Lakeside Bala - Muskoka Lakes

We stopped by this restaurant today on a whim. The waitress, Donna, was friendly and well-informed. Our lunch was served promptly and the food was excellent. We all had to take home boxes because the portions were generous. My husband and friend thoroughly enjoyed the seafood special. The view of the lake was lovely on this beautiful fall day. We had come from the Cranberry Marsh and thought that most of Bala was closed, so this was a pleasant surprise.

We enjoyed the Cajun Chicken wrap with fries and the lunch Cascadia special with Greek salad, both of which were excellent. Despite being short on wait staff, our server Donna was wonderful. The cosmos were excellent, and the beer was ice cold. The view from anywhere in the establishment cannot be beat, as every seat has a lake view. The restaurant is very clean and is a must-visit if you are in Bala.

This restaurant is located directly on Lake Muskoka, allowing guests to arrive by boat and dock near their table. There are indoor and outdoor seating options, but we prefer the charming area on the dock. The dress code is casual. Our server was friendly and helpful, also serving as the bartender and mixing a delicious Cosmopolitan. The restaurant offers a good selection of wines. Our party of five ordered different entrees and all thoroughly enjoyed the creative dishes prepared by the chefs. The presentation and flavors were exceptional. We have already made a reservation to return next week to dine with family. Despite a shortage of servers in the Muskoka area, the staff does their best to provide a pleasant dining experience. The quiet setting allows for easy conversation. Reservations are required for dinner.

Three of us went to Lakeside Bala for lunch. The setting is beautiful with lakeside dining available both inside and out. The staff was friendly; our server was very new and she did a very good job. Our meals were a Caesar salad, Mac n’...Cheese and the Beef burger. The Caesar was perfectly fine, nothing special but it’s a Caesar salad. The burger, while the bun and toppings were very nice, the beef itself was extremely dry and bland. There was little to no sear on the meat and it appears they may be using extra lean beef not ideal for a burger. Overall, very disappointing for a burger! The Mac n’ Cheese was very strange. It was described as pasta, bechamel sauce and lots of cheese (an exaggeration). What they failed to mention was the white wine which absolutely overpowered the dish. The finished product was pasta sitting in a wine “soup” with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top. Again, the setting is great, but the food? Not so much.

My boyfriend and I visited for dinner and both got the pickerel. It was delicious. The vegetables served were cooked just right (still a bit crunchy). The outdoor patio was very small and felt intimate. Staff friendly. Would have preferred lots of ice in the...drinking water. Would also have liked to see a couple mock-tail options on the drink menu. Overall great dinner.