Top 10 Things To Do in Midland, Ontario on a Foodie Weekend Trip
From mile high corned beef sandwiches and a unique hotdog speakeasy to kayaking with turtles at a nearby marsh!
Guest Writer: Aashim Aggarwal @seed.eat.repeat
Ever notice that the bigger the city, the smaller the plates seem to be getting at restaurants? My wife and I certainly feel that in Toronto! In search of old school portions and a spirit of generosity, we love spending summer weekends exploring small towns around Ontario.
Just a couple hours north of Toronto is Midland in the Heart of Georgian Bay. Let’s just say we required multiple takeout boxes at most of the family owned gems we visited!
We spent two days checking out Midland’s foodie and cultural scene for a great overnight getaway. Here’s some of our favourite spots from the trip, including top restaurants and all the activities we did in between bites. Turns out, there’s a lot to do in and around this small town!
Follow along with Aashim’s recommendations and start planning your foodie getaway with our Heart of Georgian Bay Foodie Adventure Itinerary!
Dino’s Deli
Ask locals to name their favourite Midland spot, and this 40 year old institution is likely winning the straw poll. Dino Artest, a proud Greek-Canadian, is famous for his mile high corned beef sandwiches. Homemade rye, loaded with meat so tender we escaped what looked like certain jaw pain. The half pasta salad, half Greek salad is a local’s pro move to add some balance to the meal but don’t forget to DIY a bite of pasta salad + feta + corned beef, the sandwich has plenty to spare!
Huronia Museum and Huron Ouendat Village
Midland and the surrounding region has long been home to Indigenous communities, including as a homeland of the Huron/Ouendat people pre-European contact. This history is kept alive here, where we started at the museum to gather context via the abundant artifacts and informative panels.
We then visited the reconstructed village, enclosed within towering palisades. Within are carefully crafted depictions of Huron/Ouendat life, from corn grinding tools to sweat lodges.
Minji’s
If you’re looking to bring a meal back to your accommodation, look no further. Minji’s is a tiny Korean takeout spot, run by a hardworking couple. They’ve gone TikTok viral in the past couple years, and after visiting, we totally understand why.
Everything here is delicious, comforting and piping hot. Their signature is the MJ style dakganjeong, saucy Korean fried chicken pieces piled so high we were shocked the takeout container didn’t explode! But if we had to pick a favourite, it’s the spicy pork belly on rice served with their excellent homemade kimchi.
P.S. If you want sushi while in town, their talented son Danny owns nearby Nare Sushi. We’ve heard great things!
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Midland was the site of Ontario’s first European community, a French Jesuit village that has been carefully reconstructed in its original location. We were surprised at the scale of this place! There’s a welcome centre with an introductory video, interactive indoor museum, onsite restaurant and gift shop.
That’s all in addition to the expansive village, which is brought to life by talented and knowledgeable costumed interpreters. We caught a blacksmith’s demo, tried our hand at lacrosse and even got to pet Big Poppi, a heritage cow at the stable!
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
With all the eating, we needed to get our bodies moving. Lucky for us, this beautiful slice of nature is located right beside Ste-Marie.
There are over 25km of trails here, accessible year round. Get your steps in and if you’re here between May & October, schedule a guided kayak or canoe tour. We chose the kayak tour with Celeste, who took us through the peaceful cattail marsh and pointed out the snapping turtles, frogs, birds and plants along the way. A great reset before even more eating…
The Arch Steakhouse & Tavern
If you love an old school steakhouse with all the hospitality and none of the fuss, The Arch is a must. The Fotopoulos family has operated this standalone establishment since 1976, and made us feel like regulars from the minute we walked in.
Diego flambeed with flair a tableside saganaki dish, Anastasia found us a bottle of Greek wine and Alex cooked us a gorgeous 12 oz. ribeye. It was certainly an enjoyable meal but if I lived closer, I would drop in just to see their smiling faces and the cozy, convivial space!
Discovery Harbour
The region REALLY loves its living history sites. This third one is located in nearby Penetanguishene, and is a former British naval base. Costumed interpreters bring the expansive site to life and if you visit during the summer, joining a guided tour adds to the experience.
A highlight was touring a replica of the H.M.S. Tecumseth, and then seeing the original hull at the onsite museum. For full immersion, there are even waterfront cabins you can rent as overnight accommodation here!
Let Me Be Frank & Frankly Speaking
Wes and Victoria serve up hot dogs here that can get quite gourmet, such as our High Roller with brie, portobello mushrooms, arugula and caramelized onions. You have to finish with their bacon butter tart donuts, sticky and satisfying without being overly sweet.
But wait, there’s more! In the evening, Wes transforms the place into Frankly Speaking, a prohibition-era speakeasy with craft cocktails and more cheffy “small” plates. The duck fat potatoes never leave the menu for good reason. They were a textural masterpiece, somehow crispy, creamy and mashed all at the same time. Must try!
Boulangers Midland City Bakers
My wife’s a baker and so, finding a great local bakery is a must on every trip. This is Midland’s representative, and Charlene really bakes up a storm. We had a tough time passing on the assortment of butter tarts and sweet squares, but our craving for savoury drew us to the potato and leek pull-apart loaf. It is, without exaggeration, one of the tastiest bready things we’ve ever had!
Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival
You might have noticed a few mentions of butter tarts already and that’s no happy accident. Midland is the home of Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival, THE signature celebration of our famous sweet treat and where bakers from across the province compete to be crowned as the best in all the land.
I was a judge at the 2026 event, and you can go behind-the-scenes with me on Instagram here.
Save June 12, 2027 on your calendar! See you there?
I hope you enjoy your future Midland trip! Whether looking for a day trip out of the city or an overnight getaway, Midland and the Heart of Georgian Bay have so much to offer. If you want some visuals, see my video itinerary on Instagram here.
About Aashim
Aashim Aggarwal is a Toronto-based food and drink expert who has been featured by the CBC, BBC, Toronto Star, Condé Nast Traveler and more. When he’s not exploring local restaurants, he’s often travelling for good eats with his wife, Amaara. He shares his finds with his audience of over 170,000 across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. He also hosts bespoke food tours and gastronomic experiences in Toronto & the GTA, which can be found on his website.
Itinerary: Foodie Adventure in the Heart of Georgian Bay
Follow Aashim’s recommendations for Midland’s dining experiences on this two-day getaway while exploring the Heart of Georgian Bay! Experience scenic attractions and satisfy your taste buds while exploring this charming town, 90 minutes north of Toronto. Follow Aashim’s recommendations and download this overnight itinerary: get ready for big portions and even bigger hearts in Midland.
