Restaurants in Guelph

The warmth of the Mediterranean sun pervades Nu Panino's kitchen, where chefs stick to southern Italian recipes as they prepare fresh salads and sandwiches topped with spicy meats and grilled veggies. Though some of the deli’s concoctions—such as the Greek salad—reach beyond Italy’s borders for inspiration, the deli stays true to the birthplace of the Renaissance with meats such as veal scaloppine, cured sausage, and prosciutto. When they aren’t slathering tomato sauce on sandwiches during the lunch and early-dinner rushes, the deli’s staff caters parties and lengthy interrogations with cold-cut platters, assorted deli trays, and pasta.

Though its menu pays deference to the pizzas, burgers, and chicken wings on tap at more traditional sports bars, C J Burgers & Pizza draws its primary inspiration from its Greek owners, who stack plates with the Mediterranean-style gyros and skewered pork souvlaki of their native land. Maple Leafs fans pile into the cozy restaurant on game nights to follow their team's travails on TV screens stationed above a full-service bar that stocks top-shelf spirits. Cheering fans can seek hands they haven't high-fived yet on the heated outdoor patio, which overlooks North York's bustling downtown.

Restaurateur Ed Ho is turning Toronto into a city of locavores through the rustic cuisine of chef Dan Sanders and local ingredients, upholding the mantra of "Think global. Eat local." at both earth locations. Both locations take inspiration from harvests and hunts upon Ontario's bountiful land and lakes. After provincial ingredients are gathered, they are weaved into featured, seasonal dishes of fresh catches and dry-aged meats. The cuisine was called "out of this world" by Post City Magazine and earned earth a spot on Toronto Life's Top Places to Eat Now. The dishes are paired with selections from an extensive local wine list and branded earth wines, which were bottled by Cave Spring Cellars in Jordan.

Both earth locations immerse their guests in a setting that, like a fashion-forward lumberjack, is both rustic and chic. earth Bloor West decor was described by Toronto Life as a "sleek mixture of dark finishes (slate tiles) and organic elements (reclaimed barn boards), illuminated by stunning pendant lamps."

Chef Kevin Greaves spent years travelling the world studying the spices and cuisine unique to each region. Of all that he tasted, the foods that stood out in his mind and palate hailed from three distinct locales: Thailand, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. Rather than limit himself to a single favourite, the head chef of Jambalaya Restaurant incorporated flavours from all three regions into his eclectic menu.

The menu highlights traditional dishes from each region, including pad thai from Thailand, gumbo and jambalaya from the Louisiana bayou, and curried goat from the Caribbean. In addition, Chef Greaves prepares some dishes with a fusion twist, adding jerk spices to vegetable pad thai or moulding a plate of shrimp creole into the shape of Thailand. The chef flavours each dish with the restaurant’s signature brand of spices and sauces.

Situated within Quaker Barrel Unique Antique & General Store, The Mad Hatter's Tea Room is a memorable Talbot Trail destination for flights of fine loose-leaf teas. The tea room's bright red door opens to a carefree, homestyle atmosphere with furnishings and decorative flourishes that evoke the beloved children's tale Alice in Wonderland. A whimsical menu of light fare and myriad loose-leaf specialty teas are complemented by frequent appearances from the fully costumed Mad Hatter himself, who emerges to reclaim his Mad Hatter's table or gossip about who wears a toupee with guests on Alice's couch. A selection of for-sale _Alice in Wonderland_–themed collectibles includes decorative china plates and framed prints, with the fanciful, all-things-Alice mood spilling out onto the Queen of Hearts outdoor seating area complete with a grassy, wood-fenced garden.

Cachet perches on the edge of Fairy Lake and, accordingly, seafood takes a starring role on the menu. Aquatic life shows up in classics such as trout niçoise and citrus-glazed grilled salmon but also finds its way into gourmet tacos and a wide array of sandwiches clasped by wrap bread or naan. Pastas and filet mignon round out a slate of global flavours, complemented by elaborate martinis—bartenders shake in lychee liqueur or rim glasses with chocolate. A patio overlooks the lake, which patrons can admire while lounging under an umbrella or a table.