Mother's Day is fast approaching and that means it's time to think about how to honour the moms in your life.
If you're thinking about a brunch date, two local restaurants are among the 100 most popular brunch restaurants in Canada for 2023, according to OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology.
The Common Stove, in downtown Orillia, and The Ktchn, in Oro-Medonte Township have been included on the prestigious list, which is based on more than one million reviews left by verified OpenTable diners.
In addition to the two local eateries, the list features restaurants from coast-to-coast, spanning five provinces. Ontario tops the list with 49 restaurants, followed by B.C. with 29, Alberta with nine, Quebec with eight and Atlantic Canada with five.
“Our data indicates that Canadians’ appetite for eating out remains strong, with restaurant dining up four per cent year-over-year this April, and we expect that enthusiasm will continue for Mother’s Day dining,” says Matt Davis, Country Director, OpenTable Canada.
“Whether your mom loves classic bennies and mimosas or an elegant afternoon tea, OpenTable’s 100 Most Popular Brunch Restaurants list features a diverse array of delicious brunch spots that are sure to make your mother figure feel spoiled."
Last Mother’s Day, the average spend per meal was $48 and the most popular cuisines were American, Italian and Canadian, noted a media release from OpenTable. Canadian and American restaurants make up the majority of the most popular 100 restaurants this year.
The Common Stove was also included in a survey by OpenTable on their 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Canada for 2021 list.
Also in 2021, the Common Stove’s chef, Ben Kersley, was named one of the Top 30 under 30 award winners within the hospitality industry by Kostuch Media Ltd.
The annual awards recognize the food service and hospitality industry’s top young performers. The native of Southwest England told OrilliaMatters in 2021 that being honoured with the prestigious award means a lot to him.
“It’s pretty crazy because the pool of talent is quite large. I honestly did not expect to win,” Kersley said.
“Winning this award while being away from the big city where most of the other winners are located, and instead being in a small town, is incredible.”
The complete list of Canada's top 100 brunch spots can be viewed here.
