is an iconic brew pub in the downtown core and co-owner and chef Colin Burtch is at the helm continuing to deliver the pub fare that makes it legendary. Known as Ontario’s oldest brew pub, KBC is usually busy and with good reason - with delicious food and 28 Ontario craft beers on tap it’s a fav spot to hang out.
15. Paulson George at Mercury Bar and Lounge
The menu melds western culinary traditions and Asian influences and it’s evident in every bite that Chef Paulson loves to push boundaries and explore with food. Mercury celebrates diverse flavours making each dish an experience.
16. Alison and Andrew Scahill of Mesa Fresca
Latin and Mexican inspired, approachable, modern yet casual and surprises in each dish. That’s Alison and Andrew’s style at Mesa Fresca in Kingston. Also look for the newly opened Burger 347 to tempt your tastebuds in an all new way! Burger lovers unite here and revel in the classics, but also satisfy cravings for new and creative offerings on a bun.
17. Stev George at Olivea in Kingston and Riva in Gananoque
As a family-run Italian restaurant, Olivea is known for its fresh pasta, sauces and ragus, and anti-pasti boards. Over in Gananoque, Riva uses the freshest ingredients to craft simple yet elegant dishes. Chef-owner Stev George creates Italian inspired menus here, too, featuring everything from oysters, carpaccio hot apps, meat and fish dishes as well as the signature pizza.
A feast awaits in 1000 Islands Gananoque
18. Patrick O’Neil and Chris Bassel of The Ivy Restaurant
This stunning waterfront resto elegantly serves regionally inspired cuisine on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Chefs Patrick and Chris are passionate about local ingredients and use them throughout the establishment - in the fine dining restaurant, on the dockside patio, and the Coach House Creamery.
19. Ben and Bobby Mukherjee at 1000 Curry
Find out why this spot is a Gananoque go-to! Ben and Bobby are serving up their favourites with a home blend of fresh ground spices, custom made to suit individual palates and prepared fresh to order. Experience the magic of samosas, curries, lassi and mango ice cream for dessert!
20. Ray Stedman at Laverne’s Eatery
Comfort food with flair! Chef Ray is aiming to make you feel at home with delicious flatbreads, and dishes like Asian Soba Noodle Salad, smoked salmon loaded on a bagel, epic weekend brunches to kick start your slow-paced downtime and even a full bar with local beers, ciders, wines and cocktails. Stop by - guarantee you’ll stay a while on King Street in Gananoque.
21. Paval Soupal at Maple Leaf Restaurant
The food philosophy here is that a freshly-cooked meal from scratch is the best thing going. Paval’s menu is inspired by this family’s Czech culture, while also being full of flavourful local food and produce and slow-cooking. Paval is always in the middle of it all, in an open-concept kitchen, constantly chopping, grilling, stewing, roasting, etc at this true community resto where everything is made lovingly from scratch.
22. Kerry Coyle at Purple House Cafe
A hidden gem! Kerry Coyle serves up wood fired artisan, thin crust pizza, salads and homemade desserts just steps from the St. Lawrence River in this unique and cottage-vibe restaurant. It’s seasonal - so keep an eye out for the spring opening and with no reservations it’s a hot spot with a magical, licensed garden patio.
23. Chelsea Owen and Matthew McNeil at Stonewater Gastro Pub
Not only is the Stonewater Pub the most darling hole in the wall pub around, filled with cosiness and antiques, a great breakfast, live music and micro-brewed beers, but it’s also bursting with flavour from the menu, curated by Chelsea and Matthew. Be sure to try the Irish nachos, fish tacos, salads and incredible burgers. Look here for specialty desserts, too - all overlooking the river!
The freshest ingredients. Check! Asian traditions. Check! Creativity. Check! Shin Han checks all the boxes to serve authentic Japanese cuisine at Sushi Sun on King Street in Gananoque. What’s more, this is a unique take on the sushi restaurant: it’s a modern drive-thru, take-out place without compromising quality.
Elevate your palette in Brockville
25. Tan Masong of Nakhon Thai
The delightfully exquisite Thai cuisine served up by owner and chef Tan has been a local favourite for the past decade! Located in Downtown Brockville, Nakhon Thai has become a community mainstay with its seamless blend of traditional authentic and adapted Thai dishes. Look for two more of Tan’s restos in Kemptville and Morrisburg, too!
