The top 9 places you’ve got to check out!
For the past decade, Guelph has worked towards cultivating a diverse selection of late-night restaurants capable of competing with the likes of Hamilton and Toronto. With no real platform for restaurants to showcase their talent, many businesses rely on word of mouth within this community driven city to grow and succeed. There are so many incredible restaurants in Guelph and unfortunately ten spots are not enough to showcase the brilliance and diversity that Guelph’s restaurateurs are providing, so I apologize if I offended anyone by leaving their favourite off of this list. This list is meant to serve as a guide for both the uninitiated and a reminder for the veterans of Guelph’s booming restaurant scene. I hope this inspires you to either try something new or revisit a place you have already grown to love.
Writer Joshua Frade has worked in the service industry for close to a decade and spends much of his free time eating and drinking with friends in some of Guelph’s best hidden gems. Here are his recs for where you’ve got to go!
The Wooly
176 Woolwich St.
The Wooly is considered a rite of passage to both University of Guelph students and alumni. The unique atmosphere this Guelph institution provides is nothing short of welcoming for all who pass through their doors. Drawing inspiration from the rise of the Ontario craft beer industry, The Wooly regularly features new and creative beers from ambitious breweries and even offers a new daily feature menu to pair with some of their limited time drink offerings. The menu itself offers classic pub fare to satiate any fried cravings you may have. What sets the food apart from many of the other pubs in Guelph is the local sourcing of their ingredients. If you want to have a fun pub-style night out with your friends, listen to one of the many local bands with your family, or indulge in the latest of Ontario’s craft beer scene, The Wooly will not disappoint.
Crafty Ramen
17 Macdonell St.
Located just steps away from Guelph’s historic Basilica of Our Lady church, Crafty Ramen is part of Guelph’s expanding restaurant diversity. Those at Crafty Ramen succeed in every way to bring an authentic Japanese ramen shop experience to Guelph by keeping the tradition of utilizing regional ingredients within their food. The noodle shop is quite small, only seats around 20 people, but this does not make the experience feel suffocating. In fact, eating elbow to elbow with friends or strangers can lend to the growing feeling of community, warmth, and comfort as ramen chefs move seamlessly and precisely to make these savoury dishes. For those who have dietary restrictions, Crafty Ramen also offers an assortment of vegan and vegetarian appetizers and bowls.
Royal Electric Bar & Public Eatery
52 Macdonell St.
Since opening, Royal Electric has quickly become one of Guelph’s most dynamic and exciting restaurants. Within the five years they have been open, Royal Electric has begun a subtle shift in their identity. While still retaining some aspects of their original Southern/Cajun-inspired menu, you can see a transition to a more classic American menu with a focus on making the best barbeque and the most unforgettable burger in Guelph. Each day of the week offers a unique deal on food and drink, with one of my favourites being a specialty brunch menu they have catered for the weekends. If you are looking to continue your night out later in the evening, Royal Electric smoothly transitions to a lively bar filled with fantastic selection of craft beer and live music. The consistency in which Royal Electric satisfies their guests makes this restaurant one you are guaranteed to return to.
Na Ha Thai’s Kitchen
471 York Rd.
Before Crafty Ramen, there was Na Ha’s. Leading the charge for a new wave of diverse restaurants in Guelph, Na Ha Thai’s Kitchen has been relentless in their pursuit of creating the most complex and delicious Thai dishes. Although their menu may be overwhelming for some, taking the time to navigate through the extensive list of curries, stir-fried noodles, and rolls will reward you with one of the most unique dining experiences in Guelph. If it is your first time at Na Ha’s, ordering any of the soups or Thai curries will provide an introduction to how flavours layer and build into something greater than the sum of its parts. If you are a veteran of Na Ha Thai’s Kitchen, I recommend either trying or reordering any of their northern Thai dishes. Although much of Na Ha’s business is done through takeout, they do have some seating which allows for you to experience the aromatics in the restaurant while the staff hustle to supply the ever-growing demand.
