Experience Northern Ontario’s food scene
Ernie’s Coffee Shop, Sault Ste. Marie
From roadside chip trucks in North Bay to upscale dining restaurants in Sault Ste. Marie, experience the breadth of local flavours and the warmth of hospitality across Northern Ontario.
Here’s a selection of restaurants and cafes to include on your next road trip north.
Northeastern Ontario
McIntyre Coffee Shop
Located just east of Timmins in Schumacher, this old-fashioned diner serves a selection of breakfast sandwiches and house-made smash burgers, perfect for a hearty lunch appetite.
Location: 85 McIntyre Road, Schumacher
Ciao Sandwich Co.
This modern cafe in the heart of Timmins specializes in Italian-style sandwiches and espresso-based drinks. House-made focaccia serves as the base for Ciao’s sandwich selection.
Location: 177 3rd Avenue, Timmins
Radical Gardens
Award-winning restaurant and bakery Radical Gardens offers seasonal dishes cooked using ingredients sourced from its organic farm.
Find a rotating weekly selection of sweet treats in the bakery, such as cinnamon buns, cookies and cupcakes.
Location: 163 Fifth Avenue, Timmins
Fishbowl Restaurant
With its warm atmosphere, views of the Mattagami River and friendly staff, Fishbowl Restaurant is a staple for Timmins locals. Choose from fish and seafood dishes like house-made coconut shrimp, crab cakes, lightly dusted pickerel, bacon-wrapped filet mignon and the famous fish and chips.
Location: 942 Riverside Drive, Timmins
Anna Laura Patisserie et Petit Cafe
From artisan croissants and cheesecake-based doughnuts to cinnamon buns and apple caramel danishes, this boutique pastry shop will transport you to the streets of Paris.
Follow Anna Laura on Instagram to see what’s on the ever-changing menu.
Location: 125 Loachs Road, Greater Sudbury
Books and Beans
A cozy downtown bookstore-meets-café offers a relaxed place to sip a cappuccino as you browse a curated collection of books—many by Northern Ontario authors. Choose from a weekday menu featuring bagel melts, breakfast sandwiches, and soups, or visit on Saturday for brunch.
Location: 158 Elgin Street, Suite 102, Greater Sudbury
Tucos Taco Lounge
Enjoy a Mexican-inspired plant-based menu featuring flavour-packed tacos, tortas, burritos and more.
Location: 582 Kathleen Street, Sudbury
The Laughing Buddha
Part pizza place, part craft-beer bar, The Laughing Buddha is one of Sudbury’s long-standing downtown restaurants.
Location: 194 Elgin Street, Sudbury
Respect is Burning Kitchen & Bar
Classic movie posters decorate the dark brick walls of this cozy Italian restaurant. Classic dishes include rigatoni carbonara, seafood tagliatelle and gnocchi with a traditional meat sauce.
Location: 82 Durham Street, Sudbury
La Fromagerie
Sudbury’s La Fromagerie is a cafe-wine bar known for cheese and charcuterie boards and a relaxed, social atmosphere.
Location: 80 Elgin Street, Sudbury
Burger World
This North Bay eatery offers a variety of classic comfort foods. Enjoy all-day breakfast favourites like French toast, omelettes and gluten-free pancakes or delicious dinner dishes such as clubhouse sandwiches, vegan fajita wraps, chicken fingers and hamburger steak.
Locations:
Opera Cafe and Bakery
This laid-back spot offers a wide selection of soups, salads and sandwiches prepared on homemade bread.
Location: 164 Main Street West, North Bay
Arugula
A casual Italian-inspired eatery serving antipasti, panini, and the main attraction, a selection of Neapolitan pizzas.
Location: 1066 Fisher Street, North Bay
1886 Lake House Bistro
Located on Callander Bay, just outside North Bay, this bistro is a great place to visit after boating, skiing or hiking. The cottage-casual vibe creates a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy dishes from the French-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Don’t miss the pickerel croquettes made with fish from Lake Erie.
Location: 392 Main Street South, Callander
Everest Cuisine North Bay
Everest Cuisine offers the North Bay community the bold flavours of Indo-Nepalese cuisine.
Location: 340 Main Street West, Top Floor, North Bay
Station Tap House & Steak Co.
Located in a restored train station, this is one of North Bay’s most popular steakhouses. With a variety of Canadian prime beef cuts as well as thoughtfully prepared fish, poultry and vegetarian dishes on the menu, there’s something for everyone.
Location: 603 McIntyre Street East, North Bay
North46 Restaurant
Enjoy casual fine dining at the North46 Restaurant in the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre. Specializing in Indigenous-themed dining, the menu offers an array of breakfast and dinner dishes like pancakes, bison burgers and pan-seared Manitoulin whitefish.
Enjoy views of the LaCloche Mountain range and the North Channel on Lake Huron as you enjoy your meal from the outdoor patio.
Location: Lobby Level, 66 Meredith Street East, Little Current
Prepped Manitoulin
Prepped Manitoulin offers fully cooked, made-from-scratch, to-go meals on Manitoulin Island. Follow Prepped Manitoulin on Instagram to see what’s on the ever-changing menu.
Location: 13 Manitowaning Road, Little Current
Brii Co Miijim
Brii‑Co Miijim is a small Indigenous-owned and operated food stop focused on comfort food. During the warmer months, stop by and enjoy local fried fish, Serpent smash burger, fresh cut fries, chili and made-to-order scones.
Visit Brii‑Co Miijim on Facebook for menu updates.