26. Dale Donnelly at Finnigan’s Tavern
Chef and owner Dale Donnelly’s menu is known for being delicious and accommodating - no matter the time of day! From a hearty all day breakfast, to tender steaks and seafood to gourmet pizza and even vegan and GF options, Dale’s kitchen takes care to please everyone’s tastes. Add that to 18 draft and cider taps and Finnigan’s Tavern is your next go-to.
Foodie finds in 1000 Island Rideau Canal Waterways
27. Cynthia Peters at Maison Maitland
Get ready for a rich experience that is everything you wanted from a cooking class. Chef and owner Cynthia Peters is masterfully creating special culinary moments every day at Maison Maitland during award-winning cooking classes in the state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen, before participants enjoy the fruits of their labour in the exceptional dining room or courtyard. Peters is an inspired personal chef with certificates from Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa.
28. Helga Lukowski at The Linden Leaf Restaurant
A mouth-watering menu of elevated European dishes has been curated here! The Linden Leaf is newly opened in Oxford Station and headed up by Chef Helga with her daughter, Paige. Dining here is a personal and unforgettable experience, with Helga often visiting tables to welcome guests while serving the best Wiener Schnitzels, Bratwurst, Spaetzle, and quality steaks.
29. Mark Segu Gomez of Little Barcelona
Tapas, pinchos, paella, charcuterie boards… the list goes on and culminates in the highly prized Joselito Iberico ham, imported and recognized as the world’s finest. Mark Segu Gomez is at the helm at this Prescott dine-in restaurant, that does all things Spain - and does it well.
Where gourmet meets local charm in SDG Counties
30. Shawn Fowler at Jack’s Pub
This place in Williamstown is a great mix of classic pub with charming ambiance and small town hospitality. Shawn’s food has made loads of community fans, with especially memorable burgers.
31. Alicia Soberanis at Sol de Acapulco
Chef Alicia cooks up German and Mexican cuisine that puts customers in mind of Mexican beaches and Eastern European flavours! Located in Ingleside, Alicia prepares all food fresh and on-site. Full flavours and delicious meals can be found here! We hear that Chef Alicia is known as being caring to her patrons, while being uncompromising on the quality of ingredients and taste of the food.
32. Shawn Knelson at Iron Forge
This downtown Winchester eclectic pizza place is based around housemade gourmet pizza. We hear the Dragon’s Breath pizza is a unique one to try as well as the Beast Mode pizza loaded with meat! Shawn’s pizza crust is heirloom sourdough, complimenting homemade soups, and fresh baked bread every day - need we say more?!
33. Veronique Proulx at La Belle Sorelle
Our mouths are watering just reading the menu here. Veronique Proulx is making good food from scratch over at La Belle Sorelle in Alexandria - and the love that she pours into each dish is evident. Menus change seasonally here and come highly recommended (think pork and shrimp spring rolls, smoked salmon bagel dip and so much more). There’s also an option for takeaways!
Explore exceptional dining in Cornwall
34. Jason Wagner at Edward’s Bistro
Chef Jason serves up brunch, lunch and dinner menus inspired by classical French and Italian cuisine! This Red Seal chef and owner prides himself on using only ingredients sourced locally and prepared from scratch in-house, alongside his wife, Rosie. Known as Cornwall’s finest bistro fare, Edward’s is highly regarded in the city as a community gem.
35. Chef Ahmad Mansori of TAURO Restaurant
Enjoy Chef Ahmad’s exclusive dishes in a memorable dining atmosphere at Tauro. With a unique selection of prime grade steaks, savoury seafood and blended fusion, Ahmad has done it again to create a memorable menu at this Cornwall resto.
Chef's creations in Prescott Russell
36. Andreas Politakis at Stephanie’s Gill
For more than three decades, Stephanie’s Grill has been a mainstay for reliably impressive food in Hawkesbury. Andreas Politakis is the executive chef and owner here, where upscale food is served in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Look to Stephanie’s Grill for wholesome breakfasts to hearty lunches, mouth watering steak, rich seafood dishes and awesome burgers.
There’s definitely something special about chef owned and curated spots in South Eastern Ontario - and this is just the tip of the iceberg, with many more around the region to discover! Where’s your favourite chef-owned restaurant to indulge?
READ ALSO
