Discover Collingwood’s Diverse Food Scene
By: Deepi Harish
When you think of Collingwood, you think of Nordic spa experiences, downhill and cross-country skiing at Blue Mountain during the winter and scenic trails for hikes and bike rides during the summer. You wouldn’t necessarily think of Collingwood as a culinary destination, yet it is.
Here are eight places in Collingwood offering diverse dining and drink options that are worth the drive.
Penny’s Snack Bar was remodelled in 2021, as was Penny’s Motel. Their menu is simple and clean. This is where you want to come afterwork for their local craft beers, global wines, charcuterie and mezze boards. They’re also the only fresh oyster bar in the area. Penny’s is a chill yet trendy take on a 70’s motel located in Thornbury, a nearby, must-visit small town when visiting Collingwood.
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With Bruce Wine Bar, you come for the wine but stay for the pizza or vice versa. Bruce is known for its sommelier-curated wine list, but that’s not the only reason. Bruce’s signature wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza, sustainably sourced seafood and seasonal, locally inspired entrees is the other reason. If you’re looking for something different and delicious, order the dill pickle pizza or the birra pork pizza. Their classic pepperoni won’t disappoint either. Bonus, their in-house sommelier will happily recommend the perfect pairing to enhance the dining experience. This is another hot spot in Thornbury that has a speakeasy vibe with a proper dinner menu
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Mamacita Tacoria is the only food truck that has the exclusive rights to be on the grounds of Side Launch Brewery. I don’t think anyone would argue against the fact that beer and tacos are a dynamic duo, like Tom and Jerry. Husband and wife team, Steve and Alisha, are the friendly owners and cooks behind this Mexican joint. Their menu is small but mighty. Meat lovers will love their pork al pastor and beef brisket tacos and vegans/vegetarians will relish in their faux-rizo tacos or quesadillas, which is their delightful version of Mexican chorizo.
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A staple in the lively Blue Mountain Village is Mother Tongue, carrying influences from the Philippines, China and Japan. Essentially, it’s an Asian-fusion restaurant. The menu is divided into five sections; dim sum, small plates, land, sea & sky, fallbacks and noodles & rice. Must order dishes include: wagyu sando, fried brussel sprouts, Tokyo miso black cod, bulgogi short ribs and the torched wagyu chow mein. Executive Chef, Francis Bermejo, has mastered the art of balancing flavours and textures in every bite.
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Poppy’s Bistro transports you into a French bistro complete with elegance, richness and decadence. Of course, their brunch menu serves up delicious french toast and savoury duck niçoise, but the roasted beets layered with goat cheese, mascarpone, blueberry glaze and honey roasted sunflower seeds is brilliant, as is the truffle honey butter served with the warm baguette. Highly recommended is the chef’s selection of cheese paired with a glass of rose and/or digestif to complete the meal.
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This is a great place to spend the afternoon, especially if you’re a beer enthusiast. The staff is friendly and welcoming. They offer a full lineup of beers on tap and hard seltzers that are served in their tap room or beer garden. Bonus, you’re likely to catch a live music performance during your visit. Side Launch also launches a new craft beer each month that highlights a different style and flavour, which is something fun to look out for.
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Located right in the Blue Mountain Village is this chic venue which features an array of classic and signature cocktails. Their drink menu is eight pages long, and they’re regularly experimenting with new concoctions to add to their menu. Twist fuses French and Italian cuisine. However, a majority of the menu is based on classic North American dishes such as chicken supreme, signature burgers and the must-have lobster linguine.
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Husband and wife duo, Mike and Linda – the lovely people behind The Curly Willow, have truly created something special with the food, service and pleasant ambience. Linda does the cooking, while Mike does the serving and entertaining. It’s definitely a community gem that uses local food producers. Their food ranges from lobster grill cheese to filet mignon to the most delectable freshly caught halibut filet served with coconut risotto and house vegetables. There’s nothing on the menu that doesn’t showcase the love put into every dish.
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