Miijidaa
37 Quebec St.
The name of the restaurant comes from the Ojibway language translating to “let’s eat,” which acts as more of a feeling between friends, family, or whomever is lucky enough to accompany you to Miijidaa. Upon entering, the uniqueness of this location is instantly apparent. The only adjective that comes close to describing the ambiance is whimsy. The dining room acts as a canvas for local artists to display their work and homemade touches while the staff work expertly in displaying the highest standard of environmental and social performance, demonstrating why they earned the Certified B Corporation status. Although their ingredients are locally sourced, the food being made draws inspiration worldwide. On any day of the week you can find food and drink deals, making Miijidaa accessible to those who wish to eat at a lower price point. Although it is easy to opt into their burger or pizza menu, I highly encourage those to try more eccentric items such as their Hay Smoked Duck or their Elk Scotch Egg.
Buon Gusto
69 Wyndham St. N
For those who are looking to indulge a bit more than the average burger joint, I highly recommend your next outing be to Buon Gusto. Being a prominent fixture for years in downtown Guelph, Buon Gusto can offer either a formal or casual experience depending on the night you decide to have. Before mentioning their food, it is important to note that the level of hospitality at this restaurant is near unprecedented. The food selection at Buon Gusto is mainly classic Italian, so if you have a craving for meatballs, bruschetta, spaghetti carbonara, or even margherita pizza, Buon Gusto can satisfy those cravings. Pair this with their abundant wine selection and it is impossible to walk away disappointed.
Baker Street Station
76 Baker St.
As the sun sets in Guelph, there is always one place that you are guaranteed to find me. Coexisting with their neighbour The Wooly, Baker Street has quickly risen to the top of many Guelphites’ favourite restaurant list. Capitalizing heavily on the Ontario craft beer scene, the quickly rotating chalkboard of hidden gems from uncommon breweries keeps the avid beer geek coming back day after day to either get one last sip of a favourite before it is gone, or hunt down the next holy grail. A seasonal menu works hard to pair with the bounty of unique craft beer and showcases the talent of local chefs as they display their approach to trendy dishes in the culinary world. Sometimes overshadowed by their list of beer sits a board showcasing daily specials that vary from grazing dishes all the way to duck confit. The food at Baker Street is consistently great, but it is their passion for craft beer that keeps me coming back.
Earth to Table: Bread Bar
105 Gordon St.
Bread Bar, who established their roots in Guelph only a few years ago, have slowly been building an empire in like-minded cities. The Earth to Table franchise opened two new restaurants in Hamilton, capitalizing on their similar cultural values to Guelph. As they continue to grow, they have cultivated a credible catering service that allows them to bring wood-oven pizzas to any occasion. For those in Guelph who have already eaten at Bread Bar, the pizza speaks for itself. Each hand-tossed pizza pie features a list of toppings that may at first make you question the palates of those in the kitchen. But, if you are able to widen your culinary scope to include their selection of daunting pizza toppings, you will be treated to a complex dish that requires each unique topping to work harmoniously in creating one of the most creative pies you will ever have. And if you are not a fan of pizza, there is no need to worry. Bread Bar showcases some of the most underrated sandwiches and mains in Guelph. The staff is also incredibly helpful in recommending wines from their modest list to pair well with each dish.
Hanami Izakaya
86 Gordon St.
Sandwiched between a pharmacy and a Mediterranean grill you will find one of the greatest treasures Guelph has to offer. With very little publicity, Hanami seems to rely on word of mouth to generate busy rushes for this small restaurant. For an incredibly fair price, Hanami offers an all-you-can-eat extravaganza with some of the most beautifully plated and freshest sushi in Guelph. And they are not limited to just sushi. Hanami widens the scope of what is traditionally available at all-you-can-eat locations by offering an assortment of wok-based dishes and curries. If the idea of gorging yourself is overwhelming, they can provide an á la carte menu for those who just wish to have some of their favourites. Hanami Izakaya is all about experiencing new food, making it hard for me to recommend an individual plate. Every single person I have brought to Hanami has returned with someone new to share the experience with.
Illustrations by Larissa Abrams-Ogg
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