Location: First Nation, 479B ON-17, Serpent River
Ali’s Grill and Bar
Conveniently located along Highway 11 and a short walk away from the Holiday Inn Express in New Liskeard, Ali’s Grill and Bar is well-known to locals in the Temiskaming area for its tasty steaks and seafood dishes.
Follow Ali’s Grill and Bar on Facebook to stay in the loop.
Location: 998006 ON-11, Temiskaming Shores
Riv Chip Stand and Larry’s Chip Stand
The town of Sturgeon Falls is famous for its chip stands, but none more so than Riv Chip Stand and Larry’s Chip Stand. Both stands have been open since the 1960s and are situated directly across from each other on the town’s Main Street, close to the Trans-Canada Highway.
Various owners have maintained the competitive rivalry over the decades. In addition to the famed fries, these two chip stands offer pogo sticks, poutine, char-broiled burgers and milkshakes. Order food to go or enjoy it in the stands’ outdoor seating areas.
Locations:
- Riv Chip Stand: 235 Main Street, Sturgeon Falls
- Larry’s Chip Stand: 230 Main Street, Sturgeon Falls
Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma
Kasdan Co.
Kasdan Co. turns doughnuts into art! Each doughnut is made with the finest locally sourced ingredients available. Creative flavours are always changing.
Visit Kasdan Co.’s on Facebook to stay up to date.
Location: 792 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
The Queen’s Tarts
The Queen’s Tarts opened its first brick-and-mortar bakery and cafe in 2019. There are typically 20 to 30 varieties of butter tarts available in-store daily.
Location: 472 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
The Breakfast Pig
A staple for all-day breakfast food in Sault Ste. Marie, The Breakfast Pig is a unique eatery using ingredients sourced from nearby farms.
Location: 265 Bruce Street, Sault Ste. Marie
The Soup Witch
A community-driven cafe focused on lunch fare and comfort with a wide variety of soups or stews alongside a selection of sandwiches and salads.
Location: 215 Fourth Line East #2, Sault Ste. Marie
Ernie’s Coffee Shop
When you spot the bright blue and red neon diner sign hanging above the unassuming stone exterior, you’ve found Ernie’s Coffee Shop.
This small diner is a hidden gem known for its seasonal ingredients sourced in the Algoma region. Many items, like bread, pickles and sauces, are made in-house to be as fresh as possible.
Follow Ernie’s on Instagram.
Location: 13 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
Uncle Gino’s Restorante
Savour authentic Italian comfort food at this locally owned, family-run pizzeria.
Location: 56 Second Line West, Sault Ste. Marie
Aurora’s Westside
This family-friendly restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie has been serving high-quality Italian and American food for more than 70 years.
Locations:
Thomson Farms
Thomson Farms is situated on 22 scenic hectares west of Sault Ste. Marie. The farm includes a winery and cidery, producing fruit wines and hard cider.
Sit down for a casual drink and a snack at the farm’s Wine Bar and Patio.
Location: 4057 Third Line West, Sault Ste. Marie
Broers Jansen
Visit this cozy downtown wine bar for a rotating selection of international wines, local craft beers and whiskies paired with a charcuterie board—or Bro’cuterie board as they’re called locally.
Location: 674A Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
Noel’s Place
Noel’s Place is both a restaurant called Chummy’s Grill and a convenience store called “R” Smokin’ Store. The restaurant features delicious family-style meals, including a popular fish fry on Thursdays and Fridays.
Location: 262 Frontenac Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Veilleux Camping & Marina
Located just outside of Hearst in Cochrane District, the bar and grill at Veilleux Camping & Marina provides a relaxed atmosphere, a great view of Lake Pivabiska and a menu of classic favourites, such as poutines, burgers and sandwiches.
Location: 20 Desgroseilliers Road, Hearst
Northwest Ontario
Kangas Sauna
Sample authentic and delicious Finnish pancakes. Available in mini, small and large sizes, customize your pancake with toppings like strawberries, whipped cream and syrup, and add a side order of bacon, sausage, ham, poutine or coleslaw.
Location: 379 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay
The Persian Man
You’ll need to sample a “Persian” while visiting Thunder Bay. This must-try Thunder Bay delicacy is a round fried pastry frosted with bright pink or blue icing and sometimes toasted and topped with butter.
Follow The Persian Man on Facebook.
Locations:
Tomlin Restaurant
Tomlin Restaurant works with local producers to create an ever-changing menu based on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
If you’re in the mood for casual Detroit-style pizza, Tomlin’s Subdivision is your go-to, located next to Lakehead Beer Company.
Locations:
- Tomlin Restaurant, 202 1/2 Red River Road, Thunder Bay
- Subdivision, 28 Cumberland Street South, Thunder Bay
Caribou Restaurant + Wine Bar
Step into a gently lit, warm interior decorated with colourful paintings and accented with plush violet booths.
Reservations are recommended.
Location: 727 Hewitson Street, Thunder Bay
The Vault Social House
The Vault Social House is a gastronomic cornerstone in Kenora, serving elevated pub food and finely crafted cocktails.
Location: 154 Main Street South, Kenora
Anishinaabe Wild Rice Experience
Learn wild rice harvesting methods and the Ojibwe peoples’ spiritual connection to the harvest. This two-day, hands-on experience runs during the wild rice season, from early September to late October.
Location: Whitefish Lake
From signature pizza to locally sourced freshwater fish, Northern Ontario is brimming with wonderful places to eat and drink.
Last updated: April 8, 2026