With summer upon us, cottage country calls out like the entrancing song of some freshwater siren.
So there’s perhaps no food choice that better captures the flavour and essence of the region than local, freshly-caught fish.
There are a number of restaurants across the breadth and width of Ontario’s cottage country that does right by the local catch, but I recommend heading your boat or car for Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant & Marine, just north of Parry Sound.
Traditional fish and chips and warm hospitality without any fuss — that’s Gilly’s in a nutshell.
Snug Harbour is something of a haven for boaters, anglers, and campers as it provides easy access to the windswept islands of Georgian Bay and nearby Killbear Provincial Park.
Since opening in 2001, Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant (and its accompanying marina) has been the heart of the picturesque inlet.
Operating mid-May to early September, Gilly’s serves only the freshest, locally-sourced fish. In fact, it can’t get any fresher — the fish, primarily whitefish and lake trout, but also pickerel and perch, are caught on the waters of Georgian Bay by a local fisherman, virtually right on the restaurant’s doorstep.
Equally accessible by water and land, customers come from Killbear Provincial Park, nearby cottages, and Parry Sound. Owner Terry ‘Gilly’ Gilbert even notes that a pair of gentlemen comes from Barrie each weekend.
So what’s the draw?
“People absolutely love our whitefish fish and chips. It’s our signature dish,” Gilbert explains simply.
Battered and deep-fried to perfection, with a mound of golden hand-cut fries, creamy house-made coleslaw, and a cup of homemade tartar sauce plated alongside, it’s easy to see why.
Gilbert’s wife, Sarah, who warmly greets diners, has always dreamt of running a café serving garden-fresh salads, so it’s no surprise to find a number of enticing salads on the menu.
You can’t go wrong with any, but I recommend the Franklin Island Salad. With greens, seasonal berries, dried cranberries, and blueberry balsamic, it just screams cottage country and tastes divine.
Adding to the allure of Gilly’s is the picturesque views out onto the tranquil Georgian Bay inlet and the restaurant’s appealing nautical ambience.
While in the region, be sure to stop into Parry Sound itself a take a scenic cruise aboard the iconic Island Princess to experience the famed 30,000 Islands, the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, and a UNESCO-designated area, and learn about the rich history of the region.
Celebrating the bounty of Georgian Bay, the fish and chips at Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant is the perfect Parry Sound meal.
JUST THE FACTS:
Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant & Marine
Open Thursday to Sunday, 12-8 p.m.
138 Snug Harbour Rd., Carling
gillysnugharbour.com
705-342-5552
