Come in from the cold in Lanark County

Comfort food: a food that provides a feeling of well-being, typically the sugary carb rich, stick to your ribs stuff that reminds you of home.


Along the savour portion of the trail, Lanark County delivers the yummy nostalgia we all crave during the colder months.

Do poutine and milk shakes remind you of your youth? Zak’s Diner in Carleton Place has milkshakes right out of a 50s sock hop. With all the flavours and toppings that reach to the sky, how can that not put a smile on your face?

If you want a dining experience that showcases our local Lanark County products, then sign up for Black Tartan Kitchen’s blind tasting menu. Let the talented kitchen delight and surprise all your senses with 5 or 7 courses that are more than insta-worthy.  Still in Carleton Place? Nothing will warm you up like the authentic, homemade Indian cuisine of Sagar Indian Cuisine. With a wide variety of dishes prepared fresh, they have everything from a snack to a quick lunch to a shareable family dinner. 

On the other end of Bridge Street, the Grand Hotel stands majestically on the corner. Built in 1872, it not only offers 16 guest rooms and banquet rooms fit for your most important events. If you aren’t hearing wedding bells, you can always pop into their Smith & Barrel Pub for a taste of their 5 star menu. Beautifully lit, the original tin ceilings sparkle while you and your dining companions enjoy some classic comfort foods.  Warm up with one of their features artisanal soups or the incredible wild mushroom pappardelle. 

If you are exploring the winter charms of Stewart Park and downtown Perth then seek your favourite comfort meals at Fiddleheads Bar and Grill. A literal stone’s throw from Stewart Park, this local favourite calls one of Perth’s oldest heritage stone buildings home.  Open for lunch and dinner every day but Monday, you can enjoy a St Albert Poutine for lunch or for something more filling, Roast Beef au Jus for dinner. Escape the cold in their New Orleans’ style courtyard with a water feature, tropical plants, 40-foot glass ceiling, and surrounding boutique stores.

Down the street, you can experience casual fine dining at The Stone Cellar. This award-winning, family-run restaurant is the perfect winter retreat with it’s cozy fireplaces, heated patios and seasonal cocktails. The menu is an always evolving inspiration of locally sourced culinary delights. Yours to enjoy for lunch and supper every day but Tuesday. 

When the trail leads you through Mississippi Mills don’t miss a chance to refuel at Keepers Coffee Bar. To be honest, with Hot Apple Cider, Egg Nogg Lattes, Gingerbread Loaf and Cherry White Chocolate Bars on the menu, it’s worth a winter detour. Open Wednesday to Sunday you can enjoy a treat while you shop the eclectic collection of vintage housewares and plants. Just keep an eye out for the yellow house!

With a variety of delish offerings to comfort the tired (and snow covered) traveller Smiths Falls never disappoints! If you want to channel your inner globe trotter, seek your comfort food at Aarusuvai. Their international cuisine is complimented by their comfortable, stylish setting. Open daily from 11am to 2pm and then 4pm to 9pm, you can catch them for lunch or dinner. This adventure in flavour includes evenings of live music while you enjoy Samosas, Chicken Panne or a AAA New York Striploin cooked to perfection.

The taste exploration continues at Boomtown Fusion Eatery where the warm spices of India and Sri Lanka are fused with Italian and Canadian comfort cuisine. Open everyday except Sunday, you can choose from 6 styles of poutine, butter chicken pizza or lasagna to rival your moms (but don’t tell her that). The last stop on the comfort food trail in Smiths Falls is The Vault Eatery & Pub located at the corner of Beckwith & Russell streets. A former bank, the space is highlighted by two very large antique vault doors. Open during the winter months every day but Monday and Tuesday, you can enjoy their breaded stuffed brie, apple and cranberry chicken or the red ale braised brisket. If your comfort language is sugar, the warm ginger spice or peanut butter fudge cake is like a hug for your soul.

Come in from the cold and take comfort in the culinary highlights of Lanark County. 

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